#oldsoldier!commander

[commanders-sole-braincell]

NEW CATTE(s)

Finally got round to revamping my old engi charr into an Old Soldier!AU comamnder - Aeon Relicforge; and making a very wishfulfilment Megafauna Charr who takes zero (0) shit and qualifies as a house - Brutus Rapidreave

[commanders-sole-braincell]

you have an old solider?!?! can i meet them please??? tags on phone suck @writer-ninjapanda16

Yeh! Still figuring her out and leveling her, but I’ve basically remade my old olde Iron Legion Engi into Her - Aeon Relicforge - nicknamed Relicface to her warband

She’s the ‘youngest’ of her generation (Bangar, Almorra, Smordur), and grew up in Blood Legion (or Iron), and worked on the frontlines. Long story short; she’s an old charr with a lot of scars who’s practically been shipped between Blood and Iron frontlines over the course of her career. She lost her mate and cub to separatists, and had half her face blown off - leaving her with a shattered jaw and a blind eye, as well as a few limbs that have been lost over the years.

Very witty and not easily phased and absolutely the Commander’s brand of Bat Shit

Jaw inspiration under the cut cuz lord knows how tf Im gonna draw it

[commanders-sole-braincell]

There are Charr 'too old to fight'? in the Black Citadel? Where on earth have I been? I know what I'm hunting down when I can next log on. But yes in agreement of the Charr having long lifespans! Imagine the disbelief Logan has when Rytlock off handily mentions his age, an age that's 'old'(like the 40s or something) for Humans but the prime for Charr. "You're that old?!" "What do you mean 'old'?!" OH! bonus points if it turns out Ryland is older then Logan. And we shall 1/ -Numbered Anon

that Charr having longer natural lifespans further makes the Olmakhan odder, we can sweep that under the rug of the Elders doing the thing were they've crafted their own story to tell Cubs (I think there's a term for it..) OH! Watch OS unintentionally crossing two races customs together, the Pact sees this, but instead of getting offended they find it comforting and start putting together the Pact's Custom. Oh...ohhhh... after seeing OS settle the 4 Legions down in 2/ -Numbered Anon

in Grothmur and calming ruffled fur between the 4 Legions, there's whispers of OS being in the running for Khan-Ur and OS may be old, but they're not blind or deaf, they hear and see the whispers passing between the Charr but they ignore it. Ignore until they are passing the Fahrar and a Cub looks up at OS with big eyes and asks if OS is going to be the Khan-Ur and stop all the fighting and OS's heart breaks because if there was one reason to be the Khan-Ur, it would be 3/ -Numbered Anon

to make sure no more Cubs die young but they feel their bones grind and their weapons feel heavy at their sides and then there's the shroud of the Judge that hangs over their shoulders, unseen and unfelt by everyone else, that gets more suffocating as the days pass, as they lose the extra time they manage to win. Canach gifts OS a cane and OS takes that gift and turns it on Canach by poking him and tripping him up. Having so many different people join the Warband 4/ -Numbered Anon

OS is a wizard with hair, OS took one look at Cree's growing hair and her want for it to be long and taught her how to plait it without any questions. OS lets Cubs weave bits of metal into their hair and even lets a Cub who pinched nail polish off of a Human that passed through paint their claws. During their rotation off of the front lines, OS would take a Fahrar group on an adventure that the Warband puts together with mock fights and trinkets for the Cubs to gather. 5/5 -Numbered Anon

if I remember correctly there are? I gotta visit the Black Citadel more often xD

(also, from my estimation, Ferro the butcher’s parent was at least 183 when he was born, so I’m taking that as low-key confirmed >:3c)

Maybe they split off from the Legions super early, or where just never apart of them (shoves legion stuff under a rug) and OOOOHH YESS, a couple of cross-species or raised cross-species Pact members especially appreciate it, everyone has little notes from what they want done tied to their armour after enough battles with the Commander happen.

and YES, there's small circles that want the Commander as the next Khan-Ur, bloodline be damned - they want to see peace actually come to the Legions, and not Bangar’s twisted peace. As the Judge bears down upon them, softly reminding them they don’t have the lifetime needed to accomplish that, they point more towards the younger imperators - of Flame’s empathetic leader, of Ash’s Malice who pushed for the truce, of Iron’s Smodur, who also bargained for peace, who proved he was willing to help with the fight with the dragons. They point to Crecia. And if they hit a few racist charr with their cane and twirl it as they wink at Canach, who’s to say >;3c

and YESSS, it’s common to see the OS braiding hair of charr of any ages, listening to their woes, being a shoulder to cry on, teaching what the farhar won’t. They offer sage advice, and encourage youngsters to help each other

They’re decorated in painted nails, trinkets across horns and teeth, even old tattoo’s. Gifts from their people.

[commanders-sole-braincell]

Oh right in the heart. Just. Yep. No more. Time to let the cub rest. One last lullaby to send them to sleep to. - Numbered Anon

Jormag using the ideal life the Commander could of had with their mate and child to taunt them >;3c

also, what is OS is like, older than Rytlock, but younger than Bangar, so they constantly tease Rytlock about how he’ll soon face the ‘perils of aging’ or other things to rile him up - bonus round: Rytlock realizing the teenager who helped him was a TEENAGER they just looked 50 years old cuz he was a cub! (like when young kids do that ‘why aren’t you married, with kids and a job?’ to you and you’re like ‘I’m 22 gimme a BREAK’ thing cuz oof kids can be brutal)

[commanders-sole-braincell]

All I can imagine is the Olmakhan Elders freaking out when they see OS, thinking OS has come to bring them back to the Legions. *Shoves everything under a rug* OR there once was a 5th Legion that had been wiped out long before Humans where introduced and the Olmakhan are the decedents of the few survivors. Speaking of the different races, would the other races know OS's name before they even become the Commander? What would their reputation be? 1/ -Numbered Anon

OS and computers don't get along. OS tries their best, but sometimes, sometimes they call someone a name that's long been dead. Rytlock has only had this happen to him once when he was younger and still finding his feet and the memory sticks to him. He remembers the Warband around them freezing. He remembers OS snapping their mouth shut and their tail going stiff. He remembers freezing as the name registers in his ears because he knows that name. 2/ -Numbered Anon

He knows that name in the way it hangs around OS's neck with a DoB and DoD that are months apart. When Taimi starts going on rants OS sits and listens and asks her to explain things further when they don't understand what she means, Taimi is sarcastic when this first starts because no one ever listens and the only way to get older Asurans to think of listening is by using big words but when she registers that OS this old Charr is genuine in 3/ -Numbered Anon

want to learn, in wanting to understand her better? She drops the sarcasm, but only for OS. Oh, wonder what Languages OS knows. Sometimes Sage advice is "hit it til it's dead" other times it this long winded thing that makes no sense even to OS. OS favourite sage moment was when Rytlock was talking about his fondness for someone and OS thought Rytlock wanted creative was in defeating a foe so OS's advice was ways on how to kill an enemy rather 4/ -Numbered Anon

than ways to ask someone out. Somehow though, the advice worked. OS hates water, hates fighting underwater, and no that's not me projecting at all. OS can't cook, the only talent there is burning water. OS has a habit of getting Rytlock gifts whenever he leaves Rytlocks stationed area. 5/5 - Numbered Anon

The Olmakhan all scared of this legendary, scary looking, scarred warrior, who descends upon them from an exploding asuran lab - until a cub cries when they pass by, and they pick up the doll they dropped, and spend a few minutes making the cub laugh by wiggling their toy; and they later find the same charr covered in cubs, telling various stories to them as their horns are used as climbing frames

adn OOF OW my heart! They joke that Taimi would’ve gotten on with someone from their warband, years ago - and pull that face parents do when you hand them a phone when Taimi hands them an asuran datapad

and HHGFS They’ve got this wonderful voice that makes everything sound sage like, but even they confess to Braham - they’ve got no fukkin clue what they’re talking about, or they’ve heard all of this advice from books, or just plain ‘that example I used? I did that, ‘I shoved my head in the tank engine to see if it was clear. I looked like a raccoon for months!’

and AHHH YES QuQ Commander looks furious when their fur is sticking to their sides and then poofed up an hour later while they dry in the sun - Kasmeer nearly coughs up a lung laughing. (I gotta angst lemme just: their cold, wet form shows the ribs and bones starting to poke through, they’re still muscled, still strong, but age has finally begun to show on their body a little, and Rytlock doesn’t know how to respond to that)

Rytlock wake sup to a small assortments of gifts everytime he returns - even if one or tow gifts are just ‘checkout this took so-and-so lost! Went flying out of their mouth on the frontlines! You should join us sometime!”

[commanders-sole-braincell]

So no idea if the other two asks got to you BUT! DE meeting old solider!Commander for the first time near that fountain. None of them notice the charr that turns up with Rytlock, well they do, they just don't pay any mind to him as they...talk with each other for the first time in years and he doesn't bring any attention to himself at least, not until Rytlock lets out a low growl aimed at Logan, clawed hand twitching to grip Sohothins hilt 1/ -Numbered Anon

The old Charr scoffs and picks himself up from his slouched position and there's /something/ in how he stands that makes them all turn to their weapon -and the dismissive eye he runs over them in return doesn't help their unease- all but Rytlock who takes a deep breath, holds it and lets it out slowly, clawed hands uncurling from fists. "No wonder your Guild didn't work out, cub. This is a shit fight. Too many people who have gotten used to status getting them through 2/ -Numbered Anon

The old Charr scoffs and picks himself up from his slouched position and there's /something/ in how he stands that makes them all turn to their weapon -and the dismissive eye he runs over them in return doesn't help their unease- all but Rytlock who takes a deep breath, holds it and lets it out slowly, clawed hands uncurling from fists. "No wonder your Guild didn't work out, cub. This is a shit fight. Too many people who have gotten used to status getting them through 2/ -Numbered Anon

life and not work, compromise and listening." ...And I don't know, I just think that an Old Solider!Commander wouldn't take shit from anyone and will call things out, they've seen too much to not hit heads together if people say something stupid that'll only end in unnecessary death (or on the flip they don't bother calling people out because unnecessary death has always just been a foot note and instead they've gotten used to taking their Warband on unofficial missions 3/ -Numbered Anon

(oh that's a thought to look into another time, rouge warband au a warband that flips the bird at everyone and does their own thing and wants nothing to do with the Legions, Gods, the Pact, the three orders and the like but somehow end up involved despite their best efforts, it's gotten to the point that they'll throw their weapons at Rytlock if they see him all without a second thought)) Oh, I wonder, would an Old Solider!Commander even tolerate Trahearne? 4/ -Numbered Anon

...what would an Old Solider!Commanders relationship with everyone even be like? 5/5 -Numbered Anon

Anon you’re testing my self control not to make an Old Solider Commander

but YESS! Old Soldier has seen this play out a thousand times, they know the game, they know the difference between unnecessary fights and unfortunate losses - they see and understand the perspectives, feel sympathy, but also hold their ground on their opinion, and back down if it’s proved wrong.

They’ve had the hot-headedness tempered with the cold reality of a missing body in the warband, of writing names on tablets and lighting candles. 

Tbh I like to think they like Trahearne, in a sort of ‘you’re trying your best and I appreciate that’ kind of way, Trahearne feels like an old soul - or at least someone trying to act like an old soul, despite their youth, and I think that’d be a fun dynamic to explore of the Commander, being the wise sage for once! But I’m also a big softie for Treehorn

[commanders-sole-braincell]

I'm not crying, you're crying! As the Cub is being laid to rest, this time burned to ash with their first teddy bear in hand, OS sings a song by themselves as smoke dances in the air and when the song ends there's silence. And more silence with only the crackle of fire breaking it up. Until a voice sings out and Rytlock ignores the looks he's given as he stands tall, beside him, Rox picks up her posture and joins and after a moment, the Olmakhan join in singing a song J1/ Numbered Anon

half forgotten. And slowly as the fire continues to burn, OS never once looking away from the pyre, each race goes through their own death ceremony for a cub they never met, for a cub who never got to live, for an Old Soldier whose heart was once again ripped in half. J2/2 -Numbered Anon

I dunno why but the mention of their teddy got me real good ngl - something about the OS placing this fluffy plush next to their cub’s body, their last memento of them - or maybe it’s a new old, a gift from the Olmakhan, built for this purpose, both are bigger than the cubs body, they look almost dwarfed by it - breaks my heart

You did it you broke Sole

It’s raining hard now, as they move to rebury their cub in their first grave, next to their mates - where they can have company; so everyone politley ignores the fact you can tell the tears apart form the rain, even after everyone else has gone in, and the OS is still out there, simply standing by the graves, before Taimi of all people, takes their finger paw in her hands, or more accurately, grasped around a finger, and gently leads them inside.

I wonder if it becomes a tradition to come out, and sing to their little family, under the tree on a hill?

[commanders-sole-braincell]

I've been pulling my hair out about ages since I started making up backstories simply so I can work out the ages of my own characters. Makes me wonder though, what if no one knows a Charrs' natural lifespan because Charr die fighting before they can die of old age (I don't even know what that means so...)? OH! Not only can anyone join the Warband, they are free to leave it as they wish and if anyone once apart of the Warband asks OS for something 1/ -Numbered Anon

they'll do everything in their power to do it (so long as it not an attack on a 'band member or the three Legions), not that anyone asks though. Huh, wonder what would be different about Brahams introduction, would Rytlock pause and listen for a second? And Rox's reaction to OS being her backup. And the reactions to Kass, Jory and Logan working out that OS is what Humans would call a War Hero (OS calls it being a soldier and nothing else) 2/ -Numbered Anon

Taimi adores OS, because never once have they looked at her and thought 'child' only 'cub' and there's a difference. Canach...yeah I have no clue for him. I'll be over here pretending that I didn't forget about Aurene and imagine Caithe's reaction to being hunted down by the Warband very easily. Oh, just a thought, OS and the Warband singing as they make their way through HoT maps, a song to send off the dead, a song the other Charr join in singing, a song DW take the time 3/ -Numbered Anon

to learn. And the jungle is filled with singing to send Trahearne off. OS doesn't care about the things they eat because you can't be picky on the front-lines. OS tugs on a pendent Cre wears -engraved on it is Rylands name and DoB, an idea she got from OS, the only difference is that there's no room for DoD- whenever she gets lost in her head. Flame Legion Cubs freak out when OS comes to their camp in Grothmar because of the stories they've heard, ones 4/ -Numbered Anon

that paint OS as the monster under the bed -which to Flame, that's what OS is. Thinking back to Braham, I think OS might scruff the Norn around the neck to make him stop and listen because OS has seen this happen before one too many times and in doing so, might make Braham resent OS more. OS compares pocket raptors to teething cubs. OS will mount and unmount as little as possible because the actions grinds on their bones. Because the Warband has lost many members 5/ -Numbered Anon 

 they have a set date to remember their fallen 'band members on. ALSO THAT ADD ON ABOUT BALTH?!?!?! IT WOULD BE KINDER TO SIMPLY KILL ME!! Oooh, love the idea of Bangar twisting Rytlocks mind slightly to get him away from Ryland. And I think that's it from my brain today, it's gone poof! 6/6 -Numbered Anon

OOh you’re right! ngl I tried to work out what an old charr would be for a character of mine and just gave up cuz even the wiki’s like ‘no clue’ - my only basis is Norn can live for at least a few hundred if I remember correctly, so, so can charr! (Make me wonder how old those ‘too old to fight’ charr are in the black citadel?)

and YESSS them having specific dates for mourning the fallen, it's the one day the whole warband gets together - and the singing, especially at the end of HoT? Ow my HEART! After every great battle, you can find the Old Commander singing to the dead, as they grumble and try to remember which races’ customs are which, and which soldier wanted what, paws caked in mud and bandages too clean and new against the soil. 

and oooh yess! Flame Legion cubs huddle together (even Efram admits to being nervous as he shakes their paw), when Efram’s daughter mentions the bullying, OS has a glitn in their eye and spends the rest of that day teaching, talking to, and helping the cubs. They leave with promises of letters and a reminder that there’s always one warband open to them - if they don’t mind the old, absence troublemaker dropping in from time to time. 

I imagine they handle Braham’s grief liek you said, but also with a bit more grace than a younger Commander? Like they understand it’s not personal, and that their teenage cub needs to get this out of his system, they trust Rox to keep an eye on him, but the loneliness bites at them a little more. 

They train their mounts to go low to the ground to help them get on, or to stand stock still while they haul themselves in using various items as mounting blocks - huffing when Kasmeer giggles a little at them