Dakota

Dakota is a former member of the New Moon, introduced in The New Moon Rises. His weapon is Deus ex Machina, a backpack that has many mechanical uses.

Appearance
Dakota was a young man with shaggy medium length hair that is black-dark purple in color, jade colored eyes, and a fair complexion. After an injury by Feledy, he had a large scar across his upper face. He wore a black coat with a one strap backpack that is military green in color with his emblem in black on it. The backpack is also metallic and is his weapon, Deus ex Machina. He wears a small dark purple scarf, black pants with dark purple shoes. He also has an earring in his right ear.

Personality
Dakota had a cool and relaxed personality, along with his added humor and immaturity. Dakota had a very easy time of bonding with people, and he liked to spend his free time with others or tinkering with Deus ex Machina. Dakota was also easy to trigger, as a simple insult would send him trying to manically defend himself.

Throughout his entire life, Dakota had always tried to prove himself useful. As a kid, people never believed that he could change the world, so this was a goal of his, and he found these aligned with the New Moon's. Every chance he can get, Dakota will show everyone how amazing his weapon is. Dakota's last action while alive is obtaining the relic of Celaeno, and he dies in peace knowing that he significantly impacted the success of his team.

Dakota is a self-proclaimed "lady killer", although this is most likely just a lie.

Past
Dakota was born overseas in the lands west of Havenwood known to some as the Nimedan Empire, to an unknown family in a village named Otskai. In his village, strength was the key to respect and opportunity, but Dakota was always seen as weak. Dakota was often picked on and teased, except for his best friend Kotoro. Kotoro believed Dakota could be something great in the world. During his teenage years, Dakota constructed Deus ex Machina, an inventive mechanical backpack that had many weaponized functions. Trying to reach strength through creativity, Dakota still failed. When he turned 18 years old, he and Kotoro left their homeland and set sail on a journey to a new world, a new life, where they could find strength and respect. Where they landed is unknown, but Dakota and Kotoro had many adventures through Sanctum on a quest for Aestagia, a kingdom that many said was the strongest powerhouse in the world. In Aestagia, Dakota and Kotoro saw that the citizens of Aestagia were oppressed and helpless. It was not a kingdom where citizens held power, but something else.

One day, Kotoro went missing and Dakota could not find him. His best friend, inspiration, and motivation, Dakota went looking for someone who could help him and was approached by the New Moon, who promised they would help him hone fighting skills while also seeking Kotoro. Dakota now had a means of becoming powerful while finding Kotoro, and he decided after this he would return to their homeland as powerful warriors. Weeks or months later, Dakota and his new allies found Kotoro dead and framed for a murder. Dakota knew Kotoro would never do this, and the New Moon assured him that Queen Dahlia and her corrupt kingdom were behind this. This day forward, Dakota bound his life to the New Moon and vowed to take revenge upon Aestagia.

As the rookie in the New Moon, Dakota was always treated as a rookie. A friendly, outgoing, and joking individual, he also made it a point to always attempt to showcase his skills to others to gain reputation, but he often got teased by his fellow members. However, one of his main goals was to assist the New Moon to the end and prove useful, and this led to his demise while doing all he could to secure the relic of Celaeno in Haven. His spirit assumed the form of a black bird and watched over the New Moon.

Act 1
Dakota is first seen sleeping at the abandoned house in the woods, who wakes up by falling off a couch. After introducing himself to Alizarin, Lenna instructs him to train Crymson in a field outside. There, Dakota reassures him that his organization is worth it in the long run.

Later that night, Dakota shares his first impressions on Alizarin to Lenna and Tangerine. That same night, their group gets attacked by the bounty hunters Twentyone and Feledy. Dakota temporarily captures Feledy with Deus ex Machina, but she escapes and gives him a scar across his face.

During the New Moon's mission to rescue Melanee in OroGelid, Dakota is assigned to break in with Alizarin. Dakota shares his tiring feelings about Melanee to Alizarin here. In the communications tower in OroGelid, Dakota jumps straight in to save Melanee by fighting Daichi. After Alizarin joins in to help, Dakota uses this distraction to rescue Melanee and escape. Alizarin revealing himself to Daichi also gets Dakota in trouble by Lawless after the event.

After Lawless informs the New Moon of their journey to Havenwood to reclaim the relic of Celaeno, Dakota scares Alizarin and Lenna in the woods having a heartfelt conversation. He joins them to spend the day at the nearby river and revisits his backstory to Alizarin when asked about it. Dakota says he is fine with his situation because he is able to make many good friends in the process. Dakota soon notices the fire at Opal Vale and alerts the other two.

Back at Opal Vale, the HQ is under attack from Daichi, Twentyone, and Feledy. Feledy explodes the corridor he is standing in, and gets crushed with rubble. However, he is saved by Deus ex Machina due to it quickly wrapping around the rubble and lifting it. This surprises Feledy, who he descends the boulders on.

Act 2
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Deus ex Machina
Deus ex Machina was a multi-use weapon that took the form of a green backpack. This allows the user to remain idle while using it, and it is unknown of how it is used. Essentially, robotic parts protrude from the pack's opening that have been created and programmed by the creator of the weapon.

Its many uses include a rocket launcher, a giant metal fist, a set of thin wires, etc. These weapons have changed over time, such as the wires being repurposed grappling equipment from Aestagian sentries.

Deus ex Machina blew away into the grass in Dakota's Destiny as its mechanical parts were destroyed. It current status is unknown, and it now has no use but a normal backpack.

Trivia

 * The name Dakota can be translated to mean "friend", which was what he was supposed to represent in the series to Alizarin