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thesilliestrovingalive · 28 days ago

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Celaphios

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, discrimination, abuse, and neglect.

Real name: Celuphoisa

Occupation: Foot soldier of the Invader army (formerly) and supplier for the Regular Army

Abilities: He shares the same enhanced senses as other Invaders and has identical abilities to the winged Invader Drones.

Future plans: To learn from the wrongdoings of the Invaders by preserving their culture and utilising their technology for the greater good

Hobbies: Watching Tarma build custom motorcycles and Marco work on complex computer programs and viruses, reading about human cultures, social justice, and ecology, collecting jewels and vintage maps, and building pillow forts

Likes: Receiving pets from those he’s personally comfortable with, stealing watermelons from Allen Jr., Clark feeding him raw fish, and soft pillows

Dislikes: Feeling useless and alone, sexist and transphobic behaviours, losing his satchel bag that Nadia gave him, and watching Gimlet get into fights with his comrades

Favourite food: Peanut butter pie with confetti sprinkles and raw meat (preferably Wagyu beef and mackerel)

Sexuality: Questioning

Gender: Trans (identifies as male)

Design: He resembles a typical Invader Drone, but with distinctively female Grub Invader characteristics, indicating he was born female. Celaphios’ appearance is marked by pearlescent white skin, coppery eyes speckled with metallic blue flecks, and Byzantine purple hands, toes, tongues, and forearms, where a single stripe adorns each. Additional notable features include silvery warts, silver-grey webbing, and iridescent dragonfly wings with maroon ribbing. Unlike most other winged Invader Drones, his are rendered useless due to a congenital deformity, characterised by severely crumpled and slightly shrivelled wings.

Despite his similarities to other Invader Drones, several unique traits set him apart. He's considered a runt because Invader Drones typically stand at 8' 10" (269.24 cm), whereas he measures approximately 7' 5" (226.06 cm). Celaphios bears several battle scars, including a curved gash from the top of his forehead to the left side of his right eye, a jagged chip on the right edge of his lower lip, and bite marks on the back of his head and shoulders. Additionally, he has a distinctive silvery-pink birthmark near the centre of his belly, shaped like a jagged four-pointed star with a subtle bend to the right. He has several dental issues, including missing and chipped teeth. Specifically, he’s missing his right incisor (front row), left premolar (second row), and right canine (second row). Additionally, he has chipped teeth: left canine (front row) and right premolar (third row).

He always carries a satchel bag made of gold-flecked, lavender-dyed leather, adorned with rosy brown straps. The bag's lid boasts an embroidered sea holly, set against the morning sun at its centre. Inside, he keeps a mossy green sketchbook, a set of rainbow-coloured markers, a black pen, a blue jewel with a strange glow, and a photograph of him and Marco's team standing proudly in front of the Sparrowhawk Operations Base.

In addition to his personal items, he wears a rosy brown load-bearing backpack, stocked with a map of his current location and essential supplies such as rations, first aid kits, and spare walkie-talkies. For his own personal comfort, he brings a red-and-black chequered pillow lined with soft white fur whenever he's deployed to the battlefield.

He still operates his trusty Grub Invader Zodematikhus, which has been modified to provide more interior space. The resized cockpit comfortably accommodates his backpack and satchel bag, allowing him to pilot with ease.

Character summary: Born mute, he has developed a unique communication style that combines body language, expressive sounds, and multilingual writing. To convey his thoughts, he often relies on his sketchbook, using markers in a personalised colour code to express his emotions. For instance, red signifies anger, while combining blue and yellow conveys happiness and calmness. Losing his satchel bag would devastate him because it holds sentimental and personal items. The thought of losing it fills him with anxiety and would likely plunge him into a depressive panic.

Whenever he's scared, he reacts in one of two ways: either he flees to find a comfortable hiding spot or he becomes fearful, shivering uncontrollably, closing his eyes tightly, covering his face with his hands, and whimpering pitifully. Whenever he's angry, his nostrils flare and he erupts into a menacing display, hissing and growling. When in this emotional state, he has a tendency to lash out physically, biting, shoving people around, and twisting their limbs. Whenever he's sad, he hides in a corner or desperately seeks comfort, and then breaks down in sorrowful howls and dog-like whining.

Despite being a fully grown adult, he retains a charmingly naive and childlike curiosity. He delights in causing mischief, such as swiping food from others to devour and snatching pillows to construct elaborate forts. Celaphios goes out of his way to persuade people into playing games with him, employing a subtle yet effective combination of gentle nudges, pleasant chirping, and an adorable, pleading gaze. He thrives on attention and affection, loving cuddles, pets, and sharing activities with his favourite people, such as shopping trips and board game nights. However, when left without attention, he tends to become demanding, throwing tantrums and displaying a grumpy, sarcastic, and dismissive demeanour—a situation quickly remedied by quality time and a tasty treat.

Celaphios is fiercely determined and resilient, proudly showcasing his tactical prowess and unapologetically celebrating his battlefield successes. He deeply cares about his loved ones and comrades, particularly those who show him compassion and tenderness. To him, they represent the closest thing to a true family, and he's fiercely protective of them, willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety. He's a sympathetic and attentive listener who doesn't mind when people turn to him to vent about their problems. He struggles with feelings of uselessness and loneliness, which he finds to be overwhelming and melancholic. To combat these emotions, he makes a conscious effort to be helpful and nurture his relationships. Helping others brings Celaphios personal fulfillment, whether it's something as simple as putting things back in their place.

He has a voracious appetite, finding solace and primal satisfaction in eating. While he strives for a balanced diet, his carnivorous cravings often prove irresistible, inadvertently leading him to consume Regular Army soldiers and innocent civilians. This often leaves him consumed by remorse, especially after discovering the consequences of his actions. It’s because whenever he eats, he becomes hyper-focused on the food and the pleasurable sensations of eating, rendering him oblivious to his surroundings and the people around him. He has mild scopophobia (the fear of being stared at) and is extremely sensitive to rejection, verbal abuse, and physical aggression, causing him to become distressed and miserable.

He dislikes being misgendered, even if it's unintentional, and typically addresses the mistake either politely or more forcefully, depending on the situation and the individual. He’s passionately committed to combating sexism and transphobia, and will openly address harmful behaviours when he encounters them. Celaphios is a vocal advocate for gender equality and trans rights, and has recently expanded his focus to include anti-racism, drawing parallels between the way people treat and view extraterrestrials and the experiences of marginalised communities. He disagrees with the Invaders' ideology and their insatiable drive for conquest, which involves exploiting natural resources harmfully. Instead, he advocates for peaceful coexistence among all life forms and responsible stewardship of nature.

Celaphios regards Red Eye and Gimlet as surrogate parents and deeply appreciates their unwavering protection and care, which makes him feel safe and loved. However, he's troubled by Gimlet's sexist remarks and misogynistic mannerisms and isn't hesitant to respectfully address this behaviour, subtly encouraging Gimlet to grow as a person. Whenever Red Eye and Gimlet must leave for military duties, he becomes visibly distressed, fearing the loss of the only two individuals he considers family. To alleviate his anxiety during separations, he finds solace in the company of Rumi and Wysteria, who provide much-needed companionship. Over time, he has come to regard Rumi and Wysteria as surrogate sisters. He delights in listening to Rumi's lively accounts of her day and personal experiences, and shares tranquil moments with Wysteria, appreciating nature together. Furthermore, Celaphios takes pleasure in assisting Rumi with distributing supplies to soldiers on the battlefield and goes out of his way to ensure her safety.

He's on great terms with Nadia, having been instantly drawn to her when she gifted him his satchel bag, which he viewed as a sign of friendship. He frequently joins her on shopping sprees, where she treats him to delicious snacks. On these outings, she often opens up about her problems and shows him a more vulnerable side of herself, one that she usually hides from others. He doesn't get along with Pupipi because she often blatantly ignores him or reacts with snarky disdain. This behaviour makes him feel bad because he genuinely wants to befriend her and prove that not all Invaders are destructive, dispelling the common Martian perception that they're intent on devouring their kind and ravaging the environment.

He has a close Martian friend named Pepawruvi, whom he deeply admires and cherishes due to his exceptional kindness, empathetic understanding that individuals hold diverse beliefs and values, and unwavering dedication to protecting the natural world. Previously, he had formed meaningful connections with a few Invader friends and four of his brothers who uniquely understood his conflicts with his own kind and treated him with respect. Following their tragic and untimely passing, he has profoundly felt their absence and occasionally reflects on cherished memories of them. He harbours intense opposition towards the Invader King, vehemently disagreeing with his colonialist and megalomaniac tendencies as well as his insatiable desire for control.

Backstory: Celuphoisa was born on Venus, six years after arriving in the Solar System. She was born from a union between a battle-hardened male Ravenous Invader and a female Grub Invader, who had been reserved for breeding rather than combat. She was the youngest of her siblings, all of whom were male. As she grew into adulthood, the other Invaders noticed Celuphoisa's deformed wings, prominent birthmark, shorter stature, and muteness, which set her apart from the other winged Invader Drones. Recognizing her anomalies, she was promptly labelled the "runt" of the Invaders, excluded from mating with Male Invader Drones and Morph Changers to preserve their lineage's perceived purity. Despite being dismissed by most of her older brothers, four of them—Kervosha, Ulaphormek, Bnahluzios, and Zubkoyhani—secretly supported her.

Kervosha, Ulaphormek, Bnahluzios, and Zubkoyhani not only taught her how to fight and hone her abilities but also shared some of their food scraps with her, providing sustenance and support in her time of need. She managed to make a few friends who understood her predicament or were facing a similar issue, and they often stuck by each other, especially during battles. She attempted to form bonds with her other brothers, but they responded with physical aggression and verbal insults, mocking her appearance as "hideous" and leaving her feeling isolated. Her parents largely rejected her, although her father occasionally offered words of encouragement before she headed into battle.

After being deemed unsuitable for breeding, the Invader King dispatched her to the frontlines, alongside other female Grub Invaders destined for cannon fodder. Defying expectations, she emerged victorious from every battle throughout her career from the conquest of Europa to the campaign at Pluto. Driven by a fierce determination to prove her worth, Celuphoisa refused to meet the same forgotten fate as her fallen sisters. She wore her battle scars with pride, seeing them as testaments to her resilience, tactical expertise, and status as a warrior. She proudly reminisces about her greatest achievements: single-handedly slaughtering hundreds of Neptunians, leading a raid on the Plutonian stronghold and overpowering its leader, and pilfering advanced alien technology from Methone, while expertly defending herself.

Despite earning respect from female Invaders, she faced persistent disregard from her male counterparts. Witnessing the mistreatment of female Grub Invaders by their male peers, she chose to distance herself from the gender-based discrimination. Adopting a male identity and renaming herself Celaphios, she aimed to blend in with the males and escape the bias. While some remained skeptical, most accepted her after the change. Nevertheless, Celaphios continues to question whether transitioning from female to male was the optimal decision, particularly considering the ongoing discrimination against female Grub Invaders.

He was doing well for a long time, despite occasional bullying from some of the male Invaders. However, his four supportive brothers and close friends consistently had his back and he would put up a fierce fight to scare them off. Tragedy struck when all of Celaphios' brothers, including Kervosha, Ulaphormek, Bnahluzios, and Zubkoyhani, died miserably during the conquest of Cyllene. This incident slowly led him to question the Invaders' intentions and the purpose of their conquests across planets, dwarf planets, and moons. As Celaphios grappled with these doubts, some Invaders, including his closest friends, began to become disillusioned with achieving the Invader King's vision of the New World.

Unfortunately for the rebels, the Invader King had anticipated their move after receiving intel from one of his Heaven Globule heralds about a potential uprising. Celaphios' friends and fellow rebels were dispatched to invade Io, but it was a ruse. His most loyal subjects slaughtered them for sport, deeming them "ideal prey”, and used them as sacrifices to the Invader King to ensure the health of new Invaders. Celaphios was devastated by the news, yet he deliberately pushed aside his grief, knowing that showing sympathy could put him in danger of meeting the same fate.

During the war against the Martians and Monoeyes, he struggled to muster the willpower to fight. The lingering grief over the loss of his brothers and close friends still weighed heavily on him. Furthermore, upon discovering his deep-seated pain, the Invaders escalated their harassment, exploiting his emotional vulnerability and targeting his sexual orientation and gender identity, repeatedly misgendering him. Some even suspected him of being a potential traitor, leading a few to keep a close eye on him, further eroding his sense of security. Stripped of his ability to participate in battles—the one aspect that made him feel like a valuable member of Invader society—Celaphios felt utterly useless and isolated. He was allowed to closely observe current human activities and the evolution of society on Earth, which brought him a sense of comfort and helped him appreciate life beyond Venus and the Rlyathok.

Later in life, the Invader King grew tired of the Invader runts' idle ways. To keep them occupied, he assigned them to investigation missions in uncolonized Earth regions. These missions involved minor terraforming experiments, which were carefully reversed to avoid arousing Martian suspicion. Celaphios, feeling rejuvenated, eagerly followed orders and performed well on these Earth missions. During one mission, just before dawn, Celaphios became distracted by a cluster of sea holly and collided with a Martian. The unexpected encounter startled both beings, as they had been led to believe that each other's species were sworn enemies and a threat to their respective goals.

However, Celaphios decided to push aside the prejudice and introduce himself to the Martian, offering a gift of sea holly. The Martian, though hesitant, accepted the gesture and introduced himself as Pepawruvi. As Celaphios continued to visit Earth, they slowly formed a bond, keeping their unlikely friendship a closely guarded secret. Their conversations often revolved around past experiences, fascinating discoveries about Earth, and the ongoing history of humanity. Pepawruvi nurtured Celaphios' love for nature, emphasising the importance of maintaining natural equilibrium and criticising the environmental harm caused by colonialism and destructive human activities. Before departing to focus on nursing Martian infants and conducting scientific experiments in the Rugname, Pepawruvi gifted Celaphios a blue jewel as a symbol of their friendship.

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thesilliestrovingalive · 4 months ago

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Updated: January 4, 2025

Torquil, Guilherme, and Ferdinand

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, racism, SA, suicide, verbal abuse, and neglect.

Torquil Aitken

Nickname: Torrie

Occupation: Private First Class, a vehicle driver, and a grenadier of the Rebel Army and a volunteer for transportation services (formerly)

Retirement plans: To visit all historic landmarks, become an auto technician, and start a pet foster program for cats and dogs

Hobbies: Performing his accordion and singing traditional Scottish songs at social gatherings, upgrading and fine-tuning cars and tanks, and fostering kittens and puppies

Likes: Guilherme (especially his calm and compassionate nature), his mom’s cooking, and archaeology

Dislikes: Being told to stop joking around, seeing his friends bummed out, and animal torture

Favourite food: Kedgeree and gummies (preferably gummy worms and sharks)

Sexuality: Heteroflexible asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 28 (in 2022), 34 (in 2028), 36 (in 2030), 38 (in 2032), 40 (in 2034), 47 (in 2041), 49 (in 2043), 50 (in 2044), and 53 (in 2047)

Design: He's a 5’ 3” (160.02 cm) Scottish-American mesomorph with a robust musculature, a subtle roundness of his belly, and semi-broad shoulders. He sports medium-length coppery red hair with gentle curls, styled in a shaggy crop with sideburns, and often wears it tied back into a bun. He has tanned pale ivory skin, brown freckles, dull jade green eyes, a cleft chin, and a metallic gold prosthetic left arm. He sports a prominent scar that stretches from the right side of his forehead, organically zigzagging down to the middle of his left cheek. He dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. Above his right breast pocket is an embroidered badge featuring a scarlet horizontal stripe with a thin white stripe centred within it and a black X emblazoned across the middle.

He carries a maroon duffle bag containing his accordion (a family heirloom), a versatile toolkit for mechanics, and a rocket launcher equipped with homing missiles. Like other grenadiers, he wears seven belt pouches filled with grenades. In place of the standard crimson waist pack, he sports a pink lavender one on the left side of his rosy brown belt. Inside, he carries a flare gun, 12 Gauge shells, a few extra grenades, and two bags of gummy worms and sharks. He often shares these treats with his friend Guilherme, particularly when he's starting to feel anxious or overwhelmed. He would share some with Ferdinand, but he isn't a fan due to their chewy texture, which bothers his jaw.

Character summary: He's a cheerful, happy-go-lucky extrovert whose charisma stems from his fun-loving attitude and ability to make others laugh with jokes tailored to their sense of humour. His carefree and enthusiastic demeanour gives way to a more serious and concerned attitude only when he senses that something is deeply wrong. As a confident individual, he exudes swagger in his step and rarely shows fear in the face of adversity, but it can sometimes tip into recklessness and overconfidence. He'll stop at nothing to protect his comrades, but can't resist charming the ladies and indulging in the occasional bout of mischief. He's naturally curious and enthusiastic, often getting thrilled by things he finds fascinating. When he encounters something as awe-inspiring as a tank, his excitement takes over, revealing a playful, childlike wonder.

On the battlefield, Torquil's preferred war machine is the Type-4 Girida-O, his absolute favourite, but he occasionally switches to the T-2B Melty Honey when he's feeling particularly confident. The only vehicle he refuses to drive is the Type-5 Iron Iso, due to its rarity on the battlefield and the fear of destroying it too quickly. To alleviate his boredom on the battlefield, he periodically bursts into traditional Scottish songs, eliciting either amusement or annoyance from his comrades. He honestly fears Ferdinand due to his overly serious and ill-tempered nature, yet he admires his exceptional skills on the battlefield and values his wise mentorship. Guilherme serves as his reluctant partner-in-crime, and he secretly harbours deep affection and romantic feelings for him, drawn to his understanding nature and unwavering kindness.

He holds General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan in high esteem, acknowledging their authority and sharing their vision of toppling corrupt governments and militaries to create a better society. Although occasional doubts about the morality of their crusade creep in, he quickly suppresses them, hesitant to entertain complex and potentially pessimistic thoughts that might undermine his commitment. He doesn't mind Sagan's pampering and occasionally plays along with her flirtations, which frequently lead to affectionate hugs and gentle kisses on the lips. He thinks the elite members of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., Ikari Warriors, and Division 6 are incredibly impressive, regarding them as both awesome and fearsome opponents. Although he recognizes them as the sworn enemies of the Rebel Army, he relishes the opportunity to engage them in battle. Moreover, he readily acknowledges their exceptional fighting skills and impressive teamwork, often praising them with respect and excitement.

Unlike his two friends, he maintains a neutral stance towards the Rebel Army. While he appreciates the action, loves the tanks they use, and shares their goal of combating political and militant corruption, he’s dismayed by the reckless behaviour of some comrades who cause unnecessary harm. Additionally, he disapproves of their willingness to use torture against perceived traitors and enemies. He strongly condemns bullying within the Rebel Army, particularly when directed towards individuals with physical or mental differences. As a steadfast advocate for equality, he believes that every soldier deserves respect and dignity, regardless of their background or intellect. He appreciates the vacation days, which give him the perfect excuse to spend quality time with his two closest friends outside of work and visit his mother, whom he deeply loves and cherishes.

Backstory: Torquil Aitken was born on November 15, 1994 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His father, Vernon Aitken, was a renowned archaeologist driven by a passion for adventure and a desire to share his discoveries with the world. His mother, Elspeth, is a veterinarian who also works part-time as a convenience store clerk. His parents loved him dearly and did everything to ensure he would lead a successful, resilient, and optimistic life, instilling in him the fearlessness to tackle any challenges that came his way. He has four siblings, including an older sister named Sloane and twin older brothers, Fearghas and Farquhar, all of whom care about him deeply.

Vernon would share with him his archaeological endeavours and contributions to the advancement of ethical archaeology. In contrast, Elspeth taught him the value of treating animals with kindness, while emphasising the importance of companionship, love, and living a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, he often assisted his mother with meal preparation, with dinner being his favourite meal to prep.

Torquil was a mildly quiet and worrisome kid who was anxious around strangers, but once they had earned his trust, he would become a talkative jokester when he felt comfortable around them. He would frequently engage in playful banter, pull pranks on Sloane and Fearghas, and play soccer with Farquhar. He was also fascinated by his siblings' hobbies and would often intently watch Sloane work on her scrapbooking projects, Farquhar write poetry, and Fearghas play video games, driven by his curiosity.

Sadly, just two months after he turned 13, Vernon met a tragic end. Vernon and his team of fellow archaeologists were attempting to escape a sudden mummy uprising in an ancient tomb within a previously unexplored pyramid in Ajirabia, as their careful probing inadvertently awakened the curse of Nephthys. In their frantic bid to contain the mummies, debris dislodged by dynamite fell and crushed him. This was devastating news for Torquil, his older siblings, and Elspeth, plunging her into a state of melancholy. However, Elspeth knew she couldn't give up easily, so she did everything in her power to raise her four children on her own.

After losing Vernon, Torquil adopted a more extroverted, carefree, and fun-loving demeanour reminiscent of his father. As he now lives with his mother, Elspeth, who is struggling financially, he took it upon himself to find a way to support his family. He drew inspiration from his older siblings, each of whom had their own part-time jobs. Sloane was a librarian assistant, Fearghas held a position as a data entry clerk, and Farquhar worked in lawn care. Leveraging his interest in fine-tuning cars and tanks, he came up with a brilliant idea: volunteering for businesses that required transportation services. By making deliveries and carrying materials, he earned a steady income, allowing both him and his family to stay afloat financially for a while.

At 33, Torquil's life took a dramatic turn when Maurice, a coworker and high school acquaintance, revealed that the Rebel Army was seeking new recruits. With minimal persuasion, Torquil saw this as a thrilling opportunity to witness tanks up close and eagerly volunteered. However, his mother was hesitant to let him go, fearing the dangers of warfare and the possibility of losing her son. She worried about his safety and whether he would return home alive. His siblings were also worried, uncertain if the Rebel Army was a legitimate military organisation and fearing he might not make it out alive. Torquil reassured them that he would be fine, then set off to join the Rebel Army, where his expertise with cars and tanks earned him a role as a vehicle driver. To enhance safety, he further volunteered as a grenadier, mastering grenade deployment.

Guilherme Delgado

Nickname: Guil

Occupation: Private and a sniper of the Rebel Army and a fortune-teller (formerly)

Retirement plans: To start a small business where he can sell his handmade, crocheted clothing

Hobbies: Writing and sketching in his journal, honing his cardistry skills, and crocheting

Likes: Adorable rabbit merchandise, nu metal and post grunge music, and the unique meanings that each tarot card has

Dislikes: Panic attacks, incurable diseases, and people exploiting his kindness for their own selfish gain

Favourite food: Coxinha

Favourite drink: Limonada suíça with condensed milk

Sexuality: Homoromantic graysexual

Gender: Male

Age: 31 (in 2022), 37 (in 2028), 39 (in 2030), 41 (in 2032), 43 (in 2034), 50 (in 2041), 52 (in 2043), 53 (in 2044), and 56 (in 2047)

Design: He’s a 5’ 1” (154.94 cm) Brazilian ectomorph with a lean figure, a mediocre musculature, sloping shoulders, and left hand that has six fingers. He has wavy chocolate brown hair styled as a textured quiff, umber skin, and sunburst green-hazel eyes. His neck bears heavy scarring on the right side, and he has two distinctive facial moles: one located above his eyebrow and another near the centre of his chin. Like Torquil, he dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. Above his left breast pocket, a circular silver badge trimmed in scarlet features a pair of outstretched black dragon wings extending from either side.

He carries a chestnut-hued satchel bag containing his crocheting tools, four yarn balls in different colours, a pencil, an eraser, a red ink pen, and a treasured family heirloom: a worn, handmade Spanish blue leather journal passed down from his great-grandmother. He uses it to record his thoughts, observations, and insights, often accompanied by sketches of the people and environments he encounters. Guilherme wears a navy blue waist pack at the back of his dark teal belt, holding a deck of tarot cards that he often shuffles through to calm his nerves when feeling anxious. A faded greyish-green bandolier is slung over his right shoulder, which securely holds his rifle's ammunition.

Character summary: Due to his compassionate and nurturing nature, he has a habit of prioritising the needs of others over his own, which can sometimes lead to self-neglect. He’s a shy, resourceful, melancholic individual that listens actively and shows genuine interest in others' concerns, but his patience wears thin when his paranoia takes hold. He strives to remain calm in high-pressure situations, but when overwhelmed, his composure can give way to ruthless and reckless behaviour. Guilherme is often taciturn, but will become a skittish loudmouth when impatient and extremely paranoid. He's an incredibly observant person who often notices details that others miss, and has a habit of fleeing from situations he deems particularly grim.

Despite being a down-to-earth sharpshooter, he's surprisingly prone to anger when his rifle jams, particularly in high-stakes situations. When feeling anxious or awkward, he exhibits one of two behaviours: rubbing his hands together or picking at his skin. He deeply admires Torquil's confidence and courage in battle, which inspires him to be more fearless and push through daunting situations. He often joins in on his playful antics and secretly harbours romantic feelings for him, drawn to the kindness and tenderness he shows him. He regards Ferdinand as a wise mentor and strives to prevent him from lashing out at Torquil when he inadvertently provokes his frustration. He has assumed a paternal role in Tyra's life since rescuing her from the clutches of depraved fanatic land troops, offering her much-needed solace and comfort. Whenever possible, he cherishes spending time with her, engaging in wide-ranging conversations and actively listening to her stories about her life's recent developments.

Despite his admiration for General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan, he can't shake off the nagging doubts about their true intentions and whether their actions will genuinely topple corrupt governments and militaries. Sagan's platonic pampering makes him feel valued and brings a glimmer of happiness into his life as he struggles with self-doubt. Although he's not fond of how Logan playfully teases him for being timid, he appreciates his words of encouragement, which further motivate him to become a more fearless and assertive fighter. He secretly aids the enemy by leaking classified information and intervening in situations where they're outnumbered and outmatched, all while avoiding detection to prevent being labelled a traitor and suffering the deadly consequences. Marco's allies deeply appreciate his readiness to lend a hand whenever possible and have warmly welcomed him as a trusted friend. He keeps his alliance with the Rebel Army's enemies hidden from Torquil, fearing that if discovered, their friendship would come to an abrupt end.

Unlike his two friends, he has a complicated relationship with the Rebel Army. On one hand, his involvement brings him a sense of fulfillment and boosts his confidence. On the other hand, he’s deeply troubled by the constant violence, cacophony, and disturbing incidents of racism and sexual assault he has witnessed, which leave him feeling miserable. He deeply regrets joining the Rebel Army, yet he remains loyal due to his strong bonds with his two closest friends, whom he cannot bear to leave behind. Additionally, he feels compelled to continue supporting Marco's allies, fearing that if he were to leave, they would abandon him. Another concern that keeps him from retiring is the traumatic experiences he endured during his time in the Rebel Army, which he believes would make it difficult for him to reintegrate into society. He's immensely glad that he's been granted vacation days, which he uses to hang out with his two best friends and spend quality time with his long-lost sister and his pet rabbit.

Backstory: Guilherme Delgado was born on April 3, 1991 in Salvador, Brazil. He got along fairly well with his father, and he made sure his son had adequate food and a safe place to live. At the age of 6, he witnessed a traumatic event that would leave a lasting impact: his father taking his own life with a hunting rifle. Compounding this trauma, his mother was largely absent from his life, leaving behind a legacy of secrets and mysteries surrounding his family. The only few things he knew about her were that her last name was Delgado, she had an older sister, she wasn’t on good terms with his father, and she worked in the clothing manufacturing business. His anxiety stems from his childhood experiences growing up in a violent and cruel environment, where he had to find ways to survive.

Fortunately, his aunt and great-grandmother provided a safe haven for him to stay in until he was mature enough to venture out into the world on his own. He remembers his aunt as strict and grumpy at times, but deeply loving, while his great-grandmother was incredibly compassionate and would often tell him Portuguese legends and stories about her own life experiences. His cousin, Juscelino, didn't get along with him because he struggled to connect with Guilherme due to his social difficulties and sensitive nature. Additionally, Juscelino felt overshadowed by the extra attention Guilherme received from their great-grandmother. As a result, Juscelino often ignored Guilherme, partly because he knew Guilherme would tattle on him if he teased or bullied him.

He was formerly a devout Catholic, often praying to God for hope in a better future and the strength to persevere. Additionally, he would pray to Menina Izildinha for good health, protection from harm, and deliverance from diseases for himself, his aunt, and his great-grandmother. To earn a living, he turned to fortune-telling, using tarot readings to predict the future, and also created handmade crochet items like scarves, ponchos, sweaters, and hats to sell on the side.

However, he lost his faith in Catholicism when his great-grandmother died from a hemorrhage after a devastating fall. Shortly after, his aunt passed away from a debilitating disease with no available cure. Juscelino distanced himself from Guilherme, irrationally blaming him for the tragic losses they had suffered. He had come to view Guilherme as a bad omen, and this misguided perception only intensified the overwhelming sadness and loneliness that lingered after the passing of his aunt and great-grandmother. Before his great-grandmother passed away, she gave him her journal, and he decided to use it to record his insights and observations, and sketch the people and environment around him. He would also adopt a lop-eared rabbit with a harlequin fur coat named Janaina. Journaling and the companionship of his newly adopted bunny brought him some solace, alleviating some of his sorrow and isolation.

As an adult, he continued to explore his surroundings, still haunted by unresolved questions about his family's past: What had happened to his mother? Had he had any brothers or sisters? Driven by a desire for answers, he embarked on an odyssey to find more members of his family. After a long and arduous search, he finally found his lost sister, Geovana. As they spent time together, he learned that she had been a successful surgeon.

However, his life took a dramatic turn when he stumbled upon a propaganda flyer promoting recruitment for the Rebel Army. Feeling unfulfilled and without direction, he made the difficult decision to leave Janaina in his sister's care and joined the Rebel Army five months before the Great Morden War. Once he had joined, he was frequently picked on by the others for being timid and a person of colour, which caught the attention of Torquil. Torquil offered to be Guilherme's friend, which he hesitantly accepted, and they remained on relatively good terms since then.

Ferdinand Hofbauer

Nickname: Ferdan

Occupation: Specialist and a Gatling soldier of the Rebel Army and a landscape architect (formerly)

Retirement plans: He's not entirely sure what he wants to do after his military service ends

Hobbies: Attending classical opera performances, rock balancing, and collecting taxidermy

Likes: His beloved house pets, fine art enthusiasts, and baroque architecture

Dislikes: Winter, being reminded of his wife’s death, and needlessly wasting functional technology and edible food

Favourite food: Homemade apple strudels and bosna

Favourite drink: Grape soda

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Gender: Male

Age: 38 (in 2022), 44 (in 2028), 46 (in 2030), 48 (in 2032), 50 (in 2034), 57 (in 2041), 59 (in 2043), 60 (in 2044), and 63 (in 2047)

Design: He’s a 5’ 7” (170.18 cm) Austrian endomorph with a partial beer belly, decent muscles, and broad shoulders. He has straight jet black hair styled as a crew cut, warm beige skin, blue-grey eyes, and a finely chopped goatee. A cut scar crosses his left cheek, and he has a prosthetic right leg that almost seamlessly blends with his skin. He has a shimmering silver-grey glass eye in place of his right eye, marked by a scar from a severe stab wound. Like Torquil and Guilherme, he dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. On his right breast pocket, a metallic black skull with a missing jaw and scarlet eyes hangs from a silver-white ribbon, secured by a golden clip.

Ferdinand always carries around two photographs: one of him and his deceased wife on their Caribbean honeymoon, and another of him sharing a meal with his two best friends at a café in Gerhardt City. He wears a harvest gold waist pack on the right side of his brownish-black belt, equipped with his silver-plated night vision binoculars, a pack of cigarettes, an almond-hued lighter, a black digital camera, and five cans of grape soda. He often shares a couple of grape soda cans with his closest friends, Torquil and Guilherme. He carries a heavy minigun with a back-mounted ammo pack, a machete sheathed at his left hip, and a Desert Eagle-designed pistol secured in a crimson drop-leg holster on his right.

Character summary: He's quite serious and overprotective of his two best friends, Torquil and Guilherme, due to a deep-seated fear of losing them, stemming from the tragic loss of his pregnant wife. He’s a by-the-book individual who carefully follows protocols and expects the same from others, maintaining a stern expression while trying to avoid distractions. He’s a strategic thinker that rarely complains, preferring to keep his true emotions hidden behind a stoic mask. He has a fearsome temper, triggered only when people neglect their duties or stir up unnecessary trouble. He asserts himself confidently, especially when defending those he cares about, and doesn't back down easily, refusing to accept "no" as a final answer.

He's extremely sensitive about his weight and becomes deeply upset when others mock him, often responding with angry outbursts and profanity. Ferdinand is a wise and hard-boiled individual with a penchant for surveilling his surroundings due to his hypervigilance. He lives with chronic depression, but he prefers to keep it private due to concerns about the stigma surrounding mental health. He sometimes finds Torquil's overconfidence and playful nature grating, particularly when it leads to slacking off and distractions. In contrast, he’s deeply concerned about Guilherme's fragile mental state and makes a conscious effort to offer comfort and support him during his darkest moments.

He holds General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan in high esteem, and his gratitude for serving in the Rebel Army leads him to trust their judgement implicitly without questioning their motivations or moral compass. Although he protests Sagan's affectionate nature, which includes lavish praise, playful flirtations, and tender kisses, he can't help but secretly enjoy it. He harbours a deep contempt for the fanatic land troops, whose unstable behaviour and penchant for sabotaging vehicles he finds utterly reprehensible. He secretly admires the elite members of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., Ikari Warriors, and Division 6, respecting their exceptional tactical prowess and seamless teamwork. He harbours a lingering sense of guilt whenever he confronts them, but swiftly suppresses it, wary of being perceived as sympathetic to the Regular Army.

He's the sole confidant of Guilherme's clandestine assistance to Marco's allies, but he remains tight-lipped about it, fearing the consequences of exposing someone he cares deeply about. Despite his reservations, he occasionally lends a reluctant hand to Marco's allies in extreme circumstances, such as when they're lost or desperately low on supplies, even though it troubles him to aid the enemy. Unlike his two closest friends, he holds the Rebel Army very dear to his heart because it provides him with a sense of purpose and an outlet to exercise his mental acuity and physical prowess. He values his vacation days, which give him the opportunity to spend quality time with his pets and reconnect with his father, a retired police officer living in the Austrian countryside, whom he had drifted apart from after the loss of his wife.

Backstory: Ferdinand Hofbauer was born on August 26, 1984 in Kufstein, Austria. His father, Gottfried Hofbauer, was a distinguished police officer who had once aspired to be a therapist. However, he changed careers after noticing the alarming rise in crime rates. Tragedy struck when his wife suddenly passed away shortly after their son's 5th birthday, succumbing to mysterious and unforeseen heart-related health complications, leaving him a widower. Recognizing the importance of both parents in a child's life, he remarried, hoping to provide a mother figure for his son. His stepmother, a public opinion analyst, presented herself as a charming and affectionate person, but beneath this façade, she was a hedonist who was verbally abusive and neglectful towards Ferdinand, viewing him as an obstacle to her husband's affection. In contrast, his father was a simple man who cherished the lives of the innocent and his family above his own, finding joy in the small things in life during his quiet moments.

At the age of 7, Ferdinand began exhibiting signs of child verbal abuse and neglect, which deeply concerned his father. When Ferdinand revealed that his stepmother was responsible for the mistreatment, Gottfried was consumed by strong displeasure and even regretted remarrying. He made the difficult decision to divorce Ferdinand's stepmother and severed all ties with her, prioritising his son's safety and well-being above all else.

While attending university to study architecture, he met the love of his life, Franziska. They went on numerous dates, including attending art museums and baking homemade desserts, and grew closer. After completing their college education, Ferdinand proposed to Franziska. After getting engaged, they married a year later and spent their honeymoon in the Caribbean, where they began thinking about starting a family.

Four years after landing their dream jobs—Ferdinand as a landscape architect and Franziska as a law clerk—they decided it was time to start a family. Franziska became pregnant, but tragically, her life was cut short. At just five months pregnant, she was brutally mugged and killed by an unknown assailant on a snowy day while out getting lunch. Ferdinand, who was at work, learned of his wife's passing via a phone call from his mother-in-law, leaving him utterly devastated and heartbroken.

After his wife's passing, he quit his job, feeling lost and aimless because Franziska had been the source of his happiness. Struggling to move on, he became withdrawn and distant, and developed self-destructive habits: chain-smoking, frequenting bars, and getting into trouble with the law for public indecency and starting fights. He would also gain more weight as he turned to binge eating and alcohol as a way to numb his emotional pain. He drifted apart from his father because he didn’t want to burden him with his personal struggles. Seeking comfort, he adopted two pets: a Russian Blue cat named Franziska, after his late wife, and a Styrian Coarse-haired Hound named Benedikt. This decision brought some solace to his sorrow and gave him a renewed sense of motivation to improve his lifestyle and health, and to search for new meaning in life.

Three years before the Great Modern War, Ferdinand stumbled upon a recruitment advertisement for the Rebel Army, urging citizens to join their ranks. Seeing an opportunity to find purpose, he decided to join the army and become a soldier, hoping to do something meaningful for once. Although he faced ridicule for his weight and solitary nature, he swiftly silenced doubters by showcasing his military prowess and innate leadership abilities. As the Great Modern War began, Ferdinand met Torquil, who was repairing his Type-4 Girida-O, and Guilherme, who was sketching in his journal, at a campsite in a forest near the Villeneuve Mt. System, where he and his fellow comrades were stationed. Desiring an end to the bullying he faced for being a loner, he made the bold move to approach them, and surprisingly, they instantly clicked, forming a lasting and inseparable bond that has endured to this day.

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