Kharn Valnikov
"God Damnit Kharn" -Chiaki Matsuda
| Kharn Valnikov | |
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| Also Known As... | The Betrayer, Katerina Valnikov |
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| First Appearance | Thread 35 |
| Organization | Ninth Officio |
| Rank | Research Assistant, ex-Warmaster |
| Occupation | Magical Girl |
| Ability | Brute Force |
| Weapon | Chainsword, Golden Chainaxes |
| Height | 185 cm |
| Date of Birth | August 19 |
Contents
Character Summary
Kharn Valnikov, also knows as the Betrayer, is the former Warmaster of the Ninth Officio Assassinorum and previous owner of the golden Chainaxes. She trained Kirika Kure and used to be Chiaki Matsudas partner for half a year, and is also the one who named her Murderface.
Physical Description
- A russian girl with black hair down to the waist and entirely black eyes with crimson pupils behind red framed glasses.
- Her skin is almost translucently pale.
- She has a tall slender body.
- Her hands are black metal, ending in long skeletal fingers with sharp tips.
- Her legs seem to end at the knees, where edged black steel armor replaces the rest.
- Chiaki describes her as eerily beautiful.
- Kharns soul gem is a crimson teardrop with pure black gilding, bearing thorns instead of elegant reliefs.
- Kharns voice is described as cold and smooth. She has a thick russian accent.
Personality
- Kharn radiates an intense killing intent.
- She is usually friendly, cracking jokes frequently.
- She is also quite lewd around women but surprisingly bashful when it comes to her and Souji.
- In combat she turns into a fearsome berserker.
- Kharn is a humble woman who doesn't care for praise and awards as resting on accomplishments dulls the hunger to improve.
- She makes a point of combining duty and pleasure.
- Kharn hates filth.
- She is secretly ashemed of her unusually long tongue, despite it's advances in some areas.
Character History
Kharn grew up in a russian gulag managed by her father who raised her as a Valnikov first before a girl. Her mother was a war criminal. In her five years of active service Kharn spent two years as Vindicare, switched to Eversor in the third, achieved Warmaster Rank in her fourth and abdicated the position in the second half of her fifth year to work with Murderface as partners for six months before voluntarily retiring one year prior to the quest starting. It's established that Chiaki was responsible for Kharns retirement, the details are still unknown however. After retiring Kharn transferred to the R&D base in Siberia where she still resides.
Betrayer & Hunt
Kharn Valnikov greets Chiaki upon her arrival at the Siberia R&D base, telling her she knows about her amnesia. Kneeling before the shorter girl, she submits herself to the new Warmaster whom she will be training herself. She treats Chiaki very friendly from the start, saying she misses the magical girl rituals as well as the city and takoyaki. Spotting Midori, the russian is pleased to see that Chiaki has already taken a subordinate as is expected of a Warmaster. Kharn apologizes for the messy state of the lab and quarters and introduces Souji, shouting at him a lot. She thanks Chiaki for putting her coworker in place, telling her how she has changed for the better. She shows her guests their rooms, slightly blushing at the notion of her and Souji being a couple and tells Chiaki that they share a room only for convenience. She takes the suitcase with the golden sword and bangles from Midori to lock them into the vault and leaves. Shortly after, she returns to the living area, and happily devours the takoyaki Midori made. Kharn advises Chiaki to wait with an apology to the upset Midori until the hunting trip as killing huge things together mends friendships. Following Chiaki to Midoris room, she tells the green haired girl that her takoyaki are masterfully done and asks to be taught to make them, pulling her back to the kitchen. Later outside, Kharn argues with Misaka about what appears to be how many more spikes should be attached to Tiny Petes frame. Souji stops their argument, having Misaka shout at him instead. After he leaves, Kharn tells Chiaki to use this trip to relax, makes a jab at her sleeping with Midori and tells her gueststhat a team of ten will accompany them to a hunting ground up north where another group is already rousing the bears. She takes Chiaki to a stash of heavy weapony, telling her that the bears in the area are quite big and have been rather vicious lately, even attacking people in huge groups. After Chiaki picks her weapon, Kharn introduces her to the soldiers as the new Warmaster and highest ranking officer and gives the order to move out. Chiaki asks the former Warmaster what happened between them and how she can still consider her a friend. Kharn answers that it doesn't matter anymore and that she has accepted her fate, having no reason to remember when Chiaki has already forgotten. The only important thing is that she enjoyed their time together. She also mentions a mutual departed friend, but refuses to speak of it any more at that point. They talk about hunting, coming upon the month old remains of a skier killed by bears, impaled on a tree before eaten alive. Chiaki asks about the argument with misaka earlier, but Kharn refuses to speak of it. In return, she tells her that her glasses were a present from Chiaki herself before she left active duty. The hunting party stops, ahead of schedule, and Kharn gives out commands to the soldiers. Aparantly a magical girl has shown up, leading a horde of bears, and killed the advance group. She recommends having Misaka and Midori brought back to the base, earning a stream of russian swearing from the young engineer. She tells Chiaki to decide as Warmaster, complimenting her on how well she handles Misaka. She mentions how it is nostalgic to be put against an army with just three people, handing Midori her rifle with a short explanation on its use. She manifests her soul gem, exclaiming that she will have her last swordfight and that she will be taking the enemies skull. When they find the gory remains of the advance party, crimson fire briefly lights up in front of her left eye before she states that the enemy is further up north, spitting a small amount of blood. She prefers taking her target head on, but leaves the choice to Chiaki, amused at being ordered to take up flanking for once. She tells Chiaki to use their old battle cry as the signal to charge and that she should not shoot the good parts of the bears so they can salvage their meat. Some minutes later she arrives at a clearing, takes a hiding spot and waits for Chiaki. When the new Warmaster utters the agreed words, Kharn engages Mirai at blinding speed, her chainsword repeatedly meeting her opponents massive blade. An attempt to assault Kharn with a bear is made short of by the russian cutting it right through. A moment later Mirai manages to injure Kharns leg, but is cut into her side and tries to escape. Kharn tells her to get back, a cold laugh in her voice, and gives chase until finally taking her skull. She contacts Chiaki, stating her current location and examines her prize until the new Warmaster arrives with Midori, telling them that the fight did not satisfy her. She tells them to enjoy their opponents final gift, the warmth of her burning corpse, asking Midori to write the name of her prey on the skull since she is bad with japanese writing herself. She tells Chiaki that reinforcements are on the way and that she retrieved Mirais soul gem for interrogation. She then notices Chiakis eyes being tainted and asks if she used a golden weapon. She tells Chiaki not to touch them anymore until after the treatment, making Midori promise to watch over her, and assures that Souji and herself will fix Chiaki. When asked about the details, Kharn says that the first procedure is simple but temporary, and if it doesn't work, a second one will change Chiaki, looking at her own metal hands, refusing to say any more. The procedure will be the first thing the next day, and Chiaki should spend the night in someones arms as she might not wake up for a month afterwards. Back at the base, Kharn grills the bear meat while Chiaki and Midori rest in their room. When Chiaki approaches her, Kharn decides to tell her a story about their shared past.
Kharn Flashback
In a flashback taking place one year and a half before the quest starts, Kharn is still Warmaster of the Ninth. She starts the day in bed with the Fourteenth Warmaster and Malal arriving to deliver her list of duties for the day. When Malal leaves, Kharn wakes her latest conquest with more affections, making her scream loud enough to be heard outside. She shuts Neros speech about enjoying their time together up with a kiss and heads to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Checking her corruption levels, the Warmaster notices that the darkness that started spreading from her untransformed hands when she turned into a witch and forced it back through sheer force of will some months ago, has spread further again. She transforms and inpects her inventory, containing candy and Neros panties, marking the first of many trophies, before heading out. Noticing her Culexus guards looking exactly the same as Malal, she asks if either of them is her, to be told that both are called Alpharius. Malal steps out of her room, accompanies the Warmaster to breakfast and briefs her on her appointments. Girl A, found six months ago in a witch barrier by Mami Tomoe and Sayaka Miki, has been allowed to participate in missions with her guardian. Two days ago, she murdered 21 Eversors from the Third Officio during a joint purge mission. The Third Incubator demands her death, but Kyubey is leaving judgement to his Warmaster. Asking Malal for her opinion, the aide replies that she would give Girl A another chance since the circumstances surrounding the incident are rather suspicious, despite professionally she should be executed. Kharn decides to talk to Girl A herself, telling Mami who appeals to her on Girl A's behalf that she will listen to her afterwards and only then make her decision. Inside the silent room Kharn demands an explanation and is told that the Eversors called Mami a whore and cowardly retreated whenever they encountered an enemy. On further inquiry, Girl A delivers a detailed mission report up to the point where the Eversor leader said they would ambush Mamis squad and kill everyone except the blonde, to pass her around afterwards. She mentions how satisfying it was to kill their leader with a spiked bat before linking up with the rest of Mamis squad again, the blonde confirming that the Eversors never answered their requests for backup. When Kharn asks why she didn't tell the full story from the start, Girl A replies that Mami trusted them and that she should be punished instead of the blonde. Mami and Malal mention that a group of supposed captives from the Third was never found, supporting the suspicion that the entire affair was a set up. Kharn then passes her judgement. She takes a knife from Malal and sentences Girl A to death, cutting off her braids and giving her a new name: Murderface. She returns Malals knife and makes her way to Kyubey, announcing that the Third Officio will be brought down for their betrayal. The Incubator however refuses to allow a full mobilization and decrees that the three Eversor squads death is enough and any further steps will be decided after Kharns meeting with the Thirds Warmaster. He also inquires about Murderface and agrees to Kharn taking responsibility of her, suggesting to seperate her from Mami. Requesting information about the Warmaster she is going to meet, Kharn gets excited at her aparent power and leaves, Malal following close behind. Outside the office, Kharn sentences Sayaka to penitence duties for abusing Murderface during captivity before departing with Malal and Murderface. On the way, in the companies Warmaster private marauder, Kharn sits close to Murderface, asking her about her relation with Mami.She is told that Mami belongs to Murderface, earning laughter from Malal. She advances on Murderface instead and is told that this would be forbidden love, earning more jeers from Malal and says that Murderface is not her type anyway before asking about her shield instead, impressed at it's powers. Arriving at the Third Officio headquarters, the group enters an empty foyer, assuming the magical girls have taken position in the upper floors, and boards the elevator heading to the CEO office to meet Ahriman. Upon their arrival, Erebus prompts them to hand over their weapons. Kharn manifests Skulltaker and plunges it into the carpet covered floor, stating that letting somebody else touch it would offend the weapons spirit and impede its performance. She then convinces Erebus that Murderface is a new recruit whose shield is only for defense and that giving it away would be unreasonable. Right after groping Erebus, Kharn spots a pink haired girl with eyes as black as her own and decides to talk to her before taking care of business. She flirts heavily with the girl who calls herself Faust, but is shot down as she is already spoken for. She tells Kharn that she wanted to meet somebody but realized that she is one of the departed, leaving a breath of a kiss on the Warmasters lips as a token before vanishing without a trace. Murderface tugs Kharns sleeve, telling her that she has been silently staring at a painting for a minute instead of talking, and takes her to meet Ahriman. Kharn skips pleasantries and confronts Ahriman about her betrayal, the Third Warmaster ignores the accusation and brings up her killed squads, demanding the culprits soul gem and Mami Tomoe as compensation. At this Kharn burst out into a fit of mad laughter before stating that the gem is already shattered and that she will never hand one of her own over as barter pieces. Ahriman taunts her, weapon materialising in her hand, for being corrupted, threatening to reveal her secret. On that offense, Kharn calls Kyubey, demands full mobilisation and proclaims to kill everyone in the building, no matter what he says. She orders Murderface to retrieve Skulltaker, taking hold of it a mere moment later and charges Ahriman, resounding her war cry. She easily slices through the body of a magical girl jumping in front of her, followed by many more before only the Third Warmaster and her aide remain of the hundred magical girls in the office hall. Pointing at Ahriman trembling behind Erebus, Kharn exclaims that the staff wielder lacks what it takes to be Warmaster and offers to let the remaining members of the third Officio live if she surrenders herself to execution. As Ahriman tries to run, defended by Erebus, Kharn orders Murderface to stop her, who is then tossed at Malal by the suddenly empowered Third Warmaster. Confident in her new powers granted for sacrificing a hundred lives, the dirty work left to Kharn, Ahriman once again demands Mami Tomoe, now threatening to annihilate both the Ninth Officio and Mitakihara. Kharn orders Malal to act as anti magic defense while she engages Ahriman and Erebus herself. Erebus steps in, blocking Skulltaker with her katana, and Kharn takes hold of the blade with one of her metal hands, retracts Skulltakers chain teeth and strikes her opponent with the now blunt weapon. This sends her flying through the room, bones shattered, the claws that touched Erebus' blade bleeding. Charging behind Malal, Kharn waits for her chance while the dark bolts of lightning Ahriman starts throwing are deflected by the Culexus barrier. As both the magic user and Malal collapse from exhaustion, Kharn takes her stance to take Ahrimans skull, but is taken by surprise as Erebus tackles her, both of them falling out of the building. Kharn thrusts one of her metal claws into the concrete wall to slow their fall and breaks a window with her feet, smashing back into the building. She tosses Erebus, who is still holding on to her, away and gets up, exchanging formal introductions with the red head before fighting her seriously. It takes Kharn only one swing to cut her down, after which she tells the frightened, dying girl that Ahriman will soon follow her and crushes her soul gem under a bladed foot. She takes one of the blood stained prayer parchments from Erebus hair and makes her way back up to where Ahriman and Malal are still fighting. She throws Erebus accessory at Ahriman, stunning the corruption twisted form of the Third Warmaster, and signals Malal to get Murderface to safety while praising the red heads fighting spirit and blaming Ahriman for her death. Switching Skulltaker to its devastating Burn mode, Kharn charges the crying Ahriman. Skulltaker collides with an invisible force a short distance from Ahrimans skin, and is shattered by her magic. Several shards of the chainsword impale Kharn, sending her to the ground, paralyzed with pain while Ahriman goes after Malal and Murderface. At this point, the russian Warmaster hears a voice inside her head, that of the pink haired girl from earlier, offering help. She pulls Skulltakers shards from her body and pulls herself up. As Kharn takes Fausts hand, the pain and exhaustion vanish, perfect clarity filling her mind, golden chainaxes appearing in her hands. She immediately charges at Ahriman, pushing the now terrified Third Warmaster back with a relentless assault, cutting off her right wing as she tries to escape into the air. Breaking her defense further, Kharn cuts Ahrimans legs off in one swing of Gorefather and kicks the hequin staff away. She pins the crawling girl down with a bladed foot and asks about Mami Tomoe again. Dissatisfied with Ahrimans rambling about the Blessed Ladys True Herald, she finally cuts off Ahrimans head and crushes her soul gem underfoot. Losing no time, she heads to Malal and Murderface, places her chainaxes on the ground and calls Kyubey for an evacuation team, checking their soul gem purity at the same time. While talking to her Incubator, she knocks Malal awake and jokes around with her until the medics arrive.
Trivia
- Kharn's character design is based on Black Gold Saw from Black Rock Shooter.
- Kharn is a reference to Kharn the Betrayer, avatar of the blood god Khorne from Warhammer 40k. She shares some character traits with him, as well as the choice of weapon.
- The name Valnikov is likely a reference to Andrei Valnikov from Black Marble, a cop who partnered up with a no-nonsense woman plagued by nightmares, much like Chiaki.
- She has an insatiable apetite for takoyaki and Jolly Roger candy.
- She never managed to bed Mami and never quite got over that.
- Her chainsword Skulltaker is two meters long, weighs ten kilograms and has two rows of teeth. It is painted black with a few golden bits, the handle wrapped with leather and tipped with a screaming demon skull. It has three settings: Kill, Maim which moves the teeth in opposing directions, and Burn which is Maim but on fire. Kharn takes loving care of her weapon.
- The weapons name is a reference to a Champion of Khorne, the Warhammer Chaos God of violence and hate. Much like Kharne, Skulltaker relentlessly fights his chosen prey until it lies limbless on the ground before taking it's skull as a prize.
Gallery
Art by Deculture
Research Assistant Kharn
Kharn as Warmaster of the Ninth
Quest title page during the Kharn flashback episode
Quest title page during the Kharn flashback episode, now with Warmaster hat
