I absolutely adore AL-AN in darker lighting
All your photo dumps and gifs of AL-AN has helped me so much gathering references to draw a character inspired by him, thank you for your service 🙏
I love to post AL-AN’s animations and such so I’m glad it’s appreciated. I started my blog because I got frustrated of AL-AN clips either being in low quality or having the HUD on, so I went in game and recorded a bunch myself!
References you say…
A bunch more under the cut. For all of your possible reference needs.
Various angles
Various colors
Walking animation
If you have anything specific things about AL-AN such as animations, lore, databank entires, or voice lines you want me to post, just ask. I’m pretty much always willing to do requests. As long as they pertain to AL-AN or Architects.
A conversation between AL-AN and Robin in the old story about sensory perception
I truly can’t get enough of AL-AN’s typing animation. It’s satisfying.
I fed my horse a glowstick and now it looks like this. Help.
Me when the phase gate is opening
I often wonder what it was like for the Architects in these zen gardens. Being sick and having to process the fact that a cure was not developed in time.
This specific Architect component: what was their assignment? What tasks they were preforming on 4546B before the quarantine was instated. Before they situated in the garden and most likely succumbed to Kharaa. AL-AN mentions that Architects don’t see endings as the same way humans do, so even though this mind is gone, their data and experiences are in the network. I wonder if their remaining goals were carried out by the collective, or if there was simply no time to do so given the 143 billion other Architect casualties.
At the very least every time I go to the deep lilypad caves cache in game I take a minute to think about things as I listen to the dialogue between Robin and AL-AN. I suppose even after a millennium abandoned the garden is still fulfilling its purpose as a place to reflect.
*Looks around*
I find it a little bit humorous that Architect greenhouses were kept underground away from the sun.
AL-AN stretch
Orang…
Unused aside dialogue about rockgrubs between AL-AN and Robin
Transcript under the cut
AL-AN: The rockgrub is small, but it has a spine. Much like you Robin.
Robin: …How exactly?
A: Like the rockgrub you are small and have a spine.
R: Ah. Thanks?
AL-AN has been sending out the SOS signals since the Mercury ii crashed. He had been calling for help for so long. For at least 30 years based on the estimated age of the Mercury. Perhaps longer.
I mean obviously he’s been in the cube for a thousand years, but he’s specifically been calling for help with no response for a few decades at the time Robin arrived on 4546B.
He’s been sending out an SOS longer than Robin has been alive.
This always makes me chuckle
The Architects had facetime
If anyone was curious about what AL-AN’s walking animation looked like from the back...
It definitely wasn’t meant to be seen from this angle. That’s for certain.
A conversation Robin and AL-AN have about the sea emperor leviathan within the old story.
I don’t particularly like the old story, but I do think this is something that should have been kept from it. It broadens the perspective on why they were so insistent on keeping the SEL. They didn’t just do it to be cruel; I think it was seen as an unfortunate and necessary measure. Keep one member of a species confined to study to potentially save many more. I think too often we apply human ethical standards to Architects who clearly have a different understanding and outlook.
Sometimes I feel it is a bit overlooked that Architects had a device that could blow up an entire solar system.
We only really see small remnants of their technology, and what we do see is quite grandiose. It makes you wonder what the true capabilities of their technology is/was like.
I think it’s silly how AL-AN’s legs just dangle like noodles as he assembles the ship
It looks like he's taking a selfie
The scale of the phasegate always awes me whenever I watch the cutscene of it rising. Truly the game doesn’t do it justice. I love the aesthetics of their structures.
For reference, that is AL-AN in the bottom left.
Another AL-AN jump
Silly unused aside dialogue between Robin and AL-AN
Transcript under the cut
AL-AN: I have data on a planet that rained molten silver from its atmosphere during the day. It would harden at night, and then rain again.
Robin: I’d hate to get that stuck in my hair.
A: I do not think you would survive entry into the atmosphere.
R: Great… let’s not go there then.
I love when AL-AN mixes two different colors together with the biolights
Why must his legs be like this
He has become too pink someone stop him!!!
The swirly pattern on the back of AL-AN’s horns is under appreciated
Hot pink AL-AN! He briefly flashes this color after Robin says no to having her memories of him wiped. It’s a bit different from the coral color he displays as he picks Robin up.