KnightDisciple

Raven Power Level: 15 (built as PL 11; 205/250 PP) [Gold Reward Slot] Trade-Offs: +2 Attack / -2 Damage; +2 Defense / -2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 45PP In Brief: The newest holder of the mantle of the Raven, the third hero to bear this name has large shoes to fill as he steps into this role. Alternate Identity: Aleksander Garen Nakani (Birth Name/legal name); Svarog (Name assigned by the Blood Dragons) Identity: Secret Birthplace: Rustavi, Georgia Occupation: College Student (Freedom City College); Crimefighter Affiliations: Raven "family"; Claremont Academy (Alumnus); Blood Dragon Society (former) Family: Henrik and Maral Nakani (biological parents, deceased); Loren and Melissa Barbeau (adoptive parents) Description: Age: 20 (DoB: December 12, 1997) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: Armenian and Ossetian Height: 6'1" Weight: 200 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Aleksander is an athletic young man, whose frame balances speed, agility, and power. Thanks to his "rigorous" upbringing and years of training under Callie Summers, he moves with an instinctive sense of balance and poise. His deeply bronzed skin has no blemishes, and his face is free of scarring. His forearms, hands, lower legs, and torso bear a scattering of small, light scars, the sort one would associate with intense martial training. The long, thin scars on his back, faded for years now, are decidedly not from training. His grey eyes peer out keenly from slightly thick eyebrows, always observing. He doesn't have the furtive manner one would associate with a guilty party; instead, it's the keen observation of all those around him, and his environment. When he does focus on an item, person, or object, his gaze can be quite piercing indeed. His face bears notable angles, but avoids the severity many might think such features would lend to him; his smooth, clean-shaven skin lessens the impact of his bone structure a fair bit. He almost seems to have trouble frowning, and quite often, Aleksander's smiling or smirking about one thing or another. If he becomes angry, though, it is somewhat like a storm rolling over the plains. His dark hair has just a bit of curl to it, and while he keeps it neat, it reaches down to the bottom of his neck. Typically he just wears it combed back, but when training he'll keep it tied in a tight ponytail. Typically, he dresses in comfortable, non-descript clothes with low-key colors. He tends to prefer pants and long sleeves year round, though in the summer he usually opts for lighter-weight materials than in the dead of winter. His only ornamentation seems to be an antique wristwatch; when pressed, he explains it was his birth father's, and is one of the few mementos he has of him. Raven's costume is a finely-engineered piece of crime-fighting technology, and it looks it. It's a full-body suit that leaves only the mouth exposed, and while it's somewhat obvious that it's multiple layers, the outside is virtually seamless. The whole suit has armor plating somewhat visibly sandwiched in everywhere, but covered with a solid layer of morphic molecules on the outside to smooth over its appearance. The suit's base color is black, with the belt (holding several secure pouches of equipment), chest symbol (a stylized raven, wings outstretched and beak pointed straight up, feet outstretched below), and a few lines on the gauntlets and greaves being a metallic silvery color. The inside of his cape is a dark grey-blue, helping blend in and break colors up a bit.The gloves/gauntlets, boots/greaves, pants, shirt, cape, and cowl are all separate pieces. When at rest, the cape's edge is a straight line, but thanks to the combination of the electroreactive "frame" inside of it, and the morphic molecules, when in "glide mode", the edges take on the appearance of a raven's wings spread in flight, or at least a stylized rendition of it. His head is covered by a smooth armored cowl that leaves only his mouth and chin exposed to the air. His eyes are covered by special lenses that appear, from the outside, to be somewhat milky-white when inactive, but faintly glow green when night vision mode is active. The suit bears a very robust belt-and-harness assembly that includes a multitude of pieces of compact equipment. Using low-scale nanotechnology alongside hyper-efficient space-saving tech, these modules and pieces of equipment can quickly be activated and deployed, be it as handheld tools or as plug-in modules on his base suit (which has a multitude of subtle connection points for various modules). Some may alter the appearance of his suit in various ways. Power Descriptions: Aleksander is an essentially normal human being. His time under the "care" of the Blood Dragon Society had them injecting him with various chemical mixtures meant to encourage the maximum potential growth, and he was fed a rigorous diet rich in some unique vitamins and minerals, but while he shows the potential to enter the very top tier of human performance, right now he shows no signs of mutation or any other true superhuman powers. Instead, his body is in peak condition for a man of 20, and he possesses more skill than most would think possible for one of his age (due to his...rigorous...care with the BDS). Some might describe Aleksander as a "living weapon", and truthfully, they wouldn't be entirely wrong. His physical fitness and sheer skill make him a formidable close-combat opponent. He consistently displays athletic prowess at the upper end of the human spectrum. Raven's costume is a masterful piece of crime-fighting engineering. The innermost layer is a thick, comfortable layer of thermal-insulated morphic molecules that help Alek survive extreme temperatures. Next is a layer of body armor, composed primary of thick, semi-rigid Kevlar plates that provide protection sufficient to deal with most regular small arms. The cowl contains lenses that can activate night vision, meaning even the darkest night is as bright as day to Raven. As well, an advanced communications suite is embedded under the armoring of the cowl. This system also works with some small microcomputers in his belt to give him up-to-the-picosecond accurate time, as well as precise geo-positioning data and magnetic north orientation readings. The belt also holds a number of tools useful for crime scene analysis, a fold-out tablet computer useful for taking notes and such, and a simple collapsible gas mask that fits over his exposed moth and provides an environmental seal and several minutes of clean air. The cape is composed of special electro-reactive morphic molecules that conform to a rigid frame when a very low but precisely calibrated electrical charge is run through them. While he has insufficient propulsion for true independent flight, Nevermore is capable of long glides. His ability for movement around the city is aided by special high-speed, high-power grapnel lines that are housed in his gauntlets (under the extra armor plating). Raven's belt and harness contain modules and gear that let him adapt on the fly to the situation in the field. Raven has had practice figuring out the best pieces to use in any given situation, but it's still a developing technology, so it takes him a few moments to reconfigure his equipment. Alek has full access to The Rookery, the large (hidden) cave-complex-based underground headquarters of the Raven, located underneath the Summers mansion. The facility is expansive and covers virtually every need a crime-fighter might have, with room for future improvements, as well as access to a large variety of tools, vehicles, and suits that he could draw on if needed. The most (comparatively) subtle vehicle out of his current arsenal is The Talon, a high-performance motorcycle which is one of Raven's primary means of transportation across larger portions of Freedom City (with his grapnel/glider cape combo being used for more precise positioning in specific areas). While unarmed, it is a tough, fast vehicle that bears a solid security system to prevent bike-jacking. The overall construction is rugged, with the bike mainly sporting two seemingly over-sized tires (each with an independent electric motor for power), and a central "pod" with rugged armor plates, special steering "arms", and a simple voice-activated computer that has an always-updating navigation program. It is currently capable of speeds approaching the fastest performance road cars, though Raven rarely pushes it to that speed. A more recent addition to the garage of the Rookery is the latest iteration of the Unkindness, the full-sized automobile of the Raven. The latest in a long line of vehicles, this version of the Unkindness is some great and terrible fusion of a race car, an APC, and a fighter jet. The dark vehicle is plated with enough armor to shrug off massive amounts of fire; the outer skin can be configured to either somehow hide the enormous automobile, or make it capable of completely ignoring anything up to the heaviest guns or explosives. As well, the wheels can be kept close to the body for greater transit speed, or spread out on variable-geometry "arms" that give the Unkindness unparalleled stability on even the worst terrain. With its advanced suite of sensors, communication, and life-support gear, it's practically a headquarters on the move. It's also armed with enough less-than-lethal weaponry to take out an entire company of soldiers and vehicles. The sonic disrupter cannon stores away behind the driver compartment of the Unkindness, and can be configured to either fire single "shots" at specific targets, or blast out a cone of dizzying sound accompanied by a multitude of bright, flashing lights. Strapped on either side of the "barrel" of the sonic cannon are the prongs for the Targeted EMP Cannon, a device that allows the Raven to disable most any modern electronics with just a few button presses. History: Aleksander Garen Nakani should have been a perfectly normal boy born in the country of Georgia. And for about 6 months of his life after birth, he was. Then, one day, he and his parents "disappeared". His father and mother were found weeks later, dead, their child missing, out well past city limits. Theories abounded. No one was ever charged, no conclusion made. Funerals were held. People mourned. Mementos were kept by parents/grandparents and other scattered family. None were the wiser that Aleksander had been taken by the Blood Dragon Society to their base in Transylvania, Romania. They are a fanatical group borne from the last members of the Order of the Dragon. Born in fire and blood, they escaped the purge that wiped out most of their brethren and went into hiding. They watched as one of their own members became one of the most feared monsters of all time, a household name half a millennium later. The Blood Dragon Society vowed all those years ago to protect Europe (and, eventually, mankind) from the "dark things". Unfortunately, their definition of what constituted a viable threat has varied over the years, and has never focused solely on supernatural threats, but instead included political or religious movements and individuals. Worse, they vowed to use any means necessary, and have taken that vow seriously. They employ methods most would never condone, and in the last couple of centuries have begun taking orphans or other "won't be missed" children to train them from a young age to be perfect "defenders". Aleksander was part of a new "trial group", selected based on genetic factors (in his case, the presence of many historically successful soldiers on his father's side, and genetics stretching back to some of the fiercest Sarmation warriors on his mother's side) that the Society believed would make them ideal warriors. These children, taken from all over the world, and being of all sorts of ethnicity, were brought in before their first birthdays. They were raised impersonally, granted single names based on mythology (Aleksander was called Svarog), and fed rigorous diets, supplemented by vitamin and chemical treatments intended to procure the maximum possible performance and growth. They were educated as soon as possible, trained from very early ages in tactics, stealth, sabotage, combat of all kinds, and more. Their minds were laced with subliminal programs to ensure obedience and efficiency. Psychics were brought in to aid all of these efforts, ensuring that the whole batch of 20 was far ahead of their peers in every way by age 10. Alkesander was 11 when the Freedom League rescued all of the children from the clutches of the Society. The Raven, with the aid of Foreshadow, had tracked down the location of the Society's facilities. The stealthier members of the League infiltrated the base and ensured that the children were there and safe, and disabled much of the security. The rest of the League then swept in and thoroughly disabled any BDS troops still up and about, including a few of their more exotic members. Raven herself was the one to open the cell holding Aleksander, who had been in solitary for a week because his young mind had shown itself to be (once more) resistant to the harsher aspects of the programming they were trying to induce on the children. It wasn't a conscious thing, simply an unusually resilient psyche that meant the next year would not be as harsh as it would for his fellows. But only a little less harsh. Thankfully, the BDS facility had included full medical and biographical files on the children there; the Society was thorough and meticulous, if nothing else. This allowed the League to track down what family remained...which was his father's father, who was by this point in no condition to take care of a child. So he would have to be adopted after his treatment. It took over a year for League psychics and psychologists to help young Aleksander reach a point where they felt he couldn't simply be "switched off" or reprogrammed with a single phrase, and that he didn't treat the entire world like one long spy or combat mission. It still was a delicate enough situation that his adoptive parents, Loren and Melissa Barbeau, had to be specially trained and prepared to help him learn to socialize more normally. As well, his state of mind, as well as his near-reflexive fighting ability, necessitated him attending the Nicholson school for 3 years. Thankfully, by 14 Aleksander was a comparatively normal, if quiet, boy. He was even attending a regular public school. What Loren and Melissa didn't know is that the mental focus that previously had been forced upon the lessons of being a weapon, was now turned to investigating the Raven more. For almost a year, he'd been slowly tracking bits and pieces of information. Not because he hated her; just the opposite, Aleksander felt only the greatest of admiration for her. He wished to thank her without having to get mugged first. But as his investigation continued, he came to an uncomfortable conclusion: Raven was growing older. Just as her predecessor had, she was starting to show small signs of aging. One day, perhaps soon, she'd have to give up the mantle. But to whom? The day he figured out who she was, was the day Alkesander Nakani decided that if the Raven wouldn't appoint a successor, maybe one needed to approach her. So he dug deeper. Eventually, he determined two facts. First, the original Raven had been Duncan Summers, who was now headmaster of Claremont Academy. Second, his daughter, Callie Summers, was the current Raven. This would explain all the various resources Raven had always had access to. But now...how to speak to either of them about it? Finally, he decided on just going to Claremont Academy and trying to speak with the Headmaster, as he wasn't sure Callie would be at the Summers home. He skipped school one day and caught the bus to Bayview. He managed to slip onto the Academy grounds with none of the students or staff noticing, and ended up right outside Headmaster Summers' office. At which point the retired hero invited him in to speak. Duncan explained that while he didn't know quite why Aleksander was there, he'd kept track of the boy, if for no other reason than to help alert other heroes if the Blood Dragon Society ever moved to try and retake him. But the boy's presence intrigued him, and he had a guess as to why he was here. So Aleksander laid out his research, the results, and his belief that Callie needed a successor. Duncan ended up calling his daughter into the meeting, and there were a couple hours of discussion (during which Loren and Melissa were called in as well). In the end, it was decided that until he was 15 & 1/2 years old, Aleksander would be undergoing rigorous "basic training" without stepping foot outside the "lair" under the Summers home. Loren and Melissa weren't thrilled, but recognized that between Aleksander's iron will and his rather unique background, they'd be unlikely to stop him. So instead they partnered with Duncan and Callie to help make sure Alek didn't do something stupid to get himself killed. By June of 2013, Alek was allowed on 2 patrols a month, to try and get him used to actually going through the motions of being a crime-fighter. He was primarily asked to watch Raven's back, but was sometimes allowed to take the fore and get some practice. Most criminals were at least smart enough to not mouth off to a kid in body armor who was working with the Raven. The ones that were were educated. Word started to spread. In the meantime, in an effort to take some of the work off of Callie, and give Aleksander some independence on occasion, he was sent into the field as Nevermore (as he has dubbed himself) and transferred to Claremont, starting in the Spring 2014 semester. It was hoped that he would learn more skills related to working with other heroes, as well as broadening his own skillset for the purposes of crime fighting and prevention. These hopes were well-founded, though Alek did not have quite the meteoric high school career that some alumni of Calremont did. Nevermore made the rounds of Freedom City, working to aid Raven and sometimes even pick up the "slack" of patrols. He was given fuller access to the Rookery on his own (instead of only on mission prep or training). All these things helped him prepare himself. After The Incident, Callie sat down with Aleksander and explained that he was ready. He tried to deny it, but she told him, honestly, that not only was he ready, but that she was tired. Years of fighting the good fight had started to take their toll, and with her new duties as Headmistress, and her father's slowly-declining health, she felt it was time to step aside. He'd been far better prepared than she had been, really, and the Incident had proven his mettle, even if it wasn't a situation she found ideal to have tested him with. As part of the process of Alek officially becoming the Raven, he and his adoptive parents actually moved to the Summers estate. Loren became the designated manager of the estate itself, overseeing what regular staff there was, as well as organizing on-site social events or the like. Melissa, meanwhile, took to handling the financial aspects of the estate, investing and re-investing resources to ensure that both Duncan and Callie wouldn't have to worry about personal finances or most of the base financial costs of Claremont, with room to ensure Raven's mission is well funded built right into the budget. Personality & Motivation: Aleksander is a fairly quiet young man, but for all that he's gone through, he's actually fairly hopeful. He doesn't go for much in the way of exterior shows of emotion, but being rescued from the clutches of the Society, in the way he was, taught him that the world has good people, and those good people can make a difference. While not anti-social, Alek prefers to ration his time with friends (which he makes slowly and carefully) and strangers. But when he is with them, his shell opens up at least a little bit; he has a tendency to be the dry wit of a group, making some quip with a completely straight face. Alek will almost fanatically stand up to bullies, especially if he sees them picking on someone notably less capable physically (or socially, if it's primarily verbal bullying). He does not initiate actual fisticuffs, but he has been sent home a couple of times for, in his words, "finishing what someone else started". He has never shown regret for those fights, either. Thankfully he abhors the idea of taking a life or producing permanent injury, and so he's always focused on restraint, or temporary discomfort, to breaking bones or the like. Alek tends not to get involved in discussions about politics or law or the like, beyond voicing a general dislike of "injustice", though with as young as he is it's still a nebulous concept (beyond "criminals running around not getting stopped"). Raven comes off as a gruff, no-nonsense crime fighter. He's willing to work with other heroes, though he's cautious if he does not know them, and might get slightly frustrated with those who have trouble with subtlety of any form. To criminals, he's somewhat quieter than his predecessor, but still carries an air of menace and shadows. He is relentless and fearless, and lets them know. He does have a bit of a tendency to try and put on a gravely bravado with older heroes, barring those like Midnight or Foreshadow who carry legacies similar to his own. To them he is respectful, though he's not afraid to voice an opinion. But to others he might be trying to over-compensate for his clear newness to his role, subconsciously trying to prove that he's worthy of the mantle he will be receiving. To the average citizen, he's polite, if a bit terse, but always wanting to prove helpful in a moment of need. Powers & Tactics: Raven will adjust his tactics depending on the number and quality of opponents. For a large number of "thugs" he tends to just dive in and start taking them down rapidly, weathering their blows with his body armor while he delivers precise, powerful strikes. Armed opponents are likely to be disarmed. Those who seem to focus on power over finesse may well end up put in one martial art hold or another while he tries to choke them just enough to knock them out. For a notably powerful opponent he is likely to attempt to remain in stealth until he can catch them unaware enough to get a couple of solid blows in. That, or try to work with someone else or call for backup. Complications: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier: While the particular cell that was "raising" Aleksander was dismantled, the Blood Dragon Society as a whole still exists. And they aren't the sort to let resources go to waste, especially ones that display the potential Aleksander has. At some point, or several points, they may try to retrieve Aleksander, not realizing that he's also Raven. The River Runs Deep: Aleksander was given a thorough de-programming by more than one psychic who was affiliated with the Freedom League, and was further taken through more mundane therapies and de-programmings by psychologists and psychiatrists. However, the scars of that time still remain. It is possible, if unlikely, that one or two "trigger words" may still be buried in his mind and activated, either by someone with sufficient knowledge, or someone with enough skill (not power, but skill) in the psychic arts. This would not turn him into a mindless drone, but it might be enough to leave him slower, incapacitated, or in some other way less effective than he should be. Secret (Identity): Aleksander's identity as Raven is something known only to a few (though fortunately or unfortunately, at least some fellow alumni from Claremont know). The risk is not only to himself, but to both the Summers, to his adoptive family, and even, in a way, to Claremont itself. Some Pretty Big Shoes: Aleksander's status as the new bearer mantle of the Raven is rather obvious to any who observe the hero. The general public (law-abiding and otherwise) lack a lot of the information about why the change happened, but by now they know it has. Some more experienced heroes might not take him seriously, or take offense to him attempting to "take over" the Raven's name (even with Callie's official blessing). Alek himself may sometimes have issues with confidence or second-guessing himself due to doubts over his "worthiness" of the role. Disarmed: Aleksander's belts (around his waist and across his chest) need to be removed to completely deprive him of his gadgets, but many of the individual items are hand-held, and can be disarmed as such. Others could be disabled on an individual basis, depriving him of that tool for a time. Abilities: 10 + 10 + 8 + 8 + 6 + 4 = 46PP Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +13 Melee, +6 Ranged Grapple: +18 Defense: +13 (+6 Base, +7 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 Saving Throws: 5 + 4 + 6 = 15PP Toughness: +9 (+4 Con, +5 [Protection]) Fortitude: +9 (+4 Con, +5) Reflex: +9 (+5 Dex, +4) Will: +9 (+3 Wis, +6) Skills: 140R = 35PP Acrobatics 10 (+15) Computers 11 (+15) Drive 10 (+15) Escape Artist 10 (+15) Gather Information 10 (+12) Intimidate 10 (+12) Investigate 11 (+15) Knowledge (History) 4 (+8) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 4 (+8) Language 8 (Arabic, Chinese [Mandarin], English, French, German, Georgian, Japanese, Latin, Romanian [Native]) Notice 10 (+13) Search 11 (+15) Sense Motive 10 (+13) Stealth 10 (+15) Survival 11 (+14) Feats: 40PP Acrobatic Bluff Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 7 Beginner's Luck Benefit 1 (Wealthy) Challenge (Fast Acrobatic Feint) Chokehold Defensive Attack Dodge Focus 7 Eidetic Memory Equipment 27 [Veteran Award] Evasion Improved Disarm Improved Grapple Improved Trip Improved Pin Improvised Tools Jack of All Trades Luck 2 Online Research Power Attack Second Chance (Mind Control) Second Chance (Mind Reading) Takedown Attack 2 Track Well-Informed Equipment: 27PP = 135EP [Veteran Award] The Rookery (Headquarters; Cave) (23EP) The Talon (Vehicle; Motorcycle) [17EP] The Unkindness (Vehicle; "Car") [95EP] Powers: 5 + 2(1+1) + 24 + 14 = 45PP Damage 4 (Feats: Mighty) [5PP] (Training) ("Martial Arts") Ideal Human 0.4 (2PP Container [Passive, Permanent]) [2PP] (Training) Speed 1 (10MPH/100 feet per Move Action) [1PP] Leaping 1 (x2 distance) [1PP] Device 6 (30PP Container, Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [24PP] (Technological; "Raven Costume") City Movement 4 (8PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 1) [9PP] Base Power: Super-Movement 2 (Swinging, Wall-Crawling 2) [6PP] Linked to Speed 2 [Total of Speed 3/50mph] [2PP] ("Grapnel Gun") Alternate Power: Flight 3 (50MPH/500 feet per Move Action; Feats: Subtle; Flaws: Gliding) [4PP] ("Electroreactive Glider Cape") Communication 5 (Radio, 5 miles; Feats: Subtle) [6PP] ("In-Built Headset") Enhanced Feats 3 ( Second Chance 3 [Toughness Save vs Ballistics, Piercing, and Slashing] ) [3PP] ("Nano Weaving") Immunity 1 (Cold, Heat; Flaws: Limited [Half]) [1PP] ("Protective Thermal Under-Layer") Protection 5 [5PP] ("Armor Plating") Super-Senses 3 (Infravision; Vision Counters Obscure (Darkness) [Darkvision]) [3PP] ("Night Vision Lenses") Super Senses 3 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Time Sense) [3PP] ("Head's-Up Display") Gadgets 2 (10PP Variable Power, Any Power, Multiple Powers At Once, Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [14PP] (Technological) ("Utility Belt and Harness") Example Gadgets: DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed (Normal) Touch DC20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed (Martial Arts) Touch DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (46) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (35) + Feats (40) + Powers (45) = 205/250 Power Points

"I try not to pry into law enforcement personnel records. But congratulations, Miss George, on your status. And no, we didn't discuss your tenure with Miss Summers, and I didn't pry. It didn't seem necessary. I'm much more of a believer in moving forward than in staying in the past." He shifted, his hands now in front of him, about chest-high, fingers steepled together. "As for the Headmistress's evaluation of what Claremont can't let itself become, I can't find fault with that. I might have a few pieces of gear you might find useful for operations on-campus. But my next question is, will the President's daughter's identity and status be known? Or will they both be under cover, or two layers of cover in Miss George's case?"

"Miss George, while I would posit it's within my capabilities to determine the full guard rotations of the Secret Service for not just the President but the entire First Family, I deliberately do not seek such information, or many other pieces of information the government holds secret. It's not my place to know. I'm positing a situation based off of what I've been presented in the last few minutes." He doesn't seem agitated, but he is ever so slightly tenser. "As well, ma'am, I would appreciate if you choose a more tactful term than 'walking nukes' for the students who have or do attend this facility. Putting aside that that mentality may provide an extra, unnecessary layer of stress for your charge, it's an unfair simplification of the good people who are just trying to learn how to use what they've been given." He processed the news about Ashley attending as a student for several moments. "Is she going to be carrying?" His voice is completely flat when he asks that question.

Raven III Old Boss: 3 IC Posts Judex From Beneath You It Devours: Are You My Mummy?: 1 IC Post And All the Devils Here: 1 IC Posts Gabriel Strange Visitors: 1 IC Post (Post goes to Cobalt Templar)

"Hm. I suppose devices to help her filter the radiation output aren't viable yet. So, yes, her learning control is the only solution. And Claremont is the most logical place; it's the best-equipped and best-staffed." He regarded Ashley again with a slightly more critical eye, his gaze narrowing a bit before he nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. So, are you going to be her bodyguard, then? I'm guessing you're not just going to walk around in a suit with a gun at your hip all day." He was clearly probing for an answer, but with a slight smile on his face. He presented himself as someone who had an idea of what was going on, but wanted some friendly confirmation. Which was true, he just also was carefully burying the part of him that was starting to sweat at the subtle tension between his mentor-teacher and this other former "sidekick".

Alek simply nodded when asked if he was aware of the event. He'd debating going up there but decided against it; the League as a whole wasn't going, and his own status in...really any hero team was rather nebulous right now. His mouth quirked slightly at the mention of CNN's nickname, but went back into a neutral expression as Ashley further explained things. For several moments after she finished, he said nothing, just tapping the index finger of his left hand on the back of his right. Finally he unclasped his hands, his right hand unconsciously fiddling with the old watch on his left wrist as he spoke. Callie probably would give him a dirty look for it, but it was the worst habit he had and all things considered not a bad one. He'd never gone through the motion in-costume, after all. "Hm. I was not aware of that detail. That you're here, at Claremont, suggests it was neither the President nor the First Lady, which fits with a sudden, random meta-gene activation. So, one of the daughters of the President has triggered with a power centered on electromagnetic radiation? That's...problematic. Is she stable for the time being?"

Alek nodded at Ashley as they shook hands, his eyes barely even flitting between the not-a-teen and his "boss". He knew the difference between Callie Summers just not giving him all the details, Callie leaving stuff out to see how much he'd discover on his own, and Raven not talking about stuff. This was the latter. He was suddenly unsure he'd made the right decision coming here, but it was too late now. "This was as much my idea as hers. I thought it would be good to just sit down. Besides, people's tongues would wag if Raven was casually walking around Claremont, or if two Ravens were seeing on a rooftop with a new, unknown heroine." He was sitting comfortably in one of the free chairs, now, hands clasped in his lap, clearly trying to keep both Callie Summers and Ashley George in his view. Any evaluations of the escape routes in the room was purely his long-running training taking automatic effect, nothing more.

"Well, I debated throwing a color in front of it, but it seemed a bit tacky, all things considered." The delivery was a deadpan most comedians would be proud of. If Ashley turned to face the source, a young man was standing just inside the closed door to the office, hands clasped behind his back, head tilted to one side. He was dressed in a dark, subdued suit that played well off of his tanned skin. His hair was longer than Ashley probably expected it to be, all things considered. His eyes were calm, evaluating her without judgement. Yet. "Considering all things, I would tend to agree. And 'Junior' was just right out for multiple reasons." He walked over and offered Ashley a handshake, a small smile on his face.

That setup seems pretty reasonable, Thev, though ultimately I feel like deferring to TiffK and durf since they're investing the most in this. I can't speak for city naming, I can barely name my own characters most days!

Honestly if this is building on pre-existing story threads, it'd be helpful to link them, especially if this is going to be a longer-term setting element. Anyone who wasn't in those threads and doesn't know which to look for is going to feel lost, like I do right now.

I think the idea of the King and Black Panther being decided by a Trial By Combat (which includes a provision for the loser yielding) is an inheritance of the King being their greatest protector. It's a tradition, and a powerful one. I also get the sense that at least nominally speaking, the position becomes a sort of "first among equals", since any Tribe could contest for it. It seems it just pretty well stayed in T'Challa's Tribe (I didn't catch their name) for a long time, and the folks grew comfortable with it. M'Baku showing up was apparently at least a bit of a surprise. But I can understand why it was that way, even if it's not how we do it here in "the West".

Why would members of the Codus Immortus break a villain out if he's facing lawful capital punishment? I recognize there's a lot of debate about the ethics and morals of it, but what in particular makes them obligated to, for instance, break Dr. Sin out if he finally gets caught and senteced for having, what, at least a 4-digit body count on his own, and probably a couple more digits when you count his minions? Why does Doctor Sin deserve to get broken out of prison? Is his life worth more than his victims? Why should Daedelus expend resources for Doctor Sin and not innocent non-immortals who are imprisoned by tyrants? In other words, why should the heroes on this accord go out of their way only for other immortals, and especially immortal villains, but not regular people? Again, I'm not trying to knock this but I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who hasn't been in the threads in question.

Hm, that was sort of the same suggestion I thought of, Tiff! One thing in my mind is that you can probably change Tribes/Clans if you really feel like it, though probably not easily. If nothing else you can marry into one? It's definitely not a caste system. Maybe the Royal has the ability to assume "crisis leadership" with some inherent checks and balances (requires Council approval, can be revoked by the Council, they cannot force any Council members out, etc.). The idea being that the monarch is there to assist in crisis management? But there's also mechanisms for removal of the sitting Royal; doesn't have to be a fight-to-death challenge, but some way to say "this person be cray cray, they need to go".

Work In Progress Raven III sheet Raven Power Level: 11/13 (205/205) [Gold Reward Slot] Trade-Offs: +2 Attack / -2 Damage; +2 Defense / -2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 0 In Brief: The newest holder of the mantle of the Raven, the third hero to bear this name has large shoes to fill as he steps into this role. Alternate Identity: Aleksander Garen Nakani (Birth Name/legal name); Svarog (Name assigned by the Blood Dragons) Identity: Secret Birthplace: Rustavi, Georgia Occupation: College Student (Freedom City College); Crimefighter Affiliations: Raven "family"; Claremont Academy (Alumnus); Blood Dragon Scoiety (former) Family: Henrik and Maral Nakani (biological parents, deceased); Loren and Melissa Barbeau (adoptive parents) Description: Age: 20 (DoB: December 12, 1997) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: Armenian and Ossetian Height: 6'1" Weight: 200 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Aleksander is an athletic young man, whose frame balances speed, agility, and power. Thanks to his "rigorous" upbringing and years of training under Callie Summers, he moves with an instinctive sense of balance and poise. His deeply bronzed skin has no blemishes, and his face is free of scarring. His forearms, hands, lower legs, and torso bear a scattering of small, light scars, the sort one would associate with intense martial training. The long, thin scars on his back, faded for years now, are decidedly not from training. His grey eyes peer out keenly from slightly thick eyebrows, always observing. He doesn't have the furtive manner one would associate with a guilty party; instead, it's the keen observation of all those around him, and his environment. When he does focus on an item, person, or object, his gaze can be quite piercing indeed. His face bears notable angles, but avoids the severity many might think such features would lend to him; his smooth, clean-shaven skin lessens the impact of his bone structure a fair bit. He almost seems to have trouble frowning, and quite often, Aleksander's smiling or smirking about one thing or another. If he becomes angry, though, it is somewhat like a storm rolling over the plains. His dark hair has just a bit of curl to it, and while he keeps it neat, it reaches down to the bottom of his neck. Typically he just wears it combed back, but when training he'll keep it tied in a tight ponytail. Typically, he dresses in comfortable, non-descript clothes with low-key colors. He tends to prefer pants and long sleeves year round, though in the summer he usually opts for lighter-weight materials than in the dead of winter. His only ornamentation seems to be an antique wristwatch; when pressed, he explains it was his birth father's, and is one of the few mementos he has of him. Raven's costume is a finely-engineered piece of crime-fighting technology, and it looks it. It's a full-body suit that leaves only the mouth exposed, and while it's somewhat obvious that it's multiple layers, the outside is virtually seamless. The whole suit has armor plating somewhat visibly sandwiched in everywhere, but covered with a solid layer of morphic molecules on the outside to smooth over its appearance. The suit's base color is black, with the belt (holding several secure pouches of equipment), chest symbol (a stylized raven, wings outstretched and beak pointed straight up, feet outstretched below), and a few lines on the gauntlets and greaves being a metallic silvery color. The inside of his cape is a dark grey-blue, helping blend in and break colors up a bit.The gloves/gauntlets, boots/greaves, pants, shirt, cape, and cowl are all separate pieces. When at rest, the cape's edge is a straight line, but thanks to the combination of the electroreactive "frame" inside of it, and the morphic molecules, when in "glide mode", the edges take on the appearance of a raven's wings spread in flight, or at least a stylized rendition of it. His head is covered by a smooth armored cowl that leaves only his mouth and chin exposed to the air. His eyes are covered by special lenses that appear, from the outside, to be somewhat milky-white when inactive, but faintly glow green when night vision mode is active. The suit bears a very robust belt-and-harness assembly that includes a multitude of pieces of compact equipment. Using low-scale nanotechnology alongside hyper-efficient space-saving tech, these modules and pieces of equipment can quickly be activated and deployed, be it as handheld tools or as plug-in modules on his base suit (which has a multitude of subtle connection points for various modules). Some may alter the appearance of his suit in various ways. Power Descriptions: Aleksander is an essentially normal human being. His time under the "care" of the Blood Dragon Society had them injecting him with various chemical mixtures meant to encourage the maximum potential growth, and he was fed a rigorous diet rich in some unique vitamins and minerals, but while he shows the potential to enter the very top tier of human performance, right now he shows no signs of mutation or any other true superhuman powers. Instead, his body is in peak condition for a man of 20, and he possesses more skill than most would think possible for one of his age (due to his...rigorous...care with the BDS). Some might describe Aleksander as a "living weapon", and truthfully, they wouldn't be entirely wrong. His physical fitness and sheer skill make him a formidable close-combat opponent. He consistently displays athletic prowess at the upper end of the human spectrum. Raven's costume is a masterful piece of crime-fighting engineering. The innermost layer is a thick, comfortable layer of thermal-insulated morphic molecules that help Alek survive extreme temperatures. Next is a layer of body armor, composed primary of thick, semi-rigid Kevlar plates that provide protection sufficient to deal with most regular small arms. The cowl contains lenses that can activate night vision, meaning even the darkest night is as bright as day to Raven. As well, an advanced communications suite is embedded under the armoring of the cowl. This system also works with some small microcomputers in his belt to give him up-to-the-picosecond accurate time, as well as precise geo-positioning data and magnetic north orientation readings. The belt also holds a number of tools useful for crime scene analysis, a fold-out tablet computer useful for taking notes and such, and a simple collapsible gas mask that fits over his exposed moth and provides an environmental seal and several minutes of clean air. The cape is composed of special electro-reactive morphic molecules that conform to a rigid frame when a very low but precisely calibrated electrical charge is run through them. While he has insufficient propulsion for true independent flight, Nevermore is capable of long glides. His ability for movement around the city is aided by special high-speed, high-power grapnel lines that are housed in his gauntlets (under the extra armor plating). Raven's belt and harness contain modules and gear that let him adapt on the fly to the situation in the field. Raven has had practice figuring out the best pieces to use in any given situation, but it's still a developing technology, so it takes him a few moments to reconfigure his equipment. Alek has full access to The Rookery, the large (hidden) cave-complex-based underground headquarters of the Raven, located underneath the Summers mansion. The facility is expansive and covers virtually every need a crime-fighter might have, with room for future improvements, as well as access to a large variety of tools, vehicles, and suits that he could draw on if needed. The most (comparatively) subtle vehicle out of his current arsenal is The Talon, a high-performance motorcycle which is one of Raven's primary means of transportation across larger portions of Freedom City (with his grapnel/glider cape combo being used for more precise positioning in specific areas). While unarmed, it is a tough, fast vehicle that bears a solid security system to prevent bike-jacking. The overall construction is rugged, with the bike mainly sporting two seemingly over-sized tires (each with an independent electric motor for power), and a central "pod" with rugged armor plates, special steering "arms", and a simple voice-activated computer that has an always-updating navigation program. It is currently capable of speeds approaching the fastest performance road cars, though Raven rarely pushes it to that speed. A more recent addition to the garage of the Rookery is the latest iteration of the Unkindness, the full-sized automobile of the Raven. The latest in a long line of vehicles, this version of the Unkindness is some great and terrible fusion of a race car, an APC, and a fighter jet. The dark vehicle is plated with enough armor to shrug off massive amounts of fire; the outer skin can be configured to either somehow hide the enormous automobile, or make it capable of completely ignoring anything up to the heaviest guns or explosives. As well, the wheels can be kept close to the body for greater transit speed, or spread out on variable-geometry "arms" that give the Unkindness unparalleled stability on even the worst terrain. With its advanced suite of sensors, communication, and life-support gear, it's practically a headquarters on the move. It's also armed with enough less-than-lethal weaponry to take out an entire company of soldiers and vehicles. The sonic disrupter cannon stores away behind the driver compartment of the Unkindness, and can be configured to either fire single "shots" at specific targets, or blast out a cone of dizzying sound accompanied by a multitude of bright, flashing lights. Strapped on either side of the "barrel" of the sonic cannon are the prongs for the Targeted EMP Cannon, a device that allows the Raven to disable most any modern electronics with just a few button presses. History: Aleksander Garen Nakani should have been a perfectly normal boy born in the country of Georgia. And for about 6 months of his life after birth, he was. Then, one day, he and his parents "disappeared". His father and mother were found weeks later, dead, their child missing, out well past city limits. Theories abounded. No one was ever charged, no conclusion made. Funerals were held. People mourned. Mementos were kept by parents/grandparents and other scattered family. None were the wiser that Aleksander had been taken by the Blood Dragon Society to their base in Transylvania, Romania. They are a fanatical group borne from the last members of the Order of the Dragon. Born in fire and blood, they escaped the purge that wiped out most of their brethren and went into hiding. They watched as one of their own members became one of the most feared monsters of all time, a household name half a millennium later. The Blood Dragon Society vowed all those years ago to protect Europe (and, eventually, mankind) from the "dark things". Unfortunately, their definition of what constituted a viable threat has varied over the years, and has never focused solely on supernatural threats, but instead included political or religious movements and individuals. Worse, they vowed to use any means necessary, and have taken that vow seriously. They employ methods most would never condone, and in the last couple of centuries have begun taking orphans or other "won't be missed" children to train them from a young age to be perfect "defenders". Aleksander was part of a new "trial group", selected based on genetic factors (in his case, the presence of many historically successful soldiers on his father's side, and genetics stretching back to some of the fiercest Sarmation warriors on his mother's side) that the Society believed would make them ideal warriors. These children, taken from all over the world, and being of all sorts of ethnicity, were brought in before their first birthdays. They were raised impersonally, granted single names based on mythology (Aleksander was called Svarog), and fed rigorous diets, supplemented by vitamin and chemical treatments intended to procure the maximum possible performance and growth. They were educated as soon as possible, trained from very early ages in tactics, stealth, sabotage, combat of all kinds, and more. Their minds were laced with subliminal programs to ensure obedience and efficiency. Psychics were brought in to aid all of these efforts, ensuring that the whole batch of 20 was far ahead of their peers in every way by age 10. Alkesander was 11 when the Freedom League rescued all of the children from the clutches of the Society. The Raven, with the aid of Foreshadow, had tracked down the location of the Society's facilities. The stealthier members of the League infiltrated the base and ensured that the children were there and safe, and disabled much of the security. The rest of the League then swept in and thoroughly disabled any BDS troops still up and about, including a few of their more exotic members. Raven herself was the one to open the cell holding Aleksander, who had been in solitary for a week because his young mind had shown itself to be (once more) resistant to the harsher aspects of the programming they were trying to induce on the children. It wasn't a conscious thing, simply an unusually resilient psyche that meant the next year would not be as harsh as it would for his fellows. But only a little less harsh. Thankfully, the BDS facility had included full medical and biographical files on the children there; the Society was thorough and meticulous, if nothing else. This allowed the League to track down what family remained...which was his father's father, who was by this point in no condition to take care of a child. So he would have to be adopted after his treatment. It took over a year for League psychics and psychologists to help young Aleksander reach a point where they felt he couldn't simply be "switched off" or reprogrammed with a single phrase, and that he didn't treat the entire world like one long spy or combat mission. It still was a delicate enough situation that his adoptive parents, Loren and Melissa Barbeau, had to be specially trained and prepared to help him learn to socialize more normally. As well, his state of mind, as well as his near-reflexive fighting ability, necessitated him attending the Nicholson school for 3 years. Thankfully, by 14 Aleksander was a comparatively normal, if quiet, boy. He was even attending a regular public school. What Loren and Melissa didn't know is that the mental focus that previously had been forced upon the lessons of being a weapon, was now turned to investigating the Raven more. For almost a year, he'd been slowly tracking bits and pieces of information. Not because he hated her; just the opposite, Aleksander felt only the greatest of admiration for her. He wished to thank her without having to get mugged first. But as his investigation continued, he came to an uncomfortable conclusion: Raven was growing older. Just as her predecessor had, she was starting to show small signs of aging. One day, perhaps soon, she'd have to give up the mantle. But to whom? The day he figured out who she was, was the day Alkesander Nakani decided that if the Raven wouldn't appoint a successor, maybe one needed to approach her. So he dug deeper. Eventually, he determined two facts. First, the original Raven had been Duncan Summers, who was now headmaster of Claremont Academy. Second, his daughter, Callie Summers, was the current Raven. This would explain all the various resources Raven had always had access to. But now...how to speak to either of them about it? Finally, he decided on just going to Claremont Academy and trying to speak with the Headmaster, as he wasn't sure Callie would be at the Summers home. He skipped school one day and caught the bus to Bayview. He managed to slip onto the Academy grounds with none of the students or staff noticing, and ended up right outside Headmaster Summers' office. At which point the retired hero invited him in to speak. Duncan explained that while he didn't know quite why Aleksander was there, he'd kept track of the boy, if for no other reason than to help alert other heroes if the Blood Dragon Society ever moved to try and retake him. But the boy's presence intrigued him, and he had a guess as to why he was here. So Aleksander laid out his research, the results, and his belief that Callie needed a successor. Duncan ended up calling his daughter into the meeting, and there were a couple hours of discussion (during which Loren and Melissa were called in as well). In the end, it was decided that until he was 15 & 1/2 years old, Aleksander would be undergoing rigorous "basic training" without stepping foot outside the "lair" under the Summers home. Loren and Melissa weren't thrilled, but recognized that between Aleksander's iron will and his rather unique background, they'd be unlikely to stop him. So instead they partnered with Duncan and Callie to help make sure Alek didn't do something stupid to get himself killed. By June of 2013, Alek was allowed on 2 patrols a month, to try and get him used to actually going through the motions of being a crime-fighter. He was primarily asked to watch Raven's back, but was sometimes allowed to take the fore and get some practice. Most criminals were at least smart enough to not mouth off to a kid in body armor who was working with the Raven. The ones that were were educated. Word started to spread. In the meantime, in an effort to take some of the work off of Callie, and give Aleksander some independence on occasion, he was sent into the field as Nevermore (as he has dubbed himself) and transferred to Claremont, starting in the Spring 2014 semester. It was hoped that he would learn more skills related to working with other heroes, as well as broadening his own skillset for the purposes of crime fighting and prevention. These hopes were well-founded, though Alek did not have quite the meteoric high school career that some alumni of Calremont did. Nevermore made the rounds of Freedom City, working to aid Raven and sometimes even pick up the "slack" of patrols. He was given fuller access to the Rookery on his own (instead of only on mission prep or training). All these things helped him prepare himself. After The Incident, Callie sat down with Aleksander and explained that he was ready. He tried to deny it, but she told him, honestly, that not only was he ready, but that she was tired. Years of fighting the good fight had started to take their toll, and with her new duties as Headmistress, and her father's slowly-declining health, she felt it was time to step aside. He'd been far better prepared than she had been, really, and the Incident had proven his mettle, even if it wasn't a situation she found ideal to have tested him with. As part of the process of Alek officially becoming the Raven, he and his adoptive parents actually moved to the Summers estate. Loren became the designated manager of the estate itself, overseeing what regular staff there was, as well as organizing on-site social events or the like. Melissa, meanwhile, took to handling the financial aspects of the estate, investing and re-investing resources to ensure that both Duncan and Callie wouldn't have to worry about personal finances or most of the base financial costs of Claremont, with room to ensure Raven's mission is well funded built right into the budget. Personality & Motivation: Aleksander is a fairly quiet young man, but for all that he's gone through, he's actually fairly hopeful. He doesn't go for much in the way of exterior shows of emotion, but being rescued from the clutches of the Society, in the way he was, taught him that the world has good people, and those good people can make a difference. While not anti-social, Alek prefers to ration his time with friends (which he makes slowly and carefully) and strangers. But when he is with them, his shell opens up at least a little bit; he has a tendency to be the dry wit of a group, making some quip with a completely straight face. Alek will almost fanatically stand up to bullies, especially if he sees them picking on someone notably less capable physically (or socially, if it's primarily verbal bullying). He does not initiate actual fisticuffs, but he has been sent home a couple of times for, in his words, "finishing what someone else started". He has never shown regret for those fights, either. Thankfully he abhors the idea of taking a life or producing permanent injury, and so he's always focused on restraint, or temporary discomfort, to breaking bones or the like. Alek tends not to get involved in discussions about politics or law or the like, beyond voicing a general dislike of "injustice", though with as young as he is it's still a nebulous concept (beyond "criminals running around not getting stopped"). Raven comes off as a gruff, no-nonsense crime fighter. He's willing to work with other heroes, though he's cautious if he does not know them, and might get slightly frustrated with those who have trouble with subtlety of any form. To criminals, he's somewhat quieter than his predecessor, but still carries an air of menace and shadows. He is relentless and fearless, and lets them know. He does have a bit of a tendency to try and put on a gravely bravado with older heroes, barring those like Midnight or Foreshadow who carry legacies similar to his own. To them he is respectful, though he's not afraid to voice an opinion. But to others he might be trying to over-compensate for his clear newness to his role, subconsciously trying to prove that he's worthy of the mantle he will be receiving. To the average citizen, he's polite, if a bit terse, but always wanting to prove helpful in a moment of need. Powers & Tactics: Raven will adjust his tactics depending on the number and quality of opponents. For a large number of "thugs" he tends to just dive in and start taking them down rapidly, weathering their blows with his body armor while he delivers precise, powerful strikes. Armed opponents are likely to be disarmed. Those who seem to focus on power over finesse may well end up put in one martial art hold or another while he tries to choke them just enough to knock them out. For a notably powerful opponent he is likely to attempt to remain in stealth until he can catch them unaware enough to get a couple of solid blows in. That, or try to work with someone else or call for backup. Complications: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier: While the particular cell that was "raising" Aleksander was dismantled, the Blood Dragon Society as a whole still exists. And they aren't the sort to let resources go to waste, especially ones that display the potential Aleksander has. At some point, or several points, they may try to retrieve Aleksander, not realizing that he's also Raven. The River Runs Deep: Aleksander was given a thorough de-programming by more than one psychic who was affiliated with the Freedom League, and was further taken through more mundane therapies and de-programmings by psychologists and psychiatrists. However, the scars of that time still remain. It is possible, if unlikely, that one or two "trigger words" may still be buried in his mind and activated, either by someone with sufficient knowledge, or someone with enough skill (not power, but skill) in the psychic arts. This would not turn him into a mindless drone, but it might be enough to leave him slower, incapacitated, or in some other way less effective than he should be. Secret (Identity): Aleksander's identity as Raven is something known only to a few (though fortunately or unfortunately, at least some fellow alumni from Claremont know). The risk is not only to himself, but to both the Summers, to his adoptive family, and even, in a way, to Claremont itself. Some Pretty Big Shoes: Aleksander's status as the new bearer mantle of the Raven is rather obvious to any who observe the hero. The general public (law-abiding and otherwise) lack a lot of the information about why the change happened, but by now they know it has. Some more experienced heroes might not take him seriously, or take offense to him attempting to "take over" the Raven's name (even with Callie's official blessing). Alek himself may sometimes have issues with confidence or second-guessing himself due to doubts over his "worthiness" of the role. Disarmed: Aleksander's belts (around his waist and across his chest) need to be removed to completely deprive him of his gadgets, but many of the individual items are hand-held, and can be disarmed as such. Others could be disabled on an individual basis, depriving him of that tool for a time. Abilities: 10 + 10 + 8 + 8 + 6 + 4 = 46PP Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +13 Melee, +6 Ranged Grapple: +18 Defense: +13 (+6 Base, +7 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 Saving Throws: 5 + 4 + 6 = 15PP Toughness: +9 (+4 Con, +5 [Protection]) Fortitude: +9 (+4 Con, +5) Reflex: +9 (+5 Dex, +4) Will: +9 (+3 Wis, +6) Skills: 140R = 35PP Acrobatics 10 (+15) Computers 11 (+15) Drive 10 (+15) Escape Artist 10 (+15) Gather Information 10 (+12) Intimidate 10 (+12) Investigate 11 (+15) Knowledge (History) 4 (+8) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 4 (+8) Language 8 (Arabic, Chinese [Mandarin], English, French, German, Georgian, Japanese, Latin, Romanian [Native]) Notice 10 (+13) Search 11 (+15) Sense Motive 10 (+13) Stealth 10 (+15) Survival 11 (+14) Feats: 40PP Acrobatic Bluff Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 7 Beginner's Luck Benefit 1 (Wealthy) Challenge (Fast Acrobatic Feint) Chokehold Defensive Attack Dodge Focus 7 Eidetic Memory Equipment 27 [Veteran Award] Evasion Improved Disarm Improved Grapple Improved Trip Improved Pin Improvised Tools Jack of All Trades Luck 2 Online Research Power Attack Second Chance (Mind Control) Second Chance (Mind Reading) Takedown Attack 2 Track Well-Informed Equipment: 27PP = 135EP [Veteran Award] The Rookery (Headquarters; Cave) (23EP) The Talon (Vehicle; Motorcycle) [17EP] The Unkindness (Vehicle; "Car") [95EP] Powers: 5 + 2(1+1) + 24 + 14 = 45PP Damage 4 (Feats: Mighty) [5PP] (Training) ("Martial Arts") Ideal Human 0.4 (2PP Container [Passive, Permanent]) [2PP] (Training) Speed 1 (10MPH/100 feet per Move Action) [1PP] Leaping 1 (x2 distance) [1PP] Device 6 (30PP Container, Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [24PP] (Technological; "Raven Costume") City Movement 4 (8PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 1) [9PP] Base Power: Super-Movement 2 (Swinging, Wall-Crawling 2) [6PP] Linked to Speed 2 [Total of Speed 3/50mph] [2PP] ("Grapnel Gun") Alternate Power: Flight 3 (50MPH/500 feet per Move Action; Feats: Subtle; Flaws: Gliding) [4PP] ("Electroreactive Glider Cape") Communication 5 (Radio, 5 miles; Feats: Subtle) [6PP] ("In-Built Headset") Enhanced Feats 3 ( Second Chance 3 [Toughness Save vs Ballistics, Piercing, and Slashing] ) [3PP] ("Nano Weaving") Immunity 1 (Cold, Heat; Flaws: Limited [Half]) [1PP] ("Protective Thermal Under-Layer") Protection 5 [5PP] ("Armor Plating") Super-Senses 3 (Infravision;Vision Counters Obscure (Darkness) [Darkvision]) [3PP] ("Night Vision Lenses") Super Senses 3 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Time Sense) [3PP] ("Head's-Up Display") Gadgets 2 (10PP Variable Power, Any Power, Multiple Powers At Once, Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [14PP] (Technological) ("Utility Belt and Harness")Example Gadgets: DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed (Normal) Touch DC20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed (Martial Arts) Touch DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (46) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (35) + Feats (40) + Powers (45) = 205/205 Power Points

"Should Have Been A Cowboy" is a country music classic and I will fight people on that point. ...Okay, so, I won't try to put myself at the front of the line, especially because I am honestly unsure if I could actually play the character well (never mind that I've struggled to do much with the characters I've got thus far). But...I guess maybe pin me as a possible "reserve" option?

Gabriel smiled charmingly as he allowed her to wrap her arm around his. He was a perfect, relaxed gentleman. "It is challenging. But then, it's not an unfamiliar challenge; this place is, in some ways, a microcosm of what we've had to navigate elsewhere. The people here are all very polite about it, and we don't push things. We don't hide our beliefs, but we hold fast to the principle that each must decide for themselves." He gets a slightly thoughtful and sad look on his face. "Violence happened in the past, and I'm mournful to admit my own faith had no small hand in that. Men became more concerned with power than anything else, and let themselves be caught up in this idea that they knew best, about everything. Instead of guiding and leading, they sought to rule and demand. From that pride, pain flowed for generations. Things are better now, but such wounds run deep. And we are not the only guilty party. So, is this One the same as the Infinite That Lies Beyond? Or are they simply similar and connected? As for the community, we will ask. People live and work there so we want to, of course, minimize disruption. And even just walking through can be disruptive. All of us may reside here at least some of the time, but we are also..distinct."

Let me know what, if any, checks might work here.

"No." The word was spoken harshly, like a man rebuking a wild dog. But the man who spoke it looked more bear than man, for a moment, his face twisted with anger, but other emotions swirling deep behind his eyes. "You cannot have him. I reject your power, devil. I reject your claim to this soul. He yet breathes, he may yet be saved. I say begone!" He lifted up his hand, the one with a glove, where a simple cross shape was scratched into the palm. "I tell you, in the name of the Lord, loose this man! His sins are not yours to punish! His life is not yours to spend! Your lies are unwelcome. In God's name, begone!" With that he surged forward, the gloved palm landing on the possessed man's chest, quick yet gentle. His other hand sought to try and support the man's neck and/or upper body in case he fell, to try and prevent injury.

Judex has no tracking and will follow someone who does!

Judex had been crouching on the ground. When Arrowhawk spoke, he most certainly did not jump with a start. He merely repositioned himself in case this was a threat. When it was clear it wasn't, he instead smiled and tipped his odd little hat to her, giving a slight bow. "I am afraid my talents in that area are sorely lacking, Lady Archer. If you find yourself blessed with a bounty of such talent, I will of course follow your lead."

Okay. I'll crack out a bit over the next few days. I'm sorry again this one got left hanging.

Just let me know if I need to save to wake up or whatnot.

I can try to pick this back up again, or I can just give a couple of summary posts or something. Up to you folks.

So, I know it's been a while since I did more than sniff around anything on the forums here. Folks may or may not have seen me lurking now and a gain. I want to say thank you for all the grace you've extended as I kind of just vanished. It's just been one of those things where life's pace changed and it was hard to find the time. I've reached a point where I've got a pretty good handle on life's rhythms, and my laptop is, if not replaced/upgraded, at least such that it won't die on me. I'm really wanting to try and get back in the swing of things. It's going to take me a bit to catch up on what's been going on and remember what I was doing. I probably won't start full-bore with all characters. I think my goal at this point is going to be to try and get caught up by the end of this month, and try to start posting again in February (which isn't too far away), just to make post counts easier (on me). If you have a thread or threads with me you want me to be sure and catch up on and start work on again, let me know. If you've got a thread with me that you just want to let fade, we can do some kind of summary closing post or let it lie. Again, sorry it took a while. Y'all are great people. PS I'll actually be in Discord today but I can't promise I'll be super-chatty. Still, you'll hopefully start to see more of me. Unless you don't like that, in which case...tough.

The above continues to be true. I again apologize. Just seems like life is kind of trundling along. I miss you all. Just not where I feel I can reliably be back yet. Also, hope to see you around, Raveled. Safety and blessings be upon you.