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Silberman's Books, at the corner of Pratt and Frederick. Saturday, January 7th, 2017 10:30 am. With the panic and mayhem of another holiday season behind them, the crew at the West End's most popular used bookstore could finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. January was typically a month of austerity in the US, especially in the retail sector, which made it a good month to take stock and look back on the year that was, and begin serious planning for the year ahead. The decision to open earlier on weekdays and Saturdays, as well as offering breakfast sandwiches, meant major staffing adjustments and a lot more work for the openers. Despite the passing of the holiday rush, the store still need to hire a few more people. So far, the first Saturday morning was a success as the neighborhood discovered the new adjusted hours and menu items, but the store was just a little strained under the increased customer load. A number of Merges were on-site, though of course only one was currently behind the register; the others were either doing dishes or checking stock in back. Gretch was doing her best to 'play well with others' on bar while Lynn worked the floor, using her amazing social skills to good effect. As usual, the two lovers were going back and forth via mental communication, and as often was the case, it was playful and fairly snarky. I want you to list five things you like about Merge. Really? We're having this conversation? Five things. Fine. ...I'm waiting... She...always smells nice. Wow. Really, that's your opener? She does...cool stuff with her powers sometimes. Cute outfits and stuff...

January 17th, Evening time Freedom City, somewhere in the Northen parts, or thereabouts or so on... To the door of Lobisomem did come a stranger. Knocking, he came. The stranger was tall, and he was thin. But it was neither his excess of height nor his paucity of girth that defined him, no, it was not. The most striking feature about the stranger was his blood stained clothes. All bloody he was, from his brown shoes, up over his jacket, and even to the congealed blood on his head. "Let me in! Please, I need help!" he banged. "Please!" he banged louder. "There is something out there....coming to get me...." he said, louder still. Desperation powered his fist, and the knocks become some virulent in force, that they did surely threaten to crack bones in hand...

GM February 5, 2018, 9:15 am Fires weren't an altogether unusual occurence. Accidents happened all over the city, and with a population as large as Freedom City's, they were bound to occur at some point or another. The Hampstead Apartments weren't exactly trouble magnets--a high rise apartment complex with several hundred tenants, it mostly went unnoticed by most who didn't already live there. Today, however, things were different. The fire started at around 9 am. In a matter of 15 minutes, however, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of the ten story building were spewing thick, black smoke from broken windows, the flames raging inside enough for even Jessica to see it from a block away. The iire department was doing its best to combat the flames, but they only seemed to be spreading by the second, and it seemed that not everyone was out of the building yet...

GM ???? ????, Freedom City, New Jersey Wednesday, October 5th, 2016 ???? PM Ace Danger When Ace awoke he found himself in a room of mirrors. His lips were notably dry. Having no memory of how he came to be in what appeared to be a funhouse mirror room, Ace could take comfort in the fact that he seemed to still possess much of his equipment. But, it was hard to say if the internationally renowned man of mystery was traveling a little light when the past few hours were a haze. Arcturus When Arcturus awoke his mouth felt unusually dry. He found himself bereft of memories of the past few hours. Leaving him with absolutely no explanation how he found himself in a seemingly empty corridor. Empty, but not silent the sounds of bells and whistles flooded his head. Accompanied by a loud thud every so often as the sound of an object colliding against a nearby wall reverberated through the area. The opposite of the corridor seemed to open up into different pathways, whereas the path behind Marcus seemed to have no other hallways and simply a single door. Wayward Valerie Cain had some vague notion of what how she found herself in this predicament. After all, it was during her concert that things took a turn for the ugly. She was just about to start her set for the crowd, after warming them up with a plead to donate their old toys to the charity drive funding the concert. That was when the gas hit... But, that was then. Now Wayward found herself playing for an entirely different crowd. A pack of lions encircled her. Armed only with her wits and a low cheaply made microphone, Valerie Cain transitioned to her latest career move as a lion tamer.

Table of Contents Origin Story I. Regret II. Recall III. Rebirth IV. Recovery The Interview 20Q HellQ

GM January 5, 2018 The winter weather wasn't exactly forgiving. Record lows and snowfall were a strain on everyone's patience in sone form or another, and nowhere was it more obvious than among people who worked for Freedom City's social services. Homeless shelters struggled to find room for everyone, from adults to runaways... The situation was taxing enough on everyone that no one really noticed when vacancies opened up. A bed here, a room there... no one questioned it; rather, they were thankful that someone else could be housed, and the fairest assumption was that the previous occupant had moved on. Transient population", they siad. Some people knew better. All Nathan Ratliff wanted to know was 'why'. A local volunteer and social worker, Nathan was well known among his peers for being a big-hearted busybody. So in late December when several runaways he'd been working with vanished, Nathan refusded to believe they'd simply packed up and gone somewhere else. A week later... Nathan didn't show up for work.

An OOC thread for Arcturus, Sensus, and shenanigans!

Uh... hi. My name is Arcturus. I don't know if anyone will ever see this, but if you do, it's because I want you to know that I'm... well, alive. There's been a lot happening and I haven't had time to sit down and really figure it all out, but I know people will ask where I've been for the last three years. So here goes. Somewhere in East Africa, September 2013 Marcus Irons probably should have been more concerned that he had missed his own graduation. It wasn't that his high school days were some sort of social nightmare; he had made plenty of friends and had one things he'd never dreamed of doing. Still he couldn't help but feel like he didn't belong there. While he certainly had a greater understanding of what it was to use his abilities to help others, he hadn't made much progress on understanding his powers themselves. Explaining his magic to others was one part impossible and four parts embarrassing--most didn't even believe magic was real. It didn't really hit home until his senior year and he was asked to help out with a rescue mission in Eastern Africa. It opened up his entire world, and suddenly he felt less compelled to go back. What was supposed to be a simple evacuation of flood victims turned into something much more sinister. An encounter with pirates and human traffickers nearly resulted in an innocent girl being shot. Arcturus reacted out of instinct and protected her with a Beast Rune form he'd never used before, and while the outcome was a favorable one, it left him confused. He needed answers before 'instinct' turned him into some sort of monster. The problem. however, was where to look. I knew exactly one other guy who used a similar style of magic. He put me into contact with a friend of his who looked at e like I was crazy when he examined the Beast Rune. War-Earth, January 2014 "Are ye SURE yer okay?" The diminutive artificer looked up from his magnifying glass00or whatever it was in his hand; Marcus really couldn't tell. Marcus nodded slowly. "Of course. I mean... I was born with this rune so I figured it was... hm. Normal isn't the word I'd use." Marcus grimaced a little as he felt something cold against his back. "What are you doing anyway?" "Examining. Doctor things. Shh." "...should I be worried?" "How many magical bear shapeshifters have you examined, son?" "Okay. you might have a point." "Never seen a rune fused to a person before. Not like this. Makes sense though... you said it affects all your other magic, right?" "That's right." He nodded again. "I can use magic but it always feels like the Beast Rune is part of it." "Aye... You physical types are all like that." When Marcus didn't say anything, he continued. "See, when anybody uses magic, some of that power always comes from within. So... if the Beast Rune is part of you.." "But I don't get why THAT happened. The whole... turtle thing." "You wanted to protect that little girl. Guess the Beast Rune was tryin' to do the same." I'd never considered that the Beast Rune wasn't trying to take over. It made me wonder if the key to understanding my magic wasn't in asking someone else but asking the Beast Rune itself. When I was a sophomore at Claremont, Eldritch hinted at it but he never really gave me a straight answer. I understand now why I had to come to that conclusion on my own. Unfortunately, I never got the chance.

(Having been gone a while and having a massive amount of points to spend, an overhaul was necessary on the original. Same character just... rearranged/evolved/etc.) Character Name: Arcturus Power Level: 12/14 (215/219 PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent PP: 4 In Brief: Heir to the magical birthright of primal magic. Alternate Identities: Marcus Irons Identity: Public Birthplace: Chicago, IL, USA Occupation: College Student Affiliations: N/A Family: Richard Irons (Father, 50) Age: 22 (DoB: March 1994) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: African-American Height: 6' (8'4" in Bear Form) Weight: 225 lbs. (475 lbs. in Bear Form) Eyes: Brown (Red in Bear Form) Hair: Black (Black Fur in Bear Form) Description: In his normal form, Marcus seems like a normal young man Tall and broad-shouldered, he's a bit on the heavy side, and looks like he was built for sports. His head is usually shaved bald, and his facial hair is trimmed into a nice, even goatee. Despite his size, Marcus is deceptively agile--he's no gymnast, but he's actually capable of more mobility than a tank. His brown eyes are often half-closed, and he always looks a little worn out--not that there's anything wrong with him. He simply looks disengaged from everything around him unless he's specifically focused on a person or a conversation. Most of Marcus's Beast Rune forms are humanoid with noticeable beast-like qualities; in his Tiger Form, for instance, his skin fades into a tawny, black-striped hide, and his head resembles that of a tiger from about the nose up, making it look more like a cowl than his actual flesh. His Bear Form, however, is a complete transformation. History: Marcus Irons lead somewhat of a sheltered life. Being an only child, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't in the company of at least one of his parents, and he never wanted for anything. That certainly wasn't to say that he was spoiled; Richard Irons was a gruff disciplinarian, almost military in his imposition of order on his only son. While both parents often had to go away on business from time to time, he more often than not spent that time with his father. Richard taught him all sorts of things--fishing, hunting, and even how to fight when he started getting bullied at school. His mother was a lot less heavy handed; she wouldn't let Marcus get away with just anything, of course, but she gave him considerably more freedom. It gave him plenty of chance to wonder why his parents had so many books on occult subjects, but he rarely acted on the impulse to read any of them. He had enough problems with just algebra. Marcus and his father had just come from celebrating his 15th birthday a few weeks early, watching a Blades game. He thought it would be an unforgettable night; the two of them stuck around the stadium and he managed to get Andre Leroux to sign his jersey. It was, in fact, a night he'd always remember, but not for the reasons that Marcus thought. They went home, and hours later he was awakened by the breaking of glass and a lot of yelling. Marcus arrived in the living room just in time to see a group of men tackle his father. Without thinking he rushed to try and help, leaping uselessly on one of their backs, only to get thrown off. The landing hurt, but something else in him snapped... Everyone was especially surprised when the 15 year-old boy came back at the SWAT-geared man, grabbing him by the collar with a clawed hand and slinging him across the room. The next few moments were a blur. The room flooded with more people and he remembered something giving him a nasty shock. He remembered his father's voice, sounding uncharacteristically desperate, and then... nothing. He woke up several days later in the hospital, with a strange man in his room, introducing himself as Duncan Summers. That was when he learned the truth--his parents were wanted supervillains. At first, he didn't believe it. His parents, as far as he knew, hadn't even had so much as a speeding ticket. Sure, his dad was over six and a half feet tall and intimidating as all hell, but imagining his father as a monster? No way. Seeing the evidence, however, was sobering. His father could transform, just as he had that night, only his form was... far less friendly on the eyes. He had a body count well into the triple digits, most before he was born. He wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with the reality that his father was even capable of the destruction of which he'd been accused. His mother's involvement was considerably more obscure. As the sorceress Runic, she had managed to suppress his father's transformation through the use of her knowledge and research on magical artifacts and symbols, allowing them to lead normal lives. She was wanted for hiding him, among other things... and Marcus was almost certain that it contributed to her not showing up when his father was carted off to jail. He wasn't stupid--he realized that his father never fought back, and that he'd plead guilty, skipping a trial entirely. Marcus wasn't sure what to do next... Summers provided him with an option. After graduating, Marcus spent a year and a half away from the United States. He doesn't talk much about what he did or where he went; there had been various sightings of him in Japan and Africa and everywhere in between. Eventually he returned to Freedom City, and is currently enrolled in Freedom City University. Personality & Motivation: Marcus is surprisingly mature for his age, often coming off as stand-offish, humorless, and far more serious than necessary. He's actually notoriously big-hearted and loyal to the people who actually earn his trust, and something of a pacifist at heart--contrary to the look and overall aggressive nature of the Beast Rune on his back. It's certainly not that he isn't capable; on the contrary, it's knowing that he could potentially lose control and seriously hurt someone that keeps him from doing anyone serious, crippling harm. Seeking largely to guard against the stigma of his parents' pasts, Marcus makes it a point to know as much as he can about both the magical and physical world and how they interact with one another. Powers and Tactics: Marcus is a brawler by nature, and his mastery of the Beast Rune often reflects the aggressive and combative nature that hides beneath his otherwise calm exterior. He tends to assess a situation as best he can with his heightened senses, but if push comes to shove, Marcus tends to push back. Complications: AAAAH! Bear!: Arctutus tends to give off an aura that screams 'predator'. As such, civilians have a tendency to panic when they see him outside of his natural form. Aspect of The Beast: Marcus is exceptionally aggressive and blunt in his hybrid forms, and finds it difficult to back out of a fight. Collateral Damage: When under the influence of the Beast Rune, Arcturus has an exceedingly difficult time gauging his own strength, potentially causing a notable amount of damage to his surroundings. Colorblind: In his hybrid forms, Arctutus can't really distinguish colors; everything looks grayscale. Abilities: 0 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 0 = 12PP Strength: 34/26/10 (+12/+8/+0) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 34/30/14 (+12/+10/+2) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 10 (+0) Combat: 20 + 14 = 34PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +10 (+12 melee, +12 Bear Form) Grapple: +22, +37 Bear Form Defense: +10, +12 Bear Form Knockback: -5, -10 Bear Form Saving Throws: 0 + 7 + 6 = 13PP Toughness: +10, +12 Bear Form Fortitude: +10 (+0, +10 CON), +12 Bear Form (+0, +12 CON) Reflex: +8 (+7, +1 DEX) Will: +8 (+6, +2 WIS) Skills: 18PP = 72R Acrobatics 6 (+7, +15 Tiger Form)SM Craft [Artistic] 10 (+11)SM Concentration 10 (+12) Intimidate 11 (+11)SM Knowledge [Arcane Lore] 11 (+12)SM Knowledge [Earth Sciences] 3 (+4) Knowledge [Life Sciences] 3 (+4) Language (English [Native], Greek, Latin, Japanese, Russian) 5 Notice 4 (+6) Sense Motive 4 (+6) Stealth 6 (+7) Feats: 21PP Artificer Attack Focus (melee) 2 Dodge Focus 3 Fearless Fearsome Presence 3 Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Luck 2 Quick Change Second Chance (TOU vs. Unarmed) Ultimate Effort (TOU) Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Craft (Artistic), Intimidate, Knowledge (arcane lore) Takedown Attack 2 Powers: 62 + 56 = 118 PP Beast Rune Physiology (62PP Container [Free Action, Sustained Duration], PF: Innate) [61PP] (Beast Rune, Magic) [62PP] Strike 1 (PFs: Mighty, Affects Insub 1, Variable 1 [fire, ice, earth, thunder]) [4PP] Enhanced CON 16 [16PP] Enhanced STR 16 [16PP] Regeneration 9 (Bruised 3 [no action], Injured 6 [no action]) [9PP] Super Senses 11 (Acute Extended [2] Smell, Danger Sense [Olfactory], Extended [1] Hearing, Low-light vision, Tracking 2 [Smell]. Detect Magic [Smell]) [11PP] Super-Strength 2 (+10 STR carry) [4PP] AP: Leaping 4 (x25) [1PP] Shapeshift 7 [56PP] (Beast Rune, Magic) Bear Form (35PP) Enhanced Traits 3 (Dodge Focus 2, Attack Bonus 1, Defense Bonus 1) [6PP] Features 1 (Insulated fur: immunity to cold & sunburn) [1PP] Growth 4 (+8 STR, +4 CON, Large Size [-1 Attack, -1 Defense]) [12PP] Super-Strength 6 (+30 STR carry [+40 total]; PFs: Countering Punch, Groundstrike) [16PP] AP: Snare 12 (EX: Constricting, Flaws: Medium, Range [Touch], Requires Grapple) [1PP] AP: Blast 12 (Flaw: Limited [existing stone/earth]) (Terra Pugnum, Stone Fists, magic) [1PP] Tiger Form (35PP) Additional Limb 1 (Prehensile tail) [1PP] Elongation 2 (10 ft; Flaw: Limited [Prehensile Tail only]) [1PP] Enhanced Skill 2 (Acrobatics +8) [2PP] Enhanced Feat 7 (Catch Attack 2 [Melee weapons, Unarmed], Elusive Target, Evasion 1, Improved Critical 2 [Unarmed], Redirect) [7PP] Silence 1 (total concealment, normal hearing) [1PP] Speed 6 (500 mph; 4400 ft./rnd) [6PP] Super-Movement 5 (PFs: Slow Fall, Sure-Footed, Swinging, Wall-Crawling) Strike 1 + Nauseate 12 (Flaws: Sicken, Requires Grapple) (Subito Ventus, Violent Tornado Throw) (7PP) AP: Strike 2 (PFs: Mighty, Affects Insubstantial 1; EX: Penetrating, Autofire 1; Flaw: Tiring) (Saevus Tigris, Raging Tiger) [1PP] DC Block: Attack Range Save Effect Unarmed Touch DC23 TOU (Staged) Damage (variable) Unarmed (Bear) Touch DC27 TOU (Staged) Damage (Variable) Unarmed (Tiger) Touch DC23 TOU (Staged) Damage (Variable, Crit 18-20) Snare 12 Touch DC22 REF (Staged) Entangled/Bound Terra Pugnum 120 ft. DC27 TOU (Staged) Damage (Physical) Subito Ventus Touch DC22 FORT (Staged) Sicken, Damage (Physical) Saevus Tigris Touch DC25 TOU (Staged) Damage (Variable) Drawbacks: -1PP Shifting Distraction (loses dodge bonus while Shapeshifting; Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor) [-1PP] Abilities (12) + Combat (34) + Saving Throws (13) + Skills (18) + Feats (21) + Powers (118) - Drawbacks (-1) = 215/219 Power Points

GM Thursday 2nd May, around midday Liberty Park The man was old, probably in his sixties, yet in good health. He had a health mop of white hair and leathered, tanned skin. He was dressed in a Linen suit, and one could only guess he had been a handsome man in his youth - he still held on to some silvered good looks and an easy charming smile. "Hello young man" he said, approaching Marcus. "Mr..Irons, isn't it?" he asked, bowing slightly. "I am Doctor Lake. No, not a medical doctor.." he chuckled. "Just a humble student of history..." He mopped his brow with a handkerchief in the hot May sun. He wore a broad sun hat, but still, the sun was high in the sky. "Taken me a while to find you, Sir" he explained. "I thought I should bring something to your attention. I keep my eyes and ears open, you see, and I know more than a thing or two about the myths and occultism of the past. If I am not mistaken, you have a smack of that about you, am I right?"

November 3, 2013 “…we’ve been at this for an hour. I don’t th-“ “No, you ARE thinking. That’s the problem.†An exasperated sigh escaped the judoka’s mouth. Marcus frowned, biting back a grumble of frustration. “I get it. You’re still worried that what happened to Richard will happen to you. But mastering the Beast Rune is going to take more than just the raw strength of your bear form. You've tapped into that potential once before... you can do it again.†It had been the Master Mage himself who had turned Arcturus towards training, certainly more than he’d done at his four years at Claremont. It was rigorous to the point of being a job in and of itself, and his teacher seemed to know far more about the Beast Rune than he did. In the end, it was just a lot of philosophy, as well as an unusual fighting style that was unique to Arc’s inherited magical ability. “Juuhoukenjitsuâ€â€”the Way of the Beast King’s Fist. At first, it was nothing but forms and katas. Admittedly, Marcus thought it was utterly useless at first… until the first time he’d used it in a fight. When the mind is reeling, the body remembers its training; this was universal, and suddenly Arcturus felt he could relate to the Beast Rune in a way that he’d never done before then. Nevertheless… he was holding back. He could sense the wall he had put up ever since that fateful night on his birthday five years ago… Marcus really wasn’t sure if he was ready to bring it down. The Cult of the Beast Rune, however, was giving him very little choice. “Okay. Let’s start again.†Marcus shut his eyes. He wasn't sure how much time had passed after that. The moment he stopped concerning himself with time is when everything felt timeless. He felt a sudden rush, as if his entire body was suddenly weightless, and when he opened his eyes, the dojo was gone. In its place was a wide expanse of grassy hills, and a circle of stones that reminded him vaguely of Stonehenge. ...not exactly what I expected. "No, I suppose it wouldn't be, would it?" Marcus spun around at the sound of a voice other than his own. He paused at the sight of something oddly familiar: a figure nearly a foot taller than him, wearing a dark green robe, his face entirely covered by a ceramic bear mask. "I was wondering how long it would take you to get here."

Friday March 1, 2013 Mozambique air space between Pemba and the Messalo River Valley 11:00 CAT (Central Africa Time) [5:00 AM Freedom City] Though it was not yet mid-day on the southeastern coast of Africa, the temperature had already reached the high eighties, without accounting for humidity. Rain clouds lay to the west, though that was hardly unusual as March was the wettest month of the year for this region of Mozambique. An old, Soviet made Mil Mi-8 (Hip) helicopter was flying low over the acacia and palm savannah that covered much of the area near the Messalo River valley in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. The sliding side door on the left side of the aircraft had been left open, providing those inside with some much welcome ventilation to help deal with the stifling heat, humidity and the smell of aircraft fuel from the twin turbines located just above the helicopter’s cargo area. For the ten passengers in the back of the Mozambique Air Force transport, this was the last leg of a long journey. More than fifteen hours ago, they had left Jordan International Airport in Freedom City aboard a plane chartered by Danger International. Their travel route had taken them through Accra, Ghana, where they had boarded a smaller plane, which had flown them to the airport in Pembra, Mozambique, where they had then boarded the Hip. Five of the passengers were employees of Danger International, a foundation and NGO that was heavily involved in humanitarian aid projects in a variety of Third World countries. Dr. Mario Conte; registered nurses Dorothy Cofield and Andrew Myers; civil engineer Denise Gorrell; and support personnel Steven Wilker were part of the disaster relief team DI was dispatching to the Messalo River valley in response to flooding that had occurred when a dam under construction on the river had collapsed less than forty-eight hours ago. The other members of the team, along with UNISON super-agent, Edge, were already on site, preparing the base camp the team would be using during its stay. The other five were individuals who had volunteered to assist the team for the next few days, and were in fact superheroes. Four were students (two young women, two young men) from the Claremont Academy. As a graduate of Claremont himself, during the rushed planning for this mission, Edge had had the idea to reach out to the school and see if any students might want to join the mission for a few days and get a chance to learn about other ways they could use their powers that did not involve fighting criminals. The fifth was by far the most unusual of the group, a humanoid cheetah, the superspeedster known as Jubatus.

[floatr][/floatr]Player Name: GranspearZX Character Name: Arcturus Power Level: 12/14 (190/212 PP) Trade-Offs: +1 Attack / -1 Damage Unspent PP: 22 Progress To Gold Status: 62/90 In Brief: A typical teenager with an atypical beast living inside him. Alternate Identities: Marcus Irons Identity: Public Birthplace: Chicago, IL, USA Occupation: High School Student Affiliations: Claremont Academy, Parkhurst Mystics Family: Richard Irons (Father, 43, A.K.A. the supervillain "Khimera"), Lyrica Irons (Mother, 40, A.K.A. the supervillain "Runic"), parents married 20 years Age: 17 (DoB: March 1994) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: African-American Height: 6' (8'4" in Bear Form) Weight: 225 lbs. (475 lbs. in Bear Form) Eyes: Brown (Red in Bear Form) Hair: Black (Black Fur in Bear Form) [floatr][/floatr]Description: In his normal form, Marcus seems like a normal kid. Tall and broad-shouldered, he's a bit on the heavy side, and looks like he was built for sports. His head is usually shaved bald, and his facial hair is trimmed into a nice, even goatee. Despite his size, Marcus is deceptively agile--he's no gymnast, but he's actually capable of more mobility than a tank. His brown eyes are often half-closed, and he always looks a little worn out--not that there's anything wrong with him. He simply looks disengaged from everything around him unless he's specifically focused on a person or a conversation... or even his studies. He has a notably brighter look about him when he's busy. Someone might actually catch him smiling on occasion. In his 'beast' form, he's a lot more intimidating. Standing well over eight feet tall, Marcus--or Arcturus, as he prefers--is a particularly grim-looking beast of a man. Largely resembling a brown bear, Arcturus's fingertips ending in vicious claws. Covered in black fur, his most notable marking is the white, crescent-shaped patch across his upper chest. History: Marcus Irons lead somewhat of a sheltered life. Being an only child, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't in the company of at least one of his parents, and he never wanted for anything. That certainly wasn't to say that he was spoiled; Richard Irons was a gruff disciplinarian, almost military in his imposition of order on his only son. While both parents often had to go away on business from time to time, he more often than not spent that time with his father. Richard taught him all sorts of things--fishing, hunting, and even how to fight when he started getting bullied at school. His mother was a lot less heavy handed; she wouldn't let Marcus get away with just anything, of course, but she gave him considerably more freedom. It gave him plenty of chance to wonder why his parents had so many books on occult subjects, but he rarely acted on the impulse to read any of them. He had enough problems with just algebra. Marcus and his father had just come from celebrating his 15th birthday a few weeks early, watching a Blades game. He thought it would be an unforgettable night; the two of them stuck around the stadium and he managed to get Andre Leroux to sign his jersey. It was, in fact, a night he'd always remember, but not for the reasons that Marcus thought. They went home, and hours later he was awakened by the breaking of glass and a lot of yelling. Marcus arrived in the living room just in time to see a group of men tackle his father. Without thinking he rushed to try and help, leaping uselessly on one of their backs, only to get thrown off. The landing hurt, but something else in him snapped... Everyone was especially surprised when the 15 year-old boy came back at the SWAT-geared man, grabbing him by the collar with a clawed hand and slinging him across the room. The next few moments were a blur. The room flooded with more people and he remembered something giving him a nasty shock. He remembered his father's voice, sounding uncharacteristically desperate, and then... nothing. He woke up several days later in the hospital, with a strange man in his room, introducing himself as Duncan Summers. That was when he learned the truth--his parents were wanted supervillains. At first, he didn't believe it. His parents, as far as he knew, hadn't even had so much as a speeding ticket. Sure, his dad was over six and a half feet tall and intimidating as all hell, but imagining his father as a monster? No way. Seeing the evidence, however, was sobering. His father could transform, just as he had that night, only his form was... far less friendly on the eyes. He had a body count well into the triple digits, most before he was born. He wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with the reality that his father was even capable of the destruction of which he'd been accused. His mother's involvement was considerably more obscure. As the sorceress Runic, she had managed to suppress his father's transformation through the use of her knowledge and research on magical artifacts and symbols, allowing them to lead normal lives. She was wanted for hiding him, among other things... and Marcus was almost certain that it contributed to her not showing up when his father was carted off to jail. He wasn't stupid--he realized that his father never fought back, and that he'd plead guilty, skipping a trial entirely. Marcus wasn't sure what to do next... Summers provided him with an option. Personality & Motivation: Marcus is surprisingly mature for his age, often coming off as stand-offish, humorless, and far more serious than necessary. He's actually notoriously big-hearted and loyal to the people who actually earn his trust, and something of a pacifist at heart--contrary to the look and overall aggressive nature of the Beast Rune on his back. It's certainly not that he isn't capable; on the contrary, it's knowing that he could potentially lose control and seriously hurt someone that keeps him from doing anyone serious, crippling harm. Seeking largely to guard against the stigma of his parents' pasts, Marcus makes it a point to know as much as he can about both the magical and physical world and how they interact with one another. Powers & Tactics: Marcus is a brawler, plain and simple. Being especially good at it, his fists are often the first course of action for him. When he can actually plan ahead, he does so--more with a working knowledge of the situation than any real magical backup, other than his animal form. When especially pressed for a solution, he's been known to use the Beast Rune in its rawest form, able to transform into something other than his 'default' bear form. Complications: AAAAH! Bear!: Arcturus, in bear form, tends to give off an aura that screams 'predator'. As such, civilians have a tendency to panic when they see him. Aspect of The Beast: Marcus is exceptionally aggressive and blunt in his bear form, and finds it difficult to back out of a fight. Collateral Damage: When under the influence of the Beast Rune, Arcturus has an exceedingly difficult time gauging his own strength, potentially causing a notable amount of damage to his surroundings. Colorblind: In his bear form, Arcturus can't really distinguish colors; everything looks grayscale. Phobia: Marcus can't swim. It's less of a problem in his human form, but his fear of drowning causes him to avoid large bodies of water whenever possible. Secret: Marcus's mother, Runic, is an international thief and forger, and has crossed and double-crossed numerous heroes and villains in her career. His father, the previous holder of the Beast Rune, destroyed an entire town before the power was stripped from him. If anyone did a little digging, it would cause Marcus a colossal headache and earn him a lot of enemies and unwanted attention. Temper: Marcus has full control over his transformation... usually. Typically, however, pain causes his usually strict control to slip--whether it's physical, or seeing a friend get hurt. Abilities: 0 + 2 + 12 + 2 + 4 + 0 = 20PP Strength: 28/20/10 (+9/+5/+0) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 26/22 (+8/+6) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 10 (+0) Combat: 18 + 16 = 34PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +9 Ranged (+8 in Bear Form), +11 Melee (+10 in Bear Form), +12 Unarmed in Bear Form, +12 Claws Grapple: +16; +23 in Bear Form Defense: +10/+11 (+8 Base, +3 Dodge Focus, -1 Size [bear Form]), +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3, -9 in Bear Form, -18 Bracing Saving Throws: 5 + 8 + 10 = 23PP Toughness: +11/+6 (+8/+6 Con, +3 Protection) Fortitude: +13/+11 (+8/+6 Con, +5) Reflex: +9 (+1 Dex, +8) Will: +12 (+2 Wis, +10) Skills: 92R = 23PP Acrobatics 9 (+10)Skill Mastery Climb 3 (+3, +8 in Bear Form) Concentration 8 (+10) Craft (Artistic) 13 (+14)Skill Mastery Intimidate 7 (+7, +17 in Bear Form)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 13 (+14)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Earth Sciences) 3 (+4) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 3 (+4) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 4 (+5) Languages 2 (English [Native], Greek, Latin) Notice 4 (+5) Search 4 (+5) Sense Motive 5 (+6, +14 in Bear Form) Stealth 9 (+10, +6 in Bear Form) Survival 5 (+6) Feats: 18PP Artificer Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Dodge Focus 3 Fearless Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Improved Pin Luck Quick Change Ritualist Second Chance (TOU checks vs. Unarmed) Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Craft [Artistic], Intimidate, Knowledge [Arcane Lore]) Takedown Attack 2 Powers: 40 + 11 + 4 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 10 = 72PP Alternate Form 8 (40PP Container [Free Action, Sustained Duration]) [40PP] (Bear Form, Beast Rune, Magic) Enhanced Feats 11 (Attack Specialization [Claws], Attack Specialization [unarmed], Fearsome Presence 8, Powerful Intimidation) [11PP] Enhanced Skills 16 (Intimidate 8, Sense Motive 8) [4PP] Features 1 (Fur-Covered Hide [immune to Cold & Sunburns]) [1PP] Growth 4 (Large, -1 Attack, -1 Defense, +4 Constitution, +8 Strength, +4 Grapple, +2 Intimidate, -4 Stealth, +5 STR [Carry Capacity], Extras: Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Permanent) [12PP] Protection 3 [3PP] Strike 1 (Feats: Mighty) [2PP] (Claws) Super-Senses 7 (Danger Sense [Olfactory], Acute Extended 2 [1,000ft Notice Increments] Tracking 2 [Normal Speed] Smell, Low-Light Vision) [7PP] Enhanced Strength 10 (to 20/+5; PFs: Alternate Power, Variable Descriptor 1 [earth, fire, ice, thunder]) [11PP] Leaping 4 (x25 [Running Long Jump: 475ft]) [4PP] Regeneration 3 (Bruised 3 [No Action]) [3PP] Speed 1 (10 mph / 100 feet per Move action) [1PP] Super Senses 1 (Detect Magic [Olfactory]) [3PP] Super-Strength 4 (Lifting STR 40, 53 in Bear form, Heavy Load: 6 tons, 19.2 tons in Bear form; PF: Bracing, Groundstrike) [10PP] Drawbacks: -0PP None DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECTUnarmed Touch DC15/20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical); variable descriptor Bear Form Touch DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical); variable descriptor Bear Claws Touch DC25 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical); variable descriptor Fearsome Presence 40ft Burst DC18 Will (Staged) Shaken/Frightened/Panicked Groundstrike 90ft Burst Contested STR/DEX Prone Abilities (20) + Combat (34) + Saving Throws (23) + Skills (23) + Feats (18) + Powers (72) - Drawbacks (0) = 190/212 Power Points