Name: Alistair
Age: 30
Race: Human (Elf-blooded)
Class: Warrior
Specialization: Templar
Background: Alistair believes his mother to have been a serving maid who died giving birth to him. He was raised by Arl Eamon Guerrin of Redcliffe. The arl's wife, Arlessa Isolde, suspected the reason her husband took an interest in the welfare of a servant's child was that Alistair was Eamon's son. She insisted the boy be sent away to the Chantry, and so he was sent to a monastery at age ten. Isolde's suspicions were unfounded, however. Alistair was not Eamon's son, but King Maric's. Eamon sheltered the boy on the advice of Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir to protect the honor of Queen Rowan, Maric's wife. His illegitimate status notwithstanding, Alistair's parentage makes him a possible heir to the throne.
Alistair was trained to become a templar for many years by the Chantry, this being how he learned most of his skills. He was found to be ill-suited to a life of religious devotion, however. When Duncan, a friend to his father, found him, Alistair had not yet taken his vows and was desperately unhappy. During a tourney held to honor the Grey Wardens, Duncan decided to recruit him. Alistair was not the most skilled fighter, and was bested by acclaimed templars such as Ser Eryhn, a woman who wielded a sword and shield with unequaled grace, Ser Talrew, leader of many victories against the Chasind, and Ser Kalvin, one of the finest blades in Ferelden. Despite this, Duncan admired Alistair's character above the other templars present. Sensing that he had a good and loyal heart, Duncan used the Right of Conscription to force the Chantry to hand Alistair over to the Grey Wardens before he took the sacramental vows. The Grand Cleric did not wish to let him go, but could not supersede the Right of Conscription.