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Whenever I play Fate/Grand Order, one thing I often hear when I use that game's version of Nero Claudius is her using 余 when referring to herself. Looking it up shows me that this particular pronoun has an archaic and formal flavor to it, as well as having an oratory function. That last bit is what's kinda got me scratching my head.
In what way is 余 oratory? What the proper way to use and understand 余, as a pronoun, and in what context is it most often used?
余 is one for a classic king or a person of equivalent status.
Here are some characters whose first person pronoun is 余:
Moreover, though I can't remember certain character, 余 is also known as 殿様(lord)-ish pronoun.
余 is a first-person pronoun that is virtually heard only in fiction today. Its user is limited to a king, an emperor, a shogun, a demon load or someone of equal status in fantasy/historical works. A female person may use it, too.
I think it's oratorical because it's a highly stilted pronoun mainly used in official audiences, meetings, speeches, etc. When a user of 余 talks to his close friends or children, he may use 私, わし or even 俺 instead. (Of course this depends on the character.)
