Kristof Brandt

Kristof Brandt is a Rank 1 investigator of the CCG and ex-circus-strongman. He resides within a side apartment in an out–of–the–way seafood restaurant in the 14th ward.

Kristof Brandt
"When the word of law falls, pick it up, and hold it higher!"
Characteristics
Name	Kristof Brandt
User	/u/CadaverCollector
Species	Human
Status	Recently Pardoned
Age	42
Gender	Male
Birthday	September 13th
Height	6'8" - 203cm
Weight	131kg - 291lbs
Affiliations	CCG
Relatives	Blume Brandt (Daughter)
Ward	14th Ward
Rank	Rank 1
Image Gallery

Appearance

Kristof is an incredibly well built man of middling years hailing from Germany. Standing quite tall when compared to that of the average Tokyo citizen he tends to stand out, even when not clad in uniform. It doesn't help that the man is heavily muscled and prefers to flaunt his physique.

While most people first notice another's eyes in first contact, it is hard to do so with Kristof as they are seemingly always squinted. Instead the most noticeable feature found upon the otherwise bald man's head is a thick, well-groomed mustache that twirls in on itself upon the ends. Slightly less notable are the numerous wrinkles that dominate his age worn visage.

The bulky man is often seen wearing green slacks along with similarly coloured suspenders that wrap around his broad shoulders. He also seems to have a penchant for sporting button-up shirts of light colours that are entirely too tight, whether it be because shirts of the correct size are simply too rare or Kristof enjoys showing off his physique is unknown.

After his reappearance, Kristof is seen sporting a fairly short unkempt beard, it's light brown hew fading into grey as it becomes closer to the chin. Just as well, after the encounter with Jack Conklin, his left forearm was not able to be saved, instead there now lies a stump at the elbow

Personality

Kristof is a very patient man with a great deal of interest on the theatrical, this is likely due to a great majority of his life spent as a circus strongman, which he can also thank his well-trained body to. There are very few people that anger or irk the man through incompetence or immaturity, in fact Kristof prefers to share in the naivety and innocence of those redeemable.

Always touting on about reaching perfection in some trait, this large man always forges onward his hardest to push himself beyond the limits of what makes a man a man, and thus encourages all those around him in the same manner. Whether they be underling, equal, superior, or enemy, Kristof wishes only to inspire those around himself that they may one day do the same for others.

Some may say that he is too old to be a CCG investigator, he only laughs it off with a hearty smile. Though due to his age, Kristof often finds himself acting fatherly, even to those of higher rank than he, occasionally landing him in hot water. Not to mention the mishaps through his broken Japanese and straightforward attitude.

Kristof's traits are of staunch manliness and perseverance, to see a better tomorrow and brighter future for all things. Deeply ingrained within the man is a love for all creatures, whether they be beast or bird, man or ghoul. Things are not nearly so black and white to Kristof as they are to many others of the CCG.

His heart is warm, his demeanor inviting, Kristof is a difficult man to anger and one of surprising tranquility. On top of which he is honest to a fault, finding it nearly impossible to hide anything through his very transparent feelings. The man can be seen as too soft for his line of work, for above all, he desires only peace.

History

Kristof Brandt was born in Germany into a family of circus performers, where many of his ideals came to fruition. Traveling around constantly, across plains and seas to far away lands the man learned of many cultures and traditions. And while there are many societies that differ from others, there was one thing that he would always find during his performances of daring feats of strength. All people have a certain love of life, even in dire circumstances. Through such, he himself truly realized that all there was to life was to love and be loved. To find peace within the world and within one's self.

Most of the man's life was spent honing his body and soul to their maximum potential, strength and spirit drove him onward. Where other men would give up, Kristof would stand strong as a mighty pillar of morals, a code unbreakable by the most devilish of corruption. However, such innocence is easily eroded by a steady stream.

As time sailed ever forwards, Kristof eventually desired a home, a place to settle rather than the fleeting life of travel of tricks that had held him close for so long. And thus, after his final performance in the streets of Tokyo, he decided immediately not to go very far from such an atmosphere of energy. Unknowing of the path that it would eventually lead him down.

The years soon after had taught him things of humanity that he had never learned in his life of travel. Learning of the creatures known as ghouls, and their apparent place within society. Through first hand experience of the way that these clashing groups treated one another, and occasionally even themselves. Kristof was determined to forge peace within this world.

He is first seen in the one-shot Heavy Downpour some years before the present, in which he encounters a decaying ghoul of indeterminate age. The creature is starving and cannot seem to move, Kristof allows it to feast upon his arm and soon afterwards wraps it in his rain coat, carrying the ghoul away, showing that the man seems to hold little malice towards those of the species.

Shortly after Kristof is shown cleaning the infected wounds of the ghoul whilst ignoring the blood gushing from his own earlier wound. During the events of Die regen kommen kann He finds himself questioning how anyone can despise ghouls, further showing his position on the creatures. After singing a lullaby and putting the child to sleep, he takes off into the night in order to feed his guest.

Lost in thought he becomes, reflecting on the cycle of violence as he calls it. Ending in his realization of pity for not only ghouls, but for all people forced to partake in such a world of cruelty. Kristof eventually breaks into a 14th Ward morgue and steals away a fresh corpse, justifying that it will save the child whom he had rescured's life. Agter which he dubs the child, 'Blume' and fosters her as his own daughter, deeply enjoying the sensation of being a father.

Sometime afterwards he is seen again during the one-shot Magnificent Fervor!; Glorious Vigor! entering the mask shop 'Two Face' in order to commission a mask from the enigmatic Tatsuhiro Owari for an unknown purpose.

Kristof appeared during the 'Raiding the Railroad' Arc, In which he and another investigator, Kouta Matsushita, were paired together in the third railway car. Together they fought against two invading ghouls, Atsui Koi and Jack Conklin. Wishing to not sustain severe injuries the latter party disbanded, taking off with key CCG supplies.

During the Wintertide arc, Kristof is partnered with Kosei Waller, who at the time shared rank 2 investigator status with him. The pair are sent to the 8th ward in order to investigate a disturbance, in which they confirm as the One-Eyed Cat a bestial kakuja rampaging about Tokyo. Kristof engages the beast ready to sacrifice his life that Kosei might escape, however after a short conversation with the beast it fled, leaving the pair to clean up its mess.

Nearly one month later, the heavily-built investigator responded to a general ghoul disturbance call, taking him to a memorial park in the 14th ward. It was there that he encountered the proto-ghoul Kichirou Kurosawa. The pair engaged in combat, through which mutual strikes left both gravely injured, this had sent Kristof into a coma from which he has yet to wake from.

About four weeks proceeding, the strongman awakes from his coma to find a picture of he and his daughter, scrawled abaft the words, "Moonlight regards". Returning to his home in the fourteenth ward, there is a distinct lack of Blume. Which leads up to a tenuous meeting with Jack Conklin and a very tenuous 'partnership' of sorts, the ghoul offers the strongman the protection of his child, Blume Brandt in return for CCG information, blackmail.

After their encounter, the paths of Kristof Brandt and Jack Conklin cross once more, this time however, Waller Squad is on the case. The German man relayed to the Commission of Counter Ghoul that he had been in care taking of a ghoul child, wishing only for peace, as well as explaining the situation of the ghoul 'Smiles'. However the two opposing groups simultaneously hunt him down, leading to a pitched battle.

Through which, though given the chance to flee by his good friend, Kosei Waller, Kristof charges in to their aid, bringing about a swift end to the conflict, whilst sustaining major injuries, including the severing of his left forearm.

Some months after the event, Kristof was held on trial under the grand jury of Kouta Matsushita, Tomoyuki Otsuji, Joseph "Seph" Winters, and Jiro Horikoshi. Torabashi Kotetsu presided over the event as a whole, and displayed the charges against him. It was then that the 'judge' saw fit to bring out the man's daughter.

Kristof did as he was commanded, snapping the ghoul child's neck in an instant. Soon after, there was a four of five deliberation to both pardon the strongman and to promote him to rank 1.

Powers and Abilities

Strongman's Physique: Kristof's strength is, well, his strength! The man excels in physicality, and is extremely durable to boot thanks to the immense amount of time he spend perfectly sculpting his body. Just the same, he holds a large well of stamina to draw upon that outlasts even some ghouls. However, due to his body's bulky nature he is not the most maneuverable of investigators. While not necessarily slow on his feet, many opponents who are more swift would find it easier to deal with him.

Love and Be Loved: Kristof would argue that his truest and greatest strength is his unconditional ability to sympathize and care for others, even those deemed as his enemies. However rare, his ire is to be feared to which only the truly evil are deserving of.

Relationships

Name	Details
Kosei Waller	Originally, the pair met as they had been selected to investigate a string of brutal killings suspected to be ghoulish in origin. The investigation left them with emotional scars that would not so easily heal, bonding them through tragedy and connecting the two to continue working as partners. Kristof believes Kosei to be a 'true man' one who is concerned for the well being of those needing protection, and for that he has grown more than fond of the younger investigator, they are best friends.
Kouta Matsushita	Kouta turned out to be the first investigator of the CCG that Kristof formed more than a surface relationship with. Being paired together aboard the third car during the 'Raiding the Railroad arc, they fought bravely against ghoul assailants. Kristof finds Kouta to be a man with a certain built up rage about him, and yet a decent person nonetheless, often the elder investigator will act in a fatherly manner towards him, speaking his German 'wisdom' in order to drive the boy to a more amiable demeanor.
Blume Brandt	Blume was Kristof's adopted ghoul daughter. The man cared for her even deeper than his very life. It had been difficult for him to take care of a young and energetic child, especially a ghoul one. But nevertheless, Kristof saw her as his own flesh and blood, which had aided in his grey view upon the relations of ghouls and humans. Yet, without a moments hesitation, when called for duty by Torabashi Kotetsu, he life became forfeit in an instant.
Jack Conklin	The relationship between Kristof and Jack is more complex than his others, having originally met during Raiding the Railroad Jack can be seen as something of the strongman's nemesis. Having clashed multiple times since that day, though rarely in combat. Begrudgingly, Kristof had been glad on some level that the ghoul had kidnapped his daughter, for she would have had no one to take care of her during the four weeks of hospitalization. And yet, the man still worked his hardest to bring the other down, it cannot be said whether Jack was viewed amiably or odiously.

Threads

Thread Link	Thread Type	Thread Description
Heavy Downpour	One-Shot	Kristof Brandt's first appearance, set roughly five to seven years before current events, during which he encounters a emaciated ghoul child huddled in a dank alley, he feeds her of his own flesh and carries the girl towards his home.
Die regen kommen kann	One-Shot	Reaching his modest apartment, Kristof begins to wash the infected wounds of the starving child and sings her to sleep with a German lullaby and resolves to locate more food for her.
Und Sie werden nass	One-Shot	Kristof solemnly deliberates on just how he could feed a ghoul, immediately concluding that he could not take a soul for the sake of another. He eventually breaks into a morgue and makes off with a fresh corpse.
Aber es gibt immer Sonnenschein hinter den dunklen Wolken	One-Shot	This one-shot follows along a few disconnected stories and covers a year or two span of time. It depicts Kristof's bond and love for his adopted daughter, now called 'Blume' and introduces a man, Mister Azamuku, who teaches the pair to better understand Japanese.
Cargo defence assignment	Arc	Kristof is assigned to defend the third car of the railway along with its cargo, partnered with Kouta. The pair make little more than dents in their enemies thus instilling in them that ghouls are truly creatures of great power, they fail to protect the supply and Kristof is left with broken and fractured arms.
An axe, back to the grind	Interaction	Not very long after the railroad raid, Kristof first meets his partner and friend, Kosei Waller. The two are sent to investigate murders linked to a ghoul in the 19th ward. It left the pair with deep emotional pain.
Wintertide - OEC encounter	Arc	Soon after their investigation, Kosei and Kristof are assigned to scout out an area where a Kakuja, the One-Eyed Cat had been sighed. Inadvertently, they run into the kakuja.
Entschlossenheit	Interaction	Nearly one month after the One-Eyed-Cat encounter Kristof responds to a general ghoul disturbance call in the 14th Ward. Taking himself to a memorial park he encounters the Proto-Ghoul Kichirou Kurosawa who engages in combat. Leaving either heavily wounded, as well as sending Kristof into a coma from which he has not awoken.
Sternenlicht	Interaction	About four weeks proceeding, the strongman awakes from his coma to find a picture of he and his daughter, scrawled abaft the words, "Moonlight regards". Returning to his home in the fourteenth ward, there is a distinct lack of Blume. Which leads up to a meeting with Jack Conklin and a very tenuous 'partnership'.
Sonnenlicht	Interaction	The paths of Kristof Brandt and Jack Conklin cross once more, this time however, Waller Squad is on the case. The German man relayed to the Commission of Counter Ghoul that he had been in care taking of a ghoul child, wishing only for peace. However the two opposing groups simultaneously hunt him down.
Widrigkeit	Interaction	Some four months after the battle against Jack Conklin, Kristof stands at trial before five senior officers of the CCG, as judge, jury, and executioner.

Trivia

• His favorite colour is green.
• He enjoys giving out advice in the form of old adages.
• Kristof bears a gleaming silver medallion, emblazoned by the CCG logo at all times.