Firebrand:

Firebrand, from the Demon's Crest and Gargoyle's Quest games, is one of my favorite characters. He fights only for fighting's sakes, and few can best him. In FB, however, that begins to change when a paladin stops him from killing a town's champion. The paladin then sacrifices his life against slavers to keep Firebrand from being taken. In other words, the paladin hated not the demon, but wished to turn him into something greater than an insane berserker. He then met Fred, who reminded him exactly of that paladin. Soon, a friendship started, and that friendship would eventually change Firebrand permanently into a much better person. He fought not only for fighting's sake, but now fought for his friends.

Later in the game, Striker destroys the Demon Temple. Firebrand engages in a brutal mano-a-mano fight with Striker and emerges victorious. He becomes the Demon's Temple Champion. He gets his ULB here.

Abilities:

Aerial Gargoyle: Originally, Firebrand cannot fly upwards, but merely hover. In order to be fair and logical, Firebrand can fly upwards, but the Aerial Gargoyle adds speed, altitude and control, in addition to a cutting wind breath capable of tearing vines and ropes in half (giving it armor-piercing capacity)! Some other considerations:

• The Aerial Gargoyle's jagged, rough body adds some damage to hand-to-hand.
• The Aerial Gargoyle is more skeletal and fragile.
• The Aerial Gargoyle is somewhat faster.

Angel Gargoyle: Firebrand's Heaven transformation (unseen in the game, as one just gets the Infinity Crest simultaneously with the Heaven Crest) resembles an angel. After becoming the Demon Realms' Champion, this angel similarity is strengthened. Of course, if Firebrand is an Ultimate Gargoyle, it's a moot point.

Brawler Gargoyle: Firebrand becomes leaner and even better at hand-to-hand combat.

Buster: This more powerful fireball does slightly more damage (I believe) and has the added advantage of being able to blow down walls!

Claw: Firebrand may launch a gooey substance that does some damage, but mainly is designed to enable him to perch onto walls. As Ultimate Gargoyle, it can be worked up to a gooey, resin-like substance that slows enemies down ala spider web.

Cluster Fireball: Firebrand launches a number of fireballs to hit an enemy.

Commando Gargoyle: Firebrand immediately dons kevlar-like armor and gets two subs, regardless of other equipment. His gun skills are boosted and his fireball becomes a flamethrower-like blast.

Crystal Gargoyle: If Firebrand applies crystal knowledge to his body, he can gain a crystal transformation. Here are appropriate changes:

• Fireball replaced with laser blast. The laser blast does less damage, but is more suitable as a sniper or armor-piercing weapon.
• Firebrand can take light going through him and refract it to make his entire body blinding.
• By using the opposite of the previous, Firebrand "chameleonizes".
• The jagged body adds to HTH damage.
• Firebrand gains some HP but becomes a bit more fragile (less defense).
• Firebrand becomes faster and has perception bonuses.
• The inorganicness of the body adds to saves vs. magic, psi, pain, poison, radiation, cold, and fire, and so on.
• The Crystal Gargoyle flies slightly faster.
• The automatic refraction effect greatly disperses lasers and interferes with other energy attacks, with a small interference with particle beams (smaller than an ionic or plasma hit).
• Firebrand can shatter off parts of his crystalline body, with the effect of either a small glass explosion or a quite big shrapnel hit. Some damage is incurred from this.

Dark Spirit Bomb: Similar to Gokuh's Spirit Bomb, this draws upon the power of the demon's spirits to bombard the enemy into submission. Accessible only after Firebrand becomes the Demon's Temple Champion.

Ghost Travel: This is another of Firebrand's abilities and basically makes a ghostly apparition of Firebrand to scout. Firebrand can work this up to the DBZ equivalent of the Split Form technique.

Giant Gargoyle: Firebrand gains the ability to grow to astounding heights.

Ground Gargoyle: Firebrand can transform into the Ground Gargoyle. This is the first and easiest transformation. Firebrand's breath becomes a ground-travelling shockwave; it is speedier than the regular fireball (or so it appears). However, the Ground Gargoyle's main ability is a powerful ramming motion that breaks statues and piles impervious to breath! Firebrand is quite strong anyways, but this enhances his strength. Unfortunately, the ram appears to do no damage, but as this makes little to no sense, the ram attack can be used as a hit in my game, especially if combined with heat powers to make a flaming shockwave (ala Limit Break).

Guardian Gargoyle: If Firebrand visits the Demon Temple before it's destruction by Striker (which is possible to do), he does not receive Ultimate Gargoyle, but gets this lesser morph instead. This does not mean that Striker cannot attack later. The Guardian Gargoyle is a massive Sentinel-like creature designed to protect an area; Firebrand basically becomes a walking wall. As Ultimate Gargoyle, the strength and forcefield/invulnerability abilities are accomodated, with only a moderate size increase.

• Firebrand becomes 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide; effectively a walking wall. With this comes bonuses to strength, endurance and HP.
• Firebrand's intelligence, agility and range of sight drops. However, his capacity for detailed view does increase (making him quite shortsighted).
• Firebrand can make powerful barriers and force blasts.
• Firebrand has no breath weapon or flight.
• Firebrand's main ability as Guardian is to become completely invulnerable after a one-turn charge!

Heat Drain: Firebrand learns, when he expands into DBZ fighting (only accessible after receiving Ultimate Gargoyle), to take all the heat from an area, condense it, and make it into a super-heat blast. This has a three-fold purpose. First of all, it enables Firebrand to turn the destructive energy of other foe's fire attacks into a energy to hit them. Second of all, the draining of heat can bring the air around people to absolute zero! This has a habit of stopping enemies in their tracks. And, of course, the heat blast does massive damage for relatively little energy. It can even be used to subdue such enemies as the Absorbing Man!

Homing Fire: One of Firebrand's older abilities was the ability to make his breath attacks home onto enemies. Firebrand can work this up, as well. It becomes a sort of smart missile capable of speeding up, slowing down, rounding corners, identifying friend-or-foe, and so on.

Legendary Gargoyle: This gargoyle transformation is the final transformation. The fireballs do about 3-4 times more damage (I side to 4) and Firebrand has double the HP.

Madrush Gargoyle: In order to get this morph, one needs Gundam Madrush and have to have developed, to some extent, some of the following: Giant, Techno, and/or Ultimate Gargoyles. Quite simply, Gundam Madrush disappears and is absorbed into Firebrand!

Magma Gargoyle: Firebrand turns red, starts glowing, and spits magma balls. He can swim through lava and such.

Metal Gargoyle: Firebrand's equivalent of Metal Mario. Obvious bonuses include enhanced damage and HP; obvious penalties include agility and speed. Other considerations:

• Firebrand can fly in this form, but is slowed down.
• Firebrand sinks to the bottom of water or other lighter-than-metal liquids. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing.
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Screeching Gargoyle: This gargoyle can do war cries similar to those of the Barbarian in Diablo II®. Such cries including wails to shatter the ears (and inflict damage, of course), war cries to do the same thing with sheer volume and bassness, and signaling cries.

Stone Gargoyle: Firebrand transforms into a stone gargoyle, much like the old types. In this state, he can solidify even more and become a disguised statue.

Techno Gargoyle:

Tidal Gargoyle: Firebrand learns to transform into an aquatic-looking gargoyle, which gives him a water breath with the power of the Buster (extremely useful in and of itself) and the capacity to swim at indefinite pressures underwater without drowning!

Tornado: Regrettably, all this attack does is do some minor damage and serve as a stepping stone, allowing Firebrand to make a staircase. Firebrand can work it up to an Arma-level massive moving tornado (even goes back and forth!) to crush enemies!

Element Granted by Spekkio:

Fire.

Limit Breaks:

L1:

Big Fire: A large fireball is launched at the enemy.

Hot Hand: Firebrand rushes at enemy with a very hot hand.

Fire Wave: Firebrand turns one of his fireballs into a wave of heat.

Flame Ram: Firebrand jumps up, fire gathers around his body

L2:

Rasping Fire: Firebrand does Rasp (makes enemy lose MP) and does fire damage.

Napalm Dust: Firebrand spits bunch of fire sparks into hand, then throws them.

Friction Kick: Firebrand runs really quickly, then jumps and hits his enemy with a sudden shockwave of fire.

Flame Shadow: Firebrand creates a "shadow" of himself made out of flame.

Majestic Flame: Firebrand creates a really powerful flame on finger, then flies and buries itself into opponent's head.

Drill Comet: Firebrand slams into enemy and causes tons of fiery shockwaves to bury them into the ground)

L3:

Meteorbrand: Firebrand leaps up high, then spits volleys of huge fireballs.

Fire Gunge: Firebrand creates a bigass fire spear and impales the enemy with it by throwing it.

Thousand Claws: Firebrand slices enemy 1000 times. Inspired by Cactuar's Thousand Needles/Blowfish.

Bloodslake: Firebrand reduces enemy to same percentage of health that he is at. EXTREMELY good.

Sol Flare: Firebrand directs sunflare to hit enemy.

Brand Rocket: Firebrand grabs enemy with feet while blasting off like a rocket, thus burning enemy, then reaches top and fires a fiery rocket to imbed into the earth.

Brand Tsunami: Firebrand spits a constant stream of deadly magma.

Harvester of Sorrow: The damage the enemy has taken Firebrand gains as health. In order to get it, you must listen to Harvester of Sorrow in FB with Firebrand on your team and have him develop it.

L4-9:

Armageddon Now: Firebrand charges up a fireball and lets it loose. It causes a huge explosion.

ULB:

Infinity Gargoyle: The ruins of the Demon's Temple and the majestic cliffs of the Demon and Human Realms appear. Firebrand arises out of pure purple flame. As soon as he comes out, a flaming infinity sign engulfs the screen. He turns around and roars at his defying enemy, then blasts a massive stream of ultimate flame at the target. He follows with a brutal shoulder slam and a claw.

Ultimate Personal Power:

In order to gain UPP, visit the Demon's Temple in the Demon Realm. Striker will be there, destroying the temple. Firebrand and Striker fight in close, hand-to-hand combat and beat Striker. A cinema scene follows: Firebrand and Striker fall into the Valley of the Temple. Fred waits, but the energies let loose by the temple's destruction have filled the Valley with deadly maelstroms of energy capable of destroying the hardiest warriors. Firebrand exceeds the survival time; Fred still waits. The others leave; Fred still waits. Finally, Fred looks up, begins to turn around, and then notices a battered body fly up out of the Valley. Poor Striker is getting whomped, but by who?.... And Firebrand emerges, purple and badass to the extreme, the Ultimate Gargoyle. He throws Striker into the forge of the Demon's Temple, then receives the blessing of the Temple. He takes the weapons, ULB and UPP offered by the temple.

Ultimate Gargoyle: Firebrand's Ultimate Gargoyle transformation is even more impressive than in the game, as he had to earn it. Here are the ways to accomodate all of Firebrand's myriad abilities:

• Aerial: Firebrand's fireball gains the cutting capacity of the Aerial Gargoyle, along with the enhanced flying skill.
• Angel: Firebrand's Gargoyle Sword also has the holy Archangel sword effect (see Tyriel fight Diablo in Diablo II if you want to see an Archangel fight). Firebrand's Ultimate Gargoyle effect gains the enhanced charisma bonuses and the holy combat capacities; in addition, the unholy aspects of his demon heritage are kept also, meaning the Ultimate Gargoyle is capable of fighting on both sides of the track.
• Crystal: Firebrand gains the chameleon abilities, the crystal shatter, the enhanced bonuses from the inorganic status, and pretty much everything else except for the full appearance. Firebrand's Ultimate Gargoyle skin does have some evidence of a crystalline formation, although it is still "soft" muscle tissue.
• Fireball: Firebrand's fireballs are a melding of all different types. Firebrand's regular fireball has a charge, a Buster feature, the Aerial cutting capacity and the Homing Fire effect. The Claw effect will automatically activate on walls (unless not desired) and also will activate on enemies (trapping them). The flamethrower breath of Techno and Commando is a different type, but has all the same features, and the ordinary fireball can have an immolation factor. The damage type can be normal, holy, unholy, fire, or energy. The Crystal Gargoyle laser blast is different, but has all the same features (the Claw effect makes a sort of red Maelstrom crystal). The fireball can instantly become a ground-based shockwave at any time during it's flight, ala Ground Gargoyle. The fireball can achieve the base Tornado effect in mid-flight; the Arma-style Tornado is a different move.
• Giant: Firebrand can grow at will.
• Ground: Firebrand's strength and ram is carried over.
• Legendary: The enhanced HP and fireball damage, along with the supreme headbutt and rough facial appearance, remain.
• Madrush: Firebrand can transform into Madrush at any time.
• Techno: The weaponry becomes natural (but with identical characteristics) and the Control Complex Machines aspect is carried over. In addition, Firebrand's skin becomes armor-plated in battle.
• Tidal: Firebrand gets the underwater bonuses of Tidal and

Ultimate Equipment:

Gargoyle's Armor: Extremely tough defense plus the half damage effect of the Armor Talisman.

Gargoyle's Axes: Two bigass axes. Pretty cool, but the sword has more range than both and is more agile.

Gargoyle's Cloak: A hiding, concealing cloak, making it easier to travel with Firebrand, and allowing him stealth abilities. Also adds armor power.

Gargoyle's Crown: The Crown Talisman transformed into a permanent piece of Firebrand's head. When necessary, sharp metallic blades come from Firebrand's head. It has the power of the Crown to increase money gain.

Gargoyle's Fangs: Firebrand's bite does much, much more damage, and it has the x2 damage effect of the Fang Talisman.

Gargoyle's Fire: Extremely powerful fire. Can be made into tornados to stand on, can be made to seek, can make safe spots to stand on spiky walls, can break through blocks, and can be charged. Cool.

Gargoyle's Hands: Firebrand's ultimate claws do brutal hand-to-hand damage and have the effect of Firebrand's Hand Talisman to increase the firing rate of Firebrand's fire.

Gargoyle's Shield: A big shield with a demonic face. This face spews fire. Beware, though: only one Axe or the Sword (but with worse use) may be equipped along with the Shield.

Gargoyle's Skull: While the Crown focused on offensive stuff, the Skull is the more defensive of the two. It also increases health gains and items for Firebrand.

Gargoyle's Sword: A sweet sword.

Gargoyle's Wings: Much more agile, speedy and combat-deadly wings.

All of the above are obtained from the Demons' Temple.

Firebrand Hammer: Firebrand must do a long trading sequence (ala Link) to get this, but when he does, he gets a useful hammer that makes intense heat to make shockwaves and to pummel things.

1. The hammer can make fiery shockwaves along walls and the ground, and even one's enemy!
2.  

Firebrand Shotgun: A small little side quest. Go and recover a demon family's only shotgun from powerful bandits. The shotgun turns out to be Firebrand's Shotgun. It fires regular or ultimate shells until it runs out, then it fires from Firebrand's own fire supply. All of the shotgun buckshot pieces are enchanted with fire.

Fire Gunge: The Fire Gunge LB as a weapon. Very cool spear. It can be summoned after research and levels.

Madrush: Firebrand can decide to build a mech, Gundam, etc. This is the likely design:

• Extra large energy axe
• Detachable forearm minigun on one arm
• Detachable flamethrower gauntlet and buster shield on another arm (two different systems)
• Specialized wings: forcefield, vibro-blades for slashing, cloaking field, boosters
• Energy claws and talons
• Horns
• Knee mini-missiles
• Chest energy cannon
• Shoulder-mounted missiles

Firebrand's strategy: Rush up to an enemy using cloaking or do a blitzkrieg running dash, then rip enemies to shreds with axe, horns and claws.

Super-Knuckles: Super brass knuckles with stun, electric, spike, drill, and so on capabilities. Fight for it at the Battle Arena of the Ultimate Shop (quite similar to FF7's Battle Arena.)

Reviews:

Fred: I may be alone, but I like him. His Crests give him variety; the Tidal Gargoyle, the Ground Gargoyle, and especially the Ultimate Gargoyle. His talismans offer him double damage or resistance. He is immensely physically strong, strong enough to stand up to Goris the Death Claw. Furthermore, he develops an aptitude for heavy weapons. Try him out.

Ending:

Firebrand stands at the ruined grounds of the Temple. He pulls aside the rubble, makes his way to the Valley of the Demons, and gathers the maelstrom there. Firebrand then moves off. His friends stand in the distance. He meditates, closes his eyes, and the screen goes black. When he opens his eyes, the Temple is completed, grander than it ever was before. Firebrand begins to walk off, but a sound catches his attention. A statue of Firebrand in all his ultimate glory appears in the main hall, the dominating figure. Firebrand smiles a toothy smile and rejoins his friends.