Martlet

Martlet is the deuteragonist of Undertale Yellow, the boss of Snowdin, and the main antagonist and final boss of the Genocide Route as Zenith Martlet. She is a member of the Royal Guard Snowdin Division.

Profile

Appearance

Martlet is a anthropomorphic blue bird monster with a pale blue face and a small yellow beak. She has two feathery blue wings in place of arms and a large tuft of darker blue feathers around her neck. She wears yellow boots with a puffy trim. Her shoulder-length hair is the same blue as her wings with outsticking parts and a tuft at the back. She wears a pale blue sleeveless shirt, the same color as her facial feathers, and dark blue pants, the same color as her neck feathers.

Personality

Martlet is shown to be, as the game states, scatterbrained. She is forgetful, rambly, and often falls asleep at her station. She seems to struggle with concentrating on her duties and often relies on her manual for guidance. She has a passion for puzzlemaking and carpentry.

Martlet has a strong sense of morals and justice. However, she shows indecisiveness and a lack of confidence in her decisions, causing her to make the wrong choices in the moment and hindering her ability to deliver judgement. Despite this, she is persistent in trying her best, doggedly hunting down Clover when she loses them in all routes, although for different reasons. She also is optimistic to the point of appearing naïve. On the Pacifist Route, she is oblivious to the fact that taking Clover to Asgore Dreemurr would result in their death. At the end of a Neutral Route, her optimistic hope and sense of justice lead her to conclude that her best course of action is to take Clover in as a roommate, no matter how many monsters they have killed. While this may appear foolish, not only does this go against the fear of humanity ingrained in her by monster society and Chujin Ketsukane's paranoia, Martlet's belief that Clover will not hurt her is entirely accurate, as even on an aborted Genocide Route her offer causes them to agree to end their rampage. This also shows the nuanced sense of justice that she holds. Martlet goes as far as to defend Clover's decision to kill in the Flawed Pacifist Ending.

Martlet's optimism is broken throughout the Genocide Route as she tries to convince Clover to end their rampage, only to be defeated and ignored. She acts more serious; she retreats from her Snowdin battle upon realizing she cannot win and monitors Clover for the rest of their journey. At the end, her hope in humanity despite monsterkind's anger towards them is destroyed, and she risks her life by injecting herself with experimental determination to give her a chance at stopping Clover.

Etymology

A martlet is a mythical footless bird that never roosts throughout its entire life, continuously flying until death. In English heraldry, it is an allegory for continuous effort.

Main Story

History

When she was in school, Martlet says a B- was an impressive grade. She also seemed to enjoy reading.

When she moved out to live on her own, she had no job or hobbies to keep her occupied. She met Chujin Ketsukane when he built her balcony and asked him to teach her to build. He agreed to mentor her. Martlet found enjoyment in construction and became good friends with him, meeting with him every morning and buying him coffee. Eventually, Martlet decided to get a job as well. She signed up for the Royal Guard and was assigned to guard Alphys's lab. Chujin reacted negatively when he heard the news, not wanting her to get hurt by any humans. Because of this, she broke into the lab to steal a vial of determination sometime before Alphys began injecting monsters.

Martlet was reassigned to the Snowdin Royal Guard Division by the time the game begins. She briefly mentions a vague risk she recently took that she regretted, but does not share details.

Neutral Route

Martlet's first encounter, where she is recalibrating a puzzle

Martlet is first introduced in Snowdin when she is recalibrating a molten rock puzzle, and again propping up a sign next to the swinging bridge puzzle. Both times, she exits without seeing them. Clover can find many rambling notes left around the area by Martlet and has to solve her puzzles to progress. At the end of the path, Martlet finally notices them approach when she is pretending to be an information kiosk. This doesn't last long, as she soon reveals herself to be a member of the Royal Guard. She correctly guesses that Clover is a human and engages in combat.

If Clover refuses to attack, Martlet becomes confused and tries to understand by reading her Royal Guard guidebook. When Clover still does not attack, Martlet loses the will to fight and instead pushes Clover to insult her. When Clover finally insults her job performance, Martlet tells them she is very close to losing her job and that another misstep will get her fired. With this in mind, Martlet suggests hiding Clover to not lose her position and to get Clover home. She escorts them to the UG Aviator and joins Clover down the ride through Waterfall. As they ride, she chats with them and asks them to complete a review of her services. However, Ava overshoots their destination, crashing into the Dunes and separating Martlet and Clover.

If Clover attacks her, she is surprised by the pain their attacks causes her. When brought to low enough health, she flees and promises to find them again later. Clover rides Ava alone.

Martlet finds Clover again just before they enter Oasis Valley. If she was spared, she frantically apologizes for leaving Clover and promises not to leave their side from now on. If she fled, she asks them not to attack; then, she tells Clover she wants to help them, asks their name, and tells them she has to follow through after letting them escape in Snowdin. Either way, she joins them as a follower as they enter Oasis Valley.

Martlet can be brought to any previous location in the Dunes, where she can share information about herself by talking to her in the menu. When they proceed to the Wild East, at its entrance, Martlet stops as she sees Moray approach. She shields Clover as the rest of the Feisty Five approach and introduce themselves. When Starlo realizes Clover is a human, she confirms. As Ed takes them away, she tries to protest, but cannot prove she is a Royal Guard, as she left her gear in Snowdin.

The Feisty Four lock Martlet in jail, where she is trapped for the duration of Clover's time in the Wild East. Clover can choose to talk to her during their breaks. While in jail, she eats moss, tries to brainstorm more molten rock puzzles, and is given extra food by Moray, as they wanted to make sure she was well taken care of.

Before Ceroba Ketsukane goes to confront Starlo, she frees Martlet. Martlet finds Clover after the battle and tells Clover she has to leave to clock in so the Royal Guard does not grow suspicious. She flies away to do so. While Clover is in the Steamworks, Martlet also brings Ava back to her house and repairs the bridge to her house.

Martlet sends Clover a priority letter, which tells them to meet her on the roof of UG Apartments. They receive it when they are near the end of the Steamworks. When they get to the roof, Martlet shows Clover her serum and explains that she can't let them go to Asgore Dreemurr since he will kill them. The dialogue has four variations based on Clover's actions throughout the game: from 1 to 2 LV, 3 to 5 LV, 6+ LV, or based on if they aborted a Genocide Route in the Steamworks. She is more suspicious of them the higher their LV. On an aborted Genocide Route, she feels proven right about humans and is unsure if they will listen to her or instead kill her there, but still tries to see the best in Clover. No matter what, Martlet throws her serum off the roof, asks Clover to reconsider their mission, and offers to take them in and give them a happy childhood. Clover can be enthusiastic or hesitant, depending on the player's choice and their LV, but they will never reject her offer. However, as she walks towards Clover to take them to Snowdin, Flowey impales and kills her with a vine. Martlet dies while blaming Clover.

The fake Martlet seen in Flowey's battle.

In the intermission of Flowey's battle, he creates a fake version of Martlet that hugs Clover and acts happy to see them. He makes the fake Martlet melt in front of them.

Pacifist Route

Martlet's interactions in Snowdin are the same as in a Neutral Route. If Clover chooses to attack her until she flees, they do not abort a Pacifist Route, since she does not die. Most of Martlet's Dunes encounter is the same. She has minor variations in her dialogue after the Starlo battle where she specifies Ceroba broke her cell lock with her staff and encouraged her decision to return to Snowdin.

After Ed and Starlo discover Chujin's study and they decide to rescue Clover, Moray messages Martlet that Clover is in danger. She immediately heads to the Wild East and arrives shortly after Clover arrives from the Steamworks. She apologizes for leaving them, and her and Clover head together to investigate the Ketsukane Estate. She helps Clover lift the kotatsu. She is horrified upon watching Chujin's tapes, but focuses and leads Clover outside. They meet the Feisty Four there, and she insists upon them telling her where Ceroba went so her and Clover can confront her. She instructs Clover to meet her on the roof of the UG Apartments, and the two of them split up.

Martlet and Clover fistbumping on the rooftop of UG Apartments.

Martlet is waiting on the roof when Clover arrives. Before they depart, Martlet compliments Clover on their kind behavior that contrasted with what she was taught about humans. She assures them that she will help them talk to Asgore Dreemurr and return to the surface after they handle Ceroba, but they will meet again when monsterkind goes free. Clover and Martlet both take the elevator up to New Home, where they both find Ceroba and Starlo standing on a balcony, arguing over Ceroba's mission. After listening in to their conversation, Martlet and Clover intervene. Martlet tries to talk Ceroba down by bringing up what she thinks Chujin would think, but Ceroba snaps at her and says Martlet did not really know Chujin. When Ceroba begins to act more aggressive, Martlet tries to flee to Asgore with them, but Ceroba knocks her out along with Starlo. Martlet wakes up after Starlo when Clover and Ceroba's battle finishes.

If Ceroba is spared, Martlet says she will bring Clover to Asgore, but Ceroba intervenes, pointing out that they would not be able to convince Asgore not to take their SOUL. Martlet, Starlo, and Ceroba attempt to find an alternative. Ceroba and Martlet begin arguing when Martlet disagrees with Ceroba's acceptance of future children after Clover dying to Asgore. When Clover tells them they will give up their SOUL, Martlet is the first to protest, but she comes to understand that they will not change their mind. She makes the first move to hug them of the three. Clover gives her their hat. She thanks them and leaves.

After their death, she is offered a promotion, but decides to quit her Royal Guard job and focus on more meaningful work. She builds a small raft for a sendoff for Clover in Waterfall. Martlet does not appear in the main credits. In the post-credits cutscene, she is putting their hat in the raft she made. Starlo and Ceroba join her, as well as Dalv, who was invited by Ceroba. Martlet greets him and shakes his hand. They all say their last goodbyes to Clover.

If Ceroba is killed, Martlet immediately realizes that Clover killed Ceroba. She apologizes for not being there to help, which Starlo yells at her for, saying Ceroba did not deserve to die. Martlet, however, defends Clover's actions, saying that Ceroba was set on killing Clover and backed them into a corner. Starlo rejects this and leaves the two on the rooftop. Martlet apologizes to Clover again, seeing their decision as an unfortunate but necessary one. The two proceed to Asgore. Before entering the castle, she stops and promises to find them on the surface when monsterkind goes free. The two enter to see Asgore Dreemurr. Martlet tries to convince him that Clover should back to the surface, but he is unwilling to change his mind. Martlet attempts to get Clover to vouch for themself, but they do not, making Martlet realize they are going to fight to the death. Martlet attempts to invite Clover to stay with her in Snowdin, but Clover does not budge. Martlet leaves, giving one last look at Clover before she does.

Genocide Route

Upon first encountering Clover in Snowdin, Martlet shows concern, believing them to be a monster left behind. Clover begins a battle, which Martlet believes to be because they are just scared due to the current looming threat. Although she does not want to fight at first, when Martlet realizes that Clover is the reason behind the evacuations, she fights back. Upon reaching low HP, Martlet stops the fight, asking Clover to lower their weapon—which they do—before warning them about the consequences of their actions if they continue killing and flying away.

Martlet confronts Clover again before Oasis Valley in the Dunes. She tries to reason with Clover, explaining that the previous humans Clover must be seeking vengeance for were not all killed unfairly, but Clover steps forward, cutting her off. She changes to warning them that the Royal Guard are searching for them but she thinks Clover can still end their violence. Clover pulls their gun out, so she warns them about how they will not get away with what they have done before flying away.

Martlet injecting herself with determination to transform into a more powerful form.

Martlet ends up on the roof of UG Apartments. When Clover arrives, she is staring at the CORE before she turns to face Clover. After being brought into battle, she monologues about how she wanted to believe humans were good, sharing her regrets about not trying harder to stop Clover but how she knew the chance of her succeeding was slim. She injects a vial of determination into her wing. The serum's effects cause her to begin to melt before she pulls the goo into herself and transforms into Zenith Martlet, beginning her final boss fight.

When Clover kills her, she melts while calling for help. The rooftop is heavily damaged during the battle.

In Battle

For an in-battle description of her Snowdin battles, see Martlet/In Battle.

For an in-battle description of her final boss fight, see Zenith Martlet.

Development and Creation

Martlet was always planned to be the final boss of the Genocide Route, even in the very first draft of Undertale Yellow. The idea for the cutscene and battle occurring on the roof of MTT Resort was conceived the same day that development started, and it stayed in the final game. One of the earliest concepts for Undertale Yellow was that it would use only other people's characters, rather than including original ones. In this idea, Red would take Martlet's place in the story. Red's role in the story was later changed to a royal guard who would ride a bird, and finally replaced with Martlet.

Martlet originally was meant to first appear at the very end of Snowdin at her station. Her appearances at puzzles throughout Snowdin were a later addition at playtester recommendation.

Martlet's character was teased heavily before release. She was first revealed on December 26th, 2016 in an Undertale Yellow Twitter post, with art created by Emmalume_. In February 2019, a comic was posted about her, depicting her running late to work and falling asleep when trying to be productive. Her Neutral and Pacifist Route battle theme, Protocol, was revealed on April 15, 2019, and her Genocide Route battle theme, Apprehension, was revealed on November 18, 2021.

Gallery

Sprites

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  Martlet's running animation.
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  Martlet waking up at her station.
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  Martlet retrieving her Royal Guard manual.
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  Martlet taking flight.
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  Martlet bumping fists with Clover.
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  Martlet, Starlo, and Ceroba all hugging Clover.
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  Clover giving Martlet their hat in the True Pacifist ending.
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  Martlet and Dalv shaking hands in the Pacifist post-credits.
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  Martlet sharing a drink with Chujin in a flashback.
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  Martlet initiating the start of her boss fight in the Genocide Route.
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  Martlet flying during her boss fight in the Neutral and True Pacifist Routes.
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  Martlet flying during her boss fight in the Genocide Route.

Artwork

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  Official artwork of Martlet from the Game Jolt page, drawn by Emmalume_.
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  The official artwork of Martlet alongside some of her sprites.
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  Artwork for Martlet's Genocide Route battle in Snowdin, drawn by AeroArtwork.
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  Concept art of Martlet by NeroSenseiUT.
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  More concept art of Martlet and her Zenith form by NeroSenseiUT.
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  Comparison between Martlet's draft and final overworld sprites.
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  An unused design for a corrupted Martlet variant in the Flowey battle.
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  Other designs for Martlet's Flowey battle intermission melting sprite.
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  Other Flowey battle designs for Martlet.

Trivia

Martlet in the discontinued Undertale: Bits and Pieces mod.

• Despite Martlet filling a similar role to Papyrus (being a puzzlemaker in Snowdin) and Sans (being the final boss of the Genocide Route), AeroArtwork has implied that the similarities were not completely intentional.
• Martlet made a cameo in the discontinued Undertale mod Undertale: Bits and Pieces, where she appears beside an outpost near Papyrus's puzzle areas. As the last version of the mod was published before Undertale Yellow's full release, Martlet is a Royal Guard member in this mod, despite leaving the position after the events of Undertale Yellow.
• When Martlet dies in the Neutral Route, she turns into dust from the bottom up, which is odd because in almost every other case it is from the top to bottom.
  • This detail is shared with Starlo in the Genocide Route, where he turns to dust from the bottom up as well. Both deaths occur in the overworld instead of in battle.
• Martlet does not like raisins.