SkunkyArt | Vhu — END RUN: Chase Austerby

A struggling violinist, Chase's vision of making a career as a musician was hindered by harsh reality and his family's disdain for such a petty living. Chase had to frequently take on small jobs which were scarce to find in the years preceding the war. However, his wife's father, an owner of a well-off shipping business, ever so generously would provide him with labor - but only such he deemed suiting to his son in law's social standing - of the low-class kind.
In face of the obviously spiteful offers Chase would, for those rare moments in his life, bite his tongue, take the jobs up and do his best. The experience didn't affect him very well, it seems.
When recruitment for the Kanto Army was announced, particularly down on his luck and money, he enlisted not only for the well-paid job, but also to please his disdainful parents - of blood and law; at least so he claims. After the war he plans to continue trying to make a living as a musician, wishing to move with his wife and daughter abroad, to Unova, to start a new, better life.

PERSONALITY:
Chase is best described as a honorable and good-spirited jerk; witty and taking things in his stride, he tends to come off as cocky, frequently poking light-hearted fun at people and situations, but he is never spiteful or looking down on others. For a generally jolly fellow he is far from being a preaching optimist, as he keeps a perhaps unexpectedly firm grasp on reality. Given his tendency to openly speak his mind he has his moments of grim observation sprinkled with dark humor. This however does not stop him from keeping his chin high and crowned with a sly grin. Most of the time.

MISC:
- Artistically inclined in music and visual arts; plays the violin and guitar, can figure out new instruments pretty quick;
- Very high alcohol tolerance, though he drinks surprisingly rarely;
- Married and a father, much to everyone's confusion and, frequently, disbelief, so unless he mentions it it definitely isn't obvious; he wears his wedding ring on a chain around his neck.
- Childhood friends with Nathan .
- Left-Handed

POST R3:
Chase doesn't have any personal feelings towards the Rogues, but he finds the entire movement rather pointless and unnecessarily complicating the war by creating a second enemy faction for Kanto. Doesn't care enough for Pokemon to care for the Rogue ideals.

Comparing to many fellow soldiers, Chase is taking the war pretty well so far. He's tired from the prolonged physical/mental stress of the military, but overall, and strangely enough, he's good. Not as chipper as he was by the start, but still has a quip or two to say about anything that comes up, if out of habit.

His occasionally brutal pragmatism is slowly seeping through his casually friendly demeanor. If spoken to about enemies or seen in battle it will become apparent he carries out all orders with little to no second thoughts, mercy or regrets. If asked about it, he will claim he is just doing what he must and he's able to compartmentalize the things he does. Also won't want to really talk any further about it.

POST R4:

Chase was promoted to the rank of officer and now oversees a small, 5-man fireteam of scouts.

NEW GEAR:

Carries Ophelius' Odd Stone in a fitted backpack. Post of the backpack fits the Stone, has a few small additional pockets for a radio, basic first-aid and additional knickknacks that might be needed on a mission. Chase still carries his journal and a pen/pencil in the flap of his jacket.

Has a single machete fitted for left hand use.

Darker parts of coat around shoulders/arms are plated with light but durable material for a bit of extra protection while retaining generally high mobility.

Only his hat remains from his old uniform. The new goggles are a prototype to what one day may become Go-Goggles.