Hwangi Mukuri Saiyako

Saiya (Nickname)

30

Male

Fuso

Captain

Unit Commander

Judging solely from appearances, Saiyako looks nothing like what one would expect from an officer, even by Fusan standards. His brownish-redish hair is always in varying amounts of ruffled or crumpled, dark lines hung under his dark golden eyes from his many all nighters no doubt, whatever happens during these long moons is known only by Saiyako himself. With a body type between his natural skinny frame and the body mass built up by military training, the man doesn't look like one you'd immediately expect to be a soldier but more of a bookworm who spent too much time at the gym. His resting, apathetic bitch face is only broken by the occasional cocky smile that arises when he feels the rare need to outdo someone.

In terms of outfits, Saiyako generally finds himself in any number and amount of clothing; like many Fusans he has no qualms about walking around in his underwear or nightwear and has been spot on more than one occasional strolling between the showers and his quarters nude. He also has a bad habit of tramping around in his sleeping clothes until noon when he knows he has no planned assignments or tasking for that day. Surprisingly enough however, his actual officer's dress uniform is perfectly kept in pristine condition, not a speck of dust on it, not a hole anywhere, not a button loose.

Laid back almost to the point of apathy, Saiyako is more extreme case of the famous Fusan calmness and indifference. With and almost superhuman ability of procrastinating and extending deadlines, Saiyako rarely feels urgency with things like paper work of which he sees as his greatest foe. One could say he's a fatalist, believing that his life is already set out by some greater power who isn't the Primarch or the pantheons of Terranism causing friction between him and the Inquisition who keeps tabs on all commissioned officers, his apparent lack of zeal doesn't help.

Of course, now with the arrival of the Gate, that personal philosophy has more or less gone out the window. In its place there's a new sense of excitement which Saiyako hasn't felt in a long time as before him is a beautiful world straight from a fantasy game. He works with greater speed and efficiency now although relative to others he still works dreadfully slow. Any official papers like reports while likely be handed in a week late with crumpled corners, an improvement from when papers would go missing for months in Saiyako's hands and come out like they were in their own war in the bowls of his desk. The only type of papers which he hasn't failed to submit on time are papers relating to the well being of his unit; things such as payrolls and requisition forms have rarely failed to be handed on time and are the only things which he will rarely submit early. Perhaps this is rooted from an amicable nature that's hidden under layers of apparent boredom and snark.

In battle, his apathetic nature is incredibly apparent, Saiyako appearing to give absolutely zero shits about being shot at or yells about him getting down. Of course this doesn't mean he's slow or combat stupid, his indifference to danger and gore is one of the primary reason behind his promotions. The battlefield is also the only place where his normal expression breaks and is replaced by a slightly cocky grin and an air of confidence. Its not uncommon for him to challenge someone to see how fast they can dash into cover while under fire as although he doesn't care much for the insults people call him, he does enjoy showing people up sometimes even if he doesn't always win them.

Saiyako was born to a medical researcher space elevator operator on a space station in orbit around the Fuso. His life was normal for the most part, no sudden parental deaths or secret family wealth to be inherited; Saiyako was just a normal boy who lived life between the station and planet side. While definitely not the upper crust of society, his family was more than able to pay for their lifestyle and some of the gifts the child would want; perhaps one reason why Saiyako was even more laid back than most Fusans. The biggest change in his life up to that point would be the birth of his little sister when he was six. Things changed for Saiyako when Hwangi Tantan Mutoi came into his life but not too dramatically. Like his parents, Saiyako did his best to shower Mutoi with love and affection.

Maintain respectable grades throughout his teenaged years, the turning point of his life hit both him and his family hard, quite literally. During a family trip which Saiyako had offered to drive, his father next to him and his mother in the back with his sister, a mechanical failure cause the car to veer into oncoming traffic where a cargo transport plow right into them. Despite Saiyako, his mother and his sister all recovering, his father never did for some reason. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months but his father wasn't recovering for some reason, doctors attributed it to some genetic issue that was preventing his body from healing as it should and instead was actually decaying.

Life suddenly went downhill as Saiyako started failing his classes and locked himself in his room for hours at a time, feeling as if he was the one who cause his father's pain, eventually refusing to go visit him out of shame and guilt. The last time Saiyako would see his father would be on his father's death bed who told him:

"Son, there is no hidden treasure of our family for which I can pass on to you. There is no secret wealth which I can let you inherit. No portal to a magical world that I have been hiding. No secret society that I've been a part of. You are completely normal, you are no fairy tale hero like the one in the shows you once watched and the books me and your mother once read you; there is nothing special about you. You are just you.

But you are unbound, free of any strings of destiny. Your fate is no one but your own. There is nothing to hold you back from your greatness..."

Of course, Saiyako didn't understand what his father meant at that point, but it broke something inside of him and turned him apathetic, not even flinching as he watched his father's coffin be lowered into the earth and buried. It was as if he stopped caring about everything and it showed; he later failed out of school before he could even get into a college and barricaded himself in his room, nothing his sister or his mother did could get him out.

Faced with a dead husband and a depressed, apathetic son, Saiyako's mother died of a heart attack little over a year later and Saiyako was again silent as his mother was buried next to her lover. Realizing that there was no way that both he and his little sister could survive on government subsidies, Saiyako got a job in the only place that would accept him: the army.

After months of training, he was deployed to various rebel stations and worlds as part of the 6^th Fusan Regiment, 21^st Assault Division nicknamed the "Golden Foxes". Through many a battles and a fair bit of luck, Saiyako had been promoted to the rank of 2^nd LT after the previous one had died in battle, his apathetic nature leading him the ability to remain remarkable nonchalant even by Fusan standards. After doing his 3^rd tour, he heard wind of a portal that had opened up on the backwater desert planet of Ennedi to what the first scouts said was a "fantasy" world. Upon hearing that, something made him smile and started up his excitement, an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time. Signing up without haste, Saiyako felt like he finally understood what his father's words from all those years ago meant; he had the chance not to fulfill his destiny, but a chance to make his own.

Eko Donpare, Incarnate of Tenzayn

Ekochi (female only)
Ekal (male only)

807 (Actual age appearance varies)

Gender fluid, literally

Human Incarnate

Crown of Sarleon, Vassal of the Empire

While minor details may change, Eko's appearance can be divided between her male appearance and his male appearance. In his male form, Eko is a tall if not slightly lanky individual with sharp features with red hair and a nobly ruffled white hair. In her female form, Eko keeps the white hair (although it now reaches somewhere near her lower back). Notably shorter, female Eko stands about a foot shorter than his male version with amethyst eyes; her features however are still graceful and wispy in a way.

In terms of clothing, again Eko can change at will but for the most part he's found in some getup that looks quite a lot like something you'd see from the 1700s or the 1800s on High Terra. A tattered, fancy navy blue military's officer overcoat with golden lining and tassels with some red details and golden buttons. A powder white scarf is attached to his neck and held in place with a delicate golden jewel; a large hat with a flume of white feathers and a rose stuck in its side can also sometimes be seen, more often on her female version.

Eko uses Book of Evolution at a master-level due to his Incarnate status

Like most things about him, Eko's personally can quickly change. While not as fast or extreme as someone tainted by the Book of Circus, there are definitely warning signs that need to can be seen as a sign of warning and caution. Her two most common moods is a cocky, headstrong personality and a rather sentimental personality. His first one can usually be defined as "somewhere between 'fuck you' in a mocking manner and 'I'd fuck you" while with the second he acts as if she was drunk and has deep thoughts (or tries to be with varying levels of success).

An interesting point of note is that Eko is far less surprised by the Union's technology than other people and takes quite a bit of interest in them.

Despite living for many hundreds of years, Eko talks remarkably little about his past, especially the time before he became an Incarnate. While this is common amongst many Incarnates (as many Gods will wipe the memories of their chosen), Eko admits that Tenzayn has never tampered with her memory. And even though there might be some who claim to know Eko's history, all of them are completely different stories.

The only history Eko will ever say is that his ancestor once lived on an island far, far away and that since he became an Incarnate he's split his time between wandering the land and attending to the Great Shrine of Tenzayn.

Pavel Sokoloff

Soko

28

Male

Novogorod

Corporal

Field Engineer

Soko is of perfectly normal size being neither large, nor small. If given the chance he would prefer to walk about in a tank top and cargo pants, short of that a jumpsuit would do just fine. Outside of work he isn't too picky about what he wears as fashion is about the last thing he thinks of, what does matter is practicality; boots over sandals, jeans over shorts.

Soko's combat uniform has seen some very minor modifications. Mostly he carries additional pouches and an extra bandolier for more ammunition storage. Soko never wears the standard hat as he thinks its just stupid, after a while even his superiors had given up reprimanding him.

Soko is about welcoming as they come, and has no problems with making friends out of complete strangers, although because of his natural openness he is simply terrible at lying. To expand on this Soko is perfectly willing to tell just about anyone about himself, however after much life experience he has somewhat learned to keep quiet, especially when it comes to his own problems. That said Soko still hates the very idea of secrets and would rather throw everything into the open if given the opportunity. When in a combat situation Soko can definitely remain cool under fire, and will fight with every bit of ferocity befitting of his people. He does have his limits however, in extreme cases of pressure it is quite possible he'll crack under it because after all he is only human.

It should be obvious that Soko is a very social person and will attempt to start a conversation with just about anyone in earshot. While it may seem like he considers everyone to be a friend, he does take friendship seriously and actually if anything he is strangely particular about who he would call a friend. When it comes to his discipline and professionalism as a soldier Soko is around average by GHU standards. Not nearly on the same level as a Khorenheim, but he is typically more hard working than many of his brethren.

Soko cares deeply about his role as an engineer and vastly enjoys the work. Sometimes while on a job Soko becomes uncharacteristically quiet, in fact he may even snap at anyone who dares to interrupt him, it is this reason its important for one to learn this fact about him.

Soko was born to a lower working class family, his father being the main breadwinner through his job as a laborer. Even from an early age it was clear what kind of person Soko would grow into, with his constant questions and overall friendly disposition he was always posed to talk about absolutely everything. For the most part his family humored the young Soko, although eventually even they tired of his constant blabbering and were not afraid to say as much. All the same his home life was quite pleasant while still given their socioeconomic status.

Soko was fascinated with machines and purposely sought whatever he could learn about them, he even came to bug local technicians. Of course no one was in the least bit interested in enabling the frankly annoying boy, however overtime a few actually taken a liking to Soko, maybe due to his perseverance or maybe he really did have the social skills. From this unofficial tutelage Soko gleamed much about the maintenance of various machines such as massive heaters, or sometimes much more complex communications systems.

During his teenage years while in school Soko opted to take whatever engineering courses were available, if it weren't for required credits in other subjects he may have very well packed his schedule with nothing but technical classes. His parents, primarily his father, were vocal about their approval, even to the point of bragging about their son's incredible intellect to other couples. Soko didn't think much about it, as an only child it made sense they would be proud of his accomplishments like so, he at least understood that. Soko while never was an excellent student, graduated with recognitions for his achievements in engineering.

It was at this point Soko made his critical life decision to join the military, one reason being the paycheck, but also he felt that by serving he could continue to improve himself as a person. His family of course were against the idea, saying that they would worry about his safety, and even tried to recommend other career choices, in the end they couldn't change his mind. Soko enlisted into the Novogorodian Engineering Corps using his already impressive background in the field as a resume. After passing a initial exam he was then entered into the program. At first the material was extremely different from what he was used to, military technology was a whole another beast from the civilian machines he once worked with.

Months later Soko came out in the top-middle percentile of his class having been scored at least satisfactory in all competency areas, although at the same time he just barely passed basic training, but that didn't quite matter in the moment. Soko's first assignment was to a military base as a member of the support staff, his job to help keep the facility running smoothly, and so this was his life for the next few years. At the age of twenty five Soko received a promotion to corporal for his years of service, and favorable work assessment, he was also reassigned to the PRN's 13^th Garrison where he remained until the creation of the 23^rd Expeditionary Regiment. It something else that should be noted is that even to this day Soko still sends a hefty portion of his pay back home even after being told multiple times that the money was not necessary.

Also sometime between his assignment to the 13^th Garrison and to the 23^rd Expeditionary Regiment, Soko's unit had been attached to an anti-rebel Khorenheim task group to assist in their operations. It was during this time that Soko got to know a Khorenheimer engineer and even became fast friends as he found the engineer's insight into their work to be something else. It was also during these same missions Soko had to work alongside a particularly zealous Ennedi infantryman, the experience was quite frankly wasn't pleasant and had unfortunately painted the people as a whole in a negative light to Soko.

Edward Mitchel Farraday

”Digit”, “Ed”, “Eddy”

23

Male

Avalia

Sergeant (E-5)

Scout/General Infantry

Unlike the picture, Edmund has a bit of a stubble. His eyes are green and he has a smile almost constantly plastered onto his face. His armor is almost completely standard issue, with the exception of his initials painted on the left shoulder in green paint. He stands at 5’ 11” and weighs 137 lbs. His build is not quite muscular, but clearly athletic. He can typically be seen wearing clothes on the more casual side, and his clothes are often in a state of disarray.

Edmund has found himself constantly bored. Despite being quite intelligent, Edmund barely passed most of classes for his standard education, for the sheer reason that he was easily bored. He has to be constantly doing something, be it twirling whatever he has in his hands, pacing, or humming a song. Edmund also has a driving desire to be liked, constantly telling jokes and helping out his teammates whenever possible. Edmund has an almost unnatural love of adventure, he’s most at home in dangerous situations.

Some may call Ed an optimist. Most would call him naive. He expects things to always go well, and is often devastated when they don’t. Edmund is reckless, often finding himself in dangerous situations that could easily have been avoided had he thought his actions through. Edmund takes very little seriously, and his lighthearted attitude has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion.

Edmund was born in a large Avalian city. He had a stable, happy home life. His Father was a semi-successful author and his mother was a teacher. His education was mostly spent screwing around, and he barely passed most of his classes. He knew as soon as he graduated that he wanted to forego higher education. He spent two years working odd-jobs. When he was twenty-years-old his aunt, an officer in the GHU military,convinced him to enlist.

Edmund saw little action the first year of his enlistment. He was a member of the 3rd Avalian Marine Regiment, and saw varied kinds of operation. During an operation dealing with a small insurrection on a rim-world, his squad leader died. Separated from the rest of the regiment and down one man, Edmund’s squad was in dire straits. Edmund took charge and managed to lead his squad back to a rendezvous point with several other squads. During a small skirmish on their way there, Edmund lost a finger. The operation ended well, and Edmund was given a prosthetic finger and the mocking nickname of “Digit”. Despite the mean-spirited nature of the nickname, Edmund took to it immediately. His own parents call him Digit. Much to the chagrin of his superiors, he often signs field reports and other paperwork as Digit. Due to his actions in the field, he was rapidly promoted and put in charge of his own squad. He and his squad proved to be fairly skilled soldiers, being involved in the quelling of multiple insurrections. Digit heard the news while on leave at an Avalian resort. He left as soon as he could and signed up for the Recon Team as soon as he could, craving the possibilities of adventure that an as-of-yet unexplored world could hold.

Nikolas Maxwell

Maxwell (open to suggestions)

Exact age Unknown but over 350

Male

Formally Human

Unknown

Nikolas tends to keep himself covered at all times. Wearing his armour as much a possible when around others. If he has to take it off he will wear whatever will cover his flesh and eyes. In the terms of headgear he wears hoods and anything that covers his face with whatever he can get his hands on. When he is around those who don't know what he is. When his around people who know what he is and don't mind. Nikolas doesn't cover up so much and at time can be seen shirtless.

None

Nikolas is an understanding individual and tries not to judge people by there looks and hates when people they do. Being undead he is a little wary of the living and tries to stay out of the middle of large crowds unless necessary. Also because of his undead nature he dislikes talking about himself and when he dose tend to outright lie or tell tails back form when he was alive. Although he lies about himself Nikolas is not a very good liar, but it never stops him form trying as it better then telling someone the truth.

For those who become aware of his true nature and don't try to destroy him Nikolas often make the effort to become friends with. If he manages that he become very open about some of his life and will help out those he calls friend. He is also willing to give advice to those he calls a friends, although it may not always be the best advice.

Over all Nikolas is a very clam person rarely letting his emotions get the better of him, well aware what might happen if he dose. He is the type who doesn't back down form a challenge when one is presented to him normally trying the direct approach when trying solve a problem. If that fails Nikolas will simply keep trying until he come up with another solution or until it direct approach works.

At time Nikolas feels the urge to consume the flesh of the living, although he is unsure why this urge is very powerful and difficult to control. When dealing with this he drives everyone around him away and tries to be alone or spend time with his own kind. On rare occasions he can become a mindless almost like his soul is trying to leave the realm of the living but can't. During these times Nikolas's body can and often dose become aggressive attacking any living thing near him. Turning on friend and foe alike. While aware of the issue Nikolas can't do anything to stop it, but is aware when the everything starts to fell distance he need to get away form everyone and lock himself away.

Elizabeth Laryn

Liz, Specter

29

Female

Scout

Driven by her duty to serve the Union. Liz dose whatever she is ordered to the best of her abilities. She is completely loyal to the union and a devout to the church of Terra. Liz is not afraid to sacrifice herself in to fulfill her duty. In personal situation Liz is a loner sticking to herself and contently minding her own business. When she dose interacting with someone she come of as warm and friendly but very awkward almost like she as not interacted with people before. Around her superiors she is very serious.

Natasha Korshunov

Dozer

39

Female

Ambassadorial Bodyguard

A woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to take it. Natasha is a loud mouth the simply ooze's confidence and rightly so. This woman as fought more battles in internal union wars then some would in there life time. She is loyal to the union and ambassador Muhfeld and in a rough way caring of others she respects. Just don't piss her off, Natasha is lethal with her fist's and even more so with her twin custom made fisto's and she not afraid to use them. Also Nastasha is the type just doesn't know when to give up and would rather take a roll of the dice then play it safe. Although she may not look or act it she has a genius level intellect.

Moskvin Korshunov

Daka, Mos

26

Male

Heavy weapon/ Demo specialist Ambassadorial Bodyguard

At first glance he's dumber then a box of hammers. Due to his simple way of speaking an understanding. But what Moskvin lacks in books smarts he makes up for it in his sheer stubbornness and knowledge of things that go Kaboom and heavy weapons. He is the right hand of a Ambassador Muhlfeld when he wants someone day completely and utterly fucked. He is completely loyal to Ambassador Muhfeld and would die to protect him. Anyone else can get fucked in fact he'd climb over the bodies of fall comrades or simple shove them out of the way at chance to fill enemies with enough lead to call someone a pencil. Moskvin as a very short temper and tends to hit things that upset him. He tends to get into a lot of fight with his sister but deep down he loves her to bits. Although he may not look it Moskvin is talented painter and loves animals. For some reason he never shows his face around others.

Jurgen Muhfeld

None

65

Male

Ambassador

Claim and always well spoken. Jurgen at first glance is the very embodiment of the best refinement the Union has to offer. Truth be told he is man that always tries to get his way and is used to it. He is a man of a short temper along with some childish tendency's.
He is a man of great influence in parts of union and he's not afraid to throw the weight of his influence around to get his own way. He's not a fan of violence and prefers it not be used around him. Truth be told he just worried he'd have to get his hands dirty instead of someone else. Deep down though he truly thinks peace if the way forward.

He as a liking for the Korshunov siblings and used his leverage to get them assigned to him as bodyguards and the two have been working with him proudly for some time. He has used every favor he was owed to get him assigned to the 1st recon as an attachment wanting to one of the first to try negotiate with who ever dwell on the other side of the portal.

Brain Corvus

Crow

39

Male

Quartermaster

A sly and cunning man who seems to appear in odd places. He is the type who always seem to acquire things and has no issue with selling said things for a "fair" price. Brain is very charismatic and is very good at prying information out of people with only a few words. People also seem to just naturally trust Brain and tell him things they might not others. He's a very skilled lie and often makes up stores that out of his month sound truthful. Brian is a yellow bellied coward and will always try to run form a fight, he is how ever not easily intimidated.

Donovan Valentine

”The Friendly” a sarcastic nickname if there ever was one.

25 years old

Male

High Terra

Corporal

He is considered an elite combat solider, being exceptional in what most soliders should be.

He is 6'0 in length, with a surprisingly muscular body that you wouldn't guess by looking at him. Sometimes wearing glasses, other times not. He wears his mother's clothing line, finding anything else unacceptable. He is a noble of a rather rich family, so his armored suit is literally painted in real gold for nothing more to show off.

Donovan certainly would be what you'd think of when you think of your typical, raised in incredible wealth and got almost everything he could ask for. He was spoiled rotten as a child. He lived a rather perfect life. He's only thing he suffered from is how much he wanted another sibling so he could have a friend as when he was young most people tend to avoid him, scared of his status. Often alone, learning he was his only friend.

He grew up quite bitter of most people and is incredibly arrogant and self centered or at least only cares about his own and his family's pride. He will do anything, to make a difference he feels will change his world for the better. He will defy orders, betray others. He'd kill a child if he or his family benefitted from it. Morality means next to nothing to him, he does not feel sympathy for those he is ordered to kill. But to the average stranger who somehow doesn't know who he is. He is an incredibly good solider, and a surprisingly an effective leader and support. He is very charming, and is quite a gentleman to women. His laugh is almost contagious. Being quite social. Most of it being an act, being smart enough to know you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Finding this fantasy world as literal gold mine, full of resources his parents could use to highly improve their companies. He doesn't see any of them as people, he sees them all as nuisances that he would be more than happy to rid their world of. Not that he'll behave that way in front of them.

His parents lived in the lap of luxury, one being a wealthy business owner, of multiple major construction, oil and diamond mining companies, while his mother had her own very popular and very expensive 'Valentine's' for men and women's clothing line. So ever since he was born, he was never told no. As he got the best food, from a professional chef, and was taught by a private tutor. He also had a professional maid to clean his room, but he often cleaned it himself. But that didn't mean he didn't spend time with his family, as his mother would often test clothing on him and often had him watch her create clothes, while the father often took him fishing every other weekend on their motorboat. The only thing he didn't have was a younger sibling, which he wanted a little brother. Mainly because he felt very alone. As his father kept him away from the poor folk and even some of the richer folk because they we're far too snobbish in his mother's words. So he didn't have many friends, and he very quickly over the year got used to being alone, with the occasional hired company. He enjoyed spending time with his parents more than anyone else. Loving and respecting them a lot, finding his mother to making the most beautiful clothes in the world and his father the most brilliant, got his desire for wine as his father would often let him have a sip every time he asked for one.

When he became old enough to be legally allowed to drive, thought that didn't stop him from doing it multiple times before then. He would often drive out and spoil women on dates. Going on a date with a new women every week at least. He made his own friends, throwing his charm and money around without hesitation. Though he never really made any real personal connections and it only made him dislike people in general. He would often have sex, even a few times of the same sex just because he could. Because it provided him with some company, and some shallow pleasure. But nothing he did really made him happy, he felt as if he had no true calling in life.

Until that day, When he learned of the GATE incident, he was instantly drawn to the news, being quite curious. As was both of his parents as they wondered. What kind of materials, and what kind of resources do they have in another world? Just imagine what we could do with them! They asked their son, to become a solider and to go to the new world and make them proud. They had connections with someone in the military that could make him shoot up in ranks quite easily and they'd make sure he had the best equipment. With that offer in his head, at a chance to do something unique and something to make his parents proud of him. He immediately agreed and became a solider. Which after a few tests they learned he was already great at it, excelling at basic and more advanced training. Completing it in half the time most did.

It didn't take him long to raise in the ranks. Becoming known for his skill and also more infamous for his personality. As they called him, Donovan "The Friendly" for his very false happy social personality. As it didn't take long for him to make enemies, but they weren't stupid enough to outright suggest anything of the sort. His superior's in the army were highly considering a leader position for him only holding back due to their uncertainly of how loyal he actually is...

Lucio Dante

Lord-Commander of the Imperial Military, the Angel of Death, Hammer of the Emperor, the Blood of Aquilonia

Roughly 1,100

Male

Vampire

Imperia, Vassal-City of Aquilonia

To the citizens and enemies alike of Imperia, Lord-Commander Dante is an implacable and awe-inspiring figure. A tremendous man that stands nearly seven feet high, he is never seen in public unless clad in ornate regalia. Widely known for donning the golden Armor of Saint Lucas, his personal raiment of crimson and gold is known as Angelo Testarossa. Such is the might of Dante's magic that he seems eternally cloaked in the light of his Iron Halo, and he is known to soar on angelic, ivory wings that ceaselessly bleed through their feathers. In private company, Dante wears simple robes of red and white, and keeps his face uncovered. His many years are clear in his features, as his long, fine hair has turned completely white, and the lines of centuries of warfare are etched into his face. Even so, he has an ethereal, otherworldly beauty with chiseled features, ivory skin, eyes like rubies and long, white fangs. Dante often adorns himself with writings of scripture, golden medallions, mementos of his fallen comrades, and other such trinkets, and displays his personal heraldry (a drop of blood framed by alabaster wings) on many of his belongings.

Dante is a noted master of the Book of Blessing, though with the remarkable exception that he cannot use his magic to heal. Unknown to most, this handicap is an extension of his vampiric nature, as such monsters cannot create life. Even so, Dante makes use of holy magic to smite his enemies with purifying light, carry himself aloft on angelic wings that weep martyr's blood, and protect himself from enemy magics with the use of a luminous "Iron Halo" that surrounds him.

By most standards, Dante is a reserved and withdrawn fellow. He speaks little, though when he does so, his words are utterly profound. Personal glory matters little to the Angel of Death, as he has been honored enough for several lifetimes over his many years. Quiet professionalism and dignity surround him, but he is not standoffish. Though to many he is a legendary and unapproachable figure, he cares strongly for those under his command, and is a calm and patient listener. Humility and composure are his hallmark traits, as his many years have brought him great wisdom and inner strength.

However, one should not mistake his reserved nature for submissiveness. Dante holds his honor and his values strongly and uncompromisingly, and woe befall those who threaten his faith, his king, or his country. He is not afraid to speak out against convention or authority when he knows he must. Though his vampiric nature is vicious and bestial, Dante keeps his darkest urges well-contained. Even in the heat of battle, Dante's fury is cold and tranquil; viciously rending his foes without undue malice or enjoyment. That is not to say that his inhuman instincts are easily ignored, as they press against his mind at all hours, and it is his supreme willpower that allows him to retain control.

Vampires are strange and reclusive creatures that lurk in the underbelly of many societies throughout Deaus. They came into being an eon ago through the bargaining with daemons for the gift of immortality. These monsters creep through the night and drink the blood of men to perpetuate their unholy lives. The closest that vampires come to living openly are the Sangue Nostra of the city of Aquilonia. As old as the venerated city itself, the Sangue Nostra forms a hierarchy of the criminal underworld of the city, keeping crime tightly controlled, but also under their protection. Lucio Dante was born as yet another daemon-blooded scion of the Sangue Nostra some eleven-hundred years ago. Like most vampiric youths, he was plagued by nightmares for his first years as his otherwise human flesh came to terms with the unholy potency in his veins. Dante suffered more than most, and often had to be locked away in a coffin during his daylight sleeping hours as his nightmares were vicious and caused him to lash out physically. Often he would be unlocked from his casket to find that he had clawed the inside of the lid unti his hands had gone bloody. The elders feared that the child would not survive his first decade, such was his torment.

However, Dante held strong by the inspiration of a childhood hero. Diego Cervantes, a famed knight and leader of Imperia's Eighth Legion (known as the Sons of Aquilonia), was the idol of a young Dante. Cervantes, called the Spear of Aquilonia, was the victor of many campaigns against savage monsters and foreign invaders. An avatar of chivalry and justice, Dante kept faith in his neophyte years by aspiring to become such a hero. Wearing a hood, mask and robes to shield himself from the sun, Dante ventured out one day to meet his idol, and upon finding Cervantes in the city plaza, demanded to be made his squire. Cervantes laughed, asking what knight would wear a mask, thus keeping him from taking rightful credit for his mighty deeds. Dante replied that he would not fight for glory or gold, but to protect and inspire the masses. Impressed by his answer, Cervantes took on the young man as his squire, all the while ignorant of his true nature.

For years Dante grew up under the watchful guidance of the Spear of Aquilonia. He continued to wear a mask and heavy robes, though donned a full helm and armor in battle, and so years passed without Cervantes ever seeing his squire's face. Dante learned quickly, and his unholy strength made him a force to be reckoned with in battle. His greatest issue laid in controlling his temper, which was fueled by his vampiric bloodlust. Even so, Dante eventually was knighted by Cervantes, and was considered a true warrior of Imperia and Aquilonia. However, some short years after, a devastating campaign against a foul daemon horde nearly destroyed the Eighth Legion. Cervantes, as well as much of the legion's senior leadership, had been killed by the campaign's end. Be it through luck, skill or divine providence, the young Ser Dante was the senior-most knight left in the legion, and so was appointed by default as the Commander of the Eighth Legion. Such an inauspicious appointment was seen as a grave omen by the remainder of the legion, who feared that their ancestral banners would soon be retired forever. Deep in mourning for his lost master, Dante took up the man's famous spear, Aquila, and took the angelic wings of his heraldry and made them part of his own; adding a drop of blood to show the sacrifice given for the good of the people.

As the Eighth Legion was slowly rebuilt, Knight-Commander Dante looked inward to resolve his own personal struggles. He would not due his legion justice if he continued to be ruled by his instincts. Dante took to the church, spending much time learning scripture and meditation from the priests and chaplains. It was in these long hours of inner reflection that Dante discovered the Book of Blessings. Seeing it as antithesis to his vampiric nature, he took up the study and practice of holy magic, hoping it would lead him away from his darker urges. Dante took well to learning these magics, which also aided him in learning to curb his urges and impulses. By slight degrees he grew less brash and became a stronger man for it, and so his legion became stronger. Dante led numerous successful campaigns of retribution against daemons and other such monsters over his centuries of service commanding the Eighth Legion. His vampiric nature had extended his lifespan well beyond that of a normal man, and he was still loathe to share his dark secret with his soldiers. He explained away his longevity by claiming that his prowess in holy magic had extended his lifespan; a rare feat but not one unheard of. This simple lie has protected the secret of his blood even to this day.

The might of the ancient Knight-Commander Dante eventually reached the ears of the Emperor of Imperia. Upon the Emperor's invitation, Dante passed on command of the Eighth Legion to a worthy successor, and went on to lead the prestigious First Legion: the Hammer of the Empire. His continued success as the legion's commander brought him even further prestige and accolades, and he began personal correspondence with the Emperor. Dante's true nature as a Vampire eventually could no longer be hidden from the Emperor, and though the revelation was shocking, it was not the end of Dante's service. Seeing the man to be faithful to the gods and to Imperia, the Emperor decreed that only his family and their closest advisers would know of his true heritage, and by them would be considered an honorary human. Eternally grateful to the royal family, Dante continued to serve them dutifully, and eventually his fame and prowess surpassed the prestige of the First Legion. Dante was appointed as Lord-Commander of the Imperial Military, the highest military official in the Empire, and the direct adviser to the Emperor on martial matters. For hundreds more years Lord-Commander Dante has retained this tremendous honor, lending his expertise to many Emperors and continuing to venture onto the battlefield to lead his men from the front lines.

Aziz Mano Iostan

Azi

22

Male

Human, ancestry from the Arabic/Middle Eastern provinces of High Terra.

Ennedi

Corporal

Ennedi Specialized "Flame Trooper" or more commonly known as a Pyro, Aziz carries a flamethrower designed on Ennedi along with a side arm and melee weapon.

Aziz stands at 5 foot 10 with a slim, but muscular physique. His armor is largely unchanged, save for the gas mask/helmet combination that is issued to Flame Troopers on Ennedi, replacing the Ennedi Infantry Cover that most soldiers wear. (Like this but more desert and green camo, and only the gas mask and helmet, not the rest of the outfit.

Aziz is a modest, respectful, pious soldier. Raised in a house who both believed in faith and science, he is very open to any point of view, religious or otherwise. That being said, he is a devout follower of Terranism and is not likely to change anytime soon. Ever since he was a boy, Aziz wanted to be a defender of Grand Human Union. Learning due to his father's connections, he could be a soldier in the GHU on Ennedi that guards labs and actively participates in research, Aziz didn't hesitate to sign up. He has a fascination with weapon design, from simple melee weapons to the advanced solar weaponry that Ennedi science produces. He guards Ennedi design with a passion, including his own flamethrower, referring to the Flammenwerfer as a "Clunky hunk of metal that just happens to spit out fire."

Aziz is compassionate to soldiers of all planets and often treats visitors with hospitality, soldier or no. But he is wary of the "Other World". Being deployed as one of the first lines of defense when the gate opened, he saw many of his childhood friends die at the hands of the invaders. It sparked hatred in him that he had never known as he set the enemy ablaze without remorse. He sees the gate as a test of faith, a test to all humanity. And what humanity does about this test will reflect it's true nature in the eyes of the Primarch.

Aziz was born to a scientist couple in the capital city of Ennedi. He was raised in an environment that encouraged free-thought, but also faith. He grew up hearing stories from his father of the glory of the GHU and its soldiers. His father, a former soldier himself, filled Aziz's imagination with stories of glory and honor, fighting to defend his home. Aziz did fairly well in grade school, excelling in science.And while his parent's relationship was rocky at times, he had a mostly happy childhood. As said before, ever since he was a boy, Aziz wanted to be a defender of Grand Human Union. Learning due to his father's connections, he could be a soldier in the GHU on Ennedi that guards labs and actively participates in research, Aziz didn't hesitate to sign up.

Basic training was a blast for Aziz. He served for 5 months before enrolling in the flame trooper training course. He passed with flying colors. And while there were skirmishes with desert bandits and the occasional dangerous for civilians wildlife, Aziz never really saw true action. Action that would give him a challenge. Until the gate opened up. Aziz was deployed to the front lines immediately, awaiting whatever was coming through that gate. And what did, he had never seen before. It was chaos, and no one was prepared. They had ungodly beasts and ancient weaponry, they came in droves and sliced down one soldier only to be ripped apart by machine gun fire. They were outmatched. But what they lacked in technology, they made up in numbers. They kept coming until they eventually killed someone. Riding in on strange beasts, trampling soldiers to death. All Aziz could do was let his fire rage. After 6 hours of fighting, they finally retreated back into the gate. But not before there were over 200 GHU casualties, some of which were Aziz's close friends. Aziz returned to base with a heavy heart and not soon after learned of the formation of a new unit who was going into the strange land. And Aziz wanted payback.

Zelda Schukon Oberherr

Ice Queen

19

Female

Of Middle European Descent, from one of the many forests of High Terra

Khorenheim

Private First Class

Scout Sniper (Extremely similar to that of the U.S. Marine Scout Sniper)

Zelda stands at 5'5. She has a curvy form and athletic physique. Her hair is blonde and she has bright blue eyes. Her uniform is consistent with the Khorenheim standard gray and red markings. Her top is adorned with extra pouches on the sleeves and a harness designed for sniper ammo and accessories. Her pants are a gray camo pattern, tucked into shined black boots. She wears a gray boonie hat, which is different from the standard infantry helmet. In the middle front is the Khorenheim Sniper Symbol. Her hair is to the extent allowed, just above her shoulders. She has light freckles across her nose.

Zelda is loyal, efficient, and apathetic. She gets the job done and that's all that matters. She's awkward at best in social situations. She's also irritable, bossy, demanding. She expects every soldier to do their job and do it perfectly. She's also arrogant, thinking that she could lead soldiers better than most officers in most armies. Whether that arrogance is misplaced or not, remains to be seen. She isn't interested in relationships, boys, girls, dogs, cats, she doesn't care at all. The only situation where she isn't emotionless is in battle, whether sniping from a far or in the heat of it, her eyes light up with joy. Much of her personality can be attributed to the traumas she suffered when she was younger and her strict and militaristic upbringing. She resents her father for many things, including pulling strings to get her placed in the 1st Recon. She despises being treated like a helpless girl.

Zelda was born to a Khorenheim Army Officer and an enemy spy. Shortly after Zelda's birth, her mother, the spy, was executed. Zelda's father raised her by himself the only way he knew how, with strict military protocol. She attended state academies from a young age, grooming her for military service. Despite all this, Zelda was a happy, patriotic, and outgoing girl with plenty of friends. She was smart, resourceful, and observant. But her whole world was turned upside down when she was taken advantage of and raped by one of her instructors. The experience shattered her. Her father, going into a rage when he found out, hunted down the man and gunned him down in his home in front of his wife and child. Zelda was in recovery for months, becoming quiet and withdrawn. She went to a new academy a different girl than the on that arrived at her previous one. She still excelled in everything she did. But she was known as cold to other students and had very few friends.

When she was at the age to be ready for military service, she enlisted instead of going to an officer academy, much to the dismay of her father. Shortly after, she enrolled in the Khorenheim Sniper Academy. She was promoted to Pfc after graduating from the academy. After serving at some quiet assignments for nothing more than recon, she heard about the gate on Ennedi. What she never would expected though, is that her father would pull some strings to get her assigned to the Spec Ops Unit that would enter the gate. It angered her beyond belief. She didn't need her father to take care of her. But orders were orders and she was soon heading for Ennedi to join the 1st Recon.

Neaxy Tidea

Nea(Nee-uh)

23

Female

Faunus

The Gallogoth Commonwealth

Nea has a complexion that's seemingly perfect for a time like this. You'd imagine with all the dirt and all-around grossness she'd have tons of Acne and such, but there's nothing besides a few freckles here and there. She has big blue eyes, because of this she wears blue clothing. She has long grey hair that she usually leaves down, occasionally throwing a large bead or two into the mix.

Nea, being a Faunus, has the traits of a lupine nature. Her ears are the most conspicuous of this however. Her tail is almost always covered by her clothing, she's kind of sensitive about it.

Nea uses the book of blessing mostly, focusing mostly on the defensive side with healing and shields. The few offensive spells that she knows include blessing things and doing overall deal damage to the "unholy"

Prayer of Healing: Nea drops to her knees and mutters "prayer of healing", around her a spring of energy pops up, filling everyone in the radius of the spring with energy and closing up minor wounds.

Holy Word: Purify: Nea points her hand out at her target, speaking clearly she says "Purify." The target is then healed of weak corruption or poisons. She can use this on water to make it holy water.

Holy Word: Rebuke: Nea throws up a shield of light, blocking spells coming her way. Only used in most emergencies, she feels drained after using this particular spell. It can take a lot of damage, but any powerful mage will easily be able to destroy it.

Purity to Nea is the fact that she cannot be "corrupted" by users of the book of Chaos. She feels strongly that the Book of Chaos should not only be a taboo, but should also be outlawed. Nea unsurprisingly was born to a priest who shared everything she knew with her, along with creating her scrolls that hold spells. This priest gave her most of her prejudice towards Chaos users.

Nea has some issues with weaponry, she prefers to stick to magic, but with her lack of offensive spells, she has to carry around a dagger. It's a puny little thing, but she feels safer with it. Safety is one of Nea's biggest issues, which is why her spells all have something to do with shielding or keeping people healthy.

Around people she's comfortable with, Nea's anxiety and paranoia seem to melt away. She can be very sweet with them, complimenting them or trying to make them feel good. Alternatively, if they become "corrupted", she shuns them all together. Acts like she doesn't even know them!

Nea isn't pure as far as it goes with mental health. She has paranoia and anxiety, but due to it being a more medieval time on Deaus, it's not diagnosed. Doctors aren't too familiar with anything mental, as far as they're concerned the only diagnosis they give for someone with a mental illness is "crazy".

Nea is very depended on others. Autonomous, she is worthless. She needs a group to survive, that's just how it is for her. She's mostly seen as the companion by others, she's just there to help out. Doing much on her own is difficult.

Nea didn't have too much of a crazy life. She grew up in the Gallagoth Commonwealth, which surprisingly hasn't largely impacted her prejudices. Despite the entire area being multi-cultural and filling up with mages of all different kinds she still cannot stand users of the Book of Chaos.

To this day, whenever she's thinking about the Book of Chaos, all she can see is Sayax, her father, the priest. Sayax was not a good role model, at all. Sayax went and copulated with a Faunus just for the hell of it and nine months later Nea was placed on his church doorstep. Unpredictably, he was bitter with this child. Sayax just didn't want her, so he decided to use her for his own gain. Sayax never let Nea form her own opinion, she was indoctrinated to the point of no return. It seems that she can not change, and will forever unreasonably hate these Chaos users.

Nea went through a bit of a rebellious phase throughout her teenage years. She didn't attend church with Sayax, she stopped reading all the bigoted books, she was just done with her father pushing her around so much. Eventually, she gave in to Sayax who had been bribing her to come back. The schooling relating to her prejudices were a large reason she had paranoia, and the anxiety came from all the bad things that Chaos users had allegedly done.

As an adult, Nea moved out of Sayax's home, and further away from him as well. On the other side of the Commonwealth, even. She just did not want anything to do with him, even though she had already "absorbed" his beliefs, she still didn't agree with him. Sayax wanted the genocide of Chaos users, while Nea just wanted Chaos to be unused by all.

Oṣupa Hënë

Supa. Aside from being a shortened version of her first name, it also has a similar meaning to "Klutz" in the language of her race.

23

Female

Faunus

Navaria

Oṣupa is, as is obvious, a Faunus. To be more specific, she is a "wolf person" as outsiders to Deaus might call her. Her people are famous for their pure capacity for devotion, as well as their willingness to defend that which they devote themselves to. It is common and even expected of members of her race to give their lives to save those of the people they have pledged their loyalty to. Beyond her ears and tail, however, little sets her kind apart from a human on the outside.

She rarely wears anything other than her surprisingly ornate traditional dress, which was passed down through her family for generations with each owner adding their own personal touch. Hers happened to be a ring of triangles near the very bottom. She will sometimes don a metal collar and chain around her neck, with the chain tied to her dress. Such things are common for wolf people, as the collar and chain is almost always used to show that one of them is a slave. Whoever is holding the other end of the chain, of course, is the owner. To tie the chain to yourself is to declare your freedom.

In stature, she is somewhat petite, and definitely significantly shorter compared to the outsiders from beyond Deaus. She isn't someone who could rely on brute strength in a fight, though she is also not the out-of-shape scholar who has no method of defense. Her endurance is fine as are her leg muscles, the problem is that if she tried to throw a punch it would feel more like a tap.

Oṣupa is in the process of mastering the Book of Blazing, and is already very much capable of the basic spells and some more advanced ones. Ever since her time in Maverin, she has hoped to rediscover the lost non-combat spell.

Oṣupa is not a mean person. She will generally treat others with kindness, trust and love, as do most members of her race. Of course, their trust is often cited as why they are now a subservient race to humanity, and with good reason. She will often open up far too much to people she doesn't know well enough, and this habit has come rather close to getting her into trouble countless times. Also notable is how quickly and easily her opinions of those she trusts can change. She has a great fear of abandonment, and the prolonged, unexplained absence of someone will often lead to her being afraid that they hate her. In a nutshell, she treats every relationship as if she were a teenager in the 21st century texting their boyfriend.

Of course, being a wolf person, she has an incredible capacity for loyalty. If she meets the right person, she is capable of throwing everything she has behind them in support. When she is fighting to protect someone, she will always be able to find that extra bit of strength she needs to win if it means protecting someone she trusts. In an odd contrast to this, however, she is a revolutionary. Decades of her family being sold like cattle have led her, the first free woman in generations, to despise the slave owners and the government that allows the practice to exist. To her, all slave owners are monsters and all Imperial officials are men who only pledge allegiance to the tax money that pays them, no exceptions.

Oṣupa was born in Imperia, directly into slavery at a plantation in Navaria. She never knew her mother, as the woman had been sold to a lord as a sex slave just after Oṣupa's birth. Her father was killed as an example to the other slaves when she was three, leaving her only family being her sister and brother. Her brother, as the oldest (and also the only male in the family) took up the position of her father at the age of thirteen. By keeping their heads low, they managed to avoid the same fate that had befallen their parents.

When she was five, however, she was taken out of the fields and ordered to act as a playmate for her master's children. She was dressed up in lavish clothing and washed every morning as if she was one of her master's own children, but at the end of the day, she still had to sleep on a dirt floor covered in mud with the only heat available coming from her fellow slaves. Still, it was better than grueling labor in the fields, and she gained much from the children she was made to entertain. They still didn't understand the class difference, and she became good friends with the two young sons of her master.

As time went on, of course, those two sons were taught things only children of a noble could learn. Through them, she learned as well. How to write, how to do arithmetic. Had her brother not been there to warn her against demonstrating such knowledge, she would have been killed before her tenth birthday. Instead, she became the smartest member of her family. Her master's children turned into young men, and learned of why they lived in the house and she lived outside. Her brother had told her stories of what happened then. Friends became foes, slaves got ratted out and killed. He told her to run away and never stop if anyone came for her.

But they didn't.

The children that were her friends continued to be her friends despite what they now knew, and with their extra newfound freedom, they often met with her to keep teaching. One (named Gavril) was an apprentice at a blacksmith's shop, and since Oṣupa was now a household servant (her duty to entertain the children having stopped when the children stopped needing to be entertained), he often took her with him to "Carry things around and the like, run errands, that sort of thing" as he had told his father. There, she discovered her proficiency for fire magic thanks to an incident involving Gavril's hair and a furnace.

Obviously, this proficiency was never mentioned to her master, and the blacksmith and Gavril chose to keep it a secret and help develop it. Soon, she was lighting the fires in the shop and using her magic to make them burn hotter. Things seemed to be okay. Her brother and sister were safe thanks to her friendship, and was was learning new skills to help them and everyone else out (it's a lot easier to sleep on cold nights if you can start a fire in seconds). It wasn't the best life, but there were much less fortunate situations to be in.

Until the fire.

Now, it was not a secret that Oṣupa had fire magic. Everyone knew, and her master did nothing about it because it did nothing but placate the other slaves. This made the fire that swept over the plantation that much worse for her. An entire crop was lost, and part of her master's house burned down. It wasn't her fault, but the fact that said part of her master's house had included his other son made him blind to that simple fact. He immediately put the blame on her, and said that all the slaves had a hand in it. When he ordered her execution the next morning, she thought that was the end of it.

Instead, Gavril came to the slave quarters that night with some things the blacksmith had given him. Swords, spears, shields, all made for the army. He hadn't believed his father's words for a second, and to his teenage mind, his father just wanted to hurt the slaves that had served him and his best friend for no reason at all. He told the slaves that they could change their lives for the better, and urged them to kill his father. There wasn't anyone who refused to act.

They stormed the house that night, and killed their master. The plantation was once again set ablaze, and this time it was Oṣupa's fault. Anybody who might tell the truth of what had happened to the townsfolk was killed. And so, aside from the blacksmith, everyone believed the deaths to be the result of a candle falling over. The will of her master was carried out as it was meant to be, and his possessions were split evenly between his family. As Gavril was the only one left, everything went to him. Including the slaves.

He proved himself to be exactly what the appeared, and freed every last one of them.

Most remained on the plantation to pick up the pieces and rebuild it, while some left for other lands. Gavril suggested that Oṣupa study in Maverin to develop and hone her magical skills, with him paying for it all. She gladly accepted, chose to enhance her natural skills, and spent five years studying the Book of Blazing. With the little off time she had, she often went back to the plantation to visit Gavril and sometimes help out a bit. Finally, at the age of 19, she returned home.

Gavril had, of course, become lord of the town after his father's death. Thanks to the visits and memories of Oṣupa, though, he never let the power get to him. He still helped the blacksmith from time to time, and had become a fully-fledged one in his own right. He decided to let her stay in the manor house (which had been rebuilt using stone, with Gavril having learned his lesson after the death of his mother). Everything, for once, went back to normal for her. She remained engaged in magical studies, and often discussed magic with travelers and soldiers alike.

One day, Gavril received an invitation from Gallogoth. When word of him freeing his slaves got out, he had apparently become well-known in the Commonwealth as an Imperian noble with common sense. The invitation asked that he come to a meeting in Gallogoth, where scholars and nobles from far and wide were to discuss the end of slavery and its benefits in the Commonwealth. He had never given widespread abolition much thought, only really having thought of freeing his own slaves as paying off the debt he owed them for making him the town's lord. Nevertheless, he accepted it and brought along Oṣupa, thinking it would be a great contribution to bring a former slave.

After about a week spent discussing the issue at the Forums of Gallogoth, the two returned with a long list of reasons slavery was inherently flawed. The moment they returned, Gavril declared that slavery was to be outlawed within his domain. The act raised eyebrows in Imperia, but ultimately, nothing was done to stop it. After all, Gavril was just a single lord who controlled a single town. There wasn't any reason to interfere with a lord's personal doings.

Of course, the meeting in Gallogoth led to many other being persuaded of the wrongs of slavery as well. Quite a few being Imperial nobles. Some of them banned slavery in their lands as well, and those who did sent letters to Gavril praising him for being such a forward-thinker. In time, he found himself the head of an anti-slavery movement, all thanks to one night where he chose loyalty over his best friend over loyalty to his father. Oṣupa, of course, found herself as the face of the movement. A former slave, now a learned scholar and mage? There was no better symbol of the idea that slaves were no less than any other person.

She and Gavril began to lay the groundwork for a movement to overturn the establishment of slavery within the Empire. Agreements between the supporting nobles, trade agreements and alliances with the Commonwealth, and the expansion of their own personal armies. On the surface, they all swore fealty to the Emperor and were nothing more than a group of a few odd nobles who were too kind for their own good. Just like Oṣupa, they laid low, built themselves up, and waited for the fire.

Now, she is 23. It has been three years since she and Gavril went to Gallogoth to speak at the forum, and they continue to build their strength and make alliances. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, the fire for which they have been waiting is just beginning to enter their land.

Vitaly Demski

Gramps

42

male

Hooman

Novogorod

Private

Field Engineer/Vehicle Repair Specialist.

Vitaly, for being a man of his age, was in what anyone would consider to be incredibly good shape. Military life had shaped him and he continued to maintain that transformation. With his longer than usual greying hair and beard, Vitaly stands out when mingling with his fellow soldiers. Given the fact that he stands at nearly six and a half feet tall, the grizzled vet tends to attract yet more attention when in the field and he had scars to prove it. When not in his combat armor, Vitaly is often seen more often than not with his jumpsuit on, top half tied off at his waist. Vitaly’s uniform and armor is almost unrecognizable with how many patch jobs and modifications have been applied to them over the years. The most striking features are those that he began to adopt from other worlds, namely, his rifle.

Vitaly is as rough around the edges as a man can get. He’s loud, rough, and honest to a fault and argumentative would be a kind way of putting the man’s behavior when he hits one of his rebellious streaks. The largest contributing factor to this behavior is his heavy drinking habit which tends to bleed over and spread amongst his comrades. Although disruptive in nature, his drinking often brings him and those who join him closer. A good example of this dynamic was Vitaly’s time with the Khorenheimer which transformed animosity into camaraderie, much to the commander’s surprise at the time.

In the grand Novogorodian tradition of interpreting all orders given, Vitaly like many of his kin enjoys putting a personal spin on the instructions given to him. After losing more than his fair share of comrades due to poor leadership, the Engineer’s disobedience transformed from simple bullheadedness into an active questioning of anyone he felt to be an unfit commander. This abrasive behavior earned him much reprimand which as the years went on he began to welcome with a smile. Time and experience eventually solved most of the disciplinary issues that administrative action could not, even if the latter set him back nearly his entire career.

Vitaly Demski’s life began much like the many Novogorodian boys that came before him. He, however, make the wrong choices at the right times along the way. Growing up in an impoverished family on icy Novogorod didn't leave a chap with many options when it came to the survival of himself and his family, so Vitaly took the most logical course of action. Crime. The logic however, to his surprise, turned out to be flawed. Without further any further pleasantries, the young man found himself on the business end of one very angry mechanic's .50 pistol. Luckily for Vitaly, the mechanic in question happened to be a retired chief engineer of the Novogord Corps of Engineers. In lieu of reducing the misguided young man’s head into a chunky paste, the former Chief taught him honest work instead.

As the years went by, Vitaly finally reached the enlisting age and as directed by his teacher, the would be thief enlisted into the Novogorod Corps of Engineers with a recommendation of assignment to the 10th Fleet. He had learned the skills of an engineer well during his time with the mechanic but to the misfortune and dismay of many to come, the young Vitaly had not learned any respect for authority. Early on in his military “career” it became readily obvious that the young engineer could fix up anything that flew, drove, hovered, or had an engine of some kind. The problem early on was getting him to actually behave in a soldierly fashion enough to do it. After much reprimand for his behavior, his commanders resorted to administrative action in an attempt at corrective measures. In short, reduction of rank and loss of pay. When this did not have the desired effect, thoughts of removing him from service were seriously considered until an unorthodox alternative was proposed. Attach him to a Mechanized Khorenheim Assault Regiment.

So began Vitaly’s tour with the 42nd Khorenheim Drop Ship Regiment, Echo Company, Third Platoon. The attempt at teaching the Novogorodian Engineer dicipline and obedience nearly backfired his first week in garrison after he got half his platoon drunk and shortly after started a brawl. Three stab wounds, a 10mm round to the chest, and some bio-foam later, Vitaly found himself among begrudgingly loyal comrades. With the whole incident being swept under the rug, Vitaly and the platoon were soon deployed to a jungle planet along the rim. Shortly after entering orbit, their drop ship was unfortunate enough to take a hit from a shoulder fired rocket, effectively separating his squad from the rest of the platoon. It was in this moment that Vitaly knew that some poor bastard insurrectionist on the ground had fucked up. Retribution came swift and without mercy as the stranded squad made a counter offensive against their would-be attackers, giving the Engineer enough time and space to repurpouse their good turbine rigging the damaged one with enough power to get them off the ground.

Even after his for the most part successful tour with the Khorenheimer Regiment, Vitaly still struggled with obedience. Up for review once again, the soldier found himself reduced to private once again and nearly forced out of Union service. The only factors that stayed the reviewing board's hand had been the unlikely support of the Regiment and the undeniable fact that he was a damn good vehicle maintainer. After much deliberation, it was agreed that if he could maintain at least the minimum standard of dicipline he would be allowed to serve into retirement at the rank of private until further review and deliberation. Vitaly took the opportunity and didn't look back. Countless combat tours later, the once rebellious and unmanageable Engineer’s temperament calmed into something more approaching acceptable by union standards. To accompany his maturing of character, the man became familiar with most if not all of his Union brothers-in-arms, having combat deployments with each. Eventually, the Engineer caught wind of a some strange portal or gate that had opened on one of the Unions worlds and the slaughter of Union citizens that followed. Patriotic anger the likes of which the Novogorodian didn't know he was capable of flared up in his soul at the news and once he leaned of the reconnaissance force already on the other side, the old veteran knew he had to answer the call.

Helena Vortzeria

Helena, Hellcat

26

Female

Avalia

Senior Master Sergeant

Assault Specialist. She's the one kicking down your door, jumping on top of you, and stabbing your face until it stops looking like a face.

Nothing is particularly phenomenal about Helena's physical traits. She has a semi muscular build with brown hair and blue eyes. Despite military regulations, she keeps her hair somewhat long and usually wears it down and loose. In terms of her clothing out of combat, Helena keeps herself fairly neat and clean, always maintaining a sharp image to a reasonable degree.

Now, in combat, Helena wears the MK4 Ariel Assault Variant of the traditional Avalian exo-armor. The main difference between the suits, other than the slight difference in appearance, is an upgraded servo system built into the exo-skeleton of the suit. This means she can lift heavier objects than normally capable of and take longer to become exhausted. This makes this particular variant slightly heavier than others, yet as with the Avalians, it still maintains the ability of using boosters to allow long falls/jumps, or even short, sustained flights. Helena has modified her particular suit by upgrading her back mounted, forward facing boosters to allow her to gain short boosts of speed and increase her "long jump" arc.

Most could describe her attitude with one, simple word. "Pissed" Simply put, Helena never seems to be in a good, calm mood. More accuratly, one could describe Helena as, "The Avalian sterotype, that being, typically free matured, jumpy, and nearly suicidal bravery, pushed through a filter of absolute hatred and rage."

Off the battlefield, Helena is, for lack of a better term, a bit of a bitch. She'll be ruthlessly sarcastic and witty, calling people out on any kind of bullshit they try to fly past her. Often times she'll walk around base smoking, without a care in the world for anyone else's opinion.

On the battlefield, she is one of the fiercest motherfuckers out there. No hesitation, no mercy, no fear. To coin a term, one could easily see Helena as "Tactically Suicidal". She has absolutely no problem dieing on the battlefield, hell, it seems like she even wants to, desperately. However, she's not crazy/stupid either. For example, Helena will charge a machinegun nest, guns blazing, but only if she knows that there is a good enough chance she can take it down before her gun stops firing. Constantly, she bets her life, living on a knifes edge of odds, playing that game of Russian roulette, hoping, praying, that someday that one chamber with the bullet lands on her.

This is because, if one where to somehow tolerate her sarcastic, overcritical nature, they will find someone crying, someone calling for help. Helena has been not always been like this, and there are shards of a much kinder, much friendlier version of her lying around, deep inside. All it takes is someone to finally put her back together. For this to be seen, one must have the rare privilege of being in the presence of Helena when she is with her little sister.

Helena actually started out as a pretty charming gal. She was born into an agricultural floating island on Avalia and started off life with a happy family of crop dusters. Her mother flew a cargo plane airline between the island and a major city while her father flew his plane for farmers. Of course, her family wasn't particularly wealthy, but that never stopped them from trying to make the best of their situation.

However, as a wise man once said, "Life is a TV show of suffering, broken up by brief commercial breaks, and this one had been one long break, but now, we're back to our regularly scheduled program of suffering." First, Helena's mother lost her business when a larger airliner took over and ran the family business into the ground. While her father remained hopeful, the mother slowly began to descend into a pit of depression. That company had been the dream of Helena's mother, and now it was gone forever. It did not matter what her own children said, nothing changed and soon after, her mother disappeared all together. Thus Helena's father was left to take care of the family. However, despite his best efforts, he was forced to work himself to exhaustion, slowly chipping away at his health. Though by this time, Helena was of age to join the military, and decided she would support her family too by taking up the enticing offer to become an Airborne Soldier of the Union. The Airborne soldier is the shock trooper, the ones that usually die first in any major engagement. However, they were payed more than the average soldier, so she took the job, against her father's wishes.

At first, military life wasn't all that bad. Helena displayed plenty of natural talents for a soldier and had joined during a time of peace. It did not last, as one would expect, as she was soon called to action to deal with a rapidly growing "heretical" group on the fringe of Union territory. She was a deployed in the first wave via orbital drop pods. This would be later called the "Karia Conflict" as the group heretics turned out to be a larger, and better prepared for this assault than command had originally thought.

"You could look up in the sky every day for I think.... the first three... no.. uh, four, yeah, four months of the campaign and just watch as debris from our ships rained down on the planet. Just think, millions of fucking tons of metal, electronics, men, ect, falling from orbit. It was one hell of a spectacle. Disturbingly beautiful if I'm honest. I... I think that actually helped me get through that fucking hell hole... Just looking up from a muddy fox hole and seeing that tragic event.... It just made me glad to think those Terran bastards that put us here were now burning up in the atmosphere thanks to their 'superiority'." -Helena's description of the opening days of the Karia Conflict

The Terran commanders of the fleet had sent the Avalian 909th Airborne Assault Division to soften up ground targets so the regular Terran infantry could land easily and march right over the heretics who dare opposed them. However, after launching the first waves of drop pods, they unexpectedly had flew their small assault fleet right into an orbital minefield, well disguised as the asteroids that filled the belt that orbited Karia. The heretics had waited for the perfect time then simply obliterated the small fleet, stranding the remnants of the 909th on their planet. Despite this, the 909th didn't completely break. They held out, always remaining mobile and never letting the enemy encircle them. In fact, by the time the reinforcement fleet arrived, Karia's forces had been reduced considerably. However, it was brutal, dirty fighting. Many conflicts were ambushes set by either side, or merciless raids on military and civilian targets alike. Helena survived it all and was promoted thanks to that, but when she came home on leave, she was a different woman. She won't talk about the specifics, but her brutality is somewhat infamous among veteran members of the 909th. Helena went on to participate in a few more operations before she was recommended by her commander to join the 1st Recon. Her commander thought that a mission as equally outlandish as it was.... peaceful even, would be a good change in pace.