The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of Vermillion

(英雄伝説IV 朱紅い雫), released in North America as The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion, is a role-playing game developed and published by Nihon Falcom for PC-98 in 1996, as the second installment in the Gagharv trilogy. It was licensed to GMF for a PSone version, respectively. Bandai's remake for PSP remake was released in North America in 2005 as the first title of the Gagharv Trilogy, taking place 59 years before in the year 936.

Opening
The setting for the fourth of the Legend of Heroes and the first in the Gagharv Trilogy takes place in the fictional land El Phildin, fifty-six years before "Moonlight Witch". The story begins with an insight to the past. Avin and Eimelle are orphaned children living in Cathedral. Avin was 8 while Eimelle was 7. Avin retrieves milk for the cat Eimelle brought into the chapel. They both watch the kitten drink to its content. Before long, Oracle Ollesia yells at them to take cover. Cathedral is under attack.

Lord Belias and his minions attack the chapel. He is after Eimelle who he calls "Durga's Daughter." He is stopped by High Priest Esperius. Both have a conversation of how Belias used to be destined to lead the Bardus Church someday and how Belias became traitorous. The two wizards fight each other. Esperius dies after being attacked with a rising spell.

The two kids and their oracle attempt an escape before being captured by Belias. Gawain, the "Sage of power," fights to fend off the attack. The rest make an exit to the monster cart. The cat screeches after hearing the spell cast. Avin tried to rescue the cat, but is left in Gawain's care. Ollesia and Eimelle escape to another place.

Prologue
Avin wakes up in the "Sage of Mercy's" house. Avin feels sick that he couldn't save Eimelle. Lemuras, the Sage of Mercy, tells him that he heard about the situation from Gawain. He tells him that he couldn't do anything. Avin asks about Eimille only to hear that he doesn't know. Lemuras tells him that there will be a grave situation if he knew about her existence. He tells Avin to deliver a letter to someone in Ourt Village. There, he learns about his home. After getting the letter, someone chases him. That person is Mile. He gets a red marble and then goes back. Sage Lemuras tells him of the Festival of Nepthys, the town deity. Avin joins Mile in finding the two charms and throws them into the pond going the Nepthys' shrine to grant the wish. Avin wishes to see his sister again. Avin's charm doesn't make it past the center of the pond, this crushes Avin's hope of seeing his sister Eimelle again. Mile throw his charm wishing will Avin see his sister Eimelle again, Mile's charm makes it past the center and Avin ask why Mile used up his failed wish. Mile replies that his wish last year came true.

Main Characters

 * Avin (Age 17): The main protagonist. He sets out on a journey to find his sister Eimelle who has been separated from him for years. He has a short temper and is very impetuous, but is usually kept in check by his calm best friend Mile.
 * Eimelle (Age 15): A kindhearted and modest girl. Avin's young sister and only family. Her kindness extends even to those who would hurt her, as she treats the wounds of one bested enemy. She is known as "Durga's Daughter", an important figure in the plans of Octum's Apostles.
 * Rutice (Age 16): The main heroine, at least the for the latter half of the game. A member of the heretics under Belias, but later reneges when their methods prove too cruel. Plagued with self-doubt about her path in life, she gradually falls in love with Avin as he supports her.
 * Mile (Age 18): Avin's close friend. He is concerned about Avin, and travels together with him. His calm demeanor allows him to defuse his friend's anger, protecting him from making mistakes.
 * Shannon (Age 17): A pure and innocent girl. She is rescued by Avin and his party and instantly falls for Mile when she wakes up and sees him. Her outspoken love and affection for her "prince" perturbs Mile greatly.
 * Martie  (Age 24): A young adventurer who is training to become a minister for the Royal Family. He uses the bounties he earns adventuring to pay for his tuition. He is the first character that joins Avin and Mile on their quest.
 * Muse  (Age 18): A mysterious and confident young woman who uses a whip and helps the party fight the Syamseal Gang, who are threatening the kingdom. MUSE is an acronym of her true name.
 * Douglas (Age 28): One of the Adventurer's Guild's most prolific adventurers, "Lightning Sword" Douglas is a skilled swordsman who befriends Avin and Mile. He is training himself to one day use the Thunder Sword, a keepsake from his deceased master.
 * Lucias (Age 23): Another renowned adventurer and Douglas' eternal rival, "Sapphire Eyes" Lucias is an exceptionally fast swordswoman who also trained with Douglas' master. Her relationship with Douglas is prickly at best, though she helps the party regardless of his presence. She's the role model of Sapphie from "Swordswoman Sapphie" series of novels.
 * Archem (Age 15): A young girl from Spirit Forest who is good friends with the friendly Meefa creatures that inhabit it. She helps the party stop the Meefa hunts and develops a crush on Avin.
 * Conrad (Age 32): The benevolent baron of Balloa, who takes it upon himself to protect his land alongside his soldiers. This tends to worry his wife Theresa.
 * Rael (Age 13): An exceptionally talented sorcery student who often cuts class. His teachers worry about his mischievous attitude, especially considering his potential for spellcraft. His favorite food is puddings, and it shows in his incantations.
 * Professor Elenoa (Age 20 [PC98 version] / 26 [Windows and PSP version]): A talented sorcery instructor who takes it upon herself to reel in her errant student Rael. She and Rael usually help the party as a pair.
 * Michel de Lap Haven (Age 28): A mysterious sorcerer who helps Avin, Rutice &amp; Gawain on their journey. You originally meet him on Truth Island. He also appears in The Legend Of Heroes: Cagesong of the Ocean and The Legend Of Heroes: Prochecy Of The Moonlight Witch as an old man by the name of Grandpa Lap.
 * Thomas (Age 27): A young sailor with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He is the owner of the Planetos (originally Gawain's) and wants nothing more than to navigate across the ocean to new lands. Like Michel, Thomas appears in all three games in the Gagharv Trilogy. Although in The Legend of Heroes: Prophecy of The Moonlight Witch, he goes by the name of Grandpa Roule.
 * Rouca (Age 14): A young teenager who is actually Rutice's brother. He is an able young engineer who works in Guia, an industrial city. At the end of the game, he upgrades the Planetos and it evantually becomes the Planetos II.
 * Gawain (Age 61): The Sage of Power who serves the Bardus Church. He's also the former owner of Planetos and is hailed as "The Hero of Sea". In battle, he wields a giant mace and possesses the ability to cast White Magic.
 * Madram (Age 36) : A powerful warrior who trained under Gawain. He seeks revenge for the death of Dominique, the previous Daughter of Durga. He is aligned to neither God, resenting that the war between them cost him the love of his life.
 * Dominique (Age Unknown) : She was the "Durga's Daughter" before Eimelle. Octum's Apostles murdered her before the game begins.