"So it was… you…" — King Alfred's last words
King Alfred Hornburg is a character in Octopath Traveler. He was the king of Hornburg and the liege of Olberic and Erhardt.
Story[]
King Alfred was an acquaintance of Sonzon the Flameguard, with both of them safeguarding Orsterra in their respectives duties (Hornburg protecting the The Gate of Finis while the Flameguard protected the Divine Rings).
In 1610, Alfred was murdered by Erhardt in an act of regicide orchestrated by Werner and Lyblac. Erhardt reveals that Alfred neglected to save Erhardt's village, Grynd, as it burned down, leading to Erhardt's hatred of the king. Alfred's death led to the fall of Hornburg.
Champions of the Continent[]
After his death, Alfred's soul, alongside the souls of those slain in the civil war, ended up in Hell. There, he used "a secret art from Hornburg" to freeze time upon Hell's Hornburg and prevent the citizens from becoming fallen by succumbing to despair and hatred. Alfred met Sonzon once again and, together, they warded this Hornburg from Sazantos's Accurst Flame.
Etymology[]
"Alfred" is a name of English origin derived from the Old English words "ælf" (meaning "elf") and "ræd" (meaning "counsel"). As such, the name means "elf counsel" or "wise counselor," signifying Alfred's wisdom as well as his association with magical realms.
Trivia[]
- According to Olberic, King Alfred was a man who would look others straight in the eye and speak the plain and honest truth. He believed in himself and the words he spoke, a trait also shared by King Khalim.
- A younger version of Alfred appears in Octopath Traveler II, where he goes by the name of Al.