Claudette Vance

"...Irresponsibility, I won't forgive..."

Rebellion: "...Those who cause chaos, I won't forgive..."

Unlimited: "Elina... how lovely are thou..."

Claudette (クローデット) is the oldest daughter of the Vance family and a favorite for victory in the Queen's Blade Tournament. However, because she is an illegitimate child, she is not in line for the throne. Instead she is expected to protect Leina and is forced to struggle for her father's affection.

Appearance
Claudette has a detailed metal headpiece and a black wrap that goes from her neck to her collarbone. She wears a metal bikini top and small black thong panties, and on her right arm she has a black and gold bracer and a golden armband on her upper arm. On her left arm, the black wrap continues up to her fingers, and she has a metal detailed full-length arm-guard. On her lower body, she has a large black flowing cloth wrap on her hips, and black thigh-high boots.

Rebellion
Claudette's headpiece is now much bigger, covers more of her hair and is now white. She now has a white body suit, with a white open breastplate and corset-like piece underneath, and a long flowing cape.

Unlimited
Claudette's hair and eyes are now violet, and her armor is entirely golden with black under-pieces, with a long split white cape. Her sword, Thunderclap, is now black and gold.

Personality
Since she was a bastard child, Claudette has always been struggling to become something to anyone, although people already respect her and she is renowned and famous. She keeps to herself, and is very serious and harsh to others. She hardly ever shows any emotion, instead keeping any feelings from showing, as it appears that she does not know how or want to deal with them.

Abilities
Claudette wields the greatsword Thunderclap, and is able to manifest lightning to further destroy her foes and make lightning rain down on her enemies. She is already seen as a strong and imposing character, defeating the likes of Risty and many others with ease. Now she can also use lightning through her hand without the use of her sword.

QB Parameters
Attack: 5

Defense: 3

Potential: 2

Technique: 4

Reach: 5

Agility: 3

Rebellion Parameters
Bravery: 5

Popularity: 5

Resourcefulness: 4

Leadership: 5

Potential: 1

Experience: 5

Prior to QB
(From the Queen's Blade site)

She's Count Vance's eldest daughter and his most loyal general. Not believing that Elina could fulfill the order from the Count, she took the responsibility of capturing Leina.

Half-sister of Leina and Elina, because of her mother not being the legal wife, Claudette is the third in the family's succession order. Her plebeian mother died young and instead of raising her like a daughter, her father raised her as a servant.

Unlike her sisters, she's taciturn and unsociable. She's normally stationed around the walls of the frontiers of the Queen's controlled territory, executing the hardest tasks at the front line.

She's known as a noblewoman from the Continent with an unusual integrity and she's respected for her righteousness by her soldiers and the commoners. Along with her great skills at commanding, she's also the number one contender in the Continent due to her sword skills. Because of her using a magic sword of lightning, she got the nickname of "Thundercloud General".

Aware of her status at home, while she behaves as an older sister with Leina and Elina, she knows that someday she'll serve under them. However, she has mixed feelings regarding the current situation, and a hint of hatred for Leina, as she can't understand why she left home, her being the direct successor. Elina is quite dear to her, but the unsociable older sister can't express her feelings properly.

Prologue
(From her backcover)

Leaving my duty at the border station for the first time in a long time, I walked into an audience with the Earl Vance.

“Ooh, General Claudette. Thank you for coming. I have something to ask of you, the servant I trust the most.”

Being relied upon by the Earl, it’s my pride. However, as I expected, has this person ever seen me as his real daughter?, I suddenly thought.

“It’s about the order I gave Elina to capture Leina… It’s baffling indeed. That perfect daughter, she’s doing such a hopeless incompetent work.”

Elina… my cute half-sister. I know it. When it comes to her sister Leina, Elina won’t see anything else.

However, when she speaks to me, she’s always slightly cold and distant. That’s so unbearably lonely for me…

“General Claudette, I want you to take over her duty. That’s, I mean, aren’t those two said to be participating in that tournament I’ll refrain from speaking of? Bring back those two immediately!”

The easiest way to meet the two people participating in Queen’s Blade will be for me to participate as well. There’s no telling if I can win against that Echidna and Cattleya, but the possibility that other participants will hinder my duty is low.

“…Duty, acknowledged…”

“Go! Claudette. Those two are my precious heirs. I won’t tolerate failure.”

Leina… If you don’t carry out the duty to lead people as a heir, I won’t forgive your sins. Because the blood of a noble who has an immense influence carries a heavy responsibility…

Sure enough, can Claudette carry out her duty?

They won’t know that unless they fight.

Rebellion
(From her profile)

The Queen that rules the Continent. She was defeated at the semifinals of Queen’s Blade, the tournament to decide the Queen, but became the Queen because the champion refused the throne. Once known as the “Thundercloud General”, she was respected as an honest, just, and upright person, but after she became the Queen, she proclaimed herself as chosen by the Gods and abolished Queen’s Blade.

She encouraged the research of the “Wizard Stones” technology and the civilization progressed very quickly with the effort. She also invalidated the traditional aristocrat system to give a chance of prosperity to all the people regardless of their birth.

However, by becoming the Queen, Claudette’s strictness increased and she turned into a ruthless ruler. Those who break the law are punished without mercy and the forces of the opposition are completely obliterated by a powerful military force. There is also a rumor that she has dealings with the wicked “Swamp Witch” who plans to take over the Continent.

Claudette’s magic lightning sword “Thunderclap” is at its best. Additionally, with the power of the Wizard Stones, she can manipulate lightning without even using her sword.

Trivia

 * She is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese) and Gladys Weiner (English).
 * In terms of personality, backgrounds and in less degree, looks, she seems to be inspired in Reiko Kirishima from the Mugen Senshi Valis game series.
 * Currently Claudette's unlimted redesign is the most drastic, changing the color and design of her hair, her outfit and her weapon.

Gallery
For this character's gallery, visit: Claudette Vance/Gallery