Aristide

Aristide is a non-playable character in Laigos SaGa. He appears as the major antagonist of the second half of Ulysses' Chapter 1 as the head of the powerful domain of Fontaine, intending to suppress the neighboring domains and eventually ascend to become the Imperial Regent.

## Biography

### The Coalition

Aristide is Siegfried distant cousin and the ambitious Marquis Fontaine. A talented warrior who mastered many weapons, he is considered to be the second coming of Hartmut. He first appears in the game representing his house at the coalition against Isaak. There, Aristide is rumoured to be present only to showcase his might rather than out of loyalty to the Emperor, whom he implicitly dismissed as a weakling serving only to be ruled upon.

He was a major contributor to the victories the Coalition had throughout Laigos, rivalling with the contributions of Siegfried, Sir Arcturus and Sir Percival. However, after Isaak kidnapped the Emperor, the nobles had divergences over the future of Granwell as the war against Isaak reached a stalemate. The coalition quickly shattered, and Aristide, like many others, harboured ambitions of his own: to submit the neighboring domains to mount an invasion against Isaak and become the next regent, a title he claims it his by right of being the "Knight of Zodiac".

### Placidian Wars

Aristide started by submitting the neighboring domains of Wenrock and Karis to his rule, and continued his habit of interferring with the affairs of Salamanca and Aragon, constantly disrupting both domains' autonomy. He thwarted most of Ulysses and Leon's plans to assert dominance in the region, either by interferring in their battles or intimidating possible allies to them. Such is his might that during one of Ulysses' campaigns, Aristide effectively humiliated him in battle and forced the once indomitable Crimson Dragoons to retreat. When the situation arrived a breaking point with Abelard, Aragon's first prince overthrowing his father and alligning himself with Fontaine, Leon's was forced to betray Ulysses so he could have a chance to defeat Fontaine.

However, Ulysses survived and Leon was executed by him. Due to this, Aristide started styling himself King of Fontaine and began his march northwards, with Salamanca in his path. Ulysses, now the only one to defend Salamanca, decided to mount a surprise attack to kill Aristide during his march as revenge for driving Leon to a corner. During the battle, a storm brewed, and Aristide didn't know of the combined assault of Salamanca and the Crimson Dragoons. When he found out about Ulysses' charge, he dismissed it as a desperate bluff while his army was thrown in disarray.

Cornered by Ulysses, Aristide accepted his challenge, becoming increasingly frustrated over the battle as his opponent refused to be defeated. After a fierce duel, Aristide was defeated by Ulysses. Shocked and in disbelief, he raised his spear in a last-ditch effort to defeat Ulysses, but the latter manages to finally kill him, avenging Leon. Ulysses took his spear, the Beast Lance "Dinosaur" as his prize.

## Personality

Aristide's might and military prowess are matched by his pride, cruelty and arrogance. He has no qualms to trample anyone in his way to sate his powerlust. He never takes prisoners, unless they are useful to him. His confidence isn't unearned, as he possesses the most privileged situation out of the major warlords and is empowered by his regalia, the Beast Spear "Dinosaur" and a shard of the Philosopher's Stone.

Aristide is also pompous to the point of speaking in a theatrical tone in order to reinforce his own image as the virtuous hero who will end the chaos, even though he is far from being a hero, let alone virtuous. His pride and narcissism led him to self-style himself as King Fontaine, despite being a Marquis. Furthermore, he is an old-fashioned traditionalist and a patron to Hartmut, adhering his title "Knight of Capricorn", to symbolize him as his second coming due to his indomitable martial caliber.

With little to no respect or regard to anyone outside of his own family, Aristide considers his vassals as his slaves, and his opponents as insects. He concluded that either he or his cousin are the only ones fit to become the Regent, judging by the former's might and the latter's cunning. Aristide underestimated Ulysses until his bitter end, leading to his disbelief upon defeat against the upstart. His refusal to accept defeat led to his death.