Arelen

Arelen appears to be a man in his thirties, despite having lived for hundreds of years. He has auburn hair that spills to his shoulders, supported by a golden band, and enlightened, clear eyes. He wears a simple white tunic and an azure toga.^[1]

He has a placid appearance, a noble face, and a faint smile that often looks friendly. However, his expression can become solemn, and his noble face sometimes seems older than it appears. When discussing the ambitions of humanity and the desire for Supremacy, he displays a wistful expression.^[1]

Arelen is placid, calm, and seemingly amicable. When Noctis approaches him, he welcomes him without hostility and dismisses Noctis's attempt to explain their previous encounter, calling it a small matter that belongs in the past. He invites Noctis and Shadow to a welcoming feast, explaining that he could not let an honored guest stay at an inn.^[1]

He is also wise and experienced, possessing knowledge earned through centuries of living and fighting. He speaks thoughtfully about the changing world, human nature, the consequences of slaying monsters, and the growing ambitions of powerful Transcendents.^[1]

Arelen is pragmatic in his understanding of humanity. He believes that when humans no longer have a common enemy to fight, they begin to desire what other humans possess, seeking to become the strongest, the greatest, and the most glorious. He maintains that peace will exist when only one Transcendent rules the realm and no one remains capable of challenging that ruler's will.^[1]

Despite his calm demeanor, Arelen is capable of ruthless actions. When Irian's people established a settlement in the newly liberated lands without consulting him, he ordered his warriors to raze the settlement and slaughter her people.^[1]

Arelen also openly acknowledges his desire for Supremacy. He believes that the desire to become gods, attain immortality, and reach the heavens is difficult to resist in a world where gods walk the earth.^[1]

Arelen is a Transcendent, a powerful being who has lived for hundreds of years. He is described as a seasoned and experienced Transcendent who grew more powerful and wiser throughout his life.^[1]

During his youth, he defended his city walls against terrifying horrors that besieged the city, while its fields were burned and poisoned every year. As he grew stronger, he confronted and slew those horrors one after another until no one remained to threaten his city.^[1]

He is also a veteran slayer of Creatures of Corruption and one of the heroes who helped humanity survive and prosper during the Age of Heroes.^[1]

Arelen possesses divine ancestry. He states that he is a distant descendant of a divine being and that there is a drop of divine blood in his veins.^[1]

When Arelen was young, his city was besieged by terrifying horrors on all sides. The surrounding fields were burned and poisoned every year, and countless men died defending the walls. Arelen himself was among those who fought to protect the city.^[1]

As he grew more powerful and wiser, he began confronting the horrors threatening his lands, slaying them one after another. Eventually, the threats to his city disappeared, allowing its fields to spread across a vast and prosperous territory.^[1]

Arelen describes this transformation as part of a broader change in the world. Humanity, which had once struggled to survive against the Creatures of Corruption, accumulated knowledge and strength. Transcendent heroes became more numerous, powerful abominations controlled less land, and the possibility of attaining Supremacy emerged.^[1]

Arelen and Lady Irian, the Blade of Dawn, are old comrades who fought countless Creatures of Corruption together. For centuries, they lived in peace, with Arelen defending one side of the river and Irian defending the other. Their partnership helped protect the livelihoods of humans in the realm from Nightmare Creatures.^[1]

However, their relationship deteriorated after Noctis killed the Horror of the Viridian Marsh, a Corrupted Tyrant that had haunted the borders of their lands for generations. With the Tyrant and its brood eliminated, the surrounding land became available for settlement and possession.^[1]

The lands near the estuary of the river contained miraculously fertile soil, while precious minerals lay hidden in the depths of the marsh. With the Horror of the Viridian Marsh gone, both Arelen and Irian wanted to claim these resources.^[1]

Arelen initially believed that they could divide the land fairly. However, before consulting him or reaching an agreement, Irian sent settlers to establish a settlement in the newly liberated territory because her people needed food.^[1]

Arelen responded by ordering his warriors to raze the settlement and slaughter Irian's people. This prompted Irian to assemble an army to besiege Arelen's city and claim his lands.^[1]

Arelen explains that, without the Creatures of Corruption pressing down on them, the realm has become too small for both rulers. He believes that one of them must fall.^[1]