Hardy/Lore

Profile

Appearance

Normal Style

Hardy has a blonde quiff haircut with a short stubble going around his face. He has a scar just above his left eye and two earrings at the side of his ears.

He wears a dark blue uniquely designed overcoat with a blue insignia on its back and purple ones just at the shoulders. His undershirt is a checkered, purple and blue with a black collar extending to his neck. He carries around a golden pistol with a red holster strapped to his left leg.

His Childhood Companion Gray, is a robotic Pitbull with pointed ears and a red-visor over his eyes.

Another Style

In his Another Style, his hair becomes slightly more slicked, He wears a Blazer adorned with white patterns and a red background in the underside, a purple hued vest and a white polo undershirt. His pants are slimmed with gray stripes.

A Gold sash hangs around his neck and a white rose corsage with a feather is attached to left side of his vest. There is a golden ornament around his waist which could be a pocket watch or a compass. Hardy still carries his signature Golden Pistol in his right hand and a Bazooka at his left hand

Hardy wears a black bow tie under his collar while his partner Gray, wears a white one wrapped around his neck.

Personality

Like his Another Style suggests, Hardy is a Maverick, a Roguish Ladies man who values his freedom, doing whatever he wants and not being set to complying with the rules or law. His partner Gray however, whom he considers his ‘true friend’ tends to get angry and disagree whenever Hardy would go out on drinks or gamble.

Hardy can often be witty, suave, playfully dishonest and sometimes conceited. However when situations get too serious or dire, His Playful demeanor drops and he is shown to protect those unfairly oppressed by society and those he care about.

He’s Perceptive, Sly and Cunning, and has Gray by his side to assist him on missions. With Gray’s Hacking, Tracking and various support, as Hardy claims it; “He Always Gets the Job done”. Despite being technically a criminal, Hardy harbors a sense of Justice. Determined to rescue those suffering from the same fate as he had endured.

Story

Background

Hardy spent his early childhood living in the Slums. By his side was Gray, a robot Pitbull, and eventually Cetie, an orphan he’s taken in as his younger brother. Together, they looked after one another to survive the slums. The Government’s neglect towards the slums had taught Hardy to be more independent while nurturing his distaste towards the authorities.

As Years passed by Hardy and Cetie went their separate ways, Cetie now working for the COA and Cardinal Vestige and Hardy working for an Underground Organization (their name as of now is unknown). Now he performs black-ops and guards society from the dark as a “Watch Dog”

From the shadows Hardy stalks the Cardinal Vestige, observing their movements and plans. Hoping one day He’ll be able to free his Brother Cetie from the Cardinal Vestige’s grasp.

Another Style: Scarlet Flash

In Cetie’s Another Style Quest, Hardy perpetrates a grand scheme that starts with a calling card under the allias “Phantom thief”. The Card claims he’s going to ‘claim a living being that has witnessed more history than anything else’. While this led the COA and EGPD to maximize their security in Macminal Museum, His true intention was to distract the entire COA and Elzion Police force in a wild goose chase while luring out Cetie to persuade him to leave the Cardinal Vestige after placing bombs in the Cardinal Vestige relay station inside the Nilva world tree.

His plan however was foiled by Cetie arriving earlier than he expected, before he could plant the bombs in relay station. He talks to Cetie in one last attempt to persuade him to leave, but fails. He reminds that being in the Cardinal Vestige would mean that Cetie would always be alone before he takes off using a Ship docked under the world tree.

Quest 1: An Odd Mission

The Quest begins with Hardy being chased by a Street thug and Aldo unwillingly lending his assistance. Hardy thanks Aldo for a job well done who only gets scolded by Aldo once he finds out Hardy had taken that guy’s wallet after cheating in a card game, Hardy tries to change the subject by inviting Aldo to one of his missions which he calls “Security work”, to which Aldo is wary of.

Heading over to Elzion Theta district to meet the employer, they were tasked with making sure a suspicious shipment get delivered over at Route 99. Aldo was against this at first not wanting to be part of anything unlawful, but was eventually convinced by Hardy to come.

At the location Aldo and Hardy have a talk about Hardy’s career choices and how he would be better off using his skills for something like the EGPD. Hardy however tells that he “Lives for freedom”, putting on a uniform to work day to day shifts just isn’t his thing. That this was a decision he’s made a long time ago, as ‘Big Brother’s always have to have the answers’. This gets Aldo curious and presses Hardy to tell more about his past. Hardy doesn’t budge and instead warns Aldo that they now have bigger things to worry about.

Right on cue the EGPD arrive and demand what Hardy and Aldo are doing there. They tell that they had received a report about a middle-aged man with blonde hair and carries a gun has been holding an illegal shipment. Hardy realizes that they were setup and their real job was to distract the EGPD while delivery was happening elsewhere.

While Aldo wanted to explain everything to the EGPD, Hardy calls out Gray for help. Gray gives Hardy an opening by disabling the EGPD’s weapons while Hardy follows up with a ‘Light Bullet’ after telling Aldo to close his eyes. A beam of light bursts out and the Guards Blinded and now unable to act, gave Hardy enough time to insult them and call Aldo a ‘Bounty hunter bum’ as he runs off with Gray. Aldo stayed behind to make sure the EGPD was okay, while the EGPD convinced that Aldo was a bounty hunter tells him to continue the pursuit for them instead.

After stumbling onto Hardy, Aldo tells him off to which Hardy defends himself by saying Aldo would’ve been apprehended by the EGPD had he not called Aldo a Bounty hunter and that Hardy’s a nice guy after all. Aldo asks if it was really okay to mess with the EGPD like that and gets assured by Hardy who claims that the ‘EGPD Dummies’ will never be able to catch him, that not being what Aldo meant. Hardy declares that their job is done and it’s time to get their reward. Asking Gray to locate them Hardy tracks them at the Industrial Ruins

Surprising the Employer, Hardy quips about ‘Losing the Invitation in the mail’. To which the Employer feigns sympathy. Hardy instead discusses about their reward and the Employer thanks Hardy for the work and as such he tells the ‘reward’ to come out. Behind him two children appear. He claims that slum rats without citizen IDs would fetch for a nice price. This Angers Aldo, as for Hardy, he calls off the deal rather preferring to spend the rest of his life in the slums than to get a reward from a trash who treats children like objects. Hardy orders the Employer to let the Children go, instead, the Employer calls an Agateram and a Fight ensues to free the children.

After the Fight, Hardy reveals he had Gray recording their entire conversation and Hardy will leak this to the public if he doesn’t let the Children go. Giving in, the Employer runs off being told off by Hardy not to pull off another stunt like this. The Children unsure of what to do now approaches Hardy who contacts the boss via Gray and asks Gray to lead them home. Hardy then apologizes to Aldo for getting him involved in this who assures that they at least got to help children and stop a criminal. Touched by Aldo’s carefree attitude Hardy invites him to go to the Tavern with him.

After ordering Drinks Hardy and Aldo talk back about past events. How this was the first time both of them encountered Humans being bought and sold like objects. Hardy reveals that Elzion and even the EGPD doesn’t regard people without ID as citizens. Yet he promises himself that he’s going to rescue anyone from suffering the same fate he did. While Aldo points that Hardy didn’t need to take on such a shady job. Hardy however tells that the benefit of being on the street is the access to information in the Underworld and Government, especially if you work for them.

Curious, Aldo wanted to ask Hardy more about who he meant. Hardy however digresses and orders another round of drinks. Abruptly the Street thug from the beginning of the Quest enters the tavern and spots Hardy and Aldo and the two Get Chased out of the Tavern. Aldo comes back shortly after realizing he hasn’t paid for the drinks, realizing he’s paying for Hardy’s bill Aldo immediately chases after Hardy.

Quest 2: Targeted Partner

Back at the Elzion Gamma District, Hardy subtly declares that he’s going gambling. This eventually led to Gray to pounce on him. Aldo confused, asked what that was about. As a response, Hardy explained that Gray always had the tendency to do this every time Hardy mentions he’s going gambling. Aldo jokes about Hardy being a bad player to which Hardy asks Gray to back him up. However Gray doesn’t respond. They find out that he had started Malfunctioning and Hardy invites Aldo to get him repaired back at Ishar’s. Unbeknownst to them, they’re being followed

At Ishar’s Za’ol gives Aldo a warm greeting until Hardy enters the shop. Za’ol finds Aldo and Hardy being together suspicious. Hardy protests at the treatment and Za’ol complains about Hardy not being a paying customer. Hardy promising again to pay in the near future, Za’ol unenthusiastically tells the staff to start on Gray’s maintenance

Curious, Aldo asks if Gray always had these problems. Za’ol claims that Hardy’s robot dog is a very old model. Hardy adds that Gray had been with him since he was little. He’s really the only Family Hardy’s ever had. Za’ol warns that Gray is nearly reaching his limit, that he can’t always have him fixed. Aldo asks what Za’ol would do if that happens and he suggests fixing him by replacing most of his parts with new ones. Gray’s data must be transferred during the process and Hardy has to pick when the transferring can be done. After the Maintenance is done, Za’ol reminds him not to put off transferring Gray’s data as it’ll be too late if Gray gets damaged. With that the two exit the store.

Just as the two leave, Hardy catches Aldo worrying about Gray, touched Hardy tries to reassure Aldo. However as Hardy tries to speak, he and Gray notice a Drone that seemed ready to launch an attack on Aldo. Warning Aldo Just in time, the Drone misses its shot and then leaves. Aldo questions, why would they get attack in the middle of the city and Hardy responds that it must’ve mistaken Aldo as being part of Hardy’s crew as this is a thing he’s used to dealing with. Realizing that there’s a threat on the loose that may end up hurting innocent bystanders the two agree to track down the attacker.

At the Elzion Airport they find multiple drones floating around, Aldo gets overwhelmed by the sheer amount and Hardy jokes to just take them all out once, Aldo believing he was being serious. Hardy instead tells this is the kind of job for Gray. Aldo worries as Gray had just came out of maintenance but Gray reassures him, he finds the target shortly after, impressing Aldo.

Aldo praises Gray, to which Hardy agrees, claiming Gray’s the best partner he’s ever had. Aldo in response says Hardy’s Gray’s biggest fan which gets Hardy to admit that he just really likes dogs a lot for their obedience and loyalty. As they set to off to find the perpetrator, Hardy warns Aldo to be prepared as they don’t know what he’s capable of.

At the location, Aldo and Hardy learn that the perpetrator was the Employer from the previous quest. He targeted Aldo to lure Hardy out, resentful as his career is ruined over the recording that Hardy leaked to the public. In an act of revenge, the Employer sends out a Security Hound to take them down, Hardy quips about Gray being the better robot dog and the fight commences.

After the battle, Hardy tells Gray to take the Employer. However, in that moment Gray malfunctions again. With Hardy and Aldo caught off guard by Gray breaking down, the Employer uses that opportunity to send out another Security Hound and sweep them. With Aldo and Hardy down, the Employer commands the Security Hound to deliver another blow. Gray regained consciousness just in time to take the hit for Hardy further damaging his system. The Employer thrilled that with that, the data has now been erased, he was then taken aback when he found out Gray managed to disable the Security Hound giving Hardy the opportunity to destroy it leaving the Employer to now be defenseless.

With Gray broken down, Hardy lies to Aldo about Gray being fine and instructs him to take Gray to Za’ol. The Employer pleads Aldo not be left alone with Hardy but by the time he says that, Aldo wasn’t around anymore. Terrified and begging for his life he bribes Hardy with money who only responds saying he can’t buy his way out of this. The scene then focuses on the sky and the sound of a gunshot is heard.

Once the deed is done, Hardy tells himself this is something Aldo doesn’t need to know about and decides it’s time to regroup with him back at Ishar’s.

Back at the place, Za’ol figures that Hardy had shot the Employer who responds telling it’s best not to know, that things happen. He asks if Za’ol can fix Gray and he admitted that this time Gray isn’t fixable. Hardy makes the decision to ask Za’ol to replace Gray’s parts. Za’ol wanted to confirm if Hardy’s sure about this as the process is going to redesign Gray’s system and wipe Gray’s AI and memories. Hardy insisted that it’s what’s best for Gray and that he can’t imagine having any partner other than Gray.

Once Za’ol had finished, he nudged Gray to go after Hardy. Hardy confessed that he almost didn’t recognize Gray with him looking a lot cleaner. Hardy thanked Za’ol for repairing Gray again. Before He and Aldo leaves, He promises that he’ll be back with more work for him and Aldo promises he’ll be back with Amy next time. After which Za’ol remarks that Hardy had left without paying again as he flippantly just added it to his tab.

Outside Ishar’s Hardy suggested he and Aldo find something to do. Aldo states Hardy just wants to hit the Tavern to which Hardy admitted as drinking is essential to his work. Gray hearing this, pounces on Hardy which shocks both Hardy and Aldo. In the end, even when Gray’s AI and memory was reset, he was still the same Gray. Touched and Relieved, Hardy listened to Gray for once and decided not to go to the Tavern today, to Aldo and Gray’s delight.

Quest 3: On the Path of Shadows

Taking place after the events of The Lost Tome and Silver Unfading Flower. Hardy gets a message from an informant which prompts him to go “Shopping” with Aldo at the Auction House.

At the Auction House, Aldo and Hardy briefly reminisce the events that played the last time they were there. Afterwards, Hardy enters the bidding telling Aldo that all he has to do is watch. Aldo probes Hardy for what item in particular he’s after and he spills that it’s nothing special, yet an old friend of his is after the same item. Realizing he’s said too much he stops and tells Aldo to wait while he registers for bidding.

At the auction venue the receptionist displays the first item to be bid, A device containing cultural and historic data of around 900 AD. Aldo showed indifference with the first item but as the bidding began Hardy was the first to raise the bid, to Aldo’s shock. Aldo asks if he was here for the Data and Hardy only tells him to watch and be amazed. He enters a back and forth between a man in a lab coat eventually raising the bid to 10,000 ROC. Just as Hardy was about to claim the data, another participant makes an appearance tripling the bid to 30,000 ROC. Hardy tries to make a comeback but eventually yields when his opponent raises the bid to 50,000 ROC. With that Hardy lost the bid.

As they left the venue, Aldo learns that Hardy participating as a bidder was a cover, in truth his actual goal is to track down the winner’s location. Aldo jumping to the conclusion that Hardy was going to rob the data from the winner, was about to stop him but Hardy reveals that it’s something else he’s after. Aldo decides to go along with Hardy as they manage to pinpoint his location in Gamma district.

At the location, their target is seen conversing with an ordinary woman before wandering off. As he leaves, Hardy tells Aldo that they’re tailing after the woman next. He explains to a confused Aldo that the conversation was to cover the target passing the data to the woman and that the people holding the data is actually acting as a chain of couriers to hide the identity of the mastermind. As such Hardy and Aldo proceed to tail a chain of people passing data to one another.

As their search leads them back to Elzion Theta District, they were stopped by two Hunters who Hardy calls out were members of the Cardinal Vestige. The Hunters disclose that they knew he’s been following them as this entire thing was a setup to lure Hardy into the Theta District. The exits were sealed off and more members of the Cardinal Vestige show up, showing the Cardinal Vestige has been watching Hardy all along. Now that they’re cornered, the Cardinal Vestige uses this opportunity to eliminate Hardy. Older Machines were summoned to further block their path and a fight occurs to escape.

With the Older Machines out of the way, Hardy uses a smoke bullet to clear a path giving Aldo and Hardy a way out. As one of the Hunters contemplate whether they should pursue Hardy, another tells that Hardy may still be of use to them and if ever, they can always ask ‘him’ for help. The other hunter agrees saying Hardy can run but he was never free to begin with.

Escaping to route 99 Hardy and Aldo find that they’re no longer being followed. Aldo realizes they’ve lost the trail on the device but Hardy assures Aldo not to give up. Gray appears again showing the two he’s managed to track the location of the device and Hardy and Aldo head for the Elzion airport.

By the time the two arrive at the airport their target has already boarded a Cargo bus and left. Hardy teases Aldo, saying they failed before he admits that he considers this a draw. Hardy confesses that his Goal wasn’t to catch the person carrying the data, but rather to gauge the Cardinal Vestige’s capabilities. He tells Aldo that there is a constant communication via behind the scenes system the Cardinal Vestige is using in order to connect the leaders and members. The reason he was tailing them was to see where the data would end up. Aldo reminds Hardy that they lost the data, so they couldn’t really call that a draw. However Hardy explains to Aldo that the fact the Cardinal Vestige was willing to attack them in the city shows how desperate they were getting. Hardy then admits that he knew the Cardinal Vestige was leading them to get ambushed from the beginning and as Aldo asks where he thought the Cargo bus was heading he tells him it’s going a long way to avoid tails and it’s eventually going to drop the data back at Elzion. Ideally he would’ve preferred knowing the specific location at Elzion but he’s satisfied with the information he’s picked up.

Hardy then notices Aldo’s concerned expression. He asks Aldo about it and Aldo asks if Hardy is really going to continue this fight with the Cardinal Vestige. Hardy expresses his determination and that he’s going to be searching Elzion for a long while.

    If Cetie’s Another Style Quest has been completed before this, Aldo figures out that Hardy is doing all of this for Cetie. If not, Aldo asks if one person’s really going to make a big change against the Cardinal Vestige and Hardy reveals that he’s only going to be doing this at least until he frees his little bro from the Cardinal Vestige.

He shows that he’s determined to bring the Cardinal Vestige down even if it leads him in a dark path. Seeing Aldo’s concern only got him to say he's not asking for his help anymore as he doesn’t want Aldo to get involved, as this is his war to fight. However Aldo states that nothing has changed. He can’t promise that he won’t continue to help Hardy, as his Friend and Ally, he’s going to stop Hardy if he sees him go down a dark path and He’s willing to help Hardy anyway he can. Relieved Hardy asks if he’s sure he’s not going to regret this and Aldo insists he’ll be with him all the time. Hardy jokes at what a stubborn companion he got.

Episode: The Lost Tome and Silver Unfading Flower

(WIP)

Another Style: Transporter Side:H

(WIP)

Mythos: Apex of Logic and Cardinal Scales

Chapter 5

Hardy infiltrates the Midnight Sapient Complex in another attempt to stop Cetie and the Cardinal Vestige. He rescues Rovella from Cetie and Biaka and eventually teams up with Aldo and co. in order to stop the Cardinal Vestige’s plans. By the end of the episode Hardy attempts to reconcile with Cetie who refuses and runs away.

Chapter 6

Hardy along with his unnamed Organization was present during the Fight against the Golden Premaya that had infiltrated Elzion.

Gameplay

Normal Style

NS Hardy is a high-burst dps, meant to use fist-attacks (Dual volcano, Flare first Burning Blow) to reload on Heat Bullets and follow up with Blaze-Shot to deal a lot of damage. Furthermore, Hardy’s Blaze-Shot possesses the rare ability to break any zone.

As a support he can bring in the Fire-Zone, Buff Crit rate and Crit Damage up to 60%/80% respectively, and also provide a max 60% wind resistance buff from his skills and a 30% physical resistance buff from his VC

Another Style

His Another Style Counterpart is a Flash zone setter with less support capabilities and more consistent DPS. Hardy’s AS gameplay benefits from using the Another Force in the first turn to get all of his Heat Bullet stacks ready as Assault Gray’s doubled buff can only last before Hardy’s stacks are ready. As long as a Zone is Deployed, Eclipse Cannon can work as a High-Burst Follow-up after using an AF. (At the Cost of Breaking the Zone).

This skills costs 0 mp and can raise the AF gauge by a total of 25% in the Flash zone. Thanks to this, another gameplay Hardy AS can serve as a 0mp trash mob clearer. (Note that you’ll have to get used to the Flash zone animation playing every time if you’re using Hardy for this purpose)

Trivia

• Hardy appears in La Vie En Rose if the Player has Encountered Hardy as an ally.
  • Talking to him there reveals that he’s a Sweet Tooth. (This also adds the Sweet Tooth Personality to his Character board)
  • His dialogue also suggests that He and Gord used to be acquaintances, if not friends, before Gord fell from power
• While in the Game, Hardy uses only Heat Bullets, he’s shown to carry other ammo as well, such as Light Bullets and Smoke Bullets.
• Hardy is a Foil to Cetie as both grew up from the Slums and Have Robot Companions. Cetie works for the COA and upholds the law, while Hardy has no problem doing shady works and violating the law. Cetie works for the Cardinal Vestige while Hardy rebels against it, and they both are on pursuit for their own sense of justice
• Hardy’s Another Style move, ‘Desperado’ is based on another move with the same name and animation sequence, originally from Final Fantasy VIII which in that game was Laguna Loire’s Limit break