Stark

Stark
Stark wearing his signature sallet helmet.
Biographical Information
Alias	Starky, Stark-boy, Master Stark
Age	Late 20s to early 30s
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Height	Average
Status
Status	Alive
Affiliation	Castalia Mercenary Company (Vanguard)
Occupation	Mercenary Squad Leader / Captain
Relatives	[[Eve	Eve (First Wife)]] Lisa (Second Wife) Rubia (Third Wife) Lucas (Son) Elian (Son) Eira (Daughter) Mia (Daughter) Rina (Daughter)
Media
Debut	Volume 1

Stark is a central supporting character in the series. He is a highly dependable, stoic mercenary captain and squad leader of the vanguard within the Castalia Mercenary Company. Known for wearing his steel sallet helmet ninety percent of the time, Stark initially appears to be a background soldier but is actually a highly mature leader with a remarkably complex personal life, managing three wives and five children.

Biography

Early Career and Marital Life

Stark has been with Castalia since his youth, having joined the company during the Ardenian Civil War over a decade ago. He has survived famine, war, and widespread regional instability alongside his close comrades Karl and Bob.

Despite his unassuming appearance, Stark is married to three different women with varying backgrounds:

• Eve (First Wife): A protective human battlemage and former Castalia member who manages their household in Loriana.
• Lisa (Second Wife): A bubbly, elegant Elven support mage and healer. She recently gave birth to their daughter, Rina.
• Rubia Rossina Turturici (Third Wife): A Lupine beastfolk and daughter of a powerful Sycillian mafia Don. They married five years prior following a complicated escort mission.

Stark has five children in total: Lucas (8 years old), the twins Elian and Eira (5 years old), Mia (4 years old), and the infant Rina. When asked by the noble recruit Ludwig for the "secret" to his successful marriages, Stark attributes his relationship management simply to respect and helping with domestic chores (such as doing the dishes without being asked).

Meeting Asep

Stark led the squad that tracked Asep to Erja Village, mistakenly believing him to be the rogue fire sorcerer Borwe. After Asep easily disarmed him, Stark offered to split the bounty with Asep in exchange for his help in tracking down the real Borwe. This marked the beginning of Asep's involvement with Castalia.

Major Campaigns

• The Battle of Silvercreek: Stark led the small guard squad that escorted Princess Adreana through the perilous northern mountain passes to infiltrate Silvercreek.
• The Liberation of Roake: He commanded the Castalia lancers during the assault on the East Gate to secure a safe passage for the trapped resistance forces.
• Defense of Ardan Bridge: Stark led defensive operations at the Western Keeps against the ground incursions of Albion's Iron Thorned Knights, coordinating the deployment of newly engineered "Stinger" arbalests.

Abilities and Equipment

Combat Style

Stark is a seasoned, disciplined spearman and lancer. He excels in structured, defensive phalanx formations and heavy cavalry charges. He remains calm under pressure, prioritizing his soldiers' lives over personal glory.

Weapons & Armor

• Standard Lances and Spears: Stark's primary weapons of choice for mid-range infantry and cavalry engagements.
• Arming Sword: A steel arming sword sheathed on his hip for close-quarters backup.
• Vanguard Armor: A customized set of leather gambeson and plate armor, including steel pauldrons, knee guards, and his signature steel sallet helmet.

Mount

• Stark rides a heavier variant of the regional flightless raptor-like mountbeasts. His mount is a heavily-plated, five-meter-tall creature (similar to a armored Gigantoraptor) designed to withstand front-line combat.

Personality

Stark is exceptionally pragmatic, quiet, and reliable. He serves as the "straight man" to the eccentricities of Sylvanne, Karl, and Asep. Sylvanne refers to him as a "boy scout" due to his deeply ingrained sense of honor and duty. Though exhausted by constant warfare, Stark remains committed to protecting Ardenia's borders to ensure a safe future for his family.