Hildiband's 5 Years (soilers?)

[BFT9000]

Since Hildibrand thought he was a zombie for the past 5 years, does that mean he has been killing people and eating them the entire time? He himself said he was an undead, brain eating overlord. Not very gentleman like.

[Anonymoose]

If my mental impression of him is accurate, I would assume that he tried to give eating people a chance, as he thought he was a zombie and that's what zombies are supposed to do. However, he was likely disgusted by the idea, didn't do it, pretended to do it while telling his zombie companions how delicious people are (while flexing), and then secretly slunk off to have some tacos ... like a gentlemen, as not to offend their delicate zombie sensibilities.

[Bigpurpleharness]

Since Hildibrand thought he was a zombie for the past 5 years, does that mean he has been killing people and eating them the entire time? He himself said he was an undead, brain eating overlord. Not very gentleman like.

Sir, a gentleman *is*, rather than does. One can infer from this statement that he will be a gentleman extraordinaire regardless of his brain eating acts.

[mythicrose]

You'd think after the first time he "relieved" himself he would figure out he's not undead. No zombie lore I know of has them dropping dueces or peeing behind trees.

[Orophin]

You'd think after the first time he "relieved" himself he would figure out he's not undead. No zombie lore I know of has them dropping dueces or peeing behind trees.

What happens to all the consumed brains then?

[Enkidoh]

I don't think he was

literally a zombie - in fact, I don't think he was even dead to begin with. Instead it seems he had just been knocked unconscious after his ride on Bradmante and whoever found him obviously didn't check for life signs or something, and with the clerics at the Church of Saint Adama Landama being so overworked, they just assumed he really was and buried him accordingly. I mean, they're not exactly shown to be treating the dead with much reverence, to the point bodies are not even buried in coffins or even shrouds, but just dumped in a hole and covered over!

After all, it's unclear even exactly how long ago it had been since his burial and 'revival' (a clue is in the Echo scene the player experiences where a sword and shield adorn his gravestone, yet when the player first visits Nashu at his grave the sword and shield are noticeably absent, suggesting that at least a certain amount of time has passed since then, Nashu evidently unaware his grave was now empty).

So it seems to me at least, Hildy wasn't dead or undead, but just in a coma (which also explains his amnesia when he 'awakens' - he thought he had simply been asleep, stating he'd had a dream about slaying a black dragon only to be confused about where, or who, he was - the real zombies who surrounded him only drove home the idea that he himself was one when he noticed his name on the tombstone behind him.). Hence anyone in his position would have done what he did and acted the part, thinking that's what he was.

Basically, it was a case of Edgar-Allan Poeish - premature burial. Luckily for us though he soon got his memory back.

[Wolfandre]

I don't think he was

I think you misread the OP. He wasn't asking about the state of his undeath, but rather his state of mind during those five years. He did think he was undead, so, naturally, he would have done as the zombies do and eaten innards.

Maybe. It's never touched upon. Though, during his state of amnesia, he did retain many of his mannerisms and gentleman-like qualities, so, like Moose said, he may have just kept a good front when around his zombie underlings.

[Raydeus]

From what I understand *spoilers* he didn't actually spend 5 years as a zombie, but rather spent 5 years hibernating after he was buried because he was so hurt he needed all that time to recover. Then, relatively recently he woke up and joined the Zombies, so I seriously doubt he even had a chance to even try to eat a human brain.

And he is such a Gentleman he even forgot he needed to eat after those 5 years. =P

[BFT9000]

Even if he was in a coma, 5 years without eating and a limited air supply is impossible. Although so is surviving 2 bombs to the face. He very well could have been dead and brought back through "divine providence" as he hypothesized. Hildibrand also would have needed some time to become the leader of the zombies. That said, I'm liking Anonymoose's theory the most.

If my mental impression of him is accurate, I would assume that he tried to give eating people a chance, as he thought he was a zombie and that's what zombies are supposed to do. However, he was likely disgusted by the idea, didn't do it, pretended to do it while telling his zombie companions how delicious people are (while flexing), and then secretly slunk off to have some tacos ... like a gentlemen, as not to offend their delicate zombie sensibilities.

[Altimis]

This is Final Fantasy, everything can be possible ....