Post by Reno on Nov 22, 2023 0:21:30 GMT
This is just something I'm cobbling together for now. A work in progress for a hypothetical RP based on the "Trails" series that might happen sometime on down the ol' road.
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Basic Information
Name: Crim El Furaga
Birth Name: Constantin De Cayenne
Aliases: "The Red Lightning", "Divine Blade of Thunder"
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 31 (as of S.1204)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 167 lbs
Eyes: Azure Green
Hair: Wild, long, blood-red, ponytailed
Skin: White
Date of Birth: October 13th, S.1173
Place of Birth: Ordis, Lamare Province, Erebonia
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Affiliation: Bracer Guild
Rank/Job: S-Rank Bracer
Other Affiliations
Thors Military Academy: Instructor
Past Affiliations
Erebonian Military: Captain, 3rd Armored Division
Personal Information
Favorite Food: Dragon Fried Rice
Favorite Drink: Alkyhol. Mainly rum, and something called "The Usual", consisting of a mixture of cobra fang juice, hydrogen bitters, and "Old Panther", whatever that is.
Favorite Books: "The Immoral Hero", "Battle Orbment Hacks", "Sword Schools of Erebonia", "Christ, Who's Gonna Die First?"
Likes: A good fight, the open road, boozing it up, getting rowdy, chicks, gambling.
Dislikes: The next morning, paperwork, procedure, following the chain of command.
Common Quotes: "Another round for me and my...lady friend!" | "No, I didn't forget your name, sweet cheeks!"
Friends/Allies: Yun Ka-fai (Master), Lieutenant General Zechs Vander (former commanding officer), Principal Vandyck (Thors), Prince Olivert Reise Arnor (AKA Olivier Lenheim), Barkhorn the Roaring Lion (8th Dominion of the Gralsritter), Wallace Bardias (Brigadier General of Sutherland Provincial Army), Toval Randonneur (B Rank Bracer, Erebonia), Zin Vathek (A Rank Bracer, Calvard)
Family: Cayenne Family (bastard child)
Rivals: Leonhardt "Loewe" the Bladelord (Ouroboros Enforcer No. II), Lechter "Scarecrow" Arundel (Erebonian Intelligence Division), Aurelia Le Guin (Commander of Lamare Provincial Army)
Enemies: Ouroboros ("The Society"), Duke Croire De Cayenne (elder brother), "The Blood and Iron Chancellor" Giliath Osborne
ARCUS Battle Orbment
Master Core: Tenkai (Wind) LV5
Passive Effects:
Prevent Abnormal Status/Stat Down (100%)
Critical Hit+
Evasion+
Master Core Arts
"Air Strike"
"Breath"
"Recuria"
"Holy Breath"
"Shining"
"Spark Arrow"
"Aerial"
Orbment Layout:
Line 1:
O Aeoulus Gem (STR+, ACC+, EVA+, MOV+, "Ragna Vortex" Art)
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O Suzaku (STR+, adds "Burn" and "Seal" to attacks/Crafts)
|
O Skanda Gem (SPD+, "Chrono Drive", "Chrono Break", "Chrono Burst" Arts)
|
O Qilin (STR+, attacks/Crafts decrease enemy STR/DEF)
Line 2:
O Cross Crusade R (HP+, STR+, "Cross Crusade" Art)
|
O Byakko (STR+, adds "Blind" and "Sleep" to attacks/Crafts)
Line 3:
O Zeus Gem (STR+, Impede+, Delay+, "Judgement Bolt" Art)
|
O Chakravarti Gem (EP+, "Heat Up", "Saintly Force", "Crescent Mirror" Arts)
Appearance
Crim is fairly tall, possessing a build that is seemingly on the lanky side, with decidedly sharp yet also attractive facial features, vibrant green eyes, and wild blood-red hair that he usually keeps in a long ponytail. Despite appearances, however, his muscles are actually extremely well developed, giving him what would commonly be referred to as a "wiry" physique, and as a result of his intense conditioning, he is much stronger and more resilient than he looks. His body also is covered in a patchwork of various battle scars, some of which are quite severe, including a particularly nasty one running diagonally from his right shoulder, across his chest down to his lower left abdomen. His usual attire consists of a disheveled black suit ensemble, jacket unbuttoned, white dress shirt with the top couple of buttons also undone, along with matching relaxed-fit slacks and robust dark brown combat shoes (Strega brand, of course). He also tends to sport a pair of sunglasses on his head, which he only ever wears over his eyes when he's hungover or trying to secretly catch some Z's. Sometimes while out traveling, particularly in colder northern climes and during winter months, he dons a sturdy coat that he scored from a North Ambrian Jaeger Corps.
Crim, with North Ambrian coat:
Personality
Crim is a laid-back, freewheeling, and adventurous kind of guy, but also debaucherous, rowdy, sarcastic, and even a little cynical. While he may sometimes come off as lazy and neglectful in his duties, both as a Bracer and an Instructor, he actually does take his work seriously, and almost always has some sort of plan in mind. There is a certain method to his apparent madness...supposedly. He's a notorious drinker and womanizer, which often lands him in unseemly and controversial situations (at least according to the guidelines set by both the Bracer Guild and Thors Military Academy). His status as Erebonia's sole S-Rank Bracer usually grants him a bit of leeway though. He has a powerful lust for battle, and can get a bit (or a lot) carried away when facing down powerful adversaries, which can be either an asset or a hindrance, depending on the situation.
Skills, Powers and Abilities
Divine Blade of Thunder: Crim trained under Master Yun Ka-fai in the way of the Eight Leaves, One Blade style of swordsmanship, and earned the title of "Divine Blade of Thunder" for his mastery of the First Form, "Helix" and Second Form, "Gale". His style thus has a particular emphasis on quickdraw techniques and rapid combination strikes, culminating in powerful spinning attacks that generate tornado-like effects. He is considered to be one of the most skilled swordsmen in all of Erebonia, if not the entirety of West Zemuria.
-- Sword Crafts:
Arc Strike (B+) - Unleashes a thunderous shockwave in a straight line from a sword draw. (Impede [Cancel Arts] 100%).
Bloodwind Blade (A+) - Spinning helix strike from sword draw that unleashes spiraling lightning-infused tornado that damages target and transfers energy back to attacker. (Drain HP).
Thundering Gale (S+) - Rapidly attack multiple enemies with fast draw dash, followed up by a sword-draw Arc Strike. (SPD/MOV Down).
Comet Flash (SS+) - Extremely fast multi-hit attack on single enemy. (Seal/Mute 80%).
Severing Wind - Temporarily increase physical parameters, restore CP, at the cost of health. (STR+/DEF+/SPD+, CP+, HP - 30%).
S-Craft - Wrath of Nine Dragons (5S) - A culmination of Eight Leaves, One Blade mastery, severing the boundary between life and death.
Eighth Form - Weaponless: The Eight Leaves, One Blade style is comprehensive, to the point of also including an unarmed form, should one ever become disarmed or otherwise unable to access a sword. He has taken numerous liberties with this form, making it very much his own, which has resulted in something of an unorthodox bare-knuckle brawler kind of style. He has actually been able to go toe-to-toe against skilled practitioners of Eastern Zemurian Taito martial arts, much to their surprise and in some cases, chagrin. It is very much a costly mistake to assume that Crim is not a threat without a blade in hand.
-- Eighth Form Crafts:
Blast Kick (C+) - Flips forward and brings foot down into the ground, generating an earth-splitting wave that damages in a straight line. (Impede [Arts Cancel] 100%).
Sonic Shock (B) - Leap up into the air and come down hard, driving fist into the ground with powerful explosive force over a wide area. (Seal 80%).
Shattering Fist (B+) - Drive forward with great power focused in fist to shatter enemy defenses. (DEF Down).
Iron Will - Focus spiritual energy to increase attack power and bolster defense. (ATK+/DEF+).
Orbal Arts: While not his forte, Crim does possess a fairly decent aptitude for Orbal Arts, and is capable of casting numerous potent spells, mostly of Wind/Lightning, but also Space and Time Elements. He tends to focus on Arts that support and augment his own physical abilities, but he has been known to unleash some pretty powerful attack Arts as well from time to time as the situation requires.
Battlefield Supremacy: Crim is practically a force of nature. A physical embodiment of chaos and mayhem. His mere presence is generally enough to inflict irreparable damage to morale - hell, even just mentioning his name to anyone who knows him by reputation alone can have far-reaching negative effects. This also extends to monsters and other beasts, by triggering their fight or flight instincts. Most of them choose flight.
It doesn't help that he possesses actual, practical abilities that augment this, either.
Well, it helps him. Enemies? Not so much.
Physical Might: Strength, stamina and durability that far exceeds the norm. In Crim's case, it is the result of a combination of training, energy-manipulation, and natural ability. His strength is such that he is capable of striking down colossal monsters with ease, even while unarmed. His stamina enables him to perform at peak levels of physical exertion for prolonged periods of time, up to several hours, before showing signs of fatigue. His body is durable to the point that he can withstand falls from great heights and severe blunt-force trauma (such as repeated blows from extremely powerful opponents) without sustaining significant injuries.
Hypervelocity: Crim is an absolute master of utilizing super speed techniques, thanks to a combination of natural talent and his training in the Eight Leaves style. As a result, he can alter his perceptions accordingly. While moving at higher speeds, anything else that isn't moving at similar rates is slowed down dramatically (from his perspective). He is both strong and agile enough to be capable of accelerating from a dead stop, directly to his top speed, within an instant. To any ordinary onlooker (or those unprepared for the sudden movement), it would appear to be akin to instantaneous movement, or teleportation, though this is simply an illusion. Naturally, the faster he goes, the more stress is placed upon his body. He seems to be capable of weathering the strain for protracted periods of time, up to a certain point, but once he starts moving at speeds in excess of the speed of sound, he begins to wear out more and more quickly. The maximum upper limit of Crim's speed is unknown. He is known to be capable of temporarily increasing his speed by utilizing supportive Arts as well.
Weapons
Kaminokaze:
Type – Tachi
Materials - Zemurian Ore
Description - A legendary "Tachi" from the eastern lands, made of pure Zemurian Ore. Said to have been wielded by a legendary warlord hundreds of years ago, but there is no way to know for certain. Given to Crim by Master Yun upon completion of his Eight Leaves training. As it is made from Zemurian Ore, it is nigh indestructible, and possesses a nearly peerless cutting edge. In spite of its status, it doesn't appear to be particularly special, although it is a beautifully crafted blade.
Armor
"Black Aces" Prototype Battle Jacket:
Type - Special Combat Jacket (Body)
Materials - Experimental Carbon Fiber
Description - Powerful protective gear, made to be both lightweight and durable. Manufactured by the Reinford Group. This is a prototype that was given to Crim to test in the field. He was supposed to have returned it over a year ago, but apparently forgot all about it...
North Ambrian Jaeger Coat:
Type - Cold Weather Combat Gear (Body)
Materials - Cotton/Polyester Blend with Goose Down and integrated Rhinocider Plates
Description - A sturdy winter coat meant to primarily provide protection against the elements, but also designed with combat in mind. Crim typically wears it during cooler nights or when his work takes him to the more chilly regions of West Zemuria, such as North Ambria or the Nord Highlands.
Tenkai Bracer:
Type - Defensive Bracer (Left Arm)
Materials - Type I Radiant Steel
Description - A defensive bracer worn on the left forearm. It is extremely strong, feather light, and is capable of deflecting strong physical attacks, due to the fact that is it made of Type I Radiant Steel, which is a rather durable allow developed by the Reinford Group specifically for use in light armors.
Strega FIS-6 Series II:
Type - Combat Shoes
Materials - Various
Description: High grade Strega brand footwear designed specifically for combat. Suitable for any environment, highly durable, with excellent traction!
Accessories
Evergreen: A Wind-Elemental Esmelas gem charm that increases ACC and EVA, in addition to granting protection against Sleep, Faint, Nightmare, and Confuse status effects.
Passionate Rouge: A Fire-Elemental Carnelia gem charm that increases STR and prevents Freeze, Petrify, and Stat Decreases via Arts/Crafts.
Other Items
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Biography
An S-Rank Bracer based out of the Erebonian Empire, currently moonlighting as an instructor at the prestigious Thors Military Academy. He is the homeroom teacher of a new class, known as "Class VII", which mixes nobles and commoners based on skill and aptitude rather than their lineage alone.
History
Part 1: Exile from House Cayenne
Not many are aware of Crim's true lineage as the bastard child of the Cayenne family, greatest of the Four Great Houses of the Erebonian Empire. He was born to a commoner who had caught the ever-wandering eye of his father, Duke Chrisoph De Cayenne. It was something of an open secret that the Duke was prone to taking on numerous low-born mistresses, much to the chagrin of the rest of the Cayenne family, in particular his wife, who was herself the daughter of a high profile Marquis. Both she and the family had barely tolerated this behavior up until the point of the birth of his bastard, but after that, the family had finally decided that enough was enough, and took steps to sanction the Duke, thus preventing him from engaging in any further impropriety. As a result of this, both Crim (who, in spite of his status, was still given the name Constantin De Cayenne), and his mother Cecile El Furaga, were exiled to the Principality of North Ambria, where Crim's mother was originally from, in order to distance themselves as much as possible from the "inconvenient brat", as they so tended to refer to Crim.
And so this was how Crim came to spend his early childhood living in the capital city of North Ambria, Haliask, with his mother and her family, including his aunt and uncle, cousins, and maternal grandparents. It wasn't the lap of luxury by any stretch of the imagination, but they lived well, and life was peaceful, until...
Part 2: North Ambrian Disaster
In the year S.1178, when Crim was still around five years old, a mysterious object which came to be known as the Salt Pale inexplicably appeared in the city of Haliask, turning nearly everything and everyone in the vicinity into salt. It was a disaster of unprecedented proportions, and resulted in the deaths of untold thousands of people. North Ambria was effectively decimated in the blink of an eye, to the point where its ruler, Prince Balmund, fled the country entirely, abandoning what remained of his people in order to save his own life.
Whether by fate or by luck, young Crim happened to be on an outing with his mother on the outskirts of the city when the Salt Pale appeared. Unfortunately, the Pale's influence extended quite far, even to the edges of Haliask. Crim's mother, realizing that something terrible was about to happen, used her battle orbment to cast protective Arts upon her son in order to protect him from the dire effects of the Pale. In doing so, however, she herself ultimately succumbed to salinification as Crim looked on in horror. His entire family was lost that day. Even after his mother's sacrifice, the Pale continued to cover the city, placing any and all survivors in peril. Crim himself was nearly swept up in the disaster, and would surely have perished had it not been for the timely intervention of Yun Ka-fai, founder of the renowned Eight Leaves, One Blade school of swordsmanship. The old man had just happened to be passing through Haliask at the time, and was able to save numerous people with his impressive abilities.
Apparently sensing something special in the boy, or perhaps merely taking pity upon him, Master Yun decided to take him in and teach him the ways of the Eight Leaves. It was hard-going at first, as Crim was despondent over the loss of his family, but over time, the boy became accustomed to his new state of affairs, and as it turned out, he was quite the prodigy when it came to the way of the sword. So much so, in fact, that his natural talents even surprised Master Yun. But while Crim was indeed a rare talent, he also harbored deep despair and resentment within his heart, which manifested as chaos and rage. It was for this reason that Master Yun cut his training short at the age of 16. But this was not to say that he was never to master the Eight Leaves. Quite the contrary, in fact. But it was certainly true that Crim required a new path, and it was thus decided that he would attend Thors Military Academy. Perhaps there, in an environment of structure and discipline, among peers his own age, would the young man find his way...
Part 3: Return to Erebonia, Life at Thors
Initially, Crim was resistant to the idea of enrolling at Thors, and he practically begged Master Ka-fai to reconsider his decision. However, the old man remained adamant, and was eventually able to convince the young prodigy to enroll. Normally, enrollment in such a prestigious institution would have required some sort of prior academic achievement, or noble pedigree. And while Crim technically possessed the latter, this was a secret best kept hidden. Fortunately, Master Ka-fai was a man who commanded much respect throughout the Empire, notably with the members of the famous Vander family, who served as protectors of the Erebonian Imperial family. As such, Master Ka-fai was able to procure a letter of recommendation from Matteus Vander, which enabled Crim to enter the academy with little trouble.
Naturally, with his noble lineage being a secret, he enrolled as a commoner, but this did not hinder him in the slightest, as he quickly established himself as a dominant force within the student body, both in terms of physical prowess and personality, the latter of which frequently landed him in hot water with the faculty. In spite of this, he excelled in his studies for the most part, placing in the top of his class in military tactics and combat exercises, and even managing to land in the top twenty for academics.
It was in his second year that things truly got interesting, and even what some might call "a little wild", as this was the year that Aurelia Le Guin and Wallace Bardias, two future high-ranking commanders of the Provincial armies, would arrive at Thors. Right away, the two underclassmen sought to establish themselves as forces to be reckoned with, particularly the fiercely strong-willed Aurelia. Initially, she clashed with Wallace, and after several encounters, the two of them forged what could only be described of as a "intensely friendly rivalry". Naturally, Crim was aware of the two of them, and their abilities, but as their senior, expected that they wouldn't go out of their way to cross him, especially given his reputation.
He was wrong. After settling things with Wallace, the young woman set her sights on Crim and his Eight Leaves style. As she herself was a student of the Arseid school, she saw it as her right to attempt to best the Eight Leaves practitioner. For his part, Crim wasn't all that interested, primarily because he had a bit of an issue with fighting against women. In short, he didn't like it. But Aurelia was nothing if not persistent, and eventually, she forced him into a duel by attacking him with her full force. Even Crim was surprised at how formidable she turned out to be, but in the end, his skill and strength outstripped hers by a not so insignificant margin, and he was able to repel her with greater ease than she likely expected. Defeated, but not deterred, Aurelia accepted her loss, but vowed to improve day by day, so that she might eventually challenge him again, and prevail. Crim grudgingly accepted this proposal, on the condition that she lay off for the remainder of his time at Thors. She agreed, and for the rest of his second year, he and Aurelia, along with Wallace, became something of a trio (though Aurelia and Crim continued to clash, being that their personalities were both so...forceful). Their propensity for getting into "situations" became somewhat legendary, which would turn out to only be a small taste of things to come for these future "heroes".
Part 4: 3rd Armored Division, and The Tragedy at Hamel
Upon graduation in S.1191, Crim was quickly recruited as an officer into the Erebonian military. Specifically, he was accepted into the ranks of the 3rd Armored Division, commanded by one of the strongest soldiers in the Empire, Lieutenant General Zechs Vander. He actually hadn't planned on joining the army at all at first, rather, he desired to reunite with Master Ka-fai in order to continue his Eight Leaves training in earnest. However, he was approached directly by Zechs, who convinced him to join the army by presenting him with a letter from Master Ka-fai. It seemed that his master had actually been observing the young man's progress all along, somehow. And not only that, but it also came to light that part of the process of training in the Eight Leaves actually required that students be separated from their master at a certain point, in order to experience the world and grow in their own ways, seeking their own paths. Crim realized that this was how it needed to be, and after some introspection, decided that his path was to experience the world as a military man, at least for a while.
In spite of his youth, his strength and skill greatly exceeded that of the vast majority of the military across the Empire, save for the upper echelons of command (such as the then up-and-comers Giliath Osborne and Olaf Craig, as well as powerhouses like Supreme Commander Vandyck and the brothers Matteus and Zechs Vander). As such, he achieved numerous feats in a rather short time, and was able to quickly earn both accolades and respect within not only the 3rd Division, but the Erebonian military at large, earning himself a quick promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in the process.
However, after only one year in the army, Crim found himself in the midst of a dire situation following a tragic sequence of events that eventually led to all-out war with the neighboring Kingdom of Liberl. It was during this time that Crim witnessed the true horrors of war, including the shadows of deceit and intrigue that concealed themselves in the darkness. As it turned out, the pretext for the war was orchestrated by the Erebonian nobility, merely for the sake of increasing their own power and prestige. The way they went about it was truly heinous. They hired a group of Jaeger dropouts to carry out an attack on the village of Hamel, which was located right on the border with Liberl. The intent was to make it appear as though Liberl had launched a sudden attack, and it worked like a charm, at least for a while. However, thanks to the efforts of various individuals within the Erebonian military, including himself, the truth was uncovered. They worked tirelessly towards exposing the lie for what it was, but ultimately were prevented from doing so in order to serve what was touted as "the greater good". Thus, the incident was buried, but peace was restored. Naturally, Crim was disgusted by this, viewing it as an absolute miscarriage of justice. But eventually, even he, in his youth and relative inexperience, was able to grasp "why" it needed to be this way, as it was truly the only path to "peace", or something that resembled it, anyway.
Following this, Crim chose to remain with the 3rd Armored Division for two more years, achieving the rank of Captain, before abruptly turning in his resignation and leaving the army behind.
Part 5: Path to S-Rank Bracer, Return to Thors
In the year S.1195, Crim left the Erebonian military and joined the Bracer Guild. In light of his feats and achievements in the military, the Guild waived various entry requirements, and started him fully at B-Rank. He was 22 years old when he joined, and within less than a year, he was promoted to A-Rank, making him the youngest person at the time to ever reach that level. His work as a Bracer took him to all corners of the Empire, and beyond, enabling him to travel to numerous countries across the Zemurian continent.
He lived the Bracer life, traveling the continent, resolving issues great and small, and helping people all along the way for the next several years, all the while continuing to hone his Eight Leaves skills. It was during these years that he truly mastered the Eight Leaves, and after vanquishing his own inner demons (something of a requirement towards the "path of enlightenment", as it turned out), Crim finally achieved full status as a "Divine Blade", which meant that he himself could officially take on pupils of his own in order to further the teachings of the Eight Leaves, One Blade.
Some time later, in S.1202, he received an urgent request from the Bracer Guild in Liberl, which led him to uncover a deadly plot on the part of the elusive "Society" known as Ouroboros, which sought to harness and unleash the power of one of the legendary "Sept-Terrions", the Aureole. He teamed up with a number of Liberlian Bracers and others (including the Erebonian Prince, Olivert Riese Arnor, under the alias of "Olivier Lenheim") in order to combat the Society and their sinister machinations. However, several months after arriving in Liberl, Crim was forced to return to Erebonia in order to assist the Guild in the wake of a number of terrorist bombings targeting Guild branches throughout the Empire. He thus reluctantly left the task of dealing with Ouroboros in Liberl to fellow A-Rank Bracer from Calvard, Zin Vathek (along with his other allies), and made haste for Erebonia. There, he confronted the alleged terrorists, and eventually discovered that the entire plot had been orchestrated by the Society as part of a larger overarching plan, which was specifically designed to attract his attention in order to prevent him from interfering in Liberl. Unfortunately, while he was uncovering this plot, events proceeded to unfold in Liberl, which ultimately resulted in the "Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon" in S.1203, with the appearance of the "Liber Ark" which housed the Aureole Sept-Terrion.
The team that he had left behind in Liberl managed to fight their way to the center of the Liber Ark, only to discover that Ouroboros had stationed numerous "Enforcers" within, each of whom possessed strength on par or greater than that of an A-Rank Bracer. The situation had grown quite dire, but Crim managed to arrive in the nick of time, and with his additional strength and the element of surprise on their side, they managed to defeat the Society and seal the Liber Ark away once more, though not before Ouroboros was able to steal away with the Aureole itself.
In any case, for his crucial roles in resolving both the Orbal Shutdown and the Erebonian Guild Branch Terrorism, Crim was subsequently promoted to S-Rank Bracer, a first for the Empire, and only the third on the entire continent. His firsthand experience and knowledge of Ouroboros also heavily factored into the decision, as he had encountered them directly more times than any other individual, Bracer or otherwise.
This promotion, however, seemed to be largely ceremonial, as the Bracer Guild in Erebonia was soon to be almost completely shut down in the wake of the bombing incidents, thanks to the efforts of the "Blood and Iron Chancellor", Giliath Osborne, who had long held disdain for the Guild. The Chancellor seized upon the opportunity to cripple the Guild, and nearly every branch, save for a couple small ones in Legram and Parm, were closed indefinitely. This left many Erebonian Bracers with little choice but to leave the Empire, most choosing to move to places like Liberl, Remiferia, and Calvard. Crim opted to stay in Erebonia, in order to attempt to keep the Guild afloat as best he could. It was at this time that he was contacted by the former Supreme Commander of the Erebonian Army, Vandyck, who was now serving as the Principal of his alma mater, Thors Military Academy. Principal Vandyck made him a curious offer to become the instructor of a new class at Thors, which was apparently the brainchild of Prince Olivert himself. Upon further explanation, Crim saw the bigger picture, and decided to accept the position, and subsequently made his unexpected return to Thors in S.1204...as the instructor of the newly formed "Class VII".
Other Information
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Basic Information
Name: Crim El Furaga
Birth Name: Constantin De Cayenne
Aliases: "The Red Lightning", "Divine Blade of Thunder"
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 31 (as of S.1204)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 167 lbs
Eyes: Azure Green
Hair: Wild, long, blood-red, ponytailed
Skin: White
Date of Birth: October 13th, S.1173
Place of Birth: Ordis, Lamare Province, Erebonia
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Affiliation: Bracer Guild
Rank/Job: S-Rank Bracer
Other Affiliations
Thors Military Academy: Instructor
Past Affiliations
Erebonian Military: Captain, 3rd Armored Division
Personal Information
Favorite Food: Dragon Fried Rice
Favorite Drink: Alkyhol. Mainly rum, and something called "The Usual", consisting of a mixture of cobra fang juice, hydrogen bitters, and "Old Panther", whatever that is.
Favorite Books: "The Immoral Hero", "Battle Orbment Hacks", "Sword Schools of Erebonia", "Christ, Who's Gonna Die First?"
Likes: A good fight, the open road, boozing it up, getting rowdy, chicks, gambling.
Dislikes: The next morning, paperwork, procedure, following the chain of command.
Common Quotes: "Another round for me and my...lady friend!" | "No, I didn't forget your name, sweet cheeks!"
Friends/Allies: Yun Ka-fai (Master), Lieutenant General Zechs Vander (former commanding officer), Principal Vandyck (Thors), Prince Olivert Reise Arnor (AKA Olivier Lenheim), Barkhorn the Roaring Lion (8th Dominion of the Gralsritter), Wallace Bardias (Brigadier General of Sutherland Provincial Army), Toval Randonneur (B Rank Bracer, Erebonia), Zin Vathek (A Rank Bracer, Calvard)
Family: Cayenne Family (bastard child)
Rivals: Leonhardt "Loewe" the Bladelord (Ouroboros Enforcer No. II), Lechter "Scarecrow" Arundel (Erebonian Intelligence Division), Aurelia Le Guin (Commander of Lamare Provincial Army)
Enemies: Ouroboros ("The Society"), Duke Croire De Cayenne (elder brother), "The Blood and Iron Chancellor" Giliath Osborne
ARCUS Battle Orbment
Master Core: Tenkai (Wind) LV5
Passive Effects:
Prevent Abnormal Status/Stat Down (100%)
Critical Hit+
Evasion+
Master Core Arts
"Air Strike"
"Breath"
"Recuria"
"Holy Breath"
"Shining"
"Spark Arrow"
"Aerial"
Orbment Layout:
Line 1:
O Aeoulus Gem (STR+, ACC+, EVA+, MOV+, "Ragna Vortex" Art)
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O Suzaku (STR+, adds "Burn" and "Seal" to attacks/Crafts)
|
O Skanda Gem (SPD+, "Chrono Drive", "Chrono Break", "Chrono Burst" Arts)
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O Qilin (STR+, attacks/Crafts decrease enemy STR/DEF)
Line 2:
O Cross Crusade R (HP+, STR+, "Cross Crusade" Art)
|
O Byakko (STR+, adds "Blind" and "Sleep" to attacks/Crafts)
Line 3:
O Zeus Gem (STR+, Impede+, Delay+, "Judgement Bolt" Art)
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O Chakravarti Gem (EP+, "Heat Up", "Saintly Force", "Crescent Mirror" Arts)
Appearance
Crim is fairly tall, possessing a build that is seemingly on the lanky side, with decidedly sharp yet also attractive facial features, vibrant green eyes, and wild blood-red hair that he usually keeps in a long ponytail. Despite appearances, however, his muscles are actually extremely well developed, giving him what would commonly be referred to as a "wiry" physique, and as a result of his intense conditioning, he is much stronger and more resilient than he looks. His body also is covered in a patchwork of various battle scars, some of which are quite severe, including a particularly nasty one running diagonally from his right shoulder, across his chest down to his lower left abdomen. His usual attire consists of a disheveled black suit ensemble, jacket unbuttoned, white dress shirt with the top couple of buttons also undone, along with matching relaxed-fit slacks and robust dark brown combat shoes (Strega brand, of course). He also tends to sport a pair of sunglasses on his head, which he only ever wears over his eyes when he's hungover or trying to secretly catch some Z's. Sometimes while out traveling, particularly in colder northern climes and during winter months, he dons a sturdy coat that he scored from a North Ambrian Jaeger Corps.
Crim, with North Ambrian coat:
Personality
Crim is a laid-back, freewheeling, and adventurous kind of guy, but also debaucherous, rowdy, sarcastic, and even a little cynical. While he may sometimes come off as lazy and neglectful in his duties, both as a Bracer and an Instructor, he actually does take his work seriously, and almost always has some sort of plan in mind. There is a certain method to his apparent madness...supposedly. He's a notorious drinker and womanizer, which often lands him in unseemly and controversial situations (at least according to the guidelines set by both the Bracer Guild and Thors Military Academy). His status as Erebonia's sole S-Rank Bracer usually grants him a bit of leeway though. He has a powerful lust for battle, and can get a bit (or a lot) carried away when facing down powerful adversaries, which can be either an asset or a hindrance, depending on the situation.
Skills, Powers and Abilities
Divine Blade of Thunder: Crim trained under Master Yun Ka-fai in the way of the Eight Leaves, One Blade style of swordsmanship, and earned the title of "Divine Blade of Thunder" for his mastery of the First Form, "Helix" and Second Form, "Gale". His style thus has a particular emphasis on quickdraw techniques and rapid combination strikes, culminating in powerful spinning attacks that generate tornado-like effects. He is considered to be one of the most skilled swordsmen in all of Erebonia, if not the entirety of West Zemuria.
-- Sword Crafts:
Arc Strike (B+) - Unleashes a thunderous shockwave in a straight line from a sword draw. (Impede [Cancel Arts] 100%).
Bloodwind Blade (A+) - Spinning helix strike from sword draw that unleashes spiraling lightning-infused tornado that damages target and transfers energy back to attacker. (Drain HP).
Thundering Gale (S+) - Rapidly attack multiple enemies with fast draw dash, followed up by a sword-draw Arc Strike. (SPD/MOV Down).
Comet Flash (SS+) - Extremely fast multi-hit attack on single enemy. (Seal/Mute 80%).
Severing Wind - Temporarily increase physical parameters, restore CP, at the cost of health. (STR+/DEF+/SPD+, CP+, HP - 30%).
S-Craft - Wrath of Nine Dragons (5S) - A culmination of Eight Leaves, One Blade mastery, severing the boundary between life and death.
Eighth Form - Weaponless: The Eight Leaves, One Blade style is comprehensive, to the point of also including an unarmed form, should one ever become disarmed or otherwise unable to access a sword. He has taken numerous liberties with this form, making it very much his own, which has resulted in something of an unorthodox bare-knuckle brawler kind of style. He has actually been able to go toe-to-toe against skilled practitioners of Eastern Zemurian Taito martial arts, much to their surprise and in some cases, chagrin. It is very much a costly mistake to assume that Crim is not a threat without a blade in hand.
-- Eighth Form Crafts:
Blast Kick (C+) - Flips forward and brings foot down into the ground, generating an earth-splitting wave that damages in a straight line. (Impede [Arts Cancel] 100%).
Sonic Shock (B) - Leap up into the air and come down hard, driving fist into the ground with powerful explosive force over a wide area. (Seal 80%).
Shattering Fist (B+) - Drive forward with great power focused in fist to shatter enemy defenses. (DEF Down).
Iron Will - Focus spiritual energy to increase attack power and bolster defense. (ATK+/DEF+).
Orbal Arts: While not his forte, Crim does possess a fairly decent aptitude for Orbal Arts, and is capable of casting numerous potent spells, mostly of Wind/Lightning, but also Space and Time Elements. He tends to focus on Arts that support and augment his own physical abilities, but he has been known to unleash some pretty powerful attack Arts as well from time to time as the situation requires.
Battlefield Supremacy: Crim is practically a force of nature. A physical embodiment of chaos and mayhem. His mere presence is generally enough to inflict irreparable damage to morale - hell, even just mentioning his name to anyone who knows him by reputation alone can have far-reaching negative effects. This also extends to monsters and other beasts, by triggering their fight or flight instincts. Most of them choose flight.
It doesn't help that he possesses actual, practical abilities that augment this, either.
Well, it helps him. Enemies? Not so much.
Physical Might: Strength, stamina and durability that far exceeds the norm. In Crim's case, it is the result of a combination of training, energy-manipulation, and natural ability. His strength is such that he is capable of striking down colossal monsters with ease, even while unarmed. His stamina enables him to perform at peak levels of physical exertion for prolonged periods of time, up to several hours, before showing signs of fatigue. His body is durable to the point that he can withstand falls from great heights and severe blunt-force trauma (such as repeated blows from extremely powerful opponents) without sustaining significant injuries.
Hypervelocity: Crim is an absolute master of utilizing super speed techniques, thanks to a combination of natural talent and his training in the Eight Leaves style. As a result, he can alter his perceptions accordingly. While moving at higher speeds, anything else that isn't moving at similar rates is slowed down dramatically (from his perspective). He is both strong and agile enough to be capable of accelerating from a dead stop, directly to his top speed, within an instant. To any ordinary onlooker (or those unprepared for the sudden movement), it would appear to be akin to instantaneous movement, or teleportation, though this is simply an illusion. Naturally, the faster he goes, the more stress is placed upon his body. He seems to be capable of weathering the strain for protracted periods of time, up to a certain point, but once he starts moving at speeds in excess of the speed of sound, he begins to wear out more and more quickly. The maximum upper limit of Crim's speed is unknown. He is known to be capable of temporarily increasing his speed by utilizing supportive Arts as well.
Weapons
Kaminokaze:
Type – Tachi
Materials - Zemurian Ore
Description - A legendary "Tachi" from the eastern lands, made of pure Zemurian Ore. Said to have been wielded by a legendary warlord hundreds of years ago, but there is no way to know for certain. Given to Crim by Master Yun upon completion of his Eight Leaves training. As it is made from Zemurian Ore, it is nigh indestructible, and possesses a nearly peerless cutting edge. In spite of its status, it doesn't appear to be particularly special, although it is a beautifully crafted blade.
Armor
"Black Aces" Prototype Battle Jacket:
Type - Special Combat Jacket (Body)
Materials - Experimental Carbon Fiber
Description - Powerful protective gear, made to be both lightweight and durable. Manufactured by the Reinford Group. This is a prototype that was given to Crim to test in the field. He was supposed to have returned it over a year ago, but apparently forgot all about it...
North Ambrian Jaeger Coat:
Type - Cold Weather Combat Gear (Body)
Materials - Cotton/Polyester Blend with Goose Down and integrated Rhinocider Plates
Description - A sturdy winter coat meant to primarily provide protection against the elements, but also designed with combat in mind. Crim typically wears it during cooler nights or when his work takes him to the more chilly regions of West Zemuria, such as North Ambria or the Nord Highlands.
Tenkai Bracer:
Type - Defensive Bracer (Left Arm)
Materials - Type I Radiant Steel
Description - A defensive bracer worn on the left forearm. It is extremely strong, feather light, and is capable of deflecting strong physical attacks, due to the fact that is it made of Type I Radiant Steel, which is a rather durable allow developed by the Reinford Group specifically for use in light armors.
Strega FIS-6 Series II:
Type - Combat Shoes
Materials - Various
Description: High grade Strega brand footwear designed specifically for combat. Suitable for any environment, highly durable, with excellent traction!
Accessories
Evergreen: A Wind-Elemental Esmelas gem charm that increases ACC and EVA, in addition to granting protection against Sleep, Faint, Nightmare, and Confuse status effects.
Passionate Rouge: A Fire-Elemental Carnelia gem charm that increases STR and prevents Freeze, Petrify, and Stat Decreases via Arts/Crafts.
Other Items
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Biography
An S-Rank Bracer based out of the Erebonian Empire, currently moonlighting as an instructor at the prestigious Thors Military Academy. He is the homeroom teacher of a new class, known as "Class VII", which mixes nobles and commoners based on skill and aptitude rather than their lineage alone.
History
Part 1: Exile from House Cayenne
Not many are aware of Crim's true lineage as the bastard child of the Cayenne family, greatest of the Four Great Houses of the Erebonian Empire. He was born to a commoner who had caught the ever-wandering eye of his father, Duke Chrisoph De Cayenne. It was something of an open secret that the Duke was prone to taking on numerous low-born mistresses, much to the chagrin of the rest of the Cayenne family, in particular his wife, who was herself the daughter of a high profile Marquis. Both she and the family had barely tolerated this behavior up until the point of the birth of his bastard, but after that, the family had finally decided that enough was enough, and took steps to sanction the Duke, thus preventing him from engaging in any further impropriety. As a result of this, both Crim (who, in spite of his status, was still given the name Constantin De Cayenne), and his mother Cecile El Furaga, were exiled to the Principality of North Ambria, where Crim's mother was originally from, in order to distance themselves as much as possible from the "inconvenient brat", as they so tended to refer to Crim.
And so this was how Crim came to spend his early childhood living in the capital city of North Ambria, Haliask, with his mother and her family, including his aunt and uncle, cousins, and maternal grandparents. It wasn't the lap of luxury by any stretch of the imagination, but they lived well, and life was peaceful, until...
Part 2: North Ambrian Disaster
In the year S.1178, when Crim was still around five years old, a mysterious object which came to be known as the Salt Pale inexplicably appeared in the city of Haliask, turning nearly everything and everyone in the vicinity into salt. It was a disaster of unprecedented proportions, and resulted in the deaths of untold thousands of people. North Ambria was effectively decimated in the blink of an eye, to the point where its ruler, Prince Balmund, fled the country entirely, abandoning what remained of his people in order to save his own life.
Whether by fate or by luck, young Crim happened to be on an outing with his mother on the outskirts of the city when the Salt Pale appeared. Unfortunately, the Pale's influence extended quite far, even to the edges of Haliask. Crim's mother, realizing that something terrible was about to happen, used her battle orbment to cast protective Arts upon her son in order to protect him from the dire effects of the Pale. In doing so, however, she herself ultimately succumbed to salinification as Crim looked on in horror. His entire family was lost that day. Even after his mother's sacrifice, the Pale continued to cover the city, placing any and all survivors in peril. Crim himself was nearly swept up in the disaster, and would surely have perished had it not been for the timely intervention of Yun Ka-fai, founder of the renowned Eight Leaves, One Blade school of swordsmanship. The old man had just happened to be passing through Haliask at the time, and was able to save numerous people with his impressive abilities.
Apparently sensing something special in the boy, or perhaps merely taking pity upon him, Master Yun decided to take him in and teach him the ways of the Eight Leaves. It was hard-going at first, as Crim was despondent over the loss of his family, but over time, the boy became accustomed to his new state of affairs, and as it turned out, he was quite the prodigy when it came to the way of the sword. So much so, in fact, that his natural talents even surprised Master Yun. But while Crim was indeed a rare talent, he also harbored deep despair and resentment within his heart, which manifested as chaos and rage. It was for this reason that Master Yun cut his training short at the age of 16. But this was not to say that he was never to master the Eight Leaves. Quite the contrary, in fact. But it was certainly true that Crim required a new path, and it was thus decided that he would attend Thors Military Academy. Perhaps there, in an environment of structure and discipline, among peers his own age, would the young man find his way...
Part 3: Return to Erebonia, Life at Thors
Initially, Crim was resistant to the idea of enrolling at Thors, and he practically begged Master Ka-fai to reconsider his decision. However, the old man remained adamant, and was eventually able to convince the young prodigy to enroll. Normally, enrollment in such a prestigious institution would have required some sort of prior academic achievement, or noble pedigree. And while Crim technically possessed the latter, this was a secret best kept hidden. Fortunately, Master Ka-fai was a man who commanded much respect throughout the Empire, notably with the members of the famous Vander family, who served as protectors of the Erebonian Imperial family. As such, Master Ka-fai was able to procure a letter of recommendation from Matteus Vander, which enabled Crim to enter the academy with little trouble.
Naturally, with his noble lineage being a secret, he enrolled as a commoner, but this did not hinder him in the slightest, as he quickly established himself as a dominant force within the student body, both in terms of physical prowess and personality, the latter of which frequently landed him in hot water with the faculty. In spite of this, he excelled in his studies for the most part, placing in the top of his class in military tactics and combat exercises, and even managing to land in the top twenty for academics.
It was in his second year that things truly got interesting, and even what some might call "a little wild", as this was the year that Aurelia Le Guin and Wallace Bardias, two future high-ranking commanders of the Provincial armies, would arrive at Thors. Right away, the two underclassmen sought to establish themselves as forces to be reckoned with, particularly the fiercely strong-willed Aurelia. Initially, she clashed with Wallace, and after several encounters, the two of them forged what could only be described of as a "intensely friendly rivalry". Naturally, Crim was aware of the two of them, and their abilities, but as their senior, expected that they wouldn't go out of their way to cross him, especially given his reputation.
He was wrong. After settling things with Wallace, the young woman set her sights on Crim and his Eight Leaves style. As she herself was a student of the Arseid school, she saw it as her right to attempt to best the Eight Leaves practitioner. For his part, Crim wasn't all that interested, primarily because he had a bit of an issue with fighting against women. In short, he didn't like it. But Aurelia was nothing if not persistent, and eventually, she forced him into a duel by attacking him with her full force. Even Crim was surprised at how formidable she turned out to be, but in the end, his skill and strength outstripped hers by a not so insignificant margin, and he was able to repel her with greater ease than she likely expected. Defeated, but not deterred, Aurelia accepted her loss, but vowed to improve day by day, so that she might eventually challenge him again, and prevail. Crim grudgingly accepted this proposal, on the condition that she lay off for the remainder of his time at Thors. She agreed, and for the rest of his second year, he and Aurelia, along with Wallace, became something of a trio (though Aurelia and Crim continued to clash, being that their personalities were both so...forceful). Their propensity for getting into "situations" became somewhat legendary, which would turn out to only be a small taste of things to come for these future "heroes".
Part 4: 3rd Armored Division, and The Tragedy at Hamel
Upon graduation in S.1191, Crim was quickly recruited as an officer into the Erebonian military. Specifically, he was accepted into the ranks of the 3rd Armored Division, commanded by one of the strongest soldiers in the Empire, Lieutenant General Zechs Vander. He actually hadn't planned on joining the army at all at first, rather, he desired to reunite with Master Ka-fai in order to continue his Eight Leaves training in earnest. However, he was approached directly by Zechs, who convinced him to join the army by presenting him with a letter from Master Ka-fai. It seemed that his master had actually been observing the young man's progress all along, somehow. And not only that, but it also came to light that part of the process of training in the Eight Leaves actually required that students be separated from their master at a certain point, in order to experience the world and grow in their own ways, seeking their own paths. Crim realized that this was how it needed to be, and after some introspection, decided that his path was to experience the world as a military man, at least for a while.
In spite of his youth, his strength and skill greatly exceeded that of the vast majority of the military across the Empire, save for the upper echelons of command (such as the then up-and-comers Giliath Osborne and Olaf Craig, as well as powerhouses like Supreme Commander Vandyck and the brothers Matteus and Zechs Vander). As such, he achieved numerous feats in a rather short time, and was able to quickly earn both accolades and respect within not only the 3rd Division, but the Erebonian military at large, earning himself a quick promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in the process.
However, after only one year in the army, Crim found himself in the midst of a dire situation following a tragic sequence of events that eventually led to all-out war with the neighboring Kingdom of Liberl. It was during this time that Crim witnessed the true horrors of war, including the shadows of deceit and intrigue that concealed themselves in the darkness. As it turned out, the pretext for the war was orchestrated by the Erebonian nobility, merely for the sake of increasing their own power and prestige. The way they went about it was truly heinous. They hired a group of Jaeger dropouts to carry out an attack on the village of Hamel, which was located right on the border with Liberl. The intent was to make it appear as though Liberl had launched a sudden attack, and it worked like a charm, at least for a while. However, thanks to the efforts of various individuals within the Erebonian military, including himself, the truth was uncovered. They worked tirelessly towards exposing the lie for what it was, but ultimately were prevented from doing so in order to serve what was touted as "the greater good". Thus, the incident was buried, but peace was restored. Naturally, Crim was disgusted by this, viewing it as an absolute miscarriage of justice. But eventually, even he, in his youth and relative inexperience, was able to grasp "why" it needed to be this way, as it was truly the only path to "peace", or something that resembled it, anyway.
Following this, Crim chose to remain with the 3rd Armored Division for two more years, achieving the rank of Captain, before abruptly turning in his resignation and leaving the army behind.
Part 5: Path to S-Rank Bracer, Return to Thors
In the year S.1195, Crim left the Erebonian military and joined the Bracer Guild. In light of his feats and achievements in the military, the Guild waived various entry requirements, and started him fully at B-Rank. He was 22 years old when he joined, and within less than a year, he was promoted to A-Rank, making him the youngest person at the time to ever reach that level. His work as a Bracer took him to all corners of the Empire, and beyond, enabling him to travel to numerous countries across the Zemurian continent.
He lived the Bracer life, traveling the continent, resolving issues great and small, and helping people all along the way for the next several years, all the while continuing to hone his Eight Leaves skills. It was during these years that he truly mastered the Eight Leaves, and after vanquishing his own inner demons (something of a requirement towards the "path of enlightenment", as it turned out), Crim finally achieved full status as a "Divine Blade", which meant that he himself could officially take on pupils of his own in order to further the teachings of the Eight Leaves, One Blade.
Some time later, in S.1202, he received an urgent request from the Bracer Guild in Liberl, which led him to uncover a deadly plot on the part of the elusive "Society" known as Ouroboros, which sought to harness and unleash the power of one of the legendary "Sept-Terrions", the Aureole. He teamed up with a number of Liberlian Bracers and others (including the Erebonian Prince, Olivert Riese Arnor, under the alias of "Olivier Lenheim") in order to combat the Society and their sinister machinations. However, several months after arriving in Liberl, Crim was forced to return to Erebonia in order to assist the Guild in the wake of a number of terrorist bombings targeting Guild branches throughout the Empire. He thus reluctantly left the task of dealing with Ouroboros in Liberl to fellow A-Rank Bracer from Calvard, Zin Vathek (along with his other allies), and made haste for Erebonia. There, he confronted the alleged terrorists, and eventually discovered that the entire plot had been orchestrated by the Society as part of a larger overarching plan, which was specifically designed to attract his attention in order to prevent him from interfering in Liberl. Unfortunately, while he was uncovering this plot, events proceeded to unfold in Liberl, which ultimately resulted in the "Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon" in S.1203, with the appearance of the "Liber Ark" which housed the Aureole Sept-Terrion.
The team that he had left behind in Liberl managed to fight their way to the center of the Liber Ark, only to discover that Ouroboros had stationed numerous "Enforcers" within, each of whom possessed strength on par or greater than that of an A-Rank Bracer. The situation had grown quite dire, but Crim managed to arrive in the nick of time, and with his additional strength and the element of surprise on their side, they managed to defeat the Society and seal the Liber Ark away once more, though not before Ouroboros was able to steal away with the Aureole itself.
In any case, for his crucial roles in resolving both the Orbal Shutdown and the Erebonian Guild Branch Terrorism, Crim was subsequently promoted to S-Rank Bracer, a first for the Empire, and only the third on the entire continent. His firsthand experience and knowledge of Ouroboros also heavily factored into the decision, as he had encountered them directly more times than any other individual, Bracer or otherwise.
This promotion, however, seemed to be largely ceremonial, as the Bracer Guild in Erebonia was soon to be almost completely shut down in the wake of the bombing incidents, thanks to the efforts of the "Blood and Iron Chancellor", Giliath Osborne, who had long held disdain for the Guild. The Chancellor seized upon the opportunity to cripple the Guild, and nearly every branch, save for a couple small ones in Legram and Parm, were closed indefinitely. This left many Erebonian Bracers with little choice but to leave the Empire, most choosing to move to places like Liberl, Remiferia, and Calvard. Crim opted to stay in Erebonia, in order to attempt to keep the Guild afloat as best he could. It was at this time that he was contacted by the former Supreme Commander of the Erebonian Army, Vandyck, who was now serving as the Principal of his alma mater, Thors Military Academy. Principal Vandyck made him a curious offer to become the instructor of a new class at Thors, which was apparently the brainchild of Prince Olivert himself. Upon further explanation, Crim saw the bigger picture, and decided to accept the position, and subsequently made his unexpected return to Thors in S.1204...as the instructor of the newly formed "Class VII".
Other Information
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