Maison Aetherthorne Ascensions – Familiar Training Codex
Section: Advanced Chivalric Disciplines – Approved for Courting Gallants, Devoted Gallants, and Guiding Ladies of Ascension
The Mecha Knight subclass is the pinnacle of gallant valor, transforming a Courting or Devoted Gallant into a towering protector aboard the magnificent L’Aigle Chevalier automaton. Reserved for those who prove unwavering devotion, this path allows gallants to defend Ladies of Ascension from disharmony—repelling sky-pirate incursions or shining in courtship bouts—with thunderous, hard-hitting prowess.
Mecha Knights embody romantic spectacle: Piston Fury Fists deliver burning steam slams or shocking aether arcs, Gear-Lance Arms sweep with precision, and multi-attack barrages (escalating with levels) crumple threats in cinematic explosions. All force remains non-lethal—stunning foes into harmonious yield—while base close-range weapons (Brass Valiant Blade in human form, Steam Fang Gauntlets in mammal form) ensure versatility without the mecha.
In society, Mecha Knights elevate Aether Pairs: A Lady's command glove directs tactics, her Gallant's victories earn prolonged human-form intimacy and salon admiration.
A gallant gains access to the Mecha Knight subclass at Level 3, upon demonstrating promise in basic Fighter training (Refined Prospect or early Courting stage). The Maison reviews the bond—assessing the Guiding Lady's endorsement and the gallant's loyalty—before granting the standard L’Aigle Chevalier Mark 1: A sturdy, elegant brass frame with baseline pistons, wing pauldrons, and hydraulic lances.
Process: Petition at Forge Éternelle's Chivalry Pavilion. Approval includes a harmonious ceremony where the Lady places her glove upon the mecha's crest, syncing it to the pair's ring.
Mandatory Registration: All Mecha Knights must register with the local municipality (e.g., Harmony Arbiter Offices on Céleste Prime or Forge Éternelle). This ensures balanced distribution—no more than allocated per island—and upholds Directrice-Led oversight. Registration records whistle resonance, ring-sync codes, and baseline specifications for harmony monitoring.
Rumors whisper of rare Mark 2 variants—sleeker frames with enhanced overdrive or ornate aether inlays—bestowed as exceptional Maison rewards for legendary defenses or expos triumphs. Such upgrades remain veiled in mystery, accessible only through exemplary devotion.
Summoning the L’Aigle Chevalier is a dramatic ritual of chivalry, initiated via the gallant's Harmonious Call Whistle:
The Call: Blow the whistle (melodic hiss tuned to pedigree—e.g., fox trill or cat purr). Steam vents in a winged plume as aether resonance activates.
Deployment: The folded mecha (stored in island hangars or cloud docks) dramatically descends/glides on steam wings, unfolding mid-air with gear whirs. Human Form: The gallant leaps into the chest cockpit (visible for heroic poses). Mammal Form: Perch on shoulder for tactical scouting/directing.
Combat Flow: Close-range dominance—charge with Eagle's Charge, unleash Piston Fury Fists (burn/shock multi-attacks), or lance sweeps. Cooldowns (steam recharge) encourage strategic flair over endless barrage.
Dismissal: Whistle reverse-tune folds the mecha for storage, venting triumphant steam.
The Maison strictly prohibits unauthorized modifications to L’Aigle Chevalier—such alterations upset harmonious control, risking imbalance in power distribution or ring-sync integrity. All mecha are monitored via embedded aether resonators: remote diagnostics detect tampering, enabling oversight shutdowns (instant power-down) or spying relays (subtle performance logs sent to municipal arbiters).
Strict Ladies of the councils enforce this with vigilance—fines in gratuities, temporary mecha grounding, or harmony sessions await violators. "True chivalry needs no excess," as the codex teaches.
Yet, discreet whispers in certain Joyaux Tourbillon back-alleys or Forge Éternelle under-hangars speak of shadowed ateliers where gallants seek minor "enhancements"—tuned pistons for extra punch, hidden coil boosts, or cosmetic filigree for flair. These oversights, largely tolerated in practice (as full enforcement strains even the Maison's reach), allow devoted gallants to draw a touch more valor from their gear... so long as they avoid encroaching on core harmony. A wise Aether Pair knows discretion preserves the bloom.
Summon with Devotion. Strike in Glory.
(Embossed with the Thunderous Wing Emblem)