Kaliis Gilwraeth

* Charlie Bowater
* Kira Night

**Kaliis "Kal" Gilwraeth** is a Syldrathi and, as the Tank of Squad 312, a member of the Aurora Legion.

## Biography

### Early Life

As a child, Kal's father trained him and his sister mercilessly to become warriors like him, and often abused him, his sister, and his mother. He heard and saw his parents fighting, which often lead to his father beating his mother, and we can safely assume this was not an uncommon occurrence. When he was nine he was put into the Warbreed division of Syldrathi. When he was twelve, he and his mother left his father and sister, to live on Syldra so they would be safer from his father. When he was roughly around seventeen, Kal went to Aurora Academy to train as a Tank and become a member of the Aurora Legion. At around eighteen, his planet Syldra, as well as 10 billion Syldrathi, died, at the hands of the Starslayer. This caused Kal great pain. He is nineteen when he is Drafted into Tyler's squad.

### *Aurora Rising*

Kal is one of the last to be picked during the Draft, becoming a member of Squad 312 under the leadership of Tyler Jones. He misses their first meeting due to some other cadets that start a fight with him because of his origins. When his squad (unbeknownst to all of them) appears, Tyler tries to break up the fight, only to get drawn into another fight by Kal. They soon learn that they are teammates before Kal gets arrested for a while. Because of that, he misses the briefing for the squad's first mission.

Their first mission turns out to be a supply run to Sagan Station. The group is greeted with suspicion due to the hostility between the Syldrathi and Kal, as a member of the Warbreed cabal. Still, the refugees agree to the help of the squad, under the condition of Kal keeping to the port area to unload medical crates while the rest of his squad offers to help in the station. He is observed by a young Syldrathi when the Station is attacked by The Unbroken, the followers of the Starslayer. In the ensuing chaos, Kal discovers that they had a blind passenger on board, who he then recognizes her as the girl Tyler rescued. Right as the enemy ship docks, Aedra tries to attack Kal, causing Auri to set free an unknown power to defend him after she saw this exact scene play out in a vision of him.

When a ship from the Terran Defense Force interferes, Tyler tries to convince Auri to go with the TDF while she pleads to them about not saying anything about her. She reveals that de Stoy told her to flee, but the squad is undecided whether to believe her or not. It is revealed that the TDF is accompanied by five members of the GIA, who tell Auri they are there to escort her home. None of the squad interferes, so they take Auri onto their ship. Still, the squad is ushered onto the ship as well. Only when Cat arrives they learn that the whole Station was decimated.

In the holding cell, Tyler starts a fight with Kal after everything becomes too much for him. This is quickly broken up by Scar before Zila tells them via their uniglasses about her assumption that the GIA will kill them as well. The squad then decides to break out, with Tyler and Kal taking care of Aurora. They find her unconscious in a prison cell, her now-dead guards rendered unrecognizable. They meet with the rest of the squad and escape into the Fold.

Later the squad discusses what to do with an unconscious Aurora after she used her powers on Scarlett and changed their ship's course. They realize that Auri changed the course to Sempiternity when Auri herself wakes up again. They decide to return to the Academy when Auri again uses her power to stop the spaceship until Tyler agrees to follow her course.

The squad arrives at the World Ship and immediately splits up to gather clothes, information and find a place to lie low. Tyler takes Kal and Auri into a bar to get caught up on gossip and find the information they need. There is also a group of Unbroken present, who provoke an argument which then ends in a fight between the groups. Shortly after, both Scar and Zila arrive from their shopping spree - just in time to see a shipwide broadcast of a picture of Auri, showing her to be a fugitive. Together they flee to the den of Dariel, a distant cousin of Fin. There, the squad settles down and tries to come up with a plan for the following days before finally going to sleep. While asleep, Auri's powers overcome her again, letting her paint a strange figure over and over again on every surface in the room they share. With the help of Dariel, they identify it as an artifact of the Eshvaren Empire that was a part of an exhibition of the Bianchi Museum. Auri then admits that she heard about the Eshvaren in her visions, causing the squad to discuss whether they should keep going or not.

Both Tyler and Scar leave for the museum later, trying to gather information about the statue, only to find that the statue is now a private exhibit in Casseldon Bianchi's collection. They also learn about a Masquerade to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the World Ship. Later on, Scar convinces Cat to go on a date with Declan and Lachlan, two security guards, while the rest of the squads waits in a cheap hotel until they are unconscious after Scar sedated them. Kal and Ty steal their uniforms to get into the Security area of the ship, helping Fin to hack into the video system.

Back at Dariel's den, the squad collectively takes a look at Bianchi's office, trying to come up with a plan on how to break into it and steal the statue in the process without getting caught. Auri then mentions that she had a vision about a masquerade ball. They remember the Masquerade about to take place and make a plan on how to go through with their heist.

Scar provides her brother, Auri, Cat, and herself with outfits for the Masquerade, which they visit together, while Zila and Kal break into the security system. When Fin doesn't reply over comms anymore, Zila and Kal return to the den, only to find that the GIA stormed it and is already awaiting them. It turns out that Cat supposedly sold Auri to the GIA, but instead told the squad all about it use the GIA operatives as means to fulfill their plan. Kal, Zila, and Scar save Fin and make it to the Longbow, with which the squad leaves Sempiternity.

[...]

## Personality

A lifetime of being trained to be a warrior has shaped Kal to be quiet and reserved. He is not trusting or talkative at the start of Aurora Rising. However, he believes very strongly in Auri, seeing her as someone capable, though this could be due to the Pull he feels towards her. Additionally, he has been shown to possess a very strong moral code. Even though he feels the Pull, he does not try to force it upon her in any way and is prepared to resign from the squad in order to give her freedom. After their first adventure, he has become somewhat closer with the 312 squad and is willing to take advice and offer it in turn. He is constantly trying to improve himself but those around him, seeing the best in those he calls his friends, and often the worst in himself.

## Physical Description

Kal, like most Syldrathi, has violet eyes and olive skin. He has long, pointed ears as well as silver hair tied back from his face into five braids spilling down his shoulders. He has sharp cheekbones and a small tattoo of three crossed blades on his brow to signify he is in the Warbreed cabal.

## Powers & Abilities

### Powers

* **Empathy**: Kal possesses a fraction of Empathy, given to him by his mother's cabal.

### Abilities

* **Combat Specialist**: Kal has received training from both his background as a Syldrathi and attending Aurora Academy. He has been able to hold his own in a brawl alone against four humans. As the Tank of Squad 312, he has most likely mastered fighting under various gravity and planetary conditions. He also has a detailed knowledge of multi-species anatomy and a high tolerance for pain.

## Relationships

### Tyler Jones

Legionnaire Tyler Jones is Kaliis Gilwraeth's Squad Leader, also known as his Alpha. Kal is a member of his Squad, meaning Ty is his commanding officer. In addition to this, they do share some personal moments with each other, indicating that they may be developing a close friendship. On Sempiternity, Kal is asked by his Alpha about his feelings for Aurora, and in return, mentions Tyler's close relationship with Cat. In addition to this, they also share a kiss as a diversion to a worker at the plant they are infiltrating. Kal and Ty are both taken aback by it, but it's still indicated that neither experience romantic attraction to each other.

### Aurora O'Malley

When Auri first awakes at Aurora Legion, she sees a vision of a Syldrathi being killed. It later turns out that this was Kal. In the beginning, Kal treats Auri poorly while they are together, however, if she is in danger, he protects her with his life. This is because of the Pull, a natural Syldrathi instinct between life loves, which Kal feels for Aurora. His instinct kicks in aboard the Bellerophon, aboard the squad's Longbow, and later on Octavia III. Kal explains the Pull once in the hull of the Longbow, and once more on Octavia III, which is when they hold hands and form a romantic relationship.

### Finian de Seel

Finian and Kal are made out to have a friendship bond. Kal is constantly calling Fin out to be "not much of a warrior" and Fin constantly uses his sarcasm in a friendly manner towards Kal. Fin even affectionately gives him the nickname *Pixieboy*.

## Gallery

*See more here*.

by Cinzatoby Gabriella Bujdosoby \_saintdriby @lisly\_art
## Trivia

* Kal is over six and a half feet (198 cm) tall.
* Kal's mind is a deep violet, with hidden golden threads.

## References

1. ↑ *Aurora Rising*, Chapter 14
2. ↑ *Aurora's End*