- "Sorry, my hand slipped." —Alfyn, after defeating the Blotted Viper
Alfyn Greengrass is one of eight playable characters in Octopath Traveler. He is a talented but inexperienced apothecary well-known within his home village of Clearbrook, though in he dreams of bringing succor to all. After saving his friend Zeph's younger sister from the poison of a Blotted Viper, Alfyn embarks on a journey to heal the sick and suffering across Orsterra, following the footsteps of the apothecary who saved him as a child while gaining experience in his profession so that he can help even more lives.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Alfyn has disheveled blonde hair, with the hairs of the crown up and a small ponytail on the back of his head. He wears a beige and brown shirt, a green jacket, a brown leather vest, beige pants, and dark brown boots. Over his shoulder he carries a brown medicine satchel. His eyes are brown, and a friendly smile typically adorns his face. Marlene disparagingly describes him as "scruffy."
Personality[]
Alfyn is a kind and honest young man who is always willing to help those in need, expecting nothing in return. He has a strong sense of duty as an apothecary, believing that every life is worth saving, no matter a person's social class or status. Often he charges nothing for his services. Given his deep compassion, Alfyn cares deeply about his friends and fellow townsfolk; as much as he yearns to cure the ills all across the realm and help the needy, he worries about how the people of Clearbrook will fare without him.
Alfyn's childhood friend and fellow apothecary, Zeph, mentions that he had been quite the troublemaker in his younger years. After being struck with the Great Pestilence and healed by a traveling apothecary, however, Alfyn grew inspired to follow in his savior's footsteps and become a healer himself. Despite his altruism, Alfyn heartily enjoys drinking at taverns and—during travel banter with Primrose—becomes noticeably distracted by the prospect of a brothel, musing on "all those beautiful women and mugs of mead."
Being the high-spirited individual that he is, Alfyn has a healthy relationship with his fellow travelers and often tries to encourage them or cheer them up. While his ideals occasionally clash with Therion's, Alfyn nevertheless remains respectful and typically aims to lighten the mood. His traveling companions frequently praise his altruistic nature as well as his skills as a healer, although Cyrus notes that he often finds Alfyn "overly hot-headed and temperamental."
After the criminal Miguel takes advantage of Alfyn's kindness for his own wicked benefit, betraying Alfyn's trust and using his healing to kidnap an innocent child, Alfyn suffers a crisis of faith as an apothecary. He begins to question his own belief that every life is worth saving and wonders if the cynical Ogen is right in asserting that wounded criminals should be left to die, especially when Ogen reveals that he once treated a wounded criminal who went on to murder his wife. Eventually, Alfyn finds a letter written to him by Zeph, whose words of encouragement strengthen his resolve to do all the good he can as a human apothecary. Resolving that he's not a god, and therefore has no right to decide who lives and who dies, Alfyn decides to treat whomever he can in spite of the risks.
Story[]
- "Your name is Alfyn, and you are an apothecary. You treat the wounded and sick in a small village amid the babbling brooks of the Riverlands. Stricken ill as a child, you were saved by a traveler who asked for nothing in return, inspiring you to follow in his footsteps. Though hesitant to leave the only home you've known, your best friend convinces you to follow your dream, wherever it may lead you..." —Alfyn's menu description
Prior to Story[]
Alfyn and his friend Zeph were close since their childhood years. As a boy, Alfyn contracted a deadly plague called the Great Pestilence; though no one in the village could find a cure, a traveling apothecary later identified as Graham Crossford saved the young Alfyn's life with a rare elixir. After being rescued by this stranger, Alfyn asked why the man would heal a dirt-poor person such as himself, but his healer simply said, "I saw someone in a bind, and helped him out. Simple as that." The stranger's kindness sparked Alfyn's interest in becoming an apothecary, and he studied ever since in order to become like the man who saved him.
After the death of Zeph's father, Alfyn and Zeph became Clearbrook's apothecaries together. The townsfolk started to depend on both of them, Alfyn especially given his generous discounts and effective cures. A year before his story begins, Alfyn's mother passed away.
Chapter 1[]
Alfyn pays a visit to his mother's grave before returning to work. He and Zeph soon find out that Zeph's little sister, Nina, was bitten by a Blotted Viper when she visited the Cave of Rhiyo in an effort to pick waterblooms for Zeph. After learning the story from her friend Lily, Alfyn tracks down the snake and confronts it for its venom, which he brings back to Zeph to concoct a saving antivenom. With Nina's life saved, Alfyn reflects on this experience and decides to travel the world as he has always wanted, following in the footsteps of his childhood savior by bringing his services to all in need.
Chapter 2[]
Alfyn eventually makes his way to Goldshore, where he notices an ill girl named Flynn. When he tries to inquire after her health, he finds himself rudely rejected by the child's mother, Marlene, who asserts that her daughter is already being treated by another apothecary. After introducing himself to this apothecary, Vanessa, Alfyn notices Marlene praying for her daughter's healing. Flynn's illness is worsening and Vanessa has ended treatment due to Marlene's inability to afford her expensive remedies. Entreated by Flynn's sister Ellen, Alfyn offers to treat Flynn and seeks out the glowworm moss necessary to save her.
In the moss-filled Caves of Azure, Alfyn encounters Vanessa and discover her true goal: she is intentionally inducing sicknesses through her "remedies" and charging increasingly exorbitant fees for her services, turning a considerable profit while leaving any patient who cannot pay to die. Outraged and disgusted by her evil, Alfyn fights Vanessa, defeating her and pricking her with slumberthorn when she attempts to escape, sedating her until she can be arrested. Alfyn returns to Goldshore to cure Flynn before continuing his journey.
Chapter 3[]
Alfyn travels to Saintsbridge, where he encounters a wounded man named Miguel. Although Alfyn immediately start to treat him, another apothecary named Ogen tells him not to bother. Appalled that a fellow hearer would callously ignore a person in need, Alfyn pays no heed to Ogen's warning and treats Miguel, nursing him back to health in a local lumberhouse. After vising the local tavern, Alfyn returns to check on Miguel the next morning—only to find Miguel missing. Alfyn then hears a commotion in town and, to his shock, finds Miguel kidnapping a child named Tim. Wracked by horror and guilt, Alfyn chases Miguel into the Rivira Woods.
In the forest, Miguel callously admits to stabbing the boy out of irritation at his crying. Alfyn battles Miguel to the death and rescues Tim, but the experience leaves Alfyn shaken; he begins doubting his ideals as an apothecary. As he departs town, Alfyn encounters Ogen, who explains why he told Alfyn to be more selective about who he heals.
Chapter 4[]
Still plagued by disillusionment, Alfyn wanders to Orewell. As he begins to cure a group of sick townsfolk, Ogen arrives to treat the others; Alfyn offers to help, but Ogen refuses. When Alfyn heads to the tavern to mull over his doubts, Ogen comes in, having noticed that Alfyn's distractions have reduced the quality of his medicine. As Ogen and Alfyn drink, Alfyn notices that Ogen appears to be physically unwell himself, but Ogen dismisses this concern and departs.
Learning that Ogen is hiding a sickness, Alfyn confronts him as he finishes his work. Initially denying Alfyn's claim that he is sick, Ogen immediately exposes the truth as his condition brings him to his knees. Alfyn conducts an inspection on the spot and is horrified by the symptoms. He takes Ogen to the inn, where Ogen reveals that he murdered his wife's killer, an act that has haunted him ever since; he believes that his own is not a life worth saving. Taking the story in, Alfyn roams around town, beset by conflicting doubts and his desire to help Ogen. As Alfyn rifles through his bag, he discovers a letter from Zeph, encouraging him to stick to his values no matter what. This letter resolves Alfyn's doubts and inspires a surge of determination. He promises to heal Ogen despite the man's wishes to die.
Mulling over Ogen's symptoms, Alfyn realizes that Ogen's illness is the same pestilence that he suffered as a child. Recalling a memory of his savior, Alfyn succeeds in remembering how the cure was made and heads to the nearly Forest of Rubeh to obtain the key ingredient: the feather of an Ogre Eagle. Using the elixir he created, Alfyn cures Ogen, then explains his past and why he became an apothecary. Ogen realizes that the same apothecary who cured Alfyn also aided Ogen himself, and reveals the man's name: Graham Crossford. Though Alfyn is saddened to learn that Graham has likely passed away, he creates a grave to honor him and leaves town to continue healing others.
Relationships[]
Zeph[]
A fellow apothecary and childhood friend, Zeph and his sister Nina grew up alongside Alfyn like siblings. When Alfyn wonders whether it is right for him to venture out on a journey of succor, Zeph encourages him to go, promising that he will take care of the village in Alfyn's absence. As a mark of their bond, the pair switches satchels as a reminder that no matter how far apart they may be, they'll always remain at each other's side.
Zeph resurfaces in Alfyn's travel banters from time to time, showing that Alfyn's dear friend is never far from his mind.
Vanessa[]
Initially, Alfyn respects Vanessa as a skilled apothecary, believing that she shares his compassionate philosophy of helping those in need. Once he learns of her schemes, however, Alfyn becomes disgusted with her for exploiting her trade as a means to make money and vows to stop her wicked scam. After their battle, Alfyn pricks her with a slumberthorn that induces guilty nightmares, hoping that Vanessa will reconsider her actions once she gets out of prison.
Miguel[]
Despite Miguel's reputation as a well-known criminal in the town of Saintsbridge, Alfyn believes that Miguel can be reformed and chooses to heal him believing that every life is worth saving. When Miguel breaks his promise, kidnaps a child for ransom, and mocks Alfyn's naivety—even going so far as to stab the boy to give him something "to really cry about"—Alfyn blames himself for Miguel's crimes and takes responsibility by killing Miguel himself. Miguel's betrayal causes Alfyn to doubt himself and his philosophy before his turning point in Chapter 4.
Ogen[]
A talented but cynical apothecary, Ogen initially offends Alfyn with his philosophy of selectively choosing his patients, deeming some lives "not worth saving." During their second meeting in Saintsbridge, Alfyn starts to respect Ogen for his talent in brewing medicine and his vast knowledge about disease, inspiring a competitive drive to be better than Ogen so that he can save for people. For a while, the two remain mere acquaintances and dispute over their beliefs. When Ogen sees the similarity between Alfyn and his previous savior, however, he treats Alfyn a bit more kindly and considers that perhaps Alfyn's ideals may be admirable after all.
Battle[]
Being an Apothecary, Alfyn offers fantastic support to the party with a potent single-target heal, a revive skill, and a status ailment remover, while also offering good offense with a powerful weapon ability and a poison-inflicting spell. He initially can only equip axes, limiting his versatility in searching for weapon based weaknesses, but has access to an Ice-elemental spell.
Alfyn's unique talent is Concoct, offering him outstanding versatility. Mixing two ingredients to produce an effect, he can heal HP, restore SP and BP, revive, cleanse, and buff himself and his allies, as well as deal elemental damage and afflict debuffs on enemies. Concoct is divided clearly into defensive, offensive, single-target, and multi-target effects, and upon being mixed the first time, the effects will remain visible to the player. However, it cannot be boosted.
- To maximize Alfyn's support potential, Cleric offers more healing skills and increases his elemental defense, further adding to the strength of healing spells. It's good to note that Alfyn's base elemental defense is rather high, which means that his native healing spell First Aid is already rather potent. Added to Cleric's own substantial elemental defense and with magic-oriented equipment, he can be a top-notch healer for the team. Moreover, Cleric gives Alfyn access to Reflective Veil and the divine skill Aelfric's Auspices.
- Giving him Warrior improves his maximum health and defense, both important factors for the Apothecary's Last Stand, whose power is dependent on current HP and enables the targeting of two more weapon weaknesses. This combination allows Alfyn to hold his own as a solid defensive unit, bolstering the Warrior's high health and physical defense with the Apothecary's reliable sustain.
- Both Scholar and Hunter balance Alfyn's offensive and defensive options by providing a myriad attacks to his native Apothecary class, but both repeat a weakness that he can already exploit (ice and axes).
- Merchant capitalizes on Alfyn's already versatile nature. It adds two more weapon types and an extra element for him to exploit weaknesses with, but more importantly, it offers the Hired Help and Donate BP abilities, with which he can further aid party members and attack enemies.
- If Alfyn is made into a Warmaster, he becomes the only character able to target all twelve weakness types on his own, using the Warmaster's six weapons to target all six physical weaknesses, while using his Concoct ability to target all six elemental weaknesses.
He's especially useful when another traveler is a Starseer, whose Divine Skill can do massive damage when all party BP is full. Alfyn can also support the party by helping break enemies with 3-hit elemental Concoct skills. Finally, Alfyn can use his native Divine Skill, Dohter's Charity, on himself or another character in conjunction with Refreshing Jam for an instant party restore.
Recommended support skills for Alfyn include: Saving Grace, SP Saver, Summon Strength (early-game), Surpassing Power, The Show Goes On, Resist Ailments, Heightened Healing, Patience, Divine Aura, Stronger Strikes, Fortitude, and Physical Prowess.
Due to the flexibilty of subjobs, any character can fill any role with the right equipment and skills. With proper planning, any of the travelers can perform decently on any subjob.
Apothecary Skills[]
| Skill Name | SP Cost | Damage Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid | 4 | Restore HP to a single ally. | |
| Icicle | 7 | 
|
Deal ice damage to a single foe. |
| Rehabilitate | 10 | Cure a single ally of all status ailments, and render them immune to further ailments for 2 turns. | |
| Amputation | 8 | 
|
Unleash an axe attack on a single foe. |
| Empoison | 6 | Poison a single foe for 2 turns. | |
| Vivify | 16 | Revive a single incapacitated ally. | |
| Last Stand | 16 |
|
Attack all foes with an axe, dealing damage inversely proportional to your current HP. |
| Dohter's Charity | 30 | [Divine Skill] For 3 turns, items used by a single chosen ally will affect all. |
Support Skills[]
| No. of Skills Unlocked | Total JP | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 130 | Inspiration | With each successful standard attack, gain SP equal to 1% of the damage you deal. |
| 5 | 630 | Hale and Hearty | Increases maximum HP by 500. |
| 6 | 1,630 | Resist Ailments | Improves resistance to poison, sleep, confusion, blindness, silence, terror, and unconsciousness. |
| 7 | 4,630 | Heightened Healing | Gain an additional 30% HP or SP when being healed or restored. |
Subjobs[]
Below are the sprites and appearance changes for Alfyn with each basic Subjob:
Each time a subjob is selected, the appearance of the character will also change. The first sprite is the appearance with no Subjob equipped.
Quotes[]
- "See you when I get back, Ma." —When selected from the main screen
- "And so I have a date with this viper, you see? We just met, and still you wanna come and help me out? Shucks, friend! I owe you one! They're good folks in this village, down to last. And Zeph's always stuck by my side...so damned if I won't stick by his! So, let's go! We're heading for the Caves of Rhiyo, just east of the village! We better hurry, for Nina's sake..." —Joined the Party
- "Anytime you need help, just give ol' Alfyn a holler!" —Tavern Dialogue
- "One of my patients was kind enough to give me this. Here, why don't you hold onto it?" —Gifting items in tavern
- "Nice chattin' with ya!" —Inquire
- "Shucks, seems that people here'd rather not talk to me." —When attempting to Inquire with damaged reputation
- "Bring it on!" —Start of battle
- "Want to tangle, huh?" —Start of battle
- "Hahaha, you won't feel a thing." —Start of battle
- "Better roll up the sleeves." —Start of boss battle
- "Hah, this should be fun." —Start of boss battle
- "Here we go." —Start of turn
- "All right!" —Start of turn
- "Here goes nothing." —Start of turn
- "Bring it on!" —Start of turn
- "Shucks..." —Staring turn afflicted with status ailment
- "Egads..." —Starting turn at low HP
- "What the..." —Afflicted with status ailment
- "What's the big idea?" —Afflicted with status ailment
- "All righty!" —Max Boost
- "Let's get down to work!" —Max Boost
- "Here goes nothing!" —Using an item on self
- "Try this." —Using an item on an ally
- "How do you like this?" —Using an item on an enemy
- "Haha!" —Evading an attack
- "Thought you had me?" —Evading an attack
- "Hah! Try again." —Defending
- "Aw, shucks..." —Defeated
- "Sorry, guys..." —Defeated
- "Is that better?" —Using Heal Wounds
- "Sacred light!" —Using Holy Light
- "Protect them!" —Using Sheltering Veil
- "Let the Flame illuminate our path." —Using Luminescence
- "The miracle of health." —Using Heal More
- "Right back at ya!" —Using Reflective Veil
- "The Flame will save you." —Using Revive
- "Bear witness to Aelfric's Flame!" —Using Aelfric's Auspices
- "Hahaha! Burn!" —Using Fireball
- "Is it cold in here?" —Using Icewind
- "You're in for a... shock." —Using Lightning Bolt
- "What have we here?" —Using Analyze
- "Scorch the earth!" —Using Fire Storm
- "Blow them away!" —Using Blizzard
- "Let the thunder roll!" —Using Lightning Blast
- "Alephan, lend us your wisdom!" —Using Alephan's Enlightenment
- "That should suffice." —Using Collect
- "Don't get carried away!" —Using Tradewinds
- "Haah... time for a rest." —Using Rest
- "A tempest comes!" —Using Trade Tempest
- "Need some of this?" —Using Donate BP
- "Desperate times..." —Using Sidestep
- "The best that money can buy." —Using Hired Help
- "Bifelgan, bring us fortune!" —Using Bifelgan's Bounty
- "Level slash!" —Using Level Slash
- "I'll save my strength." —Using Abide
- "Heh, get the point?" —Using Spearhead
- "Come and get me!" —Using Incite
- "Cross strike!" —Using Cross Strike
- "Hah, just you try!" —Using Stout Wall
- "A thousand spears!" —Using Thousand Spears
- "I feel a storm comin'!" —Using Brand's Thunder
- "Lion dance!" —Using Lion Dance
- "When the moon hits your eye..." —Using Moonlight Waltz
- "Peacock strut!" —Using Peacock Strut
- "Mole dance!" —Using Mole Dance
- "A fine night for dancing!" —Using Night Ode
- "Panther dance!" —Using Panther Dance
- "Who knows what awaits?" —Using Bewildering Grace
- "Sealticge, strike them down!" —Using Sealticge's Seduction
- "That'll do 'er." —Using First Aid
- "Cool off." —Using Icicle
- "I got just what you need." —Using Rehabilitation
- "Haaaah!" —Using Amputation
- "Pick your poison." —Using Empoison
- "That's what I'm here for." —Using Vivify
- "This calls for surgery." —Using Last Stand
- "Dohter! Lend us your aid!" —Using Dohter's Charity
- "I'll take that!" —Using Steal
- "Feeling feverish?" —Using Wildfire
- "I'm feeling better already!" —Using HP Thief
- "Settle down!" —Using Shackle Foe
- "This might sting a bit." —Using Armor Corrosive
- "Don't mind if I do." —Using Steal SP
- "Always happy to share!" —Using Share SP
- "Aeber, let's take what's ours." —Using Aeber's Reckoning
- "Ready, aim!" —Using Rain of Arrows
- "Right on target!" —Using True Strike
- "Thunderbird!" —Using Thunderbird
- "Take it easy!" —Using Leghold Trap
- "I'll let you live. For now." —Using Mercy Strike
- "Drown in arrows!" —Using Arrowstorm
- "You're not gettin' away!" —Using Take Aim
- "Draefendi, destroy them!" —Using Draefendi's Rage
- "Fire!" —Using Fire Rune
- "Ice!" —Using Ice Rune
- "Lightning!" —Using Thunder Rune
- "Wind!" —Using Wind Rune
- "Darkness!" —Using Dark Rune
- "Light!" —Using Light Rune
- "Feel the power!" —Using Transfer Rune
- "Balogar, unleash your wrath." —Using Balogar's Blade
- "Ignis Ardere!" —Using Ignis Ardere
- "Glacies Claudere!" —Using Glacies Claudere
- "Tonitrus Canere!" —Using Tonitrus Canere
- "Ventus Saltare!" —Using Ventus Saltare
- "Lux Congerere!" —Using Lux Congerere
- "Tenebrae Operire!" —Using Tenebrae Operire
- "Elemental break!" —Using Elemental Break
- "Dreisang, show us your magic!" —Using Dreisang's Spell
- "The stars fall!" —Using Shooting Stars
- "The stars empower!" —Using BP Boost
- "The comets reveal!" —Using Divination
- "The planets guide!" —Using Starsong
- "The sun cleanses!" —Using Celestial Intervention
- "The stars heal." —Using Ethereal Healing
- "The moon protects!" —Using Moon's Reflection
- "Steorra, eyes to the sky!" —Using Steorra's Prophecy
- "Guardian liondog!" —Using Guardian Liondog
- "Tiger rage!" —Using Tiger Rage
- "Qilin's horn!" —Using Qilin's Horn
- "Yatagarasu!" —Using Yatagarasu
- "Spirit of the fox!" —Using Fox Spirit
- "Phoenix storm!" —Using Phoenix Storm
- "Nightmare chimera!" —Using Nightmare Chimera
- "Winnehild, show no mercy!" —Using Winnehild's Battle Cry
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
"Alfyn" may be derived from the Middle English "alfyn" (also spelled "alfin" and "awfyn"), which stems from the Arabic الفِيل al-fīl, meaning "the elephant." This was historically the English name of a medieval chess piece, the alfil, and later also referred to the alfil's successor in modern chess, the bishop. The suffix "alf-" may also be derived from the Old Norse term "álf," meaning "elf" and often associated with wisdom.
Alternatively, Alfyn's name could be related to the heraldic alphyn, a tiger-like hybrid creature of uncertain etymology. One proposal suggests that the alphyn is ultimately sourced from the mythical Irish onchú, meaning "water-dog." According to the Octopath Traveler artbook, Alfyn's name was indeed inspired by a dog[1], lending additional credence to this theory. This association with canines likely speaks to his friendly but vigorous personality, while the reference to water speaks to his origins in the Riverlands.
Alfyn's surname "Greengrass" is a location name, denoting someone who lives in a hamlet. This meaning suits Alfyn as a resident of Clearbrook, and the constituent terms "green" and "grass" also call to mind verdant fields associated with health and nature, befitting his profession as an apothecary.
Trivia[]
- Early concept designs suggest that Alfyn was supposed to have stubble, but in the art used in first introducing him, it was scrapped.
- One developer interview states that Alfyn was intially designed with straight hair, but the developers decided that unruly hair would fit his character better.[2]
- During his travel banter in Ophilia's second chapter, Alfyn promises to pick Ophilia a flower known as white skullcap. He does so with the thought, "(Gosh, she's a cute little lady...)."
- Alfyn is the youngest male traveler, being 21 years old.
- He is the third youngest out of all eight travelers, being older than both Tressa and Ophilia.
- Alfyn likes to go drinking, even inviting Therion to the local tavern in their banters. In a tavern banter, he, along with the rest of the male travelers, have a drinking contest. Alfyn and Olberic end up tied, but the former acknowledges just how much of a "bottomless barrel" the latter is, as he barely seemed drunk by the end of their contest.
- In a banter with Tressa, Alfyn reveals that he takes great care of Zeph's satchel — cleaning it up as much as possible and stitching the bag whenever it starts to fray. Tressa suggests that Zeph's satchel is Alfyn's most precious treasure. For his part, Alfyn explains that when he wears the satchel, he can hear Zeph whispering encouragement to him.
- Similar to Ophilia's, Alfyn's first three story chapters all revolve around saving children, but his fourth chapter breaks that pattern by involving no children at all.
- Alfyn confides to Ophilia during his Chapter 2 banter that his behind gets "mighty itchy any time someone starts singing my praises."
- Alfyn has several unique mechanical and story-based aspects:
- He is the only character who begins with materials, specifically: Soothing Seed ×4, Soothing Dust ×4, Purifying Seed ×1, Noxroot ×4, Addlewort ×4, and Essence of Plum ×4.
- He is the only character whose main antagonist of their story (in Alfyn's case, Miguel) is not the final boss of their story. The final boss of Alfyn's story, the Ogre Eagle, attacks Alfyn out of natural instinct to hunt and has no malicious intent, unlike Miguel.
- He is the only character whose story includes cutscenes that take place at night.
- He is the only character to have a story chapter whose introduction text appears over a silent black screen (in this case, his Chapter 3).
- He is the only character whose child form is briefly controllable by the player (in his Chapter 4).
- He is the only character whose Chapter 4 never uses the theme "Pure Evil," as the Ogre Eagle is a beast rather than a villain.
- According to Gertas, another resident of Clearbrook, Alfyn is fond of fish and shares them with others when he goes fishing, but has a tendency to keep the bigger ones for himself.
- As revealed at the beginning of his Chapter 2, Alfyn loves coastal towns, although he notes that the briny air doesn't suit his tastes nearly as much as the beach and the swimming.
- In his second chapter, Alfyn claims that he's clumsy and always trips over his own two feet. His also mentions that he loves to play with the kids in Clearbrook.
- In his Chapter 2 banter, Primrose declares to Alfyn, "You'll be a wonderful father some day. I'm sure of that."
- Ogen describes Alfyn's tonics as "unrefined... but adequate. Made with talent and confidence."
- In Tressa's Chapter 4 banter, Alfyn admits that he usually charges his patients "whatever feels right at the time," suggesting that he has no fixed stream of income. Tressa closes the suggestion that he could team up with Ali to start a medicine-selling business with the advice, "Alfyn, if you ever have the urge to become a merchant... Don't."
- Alfyn's Chapter 4 banter with Tressa contains a typo: "What's that supposed mean?" (omitting the "to").
- During Alfyn's Chapter 1 flashback cutscene in which he is healed by Graham Crossford, Zeph and a gray-haired woman stand silently in the same room. This woman may be Alfyn's mother, who appears nowhere else in the game. In the "Memories of Fortune" TRPG in the Octopath Traveler: Complete Guide (which takes place before the events of Octopath Traveler), Alfyn mentions that he hasn't set out on his journey yet because his mother is "a bit frail" and he doesn't want to leave her behind.[3]
- The gravestone of Alfyn's mother stands at the northern edge of Clearbrook's graveyard. Its design is more ornate than the other headstones, suggesting that Alfyn's mother held a special place in the village.
- When composing Alfyn's theme, Yasunori Nishiki focused on Alfyn's kindness and struggled with how to express it. Although the saxophone is unusual in RPG music and difficult to use in a medieval fantasy world, Nishiki chose it because he felt that the warmth of the saxophone's tone was necessary to create the proper atmosphere for Alfyn. To make it sound suitable, he asked the saxophone's player to play the instrument in a tone that was as gentle and unsaxophone-like as possible. He also paid special attention to the guitar sound when composing Alfyn's theme, making it a distinctive instrument for the music of the Riverlands to create a shared atmosphere between the character and the region.[4]
- As with Tressa and "For Treasure," Nishiki tried to capture Alfyn's lighthearted character (embodied in his kindness) in "For Succor." However, this proved impossible, so "For Succor" is more focused on Alfyn's masculinity and sense of mission as an apothecary.[5]
- When drawing Alfyn, concept artist Naoki Ikushima recalled the days of his own adolescence, envisioning the sort of youth who would come home from school club activities with the setting sun at his back.[6]
- Alfyn's outfit was designed around the concept that apothecaries belonged to a guild, and those individuals approved by the guild would receive a vest and an apothecary satchel.[7]
- Naoki Ikushima imagined Alfyn with his hair billowing like grass in his wind, bound tightly in the back as a young lad might do, giving Alfyn a manliness of his own. Additionally, Ikushima conceived of the following details: [6]
- Alfyn keeps a pouch full of wild grass, and is depicted holding a stalk of French parsley, an herb used in medieval times to purify the liver and kidneys.
- He puts medicine made with strong ingredients in a blue vial, making it easy to pick out at a glance.
- His handaxe is used less for battle and more as a tool in his daily life and travels.
- Alfyn's more ordinary appearance challenged the developers with translating it with a slant befitting a main character. Since his apothecary bag and jacket took up so much space on his sprite, Shizuka Morimoto found it difficult to allot the parts needed to portray him as the "green" character of the eight protagonists. At first glance, Alfyn might come across as the type of fellow that someone might see anywhere, but the developers believed that his passionate heart would garner attention as the story progressed. Morimoto kept Alfyn's good-humored, gung-ho attitude in mind when creating his sprite poses.[8]
- Alfyn's promotional countdown art includes a dog, an artist's effort to balance out the number of cats in Octopath Traveler. Incidentally, this dog is the source of the apothecary's name.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 143.
- ↑ Octopath Traveler devs on character origins, visual style, initial HD Rumble plans, much more. (Date Posted: Nov. 3, 2018.)
- ↑ Octopath Traveler: The Complete Guide, page 222.
- ↑ Primrose, the Dancer/Alfyn, the Apothecary
- ↑ For Revenge/For Succor/For Freedom/For Master
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 24.
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 25.
- ↑ The Art of Octopath Traveler 2016-2020, page 29.