“
Born in: Kree Foothills
Nation: Ascalon
Profession: Ranger
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. 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.
— The Guild Wars Manuscripts
“
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, with an inner calm and silent confidence his friends find infectious. Aidan has wisdom his younger counterparts lack, though he never feels the need to lord it over them. To Master Togo, Aidan is a youngster, and the Ranger has easily let the mantle of wisdom pass to the Ritualist. Aidan was glad to join Mhenlo on his journey to Cantha, though he is troubled nightly by the thought of his homeland having to get by without him. This is not arrogance, but simple recognition of fact.
— The Guild Wars Factions Manuscripts
Aidan (born either 1039 or 1040 AE) is an adventurer that travels with Devona, Mhenlo, Cynn, and Eve. When he was a child, his father was killed by Charr as he hid in the woods. In search for revenge and to remove his guilt, Aidan hunted Charr after Charr, and soon became obsessed with killing them. After some time, he began to realize the difference between vengeance and obsession and swore never to blur the line of good and evil again.
Alongside Devona, Cynn, and Mhenlo, he met Eve in a graveyard while being chased by Charr and the group later joined Prince Rurik in an assault against the Charr, eventually joining the Ascalonian migration to Kryta. Afterward, the group traveled across Tyria, partaking in various world-changing events such as the Flameseeker Prophecies, Shiro Tagachi's return, Nightfall, and the rise of the Great Destroyer.
During their travels, Aidan held the position of being the wisest in the group and used his experience in life to aid them when he thought necessary, a position he quickly gave up in Cantha to Togo. While in Cantha, though he was glad to aid Mhenlo, he was often worried about his home having to get by without his aid.
Aidan is last seen with his group during Gwen and Keiran Thackeray's wedding.
Locations[edit]
| Quests given
|
- Prophecies
- Ascalon (pre-Searing)
- Northern Shiverpeaks
|
| Quests involved in
|
- Prophecies
- Ascalon (pre-Searing)
- Ascalon
- Northern Shiverpeaks
- Crystal Desert
- Beyond
|
Henchman[edit]
- Prophecies
- Factions
- Nightfall
- Eye of the North
- Ascalon (pre-Searing)
- North Kryta Province and Into the Unknown
Evaluation[edit]
| Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall
|
- Pros
- Cons
- Has no interruption skills in either Factions or Nightfall.
- Fire damage is ineffective in some areas of the game.
- Only has 7 skills equipped in Factions.
|
| Eye of the North
|
- Pros
- High survival ability with Ranger armor, a blocking stance, self heal and condition removal from Antidote Signet.
- Decent Lightning AoE damage.
- Uses Conjure Lightning for additional damage.
- Has an IAS.
- Cons
- Has no interruption skills.
- Does not ideally spam Barrage.
|
Dialogue[edit]
| Prophecies
|
- Ascalon (pre-Searing)
- 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?
- Where can I learn more skills?
 I'll be on my way.
- All towns and outposts
- "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."
- North Kryta Province
- "I'm not sure we gained much in coming to Kryta. These undead are worse than the Charr! One good thing about it, things can't get much worse for us, eh?"
- Droknar's Forge (explorable area)
- "I'd like to settle down one day, but for some reason I feel like our adventures might be the beginning of something bigger."
|
| Factions
|
- Kaineng City towns and outposts
- "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 towns and outposts
- "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?"
- Divine Path
- "It will take some time to track down and destroy all of Shiro's remaining minions. I wish you luck."
|
| Nightfall
|
- All towns and outposts
- "Years before the Searing, when I was just a child, I saw the Charr murder my father... and I hid in the woods. Later, I did terrible things to avenge his death, 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."
- Throne Of Secrets
- "Melandru has clearly blessed your path. Well done."
|
| Eye of the North
|
- Far Shiverpeaks towns and outposts
- "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."
- Doomlore Shrine
- "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."
- Tarnished Coast towns and outposts
- "Be cautious. I sense a growing danger as if the earth itself were choking on the sins of man and beast."
- Central Transfer Chamber
- "These are astounding places! Who built them? How have they survived the test of time? They are marvels worthy of exploration."
- Epilogue
- "I have trekked down many paths. I am glad to have had you by my side on so many of those journeys."
|
| Beyond
|
- Olafstead (during the Wedding)
- "I don't understand why someone would forsake the fine art of being a Ranger to run around yelling at people, but I suppose I am somewhat biased."
|
Idle quotes[edit]
| Prophecies
|
- Southern Shiverpeaks
- "Ever since my mother passed away, I've not been fond of the mountains."
- Ring of Fire Island Chain
- "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."
|
| Factions
|
- Kaineng Center
- "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."
|
| Nightfall
|
- "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?"
|
| Eye of the North
|
- "From the great trees of Echovald to the Iboga-filled jungles of Elona to the cold, pristine beauty surrounding the Eye of the North...Melandru's hand touches all."
- "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[edit]
| Prophecies
|
- "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!"
- "I can dance all day."
|
| Factions
|
- "Almost too easy."
- "How does this taste?"
- "If you blinked, you missed my shot."
- "If you hear my arrow whistle, it's too late."
- "Melandru, guide my arrows!"
- "Nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide."
- "Right between the eyes!"
- "This is like target practice!"
- "You look strikingly similar to a pin-cushion."
|
| Nightfall
|
- "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
|
- "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!"
|
- Aidan is one of the only five characters to appear in all 3 campaigns and the expansion. (The others are Cynn, Devona, Eve, and Mhenlo.)
- In the Prophecies manual, he is said to have been born in the Kree Foothills, however in the Factions manual and on the official website (archived), he is said to have been born in Borlis Pass.
- In Eye of the North, with the exception of Boreal Station, Aidan is always seen next to Zho.
- He is labeled as an "Archer Henchman."
- Aidan is a name of Celtic origin with the meaning of "fire" or "fiery".
- Aidan's battle quote "Fight in the shade all you like. I can still see you," is a reference to the line by the Spartan Dienekes during the movie 300.
- Aidan's battle quote "I can dance all day." may be a reference to FPS Doug's quote while jumping in an FPS game in the popular internet show Pure Pwnage. Yuun also has a battle quote with an exclaimed "Headshot!" in it, which may also be in reference to FPS Doug's "BOOM! Headshot!"
- Aidan was one of three henchmen in Nightfall who originally did not have an elite skill at level 20. This was intentional, but was changed after the 13 November 2008 game update. (The other 2 henchmen were Gehraz and Odurra.)
- This added Practiced Stance (elite) to his skills.
- His skills were updated again in the 22nd October 2009 update.
- Prophecies: This added Incendiary Arrows (elite), Determined Shot, Dryder's Defenses, Read the Wind, and Distracting Shot, and removed Kindle Arrows, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance (elite) from his skills.
- Factions: This added Glass Arrows (elite), Splinter Shot, Determined Shot, and Lightning Reflexes, and removed Kindle Arrows, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance (elite) from his skills.
- Nightfall: This added Prepared Shot (elite), Arcing Shot, Keen Arrow, and Antidote Signet, and removed Heket's Rampage, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance (elite) from his skills.
- Eye of the North: This added Determined Shot, Conjure Lightning, and Lightning Reflexes, and removed Debilitating Shot, Volley, and Whirling Defense from his skills.
- Wields an Ivory Bow.
Ranger
Elementalist
Devona • Little Thom • Stefan • Zaishen Fighter 
Alesia • Lina • Mhenlo • Zaishen Healer 
Claude • Eve 
Dunham 
Emi • Mai • Nika • Panaku 
Aeson • Chiyo • Professor Gai
