TV-Series
Description
Corporal Randel Oland, whose name is sometimes spelled Randal Oland, is a central figure of Pumpkin Scissors. He is a physically imposing man, standing well over seven feet tall, with dark hair, brown eyes, and a body covered in scars accumulated over years of combat. Despite his intimidating stature and military background, his ordinary personality is that of a gentle giant: he is kind-hearted, patient, and quick to offer help to anyone in need.
His past is rooted in the Royal Empire's most secret wartime programs. During the long conflict, Oland served in the 901st Anti-Tank Troop, also known as the Gespenst Jäger, or Ghost Hunter unit. This unit belonged to the so-called Invisible Nine, a collection of platoons that officially did not exist because their formation violated international treaties. The soldiers of the 901st were foot troops, developed under the supervision of Dr. Kauplan and described as genetically enhanced, who were conditioned to feel no fear and to destroy tanks on their own using little more than a single-shot weapon called a door knocker. Oland had effectively been a soldier for as long as he could remember, and that conditioning left a profound mark on him.
The most striking element of his character is the blue lantern he carries, marked with the designation 901-ATT. In normal circumstances, the lantern remains closed and Oland behaves calmly and gently. When he opens it, however, the eerie blue light triggers a drastic change in his demeanor. He becomes a fearless, vicious, and nearly unstoppable combatant who presses his attacks without regard for his own injuries. Soldiers across the Empire were reportedly warned to be wary of any man carrying such a lantern, because its activation signaled a lethal threat.
Oland enters the story as a retired soldier wandering through the postwar Empire, burdened by guilt and haunted by the legacy of the secret units he belonged to. He first crosses paths with the Pumpkin Scissors and Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin while defending a village attacked by Wolmarf, a former member of another Invisible Nine unit, the 908th Chemical Tactics Troops, who leads a band of outlaws armed with chemical weapons. Oland helps Malvin defeat Wolmarf and secure the antidote to the poison, and afterward he is assigned to the Pumpkin Scissors, the Imperial Army State Section III dedicated to war relief. Captain Hunks, the commanding officer of the unit, remains suspicious of Oland because of his secretive past and the unresolved mysteries surrounding the Invisible Nine.
Within the unit, Oland acts as a quiet and dependable presence. He holds enormous respect for Lieutenant Malvin, believes in her leadership, and is the only member of the team who never questions the value or usefulness of the Pumpkin Scissors mission. His strength and experience allow the unit to handle threats that would otherwise be beyond its capacity, and his growing commitment to the section gradually helps it be taken more seriously within the army. At the same time, his personal connection to the 900-series troops makes him a living link to the darker side of the war, and his knowledge of those programs becomes increasingly important as the deeper plots of the story come to light.
Over the course of the series, Oland develops from a withdrawn man trying to escape his past into a soldier who finds new purpose in protecting others. Inspired by Malvin's idealism, he devotes himself to the cause of war relief and to confronting the corrupt individuals who hide behind power and privilege. His key relationships include his bond of trust with Alice Malvin, his uneasy dynamic with Captain Hunks, and his camaraderie with the other members of the section. His defining ability is his combat power: when his lantern is lit, he becomes a relentless and nearly invincible fighter who endures pain and injury without slowing down, making him one of the most formidable warriors in the series. When the lantern is closed, that same man is calm, compassionate, and devoted to helping people rebuild their lives.
His past is rooted in the Royal Empire's most secret wartime programs. During the long conflict, Oland served in the 901st Anti-Tank Troop, also known as the Gespenst Jäger, or Ghost Hunter unit. This unit belonged to the so-called Invisible Nine, a collection of platoons that officially did not exist because their formation violated international treaties. The soldiers of the 901st were foot troops, developed under the supervision of Dr. Kauplan and described as genetically enhanced, who were conditioned to feel no fear and to destroy tanks on their own using little more than a single-shot weapon called a door knocker. Oland had effectively been a soldier for as long as he could remember, and that conditioning left a profound mark on him.
The most striking element of his character is the blue lantern he carries, marked with the designation 901-ATT. In normal circumstances, the lantern remains closed and Oland behaves calmly and gently. When he opens it, however, the eerie blue light triggers a drastic change in his demeanor. He becomes a fearless, vicious, and nearly unstoppable combatant who presses his attacks without regard for his own injuries. Soldiers across the Empire were reportedly warned to be wary of any man carrying such a lantern, because its activation signaled a lethal threat.
Oland enters the story as a retired soldier wandering through the postwar Empire, burdened by guilt and haunted by the legacy of the secret units he belonged to. He first crosses paths with the Pumpkin Scissors and Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin while defending a village attacked by Wolmarf, a former member of another Invisible Nine unit, the 908th Chemical Tactics Troops, who leads a band of outlaws armed with chemical weapons. Oland helps Malvin defeat Wolmarf and secure the antidote to the poison, and afterward he is assigned to the Pumpkin Scissors, the Imperial Army State Section III dedicated to war relief. Captain Hunks, the commanding officer of the unit, remains suspicious of Oland because of his secretive past and the unresolved mysteries surrounding the Invisible Nine.
Within the unit, Oland acts as a quiet and dependable presence. He holds enormous respect for Lieutenant Malvin, believes in her leadership, and is the only member of the team who never questions the value or usefulness of the Pumpkin Scissors mission. His strength and experience allow the unit to handle threats that would otherwise be beyond its capacity, and his growing commitment to the section gradually helps it be taken more seriously within the army. At the same time, his personal connection to the 900-series troops makes him a living link to the darker side of the war, and his knowledge of those programs becomes increasingly important as the deeper plots of the story come to light.
Over the course of the series, Oland develops from a withdrawn man trying to escape his past into a soldier who finds new purpose in protecting others. Inspired by Malvin's idealism, he devotes himself to the cause of war relief and to confronting the corrupt individuals who hide behind power and privilege. His key relationships include his bond of trust with Alice Malvin, his uneasy dynamic with Captain Hunks, and his camaraderie with the other members of the section. His defining ability is his combat power: when his lantern is lit, he becomes a relentless and nearly invincible fighter who endures pain and injury without slowing down, making him one of the most formidable warriors in the series. When the lantern is closed, that same man is calm, compassionate, and devoted to helping people rebuild their lives.