Earl Alner was a male aristocrat of the Anoat sector. He was part of the Noble Court, the original government of the sector, which had been nearly exterminated and replaced by the Galactic Empire. However, Emperor Palpatine died at the Battle of Endor. Although the Imperials immediately enforced a blockade in the Anoat sector, isolating its citizens from any outside communications, Earl Alner still got wind of Palpatine's fall.