#cryptid!berial

[harlequin-knave]

"Happy New days, Winter Carnaval & cheery festivities, Magisters~!

Best of luck, joyful chaos, health and prosperous longevity from yours truly! Now. Who'd take the gander and take a present, hm.? Promise no pranks lay, hehe."

[magister-violyste]

@aboutmepagehi challenged me to tackle scents for the Project Harbringer characters! I love how creative this universe is, so make sure you all go check out those blogs if you haven't yet! (I didn't get to Soren or some other new characters, but wanted to go ahead and post what I had finished!)

Arlecchino - The "Mad Hatter"/Knave (Berial/Pirin)

I talked about Berial having a banana-ish scent, but since Arlecchino seems much more serious, I don't think he has that. Instead, I could see his wood-scent being more burnt, combined with ash, blood, and smoke.

Florent - The Fair Gentleman (Ludovic/Pirin)

I'm feeling a mix of florals and fire, and possibly even carrion flowers that can smell like decaying flesh.

The Balladeer - The "Missing"/Kuker (Valen/Pirin)

While still having the wood-y scent I think Valen would have, its much more natural and primitive than cologne. Add a bit of hair, dirt, and sweat, and you know you've come across this cryptid.

---

Send me an AFKJ character, and I'll tell you what I think they smell like!

[yohohonabottle]

Concept design test - Turned final + "lore"

The only thing that went bye-bye, was the lipstick.

----------------------

Lore of the Knave - "Arlecchino"

|> Intro (origins?) story |> Resonance hall idle "animations" & "voice lines" |> "Voicelines" -Main theme- In-depth dive - Voice headcannons

====Resonance hall idles, affinity lines & "voicelines"=========

The Knave's ''animations''

1) One of Arlecchino's idles in res hall is him summoning little warblers (see "Secret, can you keep it?") and look at them perched on his finger/in his palm with this expressionless look. Maybe tiny hint of mournful/fond/pensive for a split second--Then curls his hand into a fist, the bird turning to magic dust that scatters out through his fingers upward and fades. As he turns back to the screen with his idle full-body pose. 2) Standing in that pose as in the picture above, but his eyes glance at the fire phantoms (similar to those in Arlecchino's boss fight trailer, fire-shadows with their hands over their chest and holding scythe?) that slowly emerge behind his back from him (like some dementors in a way) and he dispels/dismisses them with a wing, eyes closing as if in pain/agitated and looks back at the screen with his resting face.

What his summons kind of look like/idea-

The Knave's voice-lines

Deploy: "Noted." (Emotionless cold)

Upgrade: "Hm." (Contemplative but not ungrateful. Just not huge reaction/enthusiasm)

Ultimate: "Witness my rise." (Like how Arlecchino says it. It's almost a rough growl in a low voice, that tapers to how Berial sounds in his ult)

Defeated: "Another...cycle.." Previous defeated line "I will..come...back.." Victory: "What's our next objective?" (clinical again.)

First Recruitment: "Name your contract."

-Resonating Hall Idles-

1 "You have something to say? Go on. You have my full, undivided attention." (With his back to you, arms folded behind his back and tail on the ground and curled around his feet a bit. Then glances at the Player slightly over his shoulder as he crosses his arms, expectant and still waiting for you to speak up. Then his tail-tip gives a single tap on the ground as he sighs through his nose -suppressed sigh- and turns around to face the screen to assume his idle pose.)

2 "....." (The first idle I described with the birds)

3 "...." (The second with the shadows)

4 "Is this everything..?" (Emotionless, asking you if he's dismissed.)

---Affinity Gift---

General line: "......thanks."

When gifted fav item -Either a demon's eye or flower bouquet: "....Home......I can hear them sing..." (Closes his eyes with a wistful tint to his expression, as if recalling fond memories...and being hurt but smiles ever so subtly, a sad tired smile of longing.)

When given item he hates (Can be Celestial sword or Lightbearer cup): "............" (Very cold, mildly agitated silence mixed with agonized mourning.)

[harlequin-knave]

Concept design test - Turned final + "lore"

The only thing that went bye-bye, was the lipstick.

----------------------

Lore of the Knave - "Arlecchino"

|> Intro (origins?) story |> Resonance hall idle "animations" & "voice lines" |> "Voicelines" -Main theme- In-depth dive - Voice headcanons |> Secondary theme (Battle/Intro theme) - Forest Dance >> Themes playlist

====Resonance hall idles, affinity lines & "voicelines"=========

The Knave's ''animations''

1) One of Arlecchino's idles in res hall is him summoning little warblers (see "Secret, can you keep it?") and look at them perched on his finger/in his palm with this expressionless look. Maybe tiny hint of mournful/fond/pensive for a split second--Then curls his hand into a fist, the bird turning to magic dust that scatters out through his fingers upward and fades. As he turns back to the screen with his idle full-body pose.

2) Standing in that pose as in the picture above, but his eyes glance at the fire phantoms (similar to those in Arlecchino's boss fight trailer, fire-shadows with their hands over their chest and holding scythe?) that slowly emerge behind his back from him (like some dementors in a way) and he dispels/dismisses them with a wing, eyes closing as if in pain/agitated and looks back at the screen with his resting face.

What his summons kind of look like/idea-

The Knave's voice-lines

Deploy: "Noted." (Emotionless cold)

Upgrade: "Hm." (Contemplative but not ungrateful. Just not huge reaction/enthusiasm)

Ultimate: "Witness my rise." (Like how Arlecchino says it. It's almost a rough growl in a low voice, that tapers to how Berial sounds in his ult)

Defeated: "Another...cycle.." Previous defeated line "I will..come...back.." Victory: "What's our next objective?" (clinical again.)

First Recruitment: "Name your contract."

-Resonating Hall Idles-

1 "You have something to say? Go on. You have my full, undivided attention." (With his back to you, arms folded behind his back and tail on the ground and curled around his feet a bit. Then glances at the Player slightly over his shoulder as he crosses his arms, expectant and still waiting for you to speak up. Then his tail-tip gives a single tap on the ground as he sighs through his nose -suppressed sigh- and turns around to face the screen to assume his idle pose.)

2 "....." (The first idle I described with the birds)

3 "...." (The second with the shadows)

4 "Is this everything..?" (Emotionless, asking you if he's dismissed.)

---Affinity Gift---

General line: "......thanks."

When gifted fav item -Either a demon's eye or flower bouquet: "....Home......I can hear them sing..." (Closes his eyes with a wistful tint to his expression, as if recalling fond memories...and being hurt but smiles ever so subtly, a sad tired smile of longing.)

When given item he hates (Can be Celestial sword or Graveborn lantern): "............" (Very cold, mildly agitated silence mixed with agonized mourning.)

Official tags for The Knave cryptid: The "Mad-Hatter", "Arlecchino", The "Knave" , project "harbringer" , "Harlequin", Pawn of contracts, the Solemn jester, Solemn jester

The other Cryptids' ask blogs |> The Damoiseau - "The Blind prophet" |> The Balladeer - "The Kuker" / "The Missing" |> The Marionet - Executioner/ The "Debt-collector" |> The Fair Gentleman / Unbound Will- of wisp

[harlequin-knave]

Ask blog intro - Harlequin the Knave |||

Peering into his hat while leisurely floating, one leg crossed over the other-- The Solemn jester reaches to take the slips of submissions. Skimming over the filled out blanks with inquiries and the like, the thin line on his face upturns ever so subtly. A hum nonchalant, and of cold mild 'amusement'.

"Well. Won't this be interesting."

How.. very, curious.

Tapping the papers against his knee to properly right out the stack, he places them aside and looks off in the void's distance. "My inbox is open, you may slide your queries at anytime within the window of ten am–nine pm." The clinical drone of his breathless rasp flows in the space of the 'office'. A humble room with all four walls lined with bookshelves, a writing desk in one corner near the door and the bed opposite. "The entries submitted outside of this time window will be reviewed, rest assured. However receiving an immediate response is less likely."

.

"That said, one last point in my disclaimer worth noting. All inquiries are welcome, provided they hold a respectful nature of their tone." The tip of his spotted tail lightly taps on the ground, once. Turning back to face 'the camera' or 'screen', he keeps his arms neatly folded behind his back, inky wings giving a small flutter as they stretch out then fold back calmly.

Harlequin's next line, even though a question, carries more the notion of a mere acknowledging statement.

"What, are your burning questions you wish me to address?"

[harlequin-knave]

Anon again!

Are you still Berial? Also I've trying to find the Blind prophet but he's just gone??? Can you foraward to him I wanna ask him a question? Thanks!

My question to the Mauler: "Riddle me a prophecy!" Why are you being so cryptic? And thoughts on the Uru clan? On Phraesto?

– curious anon (on a streak)

"Really now? Since when did I become courier pigeon and messenger?" The top-hat flies to settle on the desk with copied question. "Fine, just this once. I do have a word for that bear regardless– might as well hit two birds with one swipe."

The letter disappears in thin air, likely sending the forwarded ask to @damoiseaumauler 's current location.

"To answer your question: No, and yes. For a lack of apt terms– I'm the ashes of my two components. But I'm not either Berial, nor am I Pirin. They both got melted down on soul-level and meshed to create this fusion. ...A, celebration of two people, if you will." A slight pause. "Also please direct your asks to the appropriate personas in the future. And your wording can be baffling, at times. Thank you."

[harlequin-knave]

To the Solemn jester: If you weren't bound by Merlin's contract... would you still hunt your fellow Hypogean comrades? Namely the Frost Furie?

And do you know other languages outside of common Esperian?

"....Bold of you to assume our interests align. To answer your questions: Yes. Although had I not been bound– Cryonia would have met her end far sooner than she did. As for the rest? Phraesto might have lived for another day or two; Same for Harak.

I would have inevitably had to take them down regardless.

And do I know other languages? Да, разбира се.

Mais je préfére de parlair et ecrire en anglais... Porque mi espangña es no bueno... et mi francois. Я говорю и пишет на русский язык, но к сожалению очень плохо."

[harlequin-knave]

III Voice head canon for Harlequin III

Here you can best hear the Solemn jester's voice, the whispering part specifically. Later in the song he deepens it in pitch drastically and changes so it's not raspy. And the lyrics match him- Both Berial and the other component.

"What if I tell you to leave me and my beloved ones in peace, But you only understand the language of the sword?" "Devastation, regeneration, transformation, This is the best I can do for you, the fires of purification- So I can wake up with a smile and bliss in my heart-" "Coexistence can't be -" Here he gets incomprehensible.

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This fusion, going by the names Merlin gave per binding him in contract --Arlecchino, Harlequin -- has a voice that's...A rasp. Very much like how Berial speaks in his whispering low tones, but has a chill of clinical detachment to it.