Chapter Text
Name: Leopold Ulfson
Age: 26
Birthday: March 27th
Nation: Mondstadt
Weapon: Favonius Blade
Vision: Cryo
Affiliation: Northern Intelligence Network
Code Name: The Courier
Personality:
Leo is easy to like, and that is entirely by design. He carries himself with the comfortable confidence of someone who has learned to read the room father than most people even realize he’s there. He can turn on warmth or charm like flipping a switch when the job calls for it. To those who only know him in passing, he simply seems like a good-natured man who makes easy conversation and never seems rattled by anything.
Those who know him better learn that his eyes rarely match his easy smile. He is deeply perceptive, slow to truly open up, and more sentimental than he would ever willingly admit. His work takes him away from Mondstadt for long stretches, and somewhere in the years of being The Courier, Leo learned to hold people at arms-length. It’s not out of coldness, but out of the familiar ache that comes with always having to leave. He loves his home fiercely and quietly, the way people love things they have spent too long away from.
He is not reckless, but he is stubborn. Once he decides something needs doing, it gets done, and he will drag an injured, hypothermic, thoroughly uncooperative redhead out of an avalanche if that’s what it takes. He’ll never make a show of it after, he’d rather disappear into the background once more.
Early Life, Early Loss
Leo’s childhood was marked by a profound absence. His mother, Marie, gentle and loving, passed away due to illness when Leo was just 5 years old. Though it was long ago, the memory of her warmth stays with him. Left with only his father, Leo learned resilience and independence from an early age.
Father and Son
Leo’s father, Torsten, was always stoic, with eyes that held both sorrow and determination. He raised Leo single-handedly in their small Mondstadt home. Torsten worked to ensure Leo always felt safe, and loved.
Odd Jobs
Leo’s family never had a lot of money, and with his mother gone, their income dropped. This led to Leo working odd jobs around Mondstadt. He swept tavern floors, delivered goods for the markets, and assisted the blacksmith. This not only helped to earn the extra mora needed for his family, but helped him to discover his natural charismatic abilities and communication abilities.
The Messenger
At the age of thirteen, Leo took a job as a messenger, and it quickly became a full-time job as people were impressed with his ability to deliver messages both quickly, and discreetly when needed. Love letters were always good business in Mondstadt.
The Underground Intelligence Network
At sixteen, while delivering a message one night, Leo crossed the wrong path at the wrong time. He heard information he shouldn’t have. Pursued by a group intent on silencing him, he was saved at the last moment by a mysterious figure. From that point, he was recruited into the Northern Intelligence Network. His code name: The Courier.
He was not drawn into this work by tragedy, as many of his colleagues were. He fell into it. That has always set him apart from the others, and he carries it quietly. Leo is more than aware that even though he didn’t choose this life so much as it chose him, that many of the people doing the same work carry far heavier things than he is.
He was part of the team that, by chance, discovered Diluc Ragnvindr imprisoned and gravely injured in a Fatui camp. He made sure to stay silent the entire time, he has never spoken of it, and Diluc has never known Leo was there. Leo rarely speaks of the worst things he’s seen.
The Vision
After that incident, Leo trained day in, and day out with his weapon of choice, a favonius sword. The Network ensured he was up to par with what they needed, and Leo was determined to master his abilities.
A year into his training, Leo was attacked on the road, severely outnumbered, and escape cut off. Just as a fatal blow was coming, a pulse emanated outward from him, throwing back his attackers and freezing them in place. The small weight that dropped into his hand was instantly comforting, and cool to the touch. A Cryo Vision of his own.
He’s Just Leo
Leo’s life was a tapestry of love, loss, loyalty, and hidden power. As The Courier, he balanced on a narrow beam of adventure and danger. As Leopold Ulfson, he is guided by the memories of his mother’s warmth, and his father’s unwavering love, and by the hope that every mission completed means he’ll get to go home soon.
Abilities
Basic Attack – Fine Edge: Basic sword attack
Charged Attack: At the end of his charged attack, the edge of his sword becomes imbued with ice, causing it to have a razor sharp edge, dealing a higher amount of cryo damage for his next three basic attacks.
Elemental Skill – Froststep: Leo can momentarily freeze the ground beneath his feet, allowing him to glide across it quickly. His footsteps leave a trail of frost that slows his pursuers and deals a small amount of cryo damage.
Elemental Burst – Frost Echoes: Leo can create duplicates of himself made entirely from ice. These statues mimic his movements to confuse opponents, giving him the chance to deal substantial damage in a surprise attack.
Voicelines
Introduction: So, you’re the traveler I’ve heard so much about? If it’s not from the streets of Mondstadt, it’s from everywhere else, you know! Anyway, greetings! Leopold Ulfson at your service – just your normal, everyday messenger. Oh, and uh… please don’t call me Leopold, I just go by Leo!
About Mondstadt: What’s there to say? It’s just the best nation there is out there! Although, I suppose I might be biased. Nah, that’s not it. You can’t beat the City of Freedom!
About Leo 1: People tend to assume I’m simpler than I am. I don’t correct them. It’s useful.
About Leo 2: The road gets lonely, I won’t pretend otherwise. However, I’ve never left Mondstadt without a reason to come back to it, and that makes all the difference.
About Leo 3: I’m good at reading people. Occupational habit. I’ve learned that most people, underneath all the noise, just want to be seen. I try to remember that.
When it rains: My messages! Oh – ah… never mind. Old habits.
When it’s sunny: I’m melting! Haha
When it snows: Why did the snowman bring a broom to the party? Because he wanted to sweep everyone off their feet!
Good Morning: Huh? Morning? Can’t I just have ten more… hours?
Good night: There’s work to do!
Idle 1: I wonder what dad’s making for dinner tonight.
Idle 2: If I time this right, I can be back home by end of the week… Maybe.
About Torsten (Father): My father is the reason I do what I do, and the reason I always come home when I’m done doing it. He raised me on his own, and never once let me feel the weight of that. I don’t think I’ve ever told him properly how much I admire him. I’ll get around to it. I always do.
About Diluc: I used to deliver messages to Dawn Winery when I was a kid. He and his brother, so small at the time, would always come out to say hello. They were always bright, happy kids, and Master Crepus did a good job raising them. I can see that the man Diluc is now is far from that boy. He carried a lot more, and he carries it quietly. I respect that more than I’d say out loud.
About Kaeya: Ah, Captain Kaeya. Even as a kid he had that look… like he already knew how the conversation was going to end. He’s sharp, and I won’t underestimate him. I also don’t answer his questions, which I suspect drives him absolutely crazy! I have to say, though, he is good with the kids.
About Jean: The Acting Grand Master is everything Mondstadt deserves. She keeps this city standing through sheer force of will, and she does it without complaint. Even through Alice’s little – darling!– There are not many people I would trust to take care of Diluc without question, but she is one of them. She’s always cared about him more than just as a friend.
About Jean and Diluc’s twins: Two more little redheads! I heard the news while I was out on the road, because news travels fast when the Great Diluc Ragnvindr has been thoroughly humbled by two tiny people who can’t even talk yet. I haven’t met them yet, but I intend to. If they take after either of their parents, I imagine they are terrifying! I mean that as a compliment.
About Calamentine: Cally and I understand each other in a particular way. We both know what it means to love a place and keep leaving it anyway. We’ve never talked about it directly, but we don’t have to.
About Varka: Grand Master Varka used to ruffle my hair when I came to deliver messages to the Knights of Favonius. I was thirteen, and I thought I was very professional. Varka found that funny, and gave that louder than life laugh he always does. I find it less funny now that I’m twenty-six and he still does it. He is extraordinary, though. Mondstadt is lucky to have him.
About Nefer: Nefer runs a tight ship, and I mean that with full respect/ She expects a great deal from the people around her, but she gives as much in return, she just doesn’t announce it. She’s one of the most capable people I’ve worked alongside, and I would follow her lead on a mission without a second thought.
About Jahoda: Jahoda somehow ends up on missions she did not mean to volunteer for, but sees every one of them through anyway. That’s good character! She’s going to be remarkable when she’s older. She already is, honestly, she just doesn’t know it yet.
About Dori: Ah… the merchant I was directed to by Madam Faruzan. I have dealt with Dori exactly twice. Both times I came away feeling like I agreed to more than I knew. She’s… not dishonest, exactly, just enthusiastic about finding different angles to play. Well – unless you’re that poor blonde guy, the one with the feather? I heard them talking while I was waiting once. She is definitely taking advantage of him.
About Sethos: Sethos? Is that his name?! Huh. We’ve spent several pleasant afternoons just sitting at the café watching people go by, and deciding on their life stories. He is tremendously nosy, and has strong opinions about everyone who walks past. We’d never asked each other’s name. It is, genuinely, one of my favorite friendships.
Favorite food: I’ll eat pretty much anything, but if I had to choose an absolute favorite? I’d just say a nicely seasoned steak! Keep it nice and simple.
Receiving a gift 1: Oh, this is great! You know, you didn’t have to… but I’m very glad you did!
Receiving a gift 2: Ah. Well… I’ll find a use for it. Thank you.
Dislikes: Overheated tea is pretty awful, and it takes too long to cool. Luckily, I’ve got that handled.
Birthday: Hey, it’s your birthday! Of course I remembered! I almost sent you a message about it, but some things are worth saying in person. You deserve a good one. I mean that!