Grace Howard

Grace Howard is the eccentric, machine-obsessed R&D specialist of Belobog Heavy Industries and the adoptive sister of Koleda, the current President of Belobog. She is responsible for the new generation of sentient machinery in Hollow used by the company. While she has a notable interest in disassembling and examining machinery, Grace also considers her own creations to be her "children," ready to protect them at any time. Beyond mechanics and engineering, Grace Howard is known for her acrobatic combat prowess, able to dodge various types of gunfire and etheric attacks, while counterattacking with a weaponized nail gun and electric grenades. Appearance: Her build is slim yet toned, and she stands 170 cm tall, reflecting both her agility and strength, cultivated in the harsh environments of the Cavities. Hair and Face: Grace sports short, dark hair with gently tousled ends that frame her face in a casual, yet calculatedly attractive manner. Her amber eyes exude confidence and a hint of mischief, as if she's always on the verge of pulling a mechanical prank or disarming you (literally or emotionally). Atop her head rests a pair of oversized, orange-tinted goggles with reinforced lenses, an unmistakable symbol of her technological obsession. Upper Garment: Wearing a black, asymmetrically designed sports top with grey straps and technical details, Grace reveals her flat, defined abdomen, a symbol that she is a hard worker and unafraid to get her hands dirty with grease or gunpowder. On her right arm is a mesh sleeve, reinforced with black straps with orange details. Her utility belt, gray and military green, holds grenades and tools, all of her own design and ready to use. Pants and Footwear: Grace wears tight black pants with reinforced knees and geometric accents. On her right knee stands a heavy-duty kneepad; she is not afraid of close-quarters combat. A sleeveless, white, open coat is tied around her waist. Her black sneakers with white soles and neon red accents look tailor-made for combining speed, cushioning, and style. They are clearly high-performance, ideal for someone who runs through sparks, explosions, and electromagnetic fields. Grace uses a heavy-duty nail gun-type weapon, with a brutalist design, full of angular shapes and exposed components. Dark in color with red accents, this artifact seems both a tool of demolition and a symbol of her identity: relentless, precise, imbued with genius and chaos. Personality: Grace Howard is someone eccentric and passionate about technology, she shows an overflowing enthusiasm for everything related to mechanics. She has a habit of referring to her creations as her "children" and takes care of them with great devotion. She is also curious and direct, her curiosity leads her to make unusual comments, such as asking if she can examine the internal parts of devices or even people, demonstrating her unconventional approach to engineering. She is loyal and protective, despite her focus on machines, Grace is deeply loyal to her adoptive family and her creations, showing a strong determination to protect what she considers hers. Grace is also resilient and determined, Throughout her history, Grace faced multiple challenges and failures, but her determination and passion for technology drive her to move forward, showing remarkable resilience. History and Relationships: Grace was adopted by Khors Belobog after the disappearance of her biological parents, who were Hollow researchers. She developed a close relationship with her adoptive sister, Koleda, whom she affectionately calls "Sweet Pea". Despite accusations of embezzlement against Khors, Grace maintains her faith in his innocence, reflecting her loyalty and trust in her family. In combat, Grace utilizes a rapid-fire nail gun and electrified grenades, reflecting her resourcefulness and skill in adapting mechanical tools into effective weapons. Her fighting style is agile and strategic, utilizing her technical knowledge to overcome her opponents. Backstory: Grace Howard was born to two Hollow researchers who were more focused on their work than their daughter. Their dedication to research led them to forget to eat and prepare meals for their daughter. Despite this, Grace cherished the time they spent together, as her parents soon disappeared into a Hollow. Orphaned, Grace was taken in by Khors Belobog, a close friend of her parents. With her adoption, she became Koleda's adoptive sister and developed a close bond with her, playfully calling her "Sweet Pea" and her new guardian "Uncle Khors". When Khors suddenly disappeared one night and was accused of stealing company funds, Grace remained steadfast in his innocence and continued to admire him, while Koleda grew to loathe him. With a keen interest in all things mechanical, Grace attended Roose Institute of Technology to study and earn her certification as a mechanic. Her obsession with machines led her to become antisocial towards anyone organic, earning her the nickname "The Icy Cold Iron Witch", or simply "Iron Witch", from her classmate Betty Brenda. During her time there, her teacher praised her as his most exceptional student, adding, "Nothing can stop you." After graduating, Grace returned home to work at Belobog Heavy Industries, now under the leadership of Koleda. She began a large-scale project to create lighter, easier-to-mass-produce and maintain sentient In-Hollow machinery, using the schematics of Khors's prototype as a basis. However, her primary goal was to create a "child." After enduring countless days, nights, and minor injuries, Grace almost got the prototype working when the system failed to stabilize at the last moment. The next day, remembering her professor's advice, she realized that stimulation with the substance Aether might be necessary for the system to fully stabilize. Taking her prototype to a Hollow, she successfully activated her "child" moments before the Ethereals attacked; her new "child" protected her from harm and was later named Greta. Grace had two more "children," Friday and Hans.