The hero of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light is Marth, the exiled prince of Altea.
After the Dolhr Empire invades Altea, Marth escapes to the island kingdom of Talys. Years later, he begins a campaign to reclaim his homeland and oppose the Shadow Dragon Medeus and the sorcerer Gharnef. The player leads Marth and his growing army across the continent of Archanea.
Marth is often confused with other famous Fire Emblem protagonists, including Chrom, Ike, and Roy. Those characters belong to later games: Chrom stars in Awakening, Ike in Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, and Roy in The Binding Blade. Marth debuted in the 1990 original game and later became widely known through the Super Smash Bros. series.