AU History: As so many stories do, Cu's life started with an accident. His father, a prominent military man, and his mother, a Qreshi on Leith with no claim to power, make a couple mistakes—chief among them, a baby. Happy to avoid political fallout and donate to military study, the two preemptively give their kid up to a research lab, who assure mom and dad that genetic modification in utero would show some landmark results. His name and public record are military from the get-go—which might explain where a name like Cú Chulainn comes from, because it definitely wasn't a loving set of parents.
Though his folks were a footnote in his life, his lineage and father's clout meant more freedom than the average lab rat (helped along by his uncanny ability to find expensive things and break them—the technicians were happy to hurry him away). So while he was mostly educated and raised by the military, he was occasionally allowed to menace his mother's native Leith. Between that and hanging out with soldiers around the compound, he got a good grasp on people, and a healthy dose of confidence—after all, it was clear from the get-go that the mods had worked.
But genes are fickle things, and they don't always take well to tampering; with the volume of modifications, the risks caught up, and the genetic designers realize that their development was deteriorating him. Basically: he'd be dead in a few decades, tops. The news lit a fire under his ass—he had greatness to prove and not much time to do it—but otherwise he seemed oddly at peace. Cheerful, even.
Still, a kid with combat drilled into his blood and mental conditioning develops in uneven ways—even as socialized as he was, Cu got into plenty of fights and glorified violence in a way that chafed with the mild civilianship. He was pushed to thrive in conflict, and the research branches encouraged competition, like a house to bring honor. Eager to be let loose on the world, he (none too gently) encourages the military to send him off to fight as soon as possible.
And naturally, they provide. Even as a teen, Cu's strength, battle instinct, and ability to complete directives no matter the cost or conflict made him a model soldier. Fiercely loyal, he was well-loved by those in his platoons—and equally despised elsewhere. It was hard to miss how those on his side would laud him for doing his worst, and his enemies' families would rightfully mourn those that tried their best. The wars scattered about the nearby star systems were never noble, politics and (to him) idiocy driving the brunt of strife and mayhem and death—Cu was rarely given a cause he could connect with, driving himself on adrenaline and duty instead. He was given objectives difficult and dirty enough to suit his talent. More times than not, he was the last man standing.
But despite it all, he persists through nearly seven years of constant deployment. And unlike most people, he survives intact with all his limbs and humor. (His callsign from youth, 'Lancer', ends up sticking better than his fancy Leithian name does. It's easy to poke fun at a guy who prefers pointy sticks to semi-automatics.)
Eventually, unsure of how violently he'd deteriorate with age and not wishing to be associated with it, the upper military cuts official ties with him ('honorable discharge'). They suggest he retire out in a remote corner of Leith, get a taste for peace. Their more covert plans to keep him under observation fall short, because naturally, his answer is a resounding fuck that. In his restlessness, he quickly falls off the grid and takes a year or so to roam, brawling on transport ships and absorbing the cutthroat culture of the Quad like a sponge.
But it doesn't take long for him to realize the notoriety of the RAC, their absolute creed in the warrant and everything to their name. And most importantly—a legend behind their name (if Level Sixes aren't real, he can always be the first). After he's had enough of beating up a bunch of nobodies, he 'negotiates' around his debt and signs himself to a new cause.
He's spent the last few years since taking warrants of any size and shape, basing himself in a shitty Westerley apartment when he isn't hitching a ride off-moon. Though he puts himself out there, he doesn't live glamorously (where does his money even go), now just as likely to fix his neighbor's roof or lend a hand at the Royale as he is to take a warrant. If he's concerned with anything—military pushback, his impending death, making rent—it doesn't show yet.
Original History: The wiki covers it pretty well; the actual Cu Chulainn of myth has more background and legends, but as the series exercises reimaginings/romanticizing/creative freedom, in the case of any discrepancies I follow Fate/ canon.
Inventory: His earrings, and his spear (Gae Bolg), though since it's a billion feet long and anachronistic, I was thinking more like a pike with an expanding blade.
Miscellaneous Notes: This is so long, I'm so sorry. Also, I'm not 100% on the minor/major/passive categorization on his abilities—please feel free to nerf or remove any of those! Same goes for any history details that seem out of place or off. Thank you...!
no subject
As so many stories do, Cu's life started with an accident. His father, a prominent military man, and his mother, a Qreshi on Leith with no claim to power, make a couple mistakes—chief among them, a baby. Happy to avoid political fallout and donate to military study, the two preemptively give their kid up to a research lab, who assure mom and dad that genetic modification in utero would show some landmark results. His name and public record are military from the get-go—which might explain where a name like Cú Chulainn comes from, because it definitely wasn't a loving set of parents.
Though his folks were a footnote in his life, his lineage and father's clout meant more freedom than the average lab rat (helped along by his uncanny ability to find expensive things and break them—the technicians were happy to hurry him away). So while he was mostly educated and raised by the military, he was occasionally allowed to menace his mother's native Leith. Between that and hanging out with soldiers around the compound, he got a good grasp on people, and a healthy dose of confidence—after all, it was clear from the get-go that the mods had worked.
But genes are fickle things, and they don't always take well to tampering; with the volume of modifications, the risks caught up, and the genetic designers realize that their development was deteriorating him. Basically: he'd be dead in a few decades, tops. The news lit a fire under his ass—he had greatness to prove and not much time to do it—but otherwise he seemed oddly at peace. Cheerful, even.
Still, a kid with combat drilled into his blood and mental conditioning develops in uneven ways—even as socialized as he was, Cu got into plenty of fights and glorified violence in a way that chafed with the mild civilianship. He was pushed to thrive in conflict, and the research branches encouraged competition, like a house to bring honor. Eager to be let loose on the world, he (none too gently) encourages the military to send him off to fight as soon as possible.
And naturally, they provide. Even as a teen, Cu's strength, battle instinct, and ability to complete directives no matter the cost or conflict made him a model soldier. Fiercely loyal, he was well-loved by those in his platoons—and equally despised elsewhere. It was hard to miss how those on his side would laud him for doing his worst, and his enemies' families would rightfully mourn those that tried their best. The wars scattered about the nearby star systems were never noble, politics and (to him) idiocy driving the brunt of strife and mayhem and death—Cu was rarely given a cause he could connect with, driving himself on adrenaline and duty instead. He was given objectives difficult and dirty enough to suit his talent. More times than not, he was the last man standing.
But despite it all, he persists through nearly seven years of constant deployment. And unlike most people, he survives intact with all his limbs and humor. (His callsign from youth, 'Lancer', ends up sticking better than his fancy Leithian name does. It's easy to poke fun at a guy who prefers pointy sticks to semi-automatics.)
Eventually, unsure of how violently he'd deteriorate with age and not wishing to be associated with it, the upper military cuts official ties with him ('honorable discharge'). They suggest he retire out in a remote corner of Leith, get a taste for peace. Their more covert plans to keep him under observation fall short, because naturally, his answer is a resounding fuck that. In his restlessness, he quickly falls off the grid and takes a year or so to roam, brawling on transport ships and absorbing the cutthroat culture of the Quad like a sponge.
But it doesn't take long for him to realize the notoriety of the RAC, their absolute creed in the warrant and everything to their name. And most importantly—a legend behind their name (if Level Sixes aren't real, he can always be the first). After he's had enough of beating up a bunch of nobodies, he 'negotiates' around his debt and signs himself to a new cause.
He's spent the last few years since taking warrants of any size and shape, basing himself in a shitty Westerley apartment when he isn't hitching a ride off-moon. Though he puts himself out there, he doesn't live glamorously (where does his money even go), now just as likely to fix his neighbor's roof or lend a hand at the Royale as he is to take a warrant. If he's concerned with anything—military pushback, his impending death, making rent—it doesn't show yet.
Original History:
The wiki covers it pretty well; the actual Cu Chulainn of myth has more background and legends, but as the series exercises reimaginings/romanticizing/creative freedom, in the case of any discrepancies I follow Fate/ canon.
Inventory:
His earrings, and his spear (Gae Bolg), though since it's a billion feet long and anachronistic, I was thinking more like a pike with an expanding blade.
Samples:
In-game sample and another.
Miscellaneous Notes: This is so long, I'm so sorry. Also, I'm not 100% on the minor/major/passive categorization on his abilities—please feel free to nerf or remove any of those! Same goes for any history details that seem out of place or off. Thank you...!