Stoic Alder

Stoic Alder

Race

Kodan

Profession

Warrior

Level

80

Rank

Legendary

Locations

• Harvest Den
  (Lowland Shore)
  
• Convergence: Mount Balrior
  (Mount Balrior)

Organization

Lowland Kodan
Lowland Kodan Council

“

I may not look the type to be swept away by emotion's flurries, but I must be careful when I allow my heart to open... And to whom. Though I've learned this much to be true: no one is ever quite who we believe them to be. Still, that rare soul may come around who we're willing to stake our trust on, hoping they come close.

— Stoic Alder

Stoic Alder is the kodan Claw of the Lowland Kodan, member of the Lowland Kodan Council, and father of Poised Arrow. Although he appears stern, he is open if careful of change, wishing to assess any situation thoroughly before making decisions that affect his people. After losing his mate Silken Weir, he has spent time grieving her but has slowly begun opening his heart again, showing affection towards his son's mentor Fading Aurora.

Biography

Early years

Stoic Alder was born as the son of Streamsong who served as the Claw of the Lowland Kodan in Harvest Den. As he grew up, he became the mate of Silken Weir who bore them a son, Poised Arrow. Alder eventually welcomed in Fading Aurora, a wandering kodan healer hailing from the Shiverpeak Mountains, who became a close friend of Alder's family and a mentor for Poised Arrow over time.

Silken Weir joined efforts in the north to halt the Elder Dragon Jormag some time during the Icebrood War in 1333 AE, resulting in her death. A poem was dedicated to her memory at the Maul Boneyards. The family grieved Weir's death alongside other lowlanders by burning a blanket for her Rite of the Sun Path in a bonfire. Stoic Alder decided to abandon the family homestead in Hearth's Glow due to it containing too many painful memories of his late mate and moved with Poised Arrow to live closer to the Bonfire Lodge of Harvest Den. He began calling his son Poky to honor the endearing nickname used by Silken Weir in an effort to keep her memory alive in Poky's mind and heart.

Alder learned lessons of leadership and duty from Streamsong and succeed her as the Claw of the lowlanders upon her passing. He and the lowlanders faced violent clashes with the invading Kryptis, whom the lowlanders called fleshstalkers, in 1336 AE which resulted in lowlander deaths although they were able to repel the invaders in the end.

Janthir Wilds

Godspawn

As the Wayfinder's group prepared to climb Mount Balrior to put an end to the three titans which had terrorized Janthir, Stoic Alder decided to host a celebration known as a battle's eve feast in Harvest Den for both lowlanders as well as their new Tyrian Alliance and Astral Ward friends. The celebration began awkwardly at first as the lowlands had only interacted with the Wayfinder's group and not the alliance delegates as a whole, but thanks to Wayfinder's assistance in introducing individuals from both groups to one another and participating in combat and dance demonstrations, the party goers gradually began mingling.

As people danced, Alder excused himself to practice an inspirational speech in solitude although he soon found himself in the company of the curious Wayfinder and, eventually, the other guests. While making finishing touches to his speech, he offered the alliance a moment for opening remarks. Isgarren took the opportunity to say some impromptu words of encouragement although his lofty speech caused some confusion among the lowlanders and alliance members alike. However, Alder restored the mood by delivering a rousing speech of his own, receiving cheers as his reward.

To the backdrop of music and the resumed celebration, individuals among both the bearkin and the alliance took a moment to step aside from the festivities to exchange words of bonding and further encouragement. Alder used the opportunity to have a chat with his son, offering the late Silken Weir's arrow to him. He admitted that one reason he had wanted this feast was to give Poised Arrow a proper send-off which he had never managed to do with his mate before the icebrood had claimed her from him. Alder explained that Weir had always wanted their son to become the arrow's keeper once Poised Arrow had grown up, and he now deemed his son, who had experienced battle, ready. His voice wavering from emotion, Alder asked Poised Arrow to wear Weir's arrow as a reminder that both parents would be forever at his heart.

In the following morning, a group consisting of the Wayfinder, Caithe, Dagda, Malice, Alder, Poised Arrow, and Waiting Sorrow met at the base of Mount Balrior, and were also joined by Barbed Vale who wished to accompany Alder. Upon beginning their ascent, Caithe informed the group that reinforcements would not reach them in time due to weather conditions being more pressing than they had anticipated as the Mists Tides approached. Despite this reducing their intended strength and narrowing down time the time they had left to deal with the three titans, they pressed on.

Dagda soon made them aware of another complication: she sensed that the titans had split up and each taken a stand in a different area of the mountain. Thinking on his feet, Poised Arrow proposed the group do the same to divide and conquer their foes. Dagda and Waiting Sorrow scouted ahead to keep eyes on Decima and Ura, while the rest of the group made their way to Greer, using the journeykin's sharp noses to track the elusive titans' scent to their respective lairs. Upon defeating Greer, they used Dagda's summoned portal to join her at the entrance to Decima's court and defeated the second titan as well. However, the consecutive battles against the titans had taken their toll and fatigued most of the group. Barbed Vale offered to stay behind to look after Alder and the others.

The group that stayed behind eventually learned that the Wayfinder, Dagda, and Waiting Sorrow had successfully defeated Ura, the Steamshrieker, the last of the titan trio. However, Ura's ominous words prior to her defeat suggested that the threat of the titans might not yet be over although for the time being the lowlands would be safe. As the alliance members returned to Harvest Den and made preparations to travel back to their respective homes in Central Tyria, Poised Arrow asked the Wayfinder to attend a meeting between Barbed Vale, Isgarren, Stoic Alder, and Waiting Sorrow. With a heavy heart, Sorrow finally revealed another long-concealed truth of her past to Alder: she was not only a kodan wizard but the very Voice of the lowlanders' ancestor Southward Claw and had abandoned her mate and her people during the previous dragonrise millennia ago. She explained that Koda's voice had raged in her mind and almost turned her mad but Isgarren had helped her sever that connection by turning her into a wizard.

Alder was rattled by this new layer of deception. Poised Arrow, while shaken, was more curious than upset. Before leaving to comfort his father who had excused himself to dwell on the revelation, he reassured Sorrow of his support for her. The Wayfinder approached Alder as well, apologizing for keeping the information from him as they had decided to let Sorrow reveal the truth on her own terms. Alder was quick to point out that he did not blame the Wayfinder as the issue was more complex but he also stated that he would not have his people join the alliance for the time being as the lowlanders had experienced too many changes and revelations in rapid succession and would need to process it all on their own. He was pleased to hear that despite his decision, the Wayfinder and the alliance would still offer aid to his people, and he thanked the Wayfinder for being a considerate diplomat who would be a fine example for his son to follow.

Absolution

Stoic Alder was present in another Tyrian Alliance meeting in 1338 AE as Countess Anise and the Wayfinder had returned to inform the delegates about the details of their successful mission to end the titan threat in the ruins of Bava Nisos. In a following discussion with Poised Arrow, Alder admitted that his son had taught him as much as Alder had taught him: bravery, weathering grief, and granting forgiveness. He also pointed out that his late wife would be proud of their son.

Alder attended a subsequent victory celebration held in Lion's Arch and approached Waiting Sorrow so they could talk things through. As the Wayfinder joined them, the pair mentioned planning to reveal the truth about Waiting Sorrow's origins to the lowlanders eventually; although Sorrow was worried about the reaction, Alder reassured her that his people would come to understand her in time. He also used the opportunity to thank the Wayfinder for their help.

Location

Janthir

• Convergence: Mount Balrior (as a voice)
• Lowland Shore
  • Harvest Den
    • Bonfire Lodge

Story involvement

Janthir Wilds story

• Act 1
  • Unknown Territory
  • Home Sweet Home
  • Strangers among Lands
• Act 2
  • Storm Clouds over Janthir
  • Finding Balance
  • Against the Wall
  • Sorrow in These Halls
• Godspawn
  • Battle's Eve
  • Balrior Peak
• Absolution
  • Salvation's Cost

Combat abilities

Abilities

• Claw of the Lowland Kodan

Effects

•  Berserk (During Balrior Peak story) — Grants quickness and increasing might. Ends when defiance is broken.

Dialogue

Inside Bonfire Lodge.

I am pleased to see you well, Wayfinder. Allow yourself to rest once in a while; dip your toes into the falls.

You too, Alder.

Related achievements

• Janthir Wilds: Act 2: Mental Preparations — Check in with your allies before the battle. (1)
• Janthir Wilds: Act 2: Reflective Reading — Read all the literature in Stoic Alder's home and in the Wizard's Tower. (1)
• Janthir Wilds: Act 2: Where Do We Go from Here? — Check in with all of your allies in the aftermath of the battle. (1)
• Godspawn: A Moment of Quiet — Check in with all of your allies following the meeting. (1)
• Godspawn: Life of the Party — Speak with the other guests at the battle's eve feast. (1)
• Absolution: Master Mingler — Speak with all of the partygoers during the Tyrian Alliance's celebration. (1)

Gallery

• 

  Stoic Alder as the ashmaker telling story to the kodan cubs.

• 

  Absolution key art of Stoic Alder and members of the Tyrian Alliance.

Notes

• Stoic Alder moves to sit on a chair reserved for him in Bonfire Lodge shortly before the adjacent portal to the public group version of Convergence: Mount Balrior becomes accessible.

Trivia

• Stoic Alder is voiced by Darin De Paul.

See also

• Family trees
• Reserved for Stoic Alder
• Stoic Alder's House

Associated items

• Mini Stoic Alder