Character Profile – The Lost Artefacts: Ben Harksmear

Benjamin “Ben” Harksmear carries himself with the stoic demeanour of someone who has experienced loss far beyond his years. As the son of the respected Castellum leader, Aloysius Harksmear, Ben was raised in a world of duty and tradition, trained from a young age in the ancient arts of the Ascendants.

Ben experienced his first profound loss at the age of five when his mother, Eva, died during what should have been a routine daemon patrol. This tragedy fundamentally altered his trajectory, transforming a once carefree and playful child into someone far more serious and determined. In the years following his mother’s death, his father became increasingly distant, leaving Ben to forge his own path within the Castellum’s walls.

A master swordsman with aggressive fighting techniques that compliment his calculating mind, Ben approaches combat with ruthless efficiency. He trains relentlessly, pushing himself beyond normal limits with single-minded focus. His fighting style—direct and powerful—reflects the no-nonsense approach he takes to life in general.

Despite his often abrasive exterior and tendency toward sarcasm, Ben maintains complex relationships with those around him. He grew up alongside the Thames siblings, sharing a particularly complicated friendship with El that balances mutual respect with occasional rivalry. His protective attitude toward AJ shows glimpses of the older brother figure he’s become, even as he maintains emotional distance.

About a year before meeting Lincoln, something significant happened that changed Ben yet again, causing him to become even more reserved and serious. This shift remains a mystery to those around him, but it marks a clear dividing line in his behaviour and outlook.

Ben presents himself as someone wholly dedicated to the Ascendant cause, with unwavering loyalty to tradition and duty. His initial hostility toward outsiders serves as both a defence mechanism and a reflection of his deeply ingrained beliefs about how the world should function. Behind his judgmental exterior, however, exists a young man grappling with complicated truths about family, loyalty, and purpose—questions that become increasingly difficult to ignore as circumstances force him to confront what he truly believes.

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More by Johnathon Nicolaou