FROM THE FOLDER FRIDAY - STICK (NO NOT THAT ONE)

 

Jokingly refered to in our games as the "West Coast Stick" this character was made for a street-level crime-fighting campaign that took place in Los Angeles. As the power level of that campaign was low, she has no powersand just a lot of fighting abilities. As you can also see, some ofthe language in the character write-up is perhaps a bit dated but it reflects the time when I wrote up the character and my limited experience and knowledge at the time. Stick went on from this humble beginning to become a costumed sidekick ala Robin and then to becoming her own solo costumed street hero and even ended up being a mind controlled villain at one point. 

STICK

Tracy Yin, human hero

F    RM (30)

A    IN (40)

S    TY (6)
E    RM (30)

R    TY (6)

I      RM (30)

P    EX (20)

Health: 106

Karma: 56

Resources: TY (6)

Popularity:  -5

Known Powers: 

Stick has no special powers. 

Weapons: Stick fights with her staff mostly and is skilled enough that it inflicts Good (GD) blunt damage. she also carries a number of knives, for both melee and throwing, that inflict Typical (6) edged damage. 

Talents: Stick is skilled in the use of all martial arts weapons, thrown weapons, blunt weapons, sharp weapons, and thrown objects. She specializes in fighting with a staff. She knows Martial Arts A, B, C, D, acrobatics, tumbling, crime, trance, artist (painting), language (Chinese). 

Contacts: Bronze Dragons (street gang), Dragon, LAPD.

Background:

Born Tracy Yin, the hero known on the streets as Stick lived a very typical life for a girl of her age. Born to immigrant parents, she was raised on stories of the American dream and parents that sought yo raise their daughter with a combination of traditional Chinese values and American ideals. Much to her family's dismay, she found kinship among the Bronze Dragons, a local street gang in LA's Chinatown. 

The gang was not a criminal gang, but more so a guardian gang, protecting locals from predation by other gangs, criminal organizations, racist neighbors and the police. She spent most of her time with them training and mastering several martials arts and weapons, all under the tutelage of an aging master known simply as Dragon. Dragon had been a costumed crimefighter in China when he was younger, bringing his ideals and system of honor to Chinatown when heremigrated to the United States. 

Stick eventually became the sidekick to a costumed hero named Nosferata, a dark avenger who stalked the city streets at night. This is when she picked up the itendity as Nightengale, a homage to her heritage but distinct from her uncostumed street identity. As Nightengale, she benefitted from an arsenal of high-tech equipment provided by Nosferata including a staff made of advanced materials and capable of several tricks. 

As her career progressed, she eventually found herself in Asia, tracking down a killer who had murdered Dragon and decimated the Bronze Dragons. Her missions led her to Madripoor where she found the killer had been sent by an enigmatic woman knowned as Madame Shimaze. It is here where Tracy fell to the villainess, ending up her mind controlled minion. during this time, she served as a hired assassin.

Tracy was later freed from Madame Shimaze's control by the spirit of Dragon who came to her, inhabitting her body and bestowing mystical  powers on young Tracy. Tracy was able to defeat the evil Madame. After that she returned to the United States, having avenged her master and, her new powers at hand, took up a career as a costumed crimefighter, this time going by the name of Black Dragon. 

Notes: I could provide additional profiles for her later incarnations but some notes here should allow those interested in using her to do so. As Nightengale, she had equipment very similar to the Tim Drake Robin from DC Comics. Her staff could taze enemies, create bright flashes to blind, had restractable hooks that could also be fired as a grappling line. She also carried numerous throwing knives, secdonary blades as well as flasckbangs, smoke bombs, gas pellets, and a full climbing kit. 

As the Black Dragon, she possessed chi-based powers allowing her to energize her body and weapons for greater striking ability as well as stealth powers that shrouded her in darkness. She was also resistent to damage and could used her chi-based powers to heal herself.

FROM THE FOLDER FRIDAY - TANKER

The character of Tanker was inspired by a couple of existing Marvel characters - Cypher and Madison Jeffries. I combined those two character into my own character. the concept for this character was a young mutant, with a mastery of machinery, who idolized armored heroes like Iron Man. He was a member of a short-lived team, we cme up with, called the Regulators where he was the "tech guy". The illustration shows his first sut, put together with scavenged parts. He later got more refined suits as his available tech increased. I'm pretty sure the inspiration for this particular look was the classic Mandroids of Marvel fame. 

TANKER

Jamie Logam, mutant 

F    GD (10)

A    GD (10) / RM (30)

S    GD (10) / IN (40)
E    RM (30) / IN (40)

R    AM (50)
I      EX (20)

P    EX (20)

Health: 30/120
Karma: 90

Resources: GD (10)
Popularity: 20

Known Powers:

Intuitive Invention: Jamie is a mutant with Amazing (50) ability to comprehend and operate any device he comes in contact with. This ability also allows him to easily construct nearly any device or piece of equipment out of available parts. Under normaly circumstances, with common household and/or industrial  technology, he can make devices with Incredible (40) ability. If he has access to more sophisticated and hi-tech base components these devices can be constructed up to Monstrous (75) ability. It still takes him time to construct the equipment (see construction), though he can do it at 1/2 the normal time, or one 1/4 the time with proper facilities.

Psychometry: A more essoteric aspect of Jamie's machine affinity is the ability to communicate with them on a very basic, psychic level, readiong the psionic echoes and residue left behind on all inanimate objects throug htheir contact with living, thinking beings. This ability functions with Amazing (50) ability. This power is innate and works through touch. Jamie must concentrate or block skin contact to block out these psychic eminations. 

Telekinesis: Along with his other psionic abilities, Jamie has Amazing (50) ability to manipulate physical objects with his mind. 

Machine Link: Jamie is able to form permanent bonds with machines he has contact with, allowing him to operate them through a combination of his mental link and telekinesis. He also maintains a psychometric link with machinesh e is linked to, able to use them as spies and alarms or receive data and information from computer systems in real time. He does this over Incredible (40) distance. He has many weapons, tools, pieces of equipment and his signature battlesuits linked in such a way. If he teleports and object with contents, those contents are teleported along with it and arrive in perfect condition, allowing him to transport teammates, supplies, prisoners and rescued civilians.

Telemachination: Jamie can instantly teleport any device he is linked to him at Unearthly (100) range. Teleported equipment appears on his person or in an areas near him ready for use. Worn items appear on him and operational. 

Arsenal: Rather than list all his available equipment (that would be another post in itself), Jamie's early arsenal consisted of a number of weapons, armor, movement systems, sensors, tools and equipment of Incredible (40) ranks ability. Later in his career, after some adventures and contacts were made, he developed some truly powerful systems in the Monstrous (75) power rank. At one point, he was even issued a nuclear bomb by the U.S. government that was incorporated into a massive crisis suit. 

Psionic Screening Tech: Due to his psionic abilities operating constantly and needing concentration to shut off, Jamie has developed technologies that allow him to place a technological barrier between him and the psychic eminations of objects. This technology is built into his battlesuits and gives him Good (10) protection from mental attacks and manipulation. He can dim these screens at will, allowing him to access his abilities as needed. He does this through various touch pads on his armored hands and feet when in battlesuit. 

Weakness: Jamie psychometry is always active as if it were another sense. He must actively keep it from overhwleming him. Under normal, every day circumstances, this is no great feat for him. However, under emotional duress or extreme stress and fatique he must make a Psyche FEAT roll to maintain is control. If he fails, he will become overwhelmed by the food of psychometric information, stunning him, stunning him (see Stun effects on the Univeral Table).

Talents: Electronics, Computers, Physics, Engineering, Robotics, Music

Contacts: United States Government, MIT, FBI, Tony Stark.

Background: 

Born to a detroit family, Jamie was gifted at an early age. Born with his mutant powers active, he was already using them in limited fashion before he could walk. His parents recognized his gifts, though they thought they were manifestation of a high IQ and fast learning. As he grew, he excelled in technical and scientific pursuits but often seemed to have difficulty in his day to day expeiences. Because of this, he was sent to special schools that focused on his aptitudes.

By the time he was of high school age, Jamie had already completed all the requirements to graduate high school and moved on to college, selecting MIT and entering into one of their premier engineering and robotics courses alongside computer sciences. As these first two came os easily to him, he also picked up a science cource, focusing on both applied and theoretical physics. Jamie soon became a start student at MIT but the ease by which he picked up his subjects did cast some suspicion and he often had to defend himself against allegations of cheating. Being able to always prove his knowledge an ability, none of these charges ever stood though it remained undeniable that Jamie had a strange affinity for machines, often able to diagnose the undiagnosable. 

One of the earliest personalities to take notice of his abilities was Tony Stark, himself. Stark frequently visited the school, hoping to poach the best and brightest for himself and his company. Observing Jamie over about a weeks time both in his studies and his personal time, Stark was able to correctly deduce that the boy's abilities went far beyond simple aptitude, his career as a costumed hero affording him the insight to know superpowers when he saw them. Stark would mentor Jamie for some time until Jamie broke onto the scene as a costumed hero.

While Jamie was mentoring with Stark, he quickly gained an understanding of Tony's tech, using his powers, and found himself able to replicate it through the available components he could scrounge up at the school. He started with simple devices, testing his ability and eventually graduating to weapons systems and then to a fully functional, if not aesthetically pleasing armored suit. With this new equipment, he started sneaking out and engaging in costumed crime-fighting to test it and for the thrill of it. 

During his time at MIT, Jamie spent much of his personal time at music clubs where he often played in bands as a pick-up guitarist. In several of these instances, he encountered various locals and made friends in the city of Boston. Some of the most noteable encounters were with the Hellions on several occasions when they visited Boston at the same time as Jamie. This also brought him into contact with Emma Frost who, detecting his psionic abilities did try to recruit him but Jamie was leerie of the polished, posh woman and steared clear. This didn't keep Frost from wanting to add such a useful mutant to her roster and she would continue to make numerous attempts at changing his mind. 

Jamie's real debut, as a customed hero came when MIT found itself under attack by several costumed criminals seeking to steal valuable technology. Unwilling to let them destroy his school and being on site, Jamie jumped into action and donned his battlesuit, taking to the air to battle the attackers. His sudden andn early instant appearance shook the attacking villains and he was able to exploit the surprise to deal some heavy blows, sending them retreating.The school sustained minimal damage due to Jamie's intervention but his suit and other tech violated the school's code and rules and he was expelled from the school. 

After this, Jamie went home to California where he moved back in with his parents. He briefly considered taking Emma Frost up on her offer before moving back, but thought better of it. It was at this time that Jamie found himself under investigation by the FBI for his weapons design and possible distribution. Unknown to Jamie this wasa strong-arm tactic meant to push him to being amenable to working for the government. Jamie eventually took the offer and was recruited into a new government-sanctioned, mutant superhero team called The Regulators. 

FROM THE FOLDER FRIDAY - HARRIER

Another character originally conceived of as a Champions character, I never finished her write-up which is why you see and incomplete stat block for her. This is demonstrated most by the fact that her powers inclure slashing claws on her wrists but there are no attacks in her powers section.

The drawing is a freehand drawing, done by me, likely in the 90s sometime and clearly during the time when I was learning and experimenting with severe reflective textures. I recall drawing her in a way that heavily stylized, perhaps inspired by the comics of the time, thus her very unnrealistic anatomy, despite being a human being. Her face is not intended to look natural as her costume includes a facemask, done in a sort of artistic representation of femininity. This was to protect her face as she was a model and actress.

HARRIER

Eveline Brightbird, hi-tech human

F    EX (20)

A    EX (20)

S    GD (10)

E    EX (20)

R    GD (20)

I     EX (20)

P    RM (30)

Health: 70

Karma: 70

Resources: RM (30)

Popularity: 25

Known Powers: 

Body Armor: Harrier wears a protective costume that provides her with Excellent (20) protection from physical and energy attacks.

Gliding: Retractable winglets on her suit allow her to glide with Excellent (20) speed. 

Talons: Harrier's costume includes a pair of retractable steel talons, one on each hand. These talons are made of Incredible (40) Material Strength steel and inflict Excellent (20) edged damage.

Infrared Vision: Good ability to see in darkness.

Protected Senses: Lenses in her face mask provide her with Remarkable (30) protection of flashes, bright light, and other visions-effecting attacks. 

Stealth Camouflage: The material of her costume is normally a reflective black with a transparent section that shows her fair skin as her bir icon. On command, the suit can shift to a solid, flat black texture that aid stealth by absorbing light. While in this configuration, she has a +2CS when attempting to sneak.

Talents: Criminology, Finance, Martial Arts A, B, and C, Security, Drive, French, German, Spanish, Chinese. 

Contacts: Brightbird Modelling, Interpol, FBI, Power Man, Iron Fist

Background: 

Eveline was born to an upstate New York family of means, The Brightbird Family. Her father, howard, and her mother, Delores, cochaired the Brightbird Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping to provide opportunities to children of underpivileged families and at risk youth. Affored the best education and opportunities, Eveline inherrited her parents' altruistic nature and put in much of her time with the foundation, when not pursuing her own academic and extracurricular acitivies.

Eveline manged to finish high school already having started a career as a model and continued with this even when she went off to college where she acquired a degree finances and business. As she rose to fame and status as a highly sougth after and paid model and part-time actress, she never lost sight of the morals she had learned as a child, spending time helping others when she could. She also maintained a strong personal cotnrol over her finances and invested heavily.

When her parents were killed in an accident, she inherrited the family fortune, the business and the responsibilities. She also inherrited a suspicion that her parents' deaths were not an accident. This was only increased when several of the foundations partners attempted a hostile takeover. Eveline was able to halt the takeover but she grew increasingly suspicious of those whom her parents had once trusted as coworkers, partners and even friends.

While on a shoot in France, an attempt was made on Eveline's life, puttng her in the hospital. While she recovered, another attempt was made at a takeover of the Brightbird Foundation. This time, she barely defended the company and decided that she would need to take more drastic measures. She spent her time recovering, planning her strategy and thus the customed hero of Harrier was born.

Utilizing her family's and her own personal fortune, she had a high-tech costume designed and built for her. While the suit was in development and under construction, she doubled down on her own physical training as well as studying in various fields that would aid her in detective and investigative work. Som of this study took her to New York where she worked with street-level heroes, even fighting alongside Power Man and Iron Fist. Her wealth and status also afforded her opportunities to gain contacts in both the FBI and Interpol.

Once she was fully equipped and felt her skills were up to the task, she was able to investigate the partners of the foundation only to discover that they had secretly bee utilizing the resources of Brightwood to collect, traffic and exploit the very children the Foundation had been set up to help. She learned that the partners had been using the children they kidnapped in experiments to create superpowered beings, though their experiments had yet to produce anything of real consequence. 

Eveline, as Harrier located their facility, attacked it and managed to bring stop the operation though she could not bring them to proper justice as doing so would ruin the foundation. Instead, she used her contacts with Interpol and the FBI to have the partners taken into custody and quietly put away. Much to Eveline's dismay, the children who had been subjected to the experiments, those that had survived at least, were not allowed to return to any families they still had and were, instead, taken into government custody and care.

This initial sortie as Harrier left Eveline with mixed feelings. While she had succeeded in the stopping the partners and saving Brightbird Foundation, she was left with an unsettling feeling over the final status of the abducted children. From then on, she committed herself to a stronger sense of justice and dedication to making wgong-doers pay, herself. She would not rely on the clumsy wheels of justice to do the right thing. Future operations would see her helping victims through Brightbird which over time expanded its aid to people in need of all ages and requirements. This afforded her a better way to make sure that those wronged by criminals would not be further victimized by the systems put in place to help them.