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-Richard Cline, An Oral History of the Terminus Invasion Summer 1993 First National Bank of Lincoln Richard Cline stuck out in the crowd of customers waiting in line for the teller for three reasons - his tapping foot, rolling eyes, and general air of impatience marked him as someone eager to be anywhere else than waiting in line, his white skin and flashy clothes marked him as an outsider among the bank’s mostly working-class customers, and his baseball cap and sunglasses were just a little odd for this early in the morning. The other customers gave him a wide berth, when they weren’t glaring at him - just as planned. It was hot in the bank, but not quite hot enough for them to run the air - instead the music from the lot across the street gently thrummed in through the open windows. “Cause my heart is beatin’ triple time, yeah!” He did a little dance in place, snapping his fingers to the beat, and winked at a little kid watching him from the row behind. Poor little bastard, stuck in these lines with his boring mundane ‘rents. Maybe we’ll give him something to think about. He slid back and forth on his sneakers as he stood there, brand-new rubber squeaking again and again against the green marble floor. He and Paige hadn’t been back in Freedom City for a while, but they’d kept up their careers in New York and London, and even made the front page in the latter when they’d squared off against Britannia while making off with the Prime Minister’s watch. Maybe we should go to Canada next. Those jerks in True North could be taken down a notch or two. “What are _you_ looking at?” he sneered over his sunglasses at an older man in the business suit before he pulled the shades back up and made a rude face. Stupid old man, thinks he can start something. He yanked his fingers down his vest, snapping it tight, and thought Paige’s way. Baby, once we pawn the jewels, let’s run up to that theater in Queens and see Jurassic Park again. He knew his girl was already in position, getting the crowd in the bank ready for the show of their boring little lives, while he kept everyone’s attention through his confident demeanor and manly swagger. He tapped his pristine white Air Jordans and thought good thoughts about showing Paige a very good time in that darkened theater. Feeling like a T-Rex today! He was thirty years old, he had the best superpowers and the best girl in the world, and they were about to do what they did best - CRIME! Guard’s at the door...checking his watch...think he’s gonna go take a whiz. When he finally got to the front of the line, an eternally frustrating five or six minutes later, Richard pulled off his shades and smiled real big at the middle-aged clerk, flashing his pearly whites. “Honey, I got good news, and I got good news - first, you can take the day off. Even better is -” He jumped up and kicked off, speeding up the room and slowing himself as he did a totally, bodaciously badass flip that landed him on top of the counter. Enjoying the shocked faces of the crowd in that one long, frozen moment, he pulled off his magenta vest, bright red tie, black leather jacket, and white tee, and threw on the black and white jumpsuit that he’d been wearing since he was a teenager. “Fast-Forward and Hologram are here to put a little color in your lives! Everybody get down!”

Aw yeah this is bad

Player Name: GizmoCharacter Name: WailPower Level: 15 (250/250 PP) [258]Trade-Offs: -5 Attack / +5 DamageUnspent PP: 0 Theme: The Man by Sons of SlumIn Brief: Veteran hero from the late 1970s and 80s with super-dense muscle tissue granting strength, durability and a powerful sonic wail, come out of retirement to continue the good fight.Alternate Identities: Keith LaMarrIdentity: PublicBirthplace: Freedom CityOccupation: High School Civics TeacherAffiliations: 1-800-JUSTICEFamily: None Description: Age: 60 (DoB: December, 1954) Gender: Male Ethnicity: African-American Height: 6'6" Weight: 1175 lbs (235 x 5) Eyes: Brown Hair: Black, Streaks of Grey Keith LaMarr is an imposing mountain of muscle, the weathering of the decades only enhancing the effect. His clean-shaven head is contrasted by a a beard of dense, curly hair on his square jaw, marked by two streaks of grey. He tends to favour darker, utilitarian clothing, typically with a slightly dated cut. As Wail, his outfit reflects a respect for tradition far more than any attempt to conceal his identity. Dark jeans are fasted with a broad, metal belt over a black sleeveless top adorned with a long, yellow 'W'. Each wrist is covered by a matching black and yellow bracer, while round sunglasses add to an already impassive visage. History: Born in Freedom City's Lincoln neighbourhood in the mid-1950s, Keith LaMarr was not afforded many advantages in life. The son of a factory worker, LaMarr was taught from an early age that anything in life worth having was worth working and fighting for. Run-ins with local gangs as a youth sharpened his wits and fighting skills, but he refused to join up, convinced that the promise of easy money and power was a sucker's bet. That sense of integrity would cost him dearly when, in 1972, a jilted gang carried out a drive-by shooting of LaMarr's home. His mother was killed immediately, while his father survived long enough to be rushed to hospital where, thanks to a shoddy investigation, LaMarr was arrested at his bedside on suspicion of belonging to a rival gang. Vincent LaMarr succumbed to his injuries while his son was sentenced to prison time on fabricated drug charges. LaMarr was involved in an increasing number of altercations with other inmates and guards during his imprisonment at South River State Penitentiary, developing a reputation for a short temper and willingness to attack opponents more than twice the stringy young man's size. Several months into his sentence, he joined an experiment conducted by Dr. Burton Noah, an AEGIS scientist, in exchange for early parole. An attempt to induce muscle growth through a combination of chemical treatments and precise sonic frequencies, sabotage by a vengeful guard resulted in LaMarr's skeletal and muscle structure becoming super-dense. Besides increased strength, durability and endurance, the most notable effect was phenomenally enhanced lung muscles enabling a devastating sonic wail! Escaping from South River, LaMarr almost immediately ran into an altercation between the villain Bronze and the police. The convict's timely intervention not only subdued the superpowered criminal but also save a school bus full of elementary school students. Combined with his willing surrender to the authorities, this was enough to have LaMarr's case reopened, revealing a number of irregularities which were enough to have him permanently released. Taking the moniker Wail based on a comment made by a grateful grade schooler, LaMarr initially set up shop as a metahuman bodyguard after encountering difficulty finding work despite his cleared record. It was through this that he met Yelena Vostok, a Ukrainian mercenary who had received a cybernetic arm after an early mishap with her teleportation powers, and Javed Randeep, a Indian-American polyglot who's amazing skills extended to translating human body language, making him a formidable martial artist. The trio eventually joined together to form an agency that solved unusual problems while serving any worthy cause as 1-800-JUSTICE. Upon hearing Yelena refer to her teleporting ability as 'jumping', Javed, in a fit of the playful wit that would make him the team's heart, adopted the code name Jive. The hired heroes handled everything from gang violence to mystic robots to international incidents throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, skirting the anti-cape laws introduced by Mayor Franklin Moore. Over the years, LaMarr developed romantic feelings for Javed, though he was reluctant to admit to them. By the 1990s, 1-800-JUSTICE had all but faded into obscurity, but were among the heroes who reappeared to combat the Terminus Invasion. In the heat of battle, Yelena managed to teleport her friends out of harm's way a split second before being vaporized by a massive laser weapon. Devastated, LaMarr and Javed officially retired their heroic identities and settled down to start a new life together. Javed's talents allowed him to support the couple as a high profile translator while LaMarr earned his degree and a position teaching civics at Joseph Clark High School. They lived happily for several years, with infrequent bouts of excitement as Javed foiled an assassination attempt or one of LaMarr's rouges gallery reappeared for a final confrontation. Unfortunately, exposure to Terminus radiation had riddled Javed's body with cancer, and after a long battle he passed away at the age of 55 in 2009. Having buried the love of his life, LaMarr grappled with what to do next. Ultimately the decision was made for him when the Grue invaded Freedom City en masse. Defending his students from a massive creature released by the aliens, he found that his powers had only grown stronger over time. Freedom City still called out for justice, and weary though he was, Keith LaMarr was still the man on the other end of the line. With a new costume and a renewed commitment, Wail is back in action! Personality & Motivation: LaMarr has suffered a great many hardships in his life. These trials have forged an ironclad will stronger even then his superhuman skin, and while a lesser man may have become embittered, he has developed a keen empathy. His sense of integrity demands that he use his experience and abilities to defend those who cannot defend themselves. That isn't to say he is without his rough edges; Javed once commented that there was very little of Keith that was not rough edge. His age and profession have given him a didactic tone and his expectations for both his students and the latest generation of heroes are high indeed. The years have helped to mollify his temper but have not removed it. Dramatically aware of his own mortality, he is determined to continue to make a difference for as long as he is able. Powers & Tactics: With superhuman strength and durability, LaMarr is a powerhouse to be reckoned with, standing shoulder to shoulder with many of the modern day bruisers. His true might, however, comes from his namesake sonic wail, an extraordinary torrent of concussive force that can deafen foes as easily as it sends them flying. This is thanks to the tremendous lung strength and capacity which resulted from his enhanced physiology. Against mundane foes, Wail typically restrains himself to hand to hand combat, but is not afraid to let loose with his full fury should the situation call for it. His super-dense biology also prevents him from floating in water, and gives him a mass several times that of an average person of his already impressive stature. Complications: Age: LaMarr has sit his early sixties, although he's aged remarkably well. Destructive: LaMarr's sonic wail has the potential for massive collateral damage. Enemies: Over the decades LaMarr built up a substantial rogues gallery, some of whom now have younger successors. Lost Love: Javed's death remains a fresh wound for LaMarr. Prejudice: A gay black man born to a low income family, LaMarr is no stranger to unfair treatment. Public Identity: Although he goes by Wail in the field, LaMarr has never maintained a true secret identity. Responsibility: Joseph Clark High School. Temper: The wisdom of age aside, LaMarr does not react well when backed into a corner. Abilities: 12 + 4 + 10 + 2 + 10 + 4 = 42PP Strength: 36/22 (+13/+6) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16 + 16 = 32PP Initiative: +6 Attack: +8 Grapple: +23/+12 Defense: +13 (+8 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -11/-2 Saving Throws: 9 + 5 + 10 = 24PP Toughness: +13/+5 (+5 Con, +5 Protection, +3 Density) (Impervious 6/0) Fortitude: +14 (+5 Con, +9) Reflex: +7 (+2 Dex, +5) Will: +15 (+5 Wis, +10) Skills: 112R = 28PP Gather Information 13 (+15) Intimidate 10/18 (+12/+20) Investigate 14 (+15) Knowledge (Civics) 14 (+15) Knowledge (History) 14 (+15) Knowledge (Streetwise) 14 (+15) Languages 1 (English [Native], Hindi) Medicine 2 (+7) Notice 15 (+20) Sense Motive 15 (+20) Swim 0 -/+6 Feats: 20PP Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Contacts Dodge Focus 5 Endurance Fearless Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Improved Pin Interpose Luck 2 Power Attack Startle Takedown Attack 2 Powers: 18 + 1 + 2 + 10 + 3 + 8 + 6 + 56 = 104PP Density 6 (x5 Mass, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Permanent) [18PP] Enhanced Strength 12 Immovable 2 Protection 3 (Extras: Impervious) Super-Strength 2 Enhanced Feats 1 (Endurance) [1PP] Enhanced Strength 2 (Total +14 with Density, Heavy Load: ~7 tons) [2PP] Immunity 10 (Sonic Effects) [10PP] Leaping 3 (x10, Running Long Jump: 230', Standing Long Jump: 115', High Jump: 57') [3PP] Protection 5 (Extras: Impervious 3) [8PP] Regeneration 6 (Bruised 3 [No Action], Injured 3 [1 Minute]) [6PP] Sonic Control 27 (54PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [56PP] (Genetic, Sonic) Base: Damage 18 (Sonic Wail; Extras: Area [Targeted, Line, 5' x 180'], Feats: Knockback 18) [54PP] AP: Damage 13 (Sonic Scream; Extras: Area [General, Cone, 130'], Linked [Stun, +0]) + Stun 9 (Extras: Area [General, Cone], Linked [Damage, +0]) [26 + 27 = 53PP] AP: [12 + 13 + 21 + 2 = 48/54PP] Communication 6 (Sonic Shout; Auditory, 20 miles, Extras: Area) [12PP] Dazzle 13 (Sonic Bellow; Auditory Senses, Extras: Area [General, Cone, 130'], Flaws: Range [Touch]) [13PP] Emotion Control 13 (Fearsome Roar; Extras: Area [General, Burst, 65' radius], Linked [Trip, +0], Flaws: Limited [Fear], Range 2 [Touch]) + Trip 13 (Extras: Area [General, Burst], Linked [Emotion Control, +0], Flaws: Range [Touch], Feats:Improved Trip) [7 + 14 = 21PP] Enhanced Skills 8 (Intimidate 8) [2PP] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC28 Toughness (Staged) Damage Sonic Wail 180' Line DC33 Toughness (Staged) Damage Sonic Scream 130' Cone DC28 Toughness (Staged) Damage DC19 Fortitude (Staged) Dazed/Stunned/Unconscious Sonic Bellow 130' Cone DC23 Reflex Deafened Fearsome Roar 65' Radius Burst DC23 Will (Staged) Shaken/Frightened/Panicked Contested +13 vs worst of STR/DEX Prone