Psyker Landshark

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Finally. His membership in the Iron Rose Knights had at last paid dividends beyond belief. An invitation to a royal ball? This was something he'd never have managed without the order's connections for at least several more years. It seemed Renar's efforts were finally receiving some recognition, especially considering he'd been chosen as part of the delegation. The likely reason due to his own part in the battle, but Renar didn't doubt that his little conversation with Fanilly the previous day kept him in consideration for the moment. That chance encounter in the chapel was proving serendipitous.

He strode proudly into the great hall at the side of his fellow knights, clad in the same sort of official uniform the Knight-Captain was, albeit with less adornments depicting rank. Instead, to complement his blue-and white formal tunic, Renar wore a blue cape with gold trim, his own personal arms woven into the back. He wore his usual arming sword at his hip, along with a dagger. Ah, the benefits of being requested by the princess to bear real arms. Carrying real steel at a royal ball? A luxury.

While his fellows began to disperse among the party and mingle, Renar did the same, walking through the room while trailing his gaze across it. The spider woman was a surprise, but not too large of one. He did raise an eyebrow at Dame Cecilia immediately making a beeline for her, though. Well. Seemed she had a type. Renar wished her luck, really. That was at least entertaining.

Eventually, Renar found himself by the wines, somewhat close to Paladin Tyaethe and the nuisance as he finally laid eyes on his quarry. Blonde hair, about half a decade his senior, a similar swordsman's build to his, and a smug, punchable face all in the uniform of a Crown Knight. It seemed the man noticed him as well, his eyes narrowing in recognition and dislike. Hah. He hadn't changed. Renar picked up his wine goblet and deliberately walked past the man, dropping him a nod and a casual smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Hello, big brother. Lovely evening we're having, isn't it?" Renar murmured aside to his half brother, Sir Felix Brias, letting a brief, taunting smirk slide across his face before he made his way over towards the closest Iron Rose that was familiar to him. Both fortunately and unfortunately for him, it was Sir Fleuri.

"I'll need to borrow you for a good few minutes." He murmured in Fleuri's ear. "Play along for a short while, and I'll be in your debt."

Renar's official uniform, along with the sword at his hip, drew enough attention that he and his companion had a good few interested nobles around them. The fact that he was with the Flower of the North certainly didn't hurt.

"...Yes, yes, of course." Renar smiled brightly at a noble's words after a few minutes of mingling as others began to ask questions about the battle against the Bandit King's forces. "You all wish to hear of the battle. Well, our Flower here mounted a griffin in live combat. But of course, he could tell that tale himself, yes?"

@Crimson Paladin

Of Steel and Hope

Pilot: Aron Krol

Aron Krol • 19 • Rank C

Appearance:
Stands at about 6’3”. Muscular, broad shoulders, wide frame. Appears with some stubble at times, but typically shaves it off before it grows in too much. While he is unfamiliar with formal settings and schooling, he does understand the importance of at least not looking like he doesn't belong, and therefore strives to have his clothing neat and tidy.

Personality:
Stubborn as a mule and possessed of grit to match. Aron is relentless, focused, and determined, seeking to excel so as to create a better life for himself and his family back home. He understands that unlike his better-born peers, he has no other prospects to return to should he wash out. As a result, Aron is willing to do damn near anything it takes to get ahead, no matter how much it may go against his own comfort and morality. He has a mother and two younger siblings to support financially, and Chenkov Solutions is only going to keep putting them up so long as he’s putting out results.

On a personal level, Aron is casual but cautious. He’ll treat any stranger with wary decency until they do something to skew his opinion of them one way or the other. However, it’s easy to get on his bad side and he’s quick to hold a grudge. Aron may not act on these impulses immediately, given that his position at the academy is tenuous at best, but he remembers.

Surprisingly enough, Cadet Krol is a quick and avid learner despite his lack of quality formal education. Having taken some remedial classes before his entrance into the academy, the gaps in his schooling compared to his peers are still present, but closing at a decent pace. It’s evident that despite his lack of knowledge, he isn’t stupid or slow. Just underprivileged.

History:
Born in the outer colony of Ceres Station to two miners, life was difficult for Aron from the outset. He found himself as the older sibling and sole caretaker to a younger brother and sister from an early age, as the family wouldn’t be able to support three children without both parents mining out in the asteroid belts.

Things only grew harder for Aron as he grew up, with his father dying in a mining accident by the time he was fifteen, far from any available help. With one less source of income in the family now, Aron was forced to abandon life aboard the station taking care of his siblings to join a mining ship himself. Over the next three years, Aron embarked on the grueling life of an asteroid miner, working in dangerous conditions for little pay. Everything he made, he sent back to his family.

More than that, Aron found himself with something of a side hustle to supplement his income. Entertainment was scarce both on the stations and on the mining ships, and one of the only sources of such for bored and rowdy miners was a series of below-decks fight pits. Desperately needing the money, Aron started taking part and found that he had a knack for violence. The payouts and bets he put on himself went a long way to making sure his family had enough to eat, especially after his mother was forced to retire from mining due to an injury.

It was in one of the fight pits back on Ceres Station that Aron found himself being scouted by a Chenkov Solutions recruiter. After being declared the winner for the night, he was approached by the recruiter, who promptly offered him a better life if he could pull his weight as a test pilot. Aron didn’t even have to think about the offer. He just haggled the man up to include the rest of his family, and went off with him.

Chenkov Solutions was quick and efficient. Aron met with the head of the test program, listed his demands, and signed more forms than he cared to ever see in his life. Within a day, his mother and siblings were shipped off to company housing in the company's Mars compound, with the kids enrolled in school. As for Aron, he found himself...thrust into intensive remedial schooling. Despite the project head and the recruiter's promises that the Knight was designed more for a street fighter than an actual pilot, Aron still needed at least a basic formal education so as to not embarass the company by being an uneducated Outer Colony rube, and the Academy's next opening was still months off. Fortunately for everyone involved, Aron relished the chance to finally take part in the education he'd never had the opportunity to have, and surprised everyone involved as well by thriving in his studies.

Months later, with the Academy's start date finally in sight, Aron was at last shipped off to Doppler, eager to have the chance to prove himself and truly earn the better life he wanted.

Capability:

• Hand-to-hand combat
• Zero-gravity operations
• Tactical acumen

PROJECT: Maverick

PROJECT: Maverick • System-Type • 9m

Appearance:
A medium-sized Knight with weight closer to a class below it. Primarily a short-range close-combat model, PROJECT: Maverick seeks to overwhelm the enemy with speed, agility, and integrated close-range weapons as the tip of the spear on the battlefield. The Knight's's foot thrusters allow it to glide along the ground, increasing land speed to high degrees. Built-in booster units enable short-range flight along with high-speed dashes to further close the gap from deployment to enemy. The frame carries supplemental micro-missile racks mounted on the shoulders for limited mid-range interdiction, although reloads are limited so as to minimize weight. As all of the unit's primary weaponry is integrated, it is free to carry mission-critical equipment without issue.

Manufacturer: Chenkov Solutions

Chenkov Solutions is a vertically-integrated corporate group aimed at producing more experimental Knight frames than the bigger names in the business. The bulk of its product line up to this point has focused largely on light-frame Knights intended for scouting and recon, with a focus on speed and agility. Its vertically-integrated supply chain allows CKS to produce at low costs thanks to the numerous mining interests it owns in the Outer Colonies.

Design:
Maverick is Chenkov Solutions’ first attempt at a top-of-the-line close-in combat Knight. Building off of the company’s previous experience with light scout units, PROJECT: Maverick aims to provide some of the fastest land speeds available to the UFAF, combined with agile handling and aggressive close armor penetration capabilities for heavy duty combat.

Unfortunately, the project’s specifications for agility were unable to be met without conversion into a System-Type, but this has resulted in a greater focus on melee combat, aiming to take advantage of a human pilot’s experience and reflexes. As such, the ideal pilot for this unit was one more experienced with real-life hand-to-hand rather than a more technically skilled operator. A pilot training on Shell-Types for all their life will be less able to handle this Knight than some pit fighter brought in off the street.

Armaments:

While PROJECT: Maverick is capable of using most UFAF weaponry, it was designed with specific weapons systems in mind.

Integrated:

High-Frequency Claws

Claw blades mounted on top of the mobile suit’s hands. The blades are reinforced by a powerful alternating, resonating at extremely high vibration frequencies in order to weaken the molecular bonds of anything they strike, increasing their anti-armor capabilities. The claws can be balled up to augment the hands for blunt fist strikes with no loss of vibration frequency, able to smash and puncture equally as well as they can cut. This configuration allows Maverick to hold other armament in its hands while still being able to attack in melee with no change in weaponry.

SPAMRAAM Multi-Lock Micro Missile Racks

Fire-and-forget micro missiles mounted into Maverick’s shoulder units, intended to overwhelm CIWS systems through sheer weight of fire. Designed for medium-range all-terrain interdiction, the SPAMRAAMs have sophisticated targeting systems and moderate payloads, intending on dealing damage through numerous impacts than heavy explosive force. Reloads are limited in order to cut down on unit weight, despite the already light weight of micro-missiles.

Wire Spears

Reinforced alloy spike tips connected to ferromagnetic carbon nanotube wire, propelled by microjet motors. Essentially, grappling hook launchers capable of reeling the frame in when electric current is run through the connecting cable. Maverick has four of these spear launchers mounted onto the frame: one on each side of the hips and one on each upper arm. The spear tips are armor-piercing and can be used for offensive applications, but their main purpose is for all-terrain movement and combat repositioning.

Auxiliary:

Beam Magnum

General-purpose high-output hand cannon. Better than average range and penetration for a laser pistol, owing to its higher power consumption.

CIWS

A pair of standard 20mm vulcan cannons mounted to the sides of the head. Mostly used for anti-missile point defense.

Specification:

CKS Full Synchro Neural Link

The basis behind Maverick’s classification as a System-Type, the Full Synchro link connects the pilot to not only the Knight’s nervous system, but also to the entire unit’s targeting and weapons systems. All integrated targeting and weapons systems on the Knight can be activated with a thought, allowing for instant deployment of other systems, as well as target locks.

CKS Hyper Dash Emergency Acceleration System

A pair of back-mounted thrust boosters for emergency combat maneuvers. The unit’s speed is massively increased for brief bursts of rapid repositioning. Thanks to Maverick’s light weight, it can booster dash multiple times in succession until its emergency limiter kicks in. When combined with the Knight’s foot thrusters, brief short-range flight can be achieved during a long burn of the boosters.

Rosenkov Hard Light Projector

Knight-sized photon emitter. When activated, fuses light particles into a dissipative barrier for a protective shield. More suited to briefly parrying and deflecting blows and projectiles than sustained defense, as the process is energy-intensive. While the shielding is more fragile than other barrier projector types, its advantage lies in light weight and speed of deployment. Two emitters are mounted onto the Maverick, one on each wrist.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Dragan Meszaros

They'd lost one of their number already, before even leaving the city. Dragan was no master of Ilena's own brand of magic, but he could tell that even if she by some miracle hadn't faced the final death for a second time, she was at least in no state to continue on with them. Damnably unfortunate.

The skeletal giant was another issue. He could feel that its reanimation still held, merely in suspension without a necromancer to command it. And Dragan knew he didn't have the strength to wrest control over it yet. Even if he had, the logistics of traveling across the land with such a beast would be...difficult. With that in mind, he cut the link between himself and the remainder of the undead horde he controlled, allowing their reanimation to fade and for the shambling bones to crumble back to the dirt.

"This...was not part of the plan." He gestured towards the spot where Ilena had fallen. "Though we must move on." The Death Knight glanced to Luna. "In lack of a better guide, your subordinate's suggestion seems our best course of action for the moment. Thoughts, anyone? Objections?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

"Of course. As I said, I only ask to be considered." Renar inclined his head towards the Knight-Captain, finishing his second cup of wine and not pouring himself another. He knew when to stop, on both accounts. No point in pushing too hard. So long as he was remembered and had his foot in the door, it'd create one opportunity or another for himself somewhere down the line.

He followed Fanilly's gaze towards Dame Cecilia. Sun and Moon, was she really almost through the entire cask? May as well have just been drinking straight from the barrel at this point instead of pouring. Renar looked wearily towards Cecilia, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Perhaps I should escort her back to somewhere she can't get deeper into her cups." Renar sighed as he stood, not looking forward to dragging the drunken louche out of the wine cellar. Frankly, he ought to just dump her into the courtyard and wash his hands of the matter.

"Some unsolicited advice, Captain: should you not wish to end up like that," He gestured towards Cecilia. "Take a free night and try to determine your limits. Have one of your maids, preferably one not inclined to gossip, watch over you and determine exactly how much wine it takes for you to become drunk. It helps immensely at social functions where you'd prefer not to embarass yourself."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Well. Renar had been half expecting his attempt at comforting the girl to be in vain. Seemed he was less bad at this than he'd anticipated. That, or Fanilly was just easily influenced. One of these thoughts was more distressing than the other. The thought crossed his mind to bring up a certain...issue he'd been having. But that would be overreaching. Too blatantly greedy. Besides, judging by her demeanor, Fanilly was more likely to take pity on the idiot than anything.

He glanced over to Cecilia for a moment, who was still more focused on getting absolutely sauced than anything. And here he'd thought she wanted to comfort the girl more than he did. Suppose that with someone else here, it was more convenient for the archer to take advantage of all the free alcohol instead. Good thing he wasn't in charge of managing things down here. Pity the poor bastard who'd have to account for the missing wine in the evening. And on that note...

"Speaking of such, you may want to inform whomever is in charge of kitchen inventory of the better part of a cask mysteriously going dry today." Renar said wryly, jerking his head over in Cecilia's direction. "That all said, should an opening ever arise for administration, I'd like to put my name forward. I'm told I've something of a talent for these matters. Understand that this isn't me asking for a favor, of course. Just that I'd simply like to be considered in the running. Test me on this however you wish."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Ugh. Had he been this moody at the captain's age? In objective, unbiased terms, probably. But Renar would never actually admit that. So instead, he took a fortifying sip of wine, trying to determine how best to break up Fanilly's little pity session. He'd never interacted with Sir Rickert much, but from what he had, Renar suspected the senior knight had wanted little to do with him. Any...commiseration on his part would be rather insincere.

So he sighed.

"Good men die. Bad men die. There's no way around saying this, but as a leader of men, it's something you'll have to get used to. The goddesses only know I'll probably die in battle before I get what I want out of life." He chuckled grimly, finishing his cup and pouring himself a second one. Probably best to cut himself off after this one, if only to make sure someone in this group stayed relatively sober. "Unfortunately, the realm needs the Iron Rose to accomplish the crown's goals more than it needs every single knight to live long and healthful lives. I've no other advice other than to keep the long-term in mind. Always remember that your knights fight and die in service of duty, so that threats to the realm are eliminated."

Renar had no personal attachment to the concepts of duty or service, but hopefully it was something that would motivate Fanilly. Based on his own personality, any talk of helping others would rightfully come across as a lie, so this was the best he could do. Best to move the conversation on.

"That all said, how has administration been thus far? I've been rather concerned with the state of the Order over the last few years, given how we've had no central leadership thus far. Some matters of bookkeeping have wound up falling to me at times." If only because he'd forcefully taken over from certain idiots who'd had no idea how to balance an account book to save their lives.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

@VitaVitaAR @Rune_Alchemist

Of course, it wouldn't do for the Knight-Captain to be caught getting sauced when she was ostensibly on the job in the middle of the day, no matter how much the girl probably could actually use a drink to decompress from her first command. So Renar had the decency and tact to at least sneak the three into the wine cellar, where there was a table and stools in a side room for exactly this purpose.

"Apologies for the accomodations, Captain." Renar said conversationally as he strode back out into the actual cellar to pick out a decent wine. Not that Cecillia was helping, given that she just picked a random cask to pour out of for herself and started imbibing liberally. So it fell to him to find something suitable for someone younger. After some searching through the cellar, he managed to find a semi-sweet bottle of red blend. Not too harsh, not too cloying. Easy drinking, especially for someone likely unused to alcohol.

Renar returned to the side room with some cups, pouring Fanilly a moderate measure of the wine and passing it over.

"Pardon the assumption, but I would believe you've not had much opportunity to imbibe?" He asked, casually swirling his cup before taking a brief sniff. If whoever taught her etiquette had any idea what they were doing, she would know this step already, if only to appease the wine snobs among nobility. If not, well, it was a good thing he was demonstrating now.

"In any case, Captain, try not to feel too bad about drinking in the middle of the day. No reasonable person would begrudge you a chance to collect yourself after the stresses of both your first command and your first battle. Which, again, I believe Dame Cecilia and I could both reiterate until we run out of air that you cannot control every casualty on the battlefield. We got off extremely lightly, thanks in part to correct strategy. Please just accept this before I start believing to myself that I'm brown-nosing." He chuckled ruefully, sipping at his wine. Hmm. Not his favorite, if only for the sweetness, but it'd likely be more to her taste than hers anyways. Still, he couldn't find any fault with the actual wine beyond personal preference.

Of Steel and Hope: An Academy-life

Oh right, weapons-wise, is there melee or just ranged weapons?

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

@VitaVitaAR @Rune_Alchemist

Ah. Evidently, Cecilia had been trying to divert the captain from this topic, judging by her reaction when he'd brought up. Still, he couldn't exactly see the past now, could he? How was he supposed to know? Still, Renar supposed he ought to at least join in on cheering Fanilly up, if only to make sure he didn't face an arrow in the back some time soon.

"Captain, with all due respect, that's impossible. Men will die on the battlefield, whether it be to poor fortune or just a moment's distraction. Frankly, the fact that there weren't more casualties with the ambushes the bandits sprung is a small miracle in the first place. I'd say you did far better than anyone could have possibly expected in your position, really. Especially considering it was your first command."

He sighed, not stopping Cecilia as she started dragging their commanding officer from the chapel. Someone more dutiful would have stopped this, but really, the Knight-Captain was a teenager. She'd have to face alcohol eventually, and better to have someone supervise and make sure anything idiotic didn't happen. Renar didn't need the Iron Rose to lose its first captain in five years off of random stupidity or scandal.

"Oh, very well. I could use a drink, and I suppose someone has to chaperone and make sure no one loses their lunch."

Renar walked by Cecilia's side, briefly murmuring in her ear quietly, just out of earshot of Fanilly.

"I can't exactly scry the bloody past the moment I walk in a room, now can I?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

@VitaVitaAR @Rune_Alchemist

"Oh, I'm sure." Renar smirked back at Cecilia, playing along with her game for now. Unless she was an idiot, she knew he knew that she knew he knew. He casually took one of the aforementioned pastries and popped it into his mouth, chewing. Hm. That was quite spicy. If he hadn't been prepared to taste something like this, no doubt he'd be having the same reaction the captain had when he walked into the chapel. With that said...

"For shame, trying to kill people with your baking in a holy place?" Renar let an exaggerated cough out, if only to cover up the fact that he actually needed to. The spice had been getting to him a bit.

"Anyways, all that said, I think everything went rather well on the previous mission, yes? Minimal casualties, and all targets accounted for."