Fire Emblem Fates (Support Conversations)
c_squint for Azama
Voice Actor: Matthew Mercer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1skNaYt5q8)
Azama is one of Hinoka's retainers, He is a priest with a barbed tongue that belies his seemingly well-mannered personality.
Azama is known to be the second son of a priest based in an unnamed shrine. Prior to the events of Fates, as a result of his ill behavior, he was forced to ascend a number of mountain ranges, during which he found penance and developed a calm, serene demeanor that is considered befitting of a priest. While meditating on one of these mountains one day, Azama encountered Hinoka, who had been injured due to unknown causes. This prompted him to heal her wounds to the best of his abilities before taking her to safety. Departing immediately after rejecting Hinoka's offer to reward him, Azama left the impression that he was a wise, selfless priest, a fact that later saw Hinoka deciding to hire him as one her direct subordinates.
Azama also possesses a powerful charm that he obtained from a holy deity during one of his meditations, although he is not able to use it for "entirely selfish" purposes.
Despite holding the position of a priest who is expected to represent the values of benevolence and compassion, Azama defies such expectations, as he adopts a demeanour of breezy apathy in his regard of others, heavily employing sardonic wit and dark humour in his speech. Indiscriminate in the disagreeable manner by which he treats people, Azama is known to delight in making biting remarks that induce pronounced discomfort, and even his liege and social superior Hinoka is not spared; through his supports with her, he reveals, albeit rather disturbingly, that her positively charming look of fury and frustration during their first meeting as she fought to preserve her life was what compelled him to rescue her.
Azama's sardonicism is deeply steepled in the realm of nihilism, where he airily considers life to be devoid of any meaning or purpose. Apart from him cheerfully remarking that "death comes for everyone" when he defeats an enemy unit, Azama's nihilistic inclinations are also best illustrated through his supports with various characters. His supports with Corrin is one such example, as he, after dismissively stating that death can be a sad affair, casually reveals his belief that he, alongside every other life form, is merely a manifestation of a larger conscience.
Taking up the art of meditating as a hobby, Azama enjoys retreating from the company of others and engaging in the act during his free time. Using meditation as a means of escapism to avoid the chaos of warfare, Azama is known to become irritable when he is interrupted in the practice, a fact that surfaces through his supports with Corrin.
Azama is the only one out of the whole army that never cries.
"Because you asked me to pick herbs in return! Imagine that—a holy man like me, picking herbs. A ridiculous notion! Besides, I clearly didn't need the help. I was probably taking pity on you."
"He's one of the gods. I've been doing ascetic training up in the mountains for years now. My years of meditation and practice have made me something of a master. Let's just say that all that training has given me certain...abilities."
"Deny it if you feel you must, but you know that it's true. I'm the only one here who's strong enough for you. Likewise, you're the only one here who's reckless and interesting enough for me. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before. We're a perfect match!"
