Aife
This article is about the Aife
“I awakened as the sun rose on the first dawn of our race. I am an archer and a traveler, but now I stay here and help others.
— Aife
Aife is a Firstborn sylvari, and is the Cycle of Dawn's Luminary. Her skill with words is only equaled by her keen aim with a bow, and she is always the first with a question or a smile.[1]. She is a diplomat and has traveled to many places including each of the large cities of Tyria on behalf of her people as well as the Maguuma Wastes and the great desert.[2]
Biography[edit]
Early years[edit]
Aife awakened as one of the sylvari Firstborn in the Grove some time around 1302 AE,[3] belonging to the Cycle of Dawn. These Firstborn knew comparatively little of the world, having experienced only the Pale Tree's memories of the human Ronan, the centaur Ventari, and those who had visited during the tree's first years. The Pale Tree taught the Firstborn of the tablet that Ventari had left behind, carved with lessons of his wisdom although Trahearne, the first of the Firstborn, was initially the only one to directly communicate with the Pale Tree. Born as mature individuals, not children, due to the influence of the Dream of Dreams which had also given them their names, the sylvari were curious, inquisitive, and eager to explore. While some Firstborn such as Caithe and Faolain roamed far from the tree, others stayed close, exploring briefly and spending their time in study and learning.[1]
In 1304 AE, Aife was among the Firstborn who witnessed the awakening of Cadeyrn, the first of the new sylvari generation who would be known as the Secondborn. She was the first to greet the sapling and ask for his name, and told her siblings to not pressure Cadeyrn with too many questions at first so he could settle in. She told Cadeyrn about the Grove and the Pale Tree, introducing him to the world.
Around this time the sylvari experienced two sorrowful events: the Firstborn Riannoc had been the first sylvari to die in his Wyld Hunt quest to hunt the lich Mazdak the Accursed while his sword Caladbolg had been lost, his death resonating across the Dream of Dreams to make the sylvari aware of their mortality. The Firstborn Malomedies had been captured and experimented on by the asura during the sylvari's first encounter with them before the asura had realized that Malomedies was not a mobile plant but an aware being and returned him scarred in body and mind. Still hurt by Riannoc's loss and angered about Malomedies's streatment, Cadeyrn argued in favor of declaring war on the asura. Aife, meanwhile, used logic to reason with her siblings and pointed out that the asura had realized their error and wanted peace. After consulting with the Pale Tree, Trahearne reluctantly decided that the sylvari would make peace with the asura as they needed every ally they could find to fight the Elder Dragons.[1][4]
| A few months after the awakening of Cadeyrn and the first batch of Secondborn, more Secondborn began awakening. Aife was fascinated by the new sprouts and believed they would do as well as the Firstborn had done. The available Firstborn convened to discuss what to do with this growing number of sylvari among them. Firstborn Wynne argued in favor of calling the saplings as newly awakened rather than the hierarchical Secondborn, and that they could benefit from the older sylvari's knowledge of Ventari's tenets. Before the talks could continue, scouts arrived to report that the asura had captured more Secondborn sylvari despite how they had handled Malomedies's return earlier. Trahearne asked Caithe and Faolain to scout ahead and track down the kidnappers since the pair had had the most experience traversing the wild at that point.[5] The rest of the Firstborn would eventually learn that the pair had successfully liberated most of the captured Secondborn.
Some time after the kidnapping incident, the Firstborn received less pleasant news: Wynne and a group of centaurs in the Silverwastes had died due to the actions of Faolain and her companions, and Faolain had left the Grove permanently to join the recently founded Nightmare Court whose members began terrorizing the other sylvari.[6] |
Four Firstborn ultimately took up the duty of guarding the Pale Tree and keeping her company: Aife, Kahedins, Malomedies, and Niamh. Aife became known as a clever sylvari whose skill with words was only equaled by her keen aim with a bow.[1] Despite her duties in the Grove, Aife would nevertheless end up traveling at some point, exploring cities like Lion's Arch and regions like the Maguuma Wastes and the Crystal Desert.[2] She eventually settled into the Grove in the House of Aife, becoming the Luminary of sylvari who awakened to the Cycle of Dawn and offering them her counsel.[1] She became known for her remarkable patience with the easily distracted saplings and instructed her helpers such as Gorrin to round the saplings up for archery classes.[7]
Personal story[edit]
After the Valiant survived their encounter with the Shadow of the Dragon in the Dream and awakened with Caithe's assistance in 1325 AE, Caithe introduced them to Aife if the Valiant was of the Cycle of Dawn. Aife was asked to interpret the Valiant's enigmatic vision in the Dream which was believed to be clue to the Valiant's Wyld Hunt.
- White Stag
If the Valiant told Aife about a vision involving the White Stag, Aife informed them that such a stag had been sighted near the Verdence. She instructed the Valiant to find the stag and hopefully uncover the true meaning of the vision. She also spent some time answering the Valiant's questions about herself, the Firstborn, and the Cycle of Dawn.[8]
After the Valiant had successfully located the White Stag and transported him to Dreamer's Terrace, Aife informed the Valiant that many ailing sylvari had recovered in the stag's magical presence. She had heard about the Nightmare Court intending to capture the stag, so she volunteered to guard him while the Valiant, Caithe, and other defenders handled the invaders. Once the invaders had been defeated, Aife accompanied the Valiant and Caithe to the Omphalos Chamber to speak with the Avatar of the Tree. She offered the stag a sanctuary within Dreamer's Terrace with the Pale Tree's blessing.
When the Pale Tree revealed that the Valiant's encounter with the Shadow of the Dragon in the Dream was tied to a Wyld Hunt to defeat the Elder Dragon Zhaitan, Aife told the Valiant to be proud of their current victory and rest for the time being as the new dawn would bring new adventures before long. She also answered the Valiant's questions about the Pale Tree and the Elder Dragons.[9]
- Green Knight
If the Valiant told Aife about a vision involving the Green Knight, Aife could not be certain about its meaning but suggested that the champion might be someone important. Before she could continue interpreting the vision, the Valiant was called away by an altercation nearby which would be revealed to be the sylvari knight Bercilak bullying two saplings. After the knight had been driven off, Aife spent some time answering the Valiant's questions about herself, the Firstborn, and the Cycle of Dawn.[10]
Once Bercilak had been defeated in a duel once and for all, Aife accompanied the Valiant and Caithe to the Omphalos Chamber to speak with the Avatar of the Tree. When the Pale Tree revealed that the Valiant's encounter with the Shadow of the Dragon in the Dream was tied to a Wyld Hunt to defeat the Elder Dragon Zhaitan, Aife told the Valiant to be proud of their current victory and rest for the time being as the new dawn would bring new adventures before long. She also answered the Valiant's questions about the Pale Tree and the Elder Dragons.
- Shield of the Moon
If the Valiant had received a vision involving the Shield of the Moon, they did not inform Aife about it to hear her interpretation. Instead Aife met with the Valiant sometime later, answering the Valiant's questions about herself, the Firstborn, and the Cycle of Dawn.
Once the conflict involving the lovers Tiachren and Ysvelta had been resolved one way or another, Aife accompanied the Valiant and Caithe to the Omphalos Chamber to speak with the Avatar of the Tree. When the Pale Tree revealed that the Valiant's encounter with the Shadow of the Dragon in the Dream was tied to a Wyld Hunt to defeat the Elder Dragon Zhaitan, Aife told the Valiant to be proud of their current victory and rest for the time being as the new dawn would bring new adventures before long. She also answered the Valiant's questions about the Pale Tree and the Elder Dragons.
The Icebrood Saga[edit]
Champions[edit]
As news spread about both the Elder Dragon Jormag's latest movements and the increasing activity of Primordus's destroyers in 1333 AE, Aife traveled to the Eye of the North to exchange ideas with other races' representatives while offering sylvari forces to aid in the defense of Tyria. While conversing with the Pact Commander, Aife revealed that the Pale Tree had recovered a great deal since Mordremoth's demise thanks to the Commander's actions although healing was still a long and arduous process.
Following the deaths of Jormag and Primordus in their clash at Anvil Rock in 1334 AE, Aife was among the delegates as they gathered in the Eye of the North to congratulate the Commander on ending the dragon menace. Aife declared that the threat of the Elder Dragons might have finally become a thing of the past, and that she could get used to peace after the long conflict.[11]
Locations[edit]
Historical location[edit]
Story involvement[edit]
Personal story[edit]
- Chapter 1: Following the Dream
- White Stag path
- Green Knight path
- Shield of the Moon path
Living World Season 2[edit]
- Episode 7: Seeds of Truth
The Icebrood Saga[edit]
Dialogue[edit]
Hall of Monuments[edit]
- May peace follow your path, Knight of the Thorn. (if completed Knight of the Thorn achievements on the character speaking to her)
- May peace follow your path, Champion of Aurene. (otherwise)
How is the Pale Tree faring?
- Healing is a long and arduous process, especially when wounds run deep. But since the defeat of the jungle dragon, she has recovered a great deal thanks to you.
I'm glad to hear.
- Good-bye.
See also[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- Aífe is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, the rival sister of Scáthach, and lost to Cú Chulainn in a duel.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Dream and Nightmare
- ^ a b The Heart of Nightmare
- <Character name>: Have you traveled to many places?
- Aife: Oh, yes—Lion's Arch, the Maguuma Wastes, the great desert...the world is wider than you can dream, Valiant.
- ^ Timeline in the novels Ghosts of Ascalon, Edge of Destiny, and Sea of Sorrows.
- ^ Requiem: Caithe
- ^ The Newly Awakened
- Cadeyrn: I've only been awake for a few months, but I can already tell that the tenets don't cover all facets of the vast nature of life. They are too...idealistic. [...]
- Wynne: Thank you all for coming. We're here to discuss our newly awakened and how we can best assist them.
- Faolain: You say assist, but you mean mold. You want to make them all into your version of good little sylvari.
- Trahearne: No. As firstborn, it is our responsibility to care for and guide these...secondborn.
- Wynne: The newly awakened—let's not call them "secondborn"—could benefit from our knowledge of Ventari's tenets. [...]
- Caithe: Are we officially calling them secondborn, then?
- Wynne: That's a terrible name for them, Trahearne. And thus, we make official chasm between them and us. We are all just sylvari.
- Aife: It's fascinating how the new sprouts take in the world. I remember feeling and thinking as they do. Perhaps they could do as well as we did. [...]
- Newly Awakened: Small imp-like creatures. We just wanted to explore beyond Mother's roots. They appeared out of nowhere!
- Trahearne: Asura, I'd guess. Malomedies had an...encounter with them not long ago. He was lucky to survive. [...]
- Trahearne: Caithe, Faolain, you two had the most experience in the wild. Would you scout ahead?
- Trahearne: The secondborn are precious. We cannot allow them to be killed to assuage some ignorant race's curiosity.
- ^ The Mystery Cave
- Caithe: I told her to run and never return to the Grove. So, that's what she did. The Nightmare Court was forming, and she was like them. She begged me to go with her, but I refused.
- ^ Gorrin
- ^ Called to Service
- <Character name>: I would be honored, Firstborn. Can you help me understand what I have seen?
- Aife: I will do all that I can. Tell me the images you witnessed while you slept, child of dawn. [...]
- Aife: As it happens, I recently received word of a stag like that near the Verdence. If you find it, perhaps you'll uncover the true meaning of your vision.
- ^ Black Night, White Stag
- Aife: If you will it, Mother, the stag can stay in our garden. There, he could run free.
- Avatar of the Tree: An excellent suggestion. He will be very happy there and often reunited with his defender. [...]
- Avatar of the Tree: In your Dream, you fought an Elder Dragon face-to-face. Only two of my children have had such a dream. You, and Caithe.
- Avatar of the Tree: All sylvari fight the dragon's servants, the undead, but I believe you will face Zhaitan itself. I also believe you will prevail.
- <Character name>: I understand, Mother. Thank you.
- Aife: Be proud of your victory, Valiant. For now, rest. The new dawn will bring new adventures.
- ^ Mockery of Death
- <Character name>: In my dream, a champion in brilliant green armor defeated all challengers. He seemed invincible, yet a small mouse nipped at his heel.
- Caithe: Aife, you are born of Dawn, like this Valiant. Can you interpret the vision? I see both literal and symbolic images here.
- Aife: I'll try. Perhaps the champion in your dreams is someone important. Did you—
- Dagdar: Help! Somebody help me! The brute is killing my beloved. Stop him!
- ^ Champion's End
- Aife: The fear of Elder Dragons may be a thing of the past now. I could get used to this.
