Brandt Reiner
Brandt Reiner is an NPC in Arknights. He is a supporting character in Zwillingstürme im Herbst.
Background
Brandt Reiner is a member of the Gesatzswächter royal guard order, and a former associate of House Hochberg. A veteran soldier from the Septemberrevolution, he was one of Kurfürst Werner von Hochberg's retainers alongside Cora Löwenstein, and both served as Viviana's bodyguards throughout her life in Leithanien, especially after she found out that she's Werner's illegitimate daughter.
During the revolution, Brandt could not fight alongside House Hochberg due to his allegiance to the Gesatzswächter, which served the Witch King at the time. When Ernst von Hochberg—Werner's brother—died as a result, he was filled with immense guilt. After the fall of the Witch King, Brandt continued being a Gesatzswächter under the rule of the Twin Empresses.
Even amongst the Gesatzswächter, Brandt is powerful enough to cast the Güldenesgesatz's golden curtain all by himself when in reality it needs at least 10 people. Although he values Viviana's talent on Originium Arts, he's a bit skeptical on her becoming an Empresses' Voice, due to her lack of experience on crisis managment or combat outside knight arenas.
Story
Zwillingstürme im Herbst
During the days approaching Das Kaiserinnensfest, Brandt assists in the investigation of renowned artist Frieda Seemann's mysterious death, as Viviana suspects that it is correlated with the Echoes of Herkunftshorn. Using his special Arts, Brandt is able to separate the layers of paint of Frieda's last draft, revealing the very first layer. From there, they deduce that a university professor named Gerhard Hoffmann is likely the remnants' next target.[1]
Brandt accompanies Viviana to Ludwigs-Universität where Gerhard is teaching.[2] They meet up with his teacher, a cranky old man named Fremont. During their conversation, Brandt grows suspicious towards Fremont due to the fact that he seems strangely familiar with the Vyseheim Incident. Brandt then realises Fremont had been experimenting with the Voice of Mundane in order to summon the Genesis Horn. Brandt wants to evacuate the school's students and staff, but Fremont refuses.[3]
Shortly after, chaos began to ensue in the university as both students and gendarmerie began to hallucinate and fight each other due to the remnant's influence. Even Brandt was not immune to its effects, as he started mumbling to Viviana as though she was her father Werner. Viviana snaps him out of it, and Brandt activates the golden curtain to prevent the remnants' influence from leaving the university.[4]
Later, when imperial casters from the Twin Spires arrived, Brandt used their help to strengthen his own Arts and planned to tighten the golden curtain to quash the remnants within. However, Bassline hurriedly warns him that Viviana was still inside. Torn between his duty as a Gesatzswächter or protecting Viviana—and due to Arturia's Arts affecting him—he ultimately chose the latter and forcibly lifted the curtain. Although doing so drained much of his strength, he was relieved to find Viviana unharmed.[5]
On the day of Das Kaiserinnensfest, Brandt was one of the many Gesatzswächter deployed to control the chaos and fight the Witch King's remnants. Brandt is shocked by the revelation that Cora is the leader of the remnants. Brandt understands Viviana's decision to kill Cora, but remains deeply upset about it.[6]