The Figure in Bismuth: Difference between revisions

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|color_theme=pal|title=The Figure in Bismuth
|color_theme=pal|title=The Figure in Bismuth
|debut = [[PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise]]
|debut = [[PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise]]
|playbook= Ace (''Beam Saber'')<br>Imposter (''Armour Astir'')<br>Wither (''Armour Astir'')|season=''[[PARTIZAN]]''<br/>''[[PALISADE]]''|relations=[[The Witch in Glass]] (rival)|game=''[[Beam Saber]]''<br />''[[Armour Astir: Advent]]''}}'''The Figure in Bismuth''', later known simply as '''the Figure''' or '''Figure''', is a player character in ''[[PARTIZAN]]'' and ''[[PALISADE]]''.  
|playbook= The Ace (''Beam Saber'')<br>The Imposter (''Armour Astir'')<br>The Wither (''Armour Astir'')|season=''[[PARTIZAN]]''<br/>''[[PALISADE]]''|relations=[[The Witch in Glass]] (rival)|game=''[[Beam Saber]]''<br />''[[Armour Astir: Advent]]''}}'''The Figure in Bismuth''', later known simply as '''the Figure''' or '''Figure''', is a player character in ''[[PARTIZAN]]'' and ''[[PALISADE]]''. Once a history teacher, they are now undead, having died and then been reanimated by the [[Witch in Glass]].  


==Appearance==
==Appearance==
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In ''PALISADE'', they're further described as imposing but hunched over by the weight of the crystals over their body, and wear a tight flight suit adorned with medals commemorating their skill as a pilot.<ref name="PAL01">[[PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1]]</ref>  
In ''PALISADE'', they're further described as imposing but hunched over by the weight of the crystals over their body, and wear a tight flight suit adorned with medals commemorating their skill as a pilot.<ref name="PAL01">[[PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1]]</ref>  


{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]|text=In response to being turned into a portal for the [[Iconoclasts]] by the [[Usher of Truth]], Figure turns the material their body is made of into [[Q-Concrete|concrete]].<ref name="PAL15">[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]</ref> Following surgery after a battle, some of this concrete is run through with azurite.<ref name="PAL20" />|theme=pal}}
{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]|text=In response to being turned into a portal for the [[Iconoclasts]] by the [[Usher of Truth]], Figure turns the material their body is made of into [[Q-Concrete|concrete]].<ref name="PAL15">[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]</ref> Following surgery after a battle, some of this concrete is run through with azurite.<ref name="PAL20" />|theme=pal}}{{Spoiler block
|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]
|text=After being attacked from afar by Clem, Figure has deep finger gouges in their shoulder. Perennial's intervention has begun to fill those gouges with slowly budding Russian sage, which is compared to the look of fibers protruding from broken fiber-reinforced concrete.
 
Figure gets a new outfit as well. They wear a cropped jacket with a cape and flowy sleeves (Dre references [https://blog.americanduchess.com/2021/02/the-free-american-duchess-cape-pattern.html American Duchess's cape pattern]) in a sage green paisley pattern with lavender accents. They also wear capris with two buckles on the bottom, paired with tall, worn brown boots.
|theme=pal}}


== Personality ==
== Personality ==
Figure is rather soft spoken and mild. They remember little of their life before they died, and nothing about their death.<ref name="PAL20">[[PALISADE 20: In Their Fear Pt. 1]]</ref>
Figure remembers little of their life before they died, and nothing about their death.<ref name="PAL20">[[PALISADE 20: In Their Fear Pt. 1]]</ref>


They haven't done a lot of political thought and are surprised when called on it. They are "just asking questions"<ref name="PZN45">[[PARTIZAN 45: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 1: The Fray]]</ref> both in the annoying sense (blithely insensitive) and in that they are trying to listen to a different way of thinking and viewing the world.
In ''PARTIZAN'', they clearly haven't done a lot of political thought and are surprised when called on it. They are "just asking questions"<ref name="PZN45">[[PARTIZAN 45: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 1: The Fray]]</ref> both in the annoying sense (blithely insensitive) and in that they are trying to listen to a different way of thinking and viewing the world. They are also rater soft spoken and mild.


Figure is a fan of the universe's equivalent of a [[wikipedia:Ken_Burns|Ken Burns]] documentary. He is very excited to watch a documentary about [[Gig Kephart]].<ref name="PAL12">[[PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1]]</ref>
In ''PALISADE'', Figure is frequently willing to push themself to the limit and act impulsively in combat. They have also begun to regret what they remember of their first life and their old ideology and have resolved to make things right.<ref name="PAL24">[[PALISADE 24: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3]]</ref>


===Hooks (''[[Armour Astir: Advent|Armour Astir]]'')===
Figure is a fan of the universe's equivalent of a [[wikipedia:Ken_Burns|Ken Burns]] documentary. He is very excited by an opportunity to watch a documentary about [[Gig Kephart]].<ref name="PAL12">[[PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1]]</ref>
 
===Hooks (''[[Armour Astir: Advent|Armour Astir]]'')===  
*<s>No matter how far I run, I am still tethered to the Witch in Glass.</s><ref name="PAL01" />  
*<s>No matter how far I run, I am still tethered to the Witch in Glass.</s><ref name="PAL01" />  
**The only way to escape the Witch is by endangering others, but they seem eager to accept the risk.<ref name="PAL12" />
**<s>The only way to escape the Witch is by endangering others, but they seem eager to accept the risk.</s><ref name="PAL12" /><ref name=":0" group="Note">Loosened by [[Dust]]'s influence in "[[Seize the Chance Pt. 4]]". Rewritten as of "[[Reach In / Reach Out Pt. 1]]".</ref>
**The wheel must break.<ref name="PAL39">[[PALISADE 39: A Mechanical Whine Pt. 1]]</ref>
*<s>I've lived two lies; I would happily die for the truth.</s><ref name="PAL01" /><ref group="Note">Deepened as of "[[PALISADE 23: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2|An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2]]" and outgrown as of "[[PALISADE 24: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3|An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3]]".</ref>
*<s>I've lived two lies; I would happily die for the truth.</s><ref name="PAL01" /><ref group="Note">Deepened as of "[[PALISADE 23: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2|An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2]]" and outgrown as of "[[PALISADE 24: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3|An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3]]".</ref>
 
*<s>If [[Phrygian]] were to test my loyalties, I'm not sure which way I would go.</s><ref name="PAL01" /><ref group="Note">Replaced in "[[Seize the Chance Pt. 3]]".</ref>
*If [[Phrygian]] were to test my loyalties, I'm not sure which way I would go.<ref name="PAL01" />
*Using this new lease on life purely for violence would be a waste.<ref name="PAL31">[[PALISADE 31: Seize the Chance Pt. 2]]</ref><ref group="Note">Loosened by [[Dust]]'s influence in "[[Seize the Chance Pt. 4]]".</ref>


===Burden (''Armour Astir'')===  
===Burden (''Armour Astir'')===  


*Faulty<ref name="PAL20" />
*<s>Faulty</s><ref name="PAL20" />


==History and Involvement==
==History and Involvement==
===Origins===
In his original life, Figure was a politically conservative history teacher.
In his original life, Figure was a politically conservative history teacher.


===''PARTIZAN'' ===
===''PARTIZAN''===
After being injured and near-death due to the battles raging across [[Partizan (moon)|Partizan]], Figure was healed by [[the Witch in Glass]]. Because of this, he believes he owes her his loyalty. Within the [[Reflecting Pool]], he serves as a benevolent sort of alderman for the fellow residents, attending to their problems. He is now a supernaturally gifted ace pilot.
After being injured and near-death due to the battles raging across [[Partizan (moon)|Partizan]], Figure was healed by [[the Witch in Glass]]. Because of this, he believes he owes her his loyalty. Within the [[Reflecting Pool]], he serves as a benevolent sort of alderman for the fellow residents, attending to their problems. He is now a supernaturally gifted ace pilot.


Their first appearance involved bringing [[Sovereign Immunity]] to speak with the Witch in Glass. Months later, he assists [[Millennium Break]] in investigating the [[Chasmata Quarry]]. When the Witch in Glass joins the fight during Operation Shackled Sun, he plays a pivotal role there as well, disobeying her orders by destroying the Lattice to keep people from getting killed defending it. Afterward, he is described as spending some time in isolation, hanging out in a cave.  
Their first appearance involved bringing [[Sovereign Immunity]] to speak with the Witch in Glass. Months later, he assists [[Millennium Break]] in investigating the [[Chasmata Quarry]]. When the Witch in Glass joins the fight during Operation Shackled Sun, he plays a pivotal role there as well, disobeying her orders by destroying the Lattice to keep people from getting killed defending it. Afterward, he is described as spending some time in isolation, hanging out in a cave.  


===''PALISADE'' ===
===''PALISADE''===
{{Incomplete|section=section}}
{{Spoiler header|section=section|spoiling=''[[PALISADE]]''|theme=pal}}{{Construction|section=section}}
 
In the years following the events of ''PARTIZAN'', Figure remains connected to the Witch in Glass despite being on indefinite loan to Millennium Break as a member of the [[Blue Channel (party)|Blue Channel]].
 
During a mission in [[Violet Cove]], the Usher of Truth (through [[Kenneth Marian Colver]]) opens Figure's flight suit and turns them into a portal for the Iconoclasts. In order to contain this threat, and because the specialized concrete of the [[Rapid Evening (intelligence agency)|Rapid Evening]] can trap Iconoclasts, Figure turns the material their body is made of into [[Q-Concrete|concrete]].<ref name="PAL15" /> <!-- decision to break chain to the witch in glass & subsequent search for a new source of magic -->
<!-- chimera's lantern trip -->
<!-- perennial and gur -->
<!-- bringing brnine back to the blue channel -->
<!-- seize the chance (train brain) mission -->
<!-- death in a mechanical whine arc & perennial's reaction -->


In the years following the events of ''PARTIZAN'', Figure remains connected to the Witch in Glass despite being on indefinite loan to Millennium Break as a member of the [[Blue Channel (party)|Blue Channel]]. {{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]|text=During a mission in [[Violet Cove]], the Usher of Truth (through [[Kenneth Marian Colver]]) opens Figure's flight suit and turns them into a portal for the Iconoclasts. In order to contain this threat, and because the specialized concrete of the [[Rapid Evening (intelligence agency)|Rapid Evening]] can trap Iconoclasts, Figure turns the material their body is made of into [[Q-Concrete|concrete]].<ref name="PAL15" />|theme=pal}}
In their [[Dust]] dream, five years have passed and they are a respected (and feared) veteran commander of Millennium Break. [[Coriolis Sunset|Cori]], [[Brnine]], [[Thisbe]], and [[Gucci Garantine|Gucci]] are all dead, and [[Jesset City|Jesset]] is MIA. The war against Stel Kesh is going well, perhaps because Figure, who has become "a fucking monster of the battlefield", has spent five years doing everything in their power to secure victory for Millennium Break.<ref name="PAL33">[[PALISADE 33: Seize the Chance Pt. 4]]</ref> According to [[Gur Sevraq|Gur]], this is a reality that Perennial once saw play out.<ref name="PAL34">[[PALISADE 34: Seize the Chance Pt. 5]]</ref>


==Relationships==
==Relationships==
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{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|text=[[The Chimeric Cadent]] grants Figure a means of freeing themself from the Witch, and they accept it. Outraged, the Witch retaliates by turning their mech into [[The Ingrate|the Ingrate]], the first new [[Axiom]] the galaxy has seen in millennia.<ref name="PAL25">[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]</ref>|theme=pal}}
{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|text=[[The Chimeric Cadent]] grants Figure a means of freeing themself from the Witch, and they accept it. Outraged, the Witch retaliates by turning their mech into [[The Ingrate|the Ingrate]], the first new [[Axiom]] the galaxy has seen in millennia.<ref name="PAL25">[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]</ref>|theme=pal}}


===Coriolis Sunset===
===Coriolis Sunset ===
Figure cares about and is concerned for [[Coriolis Sunset|Cori]]. His Gravity clock with her starts after she swings her weapon incautiously in battle, accidentally hitting him.<ref name="PAL09" />   
Figure cares about and is concerned for [[Coriolis Sunset|Cori]]. His Gravity clock with her starts after she swings her weapon incautiously in battle, accidentally hitting him.<ref name="PAL09" />   


Following the events of "[[Upon Our Grace Pt. 4]]", they seek her out after an emotional display in an all-crew meeting and have a conversation with her about the circumstances of their resurrection. They promise to help her in any way they can as long as she doesn't try to go to the [[The Witch in Glass|Witch in Glass]] for help, because they don't want to see Cori hurt by the Witch.<ref name="PAL20" />  
Following the events of "[[Upon Our Grace Pt. 4]]", they seek her out after an emotional display in an all-crew meeting and have a conversation with her about the circumstances of their resurrection. They promise to help her in any way they can as long as she doesn't try to go to the [[The Witch in Glass|Witch in Glass]] for help, because they don't want to see Cori hurt by the Witch.<ref name="PAL20" />
 
===Gur Sevraq===
{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|text=When Figure makes the choice to live off of [[Perennial]]'s magic in order to be free of the Witch in Glass, Perennial transfers the ghost of [[Gur Sevraq]] from [[Clementine Kesh|Clementine]] to Figure. Figure is haunted by Gur's ghost off and on; mechanically, this is represented by their [[The Figure in Bismuth#The Wither|Cold Company move]].<ref name="PAL25" />|theme=pal}}


===Bonds (''[[Beam Saber]]'')===  
===Perennial===
{{Construction|section=section}}
 
===Bonds (''[[Beam Saber]]'')===  


*Sovereign Immunity seems quite affable and amenable.
*Sovereign Immunity seems quite affable and amenable.
Line 67: Line 92:


*[[Partial Palisade|Palisade]] and I were both resurrected against our will by people who won’t fix their own problems.<ref name="PAL02">[[PALISADE 02: Into the World Pt. 2]]</ref>
*[[Partial Palisade|Palisade]] and I were both resurrected against our will by people who won’t fix their own problems.<ref name="PAL02">[[PALISADE 02: Into the World Pt. 2]]</ref>
*[[Coriolis Sunset|Cori]] also moves like she is just a weapon.<ref name="PAL09">[[PALISADE 09: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 4]]</ref><ref group="Note">Increased to +2 in "[[In Their Fear Pt. 1]]".</ref>
*<s>[[Coriolis Sunset|Cori]] also moves like she is just a weapon.</s><ref name="PAL09">[[PALISADE 09: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 4]]</ref><ref group="Note">Increased to +2 and rewritten as of in "[[In Their Fear Pt. 1]]".</ref>
*''(Rival clock)'' I have to return to the Witch to sustain my life force.<ref name="PAL05" />
**Can I protect Cori from her grief?<ref name="PAL30">[[PALISADE 30: Seize the Chance Pt. 1]]</ref>
*I admire Phrygian's ability to freely question authority.<ref name="PAL12" /><ref group="Note">Completed as of "[[PALISADE 28: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1|Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1]]".</ref>
*<s>''(Rival clock)'' I have to return to the Witch to sustain my life force.</s><ref name="PAL05" /><ref group="Note">Dre stopped reading this out later in the season and after "[[An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]" it is likely no longer applicable.</ref>
*<s>I admire Phrygian's ability to freely question authority.</s><ref name="PAL12" /><ref group="Note">Completed as of "[[PALISADE 28: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1|Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1]]".</ref>
*I want to convince [[Eclectic Opposition|Eclectic]] to be a true believer in the Cause.<ref name="PAL32">[[PALISADE 32: Seize the Chance Pt. 3]]</ref>


==Abilities==
==Abilities==


===''Beam Saber''===
===''Beam Saber'' ===
{{Expand list}}
While Figure technically used the Ace playbook in ''Beam Saber'', they never made any Ace moves.


===''Armour Astir''===
===''Armour Astir''===


====The Imposter====
====The Imposter====  
{{Expand list}}
*''Arcane Augments'': Figure controls their mech using arcane augments, tying their piloting skill to their emotions and physical state; their Channel increases as they put themself at risk.<ref name="PAL05" />
*''Hot Blooded'': Once Figure accumulates three Hold, they can roll Channel to attempt something uncanny, superhuman, or unbelievable.<ref name="PAL15">[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]</ref>
*''Let Loose'': Figure's traits increase as they accumulate Burdens.<ref name="PAL20" />


* ''Hot Blooded'': Once Figure accumulates three Hold, they can roll Channel to attempt something uncanny, superhuman, or unbelievable.<ref name="PAL15">[[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]</ref>
====The Wither====
{{Spoiler header|section=section|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|theme=pal}}


====The Wither====
{{Spoiler header|section=section|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|theme=pal}}*''Cold Company'': Figure is haunted by the "distracting and difficult" ghost of [[Gur Sevraq]]. They make all rolls with disadvantage until they roll a complete success, which silences Gur. Then they make all rolls with advantage until they fail a roll, and Gur returns.<ref name="PAL25" />
*''Abyssal Summons'': Figure can reach out and teleport someone from their current location to his. For this to work, he must have a strong bond with that person, be in possession of something important to them, or have inflected a Peril on them.<ref name="PAL29">[[PALISADE 29: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 2]]</ref>
*''Abyssal Summons'': Figure can reach out and teleport someone from their current location to his. For this to work, he must have a strong bond with that person, be in possession of something important to them, or have inflected a Peril on them.<ref name="PAL29">[[PALISADE 29: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 2]]</ref>
*''Born to Die''<ref>[[Gathering Information|Gathering Information: Into the Mirage]]</ref>
*''Cold Company'': Figure is haunted by the "distracting and difficult" ghost of Gur Sevraq. They make all rolls with disadvantage until they roll a complete success, which silences Gur. Then they make all rolls with advantage until they fail a roll, and Gur returns.<ref name="PAL25" />
*''Hot Blooded'': Once Figure accumulates three Hold, they can roll Channel to attempt something uncanny, superhuman, or unbelievable. (Carried over from Imposter playbook.)<ref name="PAL31" />
*''Number of the Beast'': Whenever [[Andrew Lee Swan|Dre]] rolls a six, they may roll an additional die and add it to the total for that roll. However, if Dre ever rolls three sixes during one move, Figure is killed in a spectacular fashion at the nearest suitable moment and is claimed by whatever terrible power would be most interested in his soul, magical energy, unliving servitude, et cetera.<ref name="PAL30" />


==Mech==
== Mech==
In ''PARTIZAN'', the Figure in Bismuth's mech is the ''[[Will of the Witch]]'', a gigantic [[Hallow]] shaped like a Dark Souls knight made up of blocky PS1 polygons. ''The Will of the Witch'' is detonated during ''PARTIZAN''<nowiki/>'s [[PARTIZAN 47: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 3: The Stories Told About the Things We Do|final episode]] without ever being piloted onscreen, which is not very wow cool robot.
In ''PARTIZAN'', the Figure in Bismuth's mech is the [[Will of the Witch]], a gigantic [[Hallow]] shaped like a Dark Souls knight made up of blocky PS1 polygons. ''The Will of the Witch'' is detonated during ''PARTIZAN''<nowiki/>'s [[PARTIZAN 47: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 3: The Stories Told About the Things We Do|final episode]] without ever being piloted onscreen, which is not very wow cool robot.


In ''PALISADE'', his mech is the ''[[Devil's Two Front Teeth]]'', a zombie-like [[Altar (mech type)|Altar]] with chunks missing from when heat exploded along its faultlines due to the lack of existing heatsinks and vents. It makes a horrible noise like howling wind when activated.  
In ''PALISADE'', he has two mechs. The first is the [[Devil's Two Front Teeth]], a zombie-like [[Altar (mech type)|Altar]] with chunks missing from when heat exploded along its faultlines due to the lack of existing heatsinks and vents. It makes a horrible noise like howling wind when activated.  


{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|text=The Witch in Glass turns the ''Devil's Two Front Teeth'' into [[The Ingrate|the Ingrate]].<ref name="PAL25" />|theme=pal}}
{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]|text=In a fit of outrage, the Witch in Glass turns the Devil's Two Front Teeth into [[The Ingrate|the Ingrate]].<ref name="PAL25" />|theme=pal}}Figure's second mech in ''PALISADE'' is the [[Broken Spoke]], formerly known as the Day's Eye, a bipedal mech made of a matte, crystalline substance. Russian sage sprouts from between its shoulder and elbow joints and it wears a cloak.<ref name="PAL30" />


==Trivia==
==Trivia==  


*Figure is unable to cry.<ref>[[PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1]]</ref>
*Figure is unable to cry<ref name="PAL12" /> until after the events of "[[An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]".<ref name="PAL29" />
* They can eat if they choose to do so but they can only taste minerals, like salt and copper.<ref name="PAL20" />
*They can eat if they choose to do so but they can only taste minerals, like salt and copper.<ref name="PAL20" />
*They don't need to breathe.<ref name="PAL22">[[PALISADE 22: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 1]]</ref>
*They don't need to breathe.<ref name="PAL22">[[PALISADE 22: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 1]]</ref>
*Although he was first introduced during ''[[Beam Saber]]'', Figure was designed for ''[[Armour Astir: Advent|Armour A]]''<nowiki/>''[[Armour Astir: Advent|stir]]'''s Imposter playbook.
*Although he was first introduced during ''[[Beam Saber]]'', Figure was designed for ''[[Armour Astir: Advent|Armour A]]''<nowiki/>''[[Armour Astir: Advent|stir]]'''s Imposter playbook.
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<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Figure Si F Sweetman.png|alt=Figure grinning toothily|Figure fanart by [https://cohost.org/SiFSweetman/post/1177524-final-one-of-the-set Si F Sweetman]
File:Figure Si F Sweetman.png|alt=Figure grinning toothily|Figure fanart by [https://cohost.org/SiFSweetman/post/1177524-final-one-of-the-set Si F Sweetman]
File:Palisade PCs Vlasdygoth.jpg|alt=Group fanart of Cori, Phrygian, Thisbe, Figure, and Brnine|Figure and their ''PALISADE'' colleagues by [[:Category:Vlasdygoth|Vlasdygoth]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Appearances==  
==Appearances==
*''PARTIZAN'' [[PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise|34]], [[PARTIZAN 36: The Witch in the Glass Pt. 2|36]], [[PARTIZAN 37: The Gravity of Absence|37]], [[PARTIZAN 38: The Red Light|38]], [[PARTIZAN 42: The Unbreakable Quarry|42]], [[PARTIZAN 43: The Tunnels Beneath|43]], [[PARTIZAN 44: The Prison at the Top of the World|44]], [[PARTIZAN 45: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 1: The Fray|45]], [[PARTIZAN 46: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 2: The Gate|46]], [[PARTIZAN 47: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 3: The Stories Told About the Things We Do|47]]
 
*''PALISADE'' [[:Category:Into the World arc|01-02]], [[:Category:I Would Like to Help You arc|04-05]], [[:Category:The Canvas of Dreams arc|06-09]], [[:Category:Worth the Trouble arc|12-13]], [[:Category:Upon Our Grace arc|14-17]], [[:Category:In Their Fear arc|20-21]], [[:Category:An Impossible Ideal arc|22-25]], [[:Category:Honesty and Integrity arc|28-29]]
===''PARTIZAN''===
{{div col}}
* [[PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise]]
* [[PARTIZAN 36: The Witch in the Glass Pt. 2]]
* [[PARTIZAN 37: The Gravity of Absence]]
* [[PARTIZAN 38: The Red Light]]
* [[PARTIZAN 42: The Unbreakable Quarry]]
* [[PARTIZAN 43: The Tunnels Beneath]]
* [[PARTIZAN 44: The Prison at the Top of the World]]
* [[PARTIZAN 45: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 1: The Fray]]
* [[PARTIZAN 46: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 2: The Gate]]
* [[PARTIZAN 47: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 3: The Stories Told About the Things We Do]]
{{div col end}}
 
===''PALISADE''===
{{div col}}
* [[PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 02: Into the World Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 04: I Would Like to Help You Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 05: I Would Like to Help You Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 06: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 07: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 08: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 3]]
* [[PALISADE 09: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 4]]
* [[PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 14: Upon Our Grace Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 16: Upon Our Grace Pt. 3]]
* [[PALISADE 17: Upon Our Grace Pt. 4]]
* [[PALISADE 20: In Their Fear Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 21: In Their Fear Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 22: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 23: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 24: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3]]
* [[PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4]]
* [[PALISADE 28: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 29: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 30: Seize the Chance Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 31: Seize the Chance Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 32: Seize the Chance Pt. 3]]
* [[PALISADE 33: Seize the Chance Pt. 4]]
* [[PALISADE 34: Seize the Chance Pt. 5]]
* [[PALISADE 37: Reach In / Reach Out Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 38: Reach In / Reach Out Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 39: A Mechanical Whine Pt. 1]]
* [[PALISADE 40: A Mechanical Whine Pt. 2]]
* [[PALISADE 41: A Mechanical Whine Pt. 3]]
{{div col end}}


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
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[[Category:Millennium Break members]]
[[Category:Millennium Break members]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Figure_in_Bismuth}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Figure in Bismuth, The}}
[[Category:Operation Shackled Sun arc]]
[[Category:Into the World arc]]
[[Category:I Would Like to Help You arc]]
[[Category:The Canvas of Dreams arc]]
[[Category:Worth the Trouble arc]]
[[Category:Upon Our Grace arc]]
[[Category:In Their Fear arc]]
[[Category:An Impossible Ideal arc]]
[[Category:Honesty and Integrity arc]]
[[Category:Seize the Chance arc]]
[[Category:Reach In / Reach Out arc]]
[[Category:A Mechanical Whine arc]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 19 August 2024

The Figure in Bismuth, later known simply as the Figure or Figure, is a player character in PARTIZAN and PALISADE. Once a history teacher, they are now undead, having died and then been reanimated by the Witch in Glass.

Appearance[edit | edit source]

They are humanoid, and their body is covered in rainbow crystals. Of his head, only his jaw is visible; the rest is a large crystal (reference).[1] The weight of the crystal requires them to do certain physical exercises as self-maintenance. His body is also partially covered in vines, but their extent is not visible as they're covered by his clothes.

In PALISADE, they're further described as imposing but hunched over by the weight of the crystals over their body, and wear a tight flight suit adorned with medals commemorating their skill as a pilot.[2]

Palcover.jpg

This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2.
Click here to reveal.

In response to being turned into a portal for the Iconoclasts by the Usher of Truth, Figure turns the material their body is made of into concrete.[3] Following surgery after a battle, some of this concrete is run through with azurite.[4]

Palcover.jpg

This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4.
Click here to reveal.

After being attacked from afar by Clem, Figure has deep finger gouges in their shoulder. Perennial's intervention has begun to fill those gouges with slowly budding Russian sage, which is compared to the look of fibers protruding from broken fiber-reinforced concrete. Figure gets a new outfit as well. They wear a cropped jacket with a cape and flowy sleeves (Dre references American Duchess's cape pattern) in a sage green paisley pattern with lavender accents. They also wear capris with two buckles on the bottom, paired with tall, worn brown boots.

Personality[edit | edit source]

Figure remembers little of their life before they died, and nothing about their death.[4]

In PARTIZAN, they clearly haven't done a lot of political thought and are surprised when called on it. They are "just asking questions"[5] both in the annoying sense (blithely insensitive) and in that they are trying to listen to a different way of thinking and viewing the world. They are also rater soft spoken and mild.

In PALISADE, Figure is frequently willing to push themself to the limit and act impulsively in combat. They have also begun to regret what they remember of their first life and their old ideology and have resolved to make things right.[6]

Figure is a fan of the universe's equivalent of a Ken Burns documentary. He is very excited by an opportunity to watch a documentary about Gig Kephart.[7]

Hooks (Armour Astir)[edit | edit source]

  • No matter how far I run, I am still tethered to the Witch in Glass.[2]
    • The only way to escape the Witch is by endangering others, but they seem eager to accept the risk.[7][Note 1]
    • The wheel must break.[8]
  • I've lived two lies; I would happily die for the truth.[2][Note 2]
  • If Phrygian were to test my loyalties, I'm not sure which way I would go.[2][Note 3]
  • Using this new lease on life purely for violence would be a waste.[9][Note 4]

Burden (Armour Astir)[edit | edit source]

History and Involvement[edit | edit source]

Origins[edit | edit source]

In his original life, Figure was a politically conservative history teacher.

PARTIZAN[edit | edit source]

After being injured and near-death due to the battles raging across Partizan, Figure was healed by the Witch in Glass. Because of this, he believes he owes her his loyalty. Within the Reflecting Pool, he serves as a benevolent sort of alderman for the fellow residents, attending to their problems. He is now a supernaturally gifted ace pilot.

Their first appearance involved bringing Sovereign Immunity to speak with the Witch in Glass. Months later, he assists Millennium Break in investigating the Chasmata Quarry. When the Witch in Glass joins the fight during Operation Shackled Sun, he plays a pivotal role there as well, disobeying her orders by destroying the Lattice to keep people from getting killed defending it. Afterward, he is described as spending some time in isolation, hanging out in a cave.

PALISADE[edit | edit source]

Warning.png Spoiler warning!
This section contains major spoilers for PALISADE. Tread carefully!
Tools.png This section is under construction. Please excuse the mess.

In the years following the events of PARTIZAN, Figure remains connected to the Witch in Glass despite being on indefinite loan to Millennium Break as a member of the Blue Channel.

During a mission in Violet Cove, the Usher of Truth (through Kenneth Marian Colver) opens Figure's flight suit and turns them into a portal for the Iconoclasts. In order to contain this threat, and because the specialized concrete of the Rapid Evening can trap Iconoclasts, Figure turns the material their body is made of into concrete.[3]

In their Dust dream, five years have passed and they are a respected (and feared) veteran commander of Millennium Break. Cori, Brnine, Thisbe, and Gucci are all dead, and Jesset is MIA. The war against Stel Kesh is going well, perhaps because Figure, who has become "a fucking monster of the battlefield", has spent five years doing everything in their power to secure victory for Millennium Break.[10] According to Gur, this is a reality that Perennial once saw play out.[11]

Relationships[edit | edit source]

The Witch in Glass[edit | edit source]

The Witch in Glass resurrected the Figure against their will. When the Figure joins the Blue Channel, they are forced to return to the Witch's palace in the Crown of Glass at regular intervals to refresh the magic that sustains their body. When they're in the Witch's presence, she can monitor the everything that Figure has seen, done, and learned during their time apart, and she uses this information to surveil not only Figure but also the actions of Millennium Break.[Note 5] Figure resents this intrusion.[12]

Palcover.jpg

This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4.
Click here to reveal.

The Chimeric Cadent grants Figure a means of freeing themself from the Witch, and they accept it. Outraged, the Witch retaliates by turning their mech into the Ingrate, the first new Axiom the galaxy has seen in millennia.[13]

Coriolis Sunset[edit | edit source]

Figure cares about and is concerned for Cori. His Gravity clock with her starts after she swings her weapon incautiously in battle, accidentally hitting him.[14]

Following the events of "Upon Our Grace Pt. 4", they seek her out after an emotional display in an all-crew meeting and have a conversation with her about the circumstances of their resurrection. They promise to help her in any way they can as long as she doesn't try to go to the Witch in Glass for help, because they don't want to see Cori hurt by the Witch.[4]

Gur Sevraq[edit | edit source]

Palcover.jpg

This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4.
Click here to reveal.

When Figure makes the choice to live off of Perennial's magic in order to be free of the Witch in Glass, Perennial transfers the ghost of Gur Sevraq from Clementine to Figure. Figure is haunted by Gur's ghost off and on; mechanically, this is represented by their Cold Company move.[13]

Perennial[edit | edit source]

Tools.png This section is under construction. Please excuse the mess.

Bonds (Beam Saber)[edit | edit source]

  • Sovereign Immunity seems quite affable and amenable.
  • Phrygian and I might share a bond over our distinct appearances.
  • Kalar's heroism is quite striking.

Gravity clocks (Armour Astir)[edit | edit source]

  • Palisade and I were both resurrected against our will by people who won’t fix their own problems.[15]
  • Cori also moves like she is just a weapon.[14][Note 6]
    • Can I protect Cori from her grief?[16]
  • (Rival clock) I have to return to the Witch to sustain my life force.[12][Note 7]
  • I admire Phrygian's ability to freely question authority.[7][Note 8]
  • I want to convince Eclectic to be a true believer in the Cause.[17]

Abilities[edit | edit source]

Beam Saber[edit | edit source]

While Figure technically used the Ace playbook in Beam Saber, they never made any Ace moves.

Armour Astir[edit | edit source]

The Imposter[edit | edit source]

  • Arcane Augments: Figure controls their mech using arcane augments, tying their piloting skill to their emotions and physical state; their Channel increases as they put themself at risk.[12]
  • Hot Blooded: Once Figure accumulates three Hold, they can roll Channel to attempt something uncanny, superhuman, or unbelievable.[3]
  • Let Loose: Figure's traits increase as they accumulate Burdens.[4]

The Wither[edit | edit source]

Warning.png Spoiler warning!
This section contains major spoilers for PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4. Tread carefully!


  • Abyssal Summons: Figure can reach out and teleport someone from their current location to his. For this to work, he must have a strong bond with that person, be in possession of something important to them, or have inflected a Peril on them.[18]
  • Born to Die[19]
  • Cold Company: Figure is haunted by the "distracting and difficult" ghost of Gur Sevraq. They make all rolls with disadvantage until they roll a complete success, which silences Gur. Then they make all rolls with advantage until they fail a roll, and Gur returns.[13]
  • Hot Blooded: Once Figure accumulates three Hold, they can roll Channel to attempt something uncanny, superhuman, or unbelievable. (Carried over from Imposter playbook.)[9]
  • Number of the Beast: Whenever Dre rolls a six, they may roll an additional die and add it to the total for that roll. However, if Dre ever rolls three sixes during one move, Figure is killed in a spectacular fashion at the nearest suitable moment and is claimed by whatever terrible power would be most interested in his soul, magical energy, unliving servitude, et cetera.[16]

Mech[edit | edit source]

In PARTIZAN, the Figure in Bismuth's mech is the Will of the Witch, a gigantic Hallow shaped like a Dark Souls knight made up of blocky PS1 polygons. The Will of the Witch is detonated during PARTIZAN's final episode without ever being piloted onscreen, which is not very wow cool robot.

In PALISADE, he has two mechs. The first is the Devil's Two Front Teeth, a zombie-like Altar with chunks missing from when heat exploded along its faultlines due to the lack of existing heatsinks and vents. It makes a horrible noise like howling wind when activated.

Palcover.jpg

This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4.
Click here to reveal.

In a fit of outrage, the Witch in Glass turns the Devil's Two Front Teeth into the Ingrate.[13]

Figure's second mech in PALISADE is the Broken Spoke, formerly known as the Day's Eye, a bipedal mech made of a matte, crystalline substance. Russian sage sprouts from between its shoulder and elbow joints and it wears a cloak.[16]

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Figure is unable to cry[7] until after the events of "An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4".[18]
  • They can eat if they choose to do so but they can only taste minerals, like salt and copper.[4]
  • They don't need to breathe.[20]
  • Although he was first introduced during Beam Saber, Figure was designed for Armour Astir's Imposter playbook.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

PARTIZAN[edit | edit source]

PALISADE[edit | edit source]

Footnotes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Loosened by Dust's influence in "Seize the Chance Pt. 4". Rewritten as of "Reach In / Reach Out Pt. 1".
  2. ↑ Deepened as of "An Impossible Ideal Pt. 2" and outgrown as of "An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3".
  3. ↑ Replaced in "Seize the Chance Pt. 3".
  4. ↑ Loosened by Dust's influence in "Seize the Chance Pt. 4".
  5. ↑ In the second episode of Gathering Information, Dre likens this to the intrusive surveillance and criminalization of people who take highly controlled substances (like stimulants or opioids) as medication.
  6. ↑ Increased to +2 and rewritten as of in "In Their Fear Pt. 1".
  7. ↑ Dre stopped reading this out later in the season and after "An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4" it is likely no longer applicable.
  8. ↑ Completed as of "Honesty and Integrity Pt. 1".

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 PALISADE 20: In Their Fear Pt. 1
  5. ↑ PARTIZAN 45: Operation Shackled Sun: Act 1: The Fray
  6. ↑ PALISADE 24: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 3
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1
  8. ↑ PALISADE 39: A Mechanical Whine Pt. 1
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 PALISADE 31: Seize the Chance Pt. 2
  10. ↑ PALISADE 33: Seize the Chance Pt. 4
  11. ↑ PALISADE 34: Seize the Chance Pt. 5
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 PALISADE 05: I Would Like to Help You Pt. 2
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 PALISADE 25: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 4
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 PALISADE 09: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 4
  15. ↑ PALISADE 02: Into the World Pt. 2
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 PALISADE 30: Seize the Chance Pt. 1
  17. ↑ PALISADE 32: Seize the Chance Pt. 3
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 PALISADE 29: Honesty and Integrity Pt. 2
  19. ↑ Gathering Information: Into the Mirage
  20. ↑ PALISADE 22: An Impossible Ideal Pt. 1
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