Princess Gwaelin

Gwaelin
Dragon Quest Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Dragon Quest Monsters Dragon Quest Builders
Sprite(s)
Japanese name	ローラ姫
Romaji	Rōra Hime
Old localisation	Lady Lora
Title	Princess
Race	Human
Family	King Lorik (Father) Queen of Tantegel (Mother)
Voice actor	Hiroko Kasahara (CD Theater) Ai Kayano (Japanese, Rivals onward)

Princess Gwaelin is a character in the Dragon Quest series that appears as a major NPC in the original Dragon Quest.

She is the daughter of King Lorik of Tantegel and has been kidnapped by the Dragonlord. During the game, she can be rescued by the Hero as a sidequest. This makes her the one and only sidequest present in the original game.

Appearance and personality

Gwaelin has had a few distinct designs throughout the series history. Her sprites for the original game depict her wearing a simple white dress with a brown belt around her waist and long brown hair worn with a white tiara. There is also an illustration of the princess that appeared in magazine ads and other publications where she has purple hair, a tiara with rubies and gold, and a white puffy dress, though she is only seen from the shoulders up. In the Official Guide Book for the Famicom version, Gwaelin has curly, shoulder-length orange hair worn, a gold tiara with a blue jewel, a yellow dress with puffy shoulders, and white gloves.

In illustrations for the Super Famicom version, she wears a traditional princess dress in soft yellow with puffy shoulders, purple heels, a large lavender or purple waist ribbon with a blue gem set in a gold pin, a golden tiara set with one large sapphire adjourned with rubies on both sides, and a gold necklace with a blue gem. Her hair reaches down nearly to her waist. This design has appeared the most, especially in spinoff games.

Her third design, which originated from Kenshin Dragon Quest: Yomigaerishi Densetsu no Ken, is shown in the Battle Road arcade series, wherein she wears a pink gown with sleeves that extend and split along her mid-forearm, and a white sash along her waist. Another design is seen in Dragon Quest Builders, taking elements from both the Famicom and Super Famicom versions, and is a white version of her original dress with a golden trim sewn into it at ankle-height and a different tiara design. In all appearances her necklace stays the same, and her hair is always a faint ginger or light brown.

Gwaelin is a young woman well trained in the etiquette expected of her standing, and her optimism is utterly indomitable no matter how grim the situation. This aspect of her is highlighted in Builders, where her resolve spurs the people of the rebuilt Tantegel into action. The princess is prone to bouts of girly glee when she is happy, to the point that she'll even audibly squeak when particularly pleased. She is, however, still a princess, and will not take no for an answer under any circumstances--trapping the player in an endless dialogue loop and pouting until she gets her way. When rescued by the Hero in the original game, she immediately falls head over heels for her savior.

Appearances

Dragon Quest

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The Hero may rescue Gwaelin during his quest to defeat the Dragonlord, though this is not a requirement to complete the game. She is located inside the Quagmire Cave south of Kol which connects to the southeastern continent. In order to rescue Gwaelin, the Hero must fight and defeat a ferocious Green dragon that guards her (rather lavish) cell. This monster is not visible on the dungeon map screen, but rather is triggered when the Hero steps on a specific tile (similar to the Golem which guards Cantlin). If the Dragonlord is defeated prior to the Princess' rescue, she will still be in her cell and able to be rescued, though the Green dragon will not be present.

After rescuing the princess, the Hero carries her back to her father at Tantegel castle. A sprite showing the Hero carrying Gwaelin is used at this time. In the remakes of the game, the Dragonlord has a special reaction if she is being carried when the Hero confronts him. He laughs heartily at the absurdity, and 'thanks' the Hero for his kindness in bringing the Princess to him.

At Tantegel Castle, Gwaelin gives the Hero an item called the 'Princess Pledge' which lets the Hero know his exact distance from Tantegel on the map of Alefgard at the time it is used. It is useful in finding the Mark of Erdrick later in the game. While at the castle, her highness occupies the empty space next to her father in the throne room. When spoken to in the NES Version, she asks the Hero if he loves her. Answering yes triggers the short love music to play.

If the Hero rescued Gwaelin during the game, then she will be present during the ending and join the protagonist on his journey to establish his own kingdom. The Hero will again carry the princess away as he leaves Alefgard after defeating the Dragonlord. If the Hero is already carrying her when the ending begins, the result is much the same, though a single line of dialogue is different.

Eventually she and the Hero get married and settle in Torland. They have three children, who establish the kingdoms of Midenhall, Cannock, and Moonbrooke. 100 years later, their descendants become the heroes of Dragon Quest II. Also, a tunnel leading from Cannock to Moonbrooke was named after her.

Selected quotes

Quote "Mighty Hero, thou wilt, of course, escort me to my home, the palace?" Gwaelin, in Quagmire Cave (NES)

Quote "Th--?! B--?! Grr...mayhap thou didst not hear me correctly..." Gwaelin, upon being told no (NES)

Quote "Why, Hero! Tee hee! (squeak)" Gwaelin, upon being told yes (NES)

Dragon Quest X

Princess Gwaelin began appearing in the game as an NPC in 2016 to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Gwaelin appears as an NPC in the Tantegel section of the Echo Chamber. She is not the focus of the disruption in time, as instead her father has been cursed to be unable to speak.

Dragon Quest Monsters

The princess is once again found in the Quagmire Cave being guarded by a Green dragon. Once the serpent is slain she will allow Terry to carry her outside, but upon seeing the lad is half her size she decides to wait for a stronger hero to arrive and sweep her off her feet.

Theatrhythm Dragon Quest

The princess is a playable character in Theatrhythm Dragon Quest.

Dragon Quest Builders

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The princess is an NPC in the final chapter of the game, having recited a charm to turn herself to stone in order to escape the agony of her Hero's betrayal and the despair the Dragonlord wrought once he blacked out the sky and banished the basics of building from those living in Alefgard. Gwaelin remained in stasis for approximately 100 years until the Builder revives her with a phial of Holy water. When spoken to in the first section of the chapter, she will restore the builder's HP.

Unlike other characters in the game, the princess immediately recognizes the player as the legendary builder and encourages them throughout the chapter. She dutifully prays that Rubiss bestow her blessing upon the builder, which allows the goddess' voice to penetrate the miasma covering the land and speak with the player directly. Just prior to her awakening, she received a vision from Rubiss telling her that three sages will need to join her in Tantegel, uniting three divine artifacts to restore the land. These sages are the principal npcs of the previous chapters.

Through the final chapter Rubiss disheartens the Builder from confronting Dragonlord, as the builder is not a hero. The princess, however, keeps encouraging the builder to free the Alefgardian people from Dragonlord's rule. The builder going against her wishes annoys Rubiss to the point she stops giving them protection. After the final confrontation with the Dragonlord, the princess thanks the builder for their efforts and the game ends.

Dragon Quest Treasures

The princess' likeness appears as Treasure No. 328, with a base value of 1,200,000.

Dragon Quest of the Stars

Princess Gwaelin plays the same role of damsel in distress that she did in the original game.
Players can obtain her outfit in the Guided by Rubiss Light event.

Dragon Quest Tact

Princess Gwaelin appears as a S-rank member of the Hero family as part of the limited True Dragon Quest I event, appearing on her own banner alongside Drohl diabolist. She can participate in the Legerdeman's Battle Road as a party member.

Princess Gwaelin (ローラ姫 Rōra Hime)

Stats

Family		Rank		Role
Hero				Support
Max Level		HP	MP	Move
140		1,473	650	2
Attack	Defense	Agility	Wisdom	Weight
315	474	546	328	60

Basic Skills

First		Second		Third
Hurrah		Head over Heals*		Deadly Dragon Breath* Coup de Grâce: Princess's Pledge*

Awakening Skills

First	Second	Third
Princess of Tantegel / Stats Up	Woosh Res +25 / Stats Up	Deadly Dragon Breath Potency +5% / Princess's Pledge Recovery +5% / Heart of a Lady: Heals 50% of the user's max HP when the user's HP drops to 70% or less, 1 time per battle / Stats Up
Fourth	Fifth
Zam Res +25 / Stats Up	Deadly Dragon Breath Potency +5% / Princess's Pledge Recovery +5% / Max HP +100 / Stats Up

Leader Perks

First

Raises breath potency/recovery of all allies, including herself, by 15% in a 5x5 square around her.

Basic Perks

First	Second	Third
Max HP +30 DEF +20	Holy Guard: Battle start: Nullifies some status ailments for 3 turns.	Physical Potency/Recovery +2%

Perk Details

First

Princess of Tantegel: Battle start: Raises breath potency/recovery, Physical Res, Spell Res and Breath Res for 1 turn. Action start on odd turns until turn 5: Raises breath potency/recovery, Physical Res, Spell Res and Breath Res for 3 turns.

Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Crack Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *
Normal	Normal	Very Weak	Half Res
Bang Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Zam Resistance *	Snooze Resistance
Very Weak	Normal	Half Res	Immune
Poison Resistance	Physical Lock Resistance	Spell Lock Resistance	Martial Lock Resistance
Normal	Normal	Normal	Half Res
Breath Lock Resistance	Hobble Resistance *	Stun Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance
Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
Curse Resistance	Paralysis Resistance	Confusion Resistance	Charm Resistance
Super Weak	Super Weak	Normal	Half Res

In Other Languages

Language	Translation	Meaning
Español	Princesa Alina	Bright, noble.

Trivia

• In Builders, she is simply known as "The Princess".

Gallery

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  Art from the Famicom Official Guide Book
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  With the Dragonlord.
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  Art from the 1989 Dragon Quest Calendar.
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  Art depicting Gwaelin with lavendar hair.
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  Super Famicom art
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  Gwaelin with the Hero
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  Modern art
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  An ad for the Famicom version with a purple-haired Gwaelin.
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  DQ Heroines.
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  Kenshin artwork.
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  As depicted in Monster Battle Road, along with the Sunstone, Staff of Rain, and Rainbow Drop.
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  Mutsumi Inomata artwork.
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  Gwaelin in the Dragon Quest I novel by Mutsumi Inomata.
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  Dragon Quest Character Figure Collection Roto no Monshou series.
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  A minifigure depicting a budding romance.
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  A petite Princess as shown in Builders.
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  Appearance in Stars
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  Appearance in Rivals
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  Valentine's Day art in Rivals.
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  The statue of the princess seen in Treasures
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  Princess Gwaelin in Tact