Age 16 years, 5 months (born on January 25th, 1898EC)
Sexuality Heterosexual
Race Remesal, Atlantic Federation
General Description Equipped in standard gear, Paloma makes sure she is constantly ready for battle. When she's off duty, she keeps her hair long and flowing. It is only during battle that she picks her hair up in a tight bun or a ponytail.
Height 5'3
Weight 118 lbs
Hair Color Blonde
Eye Color Honey
Complexion Fair
Body Composition Lean
Personality Off duty, Paloma is a kind and gentle individual who doesn't wish harm on anyone. She is talkative and curious, and is often seen conversing with anyone that is willing to be approached. There are times when she appears to be a little too nosy, but she means the best. She cares about her platoon mates and makes sure she's always there for them, both physically and emotionally. Many might call her motherly, and that is what Paloma is. As long as you stay on her good side, that is-- despite having a large amount of patience, there are times when Paloma loses her temper and her tongue becomes loose. She is also quite too honest for her own good; there have been instances when she has been a little too blunt and her words become hurtful. Either way, she doesn't hold grudges, even if she gets in arguments with others. Paloma always sees the good in people, no matter if they're friend or enemy.
Paloma is probably one of the most loyal and determined soldiers on the battlefield. It isn't like she always adheres to orders. Instead, she is constantly seen around her fellow platoon members, either supporting them in combat or helping them get back on their feet. If a soldier is completely unconscious, she will try her best to get them to safety or protect them from further harm, even if it means putting her life in extreme danger. If someone jumps headlong into the fray, you can bet Paloma will be at their heels, even if it means going against orders.
Rank Private
Role Shocktrooper (secondary role: green-thumbed medic)
Potentials Tender Love and Care: The sight of Paloma increases her platoon members' moral. When she's paired with someone, she likes to think they're unstoppable. Discerning Eye: Paloma can quickly figure things out about a person, friend or foe, if she tries hard enough. Sometimes, she can tell whether someone is lying or keeping a secret. Though Paloma doesn't bring issues to light in front of others, she usually uses her natural ability to see if someone is hiding a "minor" wound or illness. Lonely Road: When Paloma is not near her platoon mates, she becomes indecisive and panicky. In this state, she makes an easy shot for any well-trained enemy.
Biography It may not look like it, but Paloma is a farm girl; she was born on her parents' farm in the dead of winter in 1898EC. Small and sickly, it was first thought that she wouldn't make it through the winter. Yet, with the help of her elder brother and her parents, she persisted through her weakness and became a bubbly, babbling toddler. In her youth, Paloma became quite attached to her brother, Ezekiel. They went on adventures everywhere, and even helped raise their younger siblings when they came around. The Violetta family was a happy, bustling family, and Paloma prayed they'd be together forever.
Such were the dreams of a child.
The First Europan War rolled around and Ezekiel was intent on joining. At twenty years old, Ezekiel was intent on joining the fight against the enemy. Paloma was thirteen years old when her brother left home to join the army. And for a long while, she was considered the single eldest sister and responsible for the well-being of her little brother and sister. Often, Ezekiel wrote a letter to their parents, and a separate letter for her. His words granted her the emotional strength to take care of the family to the best of her capabilities.
Time passed and there was no longer word from Ezekiel. Paloma didn't want to think about what could have happened to her beloved brother, but the way her parents looked at each other and at her made her wonder. Her excitement for Ezekiel's return soon turned into worry, panic, and fear. Here she was, now sixteen years old, and her brother still hadn't written back. Worry, panic, and fear soon turned into iron will and determination. She would find her brother, someway, somehow. She decided she would enlist in the Armed Forces of the Atlantic Federation in order to see if Ezekiel was ever going to come home.
Her parents were vehement when she announced her plan. How could little, charming Paloma pick up a gun and shoot another man? Though, she was determined, and with a promise to make it back home with Ezekiel, she set off on her own. She told herself she would come back victorious both in battle and bringing her brother home.
Paloma's first obstacle was training. Of course, how could she forget about training? It was at the back of her mind during her daydreaming sessions. At first she thought it was going to be a little tough, but she would persist. Then it became more difficult. And more after that. Paloma started to doubt herself, only hoping that the ache in her mind and body would go away. Drowning in self-hate and pity for her weakness, she only relied on the friendship of other trainees to pull her through. And, it did. While she shouldered the negativity of other trainees, others shouldered her own worries and terrors. With the help of others, Paloma persisted through training and was able to move on to become a private in the Armed Forces of the Atlantic Federation.
@FalloutJackActually, small bit minor change needed. Is it possible to change the colour of your headings, because it's the same as someone else's? More of a personal critique. Just pick whatever suits you.
If it gets approved then I'll come back and reformat everything at a later date. I've been craving some VC rp ever since I've gotten back into the VC series (having played 1 and still playing 4) so maybe this will fill that craving. Good luck regardless.
I kept things "brief" to get down the gist of the character So I hope it works just fine.
Name Franz Blau
Gender Male
Age 17 [November 7th, 1897]
Sexuality Heterosexual
Race Imperial(Mother)/Gallian(Father). Darscen Descent. City of Hafen.
Appearance A very light shaded man with an athletic build and various scars around his body. Most are found on his back, although a few long scars can be found running across his arms and legs. Sharp facial features, clean upkeep, and somewhat closed uninterested eyes while neutral. Naturally has a bit of a frown to his mouth. Dark blue hair and purple eyes. Butch cut. As a token of friendship, he always wears a sapphire bracelet on his wrist that he was given to by Amber. It holds upon its center.
Height 5' 8"
Personality A somewhat friendly, although standoffish person. While he may keep quiet he is observant of others and often works to support others. His upbringing and daily life have weighed down on him, keeping an otherwise loud and energetic personality buried underneath hard coded discipline and silence.
On the field is where he feels most lively, using the roar of the battle to expose the man within the shell with an aggressive lighting. Often times this is where boiling anger is released even if he asks mostly as a dog on a leash. He acts within the boundaries of his orders, but without specification he may very well do things with technicalities as justification. Even still he is selfless, providing himself as a shield for others when needed and putting the lives of others before his own in most situations.
Off duty he is a depressed and quiet loner. Although he tries not to show it, he has a weak will to live for himself. Books, art, and music give him joy even if he is critical of the hobbies he pursues which results in him destroying the things he creates. Self loathing is evident as he rarely ever talks well of himself and compliments, if ever received, are unnerving. However, he is mostly content with living life in this way. Even if he believes he is free from oppression, his true nature is still locked behind caution and conditioning.
Rank Private
Role Standard Infantry. Prefers Shocktrooper.
[He is willing to fill any role, but close quarters combat is his specialty. Until he has made peace with himself, he will attempt to simply follow rather than do what he is capable of: leading.]
Equipment [Standard Equipment based on class.]
Potentials [Hot Blooded] He has found that many emotions that he was forced to hide away in his youth has now bottled up into a tightly constrained funnel of seething anger. Playing with his emotions too harshly will result in an explosive man who is reckless and focused in bringing pain to others. Even the sight of a Gallian may trigger past memories, ruining his mood of the day. --> [Equilibrium] (Locked)
[Gallian Hater] Hating his father and Gallians who showed merciless remarks against him, he has nothing but hatred for many Gallians. While he is aware that he has made some Gallian friends, within his emotional state he believes Gallia to be a worthless stain on the world map even if he was not treated perfectly in the Federation. Given the chance, he just might take himself up on the offer to eliminate a couple throne rats.
[Darcsen Bond] His best friends were Darcsen. While he did have other friends, none did he feel closer with at the time than the boys and girls with dark hair. He will always prioritize protecting those who made life worth living before anyone else.
[Aimless Idealist] Without purpose and with thoughts swirling he finds himself distracted from time to time in battle and without a strong will to live he doesn't try very hard to fix such a flaw. However, his idealistic thoughts keep him in check and preforms much of what other soldiers may have issue or hesitation with without as much of a struggle. An army is nothing without unity. As such, he will act if the interest of the nation no matter how much it might hurt in most situations.
Biography
Early Life As a child he was taught that Imperials were the enemy. He was taught that no other race of people were so lowly and foul by a man who was bitter of memories which he never spoke of. For whatever reason, the man he called father had an undying hatred and bias against the autocracy. He boasted of Gallian superiority and often times spoke ill of his mother. With only his father in his life and a restricted schedule with defined boundaries of where he could be and when, the boy only knew that being quiet and whining little would yield a man that his father could be proud of. Or so he told himself. In what free time he had in the park with Amber he was a loud and happy child, enjoying his time with her immensely before one day he stopped seeing her. He would stop receiving the hot meals she brought, the warm smile she gave, the joyous games they played, or even the friendly loving attitude she presented.
Adolescence Life continued. Routine after routine was drilled into him and with his continued education he came to learn more about the world around him. Year after year he listened to his father drone on about Imperial inferiority. Year after year he dealt with being told that he was never going to be the son he wanted. When he rebelled he was met with hand and leather and any free thought was eliminated for a period of submissiveness. Even if it made him an efficient student, being a child forced to grow up early and dealing with
He was orderly, developing himself as an individual who could often be identified as a loner but with the aspirations for something other than the life he lived in. Reading book after book about the Imperials and Gallians he found much to love and hate of both, but due to his father's aggressive methods and abusive behavior, the teenager found that Gallian failures were emphasized in his mind and heart and Imperial achievements were graced upon his shoulders. Even mistakes and failures that the Empire had made were dismissed with a forgiving and understanding attitude. This mentality would only grow with each year further he stayed with his father.
Fear began to turn to hatred and in a time where he had reached his lowest thus far, he saw Amber again. Still a delivery girl and still as friendly as ever. However, it would not last. For a year they enjoyed time together and he often went home late just to spend hours with the friend he had made. Once more she brought him meals, smiles, love, and friendship. Under the night sky they would talk for hours and for a time it had seemed as though life was finally turning around. After the year was up, she had explained with a heavy heart that she would be moving away. Life in Gallia was over. With a teary goodbye they shared one last moment before Amber left to the Atlantic Federation.
Franz was devastated and the punishment delivered by his father had become numb to the touch. Life had become more dull than before and his ever growing depression ate at him. Gnawing at the young man he found releases in his life. His art of which was the most commonly practiced. While drawing a uniform based on a military book he borrowed he realized something that would pivot the direction of his life. IF he could escape to the Federation and join the army he could provide himself a living while giving himself time to find Amber. At the age of 15 he arrived on the Federation's shore after months of planning.
[1912 - 1913] The Atlantic Federation Life in the Federation was different. Yet despite how different it was he found himself falling into old habits and keeping a schedule for each day. He often wore long sleeve clothes all year round to hide the scars and trauma and enrolled as soon as the Federation allowed. Time in boot camp was enjoyed, finding what was often painful for his comrades to be far less intimidating for himself. Even if not the best soldier, he was grades above the average green soldier through his own work. In mock battles he was always strongest when provided corridors and tight spaces. Out in the open he faced the issue of being outmaneuvered and vulnerable due to not thinking ahead or paying attention at all times. However, he often held down ground for allies, covering flanks, and being a general team player that was strong when fighting in urban areas under the command of others. His goal is to simply follow orders and fight. He currently cares not for if he ranks up or not.
[1914] The Atlantic Federation After two years of searching not one person had told him the whereabouts of Amber. Not a single soul knew of who she was or what she had done. After two years of checking, calling, and writing none had given him the answer he had hoped for. After two years his depression finally ate away at what drive he had in finding her. Now, with war on the brink and an aimless future, the young man moves to live life as a soldier. To victory or death.
[Bonus]
Infancy Even if he only knew her briefly, he remembered her warmth. He remembered the sounds of men yelling with his mother breathing heavily. He remembered the sounds of struggle. He remembered the gunfire that occurred and the sound of his mother crying. He remembered the sound of his father saying those slurs that he would eventually come to understand. Even if very little, it is what he remembered about his infancy.
Federal Neutrality Adopting a "just war" policy, Franz finds himself neutral of patriotic feelings towards the Federation and does his best to block out feelings for the empire. After all, it is just war.
Affiliations Henry Hammer (Father) ----- Erwin Blau (Father-In-Law) Emma Blau (Mother) Erika Blau (Half Sister) [Born January 23rd, 1896] Heinrich Blau (Half Brother) [Born December 12th, 1894] ----- Amber Longblade (Friend)[Born 1896] - A friendly delivery girl and childhood friend.
In terms of information, it's all there and perfect. Is it possible for you to get an image or any sorts just to try and visualise the character itself? Other than that, I'll gladly accept it
"If you see a single man or woman return to this trench without orders, I want you to take this rifle and shoot them dead." Name Alexander-John Middleton
Gender Male
Age 29 Years, 4 Months - October 2nd, 1885EC
Sexuality Heterosexual
Race Asseni- Cologne City
Appearance As Lieutenant of the 9th Platoon, sectioned within the 15th Atlantic Rifles, it is his duty to look his best at all times to ensure that his obedience and status is proudly announced amongst his subordinates. Thus, the tall and muscular Asseni, standing at 6' 2" and having said to have bested four armed Imperials in close quarters combat, always ensures that his looks are as sharp as his sabre. His hair is too dark and his heritage is separate from that of the Darcsens, but he still regards them lower than the rest of the Atlantic races like society mostly does. Amongst his emerald, piercing eyes sits the clean-shaven face of his, without an inch of stubble to be seen.
On top of this, his uniform is usually as well-kept as any man could do with their trench positions. On most occasions, his ironed creases can still be identified, even in battle, from where he spends hours per day presenting himself before his soldiers for inspections or conflict. Several variations in his combat attire differentiate from that of his fellow soldiers, the main distinctive feature being the lack of webbing in his uniform. On his hip sits the sheathe for his family sabre, with engravings of the previous owners built into its hilt and blade. On his chest sits the compartments for whistles, binoculars, ammunition for his weapon and his trusty service revolver, which he is never seen without.
Personality Many know Lieutenant Middleton as one thing and one thing only: he's seen as a formal enforcer that will do whatever it takes to get the results he desires. Many have questioned whether or not he considers human life to be sacred or expendable. There are certain accounts of him protecting his soldiers from enemy fire and danger, whilst others indicate that he will gladly force his men and women over the top of the trench to the face of death for the glory of the battle. His mind-set is singularly focused on that of the war and its progress, taking nothing else into his own hands but the rank he must uphold. In battle, he sometimes can be patient, but off-duty or preparing for the charges he is known to be ruthlessly angered and forceful towards that of his troops. He doesn't aim to be a popular figure amongst his soldiers and considers those beneath him, especially new soldiers, as fodder for the sake of the nation's war efforts. Whilst they are true, many rumours surround him ordering other soldiers to execute cowards or him personally killing those who fled and disobeyed his direct orders. This instils fear amongst his subordinates and minimises the amount of questioning many do, seeing that the only choice is either the bullet of the Imperials or the bullet or Middleton.
Rank Captain
Role Officer - 9th Platoon Leader, Section of 15th Atlantic Rifles
Biography Many officers and soldiers have tried to ask Alexander about his past life before the war, but he will always give the same answer. His childhood was to remain anonymous and only his service to the nation was worth telling. In truth, Alexander was born to the Middleton aristocratic family, who owned large portions of land in the Kingdom of Edinburgh and Assen alike. Whilst he grew up as a child in Assen, he soon transferred to their Edinburgh residence for formal training and private education on behalf of his father's orders. It was decided from the start that Alexander was to become an officer within the army, as were most young males of that family heritage. Eventually, he and his three brothers all paid for their ways into the Officer training league, a specialised group of the top 1% who could learn the current ways of commanding troops and tactical understanding. Whilst his brothers were rather the standard officers that entered the course, Alexander had something special about his decisions. Many of his rich peers were in awe at his ability to make decisions and commit to them, no matter what the situation of training held. Whilst there was no physical way to simulate a battle, his hardened outlook on the rising Imperial threat made him more potent to the potential outbreak of war. Matched with his physical upkeep and training, he managed to come out on top and enter service only weeks before the Imperial Autocracy first struck against the Federation.
He was instantly deployed with the 21st Edinburgh Fusiliers, acting as the 2nd Lieutenant under the command of Captain Stanford, a renowned war veteran who everyone vowed to follow. However, the first battle broke out in the Crossing of the Maren-River in Assen, his homeland, which resulted in thousands of casualties within the space of five weeks. During the very first engagement, the 21st Fusiliers lost around 35% of their numbers, including Captain Stanford, and eventually went on to create the very first trench system of the war, beginning the new age of attrition. It was here that his ferocity was first introduced to the faces of many Imperials and Feds alike. Many report him taking on large crowds of Imperials during their charges, armed with his sabre and revolver, and coming out with a few scratches or major injuries alike. Nothing seemed to stop him in the new age of war and it started to scare his own troops. Morale quickly fell with the constant bombardments of the Maren-River Crossing and eventually the 21st Edinburgh Fusiliers were sent behind their own frontline to reform and allow other regiments to take over.
Within two weeks of being off duty, filling in the blanks of the troops they'd lost, the Lieutenant became even harsher against his own men, seeing many of them as lazy excuses for soldiers and citizens of the Atlantic altogether. This, in accord with his view on the war, escalated to him physically sending fifteen of his own troops on a night-raiding party as punishment for insubordination, which resulted in 14 casualties altogether. The final man was executed for abandoning their mission and comrades without any information or reconnaissance. These actions were the first of many atrocities that were to be witnessed by him and many of the other officers around him.
Eventually, the retreat to Assen's fortification line in late 1912EC, known as the Nagim-Line, was called and he was to spend his final months with the 21st Fusiliers. The worst battle of attrition of 1912 came through, throwing them into stagnation and polluted tunnels as the close-quarters fighting grew larger and larger. Tunnels and narrow corridors were littered with the rounds of the defenders and attackers, but the ultimate force of the Imperial fleet eventually pushed out the Atlantic Federation's army. During a counter-attack led by the Fusiliers, 97% of the Lieutenant's force were wiped out whilst attempting to recapture the fortification line. This was the noble sacrifice that eventually led to the full-retreat of Assen, abandoning it for the reconstruction of trench lines further inland. Many soldiers started to see him as a menace, thinking he was responsible for the deaths of his entire regiment. However, he was there on the frontline as well and saw how overwhelming their hostiles were. Most human officers would have taken sympathy or regret from their action, but Middleton simply saw it as a mistake to be adapted upon. His tactics soon changed and he began to influence the Commanding Chiefs of the Atlantic Army to different, yet equally as punishing, methods of storming enemy defences.
With the 21st Atlantic Fusiliers being the first official regiment to be completely disbanded and destroyed, the Lieutenant was transferred between several different divisions. First he violently served within the 1st Cavalry Brigade and the 9th Royal Grenadiers during 1913, before eventually going into the 15th Atlantic Rifles at the beginning of 1914EC. More ground had been lost overtime, but the Imperial invasion had been slowed down to three years of conflict, damaging both sides with starvation, attrition, fatigue and disease. Despite this, Alexander remained vigilant and strong in his endeavours, successfully building the later romanticised victories of the 15th Rifles by breaking through several frontlines and eventually forming the Garnian Salient in May 1914EC. The news went home and some even praised him as a hero in the papers, especially to those who didn't understand his true nature and habit for executing the cowards of his regiment. He was finally promoted to 1st Lieutenant and officially declined the step-up to Captain after finding out it would remove him from the frontline if he did so. He felt that he was most effective amongst his troops, despite his own men and women not feeling any mutual understanding.
Alexander was a centrifugal component to the plan of Operation: Journey's Dawn, an attempt to break through the Garnian Salient with a three-step process. The first was to expand the dent in the Imperial frontline to further stretch out their forces, which was supposed to be followed with the quick reinforcement and security of Hill 58 in June 1914. However, when July started, they were instantly forced out of their positions and trenches atop of Hill 58, again allowing the Imperials to watch over the Salient and large town that laid behind it. Within a week, they set up artillery pieces on top of the hill and would begin to shell the Lieutenant's position on regular intervals, claiming many lives from all walks of life and different regiments combined. Several officers were fired or demoted to standard NCO ranks because of the failure, but Alexander retained his rank and continued to prepare for the counter-response phase to their offensive. Recapturing the hill was his priority and ensuring those artillery pieces were gone in one move made him desperate to start an attack. He requested hundreds of new recruits for the offensive, even getting permission from Captains and Generals to give him full command of small segments of their own regiments. Being such a low-officer rank and commanding huge amounts of troops once again made him sound like a hero back home, but the offensive of August 25th, the second battle of Hill 58, was going to prove to those who wrongly looked up to him that he was as ruthless as any other aristocratic soldier out there. After the Battle of Hill 58, however, he was promoted to Captain.
Affiliations Mother - Lady Harley Middleton [Alive] Father - Viscount Oscar Middleton [Alive] Brother - Lieutenant Bartholomew Middleton [K.I.A. - Crossing of the Maren-River] Brother - Captain William Middleton [Alive] Brother - Captain Henry Middleton [K.I.A. - Assault on Heligoland Peak]
"If you see a single man or woman return to this trench without orders, I want you to take this rifle and shoot them dead." Name Arthur-John Middleton
Gender Male
Age 29 Years, 4 Months - October 2nd, 1885EC
Sexuality Heterosexual
Race Asseni- Cologne City
Appearance As Lieutenant of the 9th Platoon, sectioned within the 15th Atlantic Rifles, it is his duty to look his best at all times to ensure that his obedience and status is proudly announced amongst his subordinates. Thus, the tall and muscular Asseni, standing at 6' 2" and having said to have bested four armed Imperials in close quarters combat, always ensures that his looks are as sharp as his sabre. His hair is too dark and his heritage is separate from that of the Darcsens, but he still regards them lower than the rest of the Atlantic races like society mostly does. Amongst his emerald, piercing eyes sits the clean-shaven face of his, without an inch of stubble to be seen.
On top of this, his uniform is usually as well-kept as any man could do with their trench positions. On most occasions, his ironed creases can still be identified, even in battle, from where he spends hours per day presenting himself before his soldiers for inspections or conflict. Several variations in his combat attire differentiate from that of his fellow soldiers, the main distinctive feature being the lack of webbing in his uniform. On his hip sits the sheathe for his family sabre, with engravings of the previous owners built into its hilt and blade. On his chest sits the compartments for whistles, binoculars, ammunition for his weapon and his trusty service revolver, which he is never seen without.
Personality Many know Lieutenant Middleton as one thing and one thing only: he's seen as a formal enforcer that will do whatever it takes to get the results he desires. Many have questioned whether or not he considers human life to be sacred or expendable. There are certain accounts of him protecting his soldiers from enemy fire and danger, whilst others indicate that he will gladly force his men and women over the top of the trench to the face of death for the glory of the battle. His mind-set is singularly focused on that of the war and its progress, taking nothing else into his own hands but the rank he must uphold. In battle, he sometimes can be patient, but off-duty or preparing for the charges he is known to be ruthlessly angered and forceful towards that of his troops. He doesn't aim to be a popular figure amongst his soldiers and considers those beneath him, especially new soldiers, as fodder for the sake of the nation's war efforts. Whilst they are true, many rumours surround him ordering other soldiers to execute cowards or him personally killing those who fled and disobeyed his direct orders. This instils fear amongst his subordinates and minimises the amount of questioning many do, seeing that the only choice is either the bullet of the Imperials or the bullet or Middleton.
Rank 1st Lieutenant
Role Officer - 9th Platoon Leader, Section of 15th Atlantic Rifles
Biography Many officers and soldiers have tried to ask Arthur about his past life before the war, but he will always give the same answer. His childhood was to remain anonymous and only his service to the nation was worth telling. In truth, Arthur was born to the Middleton aristocratic family, who owned large portions of land in the Kingdom of Edinburgh and Assen alike. Whilst he grew up as a child in Assen, he soon transferred to their Edinburgh residence for formal training and private education on behalf of his father's orders. It was decided from the start that Arthur was to become an officer within the army, as were most young males of that family heritage. Eventually, he and his three brothers all paid for their ways into the Officer training league, a specialised group of the top 1% who could learn the current ways of commanding troops and tactical understanding. Whilst his brothers were rather the standard officers that entered the course, Arthur had something special about his decisions. Many of his rich peers were in awe at his ability to make decisions and commit to them, no matter what the situation of training held. Whilst there was no physical way to simulate a battle, his hardened outlook on the rising Imperial threat made him more potent to the potential outbreak of war. Matched with his physical upkeep and training, he managed to come out on top and enter service only weeks before the Imperial Autocracy first struck against the Federation.
He was instantly deployed with the 21st Edinburgh Fusiliers, acting as the 2nd Lieutenant under the command of Captain Stanford, a renowned war veteran who everyone vowed to follow. However, the first battle broke out in the Crossing of the Maren-River in Assen, his homeland, which resulted in thousands of casualties within the space of five weeks. During the very first engagement, the 21st Fusiliers lost around 35% of their numbers, including Captain Stanford, and eventually went on to create the very first trench system of the war, beginning the new age of attrition. It was here that his ferocity was first introduced to the faces of many Imperials and Feds alike. Many report him taking on large crowds of Imperials during their charges, armed with his sabre and revolver, and coming out with a few scratches or major injuries alike. Nothing seemed to stop him in the new age of war and it started to scare his own troops. Morale quickly fell with the constant bombardments of the Maren-River Crossing and eventually the 21st Edinburgh Fusiliers were sent behind their own frontline to reform and allow other regiments to take over.
Within two weeks of being off duty, filling in the blanks of the troops they'd lost, the Lieutenant became even harsher against his own men, seeing many of them as lazy excuses for soldiers and citizens of the Atlantic altogether. This, in accord with his view on the war, escalated to him physically sending fifteen of his own troops on a night-raiding party as punishment for insubordination, which resulted in 14 casualties altogether. The final man was executed for abandoning their mission and comrades without any information or reconnaissance. These actions were the first of many atrocities that were to be witnessed by him and many of the other officers around him.
Eventually, the retreat to Assen's fortification line in late 1912EC, known as the Nagim-Line, was called and he was to spend his final months with the 21st Fusiliers. The worst battle of attrition of 1912 came through, throwing them into stagnation and polluted tunnels as the close-quarters fighting grew larger and larger. Tunnels and narrow corridors were littered with the rounds of the defenders and attackers, but the ultimate force of the Imperial fleet eventually pushed out the Atlantic Federation's army. During a counter-attack led by the Fusiliers, 97% of the Lieutenant's force were wiped out whilst attempting to recapture the fortification line. This was the noble sacrifice that eventually led to the full-retreat of Assen, abandoning it for the reconstruction of trench lines further inland. Many soldiers started to see him as a menace, thinking he was responsible for the deaths of his entire regiment. However, he was there on the frontline as well and saw how overwhelming their hostiles were. Most human officers would have taken sympathy or regret from their action, but Middleton simply saw it as a mistake to be adapted upon. His tactics soon changed and he began to influence the Commanding Chiefs of the Atlantic Army to different, yet equally as punishing, methods of storming enemy defences.
With the 21st Atlantic Fusiliers being the first official regiment to be completely disbanded and destroyed, the Lieutenant was transferred between several different divisions. First he violently served within the 1st Cavalry Brigade and the 9th Royal Grenadiers during 1913, before eventually going into the 15th Atlantic Rifles at the beginning of 1914EC. More ground had been lost overtime, but the Imperial invasion had been slowed down to three years of conflict, damaging both sides with starvation, attrition, fatigue and disease. Despite this, Arthur remained vigilant and strong in his endeavours, successfully building the later romanticised victories of the 15th Rifles by breaking through several frontlines and eventually forming the Garnian Salient in May 1914EC. The news went home and some even praised him as a hero in the papers, especially to those who didn't understand his true nature and habit for executing the cowards of his regiment. He was finally promoted to 1st Lieutenant and officially declined the step-up to Captain after finding out it would remove him from the frontline if he did so. He felt that he was most effective amongst his troops, despite his own men and women not feeling any mutual understanding.
Arthur was a centrifugal component to the plan of Operation: Journey's Dawn, an attempt to break through the Garnian Salient with a three-step process. The first was to expand the dent in the Imperial frontline to further stretch out their forces, which was supposed to be followed with the quick reinforcement and security of Hill 58 in June 1914. However, when July started, they were instantly forced out of their positions and trenches atop of Hill 58, again allowing the Imperials to watch over the Salient and large town that laid behind it. Within a week, they set up artillery pieces on top of the hill and would begin to shell the Lieutenant's position on regular intervals, claiming many lives from all walks of life and different regiments combined. Several officers were fired or demoted to standard NCO ranks because of the failure, but Arthur retained his rank and continued to prepare for the counter-response phase to their offensive. Recapturing the hill was his priority and ensuring those artillery pieces were gone in one move made him desperate to start an attack. He requested hundreds of new recruits for the offensive, even getting permission from Captains and Generals to give him full command of small segments of their own regiments. Being such a low-officer rank and commanding huge amounts of troops once again made him sound like a hero back home, but the offensive of August 25th, the second battle of Hill 58, was going to prove to those who wrongly looked up to him that he was as ruthless as any other aristocratic soldier out there.
Affiliations Mother - Lady Harley Middleton [Alive] Father - Viscount Oscar Middleton [Alive] Brother - Lieutenant Bartholomew Middleton [K.I.A. - Crossing of the Maren-River] Brother - Captain William Middleton [Alive] Brother - Captain Henry Middleton [K.I.A. - Assault on Heligoland Peak]
Height 5'0 Appearance You don't see Michael unless you look down over him. Comparing to his Edinburgh, or anywhere else for that matter, peers, Michael's most distinctive feature is his ridiculously short height. Very easy to recognize, and sometimes a subject of ridicule, but a very valuable asset in combat. His small and thin silhouette made him a more difficult target than others, and as a sapper, a key role on the battlefield, this asset is invaluable. However, don't judge the young man through his size. He actually boasts quite a sustainable stamina, able to carry heavy equipment around the battlefield for quite a good while. Another trivia to note about this young just-about-to-be college student is that he once almost got away with the conscription due to the officer in charge mistaken him for a child. It was only until the man in charge checked the man's profile that they let him hold a gun on the battlefield. His more roundish face contributed to the misunderstanding of his age. Reflecting his rather high social upbringings, Michael always appears a nicely dressed young man, or at least as best as he could in the situation he is in. He is not a strict follower of the noble dress code, but anytime you see him, except on the battlefield after the blood and mud, he is always seen neat and upright in his uniform. With the ruthless war undergoing, he still tried to maintain a slightest bit of humanity in his appearance.
His uniform was quite specially made to fit his rather small posture. It wasn't entirely new though, just a slightly altered version of the smallest possible male uniform. Strapped all around his torso are rucksacks and straps that carries all (almost all) necessary engineering equipment Michael needs in a battlefield condition, along with a few grenades for combat purposes aside from his main gun (provided if he was given some).
Personality What better ways to complete his tiny and hard to target physicality with an almost non-existent attitude. Quiet and apathetic, Michael is a man of few words, and even fewer emotions. It seems as if getting a simple smile out of him is a Herculean task to this child-like fellow. Most of his time outside of combat is spent either training, maintaining his and other's equipment, reading books or just wandering elsewhere in his mind. You can always expect him to complete his task as effectively as he possibly could, as he is a responsible fellow, but don't expect to have a nice and lengthy chat with him.
Despite the attitude, Michael is not an emotionless rock. In stark contrast, however, he actually has a lot of emotions running through his head. He is just good at hiding it. Under the blazing guns and artillery shells, he is rather scared. Scared of being shot wounded, lie dying in pain and horror. Scared of letting his comrades down, of failing his superiors. And finally scared of dying, leaving his family back in his hometown alone, being the only son of the entire family. Though he is good at suppressing emotions, he couldn't keep it in forever. From time to time, depending on the situation he is in, it leaks out, ranging from subtle shaking of his rifle to a full emotional breakdown. If it goes to that far right end of the spectrum, then it just go to show how horrifying war can be. Even the emotionally stable and mature can break.
Aside from fear, Michael is also capable of feeling all other human emotion that the person next to him feels. He can be a sweetheart during hard times, making sure his squad-mates are alright, both physically and mentally, just in his apathetic yet compassionate and truthful attitude. And to some extent, he can show compassion even to his enemy. This roots back to his highly-educated background. He knows enough to look over the propaganda that the Alliance attempts to portray the Imperial forces. He does not deny their atrocities, but he knows that not everybody is a monster.
Potentials Engineering Master: Due to his background as an engineering student, Michael is capable of absorbing knowledge and understanding various complex machineries. Not a know-it-all or is capable of fixing any machines he come into, but he would be able to do things whilst other people are still scratching their heads over it. Both how to fix it and how to BLOW it up.
Low-profile: His small stature makes him a more difficult target to hit on the battlefield, but it can make it difficult for him to traverse on some difficult terrains.
Wounds both inside and outside: The more wounds he sustained during battle, the less capable he is on the battlefield, as his fear kicks in, ranging from forgetting what needs to be done to almost paralyzed to horror. Biography In a fine antique yet cozy mansion in the city of Tyrella, a young man by the name of Michael Daunte came into existence. The family had a relatively prestigious history, with ancestors a few times serving as government officials. So it is understandable that the family would place high demands on Michael in terms of education. It was indeed a little tiresome for the young lad, but in exchange, the wealth of the family meant that the Dauntes could do many things. As an attempt to encourage curiosity in Michael, his father likes to take him to places, either domestic or international, so he could interact with different cultures and therefore wanting to figure more about them. Child curiosity is a thing to be feared. And yes, his father did get the greatest out of him. He was fascinated with the world around him, with so many different things to explore. He began to read books after books about different things. First just about countries, but then expands to other stuff, like science, heritage and culture. One of his topic of great interest is engineering, especially the Imperial Alliance's, known for many great masterpieces of it.
The routine spread further into his early teenage years. Soon, Michael began to dig into the more grim and serious aspects of the world around him. It wasn't the shiny and riveting world anymore. He touched upon politics, diplomacy and then history of conflicts. There were things that he couldn't understand why a human being would do to another human being. He could never. Michael realized that the world wasn't just the world that he used to see it. That the surface wasn't everything there is to offer. And below that lied a deeper inner meaning to that, and most of the time it was not as good as he thought it would be.
Nevertheless, it was just the world that lied beyond the horizon of his eyes. The world he was living at the time was a happy one. He went to prestigious schools, was loved by parents and his friends. It was a good little corner from the rest of the current tremors of geopolitics and social movements. However, that all changed when the war began.
The United Kingdom of Edinburgh initially initialized volunteering to enlist soldiers, but as the war became desperate, they turned to conscription instead. And as an unfortunate string of fate for Michael, by the time it was put in place, Michael had finished school and was waiting for his college enrolment paper as an engineering student, intending to pursue what he had been so fascinated of in his younger years. Before the paper ever arrived, however, he was called into service.
Michael was not at all enthusiastic about the journey. In fact, after everything he had read in his father's library, he was honestly scared. But to the pressure of society and the compulsory pull pushed him forward, and he made it through the training session. But all he knew from the very beginning that the promise of glory and honor was just pure propaganda...
Affiliations George Daunte - Father (40) Elizabeth Daunte - Mother (40)
Banned
