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Jack of all Blades Power Level: 15 (250/250PP)* [392] Trade-Offs: +5 Attack, -5 Damage, +5 Defense, -5 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 0 Theme: Spark by Fitz and the Tantrums *Jack's caps average out to PL13. For Jack's original sheet, click here. In Brief: Swashbuckling scion of a secret society of sorcerous swordsmen, shepherding streetwise superheroes! Alternate Identity: Erik Espadas Identity: Secret Birthplace: Freedom City, West End Occupation: Self-Defense Instructor Affiliations: The Interceptors Family: Minerva Espadas/Guardian Willow (wife), Eden Espadas (daughter), Mia Espadas (daughter), Ellie Espadas/Jill O'Cure (sister), Gina Espadas (mother), Jean Pique (father) Description: Age: 27 (DoB: April 4, 1988) Gender: Male Ethnicity: Latino/French Height: 5'11" Weight: 160 lb. Hair: Dusty Brown/Black as Jack of all Blades Eyes: Dark Blue Erik Espadas is a lithe, athletic young man with attractively angular features and a boyish grin. He keeps his dusty brown hair shorn short, but regularly sports a day or two of stubble. Preferring to dress is a mixture of blues and blacks, Erik is typically seen in a fitted t-shirt and well-worn jeans topped with an undone button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. As Jack of all Blades, his current costume consists of a knee-length, royal blue greatcoat cut in a jaunty, high-collared style and worn open over a black body suit. A matching blue bandana serves as a mask, attached to a black wig of wavy hair which helps to conceal Erik's true identity. Dark grey boots with a slightly metallic sheen and broad, buckled belts help to break up the outfit's dark colour scheme. Power Description: Erik can manipulate electromagnetic and mystical energies to form an effectively-solid construct in the shape of a sword. While he has a bit of leeway with regards to the weapon's specific appearance, he almost always uses a fencing rapier. Functioning in most respects as a normal sword, the tight concentration of power allows the blade to pierce most defenses, while it retains the basic nature of its source energy. In order for Erik to form a sword, there must be a power source for him to draw from. A sword of flame might be drawn from a butane lighter, an electrical blade from a nearby powerline. More exotic energies require a more exotic source; Erik may draw from a blaster's light beam or a magic user's mystical attacks, neither of which would be accessible to him in their ambient forms. Erik's metamagi powers also grant him awareness of all manner of energies. This sixth sense registers in a sometimes disorienting, synesthesia-like manner with each distinct energy having its own whispered textures and aromatic hues, not all of them pleasant. History: Erik was born in 1988 to Gina Espadas, a Freedom City beat cop. His father left months before Erik's sister, Eliza, was born in 1993. Erik never considered this any great loss: growing up in the West End, his mother was all the parent he ever needed, always making time for her children despite her demanding career. She returned to the force from maternity leave just in time for the Terminus Invasion. Her stories of working alongside heroes during both the Invasion and its aftermath instilled in Erik a fascination with superheroes. As he grew, it was the witty Golden Age tricksters like Spitfire Jones and la Renard Rogue who captured his attention, facing impossible odds with skill and style. A diet of swashbuckling movies and pulp novels were eventually replaced by physical pursuits in his teen years. Naturally agile, Erik joined his school's gymnastic and fencing teams, as well as the drama club, becoming a popular athletic star. It was Erik's senior year which would radically alter his life. An armed robbery at a local convenience store went horribly wrong, and Gina was shot and paralyzed from the waist down, forcing her into a wheelchair and early retirement. Although she remained strong in the face of adversity, Erik was galvanized. The Espadas family had never been very well off, and Erik dropped out of extracurriculars to work an unsteady stream of odd jobs to help make ends meet. He turned down a number of modest athletic scholarships when he graduated to work full time, determined to support the family and save enough to put the more scholastically inclined Ellie through university. One such odd job involved cleaning out the storage area of an antique store. Amidst the ornate lamps and jewelry boxes, Erik discovered what appeared to be a positively ancient playing card: the Jack of Swords, depicting a slyly winking prince. When he asked the store's owner about it, the old man bid him keep it as a souvenir, as the rest of the deck had long since been lost or destroyed. Pocketing the weathered card, Erik made his way home. Along the way, he encountered a group of toughs menacing a young woman. As the leader of the gang pulled out a cigarette and arrogantly flicked open his lighter, an incensed Erik leapt forward. The lighter's tiny flame flared brilliantly, flowing unnaturally through the air to the young man's instinctively outstretched hand, where it solidified into a blazing rapier. A moment later half of the thug's cigarette had been seared away, the other half smouldering in his trembling lips. The toughs beat a hasty retreat, with a shocked Erik quickly following suit, leaving behind a grateful but confused young woman. Experimenting in secret, Erik found he could create swords not only of flame, but of sparking electricity, crackling cold and a multitude of other energies, provided that there was a source to draw upon. Redoubling his abandoned training, he donned the garb of Jack of all Blades, and became the wise-cracking, acrobatic protector of his community. For years the only person aware of his double life was his sister Ellie, who discovered Erik collapsed in their backyard after a particularly brutal fight. Fortunately the teen had begun preparing to study medicine after high school, and her first aid skill likely saved her brother's life. With the safety of his family paramount, Erik kept his identity a closely held secret, initially avoiding alliances with other heroes. As Jack, however, he soon drew the interest of the similarly themed Jaci O'Cups, Coinpurse Jack and most dangerously Jakken Staff, all of whom attacked Erik on sight, making cryptic references to a Tournament of Suits and giving the young hero his first hints at his true origins and the mysterious House of Swords. Eventually this tournament came to a head with the reappearance of Erik's father, revealed to be the previous Jack of Swords, and a massive assault orchestrated by Jakken Staff and the House of Staves. In the aftermath, Coinpurse Jack lay dead, the mages of the House of Staves were defeated and Ellie's own latent metamagi powers had been awakened. As Jack of all Blades, Erik was a founding member of the experimental team, the Interceptors. Personality conflicts and a constantly shifting roster plagued the team from its inception, and just as Erik felt he had found a group he was able to trust with his secrets betrayal and catastrophe rocked the team to its foundations. From those ashes Erik emerged as the leader of a new team of Interceptors, a family of heroes dedicated to protecting the streets. Settling into the unexpected role of responsibility, Erik opened the Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship in the West End both as a place to teach the community's young people the skills to defend themselves and as the Interceptors secret headquarters. A romance with the immortal guardian Willow gave rise to a daughter, Eden Espadas, and eventually marriage and a second daughter, Mia. Personality & Motivation: Erik is a man who's words and actions are at odds. Outwardly, he seems easy-going and carefree, with a clever tongue and a love of the spotlight. Most conversations become friendly verbal sparing matches as Erik actively avoids serious topics, and marriage has only barely dulled his reputation as an incorrigible flirt. What isn't immediately obvious is Erik's deep sense of responsibility to his family, friends and community. Considering his word to be his bond, Erik will always be there for a friend in need, and truly wishes to leave the world a better place than he found it. He possesses an unbreakable spirit coupled with stubborn pride, resulting in a complete inability to admit defeat. Where Jack of all Blades was at first an outlet for Erik, the two sides of his personality have found some balance as he has matured. Although often swept up in the high adventure of larger threats, he considers himself first and foremost a defender of the little guy, stopping crimes that might seem trivial for such an established hero. Remembering what happened to his mother, Erik feels that a simple hold-up can be just as devastating as a supervillian's rampage. Well known by both the public and the hero community and generally well liked thanks to his levity and charm, Jack's sense of humour has been known to inspire annoyance in equal measure. Whether it's leaping headlong into the battle against villainy, making egregious puns while dodging bullets or kissing a cosmic menace to save humanity, Jack of all Blades never fails to leave an impression. Powers & Tactics: Surpassing even his notable lineage, Erik is potentially the world's greatest living swordsman, ranking among history's most notable weapons masters. An accomplished hand-to-hand fighter, with a sword in his hands he is nearly unmatched. His metamagi senses bolster his awareness of his weightless blades and surroundings, giving him a further edge. Even so he is quite human in his frailties and relies entirely on acrobatic evasion to survive. Against lesser threats, Erik rushes in dramatically, forming a sword and quickly disarming them before taunting them into surrender or retreat. When fighting superhumans, he prefers a more reactionary approach, keeping them off balance with acrobatics and jibes until he can assess their specific abilities, often taking the opportunity to form a sword using the energy from their attacks. Preferring to lead from the fore, Erik would rather place himself in harm's way than his teammates but respects their abilities and directs them decisively. Serving as a rallying point and ample distraction he remains almost incapable of considering retreat as an option. Complications: Enemies: Erik has made a habit of not only defeating villains but more dangerously humiliating them. Grandstanding: Erik's style revolves around showing off, in and out of combat, even when discretion might be wiser. Relationship: Erik is married to Minerva Espadas née Salix, AKA Guardian Willow. They have two daughters together. Secret: Superhero Identity Sidekick: Erik's no less protective of his sister now that she's an accomplished superhero too. Struggling: Erik is a small business owner supporting his growing family. Sucker for a Pretty Face: Erik is married, not dead. He can still be distracted by attractive women, be they bystanders, fellow heroes or even villains. Teacher: Erik operates the Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship and feels a responsibility toward his students. Teammates: Interceptors past and present are family to Erik, whether or not he openly admits it. West Ender The West End is Erik's 'turf'; he's extremely protective of his neighbourhood, and knows it much better than the rest of the city. Abilities: 6 + 10 + 8 + 2 + 8 + 14 = 48PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 24 (+7) Combat: 14 + 36 = 40PP Initiative: +9 Attack: +7 Base, +14 Melee, +20 Swords Grapple: +19 Defense: +18 (+18 Base), +9 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4/-2 Saving Throws: 6 + 10 + 8 = 24PP Toughness: +8 (+4 Con, +4 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +10 (+4 Con, +6) Reflex: +15 (+5 Dex, +10) Will: +10 (+2 Wis, +8) Skills: 84R = 21PP Acrobatics 10 (+15) Skill Mastery Bluff 18 (+24) Skill Mastery Climb 5 (+10) Gather Information 8 (+15) Knowledge (Streetwise) 14 (+15) Knowledge (Tactics) 4 (+5) Language 3 (Cantonese, English [Native], Persian, Spanish) Notice 11 (+15) Skill Mastery Stealth 10 (+15) Skill Mastery Survival 1 (+5) Feats: 72PP Agile Climber Attack Focus (Melee) 7 Attack Specialization (Swords) 3 Beginner's Luck Defensive Roll 2 Elusive Target Equipment 0 + 4 (Veteran Reward, 20EP) Evasion 2 Fascinate (Bluff) Fearless Grappling Finesse Improved Critical (Swords, 18-20) Improved Initiative Inspire 5 Jack-of-all-Trades Luck 4 Move-By Action Power Attack Quick Change Set Up Sidekick 29 + 11 (Veteran Reward, 200PP) Skill Mastery 1 (Acrobatics, Bluff, Notice, Stealth) Takedown Attack 2 Taunt Ultimate Will Uncanny Dodge 2 (Mental, Visual) Equipment: 4PP = 20EP Grappling Hook; Leaping 2, Super-Movement 2 (slow fall, swinging), Speed 2 [8EP] Interceptors Communicator; Communication 6 (Radio, 20 miles; Extra: Area; Flaw: Limited [Other Interceptors Communicators]), Super-Senses 1 (Radio, Communication Link [HQ/VINCE]) [7EP] 5EP contributed to The Espadas School of Self-Defense and Swordsmanship Powers: 29 + 22 + 2 = 53PP Damage 3 (Extras: Autofire 6, Linked [+0], Penetrating 4; Power Feats: Improved Critical [18-20], Mighty, Variable Descriptor 2 [Any Available, Concentrated Energy or Magic]) + Drain Toughness 6 (Extras: Affects Objects) [29PP] (energy sword) Super-Senses 14 (Mental; EM Spectrum Awareness [3], Magic Awareness [3], Extras: Accurate 4, Acute 2, Radius 2)[14PP] (metamagi senses) Swordsmanship Supremacy 1 (Probability Control, Flaws: Limited 2 [Swordsmanship]) [2PP] (training) DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC18 Toughness (Staged) Damage Energy Sword Touch DC16 Fortitude (Staged) Drain Toughness DC21 [Autofire] Toughness (Staged) Damage Totals: Abilities 48 + Combat 40 + Saves 24 + Skills 21 + Feats 72 + Powers 45 = 250/250 Power Points Note: Jack is technically PL15 with a full, five point Attack and Defense trade-off. His Defense and Toughness are capped to place him at PL13 defensively, while his Damage is intentionally under-capped so that his Attack and damage bonuses average out to PL13 as well, even though +20 attack in only achievable by PL15 characters. Note: As a metamagi, Erik's powers are the result of a mystically enhanced mutation, blurring the line between genetics and sorcery. This enhancement specifically allows him to form his borrowed energy into swords. Magic nullification removes the 'sword' descriptor from his 'energy sword' power, which means he will no longer benefit from his Attack Specialization or Improved Critical feats. Effects that nullify mutant/genetic powers shut off said power entirely, as well as his Super-Senses.