Name: Something Unspeakable. Well, almost literally; it's like gargling gravel.
Codename: Wisteria
Race: Sarkaz (Wendigo)
Personality: Despite her towering physical presence, Wisteria's generally quite reserved about her feelings and has a noticeable inclination towards shyness in crowd situations. She's especially prone to stumbling over her words when nervous and getting someone else to deliver whatever message is necessary as a result. Yet, despite this social awkwardness, the Wendigo is undeniably fearless in the face of danger, and one would say almost too eager to put herself in harm's way so that her compatriots escape danger. Her hobbies tend to be fairly inscrutable to a lot of Rhodes Island's operators, with her interests having been strongly shaped by her time in Higashi--whilst the comics can occasionally be found, or simply ordered and eventually traversing across Yan to be delivered, all the way out west, things like multiplayer video games are a bit harder to make use of. Sure, they might be somewhat popular all around... but that doesn't mean she'll have anyone to play with except in the rare downtime back at base.
History: One of the exceedingly rare pure wendigos (as far as she's aware, there might be only two or three of them left, and Patriot's ancient), Wisteria was born in Kazdel rather than amongst her more distant relations out in the Ursus tundra. Although the idea of becoming a mercenary couldn't be considered unappealing, and she might get a prominent position amongst the Royal Court if she tried, the young warrior instead decided to see the world, looking around at the various nations and setting off to wander. In the end, although she spent some time in Ursus, the idea of pledging loyalty to the Emperor and enduring the strict discipline of the soldiery chafed, even if it might mean seeing her relatives some more, and she passed westwards to Columbia, and then even further to Bolivar. Concluding that was too much like her home, she instead found herself taking a route south and then east, eventually going right back to where she started and onwards. The longest time she spent in one place as a wanderer was in Higashi, with the combination of combat ability and lack of political interests offering an attractive package for the clashes over there. The culture being considerably less fatalistic than Kazdel made it an appealing place to stay in. Wisteria came the closest she ever had to remaining in one place there, but her inability to settle down and homesickness prompted her to finally head back west to Kazdel, right as the civil war was starting to pick up in earnest. Having been exposed to more usurpers and political power plays than she ever wanted, Wisteria sided with the King of the Sarkaz, despite the clear disparity in strength between the two sides. When the war came to its violent conclusion, and what was left of Babel reformed into Rhodes Island, Wisteria was sorely tempted to jump ship and leave... but her lifetime of wandering and mercenary work did give her an unusual number of contacts across the world, and experience in many terrains. Rather than quit, why not take any other Elite Operators who fit poorly into the restructured organisation, or who wanted to leave, and take the longer-term missions elsewhere? And that was how Wisteria become E.R.R.A.N.T.'s nominal captain.
State of Infection: Not Infected, to everyone's continuing surprise.
Skills: The most obvious thing one could say about Wisteria is that she's big, and with that size and her race comes a terrifying degree of strength, with the number of people who could simply out-muscle her in the whole of Terra being actually countable. That, however, isn't truly scary on its own: she's also fast, and flexible. While she is absolutely suited to, and capable of, protecting people by being a physical bulwark when properly equipped, she would much rather use her speed and reach to keep moving around a battlefield. As a commander, she's reasonably competent, but honestly nothing exceptional and prone to letting people do what they want. The second reason she was chosen for E.R.R.A.N.T.'s leadership role is that when a decision is made, even the most stubborn of operators will think twice about escalating an argument with her. The main one, of course, is her prior loyalty to Babel: after sticking around through that incident, wanderlust aside, there's minimal risk of defection no matter how far away or how long a mission is.
Abilities: Aside from her combat abilities, Wisteria knows old Sarkaz Witchcraft. Of course, as the three options for facilitating this are a mass of originium, human sacrifice of the Infected, or to infect herself, it's very much a defensive measure of last resort. The closest thing to any Originium Arts she makes use of would simply be her physical makeup, and a healing time that borders on regeneration.
Equipment: Wisteria's main equipment is a polearm of Far Eastern make, although given the relative dimensions, it's more like a big sword stuck on a stick. She also has a whole bunch of knives and small (to Wisteria) blades, because you never know when you need a backup weapon or to throw them. Those are far older, collected from various battlefields, and often second-hand to start with. When it comes to armour or arts equipment, she tends to travel extremely light, with the bare minimum of armour. That isn't to say that she couldn't bring proper armour and a shield with her (even if it's far short of a military's power armour) if it came to it, merely that it would be a lot to transport and particularly hard to maintain given the size.
Personality: The stalwart blade of Victoria, who will stare death in the face and never back down. Flare carries pride in her heart, for the martial tradition of her family. Even now, after contracting oripathy and leaving her homeland and duties behind, Flare has not forgotten the purpose behind her training. She does not back down, she does not surrender. Of course, she is not a foo who takes battle lightly. Her self-assuredness is not misplaced, nor does it mean she is incapable of self-reflection. Flare is possessed of excellent judgement, and while her attitude can sometimes seem aloof and cold she is in fact quite dedicated to ideals such as protecting the innocent and the safety of her allies. In spite of this, there's more then a few of her fellow Operators who see her has overly harsh and uncompromising. Flare is especially cold towards those who chase personal glory at all costs, and those who do not value their allegiances. But beneath this steely exterior, there is a sense of failure. Of guilt, at having to leave the one she was supposed to protect behind. A longing to at least see her again someday. This guilt is perhaps one of the reasons Flare has a special care for children, especially young girls. It's simply difficult for her no to feel emotional attachment towards those who remind her of the one she was once charged to protect. Regardless, Flare is a dedicated Operator with a strong sense of duty, who will not falter in order to complete her tasks. At times, this may be a danger to her own wellbeing, as she will push her body far beyond its limits in order to complete her task.
History: With a legacy of military service both on the frontlines and as guards for nobility, it was only natural that the young daughter of the Salwet family would enter into the same life as her ancestors did. Enrolled in the Victorian Royal Guard Academy, Flare excelled in her lessons, taking to them as naturally as she breathed. While she carried herself with pride, and did not hesitate to mention her own capabilities, it was not in the form of bragging. Rather, it was simply as a statement of fact. To do anything less would be a disservice to the legacy of her ancestors. To the name of the Victorian Royal Guard Academy. It was this matter-of-fact approach to her own combat abilities that ignited anger and jealousy in some of her classmates. The praise Flare received only caused those feelings to burn all the more hotly.
It was perhaps unsurprising Flare found herself challenged.
The outcome was obvious, at least in her mind. She claimed victory, leaving her jealous classmate on the ground, floored in seconds.
The incident was quite a stir, at the time, but eventually things quieted down. After all, it was a simple challenge with no serious injuries.
Flare had no idea that her words of praise towards her opponent could have ignited even deeper feelings of hatred among those who already nursed envy.
Flare graduated from the Royal Guard Academy with honors, and soon become a guardian for the young daughter of a high-profile noble family. The girl's mother, a woman whom Flare knew in her youth and considered an elder sister, was overjoyed to know that someone like Flare would be handling the protection of her child. The young girl, named Bethany, was initially shy around Flare but came to be quite friendly towards her. Just as Flare once saw her mother as an older sister, Bethany came to see Flare as an older sister. Albeit one tasked with destroying any threat that the little girl faced.
It was after a series of threats against Bethany's family that Flare lead an increasingly heightened security detail. Indeed, Flare slew several would-be attackers shortly before the final incident.
An explosive was detonated at a public park.
Flare used her own body like a shield, curling herself around Bethany's body.
The little girl survived. Through some miracle, so did Flare herself.
Bethany's father did not.
It was only after medical treatment for her injuries that Flare discovered she had contracted oripathy from the explosive. Soon after, she learned that the woman she once saw as an elder sister could no longer even look at her without being reminded of her husband's death.
The ultimate perpetrators behind the explosion were never found.
It is in this state that Flare left Bethany's security detail, and after performing some work as a mercenary and swiftly earning a name for herself in that profession, she found her way to Rhodes Island.
State of Infection: Infected. Lesions are largely internal, resulting in occasional coughing fits and minor internal bleeding. Rest is recommended during these periods of weakness. Please do not ignore this recommendation again.
Skills: Possessed of exceptional skill in swordplay, her primary method of combat. Flare is swift and precise in battle, utilizing a combination of her arts and her blades to inflict damage rapidly. She excels in conflict on-foot, but is weaker against long-range high-impact attacks.
Abilities: Flare's arts allow for the manipulation of the Thermal Energy State. Particularly, this allows her to generate flames by rapidly introducing heat. She can use this for short-range attacks, igniting her weaponry, and even causing small close-range explosions. In particular, she often uses this to armor-piercing effects by penetrating a hard target with one of her blades and then causing flames to erupt inside of it.
Equipment: Flare carries two sabres as her primary method of combat. However, stored within a special case she carries during combat is a sword gifted to her by her grandfather, Solais. A straightsword of considerable length, Flare reserves it for serious opponents whom require a further edge in combat. Solais has a constantly burning edge, which can be greater enhanced by Flare's arts. When used in conjunction, it is capable of releasing a wave of searing heat that can melt even sturdy armor and burn away flesh and bone in an instant, though it requires some time unsheathed to build enough heat for this purpose.
Appearance: Average height, somewhat thin. Long grey hair, with a small beard. He should really shave it, but he keeps forgetting. No sense of fashion whatsoever, is often seen wearing cargo shorts and slogan t-shirts in casual situations. Wears serious combat gear on missions at least. Standard wings and halo.
Personality: Marcellus can come off as rather stoic and seems to be a man of rigid schedules, but he's actually a rather relaxed man who simply doesn't talk much. And when he does, it's usually in a rather blunt and straightforward manner. He operates via habits as opposed to strict routine, and tends to let his mind wander as his body does his tasks for him. Marcellus prefers to relax and take things easy, and he acts confidently because of his skills and experience.
History: The name Headhunter is a name with quite a reputation behind it. A former member of the Notarial Hall, Marcellus boasts a large list of exploits due to his long history of service. Rumours say that he has never missed a single shot, and that he always kills his targets in a single well placed headshot. They say that he's the Notarial Hall's secret hitman, and that he was trained as an assassin since birth... The man himself is quite baffled by these rumours. Among other things, Marcellus was primarily responsible for scouting talent to be recruited into the Notarial Hall, hence the designation of "Headhunter", and the nickname seems to have given people the wrong idea. Like other members of the hall, most of his work is purely beaurocratic. Certainly, he's had his fair share of "field work" and "troubleshooting", and he does like being thrifty with his shots, but the degree to which the rumours were exagerrated was quite bizarre.
Marcellus continued to work for the hall for a very long time, but recently, he had begun to feel that his age is catching up to him. He decided to retire from the hall and its duties. A few years later, however, he decided to join Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals as an operator. When asked why he was joining, Marcellus simply said that he was bored of retirement. He would much rather spend the rest of his days wielding his weapons in the field than languish in an eternal holiday, and he believes that Rhodes Island will provide a unique battlefield for him to use his skills.
State of Infection: Not infected
Skills: Excellent marksmanship. Knows guns very well. Experienced, and can keep his cool, even against overwhelming odds. Very good at filling out paperwork.
Abilities: Natural empathy for other Sankta. Natural Arts profficiency for firearms. Good eyes. Has the ability to temporarily overload his rifle, increasing its shooting speed and penetration power, though if he does this for too long he will damage the gun, and he would no longer be able to shoot for a time.
Equipment: Custom-made precision sniper rifle, tuned for long distance sniping. Can be fitted with a silencer if necessary. Spotter drone (called Ashley), for spotting, since Marcellus can't rely on his own reflexes as much. Wears very light body armour.
A strong warrior on the field, an unwavering front-line engager. As a top practitioner of her family heritage swordsmanship, Monarch knows her strength and purpose clearly. Someone to protect those who cannot protect themselves, that is the only thing that keeps her going forward, even suffering tragedies upon tragedies. Even off the battlefield, when her katana must rest, she itches to help any and all people within her reach. To her, personal rest is a luxury that cannot be afforded in this world. Kind yet distant. Selfless yet independent. Little clumsy yet steady. As long as she can touch you, Monarch will not let you fly higher than her.
「 History 」
A simple woman hailing from Victoria, with a simple family. It had been a while since she laid her hands on steel, but she was happier holding little hands with her husband. A budding family that existed on the edges of an abandoned area, away from originium and those that would prosecute or exploit the Infected. It was very isolating, but she would rather spend what little time she had with her children, who had unfortunately contracted oripathy.
One return back from a foraging trip, an empty home with signs of struggle. She rushed to the nearest city, sword in hand, hoping what she had feared the most would not come true. What she set her eyes upon, it was a betrayal and loss that almost stole her soul. The Empire of Urus is not merciful to the Infected, not even to children. Standing on the border of commotion, she watched as her children were decapitated, and her husband… smiling with satisfaction. In a fury of rage and distress, she slaughtered the officers near her deceased children, and almost tore her ex-husband’s throat, a blade at his neck. Monarch withdrew her katana, even if she was disgusted by him, she couldn’t easily erase the now broken memories. Monarch took her children’s bodies, and disappeared for a time.
Through word of mouth, Monarch was recommended to Rhodes Island after showing impressive military prowess as a mercenary, and a strong repulsion to Urus and all that they stood for. Monarch swore to be their anti-thesis, and this time, she will not hesitate to cut through the body of her betrayer.
「 State of infection」 Uninfected, confirmed through medical examination.
「 Skills 」 As a vouivre, Monarch’s racial traits allow her to take a few hard blows, and deal them back in retaliation. She can handle a few people on her own and stand her ground.
Off the field, Monarch has displayed amazing organisational skills by maximising utility and supply usage.
「 Abilities 」 When focused, Monarch can activate her art, in which she can accurately strike weak points that show in the form of a blue butterfly. She can only do this for a short duration, in which she will have to tactically reposition herself for one on one battles until recovery.
「 Equipment 」 Medium body armour, equipped with a heirloom katana with incredible durability and strength.
