Aeron Tepes

"Human blood will spill. And I will delight in lapping it from their cold, dead bodies. And as for your friends? I'll kill them all and bleed them dry. Then I will crush your skull."

- Aeron Tepes to Amet Serpentyne.

Aeron Tepes is a member of the White Fang.

Appearance
Aeron stands approximately 6'1" tall, and weighs 160 lbs. His skin is pale but fair. He has medium-length black hair and red eyes. He a pair of oversized black bat wings protruding from his back.

His original attire consisted of a long-sleeved black shirt with his red emblem on the right breast pocket, along with a grey jacket and black combat pants and boots. After joining the White Fang, he gained their traditional uniform of black pants, grey boots, a white and grey vest, black fingerless gloves, and a Grimm mask. He later built his own Grimm mask: a white, triangular mask with narrow eyehole slits and elongated spikes at the bottom; the spikes and cheeks have intricate red markings on them.

Past
Aeron was born to Layla Tepes, a Faunus prostitute living in the slums of Mistral. His life was complicated from the start, as he was born with bat wings larger than most bat Faunus, so he could not hide them. Layla was a cat Faunus, so Aeron knew nothing about his father except that he must have been a Faunus as well, and was most likely just another one of his mother's clients. Aeron began working at an early age to provide for his mother so she may one day quit her profession, but the income was seemingly never enough. Aeron, against his mother's wishes, took up stealing to make even more money for the two of them. As he grew into his teenage years, he faced prejudice and discrimination from xenophobic humans for being a Faunus. However, he often did not take these prejudices well, and would attack and beat those who insulted or discriminated against him, causing him to get into a lot of trouble with the adults of his community. Aeron taught himself how to fight through these attacks, and used his Faunus traits to give himself the upper hand.

When he was older, he joined an illegal underground cage fighting operation under the stage name of the Red Nevermore to hone his fighting skills and make more money for his mother. Using his bat-like abilities in combat, he was a formidable fighter, but was not well-liked by the audiences of the fights for dirty and overly violent tactics against his human opponents, eventually resulting in thirteen wins, seven losses, two draws, and three disqualifications. However, during this time he also met his longtime friend, the snake Faunus Amet Serpentyne. Though Amet did not share his misanthropic views, the two got along and often faced each other in the cage, where they would fight fairly.

However, one day, Amet took on the area champion Adam Celso, the Pummeler. Amet won, but Adam's friends and fans were angry that Amet had ended the champion's streak and attacked him. Amet was seriously injured, and was taken in by a teacher at Haven Acedemy. Enraged over the bigotry towards Faunus and the injury of his friend, Aeron crafted his weapons, snuck out one night, and found where Adam's friends usually met up. He proceeded to fight them all, with the battle finally ending when Aeron killed one of them. Aeron fled the scene, but knew that authorities would soon be after him. He hid out that night, but eventually made his way back home. However, his mother had been informed of the situation by the police, and was waiting for him. She disowned him, then called for the police. Aeron fled again, this time without a destination.

While hiding in the slums, Aeron decided to see if he could find Amet. However, he eventually found him going to Haven Academy, partnered with humans, and trying to save the world. Feeling betrayed and enraged, Aeron fled Mistral. He was on the road for two months before finding a small Faunus town with a White Fang occupation. He went to an initiation meeting, and quickly joined the terrorist force. However, despite the White Fang merely seeking equality, Aeron focused on and agreed with the views of high-ranking member Adam Taurus, who sought not equality, but superiority. He eventually joined a group headed to Vale, where he joined the local White Fang faction and was finally under the leadership of Taurus. As a symbolic commitment to his new lifestyle, Aeron carved his cuspids into sharp fangs and built his own Grimm mask, which he got permission to wear.

White Fang
"Humans are the ones who ruined you! Join me, slit their throats, and take your revenge!"

- Aeron to Amet.

Aeron continued his duties in the White Fang, serving mainly as a soldier and a lookout. He aided the White Fang in several raids and demonstrations, where he would help destroy human property or take human lives. At one point, in a fit of rage during an attack, Aeron used his fangs to bite a human. However, this was frowned upon by the other White Fang members, as they saw it as just another reason for humans to think of them as monsters. Aeron refrained from biting from that point on, though he occasionally bit human victims when none of his comrades were looking. In his time in his faction, he gained infamy amongst his colleagues; some saw his animalistic ferocity as a welcomed fear tactic, while others viewed him as too savage and cruel, even considering the White Fang's actions.

Later, Aeron and a group of other members were sent to the Northeastern side of Mistral to attack a small human settlement. However, once there, they encountered a small group of students and a professor from Haven Academy. The group decided to attack, and when they did, Aeron came face-to-face with his former friend Amet, whom he confronted. The two argued, with Aeron trying to convince Amet to turn against his teammates, but Amet refused. Aeron declared them enemies, and they fought. Though the battle was close, Aeron soon got the upper hand by knocking Amet off balance and striking his damaged eye, then beating him down. However, the professor who was with them attacked and damaged Aeron's leg, then drove him off, with the rest of the White Fang members soon following. Amet was taken to one of the nearby towns and recovered, but Aeron swore they would meet again and next time, he would kill him.

Battle of Beacon
"Your fortress has fallen. Your king will be swiftly taken. Checkmate, Amet. The game is over; now die."

- Aeron to Amet.

Aeron continued his work with the White Fang until one day when White Fang members from around Remnant were called to Vale. Aeron learned that Taurus has partnered with a mysterious group of people who had a plan to destroy Vale's Beacon Academy. He and the other White Fang members trained hard, then the day finally came. On the second singles round of the Vytal Festival Tournament, one of Taurus' partners hijacked the Coliseum as he and countless other members were carried by dropships, where Aeron helped release captured Beowolves into the area. As some dropships lowered to drop soldiers and Grimm into the city, Aeron and a few other members stayed to fight in the Coliseum. Aeron attacked and killed two security guards and even briefly tangled with one of the students competing in the Tournament before escaping her and moving on. He killed another guard just as he saw Amet, who was also participating in the Tournament. The two argued and Aeron mocked him, and the two did battle again. Aeron hurt Amet by slashing him across his chest, but Amet rushed Aeron and managed to cleanly slice off Aeron's left wing. Losing his balance and then being kicked by Amet, Aeron fell off of Amity Colosseum and into the waiting mouth of a Nevermore that was scaling the structure. Amet escaped.

However, Aeron used his weapons to lodge himself in the Grimm's throat, then violently cut his way out. He fell onto a jutting beam at the bottom of the Coliseum and hung there until a Griffon passed below him. He dropped onto the Grimm, stabbed it, and rode it down to the ground before killing it and falling off. When he landed, the huge Grimm Dragon that the chaos had summoned to the city was suddenly engulfed in silver light and frozen. Seeing this as a signal that that battle was ending, Aeron limped to a back alley and made his way into the sewers, where he hid until the next day.

Later, Aeron made it out of the sewers and took residence in the back alleys of Vale. During this time, he stole metal and tools from a local weapon smith and forged a new, metallic, prosthetic wing. Even though he successfully attached it and was later able to move it, it weighed him down and threw off his balance, while also hindering the abilities his wings naturally gave him. Aeron still lurks in the alleys of Vale, swearing revenge on Amet, but is starving daily and has ben reduced to nothing more than a common thief and beggar.

Personality
Aeron is sadistic and cruel, and hates humans with a fiery passion. He longs for either their subjugation or eradication, and has more genocidal views than other White Fang members. He is also vengeful and wrathful, never forgetting wrongdoings and swearing to make those who committed them pay, usually severely.

Relationships

 * Amet Serpentyne - Aeron's former friend turned archenemy. The two were once comrades and partners, but now hate each other with violent passion. Aeron especially wants Amet dead.
 *  Layla Tepes - Aeron had a legitimate care and love for his mother, and wanted her to live a better life. However, after she disowned him, he refuses to say her name and does not acknowledge that he has a mother, though deep down he is still heartbroken.
 * Adam Taurus - Aeron's idol. Though the two have never truly met (other than Taurus giving him orders), Aeron admires Adam to no end and wishes for him to be the true High Leader of the White Fang.

Primary Weapons: Tooth & Nail
Aeron's weapons are known as Tooth and Nail. Tooth is a small hand scythe with a curved blade roughly a foot long. Below the blade and attached to the handle is a small barrel, allowing the scythe to be used as a semiautomatic pistol. Nail is a long metallic spike roughly two and a half feet long. Though Aeron can use it as a melee weapon, he mainly throws it as a projectile. Nail's unique construction makes it vibration absorbent to an extent, which allows it to ricochet off of surfaces. Aeron can throw it into solid objects and have it ricochet in the direction he chooses; additionally, if he misses, Nail has a chance of bouncing back and hitting the target in another way.

Secondary Weapons: Dust Vials
Aeron also carries small vials of fire, steam, and water Dust with him. If needed, he will take one of these and throw either raw Dust from the vial at enemies or the entire vial for a short-range Dust explosion. He uses the fire and water Dust for combat, and the steam vials for combat, distractions, and disappearing.

Other Weaponry
Aeron also puts spiked, metallic plates on the bottom edges of his wings, allowing him to use them as more efficient cutting or ramming weapons.

Aeron also wears a Grimm mask and a White Fang uniform. Though not armor in a traditional sense, Aeron has padded his uniform to help soften blows (though not by much) and can use his mask as facial protection, though it is fragile.

Fighting Style and Abilities
Aeron prefers a brutish, straightforward fighting style. He embraces his rage and bloodlust in battle, allowing him exceptional strength and speed. However, he is no slouch when it comes to acrobatics, and will often use kicks, punches, and his swinging or batting wings in a fight. He also has a flair for dramatic intimidation and theatricality. He uses his wingspan to make himself appear larger or more threatening, and will use steam Dust to disorient and blind enemies, allowing him to vanish and reappear in dramatic and unexpected ways.

Though his wings are much larger than normal bat Faunus, they are not strong enough to sustain any kind of flight. However, he can use them to glide short distances or propel himself. In combat, he can use his large wings to boost him in any direction (including upwards) or flapping them to increase his running speed. He can also pivot and swing his wings, allowing him to hit or slash them at foes. With the addition of the metal plates on the bottom edges of the wings, they can be swung as blades or ramming weapons. In desperate situations, Aeron can even use his wings to shield his body, though they are thin and vulnerable to sharp objects.

He also has fangs that he carved, but will rarely use them in combat and uses them more as an intimidation/torture tactic.

Semblance
Aeron discovered his Semblance during his time in the White Fang. Aeron can enter a rage state that provides temporary boosts to his speed, strength, and durability. Though the Semblance does not affect his Aura, it increases the size and power of his muscles, allowing him to run faster, hit harder, and use his wings to boost himself further. His skin also becomes tougher, making it less vulnerable to damage and less sensitive to pain. Aeron uses this to overpower foes or minimize damage and pain, especially in times of extreme agony. However, while in this state, Aeron loses some of his mind and sanity, and becomes more violent and wrathful as well as sacrificing strategy and theatrics for straightforward brute and brawn. However, Aeron is in no way invulnerable in this state, and is still open to attack, pain, and life-threatening damage. The Semblance usually lasts anywhere from thirty to forty seconds, though on one occasion it lasted for a solid minute. Afterwards, Aeron will be physically tired, but not completely drained. After using the Semblance, Aeron is usually weakened, and needs time to rest before using it again. While he believes he may be able to go again without rest or recharge, it would put tremendous strain on and possibly even damage his body, so he has never attempted it.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Aeron is a tough and merciless fighter, and has no outstanding morals or compassion to hold him back. When he fights, he does not hold back, and he can prove to be a quick, strong, violent foe. His tastes for deception and intimidation can make him unpredictable and frightening.

However, his “all in” style of combat and lifestyle cause him to overexert himself early; he is always at his best at the beginning of a fight. He does not hold back, but this can lead a clever opponent to outsmart him or cause him to tire out.

Trivia

 * Aeron's name (as a boy's name) is of Hebrew origin and means “mountain of strength”, referring to the red earth. However, Aeron (as a girl's name) is the Welsh name of the ancient Celtic goddess of battle and slaughter. Though both can be used connotatively with the color red, Aeron Tepes' name leans more as a gender-swapped version of the latter.
 * Aeron Tepes alludes to the real-life villain Vlad the Impaler and his fictional counterpart, Count Dracula.
 * Aeron's last name “Tepes” (teh-pes) is a mispronounced allusion to the Romanian word “tepes” (tse-pesh), which translates to “impaler”.
 * Aeron's name, Aura color, and eye color are associated with red, the color of blood.
 * Aeron is a bat Faunus; many stories of Dracula and vampires involve them having bat-like wings or turning into bats.
 * Aeron has fangs, similar to vampires in fiction. Additionally, he has pale skin and dark hair, which are also common physical traits in fictional vampires.
 * His emblem resembles fangs and a drop of blood.
 * He has very “bloodthirsty” and violent behavior.
 * Aeron Tepes is a character belonging to NerdWithAKeyboard, inspired by elements belonging to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth Animation.