Rief

Rief (クラウン Kuraun) is a playable character of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. He is a Mercury Adept who is described as a knowledgeable researcher traveling with Kraden, a scholar of Alchemy who acts as Rief's mentor. Rief joins Matthew, Tyrell, and Karis after their first encounter with Blados. Rief's mother is Mia, Nowell is his sister, and Amiti is his second cousin.

released on the day of the E3 2010 trailer and floor demo indicated the existence of a party member named "Crown," but Crown was first shown in playable form in a trailer released on the Japanese Wii Trailer Channel on August 18th, 2010. "Crown" was presumed to be his name for all versions of Dark Dawn until a trailer posted on an Amazon.com product page for the North American version of the game showed his U.S. name to be Rief.

Rief's gender was not clear to fans even after later trailers were posted because, in addition to an androgynous appearance and masculine name, Rief's Golden Sun-style "squeak-voice" in cut scenes is a high-pitched one normally reserved for female characters and NPCs, including Dark Dawn's own Chalis. Nonetheless, a similar voice was used for certain young boy NPCs, such as Justin.

As a playable character
Like Mia in Golden Sun, Rief inherits the role of the residential healer of the group, and shares Mia's Mercury-based Water Seer class series as his base class. The most notable difference is that Rief's version of the class possesses the Douse Psynergy series, which replaces the Frost Psynergy series of Mia's version of the class. He retains the Douse Psynergy regardless of the class he is currently in. As a mage-styled Adept, he can equip Maces, Staffs, and Ankhs, and is the only male playable character in the series so far to possess this weapons setup. He can also equip the standard defensive equipment for a mage, such as Robes, Circlets, and Armlets.

Like his mother, Rief does not possess the attack power to strike with physical attacks anywhere near as hard as Matthew, Tyrell, Amiti, and Eoleo, for none of his possible classes have a high Attack modifier. For players that only play with each Adept in their respective mono-elemental Class series, the Water Seer class series can be said to be a little lacking in the way of offensive Mercury Psynergy but invaluable Healing Psynergy. He starts out with the potent single-target Ply Psynergy series, and when he has at least four Mercury Djinn set onto him, he gains the Wish Psynergy series, which is excellent in restoring large amounts of HP to all current battling Adepts at once.

Rief joins the party at Level 10 and is initially equipped with a Wooden Stick, Travel Vest, Padded Gloves and Circlet; he also comes with an herb, antidote, and Elixir in his inventory. Rief has one Mercury Djiin Set onto him (Sleet).

Statistical comparison
Statistically, Rief is a clone of his mother Mia, sharing her Mercury-influenced base class. Like Mia, he has low statistics overall (although not as low as Himi or Karis), but makes up for it with high PP and a Luck stat of five points, a number shared only with Mia, Sheba and Himi.

Compared to fellow Mercury Adept Amiti, he has much less HP, Defense, slightly less agility, and somewhat less Attack, but a lot more PP and one more Luck point.

Classes
The following classes are available to Rief:


 * Mono-Elemental: Water Seer class series
 * Dual-Elemental (Full): Hermit class series, Pilgrim (Mercury) class series, Seer (Mercury) class series
 * Dual-Elemental (Partial): Swordsman (Mars) class series, Swordsman (Venus) class series
 * Tri-Elemental (Full): Ranger class series, White Mage class series, Medium class series
 * Tri-Elemental (Partial): Dragoon class series

Personality
Rief is a well-travelled youth, and according to Tyrell, a bookworm, so people often defer to him in intellectual matters, as well as finding their way around southern Angara, as he has been there in the past. He is shown to be a consummate gentleman throughout the adventure (he suggests that the group take Ryu Kou and Hou Ju home and doesn't like to see Sveta approach the switch for the Apollo Lens as she's been exposed to too much light). At the end, he explodes into a deep rage when Arcanus is revealed by Kraden to be Alex, so it's likely he was told about Alex by either his mother or Kraden. He also is always willing to help others, even criminals, as he was willing to help Eoleo even though he was a pirate, and healed Kaba's father even though they had never met. This is an obvious trait he inherited from his mother.

Story
Rief was born roughly after all his other teammates were born as he is most likely the youngest. His father remains unknown but it can be assumed that he was born and raised in Mia's hometown of Imil.

He is first introduced as one of Kraden's two pupils, the other being his older sister Nowell. While the group is awaiting the arrival of Matthew's party at the Konpa Ruins, he is sent to scout the northern tunnel they intend to take to Bilibin. When he returns, he discovers Kraden and Nowell investigating a Psynergy Vortex that has suddenly appeared. In his curiosity, Rief is nearly drawn in by the vortex, and is left in a weakened state. While he is recovering, he is captured by Blados and a mysterious masked man. The two men reveal their intentions to leave Rief at one of the two exits, though they refuse to say which. Kraden and Nowell are forced to separate from Matthew's group, so that Rief can be recovered before he is injured. While Kraden and Nowell take the Northern tunnel, Matthew's group is forced to take the southern route. However, it is a trap and Blados's men seal off the exit, prevent Matthew's group from backtracking.

Upon exiting the cave, they discover Rief, who was trapped in a crate. Realizing that they are now trapped in the Ei-Jei region, the group works to find a way out of the area, so that they can meet up with Kraden at Belinsk. Rief points out that Blados mentioned a way over the Khiren Mountains, and suggests that the group get their bearings at the nearby city of Harapa. Rief is revealed to have traveled through the region in the past with Kraden, and has some knowledge of the area.

After a short stay, the group travels to Passaj, the town which Kraden believed to be the location of the passageway to Morgal. Rief leads the group to a platform, and explains the legend around the area. Kraden believed that the ancestors of Adepts, the Jenei were able to use their powers to travel between Passaj and Craggy Peak, a mountain in the Khiren range. According to Rief, the key is the city's dormant Alchemy Forge. When Kraden and Rief visited before, they could not start the machine because they didn't have the proper psynergy. After a series of events, the group is eventually able to recreate the passageway.

In the later parts of the game, a cutscene in Tonfon shows Rief realizing that his sister was no longer with Kraden. After asking Kraden, he learns that Nowell fell in love with Piers, who was ferried Kraden and Nowell to Belinsk, and chose to remain on Piers's ship. Rief notes that she will have a fine tutor, as Piers is a powerful Mercury Adept, and is happy that she was not caught up in the events of the eclipse.

When the group learns of Arcanus's true identity as Alex, Rief becomes outraged, and points out that Alex betrayed his mother. However they are interrupted by the arrival of the Tuaparang.

In the epilogue, Rief stays to see Matthew, Tyrell, and Karis home. When Rief asks Kraden about their destination, Kraden tells Rief that he may direct their travels from now on.

Trivia

 * Rief's French name, Robin, is the same as Isaac's name in the Japanese version.
 * Rief is the first male Adept who has Psynergy in his base class that can heal the entire party.
 * Rief is also the first male adept to lack the ability to equip bladed weapons.
 * He is also the only male mage-adept that can equip maces.


 * Rief is the only party member from the first half of the group to have a sibling.
 * The hair colour of Rief's sprite is the same shade as Alex's while Nowell and Amiti have the same hair colour as sprites.
 * There is a striking resemblance between Amiti and Rief, not only in the color of their hair and eyes, but their hair style as well. A small lock of hair on top of both of their heads stand up in a very similar way. Both Mia and Alex have similar hair styles, further implying a somewhat close genetic relation. Whether this was intentional or not is unknown.

Name origins
Rief is a German surname but in this case is most likely to be a pun on the word Reef.

Quotes

 * In Konpa Cave:
 * Kraden: "Now, what ARE you doing up there, Rief?"
 * Rief: "Nowell made me scout out the route to the north tunnel. I know better than to disagree with her!"


 * Rief: (To Blados) "You again?! Stop this nonsense! Why are you tormenting us?"


 * Rief: (To Matthew's group) "So, may I take it that you're all right with me traveling with you? I would suggest that we head to that town!"


 * At Harapa:
 * Karis: "Well, if this is the City of Ruins, there must be something old around here somewhere..."
 * Rief: "I...guess so."
 * Matthew: "???"
 * Tyrell: "You don't sound like such a know-it-all, all of a sudden."


 * Rief: "Kraden has taught us that it's crucial to never misuse our powers. Psynergy is a gift. But if you were the sort of people who abuse that gift... Well, I hate to say it, but we'd have to part ways."
 * Karis: "You don't need to worry about that, Rief. We've got discipline...mostly. It's natural to want to show off Psynergy. But controlling Psynergy means controlling our minds. We've got to maintain discipline."
 * Tyrell: "Yeah, and by 'we,' you mean me, right?! But I'm NOT weak, Karis!"
 * Rief: "You, weak? Of course not! Any son of the Warriors of Vale can surely become a true master!"


 * In Kaocho Palace:
 * Rief: (To one of the Tuaparang soldiers) "Get away from us, villain!"


 * In Ayuthay:
 * Rief: (About Amiti's mother and mysterious father) "A secret romance! It sounds like something from a fairy tale!"


 * Rief: "A member of the royal family, joining our party? That is quite a surprising development."


 * Rief: "But it's rather fun, isn't it? Having new members? Good things keep coming to us!"


 * At Passaj (second visit):
 * Rief: "Princes, queens, gemstones... What a royal mystery!"


 * At Harapa Ruins:
 * Rief: "This stone is... Eeeeep!"
 * Tyrell: "Eep?! This stone is eep? What kind of talk is that for a brainy kid like you, Rief?"


 * In Teppe Ruins:
 * Tyrell: (In response to Sveta admitting she followed them through the ruins) "I knew it! She's a... a spy or something!"
 * Rief: "Yes, Tyrell. This is where she just volunteers that she's a spy."


 * Rief: "That Sveta cuts an intriguing figure, eh?"


 * Rief: "It will be good to see Kraden again."
 * Tyrell: "Yeah, IF the geezer actually made it there."
 * Karis: "Tyrell, there's no need to be rude!"
 * Rief: "Ahem. If Kraden said he will meet us, he WILL find a way to meet us."
 * Sveta: "Where was this geezer person coming from to reach Belinsk?"
 * Rief: "What, you too, Sveta?"


 * Rief: "It IS an exciting opportunity to learn, isn't it? I'm practically tingling with anticipation!"


 * In Phantasmal Bog:
 * Rief: "Where did this insane maze and its horrible lizard-monster come from?!"


 * Rief: "I hate lizards..."


 * In Kolima Forest:
 * Rief: "Astonishing... To meet a holy tree in the...flesh?"


 * Rief: "Shall we sally forth, then?"


 * At Kolima Junction:
 * Rief: (To Ryu Kou and Hou Zan) "Not exactly an equal partnership: you two and a glove with the five of us and our Psynergy."


 * At Talon Peak:
 * Ryu Kou: "If I were to smash this orb, the release of energy would be the end of us all."
 * Rief: "You wouldn't dare. If you did, your sister's life would be forfeit."


 * Ryu Kou: "I hope none of you takes this personally. It really is just about saving my sister, you know."
 * Rief: "I'm going to make you regret this."


 * In Belinsk Ruins:
 * Rief: "It would appear we're at the cusp of reaching the tower's core."


 * Rief: "Don't do it, Ryu Kou. We made a promise to Laurel. We can't break our word and activate this machine."
 * Ryu Kou: "Correction: YOU made a promise to Laurel. I didn't promise anything to anyone."
 * Rief: "But we have to take her warning seriously. And doesn't this place feel...different than the other ruins?" (If Matthew responds with cheer) "We can't just rush into this. Think about the defenses and Laurel's warning. Danger is afoot."


 * Rief: (To the Tuaparang commanders, after they express that they considered helping Matthew's party down to the Alchemy Dynamo) "I wouldn't trust you to lace my shoes."


 * Karis: "If Arcanus needed to hurry out of here, we should be escaping too."
 * Rief: "Agreed. If the all-powerful Arcanus is worried, we should get out of here posthaste."


 * In Belinsk:
 * Rief: "Leave it to Kraden to develop an explanation while running from hordes of monsters..."


 * Rief: (Upon seeing Briggs' death) "If we hadn't kept him waiting... If we'd gotten here sooner, he might have lived to grow old."


 * Tyrell: (Sometime after Briggs' death) "Brrr! It just keeps getting colder! How is it this cold in the summer? I can't wait to get back in the cabin."
 * Rief: "Quit complaining. It's disrespectful."


 * In Yamata:
 * Rief: (After Kraden compares Tyrell to his carrier pigeon) "With all due respect, sir, we have more important things to do than listen to you bait Tyrell."


 * In Tonfon:
 * Rief: "Sorry to bother you, Kraden, but something has been troubling me."
 * Kraden: "Oh? What is that?"
 * Rief: "Why didn't Nowell come with you to Belinsk?"
 * Kraden: "I was wondering when you'd get around to asking me that."
 * Rief: "With everything that's happened, and all the peril and whatnot..."
 * Kraden: "Of course. She slipped your mind."
 * Rief: "I am ashamed though. She IS my sister..."
 * Kraden: "Well, I suspect she's a touch distracted herself...but by love rather than peril."
 * Rief: "Nowell is in love?! With whom?"
 * Kraden: "Captain Piers."


 * Rief: "Piers is a powerful Adept, so she'll have a fine tutor...but... they just sailed off together?"
 * Kraden: "Piers is one of the most capable sailors in the world. I'm sure no harm will befall her."
 * Rief: "I had no idea... But I'm glad she didn't get tangled up in all this. She was always the lucky one."
 * Kraden: "Hmm... I wonder if you won't eventually think the opposite..."
 * Rief: "Why? Where are they sailing to?"


 * At Iceberg Outpost:
 * Rief: "While the Umbra Gear is certainly important, shouldn't we get our guests back to Sana first?"
 * Kraden: "Ever the gentleman, Rief! Yes, let's get them back to Tonfon immediately."


 * At Tonfon (second visit):
 * Rief: (Based on Kraden's unwillingness for the time being to tell the adepts who Arcanus probably really is) "Ah... If he is kin to one of us, it might prove painful to one or all if we have to fight him..."


 * At the Apollo Lens:
 * Kraden: (Steps forward to address Arcanus) "Hello, Alex."
 * Rief: "Alex?! The Mercury Clan's traitor? My mother's betrayer? THAT Alex?!"


 * Blados: (To Alex) "You traveled with the old man? Does that make you one of the "Warriors of Vale"?"
 * Rief: "No! Alex was NOT one of the Warriors of Vale. He was a power-mongering schemer. He'll probably betray you lot as well. I don't think he's ever honored a vow or promise."


 * Rief: (To Sveta, who has decided to put herself on the line to activate the Apollo Lens) "I wish I could go in your place. I don't like making you take the risk-it feels ungentlemanly."


 * Rief: (Thinking) "If this is beyond Matthew, it's certainly beyond me. I've never felt so hopeless."

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn's encyclopedia entry for Rief:

This Water Adept has traveled the world with his teacher, Kraden, studying Alchemy and other traces of the ancient world. Rief is the son of Mia, a Water Adept who traveled with the Warriors of Vale.

Extended Gallery