Artoirel is... (4.5 spoilers)

[AmemeAmeklin]

...somewhere on the front lines as a volunteer. He's gone from his spot in Ishgard and talking to Emmanellain and Honoroit in Dragonhead gets this text:

Emmanellain: "Ameme! I thought you would be with the others defending the border at Ala Mhigo. I intended to volunteer my services, but alas, my dear brother was a few steps faster. With him gone, it falls to me to keep watch over House Fortemps."

Honoroit: "Worry not about Lord Emmanellain. He appeared devastated at the news that he could not venture to Ala Mhigo, that much is true. But deep down, I believe he is quite relieved that he can stay here at the manor."

A lot of things can happen in a war and I'm seriously amazed that Edmont would let the newly minted count just run off to fight a war in another country.

[Seraph522]

In fairness, someone probably had to go and lead House Fortemps' knights on the front lines, and even with some character growth going on, Emmanellain is not exactly the first person I'd want leading them during an important initiative like this one. I have no doubt that Edmont would object, but since he's stepped down as head of House Fortemps, he can't exactly order his son around anymore. Haurchefant obviously would have been the best option if he were still around, but...

That being said, I really hope Artoirel doesn't become another casualty. Edmont and the others have suffered enough as it is.

[Naria]

Artoirel being on the front lines seems in character to me. Ishgard has spent a 1000 years at war, the nobility for all it's many faults tends to lead from the front. I always thought that the only reason that Count Edmont never engaged in battle during Heavensward wasn't because he was the Count but that he was no longer in his prime. I mean the man does use a cane. In a martial society like Ishgard I can't imagine that he would be carrying it if he didn't need it.

As Count and head of one of Ishgard's High Houses, Artoirel would want to show his support for the Alliance during a battle that might very well decide if Eorzea and Ishgard are annexed by the Empire or not. Besides House Fortemps has always been against Ishgard's isolationism; to show any reservation in support of the Alliance might result in more traditional Houses calling them hypocrites and undermining the Fortemps' and Aymeric politically.

Artoirel is probably safe if for no other reason that his death would pull the spotlight back to Ishgard and House Fortemps and the storyline is headed away from them.

[Brightamethyst]

Yeah. 20 or 30 years ago Edmont probably would have been on the front lines himself. Today he's just too old and in no physical condition to be on the battlefield.

[Anselmet]

A lot of things can happen in a war and I'm seriously amazed that Edmont would let the newly minted count just run off to fight a war in another country.

Well technically cuz Artoirel is now the count, Edmont really does not have a say in the matter. Edmont can only advise Artoirel now because all big decisions within their house falls to the one who is in charge of House Fortemps.

However, I have a feeling that in 4.55 they're brewing to kill a bunch of minor characters and Artoirel may be a casualty. It would work for a gut punch, seeing how experiencing Edmont sadness once again (and honestly hurt me more than Haurchefant's death) will make me upset. Now imagine... Count Emmanellain of de Fortemps, the true tragedy here.

[AmemeAmeklin]

Now imagine... Count Emmanellain of de Fortemps, the true tragedy here.

My one true fear. Honoroit leads Fortemps from the shadows and Edmont takes up permanent residence in the Forgotten Knight.

Regardless, I'll be keeping an eye out for Artoirel as the story continues. He's pretty much the only thing in Ishgard that's changed majorly (different dialogue only from Emmanellain, Honoroit, and Handeloup).

I know Ishgard's nobles lead from the front but I don't believe the counts themselves do much to put themselves in a lot of danger once they get their title. It's more often their sons and daughters out on the front lines. Of course, Artoirel is still pretty young and full of youthful energy (or something).

[Anonymoose]

It's risky, but damned if a successful military campaign supporting Lord Commander Aymeric alongside the Eorzean Alliance wouldn't do much to solidify his position as count and bring glory to House Fortemps in this divisive time. And if the campaign is unsuccessful, the war is coming right to Ishgard's doorstep. It's the right move.

My only hope is that they're not moving as many players to the front line as possible to pull some Infinity War move whereby they overplay their hand with the gratuitous death by Black Rose of so many people we know and love that it will obviously be "undone" and thus negate any reason to feel anything.

[Ramesses]

My one true fear. Honoroit leads Fortemps from the shadows and Edmont takes up permanent residence in the Forgotten Knight.

This is an interesting thought and has suddenly given me an idea for a weird theory beginning to emerge in my mind.

And thank you as well for the heads up regarding the change in dialogue for Emmanellain and Honoroit at Dragonhead. +1

[Iscah]

For "counts taking to the battlefield", in the Lv54 MCH quest House Haillenarte have promised to support House Dzemael fighting the dragons... only to be called upon when there's something of a workers' strike going on at the machinists' guild. So when you arrive at the battlefield, it turns out that Count Baurendouin has "been forced to deploy what few knights we could spare─myself included."

Granted, he doesn't exactly seem pleased to be there - but he's not much younger than Edmont, and it's probably a shameful thing that House Haillenarte is so under-resourced that the count has to be on the front lines for a minor skirmish!

And while Artoirel has only just become count, he was always the only real possibility for the role (Haurchefant being presumably ineligible, and Emmanellain being... Emmanellain). He came with us for the second (solo duty) raid of the Vault, and the lorebook says he was defending Dzemael Darkhold from the Garleans on the eve of the Calamity - and that "he has never hesitated to stand on the front lines with his men".

I don't think there's anything surprising about him fighting at Ghimlyt now, and I don't think Edmont would object to it even if he could.

---

Something a bit odd about that dialogue, though - Honoroit mentions staying "here at the manor". I've never been quite sure what to call that main building at Dragonhead, but I wouldn't have thought manor would be the correct term. Is it? Or has someone been tasked with translating text-without-context and not realised that these characters are no longer at Fortemps Manor in the city?

---

However, I have a feeling that in 4.55 they're brewing to kill a bunch of minor characters and Artoirel may be a casualty. It would work for a gut punch, seeing how experiencing Edmont sadness once again (and honestly hurt me more than Haurchefant's death) will make me upset. Now imagine... Count Emmanellain of de Fortemps, the true tragedy here.

I really don't want them to do that to Edmont again. It would be awful.

And I've been saying for ages that I look forward to Emmanellain's continuing arc of character development... but as commander of Camp Dragonhead, not unexpectedly thrown into the role of count. ;_;

My one true fear. Honoroit leads Fortemps from the shadows and Edmont takes up permanent residence in the Forgotten Knight.

Ahaha, as if Honoroit would let him do that!

Mind you, I'm pretty sure he's already running Camp Dragonhead, or at least the administrative side of things. As if Emmanellain would bother with the paperwork. (Apparently Haurchefant wasn't too good on that either.)

Also...

HONOROIT
My lord will not fail in his duty to fortify our borders. Especially since I shall be reminding him of said duty every hour, on the hour.

I love Honoroit. He's awesome.

My only hope is that they're not moving as many players to the front line as possible to pull some Infinity War move whereby they overplay their hand with the gratuitous death by Black Rose of so many people we know and love that it will obviously be "undone" and thus negate any reason to feel anything.

That's my fear as well. Too many obvious deaths and it's going to feel like a cheap shot at drama - especially when we all already know that "changing history" seems to be a theme of the upcoming expansion.

[AmemeAmeklin]

I would never question Artoirel's readiness to stand on the front lines but I do question there being no apparent pressure to stay from other powers in Ishgard when the city itself is going through so much unrest and social change as it transitions from an oligarchy to...some sort of democracy (unclear).

Something a bit odd about that dialogue, though - Honoroit mentions staying "here at the manor". I've never been quite sure what to call that main building at Dragonhead, but I wouldn't have thought manor would be the correct term. Is it? Or has someone been tasked with translating text-without-context and not realised that these characters are no longer at Fortemps Manor in the city?

Camp Dragonhead's kind of an oddity in the central highlands in that it's not a military encampment. It's more of a place of shelter for traveling noncombatants and it seems a number of Fortemps nobles live there (Lady Ninne, Duchesnelt, etc), unlike Whitebrim Front which is mostly knights.

That said, it's probably a minor mistake...