Dell Colby (DitR character)

Dell Colby is a student currently attending Beacon Academy and is one of the main protagonists of Ash Winters' FanFiction, DMND in the Rough. His weapons of choice are Twin Pistol Sabre Hybrids, named Onyx &amp; Obsidian , and a set of Gravity Dust Throwing Knives, named  Wolf's Claws. Onyx & Obsidian's sabre forms can combine to form a broadsword, named Ebony Shadow.

He first appears in the chapter Prelude 1: Diopside, where he and his then-partner, Amara North, raid a Schnee Dust Company freight train to gain Dust and weapons for the Moonlighters (see Trivia). After returning from a mission, Dell was accepted into Beacon Academy, where he becomes the leader of Team DMND, comprised of himself, Aurelius Morningstar, Nick Wilder and Durian Acier.

Appearance
Dell is a fairly tall, well-built young man with short, spiky onyx black hair with obsidian grey tips, and dark cyan-blue eyes. He also has quite pale skin, common to people from Atlas. His Faunus trait is a pair of onyx black & obsidian grey wolf ears. Dell also has a prosthetic left arm, coloured onyx black with shadow blue accents. Additionally, he has a stylised howling wolf tattoo on his right shoulder, coloured in dark cyan-blue. Dell also has the Moonlighters emblem tattooed on his left pectoral, following the tradition for the members, in light grey with a dark cyan-blue interior.

Casual Outfit
Dell wears an onyx black leather jacket with dark cyan-blue cuffs over a modified shadow blue long-sleeved shirt with obsidian grey sleeves, as well as obsidian grey trousers and a pair of onyx black motorcycle boots. When riding his motorcycle, he also wears an onyx black helmet that somewhat resembles a wolf's head. His emblem, a stylised wolf's head, is printed on the back of his jacket in dark cyan-blue. It is also engraved into the soles of his boots.

Pyjamas
Dell's pyjamas consist of a shadow blue camouflage-print T-shirt with an obsidian grey hood, and a pair of loose onyx black & dark cyan-blue pants with camouflage patterns on the lower legs.

Combat Outfit
Dell's combat attire is similar to his casual outfit, only swapping his jacket with onyx black and dark cyan-blue armour covering his chest, shoulders and right forearm.

Beacon Uniform
Dell wears the standard male uniform of Beacon, consisting of a white dress shirt, red necktie, blue vest, black trousers and a black blazer trimmed in gold, as well as a pair of black dress shoes.

Alternate Outfit: 'Tracker'
Dell's alternate outfit consists of an onyx black jacket with obsidian grey sleeves and light cyan-blue buttons over a light cyan-blue T-shirt with shadow blue sleeves, dark cyan-blue trousers and light cyan-blue boots with onyx black soles. Also, Dell wears a set of shadow blue contact lenses to disguise himself. An image of a howling wolf, identical to his tattoo, is printed in light cyan-blue on the left side of the jacket.

Formal Attire
During formal events, such as the Beacon Dance, Dell wears a 3-piece suit comprised of a shadow blue dress shirt, an obsidian grey vest with shadow blue buttons, onyx black trousers and a matching blazer and necktie. He also wears a dark cyan-blue belt and a pair of obsidian grey dress shoes.

Atlas Outfit
After transferring to Atlas Academy post-Fall of Beacon, Dell's outfit is now more suited for the colder climate. His old undershirt is now lightly armoured, and his jacket has been replaced by an onyx black duster jacket with obsidian grey padded shoulders and dark cyan-blue accents & lining. Dell's shoes have also been changed, now bearing more similarities to his 'Tracker' boots, and are now shadow blue with onyx black soles. His wolf's head emblem is printed on the back of his jacket in dark cyan-blue; it is also engraved into the soles of his boots.

Atlas Uniform
During his time as a student at Atlas Academy, Dell wears the male uniform of a white long-sleeved shirt with a grey pocket-vest jacket on top, as well as a pair of white gloves and a dark grey tie. He also wears long white trousers and a pair of dark grey dress shoes.

Pre-Beacon
The son of an all-Faunus team that graduated Atlas Academy, Dell always envisioned himself as a Huntsman. Growing up with these role models, it's easy to see where he picked up his desire to be a Huntsman from. Dell was trained by all 4 members of the team as soon as he was allowed, alongside the other 2 members' daughter Estelle, as well as at Prometheus Combat School (a primary Hunter Academy located in Atlas), he soon became a tournament-level fighter, winning his first competitive title, the Atlas Regional Championship, at age 13 and successfully defending it 4 years in a row, earning the nickname of the Black Swordsman at his last contest. The ARC is also where he first met Lucy Almas, with whom he developed a mutual respect, due to them always meeting in the finals of the 13 to 16-year-old section, though he would eventually win the match every time. At age 16, Dell, alongside Estelle and Team ARTK (arctic) [their parents' team], went on a mission in Vacuo to help clear out a large number of Grimm, the teens going with them for practical experience. However, only 5 out of 6 members of the group survived, as Dell's father had been felled in combat with countless Grimm, and Dell lost his left arm trying to save him. This led to Team ARTK officially disbanding, as they lost a member, and served as a brutal reminder to the teens of the dangers of being a Hunter; however, it did not dissuade them from pursuing the career. Soon, though after a lengthy discussion with the teens and Dell obtaining a prosthetic arm suitable for combat, they all moved to Vale so they could attend Beacon Academy, hailed as the best Hunter Academy at the time. About 2 weeks after the 'Vacuo Incident', Dell was scouted by Amara North, the leader of the Moonlighters' Vale branch, due to his reputation as a skilled fighter and strategist. After 6 months with the Moonlighters, Dell and Amara disrupted a Schnee Dust Company train to gather supplies. Returning home after completing the mission, Dell discovered his Beacon acceptance letter, that had been posted while he was out. Dell officially joined the Academy a month later, though he still occasionally takes missions for the Moonlighters and stays in contact with them.

Personality
Dell is one of the most serious and militaristic students at Beacon Academy due to his Atlesian upbringing as well as experiencing the risks of the career firsthand (no pun intended), though this sometimes gives way to a more joking side, assigning nicknames to his close friends. His drive to be the best Huntsman he can be, as well as the memory of his father, won't let him give anything less than 100% in anything relating to the subject, be it in combat or academics. This leads to a fairly competitive nature and a desire to be top of the class. Dell has developed a level of mutual respect between himself and Pyrrha Nikos, due to their reputations as prominent tournament fighters. Also, Dell has a 'no man left behind' mindset, likely stemming from his inability to prevent his father's demise. Having said that, Dell's most defining feature is his protective nature towards those he cares about, leading to his defensive Semblance. Dell's friendship is not easily gained, but, once you have it, he will go out of his way to make time for you, even across continents, as he did for Estelle while she was attending Oscuro Combat School in Vacuo, sharing his Faunus base's pack mentality. He also has a strong sense of morality due to being raised as a Faunus in Atlas, leading to a fierce hatred of discrimination and bullying, particularly against his fellow Faunus, even going so far as to call out Cardin Winchester, and by extension Team CRDL, for his/their behaviour in front of the entire Beacon cafeteria.

Dell shows at least a passing interest in weapons, science and technology, as he is often seen reading magazines on the subjects, as well as enjoying a variety of science-fiction novels and history books, especially about before the Great War. His favourite film genres are action, adventure and science-fiction.

Powers, Abilities and Equipment
Dell is shown to have above-average strength, speed and endurance, as he was able to decapitate an Atlesian Knight 200 with a one-handed swing of his sabre without a train car full of others registering it, before proceeding to assist in destroying them, as well as an Atlesian Paladin 290. Dell's reflexes are also quite impressive, as he was able to form a shield using his Semblance to defend himself from heavy automatic fire from fairly close range before the first bullet made contact with him. Dell is also well-trained in multiple weapon styles and martial arts, including karate, jujitsu and aikido, as well as in stealth tactics. He is also a renowned tournament fighter, comparable in skill to Pyrrha Nikos. Dell is seen to be a skilled mechanic, able to maintain his motorcycle, prosthetic arm and weapons with minimal assistance. He also has trained ambidexterity, preferring his right hand for shooting and writing, and his left for throwing and melee attacks due to the enhanced strength from his prosthetic arm. Dell is familiar with most forms of technology, garnered from his Atlesian heritage, and is a skilled computer hacker. He also shows great ability in technical drawing, having designed the mechanisms for his weapons and prosthetic arm, as well as upgrades for his team.

Dell's Faunus heritage grants him night vision, as well as an enhanced sense of hearing, equivalent to a wolf's, due to his additional set of ears. This, paired with his Aura sense and his father's training, makes him an excellent tracker.

Leadership
Dell is a natural leader and is quick to absorb information, assess situations and come up with new plans if a previous one does not work. His analytical mind is one of Dell's greatest assets in combat, allowing him to change fighting styles and adapt strategies to counter his opponents. He also has a firm understanding of his team members' abilities and can use that knowledge to coordinate them into an advantageous position in an encounter.

Aura
Like most prospective Hunters, Dell had his Aura unlocked before attending his chosen Academy, granting him increased resistance to damage and temperature extremes, as well as a form of extra-sensory perception. This also enables him to use Dust and his Semblance. Aura can also be channelled through weapons to increase their durability and offensive capabilities. Dell's Aura is dark cyan-blue.

Semblance
Dell's Semblance, Blackout, allows him to create solid objects from a form of 'dark energy'. These objects do not appear to have any mass but are sturdy enough to withstand a hail of bullets from an Atlesian Paladin 290 at fairly close range. This is quite a versatile Semblance, allowing Dell to create a variety of objects with a thought, and they can be dismissed just as easily. If they are not dismissed, the object will dissipate in 15 seconds if Dell is not in direct contact with it, if it is not destroyed first. Additionally, any damage the constructs take is halved when compared to Dell's Aura. If the constructs are actively dismissed, Dell regains any remaining Aura used to create them; time-outs regenerate half of the remaining Aura, while outside-force destructions do not regenerate any Aura. Dell can also reshape his constructs if he is in direct contact with them, at the same Aura cost as if it was originally that shape. Created objects are the same colour as Dell's Aura unless Dust is used in making it. Dell can incorporate Dust into his Semblance for a variety of effects.
 * Earth/Ice: Objects created are semi-permanent, so would be good for trapping opponents.
 * Fire: Objects explode upon being destroyed in any way (dismissal, time-out or by an outside force).

Typical Uses

 * Aural ropes (5mm⌀)- Costs 5% of his Aura per metre; takes 0.5 seconds to make 1m of rope.
 * Aerial platforms (60×60cm)- Costs 10% of his Aura; takes 0.25 seconds to make.
 * Personal shield (120×60cm)- Costs 20% of his Aura; takes 0.5 seconds to make.

Combat Equipment
Dell's combat equipment is primarily composed of carbon fibre as a direct measure against Pyrrha Nikos' Semblance of Polarity.

Weapons
Dell's primary weapons, Onyx & Obsidian, are a pair of semi-automatic pistols that can transform into duelling sabres, and can combine to form a broadsword, dubbed Ebony Shadow. Dell is highly skilled in all of these forms, and he can wield Onyx & Obsidian in any combination. He also displays great dexterity in using his weapons, switching between forms quickly when distracting the Paladin for Amara. Dell is also adept in using his weapons as Aura conduits, using them to create close-range shockwaves that can slice clean through Atlesian Knights. Dell carries several types of Dust ammunition, listed below with their effects: Dell also carries a set of 16 throwing knives, called Wolf's Claws, though he doesn't use them in open combat very often, preferring to utilise them for ranged attacks where stealth is required. However, that does not mean that he is any less skilled in using them compared to his primary weapons. These knives have Gravity Dust in the handles to either amplify the impact force or recall them to Dell's hand.

Prosthetic Arm
Dell has a prosthetic left arm, granting him a minor degree of superhuman strength in that limb. The arm is also where Wolf's Claws are stored when they are not in use. Dell can 'overclock' the arm to enhance its strength and speed, though this uses Dust at a much faster rate than normal, and increases the risk of overheating and damaging the internal systems.

Motorcycle
Dell's motorcycle, Knightshade, is a Kawasaki Ninja H2R, modified by Dell for mobile combat. Upgrades include a machine gun (Heckler & Koch MG5 A1) over the front wheel, deployable caltrops over the back, and increased armour plating.
 * Top speed: 249 mph (400 km/h)
 * Power: 310 hp @ 14,000 rpm
 * Torque: 115 lb-ft (156 N⋅m) @ 12,500 rpm
 * Rake, trail: 25.1°, 110 mm (4.3 in)
 * Wheelbase: 1450 mm (57.1 in)
 * Ground clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in)
 * Seat height: 830 mm (32.7 in)
 * Dimensions (L×W×H): 2070×850×1160 mm (81.5×33.5×45.7 in)
 * Frame type: Steel trellis, carbon fibre bodywork
 * Fuel capacity & type: 14.144 kg (‪31.182 lbs)‬ Combustion Dust
 * Displacement: 1200 cm3
 * Curb weight: 226 kg (498.2 lbs)
 * Ammunition: 7.62⌀×51 mm (120 rounds/belt)
 * Rate of fire: 640/720/800 rounds/min (variable)

Helmet
Dell's helmet has multiple functions outside the obvious head protection, including:
 * A heads-up display linked to his Scroll, which includes Aura monitoring for himself and his team;
 * A rear-facing camera allowing 360° awareness;
 * Hands-free Scroll calling capability;
 * Facial recognition software;
 * An internal megaphone; and
 * Head-mounted lights

Non-Combat Skills
Dell is a talented singer and bass guitarist; his favourite genres of music to perform are rock and pop-punk. He is also a reasonably skilled cook, having the most experience in an actual kitchen of his team. Dell's tactical ability is shown by his proficiency in strategy games, such as chess and Remnant: The Game.

Weaknesses

 * Semblance Limits: Constructs last 15 seconds, but can be destroyed with enough force; Aura drains quickly when used; needs time to shape the object (larger=longer).
 * Sensory Overload: Due to his Faunus heritage granting him night vision and enhanced hearing, Dell is more sensitive to bright lights and high-pitched or loud noises than most other people.
 * Over-Protectiveness: Dell tends to be rather overzealous when it comes to protecting people, often acting as the 'big brother' of the team and risking his own life to save theirs.
 * Trust Issues: Dell has serious problems trusting people he doesn't know until they've proven themselves to him.

Tropes

 * Artificial Limb: Dell has a prosthetic left arm.
 * Artificial Limbs Are Stronger: Dell prefers his right hand for shooting and writing, and his left for throwing and melee attacks due to the enhanced strength from his prosthetic arm.
 * Nothing Up My Sleeve: Dell's knives are hidden inside his prosthetic arm.
 * Badass Biker: Even Dell's motorcycle is equipped for combat.
 * Barrier Warrior: Subverted- Dell's Semblance is technically a barrier-type, though he prefers a more direct approach to combat.
 * Imagination-Based/Swiss-Army Superpower: Dell can shape his constructs into pretty much anything he wants (as long as it's not too complex).
 * Deadly Force Field: Dell really doesn't like doing this (unless it's on Grimm or robots), but he will if there's absolutely no other option.
 * Deflector Shields: The primary use of Dell's Semblance. Mainly used as a way to reduce impacts as any damage the constructs take is halved.
 * Improvised Platform: Dell can use his Semblance to do this, but it doesn't come up too often.
 * Spontaneous Weapon Creation: One of Dell's most common uses of his Semblance. Limited to melee weapons.
 * Black Knight: Of the 'Dark Is Not Evil' variety (see below). Combine his titles and this is what you get.
 * Knight in Sour Armor: Dell comes under the first type (idealist-turned-cynic).
 * Blown Across The Room: Justified through Gravity Dust bullets and Aura protection.
 * Combat Pragmatist: Dell is trained not just to fight, but to win by any means necessary.
 * Pragmatic Hero: Dell usually doesn't let his emotions get in the way of his objective.
 * Dark Is Not Evil: Dell wears black and his first name means 'shadow', but he's actually on the side of good.
 * Good Is Not Soft: Dell is generally a nice(ish) guy, but he is ruthless towards his enemies.
 * The Gunslinger (3rd version; Gun Kata variant): Dell is the only member of his team that uses conventional firearms (i.e. hold & shoot), his twin pistols.
 * Implausible Fencing Powers:
 * Clean Cut- Justified through prosthetic arm strength.
 * Parrying Bullets- Dell can deflect shots using the flat of his swords, though he prefers doing this with Ebony Shadow's broadsword form due to the larger area.
 * Sword Beam- Dell can launch Aura slashes from his swords.
 * Mix-and-Match/Morph/Swiss Army Weapon: Ebony Shadow/Onyx & Obsidian- Broadsword/ sabres/pistols.
 * Bifurcated Weapon- Ebony Shadow's broadsword form can separate into two sabres.
 * Dual Wielding: Dell can do this with his sabres.
 * Guns Akimbo: Dell often uses his pistols in this way, particularly the second method.
 * Sword and Gun: Dell's primary fighting style.
 * Smart People Play Chess: Dell's section of the team's dorm room has a chess set on his desk. He uses his tactical brilliance to excel in the game.
 * Xanatos Speed Chess: Dell can usually adapt his plans to account for changing situations fairly quickly.

Trivia

 * Name References: Dell (Maltese for 'shadow', implying dark colours like black & grey), Sirius (the name of a star, implying bright colours such as blue and white), Colby (means 'dark-haired')
 * Alias: Lucian (Latin origin meaning 'light'), Sable (means 'black' in heraldry)
 * Inspiration: The Big Bad Wolf (Little Red Riding Hood), Kirito (Sword Art Online)
 * Big Bad Wolf: Wolf Faunus, the rival of Ruby Rose (based on Little Red Riding Hood).
 * Kirito: Dual swords, FN Five-seveN pistols, preference of black & grey clothing, tech expert.
 * Theme Songs: Starset- Manifest, Svrcina- Meet Me On The Battlefield
 * The Moonlighters are an international guild of Hunters who offer their services to people who require less reputable tasks to be done to achieve an objective at a reduced cost to most other Hunters.
 * Parts of Dell's equipment reference a member of Team ARTK:
 * Ebony Shadow: Inspired by Aki Snow's whip-sword.
 * Prosthetic arm: Designed as a reference to RJ Colby's weapons, a pair of Dust gauntlets, as a way to honour his father's memory.
 * Wolf's Claws: A homage to Grace Truman's throwing knives.
 * Motorcycle: Built and customised alongside Kaito Haidar, the team mechanic.
 * Dell's Semblance name, 'Blackout', is a direct reference to the Linkin Park song of the same name.
 * Dell owns a black & grey wolf-hound called Remus.
 * Dell rides an onyx black & obsidian grey Kawasaki Ninja H2R motorcycle, dubbed Knightshade.
 * Dell is a talented singer like Weiss, as well as being a skilled bass guitarist; his favourite genres of music to perform and listen to are rock and pop-punk, while he also enjoys listening to orchestral pieces, especially piano.
 * Unsurprisingly, given his Faunus heritage, Dell's favourite foods are lamb chops and other red meats.
 * Dell's birthday, November 11th, is Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War and soldiers who died in service to their country. This ties in with his theme of 'remembrance'.
 * Dell vs Pyrrha combat skill comparison:
 * Hand-to-hand: Dell- Prosthetic arm [enhanced strength]; more experience; more formal training from a martial artist (Only 1 scene where Pyrrha uses hand-to-hand)
 * Melee weapons: Pyrrha- More versatile {covers close [sword] and mid-range [spear]} (Dell- swords [close] & knives [CQC/thrown]; Pyrrha- sword/spear hybrid)
 * Ranged weapons: Pyrrha- Trades rate of fire for more accurate shots and longer range (Rifle vs semi-auto pistols)
 * Defence: Pyrrha- Permanent shield; [arguably] better armour- covers legs and chest (Arguable because of Dell's Semblance)
 * Semblance: Dell- Used more openly; options for Dust modification; more versatile (Pyrrha's Semblance is dependent on metal being around; Dell's has no prerequisites)
 * Dust use: Dell- No evidence of Pyrrha using Dust besides shooting normal bullets (Dell wins by default)
 * Tactics: Dell- Able to outwit multiple opponents with more experience simultaneously (Pyrrha's best showcase of tactics is against CRDL [who are likely less experienced than her])
 * Dell bears several similarities with the members of Team RWBY:
 * Ruby Rose: Team leaders, predominantly black clothing, fairytale inspiration (Little Red Riding Hood), they have a shared interest in weapons, deceased same-gender parent.
 * Weiss Schnee: Atlesian, initially 'cold' personalities that 'thaw out' over time, most technically skilled members of their teams, musicians, most versatile Semblances of their teams.
 * Blake Belladonna: Black-themed clothing, history in criminal organisations, both use dual swords with a pistol form, shared interest in books, 'shadow'-themed Semblances.
 * Yang Xiao Long: Motorcyclists, prosthetic arm.