The purpose of the post is explain the implications that can be taken by Sothis' design. What is interesting about Sothis' design is that it can prove many unanswered questions that we might of had when trying to know about the past. Also, Sothis' design foreshadows or alludes to events and characters in the game. More specifically, Byleth and Rhea's bonds to Sothis. Then, Sothis' design also has implications of Sothis' bonds to Byleth. I'll be even referencing adult Sothis, so that I can explain certain aspects that can not be explained without proof of it. Now, I will explain each details implications.
Of course, the most obvious of the design is the color purple. The color of the Fire Emblem for Three Houses. Also, the color of the Church of Seiros on the map as well. Which would make sense because,
Fun Fact: Some have already address this, but did you know that "Seiros" is a greek translation of Sirius the brightest star in our skies. Well, if you translate Sirius into the Egyptian language we'll find out that Sirius means Sothis. So in a sense, the Church of Seiros is actually just another name for the Church of Sothis. (Talk about mommy issues.)
https://preview.redd.it/q2yuahghyzu41.jpg?width=1986&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e511ff337e8481cf791405904b2556d07dbb9ec8
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1. Sothis and Rhea's Bonds...
The most obvious implications of Sothis' design is Sothis' connections to Rhea, her daughter. Which is made obvious by the fact that Rhea is fond of imitating her mother. From the similar head ornament that Rhea and Sothis wear to the same pattern on Sothis' dress that Rhea has on her cape. Also, Sothis' ornament is on the Church mural of the goddess. These connections are made aware of many times throughout White Clouds. From, Rhea singing a song that Sothis is aware that she wrote. Another, obvious design is Sothis' green hair. Which apparently all nabateans that we've seen have green hair. Also, her pointy ears is another obvious indication. The only time we get true confirmation regarding to to the ear is when Byleth reunites with Rhea at Enbarr. Where we has players see Rhea's pointed ears.
https://preview.redd.it/xyh1vs6g80v41.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=03b633e5d9afca827f488d026aa63c86cea4d969
https://preview.redd.it/9jtl7s4k80v41.png?width=542&format=png&auto=webp&s=e7502b7ceeafc4ed095dec3588159bc96d365af3
2. Sothis and Byleth Bonds...
If you have ever looked extensively into Sothis' design it is implied that the rope bondage on her is actually an indication of her bonds to Byleth. This type of rope bondage is a Japanese type of bondage called Kinbaku (緊縛) means "tight binding,". Which literally "ties" with Sothis' crest stone being attached to Byleth's heart. Basically, showing or alluding to the fact to why Sothis is in Byleth, because of Rhea creating those bonds to save Byleth. Then, it also ties to the fact without Sothis Byleth could have not lived. This is also why Sothis is so adamant during the beginning of the game about Byleth throwing away their life so easily, because she is tied to Byleth figuratively and literally in Byleth's heart.
https://preview.redd.it/tbgutdhx80v41.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=87ad6139a96e6ac0ec62163563d5abdd90624d22
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3. Byleth and Rhea's Bonds...
Sothis support the fact, that Byleth and Rhea are bonded by fate. As we will see, the ribbons that run through Sothis' hair are indication of that, because the colors of the ribbons are Byleth and Rhea's. The white ribbon for Rhea and the red one for Byleth. If we think about it further, the colors are the same colors of both of the lord's routes, "White Clouds" and "Silver Snow" on their respected save files. While the ribbons run through Sothis' hair, they also twist together as to show Byleth and Rhea's fates are intertwine. (Please note: that colors are important to Fire Emblem, so we can not ignore this revelation.)
Which, basically means, that Rhea is not wrong when she says that Byleth and her fates are intertwined as well. Especially, when Rhea references to this sentiment multiple times. Also, the fact that Rhea dying in Crimson Flower resulted in Byleth's death and only through the grace of Sothis Byleth could comeback just shows evidence that their fates being intertwined. Basically, in a way, Rhea cannot die or Edelgard can not kill Rhea stories wise during Silver Snow because it would have ended the journey and the whole point of part 2 saving Rhea, defeating the villains of White Clouds and the revelations to Byleth, and Byleth would have died.
This also means, that during Silver Snow and Verdant Wind when Rhea supposedly is going to die according Seteth and Rhea herself. Rhea does not really die, because of the fact that all Nabateans who are severely drained or critically injured physically will enter a "trance hibernation" where the Nabatean will enter a deep sleep to heal off any form of harm, and the fact that Byleth does not die either. What I call "trance hibernation" is mentioned multiple times by Seteth, and Flayn whenever she is referring to her fears of sleeping for a long time. Then Byleth experiencing the "trance hibernation" for themselves during the end of part 1 of the game. Basically, Rhea is going to sleep for a very long time.
https://preview.redd.it/hz9fq61690v41.png?width=375&format=png&auto=webp&s=e54115dfe9211817d78b2c6cd43707e95b17fcae
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I recommend reading my Post about the Church Route and the Byleth Route to understand what I am referring to when labeling the photos above . I will also reference the part in my Byleth X Rhea post to show facts and evidence to further show how they are bonded by fate and separated to time.
- Byleth and Rhea Will Always be Fated to Meet.
Even before the game starts, the event that separated them from each other, perpetrated by Byleth's father, Jeralt is an indication of how they are both separated through time and how they are bonded by fate. After 20 years of being separated Byleth comes back to reunite with Rhea at Garreg Mach. In which Rhea responds with "I wonder... Did the flow of time bring you here". As if Rhea was referring to Byleth as if fate brought Byleth to Rhea. Another indication that Byleth and Rhea are bonded by fate and separated through time is during part 2 in which Byleth and Rhea has been separated again and disappeared and both can't be found by the Knights of Seiros.
After 5 years Byleth and Rhea are finally reunited again at the capital city of Enbarr of the Adrestain Empire. Also the main goal of part 2 that is not Crimson Flower is to save Rhea. Everything else for Byleth is secondary compared to saving Rhea, which the dialogue that Byleth has as an response in part 2 will support this notion because Byleth and the lords of Azure Moon and Verdant Wind goals are to save Rhea as well. I'll even explain why they are fated as well in Crimson Flower.
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Byleth and Rhea are fated to meet, but not as friends, but as foes who will fight to the death. After Byleth and Rhea fought, during the Battle of Garreg Mach. In which Rhea sent Byleth into a coma that lasted for 5 year. Byleth awakes from that coma and finds out that the war is still going on. For the most part the main villain of the Crimson Flower Route is the Church of Seiros which includes Rhea. Which results in Byleth and Rhea finally uniting and meeting as foes which is completely interesting because Crimson Flower is quite a literal contrast to everything to that of Byleth's Route's main goal. Which was which is to save Rhea, but in Crimson Flower Byleth's main goal for this one is to kill Rhea.
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For example instead of saving Rhea in Enbarr the capital city of the Adrestian Empire, Byleth kills Rhea in the capital city Fhirdiad of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus which is geologically on the opposite side of Fodlan. Also, instead of seeing and getting a "Sign of dream"/a deja vu in Silver Snow Byleth ends it in Crimson Flower. Which, ending it, results in Byleth dying as seen in the cutscene when Byleth and Edelgard kills Rhea and only through the grace of Sothis Byleth lives. Even when the sword drops both scenes contrast each other by Byleth standing up and alive when the sword drops in Silver Snow while Byleth is dead on the ground when the sword drops in Crimson Flower. At the same time, when the sword drops Rhea is alive in Silver Snow just as Byleth, but in Crimson Flower Rhea is dead along side with Byleth when Byleth drops the sword. Which only adds to the fact that Byleth and Rhea are bonded by fate.
https://preview.redd.it/2v5dkt84g0v41.png?width=1680&format=png&auto=webp&s=cb4b3d8cd0df78f7f9282fed587f2957663961b6
Another contrasting difference, bit it small and subtle is that Silver Snow and the other routes that run parallel to SS, during the ending the screen fades to white unlike Crimson Flower where the screen is thrown into darkness.
https://preview.redd.it/coojt7x4f0v41.png?width=1277&format=png&auto=webp&s=33f48cd8bb2c4e7bae2fdd6b724fd62ab893b2f7
(I do understand that my bias on Byleth X Rhea according to my post history can dilute this part of the post, but as we will find out there is another reason why Sothis' ribbons support the fact that Byleth and Rhea's fates are intertwined.) That will be on the next Segment.
4. Sothis' Adult Form Is Proof Of Rhea's Presents In The Past...
The ribbon on Sothis' design is also indication of Rhea being present when Sothis presented humanity salvation. As we will see in the photo, we see only the white ribbon not the red one. Which would make sense because Byleth is not born and Byleth's connections to Sothis and Byleth's bonds to Rhea would have not been establish at the time. Another interesting detail that we see if you look closer to Sothis' design as an adult, Sothis does not have the Japanese bondage of kinbaku to show the connection and bonds to Byleth. The only thing we see is the white ribbon on her wrist representing Rhea. Which would make sense and basically answers to how Rhea knows about the past. Basically, Rhea was alive and saw the progression of human and their hostility and aggression as technology grew. Which would make Rhea's accounts holding more merit about Sothis when the Argarthans starting wars with each other and against Sothis. As we saw in this post about Sothis in her adult form.
https://preview.redd.it/ji5gxzs6b0v41.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=7324a054a86d77f19e92a587d35db8de700c82a6
Knowing that Rhea was there at the time, it would explain some of the technology banning in the book "Encyclopedia of Fodlan's insects", and knowing Rhea being pretty young compared to her brethrens who are older then her. We can now make the connection that Rhea was there at the time as a child compared to the other Nabateans. Especially, with the white ribbon being proof of that just as I explained and the fact that Rhea is the youngest Nabatean. Also, we can infer the other white robe figures are Nabateans, Sothis' children. Which we can also infer this is when Sothis and the Nabateans gave their knowledge to the humans of Fodlan according to what Rhea said. Meaning that "salvation" "meant giving vast wealth of knowledge to help humanity". Of course, just being speculations, the other White robe figures could be just close followers to Sothis. Who happens to be covered up as well just as Sothis to hide her identity as being the goddess. During the time Rhea was lecturing about ancient Fodlan history according to her.
https://preview.redd.it/s0zwcr2vc0v41.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=1630cbfbf15b691c76da00c54a53570c5ffac949
As we can see in the "Encyclopedia of Fódlan insects". Knowing what we know. It would make sense that Rhea would restrict and ban certain technology, because Rhea was there. Meaning that Rhea saw the horrors or the problems of advancing technology. This is also why Seteth and Rhea tend to hide what they say and choose their words carefully and speak half truths. For example, "legends says", "It was once told", and "in ancient times" are just Rhea and Seteth lying about the truth, and whenever they talk about the past and don't want to reveal what really happened. Which both, would address it as a myth. Basically, in a way, these are one of the ways to how Rhea and Seteth "protect" Fodlan, by hiding technology and guiding humanity through the church, because they know the horrors and the problems of advance technology if left unchecked. Basically, both knew about the modern world and its problems. Those problems could range from resource wars, info wars, and advance wars, and interestingly enough religious wars. Which a war does happen according to Rhea and the Agarthans. Of course, this does not justify to what Rhea and Seteth are doing. Of course, This part of the post is base on heavy speculations on the "Encyclopedia of Fódlan insects", so I recommend taking it with a grain of salt.
https://preview.redd.it/rr8ymv22e0v41.png?width=523&format=png&auto=webp&s=f755750f340d59b515c10229691974198892f946
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Also, why I pend Seteth into same category has Rhea for lying or hiding the past, is because Seteth should be equally scrutinized for doing so. Even if it was for a good reason. Especially, when Seteth is the one throwing the books away and hiding some truths with a myth.
Conclusion...
Sothis' design is very interesting and we can miss many aspects of Sothis' design that we see in game. It's also nice to see how certain details even the most minute details can cause different perspective to change or cause to see things differently before. In which, certain questions could be answered by not telling us out right.
Again, as I said before, even though Rhea's accounts are quite questionable they still hold merit because Rhea was there or if Rhea was not there specifically Rhea was at least there to be part of it, whatever may that be. Wither it be reading about it, getting someones account on it, or just being there at that point of time. Also, Rhea is one of the few who can say or describe the past about Sothis. Knowing what we know now, Rhea's accounts can now be considered factual.
Now, with my analysis in mind, I was always intrigued about the past of Fodlan. because I felt it was some kind of hint to "Advance Wars" one of I.S.'s IPs.
So, what do you think?
Leave a comment below, I would love to know.
![[OC] hilda! hilda!](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/gHKRqiU7kKJVV2LzTHyFAtzfV8kQkj5v0NTNCAA5F6I.jpg "[OC] hilda! hilda!")
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