Martyr

**Martyr** is an Immortal who shines in close combat.

> "None of us are free until all of us are."
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## Profile

### Lore

Before her ascension, the mortal Reumaille was a humble farmer. She tended to her land with care and set aside a tithe for the local temple with each harvest. Reumaille devoted herself to the Immortals from a young age, but one commandment above all others was carved into her heart: Blessed are those who break chains, for those who enslave others shall never know salvation. Reumaille’s parents had both perished in her infancy and left her in the care of distant relations, who raised her as a servant. But Reumaille’s harsh upbringing could not destroy her gentle soul, and she felt greatly for anyone who suffered at the hands of an oppressor. When still little more than a child, she escaped to her parents’ homestead, long left to waste. But the weeks of hard labor restoring the farm weakened Reumaille’s health, and she was taken by a terrible fever. Only the intervention of a passing priest saved Reumaille from death, an act that inspired a belief that the Immortals had spared her so she could someday fulfill a holy duty.

Martyr is one of the youngest Immortals of the pantheon, and in the time of Reumaille’s mortal life Mara and the Alliance first waged war on behalf of the Immortals. Both governments considered desertion from the battlefield a form of heresy, and decreed that anyone who sheltered deserters would meet the fate of heretics as well. Despite this, Reumaille still hid deserters in her home, giving them food and supplies to sustain them on their road to freedom. A family member, eager to take Reumaille’s land now that she had restored it to productivity, reported her to the government, and for her crimes Reumaille was sentenced to be burned at the stake.

A pyre was erected in the town square, a pillar of wood rising from the center. Bound and wearing a simple shift, Reumaille was led through the village. Though the villagers heaped abuse upon her, Reumaille’s serenity never broke, and when the inquisitor told her that they would render her unconscious if she confessed her heresy, she merely smiled. As she was bound to her pyre, Reumaille looked out to the village and cried that blessed were those who broke chains, and though the onlookers cheered for her death, many were in their hearts ashamed. Torches were thrown onto the dry wood, and soon a massive pillar of flame rose up. But while the fire consumed her, Reumaille never cried out, even though the blaze rose into the very heavens and sent the inquisitor fleeing for his life. It was then that the flames parted to reveal a figure clad in brilliant armor. The Immortal Martyr was born.

Her heart alight with the fire of her faith, Martyr advanced upon the Immortals’ battlefield. She proclaimed that with her ascension, the prophecy of Warhaven was fulfilled, and the war had come to an end. Entire armies threw down their weapons and left to return home, eager for the new age of peace. Mara and the Alliance joined together to resist Martyr’s reckoning, but even battlefield incarnation could not stop the reborn Immortal in the hour of her glory. Martyr defeated each of the Immortals of the pantheon in turn, and it was only when they joined together under the Immortal Kyphar, leader of the pantheon, that she could be turned back. Kyphar vowed that if Martyr joined the pantheon, and helped them fulfill the prophecy of Warhaven on their terms, that their mortal followers would be treated with greater care, deserters included. But if Martyr refused this compromise, she would be destroyed, and deserters would be met with greater wrath, lest an Immortal like Martyr ever incarnate again.

After careful consideration, Martyr accepted Kyphar’s pact, knowing that she stood little chance against the combined might of the Immortal pantheon. But doing so rent her heart asunder, and the part of Martyr that screamed out for an immediate end to the war split from her being, taking the form of a woman made of flame and filling the heavens with her wrath as she fled. The Immortal pantheon denounced this aspect of Martyr as a demon, but welcomed their new Immortal sister into their accord. Martyr has now joined the war she once tried to destroy. But there are those among her followers who whisper that their goddess is biding her time, waiting for the day she can be reunited with the other half of her heart, and the world will be reborn in flame.

## Basic Attacks

 Must be used while sprinting. Quickly advance a short distance while attacking. There is a long delay if the attack fails, so use it when pursuing fleeing enemies.

## Skills

 Ready yourself to automatically *counter* an oncoming attack. Immediately attack with [MLB] while countering.
Cannot counter *guard-breaking* attacks or attacks from behind, which break the counter stance. Respond to an enemy attack or use it during a melee.

 Move forward and make a guard-breaking attack. Deals no head damage. It has a greater movement distance than other *guard-breaking* skills and deals heavy damage. Staggers blocking enemies for a long duration and leaves them vulnerable to attack. It also damages unguarded enemies and can disrupt enemy attacks.

 Deliver a quick strike immediately after taking damage. Punishment deals Trauma damage and knocks enemies back. Escape your enemies when you're surrounded.

 Quickly dash in any direction. Become *unstoppable* while dashing, take 30% less damage, and change all damage taken to Trauma. Combo basic attacks or skills while dashing. Can be used to chase down a fleeing enemy or to quickly move behind an enemy.