Alabama Channing

> *Number one rule. Check for traps on the way in, check on the way out.*
>
> Alabama Channing, Tomb Invader

Alabama "Ally" Channing is the hero of *Tomb Invader,* played by Gina Vitori. She is an archaeologist, PhD candidate, and the daughter of Julie Channing. She is twenty-five years old.

She is based on both the characters Lara Croft from *Tomb Raider* (2018) and Indiana Jones.

## Biography

Twenty years after her mother's death, Ally is seen in the Middle East, obtaining an ancient chest for Chief Al Busain. A two soldiers fight her to take it, but she defeats them.

Later on, she is teaching classes at Emerson University. While having lunch with her friends Bennie and Helena, she is brought aside by a woman named Isabelle Villeneuve, who introduces herself as a reporter. She asks Ally how she justifies stealing artifacts from other cultures. Ally responds:

> "There are a few crucial distinctions that we need to make between theft and discovery in this field. I think that the real thing we need to consider is that none of us own these artifacts. I personally believe that a country of origin should have them on display for the public, and share, and that nobody has the right to conceal or keep an archeological find."
>
>

Isabelle then gives Ally a box with her mother's old journal and a phone that soon rings with a call from a man named Tim Parker. She asks how he got her mother's journal, to which he says that he will answer her questions if they meet in person in Lintong, China. He arranges for a private jet to take her and her two friends there in a few hours, and Ally accepts.

Once they're there, Ally immediately changes her mind when she sees Nathan Carter, a freelance archaeologist who sells artifacts -- something Ally doesn't agree with morally. But wanting to know more about her mother's journal, she sticks around to meet Tim Parker. He tells her that he is looking to complete her mother's work, which is to find the Heart of the Dragon. He believes that Ally can understand her mother's notes better than he can. Ally accepts the offer to work together.

That night, mysterious attackers come and kidnap Nathan. Ally is the one who says they must go after them and save Nathan so he won't be killed. Ally begins leading the others in tracking down the attackers. Ally splits apart from the others to go ahead after Bennie becomes injured, which results in her capture as well. Ally defeats all of the captors and escapes with Nathan. After they reunite with the others, the attackers ambush the group once more. The leader of the other group, Jian, tells Ally that his mother was looking for the Heart of the Dragon for him because it is necessary to unite China. Ally is the next person worthy and capable enough to find the relic, so she agrees to help Jian in finishing her mother's work for him.

Once they get to the tomb of Emperor Qin, Ally interprets her mother's riddles to help them safely reach the entrance. After reciting the Tao of the Heart of the Warrior, she enters the tomb alongside Tim, Nathan, Helena, and Bennie. Tim and Ally begin disagreeing on who should lead, and the others reluctantly give him the map. He splits off to search for the Heart on his own, and Nathan uses the opportunity to tell Ally that Tim actually wants the Heart because its magical properties could make him rich. Ally continues to search for the Heart so he cannot obtain it. She correctly interprets her mother's last riddle and finds the jade key necessary to unlock the Heart.

The tomb begins collapsing, and Ally and Nathan temporarily leave Helena behind. They run into Tim, who thinks what they have is the Heart of the Dragon, which causes a fight. An ancient warrior comes to life, which Ally defeats, unlocking a room with a sword that is the real Heart of the Dragon. Ally and Nathan take it and return out through the tomb alongside Helena. Ally gives the sword to Jian and then returns home to continue teaching archaeology classes.

## Personality

Ally is very intelligent and adventurous. She is very wary to look for traps, and has a keen eye for finding them. Her love of archaeology was inspired by her mother, who created a language that only the two of them could understand. Her mother also often left puzzles for Ally to solve. Ally does not like people who look for ancient relics only to sell them or keep them for themselves, believing that relics should be shared with the world for all people to learn from.

Ally also believes that it is harder for women to be respected than men, which is why she is eager to gain her PhD so that no one can argue she is smart and successful.