| Born | 1st of Schmiedenfest, 116 GME (age 25) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Vuurstahlan |
| Affiliation | The Vuurstahl Empire |
| Known for | Being ill-suited for military life |
| Held titles | Wirecutter (current) |
| “ | I'm not much good at singing... or drinking... but anything to take my mind of of um. Almost dying? You know. | ” |
—Erol[1] | ||
Wirecutter Erol Kartal (callsign Panic Button) is convinced the world is out to get him. Scrawny, quiet, and easily forgettable, he’s convinced the decision to assign him to the Military-class was done as some kind of sick joke. This isn’t helped by his bunkmate assignment, Kingslayer Bowen Stark, whose size AND reputation vastly overshadow his own. In fact, all of his unit holds a gravitas that Erol seems to lack, leaving him feeling like a background character in his own life. As a result, he applies for reassignment every year, but whether it’s because of the need for Military-class workers, or because the Board of Directors sees something in him no one else does, he’s been trapped for seven years straight. Despite his reservations, he does his best with what he has, but his job as a bomb disposal expert has done nothing for his already frayed nerves.[2]
After an ill-fated attempt to help the Kingslayer squadron in the ruins of Vruikt Barr, Erol has contracted magic corruption.[3] Though having been born dry renders him more resistant to its effects than most, his condition still flares up in the presence of strong magic, particularly corrupted magic, and has impacted his ability to assist with Engel patrol.[4]
Mech
| Pilot | Wirecutter Eren Kartal |
|---|---|
| Model | HA Iskander |
| Affiliation | The Vuurstahl Empire |
| NPC Class | Grunt Seeder |
| Status | Active |
Model C-61 is infamous among the 113th for never coming back from an engagement in one piece.[5] Its pilot, the bundle of nerves that he is, is notorious for freezing on the battlefield in fear, resulting in an easy target for the enemy. In addition, Model C-61 is undersized and more fragile than the average Iskander, due to Erol trying desperately to be a smaller target. Despite this, he still manages to contribute on the battlefield, his expertise in explosives coming in handy in a pinch... so long as he's able to get them out before he falls.
Associated themes
- Karaoke pick (with Esen): The Power Of Love
Related characters
- Stormcutter Esen Demir, his squad leader who he shares a close bond with due to their shared homeland
- Kingslayer Bowen Stark, his roommate who he fears and respects in equal measure
- Nightlight, the Mondboren responsible for his magic corruption
- ↑ (Shore Leave 1, 10/22/2023)
- ↑ "As for the Wirecutter..." He lets out a soft laugh. "Hard to find a place for a bomb disposal specialist who's scared of bombs." (Shore Leave 2, 2/2/2024)
- ↑ "His visor's been broken, and he's suffering some corruption from the air here. No other injuries, looks like, though his Iskander didn't make it out so well."
[...]
"Magic corruption?" Esen curses under their breath. (Mission Log, 7/20/2023) - ↑ "...Yes." Esen stares at the floor, brow furrowed. "Besides the damage to his face, he also risks aggravating his condition in the presence of magic. Engel patrol could be hazardous to him." (Shore Leave 1, 10/3/2023)
- ↑ As they near their destination, however, they see the wreck of someone who wasn't so lucky-- a Harrison Armory Iskander, its armor melted to slag, legs cut out from underneath it, reaching desperately upwards. Worst of all, they recognize it-- Model C-61, the frame of Wirecutter Erol Kartal. (Mission Log, 7/20/2023)