thiscruel | folkmore application

★ Character Information ★

Character Name: Bertolt Hoover
Character Age: 17
Character Species: Human. (Can transform into a 60 meter tall giant called a "Titan.")
Current Health: Alive, perfect health.
Outfit: Button-up shirt, trousers, boots.

Character Canon: Attack on Titan
Link to History: here
Canon Point: chapter 78 / episode 52
Canon Iteration: Original canon
Canon Iteration Explanation: n/a

★ Folkmore Roles & Attributes ★

Skills:

Outstanding marksmanship
Excels in the use of vertical maneuvering equipment, a system by which people "fly" through the air using cables & grappling hooks
Swordsmanship, with a focus on swooping in from above and slicing
Survival skills
Horseback riding
Hand-to-hand combat
Very quick and thorough learner, said to have "mastered every single skill" taught by Paradis' military

Canon Abilities: Can transform into a 60 meter tall Titan. Most abilities are confined to that form. However, his automatic regeneration applies to his human form as well. As long as he is alive, he can regrow entire limbs, organs, etc.
Role: Legend
Role Qualities/Attributes: color-changing eyes, magical wings (manifesting at will), a halo when he's doing something Particularly Good
Role Reasoning: Bertolt is a selfless, kindhearted individual who has historically dedicated himself to supporting others. In the past, he stayed in the background, attesting that he had 'no will of his own' and letting others make decisions for him. However, at his current canon point, he's forced to step up and take the lead rather than following his partner/orders. He's determined to take care of things no matter the personal cost, not wishing for anyone else to experience the pain and suffering he has endured. The role of Legend will reinforce this shift, encouraging him to take the initiative and make his own choices. The sixth sense 'someone is in trouble' ability in particular will push him outside his comfort zone and encourage him to build connections.

★ Personality ★

Option 2.

What is the most important and defining relationship(s) in your character's life and why?

Bertolt's most important defining relationship is with Reiner Braun, his best friend and partner. In many ways, Reiner appears to be everything Bertolt isn't: extroverted, talkative, strong-willed, emotionally unshakable, and a natural leader. In reality, Reiner is volatile, fragile, and relies on Bertolt's emotional and mental support. Bertolt acts as a quiet anchor for Reiner, a lighthouse in a storm, offering steady support/guidance and always having Reiner's back. This relationship goes both ways, with Bertolt relying on Reiner's friendship, leadership, and understanding.

Bertolt and Reiner share the burden of physically breaking through Walls protecting cities, condemning hundreds of thousands of people to death. They also share another burden: they came to genuinely care about people living within those Walls, leaving them torn apart by guilt over their past/future actions. In sharing these burdens, Bertolt and Reiner understand each other better than anyone else.

Although Bertolt is dedicated to 'ending' his mission, Reiner takes priority over even that. When he believes Reiner is near death, he abandons a planned attack to ensure Reiner's safety. Bertolt only resumes his mission after he's sure he's done all he can for Reiner, his most important person.

If your character could change one thing about their past, what would it be and why? Or why not?

Bertolt regrets many things in his past, primarily concerning actions he failed to take. However, the one thing he would go back and change concerns an action he did take.

While undercover, Bertolt and Reiner discussed transforming into Titans and breaking a hole in one of the Walls; this conversation was overheard by a fellow trainee, Marco Bott, a friend they'd made within the Walls. Fearing that Marco had learned too much, Reiner chased Marco down and—after coercing Annie's assistance—left Marco to die at a Titan's hands. Bertolt was present throughout this ordeal: keeping an eye on the Titan, fleeing to safety with Reiner and Annie, then watching Marco's death.

Marco's murder was horrific enough on its own. He was a friend, and his last words were simply begging to talk things through. However, it was Annie and Reiner's reactions to said murder that would make Bertolt want to change things. Annie broke down in tears, her guilt and sorrow visible in a way she rarely permitted. Meanwhile, Reiner suffered a break from reality: he couldn't live with his actions, so he completely suppressed those memories. This led to Reiner believing he had always lived within the Walls, forgetting the mission that Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie shared. Bertolt spent subsequent months trying to stabilize Reiner, but despite Bertolt's best efforts, Reiner's mental instability caused all sorts of issues down the line.

For Bertolt, the consequences of Marco's murder were devastating. He is haunted by the memories of Marco, Annie, and Reiner's faces. If he could change one thing in his past, he would go back and never have the conversation that Marco overhead.

What is your character's safespace? When do they feel the most settled and comfortable? When do they feel confident and relaxed?

Bertolt feels most comfortable and relaxed when he is with his loved ones, specifically Reiner and Annie. He feels slightly less relaxed around Annie simply because he has a massive crush on her and tends to get flustered in her presence. However, he still feels comfortable around her, able to be his authentic self in a way he cannot around so many others who don't understand the power of the Titans.

As far as surroundings go, Bertolt prefers natural settings to manmade ones. Cities remind him of his childhood and the hatred/prejudice he experienced growing up. He enjoys spaces where he can look out and imagine that no person ever set foot there. Due to his experiences with man-eating Titans, he prefers forests to open fields, wanting to be able to escape vertically in case of danger.

Overall, his "safespace" would likely be a forest full of tall trees overlooking meadows and mountains, Reiner and Annie at his side.

Which Taylor Swift era is your character going through right now and why?

Bertolt is in an Evermore era: quiet, escapist, and written in quarantine.

The down-to-earth aesthetics match his personality. He's not a flashy individual, preferring to fade into the background, observing instead of taking center stage. Anything that draws unnecessary attention his way tends to prompt a nervous sweat. Between his physical presence (6'4, athletic build, handsome) and his talent, he could draw eyes if he chose. (And he does when he has no other choice.) But he would vastly prefer a quiet, contemplative existence.

Although Bertolt doesn't detach from reality as severely as Reiner does, he, too, finds comfort in escapism. Pretending to be a soldier defending the Walls made it easier to bear the weight of his guilt. He formed genuine friendships with people he should have considered enemies. Later, he calls them "cherished friends" who he nevertheless has to kill.

Bertolt is also quite isolated, especially after Reiner's mental breakdown. He is unable to connect with others in the way he once was. His friends from within the Walls know he's an enemy; Annie is absent, then captured; Reiner is mentally unstable; Zeke is a commanding officer who threatens Reiner's life. Bertolt feels like many people did during quarantine: gritting his teeth and getting through it.