Bjorn Stark

WORK IN PROGRESS

Bjorn Stark is an original character made by Kyran Kandosa for his Silver Moon Chronicles fanon. He is the leader of Team BEAR.

Appearance:
Bjorn Stark is a tall, stockily built Faunus with bear ears and olive skin. His eyes are dark brown. He wears his dark black hair in a shaggy style, though not long enough to cover his eyes. His bear ears are also black, with pink insides. His muscles are well-developed, though he is no bodybuilder.

For combat gear, Bjorn wears the typical Silver Moon Clan outfit. His knee-length, sleeveless trenchcoat is tan and lined with ballistics armor. The combat harness he wears over it is grey, with an utility belt, fanny pack, and bear-motif pauldrons. His left pauldron acts as a half-collar, shielding that side of the neck as well as the shoulder. His limb armor consists of armored boots, chuisses, rerebracers, and elbow-length gauntlets. Unlike most of his Clan, Bjorn's gauntlets aren't weaponized. His helmet is modified to accomodate his bear ears, and the visor is shaped as a bear mask. His armor is silver with tan details. For civilian wear, Bjorn wears the same tan pants, black belt and shirt he wears under his combat gear, and dons his armored boots. For sleepwear, Bjorn has a tan tank top and black gym shorts. Bjorn wears his Clan compass locket beneath his shirt.

Weapons:
Bjorn has two weapons, Tombstone and Epitaph, which he inherited from his biological father, Artorius Stark. They were originally an basic shield and an shot-gunblade respectively before Bjorn upgraded them.

Tombstone: Epitaph:
 * Weapon: Close Quarters Assault Shield
 * Type: Ranged, Melee, Defensive
 * Weapon derivation: Ballistics Shield
 * Description: Tombstone is an ballistics shield mounted on Bjorn's left rerebracer. In it's shield form, it hangs about mid-forearm, and allows Bjorn to use Epitaph two-handed. When it's assault form is selected, Tombstone slides lower on the rerebracer, and the shield articulates, with the lower portion attaching to Bjorn's gauntlet. The lower section has bladed edges for melee combat, and an projection that covers the shield's joint. It also has an integrated automatic shotgun, loaded with an beta magazine, which activates in this mode.
 * Weapon: Close Quarters Assault Rifle
 * Type: Ranged, Melee
 * Weapon derivation: Styr AUG
 * Description: Epitaph is an bullpup, 7.62-caliber assault rifle. The sights consist of an scope on an elevated rail. This allows it to mount two blades -one on top of the barrel that starts from the rail and ends just beyond the muzzle, and one under the barrel and extending several inches past the muzzle, with a cut-out for the fore-grip. The bullpup configuration allows for easier, more balanced handling when used one-handed. The magazine loads 24 rounds. Bjorn uses Fire Dust as his basic ammunition, but will change it out based on what the situation demands.

Semblance:
Bjorn has an Semblance of Seismic Sense, which works through contact that is either direct or with an Aura channeling tool. Bjorn will use it to see anything in contact with the ground or any other object he's touching, in an echolocation-like fashion. Objects that are airborne or otherwise not in contact with the ground, etc, can't be picked up by his Semblance. Loose materials, like sand, also interfere with his abilities. Bjorn can also use this ability to read vibrations to detect weak points in structures, supplement his Aura's danger sense, concealed spaces like hidden passages, and detect lies, though liars sufficiently skilled in regulating their bodies can fool him. His Semblance also serves him well in search and rescue operations.

Battle Style:
Bjorn is primarily an frontline "tank", absorbing damage for his allies while dishing it out himself. Though you would expect to have him operate best in open spaces where he has room to swing and fire Tombstone and Epitaph, Bjorn is also capable in tight quarters, such as when clearing buildings. This is because his shield helps him neutralize incoming fire while his Semblance allows him to map out and anticipate a structure's layout and any hostile positions more precisely than with his Aura's danger sense alone. Hence, Bjorn is usually the first in during breaching operations.

Abilities:

 * Faunus Night Vision
 * Martial arts: Though he mostly fights with his Clan's basic fighting style, Bjorn makes heavy use of standing grapple techniques, such as throws and pressure points. This allows him to balance out his strength and size, which are suited to more direct brawling. He sometimes has trouble with faster opponents, something he works on with Arcturus Moonfang, his stepcousin and primary sparring partner.
 * Agility: Even with his training, Bjorn's size and wieght hold his agility back.
 * Mechanical engineering: Bjorn first started his engineering hobby as a way to connect with his late father, Artorius Stark. Later, it also became a way to bond with his stepcousin, Albus Silvermane. Unlike Albus, Bjorn is less of a weaponsmith and more of an gadgeteer and general mechanic. He often surprises people who don't expect such a large person to be so dexterous with tools.
 * Gardening: Like most of his Clan, Bjorn enjoys gardening as a productive pasttime. His Semblance helps him determine the conditions of the soil, making him better at it than most.
 * Swimming: Though not particularly good at it, Bjorn can swim well enough to save his life.
 * Massage: Bjorn's Semblance can help him probe the bodies of the recipients of his massages, allowing him to target trouble spots more easily. Hence, he's considered better than most in his Clan.
 * Liberal Arts: Bjorn's favorite form of art is using welding to make metal sculptures. For music, he favors drums and other percussion instruments.
 * Aura Control: Having had his Aura activated at age six, Bjorn is more skilled than most at using it.
 * Leadership: Though he isn't as dominant or charismatic as his stepcousin, Bjorn is a solid commander in his own right, leading by example.
 * Physical power: As to be expected of a Bear Faunus, Bjorn has some of the best strength and endurance of his Clan.

Personality:
Though many expect large, buff people to be lumbering and dumb, Bjorn is actually quite sharp and dexterous. He is generally patient, albeit blunt, with a thick skin and long fuse. Though large and strong, Bjorn feels no need to throw his weight around unnecessarily, preferring an quiet, methodical approach to dealing with most things. This seems slow, but it often gives him wise insights that others may miss. He is also loyal and stubborn once his commitment is gained. Bjorn can be quite fierce once he is finally roused enough. Though he often displays many of the same brotherly characteristics as his stepcousin, such as a serious protective streak regarding friends and family, Bjorn is noted for being an more gentle, nurturing kind of leader in comparision to Arcturus' charismatic dominance. He is also much more open with his interactions. Like Albus, Bjorn enjoys spending time in the workshop, though not to the same extent, seeing it less as an escape and more of a way to connect with his late father. His mechanical interests are much more diverse than Albus' as well, making him something of an handyman.

Backstory:
Bjorn Stark was born to the Black Bear Faunus Artorius Stark, an crippled ex-huntsman who worked as a mechanic, and his wife Ursula, another Black Bear Faunus. This was three months after they had taken in the infant Balina Savannah, who they had found abandoned at their door. The Stark family lived happily until shortly after Bjorn had turned three, when Artorious died in an accident. With nowhere else to go, the grieving family quickly accepted the offer of Gregory Moonfang, Artorius' best friend and Huntsman partner, to stay with him. Gregory fell in love with and married Ursula, raising Bjorn and Balina as his own as he quit hunting full time to be a proper father figure. Bjorn and Balina were also introduced to Gregory's twin nephews, Arcturus and Albus Silvermane, whose sister Bailey was soon to be born. The children quickly became fast friends. When Bjorn was six, Ursula gave birth to his half-brothers, the fraternal twins Orion and Arctos Moonfang, who are an Wolf and Bear Faunus respectively. One year later, Bjorn bore witness to the murder of his stepcousins' parents. Shortly after this, Gregory judged him old enough, and started teaching him how to craft weapons and other tools in his workshop. He and Albus quickly bonded over their shared interests in mechanics and smithing. Just as Balina also enjoyed a good relationship with Bailey, Bjorn bonded with Albus' brother Arcturus as well, becoming the "Alpha wolf's" favorite training partner. Bjorn, like his sister and stepcousins, went to Ember Academy for his formal basic training, where he upgraded his father's weapons, Tombstone and Epitaph. He has since been accepted into Torch Academy.

Trivia:

 * Bjorn's full name, Bjorn Stark, is derived from the Old Norse term for bear-totem berserks, Bjornsterk. It means "Bear strength"
 * Bjorn's first name, meaning "bear", references the color brown, the color most bears are associated with.