History Characters / RivalsOfAether

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/loxodont_roa.PNG]]

Once merely the Trade Minister of the Fire Empire, Loxodont ascended to the throne of upon the death of Emperor Renburn. In the many years that followed, Loxodont managed to conquer most of Aether, and make himself invincible with cybernetic enhancements. His organic self finally takes the stage as a playable characters in ''Rivals 2''.

* BigBrotherIsWatching: Takes this role in ''Lovers'' as Aether High's principal, and as the "Eternal Emperor" in Clairen's timeline.

* SkillGateCharacter: A rare example of one considered to be very good in the hands of an experienced player. His simple gimmick and lack of any obscene weaknesses, aside from a rather easy to intercept recovery, make him very easy to learn, but also very dependent on player skill when matched against characters with much wilder gimmicks.

* SkillGateCharacter: Kragg is very easy to learn, and remains well-off competitively, if requiring a bit of creativity from the player that is.

* SkillGateCharacter: Etalus' KO power, survivability, and easy to understand mechanics make him very appealing to new players. Like Kragg and Zetterburn, he is also more than capable in the competitive scene.

* SkillGateCharacter: Clairen was designed to be accessible and simple, much like Zetterburn or Kragg, allowing new players to pick her up fairly easily. Also, like Zetterburn and Kragg, Clairen is more than competitively viable.

* MyCountryRightOrWrong: She serves the Flame Imperium faithfully, no matter what's asked of her. [[spoiler:When Emperor Loxodont orders her to find and kill Zetterburn for "[[treason]]", she doesn't believe the prince is guilty but still resolves to do so.]]

* CastFromHitPoints: Her final ability, Engage, deals 2 damage, but also hurts Artemis.

* DropTheHammer: His neutral special has him create a giant hammer out of ice, and his up strong creates dual hammers. If he hits his ice with his neutral special, he gains creates a layer of ice armor that increases his weight and falling speed, allowing him to survive much longer than normal.

--> '''Voiced by:''' Justice Washington

A fox girl with skills in archery, and the protagonist of ''Dungeons of Aether''.

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[TheEmperor The Molten Emperor]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[FieryLion The Fire's Roar]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong The Flame's Salvation]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[PlayingWithFire The Fire's Roar]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[LaserBlade The Flame's Salvation]]'']]

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Hannah Hellwig (2021 ''Lovers of Aether Direct'', '"Rivals 2'')

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Hannah Hellwig (2021 ''Lovers of Aether Direct'')

!Non-Playable Characters

[[folder:Abyss Clones]]
Shadow imposters of the cast of unknown origin. They come from behind the Aetherial Gates, and spark the plot when they begin manipulating events and wreaking havoc across Aether.

* TheConspiracy: Directly influence political events throughout Story Mode.
* {{Expy}}: Of the various Small Fry Corps in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Series, and the Fighting Polygon Team from the original ''Super Smash Bros.'' in particular. They play a much more significant role than their inspiration, though.

[[folder:Gatekeepers]]
The final boss of the main Story Mode, and the source of the Abyss Clones. Their nature is unknown, and they guard the Aetherial Gates, also serving as its stage hazard.

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: No explanation is given about them before or after.

!Rivals 2 Playable Characters
[[folder:Loxodont]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/loxodont_roa.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[[TheEmperor The Molten Emperor]]'']]
--> '''Voiced by:''' Justice Washington
Once merely the Trade Minister of the Fire Empire, Loxodont ascended to the throne of upon the death of Emperor Renburn. In the many years that followed, Loxodont managed to conquer most of Aether, and make himself invincible with cybernetic enhancements. His organic self finally takes the stage as a playable characters in ''Rivals 2''.

-----
* ArchEnemy: To Clairen, who makes it her goal to kill him in the past to make sure he never becomes the eternal tyrant who conquered Aether.
* AscendedExtra: Only mentioned in passing in the base game. Becomes a serious threat in expansions and spin-offs, and becomes a fully playable character in ''2''.
* BigBrotherIsWatching: Takes this role in ''Lovers'' as Aether High's principal, and as the "Eternal Emperor" in Clairen's timeline.
* BrutishCharacterBrutishWeapon: Wields an axe nearly as large as he is in his playable appearance, which is saying something given his size.
* CompositeCharacter: A number of his moves shown in his trailer in ''Rivals 2'' borrow from King Dedede, such as two basic forward strikes, and sweeping upward strikes as a ground and aerial attack (albeit with a battle axe instead), but has a special grab that slams opponents into the ground, as well as a downward kick utilizing both legs, similar to Ganondorf.
* TheCorrupter: In ''Lovers'', he's shown to occasionally take someone under his wing, and they end up not being quite the same afterwards. [[spoiler:Just ask Maypul.]]
* CoveredInScars: While still organic, his body is marked from head to toe in scars, suggesting he was no stranger to warfare and strife long before he became a cyborg.
* CruelElephant: He's an elephant and is shown to be pure evil, intending to take over Aether (and succeeding in it in the BadFuture) and being the tyrannical principal of Aether High in ''Lovers''.
* CurbStompBattle: Easily defeats Clairen when she attempts to overthrow him.
* {{Cyborg}}: Has become one of these in the BadFuture Clairen's trying to deny.
* TheEmperor: Unlike Renburn, Loxodont is an undoubtedly villainous example.
* GreaterScopeVillain: Turns out the Abyss Clones were the ''least'' of Aether's problems...
* KnightOfCerebus: The story takes a notably darker tone upon his appearance in Clairen's trailer.
* MagmaMan: He can generate magma with his attacks, covering himself with it not unlike the way Etalus does ice to enhance them.
* PlayingWithFire: Even in his robotic form, Loxodont is one of very few still able to control the power of flame in the BadFuture.
* PromotedToPlayable: Revealed as the second new playable character in ''Rivals 2'' after Fleet on February 16th, 2024 after existing exclusively in the lore of the franchise before.
* RedBaron: He has two different epithets. In Clairen's future, he's known as "the Endless Emperor", given his cyborg body granted immortality. In the present of most of the rest of the cast he is instead merely "the Molten Emperor", after his magma based abilities.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: He appears in literally one scene during the game's story mode, but as revealed in Clairen's trailer, he managed to conquer nearly all of Aether and become immortal.
[[/folder]]

* BrooklynRage: When he's SuddenlyVoiced. Possibly a ShoutOut to Falco's famous accent in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. He at least ''[[{{Badbutt}} tries]]'' to fit the role.

* TheChewToy: In ''Lovers of Aether''. With the punishment he gets at some points, Bradshaw got off easy.

* CoolShades: Wears them instead of his usual goggles in ''Lovers''. [[spoiler:He's actually wearing them to hide a pair of black eyes from being kicked in the face by Ranno.]]

* DivingKick: Does this when using his down special in the air.

* FeatherFingers

* FragileSpeedster: His side special grants him a generous speed boost, but he remains the lightest character in the game, which results in this.
* GlassCannon: Easily a powerful character in the right hands, but his lack of weight makes it very easy to KO him.
* GoombaStomp: His down strong has him stomp downward. If he lands the hit, he'll bounce back upward, giving him the ability to either do it over and over again, or combo into a different move.

* JiveTurkey: Speaks In nearly-incomprehensible slang in ''Lovers of Aether'', as a very transparent attempt to try to seem cool.

* DivingKick: Kragg's foward aerial is a brutal drop kick that serves as one of his most reliable kill moves.

* HornAttack: Kragg uses his horn to great effect throughout his moveset, most notably in his up and side strong attacks.

* SkillGateCharacter: Like Zetterburn, Kragg is very easy to learn, and remains well-off competitively.

* RunningOnAllFours: Zetterburn does this during his running animation.
* SeriesMascot: Being the first character created and generally being one of the easiest to learn, Zetterburn gets a lot of attention from fans and the developers alike.

* SkillGateCharacter: A rare example of one considered to be very good in the hands of an experienced player. His simple gimmick and lack of any obscene weaknesses, aside from a rather easy to incercept recovery, make him very easy to learn.

* WreathedInFlames: His neutral special and up special. His mane is also made entirely of flames.

* CompositeCharacter: A number of his moves shown in his trailer in ''Rivals 2'' borrow from King Dedede, such as two basic forward strikes, and sweeping upward strikes as a ground and aerial attack (albeit with a battle axe instead), but has a special grab that slams opponents into the ground, as well as a downward kick utilizing both legs, similar to Ganondorf.

* AscendedExtra: Only mentioned in passing in the base game. Becomes a serious threat in expansions and spin-offs.

* {{Shotoclone}}: Alongside his fireball essentially being a [[Franchise/StreetFighter Hadouken]], Zetterburn's up strong resembles a {{Shoryuken}}, and his forward strong has him lunge forward in a manner functionally similar to a Tatsumaki.

* LightningBruiser: Despite being the same weight as Zetterburn and Forsburn, Orcane's the third fastest character in the game, right behind Ori and Maypul.

* LightningBruiser: He may be the slowest on the roster, but he can still keep up well enough to land some amazing combos with very powerful KO moves.

* MightyGlacier: Almost literally. He's one of the slowest characters without his ice, but has incredible power behind his moves.

[[folder:Loxodont]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/loxodont_roa.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[[TheEmperor The Endless Emperor]]'']]
Once merely the Trade Minister of the Fire Empire, Loxodont ascended to the throne of upon the death of Emperor Renburn. In the many years that followed, Loxodont managed to conquer most of Aether, and make himself invincible with cybernetic enhancements.

* AscendedExtra: Only mentioned in passing in the base game. Becomes a serious threat in expansions and spin-offs.
* BigBrotherIsWatching: Takes this role in ''Lovers'' as Aether High's principal.
* TheCorrupter: In ''Lovers'', he's shown to occasionally take someone under his wing, and they end up not being quite the same afterwards. [[spoiler:Just ask Maypul.]]
* CruelElephant: He's an elephant and is shown to be pure evil, intending to take over Aether (and succeeding in it in the BadFuture) and being the tyrannical principal of Aether High in ''Lovers''.
* CurbStompBattle: Easily defeats Clairen when she attempts to overthrow him.
* {{Cyborg}}: Has become one of these in the BadFuture Clairen's trying to deny.
* TheEmperor: Unlike Renburn, Loxodont is an undoubtedly villainous example.
* GreaterScopeVillain: Turns out the Abyss Clones were the ''least'' of Aether's problems...
* KnightOfCerebus: The story takes a notably darker tone upon his appearance in Clairen's trailer.
* PlayingWithFire: Even in his robotic form, Loxodont is one of very few still able to control the power of flame in the BadFuture.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: He appears in literally one scene during the game's story mode, but as revealed in Clairen's trailer, he managed to conquer nearly all of Aether and become immortal.
* TheUnfought: For all the threat Loxodont poses narratively, he has yet to take to the battlefield.

[[folder:Emperor Renburn]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dxss5mtxcaasc0s.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
The fallen Emperor of the Fire Empire, and father to Zetterburn and Forsburn.

* TheGoodKing: Judging from the state of mourning the Fire Empire was in during Zetterburn's chapter, he was likely this to his people.
* TheEmperor: Obviously.
* PosthumousCharacter: Dies very early on in the story mode for Forsburn, and is already dead by the time Zetterburn's story begins.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: His death kickstarts one of the game's largest plot points, and sets in motion Loxodont's takeover of Aether, but Renburn himself only appears in a single scene.
* ThemeNaming: Like all of the -burns, Renburn is named after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikael_Renberg a Swedish hockey player.]]

[[folder:Mayreed]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mayreed1.png]]

Maypul's sister. She entrusts Kragg with Maypul's companion plant Lily and warns him of the danger plaguing her home during his chapter.

* FlatCharacter: She only serves to inform Kragg of Maypul's quest.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: {{Downplayed}}. While Maypul goes off to find the source of the shadowy blight ravaging their home, Mayreed stays behind to relay a message to any willing passerby.
* TheGhost: She doesn't appear in ''Lovers'', and is only referred to a couple of times. WordOfGod says she was considered for a cameo like the other minor characters, but excluded because she would have been middle-school age.
* ProneToTears: As shown in Sylvanos' reveal trailer, Mayreed is on the verge of tears after hearing her grandmother read a story about him.
* SiblingYinYang: Maypul is green and acts as a vigilante, while Mayreed is red and seemingly the less daring of the two.

[[folder:Nesbit and Melby]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nesbit1a.png]]
%%[[caption-width-right:300:some caption text]]
%%Gotta say I love Orcane's face in this image.

Orcane's adoptive family.
-----
* FishPeople: They're both bipedal, fish-like humanoids.
* FlatCharacter: Nesbit himself is at least shown to be somewhat business savvy in his dealings with the Water Trading Company, but Melby doesn't even have a personality to speak of.
* NoNameGiven: Downplayed. Melby remains unnamed in the story mode, but her name shows up when selecting her as a buddy.
* ProgressivelyPrettier: Melby's design gets cuter and less strange with each appearance she makes.
* TranslatorBuddy: Melby acts as this for Orcane.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: While Orcane is able to get Melby to safety, the fate of Nesbit himself is unknown after Zetterburn attacks the town.
[[/folder]]

* AmbiguousGender: Just like in their home game, neither Ori nor Sein have a stated gender, and in-game text avoids the use of gendered pronouns when referring to either of them.

* MechanicallyUnusualFighter: Shovel Knight in order to access his Relics has to purchase them from Chester with the treasure he digs up with his basic attacks.

* BreakoutCharacter: He tends to become the representative in indie crossovers as of late as a result of being this. Being part of VideoGame/IndiePogo and VideoGame/Fraymakers as one of the first characters joining the roster.

* PandaingToTheAudience: One of her DLC skins gives her a black and white color scheme similar to that of a panda. It even turns Lily into a cherry blossom.

* TheBattleDidntCount: [[spoiler:When defeated at the end of the penultimate chapter, he just uses the Breath of Life to bring himself back at full strength, forcing Fleet to retreat and find reinforcements.]]