Summary
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s cast is one built on the diversity of the Kingdom of Euchronia, a feature tantamount to the title’s themes of tackling prejudice. The allies that join the protagonist throughoutMetaphor’s journey hail from different tribes throughout the region; the “travelling boy” that acts as the player’s avatar is of the rarest elda tribe, a persecuted people who are detested for their inheritance of “heretical” magic. A counterpart to the protagonist’s origins is Leon Strohl, a man of the populous clemar tribe with an idealized view of nobility withinMetaphor: ReFantazio’s complicated world. Despite their origins, the two’s allyship reveals more in common than their surface level differences, setting up one of the game’s many bonds.
A recentGamescom interview by IGNgave a closer glimpse intoMetaphor’s early allies, Strohl and Hulkenberg, through a discussion with their respective voice actors, Stewart Clarke and Kristin Atherton. Their characters serve as the starting foundation forMetaphor’s party, with Strohl being the first ally to join the fray. Clarke describes Strohl as a “brother in arms” to the protagonist, bonding over their respective ideals and motivations in a way that forges the basis of their camaraderie. A man of the people with a strong sense of justice, Strohl is set up to have his idealism clash with therealities ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s world, taking up the sword in the hopes of a future where it will no longer be needed.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Strohl is Set Up to Be the Protagonist’s “Ride or Die”
Strohl and the Metaphor: ReFantazio Protagonist Have a Friendship “Forged in Fire”
Following in the traditional party setup of the laterPersonatitles, Strohl is introduced as the beginning ally “ride or die” type, a detail corroborated by Clarke’s enthusiasm over the character. He’s described as being incredibly forthright without mincing words, a bluntness that will likely tie into his moral convictions. Based on the interview andgameplay footage ofMetaphor: ReFantazioso far, Strohl’s background is predicated by his innate sense of justice, which also seems to bleed into his fixation on the past and his longstanding grudges. Dialogue reveals that Strohl’s hometown has been ruined, an event that looks to set in motion his recruitment into the State Army and meeting with the protagonist.
Strohl’s idealism is set to be one of the character’s defining traits, as Clarke mentions that this will cause him to butt up against the realities ofMetaphor’s world. His moral upbringing may make him an outlier among the more selfish ofMetaphor’s noble classes, which will likely tie into the events of his hometown’s ruin and his resolve to restore it to its former glory.Similar toPersona 5’s themes, it looks like Strohl’s motivations come from his realization that corruption exists in many forms, and those who should be protecting the people don’t always have their best interests at heart.
Strohl’s Place in Metaphor’s World
Strohl’s ability to connect with the protagonist so early in the game shows that he is able to look past their differences in origin and find commonalities through the hopes for change. It will be interesting to see whether his background as a noble or his status as a member of the clemar tribe takes into account the prejudices ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s harsh world, however. Being from the most populous tribe inMetaphor’s Kingdom of Euchronia and coming from a royal background would indicate that he has had more advantages than most, though the destruction of his hometown shows that he has struggled in other aspects of his life. He seems to be set up as a widely accepting character so far, which could create a dichotomy between him and others of his tribe.
Both Strohl andMetaphor’s other early ally, Hulkenberg, have ties to royalty, though their respective situations show them divorced from their origins. Strohl is a country noble who survives the destruction of his hometown, while Hulkenberg’s inability to protectEuchronia’s prince as a knight of the Royal Guard results in her self-imposed disgrace. As more ofMetaphor: ReFantazio’s partycomes to light, it will be interesting to see whether other members share similar class origins, and how much their differences play into their dynamics with one another. For now, it is exciting to see how Strohl is set up, making for a compelling confidant tothe protagonist.
