Lapua Lindholm
The Visceral Shadow
Private Lapua Meri Lindholm (a.k.a. Lapis)
"If you think you'll be the one to kill me, you'd better make it flashy."A wolf kendani and former soldier that fought in the Kendani Civil War. Lapua was a low-ranking but utterly dreaded infantry soldier that earned a reputation for her ruthless, bloodthirsty fighting style and demeanor, going as far as to earn the moniker "The Visceral Shadow" due to her liberal use of dark magical energy. After she was discharged for her actions during a raid on a facility that aimed to create super soldiers, she began to work as a security guard for Swallow's Tower Shipping Company along with her fellow ex-soldier (and ex-husband) Lucius Klemetti. Cranky, stuck-up and stubborn, yet at the same time caring and efficient, Lapua hopes to one day live her life free from the Feral Curse that all kendani have. With Lucius at her side, the two spend their off-days trying to find a possible cure for their inevitable fate and possibly rekindle something special. Maybe.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Agile, nimble, and has toned muscles to boot. Traces of selenite crystals either forming around or sprouting from certain parts of her skin were located across various parts of her body (that she hid under her coat or pants), but these have died down ever since her sickness' treatment continued, leaving behind mostly light scarring.
Body Features
White skin, the ears of a wolf on top of her head and silvery-white unkempt hair with black tips. Though some parts of her body, such as her left shoulder and a part of her right calve have light scarring from when crystals grew from it due to selenite sickness, not a single scar was received from a fight despite her experiencing many battles.
Facial Features
Sharp eyes with golden irises. Bodypaint in the shape of one half of a crescent stain both of her cheeks.
Show spoiler
After losing her left eye while protecting Lucius from an attacker, a slightly faded vertical scar can be seen over it, as she was unable to heal the wound completely in time. Though she could have gotten a healer to remove it, she decided to leave it alone to save some money. She's rather self-conscious about it as it has ruined her "no scar" reputation among her foes (and also because Lucius thinks her new eye is cool and his enthusiasm for it makes her blush).
Special abilities
- Heretical Shadow: A spell that is always active during Lapua's fights. All of Lapua's sword swings are accentuated with a dark energy wave that flies out at a fast pace. These waves can either create explosions on impact or cut unarmored foes, but those that tear through targets often do not make it all the way through the body unless more mana is poured into a strike. Each projectile can travel up to thirty feet before dissipating (further if more mana is applied).
- Phantom Dance: An empowered four-hit combo that Lapua loves to do at close range. Her swords quickly become imbued with light magic as she charges toward her foe, slashing at them wildly. Each slash gains the appearance of a large claw, making it appear as though one sword is now three "blades" coming down at once.
- Deterioration: A light magic-based grab in which Lapua uses either her swords or her own hand like a claw to drive into the enemy. The spell temporarily cripples their mana production and also drains a small portion for herself.
- Gauze Ripper: An execution spell that Lapua developed during her time as a soldier. Her swords become drenched in an aura of killing intent, greatly wounding the target with two slashes. Anyone crippled by Deterioration's effect will receive more mortal wounds should they be struck, even with armor. She looks back on the times she used this spell with a sense of guilt, as she essentially used it to kick people while they were down.
- Spectral Orbiter: Amarok: Lapua creates two spirits that take the appearance of wolf heads, embodying her twin blades. All attacks become empowered and even more lethal as the wolves gnaw and tear through the opposition. She rarely summons these spirits unless she either acknowledges the skill of her opponents or is desperate to eliminate a tough crowd quickly.
Apparel & Accessories
Lapua typically wears a black, long coat with a patch displaying the emblem of Swallow's Tower on her shoulders. A gray shirt and a pair of pants are worn under it.
Specialized Equipment
- Raisa and Raila: A pair of twin sabers that Lapua channels her magic into. Though they were allegedly forged with mithril, their sensitivity to magic has raised suspicion that an astral forge was used, meaning selenite crystals had a hand in their creation. Despite her race's stigma against selenite, she does not seem to mind, especially since the sharpness and durability of the swords are top-notch.
- Her Own Goddamn Hands: Yeah that's right. Disarm Lapua and all you would have done is give her an excuse to tear you limb from limb in an even more excruciating way.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Lapua fought as a soldier for Beast's Sanctum in the Kendani Civil War, where she earned the monikers of "The Visceral Shadow" and "Silver Wolf". Despite her bloody reputation gained by singlehandedly slaughtering her foes with dark magic and a pair of sabers, she wasn't always like that. When she first joined the army, she was very reluctant to take part in any fight due to her crippling fear of death. After being exposed to multiple battles in which she and her fellow soldiers had to avoid death by the skin of their teeth, something inside of her just...snapped. She became more daring and fearless in her fights as if she was wearing a mask to hide her fear that eventually merged with her flesh.
One day, however, her unit was assigned to scout out and spy on a facility owned by the Sunstone Empire that would have helped them enhance a soldier's magical capabilities, or at least grant them to those who cannot fight well. After her squad was spotted, she injected one of the facility's potions into her bloodstream (as opposed to drinking it like it was intended to be) as a last-ditch effort to fight off a hoard of their guards alone. This caused Lapua's already dangerous magical potential to become utterly brutal as she completely destroyed the building while minimalizing casualties (though those that did die were torn to shreds). She was later discharged from the military for disobeying orders to retreat, causing unnecessary damage, and using a potion made with the direct influence of selenite crystals. Her lover, Lucius, followed her soon after.
Now afflicted with a unique form of selenite sickness, she needed a way to both earn money for a cure and satisfy her lust for combat. With the civil war nearing an end, she took up a job as a security guard for the Swallow's Tower Shipping Company (using some of Lucius' connections to get her hired without looking into her discharge reasoning), guarding cargo against pirates and other thieves with Lucius at her side. Her fearless fighting style has struck fear into the hearts of many, including her own allies and the infamous Nadia Alabaster.
Employment
Lapua used to be a low-ranking soldier during the Kendani Civil War, but was discharged after a scouting incident gone wrong. She currently works as a security guard for Swallow's Tower Shipping Company.
Failures & Embarrassments
Show spoiler
She eventually earns her first major injury against an attacker that attempted to kill her and Lucius, losing her left eye in a grievous wound. She eventually gets it replaced with a magitech mechanical eye, an act that would normally be heretical for any other kendani, but since she has already used things related to the crystals she didn't particularly mind her "sin."
On the bright side, Lucius found it incredibly sexy for her to brutalize their assaulter for his safety and he sees Lapua revealing just how mechanical her new eye is like it's the greatest thing ever.
Mental Trauma
Though Lapua no longer fears death the same way she did in her teenage years, she greatly fears the Feral Curse and is in constant worry since she never knows when it may begin. She seeks to eventually find a way to cure her people of this genetic condition, though she has no idea where to look or if a cure is even possible.
Morality & Philosophy
Lapua has a very...liberal sense of morality, especially in regards to fighting, life, and death. She feels as though her actions in the war, while undeniably violent, serve no significance in the long run as horrific acts during wartime are completely expected and natural, with much worse being possible. Despite her callous comment, however, she still expresses sympathy for most of her victims because she thinks that some of them likely did want to see better treatment for her species and simply had no other choice but to fight when things got out of hand.
She sees the cycle of vengeance and killing as something that will never end. To Lapua, vengeance won't end for as long as there is a reason to kill and those being targeted shouldn't justify themselves at all when it comes time to defend themselves. Because someone dies in the end, a killer will still come out on top either way, which will eventually lead someone, regardless of their relation to the victim, to try and stop the killer themselves. This cycle, of course, includes herself. Lapua does not believe she would be surprised if someone tried to kill her for what she has done in the past. As a result, she has mostly resigned herself to apathy when it comes to concepts of those she sees as "morally righteous" and would rather see them shut up instead of preaching about a better world without following their peaceful doctrines. What she thinks she can do, at the very least, is try to live out what's left of her life by helping everyone with a single good act before she goes to hell, that act being curing the Feral Curse.
Lapua: "A person who's killed as many people as I have doesn't really deserve a happy ending, but I could at least try to give one to others before I get my comeuppance." Lucius: "Does that mean marriage wouldn't be a happy moment for you?" Lapua: "Not if my hubby is you."
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Lapua seeks to find a cure for the Feral Curse not only for herself, but as a way to make up for the sins she committed during the Kendani Civil War. Outside of this, however, she seeks to have a duel with another kendani soldier that fought with the Sunstone Empire known only by the codename "Deadscar" (whose real name is Eckram Cujo). While Lapua fully respects and fears what she has seen of Deadscar's skill, the assassin hardly knows who she is past her involvement in the facility raid. If she had to pick a way to die, it would be in a duel with him.
"Ever since I saw that bastard working for the Empire back at the facility raid, I've been in awe at his skill! Picking off my allies without trying to kill them, dodging every last one of my energy fangs...if he fought seriously, I would have been scared as shit. I'd probably--no, I'd absolutely die if I fought him now, but I can't help it! Even with death on the line, I'd still clash blades with 'em if I had the chance!"
"Erm...who?"
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: Fighting, Lucius, steak, her ears, romance novels and movies, dark or gallows humor
Dislikes: Alcohol, Lucius, the Sunstone Empire, abstract art
Virtues & Personality perks
As violent and cynical as Lapua can be, she has grown to be a caring soul that would put the needs of the many before herself. If anything else, she is brave and extremely loyal to those that she is close to, regardless of what she says about it. After all, said loyalty is a part of why she still works with Swallow's Tower and why she still watches Lucius' back.
Vices & Personality flaws
Cranky, stuck-up, stubborn and cynical. She can be rather violent and is quick to resort to underhanded tactics in a fight.
Personality Quirks
Displays a wide grin during fights, barring more teeth the fiercer she gets.
Social
Social Aptitude
Lapua is not the most charismatic person you'd meet, but she's easy enough to get along with for as long as you don't set her off. She emits an aura of confidence to the point of being borderline cocky but can be polite when she has to be, and for as long as you aren't Lucius, you probably won't draw her ire immediately. She does, however, have a dark sense of humor that tends to leak out at even the worst times. Whether or not the jokes land is...a toss-up, to say the least.
Lapua: "Alright, so, there was this fox kendani driving a car late at night, right? So this officer came to pull him over, cause it seemed like she was speeding. Cop's like 'Show me your papers, ma'am.' The foxy lady takes it in stride and is all like 'Oh yeah? Scissors! I win!' And then he shot her because of her race! Gahahaha!" Lucius: "Lap, please, this is supposed to be a dinner with my parents."
Speech
Has a rough speech pattern with a furious tone that emerges during a heated battle.
Relationships
History
Lucius and Lapua were both soldiers during the Kendani Civil War, fighting alongside each other in the same unit. They eventually grew closer as they fought until they fell in love. When Lapua was discharged from the kendani military, Lucius followed her and not long afterward, the rushed into marriage. Unfortunately, a series of poor communication between each other and other minor issues that piled up and continuously escalated resulted in them divorcing after only four months. Now, the two ex-lovers work together as security guards for the ships of Swallow's Tower Shipping Company, a job that Lucius helped Lapua get into easily with the help of various connections. Lucius, despite their ugly divorce, still harbors deep feelings for Lapua and wants to change for the better, hoping that he can rebuild a relationship after fixing everything else. Lapua, on the other hand, claims to have been too hurt by Lucius' mistakes too often to try again, but deep inside she knows she still has some lingering feelings and appreciates his loyalty and company...despite saying and acting otherwise. Will the two wolves get together again? Hell if I know. The boy sure tries hard, though.
Nicknames & Petnames
Lucius is the one who gave Lapua the nickname "Lapis."
Legal Status
Divorced (For now?)
Species
Conditions
Honorary & Occupational Titles
The Visceral Shadow, Heretical Wolf, Swallow's Silver Wolf
Birthplace
Beast's Sanctum
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
Golden
Hair
Silver-white with black tips
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
White
Height
5'4"
Weight
124 pounds
Comments
Author's Notes
In what is possibly my least original character yet, here is Lapua Meri Lindholm. In all honesty, I was so enamored by Lappland's design from Arknights when I first saw an image from her artist, and when I first found her I hardly knew who she was, let alone that she was from a mobile game made by people from the Girls Frontline team. The design appealed to me so much that I basically tried to make up a personality based on how I thought someone with her design might be like, and I honestly hope I didn't end up making her too much like the actual character, names and other details aside lol. In the end, I found a few translated quotes from Lappland after I finished writing this and can see that I got a few details almost spot on but...honestly, I was mostly imagining Baiken from Guilty Gear when I was making Lapua, so that's another inspiration entirely! Well, either way, I had a lot of fun trying to make this Finnish-named wolf.