Dueling Grounds

The Dueling Grounds are a location from Fire Emblem Awakening. A site known for duels, the grounds are called a ruins by Cassius, who has taken control of the site. When Kjelle tries to duel Cassius here, he unfairly surrounds her with his men and intends to kill her as he killed her master, sparking the events of Paralogue 8.

Profile[]

Whether the Dueling Grounds refer to a foreboding castle or the great hall of this castle is not clear. The sorcerer Cassius calls the Dueling Grounds a ruins, but the castle where Paralogue 8 takes place are far from ruinous, standing imposingly on the northern coast of the continent of Ylisse. Like much of Ferox, the castle sits in the middle of a pine forest where trees and turrets alike are dusted with snow. Found in the eastern part of Ferox, the Dueling Grounds are actually not that far from the esteemed Arena Ferox. Yet the castle lacks Arena Ferox's grandeur, its rooms reduced to vacuous ruins, its halls dark and cold, and its only inhabitants being murderers and hostage takers. These ruffians have made the castle their home base while they terrorize a village nearby.

Story[]

When Kjelle followed Lucina to the past, her search for her mother led her to a northern Feroxi village. Here, she entered under the tutelage of one of the villagers, becoming good friends with him and his wife. Unfortunately, when her master confronted the cruel tyrant Cassius, the sorcerer used a young girl as a human shield to get him to lower his weapon. Once he did, Cassius killed him. Determined to avenge him, Kjelle goes to the castle Cassius uses as a base and challenges him to a duel. Kjelle's friend and the wife of her master tries to talk her out of it, but when Cassius agrees, Kjelle follows him to the great hall of his castle.

Worried for Kjelle's safety, the village woman runs for help, finding Chrom and the Shepherds nearby and begging them to intervene. When the Shepherds reach the castle, they see the woman's worst fears come true as Cassius has Kjelle trapped in his castle and surrounded by his men. Luckily, the army is able to defeat Cassius and his scoundrels.

If Sully or Chrom talk to Kjelle during the battle, she will join the Shepherds despite not knowing why they would go so far to help a stranger. After the battle, if Kjelle survives, her friend the village woman gives her a priceless heirloom of her husband's, though what exactly this heirloom is, is unknown. Though Kjelle plans to leave to continue her quest for her parents, Sully recognizes the ring she carries and realizes she is Kjelle's mother. With this information, Kjelle happily stays by Sully's side.

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