Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Champion

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The Champion are the Grey Steel Crusader infantry unit that relies on close range combat. Planned to be voiced by.

Overview
* TBA*

History
"Our blades protect the innocent."

-Motto of the Templar Champions

Generally, the Knights Templar, and the Order as a whole, frowns upon mindless killing. In the Knights Templar, sound tactical acumen might get a knight promoted; making a quick decision that stops or impedes a Herald plot will usually earn one a commendation or promotion. However, simple combat prowess will not get one promoted, generally. A lust for carnage will not. While a dead Cultist is always a good thing, sometimes a live Cultist is preferable. There are times when killing is appropriate, but all too often, simply trying to kill as many enemies as possible without considering the consequences will play right into the Cult's hands.

However, the Knights Templar also realise the value of those who can kill many cultists in battle. For those who show remarkable combat prowess, there are the ranks of the Templar Champions. They are recognised and decorated for their skill, given a special place in the order of battle, and deployed whenever the Talon want a great many people dead.

Once a potential Champion has proved themselves in battle, they must serve his time as a guardian of Saint Peter's Bastion in the (Insert Gaiaterran Vatican Equivalent). There, he learns the ancient lore and arts of his order; history, theology, military strategy and tactics, swordsmanship, and modern weapons and combat, as well as intensive physical training to build up his strength and agility. This training process is also seen as an attempt to temper the bloodlust of some of these men, so that they will be more disciplined, less likely to inadvertently assist the Cult in their attempts to destroy it. He is also expected to be ready to defend the city and the Pope at all costs. After two years, he graduates as a full fledged Champion, and is ready to take to the field and fight the Crusade for the Order.

While other members of the Knights Templar fight with more or less modern weaponry, the Champion fights with an old fashioned sword and shield. While this might seem out of place on a battlefield that has been dominated for over two hundred years by gunpowder weapons, the incredible durability of the Champion's Talon Steel armour and heavy shield means that bullets simply bounce off him. Indeed, Champions are able to take advantage of their heavy protection to shield more vulnerable Talon forces in battle, who can then retaliate with more modern weapons.

This does not mean that all of a Champion's equipment is medieval. Like other members of the Knights Templar, the Champion wears a thermobaric jump pack. Which they use to hurl themselves at the enemy, using their jump packs to rapidly close within sword range and crush anyone they happen to land on.