Soul's Fire Emblem brainfarting

So my brain keeps thinking of directions Fire Emblem could have gone in, from Fates-style choices but done well, to Protagonist Journey to Villain, to an actual Fates rework, and now to the following. So if you're willing, I got a basic though wordy idea which I'll dub Heroes' Blood. It doesn't cover several things as that takes writing I'm not capable of in such a short time, if at all. But here it is:

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STORY OUTLINE:
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So far, Fire Emblem, with the exception of Thracia 776, has always been about its entire continent. Awakening's even been about two. What if we think a little smaller? What if the stage for the story is just the continent's big ass empire (I'll call it Lauen or the Lauish Empire)? What if the war is a revolution turning into a full-blown civil war?

This revolution would start with good reason, given the empire has problems, don't know which. However, unlike in most Fire Emblem games where such a struggle is straightup heroic, I'd intend to have the consequences on full display. There'll be collateral damage, blood of innocents, the goodest guys including the lord or somesuch (calling him Kegan for now) having to work with questionable allies. Meanwhile, whereas the current emperor (current name Sigismund) is not great one way or another, the imperial prince (Folkvard) is a decent, capable heir, though often without hesitation. Initially letting the revolution go a bit in the hopes it would change his father, the prince changes his mind when he sees what it's doing to his country. Even still, being good friends with some of the revolutionaries (Kegan probably included), he pleads that they stop and find a better solution.

"I'll make this easier for you, Kegan. Are you just inept, or did you give the order? Answer me!"
-Folkvard confronting Kegan following the assassination of emperor Sigismund

That changes when a foreign force assassinates his dad, robbing him of the chance of redemption. These would be the story's shadow antagonists, ala Fire Emblem's many cults or the Slitherins, but probably a bit more down-to-earth. Not only that, said force deals a lot of pain besides, maiming Folkvard's very much innocent sister in the process. This is where he begins to suffer deeply. Things begin to go especially wrong when Lauish intelligence links the foreign force to the revolutionary army. Needless to say, this is where the revolutionaries permanently lose Folkvard for their cause, and that's only the beginning. Folkvard is crowned emperor, and unlike Sigismund he's popular. The revolution nearly grinds to a halt as they are now also fiercely opposed by indignant common folk.

"It's nothing, Bergliot... Whatever it takes, no matter what we have to inflict upon them... The end of the revolutionary army can't come soon enough."
-Folkvard following a nightmare, probably late into the story
"You'll get no quarter... no opening... no mercy. Lauen cannot heal as long as you're allowed to BREATHE ON ITS SOIL!"
-Folkvard during the final battle

The story could be about mistakes, and they have been aplenty for the revolutionaries so far. But soon it's emperor Folkvard's turn to make mistakes as he grows ever more antagonistic. The connection between his family's attackers and his friends has been making him paranoid and increasingly draconic. Initially, Folkvard gets away with this degeneration given his popularity and the plethora of valid accusations. Although he resorts to gruesome public executions, for one, he does so to end the civil war as fast as possible. But my best guess at the moment is that eventually his ruthlessness begins to catch up to him and his degeneration never stops. Towards the end, he's clearly no longer the capable, suitable ruler he once was, even intending to start a war in retribution with the nation that played such a role in the civil war. Only when you finally deal him the mortal blow does Folkvard realize his mistakes, having harmed his nation and lost sight of what his former friends stood for.


There you have it... it kind of became about the story's sympathetic villain, didn't it? Then again, that sort of villain can really make a Fire Emblem story. His fall from grace, the fact Folkvard actually starts out as a good man and capable heir (not to mention probably the key to solving the empire's problems), and the fact there's no going back should reinforce that, in actuality, a revolution is not this magical solution.

Before I go into some further specifics, I should probably complete my coverage of the basic idea. Albeit started with understandable if not good reasons, the revolution is a mistake. You can try to atone, as Kegan could by eventually going after the foreign force, but that's not always a get-out-of-jail-free card. In this particular case, it's too late and Folkvard is still out for blood. Basically, the story would be about mistakes, being that plenty are made, and how to live and deal with them. And as previously mentioned rebellion, no matter the intentions, will have nasty consequences that you can't just erase.

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OTHER DETAILS:
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...I said no going back but if there's a tactician you could avoid said point of no return. Even still, the only way Folkvard doesn't lose his shit is if you join him deciding that, yes, this revolution has gone too far and should stop. Even then, you'll initially have your hands full stressing that he shouldn't do anything to invite more rebellion and strife (as he would if you don't join him). In other words, the only way to prevent Folkvard's slippage is to side against Kegan and the revolutionaries. That's still one hell of a price to pay. But the existence of a tactician/avatar is an if, given added complications.

Another important character that has kind of solidified is Bergliot. She's an imperial noble who was sent to prince Folkvard not as fiancé but as servant. Think the Nohrian maids and butler I suppose. While Bergliot does appear to be an important retainer, you'd be wrong if you thought that's all there was. As it turns out, Bergliot is right at home in the shadows, where she commits all sorts of heinous deeds for the sake of the imperial house, behind Folkvard's back. Does this remind you of Hubert? I guess it would. But not only should Bergliot's ruthlessness come as more of a surprise, but her logic is somewhat different: Having seen emperor Sigismund's failings, she concludes that necessary, drastic actions will nonetheless destroy any ruler responsible for them. Thus, she takes such actions so that Folkvard never has to order her to. Bergliot wouldn't mind her own execution as long as Folkvard becomes and remains an exemplary, blameless emperor. Needless to say, she is devastated when Folkvard's virtue falls apart, and her years of hard work with it.
An obvious use for Bergliot as I piece out the story is that I can make her responsible for crimes on the imperial side. Expect important blood on her hands.

I haven't fully figured out the foreign force yet. But perhaps their nation is unfavorably looked upon for a reason that has to do with the continent's more supernatural elements. That would be a more sympathetic element to them. However, don't expect them to be particularly sympathetic. They're the shadow antagonists, that isn't their job. Anyway, they manipulate the story's events, likely to prolong the civil war as long as they can or some such. Whether that is for a strategic benefit or purely out of revenge I don't know.

As for the supernatural elements, I'm strongly leaning towards nodding to the Heroesverse, with both Heroes (most likely Askran ancestors) and the big evil threat of the past coming from "another world". You could see Geirskogul (belonging to Folkvard) and Thogn (belonging to Bergliot) as some of the ultimate weapons, left behind by the Heroes, alongside other similarly themed ones. The "Blood of the Heroes" can course through the veins of some people, mostly the imperial nobles. All Heroes would have titles rather than names. For example, Folkvard's family has the blood of The Noble, the leader of the Heroes, running through his veins. But perhaps Blood of the Heroes, being blood from another world, can have side effects beyond slightly enhanced capabilities and access to their weapons. Side effects that are unpredictable, drastic, and perhaps not strictly a blessing...