Falcom has released a “demo movie” and new set of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III information and screenshots detailing characters Giliath Osborne, Lechter Arundel, Rufus Albarea, and Claire Rieveldt.

Get the details below.

Spoiler Warning: This is an article about characters in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III. Thus, it contains information about previous developments of The Legend of Heroes series. Proceed with caution.

■ Characters

Giliath Osborne (voiced by Jouji Nakata)

Age: 54

A representative of the Imperial government of military background, known throughout the continent of Zemuria as the “Blood and Iron Chancellor.”

Since taking office, he has promoted modernization of the Empire in every aspect, and has made strong progress in areas such laying the railroad network throughout the country, and annexing and making provinces of neighboring regions.

His philosophy, called the “Reformist Faction,” has gathered enthusiastic support from the commoners, but is looked upon in utter hostility by the noble powers, which leads to instability within the country.

Meanwhile, after he is shot by an assassin during a public address, the Noble Alliance’s occupation of the Empire begins, the country falls into a civil war.

And—in the final stages of the Civil War, Osborne, who managed to escape death for whatever reason, takes advantage of the chaos to overtake the Phantasmal Blaze Plan that the secret society Ouroboros was moving forward with, and simultaneously reveals the shocking truth that he is the real father of a certain character.

Lechter Arundel (voiced by Masakazu Morita)

Age: 24

Captain of the Erebonia Imperial Intelligence Service, who also possesses the title of diplomatic secretary.

One of the Ironbloods founded by the Blood and Iron Chancellor, he is an irresponsible and carefree young man at first glance, but is called by the nickname “Scarecrow” as a result of his by all imaginable means success in unofficial, under the table negotiations and handiwork.

During the Civil War, he hides out in Crossbell, which declared national independence. Working together with the intelligence officials of the Republic of Calvard, as well as the Crossbell Police Department and Special Support Section, he contributed to the then-president’s fall from power.

After the Civil War, while active in various places as an intelligence officer for the Imperial Intelligence Service, he often appears before Rean and company in order to convey orders from the Imperial government to the “Ashen Knight.”

Rufus Albarea (voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa)

Age: 29

The eldest son of the Albarea Duke family of the Four Great Houses, and the first governor-general of the Crossbell Province annexed by the Empire.

During the Civil War fought between the Noble Faction and Reformist Faction, he worked as a general officer for the Noble Alliance, but his true identity is leader of the Ironbloods founded by the Reformist Faction representative, Blood and Iron Chancellor Giliath Osborne.

While using Altina, lent to him by the Black Workshop, and while advantageously leading the command of the Noble Alliance, he guided them on a path that would end in them being regarded as “traitors.”

After the Civil War, as the general commander of the Crossbell Expeditionary Force that combined the powers of the Imperial Army of Erebonia and provincial armies, he bloodlessly occupied Crossbell City in the blink of an eye.

He also withdrew all subsequent invasions of the Republic of Calvard Army, and contributed to the insertion of Crossbell into Imperial territory, both in name and application.

Claire Rieveldt (voiced by Ami Koshimizu)

Age: 26

A special duty major who belongs to the Imperial Army of Erebonia and Railway Military Police, and a member of the Ironbloods.

She is known by the nickname “Icy Maiden” from the fact that she commands troops deployed on the railway network throughout the Empire like limbs with unrivaled processing capabilities equivalent to that of an orbal arithmetic unit.

During the Civil War, she gallantly protected Osborne’s doctrine in a disaster, and in helping out Rean and the other members of Class VII, cooperated in the reorganization of the outnumbered Imperial Army of Erebonia.

She was praised for the direction she took in her counteroffensive and Imperial capital recovery strategies, and was promoted to major at the young age of 25, and entrusted to command the troops throughout the entire Empire, including Crossbell Province.

Accompanying the establishment of Thors Military Academy Reaves II Branch School, Claire, who went to Reaves in order to deliver the military armored train known as The Derfflinger, has her first reunion with Rean since the Northern War.

■ Keywords

Ironbloods

The subordinates of Primce Minister Giliath Osborne under his direct control.

While they usually act in their individual positions and organizations within the Empire, they become Osborne’s limbs in an emergency, and are his protege subordinates who faithfully carry out his orders.

They swear absolute loyalty to Osborne, and whatever reasons exist for them joining is unknown.

Osborne himself also seems to rely upon them, but did not inform them he was alive after he was attacked by a sniper assassin, and also kept the existence of Ironbloods leader Rufus a secret, while feeling out speculation behind the scenes.

Could it be that there are more members of the Ironbloods outside of the four currently known to exist?

Scarecrow

Lechter earned his nickname, “Scarecrow,” as a result of his 100 percent success rate in negotiations said to be impossible.

He first appeared in The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd. At the time, he was the student council president of Jenis Royal Academy in the Liberl Kingdom. His reasons for being at the school are unknown, but he dropped out midway.

His next appearance was when he came to Grancel Castle in Liberl with Osborne.

In Crossbell State, which was the setting of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Zero and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Azure, he disguised himself as a tourist and got in touch with Lloyd and the other members of the Special Support Section. He often helped them in a pinch.

At this time, he met with Kilika, a member of the intelligence agency in the Republic of Calvard, and discussed “making rules for information warfare appropriate for a new era.”

In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, he showed his skills in avoiding through negotiation a conflict between the Republic of Calvard in the Nord Highlands and the Empire.

The Leader

An extraordinary existence among the Ironbloods.

At the end of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, Rufus revealed himself to be the “leader” of the Ironbloods, which are the proteges of the Blood and Iron Chancellor.

As his identity was seemingly hidden from the other members of the Ironbloods, even Lechter and Millum were surprised.

He is also the eldest son of the Albarea Duke family, which is the highest ranking noble family of the Four Great Houses, but what made him pledge loyalty to Osborne of the Reformist Faction?

Osborne’s faith in him considered, there seems to be something deep about their relationship.

The Cooperator

In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Claire first appeared as a capable female officer belonging to the Imperial Army of Erebonia and Railway Military Police.

She showed her cooperative side from that point onward, such as in privately meeting Rean at the bar in the evening to provide him with information.

And in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, she joins the third faction led by Rean by her own proposal.

She advised them on protecting Rean’s hometown of Ymir, kept them company at times of relaxation during their hard work, and overcame difficulties alongside them as a reliable companion.

In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, she is promoted from captain to major, and while it seems that she is more pronounced as a soldier, what path will she take when she is stuck between the Empire and Osborne, and Rean?