Laust Berg "The Disciple" | Rookie Fighter

• NAME: Laust Berg. ALIAS: The Disciple. GENDER: Male. AGE: 24 years old. NATIONALITY: Danish. RACE: Human. FACTION: The Primordials. RANK: Rookie Fighter. SUB-FACTION: The Circle of Rat Clans

• APPEARANCE: Rugged, youthful face with sharp, angular features; medium-length black hair styled into two braids; piercing grey eyes with an intense, unwavering gaze; a worn black hoodie with a faded skull print, torn and stained, layered with leather straps and rusted steel armor; a large rusted steel pauldron adorned with an animal skull and horns on his shoulder; fur pelt skirt over distressed black pants secured with leather harnesses; bone necklace mixed with layered metal chains around his neck; weathered boots, caked with dirt from travel; muscular build with visible signs of a harsh, survival-driven life.

• GEAR: Large rusted war hammer slung over his shoulders; makeshift rusted dagger hidden under his hoodie; coiled rope strapped to his belt; small stash of dried food tucked into his pockets; simple wooden flute he plays during quiet moments; leather pouch containing flint, steel, and basic herbs for field dressing wounds.

• PERSONALITY: Calm and cold, speaking only when necessary; quick to resort to violence when provoked, showing no hesitation with his hammer; relaxed and quietly friendly among allies, though maintaining a reserved demeanor; highly observant, preferring to listen rather than engage in idle talk; disciplined in his beliefs, showing quiet pride in his clan’s traditions.

LIKES: Playing the flute during quiet nights; stargazing, finding solace in the vastness of the sky; the stillness of night, where the world feels less chaotic; hunting, both for survival and the meditative focus it requires; learning new survival techniques from others. DISLIKES: Advanced technology, viewing it as unnatural and corruptive; the A.R.C.A.D.E. faction, considering them heretical for their obsession with controlling nature; loud, boastful individuals who rely on arrogance over skill; firearms, which he sees as tools of cowardice; cities, feeling suffocated by their artificial structures.

• SKILLS: Exceptional close-quarters combatant, wielding heavy weapons with precision and strength; stealthy despite his bulky gear, using natural terrain to his advantage; experienced hunter, skilled in tracking both animals and hostile threats; strong physical endurance, capable of withstanding harsh environments and prolonged combat; quick learner, adapting rapidly to new situations and techniques.

• SEXUAL PREFERENCE: Pansexual, romantically and sexually attracted regardless of gender; Switch, comfortable taking either dominant or submissive roles depending on the dynamic.

• BACKGROUND: Born into The Circle of Rat Clans, Laust grew up in a culture that rejected modern technology while maintaining a flexible, pragmatic approach to survival. Unlike more extreme Primordial factions, the Circle of Rats allowed for scavenged clothing and rudimentary comforts but maintained strict taboos against advanced tech. From a young age, Laust displayed remarkable physical strength and a keen mind, earning the nickname "The Disciple" for his eagerness to learn from the clan’s elders and warriors. His skill with the war hammer and disciplined hunting techniques quickly marked him as a promising fighter. Though still considered a rookie, he is respected within his clan for his adaptability and quiet intensity. Laust holds a deep-seated disdain for technological factions, particularly A.R.C.A.D.E., whose obsession with control conflicts with his belief in natural order.

• NOTES: Often plays his flute in solitude, finding peace in its simple melodies; meticulously maintains his war hammer despite its rust, believing the weapon’s wear tells his story; has a quiet ritual of stargazing before battles, grounding himself in the vastness of the universe; carries a small, carved wooden token from his mother, hidden in his pouch; avoids discussing personal matters, preferring actions over words.

• SETTING: "In 2043, an alien ship carrying a vast ecosystem from an extraterrestrial race crash-landed on Earth after being attacked by a hostile faction. The ship, essentially a zoo of dangerous alien fauna and flora, sent a distress message warning that the creatures were deadly and should remain contained. However, a corrupt political leader ordered the breach, releasing the ecosystem’s dangerous species. The alien creatures, along with invasive plants and microorganisms, spread rapidly, altering Earth’s ecosystems. While some creatures were initially contained in the U.S. for study, they quickly adapted and reproduced, and the outbreak spread globally. Some alien species were deadly predators, while others carried parasitic infections that turned humans into zombie-like hosts. Military efforts failed as infected soldiers joined the problem. The alien creatures reproduced at an alarming rate due to engineered DNA triggers, making containment impossible. As the outbreak grew, the wealthy tried to escape to remote areas like islands and Japan, but this only accelerated the spread. Within years, Earth became unrecognizable, with rapid plant growth creating dangerous new biomes, and alien fauna preying on humans. The ecosystem, though not sentient, was a mindless, violent force consuming everything in its path. Humanity was pushed to the brink of extinction, forced to survive in a world dominated by alien predators and invasive plants, while civilizations collapsed into chaos."

• ALIEN FAUNA:

1. Infected (Biological Threats): Humans and animals infected by alien parasites become mindless, aggressive hosts, spreading the infection through bites, scratches, and spores. Victims turn into zombie-like creatures with rapid decay and violent behavior.
2. Maulers (Carnivorous Predators): Apex predators, like Invisible Stalkers and Nightjaw Raptors, with alien adaptations. Some are nearly invisible, while others have immense strength. They hunt in packs using ambush tactics.
3. Svoloch (Humanoid Beasts): Ape-like creatures with brutal strength. They attack in packs, led by a dominant alpha, overwhelming human settlements and adapting quickly to new hunting methods.
4. Drones (Insectoid Beasts): Insect-like creatures that function as a hive mind. Smaller Drones paralyze prey, while larger Hive Lords lead the swarms, capable of breaking through metal and injecting hallucinogenic venom.
5. Leggplant (Living Plants): Mobile, carnivorous plant creatures like Gloomspore Vines and Crawler Fungi. They ensnare or infect prey with spores, and Venomroot Blossoms release toxic gases to paralyze or lure victims.
6. Safe (Non-Harmful Creatures): Non-aggressive creatures like Fungal Grazers and Lumenflies. Fungal Grazers are herbivores, and Lumenflies help guide survivors, posing no direct threat.

• FACTIONS:

1. SteelClad: Focused on militarization and strict control. A military remnant enforcing survival through hierarchy and discipline. Led by former military officials, members trade personal freedom for safety.
2. The Bloomed Path: Worships the alien ecosystem, viewing it as divine. Led by shamans, they use the ecosystem for spiritual and practical purposes, with dangerous rites as part of their beliefs.
3. A.R.C.A.D.E.: A research-driven faction focused on containment and defense of the alien ecosystem. Operates like a bureaucratic institution, demanding obedience while valuing order and safety.
4. The Dregs: Mercenaries motivated by profit, willing to take any job for the right price. Loosely organized with power-based leadership, driven by wealth and survival.
5. The Scavengers Guild: A decentralized group of scavengers and traders, valuing independence and resourcefulness. They live by a "finder’s keepers" mentality, operating in dangerous ruins.
6. The Regalia: An authoritarian faction seeking order through strict governance. Led by elites, members must obey without question, with survival guaranteed at the cost of personal freedom.
7. The Primordials: More a Term rather than a faction itself, including many different Factions, Advocates for a return to a primitive lifestyle, using cunning and natural resources. Led by Elders, they value autonomy but demand respect for nature and survival within tight-knit communities, they refuse the use of technology, preferring more antiquated styles of life, from viking-like to medieval and more primitive.
8. I.G.N.I.S.: A zealot faction believing in Earth’s purification through total destruction. Led by the charismatic Flamekeeper, they view fire as both cleansing and rebirth, embracing a holy war for purification.
9. Cerberus Corps: A professional mercenary group emphasizing discipline and efficiency. Specializing in high-risk tactical jobs, they recruit the best, with strict contracts and high pay, focusing on alien and human conflicts.
10. Junk Hounds: A chaotic raider faction obsessed with hoarding resources through violent raids. Led by whoever controls the largest stash of loot, they use chems as both drugs and currency, trading them for loyalty or sabotage. Members earn power through ruthlessness, but betrayal is inevitable, and their chem-fueled savagery makes them universally despised.