THE CHARACTERS
The characters in Lords of Gravity are primarily humans, and for the most part are men, women, boys, and girls not unlike people we all know. Although exotic alien races may exist (we’ll tease them, but there are no plans to actually see them), the focus of Lords of Gravity is human interaction, human relationships, human struggles, and human triumph. Despite their differences, their competitive nature, and even their internal factions, the Flyers are fiercely loyal to one another and will go to the ultimate lengths to save a fellow Flyer.
The world of the Flyers is populated with many colorful personalities. Of these, there are several “iconic characters” who are known by all – the celebrities of the Lords of Gravity universe. This cast of characters is designed to expand as the property grows and “fan favorites” emerge.
These are the recognizable characters of Lords of Gravity at inception:
Flyer Conda
(19) No one messes with the brooding young woman in the black leathers. While few question her piloting skills and lightning reflexes, some of the Flyers feel she takes too many chances, suicidal even, putting others in danger with her seemingly out-of-control flying style. A young lady of few words, and one of the youngest Flyers, Conda is an orphan and a survivor of countless missions, despite her youth. As we reveal her backstory, we learn her parents were ace pilots who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, traitors to a cause long-since covered-up and forgotten, if the stories are to be believed. Conda is driven to clear her family name, with a training regimen bordering on obsession. Conda is in the Athenian faction. She hates Harleys with a passion, especially Jais. Conda’s character arc will progress from a tough girl with a chip on her shoulder, and an acidic disdain for the silly nonsense (as she perceives it) of the ancient traditions of the Flyers and their obsessive service to Gravity, to a greater respect for the world and her place in it.
Marshal Scrimshaw
(50s) Seasoned co-leader of the Flyers, kind, thoughtful, well-respected, devout believer in Gravity’s will. He is the spiritual leader of the Flyers, alongside Commander Hawthorne who represents the more militaristic leadership functions. Often fatherly, especially to Conda, Marshal Scrimshaw has a shadowed past, but was once a Flyer of distinction, as far as anyone knows or remembers. He decided against a seat on the Grand Council, opting instead to stay in the hangar with the Flyers as a mentor and leader, who no longer flies jousts himself these days. Few ask about his murky past, but what is known is that he is constantly looking over his shoulder, constantly wary. In a world where a veteran Flyer means someone who has survived into their late 20s, the fact that Scrimshaw is in his 50s makes him an encyclopedia of Flyer knowledge.
Commander Hawthorne
(50s) Seasoned co-leader of the Flyers, gruff, disciplined, no-nonsense, practical, and efficient. He is the more militaristic leader of the Flyers, alongside Marshal Scrimshaw who represents the more spiritual leadership functions. Hawthorne is a former Flyer from the Athenian faction, and as such, all Athenians look up to him as the epitome of loyalty and by-the-book flying skills. Hard-edged in conversation, ice-cold in the cockpit, Hawthorne leads the Flyers by example and takes no backtalk. A driven leader and instructor.
Flyer Jason “Jais” Brinn
(20s) A casual, cocky flyer with innate piloting skills. Current leader of the Harlequin Faction, he is the epitome of their bullying, prankster attitude. Superficially, he is what contemporary audiences would call a “frat boy” combined with a 1950’s greaser gang attitude (minus the clichéd leather jacket and slick Fonzie/Travolta hair… we won’t go there). He is quick to push buttons and provoke a fight, especially to defend or benefit his faction or to promote his ego, but never to the point of causing real damage and certainly never lethal gangland-style activity. There is more to Jais beneath this bluster. While he may be the obvious “bad guy,” he is a loyal-to-the-bone Flyer and will evolve into a very important leader. He has a lot to prove, but lacks the necessary guidance to understand how to act in social situations. He is infatuated with Conda, but despite being older, he is far less mature, and she is not interested.
Flyer Ghowsu
(20s) The guru of ship modding and performance tweaking, most of his fellow Flyers just call him Speed (His name loosely translates to “High speed” in Chinese, after all). Ghowsu heads a faction of relentless tinkerers – The Blue Flames. He extols the virtues of the synergy of Flyer and machine. If a Flyer needs advice on the best way to tweak their craft, if they need to learn about some hard-to-find mechanical component, or if they just want to hear about the legendary record-setting Flyers of days gone by, there is none better to speak with than Speed.
Flyer Queen Bee
(20s) The most popular member of the Flyers is a natural pilot and a fun-loving socialite. Well-liked and constantly the center of attention, Queen Bee is all about style and making sure everyone gets along. Some may find her constant “glass half full” attitude annoying, but it is no façade. Life is for the living, and she lives it to the fullest. But make no mistake – this is no airhead. Those who underestimate this woman’s dedication when she is competing in a joust or flying a critical mission, do so at their own peril. She may look like the head cheerleader, but her piloting skills, not to mention the political strength of her fiercely loyal faction – The Razors – make her one of the most formidable pilots.
Lidonnis Rugher
(60s) Businessman, descendant of one of the great, and supremely wealthy, warring houses from the time of the Great Wars hundreds of years before. Bit by bit, he is losing his family’s land and fortune, but has dreams of returning his family name to greatness. He deeply resents the Flyers and The Peace, and wants to return to the days when power ruled and back-room dealings were the order of the day. He represents the old way of thinking - that it is human nature to fight and win. As a wealthy, highly educated man and the president of one of the most powerful independent corporations the world had ever known, he has studied the intricacies of the way the world had once been, when powerful conglomerates could bury legislation and policy decisions in years of loopholes and red tape.
Lady Vashelle
(50s) Highly regarded and respected representative of the Grand Council. Government official, part law enforcer and part diplomat, Lady Vashelle can walk in many circles. Hailing from one of the wealthy families from before the end of the Great War, she is a strong advocate of the laws of the land. She leads the Grand Council and is well-aware of the fragility of The Peace and how the merest rumors can crack their carefully crafted foundation of peaceful rule. Calm and level-headed in public, she is also not afraid to get down and dirty behind closed doors to get to the truth, even if she has to break a few rules herself.
Ms. Grey
(50s) Businesswoman and high society socialite who frequents political circles. Like Lidonnis Rugher, she comes from one of the wealthy houses from the time before the end of the Great Wars. She runs a large industrial engineering research and development company, however not all their areas of research are public knowledge. And these are the areas that Rugher is particularly interested in. Ms. Grey needs benefactors like Rugher to help fund their clandestine research and put the political wheels in motion to help her cause. She craves bringing an end to the Jousts and the Grand Council’s laws and returning the world to the old, more profitable, ways or war.
Millar
(30s) Underworld operative, outwardly confident Wall Street-type, ladder climber, easily influenced and questionable loyalty. Moving easily though the shadowy world of contraband couriers and the Slicers who pursue them, Millar is well-connected with the darker, clandestine elements that exist beneath the veneer of The Peace. An ally and confidante of Lidonnis Rugher, Millar represents a network of shady characters who will do anything for power and profit.
Sebastian
(22) A young Monk on a path of reformation from his former life as an ace mechanic for the pirate-like Slicers. Sebastian is now a faithful servant of Gravity, entrusting decisions, both large and small, to the will of the universe and its cosmic laws while struggling against his outlaw past. Very much the apprentice, his blind and wanton beliefs far outweigh his understanding, although he is constantly trying to justify even the slightest hint of a cosmic influence. He and Conda are brought together by their highly inquisitive natures, when Conda attempts to infiltrate the network of Runners and Slicers. Sebastian’s character arc sees him and Conda becoming close friends, both teaching and learning from each other’s innate faith in Gravity, or lack thereof.
Father Balig
(60s) Wise senior abbot of a monastic brotherhood dedicated to the service to almighty Gravity. Father Balig has an encyclopedic knowledge of Flyer lore along with an innate connection the rhythm of Gravity’s will. He curates a hidden museum of ancient fighter aircraft, imparting his wisdom and guiding a monastery of orphans, technicians, and novice apprentices.