PD-7041

Gerlin's first project, PD-7041

### Cause of Death

Powered off and scrapped by Gerlin after the murder of Corporal Kellinger and Pessiros Tielien

**Paladin Unit 7041**, better known as **PD-7041** or just **PD**, was a minor historical figure present in the Golden Age of Alymere. 5 years before the Lyrdian Republic became the Golden Empire, PD was one of the first warforged models dispatched as a peacekeeper throughout the nation. He was the first major project built and completed by Master Engineer Gerlin Steelspine. During his quest to hunt down the Children of Pestilence, his fate took a devastating turn and ended in tragedy.

## **Biography**

### *The Swamp's Peacekeeper*

Built by Gerlin in the city of Crowwatch, PD was initially an experiment to see how the Lyrdian Republic could work warforged into their branches of authority. Along with some other Lyrdian engineers, Gerlin released his project into the world. Little did he know that his machine would become so overburdened with tasks, jobs, and other duties. PD did all of them with no hesitation, but Gerlin was slightly saddened he couldn't spend much time with his creation.

At first, PD served as an intimidation tactic for criminals dwelling in Crowwatch and monsters lurking in the swamp. To make sure he stayed in his place, the Republic assigned Corporal Tessa Kellinger to be his handler. They were at odds at first, but soon grew to be friends after PD saved her life from an extremist rebel group within Crowwatch. Now that they were friends, they would meet their ultimate test together.

### *Arrival of the Children*

An unknown group of terrorists were launching attacks of disease and malady on Lyrdian villages from King's Coast all the way to Highfall. Since Crowwatch fell somewhere in the middle, the defensive regiments of the Republic were worried and for good reason. PD and the Corporal heard about the attacks, but had no real reason to act on these events. That was... until an urban sector in Crowwatch was bombed by a poisonous explosive, causing a large loss of life and an even larger pool of fear. Not soon after, the leader of these terrorists, Pessiros Tielien, revealed himself and claimed responsibility. Spouting the ideals of his "Children of Pestilence", a handful of members rushed into the streets, challenging Lyrdian guards. PD and Kellinger fought off the cultists, but Pessiros and his second in command, Swinehead, escaped.

PD and Kellinger had their reason. Saying goodbye to Gerlin, PD and Kellinger traveled into the Yorkash Swamp, hunting their new target. The Children of Pestilence attacked a traveling convoy that PD and Kellinger ran into and it gave them a way to track some of their members. Tracks of the offending party lead the duo to an abandoned windmill and Swinehead came out to face them. After a vicious battle, Kellinger lost an eye and PD gained a massive hole in his chest, but Swinehead lost. His head got removed from his shoulders and he could no longer hurt anyone.

### *Death of the Ringleader*

After capturing one of the Children of Pestilence, PD interrogated him and he revealed the location of his master's hideout. On a hill near the Mines of Poryia, PD and Kellinger observed the outpost belonging to Pessiros Tielien and began their assault. Many of the Pessiros' troops fell but they were able to overpower PD and Kellinger and capture them. Along with some Lyrdian soldiers they took hostage, the two heroes spent weeks as prisoners of the Children and saw many good soldiers meet their end. However, with the plan of Kellinger and action of PD, they initiated a riot and destroyed the remaining membership of the terrorists.

With his faction utterly destroyed, Pessiros was not keen on sticking around. PD and Kellinger chased him into the open and almost captured him until in one final effort, Pessiros used the last of his magic to blind Kellinger and mend her body to him via her armor. PD was stuck, with two terrible decisions to make. To let the fiend who caused the deaths of dozens of people get away or finish him, with the blood of his best friend also on his hands. Kellinger assured him that she was going to be ok and he needed to end the diseased threat. As sorrow filled his circuitry, PD stabbed Kellinger and Pessiros, ending both lives. The commotion from the slave escape drew Lyrdian officials to the Children's hideout and PD was captured, thinking he had killed Kellinger in malice.

Being brought back to the man who made him, PD was powered down as punishment by Lyrdian higher-ups for Kellinger's death but fondly remembered by those who knew how terrible the Children of Pestilence were. Eventually, other warforged like BG-8253 and PX-02 were built using some of his parts.

## **Description**

### *Appearance*

PD had the visual appearance of something holy like an angel, although his duties were not as pure. His armor was forged with gold and silver tints and his helmet glowed like the radiance of the Sun (albeit with blue instead of yellow). Unlike his successor, PD's helmet was actually forged as his face and wasn't removable from his body. Additionally, Gerlin built an innate weapon inside of his right arm. A large blade would pop out of a socket in his forearm and that's how PD would engage in battle. It could also be ejected like a spear if the situation called for it.

### *Personality*

PD was programmed by Gerlin to be very friendly when dealing with allies, but more stern and stoic. However, actual combat wasn't really programmed into PD's skillset. Through Gerlin's theory of Observational Robotic Development (ORD for short), PD developed skills for life or death combat after the attack on Crowwatch. Also, he would take no offense to anyone making fun of him or trying to mess with him. His jolly demeanor and his "no offense taken" mentality made him very affable and easy to get along with.

However, he could still get serious when the time called for it. He wasn't against killing either, but usually he would just fatally wound his enemies. After Kellinger's death, PD stopped speaking completely and always held his head down in guilt.

## **Relationships**

### Gerlin Steelspine

Unlike the relationship with BG and Gerlin, PD was seen more like a friend to his creator rather than a son. Although PD was a major project for Gerlin, he wasn't at the point of seeing his creations like his own children yet because he was relatively new to being a warforged engineer. They still had a positive relationship however, and it saddened Gerlin to see PD leave on his quest to destroy the Children of Pestilence.

When PD arrived back in Crowwatch after Kellinger's death, Gerlin realized how much of an attachment he actually had to PD and was so distraught to see him powered down. After PD's deactivation, Gerlin starting treating every one of his creations like children.

### *Corporal Kellinger*

At first, the Corporal was not fond of PD in the slightest. She had this snobby attitude that she believed she was better than him and didn't deserve to be a "robot's babysitter". But, PD never waivered in trying to befriend her and eventually, the ice between them began to melt. The ice was completely broken when PD saved her from an extremist rebel cell dedicated to torturing Lyrdian citizens. She apologized for all the nasty things she said and PD accepted it.

After that, their mission together further solidified their friendship and they would engage in playfully messing with each other. These games were put on hold when they were captured by the Children to be used as slaves making their chemical weapons. However, their coordination and companionship allowed them to put a plan together and break everyone out.

In their final moments together, PD was absolutely devastated when she accepted her fate and he ceased to speak to anyone for the rest of his life after that.

### *Pessiros Tielien*

When PD began hunting down the Children of Pestilence, he had no emotional connection to Pessiros besides doing his duty as a Lyrdian peacekeeper and bringing the villain to justice. However, upon spending time as a slave for his organization, he saw the unspeakable acts of evil that Pessiros committed. The pure malice he enacted on the prisoners in his service was sickening to watch. So, to avenge some of the prisoners that were tormented by his hand, PD made it personal.

Unfortunately for him, it became extremely personal when Pessiros pulled his stunt with Kellinger. After PD had to do his necessary deed, he beat Pessiros' face into a bloody pulp and ripped his head off in rage. Although Pessiros' death was a good thing for everyone, PD felt nothing but emptiness.

### *Swinehead*

PD and Swinehead served as comparable combatants, with PD powered by his robotic strength and Swinehead with his massive size. They fought a huge battle near an abandoned windmill not far from Crowwatch and it was the hardest PD had ever fought in his entire life. His bout with the Children's second in command earned him many dents and a major hole in his chest, but ultimately PD triumphed. Swinehead's death empowered PD and gave him the confidence to solidify his search for Pessiros.

## **Trivia**

* During the initial months of COVID-19, AnerexoMexo wanted some DnD content in his life, so he thought of writing a story starring PD-7041 and telling the tale of his tragedy to add some even more lore to Gerlin's life.
	+ Sadly, he didn't go through with it, because he has millions of unfinished projects and thinking that he could write multiple chapters of a story consistently is foolish.
* The hole in PD's chest that he got from his battle with Swinehead was foreshadowing for what was to come for his confrontation with Pessiros. It symbolized the void he would soon feel in his soul after Kellinger's death.
* Gerlin programmed Ignan, the language of Fire Primordials, into PD's circuitry because the Children of Pestilence used Ignan as a secret language to rely through messages and letters.
* PD's favorite color is yellow, because Corporal Kellinger is blonde.