#sigmund shieldhorn

[commanderhorncleaver]

In the aftermath of becoming Vlast's champion via the Mists, Sigmund has grown out of his need of mobility aids. However, he's well aware that in the legions, there are plenty who still need them, and remains devoted to helping figure out implements that aid others. Additionally, he's taken on the surname Brighthorn.

However, given his newfound mobile freedom, he tends to roam the office in something Horncleaver might call less than modest, but August has assured him that so long as he's not hammering steel with his cheeks in the wind, he's free to wear as little as he pleases.

[commanderhorncleaver]

apologies in the sun

“You already apologized,” Sigmund sighed. His voice was hoarse, and Augustus passed him the waterskin. That electric hum thrummed across the gap between their fingertips, from claw to claw, as he took it. He tried not to worry about the dragon–the dragon wasn’t his priority, not at this moment–but he wondered if it might make things harder for Sig.

“I know that, but it doesn’t make me feel better about it.” The sun beat down on them from a shockingly cloudless sky, and Augustus looked out over the stretch of sand that surrounded them. Gaius and Oberon had split off to find a spot they could contact Taimi, and once again August fretted about the consequences of his outburst the day before. He hadn’t been paying attention to where Gaius had sent Brimstone, though he knew the tribune’s separation from the group was intentional.

Sigmund leaned against him; their fur mingled together pleasantly, and Augustus felt his tail lash. “I already said I forgave you.”

“I know that, too,” Augustus started. Gaius and Oberon hadn’t broached the topic of what had happened–but it wasn’t out of character for either of them to do so. Gaius was as business-oriented as ever, and though he hadn’t voiced it, Sigmund’s sire hadn’t seemed particularly torn up about being puppeted to attack Rytlock. Rather, the older soldier had almost seemed disappointed at losing the opportunity to tear out the tribune’s throat, which in fact was another reason for why the group had separated again.

Augustus wondered if, perhaps, there was some deeper cause of Oberon’s malice towards Rytlock, but given he had no intention of asking, and less intention of skimming it from his mind, he’d likely never know.

“It’s just that–”

“So what’s the problem?” Sigmund asked at the same time.

Augustus breathed in the scents of the desert, a slow and calming action, the start of an exercise he’d been taught years ago to keep his emotions in check. There wasn’t any threat of an outburst now, but it let him arrange his thoughts and push them into order like ants in a line to figure out what it was he wanted to say. In the distance, some mile or so from them, he watched a hyena attack a choya.

“I shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” he breathed. He could feel Sig’s eyes on him, waiting for him to finish the thought. Memories of Gaius asking him if he understood why it was wrong threatened to overlap with memories of his mentor in Ash teaching him why he should, and he nudged at them to remain where they belonged. His teachings were oil and water; they didn’t mix, didn’t belong anywhere near one another.

“It isn’t just because it was you, but I can’t kick the thought that you’ll worry I’ll do it again. If we’re comfortable with it, why would I stop? How would that make me any different from–” he paused, and considered his words. Instead of who I used to be, he heard himself finish the thought as from Flame?

Sigmund’s answer was quick as he snaked his paw into Augustus’, intertwining their fingers. “You’re different because you know it’s wrong, and because I trust you to be responsible.”

Sig’s voice had deepened since he’d found the first of Vlast’s crystals, and now that he was the dead Scion’s champion, if August paid attention, he sometimes heard both their voices when Sigmund spoke. He tried not to worry about that–even if he didn’t like the idea of it, the dragon had made Sigmund hardier, healthier. He still needed breaks, only less frequent; he still leaned on Augustus for comfort and support, but now he seemed more confident in that. Augustus was glad for it, even if sometimes Vlast felt like an unwanted intruder in these moments–even if he couldn’t hear him, he knew the dragon spoke.

In the quiet, Sigmund continued, “I wouldn’t have volunteered for it, but I would have taken the shot for you, August. You know Obie would have, too. We’re not mad at you.”

A stiff and hot wind blew into Augustus’ face–he turned away and found himself gazing into Sig’s mostly-gray eyes; the yellow of Vlast’s brand flecked them now, bursts of sunlight behind a shelter of clouds. Augustus exhaled. The doubts hadn’t quieted, but looking at his mate, it was harder for them to run amok. He squeezed Sigmund’s paw.

“I’ll be mad at you if you don’t kiss me right now, though,” Sigmund grinned through sharp teeth.

Augustus obliged, pressing his muzzle against Sigmund’s and bringing his other paw up to hold him there as their rough, flat tongues mashed against one another for a long, sunbleached moment.

“I’ll do my best, then. Thank you, Sig.”

[commanderhorncleaver]

Brighthorn Enters the Fray

Though he prefers to channel Light through Brand-tipped arrows, Sigmund is more than proficient in close-quarters combat when push comes to shove. After all, he's had some of Iron's most tenacious (and cantankerous) teachers!

[commanderhorncleaver]

i offer you 💌 for sigmund, if you would perhaps like to share :) @kerra-and-company

Sigmund smiles at you as he takes your letter and reads it, then nods. "Well, most of us younger members of the band have crushed on Horncleaver at one point or another..." He looks around, and Augustus smiles in his direction before rushing out of the office, several letters clasped in his paws. Sigmund waves before turning back to you.

"August doesn't count, obviously, being that's his sire. But Pancake and I, and even Arashi, have found ourselves rather smitten."

[commanderhorncleaver]

Rambling

A funny thing I think about on the subject of Vlast Champion!Sigmund is that like. Gaius just never tells anyone who doesn't need to know about it, so if you weren't there during PoF when he, Sig, and August went searching for Vlast's memory crystals--if you weren't there for his subsequent growth spurt and such, you just don't know.

Sigmund in particular was asked by Gaius to not come along to the All-Legion Rally specifically to avoid suspicion around the subject of his branding (August was intended to be with him, but August can't miss an opportunity to fuck half of Blood Legion, so Oberon stayed with his cub instead). When he shows up when things start going down, folk assume he was branded by Aurene, and it's just. Gaius looking at Rytlock, who looks at Gaius, who looks at Sigmund, who is very much not looking at Rytlock and Gaius is just "okay, idiot, sure"

When Gaius does get his own branded horns later on, more people squint about it, but it's mostly just assumed that because Aurene must have branded him when she was younger, the colors are different.

[commanderhorncleaver]

G, E for Gaius and C, D, K for Sigmund? :0

Ask Game

For Gaius

E: What is their love language?

Gaius' love language is dedicated to deeds and validation. Despite his hard-to-read attitude and how generally difficult to approach he can appear, he pays close attention to those around him, and their likes and dislikes. If he can help, if he wants to lift their spirits, if he wants to please them, he'll do something to try to help them out. In return, praise and validation make him glow.

G: What’s their greatest talent?

I think, despite how plainly he views himself, I think Gaius is a general repository of various skills. While he has no particular engineering talents, I'd consider him to be a jack of all trades in most practical situations.

For Sigmund

C: What’s their weirdest habit or quirk?

Because of his chronic illness, Sig's legs often experienced a difficulty in feeling sensations; he'd thump his legs against the ground to help and ensure he was feeling things. Imagine something like a rabbit or hare thumping the ground.

Prior to becoming Vlast's champion, he wore body armor (basically the royal guard outfit), and he often still had to jostle that around to ensure everything was working properly. Post becoming Vlast's champion, he still does it out of habit, even though he's much stronger.

D: What was their high school experience like?

Sigmund was bullied immensely, often violently, because of his disabilities, and was sent to the farms out around Smokestead. This, with Oberon's frequent visits and tutelage, allowed him to create the armor he used for mobility. Despite the isolation, he enjoyed the privacy, as well as being able to interact with the animals.

K: What is their greatest strength?

Because of his disability, and the impact it's had on his life and upbringing (both socially and emotionally) Sigmund is literally incapable of tackling most problems in the same way most charr would--this results in him being a rather ingenious soldier, not only in the formation of plans, but also in what he's willing to do in order to accomplish his goals or ensure his survival.

[commanderhorncleaver]

🖊 Let's have some Sigmund🖊

Sigmund jumps, and looks a bit surprised. "You want to know about me? Um. Well, Lieutenant Furyhorn is my sire--I think you already know that..." Augustus, who you're certain was just on the other side of the office, appears beside him, and leans down to whisper into Sigmund's ears. The larger charr flushes, and clasps his paws on the desk between you.

"August thinks it'd be interesting to let you know that I'm... a Dragon's Hunter. He came up with the name, but, he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a yellowish crystal of something that might be topaz. "This is a shard of Vlast. His memories and thoughts resonated in the Mists, and when we were searching for them, turns out that I was able to use my Light on them. They refracted it, and now... Now I channel him."

August speaks up. "He grew a lot--it's been a more neutral change than any we saw with Jormag or Primordus, just an... impressive increase in size, so we're unsure what exactly the situation is, but Vlast gets to live on, here, through him."

[commanderhorncleaver]

hello hello i am dropping in to pry into sigmund’s secrets, if there are any to share? @kerra-and-company

Sigmund shakes his head as he peers at you. "I'm very much the charr you see in front of you. My actions are who I am, and I follow my beliefs."

"I-I'm sorry if that's an underwhelming response, but," he splays his paws in a gesture you assume is meant to say, 'it is what it is.' "That's all there is to me."

[commanderhorncleaver]

gw2 ask meme for Sigmund!

3, 10, 11

3. What person impacted them the most?

"This feels like something of a cop-out, but I have to say my sire, Lieutenant Furyhorn." Sigmund shifts, a bit uncomfortably. "Don't tell him I said it, he'll let it go to his head, but I really do owe him my life, in a very real way. Couldn't have made it this far without him."

He sighs. "It sounds as simple as not leaving a frail, sick cub for the hyenas, but it's more than that. He never gave up on me in spite of how things got worse, and eventually... I stopped wanting to give up on myself. I get to be part of the Commander's warband, the champion of a dragon, because of his faith in me. He's a stubborn old bolt, but he never let me down."

"Also," he leans towards you, lowering his voice, "Augustus. He's hard on himself when he makes mistakes, but he generally only messes up because he cares. He cares, and I love him for that."

10. Would/does knowing their backstory change how people (in general but also Tyria at large) view them?

The discomfort returns, and the charr nods his head; light twinkles through his topaz horns. "I expect so. Some folk would feel bad--charr wouldn't. See, this is why I wanted Horncleaver to make Imperator, he could have.... I want charr to see what they're doing when they waste lives like mine. If knowing where I come from would help that, it'd be worth it."

11. How accurate is their reputation/image compared to how they really are?

He's quiet for a moment, and his breathing fills the space between you. His voice is soft when he speaks up. "I'm me. I'm not often in the forefront, and I like that. When people learn about me, they tend to learn everything. I think, if I have a reputation, it's true to who I am."

[commanderhorncleaver]

1, 2, 17, 19 and 33 for the Horn warband :D

Ask Game

Which Legion does the warband belong to?

The Horns are a proud Iron warband, though most if not all of its members have ties to other legions (and there's even some non-charr members).

2. How and when was the warband formed?

The Horns were formed by Gaius in 1325 during his Personal Story for the sake of clearing his name after he'd been charged with a series of murders. The original members of the band included himself, Oberon Furyhorn, Sigmund Shieldhorn (later Brighthorn), and Augustus Silverhorn. Later additions include Terang Bulan Shorthorn, (Pyromancer) Kudo Pyrehorn, and (Alchimancer) Phlunq Blighthorn.

17. Have they ever gotten in big trouble with superiors?

As a warband, technically no. As individuals, yes, multiple of them have. Gaius being a centurion at the start of Personal Story puts him and the band in a position of slight advantage that allows them to get away with a lot more than your average band would, but also, Gaius is genuinely rather straight-laced and keeps them all honest.

19. What's the overall social dynamic in the warband like? (chill and friendly, harsh and hierarchical, like family, etc)

Gaius runs the Horns the same way he does his subordinates, as a centurion and as commander, which is to say that he trusts everyone to do the jobs he sets for them, and will generally allow individuals to employ whatever means they deem necessary as long as the work is done when and how he needs it. In particular, when recruiting Oberon, this was a big point of interest because of Oberon's history as violent and more than willing to challenge and kill superiors he disagreed with. Gaius approached him with conditions for recruitment and assured him that if things were done as needed, they'd work well together, and Oberon, with no reason to argue with guidelines so clearly placed, has worked out with little issue. Being that the Horns are mostly an administrative warband, this isn't usually a huge problem, but overall the point is just that Gaius is an attentive commanding officer who does good research when recruiting folk, and also is willing to meet people halfway. Respect and discipline are expected because of what exactly it is they do, but again, as long as the job gets done, do it how you want.

33. Bonus question: trivia time!

Currently, the warband acts as Horn Gladium Outreach based out of the Black Citadel, which is a business that does effectively what it sounds like. In the time after IBS, Gaius went to reorganize and establish an office in the Citadel where Iron gladium could go to seek assistance with being reassigned within the Legions, or alternatively, seek advice on finding a place outside the Legions. The operations quickly expanded, as Gaius acts essentially as a therapist with helping gladium come to terms with their circumstances and find healthier places of mind before seeking work. Oberon and Sigmund in particular develop prostheses for those in need.

[commanderhorncleaver]

🌈 RAINBOW and 🚆 TRAIN for Gaius, and 🔫 PISTOL and 🌱 SEEDLING for Sigmund? (@havoc-warband)

🌈 RAINBOW - what advice would they give to their younger self?

hough you went right in on a hard one lmao I think the best thing he'd tell himself, is to take more chances. I think he'd actually be a bit skeptical of such an opportunity, because he's proud of who and where he is. If he'd made different choices, would he be the Commander? Where would the world be?

🚆 TRAIN - what is their answer to the trolley problem?

Destroy the tracks and see what happens.

🔫 PISTOL - do they trust people easily? how easily will they turn their back to someone? have they been backstabbed before? will they betray someone if given an ultimatum?

Sigmund has trouble trusting people because of his being a chronically ill/handicapped charr--he does not allow people close because many have told him their thoughts for those like him. When he's close to someone, though, he will do anything in his power to make sure they're safe.

🌱 SEEDLING - what is their most vivid memory from childhood?

Sig's most vivid memory is from when he was around ten, when he and many other cubs of his fahrar overheard a primus joke about putting him down, since his illness made him more trouble than he was worth. Not long after, a decision was made to have Sigmund removed from the fahrar entirely and have him sent to Smokestead Village to live and work on the farm there. Or this was the plan, until word got back to Oberon, and he retrieved the arranged for such on his own.

[commanderhorncleaver]

12 and 20 for Sigmund, 5 and 16 for August? (@speculist-rinthi)

12. In what situation was your character the most calm they’ve ever been?

Not a specific situation, but Sigmund tends to feel most calm when he's unhappy or dissatisfied. He has an unfortunate sort of withdrawal about Certain Situations.

20. In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?

He compares himself a lot to the physical capabilities of others; he notes how someone /should/ be standing, how they /should/ hold a weapon, and everything they can do that he can't. This is very critical of himself, but he also notes when others are judged or when they mess up, and he can use that to make himself feel better-- he may have more trouble doing what should be second nature for others, but his methods work, and he takes pride in knowing that he hasn't messed up.

5. On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets?

August carries both anything and nothing, you will never know! Being a virtuoso, he's not above casually fabricating everyday items that he needs. Most important thing he carries, which is actually sewn into one of his pockets and attached to some string, is a photograph of Roj the Rowdy Butcher giving him two thumbs up while holding cowshanks in either hand. He frequently pulls out this photo and sighs wistfully.

16. Which does your character idealize most: happiness or success?

He idealizes success, because in his opinion, success leads to happiness. As a charr, it's very much just one of those things they're conditioned for--personal happiness is tied to overall success as a soldier. It's what they live for, and he's never been able to separate himself from that, even while the scope of what he's trying to succeed in has changed.

[commanderhorncleaver]

Warband Introductions

Gaius Horncleaver: 48, Iron Legion, founder and legionnaire of the Horn warband, Pact Commander. Analytical and quick of hand. Spellbreaker Warrior. Augustus Silverhorn: 25, Former Ash Legion spy, eldest cub of Gaius. Continues to be the group's primary spy, as well as their general fount of magical knowledge. Smart, but tends to act on impulse. Virtuoso Mesmer.

Oberon Furyhorn: 48, former Blood Legion gladium, second in command. Known for running afoul of numerous previous legionnaires, but reliable when ideals align. General frontline, only non-shaman of the band. Aggressive, but passionate. Bladesworn Warrior.

Sigmund Shieldhorn: 26, Former Ash Legion medic, a younger cub of Oberon. Sickly for a charr, but determined to honor his sire's name, he eventually finds a new facet through which to shine his Light. Timid but determined. Dragonhunter Guardian.

Arashi Lowehorn: 21, tengu of a now-dead clan of spies and assassins whose prowess apparently rivaled that of the cream of Ash Legion's crop, if not surpassed. Formerly an enemy and now a member of the family. Stoic but steady. Specter Thief.

Terang Bulan (Pancake) Shorthorn: 27, raised by human nobles, and a later addition to the band. Without a warband due to his late fahrar attendance, he became a gladium field medic to whom Gaius eventually gave a group to call his own. Shy but empathetic. Firebrand Guardian.

*these ages reflect their age at the beginning of the personal story