The Poet - PL12

[RocketLord]

Some quick notes to things that will be further explained on a guidebook page:

- The Master Maestros are to keep the Universal Song in harmony. The song is upset by acts of terror and destruction, which in turn creates Discordants, chaotic creatures that cause even further terror and destruction, creating a vicious cycle until they're stopped.

- The Master Maestros are empowered by a group of 5 musical gods with magic instruments: Bragi of the Aesir, Xango of the Orisha, Ame-no-Uzume of the Shinto, Maitresse Délai of the Loa and Kokopelli of various Native American faiths.

- There are 5 Master Maestros active at any given time. Each Master Maestro has a Conductor, a guardian and ally that helps them, and there's long traditions of the Master Maestros for each of the 5 instruments.

- Poet's sister, mentioned as becoming his Conductor, will be played by Shofet.

 

Any thoughts or comments, both fluff and crunch wise?

 

The Poet
Power Level: 12 (180/180PP)
Unspent Power Points: 0
Trade-Offs: -2ATK/+2DC (Telekinetic Theme Song - Thrown Objects), +4ATK/-4DC (Reharmonize)

 

In Brief: Hero with a magic guitar, rocking out against Eldritch forces threatening reality.

Catchphrase: "Let's rock!"

Theme: Jukebox Hero - Foreigner

 

Alternate Identity: Mikkel 'Mickey' Holm Larsen (Secret?)
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark

Residence: Mobile
Occupation: Master Mastro, Rock Star
Affiliations: The Master Maestro Order
Family: Thomas Larsen (Father, born 1962, Professor of Social Studies at Copenhagen University), Anne Holm Larsen (Mother, born 1964, Professor of Mathematics at Copenhagen University), Tove Holm Larsen (Sister, born 1990, Former student, deceased 2012, now Einherjar and Mikkel's Conductor)

 

Description:
Age: DoB: 1994 [August 1st]
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 170 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown

Mickey is a young man in relatively good shape, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen wearing jeans and t-shirts, along with his beloved denim jacket, though its age is starting to show. He has no set heroic outfit and will usually wear whatever he is wearing at the time when performing heroics, often with a black brace worn on his right hand. When the Mantle of the Master Maestro manifests around Mickey to protect him, it does so as a black cape with white trim, and ever changing white and grey patterns, which seem to react to the music that Mickey plays.

Mickey is almost always carrying his guitar, a Gibson 1968 Flying V Worn Cherry Guitar. 

 

 

History: 

When Mikkel 'Mickey' Holm Larsen was 4 years old, his father took him to a concert with Kim Larsen. It wasn't Thomas' favored choice of music, but even he enjoyed the music. Mickey heard that one guitar, and it just blew him away. He had stars in his eyes, and the very next day he begged his parents to buy him a guitar.

 

Thomas and Anne never thought Mickey would amount to much. Both professors at the Copenhagen University, they had little patience for the fact that their son's lack of interest in academics, instead focusing on his 4 years older sister, Tove. While Tove excelled in academics, Mickey love for music grew, and he was rarely seen without an instrument of some kind. Mickey would claim that it really didn't matter that much. Sure, it would've been nice to get some encouragement for them, and to not always feeling like he was a distant second best to his sister, but contrary to his difficult relationship with his parents, Mickey didn't just get along well with his older sister, she positively doted on him and encouraged him to follow his own dreams of becoming a rock star. 

 

Mickey could sing, he had a voice like an angel, and he seemed like a natural with almost any instrument he picked up, even as he drifted towards stringed instruments, with a particular love for guitars. Still, no matter what guitar he picked up, no matter how well he played, it just felt off. He couldn't put it into words, he couldn't explain why or how, but no instrument felt right in his hands, and his music suffered for it. During his teenage years he would start a great number of bands, few lasting longer than a few months, as Mickey's frustration with not just his music, but his parents as well, grew. Still, his sister's encouragement kept him going.

 

In 2012, tragedy struck. While studying abroad in Germany, Tove was killed, as she rushed to defend a man from a drunken beat down. One of the attackers wielded a piece of plywood, and he managed to hit Tove in just the wrong way, and she was killed on the spot, defending a man she had never met. The entire family was hit hard by the news. Mickey fell into a depression, lost all passion for life, all passion for music. Without his sister to see and listen, then what did it all matter?

 

Years passed. Mickey's distance to his parents grew even greater. Before, he at least had his music. Now he was just drifting through life, working dead end jobs, never carrying about educating himself or doing something else. With the help of therapists, he was slowly getting better. It was a long hard road, but at least he was making progress, and on the outside, it seemed like everything was fine. He started going out with friends again, started partying, playing music, but his heart wasn't quite in it.

 

One evening, as he was walking home through the streets of Copenhagen after another failed audition for his latest band, Mickey's life changed forever, as he saw a sight unlike anything he had ever seen before. The Little Mermaid, one of Denmark's few heroes, were fighting some kind of distorted monster in the streets of Copenhagen. It was difficult to explain what the creature looked like. It had elongated, irregular and distorted ever-shifting features. One arm longer than the other. Three legs. Hard, stone-like skin in some places, fur in others. A single metallic wing growing over its short arm. Irregular fangs. It towered high above Mickey, glaring with its unblinking yellow eye, the only constant in its form. The Little Mermaid pushed him out of the way from a blow and told him to run, even as it seemed clear she had little chance on her own.

 

Mickey ran. What else could he do? As the distorted beast rampaged behind him, something caught his eye. A little shop on the street, one that he had never seen before, even as followed this street day after day. Records in racks outside, the sign plastered above the door in rune-like letters read "BRAGENDE GOD MUSIK". The door was open. He duck inside, quickly locking the door behind himself while offering an apology to whoever was inside. The small bell at the top of the door jingled as the door closed, and the noise from the outside fell silent. It seemed like a regular little music store. Loads of CDs, racks with LPs, some instruments on the wall. And Mickey was alone. Maybe the owner had already run.

 

For reasons he couldn't understand, Mickey could scarcely remember why he had entered the shop. There was a feeling, a shiver running down his back. He had goosebumps. There was just something about this store. Slowly, he began moving around, looking through the music, continuing deeper and deeper into the store. He would reach out to instruments as he passed them, then pull his hand back. It still didn't feel right. It felt like he moved through the shop forever. It had been a small shop from the outside, he had no idea how it could fit so much inside. And then, he saw it. A Gibson 1968 Flying V Worn Cherry Guitar, with the handle and top of the guitar sticking out of a large stone. He felt it again. The same sensation when he was child at the concert. He had stars in his eyes. It was like a trip to the past as he stared at it. This was it. This was his guitar. The noise from the outside finally reached him once more, as the entire building shook.

 

Mickey closed his hand around the guitar, and with one swift move, he pulled it from the stone.

 

He fished a guitar pick out of his pocket. Of course he was carrying one. He raised his hand and was about to play a tone when a hand closed around his shoulder. It was an older man with curly blonde hair and beard. While the battle raged outside, he explained to Mickey that the guitar was not just any instrument, but the tool of a Master Maestro known as the Axe of Bragi. By being able to pull the guitar from the stone, Mickey had been chosen as one of five Master Maestros that were to harmonize the Universal Song and protect the world from Discordants, like the beast that the Little Mermaid was fighting outside. There was much more to it, of course, but there was little time, if he wanted to save the hero.

 

Of course, it was Mickey's choice. Use the guitar that was meant for him, help protect the world, or give it up, and hope that another would be chosen. The shopkeeper knew Mickey's choice, of course.

 

Mickey stepped outside to see the Little Mermaid on the ground, the laughing beast towering over her. She was struggling to rise, as he stepped forward and gripped the guitar. And that one guitar, felt good in his hands. It didn't take long, to understand. The beast laughed, its unblinking eye watching. What difference could Mickey make? After all, it was just one guitar, slung way down low, but little did the beast know that it was a one way ticket, with only one way to go. So Mickey started rocking like he wasn't never gonna stop. Like he had to keep on rocking, if someday he' was gonna make it to the top. In an instant, the battle was over. As the Discordant beast realized its mistake, Mickey played and sang, putting his every soul into the song. Before the beast even reached him, it was gone, changed to a statue.

 

When the Little Mermaid rose to her feet, Mickey was gone. The shopkeeper had taken him back into the little shop, which was no longer there. He got to work explaining the situation to Mickey in full, what he had agreed to do, what he would now be bound to do until his dying day. Mickey would be one of five Master Maestros to protect the world from the Discordants, to keep the world in harmony. The first to use a modern instrument, the first in untold ages to be chosen without having been trained by another Maestro. It was a break with traditions, one that the shopkeeper felt was necessary, but the other Master Maestros would most likely resist. It would be a long, hard road, but it would not be a lonely one: Each Master Maestro were bound to a Conductor: Their assistant, protector and friend. Mickey would have to choose the one person that he trusted the most for the role.

 

Mickey choose Tove, his dead sister.

 

The shopkeeper stared at him, then laughed at the young man's nerve. Never before had someone chosen a dead person to be their Conductor. Per tradition, the Conductor would be raised alongside the Master Maestro, until they were ready to accept the titles from the previous Master Maestro and Conductor, but despite the shopkeeper's laughter, he complied, and Tove appeared before Mickey on a rainbow bridge. Finally reunited, Mickey hugged his sister and in tears, he explained everything he could.

 

Riding a beat up old van, Mickey and Tove set out into the world. No longer just drifting through life, Mickey had two goals ahead of him: To keep the harmony of the Universal Song, and to become the world's greatest rock star.

 

So now he's gotta keep on rocking, and he just can't stop.

 

Personality & Motivation:

Mickey has aspirations of being a rock star and acts the part. He can be loud, brash, cocky and at times obnoxious, but he has a heart of gold, and is protective of friends, fans and those otherwise in his care. Mickey is almost never seen without his guitar, and will often play it during downtime, even if just simple notes and not actual songs. Mickey would honestly rather play his guitar than go out and fight bad guys, but he still tries to live up to his responsibilities.

 

Even though Mickey takes pride in his abilities as a singer and guitarist, part of him wonders just how much of his rising fame and skills are his own, and how much is due to the Axe of Bragi. His encounters with other Master Maestros has caused him to feel at least some doubt about his role in keeping the Discordants in check: Where he the right one chosen to wield the guitar, or is he breaking centuries old traditions without need?

 

Until recently, Mickey was suffering from depression caused directly by his sister's death. He struggled hard to work his way out of the depression, but while it seems to have fully lifted with his appointment as a Master Maestro and Tove's return as his Conductor, there is no telling if it might one day return.

 

Powers & Tactics:

Mickey is one of five Master Maestros, tasked with defending the Universal Song and keeping the universe in harmony, in part by hunting down abberant creatures known as Discordants. The Master Maestros are empowered by a collection of five musical gods, who have worked together to create magical instruments that give the Master Maestros their power.

 

Mickey wields the Axe of Bragi, which has taken the form of a Gibson 1968 Flying V Worn Cherry Guitar. Simply wielding the Axe of Bragi gives Mickey the gift of flight, the ability to summon any music or song needed to back up anything he is playing, and the ability to inspire those around him. By playing music and singing, he is able to create a great number of effects, formed more by his intention than the actual song being played.

 

He wears the Mantle of the Master Maestro, a dark cape that is by default invisible, but becomes visible at his command. The indestructible garment offers protection, moving to intercept attacks before they can reach Mickey.

 

Finally, he has been gifted with incredibly accurate hearing and the ability to be understood by all as long as he sings.

 

While the power offered by the Axe of Bragi and Mickey's music is spectacular, they all require that he actually play music, and as such, he usually tries to avoid close combat, preferably staying behind others to give him time to work his magic. Despite his protests to the contrary, his powers are at their best when he works in a team, rather than on his own. Owing to his somewhat cocky personality, Mickey will rarely use his magic music at its most effective, prefering to put on a show. He is opposed to using lethal force in any way, unless dealing with a Discordant, another limit to his abilities, which other Master Maestros rarely show.

 

Power Descriptions:

Mickey's ability to be understood by anyone while singing is entirely magic in nature, with people usually not realizing that he is not singing in their language at first, while his greatly enhanced hearing allows him to recognize close to any sound.

 

The Mantle of the Master Maestro is usually invisible, only becoming visible when Mickey wills it to. When visible, the cape appears black with white trim, secured at his chest with a black gem with white edges. The black parts of the cape seem to be filled with ever changing white and grey patterns that seem to react to music being played, shifting depending on the music. The magically empowered Mantle automatically moves to intercept attacks that reach Mickey, blocking them completely if possible, or otherwise trying to soften the blow as well as it can. The mantle does confer a single ability directly to Mickey, allowing him to quickstep, instantly moving up to 100 feet away from his current position with a single step.

 

By playing music on the Axe of Bragi, Mickey is able to invoke magic. The actual song or note that he plays doesn't matter as much as his intent behind the music, and as such, he is not bound by any one specific song for any of his effects. All of his music, and the effect they have, is magic. If he plays a Moving Melody, he can affect the emotions of anyone that hears his song, making them feel what he wants them to feel while slowly breaking down their mental defenses. Through a Weakening War Song, he can weaken those that hear his music, making them more likely to fall to follow up attacks, while playing Restoration Rock lets him heal all allies that surround him. A Disabling Dance can temporarily paralyze any targets as a sound wave washes over them, while playing a Telekinetic Theme Song lets him move everything around him. By playing Mind Blowing Metal, Mickey causes a burst of silver lightning to fire from his guitar, targeting the mind of those that it hit to damage their bodies. A Portal Parade creates whirling portals, a rainbow ring that one can enter to arrive at another location, letting him travel across the world, or just move himself and allies rapidly across a battle field. Songs of Creation lets Mickey bring forth life-like creatures and objects from his imagination, to both attack and defend him and his allies. Plenty of other songs exist, some specific to handling Discordants, some for dealing with more mundane situations.

 

Complications:
All Star: Mickey is a rock star on the rise, and he doesn't exactly keep a low profile. While he's hardly a household name yet, his name is spreading, and he has a harder time hiding his identity. If Poet's rising fame causes him trouble or complicates a situation, the GM can award him a Hero Point.

 

Cocky: Even with his various doubts, Mickey is cocky and confident in himself and his powers, even to the point of going up against stronger foes. The GM can make Poet's overconfidence cause problems of many kinds, awarding him a Hero Point in the proces. 

 

Good Vibrations: All use of magic from Mickey's Magic Guitar requires that he plays it. A single note can be enough for smaller effects, while greater effects requires actual music. If Mickey is somehow unable to play the guitar, only the Smash The Set power can be used, and that requires actually moving to hit something with the guitar. If the GM deems that Mickey cannot play his instrument for whatever reason, he can award Poet a Hero Point.

 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Mickey's primary enemies are the Discordants, which he, as all Master Maestros, have a responsibility to find and destroy. They come in a great variety and can appear in just about any situation, like to complicate another battle or scene that Mickey finds himself in. He has also earned the ire of the older villain known as the Maestro, simply for daring to use rock to fight crime. If a GM brings in the Discordants, the Maestro or other enemies, or otherwise have them complicate a situation for Mickey, they can award Poet a Hero Point.

 

Hurt: While he seems alright now, Mickey dealt with several years of depression, and events can conspire to bring those feelings to the front again. If a situation or mental attack triggers Mickey's depression, he will grow quiet and despondent, losing the creative streak that lets him use a great deal of his powers to their full extent. If Poet fails to play the music necessary for one of his powers due to a situation related to his depression, the GM can award him a Hero Point.

 

It's My Life: Mickey wants to play music, to be a star. But how much of his music is his own work, and how much is the power of the magic guitar? Unfortunately, Mickey's magic guitar needs confidence to work: If Mickey doubts himself, his magic can fail. If the GM uses an effect to temporarily make Mickey lose faith in himself and cause his powers to fail, he can award Poet a Hero Point.

 

Living the Legacy: Mickey was a controversial choice as the newest Master Maestro, in part due to being chosen despite never having followed the usual Master-Student chain of Master Maestros, and in part due to his instrument and that he plays rock and metal music, compared to the more classical fare of most other Master Maestros. He will be at a social disadvantage when dealing with other Master Maestros, or those related to the order, and the GM can award Poet a Hero Point if this complicates the situation for him.

 

Sister: Through fortune or fate, Mickey's sister Tove has been returned to him. Despite her being supposed to protect him, he is very protective of her and reacts strongly to anyone that might be out to harm her, or even manage to harm her. If Poet's reaction to his sister being hurt or threatened complicates a situation, the GM can award him a Hero Point.

 

Abilities: 0 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 10 = 30PP
Strength: 10 (+0)
Dexterity: 18 (+4)
Constitution: 14 (+2)
Intelligence: 12 (+1)
Wisdom: 16 (+3)
Charisma: 20 (+5)


Combat: 12 + 12 = 24PP
Initiative: +4 (+4 Dex)
Attack: +6 Base, +6 Melee, +6 Ranged, See individual Power Bonus in DC Block
Defense: +12 (+6 Base, +6 Shield), +3 Flat-Footed

Grapple: +6 (+6 Base Attack), +32 (+6 Base Attack, +22 Move Object, +4 Accurate)
Knockback: -1 (Base TOU/2) / -6 (w. Protection [Mantle of the Master Maestro})


Saving Throws: 6 + 6 + 7 = 19PP
Toughness: +12 (+2 Con, +10 Protection [Mantle of the Master Maestro])
Fortitude: +8 (+2 Con, +6)
Reflex: +10 (+4 Dex, +6)
Will: +10 (+3 Wis, +7)


Skills: 60R = 15PP

Knowledge [Arcane Lore] 4 (+5)

Knowledge [Popular Culture] 4 (+5)^{Skill Mastery}

Knowledge [Streetwise] 4 (+5)

Language 2 [Danish [Native], English, German]

Perform [Singing] 15 (+20)^{Skill Mastery}

Perform [Stringed Instruments] 15 (+20)^{Skill Mastery}

Notice 8 (+11)^{Skill Mastery}

Sense Motive 8 (+11)

Feats: 11PP

Equipment 2

Inspire 1

Leadership

Luck 4

Quick Draw

Skill Mastery (Knowledge [Popular Culture], Notice, Perform [Singing], Perform [Stringed Instruments])

Uncanny Dodge [Audiotory]

 

Enhanced Feats

Inspire 1 -> Inspire 5

 

Equipment: 2PP = 10EP

• The Van [10EP]

  • Size: Huge [2EP]
    Strength: 35 [1EP]
    Defense: 8 [0EP]
    Toughness: 11 [2EP]
    Features: [0EP]
    Powers [5EP]

    Speed 5 (250 mph, 2200 ft/rnd) [5EP]

 

 

Powers: 2 + 55 + 18 + 6 = 81PP

 

Comprehend 2 ("Universal Language of Song"; Languages [Anyone able to hear can understand]; Flaws: Limited [Only when singing]) [2PP] (Magic, Sonic)

 

Device 13("Axe of Bragi" 65PP Container; Flaws: Hard-To-Lose; Feats: Indestructible, Restricted 2 [Must have Perform [Stringed Instruments] 15+ to lift and use]) [55PP] (Divine, Magic, Guitar)

Enhanced Traits 4 (Inspire 4) [4PP] (Magic, Prowess)

Feature 1 ("Face of the Band"; Any kind of backup music and singing needed for a song will be heard) [1PP] (Magic, Sonic)

Luck Control 1 ("Change the Song"; Force Re-roll; Feats: Luck 2) [5PP] (Magic)

Magic Music Array 24 (48PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 7) [55PP] (Magic, additional descriptors on individual powers)

BP: Emotion Control 12 ("Moving Melody"; Extras: Area [General Perception (Auditory)], Linked to Drain Will (+0), Secondary Effect, Selective Attack; Flaws: Action [Full], Range [Touch] (-2)) [24PP] + Drain Will 12 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will] (+0), Area [General Perception (Auditory), Linked to Emotion Control (+0), Selective Attack; Flaws: Action [Full]) [24PP] {48/48} (Music, Psionic, Sonic)

AP: Blast 12 ("Mind Blowing Metal"; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Penetrating 8; Feats: Accurate 3, Precise) {48/48} (Psionic, Music, Sonic)

AP: Create Object 13 ("Songs of Creation"; Extras: Duration [Continuous], Movable; Flaws: Action [Full]; Feats: Precise, Progression [Object Size] 4, Selective, Stationary, Subtle [Just like real]) {48/48} (Creation, Music) (Size: Up to 13x125 foot cubes, Str 65 Load, Heavy load 100 tons)

AP: Drain Saves 12 ("Weakening War Song"; Drains One Save; Extras: Alternate Save [Will] (+0), Area [General Perception [Auditory], Selective Attack, Total Fade; Flaws: Action [Full]) {48/48} (Music, Sonic)

AP: Healing 9 ("Restoration Rock"; Extras: Area [General Burst], Selective Attack, Total; Feats: Persistent, Regrowth, Stabilize) {48/48} (Music, Sonic) (Area: 45 ft. radius)

AP: Move Object 22 ("Telekinetic Theme Song"; Feats: Accurate 2, Precise, Subtle) {48/48} (Music, Telekinesis)

AP: Paralyze 12 ("Disabling Dance"; Extras: Area [General Burst], Selective Attack) {48/48} (Music, Psionic, Sonic)

AP: Teleport 10 ("Portal Parade"; Extras: Accurate, Portal (+2); Flaws: Distracting; Feats: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Easy, Progression [Portal Size] 5) {48/48} (Music, Portals) (Range: 200,000 miles. Portal size: Up to 250x250 ft.)

 

Device 4 ("Mantle of the Master Maestro"; 20PP Container; Flaws: Hard-to-lose; Feats: Indestructible, Subtle 1) [18PP] (Divine, Magic, Cape)

Immunity 2 (Critical Hits) [2PP]

Protection 10 ("Protective Mantle") [10PP]

Shield 6 ("Shielding Mantle") [6PP]

Teleport 1 ("Quickstep"; Flaws: Short-Range; Feats: Change Direction) [2PP] (Range: 100 feet)

 

Super-Senses 6 ("Musician's Ears"; Accurate Analytical Rapid 2 [x100] Normal Hearing; Ultra-Hearing) [6PP] (Magic, Prowess)

 

Drawbacks: (-0) + (-0) = -0PP

 

 

DC Block

 

 

Name	Range	Save	Effect	Attack bonus
Unarmed	Touch	DC15 Tou (staged)	Damage	+6
Moving Melody	Area, Auditory Perception	DC22 Ref	No effect from Emotion Control and Drain Will effects	Selective General Area
		DC22 Will (staged)	Fail: Emotion Control <10: No hostile action	Secondary Effect, linked to Will Save Drain Effect
		DC22 Will (staged)	Will Save Drain	Linked to Emotion Control effect
Mind Blowing Metal	120 ft.	DC27 Will (staged)	Damage	+12
Weakening War Song	Area, Auditory Perception	DC22 Ref	No effect from Drain Save effect	Selective General Area
		DC22 Will (staged)	Drain One Save	Total Fade
Telekinetic Theme Song – Thrown Object	220 ft.	DC29 Tou (Staged)	Damage	+10
Disabling Dance	Area, Auditory Perception	DC22 Ref	No effect from Paralyze effect	Selective General Area
		DC22 Will (staged)	Fail: Slowed >5: Paralyzed	N/A

 

Totals: Abilities (30) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (19) + Skills (15) + Feats (11) + Powers (81) - Drawbacks (0) = 180/180

Edited December 3, 2019 by RocketLord