Dragon Age: Origins Character Profile

BioWare's official Dragon Age: Origins website has been updated with a profile for Alistair, "a young Grey Warden that was recruited by Duncan less than six months before the Blight began."
Alistair is a young Grey Warden recruited by Duncan less than six months before the Blight began. Alistair's mother died long ago in childbirth, and after being raised in Redcliffe castle he was turned over to the Chantry for religious instruction. He began the martial training necessary to become a templar the Chantry's military order that watches over the Circle of Magi and hunts down dangerous apostates.

He was found to be ill-suited to a life of religious devotion, however. Alistair is irreverent at the best of times, and his wry sense of humor often put him at odds with his more serious-minded teachers. When Duncan of the Grey Wardens found him, Alistair had not yet taken his vows and was desperately unhappy. Sensing that he had a good and loyal heart, Duncan used the Right of Conscription to force the Chantry to hand Alistair over to the Grey Wardens. and Alistair has never looked back since.