A Shrine to The Heroine

All fans of Phantasy Star have their favorite hero. We tend to choose the one who we think accomplished the most in the face of the harshest adversity, the one who was the bravest, the smartest, the strongest. And we all have different views on just who that hero was. Many say Rolf, for he had to face an evil which, more or less, was Algo herself. Others say Chaz, as after the loss of his mentor, he no longer knew what in the world he was fighting for. Still others might have different views entirely. But after much thought, I've decided that my answer is Alis Landale.

Alis began her quest alone. Both Rolf and Chaz had fiercely loyal traveling companions; Rolf had Nei and Chaz had Alys. Also, both Rolf and Chaz benefited from guidance from those more experienced than themselves; Rolf had the Commander of Mota and Lutz, and Chaz, again, had Alys, not to mention Rune later on.

But Alis benefited from no such help. She began her quest completely alone. Even words of encouragement were hard to come by, as few citizens would dare put their necks on Lassic's chopping block just to give a simple girl a pat on the back. And when Myau, Odin, and Noah, all of them much more experienced in adventuring matters than Alis was, joined Alis' quest, it was Alis who became their leader.

Alis' mission was at least as daunting as those of Rolf and Chaz. She had to avenge her brother. She had to avenge her entire world, as well as save it. She had to battle against a man who had all the resources of three entire planets at his disposal. And she had to do it all before that man, King Lassic, could find and destroy her.

The most difficult task of all proved to be simply finding Lassic. Alis did it, with her friends' help.

Even when Lassic was defeated, Alis did not give up. She journeyed back to the desert planet of Motavia and destroyed an evil greater than Lassic. And even then she was faced with impossible problems: to be queen, or not to be queen. That was the question.

Through all of her hardships, Alis Landale remained the consummate hero. She was brave, noble, strong, and wise. She fought for justice, for freedom, for peace. She fought for Algo.

And that is why the legend of Alis Landale will never die.

At the heartbeat of a system,
where ivory towers rise,
stands a statue of past greatness
in a place where a heroine lies.
No stone could match her aspect,
she who freed from Lassic's harm
all the glory that would be Mota,
all the grandeur that was Palm.
She will stand her ground forever,
and when time ends, even then.
She will be Algo's defender
'til she fights for peace again.
No hero's deed could ever match
her toppling a tyrant's regime.
A greater leader was never known
than the first and last Landale queen:
Alis.

The Alis Landale Gallery