Setsuna Antiqua, First Year Beacon student

CHARACTER

Name: Setsuna Antiqua
 
Age: 18

Species and Gender: Human Male

Occupation: First Year Beacon Academy Student

Appearance: Setsuna is 176 cm, or 5'8" with a somewhat built frame. He has amber eyes with a black iris, a small, sharp nose and relatively thin lips, normally seen in a pleasant smile. He is slightly tanned and has short, curled black hair which reaches halfway down his neck, with locks of his hair here and there. Along the left side of his body are faded scars from a fight with an Alpha Beowolf, the marks of which never truly disappeared. His shoulders are flat but slightly hunched over from the weight of his weapons.

When out on missions / times when school uniform isn't required, Setsuna adorns three layers of thin clothing: a simple, darker shade of blue shirt on the bottom, a white-and-light-blue sleeveless shirt, split into 4 sections via black lines with the white ending just below the armpits and the light blue upward from there. In the middle of the cross, there is a forest-green diamond section. For the outer layer, a dark blue half-coat, ending at the middle of his chest, with long sleeves and neck collar. The latter is always kept unbuttoned.

On missions/ in combat, Setsuna goes nowhere without an self-made metal backpack, which holds two metal adjustable arms for his weapons of choice, one on each side. In addition, the backpack holds a small amount of essentials: Dust ammo, scroll, and whatever else he fancies. He wears a blue bracer with silver line markings on the back of his right arm.

History: As a child, blissfully new to both the wonders and horrors of the world of Remnant, young Setsuna Antiqua spent his childhood in the peaceful island of Patch, as the son of the retired hunters Emile and Marina Antiqua, along with his younger sister, Jocelyn, as ordinary a life as could be in the war-ravaged lands of Vale and beyond. Both Emile and Marina had met on a battlefield, one a front-line paladin and one a back-line medic, and both knew first-hand the effects of war, Emile more so. But yet, they were Hunters. They upheld the most sacred of all duties: keeping the commons safe from the beasts known as Grimm.

Setsuna and Jocelyn, although brother and sister, took after their father and mother respectively; while Jocelyn was quiet and selfless even at a young age, Setsuna was, as the saying went, “like father, like son”: caring, outgoing, cheerful and all-around energetic for his age. Though the differences were wide and far, it didn’t stop them from being one happy family. Of course, in a world as cruel as Remnant, this could not last long.

And it didn’t.

It all happened so quickly. An argument near the woods where they always played. Fights broke out. Jocelyn stumbling and falling, her ankle twisted and her face in a rictus of pain. Angry exchanges between Setsuna and the quarreller. Emotions rising in a turmoil. Then the inevitable. The Beowolf bursting from the dense cover of the woodbine. Anger converted to utter fear in seconds. The instinct to run. But Jocelyn couldn’t. The last thing she saw before fainting in fear was Setsuna, standing before her fallen body, arms outstretched, in the line of the Beowolf’s charge.

“For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee.”

These were the words that indicated Setsuna's first steps, the words that made Setsuna rise from his unconsciousness, feeling the shallow gashes on his arm and chest quickly fade from existence, replaced with the warm glow of his Aura and the concerned face of his father. He later learned that he was very fortunate to have survived; even with his father beheading the Beowolf in one brutal swing and his mother's medical prowess, the wound had the potential to be fatal. However, the sole thought in front of his mind was: was Jocelyn alright?

His answer came several seconds later in the form of a flying hug from a crying Jocelyn and Marina; the former because she had been feeling really guilty about everything, the latter because she was simply overjoyed that her son was safe. For a moment, the family was back together again, as if nothing had happened. Everything had turned out for the better...except for the radiant green glow emitting from Setsuna's body. His Aura had been unlocked by his father in order to heal him, but now Setsuna needed more, craved even. His Aura was unlocked, he argued. "Why shouldn't I take the path you yourself have chosen, Father?" Part of this was already long coming; Emile had read to Setsuna of stories long past, of valiant deeds both sung and unsung, heroic tales of honourable combat, sacrifice, chivalry, and of the knights that performed such acts of courage. The very reason why Emile stepped onto the battlefield in the first place. "To protect the weak and defenceless, to fight for the welfare of all."

That very night, under the dark cover of the star-filled sky, with his father, clad in full armor by his side, Setsuna knelt on the warm grass, and, together with his father, pledged to carry out the duties that were bestowed upon them as Hunters, no matter the difficulties that arise. In time, when he was of age, with what combat knowledge his father could impart in that short while, Setsuna entered Signal Academy. Within, as Signal decreed, every Hunter-in-training must needs forge/create his/her own weapon, and Setsuna was no different, choosing the simple yet effective combination of a sword and shield. Already, with his choice, he could carry out his ideals to protect and defend. These were the weapons that served him through his time at Signal, with many an hour dedicated to mastering the techniques his father taught him.

In lessons, his performance, though not outstanding, was always above average; he was willing to listen to any troubles his fellow students might have had, to lend a hand where it might be needed, and yet still managed to keep up with his own studies, portraying himself as a studious worker. Where he truly shined, though, was combat: though his style was not unique by any means, his balanced style made him both easily compatible yet a a fighter who could easily hold his own, making him a valuable member of any team, if not a powerful one. Add that to his friendly personality, and he shined among his class. This didn't go unnoticed by the teachers; in his final year of Signal, the class got put into temporary teams of 4 for a final mission before graduation, a task of teamwork/live combat test. Setsuna's team was given a simple task to locate and eliminate a pack of Beowolves, the source of trouble for a nearby, nondescript village. No trouble for the four of them--except when an uninvited Alpha Beowolf showed up and started kicking their butt. Eventually, with all four members injured, their aura down to the red, Setsuna took the brunt of a assault and held it long enough for the remainder of his team to leap on and kill it. However, that last attack brought his aura down to zero, causing him to faint from his injuries. Again. From a Beowolf. Ironic.

The first thing he saw when he woke was...well...a ceiling. Followed by a torrent of noise coming from his teammates and his parents. Turns out the mission was a success, despite the injuries suffered. What mattered was that they didn't retreat after completing the initial objective, but rather fought on bravely, protecting the village from an unseen threat. What didn't survive was Setsuna's shield; it looked more like a battered frying pan without a handle at this point. Luckily, the instructors overseeing the task deemed the sacrifice a necessary one, and allowed him to forge a new set of weaponry before graduating. Enter Discord and Harmony, his new sword/shield combo.

With his new set of weaponry in hand, his path was straight and clear. The end was in sight. Beacon Academy awaited, and with it, a new team, a new goal, a new future.

"For peace and our oath."

Personality: Best described as a polite and outgoing person, Setsuna will try his best to put people at ease whenever he speaks to them. With a caring, cheerful personality, it's hard not to like him, especially when he doesn't mind listening to any problems anyone might have and offering advice. He's not afraid to speak up, no matter friend or stranger, showing confidence in socialising. This warm, unreserved attitude to life makes him easy to get along with.

Away from his social life, having forged both his previous and current set of weaponry, Setsuna has developed an interest in mechanics and technology, as well as reading the odd book. The occasional spar here and there is welcome to him since it's a chance for him to jog the mental and physical muscles into action. Keeping up with his studies, while not his preferred task, is something he forces himself to do now and then.

As a person who follows the creeds of knights long past, Setsuna is honourable, respectful, and will not hesitate to put himself in the line of fire for anyone in need, even if it results in injuries (he's done that twice before). While a good leader, he also obeys those in a position of authority with seldom a question, unless he sees a better, alternate decision. Not a glory-seeker, he doesn't take massive risks, sticking to the game plan if there is one, and keeping himself in line if there isn't.

An incredibly protective child at heart, specially toward friends and family, but extending to any person he meets, his shield is always ready to defend the weak and defenceless, while his sword, raised to the heavens, repels the creatures of Grimm. Some might call it cheesy, but damned if he isn't aspiring to be the definition of a modern-day knight. And woe to anyone on the receiving end of his justice.

Aura: Aura Color: Lime Green/#00FF00

Setsuna's Aura, while capable of deflecting slight attacks, has not fully unlocked its entire capabilities, and has potential to improve. He can focus his aura to reduce oncoming damage very slightly, but doing so requires concentration and is easily dropped.

Semblance: Quantum Burst--Grants highly increased movement speed and slightly enhanced reaction speed (comparable to a Speed glyph), with a side effect of leaving afterimages (pure visual effect) and turning Setsuna's body and aura pinkish-red. The color change also applies to whatever he is holding, meaning Setsuna essentially is a pink-red blur when using his semblance.

Quantum Burst is basically a released limiter on a rechargeable battery. When not in use, Setsuna runs on 70% of the battery's power. Quantum Burst essentially releases the battery's limiter, allowing him to run full burst--100% of the power and using it up faster than it can recharge. This results in the increased movement, reaction, and color change, and also allows Setsuna to pull off previously unachievable feats with his newly acquired speed, such as wallrunning with the increased momentum or a much faster flurry of strikes.

However, the power eventually depletes, with the maximum operating time at 1 minute, before it is completely drained. When that happens, Setsuna must 'recharge' back to his original state. As a result, he will move, react and hit slower, as well as feel physically tired for half a minute. Any damage he deals during recharge is also lessened slightly due to fatigue.

The time between each use is also half a minute. Repeated uses of his Semblance puts proportional strain on Setsuna, beginning with headaches and ramping up to possible blackouts at 3 repeated uses or above. Setsuna's sense of time remains the same with everyone else while active, and Quantum Burst can forcibly end if he takes a heavy blow (15% aura damage or above) while his Semblance is running.

Combat Behavior: Setsuna's battle style can be separated into two distinct sections: Out of Semblance and In Semblance.

Out of Semblance: A balanced and safe fighting style is most commonly seen when Setsuna's not in Quantum Burst mode. Not one to pull any tricks, set up traps and cunning schemes beforehand, Setsuna fights in a fair manner, never resorting to backchat in combat to throw his opponents off. Not needing to rely on his terrain to fight efficiently, he is proficient in a form of combat suited for a gladiator, being able to switch from a defensive style to an offensive approach at will thanks to his sword and shield.

Each weapon holds an equal importance in Setsuna's fighting style, not over-relying on any one sword or shield to get the work done. While this means he uses each blade with equal proficiency, it also means he struggles with any other weapon that's not what he's used to. However, it's uncommon for him to ever be without any of his trusted weapons, as his total of 11 blades and 2 shields ensure that a disarming style will never work against him. In addition, the wide number of combinations that he can use mean that his fighting can be somewhat unpredictable.

Even his offensive and defensive styles can be further disassembled into sub-categories. Ranging from a quicker, dual-wielding sword bit style which includes rapid cuts and deflecting parries, the most balanced style of longsword and shield for most situations, to using the combined buster sword for heavy-duty situations in exchange for mobility and attacking speed, Setsuna can adapt for most situations under close combat. Meanwhile, his twin shields allow for an iron wall of defence if he so chooses, although it removes all of his options for offence if done so. While Discord does have a ranged option, that form is mostly neglected and reserved for mid-ranged opponents.

As a balanced fighter, Setsuna's weaknesses are few, yet still prominent enough to take advantage of. The natural enemy of any melee fighter is obviously their ranged counterparts. Even with both shields Setsuna lacks any method of removing said threats without relying on his Semblance; once depleted he leaves himself wide open for renewed aggression. While he shines in close-range combat, he can also be overwhelmed by multiple foes engaging him at once. The natural weight of his combined weapons leaves him with a strain over time, so playing a more stamina-based style forces him to go on the offensive and leave gaps in his defence.

In Semblance: Using his newly gained speed and side effects to his full advantage, Setsuna forgoes his defence for a full-on offensive rush, relying on his speed to outpace, outrun and dodge any attack sent his way, melee and ranged alike, while his attacking prowess is further enhanced by his improved attack and movement speed. During his Semblance, Setsuna would be more adequately treated as a skirmisher rather than a brawler when dealing with him.

Interestingly, Setsuna becomes more predictable in a sense when in Quantum Burst mode. One of two common styles he uses during his Semblance is a storm of swift, chipping slices, using one blade in each hand to rush in, score a quick swing, then disengage and come in again from a different angle. This is designed to overwhelm any defensive play from the enemy by attacking from multiple angles at rapid speeds, with the additional benefits of his afterimages being closely packed together to confuse the enemy. Alternatively, a hyper-offence core can be achieved by dual-wielding both Equilibrium and Discord in buster sword form, though the sheer weight of both swords limit both usage and speed while doing so.

Setsuna's biggest weakness would be the duration of time in which he needs to recharge after each Semblance use; initiating Quantum Burst is either a sign that he wants to end the fight or a last-resort to get him out of a tight spot. Surviving his onslaught puts his opponents in a much more favourable position as he is now in his weakest state and can be taken advantage of.

WEAPONS

Name: Discord

Primary Form: Discord consists of a normal longsword handle and an enlarged hilt on a swivelling stand, painted in dark blue. The neon-green blade is embedded in a grey "holster" of sorts, with the whole blade measuring around 47 inches, or 4 feet. Attached to the hilt are two blue edge-guards, one longer than the other and both strangely angled downwards to protect the user's hand. When not in use, Discord is sheathed at Setsuna's waist.

Secondary Form: When Discord activates Range mode, the blade and the base turns sideways, the handle angles downward slightly and the two blade guards spread out, one to act as a aiming sight and the other to act as a hand-guard. Two slots open in the base of the hilt to expose barrels and can fire 9mm rounds, not very powerful but enough to deter weaker Grimm. From a full cartridge, Discord can fire 10 shots from both barrels before requiring a reload. This mode is rarely used.


Name: Harmony

Primary Form: Harmony, Setsuna's reforged shield, is shaped like a deformed hexagon, the length of which is from Setsuna's shoulder to 3/4th of his arm, layers of prussian blue and white armour, with slots around the side. When not in use, Harmony is kept at Setsuna's left side, mounted upon his backpack's mechanical arm, capable of rotating Harmony to a more defensive position in front of his shoulder, or a less cumbersome position behind his shoulder. Harmony can also be detached from the arm and mounted upon Setsuna's left arm, to act as a more traditional shield.

The main usage of Harmony, apart from the obvious "defence", is the 3 pairs of 2 green Sword Bits, mounted around Harmony's perimeter. These Sword Bits can detach from Harmony, expanding from the slots, or can simply fan out to create a larger surface area, and can combine with Discord to create a buster sword, doubling it's length and reach. In this form, Discord's handle extends to compensate for the additional weight and length. The Sword Bits can also act as extra swords for Setsuna to use, but are merely a backup option. Each set of bits can combine to achieve the length of a regular sword or be merged in one of multiple combinations for varying lengths, limited to 3 bits at one time. In addition, each bit is magnetic, providing easy assembling of the buster sword or secure connection to the shield.



History: The original weapons that carried Setsuna through Signal were broken and destroyed during a fateful fight. Discord and Harmony were their successors, and ones that Setsuna forged himself. Two of Setsuna's important possessions.

Name: Equilibrium (a.k.a Full Saber Kit)

Primary Form: Equilibrium is a upgrade to Setsuna's arsenal, slightly longer than Harmony, taking the form of both a greatsword and shield. It is shaped similarly to a isosceles triangle with a handle on the bottom, and is mounted at his right shoulder, opposite Harmony, on an new mechanical extension of the original exo-skeleton arm. When mounted, it can swing to the front and back at a 180° angle, similar to Harmony when mounted on the arm, as well as being able to tilt slightly up and down.

The weapon is mostly blue, with white metallic components and neon green blades, identical to the colour scheme of Harmony and Discord. Attached to the sides and surface of the sword/shield are 3 new sword bits that double as daggers, with the white handles on the side and bottom of the blade acting as secondary grips for easier wielding. Due to its weight, Setsuna cannot wield or holster this weapon for long, opting to leave it upright in the ground, or alternatively calling it in via rocket locker.

Equilibrium fills the role of both a greatsword and a shield, but its weight makes it cumbersome for a sword. However, the length of the blade dwarfs Discord's, and is a better option against larger enemies as it packs a much bigger punch. However Setsuna simply cannot move around as much due to the blade's massive length and weight, having to hold the sword in both hands and hitting slower in exchange for more force.

Similarly, Equilibrium also serves as a shield better than Harmony, due to the larger size and durability, but is also harder to move around with. When using Equilibrium as a shield, Setsuna likes to simply stab the blade-end into the ground and take cover behind it, or if in combat, keep it on his exo-skeleton arm and rotate it forward. The weapon is made of the same material as the previous weapons.

Secondary Form: Equilibrium splits in half to form a sword and shield, roughly halfway down the side. The bladed section of Equilibrium ejects from the top, more shielded section from the two sword bits down, and a handle extends from the new section. Similarly, the shield section is held like a normal shield, utilising the bottom sword bit as a shield handle. In this form, Equilibrium is easier to wield and move around with but loses the power and length of the full blade.


History: Forged in Beacon when Discord and Harmony began to feel lacking compared to his peers, Equilibrium solidifies Setsuna's position as an all-round fighter. This particular weapon, made by his own hands, represents the balance between sword and shield, balancing both aspects of Discord and Harmony into one entity, hence the name of "Equilibrium". Alternatively referred to by Setsuna as his "Full Saber Kit", it first saw use during a detoured mission. However, it is not always carried into battle.