CROW
Arjen Zaraki (callsign: Guardian)
Age: Just under 1 Cronite year (28 Cradle years)
Gender: Cis male
Nation of Birth: Titan, Cronus sub-system
Background:
Born on Titan, Arjen was a restless youth like most Crows. Still, he tried to do his expected duty, and trained as an electrician in order to complete a tour of the Xanadu solar farms. He couldn’t stand the monotony of the job and, on an impulse, travelled to the starport to book passage offworld. The one pilot who didn’t reject his request was Ishana Varsi, who unbeknownst to him was a Crow recruiter who knew what he was before he himself did. During the months-long journey to Titan, which involved several stops and one unfortunate encounter with Exile pirates, he began to fit in with the others, especially two fellow Cronites: Darian and Gavrail - they have stuck together ever since and become almost as close now as brothers. Arjen has often meant to contact his real family, but the shame of abandoning them and failing to complete the Cronite rite of passage always stops him at the last minute.
Beginning again on Titan, he fully embraced his Crow training under Varsi’s instruction. Unlike his brothers, he also fully embraced the fast-paced Zuessian culture, leading to a lot of hangovers. Through training, a pattern began to emerge between Arjen and his two “brothers” - Darian was the aggressive hunter of the group, Gavrail the watchful lookout, while Arjen, older than the other two by a year, often took on a protective role. They were assigned accordingly, to a trio of sister Cores geared towards attack, surveillance and defence respectively. Although Crow contracts often separate them, the three brothers always manage to meet up at least once per solar year at the rookery on Ganymede.
Arjen has a Cronite’s respect for family, a word which he now extends to anyone under his Core’s aegis, and this naturally drew him towards the Ravens. Despite this protective instinct, he is not exactly cool and calculating (that was always more Gavrail’s thing); the two most important things Varsi ever taught him were the Raven’s honour code, and that while the savage thrill of destroying an enemy is unavoidable, one should be careful not to become ruled by it.
Skills:
Intercept - competent in using jet bursts to interpose between allies and hostile fire
Shield Offence - while
Medusa’s energy shield is primarily defensive, can also use it effectively for shoving and edge-bashing
Insightful - good at reading people and his instincts about strangers are usually (though not always) accurate
Flaws:
Fights Fair - can artificially handicap himself in fights, for example using
Medusa’s jammer to thwart enemy attacks, but never to blind their defence
Addictive Personality - a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and if there’s food, alcohol or narcotics available, he’s probably going to consume too much of them
Links:
Darian Merino, Crow - pilots the core
Stheno. One of Arjen’s two “brothers” from Titan, his approach to warfare is that of a big game hunter, with an enthusiasm that can sometimes border on the sadistic. This may yet lead to arguments between them. Tall and wiry with a graceful, economical way of moving.
Gavrail Kell, Crow - pilots the core
Eurayle. Arjen’s other “brother”, he is a spiritual man (some might say eccentric) who elects to spend more time than necessary bonded to his Core, often even sleeping inside it. He is, however, almost impossible to surprise, and has preternatural instincts about the ebb and flow of a battle. Small, curly haired and slightly built.
Arakeen Toth, engineer - ‘Lift cephalopod, one of the few people Arjen trusts to work on his Core. Has a tendency to jump between thoughts or conversational beats quicker than most people can easily follow. Darkly coloured with distinctive blue rings that flush when excited.
Ishana Varsi, mentor - invalided early in their career thanks to an unfortunate accident, they now act as a recruiter and mentor for fledgeling crows. Arjen still considers them an almost parental figure. An androgynously pretty human with wispy hair.
Story beats:
As mentioned above, losing an unnecessary honour duel and being pressured by events to decide how much a code of ethics actually matters during wartime.
A recurring enemy who could be either an amoral contrast or a sympathetic character who just happens to fight for the other side.
CORE
Medium
Motive system: Plantigrade
Left arm weapon: Energy shield
Right arm weapon: Smoothbore cannon (heavy projectile), with shot selector for thermobaric explosive, kinetic penetrator, and nanite smoke cloud
Left shoulder weapon: Laser CIWS (medium energy) for close defence and anti-missile
Right shoulder system: EW pod (directional jammer), can eject shriekers in the event of a home-on-jam attack
Head system: Standard active / passive sensor suite
Reply With Quote
A more defense orientated core with solid EW effects is also interesting. . .
Originally Posted by Atrum Daemon
Bookmarks