Finding the beast was proving to be difficult. Most of the planet's terrain was largely identical stretches of ice, only made worse by the blizzard hindering navigation. While Ryoma was a patient man, he would get tired of stumbling across the planet's surface eventually. Thankfully, Crawford was talkative enough to keep the martial artist turned pilot entertained.
"I hear ya. The closest my old man ever got to teaching me about justice was getting back at the guys who ruined his career. Bastards had it coming, but I'd hardly call it heroic." Following a brief chuckle, Ryoma continued. "I don't mind you talking, Crawford. Gives us something to do while we look."
Ryoma paused a moment, both to process Crawford's question, and to make a quick check on the Black Getter's reactor. Still stable, good.
"It's a bit of a long story, so I'll stick to the bare minimum. Where I come from we have Getter Ray Energy, harnessed from cosmic radiation. It let us colonize the Moon, made life in general better, and it brought the Invaders straight to us. The things tried to eat the damn Moon, and I'd bet they wanted to do the same to Earth.
Mankind only won after the world powers decided to cooperate and build 'Super Robots' powered by Getter Energy. I, alongside two other old friends, fought in the Moon Wars, and eventually kicked them out of our solar system. As a reward for my service, I was accused of murdering the world's top scientist in Getter Ray research: Dr. Saotome.
Rotted in prison for a few years, then the UN let me out and told me to kill Saotome, for real this time. Old bastard never actually died, and seemed to have lost it entirely. Then the Invaders came back, and the UN nuked the damn planet. Woke up, found myself on the Moon, built the Black Getter from scrap and wreckage; then once I headed out, turns out the Moon wound up here. The LWA said they needed a pilot, and I couldn't get back to my Earth, so there wasn't much choice in the matter."
In battle, his attire would be similar to the above image, albeit with the heraldry of the Kingdom of Jerusalem emblazoned upon his ailettes and surcoat. In addition, the crown of Jerusalem rests atop his helm, signifying Baldwin's royal status. Having lost the use of his right arm, he possesses no shield.
In terms of build, he is a strapping youth of 1.83 meters, athletic in frame, and of impeccable posture. Going off his attire and noble bearing, one would expect Baldwin to be the prototypical dashingly handsome knight in shining armour. Were it not for one slight complication, that would be correct.
Beneath his kingly regalia is a far less pleasant sight. Much of his skin is wrapped in bandages, concealing the mottled and lesion-wracked flesh. His face is hideously deformed and almost monstrous in appearance, being vaguely leonine in structure. Baldwin is unsettling to look upon at best and, at worst, freakishly repulsive.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Personality: Baldwin is best described as the living embodiment of true Christian Chivalry. He is valiant and unflagging in both the face of danger and his own imminent demise. He is humble, kind, respectful, and pious. He is of nigh-impeccable character, and some may regard him as saintly in manner.
History: Given that Baldwin is a wholly historical figure of some repute, I'll be taking the 'look at the Wikipedia page' for 500.
Weapon/Equipment: Arming Sword: A resilient and remarkably effective, albeit mundane weapon, bearing no outstanding qualities.
King's Steed: A pale white horse, reflecting Baldwin's life and status in more ways than one. It may be called to him for a small modicum of prana, and will dutifully carry him into battle.
Parameters:
Strength: B
Endurance: A -> B (Rank down due to complications)
Agility: E
Mana: C
Luck: E
Class Skills:
Riding(B): Most vehicles can be handled with above average skill. However, cannot ride the likes of Phantasm Races such as Monstrous Beasts. While Baldwin was noted to be particularly skilled in equestrianism, his leprosy proves ever the hindrance, keeping him at the bare minimum for the Rider class.
Magic Resistance(B): Cancel spells with a chant below three verses. Even if targeted by High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected. Despite having little contact with Magecraft in life, Baldwin's staunch and unshakable faith in the glory of God Almighty provides him some manner of resilience against what he considers 'unholy sorcery.'
Personal Skills:
Charisma(B): The natural talent to command an army. Increases the ability of allies during group battles. Baldwin was the third-to-last King of Jerusalem, beloved by his people and an inspiration to his men.
Leper's Curse(-): Baldwin was afflicted with this contagion from a young age, dooming him to a brief and painful life. While it renders him entirely immune to pain, his ravaged nerves have left the king slow and sluggish. Not only that, but Baldwin's right arm hangs limp and useless, having been claimed utterly by the disease.
Soul of a Martyr(A): Mental protection that negates mental interference. Baldwin is a man of unmatched devotion to Christendom, willing to endure agony in his defense of God's children and the Holy Land.
Noble Phantasm(s):
Name: Grand Charge of Montgisard
Title: Consecrated Beneath the True Cross
Rank: B
NP Type: Anti-Army
Range: 1-25
Maximum Number of Targets: 450
Description: Emulating Baldwin's greatest victory in life, he leads a great host of phantasmal knights in a thunderous charge, shouting and singing praises to the Almighty. While devastating, the army vanishes once the charge is completed, and the Prana expended in its activation is significant. May only be activated whilst astride his horse.
@Moonman I'd like some justification for the STR and END parameters, since they're unusually high. Moreso on END, really. I won't veto it, but I'd like to hear your reasoning.
Raise Riding by a rank since a Rider with C rank Riding isn't really a thing.
Make Leper's Curse rankless (just use a "-" in place of the rank). I applaud you for actually putting in a largely detrimental skill, it's always nice to see that.
You can put his horse in Weapons, since it's similar to Medusa's pegasus in that it isn't a Noble Phantasm, but just a mount.
Regarding the Noble Phantasm, what are the knights? Are they Heroic Spirits, wraiths, or what?
- Baldwin's exceptional Strength and Endurance are (aside from compensating for his intentionally dreadful other parameters) meant to represent his portrayal in history to an extent. Before the leprosy kicked in, Baldwin was noted to be physically able far beyond his years, and in excellent health (hah).
Even when he was 16 (by which point he was partially paralyzed), he was still able to fight proficiently, a feat that was and still is regarded as superhuman. For Endurance in particular, it's mostly due to his convictions (it worked for Spartacus, right?) and the leprosy deadening his nerves and toughening his skin.
-Noted and done. Refluffed the description for his Riding skill a bit.
-Ditto.
-Ditto.
-Wraiths, I suppose. Rather than fully recreating the army present at Montgisard, it recreates an event that occurred during it. They can't act or fight independently beyond what is described. Basically, think less Ionioi Hetairoi and more angry Catholic tidal wave.
Depending on how things go, I'm willing to slap together a Master CS if needed (Since we have 8 people, right?). I'll fill out the personality section soon-ish.
Name: Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the Leper King
Class: Rider
Gender: Male
Appearance:
In battle, his attire would be similar to the above image, albeit with the heraldry of the Kingdom of Jerusalem emblazoned upon his ailettes and surcoat. In addition, the crown of Jerusalem rests atop his helm, signifying Baldwin's royal status. Having lost the use of his right arm, he possesses no shield.
In terms of build, he is a strapping youth of 1.83 meters, athletic in frame, and of impeccable posture. Going off his attire and noble bearing, one would expect Baldwin to be the prototypical dashingly handsome knight in shining armour. Were it not for one slight complication, that would be correct.
Beneath his kingly regalia is a far less pleasant sight. Much of his skin is wrapped in bandages, concealing the mottled and lesion-wracked flesh. His face is hideously deformed and almost monstrous in appearance, being vaguely leonine in structure. Baldwin is unsettling to look upon at best and, at worst, freakishly repulsive.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Personality: Baldwin is best described as the living embodiment of true Christian Chivalry. He is valiant and unflagging in both the face of danger and his own imminent demise. He is humble, kind, respectful, and pious. He is of nigh-impeccable character, and some may regard him as saintly in manner.
History: Given that Baldwin is a wholly historical figure of some repute, I'll be taking the 'look at the Wikipedia page' for 500.
Weapon/Equipment: Arming Sword: A resilient and remarkably effective, albeit mundane weapon, bearing no outstanding qualities.
King's Steed: A white horse, reflecting Baldwin's life and status in more ways than one. It may be called to him for a small modicum of prana, and will dutifully carry him into battle.
Parameters:
Strength: B
Endurance: A
Agility: E
Mana: C
Luck: E
Class Skills:
Riding(B): Most vehicles can be handled with above average skill. However, cannot ride the likes of Phantasm Races such as Monstrous Beasts. While Baldwin was noted to be particularly skilled in equestrianism, his leprosy proves ever the hindrance, keeping him at the bare minimum for the Rider class.
Magic Resistance(B): Cancel spells with a chant below three verses. Even if targeted by High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected. Despite having little contact with Magecraft in life, Baldwin's staunch and unshakable faith in the glory of God Almighty provides him some manner of resilience against what he considers 'unholy sorcery.'
Personal Skills:
Charisma(B): The natural talent to command an army. Increases the ability of allies during group battles. Baldwin was the third-to-last King of Jerusalem, beloved by his people and an inspiration to his men.
Leper's Curse(-): Baldwin was afflicted with this contagion from a young age, dooming him to a brief and painful life. While it renders him entirely immune to pain, his ravaged nerves have left the king slow and sluggish. Not only that, but Baldwin's right arm hangs limp and useless, having been claimed utterly by the disease.
Soul of a Martyr(A): Mental protection that negates mental interference. Baldwin is a man of unmatched devotion to Christendom, willing to endure agony in his defense of God's children and the Holy Land.
Noble Phantasm(s):
Name: Grand Charge of Montgisard
Title: Consecrated Beneath the True Cross
Rank: B
NP Type: Anti-Army
Range: 1-25
Maximum Number of Targets: 450
Description: Emulating Baldwin's greatest victory in life, he leads a great host of phantasmal knights in a thunderous charge, shouting and singing praises to the Almighty. While devastating, the army vanishes once the charge is completed, and the Prana expended in its activation is significant. May only be activated whilst astride his horse.
"The one and only," responded Ryoma, his face bearing a grin that could only be described as shit-eating, "and you'd be Crawford, right?"
While it was somewhat easy to determine Ryoma's measure as a man by looks alone, the same could not be said of the individual who stood before him. Crawford was of lean build, and seemed to be in good shape, but any other remarkable features were obscured by the suit and helmet he was wearing. Judging by his manner of speaking, Ryoma figured Crawford to be of the prim-and-proper, consummate professional sort. Not the sort of man Ryoma would get along with, but they were usually capable and reliable, which is what really matters in the heat of battle.
Ryoma took up the man's offered hand and gave it a hearty shake, maintaining his ear-to-ear grin.
"I've got the Black Getter and my fists; all a man could ever need. Now, there's something out there just waiting for us to come and kill it. Let's not keep the bastard waiting."
Ryoma, alongside a number of other individuals, was stationed in Saint-Germain Castle; presently enjoying a meal by the pool. Or he would be, were it not for the maids staring at him and making whispered exchanges. While hardly outlandish, the pilot's appearance did certainly stand out amongst the maids and more snappily dressed inhabitants. Between the manacles, ragged overcoat, and absurdly massive scarf, he bore greater resemblance to a homeless man or ex-convict than an ace pilot. Admittedly, he is an ex-convict and arguably homeless, but that is beside the point. Ryoma was a pilot first and foremost, and a damn good one at that.
He'd fought in the Moon War, wasted away in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and survived nuclear armageddon. Yet here he was, sitting in a beach chair while a purple-haired fop spouted off nonsense. All things considered, Ryoma was uncertain whether it was an improvement from being in prison or not. Between the owner's particular eccentricities and the staff dressing like something out of a fetish club, the simplicity of a barren and iron-barred cell was starting to look almost appealing. In spite of his misgivings, the pilot did have to admit that the food was rather good, certainly better than the gruel he'd been subsisting off of on the Moon.
Food and strangely dressed women, a shame Musashi isn't around. The fat bastard would've loved it here. If he made it out alive, maybe I could convince the LWA to make a quick trip over to-
Ryoma's musings were briefly interrupted by the arrival of Lt. Crawford and the further antics of their 'benefactor,' Sandman, that followed. While the discussion of terraforming and seismic activity failed to catch his attention, the mention of a giant monster beneath the planet's surface certainly did. The pilot unceremoniously dropped his plate of food to the ground, sprang to his feet, and sauntered over.
"Oi, old man, Ray, if I heard that right, are we finally heading out? I've been itching for some action since I got here, and I'd bet the others agree."
Abilities: Martial Artist: Ichigan Nagare trained his son in the brutal Nagare-ryu style of Karate, utilizing methods akin to torture. As a result, Ryoma is of peak physical fitness, and capable of astounding athletic feats. His fists can crush skulls, while his pectoral muscles can snap blades (provided he's been impaled by them, making this technique of questionable utility). However, while he is certainly a force to be reckoned with, Ryoma is still human, with all the limitations of one.
Pilot: Having years of experience in the field, Ryoma is particularly skillful in regards to piloting jet fighters and Getter Machines of all stripes.
Mechanic: While lacking in formal education or training, Ryoma has quite the knack for machinery, especially when it's associated with the Getter Robo. A shining example of this is the Black Getter, jury-rigged and assembled on the moon from the destroyed remains of an original Getter Robo; this was accomplished with minimal tools, a great deal of black paint, and no assistance whatsoever.
Immense Willpower: Ryoma practically embodies a core aspect of the human spirit: our will to survive, grow, and meet all threats with unrelenting, overwhelming force. Any wound short of a fatal one will hardly hinder him, and Ryoma is willing to utilize nigh-suicidal methods to achieve victory. In addition, it seems this particular brand of madness makes him particularly well-suited to piloting a Getter Machine, almost as if the Getter Reactor is empowered by the sheer force of his will.
Equipment: Black Getter From a better angle Height: 38 metres Weight: 220 tons Customized to suit Ryoma's personal tastes and sensibilities, this Getter Robo has but one seat. As a result, it is unable to separate or change forms, limiting its effectiveness somewhat. It has a rather expansive arsenal, detailed below:
Getter Tomahawk: A one-handed hatchet of sorts, a practically infinite supply is stored within the Black Getter, and are ejected from bronze-coloured ports mounted on either shoulder. Possessing a wickedly sharp edge, they can be used to cleave through dinosaurs, Invaders, hostages, vegetables (?), and so much more. In addition, the Tomahawks, befitting their name, may be used at range by throwing them. They travel in a manner akin to the unholy offspring of a buzzsaw and a boomerang, slicing through targets before returning to the owner.
Getter Beam: Undeniably the most powerful weapon in the Black Getter's arsenal, it allows the machine to release a beam of focused Getter Energy from an emitter in the abdomen. While primarily intended for combating Invaders, Dinosaurs, Cybernetic Demons, and their ilk, it is still quite effective on other targets. It's powered by cosmic radiation, after all.
Knuckle Spikes: A set of extendable spikes mounted upon both of the Black Getter's fists. Lacking in subtlety and nuance, they allow Ryoma to indulge in the time-honoured art of punching things to death.
Getter Wing: A retractable cape built into the Black Getter's back (not to be confused with its scarf). In addition to being rather spiffy-looking, it allows the Getter to defy gravity and all logical sense in equal measure by way of allowing the machine to fly. Its absolute maximum speed is roughly Mach 2.0-2.5, but it cannot maintain such a velocity while in combat. It may also be used to modify the Getter Beam, causing it to 'scatter' into a rapid burst of suppressing fire. This is accomplished by wrapping the Black Getter's body in the cape, for the sake of reference.
Getter Cutter: Three razor-sharp blades mounted on the Black Getter's left wrist, they're used to cut things and not much else.
Getter Machine Gun(s): Tri-barreled automatic firearms, scaled up to fit the Getter. Remarkably mundane, but their high-caliber munitions and volume of fire make for a dependable ranged weapon. When sortied, the Black Getter typically carries two, stored within the inner confines of the machine.
Personality: At his core, Ryoma is a courageous, loud, and aggressive man whose blood rivals molten magma in temperature. Despite these heroic traits, he is far from a shining paragon of justice and morality. His hotheadedness and violent demeanor is exceeded only by his burning hatred for Invaders, to the point where he is willing to slaughter helpless civilians if it furthers the destruction of the extraterrestrial threat.
He is also rather vengeful and simple, preferring to resolve matters with violence rather than discuss it over dinner. Yet one of his most defining traits is the brotherly bond he shares with his comrades, as Ryoma will proudly stand with his comrades against anything, no matter what.
Short Bio: (His history follows the Armageddon timeline up to his completion of the Black Getter on the moon) With his preparations complete, Ryoma departed from the Moon and headed straight for Earth. Unfortunately for the pilot, he found no Invader menace to fight, no Professor Saotome to kill, or any trace of the Earth he knew in the slightest. He did, however, find himself in the middle of a skirmish between a small force of Anti-Spirals and the local inhabitants of this other Earth. Deciding that it would make for a good test of the Black Getter's capabilities, Ryoma moved to engage whichever group looked more threatening, which just so happened to be the Anti-Spirals.
Thanks in equal parts to the element of surprise and the remarkable power of the Black Getter, the skirmish came to a swift end, with the (admittedly rather small) force of Anti-Spirals soundly routed. The people Ryoma had inadvertently delivered from the jaws of death wasted little time, and immediately requested he aid them in the days to come. As he was unable to return home at present, the pilot had little in the way of choice, and begrudgingly accepted their offer. Now a quasi-official member of the Last Worlds Alliance, Ryoma Nagare prepares himself for the oncoming war against the Anti-Spiral.
Universe of Origin: Getter Robo, the Armageddon timeline, to be precise.
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