Aldaris

"En Taro Adun, Executor. I am Judicator Aldaris, and I have been sent by the Conclave to serve and counsel you."

- Aldaris introduces himself

Aldaris was a 740-year-old powerful Protoss Judicator in the service of the Protoss Conclave. He was a stalwart supporter of the Khala. He had a strong hatred of the Dark Templar, and would not hesitate to label those who disagreed with his philosophy as heretics.

In StarCraft and Brood War, Aldaris is voiced by Paul Eiding.

Biography
Aldaris was given the position of Advisor to Tassadar's Koprulu Expeditionary Force. Tassadar refused to destroy the Terrans, only attacking their worlds when the Zerg had already overrun them. Eventually Tassadar abandoned his command. Aldaris returned to Aiur.

Defender of Aiur
Aldaris was sent by the Conclave to serve as an advisor to the new Executor, shortly after the Overmind has succeeded in invading Aiur. He directed the Executor's forces to rescue the province of Antioch, linking up with Praetor Fenix. The defense was successful.

Aldaris told Fenix that he had lost faith in the Templar Caste due to the desertion of Tassadar, but the defense of Antioch had restored it. His musings were interrupted by Tassadar, who said Aldaris should never have lost faith.

Aldaris ordered Tassadar to return to Aiur. Tassadar refused; he informed Aldaris that the Zerg had withdrawn to the world of Char, and he had been drawn there by a psionic call. This call had also drawn the Dark Templar, whose Prelate, Zeratul, had taught Tassadar much. Aldaris reacted angrily to this pronouncement, as this was considered heresy to the Khala.

Tassadar informed Fenix of the existence of Cerebrates, Zerg agents which control lesser minions. Killing the Cerebrate would weaken the Zerg. Aldaris was disturbed, claiming to sense the influence of the Dark Templar on Tassadar's mind, but Fenix was willing to follow the advice.

Fenix reported that the plan failed; the Cerebrate was reincarnated. Aldaris believed that Tassadar had tricked them, and called it was a betrayal.

He issued his next directive; the Executor's forces would assault the Zerg in the province of Scion, while Fenix would maintain his outpost in Antioch with a small detachment. The Executor was successful, but Fenix had to call for help. Aldaris told him to hold out as long as he could.

Shadow Hunters
The Conclave sent Aldaris and the Executor to Char with a small fleet for protection, in order to arrest Tassadar for treason.

Aldaris's forces reached a space platform which had been constructed in orbit over Char. He told the Executor that Tassadar's alliance with the Dark Templar was the greatest threat to Aiur, especially if he brought the Dark Templar there. He remarked that Tassadar had informed him the Zerg had abandoned Char, but he still sensed a "lingering darkness".

The Protoss forces fought their way past Zerg minions, finding Tassadar in a small encampment, and accompanied by a Terran named Jim Raynor. Aldaris ordered the Executor to take Tassadar and his forces into custody, and remarked on his "strange" taste in companions. Tassadar told the Executor that only the Dark Templar could destroy the Overmind's Cerebrates, and that after defeating the Overmind he would turn himself in. Aldaris declared any alliance with the Dark Templar to be madness. The Executor listened to Tassadar.

Aldaris tried one last appeal to the Executor and Tassadar. He told the Executor that if he repented now, the Conclave would show him mercy. He tried another approach with Tassadar, calling him "Aiur's favored son". Tassadar said he would rather give up that status and ally with the Dark Templar out of necessity; only Dark Templar could kill Cerebrates because they shared similar energies with the Zerg. Fenix's forces had been unable to slay the Cerebrate they had attacked because the energies they wielded were useless when used directly against the Overmind and its Cerebrates.

The Fall
Tassadar and Zeratul, along with a number of Dark Templar, arrived on Aiur. Combat quickly broke out with the Conclave and its loyalists. Aldaris ordered Tassadar and his allies to surrender, but Tassadar refused.

Tassadar's forces destroyed the Heart of the Conclave, then Tassadar surrendered to Aldaris' forces.

Tassadar's allies, including Jim Raynor and Fenix, tried to rescue him from a Stasis Cell while the Conclave put him on trial for his life. They could not rely on the Dark Templar because they had vanished.

Tassadar's allies freed him, but Aldaris immediately appeared, intending to prevent Tassadar's escape. He was challenged by Zeratul and a force of Dark Templar who appeared. Zeratul and Aldaris engaged in a verbal sparring match before another battle broke out.

Eye of the Storm
Zeratul lead an attack against two Zerg Cerebrates on Aiur, permanently slaying them both. The Zerg Swarm had been weakened by this action, and as Tassadar and his allies prepared to assault the Overmind itself, Aldaris contacted them. He said the Conclave had observed the death of the two Cerebrates and the effects these deaths had on the Zerg. Aldaris gave his blessings to the Protoss warriors on behalf of the Judicator Caste.

Unfortunately, the apology came too late to offer troops or other material aid to Tassadar and Zeratul, earning the scorn of Jim Raynor.

The Stand
Following the death of the Overmind and Tassadar, the Zerg slew 70% of the Protoss population of Aiur. The Conclave itself had been destroyed. Aldaris banded with Fenix, Zeratul, and Jim Raynor in order to unite and lead the scattered Protoss survivors. Zeratul suggested retreating to the Dark Templar homeworld of Shakuras through Aiur's sole remaining functional Warp Gate, but Aldaris didn't agree; he wanted to fight to preserve the Protoss homeworld. Zeratul told him such pride would only lead to their deaths, and the Dark Templar would welcome them.

Aldaris traveled with the refugees to Shakuras. He was astonished when Infested Kerrigan appeared, claiming she had no intention of fighting the Protoss. The Dark Templar leader, Raszagal, said she would listen to Kerrigan, but wouldn't suffer any treachery. Aldaris didn't believe Kerrigan's claims, prompting Raszagal to silence him. Aldaris promptly left the meeting.

While Kerrigan, Artanis, and Zeratul searched for the Uraj and Khalis Crystals, Aldaris discovered that Kerrigan had somehow corrupted the Matriarch's mind. By the time Artanis and Zeratul returned, he was leading an entire legion of Khalai survivors from Aiur in an open revolt. The Matriarch ordered the Executor to terminate him and quell his uprising, even allowing the creation of Dark Archons for the first time in a thousand years. Zeratul began to wonder if something was wrong with her.

Despite Aldaris' clever use of illusions, he was defeated. As he was about to reveal Raszagal's manipulation to Zeratul and Artanis, Kerrigan arrived and killed him. Zeratul chastised her for her interference and banished her from Shakuras.

Trivia
The level The Insurgent uses the unit representing Tassadar to represent Aldaris.