Aidan

Aidan
Classification
Species: Human Profession: Ranger/Elementalist Level(s): 5..20

Aidan is a wise and experienced ranger who is a member of the Heroes of Ascalon group. His family lived in Kryta but moved to Ascalon. His mother had died giving birth to him in the Northern Shiverpeaks. He and his father continued on to Ascalon, where Aidan grew up in the wild countryside, becoming an excellent hunter.

Lore

Lore from the official website:

Nation: Ascalon

Birthplace: Borlis Pass

Age: 32

The son of a huntsman, Aidan grew up with a quiver of arrows on his back. His mother died giving birth to him while his family was on a wagon train from Kryta to Ascalon. As soon as the boy was old enough to hold a bow in one hand, Aidan's father packed up just the good steel heads of their tools and the two men headed off into the wild. They found a spot in the middle of a forest clearing, refitted their tools with hand-carved handles, and built their own home from scratch.

Aidan is a survivor. Nothing is out of the question if it means he and his companions will live for another day. He thinks fast and acts even faster. His inner calm—a sort of simple confidence—has a way of infecting everyone around him. Being the oldest member of the party, he has the wisdom of years his younger counterparts lack, though he never feels the need to lord it over them. But he does feel a certain amount of responsibility to keep the group informed and out of trouble if at all possible. From time to time, he takes on the role of group patriarch, but only if there is a meltdown, and he sees the need for his cooler head to prevail.

Aidan, NPC

In the Prophecies Campaign, he is first encountered at an unnamed fishing village in Wizard's Folly before the Searing. After this, he makes numerous appearances in the journey from Ascalon through the Shiverpeaks and into Kryta.

The Factions Campaign showed that Aidan, together with Devona, Eve, and Cynn, had gone with Mhenlo to Cantha when the latter received a request for aid from Master Togo. They would later travel to the Echovald Forest to seek the Kurzicks' aid.

In the Nightfall Campaign, Aidan and his friends have answered Kormir's call for help. They aided the Sunspears as they sought to avert an apocalyse.

Quests

Prophecies	Factions	Nightfall
Quests Given
Unnatural Growths To Kryta: Journey's End	-	-
Quests Involved In
The Hunter's Horn Charr Reinforcements Stone Summit Beastmasters Into the Unknown Mhenlo's Request	Welcome to Cantha Chaos in Kryta	-

Location

Prophecies	Factions	Nightfall
Pre-Searing Ascalon Wizard's Folly 1 Northern Shiverpeaks Griffon's Mouth Iron Horse Mine 2 Kryta Lion's Gate 3 North Kryta Province 4 Crystal Desert Skyward Reach 5	Kaineng City Bejunkan Pier 6, 7 Bukdek Byway 6 Divine Path	Realm of Torment Throne of Secrets

¹ in a fishing village towards the southeast

² only during the Stone Summit Beastmasters quest

³ for non-Prophecies characters only

⁴ only during The Ascalon Settlement quest, right outside Lion's Arch

⁵ only during Into the Unknown quest

⁶ only during Welcome to Cantha quest

⁷ for non-Factions characters only

Dialogue

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Warning: The following text contains spoilers relating to the plot of Prophecies Campaign.

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Prophecies
Pre-Searing Ascalon	"Hail, stranger. My name is Aidan. I teach Wilderness Survival skills that help Rangers to attack and defend more effectively. What would you like to discuss?"
Northern Shiverpeaks
Lion's Gate	"The Searing still haunts my nightmares, torturing my slumber with memories of the day the sky rained fire and our homeland of Ascalon was left in ruins. Prince Rurik defied his father, King Adelbern, and led the refugees from our land across the Shiverpeak Mountains, home of the Deldrimor Dwarves. And though Prince Rurik died during the trek, his sacrifice let the rest of us reach Kryta in safety. Firstwatch Sergio of the Lionguard and the heads of the White Mantle... that religious group who believe in a new pantheon of unseen gods... allowed us to settle north of the city. Though we left to deal with matters in other lands, I feel at home with Tyrian soil under my feet. I feel the feats I accomplish here are those I was truly destined to perform. Though our homeland lies in shambles and my people face potential defeat at every turn, we have a will stronger than iron! The Ascalons will not break... not now, not ever again!"
Factions
Divine Path	"It will take some time to track down and destroy all of Shiro's remaining minions. I wish you luck."
Nightfall
Throne of Secrets	"Melandru has clearly blessed your path. Well done."

Aidan, Archer Henchman

Profession: Ranger
Armament: Ivory Bow

Aidan is a Ranger henchman for hire in many locations across all campaigns.

Location

Prophecies	Factions	Nightfall
Shiverpeak Mountains Deldrimor War Camp Marhan's Grotto Thunderhead Keep Ring of Fire Islands A	Kaineng City Dragon's Throat Kaineng Center Maatu Keep Nahpui Quarter Senji's Corner Sunjiang District Tahnnakai Temple Vizunah Square (Foreign Quarter) Zin Ku Corridor Echovald Forest A	Istan Consulate Docks Kourna A Vabbi A The Desolation A Realm of Torment A

^A located in all towns and outposts

Skills used

Prophecies	Factions	Nightfall	Eye of the North
Determined Shot Distracting Shot Dryder's Defenses Dual Shot Incendiary Arrows Read the Wind Resurrection Signet Troll Unguent	Determined Shot Dual Shot Glass Arrows Lightning Reflexes Resurrection Signet Splinter Shot Troll Unguent	Antidote Signet Arcing Shot Dual Shot Keen Arrow Kindle Arrows Prepared Shot Resurrection Signet Troll Unguent	Antidote Signet Barrage Conjure Lightning Determined Shot Dual Shot Lightning Reflexes Resurrection Signet Troll Unguent

Evaluation

Aidan offers consistent, though moderate damage and is relatively durable. He has no consuming weaknesses, but neither does he have compelling strengths.

Pros:

• Low priority as a target, since he is usually far away and has relatively good armor.
• In Prophecies: Moderate damage, has an interrupt.
• In Nightfall: Good energy management, good damage, can remove conditions from himself.
• In EotN: Good damage to multiple targets (especially under buffs such as Splinter Weapon), can remove conditions from himself.

Cons:

• Relatively poor selection of skills in Prophecies and Factions.
• Ineffective as a Spiker, except maybe in Nightfall.
• Makes poor use of Troll Unguent.

Dialogue

Prophecies
-	"I carry nothing that I cannot live without, leave behind nothing that can be tracked, take nothing that I do not need, and make no promises I cannot keep. If you have seen me it is because I want you to, if you have not, then I have already seen you."
Factions
Kaineng City	"I find it hard to breathe in this sprawling mass. There are too many people and not nearly enough trees. Mhenlo was right to bring us here, but I wish he warned me this city would be such a, well, city. If Cynn doesn't strangle him first, I might put an arrow in his rear if we're stuck here too much longer."
Echovald Forest	"The Kurzicks are a beautiful people, with their ability to bring color and beauty where was nothing but gray stone. I would like to have seen these forests before Shiro's wail froze them. Can I help you with anything?"
Nightfall
-	"I saw the Char [sic] destroy my homeland, burn down my village, murder my father... and I hid in the woods. Later, I did... terrible things to avenge them; to assuage my guilt... until I finally realized the difference between vengeance and obsession. Once he's walked both sides of the path, a man never again blurs the line between darkness and light. I've seen evil. I offered it my hand. Never again."
Eye of the North
Central Transfer Chamber	"These are astounding places! Who built them? How many have survived the test of time? They are marvels worthy of exploration."
Charr Homelands	"I still have nightmares of the Searing. They are tempered by dreams where the Charr die beneath a hail of arrows, and Ascalon is glorious once more."
Far Shiverpeaks	"I once called the Shiverpeak mountains [sic] home. When I look upon them now I can only think of how small the world really is. There is much we have yet to accomplish."
Tarnished Coast	"Be cautious. I sense a growing danger as if the earth itself were choking on the sins of man and beast."

Quotes

Prophecies
Idle quotes
Shiverpeak Mountains	"Ever since my mother passed away, I've not been fond of the mountains."
Ring of Fire Islands	"I admire the creatures who live here. Nothing but fire and death for as far as the eye can see, and still they manage to thrive." "Not far now. Our goal is at hand." "The hard pumice gives little evidence of a creature's passing footfalls." "There is an odd if admittedly sinister beauty to this place."
Battle quotes
-	"How does this taste?" "If you hear my arrow whistle, it's too late." "Melandru take you swiftly." "Nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide." "Right between the eyes!"
Factions
Idle quotes
Kaineng City	"I'd like to be out of this city as soon as possible." "This city is full of eyes, and all of them are watching us." "This city unnerves me."
Echovald Forest	"Eve feels connected with these groves even more than I do." "There is sadness here." "You can feel Melandru's presence everywhere."
Battle quotes
-	"Almost too easy." "How does this taste?" (same as in Prophecies) "If you blinked, you missed my shot." "If you hear my arrow whistle, it's too late." (same as in Prophecies) "Melandru, guide my arrows!" "Nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide." (same as in Prophecies) "Right between the eyes!" (same as in Prophecies) "This is like target practice!" "You look strikingly similar to a pin-cushion."
Nightfall
Idle quotes
-	"By Melandru's noble branches! Did you see that hawk? It was as large as a pony!" "If you'd like to spar, I am ready. But don't you think we should be moving on?" "We're not in Ascalon any more." "Would that we could win the battle before swords were drawn. Think how the world would be, if such were true?"
Battle quotes
-	"Be as strong as the oak, my friend!" "Cross blades with me, and you seal your fate!" "I will never fail my comrades!" "I will protect my friends and my people!" "Melandru give me strength!" "One arrow, one kill." "Ready for the fight?" "Surrender and go back to your homes. Your battle is already lost." "The power of the bear, the eyes of the eagle!" "Willing and able!" "You have become the hunted!" "You will answer for your crimes!"
Eye of the North
Idle quotes
-	"How could Melandru bestow so much of her wondrous beauty upon the Charr, considering what they did to Ascalon?" "I have lived long and learned much, but the world always has another lesson for me." "I was born as my family fled to Ascalon. My life is perpetually in motion."
Battle quotes
-	"Calm down, everyone. I've got the situation under control." "Fight in the shade all you like. I can still see you." "Give me a soft target... like a Charr." "Go ahead. Run. I like the challenge." "How did that feel? I have plenty more!" "If I can see you, you're too close... for your own good." "Melandru can't save you. She's on our side!" "My mother walks the Mists. You're headed somewhere else." "Near, far, it's all the same to me." "Now you know how a pincushion feels!" "When you're done screaming, I'd like my arrows back." "You can't run from me!"

Notes

• Aidan is one of only five henchmen to appear in all the campaigns and expansions so far (together with Devona, Mhenlo, Eve, and Cynn).
• The Prophecies manual mentions that he was born in the Kree Foothills, yet the Factions manual claims his birthplace is in Borlis Pass.

Trivia

• Aidan is one of only four Prophecies characters to have an official write-up on guildwars.com.
• Seen in the Guild Wars Prophecies opening cinematic.
• Of his group of friends, only Aidan and Devona do not appear on the box art for Guild Wars Prophecies.
• Aidan is a name of Celtic origin with the meaning "of fire" or "fiery".
• "One arrow, one kill." is a reference to the "Sniper's motto", "One shot, one kill."