Rafiel

Earthbound Chorister
Rafiel
Species	Laguz (Heron)
Class	Bird Tribe (Heron)
Affiliation	Hatari Serenes Daein
Hair color	Blonde
Eye color	Blue
Relatives	Lehran (ancestor) Lorazieh (father) Reyson (brother) Lillia, Leanne (sisters)
Debut	Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Rafiel is a playable unit in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn and the first playable heron in the game.

Background

Rafiel was a prince of the heron tribe living within Serenes Forest. However, when he was wandering alone on the outskirts of the forest one day, he was captured by Begnion slave traders and sold at an auction. Many prominent Begnion senators cast bids for him, but in the end Hetzel purchased him with a large amount of his fortune. However, Rafiel fell gravely ill out of desperation. Hetzel was moved by this and tried to nurse Rafiel back to health, eventually bringing him to a temple and praying for him. He also promised Rafiel his freedom. Rafiel soon returned to good health, but his wings did not recover, so he was not able to fly again. However, he returned to Serenes as it was burnt down during the Serenes Massacre. In anger, he returned to the temple in order to accost Hetzel, only to be teleported away by a mysterious force that left him in the middle of the Desert of Death. He had lost all hope and wandered the desert until he met Nailah, the queen of the long lost wolf tribe of Hatari. He came with her there and dedicated his life to serving her.

Years later, in the years of Ashnard's death, Rafiel began hearing faint voices in his head that were actually transmitted by Yune. The voice grew stronger over the following three years until it guided him back into the Desert of Death. Nailah and Volug accompanied him, and they arrived at a small temple where they met with Micaiah and the Dawn Brigade in "Chapter 4: A Distant Voice" of "Part 1: Silver-Haired Maiden". Rafiel also learned that his younger siblings Reyson and Leanne were still alive. Feeling they were destined to meet each other, Micaiah being guided to the temple by the same voice, Rafiel decided to accompany Micaiah in her quest to restore order in Daein. He only aided her on the battlefield in "Chapter 8: Glory Unwanted" and "Endgame: Daein, Arise!". He also played another important purpose in Chapter 8, when he was able to prevent Muarim from being transformed into a Feral One by singing the galdr of rebirth.

After Micaiah's quest reached its end, Tormod and Muarim escorted Rafiel and the wolves to Gallia where he could meet with his brothers. Rafiel brought news of the Begnion senators' hand in the Serenes Massacre, which set a series of events into motion which led to a war between the Laguz Alliance army and Begnion. Rafiel, Reyson and Leanne stayed behind to watch over Lehran's Medallion, so that they could prevent the dark god that was said to be sealed within the medallion from awakening in case the war released too much chaos energy by using their galdr. However, Reyson and Rafiel later left Leanne with the medallion while they went to fight in the war during the battle between the Laguz Alliance and Daein. Rafiel and Nailah chose to work with Micaiah's side, because the Laguz Alliance army was powerful enough as it was.

After Yune was awakened from the medallion, Rafiel was sent to accompany the Greil Army in their trek towards the Tower of Guidance in "Part 4: Of Gods and Men". Ike noted that he was very much unlike Reyson and Leanne, and Nailah explained that it was because Rafiel was more like a traditional heron- quiet, elegant and delicate, while Reyson and Leanne had been toughed by their time with Tibarn. In "Chapter 4: Revelations", Rafiel briefly met with Hetzel again in the manor of Duke Tanas. He acknowledged owing Hetzel his life, but refused to say anything further to him, which caused Hetzel to plead out of guilt before warping away.

When the war with Ashera ended, Rafiel performed a ceremony in Serenes Forest that succeeded in awakening King Lorazieh. Afterwards, he returned to Hatari. If Nailah was killed during the game, then Rafiel remained in Serenes Forest and lived peacefully there.

Trivia

• Rafiel has automatic Bond Supports with Tibarn and Nailah.