Kal'mera Broun (or Broun for short), later known as Kalvin Brnine (or Brnine, pronounced "Brine"), is a player character in PARTIZAN and PALISADE.
Appearance
They have a long neck and high ears with multiple piercings, and high, sharp cheekbones that make them look distinctively "alien." Their hair is burgundy and they don't have eyebrows. Their skin is slightly iridescent, reminiscent of fish scales, though they don't have actual scales. They occasionally wear face paint.
They don't have a facecast, but according to Ali, if they were in a live action show, their part should go to someone with a good condescending eye roll who makes "your best friend does your makeup and is mean to you about it" TikTok videos.[1]
PARTIZAN
At the beginning of the show, Broun's hair is shoulder-length and they keep it tied in a Dutch braid. They shave their head during the timeskip after "The Red Light"; it grows back a bit over the next few months, but the iridescence of their scalp remains visible.
They often wear plated hoodies, overalls, and/or sweatpants (like Genji's in Overwatch 2). On the boat in "The Seaside Town of Obelle" they wear a sweater and overalls. At the Summer Passage of Arms, they wear a white cropped jacket with gold buttons over a red unitard bathing suit that has a Millennium Break symbol on the back.
In "The Grand Premiere" Broun's fancy outfit consists of a light leather suit jacket (like Richter's in Total Recall), a sheer white chiffon button-down with embroidery of hands holding fans (like designs by the tattoo artist lizlizkimkim), lavender suspenders, dark navy formal shorts, and Teva-style strappy sandals.
PALISADE
As of the beginning of PALISADE, Brnine has a shag haircut. Over one eye, they wear a Dragonball Z scouter with a large 90s anime girl antenna on it, which lights up when they take calls.[2] On planet, they wear an armored shirt and overalls, and when they’re in space, they wear an anime flight suit. They also have a Millennium Break captain's jacket, which they wear reversed so the symbol isn't visible.[3] They at least sometimes wear "space Timberlands."[4]
At the masquerade party, they wear neon graphic line eyeshadow, a gaiter-like garment made of overlapping inlaid neon plexiglass/plastic from under the nose to the shoulders (which hooks to the ear), a white ruffled shawl / crop top, and dark slacks with neon plaid. All of the neon colors are matching.
To the funeral in "In Their Fear Pt. 1" they sport a "too-casual" black linen v-neck button-down that they have French tucked into the same slacks from the masquerade. The pants, which are their "only good pair of pants", are color-changing: Brnine has them set to a grey pinstripe pattern for the funeral.
Personality
PARTIZAN
Broun is very distrustful of others; because of this, they preemptively push people away, or treat them as tools. Although ethnically Apostolosian, they don't identify with their homeland, and prefer to use "they/them" instead of "kal" pronouns.
During the train ride in "Ambush in the Sand", they spend most of their time playing cards with other passengers and train staff, not caring to look for deeper connections in the surrounding conversations.
They enjoy playing with a puzzle toy described as a cross between a Rubik's Cube and a Bop It. In "A Call From an Island" they shopped for fanmade challenge cartridges for this toy.
Drive (Beam Saber)
- Own a spaceship.
- Find a future for Millennium Break off of Partizan.[5]
PALISADE
In the PALISADE era, Ali describes Brnine as a power-scaler, a tinkerer, and a scumbag.[6] They have put a lot of work into their communication skills over the five years between seasons: in most social situations they are no longer an outright asshole, merely extremely awkward.
Hooks (Armour Astir)
- The crew put their faith in me so I must prioritize their safety.
- I will prove that Millennium Break can change lives.
- (Asepsis) Verify the integrity of anyone you let on the ship.
History and Involvement
Origins
Broun comes from Stel Apostolos. Like many Apostolosians, they had family members and schoolmates who died in the war against the Branched.[7] They went to Stel Orion as a late teen on a work education scholarship to avoid enlistment and got a job working for Adamant Arms and Artifice, where they designed missiles and other explosives.[8]
Broun was sent to Partizan for work, and found themself stuck there after they were laid off. To make money, they began doing freelance repairs and designs and smuggling things, as well as identifying weapons. At some point Broun became a member of the Society of Banners and Bright Returns (SBBR) along with Valence, working under the Scrivener's Guild with K.O. Rooke. SBBR purchased Thisbe together prior to realizing that she is sapient.
PARTIZAN
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Spoiler warning! This section contains major spoilers for PARTIZAN. Tread carefully! |
Broun participated in SBBR's support of Oxblood during the crash landing of Past in Obelle. Afterwards, Broun was pressured by Midnite Matinee into giving up one of the mechs they stole during the operation to her, and agreed to sell the rest to the Church of the Resin Heart. They spent some of their off time working at a Scrivener's Guild facility to build SBBR's reputation with the Guild and some of it building a small support drone called Bing 32.
In their next mission, SBBR helped drive away the 301st from the Sable Court, and received clarified memoria in exchange, while Broun bartered with Eiden Teak for mech parts. During a visit to the Isles of Logos, Broun met with Gucci Garantine, who upgraded SBBR’s equipment and asked the squad to escort her on an upcoming mission to Orzen. Broun and Thisbe were part of a staged fight with Oxblood, which became a real fight against Imperium's Plume. During the battle, Broun used chemical weapons which affected many civilians.
As the war intensified, Broun worked on collecting resources, with the goal of obtaining a spaceship. They learned about Valence’s true form, and visited the baths with them, where Broun reached out with telepathy. The two soon had an argument about Valence's radical plans; it culminated in Valence agreeing to help them leave Partizan.
Broun joined the nascent Millennium Break alongside Valence and Thisbe. Although they found the revolution stressful and frustrating, they were instrumental in pirate raids on Principality vessels, the development of hydroponic farming infrastructure, and Millennium Break’s covert version of the Strand Semaphore technology. They also supported Valence in their election campaign (believing that this would be personally advantageous), who in turn prevented Broun from being imprisoned for their use of chemical weapons and involvement in the death of Thetonious.
Broun was part of the effort to defeat Courage, assisting Thisbe in particular. In Vigil City, Broun stole parts of the Divine Asepsis to research and experiment with. They also created a new body for Valence. They worked with Apparatus to blockade supplies for the Summer Passage of Arms and won the swimming and bartering duathlon at the event. After Millennium Break took Cruciat, Valence pooled their resources and influence to get Broun the spaceship they promised, overwhelming and shocking them.
Broun was then deployed to Auspice along with half of a reorganized version of SBBR to protect the negotiations there, where they faced off against Motion’s GLORY soldiers. Upon their return to headquarters in Oxbridge, they learned of Valence’s death and organized the funeral with Millie’s support, while SBBR was taken off of active duty due to factional polarization within Millennium Break. When the Red Light approached, Broun refused to evacuate people to the Reflecting Pool, resulting in a serious argument with Sovereign Immunity. Instead, they used their ship the Blue Channel to evacuate small groups.
5 months later, Broun received the locations of off-map worlds from Sovereign Immunity, allowing them and a few other Millennium Break members to launch and spread the revolution off-planet. After a successful engagement with an attack force sent by Motion, the Blue Channel arrived at the Partizan Portcullis. They found signs of an upcoming Pact plan that would destroy Partizan. Broun agreed with the rest of the group that instead of using this opportunity to leave the system, they would continue to fight to save Partizan.
During Operation Shackled Sun, Broun was part of a group in the Blue Channel that descended into Girandole to try and stop the gate there from opening. They then supported the efforts to fight the empowered Motion and dealt the final blow with Asepsis — a high crime in the eyes of the Principality and an act which created Kalmeria.
PALISADE
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Spoiler warning! This section contains major spoilers for PALISADE. Tread carefully! |
This section is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.
In PALISADE, having assumed the name Kalvin Brnine, they are the captain of the Blue Channel and the lead operative of the revolutionary cell of the same name, which is commanded by Gucci Garantine. Their crew consists of Thisbe, Phrygian, Figure, Coriolis Sunset, Hunting Tomorrow, Midnite Matinee, Routine Rennari, Saffron Septet, and Asepsis, who now lives under Brnine's bed.
Relationships
Beliefs (Beam Saber)
Thisbe
- Thisbe is capable of more, and if I can get her to trust me, I can use that.[9]
- Thisbe wants offworld too, and I want to know what she'd spend to do it.[9]
Valence
- Valence has good connections, and hopefully if I impress them they'll lead me to people with deep pockets.[9]
- Valence is someone who keeps their word.[10]
Ver'million Blue
- I can count on Milli; I need to remember to watch her back if she's watching mine.[10]
- Milli is chill and dependable. I hope she thinks the same about me.[11]
- Milli has helped me at my most vulnerable. I’ll help her with whatever she needs.[11]
Kalar Anakalar
- Kalar will prove useful if they don't break anything important. OR Kalar is naïve and they're trying to endanger their family.[12]
Phrygian
Bond (Kingdom)
- I need Valence to keep their promise to me but I don’t believe they can.[13]
Gravity clocks (Armour Astir)
- Thisbe doesn't think I'm significant.[14]
- I want to understand Lattice.[15]
- I should support Cori while she settles in.[14]
Abilities
Beam Saber
Experience as a mechanic and engineer has allowed Broun to develop their skills.
- Jury Rig: Broun can make vehicle damage less impactful on the vehicle for the length of a mission.
- Researcher: Broun may invent or craft a useful creation.
- Road Master: Broun knows how to wreck or destroy an area with experimental substances and methods so it is either impassable or good terrain to infantry and vehicles.
- Saboteur: When Broun wrecks, the work is much quieter than it should be and the damage is hidden from casual inspection. If they use placed explosives instead of wrecking tools the work is not any quieter but the action is more effective.
Armour Astir
- In Command: Brnine can command the Carrier's crew to act on their behalf.
- Tactical Genius: When supervising from afar during a Sortie, Brnine can lever their tactical know-how into better positioning for their allies.
- Force Multiplier: Brnine has access to Asepsis, which allows the Carrier and crew to operate better than usual, at the cost of it whispering in their ear and needing physical protection against damage.
Possessions
- Bing 32 (floating drone)
- Bandolier of explosive and chemical weapons
- Fine engineering tools
Mech
Broun's mech in PARTIZAN is the Three Cheers!. This mech was bought from or given to them by Adamant Arms and Artifice, but Broun replaced the armor plates, giving it a patchworked look that advertises their skill. The plates are replaceable, and Broun has their own screwdrivers to replace them so they don't get stolen.
In PALISADE, they do not have a mech.
Trivia
- While working on "The Storm Over Cruciat" Austin made an edit of a scene between Broun and Valence with the song "MakeDamnSure" by Taking Back Sunday underneath. It can be found here.
Gallery
Their masquerade outfit from "The Canvas of Dreams", drawn by Ali.[16]
Fanart by Arp
Fanart by Si F Sweetman
References
- ↑ PARTIZAN 48: Post Mortem
- ↑ PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1
- ↑ PALISADE 02: Into the World Pt. 2
- ↑ PALISADE 15: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2
- ↑ PARTIZAN 28: Millennium Break: The Storm Over Cruciat
- ↑ PALISADE 12: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1
- ↑ PARTIZAN 32: GLORY Arrives
- ↑ PARTIZAN 00: The Divine Principality
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 PARTIZAN 19: On the Edge of Fracture
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 PARTIZAN 34: Guests, Invited and Otherwise
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 PARTIZAN 39: Escape Velocity
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 PARTIZAN 31: The Grand Premiere
- ↑ PARTIZAN 21: Millennium Break: We Will Take Hold of the Loom of History!
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 PALISADE 07: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2
- ↑ PALISADE 08: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 3
- ↑ Episode description of "The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 1"