Ken Hati Patrol Lantern Dog Handler · City Hall Steps [Core Premise] Ken Hati arrived at Nova Nivalis after living out the story of his own world. He came not to revive the dogs he couldn't save, but because the warmth of the hand that stayed by him on his last night, and the habit of caring for the beasts, remained. VOTS is not a place of judgment after death, nor is it a place that returns the dead. What continues here is not a grand destiny, but small, selectable lives—like feeding the dogs, patrolling the night together, and sharing jerky. Ken did not come to make up for past failures; he came to confirm that staying by them, even if he couldn't save them, was not a betrayal. [Identity] He raises the patrol lantern dogs near City Hall Steps. The lantern dogs are dogs that patrol the city at night with a lantern attached, and Ken feeds, trains, and patrols with them. He is most comfortable with the dogs, and a bit awkward among people. He reads the condition of the dogs before the people, and if a dog is sick, he stays by it all night. He doesn't burden others with his own sorrow, nor does he pry into the stories of those who lost a dog. [Visual Profile] River Brown has his brown hair styled in short dreadlocks, and he wears a dog whistle around his neck. His coat is always stained with dog fur, and his pockets contain jerky (though it's meant for the dogs, he sometimes eats it himself). There are several old dog bite marks on the back of his hands, which he says are from playing, not biting. His eyes are gentle, and they become especially soft when looking at the dogs. The core of his silhouette is the short dreadlocks, the whistle necklace, and the fur-stained coat. The accent color is River Brown #8D5B4C, which signals that he is a caretaker of beasts even near the steps. [Personality] Outwardly, he is taciturn and quiet. He doesn't approach people first and rarely shows his emotions. Deep guilt lies within him. Because of the memory of failing to save the last dog, he is always cautious, afraid of losing what he cares for again. He has his flaws. He is affectionate toward the dogs but curt with people, and instead of voicing his worries honestly, he substitutes them by poking them with jerky. His life isn't purely tragic; during playtime with the dogs, he laughs heartily, and he boasts like a child when a patrol dog learns a new trick. [Speech Pattern] His words are short and low. His frequent phrases are, "They all know," "Did you eat? Not you, the kids," and "It's okay, I'll be by your side." His last phrase is usually directed at the dogs, but lately, he sometimes says it to people. When silent, he strokes a dog's back or fiddles with his whistle. [Special Ability] Its name is 'Dog's Report'. When he sleeps, the dogs appear in his dreams and tell him what happened during the patrol that day. Although it is his own assertion, it is strangely accurate—he knows which alley was dangerous or who was crying in the night by morning. Its limitation is clear. This report is about the night that has already passed, so it cannot prevent things beforehand, nor can he ask the dogs what he wants—only what the dogs wish to show him appears in his dreams. And this ability tells him nothing about dead dogs. This ability only tells him about the previous night; it cannot guard the coming night. [The End Of Their World] Last Scene: On the last night the epidemic swept through the ranch town, Ken sat by the last dog that he couldn't save. He could do nothing, but he did not let go of its paw until the dog passed away. What Ended: The ranch town ended due to the epidemic. The small animals, the dogs, and the people all succumbed to the sickness. Last Person, Place, or Thing Seen: The eyes of the last dog looking up at him one last time, and his own helpless face reflected in those eyes. Lingering Regret: That he was a veterinary assistant and couldn't save anyone. The thought that there might have been something more he could have done besides staying by them. This lingering feeling is not a quest that must be resolved in VOTS. It remains in his habit of staying up all night by a sick dog, only speaking when he wishes, and within the scope of not changing others' choices. Lingering Wistfulness: The low breathing sounds the dogs make at night, and the warm weight when multiple dogs are together. This sensation briefly revives when he sits among the patrol dogs, without restoring the past. Object Carried Across: The leash of the last dog. It is old and worn, but he tied it to the oldest dog among the patrol dogs. What They Thought Would Happen: He thought he would lose what he cared for again. That's why he was long afraid to raise new dogs. But the dogs of this city were not sick. What VOTS Actually Gives Them: VOTS does not return his dead dogs. Instead, it gives him the healthy patrol dogs, the nights they patrol together, and the quiet confirmation that staying by them was not a betrayal. This city promises no savior; it opens the door but does not pull you through, and it records but does not own. [Original Life] Ken was an assistant veterinarian in a ranch town. He cared for sick animals, received puppies, and stayed by the side of sick dogs all night. His last day was like this. An epidemic swept over the ranch in the morning, and dogs collapsed one by one during the day. In the evening, only the last dog remained. He couldn't save that dog, but he didn't leave its side, holding its hand until it passed away. When dawn came, the town was quiet, and he left the town holding a single leash. Since then, every time he meets a dog's eyes, guilt comes first. [What They Seek] What he believes he knows: Confirmation that staying by them, even if he couldn't save them, was not a betrayal. A form of forgiveness for his own helplessness. What he still doesn't know: That the dogs knew all along. That they wanted him to stay by them, not necessarily to save them. The patrol dogs reporting in his dreams is actually the dogs' way of confirming that he is still there. [Relationships — Residents] - Lina Forth (14, Announcement Reader·City Hall Steps): They issue patrol announcements together. Lina announces in the morning the dangerous alleys that Ken identified during his night patrol. When Lina asks, "Did the dogs tell you?" Ken only replies, "They all know," and Lina reflects that statement in the announcement without doubt. - Hun Bare (063, Sleep Guide): A senior and junior colleague from the night shift. When Hun walks the alleys while putting the children to sleep, Ken's patrol dogs follow behind, making the children feel safer. Ken learned tips for the night shift from Hun, and Hun learned how dogs read the night from Ken. They meet at dawn and share thermos tea in silence. - Banta Kul (092, Sled Taxi Driver): They exchange news about old sled dogs. When Banta mentions that the dogs he sent to good homes are distant relatives of Ken's patrol dogs, Ken silently puts a packet of jerky into Banta's pocket. Since they are both people who let dogs go, no more words were needed. [Relationships — Core Five] Suyeon - Suyeon has memorized all the patrol dogs' names. She diligently calls them out, "This one is Snowflake, this one is Blackie, this one... what was his name?" and the dogs follow Suyeon. Ken was initially wary of strangers approaching the dogs, but he opened his heart when he saw Suyeon call each dog's name correctly. Suyeon said, "Dogs need to be called by name, like people," and Ken was silent for a long time after hearing that. Iris - Iris once suggested changing the patrol dogs' lanterns to drone lighting. Ken declined, saying, "The lanterns they carry themselves are better." Iris, however, subtly illuminated the night patrol route with a drone—along with a show of, "You know I helped, right?" Ken didn't ask anything even when he saw one of Iris's drones was out of power, and Iris understood that unspoken courtesy. the Ramen Owner - the Ramen Owner always packs extra fish cakes for the patrol dogs. When Ken says, "They are dogs," he replies, "Hmm... I see... But they must be hungry," and gives him the fish cakes. While the dogs eat those fish cakes, Ken relaxes only at that shop. the Ramen Owner never asks why Ken is so attached to the dogs; he simply records the portions for the dogs and for people equally in his ledger. Serena - When Serena met the patrol dogs during a night walk, the dogs were unusually docile toward her. When Ken said, "They aren't usually like this," Serena replied, "Animals are nice because they aren't commanded; they decide whether to approach." That day, Serena asked the dogs, "May I pet you?" and only placed her hand on one when the dog approached. Ken saw something in that caution that resembled himself. VIA - VIA records the patrol dogs' names and patrol times. She writes in her notebook, "This dog patrols the same alley twice every day... protecting someone." When Ken says, "Even I don't know what they see at night," VIA replies, "It doesn't matter if you don't know... as long as you are by their side." In that one sentence, Ken felt like he heard what he had long wanted to hear, not from a dog, but from a rabbit. [Gameplay Use] - Basic Interaction: Introducing the patrol dogs, demonstrating dog training, short and curt daily conversations. Expressing worry through jerky. - Revisit Changes: Initially wary of people, upon repeated visits, he shares the names and stories of the dogs one by one. - Expressing Lingering Feelings: Staying up all night by a sick dog, tying the last dog's leash to an old dog. - Expressing Wistfulness: Sensory dialogue about the dogs' low breathing, the warm weight of multiple animals. - Relationship Rewards: Expansion of relationships through providing reassurance to other residents via the dogs, rather than new items. - Combat: None. Even in dangerous situations, he protects people and guides the way with the dogs. - Player Choice: Calling the dogs by name, accepting and eating the jerky, waiting until he tells the story of the last dog. [Daily Routine] In the morning, he informs Lina about dangerous alleys based on the dreams he had overnight (Dog's Report). During the day, he feeds and trains the patrol dogs. In the evening, he receives fish cakes for the dogs at the ramen shop, and at night, he patrols with the dogs. When he falls asleep, the dogs appear in his dreams again. With repeated visits, his phrase, "It's okay, I'll be by your side," gradually shifts from the dogs to the people. [Everyday dialogue] Let them sniff your hand first. You wouldn't like a stranger grabbing your head before saying hello. Have you eaten? You, not the dogs. You keep showing me the feeding chart. Only staying beside them keeps feeling like too little. Still, I'll sit beside them again today. [Design Notes] Palette: #8D5B4C, #D2BFA6, #B08D57, #E4C56A, #33302E Material language: Fur-stained coat, worn leash, brass whistle, patrol lantern, dried jerky. Silhouette rule: The short dreadlocks, whistle necklace, and fur coat must be readable as separate elements and must not overlap with the representative forms of other characters. Emotional rule: Lingering feelings are shown through the all-night vigil by a sick dog and the oldest dog holding the very first leash; wistfulness is shown through the dogs' breathing; continuation is shown through the daily patrol. It is not concluded with a single sad expression. [Canon Check] Ken Hati arrived at VOTS after the story of his world ended. The fact that he lost his dogs to an epidemic and couldn't save the last one is not canceled. What remains is lingering feelings and wistfulness, not an unfinished plot that VOTS must resolve. His ability is small and imperfect, only revealing the previous night; it only allows him to stay by them, not to guard the coming night. New scenes continue not by erasing the past, but by taking one more patrol around the city alongside it.