Crow Armbrust (クロウ・アームブラスト) is introduced as a student at Thors Military Academy's Class V and a member of the ARCUS test team alongside Towa Herschel, George Nome and Angelica Rogner. He later became a member of Class VII.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Crow is a young man with messy gray hair and red eyes. As a student of Thors Military Academy, he wore a commoner uniform consisting of a green and white blazer (worn unbuttoned and loosely) over a similarly styled pinstriped white shirt and blue tie. He wore khaki pants with brown laced-up boots worn over them, and carried two silver orbal pistols.
As C, or the Azure Chevalier, Crow wore a long brown overcoat with a azure pinstriped lining over a pinstriped crimson shirt, black trousers and boots. He brought out a double-sabre, a double-ended weapon with red handles and long blades on each side. He now wears a black headband in place of his old white one.
Siegfried is a mysterious masked man with stark white hair who wields a pair of asymmetrical golden guns. He wears a form-fitting black costume with several white crosses and a long azure coat with a tall upturned collar, violet lining, thigh high black boots and crossed gray belts.
Losing the headband and letting his hair (which is white during the Great Twilight) grow out a little bit, Crow now wears a long beige coat with a fur lined collar. He wears this over a white shirt and sleeveless azure sweater with a large white belt with a golden buckle. He uses both weapons, his saber and pistols interchangeably.
Personality[]
Despite being a laid-back playboy who frequently missed lessons, Crow was highly dependable and cared greatly for his friends. Towards the end of his second year, circumstances led to him becoming a member of Class VII, wherein he developed a close bond in particular with Rean Schwarzer.
Background[]
Crow was born in Jurai City in S.1184. He lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandfather, the mayor of Jurai.
After the merging of Jurai as a Special Economic Zone with Erebonia in S.1196 and the death of his grandfather shortly thereafter, the 13-year-old Crow left Jurai to wander through Erebonia.
Trails of Cold Steel[]
Crow enrolled at Thors Military Academy. Along with Towa Herschel, George Nome and Angelica Rogner, Crow tested the ARCUS prototypes for Class VII in the following year.
As a renowned slacker, he missed numerous classes and risked suspension. Thanks to Instructor Sara Valestein, he was given a second chance to graduate and transferred to Class VII during the summer of S.1204. During these months, he juggled between his roles as a member of Class VII and Comrade C (シー), the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front. Crow was also the Azure Chevalier (蒼の騎士) as he was the Awakener for Ordine, the Azure Divine Knight.
Crow was able to handle the role of both a student and Comrade C. When Millium Orion joined Class VII alongside him, Crow became more cautious, knowing that she was a member of the Intelligence Division, who were trying to figure out C's identity. Despite her presence, Crow was able to throw off the Intelligence Division by faking his death as Comrade C in Roer. It was only until he left for Heimdallr to "attend" Osborne's speech that the Intelligence Division realized that he was C. Crow sniped Osborne with a sniper rifle developed by Reinford's 5th Division. With the chaos it spawned, Crow's shot marked the beginning of the Erebonian Civil War.
With his work in Heimdallr completed, Crow traveled to Trista in Ordine to back up the Noble Alliance's Panzer Soldats. There he came to face Rean Schwarzer, Awakener of Valimar, the Ashen Knight. Crow's three years of experience piloting Ordine allowed him to completely overwhelm Rean, who was forced to withdraw.
Trails of Cold Steel II[]
After the apparent death of Osborne, he chose to let his classmates in Class VII live instead of depriving them of their lives. He anonymously informed Toval about the location of Rean's coma, hinting that Crow still cares for Rean despite them being enemies. Later on, Crow and his comrades invaded Ymir, where Class VII secretly stayed. He fought Rean again piloting their respective Deus Excellion and was again victorious. He lastly escorted Rean to Pantagruel under the supreme leader's order.
When Rean was "invited" to the Pantagruel, he responded to Rean's request and talked to him about his past experiences, including the death of his beloved grandfather, the establishment of the Imperial Liberation Front, and his acquirement of the Azure Knight, Ordine. Shortly later, Rean (in his ogre form) and Crow had a one-on-one battle on the deck of the Pantagruel. Crow lost, but Rean immediately lost power and became exhausted due to being inexperienced with his ogre power.
Alongside Vita, Crow faced Class VII at the final stratum of the Infernal Castle. Afterwards, Crow and Rean entered their Divine Knights and had one more battle. This time, due to Rean gathering more experience with his Divine Knights and being able to use the power of his friends, he was able to defeat Crow. After this happened, Cayenne forcibly has Cedric summon Testa-Rossa, the Vermillion Knight. Crow and Ordine helped Rean and Valimar defeat the beast, but this costs Crow his life as he is impaled through the heart in the process. Class VII is tearful at seeing their old friend die.
Shortly after his death, it is revealed that Osborne had survived Crow's assassination attempt and had been hiding in secret all this time, which meant that Crow's efforts had gone to waste.
Trails of Cold Steel III[]
Because he was an Awakener with an intact Divine Knight, Crow had not truly died: thanks to the efforts of Gnome chief Black Alberich (who buried a mock body), Crow was eventually able to come back to life as Azure Siegfried. Siegfried bore Crow's appearance, voice and most of his mannerisms (aside his altruism), but lacked his memories. Siegfried appeared to Class VII a number of times over the course of the game, being very cryptic as to his purpose, and shocking them due to his obvious resemblance to Crow. He commented to Class VII that George Nome - who ironically, was Crow's former friend and also revealed to be a Gnome at this point - had "picked up" his life and that he "may be a cheap knockoff, but [needs] to pay his respects to Alberich either way", showing that he was aware he was a clone and was loyal to Alberich out of gratitude.
Siegfried appears at a distance on the top of the Stargazer's Tower. He is operating for a faction separate from the Imperial Army, the jaeger corps or Ouroboros. He appears in different locations across Erebonia to observe the actions of the Thors Branch Campus. He is accompanied by a mysterious orb that provides him with instructions as it floats mid-air besides him, wielding technologies not associated with the known manufacturers. He strongly resembles the deceased Crow Armbrust and can summon the Azure Knight, Ordine, which is later confirmed to be missing from where it was being kept in Garrelia Fortress.
Siegfried is encountered watching the party in the Sol Shrine, and then again outside the Juno Naval Fortress with Zephyr and Nidhoggr. They don't attack on the premise of Class VII stating they can handle it, but only after a 'leader' figure like Aurelia Le Guin joins with them. Siegfried has a one-to one showdown with Rean Schwarzer in the catacombs of Heimdallr (ironically the same location Crow first battled Rean when he was masked as C) after they put Zoro-Agruga to rest, but leaves afterwards in Ordine.
He later fought alongside Rutger Claussell, Shirley Orlando, and Sharon Kreuger in the second roadblock at the Gral of Erebos. After the Great Twilight broke out following Rean and Valimar's destruction of the Nameless One, Crow's memories finally returned and he discarded his mask. When he witnessed the two about to attack Alberich and Osborne, he summoned Ordine and, alongside fellow Awakeners Rutger and Arianrhod, helped restrain a berserk Rean. Osborne then summoned Ishmelga, and together with Cedric Reise Arnor, this made six Awakeners present.
Trails of Cold Steel IV[]
With his debt to Alberich paid, Crow decided to defect alongside Duvalie in order to help a berserk Rean to escape from the Black Workshop. After the successful escape, Rean asked Crow to join his group, but Crow denied, instructing Rean to meet him at Bryonia Island. There, they held the first Rivalry. Like all Immortals, Crow is suicidal and requests Rean to finish his “pathetic” self during the fight.
When he loses after the battle, Crow was seen muttering “haha, is this as far as I go?”, meaning he is ready to accept his death and let Valimar absorb Ordine as a final gift for Rean, giving him a headstart in future Rivalries. Crow then starts fading, not before passing his final words to the entirety of Class VII, in which he was sorry to let them witness his death again. Class VII tried to convince him that he still needs to settle things with George, Angelica and Towa, along with their care for him as a member of Class VII, but to no avail.
Rean then reappears, telling Crow that he is being selfish, and he swears he won’t let Crow go until he has repaid the interest for the 50 mira he owes from 2 years ago. Rean then stopped absorbing Ordine’s essence and starts reversing the energy flow, making Crow and Ordine retainers of Valimar in exchange. Crow is seen having a face of guilt, as he knows he is taking the "easy way out" and finally realizes his role and how important he is to Class VII members. Crow, however, would still vanish after the Great Twilight concluded. Crow then decided to join Rean's group to stop the Great Twilight, assisting him in the remaining Rivalries to come. As for the reason(s) why Crow had a change of mind; it could be debated that either he has no other choice but to stick to Class VII to redeem himself, or the fact that Crow is touched by Rean for choosing his life over power, therefore he tries to repay Rean for his kindness.
During Class VII's infiltration in Ordis, Crow helped the group sneak into the Cayenne mansion using the city's underground sewer system, having kept the key Vita gave him years ago for his trial to obtain Ordine. Upon arriving at the great hall, Crow asks Rean to handle the Soldat fight as he wishes to strengthen his relationship with the new Class VII. He then called Ordine and was assisted by one of New Class VII's Panzer Soldats, defeating the two Zauber Soldats standing guard inside - a Melgea and a Sorge. He later revealed himself to Towa, who was surprised but relieved to see him again as a member of Class VII. He also helps in assisting Angelica regain her memories back, breaking her mask in the process.
Crow next makes a role was during the infiltration of the Gargantua, where he offers to distract the ship’s cannon fire with Ordine, allowing Class VII along with Angelica to infiltrate the vessel. After the victory against Copper Georg and Kreuger. Crow, along with Towa, Angelica and Sara told George to be honest with himself, and atoning for his crimes is never too late. Crow adds on by saying that he is always ready to take on any punishment because of what he did as C.
The day before the World War, Crow arrived with his friends at Mishelam Wonderland. After Towa told the three that they had to shape up as Thors graduates, Crow proudly stated that he was exempt as he had not graduated. Towa then stated that he could re-enroll with his credits retained, suggesting that it would be best if she and Rean were his instructors, much to his discontent.
Following the Rivalry between Rean and Osborne, Rean begins to get corrupted by Ishmelga. In the normal ending of the game, Crow sacrifices himself alongside Rean and Millium to stop Ishmelga for good by attempting to send the evil into space, separating it from Erebonia. In the true ending of the game, Rean remembers the Earthen Prison provided by Argres and drags Ishmelga out into the real world, where the strongest fighters in the world face Ishmelga. After an intense battle, Ishmelga is eventually destroyed and with the conclusion of the Great Twilight, Crow begins to fade away, requesting Class VII not to be sad but to send him off with smiles like what Fie did towards Rutger. However, but Franz Reinford (the true, repressed personality within Black Alberich) appears and told them not to feel so depressed yet and along with the help of Vita, Roselia and the Divine Knights used Sept-Terrions' Sacrament Programs to revive him and Millium, as a reward for assisting Rean during the Rivalries. Crow appeared to be unamused with his revival, having intended to go out with a bang.
He later attends the Imperial wedding of Olivert Reise Arnor and Scherazard Harvey alongside George, Angelica, and Towa.
Trails into Reverie[]
Sometime after the Great War, Crow returned to Jurai to help with the economic situation the city was still suffering from. He also became acquainted with Stark, a Jurai citizen who had enrolled in the branch campus. He also collaborated with Makarov on the Tyrfing project, gaining a new Soldat model 'Tyrfing X' which he used in testing against Rean. At another point, he had a reunion with the former members of Class VII, Towa, George, and Angelica.
When he learned that someone was impersonating him as leader of the "Reborn Imperial Liberation Front", Crow returned to Erebonia to deal with the imposter. He ran into the imposter and their group at Himmel Cemetery, managing to stall them long enough for Rean and the others to arrive. In the ensuing battle, the imposter's mask was broken by Jusis and revealed to be Rufus Albarea; Crow was surprised by the unexpected turn of events.
Crow accompanies Rean's party in the mission to retrieve the Sonorous Seashell from Mishelam Wonderland. Whilst there, they confront a series of mechanical Gargoyles, one of which Crow helps to defeat in the Horror Coaster after he avoids taking the ride. After defeating Mecha-Mishy, they entered a form of the Spirit World inside the Castle of Mirrors and temporarily get separated. Rean finds Crow but is narrowly saved from attack when another Crow, the real one, saves him from a simulacrum of himself.
Story of Joining Sora's Team[]
Crow joined Sora's team with his friends to atone for his past actions, especially he is the mortal enemy of Xehanort, Malty, the king, and other villains, especially he hates Lila Rossi, Chloe, and other villains as traitors because of the actions of Chloe, Lila, and other villains that remembering himself in the past, especially He is friends with Felix Fathom, Takatou Yogiri, Karma Akabane, Eua, Riku, Roxas, and other Heroes who are similar to him, especially He becomes a teacher of young Heroes, and Class 3-E about using Guns, especially He is Black Dahlia archenemy, He is just like His friend as Sea of Fragments guest that invited by Eua, and Hanyuu.