Aifread

Aifread is a child of the earth goddess, Yawalon, who played a major role in the Sha arc. After his mother's demise, he lost his immortality and began attempting to live a mortal life with his sister, Eltia. He has harbored romantic feelings for Legolas for centuries.

Appearance & Personality

Aifread is a tall, dark-skinned man with long black hair he keeps in a low ponytail. As an earth genasi, he has slightly pointed ears and his shoulders and face are studded with gold. He typically wears a poncho, cowboy hat, and mask covering the lower half of his face.

Aifread consistently speaks in a very flat tone of voice, and often words things very bluntly. He sometimes has trouble making decisions, due to spending most of his life following his mother's orders. He has a passion for theater, going so far as to fund and direct a play based on Legolas' adventures.

Story

Backstory

Aifread was conceived by Yawalon and an unknown father sometime after the fall of Soma, as a replacement for Yawalon's first son, also named Aifread. He served his mother by stealing treasures for her hoard, earning himself a reputation as a fearsome bandit. In exchange for this service, Yawalon granted him eternal life, so long as he remained loyal to her.

At some point, Aifread and his mother were visited by Legolas and his adventuring party, during which Aifread fell in love with Legolas, much to Yawalon's chagrin. The exact nature of his and Legolas' relationship is unclear.

Centuries later, after Yawalon was forced out of her temple by a beholder, she conceived a second child, Eltia. Aifread helped raise Eltia to be his partner in crime, and the two of them were a notorious pair of bandits. Some time later, however, Eltia stole her mother's twin pistols and ran off to live a mortal life in Mistport, leaving Aifread once again alone with his mother.

Sha Arc

The party attempted to seek out Aifread in Sha after learning that he was the only one capable of passing through the magical sandstorm in the desert. While investigating his whereabouts, they learned that he was one of Mimi's customers, and that he was involved with a production of the play Return of the King.

The party crashed the showing of Return of the King, and was able to find Aifread. He was initially hesitant to allow the party passage through the sandstorm, as it was created by Yawalon in order to protect herself from Solithia. He offered the party a deal, saying if they brought him either Eltia or the weapon she stole, he would take them to Yawalon. The party handed over one of Eltia's guns, confusing Aifread, who had expected both of them. Despite this, he took them to meet Yawalon, who sent the party to kill the beholder in her former temple.

After returning from the temple, the party found Eltia carrying an unconscious Aifread. She explained to the party that Lianata had betrayed her and killed Yawalon. She initially left Aifread with the party and ran off, but Anari managed to convince her to return and talk to him. Upon waking up, Aifread struggled to comprehend his newfound freedom and mortality, asking the party what he should do with his life now that his mother was gone. The party offered to let him join them, but he declined, saying he would wait for Eltia to return.

Other Appearances

Aifread next appeared in Session 50, where he and Eltia played (and lost) against the party in a beach volleyball tournament. In Session 94, he returned yet again, distracting the party in order to help Eltia steal back her second pistol.

Trivia

• Aifread is a recurring name in the Tales Of series. Many of the games include a famous pirate captain named Aifread, who commands a ship called the Van Eltia.
• Aifread has never been seen in battle, but he has stated that he mainly fights using sorcery.