Asriel

(You opened the door with your eyes closed. You saw nothing.)

Attempting to peek into Asriel's room in Queen's Mansion, Chapter 2

Asriel Dreemurr (JP: アズリエル・ドリーマー Azurieru Dorīmā) (typically /ˈæzriəl ˈdɹiːmər/) is a returning character and Kris's older brother in Deltarune. He is mentioned by Hometown's residents, but is away at university and does not appear in the game's first five Chapters. When home, he lives with Kris and his mother, Toriel, in the northern end of Hometown.

Profile

Appearance

According to Susie and Noelle, Asriel bears a striking resemblance to Ralsei, with Noelle voicing it to Susie in Chapter 4. Susie also notices this upon seeing a photo of Asriel in Chapter 4, at first believing it is a manipulated photo of Ralsei. Kris may allude to Ralsei resembling someone they know in an optional conversation in Chapter 3, to which Ralsei attempts to apologize for looking like someone else, only for Kris to assure Ralsei without player input that they do not think their faces are too similar. It appears Kris was referring to Asriel, as when Susie mistakes the photo of Asriel for Ralsei in Chapter 4, Kris once again interrupts to point out all the differences without player input. However, other characters who have seen both Asriel and Ralsei, such as Tenna, do not comment on any similarities. Upon meeting Ralsei in Chapter 5, Asgore notes the resemblance between him and Asriel; however, upon taking a closer look, he comments on how difficult it is to tell if he even is a monster at all.

Asriel is also said to wear a jacket with sleeves "that smelled like cinnamon" by Noelle in Chapter 2.

Personality

Asriel is open and friendly to the other townspeople. He is very popular in Hometown, and many of Kris's neighbors exclusively talk about him to praise him. He was very caring and overly sensitive in his youth, according to Alvin who recalls him begging for forgiveness after he "dropped the lizard" into a pit in a video game. He was also seemingly afraid of horror movies, not wanting to watch them or pretending to get popcorn to skip watching. He also has many trophies on his shelf. He likes music, including religious ska. Asriel appears to have a very formal way of writing, seen in letters to both Catty for their junior dance and unsent love letters addressed to Dess. Despite the differences between him and Kris, he does care a lot about them.

Main story

History

Asriel is the oldest child of Asgore and Toriel, and shared Kris's bedroom at the Dreemurr residence. At some point, the Dreemurr family befriended the Holiday family, and they would frequently spend time together. Asriel and Kris grew particularly close with their neighbors Dess and Noelle, the four forming a tight-knit friendship. In the youth group, Asriel and Kris tried to make an angel doll like the one Noelle made for her father, but never finished because they spent the time on its giant wings.

Asriel used to be a part of the local church choir, which sounded "thinner" after he went away. He might have been a part of the cross country club, since he owns a club shirt with a rip in it. He was friends with Pizzapants, who nicknamed him "Azzy", along with Catty and Bratty, who both remember him fondly. Bratty convinced Asriel to give her his first kiss while playing truth or dare, and the Dreemurr family went to church almost every day for a week when Toriel found out. Asriel once attended a school dance with Catty, an event the latter fondly reminisces about.

Asriel also once tossed "corn flakes" to Onion, who remembers him as friendly. One of the few people with something negative to say about Asriel is Catty's father, who refers to Asriel as "Doug" and "Douglas" and complains that Asriel did not like his wife's cooking.

Asriel used to go to QC's Diner with his family on Sundays after service. After Toriel and Asgore separated, Asriel still took Kris there every Sunday to buy them Hot Chocolate, after which the two would sit in a corner booth and draw on the window with their breath. He also used to carry Kris to school when Kris woke up late.

After leaving for university, Asriel remained in contact with Kris online until Hometown's internet experienced an outage.

Chapter 1

Toriel mentions Asriel before Kris goes to school, excited that he is scheduled to visit home next week, and wonders if he will still enjoy "this little town" after university.

After Kris returns from the Dark World, several characters in Hometown can be spoken to about Asriel. Pizzapants has been saving up money to go to the same university as "Azzy". Asgore wonders if the family can go out to the diner together when Asriel visits, like old times. Berdly claims that Asriel has yet to return the book How to Draw Dragons, which is 2,583 days overdue and has accrued a massive fine.

Toriel, when asked about Asriel, says that he liked the "green lizard" associated with "eggs with spots" from a game called Super Smashing Fighters when he was younger. She also mentions Asriel had a birthday party themed around the green lizard; after Asgore cooked the eggs from the party for breakfast the next day, Asriel has hated a book about green eggs since then.

Chapter 2

While looking through the house the next day, Kris stumbles across How to Draw Dragons, and after noticing the purple character on the cover is dressed "immodestly", Kris concludes Asriel will never return the book. If Kris calls Toriel on their way to the library, Toriel assures them that if Berdly bugs them about Asriel's book she will throw a smoke bomb so they can escape.

A door with a label that says "ASRIEL" appears at Queen's Mansion, presumably designed after his browser history like the other personal rooms. Upon attempting to peek inside the room, Kris closes their eyes. If the party returns to the door after Susie re-joins, she peeks inside and is amused by the contents, joking that Kris should hope she never meets Asriel.

When Alvin is asked about Asriel at the end of the Chapter, he comments on how Asriel begged for forgiveness for various "sins", such as dropping the green lizard into a pit in a video game, as well as "sins" on Kris's behalf, such as Kris dropping the lizard into the pit on purpose.

Chapter 3

Asriel in Tenna's memory of the Dreemurrs and Holidays watching TV together

Some of the Darkners from TV World are familiar with Asriel, having interacted with him as their Light World forms at the Dreemurr residence. For example, one Pippins recalls him and Kris taking it home from school. Tenna in particular has very fond memories of Asriel, as he used to be one of the former's original viewers. He describes how Kris and Asriel used to spend a lot of time in front of the TV together, and is disappointed when he learns that Asriel left for college. Before the battle with Tenna, a flashback scene occurs with the Holiday and Dreemurr families watching TV together at the Dreemurr residence. Each member disappears one-by-one, with Asriel being the sixth to disappear after Dess, Carol, Asgore, Rudy, and Noelle.

Chapter 4

In Chapter 4, Susie ends up wearing some of Asriel's old clothes to church, as that is the only thing available that fits her. During church service, Kris can look through their pockets. If the AncientSweet criteria is fulfilled, Susie can find a letter addressed from Asriel to Catty in her jacket pocket. The letter thanks her for accepting his invitation to a school dance and compliments her eyes.

When Susie is in the Dreemurr residence, she mistakes Asriel for Ralsei via a photo on the fridge. Kris adamantly points out how their brother differs from Ralsei. When exploring Asriel and Kris's room, she notes the imbalance of Asriel's shelves full of trophies to Kris's empty ones, and takes one of Asriel's glow-in-the-dark stars to make a trophy for Kris.

When investigating Dess's room at Noelle's House, multiple objects relating to Asriel can be found, including his retainer and one of his sweaters.

At the church, it is revealed that both Toriel and Asgore keep Asriel in their prayers.

Chapter 5

By interacting with Asriel's drawer at the start of the Chapter, Kris finds various unsent love letters inside. If they are forced to open and read one of the letters, it is revealed that Asriel held feelings towards Dess at some point. The bookshelf in the upstairs hallway of the Dreemurr residence contains a photo album of past Festivals where Asriel is depicted in various situations with Kris and other members of the Holiday and Dreemurr families.

When given the Honey Toast, Toriel remarks on Asriel's absence at the Festival and reminisces about how he and Kris used to go together and win many prizes. She also mentions it'll be "just a little while" before they bring him home, and proposes they surprise him early at his dormitory.

Near the hospital and before the start of the Festival, Pizzapants reveals that Kris, Asriel, and Dess used to be a band. He mentions that Dess and Asriel never really practiced their instruments, and heavily implies that they often used to practice kissing instead.

If Kris votes for Noelle and themselves as King and Queen during the Festival, Noelle remembers Dess and Asriel winning together when they were younger. Kris can also remember Asriel riding the wheel with Dess while Susie and Noelle are on the Ferris Wheel.

Asriel's silhouette is depicted in green during Asgore's ending monologue alongside the rest of the Dreemurr family. Asgore then tells Kris that he would love to spend time with them and Asriel once he comes home.

Relationships

Kris

For Kris's perspective, see Kris § Asriel.

Asriel has been consistently kind to his younger sibling. He has used the knockoff controller to play video games, begged for forgiveness for Kris's "sins", and had carried Kris to school. Asriel would also routinely bring Kris to QC's Diner every Sunday for a cup of hot chocolate. The duo have been very close since childhood, even forming a music band with Dess, and various Hometown residents acknowledge this.

After Asriel left for college, he often stayed up late to converse with Kris until the internet went out in Hometown.

Dess

For Dess's perspective, see Dess § Asriel.

Dess is one of Asriel's childhood friends, and the two are implied to be close to one another prior to her disappearance. Asriel hung out with Dess on multiple occasions, such as exploring the forest behind Hometown's graveyard with their younger siblings, riding the Ferris wheel together, and doing a square dance with their fathers. At some point, the two were once crowned Festival King and Queen. Asriel also performed in a band with Dess, though Pizzapants implies that the two spent more time practicing "something else" rather than play their instruments.

Some of Asriel's belongings remain in Dess's room, such as his retainer and one of his sweaters. Asriel also left behind an unsent love letter for Dess that addresses her as "Dearest December", implying that he had feelings for her and that their bond was more than just a simple friendship.

Creation and development

The religious ska CD under Asriel's bed is a contribution of Reid Young, a co-founder of Fangamer, by introducing Toby Fox to the discography of Five Iron Frenzy.

Outside of Deltarune

Main article: Asriel

Asriel first appeared as a major character in Undertale, where he is the biological child of Toriel and Asgore, and the adoptive brother of the fallen human. However, Asriel died before the start of Undertale, with the reason later revealed in the game.

Allusions

Allusions to Undertale

• In Chapter 2, if Kris inspects the computer in their room, there is a "poorly-drawn design for a game" that features a "last boss" with a "creature with giant rainbow wings". This references Undertale itself, the True Pacifist Route, and the final form of Asriel's Undertale counterpart.
• In Chapter 3, when Tenna mentions Asriel during the Cooking Show, a snippet of His Theme, Asriel's theme from Undertale, plays.

Other allusions

• The "green lizard" character Asriel liked playing as in Super Smashing Fighters can be inferred to be a reference to Yoshi from the Super Mario Bros. and Super Smash Bros. series.
• The "book about green eggs" Asriel hated can be inferred to be a reference to the children's book Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss.
• The "sins" Asriel confessed to Alvin are a reference to a practice in Super Mario World where Yoshi can be jumped off of mid-jump for additional height, sometimes dooming Yoshi to disappear off the bottom of the screen.

Trivia

• Asriel's name is one of the names that prompts a unique response from the voice in the introduction during Chapter 1.
• While the contents of Asriel's room in Queen's Mansion are unseen, its existence indicates that Asriel has used the library computers before.