Supercape

Lament (a.k.a. "The Duke of Despair" a.k.a. "The Sultan of Sorrow") Power Level: 10 (239/245 PP) Unspent Power Points: 16 Trade-Offs: In Brief: Voodoo Showman housing Psychic Horror Alternate Identity: Luther Earl LeGrasse Birthplace: New Orleans Residence: New Orleans, but frequent traveller (e.g. Las Vegas, Freedom City) Occupation: Magician, Entertainer. Affiliations: Various shows and entertainments. Family: Ella LeGrasse (Older sister, New Orleans Politician), Violet LeGrasse (Younger Sister, Jazz Singer), Vincent LeGrasse (Father, retired whiskey distiller), Macy LeGrasse (Mother, Cook) Age: 30 Apparent Age: 30 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Mixed Height: 5'7" Weight: 60 Kgs Eyes: Brown Hair: Bald Luther is a thin man of sleight build. He lost his hair in his early twenties, and is clean shaven. When he appears as the great Voodoo magician "Zombo!" he dressed up in some deliberately torn black tie dinner jacket and with white eye make up. His super hero identity, Lament, is just a bold and magnified version of his stage costume. He wears a ridiculously tall purple top hat, purple suit, orange shirt, and a face shrouded in shadow with (at times), glowing eyes. However, he is an expert on disguise, so if undercover can often look like pretty much anyone! His mixed ethnicity and mastery of make-up means he can change his apparent skin tone from almost jet black to pallid white. History: Luther grew up on the streets of New Orleans in a loving family who were neither rich nor poor, but had a certain artistic flair to them. He remembers well the laughter, music, and smell of home cooked food. A small kid, Luther was inclined to be bullied, but soon found he had a knack for entertainment and grew in confidence and charm. As a teenager he did street magic, and became progressively more skilled and famous, until, as a young man, he took up a career as a stage magician, progressing further and further under the stage name "Zombo! Voodoo Master of the undead!", until he was a national figure, doing shows in Las Vegas and even around the world. And doing a triumphant return to New Orleans show, he attracted a horrifically powerful, near mindless, psychic creature who bonded with him, attracted by the delight he caused in his shows. The void. The void feeds on hope and laughter. Not in a malign way, no more than bacteria feeds on a wound. It is virtually mindless (INT 0), just a hunger. It loves being happy, and the way it gets happy is to feed off happiness. For Luther, this was awful. His shows became a feeding ground for the Void, and his reviews were awful. However, he did find that the Void gave him super powers. And he devised a way to feed the void in a more useful way, as the superhero, Lament, aiming the hunger of the creature to the cruel and sadistic. Personality & Motivation: Dramatic, Gregarious, Vengeful Luther loves entertaining people, and all forms of entertainment. Which is why the Void chose him. On the surface he is extrovert, melodramatic, the centre of attention – although he does need his time alone too. He is generous and kind to his friends, and at the very least civil to the man on the street – but he has a mean streak. He does not react particularly well to criticism, and bullies bring out a dark vengeful aspect to his character. He has little hesitation in psychically inflicting pain on bullies (and it keeps the Void sated). Powers & Tactics: The void normally resides purely psychologically, gnawing at Luther for "food". Luther can bring forth the Void from his mind. Firstly: Into his body (the Void can feed Lament's organs, providing sustenance and fortitude), making his breath and eyes dak/misty. Secondly: Into his skin (Making him shadowy and hard to see) Lastly: Projecting out into the environment in the shape of oily black tentacles. The Void has some psychic powers that Luther can use; projecting disturbing images, causing despair, or hypnosis. The symbiote itself provides Luther with exceptional resilience to physical attack and immunity to emotional powers. In addition, it can, reach out and such the physical energy from living creatures (it prefers psychic energy, but when hungry anything will do). Aside from the powers of the Void, Luther is a skilled showman, highly charismatic, and well versed in many social and performance skills. Lament has a certain dramatic tactical style. He prefers a touch of stealth, then an explosion of presence. Ideally, to keep the Void best fed, he would catch villains laughing and revelling, enjoying themselves, and strike them with a despair emotion (i.e sucking all their happiness out). Tactically, whilst Lament has a wide array of powers and skills, he prefers guile and stealth. He is aware of his limitations: He has limited effect over unthinking or unliving enemies, and has no super movement powers; he needs to use his wit and skills to overcome these problems. Power Descriptions: If the void manifests, it has an oily dark quality, but does not obscure light. In its most dramatic form, when Lament pushes the force out of his skin (albeit still symbiotically connected and living within him), the Void has up to dozens of thick tentacles and tendrils. When using the life sucking array, Laments hands will be a wobbly black, or he a shifting mist of black tendrils will suck the life of things around him. Finally, he may breathe out a black mist that robs the target of their breath. His psychic array is more subtle (as a mental effect), although when using hypnotic gaze his eyes will glow orange. Complications: Empty Void: Put simply, the Void must feed. Its preferred meal is positive emotions such as happiness. If it cannot feed on others, it will feed on Luther himself, causing a deep depression. If even that food source dies, it will feed on physical vitality, causing fatigue and somnolence (ideally in others, but then Luther). Full Void: Feeding on happiness will make the Void happy in its own mindless way. That said, it can only stomach so much before being bloated. Too much happiness, and it will refuse to feed further. Possessed: Manifesting the Void in the real world is progressively dangerous as it may take over Lament (particularly if extended). From gnawing broodiness ("Void Inside"), to a bleak and broody streak ("Void 'Betwixt") to the possibility of complete possession and temporarily losing his will ("Void Unleashed). The Void is not malign itself, but it is hungry and virtually mindless. Showman: Luther is a natural showman, and cannot help wanting to be adored and admired. He will prefer tactics and activities that are dramatic and impressive, and feed his own sense of self importance (whist internally of course he frets about his skills and worth). Doop de doo doo: Luther loves music, particularly jazz. He is often tapping his foot or humming a tune, actvities that could give him away or make noise. This is virtually irrsistable when there is music playing. He would sing a long to a tune even if it would reveal himself; it is practically an unconscious tic. Abilities: 0 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 12 = 32 Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 22 (+6) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40 Initiative: +7 Attack: +10 Defense: +10, +5 Flat Footed Grapple: +10 (up to +17 with “Void Manifest” active) Knockback: -5 Saving Throws: 4 + 9 + 9 = 22 Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +8 Protection) Fortitude: +6 (+2 Con, +4) Reflex: +12 (+3 Dex, +9) Will: +12 (+3 Wis, +9) Skills: 132 Ranks = 33 PP Bluff 12 (+18) Concentration 14 (+17) Diplomacy 4 (+10) Disguise 12 (+18) Skill Mastery Handle Animal 4 (+10) Intimidate 12 (+18) Skill Mastery Knowledge [Arcane] 4 (+6) Knowledge [Art] 4 (+6) Language 2 (English [Native], French, Spanish) Notice 4 (+7) Perform (Acting) 14 (+20) Skill Mastery Perform (Dance) 4 (+10) Perform (Oratory) 4 (+10) Perform (Wind Instruments) 12 (+18) Sense Motive 4 (+7) Sleight of Hand 14 (+17) Skill Mastery Stealth 8 (+11) Feats: 17 PP Benefit 2 (Wealth) Distract (Intimidate) Equipment 1 Favoured Environment [The Stage] Fascinate (Perform) Improved Initiative 1 Inspire 5 Luck 2 Skill Mastery 1 (Disguise, Intimidate, Perform [Acting], Sleight of Hand) Sneak Attack Startle Equipment 1 = 5 EP Masterwork Trumpet [1 EP] Masterwork Sap (Strike 2, Mighty) [4 EP] Powers: 17 + 2 + 1 + 5 + 28 + 8 + 32 +2 = 95 PP Powers all have the psychic descriptor Alternate Form 4 (15 PP Container, Feats: 2 Additional Alt Forms) [17 EP] "Void symbiote" [Psychic] Alt Form: Void Within (Void in lungs and organs, black mist from mouth, nose, ears, eyes) Immunity 15 (Life Support, Starvation and Thirst, Fatigue Effects) [15 PP] Alt Form: Void Betwixt (Void covers skin) Concealment 4 (All Visual senses, Feats: Close Range, Flaws: Permanent [+0], Limited Only Partial in Full Light [Sunlight, lighted room, etc]) [7 PP] Impervious Protection 6 (Drawback: No additional knockback protection) [5 PP] Enhanced Trait 3 (+12 to Escape Artist Checks, Total +15) [3 PP] Alt Form: Void Manifest! Additional Limbs 4 (up to 10 oily tentacles, Extras: Sustained Duration [+0], Impervious, Feats: Instant up) [9 PP] Elongation 3 (up to 25’, Drawbacks: Additional Limbs only [-1]) [2 PP] Supermovement 2 (Wall Crawling 2, full speed) [4 PP] Enhanced Trait 2 (Quick Change 2) [2 PP] Feature: Shadowed Face (As free action can cover face in darkness, concealing it) [1 PP] Immunity 5 (Emotion Effects) [5 PP] Life Sucking Array (26 PP Array, Feats: Alt Powers 2) [28 PP] BP: Fatigue 10 (Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Improved Crit 2, Sedation) [25/25 PP] “Touch” AP: Fatigue 7 (Extras: Burst, Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Sedation) [24/25 PP] “Cloud” AP: Suffocate 10 (Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Extended Reach 2, Sedation) [25/25 PP] “Breath” Protection 8 [8 PP] Psychic Array (30 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 2) [32 PP] BP: Emotion Control 10 (Extras: Area-Burst, Selective, Flaws: Limited to Despair) [30/30 PP] “Feed on Joy/Hope” AP: Illusion 10 (All Sense Types, Extras: Duration [Sustained], Flaws: Phantasm, Limited to disturbing or frightening illusions) [30/30 PP] “Project horror” AP: Stun 6 (Extras: Action-Reaction to meeting gaze [+3], Alt Save-Will [+0], Range-Perception [+2], Flaws: Limited to Daze, Sense Dependent [Sight]) [30 PP] “Hypnotic eyes” Supersenses 2 (Visual Counters Concealment) [2 PP] "Void Vision" DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness Damage Sap Touch DC 17 Toughness Damage Sucking Touch Touch DC 20 Fortitude Fatigue Sucking Burst Touch/Area DC 17 Fortitude Fatigue Sucking Breath Touch+10’ DC 20 Fortitude Suffocate Emotion Control Perc/Area DC 20 Will Emotion-Despair Hypnotic Eyes Perc DC 16 Will Daze Totals: Abilities 32 + Combat 40 + Saving Throws 22 + Skills 33 + Feats 17 + Powers 95 = 239/245 Power Points

Snakebite "Sin? I have plenty of sin. And to be honest, I am not sure I want to give it up. It makes me who I am..." It was honest. She was no villain, but sometimes Cassandra Crow could be wicked. There was something of a trickster god, inbred with a thieving bird about her. And without that, Cassie would no longer be Cassie. "Besides, staying in one place forever is not for me." Tenacious Lemurian Descendant. For a moment, Cassandra forgot about the professor. "What do you know of the Crow line?" she asked. "We have always been witches, cunning folk. Sometimes worse. The curses, the third eye... does the blood of Lemuria run in our veins?" And what would that mean?

GM "Stick around? Yes. Stuck? No..." said Sunshade, his orange mouth smiling. "I can leave when I want. And you can go as you please. Its just that I will follow you? Can you blame me? The feast of a century! The feast of a millenium! Would you walk away from a delicious... wait, what do you eat. Steak? Yes, Steak? Would you walk away from a Steak?" The words of Jack did make him pause... "You know.... nobody ever asked me what I want. I didn't even ask if for myself. I... I cant quite recall how I... birthed? Ages ago... it seems I have had been given one purpose. To feed..." Sunshade looked genuinely reflective. It soon passed. "But what does anyone do? We all feed, in one way or another. My dish is anger, repressed. It creates... a flavour I cannot resist. You are so very very flavoursome. All that rage, seething, controlled. Wonderful! And yet your rage is dying down... this makes me sad. And hungry! Oh! Addiction! Yes, that is what you could call it. Now... how to make you angry again..."

Haven "That makes things... less complicated..." said Haven, pondering what the line between program and intelligence was. Was it hubris? Maybe all intelligence was - was an extremely complex program. But - it was consent, of sorts. Assent, rather than consent. Or am I just deluding myself? At a certain point, thoughtfulness became paralysis, and there was no room for paralysis, not in this place. "Well then, lets see what we have..." he muttered, not entirely content with his decision, but decisive nonetheless. He reached out with his cyber hand, to connect to the cyber Lion... and Delve... ...What files were hidden? And how can I get them?

GM With a few Twangs of his bow, Archer put out the smoking fires. It was not so bad, really - the fire brigade had done the heavy lifting. But the inside of the plane was a mess; most of its interior was scattered, bent, broken. The hull had buckled. There was no sign of any ammunition - other than some small arms in a locker. A hole had been blown out of the side of the plane, although it wasn't quite clear what from. Looking more closely, with his trained and astute eye... well, one couldn't be sure, but it looked like there had been a scuffle inside the plane. A big one. Signs of feet sweeping across the surface for leverage, signs of bodies crashing into steel, and swung fists denting the chasis. One couldn't be sure, but... yes, it looked like there had been a fight on the plane.

Spore "312? Me too! How about that?" said Harper, smiling at Mz Grue. "Harper, Harper Hale. Havent quite got a code name yet. I'm thinking of Spore.... Don't ask. It ain't pretty." Although Daphen did look Pretty. Almost as tall as Harper, cool hair, cool smile. Harper looked pretty good most of the time, a mixture of genes and surgery. But with blotchy fungal patches? A bit less so. The sight of floating suitcases brought her eyebrows and mouth upwards. Surpise, Awe. "Thanks..." she said, trying to wrap her brain around the plethora of amazements she was witnessing. "Right, roomie..." she said, turning back to Daphen. "Time to check out the room, I guess. TV? Playstation? Hammock? Potted plant? Whatdya think?"

Spore Harper took careful note of the names and faces, but alas memory was not her best feature. Smart? Well, yes, at least for a high school. But this was Claremont and the kids here could be superhuman in intelligence. Harper would not be the smartest in the class, if she had ever been (a second or third place was the usual in school). Smart? Yes. But memory? Not so much. "I have two questions..." she said, her breath returning. "Firstly, does anyone have super strength and feels like helping me lug these suitcases into my room?" she said with a smile, scanning the assortment of girls. "Secondly, does this place have a kitchen? If it does, I'm hungry and I'm going to cook us up a meal!" One thing she could do was cook. And that was always, in her experience, a welcome skill!

GM "Ah yes, the King. Very Regal, very... ah... pompous... of you. But I appreciate pompous. Over confident? Perhaps, but better than paralysed by fear. I see to little of the former, too much of the former. Always everyone else's problem. The world needs people like us to bite at problems before they become too big for our teeth to chew, in my opinion." "There is a run down area in one of the slums. An old apothecary by all accounts - I have the accounts, as it happens. Shut down over a hundred years ago. Condemned building, with the sewers and the..." his face squirmed in disgust "...sewage running right below. The first step, I think, is to purify the system. Then track the source. "I am coming with you, of course. I am old man and I trust you can beat off any vagrants who might wish to try their luck. A nice stick you have there..." he pointed at the sceptre. "And I would strongly advise waterproof footwear. I will be wearing wellington boots, I can assure you!"

Gamma Buzz Baz took the hand of Jack and squeezed it - not to hard, lest it be squeezed back. "Hey, you look like a bear too." Handsome, powerful, strong. Bastardo! Although Envy coursed through Baltazar's armoured plates - because Jack would no doubt have all the girls swooning over him - Baltazar couldnt find it in him to fall to spite. Jack didn't jump out of his skin when he saw the Cockroach Kid, so Jack was alright. Better than most. Why, after all, did he do the wall crawling act? To hide, to surprise, to try and find evidence that he was a disgusting creature that nobody could tolerate. And if it failed? Well, all the better! Jack was ok. More than ok. Would he confess to such dark psychology, of which he himself was only dimly aware. Not a cockroach chance in cockroach hell! "Sorry for the surprise entrance, hombres!" he said, placating Lawrence and the Spaceman. "I am trying to practice my cockroach tactics for the next time we get into some scrape which of course we don't because we dont get into, because we probably neverish break any rules. But if we did, I think cockroach tactics are a thing to practice, right? Me and Lawrence are still trying to work out what a Slowball Slam is. I mean, it sounds great, right? The name is awesome. So there must be some great timebending cockroach tactic there." He felt the chill. Saw it, too, with his infravision. "You like... a polar bear or something?" he asked. "Because you look totally cool."

Sure but how about using INt instead of DEX for the skill modifier, as its more about knowledge of planes rather than flying them? Search may also help?

GM The Prof inhaled through his nose. "Two sugars? Sugar is bad for your teeth. But, I suppose a punch in the mouth is, too, so I shall defer. You youngsters all know karate and suchlike." He beckoned in. The house interior teetered betwixt organised and chaotic. Relics, artifacts, antiquities lined the walls and most surfaces. A shrunken head, a unicorn horn, a whip made of suspicious boiled skin. Maybe some of them were fakes - but not all, surely. The professor would surely have known the difference, for papers and books of all types had been stuffed into a multitude of shelves. The tea was Earl Grey, well made, and yes, Renee did get two sugars. "Drop Box, Whatsapp. Not really my style," said the Professor. "But I can move with times if need be." He sat down on a battered leather chair, took a solitary sip of tea, and placed it on a side table where it gently cooled. "I understand you are the best potion maker in Freedom City. Quite the talent you have, there. And a needed talent, I fear." With a frown, he continued, absorbed in his own tale. "Someone - or something - is organising a mass movement of cursed items into the America's. From the old world to the new world. I do not know why, but it is happening, and not by chance. The latest irritant to pop onto my radar? A rotten egg." He paused, bit his lip. "A rotten egg of some foul creature. Petrified, now, of course. It is undetermined ages old. But said egg poisons the waters around it. Maybe a weapon of mass detruction in ancient wars? And it has found itself in Freedom City. We need to find it, before it turns half of Freedom City into Gibbering Babboons, and the other half into something worse. I presume you can whip up some magical antitdote to any toxin?"

Thats perfect for the thread

GM The professos home was elegant both inside and outside, medium sized, well built, probably a hundred years old by the looks of it (if one had an eye for architecture) The door creaked open as soon as Renee reached it. Inside, was the Professor himself (according to an internet search of his image). He held the door stiffly, and his back stiffer. The man was probably seventy, trim, on the tall side. A trimmed grey beard and hair, tweed suit and waistcoat, and dark yet sparkling eyes. A man of intelligence, clearly. "Good afternoon," he said in a steely voice. "It took me considerable efforts to track you down. Considerable indeed, even for a man of my resources. You can be assured I would not have done so if it 'twas not important." He coughed into his hand. "But do excuse me. Manners, manners. I am Professor Armitage. This is my home. Please, come in. Tea?" Despite the look of an Englishman (perhaps with a touch of semitic blood), his accent was mid atlantic.

Snakebite "And pleased to meet you, Mister... ah.... Mister Yeti?" If it was even a mister. There was no way to trust it. Not yet. But Cassandra surely was not going to eat the food, no matter how delicious. "The path too... what? And why would you bar it?" she asked. "I admire your dedication and your tenacity, too. But why? Why keep this splendour hidden? Is there something more dangerous than poison apples in this garden of Eden?"

Gamma Buzz With an elegant cockroach flip, courtesy of amazing cockroach agility, Baltazar Botez detatched himself from the ceiling (along which he had been crawling for no reason other than it was cool to do so) and landed by Lawrence. The acid test! How would Jack respond to the Cockroach kid? "And I am Baltazar Botez, also known as Gamma Buzz! Also known as the Cockroach Kid!" He held out his armoured green hand to Jack. Although even with Cockroach strength, it looked like Jack could crush it. "Roomie of Lawrence, who gets top marks in everything at school. But thats only because he cheats by being intelligent and hard working. Pffft!" He gave Lawrence a wink. Lawrence had helped Baz settle in, and Baz would never forget that kindness. Not many people understood the pain inside the armoured green exoskeleton, but Lawrence did.

Spore Harper Hale, tall (for her age), lithe, and unfashionably dressed, stepped out of the taxi, hauling luggage that was a little too heavy. But that wouldn't stop her, even if she was sweating by the time she reached her floor. She paused, grunting for breath, wiping her brow. It was good exercise, she told herself. The only expensive item of clothing she wore was sunglasses-designer, expensive. And she wore them indoors. She trundled down the corridor, bag over a shoulder, two heavier bags wheeled in each hand, and stopped by the conglomeration of youths. "You bet," she said to the comment about people having powers. "I'm Harper." Her smile was warm but inside she felt her guts twist. Girls dorm. She should feel comfortable here. Why didn't she?

I always found boost in an array a bit cheeze - you boost and get all the benefits, then switch over to the array. At least boost which doesnt quickly fade... And alternative would be to do something like an AP concealment power, making everyone invisible or partially visible or whatever or an enhanced trait (Stealth) with affects others and burst.

Just my 2 cents: Gobbelyn Gear, Array 4.5 (Goblin, Magical, PFs: AP 1) [10PP] [9AP] BP: Greasy Shiv, Device 3 (Flaws: easy to lose)[9/9AP][15CP] - Damage 6 (Piercing/Slashing, PFs: Accurate 3, Extras: Linked[0]), Nauseate 6 (Flaws: Sicken Only, Extras: Linked[0]) [15/15CP] AP: Tricksy Bow, Device 3 (Flaws: easy to lose)[9/9AP][15CP] - Blast 6 (Piercing, PFs: Accurate 3, Homing, Drawbacks: Range -1, Close Range 60', Max Range 300') [15/15CP] Unless these are conjured out of thin air and cant be disarmed, I would build them as a device. . We have the house rule "Multiple weapons" feat for buying two weapons (as long as they do not have an array each) I think the maths is off for that array too... a 9 PP array with powers costing 15 PP? Example: Device 3 (Feats: Alt Device, Multiple Weapon 1, Flaws: Easy to Lose) [12PP] Base Device: Greasy Shiv (Damage 5, linked with Nauseate 5, limited to sickness, poison extra) [15/15 DP] Alt Device: Tricksy Bow (Blast 6, Feats: Homing, Accurate, Ricochet) [15/15 DP]

and Nightscale is ready for action!

A Filthy Business Everybody - well, nearly everybody - in the Trailer Park was getting sick. Nasuea, fatigue, purple blotches on the skin, and the violent ejection of bodily fluid (with bits in) from both ends of the body. It was not a pleasant sight. It was far from a pleasant smell. And Huckleberry Sin knew just why, and just who to call. Huckleberry Sin was an almost-teen (who knew his real age) rapscallion of the trailer park, with ragged clothes, ragged hair, and a knack for evading even the most vexed (and many had been vexed) trailer park residents, with his agility, wit and speed. "Luke, Luke! Its the Water!" He paused, gasping for breath, right before Luke Landers. Huckleberry was not as fast as normal - his skin was sweaty and pallid. He was coming down with whatever the rest of the park were experiencing. "At least, I think its the water... something is bubbling up from the ground. Something nasty!" he said. Even the prospect of illness didnt keep the cheeky grin from his face when he said the word nasty.

Firstly, an HP for King Cole III - as needed for the thread, Prof Armitage (by mundane and perhaps other means) has learned all about King Cole III / Renee! (as per complications) Renee will be in no rush, the invitation is to meet Prof in his residence. KC3: Unharmed, 3 HP

A Small Problem August 28th, 2024 Freedom City King Cole the Third, aka Renee King, was preparing for Claremont. Exciting! As was the prospect of potion manufacture. Magic Potions! Double Exciting! But what was triple exciting? A letter! Not your fancy e mail or other electronic conversation, no no. This was a hand written letter, in fine caligraphy, inviting Renee King, granddaughter of the original King Cole, too a mysterious and mystical problem! Someone, it seems, was intent on cursing the ghastly fluids and matter of Freedom City Sewers, and the young Renee, master of the mystical arts (of potions) was just the person to concoct the solution. And the author of this fine handwriting, a Professor Armitage, expert in occultism, history and - it seemed (from a quick internet search) - pretty much everything that wasn't modern (although he was no slouch in modern sociology, psychology, and so on, from all accounts). Based in Freedom City, and whilst somewhat "Stiff" and "Hard" according to students, a very knowledgable man indeed, with an excellent style in tweed jackets and the occasional pipe of tobacco (not indoors, of course)...

Lament (a.k.a. "The Duke of Despair" a.k.a. "The Sultan of Sorrow") Power Level: 10 (239/239 PP) Unspent Power Points: 10 Trade-Offs: In Brief: Voodoo Showman housing Psychic Horror Alternate Identity: Luther Earl LeGrasse Birthplace: New Orleans Residence: New Orleans, but frequent traveller (e.g. Las Vegas, Freedom City) Occupation: Magician, Entertainer. Affiliations: Various shows and entertainments. Family: Ella Lagrasse (Older sister, New Orleans Politician), Violet Lagrasse (Younger Sister, Jass Singer), Vincent Lagrasse (Father, retired whiskey distiller), Margreet Lagrasse (Mother, Cook) Age: 30 Apparent Age: 30 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Mixed Height: 5'7" Weight: 60 Kgs Eyes: Brown Hair: Bald Luther is a thin man of sleight build. He lost his hair in his early twenties, and is clean shaven. When he appears as the great Voodoo magician "Zombo!" he dressed up in some deliberately torn black tie dinner jacket and with white eye make up. His super hero identity, Lament, is just a bold and magnified version of his stage costume. He wears a ridiculously tall purple top hat, purple suit, orange shirt, and a face shrouded in shadow with (at times), glowing eyes. However, he is an expert on disguise, so if undercover can often look like pretty much anyone! His mixed ethnicity and mastery of make-up means he can change his apparent skin tone from almost jet black to pallid white. History: Luther grew up on the streets of New Orleans in a loving family who were neither rich nor poor, but had a certain artistic flair to them. He remembers well the laughter, music, and smell of home cooked food. A small kid, Luther was inclined to be bullied, but soon found he had a knack for entertainment and grew in confidence and charm. As a teenager he did street magic, and became progressively more skilled and famous, until, as a young man, he took up a career as a stage magician, progressing further and further under the stage name "Zombo! Voodoo Master of the undead!", until he was a national figure, doing shows in Las Vegas and even around the world. And doing a triumphant return to New Orleans show, he attracted a horrifically powerful, near mindless, psychic creature who bonded with him, attracted by the delight he caused in his shows. The void. The void feeds on hope and laughter. Not in a malign way, no more than bacteria feeds on a wound. It is virtually mindless (INT 0), just a hunger. It loves being happy, and the way it gets happy is to feed off happiness. For Luther, this was awful. His shows became a feeding ground for the Void, and his reviews were awful. However, he did find that the Void gave him super powers. And he devised a way to feed the void in a more useful way, as the superhero, Lament, aiming the hunger of the creature to the cruel and sadistic. Personality & Motivation: Dramatic, Gregarious, Vengeful Luther loves entertaining people, and all forms of entertainment. Which is why the Void chose him. On the surface he is extrovert, melodramatic, the centre of attention – although he does need his time alone too. He is generous and kind to his friends, and at the very least civil to the man on the street – but he has a mean streak. He does not react particularly well to criticism, and bullies bring out a dark vengeful aspect to his character. He has little hesitation in psychically inflicting pain on bullies (and it keeps the Void sated). Powers & Tactics: The void normally resides purely psychologically, gnawing at Luther for "food". Luther can bring forth the Void from his mind. Firstly: Into his body (the Void can feed Lament's organs, providing sustenance and fortitude). Secondly: Into his skin (Making him shadowy and hard to see) Lastly: Projecting out into the environment in the shape of oily black tentacles. The Void has some psychic powers that Luther can use; projecting disturbing images, causing despair, or hypnosis. The symbiote itself provides Luther with exceptional resilience to physical attack and immunity to emotional powers. In addition, it can, reach out and such the physical energy from living creatures (it prefers psychic energy, but when hungry anything will do). Aside from the powers of the Void, Luther is a skilled showman, highly charismatic, and well versed in many social and performance skills. Lament has a certain dramatic tactical style. He prefers a touch of stealth, then an explosion of presence. Ideally, to keep the Void best fed, he would catch villains laughing and revelling, enjoying themselves, and strike them with a despair emotion (i.e sucking all their happiness out). Tactically, whilst Lament has a wide array of powers and skills, he prefers guile and stealth. He is aware of his limitations: He has limited effect over unthinking or unliving enemies, and has no super movement powers; he needs to use his wit and skills to overcome these problems. Power Descriptions: If the void manifests, it has an oily dark quality, but does not obscure light. In its most dramatic form, when Lament pushes the force out of his skin (albeit still symbiotically connected and living within him), the Void has up to dozens of thick tentacles and tendrils. When using the life sucking array, Laments hands will be a wobbly black, or he a shifting mist of black tendrils will suck the life of things around him. Finally, he may breathe out a black mist that robs the target of their breath. His psychic array is more subtle (as a mental effect), although when using hypnotic gaze his eyes will glow orange. Complications: Empty Void: Put simply, the Void must feed. Its preferred meal is positive emotions such as happiness. If it cannot feed on others, it will feed on Luther himself, causing a deep depression. If even that food source dies, it will feed on physical vitality, causing fatigue and somnolence (ideally in others, but then Luther). Full Void: Feeding on happiness will make the Void happy in its own mindless way. That said, it can only stomach so much before being bloated. Too much happiness, and it will refuse to feed further. Possessed: Manifesting the Void in the real world is progressively dangerous as it may take over Lament (particularly if extended). From gnawing broodiness ("Void Inside"), to a bleak and broody streak ("Void 'Betwixt") to the possibility of complete possession and temporarily losing his will ("Void Unleashed). The Void is not malign itself, but it is hungry and virtually mindless. Showman: Luther is a natural showman, and cannot help wanting to be adored and admired. He will prefer tactics and activities that are dramatic and impressive, and feed his own sense of self importance (whist internally of course he frets about his skills and worth). Doop de doo doo: Luther loves music, particularly jazz. He is often tapping his foot or humming a tune, actvities that could give him away or make noise. This is virtually irrsistable when there is music playing. He would sing a long to a tune even if it would reveal himself; it is practically an unconscious tic. Abilities: 0 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 12 = 32 Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 22 (+6) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40 Initiative: +7 Attack: +10 Defense: +10, +5 Flat Footed Grapple: +10 (up to +10 with “Void Manifest” active) Knockback: -5 Saving Throws: 3 + 8 + 8 = 19 Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +8 Protection) Fortitude: +5 (+2 Con, +3), or +15 with “Void Within” active Reflex: +11 (+3 Dex, +8) Will: +11 (+3 Wis, +8) Skills: 120 Ranks = 30 PP Bluff 12 (+18) Concentration 14 (+17) Diplomacy 4 (+10) Disguise 10 (+16) Skill Mastery Intimidate 12 (+18) Skill Mastery Knowledge [Arcane] 4 (+5) Knowledge [Art] 4 (+5) Language 2 (English [Native], French, Spanish) Notice 4 (+7) Perform (Acting) 14 (+20) Skill Mastery Perform (Dance) 4 (+10) Perform (Wind Instruments) 12 (+18) Sense Motive 4 (+7) Sleight of Hand 15 (+17) Skill Mastery Stealth 8 (+11) Feats: 17 PP Benefit 2 (Wealth) Distract (Intimidate) Equipment 1 Favored Environment [The Stage] Fascinate (Perform) Improved Initiative 1 Inspire 5 Luck 2 Skill Mastery 1 (Disguise, Intimidate, Perform [Acting], Sleight of Hand) Sneak Attack Startle Equipment 1 = 5 EP Masterwork Trumpet [1 EP] Masterwork Sap (Strike 2, Mighty) [4 EP] Powers: 22 + 2 + 1 + 5 + 28 + 8 + 32 = 101 PP Powers all have the psychic descriptor Alternate Form 4 (20 PP Container, Feats: 2 Additional Alt Forms) [22 EP] "Void symbiote" [Psychic] Alt Form: Void Within Immunity 10 (Life Support, Starvation and Thirst) [10 PP] Enhanced Fortitude 10 [10 PP] Alt Form: Void Betwixt Concealment 10 (All Senses, Feats: Close Range, Selective, Flaws: Permenant [+0], Limited Only Partial in Full Light [Sunlight, lighted room, etc]) [17 PP] Enhanced Trait 3 (+12 to Escape Artist Checks, Total +15) [3 PP] Alt Form: Void Manifest! Additional Limbs 7 (up to 100 oily tentacles, Extras: Sustained Duration [+0], Impervious) [14 PP] Elongation 3 (up to 25’, Drawbacks: Additional Limbs only [-1]) [2 PP] Supermovement 2 (Wall Crawling 2, full speed) [4 PP] Enhanced Trait 2 (Quick Change 2) [2 PP] Feature: Shadowed Face (As free action can cover face in darkness, concealing it) [1 PP] Immunity 5 (Emotion Effects) [5 PP] Life Sucking Array (26 PP Array, Feats: Alt Form 2) [28 PP] BP: Fatigue 10 (Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Improved Crit 2, Sedation) [25/25 PP] “Touch” AP: Fatigue 7 (Extras: Burst, Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Sedation) [24/25 PP] “Cloud” AP: Suffocate 10 (Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Extended Reach 2, Sedation) [25/25 PP] “Breath” Protection 8 [8 PP] Psychic Array (30 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 2) [32 PP] BP: Emotion Control 10 (Extras: Area-Burst, Selective, Flaws: Limited to Despair) [30/30 PP] “Feed on Joy/Hope” AP: Illusion 10 (All Sense Types, Extras: Duration [Sustained], Flaws: Phantasm, Limited to disturbing or frightening illusions) [30/30 PP] “Project horror” AP: Stun 6 (Extras: Action-Reaction to meeting gaze [+3], Alt Save-Will [+0], Range-Perception [+2], Flaws: Limited to Daze, Sense Dependent [Sight]) [30 PP] “Hypnotic eyes” DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness Damage Sap Touch DC 17 Toughness Damage Sucking Touch Touch DC 20 Fortitude Fatigue Sucking Burst Touch/Area DC 17 Fortitude Fatigue Sucking Breath Touch+10’ DC 20 Fortitude Suffocate Emotion Control Perc/Area DC 20 Will Emotion-Despair Hypnotic Eyes Perc DC 16 Will Daze Totals: Abilities 32 + Combat 40 + Saving Throws 19 + Skills 30 + Feats 17 + Powers 101 = 239/239 Power Points

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