KnightDisciple Posted August 10, 2010 Posted August 10, 2010 Update: Okay. Going to be slowly adding various bits of fluff, and touching up things here and there, until I feel he's ready to submit for approval. So if this post keeps changing...that's why. Ok. So technically, this guy is mechanically complete. But I'd like to have some general input before I sit down to hash out some more nitty-gritty details on background and such. Of my 5 existing M&M characters, Gabriel is the one I'd like to give a shot at first. He's a bit of a departure for me, so I want to try the challenge. Plus, I think he'd be fun to play. Power Level: 10 (150/150PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent PP: 0 Gold Status: 0/30 In Brief: Called by a Power higher than mortal man, Carson Finbar Keefe finds himself taking up the mantle of the Archangel Gabriel. Wielding a fraction of the power of the true Archangel, he uses sound to defend the defenseless, right wrongs, and strive constantly against the machinations of Evil in all its forms. Alternate Identities: (I am unclear on what this term means, as opposed to public and secret identities. :oops: ) Identity (Public): Gabriel Identity (Secret): Carson Finbar Keefe Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland (Chalk it up to the Almighty's sense of humor) Occupation: Drama Teacher at Freedom College Affiliations: (To be determined) Family: Father: Angus Keefe; Mother: Bevin Keefe; Older Brother: Brody Keefe; Younger Brother: Doyle Keefe; "Baby" Sister: Riona Keefe; Paternal Grandfather: Brogan Keefe; Paternal Grandmother: Bridget Keefe; Maternal Grandfather: Colin Doherty; Maternal Grandmother: Moreen Doherty; Age: 26 (DoB: March 21, 1984) Apparent Age: (N/A) Gender: Male Ethnicity: Irish Height: 6'0" Weight: 170 lbs. Eyes: Blue Hair: Red Speech Color: Underlined Red Description: Tall and fairly thin, Carson is nonetheless a comparatively unremarkable figure in his civilian guise. Often electing to wear jeans and a plain polo shirt, Carson manages to strike a balance between "comfortable" and "professional" that many people find baffling. He almost always has an easy smile on his face. Gabriel is a bit sterner figure, but still one that tends to put innocents at ease when they meet him. His outfit is vaguely reminiscent of a priest's, though filtered through more than one lens. Loose white pants, rugged gray leather boots, a gray cloth belt, and a baggy white shirt form the base of his outfit. On top of that, he wears a white hooded vest, with the hood resting so that it leaves only his eyebrows on down exposed. Over everything but his mouth and lower nose, he sports a white mask, which tends to blur into the hood's lines at a glance, further muffling his appearance. White fingerless gloves help protect his hands. Finally, a predominately white leather duster sits on top of everything else. The trim is actually black, with intricate gold patterns (primarily Celtic knots and crosses). Power Descriptions: At its most basic, all of Gabriel's abilities loop back to his innate mastery of Sound. His Charisma, his more explicit powers, everything. It all goes back to those little vibrations moving through various sorts of matter. History: Carson Finbar Keefe was born on the Emerald Isle, that ancient land known as Ireland. Raised on the outskirts of Limerick, he grew up in a large, loving Catholic family. His father and paternal grandfather own and operate a pub, The Falcon and Cent. His mother and paternal grandmother both helped raise the kids, seeing as his paternal grandparents lived in a small cottage just down the road from his parents' house. His maternal grandparents were present almost as frequently, often coming over for big family dinners and get-togethers on the weekends. They lived and worked in Dublin, his Grandpa Colin being a board member in a mid-sized business in the city. Thus it was that the Keefe family never had to live hand to mouth. They have never been rich, but they had what they needed, and that was good enough. Besides, family weekends were always fun! As he grew older, Carson started experiencing a sense of dissatisfaction. At first, he couldn't even pin his finger on it. His mother could tell something was often bothering her middle son, but she couldn't tell what it was. It wasn't until Carson was in high school that he began to grasp the meaning of this sense of discontent. Like many others, he saw a world that felt so flawed, with so many people wandering around with little hope. But Carson wasn't a superhero. He wasn't even a normal genius; his grades were merely on the high end of average. No, his real talent lay in acting; from the tender age of 6, he'd often been the leading man in any plays his school put on. The fact that he could sing as well as he could act helped during the Christmas plays, for sure. But how to fit his love of acting with this sense of, dare he say it, holy discontent? Then he thought of the drama teacher at his school. Miss O'Brian, a kindly lady in her late 50's. Not only did she struggle to make sure kids like him had a chance to express themselves, she often helped serve as a mentor or a tutor. Suddenly, he had a sense of certainty. He'd be a teacher like her! Well, maybe eventually be a real actor, too. Like Peter O'Toole, or Liam Neeson! That would be really nifty... So it was that Carson redoubled his focus on the fine art of theater performance. His parents were touched by the drive and focus he displayed. Once they sat down and talked with him, and he confirmed that his desire was genuine, they got behind him 100%. Of course, it was only a couple of years later that something more incredible happened to Carson. Three nights after he turns 17, Carson was on a walk in the nearby park, enjoying the early evening weather and view. Suddenly, a brilliant light blinded him, causing him to stumble backwards. As his vision started to clear, he heard a voice. "Fear not, Carson Finbar Keefe. My visit to you is one of greatest import, for you have a great destiny ahead of you." When he could see more clearly, there before him stood an angel! Flowing robes, glowing hair and eyes, white wings, and...a trumpet? Carson quickly crossed himself and muttered a short prayer. "Why...why have you come to me? And which angel are you?" Then his courage took some root, and he straightened a bit as he clutched his rosary. "How do I know you're truly an angel, and not working for the Enemy? He can disguise himself, can't he?" The angel slowly walked forward, stopping right in front of Carson. There he(?) knelt, slowing reaching his free hand out...to grasp the rosary. It did not react at all with the being at first; after a few moments, it took on a deep, unearthly glow. And Carson knew this angel was genuine. "I applaud your courage, Carson. You will need it for the years ahead. I am indeed a true angel. An Archangel, in fact. I am Gavriel, Herald and Messenger of the Most High. I have come because you have been chosen, Carson Finbar Keefe. You have been chosen to be an agent for Good in the world. Your current dreams are worthy, yes. Such is the work of many Saints. But you shall have a task higher still. You will be endowed with a small fraction of my power. You shall craft sound into a weapon against the forces of Evil, large and small. You have great things ahead, Carson. Or should I say...Gabriel" And with no warning, Gavriel was simply gone. Carson looked down, to find himself clad in simple white clothes. Shirt, pants, gloves, boots, coat...mask, hood? Almost all of it, shining white. He felt power welling up within himself. He had a grasp on at least the basics of what to do, though he knew he needed practice. And oddly enough, he suddenly knew how to play the trumpet, as well as a couple of other similar instruments. But...what would he tell his parents. In the end, Carson broke down and told his father and mother what had happened. He made them promise not to speak of it to any of the other family, and to instead help cover for him as he took the time to start mastering his abilities, while still working hard to go to school. At first they were reluctant, but after Carson showed them his new outfit (which sadly he could not simply summon and de-summon at will), and some of the things he could do, they became convinced. So Angus and Bevin worked hard to help their middle son. They served as sympathetic listeners as he related his frustrations with school, his powers, and the continuing uncertainty of where exactly he should go. Carson graduated high school, and immediately entered the closest university with a strong fine arts program. There, he honed his dramatic and vocal skills, while also working on methods to do the same for his future students. He applied all his energy to the program, graduating with a Masters in Theater Education, and a Minor in Counseling, in only 5 (grueling) years. It was perhaps his happiest moment yet, one full of a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Not two days later, he awoke in a cold sweat. He'd had a dream, one with a sense of purpose. But all he could remember was flashing images of his heroic identity fighting criminals and super-villains in a city. Carson got up and went about a typical morning in his house. But when he happened to glance at the paper, something caught his eye, tugged at his heart, and left his rosary feeling warm on his chest. Specifically, there was a story about another conflict between superheroes and supervillains in Freedom City, seemingly the center of such activity in America. At that moment, he knew where he had to go. "Ma, Da, I know where I'm going to teach. Freedom City." At first, they looked at him with confusion. Then they saw the certainty, the conviction, in his eyes. Slowly, his father nodded, pride shining in his eyes. His mother managed to avoid crying, though a single tear slipped out of one eye as she gazed on her boy, now a man. "If that's what you feel you need to do, son, we'll help you get everything squared away." His parents kept his word. Oh, he didn't move to Freedom City the next week or anything. It took Carson just over a year to get a passport, work visa, and various certifications before he was able to move to America. During that time, he'd been helping his father at the pub, as well as doing some teaching at the local schools. Between all of that, and a bit of help from Grandfather Colin, he managed to arrange for halfway decent housing close to the campus. While he had an Irish driver's license, he didn't want to try dealing with either public transportation or getting his own car for a while. Besides, walking did him good. Carson has been living and working in Freedom City for the last year and a half. However, it's only been in the last 4 months that he has started doing any sort of crime-fighting. So far, he has yet to confront anyone more dangerous than an armed group of thugs. Thus, it's quite probable that his existence isn't well known outside of Southside, where he tends to operate. He prefers to keep a low profile for the moment, as he's still getting a grip on Freedom City's superhero world. But given the right reason, he may well find himself stepping into greater public view... Personality & Motivation: Carson is, at heart, an optimistic people-person. He loves talking to and helping people, be they a close friend or stranger. He believes that most people can, and will, do good things if given the chance and a little encouragement. He believes that if enough people honestly stand up and try their best, the world can be made a better place. He's realistic enough to acknowledge it would be a long, slow, painful process; that people would still disagree and argue and fight and mess up. But the goal, the ideal, is something Carson believes is worth fighting for. This belief in the potential for good in people is what drives him to be a teacher at Freedom College. Seeing that more kids from poor and broken homes ended up there, he sought to be a beacon to the students. Not only does he teach drama/theater classes, Carson volunteers to mentor a couple of kids each year. He views these mentorships as one of his best opportunities. Carson always strives to provide the best positive role model to the students he helps; his words are backed up by sincere actions. He acknowledges that sometimes, students will still make bad choices, and that he cannot blame himself. Once he has done his best, the rest is up to the students. As Gabriel, his focus has been on helping "the little guy", such that he tends to target non-powered petty criminals. Some of these people he tries to help start down the road to redemption; some, he realizes, won't be swayed by his words alone. It makes him sad when he has to use force on a teenager who's robbing a convenience store to feed a destructive habit, or even to try scraping together money to feed themselves and/or their family. But Gabriel believes in the law, and in right and wrong, strongly enough to not let that sadness stop him from doing the right thing. That said, he's not afraid to mix it up with more powerful foes, since they can often offer an even greater immediate danger to civilians. Powers & Tactics: Most of Gabriel's powers revolve around disabling foes, rather than directly beating them unconscious. Often times, he will batter a foe with a hit from each of his varied tricks, keeping them severely off-balance, leaving them vulnerable to a final knockout blow from his sonic blast. Gabriel's supernatural charisma is, in his mind, his most powerful tool. With it, he can often convince petty criminals to lay down their weapons, and cooperate with the police. In turn, he will speak with the police afterwards to ensure the criminals (often fairly young) receive good treatment, and get as much of their prison time converted to things like community service. It also helps convince civilians to clear the area, and can occasionally allow him to put a more threatening opponent off-guard long enough to get a better hit in. Complications: Secret: Secret Identity Responsibility: Carson is employed as a Drama/Theater teacher at Freedom College. He has to balance his time spent as Gabriel with his job, especially since he views his work as equally important. Abilities: 0 + 4 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 22pp Str 10 (+0) Dex 14 (+2) Con 16 (+3) Int 14 (+2) Wis 14 (+2) Cha 14 (30) (+2 (+10)) Combat: 20 + 12 = 32pp Initiative: +2 Attack: +10 Grapple: +0 Defense: +6 (+6 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -0 Saving Throws: 2 + 3 + 5 = 10pp Toughness: +10 (+3 Con, +6 Defensive Roll, +1 Leather Jacket) Fortitude: +5 (+3 Con, +2 Base) Reflex: +2 (+2 Dex, +3 Base) Will: +7 (+2 Wis, +5 Base) Skills: 112r = 28pp [bluff] [12 Ranks] (12 + 10 (Cha) = 22) [Diplomacy] [12 Ranks] (12 + 10 (Cha) = 22) [Gather Information] [12 Ranks] (12 + 10 (Cha) = 22) [intimidate] [12 Ranks] (12 + 10 (Cha) = 22) [Knowledge] [8 Ranks] (8 + 2 (Int) = 10) [Knowledge] [8 Ranks] (8 + 2 (Int) = 10) [Notice] [8 Ranks] (8 + 2 (Wis) = 10) [Perform] [8 Ranks] (8 + 10 (Cha) = 18) [Perform] [8 Ranks] (8 + 10 (Cha) = 18) [Perform] [8 Ranks] (8 + 10 (Cha) = 18) [sense Motive] [8 Ranks] (8 + 2 (Wis) = 10) [sleight of Hand] [8 Ranks] (8 + 2 (Dex) = 10) Feats: 15PP [Attractive (Rank 1)] [Connected] [Contacts] [Defensive Roll (Rank 6)] [Distract (Bluff)] [Fascinate (Bluff)] [inspire (Rank 2)] [Well-Informed] [Equipment 1] Cell Phone[1ep] Laptop [1ep] Digital Audio Recorder [1ep] PDA [1ep] Leather Jacket (+1 Toughness) [1ep] Powers: 16 + 27 = 43PP Enhanced Charisma (Artificially boosts Gabriel's Charisma from 14 to 30; Rank 16; Action: Reaction; Range: Personal; Duration: Continuous) [16pp] Sonic Control (Control over Sound; Base Power is Dazzle, 7 Alternate Powers (Sonic Blast, Communication, Confuse, Emotion Control, Flight, Nauseate, Paralyze) [27pp] Base Effect: Dazzle (Create 50 ft. radius Auditory Dazzle effect (Ref save DC 20) (failed save means hearing is rendered useless; DC 20 fort save each round (with +1 to save each round) to move to -1 on hearing; round after that, sense is normal); Rank: 10; Action: Standard; Range: 100ft; Duration: Instant) [20pp]Alternate Effect: Sonic Blast (Ranged +10 attack, DC 25 Toughness; Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank 10; Action: Standard; Range: 100ft; Duration: Instant) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Communication (Ventriliquism, 200,000 mile range; Subtle 2 (undetectable); Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank 10; Action: Free; Range: Extended; Duration: Sustained) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Confuse (Will save DC 20; target becomes confused; new will save each round with +1 each successive round; Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank: 10; Action: Standard; Range: Perception; Duration: Instant (Lasting)) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Emotion Control (Will Save DC 20; instill calm, despair, fear, hate, hope, love; Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank 10; Action: Standard; Range: Perception; Duration: Sustained (Lasting)) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Flight (500 mph, 4400 ft./round; Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank: 6; Action: Move; Range: Personal; Duration: Sustained) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Nauseate (DC 18 Fort save or be weakend (via nausea); save fails and target is sickened (-2); fail by 5 or more/second application of power, target is nauseated (-5); fail by 10 or more/third application, target is helpless; Alt Power of Sonic Control; Rank 8; Action: Standard; Range: 20ft; Duration: Instant (Lasting)) [1pp]Alternate Effect: Paralyze (DC 18 Will save; target slowed, can only take move or standard action, has -1 to attack, def, ref save, moves at half normal speed; fails by 5 or more/second hit of power, target paralyzed; Rank 8; Action: Standard; Range: 20ft; Duration: Instant (Lasting)) [1pp] Drawbacks: 0 + 0 + 0 = 0pp (None Currently) Name (Description; Frequency: [uncommon/Common/Very Common]; Intensity: [Minor/Moderate/Major]) [Xpp] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC15 Toughness Damage Dazzle 100ft DC20 Reflex Target Deafened Sonic Blast 100ft DC25 Toughness Damage Confuse Percep. DC20 Will Confused Em. Control Percep. DC20 Will Emotion Instilled Nauseate Percep. DC18 Fort Weakened/Sickened/Nauseated/Helpless Paralyze Percep. DC18 Will Slowed/Paralyzed Abilities (22) + Combat (32) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (28) + Feats (15) + Powers (43) - Drawbacks (0) = 150pp
KnightDisciple Posted August 10, 2010 Author Posted August 10, 2010 And here's my attempt at using Hero Factory to represent Gabriel. I changed some stuff to a light gray, mostly for contrast. Theoretically, I'm still intending it to be all white.
KnightDisciple Posted August 11, 2010 Author Posted August 11, 2010 Here's another version of Gabriel. On the one hand, this is closer to how I wrote his description, and how I generally envision him. On the other, it feels a bit flatter. I suppose continued tweaking will be in order.
KnightDisciple Posted August 11, 2010 Author Posted August 11, 2010 And now posted in the Character Bank here.
Recommended Posts