Sever News

[Thunder King]

Ryan sat down in front of the laptop and looked at the screen. He sat back and took a deep breath. He had some questions to answer for his new school.

1. Where are you from?

Right here in Freedom City. Probably. At least that's as far as I know.

 

2. How would you describe yourself?

Tall, good looking, strong. I work out, and I'm probably pretty good looking. At least, that's what I'm told.

 

3. Do you have distinguishing speech characteristics or recurring mannerisms?

I swear more than I probably should. I'm a Jersey kid, what can you expect?

 

4. What is your motivation?

Honestly? The world isn't fair, and we should probably try to make it more fair.

 

5. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Well, I'm no fool. I'm pretty strong, pretty smart, and much stronger and faster than I used to be thanks to the sword. Buut I am a teenager, and that means I've got a bit of a temper and poor impulse control.

 

6. What do you love? What do you hate?

I love a good song. Something pounding, fast and heavy, or something slow and smooth. Either or. What I hate are jerks and snobs. Ain't nobody better than nobody else in this world, not by default.

 

7. How would you describe your mental and emotional state?

I'm pretty stable for an orphan, but I have plenty of baggage. I have to admit. It bugs me that I ain't got parents, but maybe one day I'll learn.

 

8. What does you fear the most?

Not making it. Like, I spent my whole life at the orphanage, and I want to make it. I wanna be somebody. Whether that's a superhero or rock star, I want to be something more than some loser kid from an orphanage.

 

9. What is your greatest ambition?

The stage. Man. Me, a band, and a guitar in my hands. Rockin' out and playing hard and fast, making heads bang.

 

 

10. How do you feel about the state of the world and your place in it?

The world sucks. It just does. Like, here I am, some poor orphan from Jersey, with no life and no prospects. That's why I wanna be a musician. Find my way out of that.

 

11. Does you have any prejudices? How do get along with others?

It's real hard to judge people when you're at the bottom, you know? I try not to judge people, but snobs, man, snobs get to me. And I get along great with other people. I've got no friends, but people like me fine.

 

12. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order?

That's what I'm looking for, you know? People to be loyal to. Friends, maybe family, bandmates. People I can get along with and learn to trust and be trusted.

 

13. Do you have a lover or partner? 

Nope. Nobody wants the orphan boy in the shabby clothes. Plus I'm only 16, I got time for that.

 

14. Do you have a family? 

You know, growing up in an orphanage, you obsess over family. I got lots of people I've known over the years. Caretakers, staff at the orphanage, but nobody I've ever had the back of, and nobody who's ever really had my back, you know?

 

15. How would the people closest to you describe you?

Friendly, loud, nice. I don't have any 'friends' to speak of, but the people that like me like me well enough.

 

16. Are you a role model?

A couple of the younger kids at the orphanage liked me. They liked listening to me play guitar, but I wouldn't say I'm a role model.

 

17. How spiritual is your hero? Do you follow a religious tradition?

Not really, no. I mean, I was encouraged to read the Bible, and I've cracked it open a few times, but I'm not really a book kinda guy. I guess I believe in God? 

 

18. Are you part of a team, would you like to be? Why?

Having a band to watch my back would be pretty nice, but, no, I've got nobody yet.

 

19. How do you feel about the place of metahumans and aliens on Earth?

Superheroes protect us, right? I mean some of them are bad people, but some are good people. I never thought I'd be one of them until I got this sword.

 

20. If you could give one piece of advice to your hero, what would it be?

The kids you've just met are good ones, you can lean on them when you need to.

[Thunder King]

 

Sever HellQ

 

Introduction

 

 

 

Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence.

 

A kid from Jersey who lucked into a magic sword.

 

Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume?

 

Everybody calls me Ryan. It’s not short for nothin’

 

 

What is your full birth name?

 

Ryan Alexander Jacobs. Hardly anybody knows about ‘Alexander’

 

 

Where do you live?

 

Freedom City Home for Children

 

 

How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)?

 

16. I assume I was born in Freedom City, ‘cause nobody’s ever told me otherwise.

 

 

 

Physical Traits

 

 

 

What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain.

 

 I’m a man. 

 

 

How would you describe your heritage?

 

Uhh…white? I mean I could be half-Grue for all I know. 

 

How tall are you?

Six foot two, and maybe not done growin’. 

 

 

What is your body type?

 

Fit. Not super buff, but not scrawny. I got muscles.

 

 

Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities?

 

Nope, I am fit as a fiddle. I don’t get sick often either.

 

 

How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence?

 

I keep my head high. I’ve always been pretty light on my feet, too.

 

 

Describe your skin, eye, and hair color.

 

Pale, I don’t get much sun. My hair is dark brown, but I dye it all the time, so I usually got a streak of somethin’ in there. Sometimes I go black, too. Eyes? Kind of a steel gray

 

How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair?

 

Messy, usually. Though I’ll style it in like, little spikes sometimes. I like to stay clean shaven. 

 

Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others?

 

I mean on the one hand, I’ve been told I’m handsome. On the other hand, I’ve never had a girl really show interest in me, so, like, maybe?

 

 

Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks?

 

I got a scar on my left leg from when I got scratched pretty bad by something I dropped. One day I might get my ears pierced. I am gettin’ a tattoo as soon as I turn 18. Uncle Charlie’s guitar. The one he left me

 

 

Do you resemble anyone famous?

 

I kinda look like absolutely nobody.

 

 

Do you have a dominant hand?

 

I’m right handed.

 

 

What kind of clothing do you wear?

 

Band shirts, jeans, an old jacket, and military boots. Most of the time.

 

Do you wear makeup?

 

No, but I do know how to put on eyeliner.

 

 

What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way?

 

I gots me a Jersey accent, they say. My voice is kinda…medium, I guess. A tenor. I can drop pretty low and go fairly high, but there’s a reason I play guitar, not sing.

 

 

Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people?

 

 I find myself strumming even when I don’t have a guitar. Just kind of practicing on the air. Especially when I’m listening to a song I like

 

History

 

 

 

Where do you come from?

 

Freedom City, an orphanage. Before that, I dunno

 

 

Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown?

 

Most major move I ever did was going to Claremont. Other than that, yeah, I probably live no more than 30 miles from where I was born.

 

Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country?

 

The US ain’t better than anywhere else on Earth, no matter what they say. If it was, I wouldn’t have grown up the way I did. Not that they didn’t take care of me, they just didn’t have a big budget. So excuse me for not bein’ the most patriotic man around.

 

How do you feel about the place you come from?

 

 They do the best they can with what they got, but I’ll be glad to be gone.

 

Where is your home town? What was/is it like?

 

Freedom CIty is a pretty cool place. I wanna see more of it.

 

 

Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you?

 

I grew up with all kinds. One thing orphans all have in common; somebody didn’t want ‘em, or couldn’t keep ‘em. And that goes beyond race and creed.

 

Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life?

 

Music is my life. I play guitar constantly. Mostly for myself. It saved me. Given me a reason to get up every mornin’. Given me somethin’ to do when I ain’t got nothin better to do. It’s ‘enriching’

 

 

Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)?

 

Uncle Charlie’s death. Every week for years, he’d come around and play guitar for the kids. When I asked him to teach me his face lit up. He had a wife and his own kids, so I never knew exactly why he came around, but he did. And it changed my life. Then one day his wife came over instead of him, and told us that he’d died. Then she gave me one of his guitars.

 

I cried for a week straight it feels like. It still hurts. He was the closest thing to a dad I think I’ll ever have.

 

Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life.

 

I remember when I first realized that nobody really gave a %$# about me. I was meetin’ some potential adopters…and they didn’t like the look of me. Would not give me the time of day. They just sort of…looked at me. Dunno what was wrong with me, but I knew at that moment that nobody was gonna want me for me, so I might as well make my own way.

 

 

What stupid things did you do when you were younger?

 

I had a time where I’d talk back to absolutely everybody. Did not matter who. I couldn’t be taught anything, I couldn’t be corrected, I was the smartest man on Earth. I didn’t have a chip on my shoulder, I had a whole damn boulder. I got past that, though.

 

Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it?

 

They sent me to a public school. Everybody knew we were orphans. Nobody seemed to much care, there. None of the other kids were rich, either. Some of the other kids didn’t like their own parents, and kinda wished they were orphans. They wouldn’t have meant if if they knew what it’d mean though.

 

 

Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not?

 

I got one of Uncle Charlie’s guitars. Only thing I’ve got that I’d care to keep beyond its usefulness. His wife gave it to me after he died. It’s a beautiful guitar, worth more than I could hope to afford for years workin’ fast food or whatnot. Not exactly a top of the line guitar, but one you could see on stage at a concert.

 

 

When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision?

 

That sword would not leave me, and I didn’t want to let it go. When I realized it gave me powers, I figured why not help?

 

 

Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why?

 

Never lied to anyone about it, no point. I’m not special.

 

 

Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you?

 

No, not really.

 

Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why?

I don’t think I could lie about me if I tried. Even my costume’s barely a costume.

 

 

If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets?

 

Nobody really cares about my past.

 

Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge?

 

 I’ve never actually broken the law, but I have bruised it some. I got into some fights in school and with the other orphans.

 

Family

 

 

 

What are your biological parents' names?

 

They could be aliens for all I know.

 

Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you.

 

The orphanage had a number of workers over the years. Nobody in particular ‘raised’ me.

 

What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living?

 

They took care of kids like me for a living.

 

 

Where are your parents now?

 

If I were to guess, dead. At least I hope. Is that bad of me? I’d rather them be dead and have no choice but to leave me, than to leave me on purpose. 

 

 

Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot?

 

I’ve lived at the same orphanage my whole life.

 

 

How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable).

 

I have no idea.

 

 

How do your parents view you now, or how would they?

 

I hope they find out about me, if they’re alive. I hope they have as many sleepless nights thinkin’ about me as I do thinkin’ about them.

 

 

Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them.

 

 

What was your birth order in the family?

 

 

Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do?

 

I don’t have any family.

 

 

Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged?

 

See above

 

Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular?

 

See above

 

 

 

Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)?

 

No

 

 

Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain.

 

If anyone I’m related to is alive, I’d be the black sheep by default.

 

Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life.

 

I could be a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln for all I know. It’d explain my height.

 

Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them.

 

no

 

 

If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind?

 

…I think about that a lot. I mean I’m a teenage boy, girls are half of what I think about, and the other half is music. But yeah, I think I’d like one sometime

 

What type of person would be your ideal mate?

 

Gotta like music. I don’t care if she’s tall or short, thin or big, but she’s gotta like music. Doesn’t even have to be what I like. That passion is essential.

 

 

 

Relationships

 

 

 

Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them.

 

NO, but the school is fun.

 

 

Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend?

 

Never really had any friends, let alone close friends.

 

If you were to go missing, who would worry about you?

 

Mostly the people in charge of me.

 

Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do?

 

I’d have to find some first.

 

 

Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you.

 

Nobody really cares enough about me to hate me

 

 

If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future?

 

I ain’t got nothin, really, to go against.

 

 

What is the worst thing someone has done to you?

 

Abandoned me

 

 

Where do your loyalties lie? In what order?

 

Loyalty? Pfft. Not really a concern of mine.

 

Who or what do you trust the most? Why?

 

What the hell is ‘trust’?

 

 

Who or what do you despise? Why?

 

I despise snobs. That’s the list.

 

 

What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess?

I like talent and drive. I got respect for anybody who wants to be better than they are now.

 

 

 

 

What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities?

 

Arrogance that’s unearned, same with pride. If you’re proud because you’re strong or because you’re smart, that’s fine. But if you’re proud because your mommy or daddy gave you a car….screw off.

 

 

Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why?

 

Everybody I know at the school knows it.

 

Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower?

 

Neither. I follow suggestions when I agree with them. I’ve been told what to do for too long.

 

 

Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them?

 

I mean…slightly? Team is pushin’ it. I get along fine though.

 

 

Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that?

 

 nope

 

Personality & Beliefs

 

 

 

Who are your heroes?

 

Uncle Chalie, and he’s dead.

 

Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances?

 

 No

Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it?

 

I do. I’m helping. And it can be fun fighting bad guys and kicking ass.

 

Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides?

Switch sides? Never. Quit? IF I got hurt bad enough

 

 

What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)?

 

Good grades, better at my guitar, normal stuff.

 

What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)?

 

A famous hero or a famous rock star.

 

What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear?

 

 Failure. Just, total failure. Turning out the loser everybody assumes orphans are supposed to be.

 

Is there anything you would give you life for?

 

 To save lives. My life ain’t special.

 

How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it mark of success, or a means to an end?

 

I am very careful on how I spend what little I get. I’ve never wanted to be rich. That ain’t why I wanna be a rock star. I wanna be…more than I am.

 

 

How do you generally treat others?

 

Mutual respect and basic kindness. Politeness doesn’t cost a thing.

 

 

Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused?

I don’t hardly trust anyone, but nobody’s ever really hurt me.

 

 

Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence?

 

I have confidence in some things, but not others.

 

 

How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex?

 

Terribly, I can NOT talk to girls

 

 

What are your most annoying habits?

 

Probably my obsession with music

 

 

Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why?

 

Snobby people, and anybody who thinks they’re better than anyone else. Especially if it’s got nothin’ to do with anything they did

 

 

What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can?

 

I’ve learned to slow down. I love good pizza. Gimme a slice with some pepperoni and olives and it’ll be gone in seconds.

 

 

What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

 

 I like soda. Cola, mostly.

 

What is your favorite treat (dessert)?

 

A nice warm cookie.

 

 

Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat?

 

Not really. I’m a growin’ boy, and I am curious. There’s all sorts of things I ain’t tried yet.

 

What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike?

 

Black

 

What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate?

 

Metal, and not really? Sometimes I say pop, but I’ll be honest. Anybody who has talent in music, whether with an instrument, their voice, or mixing software, has my respect.

 

 

If you have a favorite scent, what is it?

 

I do like the smell of leather. I want a nice leather jacket sometime.

 

 

Do you have a favorite animal?

 

Not really

 

 

What is your most treasured possession? Why?

 

Uncle Charlie’s guitar

 

Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts?

 

I grew up in an orphanage in the city. I prefer the city.

 

 

Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do?

 

You won’t get me to kill

 

 

Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you?

 

Maybe there’s a God, maybe there isn’t. Maybe he sent me this sword to help me along. Don’t know.

 

 

Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special?

 

What faith?

 

If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization?

 

No

 

 

Could you kill? Have you killed?

 

Only bugs, and no.

 

 

What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action?

 

I understand loss, and I’m not doin that to anybody else.

 

 

Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they?

If I’ve got no other choice, maybe.

 

 

How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours?

 

People don’t tend to deserve to be killed. I wouldn’t react well

 

How would you react if something important was stolen from you?

 

Fight like hell to get it back

 

 

How would you react to public humiliation?

 

Run away.

 

How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you?

 

I understand loss, but nobody ever died in front of me.

 

What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why?

 

Murder. Life’s got so much potential, and to snuff it out is just…cruel. Well that and other things I ain’t comfortable with discussin

 

 

If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours?

 

Play the guitar, find a girl to kiss…somebody would kiss me if I was gonna die soon…eat a good meal, talk with friends…I don’t like this question

 

 

 

Career & Training

 

 

 

Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it?

 

Nope. I just got a magic sword. I think it’s magic.

 

Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person?

 

Nobody really taught me.

 

Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them?

 

Guitar

 

 

Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to?

 

I wanna be a rock star, but other than that, I ain’t proud.

 

 

What is your preferred combat style?

 

I’m pretty tough and fast, so I mostly like bouncing in and out, cutting up bad guys with light attacks. Nothing that’ll kill ‘em, just draw cuts

 

 

Have you ever received any awards or honours?

 

Nope

 

What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could?

 

I wouldn’t mind learning another instrument

 

 

How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn?

 

I just like learning. I love music, so whenever I see somebody good at it, I enjoy it.

 

 

 

Lifestyle & Hobbies

 

 

 

What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine?

Life at the orphanage was all about routine, so I’m used to it. Up early in the mornin’, eat breakfast, do chores, go to school…play guitar when I can. So I do it, even if I’m not super keen on it.

 

 

Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up?

 

Learned how to play music from Uncle Charlie

 

 

What do you do for fun?

 

Play music, play video games

 

 

Do you have a costume? What does it look like?

 

I just throw a mask on

 

 

How do you normally dress when not in costume?

 

Lots of jeans and t-shirts.

 

What do you wear to bed most nights?

 

Pajama pants. Privacy is a luxury at an orphanage.

 

Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like?

 

Nothin’ special, no.

 

 

Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables?

 

 

What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance?

 

Nowadays I run everywhere when I can, but before it was always the bus

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make?

 

Got nothin’ to leave and nobody to leave it to.

 

 

If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body?

 

Not really, no.

 

What would you like to be remembered for after your death?

 

As a good kid.

 

Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not?

 

I could, if I wanted to, but I don’t, so I’m not.

 

 

What do you perceive as your greatest strength?

 

My drive. I’m good at doing what I set my mind to.

 

 

What do you perceive as your greatest weakness?

 

I need to learn to slow down.

 

As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice…

 

You’re smart, you’re talented, you’re good looking. Relax, take your time, enjoy your youth. Good things will come.