Board Thread:The Last Sovereign Discussion/@comment-39332473-20190808194309/@comment-39332473-20190817081040

I had a post typed out, but it got eaten. Here is take two:

Changing the subject a bit, I realized that Alonon is a pretty interesting variation on the Fisher King (or Maimed King) archetype. For those who are unfamiliar, the Fisher King is a recurring figure in the Matter of Britian, who is usually depicted as a guardian of the Holy Grail sought by Arthur and his Knights. Although a King, he has been wounded in the thigh (read, the groin) and been rendered impotent. The land he rules is a barren waste, a symbolic reflection of his affliction.

Alonon is not a 1/1 match: his impotence isn't from a wound, but rather by his choice (seemingly). Ardoheim isn't a wasteland, but there are parts of it that are close (Feroholm is pretty shitty, after all). He's close enough to the archetype that I think it might be on purpose. Thus, the second portion of my speculation:

In the arthurian tales, the Fisher King is sometimes healed by Parcival asking him a question (or he remains wounded because Parcival fails to ask him a question), and other times healed by Galahad pouring blood from a holy lance upon his wound (are there homoerotic undertones here? You betcha).

If Alonon is to be healed of his despair, I think he will be healed by a question.

Tyna came close during the 3AW, but it wasn't quite enough. Or, rather, it wasn't the right question.