| “ | I didn’t stand up to him… I wasn’t strong enough back then. But after that day, I set out to change things. The old generals manipulated the system… So I did as well!…I hope you’re still alive. I’ve made one last scheme… A practical joke on all those who were responsible for six years ago. Keith… | „ |
| ~ Alaric's dying words. |
Master General Nickolai Alaric is a major supporting character in the long-running Fantasy webcomic Twokinds.
He was a cunning, free-spirited Eastern Basitin and Keith Keiser's childhood best friend who, upon the latter's unjust punishment over the murders of his parents, devoted himself to rising in the Basitin ranks and use authority and strategy to ensure a brighter future for his old friend. He eventually became the Master General, with Messenger Lynn under his direct command, but came to a deal with Human Templars to grant the Basitin control over magic, unaware of their true intentions. Due to the Mana Tower's influence, Alaric would end up becoming a
He was the secondary antagonist of Chapters 10 and 11 and the posthumous overarching protagonist of Chapter 12.
What Makes Him Magnificent?[]
- As they shared a free-spirited nature unusual among their peers, Alaric was great childhood friends with Keith Keiser and cared for him greatly, possibly even having feelings for him. Ensuring a bright future for Keith would be his driving goal most of his life.
- He was already brilliant as a young teen, noting how Keith's trial was unfair as he was physically incapable of killing his parents and he was denied legal rights of representation.
- He rose to the highest Basitin Rank after the King themselves: the Master General, a combination of both intelligence and fighting prowess.
- With his authority, strategic wit and knowledge of Basitin law, Alaric exploited every single loophole he could find and wrote hundreds of documents, all having the final result of Keith being avenged and given recognition by his fellow Basitin.
- He is a good boss to Messenger Lynn, who is incredibly loyal to him in turn.
- Even outside of political manipulation, Alaric was a skilled trickster and even fooled Keith into posing naked for his sculpture so his reunion with Laura would've been embarassing.
- He made a deal with the Human Templars so they'd build a Mana Tower that would grant the Basitin control over magic. Although the Templars were manipulating the Generals, as exposure to magic would've slowly lobotomised all of the Basitin, Alaric at the very least was suspicious of the Templars from the start.
- He shew the sheer extent of his fighting skills by nearly defeating Keith, who is no slouch in battle himself. Noticeably, he made the active choice of not using any magic in the duel when he so easily could of.
- He regained his senses briefly before his very sympathetic death and gave his old friend Keith one last declaration of loyalty.
- His death at Keith's hands was actually among his countless strategies and, since Basitin hierarchy is determined by trials by combat, Keith defeating Alaric lead to the former being the new rightful successor to the role of Master General. As he knew Keith's promotion would've been met with many challengers and oppositors, Alaric came up with a third option to appease everyone and made Keith the Basitin's very first Ambassador, thus he would've had the authority needed to save himself, his friends, have diplomatic immunity across Mekkan and be respected by the Basitin, yet the authorities would've been content as it was still a fancy banishment in practice and the isolationist Basitin would've finally expanded their relations with the outside world through Keith.
- Although he acted foolish in his last confrontation with Keith, Alaric was under the Mana Tower's maddening influence, so it wasn't really his fault.
- Unlike most of the characters in the comic, Alaric never shows any xenophobia whatsoever, at most being justifiedly untrusting of the Templars, but only because they were Templars, not because they happened to be Human.
- He spoke Basitin, Human and Keidran.
- He clearly was a skilled sculptor.
- Like most Basitin, Alaric made up for his lack of magic with peak physical condition, advanced senses and even resistance to poison.
- Unlike most of the no-nonsense Basitin, Alaric, while still capable of being menacing, was always a much more free-spirited mind among his peers and even had a good sense of humor.
What Makes Him a Baddie?[]
- The Mana Tower did corrupt his mind, but didn't outright control him, so he is still partially responsible for his crimes, most prominently ordering Keith to kill his friend Natani as the Templars (rightfully) feared he was a spy and later preventing Keith from destroying the Templars' Tower, even attempting to kill his old friend.
Trivia[]
- Alaric is the only Twokinds Magnificent Baddie.
- Alaric's Thanatos Gambit was even more impressive in a series of April Fools pages, where Alaric lived on by having his spirit possess a willing Lynn. However, this cannot be included among his feats as the whole subplot was a joke and completely non-canon.
External Links[]
- Nickolai Alaric at the Twokinds Wiki.