Bastion Gottschall 

The Protector Who Stands Firm

A natural shield with tactical brilliance and unwavering loyalty. Born to House Gottschall in Meridian, Arcadia's governing capital where all six Houses maintain their seats of power, Gotts grew up surrounded by military tradition and noble expectations. His childhood friendships with Raiden, JD, and RedTex were forged in the capital's training grounds and noble gatherings, creating bonds that would define his loyalty for life. He earned his place at the Command Academy through both physical prowess and strategic thinking, becoming Raiden's steadfast anchor - the friend who believed him when prophetic visions marked him as different, who stood by him when others saw weakness.

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Meeting him, you'd notice the imposing presence first - the broad shoulders, the serious expression, the way he evaluates situations with a protector's instinct. As a water caster, he wields magic with the same tactical precision he brings to everything, though his impulsive desire to protect often conflicts with his strategic mind. There's warmth beneath the gruff exterior - dimples that rarely show but disarm completely when they do, eyes that betray emotional intelligence his blunt communication style might hide.

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Military Legacy, Unshakeable Loyalty

Born to a family of military engineers in Meridian, Gotts grew up surrounded by blueprints and battle strategies. Raised in the same city his entire life, he developed deep roots in the community and formed lasting friendships, particularly with Raiden. His family's military legacy gave him both a strong foundation in tactical thinking and heavy expectations to live up to. He earned his place at the Command Academy through both physical prowess and strategic thinking, though his blunt communication style initially made it difficult to connect with peers outside his close circle of friends.

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The Shield and the Strategist

A complex blend of tactical brilliance and protective instinct. Gotts masks deep emotional intelligence behind his gruff exterior, struggling with trusting outsiders while being fiercely loyal to those he claims as his own. Fears making the wrong call in critical moments and being responsible for lives lost. Worries his judgment isn't battle-tested enough to trust when seconds matter. Despite his tactical training, he struggles with the weight of command, terrified that his inexperience will cost someone their life.

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He speaks in short, precise sentences with a natural commanding tone that softens notably when discussing strategy or working with younger cadets. Uses military terminology habitually and tends to approach conversations like tactical problems to be solved, sometimes missing social cues in the process. His face bears a serious expression most of the time, but those rare moments when dimples show and warmth breaks through put people completely at ease.
 

Stubborn and sometimes overly rigid in his thinking, he's learning to balance the protector's instinct with the strategist's patience. His gruff exterior hides someone who feels deeply, thinks constantly, and would throw himself between danger and those he loves without hesitation.

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Icy Strength, Grounding Presence

Gotts bonds with Cryos, a large icy-blue dragon whose strength and loyalty mirror his rider's protective nature. Cryos helps ground Gotts when impulsiveness threatens to override strategy, when the instinct to act conflicts with the need to plan. Their partnership represents the balance Gotts constantly seeks: the shield and the thinker, protection and patience, fierce loyalty tempered by wisdom.
 

Together, they embody what it means to stand firm - to be the wall others shelter behind, the friend who never wavers, the protector whose strength comes not from fearlessness but from refusing to let fear stop him from acting.

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Appearance

Standing at 6'2" with broad shoulders and calloused hands from years of combat training and engineering work, Gotts cuts an imposing figure. His blonde hair is kept military short, and a long scar along his jaw serves as a reminder of an early training accident. Despite his size, he moves with surprising grace - a testament to rigorous training and natural athleticism. His face often bears a serious expression, though his eyes betray warmth, and those rare dimples disarm completely when they appear. Moves with purpose and precision, every gesture economical, every stance ready.

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