Line #225 Characters/SecretWar


1	For the Warhammer 40,000 fanfic ''Fanfic/SecretWar''.
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5	!!'''Attelus Kaltos'''
6	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/attelus_kaltos_for_tropes.png]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350: [[AntiHero I'm not a good person. So tell me, what means more, Marcel? Someone who's inherently good, doing good? Or someone who's inherently evil doing good, despite their ingrained nature?]]]]
8	->''[[DeadpanSnarker "I am not a partier. I am an assassin who kills people for a living, and it is the dangerous job it is and that I would quite like to live past my twenties, I spend every waking hour training. Making sure I have the necessary skills to live to see the next day".]]''
9
10	A young apprentice assassin whose father, Serghar Kaltos, was perhaps the greatest assassin to ever set up shop in the Calixis Sector. Attelus has to constantly live in his father's shadow. Born and raised in the recently discovered Agri world Elbyra, he is a bit more idealistic and kind than an assassin should be, but this could soon change. He is a chain smoker but, ironically, is strongly against the use of harder drugs.
11	----
12	[[foldercontrol]]
13	[[folder: Attelus Kaltos]]
14	* TheAce: Despite being an apprentice, he is perhaps the best [[MasterSwordsman swordsman]] in an organisation made of amazing swordsmen. His body count is incredible, and that was before he became a [[spoiler: EmpoweredBadassNormal]]. After that, he was able to [[spoiler: kill three Space Marines during their escape from Taryst's tower.]] In Upon Blood Sands, he's become even more so now being able to [[spoiler: fight off three of Taryst's super agents despite at first being unarmed!]]
15	* ActionHero: by the end of Secret War, he has a truly ludicrous body count to his name, which includes [[spoiler: three Space Marines]]
16	* AlmightyJanitor: Despite being just as skilled (if not more skilled) than his colleagues, he is still a lowly Apprentice. Perhaps [[JustifiedTrope justified]] due to him being recruited far older than most assassins and the extreme experience he was forced to gain when he was a teenager.
17	* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: An in-universe example as quite a few characters have outright questioned his true motives and methods.
18	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Serghar Kaltos, Glaitis. Hell, almost everyone.
19	** Made incredibly plain as day in Upon Blood Sands when Attelus finally [[spoiler: fights his father, and it turns out to be the worst [[CurbStompBattle curb stomp battle]] in the series so far. Serghar is literally able to easily dodge Attelus' rain of rage-fuelled attacks with his eyes closed. Before defeating Attelus with terrifying ease, despite the extensive progress Attelus made as a warrior in the three-year TimeSkip between Secret War and Upon Blood Sands.]]
20	%%* AntiHero
21	* AntiVillain: Is this while in [[spoiler: Taryst's employ.]]
22	* TheApprentice: A subversion as Attelus, while he is an apprentice, is far older than most assassin apprentices (most, including Elandria, would already be a full assassin by twenty-three). But it's obvious to most people except Attelus that Glaitis is grooming him to be her replacement. He already has skill in combat down, but everything else, not so much.
23	* TheAtoner: The complete destruction of [[spoiler: [[ApocalypseHow Omnartus]] being indirectly his fault]] weighs really heavy on him. And he swore he'd do anything and everything to hunt down the one truly responsible.
24	%%* AuthorAvatar
25	* AscendedFanboy: Despite his [[TheCynic Cynicism]] he is a huge fan of the Velrosian 1st regiment and its heroes [[spoiler: this comes back to bite him in the arse in Upon Blood Sands, as it's his sentimentality toward them that causes him to make a lot of mistakes. Which includes getting himself and his comrades captured not once, but twice.]]
26	%%* AwesomenessByAnalysis
27	* BadassBookworm: Was this when he was a teenager and even a [[ChildSoldier Child]] due to the copious amounts of training his father had put him through, but never wanted to be a soldier or an assassin? He wanted to be an Imperial Historian. Now has thrown out most of the bookworm so he can focus more on the Badass. Now being a [[spoiler: Throne Agent he's gone back being a bookworm more, shown how he knows of the legend of [[CassandraTruth Cassandra]] to [[LampshadeHanging empathise with her during Upon Blood Sands.]]]]
28	* BadassLongcoat: [[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/0c348844-9fcc-4663-a894-70c9d715c06f/de1c7vy-d2c4f06d-7101-4060-a922-444ed4acc318.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzBjMzQ4ODQ0LTlmY2MtNDY2My1hODk0LTcwYzlkNzE1YzA2ZlwvZGUxYzd2eS1kMmM0ZjA2ZC03MTAxLTQwNjAtYTkyMi00NDRlZDRhY2MzMTguanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.CbaU2nxuUrKeBWaexplmVIc30L0GPkJz3kSEkvgrUHE He wears one]].
29	* BerserkButton: Don't steal Attelus' Lhos or betray him, just don't.
30	* BloodKnight: Has always been one, right from the start of the story, Elandria saw this. Part of his CharacterDevelopment is him finally realising this and accepting it.
31	* ButForMeItWasTuesday: A very rare protagonist example, when a Hammer confronted him about killing his brother, he can't remember killing him because over the last six months, he's killed so many, it doesn't help the way he killed his brother was his SignatureMove.
32	* BreakTheCutie: whether Attelus is cute or not is up for interpretation, but to break him mentally seems to be Glaitis' main objective. But so far she is losing.
33	* TheCassandra: He even Lampshades this [[spoiler: saying this is what she must feel like when he trues to convince the Elbyrans that his father is a fraud and a mass murderer.]]
34	* CatchPhrase:
35	-->"Just in Case."\
36	"Quite depressing, really."\
37	"The first time in a long time."\
38	"That's the understatement of the century/Millennium/Millennia."\
39	"I could hazard a guess."\
40	"Wish me luck."\
41	"Why hadn't I thought of that."\
42	"Is a long and sordid story."
43	* ChaoticNeutral: Even {{lampshaded}} by Glaitis. [[invoked]]
44	-->'''Glaitis''': "I know you, young Attelus, to all but the most educated, you seem...chaotic, strange, random, but you really are not. There is some [[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} method to your madness]]. Some surprisingly sane reasoning as to why, ironically, nothing like your father, who was always as straight and narrow as anyone can get; that is a trait I can admire, one that would help you if you ever meet the requirement of making yourself a full-fledged assassin...That is if you live that long, of course, but for me, it makes you predictable."
45	* ChickMagnet: like his [[TheCasanova father]] he proves quite popular with the ladies, including Elandria, Karmen Kons, Adelana, some random mercenary woman in Taryst's force, and even Helma shows attraction toward him, [[spoiler: even Inquisitor Enandra almost gushes at how 'beautiful' he is. But this is subverted as she quickly reveals he isn't her type, being too [[PrettyBoy 'pretty.']]]]
46	* ChildSoldier: He's by and far more an assassin and spy than a soldier but he was taught to be a killer by his father from a very early age. In Upon Blood Sands he recalls how even the biggest bullies wouldn't mess with the 'small pale kid' because of his training. It was these skills that allowed him to survive in the ruins of the city of Varander alone. To get supplies to survive, he [[OneManArmy Single-handedly ambushed and killed chaos patrols]] as a teenager. [[spoiler: This is all a part of a XanatosGambit, decades in planning, of course.]]
47	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: It would be a hell of a lot harder to understand Attelus' actions if they were shown from another character's perspective; it's hard even when it's ''from'' his perspective.
48	* CombatPragmatist: Embraces Pragmatism as his whole philosophy, though he sometimes doesn't live up to it. One of the very first things Attelus does is kick a ganger in the shin with a ''boot knife''.
49	* ConsummateLiar: Zigzagged, one of his sayings is 'the best way to lie is to tell the truth.' So only properly lies when he really needs to. A good example is when someone asks him if he 'knows everything' (meaning all of what's happened leading to their current situation). Attelus knows, of course, but chooses to take it [[LiteralMinded ''literally'']], so when he answers, he is telling the truth because he doesn't know ''everything'' such as how the universe was created. [[LoopHoleAbuse So he doesn't exhibit any sign of]] [[GuileHero lying.]]
50	** Works well for him normally, until he encounters [[spoiler: Inquisitor Draven in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague who is able to easily see through his "not-lies" to a terrifying degree. But, like always, Attelus learns.]]
51	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Very much so; the poor guy has been through some horrid things [[spoiler: his survival in the ruins of his city Varander as a teenager during a Chaos invasion came at a horrible cost such as severe PTSD, especially from having to resort [[IAmAHumanitarian to cannibalism]] and losing his much-loved mother to orbital bombardment.]]
52	* {{Determinator}}: After being brutally beaten for ages, he still manages to defeat the invisible mimic [[spoiler: by smashing an alcohol bottle over its head, identifying where it is by looking at his blood on its fists]].
53	** Now even more so, though he almost gives up a few times, Attelus still manages to make it to the church despite almost literally running through hell.
54	** Just the fact after all the horrific things he's been through hasn't driven him insane or caused him to give up makes him this trope up to eleven.
55	* DirtyCoward: Attelus sees himself as one of these, and it's not too far from the truth.
56	* DrugsAreBad: Has this attitude toward combat stimms, refusing to use them due to their side effects and his [[{{Irony}} pragmatism]] due to the belief if he became too reliant on them, he wouldn't be as effective if caught out without a hit. He's still able to go toe to toe with Elandria when she's high, though.
57	%%* DudeLooksLikeaLady
58	* DudeWheresMyRespect: The poor guy seems to suffer from this constantly [[spoiler: taken to eleven in Upon Blood Sands that despite managing to last seventeen minutes in a sparring match against a veteran sergeant Space Marine of the Raven Guard and almost managing to defeat it. The guardsmen who watched still insist on calling him 'fairy boy.' Much to his annoyance.]]
59	%%* EmotionalBruiser
60	%%* EvenTheGuysWantHim
61	* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Attelus does this to almost everyone, much to the annoyance of Glaitis in particular.
62	* GoodScarsEvilScars: Subverted the [[spoiler: scar he sports is on his left cheek given to him by Elandria, which was torn open by a CurbStompBattle he suffered though not long after opening it so it becomes a huge, ugly ragged thing. So bad it gave Commissar Tathe pause.]] He hides it behind bangs. He could get it covered with false flesh but chooses to keep it as a [[MyGreatestFailure reminder.]] It still doesn't stop him from being a ChickMagnet, though.
63	* GuileHero: Sometimes goes over to being a full-fledged ManipulativeBastard. In Upon Blood Sands, he really struggles with his instinct to be this while trying to be ReasonableAuthorityFigure and fails on a few occasions. This is mostly due to Glaitis' brainwashing, of course.
64	* HeroesPreferSwords: At first, he uses a mono-molecular enhanced blade given to him by his father. But later gets a [[CoolSword Master Crafted power sword]] from [[spoiler: Estella Erith/Karmen Kons.]]
65	* HeroicWillpower: Almost the epitome.
66	* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Has severe self-esteem issues; takes him a long time to truly realise how good he is at the blade and that he's actually on par with the more experienced Castella and Darrance but is exceptionally arrogant about some other things.
67	** This is exemplified especially during the debriefing of their time on Sarkeath early on in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague, where Attelus was easily the most critical of his leadership during that mission. Quite a bit of which were justified. He insisted he should not be placed in charge again due to his mistakes, but mostly because he doesn't like the responsibility.
68	* HiddenDepths: So many that even he doesn't know about them.
69	* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: He can be ''really'' good at understanding some people, but when it comes to understanding women, he has no clue.
70	* HotForTeacher: [[spoiler: Attelus is very much into Glaitis, and he didn't even know until Taryst points it out. This is made extra [[{{Squick}} squicky]] because she isn't just his mother figure, but is three times his [[OlderThanTheyLook age]]]].
71	* {{Hypocrite}}: He is oh so contemptuous of Taryst's paranoia, but in reality, he is as, if not even more, paranoid than Taryst. Especially after the Twilight Bar incident.
72	** More and more so as the series moves on due to his rampant [[PragmaticHero pragmatism]], mostly. Firstly [[spoiler: he breaks his "no combat stimms" protocol in [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10954011/1/Secret-War-Upon-Blood-Sands Secret War: Upon Blood Sands]] but he was by and far pushed beyond his limits physically and they would've lost if he hadn't, he was well aware of his hypocrisy, though.]] A smaller example which he seems unaware of is that despite his [[TheCynic cynicism]] toward the 'almighty, awe-inspiring speech' he can pull off a damn good one when he needs to.
73	** In Secret War, he derides Glaitis, Karmen and even [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Brutis Bones]] for their manipulation of their employees but resorts to said tactics in Upon Blood Sands.
74	* HyperactiveMetabolism: thanks to [[spoiler: Faleaseen's enhancement she can speed his metabolism to heal his wounds faster, although this power in the 41st millennium can have great [[BlessedWithSuck drawbacks]] if he and she aren't careful to hide it.]]
75	* IamAHumanitarian: Had to resort to cannibalism to survive in the ruins of his [[DoomedHomeTown home city, Varander]] as a teenager.
76	* KarmaHoudini: He has dodged the consequences of many of his actions so far.
77	* MadeOfIron: Almost literally his [[spoiler: wraithbone skeletal structure allows him to shrug off attacks that would cripple or kill a normal human. Hell, he almost literally shrugs off a BOLT ROUND as it bounces off his shoulder-fired AT POINT BLANK RANGE! Although this is subverted as it can't withstand highly penetrative gunfire such as Hellgun shots.]]
78	* MagneticHero: To the extent he's able to recruit people around him even after he'd [[spoiler: killed their brother]] and on top of that bought the loyalty and friendship of [[spoiler: a Space Marine]], but he sure as hell went through hell and back to earn it.
79	* ManChild: Although he is 23, he can still act like a child in many circumstances, a fact which he is constantly reminded of by Glaitis.
80	* MasterSwordsman: Even Castella, who has years of experience over him, says he's better than her.
81	* MyGreatestFailure: being [[UnWittingPawn manipulated]] into indirectly [[spoiler: causing the Exterminatus of Omnartus and the slaughter of its billions of people living on it]] weighs heavily on the poor bastard, and the guilt is what drives him to fight for good.
82	%%* OneManArmy: Especially in the later chapters.
83	* KickTheDog: His strangulation of [[spoiler: poor Vex...]] in a fit of paranoia really is this.
84	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Can't remember much of his time [[spoiler: living in the ruins of [[DoomedHomeTown Varander]] at first, this seems due to severe PTSD, but is later revealed Estella Erith tried to erase it from his mind to prevent him from becoming an [[ProfessionalKiller assassin.]]]]
85	* LightningBruiser: Especially after his [[spoiler: enhancement.]]
86	* LoveMakesYouDumb: Not quite "love", but more an unhealthy infatuation with his master Glaitis, which blinded him to how horrible and manipulative she is for a long time. Part of his CharacterDevelopment in Secret War is to realise this and overcome it.
87	* TheLeader: He's supposed to be this in the Sequel Secret War: Upon Blood Sands. But is largely struggling in the role. [[spoiler: Having resorted to manipulation and lying too often and getting caught out for it. Making him even more of a {{Hypocrite}} for earlier deriding Glaitis for using the same tactics. He also let his sentimentality rule over his logic and pragmatism. But as always, he's [[CharacterDevelopment learning]].]]
88	* NayTheist: Attelus is a play on one of these; he holds to the belief that the Emperor was a great man rather than a god but subverts it by acknowledging that the gods of Chaos do indeed exist.\
89	\
90	His anti-faith position is becoming stronger due to his increasing bitterness and paranoia, with his distinct contempt for people with "faith."
91	** His contempt for faith has died away during his time working for the Inquisition; he still doesn't worship the Emperor or anything, but he recognises the faith of the Adepta Sororitas as having a true effect on the real world, as shown in The Annihilation Plague. He also admits he's too cynical, pessimistic and pragmatically minded to ever be able to be capable of using such power.
92	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: by the end of Secret War [[spoiler: he becomes indirectly responsible for the Exterminatus of Omnartus, a Hive world with billions of people living on its surface!]]
93	* PastExperienceNightmare: He suffers these during his injured state. They are basically horrific scenes taken straight out of his past. [[spoiler: It is heavily implied that these dreams are actually [[MindRape a test of his willpower]].]]
94	* PrettyBoy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] to hell and back [[spoiler:at Attelus' expense by the Mimic and Karmen Kons. It accuses Attelus of "looking like a girl" and says that he's a hypocrite for claiming to be a CombatPragmatist but still keeping his hair long, which would obviously be a disadvantage in combat]].
95	%%* ProperlyParanoid
96	* PunchClockVillain: Again, when working for [[spoiler: Taryst.]]
97	* ResurrectiveImmortality: [[spoiler: later revealed that it wasn't just his strength, agility and bone structure enhanced by Faleaseen but his very soul as well, turning him into a Perpetual.]]
98	* SanitySlippage: Is very close to losing his mind.
99	%%* SelectiveObliviousness
100	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: is very much the sensitive guy to Garrakson's manly man, being unafraid to cry on many occasions.
101	* ScarsAreForever: A horrific one is now on his left cheek.
102	* ShellShockedVeteran: As implied by his nightmares. Outright stated by Torris, who says Attelus still suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
103	* SinsOfOurFathers: Attelus is always having to deal with Serghar Kaltos' legacy as one of the greatest assassins to ever work in the Calixis sector.
104	* SmokingIsCool: Subverted. He knows it's a filthy habit, but he can't stop. Also helps with his severe [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD]].
105	* SmugSmiler: can be this according to Garrakson.
106	* StealthExpert: Par for the course of being an assassin. His skill in this allowed him to survive as a teenager during the invasion of his homeworld. But compared to the [[spoiler: Velrosian scouts in Upon Blood Sands, he struggles to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter keep up.]]]]
107	%%* StepfordSmiler
108	* SuperReflexes: To such an extent that he can pick up a knife and get into a throwing position before ''Elandria could even consider pulling a trigger''. Even more so later on, after he TookALevelInBadass is able to dodge bullets with inhuman ease.
109	* SuperSenses: one of the reasons why he can DodgeTheBullet is because he can sense a millisecond before they pull the trigger, even when they are shooting at his back!
110	* SuperSpeed: While not nearly as fast as most speedsters, he can sprint twenty metres in a split second. Which for 40k terms is ridiculously fast.
111	%%* TraumaCongaLine: Just a bloody bit.
112	* ThereAreNoCoincidences: After having to work under a ChessMaster for so long, Attelus is this trope.
113	* TrainingFromHell: ''Everything'' he goes through under Glaitis is training from hell.
114	* {{Understatement}}: Used a lot when he is in SarcasmMode.
115	* VerbalTic: Both in inner monologue and dialogue, Attelus uses a lot of rhyming and alliteration and begins quite a few of his sentences with "hmmm", especially when in SarcasmMode.
116	* WarriorPoet: Shows much philosophical insight, especially in the sequel: ''Secret War: Upon Blood Sands''. Even more so in [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13721411/1/Secret-War-The-Annihilation-Plague Secret War: The Annihilation Plague]] in his verbal teardown of [[ScrewYouElves Autarch Raloth Arlyandor]] accompanied at the same time by a [[CurbStompBattle physical beatdown during a sparring match.]]
117	%%* WiseBeyondTheirYears
118	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Indirectly responsible for [[spoiler:the Exterminatus of Omnartus and its billions of people.]]
119	!!''''''
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder: Rogue Trader Taryst]]
123	The employer of Glaitis' mercenary organisation, so by proxy Attelus Kaltos and Elandria, at the beginning of Secret War. He seems [[LargeHam flamboyant]] and enthusiastic, but it's all a mask that he has a truly dark motive and has long ago been consumed by paranoia.
124	----
125	* BigBadWannabe: It seemed Taryst was being built up as the BigBad. But it turns out he was anything but.
126	* BitchInSheepsClothing: He tries to be, anyway, with his friendly and [[LargeHam enthusiastic]] greeting of Attelus', Elandria, and Garrakson. But the only one who seems charmed is Elandria, as Attelus and Garrakson see straight through it.
127	** His reaction to Attelus' rejection of his proposal to join his employment is...telling, and how he threatens Attelus afterwards, again, shows how he exploits his power and wealth.
128	* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Being a Rogue Trader that runs a multi-system corporation, he definitely fits into this as [[spoiler: he wages the war against Brutis Bones and his impromptu army of Moody Hammers because Brutis' had found out his connections to Inquisitor Edracian, so wanted to hide his involvement.]]
129	* JerkAss: and how! He wields his almost unlimited power and authority with petty abandon [[spoiler: shown when it's revealed he made Karmen Kons use her psychic powers to erase the memory of his ex-boyfriend Garrakson just so he didn't have to change the password to his panic room, what was that password? jgarrakson.]]
130	* KilledOffScreen: Assassinated off-screen by [[spoiler: [[KillAndReplace the mimic.]]]] Only Garrakson seems saddened by his death.
131	* LargeHam: When he's first introduced, he steps out from behind curtains and yells, "MY FRIENDS!" so...yeah.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Taryst'sEmployees]]
135
136
137	!!'''Elandria'''
138	->''"Well, if you call me “dear” one more time, you will find yourself sorely lacking a head."''
139
140	She was recently employed by Glaitis. Though she is the same age as Attelus, she holds the rank of full assassin and is extremely ruthless while at it.
141	----
142	%%* AntiVillain
143	* BackFromTheDead: In [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10954011/1/Secret-War-Upon-Blood-Sands Upon Blood Sands]] it's revealed [[spoiler: she's back, but it's not her but her reanimated corpse using the esoteric soul magic of [[BigBad Etuarq]]. This sends [[TheWoobie poor Attelus]] for a six when she shows him her face, despite him already guessing it was her. But it's hinted heavily that some of her consciousness is still in there.]]
144	* BadassNormal: Not so much when high on combat drugs.
145	* BerserkButton: The anger she shows when she finds out Glaitis has been keeping secrets from her is pretty scary.
146	%%* BloodKnight
147	* CatchPhrase:
148	--> "What are you doing?"
149	--> "Whatever."
150	%%* DeadpanSnarker
151	* DualWielding: Uses two mono blades; one named [[VideoGame/SoulSeries Setsukia]], and the other Katrina.
152	* DrugsAreGood: Has a liberal use of combat drugs, allowing her to dodge bullets.
153	* EvilCannotComprehendGood: [[spoiler: Much to everyone's shock, at first, she could not understand Attelus' actions in the Twilight Bar. She figured that he must have used the people in there as {{human shield}}s for the Arcoflagellent]].
154	* HiddenDepths: She isn't as ignorant as she first seems.
155	* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Wears a skin-tight [[SpyCatsuit bodyglove]]? Check! Isn't very knowledgeable of human interaction? Check! Insanely hot while at it? Check!
156	* KickTheDog: [[spoiler: She emotionally tortures Attelus after his horrific injury at the [[IncrediblyLamePun axes]] of the Arco Flagellant. Whether she did this of her own accord or under orders is, as yet, unclear, but it certainly confirms that she is more than she [[HiddenDepths initially seems]]]].
157	%%* KilledOffForReal
158	%%* NeutralEvil [[invoked]]
159	* OutOfCharacterMoment: The moment is {{lampshaded}} by Attelus' narrative.
160	--> '''Elandria''': So what is it that you improvise now oh you magnificent bastard you?\
161	I looked over my shoulder at her, shocked. Was that an actual joke? A backhanded compliment, perhaps? Or something else entirely?
162	%%* PunchClockVillain
163	* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Played sadly straight after Attelus' AnguishedDeclarationOfLove]].
164	%%* TheRival
165	* SheFu: Justified due to her enthusiastic use of Combat Drugs. {{Lampshaded}} by Attelus.
166	* SuperReflexes: Manages to dodge Attelus' shots with her acrobatics.
167
168	!!'''Jeurat Garrakson'''
169	->''"And kid, if you want to sheath your blade in her, may I suggest using your “other” blade instead."''
170
171	A senior mercenary of Taryst's organization, he is an ex-guardsman, an explosives expert, and the leader of Elandria's and Attelus' little squad.
172	----
173	%%* BadassNormal
174	* BerserkButton: [[spoiler: Despite them breaking up before the events of Secret War, it's implied that he's still in love with Taryst, so don't mess with Taryst, ever]].
175	* CoolOldGuy: He's just so laid back.
176	* DeadpanSnarker:
177	--> "I don’t know, sir, meaning that they are either still lying in the pools of blood we left them in or in a Magistratum mortuary either/or."
178	%%* DemolitionsExpert
179	* DirtyOldMan: The way he teases Attelus for his crush on Elandria makes him seem like this.
180	* AFatherToHisMen: [[spoiler: After his and Torris' lecture to Attelus at his bedside, Attelus compares the lecture to those given to him by his own father during his youth]].
181	** In a dream at the beginning of [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13721411/1/Secret-War-The-Annihilation-Plague Secret War: The Annihilation Plague]] a spectre version of him states it to Attelus, he may've been a personification of Attelus' subconscious, but the evidence of his actions in Secret War [[spoiler: before his death]] speak for themselves.
182	-->That's nice to hear. I wish I could be there to help you so damn much too, kid. Before I died, I wanted to say this, but I didn't get the opportunity to tell you: I loved you; I loved you like a son. You were the son I never had.
183	* GatlingGood: Is extremely fond of using an Autocannon when he can.
184	* HiddenDepths: He is one of the most upset when he finds out about [[spoiler: Attelus' NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Vex]] and is [[SmarterThanYouLook far, far smarter]] than he seems.
185	* KilledOffForReal: Dies at the hand of [[spoiler: an insane Glaitis but in doing so sacrifices himself to save the others from her wrath.]]
186	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: [[JerkAss Taryst]] had Karmen Kons erase some of Garrakson's memory just to keep the password to his elevator secret. What was the password? Jgarrakson.]]
187	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Anyone who thinks he's a typical HonourBeforeReason ex-military type, think again.
188	* LargeAndInCharge: Is the Leader of the group.
189	* ManlyGay: Easily the manliest man in the series, who just so happens to be gay.
190	* ParentalSubstitute: For Attelus in Secret War, he was a better father to Attelus than his [[TheSociopath real one]] ever was.
191	* PunchClockVillain: Is a really nice guy but still working for [[spoiler: Taryst makes him this.]]
192	%%* TrueNeutral [[invoked]]
193	* UndyingLoyalty: Heavily hinted he's this toward Taryst [[spoiler: mostly because he was in love with him. This despite knowing more than most just how much of a [[Jerkass Taryst is]]]]
194	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to both the more sensitive Torris and Attelus.
195	* TheStoic: But it's soon shown that he is NotSoStoic.
196	* TechnicolorEyes: He has 'violet eyes, ' something all Cadians are born with.
197
198	!!'''Marcel Torris'''
199	-> 'Torris tilted his head, “like the old times, eh,” he echoed in good humour. “Kid, you may have a very, very long list of issues and character flaws, but despite that, we like ya. For some reason, I can’t think of yet, but maybe we’ll live long enough to figure that out one day.”'
200
201	Another senior mercenary under Taryst, Torris, is an ex-Abitrator from Malfi, and one could say the ''heart'' of the team. Like Garrakson, he has a dirty sense of humour but is more discerning and observant because of his background.
202	----
203	* AwesomenessByAnalysis: He's so good at reading people. Karmen Kons speculates he is a latent psyker. He's able to even read [[SpaceElves Eldar!]]
204	* BadassNormal: Perhaps embodies this trope more than anyone else in the series as with his meltagun, he's [[spoiler: mortally wounded a Bloodthirster of Khorne in Upon Blood Sands. And in Secret War: The Annihilation Plague, he's responsible for the deaths of, count them, four Plague Marines of Nurgle, a feat no other character, not even Attelus, can claim.]]
205	* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Being former law enforcement, he tends to see the galaxy like this, but his arc in Upon Blood Sands allows him to finally see the shades of grey.
206	* CharacterDevelopment: Gets a character arc in Upon Blood Sands that [[spoiler: makes him see the world in shades of grey and even forgives Attelus for his mistakes.]]
207	* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Being an ex-Adeptus Arbites, he most likely grew up in a Schola Progenium. This is confirmed in a flashback in Upon Blood Sands.
208	* DeadpanSnarker:
209	--> “For him to do that, what did you do? Give him a blow job? Must’ve been good; I’m sure you’ve had a hell of a lot of practice.”
210	%%* HiddenDepths
211	* LargeHam: He can go a bit overboard sometimes.
212	* TheBigGuy: During the three-year TimeSkip, Torris seemed to have inherited this position, becoming very proficient with a Meltagun. It also helps he's a "big guy" in the first place.
213	* ThoseTwoGuys: Rarely seen not hanging out with his BFF, Garrakson.
214	* TokenMinority: Despite being from a hive world, Torris is described as having very dark skin and was the only character described that way until the introduction of Inquisitor Enandra, who's similarly dark-skinned.
215	* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Is never seen not using one.
216	* ScaryBlackMan: Shows this side to him after [[spoiler: Garrakson dies and takes his grief and rage out on Attelus, believing Garrakson's death was due to Attelus' manipulation, which may or may not be the truth.]]
217	* WarriorTherapist: This is a big part of his character in Upon Blood Sands.
218
219	!!'''Karmen Kons/[[spoiler: Estella Erith]]'''
220	-> "Vark, she hired me. I was a rogue mercenary psyker. Of course, she's a frigging radical, and of course, I don't mind if she is one. I believe the God-Emperor is above all things, but I also believe that the rules he made during the birth of this Imperium of man were more suited to a different time. I believe that he now understands that much must be done for the continued survival of our species that ten thousand years ago would be deemed wrong."
221
222	An exceedingly powerful rogue psyker [[spoiler: employed by Taryst who specialises in telepathy but has some skill in other disciplines. Has a past with Attelus.]]
223	----
224	* AlliterativeName: Both her names '''K'''armen '''K'''ons and [[spoiler: '''E'''stella '''E'''rith.]]
225	* AntiHero: She is the utter paragon of pragmatism; even Attelus admits she can go too far.
226	%%* AntiVillain
227	* BlessedWithSuck: comes naturally with being a psyker.
228	* BlueBlood: Was the daughter of a lord of Attelus' home country, Velrosia. She was a sergeant in the local PDF before the invasion from chaos, and her goal in life was to become a scout in the Velrosian 1st regiment. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis My. How. Things. Change.]]
229	* CanonImmigrant: She was originally from 'Of Thieves and Murderers', an old 40k fanfiction by the same writer.
230	* CombatPragmatist: She's pretty much the embodiment of the dark side of this. And she's a good guy!
231	* CripplingOverSpecialization: Feels this way [[spoiler: when they arrive on the surface of Sarkeath, she finds herself unable to use her psychic power and almost has a breakdown due to this. Thinking she is useless now.]]
232	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Survived a horrible war on her homeworld with Attelus and, during that war, lost her whole squad to the depredations of the [[TheCameo Blood Pact]].
233	* DyeHard: [[spoiler: Dyed her hair to blonde from black for her Karmen Kons persona.]] [[invoked]]
234	* IDidWhatIHadToDO: It may as well be her CatchPhrase, although she hasn't said it word for word yet.
235	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Karmen can have a very vindictive and petty side to her, especially when it comes to [[LoveInterest Adelana]] [[TheApprentice Helgen]] especially on Sarkeath due to [[spoiler: Chaos corruption]] but she seems to always overcome it to do the right thing.
236	* LaserGuidedAmnesia:
237	** One of her specialities. [[spoiler: She was even able to do it to Attelus before she even received training. She didn't quite manage it as well as she wanted to, but somehow didn't destroy his mind in the process!]]
238	** Doesn't remember [[spoiler: her time training under [[ManBehindTheMan Farseer Faleaseen]] due to this. She remembers what she learned, though. [[{{Irony}} ironically.]]]]
239	* MasterSwordswoman: She [[spoiler: was one as Estella Erith in the Velrosian martial art: Valisuth but lost much skill when she dedicated her life to honing her sixth sense, or at least she thinks she has.]]
240	* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: [[spoiler: her controlling the minds of Taryst's mercenaries to fight the Space Marines to cover their escape. While many agree it was needed. Many still think it was wrong. It's what mostly makes Attelus reject her AnguishedDeclarationOfLove being sickened by the act, and it makes it realise how far she can fall. This despite still feeling the same.]]
241	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] she slips into her [[spoiler: Estella Erith persona her accent becomes more formal and aristocratic.]]
242	* PoweredArmor: Gets power armour in Upon Blood Sands. Mostly to protect her when she leaves her body.
243	* RavenHairIvorySkin: Was described as this [[spoiler: as Estella Erith before dying her hair blonde to become Karmen Kons and is beautiful, of course.]]
244	* {{Pride}}: Her greatest flaw, and it almost caused her to throw away her life if Attelus hadn't convinced her to stand down.
245	* SanitySlippage: Like many psykers, she's close to going off the slippery slope. Both she and Attelus have this in common, and both help each other from falling completely.
246	* SplitPersonality: Seems to be fighting [[spoiler: an internal battle between her kind but prideful Estella Erith side, against her ruthless mercenary Karmen Kons side.]]
247	* TheStoic: can come off like this sometimes, but she REALLY is NotSoStoic.
248	* WalkingSpoiler: Almost all her trope explanations have a spoiler tag!
249	* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler: She risked destroying Attelus' mind to rid him of his trauma so he could live a normal life. And she sacrificed Taryst's mercenary army to delay the Space Marines allowing their escape.]]
250	* TraumaCongaLine: Not as bad as Attelus, but she's been through hell.
251	* WarriorTherapist: well, not exactly a warrior anymore. But she's helped Attelus through some horrible things and vice versa.
252
253	!!'''Vex Carpompter'''
254	->"I don't know who had installed the security of Taryst's files, but it is good, very, very, very good, maybe even the best I have ever seen. Maybe it was a priest of the mechanicum that would be the only explanation that I could think of, but I am me and me being me the genius that I am I was able to access some of Taryst's database."
255
256	A very young Hacker hired by Taryst to overlook his data security.
257	----
258	* BadassBookworm: After [[spoiler: [[KickTheDog Attelus strangles him]] Garrakson teaches him how to punch and somehow manages to punch Attelus in the face so hard he gets knocked off his feet, this is AFTER Attelus is [[Transhuman enhanced]] by Faleaseen. But almost breaks his hand in the process]]
259	* CanonImmigrant: Like Karmen Kons was also taken from 'Of Thieves and Murderers.'
260	* CatchPhrase:
261	--> Okie dokie
262	* ChekhovsGunman: Although he's one of the more obvious ones.
263	* ImprobableAge: He is a master of cogitators on par with many a Tech-Priest despite being only in his mid-teens.
264	* InsufferableGenius: Is a genius and knows it. As one may decipher [[CaptainObvious from his quote.]]
265	* PlayfulHacker: Pretty much this to a 'T' and could be considered a bit cliche for this.
266	* {{Pride}}: Is one of the most prideful characters in the story, mostly about his hacking ability.
267	%%* TeenGenius
268
269	!!'''Major Olinthre'''
270	-> "And for that, I will always be ashamed, I am a coward, Attelus. I should have died in duty along with my comrades, but yet here I am. Working as a soulless mercenary for an ugly and backstabbing corporation that really shouldn't exist, but now it's time to face up like you did with Vex, it's time to finally, truly face up to my mistakes."
271
272	The second in command of Taryst's mercenary army. He's charismatic and charming. He is also the [[spoiler: the other last survivor of the Cadian regiment Garrakson hails from, being Garrakson's commanding officer.]]
273	----
274	* TheAtoner: As shown by his quote, he suffers from a severe case of SurvivorsGuilt.
275	%%* BadassNormal
276	* TheCasanova: He's described as being exceedingly handsome and good with the women. [[spoiler: Too bad he's KilledOffForReal before he can show this, although the when the Mimic masquerades as him, Castella Lethe is quick to hit on him.]]
277	* ChekhovsGunman: Has a brief mention earlier in the story, but then turns out to be intrinsic to the plot.
278	* GoodLookingPrivates: Unlike Garrakson, he's somehow left unscarred by conflict.
279	* HiddenDepths: His past trauma, and he is one of the first to uncover TheConspiracy by just following a hunch, although he didn't do it alone.
280	%%* LanternJawOfJustice
281	* MajorlyAwesome: Being a major and all.
282	* NiceGuy: Despite apparently being a womaniser and a ShellShockedVeteran, he seems one of the nicest characters in Taryst's army.
283	* ProperlyParanoid: Is one of the few who was paranoid enough to investigate Taryst's strange [[OocIsSeriousBusiness actions.]] He was also inspired by Attelus' insinuations.
284	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Is a good man and isn't afraid to [[spoiler: put his life on the line to stand up to [[BadBoss Taryst.]]]]
285	* ShellShockedVeteran: Seems to be affected far more by the destruction of his regiment than Garrakson.
286	%%* SurvivorsGuilt
287	* TechnicolorEyes: Has 'violet eyes.' Natural being from [[WorldOfBadass Cadia.]]
288	* WeHardlyKnewYe: Is [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal off screen by the mimic, only a few chapters after his introduction.]]
289
290	!!'''Captain Helma'''
291	The senior-most [[spoiler: surviving officer left alive in Taryst's organisation by the end of Secret War.]]
292	----
293	* GracefullyDemoted: Even though becoming a [[spoiler: Throne Agent of the Inquisition]] might be seen as somewhat of a promotion even from the retinue of an influential Rogue Trader, it's obvious she isn't much more than a soldier in [[spoiler: Inquisitor Enandra's organisation]], but she really doesn't seem to mind.
294	* [[JerkAss Jerkass:]] at first, comes off this way, especially with the condescending way she talked down to Attelus and her willingness to leave [[spoiler: Adelana Helgen and her fellow workers behind at the mercy of the Space Marines slaughtering their way through Taryst's tower.]] But during the three-year time skip between Secret War and Secret War: Upon Blood Sands [[spoiler: working for the Inquisition has seemed to humble her and drained away her]] Jerkass status.
295	* KilledOffForReal: Dies in [[spoiler: Secret War: Upon Blood Sands, at the hand of a daemon controlled Attelus Kaltos. Made sadder as she'd survived through hell and was starting a relationship with [[ConspiracyTheorist Jelket.]]]]
296	* OddFriendship: Develops a strong friendship with Adelana during the TimeSkip even though [[spoiler: she was more than willing to leave her to die.]]
297
298	!!'''Adelana Helgen'''
299	A cute, young, red-headed girl who works in the mailroom of Taryst's tower. She's studying to join the local Magistratum. She makes a small appearance midway through the story but plays a big part [[ChekhovsGunman later on.]]
300	----
301	* TheApprentice: Becomes this [[spoiler: to Attelus at the end of Secret War, essentially blackmails him to become her teacher despite his insistence he isn't qualified as to be her teacher at all.]]
302	* BewareTheNiceOnes: While she is nowhere near the most dangerous character in the story when push comes to shove, she can hold her own. She's a pretty damned good shot with her bolter and, after training, not bad with her Monomolecular-enhanced sword.
303	** She can also be quite [[ManipulativeBitch manipulative]] when she wants to be, such as how she [[spoiler: guilt trips Attelus into accepting her as his apprentice and later in Upon Blood Sands she gives him the ultimatum, that if he uses the [[EvilWeapon Sword of Kalncerack]], she'll leave. But she did it out of genuine concern for his well-being.]]
304	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: The big reason [[spoiler: Attelus saves her from the death of her world.]]
305	* CovertPervert: In Upon Blood Sands, she is paired with [[SilverFox Hayden Tresch]], and when walking behind him upstairs, she laments that he's wearing a camo cloak so she can't get a good look at his behind.
306	* DudeMagnet: Apparently, quite a few men besides Attelus harbour feelings for her.
307	* DrivenToSuicide: Comes very close to this [[spoiler: at the end of Secret War after learning the truth of the death of her world.]]
308	* FieryRedhead: Averted, she is unassuming and soft-spoken.
309	* [[TheGenericGuy The Generic Girl:]] She's easily the most normal of all the characters; she begins as a student and mailroom attendant to a Throne Agent and [[TheApprentice Assassin Apprentice]] in a single day. Her most defining physical trait is her red with blonde streak hair, and her main skill is being able to [[AwesomenessByAnalysis read others well]]. But she's nowhere near on the level as Torris.
310	* LoveInterest: She is definitely the girl Attelus holds the strongest feelings for (besides maybe Elandria). But they haven't gotten together for multiple reasons. The biggest being [[spoiler: he's indirectly responsible for the death of her homeworld.]]
311	* [[NiceGuy Nice Girl:]] Is genuinely one of the nicest people in the series so far, exemplified in her first [[EstablishingCharacterMoment appearance when she comforts Attelus after]] [[spoiler: Karmen is horribly injured and being treated by Taryst's medics.]]
312	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Averted, while she arguably has one of the best reasons to [[spoiler: take down Etuarq, as he's responsible for the death of her world]] but this doesn't stop her from [[spoiler: quitting being a frontline Throne Agent at the end of Upon Blood Sands, as it all just became too much for her, and after that utter hell, most of the other characters can't blame her.]]
313
314	!!'''Jelket'''
315	A low-level mercenary that happens to [[spoiler: survive the death of Omnartus]] out of sheer luck more than much else. Once an Imperial Guardsman, he managed to muster out and joined Taryst's organisation in the hope of an easy life.
316	----
317	* ConspiracyTheorist: Isn't too over the top with this, but he does get on his ally's nerves with it.
318	* CharacterDevelopment: He has an arc in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands where he overcomes his insecurities and realises his value as a Throne Agent.
319	* TheGenericGuy: Almost as much as Adelana, but unlike her, this causes him a lot of insecurity.
320	** His arc in Upon Blood Sands is to realise he has more value in the organisation than he thought.
321	* TheHeart: Seems to be shaping up to be this in Upon Blood Sands.
322
323	!!'''Vark'''
324	An elite stormtrooper in Taryst's organisation, he, like Jelket, survived [[spoiler: the death of Omnartus]] due to being in the right place at the right time and also became a soldier in [[spoiler: Inquisitor Enandra's organisation]]. He's very religious.
325	----
326	* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Due to his religiosity, he is this, but even worse than Torris. Due to this, in [[spoiler: Secret War: Upon Blood Sands, he above everyone is against their interaction with the Eldar, much to Attelus' chagrin.]]
327	* TheFundamentalist: Is easily the most religious of the [[spoiler: of the Omnartus Incident survivors]]. So much so when [spoiler: Attelus uses his inhuman abilities in front of him]] he thinks him a Living Saint.
328	* JerkAss: Shown strongly in Secret War: Upon Blood Sands when it turns out [[spoiler: they have to travel in an Eldar ship through the Webway to reach their destination]], but one can't blame him too much for such an attitude due to Imperial brainwashing and humanity's track record with [[spoiler: the Xenos]], though.
329	* ProperlyParanoid: His belief that [[spoiler: Inquisitor Enandra]] is anti-ecclesiarchy due to having little interest in partaking in religious worship.
330
331
332	!!''''''
333	[[/folder]]
334
335

Context Characters / SecretWar