Alastrina came to join The Hero on his quest from the temple city-state of Cellestopia. While it is not clear how The Big Bad theatened Cellestopia, or why a member of their holy order of priests would send a novice to stop him, or even where Cellestopia is on a map, what is clear is that nobody actually cares about her background enough to ask. Or listen to her when she tries to go into it.
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“Yes.. of course. We don’t have to take the time for that. After all, there’s important work pressing us..”
Alastrina is the heart of gold, naive magical girl who immediately found herself out of her depth. Perhaps due to her sheltered life in the order, or her own lack of experience, but the world of Kingdom is still fairly perplexing to her. Which is good because it means the reader doesn’t have to feel too bad about not knowing important things, such as “where is Cellestopia on a map” or even “did you even bother to come up with a map for this world?” This is good because authors have universally concluded that not only do they not want to bother coming up with a map, but that readers prefer it if somebody in the cast is pretty ignorant so that they have somebody to identify with on the crew.
“I’m very glad to have your company on this journey, you seem very willing to help others in need of guidance. I am reminded of how the Mother Superior would sit us down to teach important edicts, namely..
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Her training at the temple has gifted the novitiate with an understanding of their connection to the gods and how one may seek their boon. This means she’s pretty good at miracles like healing the sick or injured, putting up barriers of protection, and making really compassionate pleas to the divine not sound like begging Santa for a new Xbox. What she is not well versed in, beyond things like knowing jack about Kingdom or who lives there, i show to put up a fight. She’s not helpless, just… well, she does carry a staff and that’s typically ok for bonking things a big, but it isn’t as if you see a lot of stick wielding knights duking it out over castle parking space privileges. I mean, sure, a lance is kind of like a stick, but it has a pointy bit that is pretty different than using a bonking staff to make your point.
“I know my journey will come across those whom reason and kindness won’t persuade — but surely there must be a reasonable middle ground?”
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By herself, Alastrina’s magic is not as useful as it is when she has allies to protect. Thats one of the reasons that being ditched by The Hero hurt her so much, and why she’s most glad to find others on the road. Even if its clear that her allies may not be as heroic as might be hoped, she still sees the good in them, if nobody else can.
The Also-Rans 