Virtues: Self-confident, focused, clever, impossible to deter or obstruct
Flaws: Vicious, vengeful, prideful, lacking in empathy, and a little too happy to play the villain
Role in Combat: Area-effect offense, distraction and intimidation
Basic Weapon: Gloves
Semblance: Rebuke. Catching an opponent’s eyes and freezing, Laurel can compel them to freeze with her. Said opponent can still breathe, speak, and think as normal, but the enforced halt is very useful for setting up combos, taking the first strike, and cultivating dramatic effect. It works more reliably the closer she is. Vigorous movement or a break in eye contact will end the effect.
Her favorite thing about Beacon is the abundance of unsuspecting strangers. Her least favorite thing about Beacon is that there’s not enough time to do everything. What she needs is a good swatting with a rolled-up newspaper or something.
Laurel is incredibly vicious for such a tiny thing. She’s not evil, not really, but she can definitely be mean. She loves a good laugh at someone else’s expense, and wronging her is very risky. She doesn’t like anyone to think they’re better than her, and has no qualms about using underhanded measures to take that power back. Varden does what he can to curb her nastier tendencies and let her better points dominate. Pallas, on the other hand, is pretty done with her, and mildly offended by basically everything she does. Roan doesn’t really care either way – because honestly, how much trouble can little Laurel really be?
She believes in love and the power of friendship and all that – just not for herself. Those are the forces that hold other people, normal people, and she’s happily above them. All she needs are her own two ears and the intricate workings between them. She maintains top status by knowing all sorts of useful things, and making sure the right people have the right bits of knowledge available to them. For all her flaws, she knows how to be liked and who to be liked by, and does her best to ensure that she stays in favor with the right people.
The easiest thing to do is stay out of her way. When she sets a goal, everything between it and her is forfeit. This is entirely applicable in battle – she never tries to cast too near to her comrades, but it happens. She is audacious and fierce, without apology, and needs no approval or justification from anyone. Still, though she doesn’t like to admit that she has a conscience, she does, and Varden’s good-natured meddling brings it forth in just such a way that she can’t resent him. Her mask is not her face, as much as she’d like it to be.
She has two siblings, Rosemary and Myrtle, both older than her. She idolizes Myrtle just enough for it to show – Myrtle is soft and sincere and precious and perfect and Laurel would gladly kill for her. Rosemary, on the other hand, she pointedly doesn’t talk about. Rosemary is a frightening thing.
Virtues: Intelligent, considerate, sincere, dedicated, full of knowledge and quick to offer help
Flaws: Prideful, judgmental, over-driven, prone to over-caution and rigid thinking
Role in Combat: Tactics, ranged support
Base Weapon: Bow
Semblance: Piercing sight. Out to the edge of his normal range of vision – and clearly, thanks to his glasses – he can see through obstacles. He can look into a forest and see straight across, through and past the trees. From high ground, he can survey even the most covered battlefield and tell his allies exactly where the enemy is.
His favorite thing about Beacon is the amount of opportunity it provides. His least favorite thing about Beacon is other students. What he needs is to believe his own words.
Pallas is pretty serious about basically everything. He’s intent on making the world better, and very proud of that fact. He’s going to fix things. He tries hard, very hard, and expects the same dedication and maturity from those he works with. Needless to say, he’s usually disappointed. Varden tries to make him lighten up, he tries to make Varden straighten up, and neither of them gets very far – but fortunately, they are still friendly with each other. Roan isn’t trouble, thank goodness, though he could probably use some company once in a while. Laurel, the little fiend, is a blight upon the school, and Pallas is sure he’s the only one who realizes it.
Despite the high standards he presses upon himself and his teammates, he’s a big help around the school in general. He tutors, he organizes, he offers a hand pretty much wherever one seems needed. His grades are top-notch, and his combat scores are pretty darn good too. The professors can see that he’s a capable student, and he’s really not a suck-up, just dedicated. Unfortunately, he can get too absorbed in trying harder and getting better and putting everything in order exactly where he wants it. Sometimes even he forgets that he’s just one person, with the same limitations and needs as everyone else.
He likes to be in charge, if only to make sure that things are done right. Though he doesn’t begrudge Varden the position, he quietly wonders why he isn’t leading a team of his own. The school is his life now – nothing before has any bearing on him. Even with his teammates, he’s usually the one directing things. If he’s honest, it does bother him, and he does continue to wonder why he’s apparently not good enough. Fortunately, that frustration is a minor consideration, and one he can usually ignore. He’s happy enough with the way things have turned out, really, and looks forward to all he’ll be able to learn.
He was an only child… Sort of. It’s a long story and he’s certainly not obligated to talk about it, thank you very much.
Virtues: Fiercely protective, absolutely solid, reliable, and distinctly not judgmental
Flaws: Inexpressive, imposing, and too content to follow, lacking both moderation and purpose
Role in Combat: Heavy offense
Basic Weapon: Gauntlets
Semblance: Impact. If there’s one thing Roan’s good at, it’s hitting hard. He can lift and throw and push things around about as well as you’d expect from such a giant, but the minute he goes at something with a closed fist, it’s done for.
His favorite thing about Beacon is how roomy it is. His least favorite thing about Beacon is his uniform blazer. What he needs is a purpose.
Roan is perpetually tired. People are tiring. Classes are tiring. Free time is tiring. The only time he doesn’t seem fresh from hibernation is when he’s in a fight. He tends to blend into the background, letting everyone else get on with their endeavors while he does perfectly well for himself, unnoticed, slow and steady. When he does take focused action, it is usually sudden and surprising. Varden nudges at him and worries – too much, in his opinion. He appreciates Pallas letting him be, and their partnership remains stable and pleasant. Roan is Laurel’s second-favorite person to climb on, after Varden, and he lets her get away with that because she really isn’t as much trouble as everyone makes her out to be. He is a remarkable cook, a talent which all of his teammates have learned to appreciate.
He likes to be left alone, or with just his team at least, since they’ve learned to understand him. When that’s impossible, he positions himself with the quietest people he can find. He makes a good anchor for shy or anxious acquaintances, though not on purpose, and is a great listener as long as no one’s looking for advice. For someone who rarely talks, he’s surprisingly open with physical interaction, silently picking people up to place them out of the way or indicating his support with a touch on the shoulder. In this regard, he is actually incredibly gentle – violence is not his norm, and with good reason. If you manage to make him raise a fist, you’re already in more trouble than you bargained for.
Above all, he’s reliable. In battle, he makes just about the stoutest ally anyone could ask for. It doesn’t matter how he feels about you personally or what he thinks of your actions; if you’re on the same team, he will support and protect you, and he certainly won’t be the first to go down. He sees morality as fairly black and white, but also disregards most things as not-his-business. Though he doesn’t really “get along” with people, this lets him get by with just about anyone.
He has about a bazillion siblings, among whom he developed most of his quietly authoritative habits. As one of the oldest, he was often preoccupied with herding the younglings about. It’s strange, being at school, not responsible for anyone but himself.
Virtues: Charismatic, resilient, honorable, and empathetic, with a high pain tolerance
Flaws: Too relaxed, lacking in ambition, prone to tomfoolery and letting things get out of hand
Role in Combat: Scout, front-line combat
Basic Weapon: Spear and dagger
Semblance: Fast healing – and oh, does he use it. Even with his aura to protect him, he takes a lot of hits head-on, and usually comes back from battle at least a little mangled. If he can survive the initial damage, he’ll recover just fine, and far faster than expected. Wasting effects and poison do little to faze him. (He does take advantage of this to get away with eating half-spoiled food.)
His favorite thing about Beacon is that it’s full of cute girls. His least favorite thing about Beacon is also that it’s full of cute girls. What he needs is to learn to dodge.
Varden serves as team VRML’s fearless leader, wringing what little camaraderie he can out of his difficult teammates. It’s a job on par with herding cats, but he is dauntless. His leadership is natural – accidental, almost, and entirely by example. His easy-going manner and absolute optimism endear him to many. Fortunately, his position as Laurel’s partner allows him to keep her well in check, which is a job he actually doesn’t mind. Roan is significantly more troubling, because he gets bristly when fretted over. Pallas is always wonderful to have nearby as someone Varden doesn’t have to worry about.
A chronic flirt, Varden has a bad habit of forming new crushes every other week or so and never actually pursuing any of them. It certainly doesn’t help that he’s friendly enough to seem flirty whether he means to or not. He actively pursues the company and friendship of introverts, and has firmly decided to believe that everyone is worth it. In class, he gets middling marks. He doesn’t try hard, and doesn’t see it as a problem; there are more important things in life, like enjoying it. Still, professors are well worth befriending, especially the stern ones. Everyone has stories to tell.
He has yet to meet anyone with worse luck than him. If he forms a plan, it will go wrong. If he leads a charge, he will fall quickly and spectacularly. Minor miracles salvage what’s left of him on a regular basis. He’s the exact opposite of dignified, and has so much practice rolling with the punches that they barely even register now. He’s much more clever than he seems – though that might just be because he makes himself seem so not clever all the time. He can and will make a fool of himself just to boost others’ morale.
He was an only child whose parents ran a shipping company, conducting a good bit of smuggling on the side. Dad died in a “disagreement,” mom took over, and Varden was shipped out to school, since she was very much determined to keep him well away from the family business. He continues to love her dearly, stern lady though she is – as do her employees.
