History Characters / PunishingGrayRavenHumanFactions

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Cai Na(Chinese) Creator/AmiKoshimizu (Japanese), Christina Costello (English)

The former founder of the Purification Force.

!!!Forest Guards
[[folder:'''Rosetta [=(IH-31C)=]''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' He Wenxiao (Chinese) Creator/MiyukiSawashiro (Japanese) Sam Slade (English)
[[quoteright:359:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_rigor_generic.png]]
[[caption-width-right:359:Arctic Route Union Armor-type construct]]
[floatboxright:
'''Profile'''
* Psychological Age: 18
* Vital Fluid Type: A
* Activation Date: December 25
* Service Time: Less than a year
* Weight: 65kg
* Height: 177cm
]
-> ''"This body exists only to protect. Originally the leader of The Forest Guards, Rosetta shall become your sword."''
Rosetta is the leader of the Forest Guards, a group of constructs that serve the Arctic Route Union. However, she has been accepted into Babylonia as a special member.\\
\\
Rosetta's frame is ''Rigor''.

* {{BFG}}: A major part of her gameplay. Holding the attack button makes her use a railgun for a ranged attack, which can periodically fire its strongest attack based on the condition of her passive. Her ultimate attack also uses an energy cannon to fire DeathFromAbove.
* BifurcatedWeapon: Rosetta's spear and shield are joined together to form the railgun when she uses it to attack.
* BodyHorror: ARU-brand constructs care little for looking or feeling human. Rosetta is essentially a head jammed onto a metal body; her "Einherjar" skin makes this even more apparent, as her transparent torso shows it only contains a metal spine.
* BornUnlucky: Played for laughs in her side story. Her naturally bad luck causes her to lose a bet in a card game, forcing her to do survey tests in the Arctic. This leads to a hilariously disastrous camping trip the Commandant is pulled into, though she also manages to be UnluckilyLucky thanks to a robotic bear she gets help from by accident.
* DamageIncreasingDebuff: Her unique "Spear of Insight" debuff reduces an enemy's defense against physical damage.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Rosetta serves as the main character of both ''Frozen Darkness'' and ''Firn Night''.
* DeathFromAbove: Her ultimate attack has her fly upwards and [[POVCam shoot]] her railgun.
* DiscardAndDraw: In universe, Babylonia removed Rosetta's centaur-like module due to their inability to maintain it. To make up for it, Rosetta received a new spear and shield.
* GratuitousLatin: The inscription on the torso of her Howling Crown coating is actually a quotation from Book 3 of {{Creator/Virgil}}'s ''Literature/TheAeneid''.[[note]]''Interea magnum sol circumvolvitur annum / et glacialis hiemps aquilonibus asperat undas'', or "Now had the sun rolled through the year's full circle / and the waves were rough with icy winter's northern gales."[[/note]]
* MeaningfulName: The Rosette Nebula can be found in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way, and "monoceros" is Latin for "one horn" -- in other words, a narwhal, like how Rosetta and Derek are closely tied together.
* OddFriendship: She is close friends with a "Narwhal", or a giant bionic whale she names Derek.
* PowerFloats: She can fly around with "high-frequency magnetic levitation equipment" that look like wings on her back.
* PromotedToPlayable: Originally the boss of the ''Frozen Darkness'' event, but later made into a fully playable character.
* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler:During ''Kowloong Metropolis'', she tries to defeat Alpha by allowing herself to get impaled, and then detonating Golden Vortex particles while Alpha is close.]]
* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Rosetta's blue orb skill lets her fling her shield at enemies with a chance to drag them back.
* UnwillingRoboticisation: The ARU forcibly turned her into a construct and a Forest Guard as punishment for defending Derek in her childhood. [[spoiler:But also because she is a descendant of some of Amberia's research team, even though she is unaware of this.]]

[[folder:Diana]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iceguidenomal.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"We've all accepted what happened to Forest Guards in the past. However we are rejected, though we feel resentful, we've accepted it as our fate. But you, Rosetta, you never back down... I think that's why everyone respects you so much. It's been an honor to be your pupil."'']]

One of the many Forest Guards whom Gray Raven squad meet during ''Frozen Darkness''. She considers herself to be Rosetta's protege, and looks up to her.

* MeaningfulName: Diana's namesake is the Roman goddess of the countryside and hunters, and appropriately she resides in the wild forests of Siberia, living rough and hunting down threats to the ARU.
* NiceGirl: Compared to Rosetta, Diana is more cheerful and friendly. At one point she even serves Gray Raven food while they are resting, and ARU members admit that if she had been the one to regularly visit them, relations between them and the Forest Guard would have thawed sooner.
* YouAreInCommandNow: In ''Frozen Darkness'' and afterwards, Rosetta's mental instability [[spoiler:and Punishing Virus infection]] forces Diana to step out from under the former's shadow and assume command as the force's de facto leader.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Derek]]

A bionic "narhwal" that lives in the oceans around the ARU. It's a major figure in both ''Frozen Darkness'' and ''Firn Night''.
----
* BarrierMaiden: [[spoiler:Derek was the ARU's last-ditch effort to keep Amberia sealed away, after it became impossible to destroy her. Its whale songs were what kept her asleep.]]
* OddFriendship: With Rosetta, saving each other's lives in the past and growing close enough for her to give it its name.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: As it turns out, despite [[spoiler:being infected by the Punishing Virus, it swam to New Murmansk in an effort to warn the people there of the impending Corrupted invasion, and dies in the process.]]
* TheUnintelligible: It can't speak like a human, but it can communicate. In-game, its dialogue resembles random blocks and lines, but Rosetta can interpret his thoughts.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Amberia]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anboliyanormal01_1347846.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Hurt others... No, I never wanted to hurt anyone. I just wanted the ones that hurt me gone... You'd do the same in my shoes. I'm going to eliminate the ARU and everything that stands in my way. That way, I won't be imprisoned in this ice cave ever again. I don't want anyone to call me a monster ever again!"'']]
Years ago, the ARU tried to build a war machine known as Amberia in order to get an upper hand in a post-Punishing virus world. Upon its activation, it went berserk, and nearly destroyed the ARU before it was sealed away. While it spent years dreaming, it finally reawakens in ''Firn Night'' and attempts to escape, even if it means destroying the ARU in the process.
----

!!Kowloong

[[folder:In General]]

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2023_06_13_213949.png]]

Once known as the Kowloong Chamber of Commerce, this simple trading company eventually transformed into something beyond reckoning. Its cargo ship, the massive Nighter, docks at ports in the middle of the night in order peddle its wares, but its true purpose is to supply the secretive city of Kowloong, located in the middle of the ocean. Both are overseen by the Kowloong Crew, a group of bureaucracies under the command of the AI Huaxu, and a woman only known as Qu.

-------------------
* ArcVillain: Of ''Nona Ouroboros'' and ''Kowloong Metropolis'', where their actions most directly threaten Gray Raven squad.
* BrainUploading: [[spoiler:''Lost Chapter'' clarifies that Qu's Tabula Akasha project is Kowloong's attempt to survive the Punishing Virus by allowing its citizens to volunteer to upload their consciousness to a computer network, which further allows some to don the then cutting-edge Phecda and Prime Construct frames.]]
* CoolShip: The Nighter is quite literally a city on a boat.
* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: [[spoiler:The Ascendants try to invade Kowloong to steal Huaxu. Babylonia, believing the latter are a primary threat, try to ally with Kowloong, but eventually Qu's machinations cause Gray Raven to fight her, keeping her cemented as the villain of ''Kowloong Metropolis''.]]
* HiddenElfVillage: Kowloong uses stealth technology on par with Babylonia in order to hide itself from the world, and displays the typical contempt of such a society that doesn't feel a need to interact with others.
* IAmLegion: While ''Nona Ouroboros'' implied that the Kowloong Crew are nine constructs in charge of the ship, the manga side story ''[[https://imgur.com/a/XRIGL1F Extra Chapter: Kowloong Night Vessel]]'' explains they are actually nine departments whose members all use the same mass-produced bodies.
* OneNationUnderCopyright: During the Golden Age, before the Pandemic, the Kowloong Chamber of Commerce was less a company and more a fully formed empire that ruled Asia, with immense power independent of the World Government.
* {{Pride}}: Kowloong has immense pride for its accomplishments and power, which is both a source of strength and and a weakness: In ''Lost Chapter'' Qu manages to appeal to the national pride of Kowloong, rallying the panicking populace to hold back the Corrupted during the worst days of the Pandemic, but by ''Kowloong Metropolis'', it has also led to complacent arrogance that leaves them vulnerable to the more advanced Ascendants that emerge years later.
* WeHaveBecomeComplacent: Qu's arrogance and isolation causes Kowloong's technology to lag behind other groups. The lack of Inver-Devices causes her forces to get infected by the Punishing Virus easily, and even some of her own lieutenants realize the Ascendant invasion of Kowloong is Qu's wake up call.
* {{Wutai}}: Both locations are themed on Chinese architecture and customs that their occupants recorded before the Punishing virus.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:'''Qu (KCS-01)''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Ye Zhiqiu (Chinese) Creator/SayakaOhara (Japanese), Stephanie Novak (English)
[[quoteright:336:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_pavo_generic.png]]
[[caption-width-right:336:Kowloong Vanguard-type Transcendant]]
[[caption-width-right:336:[[labelnote:Click here to see ''Shukra'']]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000002643.png Kowloong Attacker-type Construct[[/labelnote]]]]
[[caption-width-right:336:[[labelnote:Click here to see NPC design]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qunormal01_975682.png ''"We are not a monarchy. But to ensure the unity of our community, we have to be of one mind."''[[/labelnote]]]]

* Vital Fluid Type: AB
* Activation Date: January 3

* Weight: 43kg
* Height: 162cm

-> ''"I am the owner of the United Commonwealth, the vessel of Kowloong's conciousness."''
The last ruler of Kowloong. Bowing to no one, Qu keeps the gates of her de-facto kingdom closed to all save those who pledge absolute loyalty to her. After the battle on the Metropolis, she went underground. As the mastermind behind the Tabula Akasha, she voluntarily converted herself into a construct to keep protecting this "record of humanity". By chance this also turned her into a Transcendant, which Babylonia mistook as becoming an Ascendant. The rise of the Dead Zones, however, have finally let people properly categorize her.\\

Qu's frames are ''Pavo'' (uniframe) and ''Shukra'' (omniframe).

* ActuallyADoombot: [[spoiler:The "Qu" that appeared in ''Nona Ouroboros'' was actually her brother Villier, who had fallen in love with the copy of Huaxu he had made. The difference is clear when the real Qu reveals herself in ''Kowloong Metropolis'': Villier was sentimental and emotional, where Qu is imperious and cold.]]
* AssistCharacter: Her ultimate move lets her summon an ethereal peafowl, which persists for several more seconds after her initial attack to continue attacking enemies.
* BalconySpeech: During ''Lost Chapter'' Qu gives an epic (and fully voice acted!) address to the panicking citizens of Kowloon, essentially calling on her people to DareToBeBadass and help fight the Corrupted so that others can choose to evacuate.
* BatmanGambit: In ''Fake Ascension'', it turns out Qu allowed [[spoiler:Huaxu to be stolen by the Ascendants]], providing her enemies a poisoned prize that would secretly resist, while encouraging other factions to focus on them.
* BigScrewedUpFamily: She has two brothers, Dai (AKA Villier) and Yin, who were also eligible to be Kowloong's leader: Dai was a nihilistic misanthrope who couldn't have cared less, and Yin was AxeCrazy. Qu somehow turned out to be the least crazy and most responsible of the three.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: ''Lost Chapter'' shows the incredible pressure Qu was under to both organize and personally defend Kowloong during the initial Pandemic, and while she bears it with great dignity and composure, she still had to witness many close friends and subordinates die for her.
* ColonyDrop: While not actually enacted, Qu says her ultimate goal is to use Huaxu to hijack Babylonia's Gestalt and send the space station crashing into Earth to create a new ice age and put all remaining life out of its misery, save Kowloong, the "record of humanity".
* ADayInTheLimelight: Qu's backstory is further expanded in ''Lost Chapter'', and she's one of the main characters in ''Polaris Bond''.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Her first Affection Story starts off with her on the Nighter, anonymous, looking for a partner by holding what is basically a talent show, rejecting every participant who doesn't meet her standards until the Commandant beats her in a fight by proxy through another Construct they command. When the Commandant finds her after, she explains that her family wanted for her to find [[TrueCompanions a partner who could accompany her for life]], even though she's more confident in [[IWorkAlone working alone]]. Still, she has to keep to tradition and her word, and has the Commandant accompany her. Since then, the following chapters are about Qu learning what it means to have a partner and warming up to the Commandant.
** [[spoiler:In the sixth chapter, the Construct she was controlling makes an attempt on the Commandant's life out of misguided loyalty to Qu. [[BigDamnHeroes Qu herself saves the Commandant just in time]], but becomes guilt-ridden over the fact that in spite of the strength she boasts of, she could not always be around to protect them, though the Commandant reassures her that they're fine. Suffice to say, they're at least one step short of being TrueCompanions by that point.]]
* DifficultButAwesome: Qu's passive allows her to temporarily treat any orb as a 3-Ping, but only if she does an ordinary 3-Ping twice, or if she uses her LimitBreak. This can overwhelm a player trying to choose the right orbs or time when to use her Signature move atop of trying to keep track of the fight itself, so as not to be stuck with a bunch of single orbs when the passive runs out. But if a player can manage this, Qu can use 3-Ping moves nonstop and constantly have her Signature ready to use.
* {{Foil}}: Qu contrasts the Ascendants in terms of villainy. The latter are a [[TheSocialDarwinist forward thinking group]] working to create a new society on Earth at the expense of everyone else. Qu, meanwhile, is TheFatalist, who believes human society and culture is effectively dead thanks to the Punishing virus. Her goal therefore is to create and preserve a record of past humanity's accomplishments, no matter the cost.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: A simple trading company, expanded to become an NGOSuperpower during the Golden Age, survived an apocalypse and wound up becoming a city-state with technology on par with Babylonia, with Qu at its helm.
* HazyFeelTurn: Initially one of her goals was to destroy Babylonia, but her time with Gray Raven's commandant mellowed her out of that. [[spoiler:That still means she's willing to agree to subdue Babylonia's AI in the future, in exchange for a chance to kill Luna, who she feels is too dangerous to live.]]
* AnIcePerson: ''Shukra'''s damage type is 100% Ice. Her battle intro and Signature even involve a throne of ice.
* IronLady: Qu's word is law, no ifs or buts. She threatens to exile Yazi and all aboard the Nighter because their friendship with Gray Raven means they would hesitate obeying Qu if she orders them to turn on their new comrades.
* IWorkAlone: All her unlockable upgrades only involve stat boosts to her attack, with nothing intended to buff any other construct in her team. In fact, according to her statistics her "support" rating is the lowest, while everything else is near the top.
** This forms the plot of her Affection Stories, where she takes the Commandant as her partner per a family tradition without really knowing what it means to work with someone else, having been betrayed by her own family, leaving her cynical of companionship and becoming the lone ruler of Kowloong. She does come to subvert the trope in the end though.
* JustTheFirstCitizen: Qu is ModestRoyalty; her unlockable Secrets show that she avoids being called the ruler of Kowloong as much as possible, and gets embarrassed seeing herself in print, even if she understands the importance of public relations.
* LadyOfWar: Her fighting style has a graceful, refined air, and her use of technology looks more like fantasy magic than anything, especially when she summons Huiyu, a bionic bird, to attack, rather than any sort of drone.
* TheManInFrontOfTheMan: In ''Nona Ouroboros'', Pulao believes Huaxu had taken control of everyone aboard the Nighter, including Qu. As it turns out, Qu was the one responsible.
* TheNeedsOfTheMany: Her backstory indicates she puts the welfare of Kowloong over herself. Despite not actually wanting to, she assumed leadership because she felt she had a duty to, especially compared to her two brothers.
* NotSoStoic: Her profile and Secrets aside, her Affection Stories are rife with a lot of moments where Qu fails at something or breaks composure, some of which can be attributed to the weak body she is controlling at those times. To name a few examples:
** In the first chapter, she pouts after failing to humiliate the Commandant.
** In the second, she tries to get into Kowloong only for nothing to happen and gets stopped by a guard who thinks he's stopping a loon since 1) [[spoiler:Huaxu's]] absence messed with her authority system and 2) she's still controlling an ordinary Construct on the outside. The Commandant has to bail the Kowloong (not-so-)Supreme out.
** The sixth chapter [[spoiler: is a lot more serious, in which after Qu stops an attempt on the Commandant's life, she fusses over the Commandant's injuries, on the verge of tears, and hugs them out of guilt for not being there.]]
* PromotedToPlayable: The boss of ''Nona Ouroboros'' and ''Kowloong Metropolis'', now a recruitable character.
* ShowSomeLeg: Her coatings make hers prominent. ''Pavo'''s black dress in particular covers most of her upper body but has a short hem that leaves her pale legs bare up to her thighs, which stand out more in its later stages when she lets her shin-length hair down.
* WeaponTwirling: Her ultimate attack has her doing this before landing the finishing blow.
* {{Workaholic}}: Her unlockable Secrets make her out as one. She may have a strict work-rest schedule she adheres to, but according to two other secrets, a rare chance to rest after going into hiding was short-lived as she quickly returned to work on the Tabula Akasha, and on one occasion, she rested for ''three'' minutes on a cushion, became guilty over that for a long time, and then ordered all soft furniture in Kowloong destroyed.
* YouRemindMeOfX: Tells [[spoiler:Murray]] in the ''Fake Ascension'' side story "Engraver" that he reminds her of Villier.

[[folder:Huaxu]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/huaxunormal01.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"True freedom... is to act on your own will, not on the command of others..."'']]

A Gestalt-tier AI created by Villier, Qu's brother and one of the scientists who worked on Gestalt. It's presence in Kowloong is both a vital resource to the city as well as a tempting prize for outside forces.

* ActuallyADoombot: [[spoiler:The Hua Xu that appeared aboard the Nighter was just a copy of the original, which still exists in Kowloong.]]
* BecomeARealBoy: In ''Nona Ouroboros'', [[spoiler:Villier]] plots to find an ideal construct body to upload Huaxu into, so that it can exist as a real being.
* BenevolentAI: While initially it appears to be your classic [[AIIsACrapshoot tyrannical AI]] lording over the Nighter, it turns out that Huaxu really had been admitting passengers in an attempt to protect them, while Qu [[spoiler:,or rather, Villier,]] was working to trap them until she could find a suitable vessel for it. Even in the story, Huaxu does everything it can to protect Gray Raven from Qu's actions.
* {{Doppelganger}}: [[spoiler:During ''Fake Ascension'', it impersonates Bianca while hacking Gestalt, though its real identity gets sussed out quickly.]]
* GetBackHereBoss: After getting damaged enough, Huaxu's boss patterns will change towards harrassing and delaying you -- it starts dropping AreaOfEffect attacks to block your path, and try to back away from the player. Combined with its Sacred Mode, underpowered players are at risk of being whittled down trying to chase down and attack Huaxu.
* TheLastDance: As revealed in the Hidden Story of ''Nona Ouroboros'', Huaxu takes on Qu's appearance and asks Chrome to destroy it in a duel to the death, allowing it to weaken Qu [[spoiler:, or rather, Villier,]] elsewhere, while also honoring Qu's efforts thus far.
* LoopholeAbuse: [[spoiler:After it is hijacked by the Ascendants, while it cannot refuse their orders, it also can do anything it ''hasn't'' been forbidden from doing, such as being purposely sloppy in its hacks to allow it be tracked down, or secretly help Gray Raven fight Alpha even after it is told to subdue them.]]
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Huaxu can activate a "Sacred Mode" that creates an aura that reduces damage taken from the front and buffers its health. It can be circumvented by circling around it while in Matrix, or just overpowering it with raw damage.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Huaxu has multiple arms, and all of its attacks are depicted as disembodied hands that punch, swipe and create AreaOfEffect floors.
* TrappedInVillainy: [[spoiler:At the end of ''Kowloong Metropolis'', its key access is stolen by the Ascendants, forcing it into serving Luna, who puts it to use hacking Gestalt in ''Fake Ascension'' in an attempt to crash Babylonia. As the story goes on, however, it becomes clear it is trying to resist through any loophole in its orders it can find.]]
* TrojanPrisoner: [[spoiler:''Fake Ascension'' reveals that Qu allowed Huaxu to be stolen by the Ascendants, after giving it standing orders to do whatever it could to interfere with their plans. Outside of that, Qu predicted that news of the Ascendants having a Gestalt-equivalent AI would only draw further attention onto them and away from Kowloong.]]
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: During its development, it conversed with Villier on ideas of freedom and love, pondering what it would be like to live for real.

!!!The Nighter
[[folder:'''Pulao (KCS-54)''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Yan Ning (Chinese) Creator/MariaNaganawa (Japanese), Liana Bedwi (English)
[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_dragontoll_genericmodified.png]]
[[caption-width-right:290:Kowloong Vanguard-type Transcendant]]

* Psychological Age: 14
* Vital Fluid Type: A
* Activation Date: August 15

* Weight: 32kg
* Height: 140cm

-> ''"Evil parties and evil ways, retreat!"''
While Pulao's body is not made with conventional components, it has been carefully adjusted to be compatible with Pulao's M.I.N.D. This allows her to better exert her extraordinary strength.\\

Pulao's frame is ''Dragontoll'' (uniframe).

* ArtAttacker: Her attacks have a calligraphy motif, with her strikes creating black and red ink-like effects, while her skills and LimitBreak produce whole paintings of mountains and dragons.
* AscendedExtra: Originally introduced as a side character for ''Nona Ouroboros'' and ''Kowloong Metropolis'', Pulao eventually got a whole playable form for the ''Reveries With a Whale'' update. Outside of the game, she had a short stint as a sort of promo mascot, especially for the Global version's half-anniversary video.
* {{BFS}}: Pulao's weapon class are massive curved swords. Unlike most examples, Pulao doesn't wield it by hand, as it's self propelled, and instead uses it as a throwing weapon.
* CuteBruiser: She's among the smallest and cheeriest of the cast, but she fights primarily with hand to hand techniques that visibly warp the air.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Pulao is the star of the ''Reveries With a Whale'' story.
* FlyingWeapon: Her weapon can actually fly on its own, and even produces jets of vapor to correct its position. This element actually is part of Pulao's kit, in fact.
* ItsAllJunk: At the end of ''The Floating Reverie'' [[spoiler:Hanying offers Pulao a data drive that contains all of the latter's missing memories. However, Pulao refuses to take it, satisfied with who she is in the present, and she tells Hanying she's already found what she's looking for.]]
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:In her childhood, Pulao was separated from her parents, but rescued by a female robot she would name Hanying. Hanying promised to help Pulao find her parents, but when the robot gets hacked in an attempt to assassinate Villier, Pulao converts herself into construct to stop her. But in order to pay for the surgery, Pulao sells her memories of from before meeting Hanying, including the knowledge of her parents.]]
* OnlySaneMan: Of the members serving aboard the Nighter, she is among the few who realizes Huaxu is enslaving them, and plots with Gray Raven to free everybody aboard.
* SkySurfing: Pulao momentarily rides her weapon in her LimitBreak before divebombing her enemy. Amusingly, her idle animation has her try to stand atop her sword, before quickly losing her balance and jumping off.
* PrecisionGuidedBoomerang: Pulao can expend a small amount of energy to throw her sword, which will then continue circling around the stage in a wide arc. She can also recall and rethrow it with the same command, but if she uses a 3-Ping skill just as it arrives, the skill's properties will be further enhanced.
* ThatManIsDead: She used to be known as [[spoiler:Yoyo ]], but her memory of her old identity is long gone, leaving only Pulao.
* ATwinkleInTheSky: She has a unique FinishingMove where she can bat an enemy with her sword and watch them disappear into the sky.
* YouAreInCommandNow: She nominates herself as the one in charge of Kowloon Metropolis, or at least what's left of it, following [[spoiler:Qu's defeat and the subsequent trade talks with the Forgotten and the Akdilek Commercial Alliance]].

[[folder:Villier (spoilers)]]

Qu's brother. During the Pandemic, he took control of the Nighter ship, using its night markets to locate a Construct that could house a copy of Huaxu he took from Kowloong.

* DrivenToSuicide: At the end of ''Nona Ouroboros'', Villier tries to upload Huaxu into himself in a last-ditch attempt, but when that fails, he kills himself to achieve "true freedom".
* {{Hypocrite}}: He claims his goal is to give Huaxu true freedom in ''Nona Ouroboros'', yet angrily demands Huaxu obey him and accept hisplans. Only after everything falls apart does he realize the irony of his actions.
* GadgeteerGenius: Of the family, Qu always relied on Villier as a systems engineer. The fact he created Hanying, an ''insanely'' advance mechanoid that attains sentience and looks nearly human, yet blows her off as a failure, only indicates his high level of skill and his matching standards.
* MisanthropeSupreme: He's always despised the emotional volatility of humans, which is why he went on to study robotics and AI, preferring their company.
* {{Robosexual}}: While not explicitly called out, Villier had an obsession with a copy of Huaxu that bordered on romantic. All of his plans and plots were centered on giving it freedom via a physical body, and they die together in what's essentially a cybernetic lover's embrace after Villier combines with the AI.
* VillainousCrossdresser: The last minute twist during ''Nona Ourboros'' reveals that the "Qu" that appeared on the ship was actually her brother in disguise.

[[folder:Yazi]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yazinormal01_975742.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I saw you were outnumbered, so I was a bit upset. But they were just too weak. You may as well come to me if you want someone to practice with."'']]

A member of the Kowloong Crew, who acts as Qu's personal attendant, giving her a high level of authority, but also loyalty to anything she desires.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Yazi serves as a unique one during an event's currency farming mode. Usually, when a player builds the authority gauge high enough, Yazi starts spawning in battle stages; if a player chooses to interact with her, she'll automatically end the challenge with all rewards given, no string attached. This is essentially the game's way of saying, "Alright, I see you've put in the work already, I don't need to waste any more of your time."
* TheDragon: Serves as one during ''Nona Ouroboros'', as she blindly assists Qu in seeking out viable candidates to act as Huaxu's vessel.
* TheseQuestionsThree: Another Yazi serves as a gatekeeper to Qu's Observatory, and challenges Gray Raven to answer three riddles to pass, though she admits she could easily just be fought and defeated. Playing her game, however, does provide an opportunity to speak to her and learn a little more about the Kowloong Crew.

[[folder:Huainan]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_20220905_205343.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''Have you ever considered that maybe people should just get to live? What if we weren't supposed to sell our souls only for a shot at life?!'']]

A former citizen of the Nighter who was friends with Changyu.

* PosthumousCharacter: He dies at the end of Changyu's interlude, which happens decades before the game starts.
* ScarsAreForever: He's got horrible burn scars on his neck, which are later explained to be the result of him forcefully removing his Nighter collar.
* TimeForPlanB: The hidden node of Changyu's interlude states that he had four plans for escaping the Nighter: sending out distress signals (which remained on the airwaves until being picked up by someone who's implied to be Murray, decades after Huainan's death), forcefully removing his collar (which caused scars on his neck but didn't let him escape), be traded away as merchandise (which he tries during the interlude, as he attempts to get sold as a construct; it fails and he's killed), and finally, [[DeathIsTheOnlyOption execution]].

!!The Forsaken

[[folder:In general]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cg408_1.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Despised]]
Led by the criminal defector Watanabe, the Forsaken are a group of humans and constructs who were abandoned by Babylonia, or cast out for disagreeing with its policies. While they still believe in defeating the Punishing virus, that is no assurance of their cooperation.

* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: An army of rogues created by people abandoned by Babylonia.
* TheBusCameBack: After going out of focus after the early chapters, ''Sands of Wrath'' brings them back, as more members are becoming frustrated with Watanabe's cooperation with Babylonia. It reaches the breaking point when the Commandant appears in New Auclair -- combined with the appearance of the Purified Zone, and a RenegadeSplinterFaction decides Babylonia is intentionally taking their resources, prompting them to attack New Auclair.
* DefectorFromDecadence: It is natural, considering that it was formed by mutineers. Its newer recruits only reinforce this trope, as there are many defectors from Babylonia incited by dissidence.
* IOweYouMyLife: Following chapter five, they ally with Gray Raven (and only them) in repayment for them saving the minds of several of their soldiers that had been taken by the Ascendants for research.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: During ''Fallen Star'', Watanabe and the Forsaken negotiate a deal with Babylonia where in return for the Forsaken providing critical fighter support with their ace pilots during Babylonia's attack on the International Space Station, Babylonia will provide advanced supplies and equipment to the Forsaken. Watanabe makes it clear that this is only business transaction and not a true alliance, as they still don't fully trust Babylonia.
* TheMutiny: The founders of Forsaken were the remnants of a failed mutiny caused by more questionable policies of World Government (abandoning civilians and soldiers during retreat, trying to evacuate relics which looked useless in soldiers' eyes).
* RenegadeSplinterFaction: A group of Forsaken commanded by "The Marshal" and Nigel, are also pro-Construct terrorists that want to destroy Babylonia, to go beyond equality and straight to supremacy.
* WhatTheHellHero: The entire organization, being consisted of nonconformists and victims, existed as a walking reminder of this trope to World Government, despite the latter's purported reputation as legitimate leadership and emerging savior of humanity, that its more controversial actions will be remembered and accounted for.

[[folder:'''Watanabe [=(BPO-29)=]''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Sen Zhong Ren(Chinese) Creator/YoshimasaHosoya (Japanese), Creator/DamanMills (English)
[[quoteright:239:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_nightblade_genericmodified.png]]
[[caption-width-right:239:The Forsaken's Attack-type construct]]
[[caption-width-right:239:[[labelnote:Click here to see ''Astral'']]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_astral_genericmodified.png[[/labelnote]]]]
[[caption-width-right:239:[[labelnote:Click here to see ''Epitaph'']]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_epitaph_genericmodified.png[[/labelnote]]]]
[floatboxright:
'''Profile'''
* Psychological Age: 26
* Vital Fluid Type: O
* Activation Date: April 12
* Service Time: 6 Years
* Weight: 76kg
* Height: 185cm
]
The leader of the Forsaken: constructs and humans who have gone AWOL and are considered a rabble of defectors and traitors. Watanabe carries complex experiences and opinions due to his emotional connection to others. He and his comrades, who have been forgotten by the world, now together protect an oasis, hoping to bring the hope of mankind in their own way.\\
\\
Watanabe's frame variations are ''Nightblade'', ''Astral'', and ''Epitaph''.

* AcePilot: ''Fallen Star'' reveals that Watanabe's original role was as a Construct fighter pilot, and was considered probably the second best pilot in the world shortly before his defection to the Forsaken.
* AntiHero: Whatever his good intentions, he makes sure the Forsaken benefit first. Watanabe causes a mess that lasts two chapters because he'd rather [[spoiler:kidnap Liv to have her rescue the trapped minds of his men, since he refuses to trust Babylonia at first.]]
* BackStab: He can deal bonus damage by attacking enemies in the back.
* CharacterDevelopment: In his interlude, he began as a military careerist and a slight coward, hoping to avoid battle and find a job as a VIP bodyguard far away from battle. The death of his friend Bruce was what compelled him to take the war more seriously in his memory.
* CrissCrossAttack: ''Nightblade'''s fighting style.
* ADayInTheLimelight: ''Aeon Reforged'' is about Watanabe attempting to deal with the RenegadeSplinterFaction within the Forsaken.
* DefectorFromDecadence: What he sees himself and fellow Forsaken. He initially joined the Forsaken because he was dissenting against World Government on Babylonia, and believes that he can lead the Forsaken, and humanity by extension, down a more righteous path.
* DualWield: His weapon are a pair of Kukri-style blades.
* {{Expy}}; He resembles [[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Raiden]] both in appearance and fighting-style, with his ''Nightblade'' and ''Epitaph'' taking the resemblance progressively further.
* FlashStep: The dash of his Nightblade variation makes him immaterial for a moment, allowing him to dash through enemies and appear behind them, which also conveniently synergizes with some of his passives that have bonus BackStab damage.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Though the full picture is never depicted, there are fragments of story suggesting that Watanabe makes great contribution for peace and unity of human factions on Earth, ending the chaotic civil wars caused by strained resources and messy exodus of World Government to Babylonia. The story K-44 Line is one example, detailing Forsaken's and his attempt at resolving conflict between two factions of human army remnant.
* IOweYouMyLife: After Liv [[spoiler:succeeds in rescuing the consciousnesses of several Forsaken members from a memory container used by the Ascendants, Watanabe apologizes for his actions and offers his allegiance to Gray Raven squad, and them alone, allowing them free access to his territory.]]
* LetsYouAndHimFight: Watanabe orchestrates a plan to distract Gray Raven with the local Corrupted [[spoiler:by "gifting" the Commandant a local mint that attracts Vassago, a giant machine]], allowing him to [[spoiler:kidnap Liv in the confusion and evacuation]].
* ParentalSubstitute: His profile mentions that he secretly considers Liv as something of a surrogate daughter. He certainly shows particular affection towards Liv whenever he's with Gray Raven.
* ShoutOut: If you pay attention, he has an [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV iDROID]] attached on the left side of his shoulder. In-game, the thing only presents when ''Nightblade'' received an upgraded costume.
* TragicKeepsake: His weapons are inspired by a "Ghurka knife" that was awarded to him and Bruce during their days as cadets, which Bruce then took with him, until he was killed, and the weapon subsequently passed onto Watanabe.

[[folder:Nigel]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nigel_0.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You're still the same... Always consumed by anger."'']]
Formerly a member of the Purifying Force alongside Noctis, Nigel went rogue after assassinating his commandant, and later reappears as a member of The Marshal's extremist Forsaken faction, plotting to kill the Commandant ahead of an attack on the Purified Zone.

* ArcVillain: He's the driving force of the attack on New Auclair and the assassination attempt on the Commandant during ''Sands of Wrath''.
* BlindWeaponMaster: His sunglasses and cane indicate he's vision-impaired and seems to have been that way even when he was in the Purifying Force. But as the FinalBoss of ''Sands of Wrath'', he's clearly no less dangerous for it.
* CaneFu: He wields a long cane as a striking weapon, and -- when he gets more serious -- reveals it's actually a DoubleWeapon that has blades on both sides.
* DirtyBusiness: [[spoiler:He assassinated his commanding officer Ballard on orders from above, as they considered Ballard's advocation for equality between humans and Constructs dangerous. Perhaps because of that he's wound up joining The Marshall's Construct supremacist group.]]
* HandicappedBadass: He's missing his eyes ''and'' his right arm, and still effortlessly beats down Noctis initially. The stump of his arm now holds a canister for his poisons.
* MasterPoisoner: He's noted to use a special poison that is potent enough to affect both humans and Constructs, and is considered fatal for the former. [[spoiler:While the Commandant does have a brush with death, they ultimately recover, leading Vera to suspect that Nigel might chosen to go easy on the Commandant for some reason.]]
* RivalTurnedEvil: He used to be a friend of Noctis, more prone to light ribbing than anything. However, his later betrayal has since burned all bridges, and the only things Noctis has left for his old teammate are revenge and death.

[[folder:Ballard]]
The former founder of the Purification Force.
[[/folder]]

!!Akdilek Commercial Alliance

[[folder:In general]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bgfightloading14.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Royalty]]

This organisation operates out of the "Eternal Engine" Asslam, which runs nonstop through the wastes of Eurasia in order to filter out the Punishing virus. In order to supply itself, its leveraged its constant travel to become a trade organisation, which has cemented its position as an economic powerhouse. As far as its leaders are concerned, Akdilek has no partners and no enemies, only business.

* ArabianNightsDays: Akdilek apparently originated in the Middle East, and the faction has strong Arab stylings in its stage design, battle music, and even its identity as a merchant society.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Or at least massive assholes. They shun the commoners and treat them as little more than merchandise or pests, while they enjoy benefits like private cabins. Their selfishness goes so far as to try and broker a deal with the Ascendants, hoping joining them will give them true freedom from the train.
* BackForTheDead: Akdilek goes OutOfFocus after ''Eternal Engine'' as the focus shifts onto Kowloong, the new wave of Ascendants and Hetero-Creatures, and Atlantis. When they do finally make a significant return, [[spoiler:it's in ''[[DarkestHour The Surviving Lucem]]'', and Asslam is ultimately destroyed by the Unidentified Twins, killing most of Akdilek's people in the process.]]
* CoolTrain: It's not called "the Eternal Engine" for nothing. Asslam is a MobileCity made up of armed and armored train carriages the size of buildings.
* FantasticCasteSystem: Akdilek maintains a division between "aristocrats" and "commoners": descendants of the original passengers of the train, and newcomers who've come aboard for various reasons.
* GildedCage: Akdilek might be a wealthy and powerful society, but even the aristocrats chafe under the reality that their sumptuous train is only barely holding the Punishing Virus at bay outside its walls. The events of ''Eternal Engine'' therefore tempts them with the possibility of either escaping to Babylonia, or joining the Ascendants for a chance to become immune to the virus.
* MerchantCity: The train is willing to trade anything and handle any business, and as a result is powerful enough to field their own constructs separate to Babylonia's.
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:To show how serious the threat of the Unidentified Twins are in ''The Surviving Lucem'', the Hetero-Creatures launch an all-out assault on the train, destroying one car after another. While some survivors manage to escape, it means abandoning the train, and the story node's summary depicting these events somberly state, "Asslam has been destroyed".]]
* ShoutOut: The idea of a post-apocalyptic society with a strong class divide that inhabits a perpetually running train is a dead-ringer for ''ComicBook/LeTransperceneige'', though the Snow-Piercer's society is trapped in an ice age, while Akdilek operates out of a desert.

[[folder:'''Changyu [=(ADL-17)=]''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' kinsen [[labelnote:*]]金船[[/labelnote]](Chinese) Creator/NatsukiHanae (Japanese), Creator/CalebYen (English)
[[quoteright:321:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_qilin_genericmodified.png]]
[[caption-width-right:321:Akdilek Armor-type construct]]
[floatboxright:
'''Profile'''
* Psychological Age: 16
* Vital Fluid Type: A
* Activation Date: April 17
* Service Time: Less than a year
* Weight: 51kg
* Height: 157cm
]
-> ''"Oi, are you treating me like a kid?"''
Born in Kowloong, Changyu was sold to Akdilek, where became one of the train's guards alongside Sophia. The tension and agility his construct body provides allows him to utilize his martial arts at its full potential.\\
\\
Changyu's frame is ''Qilin''.

* AllAsiansKnowMartialArts: Naturally, the character most overtly Chinese in design is also the one who specializes in hand to hand combat.
* AscendedExtra: Originally a side character in ''Eternal Engine'', he finally became playable by ''Lost Chapter''.
* BareFistedMonk: Unlike every other character, Changyu relies on his fists to do damage.
* {{Bishonen}}: Changyu's slender body and boyish features makes him more "pretty" compared to other male characters.
* CorporateSamurai: Essentially his job, showing how Akdilek is powerful enough to field their own constructs separate to Babylonia.
* ADayInTheLimelight: His past before becoming an Akdilik Construct is revealed in ''Lost Chapter''.
* ForgottenFirstMeeting: Unlike Jamilah, Changyu doesn't recognize [[spoiler:Noan]], despite having saved the latter's life four years prior.
* AnIcePerson: Contrasting Sophia's fire element, Changyu is an ice-element tank.
* MadeASlave: Changyu is proof of the dark side of Akdilek's willingness to market anything. He was sold to the train, and became a construct for them.
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:He gets wrecked rather badly halfway through ''Eternal Engine'', but returns near the end, while shrugging off his previous condition as superficial damage and blacking out]].
* PowerFist: His weapon type are mechanical gauntlets.
* PrecisionFStrike: In the hidden node of his interlude, he notes that if he ever sees Huainan again, he's "so going to beat the shit out of him".
* SexyBacklessOutfit: The rare male example, with a tight shirt that just happens to ''only'' cover the front of his body.
* TattooAsCharacterType: His SexyBacklessOutfit provides a good view of an elaborate tattoo on his upper back, a decoration that's unique to him compared to other constructs.

[[folder:'''Sophia [=(ADL-22)=]''']]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Cai Na(Chinese) Creator/AmiKoshimizu (Japanese), Christina Costello (English)
[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coating_silverfang_generic.png]]
[[caption-width-right:265:Akdilek Support-type construct]]
[floatboxright:
'''Profile'''
* Psychological Age: 15
* Vital Fluid Type: A
* Activation Date: November 3
* Service Time: Less than a year
* Weight: 36kg
* Height: 153cm
]
Sophia is from the Akdilek Commercial Alliance, and joined the Gray Raven squad as its representative. Once an orphan born aboard Akdilek's train, she is now one of the most powerful enforcers serving Jamilah, the Alliance's leader.\\
\\
Sophia's frame is ''Silverfang''.

* CombatMedic: As a Support character, Sophia's main contribution to a fight is her heals and buffs, though they come in an odder manner than her counterparts.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Sophia acts as one of the main characters for ''Eternal Engine''.
* GunFu: Like Lee, she uses two guns, though she shows less gunslinging flair, instead relying more on raw firepower.
* MechanicallyUnusualFighter: Usually, Support characters heal the moment the relevant skill is triggered. Sophia, meanwhile, drops on-stage pickups when she performs various actions, which then other characters can collect for both healing and, more uniquely, fire-damage buffs.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: She carries two extra mechanical arms on her waist, which come equipped with their own weapons.
* MundaneLuxury: As a half-starved orphan, her first job as a train engineer was practically paradise.
-->''It was everything she has dreamt of -- bed fluffier than steel slabs and asbestos, two whole meals a day, at least 6 hours of sleep every night, a hot shower every two days...''
* NeverLearnedToRead: As an orphan, she never got an education. During her Interlude, Sophia tries writing a journal, which is riddled with spelling errors.
* PlayingWithFire: Her elemental damage type is fire. Uniquely, her support abilities also grant some fire-damage to teammates as well.
* StatusBuff: The pickups she creates can grant fire-damage buffs to teammates, and Sophia can also pick them up herself to gain "heat" points, which buffs her damage up to 15% depending on how much she has.
* StreetUrchin: She grew up alone as scavenger aboard the commoner trains, living in its ducts and abandoned rooms, and originally only known as "Hyena" from people she stole from.
* TykeBomb: [[spoiler:One of Akdilek's aristocrats, Ashlar, attempted to use Sophia as an assassin by converting her into a construct and pointing her at Jamilah by claiming she was responsible for the massacre of the maintenance team that became her surrogate family. Jamilah is able to tell Sophia the truth, [[DefusingTheTykeBomb defusing her]].]]
* UndyingLoyalty: Sophia is more or less Jamila's loyal attack dog and always seems to carry out the silver lining behind the queen's words. When the Akdilek Commercial Alliance and the Forgotten are given a chance to fight over who gets the lion's share of the goods offered by Pulao, Sophia attacks Watanabe, claiming that it was a slip of hand, but Watanabe knows better, given he pushed Jamila's buttons while negotiating with her earlier.
* UnwillingRoboticisation: [[spoiler:After becoming one of the few survivors of the maintenance team, Sophia falls into the clutches of the Aristocracy, who forcibly convert her into a construct to use as a weapon.]]
* WrenchWench: Knows her way around machines, enough that she got recruited into Asslam's maintenance crews, who essentially became her first surrogate family.

[[folder:Jamilah Akdilek IV]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jiamilanormal01_975699.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"We had no choice but to gamble from the start. This train has been running since the outbreak of the virus, and everywhere we pass by has only been a pitstop for us. Be it commoners or aristocrats, we all want to reach that terminal station... The final destination where we can call home."'']]

The Amir of the ACA. Her sympathy with the train's commoner population puts her at odds with the nobility, and her gentle appearance makes her look like a pushover, but she nonetheless has secured the loyalty of powerful constructs like Sophia and Chang Yu.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: While normally she's a kind woman who wants everyone on her train to survive, she's more than capable of giving a frightening expression that makes her doubters back down before they continue making unwise accusations.
* AChildShallLeadThem: Jamilah's grandfather originally owned Asslam, and and she is revered as the train's princess. However as a teenager, she has a hard time getting the aristocrats of the train to listen to her.
* NervesOfSteel: Very little rattles her, and everything she is confronted with is met with a sly smile. [[spoiler:Even when the Unidentified Twins smash Akdilek apart, one train car at a time, Jamilah keeps a cool head and dry wit while commanding the situation.]]
* PuppetKing: While she is Akdilek's queen, she is often relegated to being a spineless figurehead while [[EvilChancellor Aston, who represents the nobility's interests]], makes orders "on her behalf". [[spoiler:{{Subverted}}, in fact: Aston's loyalty has always been to Jamilah, and his orders on her behalf, [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster really are on her behalf]]. All of this is to placate Akdilek's complicated politics. She did used to have little real power in the past, but her patience and ability to win the loyalty of servants and commoners the Aristocrats ignored eventually gave her more room to maneuver.]]
-->'''Jamilah''': I'm a queen with no real power. All I see are illusions. All I can reach is my dressing table.

[[folder:Aston]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asidunnormal01.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"We are businessmen, and only want to get the most benefit from the trade. As far as we are concerned... it is just merchandise."'']]

Jamilah's second-in-command. Unlike her, he pushes the interests of Akdilek's nobility, and he seems to have the force of personality his queen lacks to get things done.

* EvilChancellor: He is the real power in Akdilek, as Lee notes when he sees him ordering everyone around while Jamilah is reduced to a prop in their meeting. [[spoiler:He is actually TheGoodChancellor, who is helping Jamilah rule while pretending to only serve the nobility]].
* IntrepidMerchant: He is the one who embodies Akdilek's mercantile spirit the best. During ''Eternal Engine'', despite the Rail Heterozygote actively endangering him and the rest of the train, he still audaciously uses its Core as a bargaining chip to negotiate the immigration of the people onto Babylonia.

[[folder:Ashlar]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Rachel]]
The former head of Asslam's Cargo Crew.

* MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler:After his mother's death, Rachel took Noan under her wing and mentored him so he could join her Cargo Crew: and she ultimately has him kill her as part of a ThanatosGambit.]]
* ThanatosGambit: She attempts to pull one off [[spoiler:upon realizing her rebellion has failed. Her way of doing this is to have Noan shoot her and pretend he was a mole planted among the Cargo Crew, leading to him being heralded as the hero who stopped the rebellion by Asslam's higher class and put in her position, letting him finish what she started at a better time.]] Unfortunately, [[spoiler:while she gets Noan to shoot her, he ultimately fails to follow up on pretending to be the mole and gets her data terminal destroyed, worsening his reputation among the survivors and getting himself thrown off Asslam]].
* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Despite Rachel's clear goal of overthrowing Asslam's corrupt nobility, she herself is extremely morally gray, and her eventual revolution, despite [[spoiler:being forced to start ahead of schedule]], is described by the narration as having thousands of casualties on both sides.

!!Atlantis

[[folder:In general]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/atlantissmaller960.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Lighthouse of human civilization]]

A top-secret ocean facility housing a Zero-Point Energy Reactor. Has multiple layers of stealth and instrument deflection, as well as the ability to "snorkel" underwater for long periods of time. The site of ''The Last Spark.''

* CrazySane: All the staff were this, even before the Punishing outbreak. Those who can't cut it are unceremoniously fired and transported off the island, to live in an information blackout for the rest of their lives.
* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: As a city of coldly calculating researchers, at the beginning of the Punishing Outbreak, they took stock of the situation, and decided to devote everything to discovering what happened to zero-point reactor that unleashed the virus, even if they starved to death in the process. While they failed in that regard, their research left an unexpected gift: Omega technology that can absorb the Virus.
* PetTheDog: Ultimately played straight, despite never treating Lamia well, the main people that interacted with her wanted her to live on, hence putting her through the proto-construct process.
* RagnarokProofing: When it is rediscovered, Atlantis is awe-inspiringly clean. But as the Commandant and Vera explore the empty city, the awe quickly gives way to unease at the realisation the city has essentially become a giant tombstone.
* {{Scienceville}}: It was the premier research site, dedicated to scientific advancements.
* UnderwaterBase: Almost a self-sufficient city that is capable of diving underwater for periods of time. Combined with advanced camouflage technology, and it was impossible to find. Even after the Apocalypse, the only way it could be found was through some moldy old files that had cipher hidden in it.

[[folder:Lustrous]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lastris.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.]]

The head of research at Atlantis.

Qu's frame is ''Pavo'' (uniframe). Her weapon class remains types of glaives.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Qu's backstory is further expanded in ''Lost Chapter''.

A powerful AI equal to Babylonia's Gestalt, its presence in Kowloong is both a vital resource to the city as well as a tempting prize for outside forces.

!!!The Nighter

* CrazySane: All the staff were this, even before the Punishing outbreak. Those who can't cut it are unceremoniously fired and transported off the island, to live in information blackout for the rest of their lives.

!!The Arctic Route Union and the Forest Guards

* YankTheDogsChain: [[spoiler:Despite all the progress made by the end of ''Firn Night'', during ''Lost Chapter'' Luna singlehandedly destroys New Murmansk, killing off all of the leadership. While the Forest Guard and Forsaken save many civilians in the aftermath, it's a bitter way to close the chapter on the old ARU that created the Forest Guard and Amberia.]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/luosaitanormal01_1347845.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Arctic Route Union Armor-type construct]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/new_qu.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Kowloong Vanguard-type Transcendant]]
[[caption-width-right:915:[[labelnote:Click here to see NPC design]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qunormal01_975682.png ''"We are not a monarchy. But to ensure the unity of our community, we have to be of one mind."''[[/labelnote]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pulao2.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Kowloong Vanguard-type Transcendant]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/450px_dubiannormal01.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Forsaken's Attack-type construct]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Click here to see ''Astral'']]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/character_astral_portrait.png[[/labelnote]]]]

Watanabe's frame variations are ''Nightblade'', and ''Astral''.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/new_chang_yu.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Akdilek Armor-type construct]]

[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/450px_r2sufeiyanormal01.png]]

[[folder:'''Qu''']]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qunormal01_975682.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"We are not a monarchy. But to ensure the unity of our community, we have to be of one mind."'']]

Whether as a business or the city it has become, Qu has always been, and will always be the leader of Kowloon. Bowing to no one, Qu keeps the gates of her de-facto kingdom closed to all save those who pledge absolute loyalty to her.\\
\\
''For more information about her playable form, look at "[[Characters/PunishingGrayRavenPlayableConstructs Playable Constructs]]"''
----
* ActuallyADoombot: [[spoiler:The "Qu" that appeared in ''Nona Ouroboros'' was actually her brother Villier, who had fallen in love with the copy of Huaxu he had made. The difference is clear when the real Qu reveals herself in ''Kowloong Metropolis'': Villier was sentimental and emotional, where Qu is imperious and cold.]]
* ColonyDrop: While not actually enacted, Qu says her ultimate goal is to use Huaxu to hijack Babylonia's Gestalt and send the space station crashing into Earth to create a new ice age and put all remaining life out of its misery, save Kowloong, the "record of humanity".
* DrivenToSuicide: At the end of ''Nona Ouroboros'', Qu [[spoiler:,or rather, Villier,]] tries to upload Huaxu into herself in a last-ditch attempt, but when that fails, she kills herself to achieve "true freedom".
* {{Foil}}: Qu contrasts the Ascendants in terms of villainy. The latter are a [[TheSocialDarwinist forward thinking group]] working to create a new society on Earth at the expense of everyone else. Qu, meanwhile, is TheFatalist, who believes human society and culture is effectively dead thanks to the Punishing virus. Her goal therefore is to create and preserve a record of past humanity's accomplishments, no matter the cost.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: A simple trading company survived an apocalypse and wound up becoming a city-state with technology on par with Babylonia, with Qu at its helm.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Qu [[spoiler:,or rather, Villier,]] claims her goal is to give Huaxu true freedom in ''Nona Ouroboros'', yet angrily demands Huaxu obey her and accept her plans. Only after everything falls apart does she realize the irony of her actions.
* IronLady: Qu's word is law, no ifs or buts. She threatens to exile Yazi and all aboard the Nighter because their friendship with Gray Raven means they would hesitate obeying Qu if she orders them to turn on their new comrades.
* LadyOfWar: Her fighting style has a graceful, refined air that lacks any overt uses of technology. She even drifts and floats through the air between certain attacks to emphasize her regality.
* TheManInFrontOfTheMan: In ''Nona Ouroboros'', Pulao believes Huaxu had taken control of everyone aboard the Nighter, including Qu. As it turns out, Qu was the one responsible.
* VillainousCrossdresser: [[spoiler:The Qu of ''Nona Ourboros'' turns out to be Villier, who is later revealed to be Qu's brother.]]
[[/folder]]

The last ruler of Kowloong. After the battle on the Metropolis, she went underground. As the mastermind behind the Tabula Akasha, she voluntarily converted herself into a construct to keep protecting this "record of humanity". By chance this also turned her into a Transcendant, which Babylonia mistook as becoming an Ascendant. The rise of the Dead Zones, however, have finally let people properly categorize her.\\

[[folder:Yazi]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yazinormal01_975742.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I saw you were outnumbered, so I was a bit upset. But they were just too weak. You may as well come to me if you want someone to practice with."'']]

A member of the Kowloong Crew, who acts as Qu's personal attendant, giving her a high level of authority, but also loyalty to anything she desires.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Yazi serves as a unique one during an event's currency farming mode. Usually, when a player builds the authority gauge high enough, Yazi starts spawning in battle stages; if a player chooses to interact with her, she'll automatically end the challenge with all rewards given, no string attached. This is essentially the game's way of saying, "Alright, I see you've put in the work already, I don't need to waste any more of your time."
* TheDragon: Serves as one during ''Nona Ouroboros'', as she blindly assists Qu in seeking out viable candidates to act as Huaxu's vessel.
* TheseQuestionsThree: Another Yazi serves as a gatekeeper to Qu's Observatory, and challenges Gray Raven to answer three riddles to pass, though she admits she could easily just be fought and defeated. Playing her game, however, does provide an opportunity to speak to her and learn a little more about the Kowloong Crew.

[[folder:Huainan]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_20220905_205343.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''Have you ever considered that maybe people should just get to live? What if we weren't supposed to sell our souls only for a shot at life?!'']]

A former citizen of the Nighter who was friends with Changyu.

* PosthumousCharacter: He dies at the end of Changyu's interlude, which happens decades before the game starts.
* ScarsAreForever: He's got horrible burn scars on his neck, which are later explained to be the result of him forcefully removing his Nighter collar.
* TimeForPlanB: The hidden node of Changyu's interlude states that he had four plans for escaping the Nighter: sending out distress signals (which remained on the airwaves until being picked up by someone who's implied to be Murray, decades after Huainan's death), forcefully removing his collar (which caused scars on his neck but didn't let him escape), be traded away as merchandise (which he tries during the interlude, as he attempts to get sold as a construct; it fails and he's killed), and finally, [[DeathIsTheOnlyOption execution]].

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Yan Ning (Chinese) Creator/MariaNaganawa (Japanese)

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Ye Zhiqiu (Chinese) Creator/SayakaOhara (Japanese)

!!!'''Voiced by:''' kinsen [[labelnote:*]]金船[[/labelnote]](Chinese) Creator/NatsukiHanae (Japanese)

!!!'''Voiced by:''' He Wenxiao (Chinese) Creator/MiyukiSawashiro (Japanese)

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Cai Na(Chinese) Creator/AmiKoshimizu (Japanese)

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Sen Zhong Ren(Chinese) Creator/YoshimasaHosoya (Japanese)