Heavenly Bride
The Heavenly Bride is a character who the Hero of Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride can marry.
Though getting married isn't optional, the player's choice in bride will result in minor differences for the remainder of the game.
Story[edit]
Upon arriving in the town of Mostroferrato, the Hero notices a young woman trying to retrieve her dog, Bingo. He helps by catching the dog, and discovers that the woman is Nera of the Briscoletti family. The family's head, the fabulously wealthy Rodrigo Briscoletti, is hoping to see Nera married off to a fitting husband through several tests. Since Mr Briscoletti is also offering the Zenithian shield as a wedding gift, the Hero has no choice but to participate in this ordeal.
The first test is retrieving the Circle of Fire from the trio of monsters guarding it in Mount Magmageddon. Crispin Burns also undertakes this challenge, though he fails and is badly injured. The Hero succeeds and is directed towards the next test, which is to retrieve the Circle of Water from the depths of Cataract Caves. He accomplishes this second task with the aid of his childhood friend Bianca Whitaker.
Though the tests were intended to find a man worthy of marrying Nera, Mr Briscoletti generously gives the groom-to-be the option of marrying either Nera or Bianca, and sends him to spend the night at the inn to consider his choice. The following day the Hero returns to the Briscoletti residence to choose between the two ladies as well as Nera's sister, Debora Briscoletti, who offers herself as a third option at the last moment (to her father's consternation, but also his immense relief if the Hero is willing to take her off his hands).
Trivia[edit]
- In Heroes, Bianca and Nera were whisked away to that game's world the night before the bride choice. The Briscoletti manor scene in Dragon Quest XI takes place the morning of the choice.
- Rab's scenario in Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition includes several tongue-in-cheek homages to events from Dragon Quest V, including the Hero's birth and the bride choice, which is represented as Rab choosing between three warriors to represent Dundrasil in a martial arts tournament.
- Famously, if the Hero chooses to tour Mostroferrato the night before the proposal, Bianca is awake and fretting about what will happen in the morning, while Nera is sound asleep. Debora is also still up.
- During the bride choice sequence, if the player speaks to Mr Briscoletti or the maid who is also present, they will interpret the interaction as a marriage proposal and politely refuse. Likewise, there is unique text if the player attempts to leave the room by magical means.
- The bride trio are sometimes associated with a sun, moon and star motif, as seen in their key artwork from Rivals as well as the logo of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World.
