Walter "Dragonbeard" Berthout is the Banner (Right Hand) of Julia Clutine, representing Serhugh Group in the Council of Nobles. Known throughout Neo-Europa for his towering presence, regal bearing, and iconic beard, Walter has earned the nickname "Dragonbeard" not only for his appearance but for his unwavering dedication to honor, duty, and the ancient ideals of chivalry.
Walter is one of the most respected Banners among the Seven Families. He serves not only as a public diplomat and ceremonial figurehead for Serhugh Group but also as a moral anchor in a city increasingly governed by algorithms and myth.
Biography
Walter is descended from the reconstituted Berthout family, one of the historical noble lines of Brussels. Educated in both old-world military strategy and modern Veil diplomacy, he began his career in the Serhugh civil enforcement corps before being elevated to Banner by Julia Clutine after preventing a political assassination during a transport node crisis.
Though trained in ceremonial protocol, Walter is far from a figurehead. He has personally negotiated ceasefires, diffused convergence events, and stood his ground against both corporate saboteurs and Council overreach. While his Dagger counterpart handles covert affairs, Walter remains the visible shield of Serhugh Group’s public conscience.
Personality and Methods
Walter is a rare figure in Neo-Europa: a man who believes in virtue. He models himself after knights of old—not in nostalgia, but in active philosophy. He is measured, articulate, and physically imposing, standing nearly two meters tall with a deep, commanding voice. His signature beard—dark with streaks of silver—is both a symbol and a statement.
He does not believe in manipulation. He believes in presence.
His duties include:
- Representing Julia Clutine in public and ceremonial matters
- Defusing ideological crises through rhetoric and gesture
- Acting as an anchor in moral debates within the Council
- Serving as a stabilizing presence during high-risk missions
He is rarely armed but fully trained in defensive combat, including anti-ICE stance techniques for field deployment.
Relationship with Chiyo Matsumoto
Walter has formed a rare and powerful bond with Chiyo Matsumoto, the Dagger of Swert Systems. Initially perceived as ideological opposites—Walter, the open symbol of nobility; Chiyo, the quiet executor of hidden order—they became allies through shared missions and mutual trust.
Their relationship evolved into something deeper, defying Council expectations and withstanding algorithmic pressure during a test mission in ICE Lattice 32-K. Council observers noted that their emotional connection not only endured under pressure, but functioned as a non-predictable tactical advantage, giving rise to debate over the role of emotional bonds in operative strategy.
Notable Operations
- Floodline Directive – Co-led a mission with Chiyo Matsumoto to neutralize a rogue mythstream posing as Roland Weinvlit’s voice. Successfully prevented civilian indoctrination and dismantled the core node without casualties.
- ICE Lattice 32-K Convergence Test – Survived a Council-devised stress trial designed to break their coordination. Their success destabilized predictive models and forced policy revisions.
- Council Address: On Duty and Sentiment – Delivered a widely-circulated speech defending loyalty grounded in trust, not surveillance.
Traits and Equipment
- Wears high ceremonial coats lined with civic patches and family insignia
- Carries a collapsible kinetic shield, rarely drawn
- Known for his beard, often styled and maintained to legendary aesthetic effect
- Trained in Veil-field rhetoric and non-lethal crowd control
- Keeps a notebook of quotes, aphorisms, and personal reflections, written by hand
Quotes
- “Chivalry is not a relic. It’s a refusal to surrender one’s dignity to convenience.”
- “If I love her, it is not because she is soft. It is because she is steel that chooses not to cut.”
- “We stand so others may not have to.”