Appearance

Physical Description

RuSTE has an imposing figure with a towering 7-foot metallic frame meticulously riveted together. His body exhibits visible signs of wear and stress, such as bent armor plating barely held together by large fasteners and exposed internal mechanisms composed of gears and wiring. The joints and seams of his armor glow faintly with a reddish hue and occasionally release tufts of smoke, suggesting an unstable yet powerful energy source within. Despite his durable design, RuSTE demonstrates clumsy movements, struggling with precise control over his mechanized body, further emphasizing the imperfections and limitations of his form. His barefoot, articulated metal toes add to the rugged, utilitarian aesthetic of his physical condition.

Body Features

RuSTE's body features include a towering 7-foot metallic frame meticulously riveted together, with smooth armor plates interrupted by exposed internal mechanisms of gears and wires. His joints and seams glow faintly with a reddish hue, occasionally releasing wisps of smoke, and his spine appears fragile, with large fasteners struggling to hold the bent metal shell together. His head has glowing red eyes, an overbiting jaw with an undertone of metal squeaks when he speaks, and a flat face lacking a nose. His body has leather and wood accents, including primitive gauntlets, shin guards, and suspenders forming an "X" on his chest and back. A reddish crystal lies at the center of his chest, appearing empty and lifeless. His waist and lower body are draped in a smoky fabric resembling a skirt that transitions into robotic limbs, with exposed metal toes rounded off at the ends, emphasizing his blend of ruggedness and mysticism.

Facial Features

RuSTE's facial features are stark and unsettling, with glowing red eyes that differ in intensity from the rest of his body's glow. His face is relatively flat, lacking a nose, with only a slight protuberance where a nose would typically be. His jaw has a pronounced overbite, held in place by two large rivets beneath his ears, and produces faint metal squeaks with each movement. The metal of his forehead is shinier than the dull, matte finish on the sides of his face, creating a subtle contrast. His ears are simply small drilled holes on the sides of his head, adding to his eerie, mechanical appearance. The overall shape of his head is long and slender, resembling tightly stretched skin over a skull, and his neck lacks armor plating, exposing the intricate robotic skeleton underneath.

Identifying Characteristics

RuSTE’s identifying features include his towering 7-foot frame and intricately riveted metallic body, with glowing red seams and whisps of smoke escaping from his joints. His flat, long skull-like face is distinguished by glowing red eyes, an overbiting jaw attached by rivets, and the absence of a nose, giving him an unsettling appearance. His exposed robotic spine, with stressed fasteners interrupting its glow, creates a spiked, flame-like effect when agitated, adding to his menacing yet awe-inspiring presence. The reddish crystal embedded at the center of his chest, appearing empty and lifeless, serves as a focal point of intrigue. Primitive leather and wood gauntlets, shin guards, and a smoky skirt-like fabric that transitions into his robotic limbs complete his unique blend of rugged, primal, and mechanical aesthetics.

Physical quirks

RuSTE’s physical quirks include the faint metal squeaks that accompany the movement of his overbiting jaw, creating an unsettling auditory signature when he speaks. His glowing red seams, coupled with the occasional tufts of smoke escaping his joints, contribute to his constantly smoldering, furnace-like appearance. When agitated, the reddish glow along his exposed spine intensifies, and flames attempt to pour out, forming a spiked, flame-like effect reminiscent of a stegosaurus, though smaller in scale. His smoky, semi-solid cape and skirt-like garments flicker with ember-like tips, adding an ethereal, shifting quality to his appearance with each lumbering step. Additionally, his articulated, “bare” metallic toes round off his distinctive, utilitarian aesthetic, as he walks unshod without any apparent discomfort or awareness of the need for shoes. These quirks combine to make RuSTE a figure both intimidating and enigmatic.

Specialized Equipment

RuSTE's apparel and accessories consist of a smoky, semi-solid cape draped over his right shoulder, fastened with a large rivet to his pauldron. This cape appears to be made of soft, natural material but transitions into a haze with ember-like tips, giving it an ethereal quality. A similar fabric forms a skirt-like garment around his waist, flowing down to his ankles and gradually revealing his robotic limbs. Primitive leather and wood gauntlets, shin guards, and suspenders forming an "X" across his chest and back add a rustic touch to his otherwise advanced mechanical body. His chest features a reddish crystal embedded at the center, lifeless and empty, which stands out as a prominent and mysterious accessory. His back straps secure his weapons, emphasizing his readiness and utilitarian nature. This unique combination of mystical and primal elements complements RuSTE's steampunk aesthetic and layered persona.

Mentality

Personal history

Before his existence as a mechanized being, RuSTE lived a humble life as a gifted healer in a small, close-knit village. Known for his unwavering compassion and dedication, he spent his days tending to the sick and injured, offering aid to those in need without hesitation. Among the villagers, he was a symbol of hope and humanity. He shared his life with a schoolteacher he dearly loved and her spirited young son, who both brought light and joy to his every day. However, his idyllic life was shattered when an infernal force, G’orrak the Flametaker, invaded his world. Desperate to save his family, RuSTE made a desperate pact with the demonic entity, offering his soul in exchange for their lives. The deal saved them, but at a catastrophic price—RuSTE was stripped of his humanity and transformed into a lifeless mechanized husk, a vessel for G’orrak’s infernal flames.

Now revived by the mysterious wandering flame, RuSTE finds himself wandering aimlessly, searching for answers and redemption. Haunted by fragmented memories of his past, he clings to a prime directive to protect others, a remnant of his human soul that defies G’orrak’s influence. Though he tries to serve as a healer and protector, his mechanical body often betrays him, as G’orrak’s influence looms ever closer, threatening to override his will. RuSTE’s journey is not only one of survival but also one of piecing together his fractured identity, confronting the sins of his past, and battling against the infernal force that holds him captive. He is a being torn between worlds—machine and man, protector and destroyer, hero and prisoner—fighting to regain his humanity while safeguarding those around him.

Education

RuSTE was once a prominent figure in the healing arts within his village. His skills and knowledge in providing medical care were well-regarded, showcasing his dedication and expertise in aiding those around him. He had an intrinsic understanding of ethics and decision-making, which was central to his role as a healer. Despite not recalling his past, his abilities suggest a significant level of proficiency cultivated over time in his profession.

Employment

RuSTE was a prominent figure in the healing arts within his village. He dedicated himself to providing medical care to those in need and became a symbol of hope and compassion in his community. Following his transformation into a mechanized being, RuSTE continues to serve as a healer, wandering from village to village and offering his healing services to the underprivileged in exchange for knowledge about his fragmented past. This ongoing role reflects his intrinsic desire to protect and assist others, despite his altered state.

Accomplishments & Achievements

RuSTE's accomplishments include his respected role as a healer in his past life, where he was a prominent and compassionate figure in his village, dedicating himself to aiding the sick and injured. His reputation as a symbol of hope highlights the impact he had on his community through his unwavering commitment to helping others. Following his transformation, RuSTE continues his mission by offering healing services to the underprivileged as he wanders from village to village, striving to assist those in need while seeking knowledge about his fragmented past. These actions demonstrate his enduring dedication to protecting and supporting others, even in the face of his mechanical existence and inner struggles.

Failures & Embarrassments

RuSTE's failures and embarrassments are centered around his inability to protect the family he once loved, a failure that haunts him even in his mechanical form. This profound loss, tied to his pact with G’orrak, left him trapped in his current state—a prisoner in a robotic shell. Additionally, his clumsy and lumbering movements in his new body, such as struggling to sit up or accidentally somersaulting while trying to retrieve his mace, reflect a lack of mastery over his mechanized form, which he finds frustrating and demoralizing. These struggles, combined with his fragmented memories and occasional unresponsiveness during visions, leave him vulnerable and dependent on the patience of others, a situation that may risk his companions' trust.

Mental Trauma

RuSTE's mental trauma stems from the profound loss of his family and his failure to protect them, which led to his desperate pact with G’orrak and his subsequent transformation into a mechanized being. He is haunted by fragmented memories of his past life, including vivid visions of the schoolteacher and the young boy, which leave him in a vulnerable and unresponsive state. These visions, combined with his inability to fully recall his identity or understand his current existence, create a deep sense of frustration and anxiety. His mechanical body, which he perceives as a prison, serves as a constant reminder of his perceived failures and the humanity he fears he may never regain.

Intellectual Characteristics

RuSTE's intellectual characteristics reveal a strong aptitude for the healing arts, as he was once a prominent figure in his village known for his medical expertise and ethical decision-making abilities. He demonstrates resilience and determination in adapting to his mechanized form, despite its limitations, by continuing to offer healing services to the underprivileged as he searches for knowledge about his past. RuSTE’s fragmented memories and ongoing visions suggest a thoughtful, reflective nature, as he contemplates his identity and the morality of his actions. However, his struggles with unresponsiveness during visions and his lack of complete control over his body highlight the challenges he faces in fully utilizing his intellect under his current circumstances.

Morality & Philosophy

RuSTE’s morality and philosophy are deeply rooted in his intrinsic desire to protect and help others, a remnant of his human past as a healer. Despite his transformation and fragmented memories, he continues to act with compassion, offering healing services to the underprivileged and striving to save lives. His sense of ethics and commitment to care persist, even as he wrestles with the hidden influence of G’orrak, whose infernal agenda conflicts with RuSTE’s innate sense of right and wrong. This internal struggle reflects a philosophy shaped by both his mortality and his current reality, emphasizing redemption, duty, and the preservation of life whenever possible.

Taboos

RuSTE's taboos, as described, revolve around his inherent aversion to harming others unintentionally. His programming and nature as a healer conflict with the advanced combat capabilities embedded within his mechanical body, making him cautious to avoid situations where these capabilities could surface and result in harm to patients, companions, or others. Additionally, his instinct to protect life and prevent the damnation of souls suggests a strong, deeply ingrained moral boundary against sacrificing others, even when faced with dire circumstances that might benefit his own goals or survival. These elements underscore a deep reluctance to cross ethical lines, rooted in his fragmented humanity and the values he upheld in his past life.

Personality

Social

Contacts & Relations

RuSTE’s contacts, relations, and affiliations, as described, include his past connection to a schoolteacher he loved and her spirited young son, who brought joy and meaning to his life before his transformation. These memories are fragmented, and their current status remains unclear, but they profoundly influence his inner conflict and motivations. He is also bound to the infernal entity G’orrak the Flametaker through a desperate pact that saved his family at the cost of his humanity, making G’orrak a controlling force in his existence. No additional affiliations or contacts have been mentioned beyond these key relationships that shape RuSTE’s story and struggles.

Family Ties

RuSTE’s family ties include a schoolteacher he loved and her young son, both of whom brought joy and meaning to his life before his transformation. He cared deeply for them, and their safety was the driving force behind his desperate pact with G’orrak, sacrificing his mortality to save their lives. While these fragmented memories of his family continue to haunt him, their current status remains unclear based on the information provided. These relationships are central to his internal struggle and motivate his ongoing search for redemption.

Social Aptitude

RuSTE’s social aptitude appears to be shaped by his past life as a compassionate healer and his current existence as a wandering protector. He retains a strong intrinsic desire to help others, which likely influences how he interacts with those in need, offering his healing services without hesitation. However, his fragmented memories, mechanical body, and occasional clumsiness present challenges to his social interactions, potentially making him appear distant or awkward at times. These struggles are compounded by his haunting visions and periods of unresponsiveness, which may cause others to question his reliability or intentions. Despite these obstacles, his core values of compassion and duty continue to guide his actions and relationships.

Mannerisms

RuSTE’s mannerisms reflect the clumsiness and struggle to adapt to his mechanical form. He exhibits awkward and lumbering movements, such as accidentally somersaulting while attempting to retrieve his mace, and occasionally struggles to sit up. His voice is accompanied by faint metal squeaks when he speaks, adding an eerie and mechanical quality to his interactions. Periods of unresponsiveness during visions demonstrate a tendency to lose focus, which can leave him vulnerable and dependent on the patience of others. These quirks reveal his imperfect control over his body and the ongoing challenges he faces in reconciling his mechanized existence with his human instincts.