Alvin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
selfmotivations) wrote2014-08-03 11:52 pm
selfmotivations) wrote2014-08-03 11:52 pm
[ empatheias ] profile + permissions
Character: Alvin a.k.a. Alfred Vint Svent
Age: 26
Canon: Tales of Xillia (first game)
Canon Point: The very narrow time between final battle and epilogue. (so before he gets the business offer with Yurgen)
Eye color: Orange brown
Hair color: Dark brown
Height: 182cm (6 feet)
Amulet: Keeping it simple, so something like this.
Clothing: Why bother with words when I can just link his status art.
Background:
So. The wiki is a bit lacking and due to Alvin's role in the game, it's better if I just write it out. Plus I took a lot of notes. However, since I went into a lot of details and basically just wrote a walkthrough of the game, I've written it in another entry which can be found here. I'm not kidding when I said I basically wrote a walkthrough. It's a paragraph by paragraph play of 80% of the game, the remaining 20% being events that didn't involve Alvin and so were thus either reduced to one sentence summary or not included at all. I wrote it because for Alvin, the devil's in the details. There are very little short summaries at the end of each chapter section. So needless to say there are a lot of spoilers in it, as well as in this application.
Since that thing is so huge, though, and not as Alvin focused I'm giving a very shortened "TL;DR" version that delves more into the actual personal history of Alvin. Most of this comes from the game since while I know there's at least a novel out there, I can't read Japanese and it's not translated. Plus some of the adaptation changes a few things that could be interpreted from the original Japanese. So only pulling out things that I can prove in English.
Again. SPOILERS.
Alvin becomes a "main party member" very early on. In fact he's the third character introduced with the first two, Milla and Jude, technically both being the main protagonists. After basically saving Jude's ass, he introduces himself as a mercenary and basically "tags along" with Milla and Jude under reasoning of needing to get paid for his services. He sticks with them and learns along the way that Milla is actually the Lord of Spirits, Maxwell, and that she is on a mission to destroy the Lance of Kresnik in Fennmont, the place they all met. It's a spyrix weapon, and spyrix are devices created by an organization called Exodus. Milla considers spyrix dangerous and harmful for both humans and spirits because spyrix kill the spirits when they channel artes. But getting back to Fennmont was going to prove to be a trying journey. Their group grows when they later pick up a young girl named Elize and her doll, Teepo. Eventually there would be two more people, Jude's childhood friend Leia and Rowen, a man who was known as the best tactician called the Conductor.
All right, "introductory" stuff out of the way, here is the real short version of what Alvin does in the story: he helps the group, betrays the group, and then repeats this several times. Alvin is the "traitor" character, working for everyone no matter who they are, but he has his reasons. He has two man motives: his mother and finding a way back home.
There are a few "true facts" about Alvin. 1) His real name is Alfred Vint Svent, 2) he is part of a prestigious noble family, and 3) he is from Elympios, an entirely different "world." Elympios is actually just another country on a larger continent, but there is a barrier called the schism that separates and isolates Rieze Maxia from it. Elympios is also dying. The Lord of Spirits, Maxwell, had created Rieze Maxia as the last haven for spirits and humans. Elympios is devoid of spirits and thus devoid of mana. The loss of spirits means the loss of true nature and life.
Twenty years ago, while aboard the cruise liner E.S.S. Zenethra, an experiment to cut through the schism occurred and it ended up accidentally pulling the ship in. This caused the famous tsunami in Rieze Maxia and in that same year Milla was born. Alvin had been aboard that ship with his parents. Unfortunately his father died, leaving him and his already frail mother, Leticia, to deal with the new world. Alvin loves his mother dearly and does everything he can to take care of her. The sad part is the cruise was actually to benefit her. He was only six.
There is one other family member who was dragged in: his uncle, Gillandor Yule Svent, younger brother of Alvin's father. Like Alvin, Gillandor changed his name to Gilland to hide his identity. However, Alvin hates Gilland, and he has every right to. Gilland had taken his father's gun, the symbol of the Svent head, and had promised Alvin that he would give it back if he performed a job for him. It had been a lie, however, and Gilland continued to use that power and Alvin's "mission work" to later take over Exodus and become in charge of the Otherworld Reactor Plan. There was also something worse: Gilland took advantage of his mother's grief and had relations with her. Alvin knew about this even when he was younger, having accidentally walked in on them without them knowing, but Gilland actually had Leticia appear from under the bedsheets to greet him. Yeah. Not cool. He was twelve at this time(six years after their arrival), and on that same day Milla and the Four Great Spirits attacked the lab they were residing. In the chaos Alvin took her and fled away, eventually arriving at Xian Du where no one except him and the doctor, Isla, knew.
Another important person of his past is Presa. At the time, she was a spy for an Auj Oule group known as the Rats. He met her while working as part of Rashugal's Intelligence Force, though that was also a guise to get information in Fennmont to Exodus. They actually had a relationship and were together for about six months. On her birthday, after Alvin told her he wanted to go out and buy her a gift, Presa told him the truth about herself and of the information she knew. She told him because she had learned who he was and had hoped they could escape to Auj Oule to live together away from both the Rats and Exodus. But that was not to be. Instead Alvin escaped through the bathroom window and informed his superiors. This led to her arrest, her group killed off, and her the only survivor who escaped. As to his motives and reasoning for ratting her out—it's not explicitly stated anywhere. From his behavior in the game, however, and other inferences of how they lived while together, it seems he does feel guilt about it. Unfortunately there is no happy ending for them. Though they meet again, it's either in battle or distant alliance. The last time would be at her death on the Hallowmont. Even though he tried to save her, he couldn't reach her in time. Her death is the last major triggers for his change, Milla's own sacrifice being the first.
With that kind of life, it's no wonder he betrayed the group so many times. But Jude and Milla basically open his eyes. Milla has an actual mission that she focuses on and this is something that he both understands and doesn't understand at the same time. She is willing to sacrifice herself to fulfill her mission, a feat that he would not be able to do. Seeing her death at the Zenethra and seeing it wind up being futile shakes him. What was the point? Why did he let it happen? And it was not only Milla who had died. His mother had died prior to these events as well, though the group would not learn about it until later. Now even his very reason for all the shit he pulled was gone. It is this compound of failures that eventually makes him snap to the point that he tries to kill Jude and accidentally shoots Leia. However, Jude is the one who tells him that they have to move on and make their own decisions. They can't rely on anyone else. In the past, Alvin had always seen Jude as the naive kid who just went with the flow and didn't do anything for himself. Perhaps he saw some kind of reflection of himself there. But it's always Jude that makes him realize the flaws of his own thinking and that he finds himself always being picked up by him and the other "kids."
Another such kid is Elize (and Teepo). Although she is a timid and shy girl, through Teepo (who has the opposite personality), Elize is able to speak her mind in the honest, childlike manner that all children have. There are no illusions or deceptions. If she doesn't like it, she says so, and Teepo is always calling Alvin out as "the big fat liar." No one else is ever honest with him, so he appreciates how clear she is when she hates him or is mad at him. In the end, she is actually the first one to recognize his loneliness and becomes his friend.
As mentioned, eventually Alvin reaches the point where his old life just isn't worth it. Unknowingly he had already come to grow fond of Milla, Jude, and the rest, and that is where he belongs. Despite his past betrayals and though they are still a bit wary at first, he rejoins them. They would eventually come to Elympios, though the return is less than what Alvin had originally imagined. They are found by Balan, and those from Rieze Maxia begin to learn that spyrix is not just convenience for the Elympions, but a necessity to help with life. This is especially those with severe medical issue. But then Balan introduces them to a new type of spyrix called a spyrite, which utilizes the mana stored in spirit fossils and charged by those with mana lobes and a booster. It's a safer alternative to spyrix. With this newfound knowledge, they all continue their fight to try and save both Rieze Maxia and Elympios. Even if it meant going to the spirit realm and fighting a king and a crazy spirit.
The ending is bittersweet, however. The battle is won and the schism dispersed. Spirits would once again enter Elympios and with the introduction of spyrites, the spyrix use should decline. However, things would not be the same because Milla decided to take the mantle as Lord of Spirits and stay in the spirit realm to watch of the birth of new spirits. This left Jude to deal with the humans.
In the future Alvin would open a joint venture with Yurgen in an attempt to help bridge the gap between the two worlds...but that wouldn't be until later. Alvin is coming in from before he receives this offer.
Now, as I said this was the very short Tl;DR version. I skimmed over a lot of important scenes and details, but they can be found in the more detailed version linked earlier.
Personality:
Alvin's personality is a very complicated matter filled with many layers that were a result of many different things that happened in his past. It is also a rather...delicate thing right now because he is in a kind of transition of where he wants to leave his old ways behind and better himself. But to understand what he wants to change into and why, we have to start from how he was.
before
When Alvin was a young child, before the E.S.S. Zenethra entered the schism and he and his family were still living in Elympios, he was actually a shy, quiet child who cried a lot. But at the tender age of six, he had to grow up fast. He was exposed to the loss of his father, witnessed the declining health (both physical and mental) of his mother, and had to deal with the bastard that was his uncle. He was thrown from the safety of his home to an unknown world that was starkly different from his own. A world that was both like a fantasy and a horror movie at the same time. He had to adapt, and it wasn't for the better. He couldn't just sit back and be passive. He had to actually do things on his own and tough it out. Any chance of a real childhood was lost the moment the Zenethra entered Rieze Maxia.
Alvin learned the way of "betrayal" early on and in a variety of ways. At first it seemed harmless. All he had to do was gather information, and tricking people was the easiest way. As a kid, that would be even easier to do. He didn't fight against it, either—not only would he be punished for failing, from the very beginning he wanted to help his mother and get her home. So he followed the path of least resistance and did as he was told, doing whatever jobs he was assigned no matter what. But as he grew older, he could start seeing things differently. All Gilland ever did was use him, and even his mother withheld the truth about her relations with his uncle. He himself was left stuck because if he outed Gilland's plan, it would out himself, too.
Due to this kind of experience, Alvin had shut away his true emotions. That didn't mean he was emotionless or just faked it all the time. Instead, he took on a more laidback, almost carefree attitude when it came to the issues that matter. He appeared as the friendly, sociable guy who would flirt and charm his way through. But for the most part it was almost always just a surface interaction and more likely with some kind of hidden agenda. He did't want to know "who" you were. He wanted to know what you knew and how he could get what he needed. Basically, anyone was just a tool for him; a source of information; a means to an end. Close commitments? That wasn't going to happen. Why? Because he had been burned before and he doesn't want to risk getting hurt like that again. So he kept his distance, appearing as if he was getting close but in reality just keep an arm's length. Any inquiries toward him would be deflected and turned around. It makes deceiving that much easier. Presa said it best when she described his drifting nature like a ship without a compass.
However, it shouldn't be mistaken that he was brooding in some dark corner in secret, anguishing over his life choices. He did have a goal, and he would do whatever it took to do it. He would betray even those he truly loved because that was all he really knew. He actually accepted that that was his way of life and just focused on his own self-interests, caring less about that of others. He just watched them on the sidelines, observing and wondering, but not caring. He stayed alone.
Until Jude and Milla happened.
after
Alvin had to face a lot of his flaws. It wasn't that he wasn't aware of them, he just pushed them aside. Even after the group knew he had betrayed them, they kept him by their side and would often question him. Although it was following the "keep your friends close and enemies closer" adage and to keep an eye on him, they still kept giving him chances. Even more, the longer he stayed with them the longer he could observe and start to see what they were doing. The longer he had to actually form some kind of relationship with them. And compared to everyone else he had worked with, the gang was a lot more fun and crazier than he had ever been with. So it all started as another "job" but it would turn into a kind of life lesson for him.
Part of it that is he found himself looking up to Milla. She had such a resolute mission and goal, something he didn't really have. Sure, he wanted to help his mother and get back home, but he wasn't actually doing anything about it. All he did was just deceive others to get information and fuel it to other parties. Other people told him what to do, and he did it. Although it took Milla's sacrifice and (several) punches from Jude, he finally began to realize that if he wanted to do anything, he had to do it himself. And it would be only after Presa's death did it really hit home that he couldn't be the way he was anymore. He had been alone all this time, and he no longer wants to be.
So he's now moving forward. He is opening himself up more to tell the truth—the real truth. There are still things he'd rather keep secret (hey, every person has a right to that), but he is trying to no longer lie if it would hurt someone else. He had always taken the more "adult" and "mature" ways, but he wants to do more of that—to become a real mature adult and not some sleazy jerk. A type of honest living he and the dead can be proud of. Of course it's not as easy as flipping a switch, so it'll take some time and interaction with other people, but he'll continue to improve.
However, it should be noted that he's not going for a complete 180. He's just growing. He's not going to become some weak, subdued person, even if he will end up apologizing more. There are still parts of his personality that while affected, they're still there.
Thus concludes the "before" and "after" summary. Now for some other aspects of Alvin's personality that fit in both.
neutral areas
Aside from no longer thinking everyone as tools, the rest of Alvin's attitude and demeanor doesn't change too much. He's still casual, friendly, sociable, laidback, and likes to have fun rather than read books all day. He'll enjoy a drink at the tavern and working with others. He can also still be charming, though perhaps a little less of trying to just shack up with someone. Smooth talking will always be something that he'll have, it's just that his motives are different from before. Staying in style is another one of his little personality points, so there's also a bit of vanity there.
He's always been a rather levelheaded and practical type of guy, often giving the "words of wisdom" of an adult. Though he's still a pretty young one, he knows all too well how adults work. However, he's not above to give credit to the younger kids when they show him up. Still, he takes the kind of "older brother mentor" type when it comes to giving out life lessons, and he'll be blunt about things when the time calls for it. He can also get rather serious, especially on more important matters. All of his more "childish" suave demeanor can completely vanish and he starts to actually look and act his age. He can also get a little heavy about things, but he doesn't try to. Only for certain situations.
He won't hold back if he sees something is wrong and will call out something as crazy if it is, even protest against it. Usually he can control his emotions, but there are times when he can't and become emotional or extremely irritated, particularly his temper. It doesn't get set off that often, but if something hits a sore spot or if it's something he really doesn't like, he'll either show it or try to hide it—it kind of depends on the situation. And as shown in the game, he can really go off the deep end if too many things snap inside him, losing all sense of reasoning and spiral down into despair. Fortunately that's been over and done with so that shouldn't be an issue anymore. He might have moments of brooding, but he's quick to move past it, either by just putting it to the side or actually moving on.
Alvin already comes off as confident, almost to the point of arrogance, and he still has that. He has skills and he knows how to use them. He will be more likely to compliment/commend others, but he's not above giving himself a little self-boast, either. There's no second guessing in what he can do—if he believes he can do it, he will. If he doesn't, he'll say so but probably still try for it depending on the circumstances. This also means that despite the fact he was a double crosser (sometimes a quadruple), he's not a flip-flopper. It's not that he changes his opinions—it's rather that he sticks to what he decides on and changes things around to make it fit. If that requires seemingly changing opinions, then so be it. Fortunately there will be less of that, but there will probably be times when such tactics are called for. He also likes getting the job done, even if it's not perfect. So he will complete a task given to him. In the past this would mean by any means necessary, though now it might be less so (and more likely to refuse to do something).
There's still a bit of self-interest leftover. If something looks dicey, he won't risk it. This is more of the common, pragmatic sense coming in rather than just looking for his own well-being. The fact that he worked alone only made this more true—in the past he had no one to really fall back on. Now, however, he may be willing to take more risks as he begins to trust others more. He's not necessarily reckless, but so long as there is a friend with him and he thinks they have a chance, he'll do it (if perhaps a bit begrudgingly). This also means that he's looking at the interest of others more, too. He has always been concerned when things look bad, but he'll be even more so now. It's not that he would be more hesitant or wary, but rather there will be more weight to his thoughts and choices. This is probably what motivates behind whether he just actually charges through (seeming to be reckless) or says to hang back (seeming to be more cautious). It all depends on what's going on and how he's feeling about it (that is, anyone can act recklessly if their emotions are high).
Because of his involvement with so many people and needing to know how to play the perfect spy, Alvin is adept at perceiving people. He can tell when something is up and will adapt to it accordingly, whether it's to leave the person alone or try to offer some help. In other words, he can read situations very well and knows all the social etiquette required for pretty much any situation. So if there's someone who does not, he'll either try to steer them away to prevent something worse from happening or just shake his head in pitying disbelief. This perception doesn't come to just people, however. He also uses this in the field and around the environment. He will be very quick to note whatever advantage points there could be as well as weak spots. This isn't on a brilliant tactician sense, but just general experienced soldier sense. He won't notice everything, but at least he'll notice more than one with no experience whatsoever.
The last thing to talk about is how his "carefree" nature has changed, and this is more of prospective of what will happen based on how he is in Tales of Xillia 2. Before he would tease the group members a lot, particularly Jude. While he's still one to joke around, this apparently diminishes over time. There may be the occasional tease, and this will still happen more early on, but it will gradually decrease as Alvin continues to move forward and mature. You could say that instead of acting like a party-going mid-20s guy, he's heading more toward the late-20s, early-30s working adult type. Any jokes or teasings will have a different air about them—a more mature one, so to speak. He might still sling his arm around Jude's shoulders every once in a while, but only if it's really called for as opposed to just doing it whenever. And hey, he still knows how to party. He's still in his 20s, he's not that old! (Heck, even early 30s isn't that old). He'll just probably leave the crazier antics to the younger teens (and then later laugh about it like any other older sibling).
Abilities:
Alvin is a tank. Seriously, his main stat is strength, he packs a lot of vitality, crits like a madman, and his specialty is breaking through guards. To translate that from game mechanic terms to "real life," he's a strong, seasoned fighter who would be a formidable foe in the battlefield. His main weapons of choice are his gun and broadsword, both specially designed and both wielded together. As mentioned, he can pack a punch and put enough force to stun his enemies, especially with his charged attacks.
As his fight style suggests, he's ambidextrous. His dominant hand is the left hand, and he first learned how to fire a gun with this hand. He then later trained his right hand so that he could wield the sword. Due to the special design of the weapons, he combine them to "charge" and boost his attack power. Going into a charged state also allows him to perform his artes in a slightly different variation (so same skill, but with boosted power and slightly different look and sometimes mechanic, such as one three shots instead of one). Thus his dual weaponry allows him to attack both long and melee range. In addition to his skill in weaponry, he is decent in hand-to-hand combat. Definitely not the expert like Jude, and he'd likely prefer his weapons in a big fight, but he knows how to at least dish out a few punches and kicks to get him through a brawl. Also, if his introduction scene is anything to go by, he can apparently run crazy fast and jump crazy distances. ...Not sure how much stock I want to put into that scene though. Credit the Lilium Orb. But some of his artes do require him to jump high into the air so there's that.
In terms of how adept he is with his weapons, when it comes to his gun he is an ace marksman. He only knows how to use a handgun, but he can aim very well even from far distances and seems to know the right spots to hit when it comes to inanimate objects. For instance, he can figure out where the weak spots are to further weaken a rotting structure to make it collapse. For example, in two instances Jude pointed out a target for him to shoot, but not exactly where. Alvin is able to figure out the exact weak points to hit. He just needs a general target and he'll hit the mark. As for his sword, he's no fencer and swordsman "style" isn't really that big on his list, but he knows how to wield it. Less than actual defined style, he just moves where he needs to. He has his own stances (which are actually very laid back) and is very dexterous with the blade despite its large size. He is also pretty quick and nimble with it, too—again, not on par as someone wielding a slimmer sword, but more than one would expect. He makes up his lack of speed with force—each swing counts.
Most important to note is his lack of a mana lobe. Or rather, the inability to use his (as explained in the background info). Since he can't use his mana lobe he can't perform any true spirit artes. This means all his attacks are physical martial artes. However, some of his artes have an elemental effect and his main element is fire. How he is able to utilize the elements without the use of spirits or spyrix is a mystery that no one knows the answer to but may be explained in the sequel. Until then, though, best bet is the Lilium Orb, which is explained further below.
His mystic arte (or his "special ultimate attack") is called Terminus Pride wherein he jumps high into the air, unloads his gun, combines it with his sword, and then dives down for the finishing blow. It's all fire based. Like in all Tales of games, these mystic artes can only be performed when going into "Overlimit" which can be filled constantly. So to translate that from game mechanics and be more realistic, it means they have to be really energized in battle. So this move wouldn't be done unless it was against a tough opponent and it was necessary. It's a "special ultimate attack" for a reason.
And at a (sort of) root of it all is the Lilium Orb. This crystal shaped like a flower can expand and reflects the user's growth. It also helps unlock certain abilities once the user has reached a certain experience level. In addition, it allows the user to sense the intents of their companions (but not foes). This allows the fighters to adapt and work in battle with less need to verbally communicate. It also allows them to perform Linked Artes, or combination attacks, that can be more powerful than individual attacks. His will be completely expanded.
Since he doesn't have to rely on spirits and all of his skills, though strong, are based on his own physical prowess, I don't see any changes to his abilities. None of the skills provided through the Lilium Orb are god-tier and he'll still have realistic strength, endurance, etc. Getting stabbed in the arm is still going to really hurt and possibly render it useless. But either way, he'll only fight when he has to.
Now for some non-fighting abilities, Alvin grew up living the life of a spy and traitor. Although he's trying to turn over a new leaf, that doesn't mean his skills from the old days are wasted. He's good at reading people and can weasel his way into learning information. He's also good at deceiving by saying just enough to get the foot in the door and make his way in. That also means he's good at deflecting or turning topics back around if it starts to head in a direction he doesn't really want. As I said, he's trying to turn over a new leaf so if he were to ever use these "skills" it wouldn't be for nefarious reasons and would only do it if he had to. The skills on their own aren't too bad—it's just how he uses them that matters.
Affection:
Anything that's of the "bro" type is definitely acceptable. As for the ladies...well anything is fine. However he's kind of pulling back on the whole "public display of affection" so while he'll be friendly, he might not be doing the "slinging the arm over your shoulder" bit as much. He's also pulling back on the "one night stands" as well. Not completely of course (hey, a guy has needs).
Fighting:
Sure, go ahead 8D But he's one tough guy and will go on the defensive. Expect some bruising.
Misc.:
Be as intrusive as you want HOWEVER, notify me first so we can put up spoiler tags if it's in a public post.
Other:
Along with his weapons and gear, Alvin is going to have his father's gun and gun belt. Also. His scarf. It is Fissmauge's finest. And he really loves his coat and keeping in style. Also, his weapons will look like his "default" ones. No Devil Arms, sadly.
Exact birthdays aren't known, and the calendar system is different from the standard. Alvin was born in Primia 4278 (Trames 2267). Given the timeline, it's very likely that he (and the rest of the cast) were born in the one season the game did not take place as nothing is referred in terms of them getting older (and in ToX2, they are one year older than in the first). This leaves pretty much leaves about 4 to 5 months in the latter part of winter and all of spring. If I had to choose, I'd say sometime in March or April. He may have grown up twisted, but if he had lived under normal circumstances, he probably would have been a lot gentler, the "hidden" sides that peek out toward the end of the game.
One thing I'd like to note is that I have not played Tales of Xillia 2 and am waiting for the English release due to come out later this month, actually. While I am aware of a few developments that occur to Alvin in the timegap between the games, I'll be waiting for the English version before going head deep down the path toward ToX2 development. This is mostly because games adapted to fit the American audience sometimes change certain meanings from the original Japanese version, and I have been told that the English version of Xillia is more lighthearted in tone than the original (there's a lot to be said when the English fans hated Japaense!Jude but love English!Jude). So I'll be keeping in mind of how things may turn out but basically keep him "on the road" rather than reach to a full on destination. From what I've heard from those who did play the sequel, my current analysis of him seems to be on par at least so I don't foresee too much difficulty in adapting. Plus I plan on canon updating him about a month or two after X2's release (however long it takes me to replay through everything).
Age: 26
Canon: Tales of Xillia (first game)
Canon Point: The very narrow time between final battle and epilogue. (so before he gets the business offer with Yurgen)
Eye color: Orange brown
Hair color: Dark brown
Height: 182cm (6 feet)
Amulet: Keeping it simple, so something like this.
Clothing: Why bother with words when I can just link his status art.
Background:
So. The wiki is a bit lacking and due to Alvin's role in the game, it's better if I just write it out. Plus I took a lot of notes. However, since I went into a lot of details and basically just wrote a walkthrough of the game, I've written it in another entry which can be found here. I'm not kidding when I said I basically wrote a walkthrough. It's a paragraph by paragraph play of 80% of the game, the remaining 20% being events that didn't involve Alvin and so were thus either reduced to one sentence summary or not included at all. I wrote it because for Alvin, the devil's in the details. There are very little short summaries at the end of each chapter section. So needless to say there are a lot of spoilers in it, as well as in this application.
Since that thing is so huge, though, and not as Alvin focused I'm giving a very shortened "TL;DR" version that delves more into the actual personal history of Alvin. Most of this comes from the game since while I know there's at least a novel out there, I can't read Japanese and it's not translated. Plus some of the adaptation changes a few things that could be interpreted from the original Japanese. So only pulling out things that I can prove in English.
Again. SPOILERS.
Alvin becomes a "main party member" very early on. In fact he's the third character introduced with the first two, Milla and Jude, technically both being the main protagonists. After basically saving Jude's ass, he introduces himself as a mercenary and basically "tags along" with Milla and Jude under reasoning of needing to get paid for his services. He sticks with them and learns along the way that Milla is actually the Lord of Spirits, Maxwell, and that she is on a mission to destroy the Lance of Kresnik in Fennmont, the place they all met. It's a spyrix weapon, and spyrix are devices created by an organization called Exodus. Milla considers spyrix dangerous and harmful for both humans and spirits because spyrix kill the spirits when they channel artes. But getting back to Fennmont was going to prove to be a trying journey. Their group grows when they later pick up a young girl named Elize and her doll, Teepo. Eventually there would be two more people, Jude's childhood friend Leia and Rowen, a man who was known as the best tactician called the Conductor.
All right, "introductory" stuff out of the way, here is the real short version of what Alvin does in the story: he helps the group, betrays the group, and then repeats this several times. Alvin is the "traitor" character, working for everyone no matter who they are, but he has his reasons. He has two man motives: his mother and finding a way back home.
There are a few "true facts" about Alvin. 1) His real name is Alfred Vint Svent, 2) he is part of a prestigious noble family, and 3) he is from Elympios, an entirely different "world." Elympios is actually just another country on a larger continent, but there is a barrier called the schism that separates and isolates Rieze Maxia from it. Elympios is also dying. The Lord of Spirits, Maxwell, had created Rieze Maxia as the last haven for spirits and humans. Elympios is devoid of spirits and thus devoid of mana. The loss of spirits means the loss of true nature and life.
Twenty years ago, while aboard the cruise liner E.S.S. Zenethra, an experiment to cut through the schism occurred and it ended up accidentally pulling the ship in. This caused the famous tsunami in Rieze Maxia and in that same year Milla was born. Alvin had been aboard that ship with his parents. Unfortunately his father died, leaving him and his already frail mother, Leticia, to deal with the new world. Alvin loves his mother dearly and does everything he can to take care of her. The sad part is the cruise was actually to benefit her. He was only six.
There is one other family member who was dragged in: his uncle, Gillandor Yule Svent, younger brother of Alvin's father. Like Alvin, Gillandor changed his name to Gilland to hide his identity. However, Alvin hates Gilland, and he has every right to. Gilland had taken his father's gun, the symbol of the Svent head, and had promised Alvin that he would give it back if he performed a job for him. It had been a lie, however, and Gilland continued to use that power and Alvin's "mission work" to later take over Exodus and become in charge of the Otherworld Reactor Plan. There was also something worse: Gilland took advantage of his mother's grief and had relations with her. Alvin knew about this even when he was younger, having accidentally walked in on them without them knowing, but Gilland actually had Leticia appear from under the bedsheets to greet him. Yeah. Not cool. He was twelve at this time(six years after their arrival), and on that same day Milla and the Four Great Spirits attacked the lab they were residing. In the chaos Alvin took her and fled away, eventually arriving at Xian Du where no one except him and the doctor, Isla, knew.
Another important person of his past is Presa. At the time, she was a spy for an Auj Oule group known as the Rats. He met her while working as part of Rashugal's Intelligence Force, though that was also a guise to get information in Fennmont to Exodus. They actually had a relationship and were together for about six months. On her birthday, after Alvin told her he wanted to go out and buy her a gift, Presa told him the truth about herself and of the information she knew. She told him because she had learned who he was and had hoped they could escape to Auj Oule to live together away from both the Rats and Exodus. But that was not to be. Instead Alvin escaped through the bathroom window and informed his superiors. This led to her arrest, her group killed off, and her the only survivor who escaped. As to his motives and reasoning for ratting her out—it's not explicitly stated anywhere. From his behavior in the game, however, and other inferences of how they lived while together, it seems he does feel guilt about it. Unfortunately there is no happy ending for them. Though they meet again, it's either in battle or distant alliance. The last time would be at her death on the Hallowmont. Even though he tried to save her, he couldn't reach her in time. Her death is the last major triggers for his change, Milla's own sacrifice being the first.
With that kind of life, it's no wonder he betrayed the group so many times. But Jude and Milla basically open his eyes. Milla has an actual mission that she focuses on and this is something that he both understands and doesn't understand at the same time. She is willing to sacrifice herself to fulfill her mission, a feat that he would not be able to do. Seeing her death at the Zenethra and seeing it wind up being futile shakes him. What was the point? Why did he let it happen? And it was not only Milla who had died. His mother had died prior to these events as well, though the group would not learn about it until later. Now even his very reason for all the shit he pulled was gone. It is this compound of failures that eventually makes him snap to the point that he tries to kill Jude and accidentally shoots Leia. However, Jude is the one who tells him that they have to move on and make their own decisions. They can't rely on anyone else. In the past, Alvin had always seen Jude as the naive kid who just went with the flow and didn't do anything for himself. Perhaps he saw some kind of reflection of himself there. But it's always Jude that makes him realize the flaws of his own thinking and that he finds himself always being picked up by him and the other "kids."
Another such kid is Elize (and Teepo). Although she is a timid and shy girl, through Teepo (who has the opposite personality), Elize is able to speak her mind in the honest, childlike manner that all children have. There are no illusions or deceptions. If she doesn't like it, she says so, and Teepo is always calling Alvin out as "the big fat liar." No one else is ever honest with him, so he appreciates how clear she is when she hates him or is mad at him. In the end, she is actually the first one to recognize his loneliness and becomes his friend.
As mentioned, eventually Alvin reaches the point where his old life just isn't worth it. Unknowingly he had already come to grow fond of Milla, Jude, and the rest, and that is where he belongs. Despite his past betrayals and though they are still a bit wary at first, he rejoins them. They would eventually come to Elympios, though the return is less than what Alvin had originally imagined. They are found by Balan, and those from Rieze Maxia begin to learn that spyrix is not just convenience for the Elympions, but a necessity to help with life. This is especially those with severe medical issue. But then Balan introduces them to a new type of spyrix called a spyrite, which utilizes the mana stored in spirit fossils and charged by those with mana lobes and a booster. It's a safer alternative to spyrix. With this newfound knowledge, they all continue their fight to try and save both Rieze Maxia and Elympios. Even if it meant going to the spirit realm and fighting a king and a crazy spirit.
The ending is bittersweet, however. The battle is won and the schism dispersed. Spirits would once again enter Elympios and with the introduction of spyrites, the spyrix use should decline. However, things would not be the same because Milla decided to take the mantle as Lord of Spirits and stay in the spirit realm to watch of the birth of new spirits. This left Jude to deal with the humans.
In the future Alvin would open a joint venture with Yurgen in an attempt to help bridge the gap between the two worlds...but that wouldn't be until later. Alvin is coming in from before he receives this offer.
Now, as I said this was the very short Tl;DR version. I skimmed over a lot of important scenes and details, but they can be found in the more detailed version linked earlier.
Personality:
Alvin's personality is a very complicated matter filled with many layers that were a result of many different things that happened in his past. It is also a rather...delicate thing right now because he is in a kind of transition of where he wants to leave his old ways behind and better himself. But to understand what he wants to change into and why, we have to start from how he was.
before
When Alvin was a young child, before the E.S.S. Zenethra entered the schism and he and his family were still living in Elympios, he was actually a shy, quiet child who cried a lot. But at the tender age of six, he had to grow up fast. He was exposed to the loss of his father, witnessed the declining health (both physical and mental) of his mother, and had to deal with the bastard that was his uncle. He was thrown from the safety of his home to an unknown world that was starkly different from his own. A world that was both like a fantasy and a horror movie at the same time. He had to adapt, and it wasn't for the better. He couldn't just sit back and be passive. He had to actually do things on his own and tough it out. Any chance of a real childhood was lost the moment the Zenethra entered Rieze Maxia.
Alvin learned the way of "betrayal" early on and in a variety of ways. At first it seemed harmless. All he had to do was gather information, and tricking people was the easiest way. As a kid, that would be even easier to do. He didn't fight against it, either—not only would he be punished for failing, from the very beginning he wanted to help his mother and get her home. So he followed the path of least resistance and did as he was told, doing whatever jobs he was assigned no matter what. But as he grew older, he could start seeing things differently. All Gilland ever did was use him, and even his mother withheld the truth about her relations with his uncle. He himself was left stuck because if he outed Gilland's plan, it would out himself, too.
Due to this kind of experience, Alvin had shut away his true emotions. That didn't mean he was emotionless or just faked it all the time. Instead, he took on a more laidback, almost carefree attitude when it came to the issues that matter. He appeared as the friendly, sociable guy who would flirt and charm his way through. But for the most part it was almost always just a surface interaction and more likely with some kind of hidden agenda. He did't want to know "who" you were. He wanted to know what you knew and how he could get what he needed. Basically, anyone was just a tool for him; a source of information; a means to an end. Close commitments? That wasn't going to happen. Why? Because he had been burned before and he doesn't want to risk getting hurt like that again. So he kept his distance, appearing as if he was getting close but in reality just keep an arm's length. Any inquiries toward him would be deflected and turned around. It makes deceiving that much easier. Presa said it best when she described his drifting nature like a ship without a compass.
However, it shouldn't be mistaken that he was brooding in some dark corner in secret, anguishing over his life choices. He did have a goal, and he would do whatever it took to do it. He would betray even those he truly loved because that was all he really knew. He actually accepted that that was his way of life and just focused on his own self-interests, caring less about that of others. He just watched them on the sidelines, observing and wondering, but not caring. He stayed alone.
Until Jude and Milla happened.
after
Alvin had to face a lot of his flaws. It wasn't that he wasn't aware of them, he just pushed them aside. Even after the group knew he had betrayed them, they kept him by their side and would often question him. Although it was following the "keep your friends close and enemies closer" adage and to keep an eye on him, they still kept giving him chances. Even more, the longer he stayed with them the longer he could observe and start to see what they were doing. The longer he had to actually form some kind of relationship with them. And compared to everyone else he had worked with, the gang was a lot more fun and crazier than he had ever been with. So it all started as another "job" but it would turn into a kind of life lesson for him.
Part of it that is he found himself looking up to Milla. She had such a resolute mission and goal, something he didn't really have. Sure, he wanted to help his mother and get back home, but he wasn't actually doing anything about it. All he did was just deceive others to get information and fuel it to other parties. Other people told him what to do, and he did it. Although it took Milla's sacrifice and (several) punches from Jude, he finally began to realize that if he wanted to do anything, he had to do it himself. And it would be only after Presa's death did it really hit home that he couldn't be the way he was anymore. He had been alone all this time, and he no longer wants to be.
So he's now moving forward. He is opening himself up more to tell the truth—the real truth. There are still things he'd rather keep secret (hey, every person has a right to that), but he is trying to no longer lie if it would hurt someone else. He had always taken the more "adult" and "mature" ways, but he wants to do more of that—to become a real mature adult and not some sleazy jerk. A type of honest living he and the dead can be proud of. Of course it's not as easy as flipping a switch, so it'll take some time and interaction with other people, but he'll continue to improve.
However, it should be noted that he's not going for a complete 180. He's just growing. He's not going to become some weak, subdued person, even if he will end up apologizing more. There are still parts of his personality that while affected, they're still there.
Thus concludes the "before" and "after" summary. Now for some other aspects of Alvin's personality that fit in both.
neutral areas
Aside from no longer thinking everyone as tools, the rest of Alvin's attitude and demeanor doesn't change too much. He's still casual, friendly, sociable, laidback, and likes to have fun rather than read books all day. He'll enjoy a drink at the tavern and working with others. He can also still be charming, though perhaps a little less of trying to just shack up with someone. Smooth talking will always be something that he'll have, it's just that his motives are different from before. Staying in style is another one of his little personality points, so there's also a bit of vanity there.
He's always been a rather levelheaded and practical type of guy, often giving the "words of wisdom" of an adult. Though he's still a pretty young one, he knows all too well how adults work. However, he's not above to give credit to the younger kids when they show him up. Still, he takes the kind of "older brother mentor" type when it comes to giving out life lessons, and he'll be blunt about things when the time calls for it. He can also get rather serious, especially on more important matters. All of his more "childish" suave demeanor can completely vanish and he starts to actually look and act his age. He can also get a little heavy about things, but he doesn't try to. Only for certain situations.
He won't hold back if he sees something is wrong and will call out something as crazy if it is, even protest against it. Usually he can control his emotions, but there are times when he can't and become emotional or extremely irritated, particularly his temper. It doesn't get set off that often, but if something hits a sore spot or if it's something he really doesn't like, he'll either show it or try to hide it—it kind of depends on the situation. And as shown in the game, he can really go off the deep end if too many things snap inside him, losing all sense of reasoning and spiral down into despair. Fortunately that's been over and done with so that shouldn't be an issue anymore. He might have moments of brooding, but he's quick to move past it, either by just putting it to the side or actually moving on.
Alvin already comes off as confident, almost to the point of arrogance, and he still has that. He has skills and he knows how to use them. He will be more likely to compliment/commend others, but he's not above giving himself a little self-boast, either. There's no second guessing in what he can do—if he believes he can do it, he will. If he doesn't, he'll say so but probably still try for it depending on the circumstances. This also means that despite the fact he was a double crosser (sometimes a quadruple), he's not a flip-flopper. It's not that he changes his opinions—it's rather that he sticks to what he decides on and changes things around to make it fit. If that requires seemingly changing opinions, then so be it. Fortunately there will be less of that, but there will probably be times when such tactics are called for. He also likes getting the job done, even if it's not perfect. So he will complete a task given to him. In the past this would mean by any means necessary, though now it might be less so (and more likely to refuse to do something).
There's still a bit of self-interest leftover. If something looks dicey, he won't risk it. This is more of the common, pragmatic sense coming in rather than just looking for his own well-being. The fact that he worked alone only made this more true—in the past he had no one to really fall back on. Now, however, he may be willing to take more risks as he begins to trust others more. He's not necessarily reckless, but so long as there is a friend with him and he thinks they have a chance, he'll do it (if perhaps a bit begrudgingly). This also means that he's looking at the interest of others more, too. He has always been concerned when things look bad, but he'll be even more so now. It's not that he would be more hesitant or wary, but rather there will be more weight to his thoughts and choices. This is probably what motivates behind whether he just actually charges through (seeming to be reckless) or says to hang back (seeming to be more cautious). It all depends on what's going on and how he's feeling about it (that is, anyone can act recklessly if their emotions are high).
Because of his involvement with so many people and needing to know how to play the perfect spy, Alvin is adept at perceiving people. He can tell when something is up and will adapt to it accordingly, whether it's to leave the person alone or try to offer some help. In other words, he can read situations very well and knows all the social etiquette required for pretty much any situation. So if there's someone who does not, he'll either try to steer them away to prevent something worse from happening or just shake his head in pitying disbelief. This perception doesn't come to just people, however. He also uses this in the field and around the environment. He will be very quick to note whatever advantage points there could be as well as weak spots. This isn't on a brilliant tactician sense, but just general experienced soldier sense. He won't notice everything, but at least he'll notice more than one with no experience whatsoever.
The last thing to talk about is how his "carefree" nature has changed, and this is more of prospective of what will happen based on how he is in Tales of Xillia 2. Before he would tease the group members a lot, particularly Jude. While he's still one to joke around, this apparently diminishes over time. There may be the occasional tease, and this will still happen more early on, but it will gradually decrease as Alvin continues to move forward and mature. You could say that instead of acting like a party-going mid-20s guy, he's heading more toward the late-20s, early-30s working adult type. Any jokes or teasings will have a different air about them—a more mature one, so to speak. He might still sling his arm around Jude's shoulders every once in a while, but only if it's really called for as opposed to just doing it whenever. And hey, he still knows how to party. He's still in his 20s, he's not that old! (Heck, even early 30s isn't that old). He'll just probably leave the crazier antics to the younger teens (and then later laugh about it like any other older sibling).
Abilities:
Alvin is a tank. Seriously, his main stat is strength, he packs a lot of vitality, crits like a madman, and his specialty is breaking through guards. To translate that from game mechanic terms to "real life," he's a strong, seasoned fighter who would be a formidable foe in the battlefield. His main weapons of choice are his gun and broadsword, both specially designed and both wielded together. As mentioned, he can pack a punch and put enough force to stun his enemies, especially with his charged attacks.
As his fight style suggests, he's ambidextrous. His dominant hand is the left hand, and he first learned how to fire a gun with this hand. He then later trained his right hand so that he could wield the sword. Due to the special design of the weapons, he combine them to "charge" and boost his attack power. Going into a charged state also allows him to perform his artes in a slightly different variation (so same skill, but with boosted power and slightly different look and sometimes mechanic, such as one three shots instead of one). Thus his dual weaponry allows him to attack both long and melee range. In addition to his skill in weaponry, he is decent in hand-to-hand combat. Definitely not the expert like Jude, and he'd likely prefer his weapons in a big fight, but he knows how to at least dish out a few punches and kicks to get him through a brawl. Also, if his introduction scene is anything to go by, he can apparently run crazy fast and jump crazy distances. ...Not sure how much stock I want to put into that scene though. Credit the Lilium Orb. But some of his artes do require him to jump high into the air so there's that.
In terms of how adept he is with his weapons, when it comes to his gun he is an ace marksman. He only knows how to use a handgun, but he can aim very well even from far distances and seems to know the right spots to hit when it comes to inanimate objects. For instance, he can figure out where the weak spots are to further weaken a rotting structure to make it collapse. For example, in two instances Jude pointed out a target for him to shoot, but not exactly where. Alvin is able to figure out the exact weak points to hit. He just needs a general target and he'll hit the mark. As for his sword, he's no fencer and swordsman "style" isn't really that big on his list, but he knows how to wield it. Less than actual defined style, he just moves where he needs to. He has his own stances (which are actually very laid back) and is very dexterous with the blade despite its large size. He is also pretty quick and nimble with it, too—again, not on par as someone wielding a slimmer sword, but more than one would expect. He makes up his lack of speed with force—each swing counts.
Most important to note is his lack of a mana lobe. Or rather, the inability to use his (as explained in the background info). Since he can't use his mana lobe he can't perform any true spirit artes. This means all his attacks are physical martial artes. However, some of his artes have an elemental effect and his main element is fire. How he is able to utilize the elements without the use of spirits or spyrix is a mystery that no one knows the answer to but may be explained in the sequel. Until then, though, best bet is the Lilium Orb, which is explained further below.
His mystic arte (or his "special ultimate attack") is called Terminus Pride wherein he jumps high into the air, unloads his gun, combines it with his sword, and then dives down for the finishing blow. It's all fire based. Like in all Tales of games, these mystic artes can only be performed when going into "Overlimit" which can be filled constantly. So to translate that from game mechanics and be more realistic, it means they have to be really energized in battle. So this move wouldn't be done unless it was against a tough opponent and it was necessary. It's a "special ultimate attack" for a reason.
And at a (sort of) root of it all is the Lilium Orb. This crystal shaped like a flower can expand and reflects the user's growth. It also helps unlock certain abilities once the user has reached a certain experience level. In addition, it allows the user to sense the intents of their companions (but not foes). This allows the fighters to adapt and work in battle with less need to verbally communicate. It also allows them to perform Linked Artes, or combination attacks, that can be more powerful than individual attacks. His will be completely expanded.
Since he doesn't have to rely on spirits and all of his skills, though strong, are based on his own physical prowess, I don't see any changes to his abilities. None of the skills provided through the Lilium Orb are god-tier and he'll still have realistic strength, endurance, etc. Getting stabbed in the arm is still going to really hurt and possibly render it useless. But either way, he'll only fight when he has to.
Now for some non-fighting abilities, Alvin grew up living the life of a spy and traitor. Although he's trying to turn over a new leaf, that doesn't mean his skills from the old days are wasted. He's good at reading people and can weasel his way into learning information. He's also good at deceiving by saying just enough to get the foot in the door and make his way in. That also means he's good at deflecting or turning topics back around if it starts to head in a direction he doesn't really want. As I said, he's trying to turn over a new leaf so if he were to ever use these "skills" it wouldn't be for nefarious reasons and would only do it if he had to. The skills on their own aren't too bad—it's just how he uses them that matters.
Affection:
Anything that's of the "bro" type is definitely acceptable. As for the ladies...well anything is fine. However he's kind of pulling back on the whole "public display of affection" so while he'll be friendly, he might not be doing the "slinging the arm over your shoulder" bit as much. He's also pulling back on the "one night stands" as well. Not completely of course (hey, a guy has needs).
Fighting:
Sure, go ahead 8D But he's one tough guy and will go on the defensive. Expect some bruising.
Misc.:
Be as intrusive as you want HOWEVER, notify me first so we can put up spoiler tags if it's in a public post.
Other:
Along with his weapons and gear, Alvin is going to have his father's gun and gun belt. Also. His scarf. It is Fissmauge's finest. And he really loves his coat and keeping in style. Also, his weapons will look like his "default" ones. No Devil Arms, sadly.
Exact birthdays aren't known, and the calendar system is different from the standard. Alvin was born in Primia 4278 (Trames 2267). Given the timeline, it's very likely that he (and the rest of the cast) were born in the one season the game did not take place as nothing is referred in terms of them getting older (and in ToX2, they are one year older than in the first). This leaves pretty much leaves about 4 to 5 months in the latter part of winter and all of spring. If I had to choose, I'd say sometime in March or April. He may have grown up twisted, but if he had lived under normal circumstances, he probably would have been a lot gentler, the "hidden" sides that peek out toward the end of the game.
One thing I'd like to note is that I have not played Tales of Xillia 2 and am waiting for the English release due to come out later this month, actually. While I am aware of a few developments that occur to Alvin in the timegap between the games, I'll be waiting for the English version before going head deep down the path toward ToX2 development. This is mostly because games adapted to fit the American audience sometimes change certain meanings from the original Japanese version, and I have been told that the English version of Xillia is more lighthearted in tone than the original (there's a lot to be said when the English fans hated Japaense!Jude but love English!Jude). So I'll be keeping in mind of how things may turn out but basically keep him "on the road" rather than reach to a full on destination. From what I've heard from those who did play the sequel, my current analysis of him seems to be on par at least so I don't foresee too much difficulty in adapting. Plus I plan on canon updating him about a month or two after X2's release (however long it takes me to replay through everything).