Meet the Iconics: Alain

Friday, July 23, 2010

Deference and respect are the privileges of noble birth. Few know this better than the man who calls himself Alain, yet equally well does he know that such things are not always freely given where they are due. And in those cases, it's the burden of the nobly born to correct the error, and to take by force that which is their right.

Alain was born in Taldor with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, son of a wealthy but relatively minor noble house. As a boy, he showed remarkable affinity for both physical activities—especially the martial pursuits—and the ins and outs of courtly etiquette and intrigue. Though both traits made him the quite popular with the peerage—especially the young ladies of the court, necessitating more than one woman being shuffled off to a nunnery on a nine-month "vacation"—Alain's wealth and natural abilities also gave him an excessively healthy sense of self-importance, sometimes getting him into trouble that would have crippled a man of lower station. By the time Alain's father realized that the cane-scarred whipping boy might not be the most effective means of corralling his youngest son, Alain was already near grown, and thoroughly convinced of his own competence in all things.

Though Alain regularly dismissed such noble studies as literature and linguistics—"If the elves want to speak, let them learn a man's language"—he could never get enough of bards' tales of battle and bloodshed, often keeping the minstrels at his favorite taverns playing late into the night. Excel as he might at the joust or the ritualized combat of the nobility, he longed for the primal exultation of war, where his mastery over his fellow men would not just be avowed or lauded, but proved undeniably by the blood on his sword, as clear as the red-dripping talons of an eagle. He had the nobility of society. Now he wanted the nobility of nature.

Illustration by Wayne Reynolds

Unfortunately for Alain, any serious clash of arms lay far beyond the borders of his father's expansive holdings, and neither his father nor his two elder brothers showed the slightest desire to sustain a blood feud with another house. All three men attempted to turn Alain to knighthood, a socially safe and proper outlet for his bloodlust, yet the idea of serving as a squire for any length of time—of letting someone else give him orders!—was unthinkable to young Alain. At last, when he could stand it no longer, the young scion gathered what funds and personal affects he could carry and declared himself a sellsword, setting off for the "crimson poetry of the fray."

True warfare has little in common with heroic ballads, and few who see its raw and naked face come back unchanged. Certainly this was true for Alain. Yet where some men learn wisdom in the wrack, at last understanding the price of a life and the senseless ease with which it's taken, Alain learned something else. In the clash of spears and the screams of horses, the man who had been a trumped-up merchant's son became an elemental force of destruction, cutting down swaths of men who were never his enemies, but merely his opponents. Though he became rich in his own right off of the heavy purses his patrons heaped upon him, Alain cared only for what the rewards represented: that here was a man whose worth was proven, in fire and iron.

Today, Alain wanders as he wills, taking commissions when they suit his fancy and embarking on his own expeditions when they don't. Thanks to his prowess on the battlefield, warriors are often drawn to fight at his side, and to Alain's secret surprise he's developed quite a knack for leading them, issuing gruff and decisive commands. These companions are almost always cohorts rather than friends—though Alain does a fine job of managing his troops and urging them on to ever-greater feats, long experience has taught him that soldiers are a short-lived lot, and hence he sheds few tears when it's time to pay the butcher's bill.

As much as his life revolves around the battlefield, Alain still retains the social graces that made him so popular (for better or worse) in the courts of his upbringing. If greeting another warrior or potential client, he may introduce himself as simply Alain, comporting himself with a calculated aloofness designed to increase others' opinions of his abilities. Where an attractive lady is concerned, however, his rough edges immediately smooth, and many are the highborn women who've fallen prey to the "rogue knight" calling himself Alain Germande, Third Son of House Germande, Bearer of the Shielding Spear—and any other honorifics that strike his fancy.

In truth, whether leading soldiers in a suicidal charge or booting serving girls out of his bed in the morning, Alain cares little about the people around him. More than money, love, or lust, Alain cares about his reputation, and strives with every encounter to increase his own legend, whether as scoundrel or saint. Perhaps the only creature he truly values is his horse, Donahan. Exceedingly well trained, and having accompanied Alain for longer than any of his human compatriots, Donahan represents everything Alain looks for in a partner: absolute loyalty, absolute trust—and absolute obedience.

James L. Sutter
Fiction Editor

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Tags: Alain Cavaliers Iconics Meet the Iconics Taldor Wayne Reynolds
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Sovereign Court

Steelfiredragon wrote:
Zap was not LN anyway, he was CN.

He couldn't be neutral, he hated neutral sympathizers

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
lastknightleft wrote:
Steelfiredragon wrote:
Zap was not LN anyway, he was CN.
He couldn't be neutral, he hated neutral sympathizers

He's just dense enough to be neutral while still hating them for not being Good or Evil. He may think he's Good, but that doesn't necessarily mean he actually is.

And I do admit that I love Alain's quote on the opening page of chapter 2 of the APG when he refers to Alahandra the Oracle - "Not now, crone!"

Silver Crusade

Kvantum wrote:


And I do admit that I love Alain's quote on the opening page of chapter 2 of the APG when he refers to Alahandra the Oracle - "Not now, crone!"

Alahandra

crone

What is this I don't even

Alain's douche status: Confirmed Forever

Arevashti wrote:


Imrijka? NG with a Charisma score of 8 says she's a jerk with a heart of gold, but damned if she'll ever let you see more than a very brief glint.

And the "SO TSUNDERE" crowd officially has their iconic.

Admittedly I really like the idea.


Kvantum wrote:
He's just dense enough to be neutral while still hating them for not being Good or Evil. He may think he's Good, but that doesn't necessarily mean he actually is.

You got to that before I could.

Mikaze wrote:

Alahandra

crone

What is this I don't even

Alain's douche status: Confirmed Forever

She needs to retaliate by calling him a baby. (I'm sure he'll do something to merit it sooner or later.)

Arevashti wrote:

And the "SO TSUNDERE" crowd officially has their iconic.

Admittedly I really like the idea.

Agreed on both counts.

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

When a druid in one of my games was questioning a prisoner and broke his leg to find out the layout of the dungeon ahead everyone looked at him in shock.

His response:

"I'm neutral, not nice."

Alain is a jerk but not vindictive or cruel. Just inconsiderate. It's just never occurred to him that other people have value (and constantly enable him).


Mikaze wrote:


And the "SO TSUNDERE" crowd officially has their iconic.

Admittedly I really like the idea.

falls over laughing

So true...so TRUE!!!!!!


James Sutter wrote:
See, this is why alignment is so important to the game. If we ever removed it, gamers would have so much less to talk about...

It certainly is odd that so many players would take so much time to talk about such a poorly defined part of the rules which is such a foundational, core part of the game. It certainly would be expected that so many players would spend a lot more time arguing over extremely well defined and tertiary rules.


Mikaze wrote:
Arevashti wrote:


Imrijka? NG with a Charisma score of 8 says she's a jerk with a heart of gold, but damned if she'll ever let you see more than a very brief glint.

And the "SO TSUNDERE" crowd officially has their iconic.

Admittedly I really like the idea.

And just in case those of you are looking at the word "Tsundere", and are scratching your head... Here ya go.

(Careful, it's Trope-trapped)

Silver Crusade

reads

Good Lord...diners running on that theme?

Arevashti wrote:

She needs to retaliate by calling him a baby. (I'm sure he'll do something to merit it sooner or later.)

I read this and I think some neurons in my brain got crossed because now I can only imagine Alahandra sounding like Ney'tiri...

"Yew aar like a beybee! Make-eeng noise, donnowwutudu!"

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Mikaze wrote:
Kvantum wrote:


And I do admit that I love Alain's quote on the opening page of chapter 2 of the APG when he refers to Alahandra the Oracle - "Not now, crone!"

Alahandra

crone

What is this I don't even

Alain's douche status: Confirmed Forever

Not to mention "bad eyesight."

Very few crones can rock a bikini like Alahazra. ... though there are a few.


Majuba wrote:

Marks the date.

I agree with Zurai. NE.

I agree with Zurai too oddly enough :) NE. He can command, but not take orders. Neutral on the Law - Chaos axis. He's a user with no regard for anyone else. Evil on the Good - Evil axis. Seems straightforward to me.

*edit* Yeah, and he's a douche. Big time.


R_Chance wrote:
Majuba wrote:

Marks the date.

I agree with Zurai. NE.

I agree with Zurai too oddly enough :) NE. He can command, but not take orders. Neutral on the Law - Chaos axis. He's a user with no regard for anyone else. Evil on the Good - Evil axis. Seems straightforward to me.

*edit* Yeah, and he's a douche. Big time.

Sounds like your average LG paladin to me.


He kind of reminds me of the cavalier from the old Dungeons & Dragons cartoon... except, you know, cooler.

Also, he sounds pretty well Lawful Neutral to me. (I like to call it "lawful self-righteous")


meatrace wrote:
R_Chance wrote:
Majuba wrote:

Marks the date.

I agree with Zurai. NE.

I agree with Zurai too oddly enough :) NE. He can command, but not take orders. Neutral on the Law - Chaos axis. He's a user with no regard for anyone else. Evil on the Good - Evil axis. Seems straightforward to me.

*edit* Yeah, and he's a douche. Big time.

Sounds like your average LG paladin to me.

+1


Kryptik wrote:
meatrace wrote:


Sounds like your average LG paladin to me.

+1

Haters gonna hate.

struts


Liath Samathran wrote:
Haters gonna hate.

Should Alain die during an adventure, those words should be placed upon his headstone.

Silver Crusade

Freehold DM wrote:


Should Alain die during an adventure, those words should be placed upon his headstone.

Personally I prefer "Reserved for Handicapped Parking".


Admittedly, out of all the iconics, I kinda like Alain the most. The reasons for this are twofold:

1.) He's an adventurer whose in it for what is probably the most common reason; fame, fortune, and cheap thrills. It's nice to see an iconic exemplifying that.

2.) He's got some of the best potential for moral development. THIS is a character that would be fun to play, for the simple reason of watching him be molded into something else by his adventures with his companions.


OK I need to say this guy rocks. He sounds like how I play. On his weapon's I can see that he has a longsword, spear/lance, dagger and a flail whats that other Item on his back? Is it a armor stand or something?

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Antel wrote:
OK I need to say this guy rocks. He sounds like how I play. On his weapon's I can see that he has a longsword, spear/lance, dagger and a flail whats that other Item on his back? Is it a armor stand or something?

I don't know. Every time I read Page 25 of the APG, I keep wanting to punch him in the face!

Grand Lodge

I just realized we've never seen this guy's mount stat'ed up. He's got to have one, like Lini has Droogami. At least give us the beast's name!

Liberty's Edge

Strife2002 wrote:
I just realized we've never seen this guy's mount stat'ed up. He's got to have one, like Lini has Droogami. At least give us the beast's name!

Uh...it's name is Donahan (as mentioned above). It was statted in one of the PFS things that's no longer on the site...but it's a horse. Using the 'Horse' animal companion stats. That's really all there is to it.


Lord Fyre wrote:
Antel wrote:
OK I need to say this guy rocks. He sounds like how I play. On his weapon's I can see that he has a longsword, spear/lance, dagger and a flail whats that other Item on his back? Is it a armor stand or something?
I don't know. Every time I read Page 25 of the APG, I keep wanting to punch him in the face!

Repeatedly.


Deadmanwalking wrote:
Strife2002 wrote:
I just realized we've never seen this guy's mount stat'ed up. He's got to have one, like Lini has Droogami. At least give us the beast's name!
Uh...it's name is Donahan (as mentioned above). It was statted in one of the PFS things that's no longer on the site...but it's a horse. Using the 'Horse' animal companion stats. That's really all there is to it.

Mounts that advance in HD still get feats and skill points, plus abiliy score bonuses, so there is still room for customization.


Kajehase wrote:
He's a carbuncle. And that gem in his forehead is useless once removed, so no-one should even bother trying to do so if they meet James at Gencon - it's not worth it.

Except now he's a grippli, so... if you meet James and he has a gemstone stuck to his forehead now, you might consider going for it.


And people thinking Alain's a bit of a jerk - imagine what it's like adventuring with him!

Grand Lodge

Deadmanwalking wrote:
Strife2002 wrote:
I just realized we've never seen this guy's mount stat'ed up. He's got to have one, like Lini has Droogami. At least give us the beast's name!
Uh...it's name is Donahan (as mentioned above). It was statted in one of the PFS things that's no longer on the site...but it's a horse. Using the 'Horse' animal companion stats. That's really all there is to it.

God I read that thing twice, how did I miss that? Thanks.


One of the sexier iconics!

Silver Crusade

Elrawien Lantherion wrote:
One of the sexier iconics!

Who else clicked the name to make sure it wasn't Alain's alias? ;)


I confess...I did too.


It was asked early on why anyone would want to hang out with Alain. Consider this. Alain is rich, Influential, a strong warrior, dumb, and predictable. This kind of person would make an EXCELLENT companion for someone like Feiya, who is a social outcast, but smart and magically powerful. To people like Feiya, EVERYONE is an iconic jerkwad, but Alain at least has his uses. Feiya could heal and buff Alain, adding to his combat prowess and prestige.. in return, she could probably convince Alain to pay for her food and lodging.. after all, wouldn't it be bad for his reputation if Alain were seen as the type of guy would allow his associates to starve or sleep in the streets? It's been stated that Alain doesn't actually care about the money he makes.. which means he probably parts with it pretty easily.

Alain is Lawful Neutral, imho, because he is unchanging and uncaring. Alain himself always behaves the same way.. although he likes to think he was "forged in battle".. the truth is that even war hasn't changed him that much. It would be bad for his reputation to be seen as a criminal or oath-breaker and Alain isn't smart enough to consistently hide things like that, so we should probably assume that Alain doesn't break the law or go back on his word of honor. ON the good-evil axis, Alain doesn't specifically help or harm others. He doesn't WANT the soldiers around him to die.. they just do. In the mean time, Alain probably takes care of the soldiers, even if he doesn't bother to learn their names. Just because Alain doesn't know the names of the women he sleeps with, doesn't mean he won't rescue them from kidnappers.. or from their over-bearing parents, without any thought of reward.

Liberty's Edge

He is one of my favorite iconics.

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