Post by Drew on Jan 18, 2019 7:59:08 GMT -5
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EVO FORCE
Player: Dragon
Name: Nicholas 'Nick' Kolo Agrinya
Codename: Talonus
Age: 42
Height: Varies (avg: 3' - 7')
Weight: Varies (avg: 80lbs - 350lbs)
Hair: Varies (avg: black but predominantly hairless)
Eyes: Red.
Nationality: Mutant - Nigerian/African-American
Occupation: Artist/Musician, Physics Masters degree student. Evo-force Operative. While he is readily available for free-lance self defense training he is not Sunshine Academy Staff.
Appearance: Despite his technically advanced 'mature' age, Nicholas in his basic form looks like an exceptionally well built, exceptionally tall, exceptionally muscular twenty-something aged, clean-shaven and bald young Black Man, with a friendly, and disarming grin. His eyes are usually a bright, observant and deeply soulfull brown. He carries a mixed aura of infectious calmness mixed with confidence, as if he'd seen a lot of trouble, dealt with it accordingly and well, and was quite aware and sure that he could do it again, if needs be.
Picture:
Personality: Nicholas bears all the earmarks of having been a wild-child in his youth, but has since calmed down. He is thoughtful, logical, and refreshingly (and almost painfully) irreverant, unreserved, and direct, when he's in a talkative or emotive or flirty mood. Socially speaking, Nick is genial and warm despite being somewhat introverted: preferring small intimate crowds to massive gatherings, and, when in the field, showing a major preference for lone-wolf action or coordinating with small groups at best. Nick sometimes suffers from a hammer vs nail view of the world, but fortunately he is 'armed' with a versatile set of hammers.
Background: Born to an American mother (an international diamond mining executive), and a Nigerian father (the firstborn royal son of the North Nigerian Agrinya family), Nicholas was weaned and reared in the lap of jet-setting luxury. Thusly, all that he might ever want to physically possess was virtually his for the asking... But Nick wasn't the asking sort. As a rambunctuous, adventureous, and instinctively combative child, Little Nicholas Kolo Agrinya was a wee terror to his nannies and tutors, and only stern words from his father could reign him in... when father was actually there. While Nigeria is a Federal Republic, with an actual president, some families maintained their pre-colonial royal dynastic heritage and holdings, and (like in the case of Nick's father), where actually responsible holders of their respective realms. So Baba Agrinya was often not available at the home manse for a disciplinary word or three. Instead, he was neck deep in the work of actual governing, which included the act of making sure that his wife's mininig company didn't take advantage of his people. This, in Nigeria, was not 'blood-diamond' country, after all.
Ironically (or perhaps not. Perhaps Nick simply needed that sense of direction and sought it out), when Nicholas wasn't learning his academics and sciences from his private tutors (and also simultaneously driving them insane from his antics), he was seeking his father out, which often brought him in close contact with the locals, and the mining class. Young Nicholas, much to his mothers dismay (and his father's amusement), soon became enamoured of the rough-and-tumble life-style of the minining community, and the miners soon found that they could count on him, and a coalition of other boys interested in the work, to do fetching and gopher work that they'd rather avoid, with the approval of 'the management', so long as the work was safe. They also, introduced Nick to the Nigerian-Hausa ritualized kick-boxing art of Dambe. He got into one little fight and his mom got scared- so he tried harder, driven to simply got better at fighting to ease her mind. Somehow this didn't work as well as he might have expected...
His father might also have agreed with his mother, on the matter, when Nicholas came home from a rare loss, with a bloody nose, that one time (though still otherwise in possession of all his teeth, and grinning ear to ear), but he also saw that something about the training and the fighting seemed to actually partially pacify the otherwise perfectly wild boy. His tutors also remarked that he seemed calmer at his studies, and doing better at his facts and figures. Still this wasn't quite good enough, for either parent. For his mother, it was the fact that he was mucking about with the help and possibly learning all sorts of bad habits, when he should be learning how to manage the people he would obviously rather befriend. For his father, it was more of a logistics issue -Dambe was a very stylized, ritualistic sort of fighting process, and not really a style at all. In the case of self-defence, he was quite sure that he could do -much- better, and with better results for the sake Nick's necessary issues of self-discipline. And so, he 'borrowed' his son back from the miners, and introduced the boy to the brutally efficient martial 'art' of Krav Maga instead, as taught by the best semi-retired Israeli special forces instructor, money and smart diplomacy could buy.
Nick loved this, of course, and by the time he was 13, he'd effectively mastered the G-5 level (mid-level/graduate mastery) of the mixed martial art of Krav Maga... which was unheard of. His instructor soon found that the youth was seriously pushing him to his limits with regaurds to keeping up in their sparring, and not having much else to teach (and wanting make the most of this otherwise cushy assignment), he brought in the sideral aspects of the style, as well as other military training such as firearm discipline and weapon usage. This, curiously, took some-time longer for Nick to master, which suited his instructor just fine. The swift mastery was because of Nick's mutations begining to grow in, and him being relatively lucky, as far as mutants go. His initial powers, where practically subtle, initially, and not even he noticed, at first, when the bright eyed, near hyper-observant boy grew into a youth that was not only hyper observent, but supernaturally aware of the emotive states of others. While it wasn't at all like being able to read minds, the edge it gave him in combat was practically incalculable as he was thus able to read moods, and emotional build-ups for potential suprise attacks and such. Likewise, the onset of puberty, and his changing physicality masked the superior nature of his biological changes, as his body moved from digesting good food and drink, to partially doing that while also absorbing energy from stray quantum particles, and enhancing his body accordingly.
By the time he was 16, Nick was 6' tall, skinny as a reed, strong as an ox, and growing like a weed. His instructor simply could not keep up, but when he resigned, he was given quite the attractive bonus for his work, as Baba Agrinya was quite pleased with the results! At an age, where some young men of where either still struggling to find themselves, being shoe-horned into an ill-fitting niche, or practicing the manly art of early overcompensation of masculinity, Nick was doing just fine, with the self-discipline and confidence of man over twice his age, and a healthy respect for all he didn't know... which was considerable. For starters, he was quite aware, inwardly, that he wasn't anywhere near half a good a fighter as he could be... and he knew that he dearly loved to fight. Nick was not the beliigerant sort, however. Not the kind to pointlessly fight for fighting's sake alone, but however, to him there was a sort of art to it, a beautiful dance that he felt inspired to master. He tolerated the next two years of academic and industrial instruction with amazing patience, and then, as soon as he hit the age of majority, pretended to go on a mad, world-wide graduation tour of a random assortment of exotic hotspots and such. His father, new 'something' was up, having been young once himself, but couldn't see a good reason, otherwise, not to let him go. And so, with a good deal of planning under his belt beforehand, Nick took a private jet about the tropics and the Far East, and then half-dropped off the radar in the Orient.
18-year-old Nick was far more self-aware then he had been at the age of 16. Things he had taken for granted as simply being part and parcel of growing up then, had grown into abilities and capacities that he knew, absolutely knew, where not standard-issue. By now, he knew he was far stronger then should be (even withstanding the fact that his reed-thin body was filling out with thick layers of gracefully athletic muscle), and that he was strong enough to lift a heavily packed and suitably armored range rover overhead without a wince or effort, should he have want to. He'd learned not only that he could read peoples emotions, but that he could, with a moment to read what was there and a modicum of additional mental effort, effect the present emotions of others, for good or ill (and surely THAT wasn't part of puberty!). Also, he'd long since discovered that while he might not always know the truth of the matter, he'd long since learned how to be fuully aware of when someone was willingly attempting to decieve him -a gift that was sometimes more trouble than it was worth. All this and the fact that his flesh would occasionally ripple and 'shift' in property, colour or conformity, if he wasn't paying proper attention had made him somewhat reclusive in his studies, indeed, and he long since stopped visiting the mines (a decision his mother applauded, even if she didn't know the true reason why), least the miners catch on that something wasn't right with him. In 1994 Nigeria, the word 'mutant' was rarely heard at all, by comparison to other places with a fully atomic history, like America, parts of Europe, and Japan. Instead such freakish people like himself, where merely suspected to be victims or practioners of some sort of witchcraft.
This issue of tribal witchcraft was not much of a concern for the educated, though in rural and lower-economical rungs of the Nigerian Nation, a belief in such sort of a thing was common, but both believers and none would rally together to form a suitable hunting party if enough 'proof' was generated that a witch was amongst them. Half concerned that maybe he might be some sort of a witch, Nick left the country while the getting was good, not as some sort of permanent escape, but to find safe grounds, where nobody knew him, where he might learn how to control his fledgling abilities. So he headed to the various nations of the orient, where he might hide out for a time, learn his powers, and also perhaps learn a thing or three about some of the more intriguing martial arts (real, ancient, terrible, and beautiful ones, or so he'd heard), that were there. In the meanwhile, he kept partially abreast of the news of home, and the world, as he traveled, learned, and trained to the best of his abilities, a foreigner in an utterly alien land, armed with a barebones 90's understanding of Chinese culture, and the ability to speak Mandarin.
Twenty years later, and Nicholas had achieved his initial set of goals, but not without some difficulty. Outside of the troubles of being a foreigner trying to fit in, he found that training was hard to come by, and when it arrived (finally), that he had to unlearn quite a bit, to make progress. This had the curious side-effect of perfecting his use of his innate mutant powers, needing to learn how to mitigate his tendency to read emotions as a combative edge, while also perfecting his shapeshifting skills so he could pretend to be Chinese, Thai, or Japanese accordingly. Still... Nicholas did enjoy a good fight, even if he was fighting his own habits and instincts, and so he stuck with it. learning as he went. Working his way East, through Western China, through Thailand, and finally ending up in Japan, Nick first managed to pick up, adjust to, and then slowly master the art of Fu Jow Pai -also known as Tiger Claw Kung Fu. From there he perfected his foot and leg work with Muay Thai kick-boxing, only to finally round it all out, and further perfect his own curious technique with the any-thing goes martial-art of Juijutsu. From there he wandered the land, perfecting his combination style by competing in tourneys whenever allowable (perferably under his own base form, but that was just an option), while also maintaining his Tiger-Claw training, by the 'suggested' practice of spending a few weeks, alone, meditating and surviving in the wild, bare-handed: the later also giving him considerable time to further practice and perfect his mutant powers. In short, he was very well rounded, power and skill wise, when word that his father was injured an ailing reached him. At the time he was pretending to be a kickboxer in Outer Mongolia, and thus the news was somewhat dated. Fearing the worst, Nicholas fled him as fast as possible.
While Nicholas was gone, the Islamist movement Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad transformed into the more militant 'Boko Haram', and began it's well known habit of kidnapping, murdering, and conversion by the sword in areas throughout Western Africa. Sadly, these areas also included Northern Nigeria, Nicholas' homeland. The rich mineral resources of the Agrinya clan holdings became one of their many targets, in the area, unfortunately, and in the ensuing bloodshed, casualties occured. Nick arrived home to find his mother dead, and his father in the hospital, on a respirator and slowly dying. Still his father recognized his now 7' tall son, when Nicholas walked in, and the man smiled, as much as possible around his breathing tube, and welcomed his son home... for the last time. Holding his dying father's hand, Nicholas told the man everything. His father listened, nodded and pronounced his judgement: Everything he had been told he understood and appreciated. There was no need for forgiveness as there was no sin. BUt now, however, Nicholas was the last of the Agrinya clan, and he must start afresh wherever he thought was best. THe Nigerian military was corrupt, with the soldiers underfunded under-equipped, and morale low. The people had lackkluster willpower to see for themselves in the matter, and the politics where toxic. It was time for Nicholas to take the fortune and forge a new way, elsewhere. There was no fight to be had here. Grim faced, Niicholas accepted his fathers words, burden, and onus. Now freed, his father experied within the hour.
There remained... some hard choices and work to be done. WIth his father's corpse not even cold, Nicholas reluctantly went to the family lawyer, sat through an impromptu will reading, and took on his inheritence. For he who strikes first often finishes the fight entirely. He liquidated his parents assets, lands, and holding,s and transfered the funds elsewhere for safe keeping. ANd then he burned the family manse to ashes so that the family foes might not use it as a resource. The mines, he could not burn down, however, knowing that if he did nothing that Boko Haram would 'impress' the locals that hadn't fled into slavery in the name Allah, he instead blew them up, using the demolition skills he'd aquired as a youth while hanging out with older wiser miners. It would take a minor miracle to recover from the damage he wrought, and to reopen the mines for work. Standing amidst the wreckage and ashes of his past, he considered ignoring his father's words and waging a one man war of vengence with the Islamic faction... but reluctantly admitted that such was an ultimately pointless elf-indulgent, and unwise course of action. SO insteead, with his fortunes mostly intact, and his work mostly done, he lit out to America, where he had citizenship, thanks to his mother.
Nicholas landed in San Francisco, and made a home for himself there, spending the next four years as a mildly reclusive Nigerian socialite by day, and a nameless crime-fighting vigilante by night. Not that he didn't give his costumed persona a name -Talonus-, but he instead simply never bothered to advertise. As far as he was concerned, if someone saw him at work, and he wasn't actually fighting them, then he, Nicholas, had failed in some way. For four years, he foguht the good fight, finding that more and more fo his time was being eaten up by saving mutants from vioent persecution by either the citizens or the officers of the law himself. Heading some trouble off at the pass, he bought himself a politician and played politics for a while, to get some pro-mutant legislation on the books -not as many as he would like, of course, but baby steps where required, here. And perhaps it was these efforts that got the attention of the SUnshine Academy, in Los Angeles, for he was eventually invited in to a teleconference with administration... He declined a position on the staff. BUt when the issue of joining EVO-force came up, later, through mroe clandestine communications, he jumped at the chance.
At this time, Nicholas has yet to transfer any of he belongings or gear, to the Sunshine Academy campus...
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Fighting----- (#) Incredible - Nick is a natural combat/tactical genius, with over 26 years of rigerous training and constant practice and use of four complete martial arts, having trained to mastery in each of them. This does not include the ritualistic combat of Dambe.
Agility------ (#) Remarkable - Thanks to constant practice , use, and his quantum absorption power and his quantum shapeshifting power making him more dextrous and supple, NNick is vastly more adroit and nimble than a top tier NFL Quarterback.
Strength----- (#) Amazing - Nick's quantum absorption power ahd changed the nature of his skeleton and msculature to befcome capable of lifting and manipualting weights in excess of 70 to 75 tons. While he can damage inanimate objects of significant hardness, with his bare hands, Nick, as a ridiculously well trained martial artist, he has pefect control over how much damage he -actually- deals out, in hand to hand combat.
Endurance---- (#) Incredible - Nick's quantum absorption power has almost entirely supplanted his need to eat drink and breath, as he instead can simply 'absorb' the necessary vital energies from the aether about him, automatically, as needed. Even under heavy and constant exertion, he rarely tires.
Reasoning---- (#) Good - Nick has a Bachelors-Degree level intellect, but has this level of comptence in a VAST array of skills and knowledges, thanks to his adventures, experience, and training.
Intuition---- (#) Amazing - Nick is far more instinctive and aware then an above-average human, with his senses attuned to the point where he is aware of quantum activity in his vacinity. This also gives him an instinctive understanding of Quantum Physics, as well as aids his Empathic powers, and artistic skills.
Psyche------- (#) Incredible - A fighter from birth, Nick has progressed beyond the limits of rank teenage stubborness. Thanks to his training, adventuring, experience, martial-arts focus and advanced age, Nick is far more aware, willful, and determined thanks to all that practice.
Hit Points: 160
Mental health: 100
Resources: Remarkable.
Source of Income- Heir to a diamond mining fortune as well as being a prince of Nigeria, his business acumen etc. He is not paid a dime by the Academy.
Origin of Powers: Mutant
Powers: Quantum Particle Absorption and Re-Manifestation (Base-form Enhancement and Moderate Changeling Abilities) that also enables Quantum-particle Based Empathy.
Quantum Particle Absorption & Processing- Nicholas' body has the unique mutant property of being able to absorb, re-align, and 'digest' free sub-atomic particles (such as atmospheric nutrinos, photons, and free floating electrons: free floating 'energy' that is effectively everywhere). This is not without it's drawbacks, but it does enable him to exist without food and hydration, breathing, or sleeping. It also powers or is otherwise indirectly related to all of his other powers.
*Enhanced Attributes- The absorption and digestion of quantum particles has permanently altered Nick's biology, upgrading it exponentially in most regards, even mentally. All of his attributes are permanently boosted, and he is as strong as a weak-end Hulk.
*Improved Durability- The absorption and digestion of quantum particles is not easily done with standard issue human flesh and blood, and so Nick's physiology has evolved and adapted to such purposes, to the point where his humanoid features are almost all only skin-deep and his inner workings are an alien horror-bath of weirdness. However, on the plus side, his cellular structure is much more robust, degradation proof, and damage resistant. While not indestructable, he can withstand damage and pressure up to levels of 'Incredible'.
*Indefatigable- Because of the fact that Nick is constantly energized, he technically never tires, though he may become mentally wore out as time progresses (and Psyche checks fail). Stamina wise, he is well nigh tireless.
*Infravision/Darksight- Due to the nature of his quantum sub-atomic particle awareness and absorption, Nick is always a repository of his own photons, as well as he is always 'aware' of particles on an instinctive level. Even when blinded, he can still sense well enough to smoothly navigate by.
*Quantum Flight- Nick can manifested an aura of charged gravitons about his body, allowing him to fly, tirelessly, in any direction with Power Rank agility, control, and speed. Because of the nature of this power, he can even fly in space should he wish to, with only minimal difficulty in escaping a planets given gravitational pull and atmospheric conditions.
*Radiation Immunity- As Nick's body absorbs and processes free energy particles like bacon, he is thus immune to standard (generically defined) radiation attacks that are particle or electromagnetic in nature.
*Raw Energy Blast- Nick is able to unleash an arcing torrent of free sub-atomic particles from his hands and fingers. This attack is not radioactive and has no otherside-effects, except, perhaps according to his strange phenomenon weakness, mentioned below. the attack does Excellent or less from either hand, all the way up to Incredible or less (as he sees fit), with a two-fisted "double-barrel" approach. Because the Energy flies in arcs and whirls, opponents are -1cs to effectively dodge this attack.
Quantum-based Humanoid Form Manipulation- Nicholas' control over free absorbed sub-atomic particles is so complete that he can, to a limited degree, convert the energy of these particles into personally applied bio-mass, or vice versa, enabling him to change size, the facts and features of his humanoid frame (such as apparent race, coloration, gender, just so long as he remains within the humanoid spectrum), and to even add or subtract a few additional modifications to his form, as he should see fit. This is technically more of the same of his Quantum Absorption/Processing power, but a very particular branch of it that he seems spectacularly gifted in with it's own diverse stunts, thus it is seperate from the initial power.
*Extra-Limbs/Extraordinary Alteration- Nick can convert sub-atomic particles into body-modifications that deviate from the base humanoid 'two legs/two arms/torso/head' form, stacking on additional attributes like extra arms, prehensile tendrils, tails or even wings, as he sees fit. More importantly it enables him to imitate unusual humanoid forms and frames that are different from the Earth standard. For example, he could imitate Skrull Green skin pigmentation (complete with that broccoli chin development), blue Kree skin coloration, Shi`Ar feather-plumage instead of hair, etc. Thus he can imitate amost any race or species, provided they're at least recognizeable humanoid in build.
*Healing Factor- Nick can create internal bio-mass to bandage wounds he's taken in combat, effectively generating a poor-man's healing factor that is automatic but only half as effective as the Form Manipulation Power rating. He can heal that many HP a round.
*Longevity- Nick ages at 1 year for every -real- 10,000 years of existance. He hasn't aged a day since he turned 24, really. Ageing powers or Effects thus are of little use against him.
*Winged Flight- Nick can manifest wings on a whim, as an action, thanks to his Extra-Limb stunt. However, thanks to these wings, he can now fly at his Quantum-Flight power-rating +1cs, tirelessly, though there is no speed-boost effect in non-atmospheric situations or the vaccume of space.
Quantum-based Empathy- Nicholas can feel the Quantum Signature of emotional states in the individual brain. More over, he can sense the general emotional vibe in groups as well. He has learned, over time how to decipher these signatures, and gives him an immediate free comprehension of a target person or group's general emotional state. This is technically more of the same of his Quantum Absorption/Processing power, but a very particular branch of it that he seems spectacularly gifted in with it's own diverse stunts, thus it is seperate from the initial power.
*Emotion Control- Nick can enhance or eliminate the emotional state of a given target individual, provided they are feeling that state at the time. He can't create what isn't present, but he can make it stronger, weaker, or non-existant, as the case may be.
*Emotional Stun- Nick can enhance the emotional state of a given target individual to the point where the emotion is utterly overwhelming, stunning the target.
*Fearless- Nick feels no fear, for good or ill. He doesn't panic, he doesn't startle or frighten, and he cannot be forced to feel these things by any means.
*Group-Effect: Emotion Enhancement- Nick can enhance or eliminate the MAIN emotional state of a given target group. Once again, he can't create what isn't there, but he can make the agregate memotional state stronger, weaker, or non-existant depending on what they are feeling the most of, at the time.
*Lie Detection- Nick can sense/see the quantum signature, that lights up a argets mind, when they tell a known falsehhood, and has since learned to recognize it in all it's varient glories, when it occurs. This doesn't mean he knows what the truth is, however, just that the person he's dealing with is knowingly lying to him. If the person in question thinks they are telling the truth, however, Such as if they're self delusional or roughly of the same mentality of a 5 year-old child, this power does not register what they say as a lie. In short, Nick is a danger to most politicians, everywhere, buit he'll never -ever- know exactly which brat ate the last cookie in the pantry.
Equipment: Using his not minor-wealth, Nick has purchased, located, or looted gear to help him with his goals, and to stay well rounded.
Concealed twin 10mm Pistols with Extended Magazines IR-Scope and Silencer- Sometimes, the only thing that works is the 'classics'. In which case, Nick's twin 10mm pistols do the trick, unleashing a whopping Incredible amount of bashing-non-lethal damage. It won't kill anyone, but it'll definetly do wonders for a targets knee-caps. The silencer and IR scope allow for extremely accurate targeting, from stealth, from a moderate range, with little more noise after firing then that of an 'embaressed but curtailed sneeze.' Due to this, Nick can immediatly roll/re-roll stealth to remain hidden, if he was already concealed. The IR laser is invisible to anyone without darkvision or infrared scope/binoculars.
Evo Force Badge- The Evo Force badge acts as a communicator, able to contact the other badges, the E2 badges, and the home base. It has walkie-talkie range of 10 miles, or can be routed through the home base to work anywhere in North America.
Experimental Image Inducer- This is a poorer version of the standard image-inducer used by mutants and other people who are 'visibly disturbing/distressing to the public'. The system itself is built into his suit, with the control mechanism at his left wrist, where it is sheilded, concealed in a bracelet like housing, but otherwise easily accesable by either hand. It is experimental and may malfunction (minorly, spectacularly, or FABULOUSLY), at the GM's discrestion.
Obligatory Hidden Throwing Daggers- Nick has a lot of these. There are no-less than two in his belt, not counting two more in his belt-buckle, one in each boot (2), one in each gauntlet (2), half a dozen secreted about his pack, and a lone hold-out dagger under his Evo-Force badge. These are small but effective daggers, made of ceramics comparable to Osmium class steel, in hardness, and thus not readily notable by metal detectors.
Roll of Zip-Ties- For when you absolutely, positively must tie up every mother-fucker in the room. He has enough zip-ties to incapacitate four dozen normal-strength people. Thus, If he has to nail down more than 48 people, however, he'll need to get creative.
Rope & Grapnel- 1-ton test nylon rope (matte black color), plus matching grappling hook. In a pinch the whole affair can be launched by snapping on a reusable launcher-housing to one of his pistols and firing accordingly.
Smoke Grenades- These non-explosive, heat-resistant, harmless grenades are braced across Nick's chest in a bandolier, going from his right shoulder, to his left side. The smoke 'type's can be determined by touching their differently shaped caps, and include basic smoke, tear-gass smoke, and the ever-fun party bringer, nausea-gas smoke. The last two are resistable by Endurance checks, but otherwise all are blinding unless the viewer has some sort of dark(not infra-red or even thermal)-vision.
Survival Backpack- Nick's bagpack contains a collection of basic crime-scene gear, but is more built for the actual survival needs of himself and any team he happens to be on, including 21lbs of food (enough to keep 3 people healthy for 7 days without issue), water, water cleansing pills, water filtering system, anti-venom, a rope-ladder, more smoke bombs, more rope (you can never have too much rope), spare ammo for his guns, spare bandoliers for his chest (one of each type), A totally illegal knife-gun style, survival knife, a seriously impressive first aid kit, bandages, an impressive disguise kit with a rainbow of colored eye-contacts, sunglasses, and holsters for his visible butterfly-blades.
Survival Knives (Paired-Butterfly Style)- These cleaver like full-blades (the blade and the hilt are made of one solid peice) with full fist gaurds combine the standard utility of butterfly knives with the additional benefits of a super-duper military issue survival-combat-knife... only also they are notably bigger, cleaver-like, heavier, scarier looking (no barbs or hooks, of course) chock-full of built in amneities and necessities, and they also fit Nick's conjoined martial-arts styles. These bastards are horribly expensive, with a hardness rating of Monstrous. It adds +1cs to his hand-to-hand/pummel and melee damage.
Tranquilizer Darts- These darts are braced across Nick's chest, like his bandolier of grenades, going from left to right for an easy right hand draw and subsequent toss/throw. They do literally no damage but otherwise can penetrate up to Amazing-hardness armor, and deliver their payload of 'knock-you-the-fuck-out' natural tranquilizers. ENdurance can be rolled to resist. Effects last for 1d4 hours or a 'scene' which ever is more convenient for the GM.
Tranquilizer Rounds- These are special 10mm 'bullets'. But with the caveat of them doing absolutely no damage (they kinda sting a little), being capable of penetrating rank Monstrous hardness armor, and dropping people for 1d4 hours or a 'scene' which ever is more convenient for the GM.
Weaknesses: Quantum Limitations, and Others.
Mutagenic Infection- Nick is truly a mutant 'child of the atom', and may slightly alter things that he comes in contact with, over a long period of time, or through maintained intimate contact. This means absolutely nothing to inanimate objects and life-forms with non-carbon-based DNA concerns, but if he spends enough time with another living being, someone he dates regularly or otherwise sees intimately on a regular basis, then there is an inevitable compounding chance that they will eventually end up with a 'blank' X-gene. Note: They won't get any actual powers, however (not from him, anyway), but they will definetly read as a mutant or mutate to any and all sensors capable of noting such. Nick does not know of this weakness.
Mutant Tell- Nick is a very sklled shapeshifter, but in nearly all his forms, no matter how varied or different they might be from his base form, there is always a tell the can give his presence or true nature away to those who know what to look for. Usually this is his eyes, which are red with human irises, or glowing AND red, in all his forms.
Obsessive-Compulsive Curiosity- Nick is obsessively curious, with an inverse metric of exponential curiosity dependant on how dangerous an unresolved issue might be. The more dangerous it is, the more curious he becomes.
Radiological Tracking- Nick gives off a solitary recognizeable radiological signature that is maskable to raw non-sentient radiation detectors, and otherwise harmless to all, but notable and recognizable to those who either can see via infra-read, personally detect such signatures via powers, or by hyper-tech devices. Moreover, standard radiation detectors might not notice him at all, but things like X-ray devices, and electro-magnetic-radiation based scanners attempting to detect -anything- on him, may notice the lack of feedback in response. On an X-ray screen, for example, one can't see Nick's alien 'intestinal goodness', however they -can- see a humanoid black blotch where he's standing, and likely will realize that -something- is up.
Quantum Particle Power Blocking/Stripping- Nick's powers are dependant upon the presence of free sub-atomic energy particles of all various stripes and varieties. However, if such activity is blocked from him, he loses access to all powers but his enhanced attributes, damage resistance, darkvision (though this ability becomes useless under those circumstances) and radiation immunity (ditto). Instead, however, Nick cannot shape-shift, he cannot sense or manipulate emotions, and starts to -slowly- starve. All his weaknesses remain.
Strange Sub-atomic Phenomenon- Nick -eats- a minutia of the free sub-atomic particles about him. Some of these particles, however, include such things as gravitons (which, of course effect/control/manifest gravity) and higs bosuns (which may or may not exist, but if they do, they effect/control/manifest mass). Because of this, inanimate and animate objects may, on occasion, act in unusual ways in a 20' vacinity around Nick, as they randomly loose connection to Earth's gravitational pull (in which case they start to float off into space, or they gravitate to the next largest object or person nearby), mass, or any other number of properties: Read - Periodically, the GM has fiat to make random and weird phenomenon occur within 20 feet of Nick, for mere shits and giggles, or any other discretionable reason.
Contacts: Special people or places you have access to and can get help from.
Evo Force Membership- When he starts, Nicholas will be on the team, having been tested and found a worthy addition. He will not, however, have any rank or be part of the command structure (if such a thing exists).
Knowledges: Nicholas posesses all the academic requirements for a Bachelors of Science (Studied, not applied) in the standard assortment of academic and laboratory sciences.
Geology- Nicholas has all three components of High-End Geological understanding, comparable somewhere between a Masters and an actual Doctorate, via academic studies, labratory mineral training, and real-world field experience. He could make a killing in the mineral industry, on the matter of locating valuable ore veins and gem deposits alone, should he have chosen to do so.
*Mining- Nicholas can work in, operate within, comprehend the structure of, build/dig, run and/or destroy a mine with little effort, thanks to his field experience and training. He has a trademan's understanding of architecture in general, because of this.
Physics- Nicholas has an Bachelors level comprehension of academic and labratory physics, with a side order of physical sciences to assist in his comprehension. Unfortunately, this is where his understanding of Physics terminology dead ends, for now. Luckily, he is studying still, and wille ventually acheive a Masters degree or better, in this knowledge.
*Quantum Physics- Nicholas has an innate Doctorate level comprehension of labratory Quantum Physics, sort of, in so much as he deals with it directly every day. His ability to translate what he sees, senses, feels, and interacts with directly, however is horribly curtailed at this time. He knwos what he's doing. he knows what he's doing with a high degree of mastery. He can't explain it to people of equal or lesser knowledge bases, however. For an example, whereas a 'real' Quantum Physicists working with sub-atomic particles might say 'neutrinos' when dealing with the same, Nick tends to define them by their actual taste (chewy with a hint of static and that dusty 'after-the-rain' vibe. Very satisfying).
Psychology/Psychiatry- Nicholas has Bachelors degree comprehension of Psychiatric terminology and practices. In Practice, howeve,r he knows so much more thanks to his ability to actually see and (to a degree) manipulate present emotional states. Using his psychiatric. This adds a bonus to his emotional manipulation rolls, as well as his manipulative skills, making him a scaryily succcesful bastard indeed, should he actually decide to actually manipulate people.
Skills: Nicholas has been training, and training hard in various capacities since before he was a young man, and it shows in his metric fuck-tonnes of aquired skills.
Art-Drums- Nicholas can play the drums. It came with the Dambe` training, actually.
Art-Stringed Instruments: All- Nicholas can play any Western stringed Instrument, from acoustic to electronic, be it the cello, the guitar, or the fiddle. This is normally a straight roll, but he's exceptionally good with the violin or fiddle.
Art-Singer/Songwriter- Nicholas can sing and write songs and poems. He cannot write haikus. Nor should he ever try. EVER.
Businesss/Finance- Niicholas learned business/finance mastery at his mother's knee, and has been a good steward of his inheretence to the point where he is indepdendantly wealthy. If he applied himself, dedicated himself to wealth aquisition, he could be richer, but that's not the sort of life he prefers to lead.
Climbing- Nicholas can scale walls, mountains, trees, ropes, etc with minimal equipment for a bonus, or no equipment without penalty. Claws count as equipment.
Demolitions- Nicholas has the equivilent of a tradesman's comprehension of demolition placement and useage, though he cannot create his own explosives or explosive devices.
Diplomacy- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and talking to people and trying to come to mutually pleasing ends.
Disguise- Nicholas is a natural shapeshifter, but without this skill he'd only have an even chance to impersonate someone directly. And even then he must have studied his impersonation target for at least a reasonable amount of time, to fully capture a bonus to impersonate them, versus an attempt to fool people for more than a cursory amount of time.
Education- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and trying to train a target in one of his trainable knowledges or skills.
Intimidation- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and attempting to terrify a target individual or group into compliance.
Leadership- This one's tricky. Nicholas can lead. When leading a group that he has personally arranged and assessed, the group as a whole or individually rolls at +1cs to directly group oriented goals and plans, so long as he is in charge.
Stealth- Nicholas is a stealthy son of a bitch. Thanks to his decades of martial-arts training and experience, he is pefectly capable of attempting to vanish from sight out of clear view, in broad daylight, anywhere he feels like it, without penalty. He is perfectly capable of the vaunted 'rice-paper walk' maneuver, enabling him to sneak over even the most noisy terrain and obstacles, and he can swim, submerge, enter and exit water without making a splash, ripple, or sound.
Survival- Nicholas was already partially skilled in Survival basics as a youth, but that was only enhanced and perfected by his martial arts training, especially his Tiger Claw Kung Fu style, with it's mandatory annual, unequipped survivalist trips to the boonies. Each year, for decades, up to and including this year, Nick willingly puts himself in harms way by undergoing these wilderness trips to maintain the proper mentality, his meditative focus, his 'edge' and the purity of this form.
Notable Notes: Nicholas speaks English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba (the languages of Nigeria), Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Hebrew, Russian, Japanese, and Thai.
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EVO FORCE
Player: Dragon
Name: Nicholas 'Nick' Kolo Agrinya
Codename: Talonus
Age: 42
Height: Varies (avg: 3' - 7')
Weight: Varies (avg: 80lbs - 350lbs)
Hair: Varies (avg: black but predominantly hairless)
Eyes: Red.
Nationality: Mutant - Nigerian/African-American
Occupation: Artist/Musician, Physics Masters degree student. Evo-force Operative. While he is readily available for free-lance self defense training he is not Sunshine Academy Staff.
Appearance: Despite his technically advanced 'mature' age, Nicholas in his basic form looks like an exceptionally well built, exceptionally tall, exceptionally muscular twenty-something aged, clean-shaven and bald young Black Man, with a friendly, and disarming grin. His eyes are usually a bright, observant and deeply soulfull brown. He carries a mixed aura of infectious calmness mixed with confidence, as if he'd seen a lot of trouble, dealt with it accordingly and well, and was quite aware and sure that he could do it again, if needs be.
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Personality: Nicholas bears all the earmarks of having been a wild-child in his youth, but has since calmed down. He is thoughtful, logical, and refreshingly (and almost painfully) irreverant, unreserved, and direct, when he's in a talkative or emotive or flirty mood. Socially speaking, Nick is genial and warm despite being somewhat introverted: preferring small intimate crowds to massive gatherings, and, when in the field, showing a major preference for lone-wolf action or coordinating with small groups at best. Nick sometimes suffers from a hammer vs nail view of the world, but fortunately he is 'armed' with a versatile set of hammers.
Background: Born to an American mother (an international diamond mining executive), and a Nigerian father (the firstborn royal son of the North Nigerian Agrinya family), Nicholas was weaned and reared in the lap of jet-setting luxury. Thusly, all that he might ever want to physically possess was virtually his for the asking... But Nick wasn't the asking sort. As a rambunctuous, adventureous, and instinctively combative child, Little Nicholas Kolo Agrinya was a wee terror to his nannies and tutors, and only stern words from his father could reign him in... when father was actually there. While Nigeria is a Federal Republic, with an actual president, some families maintained their pre-colonial royal dynastic heritage and holdings, and (like in the case of Nick's father), where actually responsible holders of their respective realms. So Baba Agrinya was often not available at the home manse for a disciplinary word or three. Instead, he was neck deep in the work of actual governing, which included the act of making sure that his wife's mininig company didn't take advantage of his people. This, in Nigeria, was not 'blood-diamond' country, after all.
Ironically (or perhaps not. Perhaps Nick simply needed that sense of direction and sought it out), when Nicholas wasn't learning his academics and sciences from his private tutors (and also simultaneously driving them insane from his antics), he was seeking his father out, which often brought him in close contact with the locals, and the mining class. Young Nicholas, much to his mothers dismay (and his father's amusement), soon became enamoured of the rough-and-tumble life-style of the minining community, and the miners soon found that they could count on him, and a coalition of other boys interested in the work, to do fetching and gopher work that they'd rather avoid, with the approval of 'the management', so long as the work was safe. They also, introduced Nick to the Nigerian-Hausa ritualized kick-boxing art of Dambe. He got into one little fight and his mom got scared- so he tried harder, driven to simply got better at fighting to ease her mind. Somehow this didn't work as well as he might have expected...
His father might also have agreed with his mother, on the matter, when Nicholas came home from a rare loss, with a bloody nose, that one time (though still otherwise in possession of all his teeth, and grinning ear to ear), but he also saw that something about the training and the fighting seemed to actually partially pacify the otherwise perfectly wild boy. His tutors also remarked that he seemed calmer at his studies, and doing better at his facts and figures. Still this wasn't quite good enough, for either parent. For his mother, it was the fact that he was mucking about with the help and possibly learning all sorts of bad habits, when he should be learning how to manage the people he would obviously rather befriend. For his father, it was more of a logistics issue -Dambe was a very stylized, ritualistic sort of fighting process, and not really a style at all. In the case of self-defence, he was quite sure that he could do -much- better, and with better results for the sake Nick's necessary issues of self-discipline. And so, he 'borrowed' his son back from the miners, and introduced the boy to the brutally efficient martial 'art' of Krav Maga instead, as taught by the best semi-retired Israeli special forces instructor, money and smart diplomacy could buy.
Nick loved this, of course, and by the time he was 13, he'd effectively mastered the G-5 level (mid-level/graduate mastery) of the mixed martial art of Krav Maga... which was unheard of. His instructor soon found that the youth was seriously pushing him to his limits with regaurds to keeping up in their sparring, and not having much else to teach (and wanting make the most of this otherwise cushy assignment), he brought in the sideral aspects of the style, as well as other military training such as firearm discipline and weapon usage. This, curiously, took some-time longer for Nick to master, which suited his instructor just fine. The swift mastery was because of Nick's mutations begining to grow in, and him being relatively lucky, as far as mutants go. His initial powers, where practically subtle, initially, and not even he noticed, at first, when the bright eyed, near hyper-observant boy grew into a youth that was not only hyper observent, but supernaturally aware of the emotive states of others. While it wasn't at all like being able to read minds, the edge it gave him in combat was practically incalculable as he was thus able to read moods, and emotional build-ups for potential suprise attacks and such. Likewise, the onset of puberty, and his changing physicality masked the superior nature of his biological changes, as his body moved from digesting good food and drink, to partially doing that while also absorbing energy from stray quantum particles, and enhancing his body accordingly.
By the time he was 16, Nick was 6' tall, skinny as a reed, strong as an ox, and growing like a weed. His instructor simply could not keep up, but when he resigned, he was given quite the attractive bonus for his work, as Baba Agrinya was quite pleased with the results! At an age, where some young men of where either still struggling to find themselves, being shoe-horned into an ill-fitting niche, or practicing the manly art of early overcompensation of masculinity, Nick was doing just fine, with the self-discipline and confidence of man over twice his age, and a healthy respect for all he didn't know... which was considerable. For starters, he was quite aware, inwardly, that he wasn't anywhere near half a good a fighter as he could be... and he knew that he dearly loved to fight. Nick was not the beliigerant sort, however. Not the kind to pointlessly fight for fighting's sake alone, but however, to him there was a sort of art to it, a beautiful dance that he felt inspired to master. He tolerated the next two years of academic and industrial instruction with amazing patience, and then, as soon as he hit the age of majority, pretended to go on a mad, world-wide graduation tour of a random assortment of exotic hotspots and such. His father, new 'something' was up, having been young once himself, but couldn't see a good reason, otherwise, not to let him go. And so, with a good deal of planning under his belt beforehand, Nick took a private jet about the tropics and the Far East, and then half-dropped off the radar in the Orient.
18-year-old Nick was far more self-aware then he had been at the age of 16. Things he had taken for granted as simply being part and parcel of growing up then, had grown into abilities and capacities that he knew, absolutely knew, where not standard-issue. By now, he knew he was far stronger then should be (even withstanding the fact that his reed-thin body was filling out with thick layers of gracefully athletic muscle), and that he was strong enough to lift a heavily packed and suitably armored range rover overhead without a wince or effort, should he have want to. He'd learned not only that he could read peoples emotions, but that he could, with a moment to read what was there and a modicum of additional mental effort, effect the present emotions of others, for good or ill (and surely THAT wasn't part of puberty!). Also, he'd long since discovered that while he might not always know the truth of the matter, he'd long since learned how to be fuully aware of when someone was willingly attempting to decieve him -a gift that was sometimes more trouble than it was worth. All this and the fact that his flesh would occasionally ripple and 'shift' in property, colour or conformity, if he wasn't paying proper attention had made him somewhat reclusive in his studies, indeed, and he long since stopped visiting the mines (a decision his mother applauded, even if she didn't know the true reason why), least the miners catch on that something wasn't right with him. In 1994 Nigeria, the word 'mutant' was rarely heard at all, by comparison to other places with a fully atomic history, like America, parts of Europe, and Japan. Instead such freakish people like himself, where merely suspected to be victims or practioners of some sort of witchcraft.
This issue of tribal witchcraft was not much of a concern for the educated, though in rural and lower-economical rungs of the Nigerian Nation, a belief in such sort of a thing was common, but both believers and none would rally together to form a suitable hunting party if enough 'proof' was generated that a witch was amongst them. Half concerned that maybe he might be some sort of a witch, Nick left the country while the getting was good, not as some sort of permanent escape, but to find safe grounds, where nobody knew him, where he might learn how to control his fledgling abilities. So he headed to the various nations of the orient, where he might hide out for a time, learn his powers, and also perhaps learn a thing or three about some of the more intriguing martial arts (real, ancient, terrible, and beautiful ones, or so he'd heard), that were there. In the meanwhile, he kept partially abreast of the news of home, and the world, as he traveled, learned, and trained to the best of his abilities, a foreigner in an utterly alien land, armed with a barebones 90's understanding of Chinese culture, and the ability to speak Mandarin.
Twenty years later, and Nicholas had achieved his initial set of goals, but not without some difficulty. Outside of the troubles of being a foreigner trying to fit in, he found that training was hard to come by, and when it arrived (finally), that he had to unlearn quite a bit, to make progress. This had the curious side-effect of perfecting his use of his innate mutant powers, needing to learn how to mitigate his tendency to read emotions as a combative edge, while also perfecting his shapeshifting skills so he could pretend to be Chinese, Thai, or Japanese accordingly. Still... Nicholas did enjoy a good fight, even if he was fighting his own habits and instincts, and so he stuck with it. learning as he went. Working his way East, through Western China, through Thailand, and finally ending up in Japan, Nick first managed to pick up, adjust to, and then slowly master the art of Fu Jow Pai -also known as Tiger Claw Kung Fu. From there he perfected his foot and leg work with Muay Thai kick-boxing, only to finally round it all out, and further perfect his own curious technique with the any-thing goes martial-art of Juijutsu. From there he wandered the land, perfecting his combination style by competing in tourneys whenever allowable (perferably under his own base form, but that was just an option), while also maintaining his Tiger-Claw training, by the 'suggested' practice of spending a few weeks, alone, meditating and surviving in the wild, bare-handed: the later also giving him considerable time to further practice and perfect his mutant powers. In short, he was very well rounded, power and skill wise, when word that his father was injured an ailing reached him. At the time he was pretending to be a kickboxer in Outer Mongolia, and thus the news was somewhat dated. Fearing the worst, Nicholas fled him as fast as possible.
While Nicholas was gone, the Islamist movement Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad transformed into the more militant 'Boko Haram', and began it's well known habit of kidnapping, murdering, and conversion by the sword in areas throughout Western Africa. Sadly, these areas also included Northern Nigeria, Nicholas' homeland. The rich mineral resources of the Agrinya clan holdings became one of their many targets, in the area, unfortunately, and in the ensuing bloodshed, casualties occured. Nick arrived home to find his mother dead, and his father in the hospital, on a respirator and slowly dying. Still his father recognized his now 7' tall son, when Nicholas walked in, and the man smiled, as much as possible around his breathing tube, and welcomed his son home... for the last time. Holding his dying father's hand, Nicholas told the man everything. His father listened, nodded and pronounced his judgement: Everything he had been told he understood and appreciated. There was no need for forgiveness as there was no sin. BUt now, however, Nicholas was the last of the Agrinya clan, and he must start afresh wherever he thought was best. THe Nigerian military was corrupt, with the soldiers underfunded under-equipped, and morale low. The people had lackkluster willpower to see for themselves in the matter, and the politics where toxic. It was time for Nicholas to take the fortune and forge a new way, elsewhere. There was no fight to be had here. Grim faced, Niicholas accepted his fathers words, burden, and onus. Now freed, his father experied within the hour.
There remained... some hard choices and work to be done. WIth his father's corpse not even cold, Nicholas reluctantly went to the family lawyer, sat through an impromptu will reading, and took on his inheritence. For he who strikes first often finishes the fight entirely. He liquidated his parents assets, lands, and holding,s and transfered the funds elsewhere for safe keeping. ANd then he burned the family manse to ashes so that the family foes might not use it as a resource. The mines, he could not burn down, however, knowing that if he did nothing that Boko Haram would 'impress' the locals that hadn't fled into slavery in the name Allah, he instead blew them up, using the demolition skills he'd aquired as a youth while hanging out with older wiser miners. It would take a minor miracle to recover from the damage he wrought, and to reopen the mines for work. Standing amidst the wreckage and ashes of his past, he considered ignoring his father's words and waging a one man war of vengence with the Islamic faction... but reluctantly admitted that such was an ultimately pointless elf-indulgent, and unwise course of action. SO insteead, with his fortunes mostly intact, and his work mostly done, he lit out to America, where he had citizenship, thanks to his mother.
Nicholas landed in San Francisco, and made a home for himself there, spending the next four years as a mildly reclusive Nigerian socialite by day, and a nameless crime-fighting vigilante by night. Not that he didn't give his costumed persona a name -Talonus-, but he instead simply never bothered to advertise. As far as he was concerned, if someone saw him at work, and he wasn't actually fighting them, then he, Nicholas, had failed in some way. For four years, he foguht the good fight, finding that more and more fo his time was being eaten up by saving mutants from vioent persecution by either the citizens or the officers of the law himself. Heading some trouble off at the pass, he bought himself a politician and played politics for a while, to get some pro-mutant legislation on the books -not as many as he would like, of course, but baby steps where required, here. And perhaps it was these efforts that got the attention of the SUnshine Academy, in Los Angeles, for he was eventually invited in to a teleconference with administration... He declined a position on the staff. BUt when the issue of joining EVO-force came up, later, through mroe clandestine communications, he jumped at the chance.
At this time, Nicholas has yet to transfer any of he belongings or gear, to the Sunshine Academy campus...
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Fighting----- (#) Incredible - Nick is a natural combat/tactical genius, with over 26 years of rigerous training and constant practice and use of four complete martial arts, having trained to mastery in each of them. This does not include the ritualistic combat of Dambe.
Agility------ (#) Remarkable - Thanks to constant practice , use, and his quantum absorption power and his quantum shapeshifting power making him more dextrous and supple, NNick is vastly more adroit and nimble than a top tier NFL Quarterback.
Strength----- (#) Amazing - Nick's quantum absorption power ahd changed the nature of his skeleton and msculature to befcome capable of lifting and manipualting weights in excess of 70 to 75 tons. While he can damage inanimate objects of significant hardness, with his bare hands, Nick, as a ridiculously well trained martial artist, he has pefect control over how much damage he -actually- deals out, in hand to hand combat.
Endurance---- (#) Incredible - Nick's quantum absorption power has almost entirely supplanted his need to eat drink and breath, as he instead can simply 'absorb' the necessary vital energies from the aether about him, automatically, as needed. Even under heavy and constant exertion, he rarely tires.
Reasoning---- (#) Good - Nick has a Bachelors-Degree level intellect, but has this level of comptence in a VAST array of skills and knowledges, thanks to his adventures, experience, and training.
Intuition---- (#) Amazing - Nick is far more instinctive and aware then an above-average human, with his senses attuned to the point where he is aware of quantum activity in his vacinity. This also gives him an instinctive understanding of Quantum Physics, as well as aids his Empathic powers, and artistic skills.
Psyche------- (#) Incredible - A fighter from birth, Nick has progressed beyond the limits of rank teenage stubborness. Thanks to his training, adventuring, experience, martial-arts focus and advanced age, Nick is far more aware, willful, and determined thanks to all that practice.
Hit Points: 160
Mental health: 100
Resources: Remarkable.
Source of Income- Heir to a diamond mining fortune as well as being a prince of Nigeria, his business acumen etc. He is not paid a dime by the Academy.
Origin of Powers: Mutant
Powers: Quantum Particle Absorption and Re-Manifestation (Base-form Enhancement and Moderate Changeling Abilities) that also enables Quantum-particle Based Empathy.
Quantum Particle Absorption & Processing- Nicholas' body has the unique mutant property of being able to absorb, re-align, and 'digest' free sub-atomic particles (such as atmospheric nutrinos, photons, and free floating electrons: free floating 'energy' that is effectively everywhere). This is not without it's drawbacks, but it does enable him to exist without food and hydration, breathing, or sleeping. It also powers or is otherwise indirectly related to all of his other powers.
*Enhanced Attributes- The absorption and digestion of quantum particles has permanently altered Nick's biology, upgrading it exponentially in most regards, even mentally. All of his attributes are permanently boosted, and he is as strong as a weak-end Hulk.
*Improved Durability- The absorption and digestion of quantum particles is not easily done with standard issue human flesh and blood, and so Nick's physiology has evolved and adapted to such purposes, to the point where his humanoid features are almost all only skin-deep and his inner workings are an alien horror-bath of weirdness. However, on the plus side, his cellular structure is much more robust, degradation proof, and damage resistant. While not indestructable, he can withstand damage and pressure up to levels of 'Incredible'.
*Indefatigable- Because of the fact that Nick is constantly energized, he technically never tires, though he may become mentally wore out as time progresses (and Psyche checks fail). Stamina wise, he is well nigh tireless.
*Infravision/Darksight- Due to the nature of his quantum sub-atomic particle awareness and absorption, Nick is always a repository of his own photons, as well as he is always 'aware' of particles on an instinctive level. Even when blinded, he can still sense well enough to smoothly navigate by.
*Quantum Flight- Nick can manifested an aura of charged gravitons about his body, allowing him to fly, tirelessly, in any direction with Power Rank agility, control, and speed. Because of the nature of this power, he can even fly in space should he wish to, with only minimal difficulty in escaping a planets given gravitational pull and atmospheric conditions.
*Radiation Immunity- As Nick's body absorbs and processes free energy particles like bacon, he is thus immune to standard (generically defined) radiation attacks that are particle or electromagnetic in nature.
*Raw Energy Blast- Nick is able to unleash an arcing torrent of free sub-atomic particles from his hands and fingers. This attack is not radioactive and has no otherside-effects, except, perhaps according to his strange phenomenon weakness, mentioned below. the attack does Excellent or less from either hand, all the way up to Incredible or less (as he sees fit), with a two-fisted "double-barrel" approach. Because the Energy flies in arcs and whirls, opponents are -1cs to effectively dodge this attack.
Quantum-based Humanoid Form Manipulation- Nicholas' control over free absorbed sub-atomic particles is so complete that he can, to a limited degree, convert the energy of these particles into personally applied bio-mass, or vice versa, enabling him to change size, the facts and features of his humanoid frame (such as apparent race, coloration, gender, just so long as he remains within the humanoid spectrum), and to even add or subtract a few additional modifications to his form, as he should see fit. This is technically more of the same of his Quantum Absorption/Processing power, but a very particular branch of it that he seems spectacularly gifted in with it's own diverse stunts, thus it is seperate from the initial power.
*Extra-Limbs/Extraordinary Alteration- Nick can convert sub-atomic particles into body-modifications that deviate from the base humanoid 'two legs/two arms/torso/head' form, stacking on additional attributes like extra arms, prehensile tendrils, tails or even wings, as he sees fit. More importantly it enables him to imitate unusual humanoid forms and frames that are different from the Earth standard. For example, he could imitate Skrull Green skin pigmentation (complete with that broccoli chin development), blue Kree skin coloration, Shi`Ar feather-plumage instead of hair, etc. Thus he can imitate amost any race or species, provided they're at least recognizeable humanoid in build.
*Healing Factor- Nick can create internal bio-mass to bandage wounds he's taken in combat, effectively generating a poor-man's healing factor that is automatic but only half as effective as the Form Manipulation Power rating. He can heal that many HP a round.
*Longevity- Nick ages at 1 year for every -real- 10,000 years of existance. He hasn't aged a day since he turned 24, really. Ageing powers or Effects thus are of little use against him.
*Winged Flight- Nick can manifest wings on a whim, as an action, thanks to his Extra-Limb stunt. However, thanks to these wings, he can now fly at his Quantum-Flight power-rating +1cs, tirelessly, though there is no speed-boost effect in non-atmospheric situations or the vaccume of space.
Quantum-based Empathy- Nicholas can feel the Quantum Signature of emotional states in the individual brain. More over, he can sense the general emotional vibe in groups as well. He has learned, over time how to decipher these signatures, and gives him an immediate free comprehension of a target person or group's general emotional state. This is technically more of the same of his Quantum Absorption/Processing power, but a very particular branch of it that he seems spectacularly gifted in with it's own diverse stunts, thus it is seperate from the initial power.
*Emotion Control- Nick can enhance or eliminate the emotional state of a given target individual, provided they are feeling that state at the time. He can't create what isn't present, but he can make it stronger, weaker, or non-existant, as the case may be.
*Emotional Stun- Nick can enhance the emotional state of a given target individual to the point where the emotion is utterly overwhelming, stunning the target.
*Fearless- Nick feels no fear, for good or ill. He doesn't panic, he doesn't startle or frighten, and he cannot be forced to feel these things by any means.
*Group-Effect: Emotion Enhancement- Nick can enhance or eliminate the MAIN emotional state of a given target group. Once again, he can't create what isn't there, but he can make the agregate memotional state stronger, weaker, or non-existant depending on what they are feeling the most of, at the time.
*Lie Detection- Nick can sense/see the quantum signature, that lights up a argets mind, when they tell a known falsehhood, and has since learned to recognize it in all it's varient glories, when it occurs. This doesn't mean he knows what the truth is, however, just that the person he's dealing with is knowingly lying to him. If the person in question thinks they are telling the truth, however, Such as if they're self delusional or roughly of the same mentality of a 5 year-old child, this power does not register what they say as a lie. In short, Nick is a danger to most politicians, everywhere, buit he'll never -ever- know exactly which brat ate the last cookie in the pantry.
Equipment: Using his not minor-wealth, Nick has purchased, located, or looted gear to help him with his goals, and to stay well rounded.
Body-Suit/Costume- The costume is as depicted, and is made of unstable molecular cloth; this means his costume transforms and adapts with his shapeshifting shenanigans, when he transforms and doesn't rip and tear if he gets bigger, nor does it get too baggy if he shrinks. Outside of the fashionable and modesty issues, this also works with his experimental image inducer in that it can alter the appearance of his suit to match various articles of clothing... on a good roll. Because of it's make up, it prevents bleed-out-damage from sharp wounds, and provides all around 'Good' protection versus sharp/blunt/energy damage. This does not stack with his innate damage resistance, but luckily, unless the damage is Amazing or higher, it doesn't mean his super-suit gets torn.
Collapseable Twin Asp-style Batons- Location: Balanced, one on either thigh in a secured snap-holster. Collapsable, and reinforced, the asps can deliver a beat-down equal of Excellent damage or less, and can be used on objects of up to Amazing hardness without warping. They can also be locked together to form a collapsable staff that is appropriately longer than Nick is tall. When in staff form, he can also deliver a weak tazer-like shock effect for Good electrical damage with a resistable stun secondary effect if the target is unarmored.Concealed twin 10mm Pistols with Extended Magazines IR-Scope and Silencer- Sometimes, the only thing that works is the 'classics'. In which case, Nick's twin 10mm pistols do the trick, unleashing a whopping Incredible amount of bashing-non-lethal damage. It won't kill anyone, but it'll definetly do wonders for a targets knee-caps. The silencer and IR scope allow for extremely accurate targeting, from stealth, from a moderate range, with little more noise after firing then that of an 'embaressed but curtailed sneeze.' Due to this, Nick can immediatly roll/re-roll stealth to remain hidden, if he was already concealed. The IR laser is invisible to anyone without darkvision or infrared scope/binoculars.
Evo Force Badge- The Evo Force badge acts as a communicator, able to contact the other badges, the E2 badges, and the home base. It has walkie-talkie range of 10 miles, or can be routed through the home base to work anywhere in North America.
Experimental Image Inducer- This is a poorer version of the standard image-inducer used by mutants and other people who are 'visibly disturbing/distressing to the public'. The system itself is built into his suit, with the control mechanism at his left wrist, where it is sheilded, concealed in a bracelet like housing, but otherwise easily accesable by either hand. It is experimental and may malfunction (minorly, spectacularly, or FABULOUSLY), at the GM's discrestion.
Obligatory Hidden Throwing Daggers- Nick has a lot of these. There are no-less than two in his belt, not counting two more in his belt-buckle, one in each boot (2), one in each gauntlet (2), half a dozen secreted about his pack, and a lone hold-out dagger under his Evo-Force badge. These are small but effective daggers, made of ceramics comparable to Osmium class steel, in hardness, and thus not readily notable by metal detectors.
Roll of Zip-Ties- For when you absolutely, positively must tie up every mother-fucker in the room. He has enough zip-ties to incapacitate four dozen normal-strength people. Thus, If he has to nail down more than 48 people, however, he'll need to get creative.
Rope & Grapnel- 1-ton test nylon rope (matte black color), plus matching grappling hook. In a pinch the whole affair can be launched by snapping on a reusable launcher-housing to one of his pistols and firing accordingly.
Smoke Grenades- These non-explosive, heat-resistant, harmless grenades are braced across Nick's chest in a bandolier, going from his right shoulder, to his left side. The smoke 'type's can be determined by touching their differently shaped caps, and include basic smoke, tear-gass smoke, and the ever-fun party bringer, nausea-gas smoke. The last two are resistable by Endurance checks, but otherwise all are blinding unless the viewer has some sort of dark(not infra-red or even thermal)-vision.
Survival Backpack- Nick's bagpack contains a collection of basic crime-scene gear, but is more built for the actual survival needs of himself and any team he happens to be on, including 21lbs of food (enough to keep 3 people healthy for 7 days without issue), water, water cleansing pills, water filtering system, anti-venom, a rope-ladder, more smoke bombs, more rope (you can never have too much rope), spare ammo for his guns, spare bandoliers for his chest (one of each type), A totally illegal knife-gun style, survival knife, a seriously impressive first aid kit, bandages, an impressive disguise kit with a rainbow of colored eye-contacts, sunglasses, and holsters for his visible butterfly-blades.
Survival Knives (Paired-Butterfly Style)- These cleaver like full-blades (the blade and the hilt are made of one solid peice) with full fist gaurds combine the standard utility of butterfly knives with the additional benefits of a super-duper military issue survival-combat-knife... only also they are notably bigger, cleaver-like, heavier, scarier looking (no barbs or hooks, of course) chock-full of built in amneities and necessities, and they also fit Nick's conjoined martial-arts styles. These bastards are horribly expensive, with a hardness rating of Monstrous. It adds +1cs to his hand-to-hand/pummel and melee damage.
Tranquilizer Darts- These darts are braced across Nick's chest, like his bandolier of grenades, going from left to right for an easy right hand draw and subsequent toss/throw. They do literally no damage but otherwise can penetrate up to Amazing-hardness armor, and deliver their payload of 'knock-you-the-fuck-out' natural tranquilizers. ENdurance can be rolled to resist. Effects last for 1d4 hours or a 'scene' which ever is more convenient for the GM.
Tranquilizer Rounds- These are special 10mm 'bullets'. But with the caveat of them doing absolutely no damage (they kinda sting a little), being capable of penetrating rank Monstrous hardness armor, and dropping people for 1d4 hours or a 'scene' which ever is more convenient for the GM.
Weaknesses: Quantum Limitations, and Others.
Alien Biology- Nick's base-form humanish appearance is exactly that. An appearance, a facade. The issue of his bio-molecular make-up and increased/enhanced durability aside (it feels like standard flesh... mostly, but those attuned to such things, or suitably hypersensetive to touch may notice a subtle difference), Nick's organs and such are not at all human in appearance, as his body is designed to develop nutrients and bio-mass from sub-atomic particles. Consequently, one only needs to take a swift look at his innards (by any means available, except actual X-rays -- though thats a whole other problem in and of itself) to realize that he's not human.
Fearless- Nick's fearless power is -also- has a bad side. While he's not careless with other-people's lives, nor is he in anyway stupid about things he can clearly see are outside of his skillset, he is prone to over-estimating his own capabilities in dealing with things within his own line of work, ie: fighting, other warriors, and other things within his own expertise. This is a psychological state of mind that can and does get him into a lot of trouble.Mutagenic Infection- Nick is truly a mutant 'child of the atom', and may slightly alter things that he comes in contact with, over a long period of time, or through maintained intimate contact. This means absolutely nothing to inanimate objects and life-forms with non-carbon-based DNA concerns, but if he spends enough time with another living being, someone he dates regularly or otherwise sees intimately on a regular basis, then there is an inevitable compounding chance that they will eventually end up with a 'blank' X-gene. Note: They won't get any actual powers, however (not from him, anyway), but they will definetly read as a mutant or mutate to any and all sensors capable of noting such. Nick does not know of this weakness.
Mutant Tell- Nick is a very sklled shapeshifter, but in nearly all his forms, no matter how varied or different they might be from his base form, there is always a tell the can give his presence or true nature away to those who know what to look for. Usually this is his eyes, which are red with human irises, or glowing AND red, in all his forms.
Obsessive-Compulsive Curiosity- Nick is obsessively curious, with an inverse metric of exponential curiosity dependant on how dangerous an unresolved issue might be. The more dangerous it is, the more curious he becomes.
Radiological Tracking- Nick gives off a solitary recognizeable radiological signature that is maskable to raw non-sentient radiation detectors, and otherwise harmless to all, but notable and recognizable to those who either can see via infra-read, personally detect such signatures via powers, or by hyper-tech devices. Moreover, standard radiation detectors might not notice him at all, but things like X-ray devices, and electro-magnetic-radiation based scanners attempting to detect -anything- on him, may notice the lack of feedback in response. On an X-ray screen, for example, one can't see Nick's alien 'intestinal goodness', however they -can- see a humanoid black blotch where he's standing, and likely will realize that -something- is up.
Quantum Particle Power Blocking/Stripping- Nick's powers are dependant upon the presence of free sub-atomic energy particles of all various stripes and varieties. However, if such activity is blocked from him, he loses access to all powers but his enhanced attributes, damage resistance, darkvision (though this ability becomes useless under those circumstances) and radiation immunity (ditto). Instead, however, Nick cannot shape-shift, he cannot sense or manipulate emotions, and starts to -slowly- starve. All his weaknesses remain.
Strange Sub-atomic Phenomenon- Nick -eats- a minutia of the free sub-atomic particles about him. Some of these particles, however, include such things as gravitons (which, of course effect/control/manifest gravity) and higs bosuns (which may or may not exist, but if they do, they effect/control/manifest mass). Because of this, inanimate and animate objects may, on occasion, act in unusual ways in a 20' vacinity around Nick, as they randomly loose connection to Earth's gravitational pull (in which case they start to float off into space, or they gravitate to the next largest object or person nearby), mass, or any other number of properties: Read - Periodically, the GM has fiat to make random and weird phenomenon occur within 20 feet of Nick, for mere shits and giggles, or any other discretionable reason.
Contacts: Special people or places you have access to and can get help from.
Campus: Sunshine Academy- Nicholas has access. He just hasn't moved in yet.
Dangerous Zone Access Rights- Due to the nature of Nicholas' powers, he will ahve access to solo train in the Dangerous Zone, unless requesting special training scenarios that have any chance to harm him. (Simulated Deep Space or The Innards of Particle Collider, etc).Evo Force Membership- When he starts, Nicholas will be on the team, having been tested and found a worthy addition. He will not, however, have any rank or be part of the command structure (if such a thing exists).
Knowledges: Nicholas posesses all the academic requirements for a Bachelors of Science (Studied, not applied) in the standard assortment of academic and laboratory sciences.
Biology- Nicholas has a Bachelors level comprehension of biology (zoology and botany), with a lot of survival-esque and real-world experience to reinforce that learning. A person might google the details of the behaviour of tigers, but Nick has studied it in the wild, experienced it first hand, and survived and thrived throughout, for example. He has a working knowledge of natural anti-venoms from natural dangers like venemous snake-bites.
Chemistry- Nicholas has a Bachelors level comprehension of chemistry, though this is predominantly academic knowledge, particularly in the field of chemical atomic/electron 'math', and some skill in laboratory procedures.Geology- Nicholas has all three components of High-End Geological understanding, comparable somewhere between a Masters and an actual Doctorate, via academic studies, labratory mineral training, and real-world field experience. He could make a killing in the mineral industry, on the matter of locating valuable ore veins and gem deposits alone, should he have chosen to do so.
*Mining- Nicholas can work in, operate within, comprehend the structure of, build/dig, run and/or destroy a mine with little effort, thanks to his field experience and training. He has a trademan's understanding of architecture in general, because of this.
Physics- Nicholas has an Bachelors level comprehension of academic and labratory physics, with a side order of physical sciences to assist in his comprehension. Unfortunately, this is where his understanding of Physics terminology dead ends, for now. Luckily, he is studying still, and wille ventually acheive a Masters degree or better, in this knowledge.
*Quantum Physics- Nicholas has an innate Doctorate level comprehension of labratory Quantum Physics, sort of, in so much as he deals with it directly every day. His ability to translate what he sees, senses, feels, and interacts with directly, however is horribly curtailed at this time. He knwos what he's doing. he knows what he's doing with a high degree of mastery. He can't explain it to people of equal or lesser knowledge bases, however. For an example, whereas a 'real' Quantum Physicists working with sub-atomic particles might say 'neutrinos' when dealing with the same, Nick tends to define them by their actual taste (chewy with a hint of static and that dusty 'after-the-rain' vibe. Very satisfying).
Psychology/Psychiatry- Nicholas has Bachelors degree comprehension of Psychiatric terminology and practices. In Practice, howeve,r he knows so much more thanks to his ability to actually see and (to a degree) manipulate present emotional states. Using his psychiatric. This adds a bonus to his emotional manipulation rolls, as well as his manipulative skills, making him a scaryily succcesful bastard indeed, should he actually decide to actually manipulate people.
Skills: Nicholas has been training, and training hard in various capacities since before he was a young man, and it shows in his metric fuck-tonnes of aquired skills.
Art-Drums- Nicholas can play the drums. It came with the Dambe` training, actually.
Art-Stringed Instruments: All- Nicholas can play any Western stringed Instrument, from acoustic to electronic, be it the cello, the guitar, or the fiddle. This is normally a straight roll, but he's exceptionally good with the violin or fiddle.
Art-Singer/Songwriter- Nicholas can sing and write songs and poems. He cannot write haikus. Nor should he ever try. EVER.
Businesss/Finance- Niicholas learned business/finance mastery at his mother's knee, and has been a good steward of his inheretence to the point where he is indepdendantly wealthy. If he applied himself, dedicated himself to wealth aquisition, he could be richer, but that's not the sort of life he prefers to lead.
Climbing- Nicholas can scale walls, mountains, trees, ropes, etc with minimal equipment for a bonus, or no equipment without penalty. Claws count as equipment.
Demolitions- Nicholas has the equivilent of a tradesman's comprehension of demolition placement and useage, though he cannot create his own explosives or explosive devices.
Diplomacy- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and talking to people and trying to come to mutually pleasing ends.
Disguise- Nicholas is a natural shapeshifter, but without this skill he'd only have an even chance to impersonate someone directly. And even then he must have studied his impersonation target for at least a reasonable amount of time, to fully capture a bonus to impersonate them, versus an attempt to fool people for more than a cursory amount of time.
Education- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and trying to train a target in one of his trainable knowledges or skills.
Intimidation- This is one of Nicholas' skills that are further modified by his Empathy power, and his Psychology/Psychiatry knowledge. He recieves a silly bonus when using this skill, and attempting to terrify a target individual or group into compliance.
Leadership- This one's tricky. Nicholas can lead. When leading a group that he has personally arranged and assessed, the group as a whole or individually rolls at +1cs to directly group oriented goals and plans, so long as he is in charge.
Stealth- Nicholas is a stealthy son of a bitch. Thanks to his decades of martial-arts training and experience, he is pefectly capable of attempting to vanish from sight out of clear view, in broad daylight, anywhere he feels like it, without penalty. He is perfectly capable of the vaunted 'rice-paper walk' maneuver, enabling him to sneak over even the most noisy terrain and obstacles, and he can swim, submerge, enter and exit water without making a splash, ripple, or sound.
Survival- Nicholas was already partially skilled in Survival basics as a youth, but that was only enhanced and perfected by his martial arts training, especially his Tiger Claw Kung Fu style, with it's mandatory annual, unequipped survivalist trips to the boonies. Each year, for decades, up to and including this year, Nick willingly puts himself in harms way by undergoing these wilderness trips to maintain the proper mentality, his meditative focus, his 'edge' and the purity of this form.
Notable Notes: Nicholas speaks English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba (the languages of Nigeria), Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Hebrew, Russian, Japanese, and Thai.
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