Amelia

In Brief: Instead of becoming The Huntress, Helena Bertinelli becomes Spawn.

 

 

Character: Mister Strix

*reads about Judex*

 

Oh hey, it's like someone took the complications and drawbacks from my guy, and expanded them to fill their own character sheet! XD

"Must love digging broken glass out of feet after long walks on Gravesend Beach."

 

Thanks!

Yes, "Sense-Dependent [Visual]" is exactly what I meant. Stupid mistake. I entered the text for the powers backwards, specifically to avoid making mistakes like that, then I committed the sin of copy/pasting text from Transform to Mind Control. Fixed now. Sorry about that.

 

Made the notation on the Transform effect as requested.

In Brief: Instead of becoming The Huntress, Helena Bertinelli becomes Spawn.

 

 

Character: Mister Strix

 

Alternate Identity: Gaetano “Guy” Giordano (Deceased)

Identity: Secret. The public is not aware that either Gaetano Giordano or Mister Strix are undead, or that they are the same person.

Legal Status: Deceased USA citizen with no criminal record.

Birthplace: Bedlam City, Wisconsin, USA

Base of Operations: Bedlam City

Residence: An abandoned, boarded-up house on Ash Street. The only sign of habitation is his casket sitting in the basement. The entrance to the basement is blocked with heavy debris. He accesses the house and the basement with Mist Form.

Occupation: None

Affiliations: Father Cesare Messina (Retired Catholic priest, Friend)

Family: Doctor Adriana Aparo (Widow), Luna Giordano née Gallo (Mother), Massimo “Mo” Giordano (Father), Matteo “Matt” Giordano (Older Brother), Flora Russo née Giordano (Older Sister), Rafael Giordano (Younger Brother, Deceased). Matt and Flora are both married, with children. Adriana has re-married, and she has a child with her new husband.

 

 

DESCRIPTION

Age: 37 (Date of Birth: 1981)

Apparent Age: 31 (Date of Death: 2012)

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: (Sicilian) Italian-American Caucasian

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 180 lbs.

Hair: Black

Eyes: Black

 

His superhero costume consists of a white skintight jumpsuit, mask, and cape. The chest of the jumpsuit is emblazoned with a white crescent moon set against a black circle. The edges of the cape and gloves are cut with notches suggestive of the feathers on a bird's wings. The gloves are fingerless. The mask covers his entire head except for his jaw and the lower half of his face. It has a shape similar to the feathers on the head of a horned owl. The bottom of the mask comes to a hook with a slight downward curve resembling a raptor's beak. Overall, it looks like a photo-negative version of the original Raven’s costume.

 

Out of costume, a fan of old movies might compare him to a young (and underslept, and possibly ill) Lee Van Cleef or Basil Rathbone.

 

His flesh is unnaturally pale, and always cold to the touch, regardless of any physical activity or environmental factors. When visible, his veins appear to be black. His build is slender. He was never bulky in life, and when he transformed, most of his fat burned away, and most of his internal organs shriveled and atrophied. His face is all sharp angles, with high, prominent cheekbones, a large nose, and a narrow, pointed chin. His hair is dark, and perpetually messy. (Since he has no reflection in mirrors, even if he had much reason to style his hair, he wouldn't be able to see what he was doing.) He has thick eyebrows, perpetually arched over eyes set deep in their sockets, eyes which always seem to be surrounded by shadows, regardless of the angle or intensity of light in the area. The irises of his eyes are completely black, indistinguishable from the pupils. The center of his eye is one solid black disk. His hands are slightly larger in proportion to the rest of his body than they should be, the fingers slightly longer. His voice is a deep baritone, surprisingly deep for someone of his size.

 

When he feeds or uses his powers, his appearance becomes even more overtly monstrous. His veins bulge and darken. The blackness at the center of his eyes spreads to cover the entire eyeball. His mouth, canine teeth, and tongue all double in size. His voice deepens by at least a full octave, and echoes independent of the local acoustics. When he growls, he sounds like a tiger.

 

 

HISTORY

Guy Giordano’s life ended just as it was about to begin.

 

Gaetano "Guy" Giordano was born the third of four children in an Italian-American family living in Stark Hill. The family all attended the local Catholic school and church. His mother was a librarian turned homemaker, and his father was a "made man" in the Scarpia crime family. Guy was closest with his younger brother, Raphael, and his mother, whom they both took after, being more gentle and scholastically inclined than their brutish father and older brother or their scheming "queen bee" older sister. When they grew up, Guy became a doctor, while Raphael became a priest. Guy went to college and medical school in Chicago and Detroit, and earned a doctorate in emergency medicine alongside Adriana Aparo, his fellow student. After they completed their residency, they got engaged, spent a year working with Doctors Without Borders in Libya and the Congo, then moved back to Bedlam, got married, and bought a house. They were just about to start trying for their first child when Guy got sick and died.

 

Unbeknownst to his family, Guy's younger brother Raphael wasn't just a priest, but a Vatican-sponsored monster-hunter. Raphael had destroyed a powerful elder vampire, and the even older and more powerful vampire who had created that elder took his revenge and replaced the lost member of his "family" by killing Raphael's favorite brother and turning him into a vampire. Raphael was no match for the vampire, who only ever identified himself as "Johann." He ambushed Raphael at the cemetery where Guy was buried. Guy dug himself out of his own grave, emerging in a mindless feeding-frenzy, and Johann made sure that Raphael was caught helpless in Guy's path. Guy drained his little brother dry. After Guy's bloodlust faded and he cried out in anguish over what he'd done, Johann wished him a taunting "Happy Birthday" and stabbed him in the heart with a wooden stake, putting him in a coma. Then he locked Guy's unconscious body in a box and left it there for five years.

 

When Johann finally took the stake out of his heart, Guy woke up, but he had no idea how much time had passed. He ran home, only to learn that his wife lived there with her new husband and their child. He fled the scene before anyone spotted him. Johann laughed, taunted him with another "Happy Birthday," and vanished. Guy spent the next year living in the shadows of Bedlam. He spent days sleeping in sewers, abandoned basements, and hastily dug holes in the dirt, rarely staying in the same place twice. He spent the nights spying on his family and his widow, and through a mix of research and trial and error, figuring out how much time had passed, what had happened to him and what he could do. When he drank Raphael's blood, he absorbed his memories, so he knew that he was a “vampire,” but that could mean a hundred different things. He spent many nights at local libraries, catching up on recent history and researching his “condition.” An academic at heart, he felt “at home” there, and since he could ignore alarms and surveillance equipment, hypnotize guards, and slip through locked doors as a cloud of mist, he had the run of the place.

 

When he needed blood, he would grab sewer rats, or hypnotize the employees at the less ethical animal “shelters,” so he could drain the cats and dogs already scheduled for execution. At first, he made the mistake of trying to subsist entirely on animal blood. But he learned the hard way that the inferior quality (for his purposes) of animal blood would only satisfy his undead body for so long. After the first time he snapped and almost killed a random person on the street, he made an effort to regularly infuse his diet with human blood. He limited his human feeding to whatever criminals and corrupt cops he could find, often guys he recognized as his father’s employees and associates. At one point, he decided that he needed to be destroyed, and even if suicide was a sin, the greater sin would be continuing to live as a monster. So he fought through his instinct to sleep during the day, and he tried to walk out into the sun. He was terribly burned, but he discovered that his undead body had a powerful instinct for self-preservation, one he could not overcome. He fled the light, slept deeper and woke up thirstier than ever before, and by the time he regained the capacity for rational thought, he was standing over the half-drained body of what was now the second random person he had almost murdered. After that debacle, he stopped trying to kill himself.

 

During a chance encounter near the end of his first year as a vampire, he saved the life of a 70-year-old retiree and "supply priest," Father Cesare Messina. Father Messina quickly became his friend and confidant, the only source of human interaction for him since his death.  Father Messina felt that it was his duty to help Guy figure out God's plan for him, even if that just meant praying for him and chatting with him over coffee. Father Messina reminded him that the best way to heal one’s own pain was to help others with theirs. As they spoke, an idea formed between the two of them. Guy could do what everyone with extraordinary abilities and a secret to protect did to help make the world better: He could put on a mask, and become a superhero, “Like Raven, that guy in Freedom City.” Father Messina was an ornithology enthusiast, so when the subject of superheroes came up, Raven's was the first name that came to his mind. Of the decorations in Father Messina's home, the pictures and sculptures of owls outnumbered the Christian imagery by at least ten to one. With little prompting from Guy, Father Messina practically gushed about how owls were found all over the world, in all kinds of environments, and how they appear in the myths of almost every culture on the planet, usually as demons or psychopomps. Guy mentioned a local legend he’d heard in the Congo about how owls hunted humans to eat their souls. That reminded Father Messina that while the more popular modern vampire myths describe them transforming into bats, in older stories, they turned into owls. Just like that, Guy knew what form his disguise should take. The tailor who would later craft it was hypnotized to misremember the job, but he was well-paid. "Mister Strix" was born.

 

At the start of this new chapter in Guy's life, Johann reappeared, attacking him without warning and beating him almost to a second death. Then Johann laughed, taunted him with yet another "Happy Birthday," and disappeared. To Guy's surprise, he laughed too. Johann’s assault had an oddly invigorating effect on him. If Johann was still trying to break him, that meant he wasn't broken yet. His conversations with Father Messina had given him a new sense of purpose, but Johann’s beating gave him a new sense of hope. His existence might be evil, but he could still do some good with it. He might not be a doctor anymore, he wasn't going to let that stop him anymore from doing the same thing in death that he used to do in life: Try to save people.

 

 

PERSONALITY & MOTIVATION

Like any good Catholic, the primary driving force in his life has always been guilt. When he was a child, it was guilt over the apple, and the crucifixion, and not being the son his father wanted. When adolescence opened his eyes a little wider, it was guilt over who his father was and how he made his money. He became a doctor and went to war zones so that he could try to save more lives than his father had destroyed. Now it’s guilt over what he is and what he has to do. In life, he was quiet and gentle, but determined. He always tried to put others before himself. People always told him he was “a good listener.” He loved his wife. He loved his family, even if he didn't like them. He inherited his mother’s love of books, opera, traditional French and Italian cooking, and when he got older, coffee and wine. He always seemed to have his nose in a book. He’d lived in war zones, but he’d never really been in a fight. He'd never wanted to hurt anyone. In death, everything that used to define him or bring him joy has been stolen from him, and he's become a predator who leaves ruin in his wake, a danger to everyone around him. Violence now feels as natural to him as breathing used to, and the only thing that truly brings him joy anymore is sinking his fangs into another person’s neck and sucking the blood out of their veins. He hates the thing he’s been turned into, and the things who turned him into it. He’s trying to make the best of it.

 

 

POWERS & TACTICS

He is an unskilled brawler, relying entirely on the animal instinct and enhanced physical prowess he gained when he became a vampire. Everything he “knows” about fighting, he learned from movies and television. Popular culture is also his main source of “knowledge” about his own condition. He’s studying all the relevant history and mythology he can get his hands on, but it’s a slow process. The vampire who killed him didn’t tell him anything. Most of what he can do either comes from pure instinct, or is something he read about and decided to try that worked, either immediately or with practice. He is undead, preserved and animated by the life-consuming energy that is the pure darkness of the Schattenwelt, in a process fueled by blood magic. His undead body is far more resilient than his human body was. His skeleton is harder than stone, but just as light as human bone. His flesh feels human to the touch, but displays a resistance to cutting or puncturing more akin to silk, thick leather, or Kevlar. His body somehow metabolizes the blood he drinks to sustain his existence, keep him preserved, heal his wounds, and alter his body in ways he is only beginning to explore. He can increase his strength, speed, and agility to superhuman levels, grow claws that can shred metal and stone as if it were paper, or transform into a cloud of mist. His blood can also heal the wounds of others (a Healing power stunt off of his main array), though consuming his blood can bring unpredictable side-effects (a temporary Complication for the other character). He also has some psychic powers. He can broadcast a psychic command which forces the minds of others to ignore his presence. He can more directly hypnotize anyone who looks him in the eye, forcing them to obey all his commands and re-writing their memories. When he pierces a living creature's skin with his fangs and sucks out their blood, he triggers a rush of endorphins which overwhelms his victim with intense pleasure. This makes it difficult for his victim to understand what is happening or to remember it clearly after the fact. Since his blood can heal wounds, he can use his fang to cut his tongue, then lick the puncture wounds closed with the transfer of blood. This combination allows his feeding to go mostly undetected. Like a shark, he can sniff out even tiny amounts of blood from far away. The smell and taste of blood can give him the type of information about its owner that would make a crime lab jealous, and when he tastes blood, he can tap into any psychic resonance it has absorbed, experiencing the memories of its original owner like they were his own. He can see in the dark because he is Darkness. When he makes a scary face and roars, hardened soldiers will run, hide, and lose bladder control, because he’s giving them a glimpse of the literal Abyss, and when they look into his eyes, they don’t just see “darkness,” but “The Darkness.” He’s also learned the hard way that he has just about every quirk and weakness that’s ever been attributed to vampires in folklore. He doesn't have to worry about running water or being invited into a home, but that’s about it.

 

 

COMPLICATIONS

 

Achilles Heels & Weaksauce Weaknesses:

Certain plants, objects, and symbols of mystical and religious significance will repel him, interfere with his movement, and cause him pain and injury. He cannot stand them, even if they were a source of joy or comfort in his mortal life.

• Daylight
• Fire
• Garlic: All parts and states of the garlic plant affect him: The flower and the bulb, whether living, freshly harvested, or even ground into dry powder. Unlike most plants, garlic never withers or dies merely from being in his presence.
• Holy Symbols & Blessed Items: Holy symbols and items affect him at the GM’s discretion, on a case by case basis. Generally, the holy symbol must belong to a “Good” deity, or a deity whose portfolio includes concepts such as “Healing,” “Life,” “Light, or “The Sun.” Foods and liquids which have been “blessed,” such as holy water, or which have ritual significance, such as the wine and wafers used in Communion, will also affect him. Holy symbols and items will affect him even if he, or the character wearing or wielding them, do not believe in (or even know of) the religion with which they are associated. However, if he attempts to force his way past the holy object and some sort of opposed check is required, a wielder who knows, believes in, or reveres the deity associated with the holy item will have a better chance of winning the opposed check than a wielder who is ignorant, skeptical, or blasphemous.
• Jade
• Mirrors: He has no reflection. Like machines, mirrors do not register his presence. If he can exert enough willpower to stare into a mirror, then a vague, blurry semblance of his visage may briefly appear, only to vanish as soon as he turns away. This effort may cause the mirror to crack, or even to shatter. Mirrors also sometimes break even if he briefly glances at them, or passes by them without peek.
• Salt: Pure salt will affect him, but saltwater will not, nor will food with a high salt content.
• Silver
• Wolf’s Bane: See “Garlic,” above. Everything described there applies to wolf’s bane as well.
• Wooden Stakes: He can be incapacitated if his heart is impaled with a piece of wood. It doesn't matter if the “stake” is made entirely of wood or not, so long as the part lodged in his heart is composed of pure, whole wood. An arrow or spear with a steel head and a wooden shaft would work, but a piece of compressed particle board would not. Wood and wooden implements do not cause him any of the fear, discomfort, or damage described below, and staking his heart is the only circumstance under which a wooden weapon will overcome his resilience or regeneration. Wood does not limit his movements, and touching it does not harm him.

He already has drawbacks and flaws to account for how these items can suppress his powers, penetrate his defenses, and inflict wounds which are slow to heal, and since those traits already provided a power point discount, they do not count as complications. However, these items can have other effects which would count as complications:

• He cannot stand to look directly at these items. As soon as he sees them, the GM can force him to make a Will save against an Emotion Control (Fear) effect, which may cause him to flee the scene entirely.
• He cannot knowingly or willingly attempt to touch any of these items, or even to advance to within touch-range of them. He must stay at least 10 feet away. (If the item is hidden from him, then he can unknowingly approach it or touch it.)
• The GM can force him to save against Damage and/or some other attack effect if he touches any of these items or their shadows, or if the ingests them, or the blood of someone else who has recently ingested them.
• If another character wears or wields any of these items, then he cannot attempt to physically touch them, or anyone behind them. (As reflected with his Power Loss drawbacks, he also cannot bite them or use his mind control powers on them.) He cannot attempt to directly remove or destroy the items. Another character who wields these items can advance toward him, forcing him to withdraw.
• If he is bound with these items, or with bonds infused or plated with these materials, then he cannot untie or break those bonds, no matter how objectively flimsy they may be. He may not even be able to lift them. (As reflected with his Power Loss drawbacks, such bonds will also suppress most of his powers.)
• If these items are mounted on, above, or around a door, window, or other portal, then he cannot pass through that portal, even in his mist form.
• If these items are placed on top of the lid to a container, or tied or wrapped around it, then he cannot open that container, or enter or exit it in his mist form.
• If these items are arranged in a circle, then he cannot cross that circle. He cannot step over it, and he cannot fly over it in his mist form. A circle around another character can protect that character from him, while a circle around him can trap him.

He can attempt to overcome these limitations, forcing his way past these items, or even forcing himself to touch them, with a focused act of will, most likely represented by a Will save. If these items are being wielded by another character, then the GM can force him and that other character to make an opposed check, most likely Charisma. This effort may cause him harm whether it is successful or not, so he may also have to save against Damage or some other attack effect. If his act of will is successful, then he can temporarily overcome the limits to his freedom of movement, and these items may be damaged, or even destroyed. They may bend, crack, shatter, melt, or burst into flame.

 

Addiction (Blood):

He doesn't just need blood. He wants it. He loves it. It is as much his drug as it is his sustenance. The GM can decide that he's thirsty, give him a Hero Point, and then give him a circumstance penalty on a check to represent how difficult it is for him to focus on other tasks when he’d rather be drinking blood. When blood is available, the GM can give him a Hero Point, and then force him to make a Will save to resist the urge to lap it up or suck it down.

He can also cause Addiction complications for other characters. They can become addicted to the euphoria of being fed upon by him, or they can become addicted to consuming his supernatural blood.

 

Chill of Undeath:

Since his Environment Control (Cold) power has the "Uncontrolled" flaw, it does not generate Hero Points for him. However, his cold aura may cause complications for other characters.

 

Enemies:

• Archnemesis Dad: His father is a captain in the Scarpia family syndicate. His surviving brother works with him, as does his sister's husband. When he was alive, he refused to participate in his father’s criminal activities, but he didn't interfere with them either. When he died, so did his ambivalence. Now he’s determined to dismantle everything his family helped build.
• Burn The Witch!: The secret monster-hunting arm of the Catholic Church knows that his brother killed a vampire, and that soon after, he and his brother were both killed in circumstances which sounded suspiciously like retaliatory vampire attacks. It’s been a few years since then, but if they hear about anything that sounds like a vampire in Bedlam, they will follow up.
• I Hate You, Vampire Dad!: “Enemy” isn't quite the right word. His sire, "Johann" (real name unknown), is working toward a long-term goal of making him part of Johann's "family." To Johann, that means an unholy combination of child, friend, and lover. Unfortunately for him, Johann doesn't think he’ll realize his potential as a vampire until his human spirit is broken and stripped away from him by a conga line of trauma and disappointment, a process Johann expects to take at least a hundred years. Johann shows up once a year like clockwork to beat him within an inch of his life as a celebration of his "birthday" as a vampire. In addition, Johann will, seemingly at random, send various minions, pawns, or even other “children,” to torment him in some way. They might attack him directly, provide aid to his enemies, or harm something or someone he cares about (including Bedlam City itself).

Electromagnetic Ghosts:

Since his Obscure power has the "Uncontrolled" flaw, it does not generate Hero Points for him. However, his aura of interference with mechanical senses may cause complications for other characters.

 

Enemy To All Living Things:

While machines seem to simply ignore him (as represented with his Permanent Concealment from them), nature seems to actively resent him. Animals universally hate and fear him, unless they have consumed his blood, or are under the effect of some sort of mind control power. They will flee from him, attempt to scare him away, and/or attack him. He automatically fails any Handle Animal or Ride skill checks. (See, also, “Walking Wasteland,” below.)

 

Glamour Failure:

He has quirks which either explicitly reveal him to be a supernatural creature, or at least create a subconscious “Uncanny Valley” effect, making humans deeply uncomfortable in his presence. The air is unnaturally quiet around him because of all the normal sounds his body doesn't make, and he lacks several signs of life that most observers would take for granted. The GM may give him penalties to checks involving social interaction, or declare such checks to be impossible. Indifferent or even Friendly NPCs could turn Hostile, attacking or fleeing. Many of those features are already mentioned in "Description," above, and others are described in other Complication entries.

• He never casts a shadow, regardless of the level or angle of light in the surrounding area.
• His hands and fingers appear to have normal friction ridges, yet his touch never leaves prints.
• His footsteps never leave tracks, or make a sound.
• He does not breathe, cough, sneeze, or yawn. (This is particularly noticeable in winter.)
• His heart does not beat. He has no pulse of any kind.
• He does not sweat.
• When he is wounded, his skin does not bruise, and his cuts do not bleed. He will only bleed if decapitated or staked through the heart.
• His blood is so dark that it mostly appears to be black, only showing red when light hits it at just the right angle.
• If he cries, the tears are blood.
• His body does not age.
• If viewed with Infra-Vision, his body always appears to be colder than his surrounding environment, no matter what that environment may be.
• Most machines seem to ignore him. He has no reflection in mirrors, or any other reflective surface. He does not show up in photographs or on video cameras, film or digital. His voice cannot be heard in auditory recordings, or through microphones, telephones (cellular or land-line), or radios. He doesn't show up as a blip on any kind of radar or sonar. He can walk freely through the laser, infra-red, and microwave beams used by motion detectors without them registering his presence. Automatic doors won’t even open for him. A gas chromatograph mass spectrometer can at least attempt to analyze samples of his tissues, and mechanical components like buttons which detect physical pressure will recognize the force his touch exerts upon them, but that seems to be the extent to which machines recognize or acknowledge him. Note: Aside from his lack of reflection, this is the result of the Permanent flaw on his Concealment against machine senses, so he should not receive any Hero Points for it. However, it may be a complication for other characters. For example, a robot or cyborg ally, whose eyes are mechanical cameras and whose ears are mechanical microphones, may receive a Hero Point in exchange for not being able to see or hear him.

Heavy Sleeper:

When the sun is in the sky, it is almost impossible for him to stay awake, and once he falls asleep, he stays asleep. Instead of suffering the usual -10 Notice penalty while asleep, he automatically fails Notice checks. Other characters can even lift or manipulate his body without waking him up. Nothing less than a direct attack on his body will disturb his daytime slumber.

 

I Do Not Drink…Wine:

His Immunity to Fortitude effects includes Immunity to Starvation and Thirst, but not only does he not need to eat or drink, he physically cannot. If he tries to consume food, or if he tries to drink any liquid other than blood, then he will quickly vomit it back up, along with some of his own stored blood, and the GM can also force him to save against an attack effect, like Nauseate, or even Damage.

 

Involuntary Transformation (Berserk Rage):

His undead body has instincts for predation and self-preservation more powerful than those of any living creature, and more powerful than his moral compass. When he attempts to resist those instincts, the GM can force him to make a Will save. Failure can result in a complication for him and/or for others.

• Starvation can cause him to be overcome with bloodlust, to the point of mindlessly attacking the next human he encounters, without caring if his prey survives the encounter or not. Potential causes of “starvation” include simply going too long without drinking blood, trying to subsist for too long on blood of low quality (animal blood, refrigerated blood bags, etc.), or depleting the blood stored in his body by using it to fuel his powers.
• When exposed to one of his weaknesses, especially fire or sunlight, he feels a powerful primal urge to flee from it. If he is unable to summon the willpower to endure its presence, then during his flight, he may brutally attack anyone who gets in his way, whether they meant to or not. Once he is out of danger, he may then be overcome with bloodlust, as if he were starving, as his scared inner animal seeks to re-assert control over its surroundings.

Made of Evil:

He is that which should not be, but is. He is a monster, an abomination, a dead thing preserved and animated with the life-consuming darkness of the Schattenwelt. Any powers which “Detect Evil” will show him as such, and any powers which “Protect From Evil” or “Smite Evil” will affect him as if he were applicably “Evil,” regardless of his actual conduct or inner sense of morality. Any power such as “Aura Vision” which can detect the presence or state of a “soul” will show his to be present, but shredded, hanging in tatters, and stained by shadows and blood.

 

Mainlining The Monster:

Some view him as a monster to be destroyed, but others see him as a resource to be exploited. His blood and body could be used as a component for countless magical spells, rituals, potions, or other items. When ingested or injected by a living creature, his blood can act as a powerful and potentially addictive drug. The specific effects vary depending on the person, the amount consumed, and the GM’s whims. It can act as a stimulant or a narcotic. It can cause euphoria, hallucinations, and/or uncharacteristically aggressive or deviant behavior. It can even heal wounds, cure diseases, or grant temporary powers, such as Enhanced physical abilities, or Immunities like Aging and Disease. It can also create a temporary psychic link, and a temporary stain or “taint” on the user’s “soul” or “aura” with a "negative resonance."

 

Prejudice:

If someone does learn that he is a vampire, or that his family is part of the Bedlam Mafia, it could cause them to mistrust him (and they might not be wrong). Conversely, if he learns that another character is also a vampire, or some other sort of undead creature, then this can be a complication for them, because his default reaction will be homicidal violence.

 

Relationships:

• His wife thinks he’s dead. She’s remarried. She has children with her new husband. But he still cares about her, and by extension, her new family.
• He still cares about his family too, even the mobsters. He keeps tabs on all of them, and he will leap to their aid if they are in danger.
• Father Cesare Messina, the retired priest, is the only friend he's made since his death. He will drop everything to help Messina. But the priest’s secret association with him could cause problems for both of them.

Secrets:

It is not public knowledge that Gaetano Giordano is Mister Strix, or that either of them is a vampire. As far as most people know, Gaetano Giordano is still buried in his grave.

 

Unlife:

Even though he has no Constitution score and Immunity to Fortitude effects, he still needs to sleep, and he still needs “food” in the form of blood.

 

He only gets restful sleep if he has complete shelter from sunlight, and if his resting place includes soil from his homeland. He does not need to be buried; a thin layer of dirt spread out under him is sufficient.

When he drinks blood, his undead body stores that blood in his heart. His body consumes a small amount of that stored blood every night to preserve his corpse, and a greater amount to heal his wounds and fuel his powers.

After a day without sleep and/or three days without blood, the GM can inflict negative conditions upon him, like Fatigued or Exhausted, cumulative penalties on certain checks, and/or temporary ability damage. The GM may allow him some sort of check to delay or lessen these effects, akin to the Constitution checks and Fortitude saves mortals can make to resist the damage caused by neglecting their physical needs.

He will not be destroyed by starvation or lack of sleep, but the supernatural preservation of his body will be disrupted. At first, he will start to look sick. Then, he will begin to age. Finally, he will start to decay. Eventually, his flesh will wither away and slough off completely, leaving little more than a fanged skeleton. Eventually, he won’t have eyes or a tongue, but he will still be able to see and speak. Once he finally gets the blood and restful sleep he needs, the decay will gradually reverse. If his soft tissues have rotted away, then his bones will absorb the blood he “drinks" directly. The decay will reverse at roughly the same rate at which a mortal would recover from starvation and/or sleep deprivation.

His ideal sustenance is the blood of a living human (or humanoid alien with genetic similarity sufficient to produce viable offspring with a human), taken directly from that human’s veins, ideally while the human is experiencing some sort of intense emotion. The further his feeding deviates from that ideal, the less nourishment and satisfaction he derives. He can consume blood from cold storage, so long as that stored blood would be safe to transfuse back into a living human. He cannot feed on necrotic or coagulated blood, and attempting to do so will cause him to vomit as if it were human food (see “I Do Not Drink…Wine,” above). He can feed from vertebrate animals and aliens which have “blood” (the fluids of arthropods, for example, would not work), but it is not as satisfying, or as efficient; it would take multiple units of animal blood to equal the same “nutritional content” as one unit of human blood. The blood of living supernatural creatures, such as faeries, werewolves, or dragons, on the other hand, tastes better than human blood, provides more efficient nourishment, and may also have side-effects at the GM’s discretion. Potential side-effects include addiction, inebriation, temporary insanity (hallucinations, berserk rage, etc.), and temporary Boosts to his existing powers, and temporarily gaining new powers. Depending on the individual, the blood of human mutants and mutates, powerful aliens, and, depending on their descriptors, even other vampires, may have the same effects.

 

Walking Wasteland:

Since he is infused with the life-consuming dark energy of the Schattenwelt, his very presence can be hostile to life. At his touch, or even in his passing, non-animate plants (except for garlic or wolf’s bane) may wither, or even melt or crumble into ash, while food and drink such as bread, milk, cheese, or wine (but never salt) may spoil or rot. Animals which happen to be pregnant may spontaneously miscarry.

 

 

ABILITIES 20PP

Strength: 26/14 (+8/+2), 36/14 Lifting (Heavy Load: 3,680 lbs. [1.84 tons] / 175 lbs.)

Dexterity: 26/14 (+8/+2)

Constitution: -

Intelligence: 18 (+4)

Wisdom: 16 (+3)

Charisma: 18 (+4)

 

 

COMBAT 16PP

Initiative: +8/+2 (+8/+2 Dex)

Attack: +4, +8/+4 Melee (+4 Base, +4 Enhanced Attack Focus), +6 Claws/Fangs

Grapple: +18/+6 (+8/+4 Melee Attack, +8/+2 Strength, +2 Super-Strength)

Defense: +8/+4 (+4 Base, +4 Enhanced), +4/+2 Flat-Footed

Knockback Resistance: 8

 

Here is a new DC chart for the "Combat" section reflecting the changes:

 

ATTACK	RANGE	SAVING THROW	EFFECT
Unarmed	Touch	DC23 Toughness (Staged)	Damage (Physical)
Claws/Fangs	Touch	DC25 Toughness (Staged)	Damage (Physical, Lethal, Incurable)
Blood Drain	Touch/Grapple	DC18 Fortitude*	Drain Constitution*
		Opposed Will vs +8**	Mind Reading
		DC18 Will (Staged)**	Sickened/Nauseated/Incapacitated
Glimpse of The Abyss	Touch/Area (Visual Perception)	DC18 Reflex	Avoided
		DC18 Will (Staged)	Shaken/Frightened/Panicked
Hypnotic Eyes	Perception (Visually Sense-Dependent)	Opposed Will vs +8**	Mind Controlled
		DC18 Will**	Transformed (Memory Altered)
Psychic Invisibility	Personal	DC18 Will***	Total Concealment from all non-Mental type senses

*This saving throw is not Staged, because he can only drain 1 Constitution rank per round, regardless of the margin by which the victim failed their save.

**Because the two Linked effects target the same saving throw (Will), the victim makes one saving throw and compares it against the DC for both effects. This effect has one static DC and one DC determined by a power check, so it is possible that the victim will successfully save against one of the linked effects but fail to save against the other one.

***Creatures with Intelligence 0 are unaffected. Creatures with Intelligence 1+ only get a saving throw if he does something to draw attention to himself. Machines with Intelligence 0 are also unaffected, but he has a separate, permanent Concealment effect against all Auditory, Radio, and Visual-type machine senses.

 

 

 

SAVING THROWS 5PP

Toughness: +8 (Impervious)

Fortitude: -

Reflex: +8 (+8 Dex, +0PP)

Will: +8 (+3 Wis, +5PP)

 

 

SKILLS 32R = 8PP

Craft (Culinary) 1 (+5)

Handle Animal 0 (-)

Intimidation 1 (+13/+5, +15 Deathly Aura)

Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 1 (+5)

Knowledge (Current Events) 1 (+5)

Knowledge (History) 1 (+5)

Knowledge (Life Sciences) 4 (+8)

Knowledge (Pop Culture) 1 (+5)

Knowledge (Streetwise) 11 (+15)

Knowledge (Theology & Philosophy) 1 (+5)

Languages 4 (English [Native], French, Italian, Latin, Spanish)

Medicine 5 (+8)

Notice 1 (+12/+4)

Ride 0 (-)

Search 0 (+12/+4)

Sense Motive 0 (+12/+3)

Stealth 0 (+15/+2)

 

 

FEATS 2PP

Benefit (Legally Deceased)

Interpose

Enhanced:

Attack Focus (Melee) 4

Evasion 2

Hide In Plain Sight

Takedown Attack 2

Veteran Rewards:

Equipment 7 (35EP)

 

EQUIPMENT 7PP = 35EP

 

 

 

 

POWERS 168PP

 

Concealment 8 (All Auditory, Radio, and Visual type senses, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Limited [Machines], Permanent) [8PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Enhanced Defense 4 (Extras: Linked [Enhanced Dexterity, Enhanced Feats], Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency:Common]) [6PP]

Enhanced Dexterity 12 (Extras: Linked [Enhanced Defense, Enhanced Feats]) [12PP]

Enhanced Feats 9 (Attack Focus [Melee] 4, Evasion 2, Hide In Plain Sight, Takedown Attack 2, Extras: Linked [Enhanced Defense, Enhanced Dexterity])[9PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Speed, Undead)

 

Enhanced Skills 40 (Intimidation 8, Notice 8, Search 8, Sense Motive 9, Stealth 7, Power Loss 2 [Lost while exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [8PP] (Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Fearsome Visage, Necromancy, Shadow, Super-Senses, Undead, Unnaturally Deep and Resonant Voice)

 

Enhanced Strength 12 (Extras: Linked [Super-Strength], Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [10PP]

Super-Strength 2 (Lifting Strength: 36, Heavy Load: 3,680 lbs. [1.84 tons], Extras: Linked [Enhanced Strength]) [4PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Superhuman Strength, Undead)

 

Environment Control 2 (Cold [Intense], Area: 10ft radius, Extras: Action 3 [Reaction], Flaws: Duration 2 [Instant], Range [Touch], Uncontrolled) [1PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Cold, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

Features 3 (Deathly Aura*; Touch does not leave prints; Wounds do not bleed) [3PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

*See "Death Powers" in Power Profiles.

 

Healing 1 (Extras: Action 4 [Reaction], Affects Objects, Restoration, Total Flaws: Limited [Objects], Personal, Source [Blood]) [6PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Regeneration, Shadow, Undead)

 

Immunity 30 (Fortitude effects) [30PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Impervious Toughness 8 (Flaws: Limited [Effects with one or more of the following Descriptors inflict Penetrating damage: “Acid”; Attempts to impale him through the heart with a "Wooden Stake"; “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”; “Disintegration”; “Fire”; “Garlic”; “Jade”; "Natural Weapons" of "Supernatural Creatures", such as the Claws, Fangs, and/or Horns of Demons, Dragons, Faeries, Vampires, or Werewolves; “Salt”; “Silver”; “Wolf’s Bane”]) [4PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Regeneration, Shadow, Superhuman Resilience, Undead)

 

Leaping 3 (x10, Running Long Jump: 180ft, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [1PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Superhuman Strength, Undead)

 

Obscure 2 (Sense Types: Auditory, Radio, and Visual, Area: 10ft radius, Extras: Action 3 [Reaction], Flaws: Duration 2 [Instant], Limited [Machines], Partial, Range [Touch], Uncontrolled) [2PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Electromagnetic Interference, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Protection 8 [8PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Superhuman Resilience, Undead)

 

Regeneration 14 (Recovery 14 [+9, Recovers over time like a living creature], Feats: Regrowth) [15PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Regeneration 12 (Recovery Rate: Injured 6 [1/round, No rest], Disabled 6 [1 round], Flaws: Limited [Effects with one or more of the following Descriptors inflict Incurable damage: “Acid”; “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”; “Disintegration”; “Fire”; “Garlic”; “Jade”; "Natural Weapons" of "Supernatural Creatures", such as the Claws, Fangs, and/or Horns of Demons, Dragons, Faeries, Vampires, or Werewolves; “Salt”; “Silver”; “Wolf’s Bane”]) [6PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Regeneration 8 (Resurrection 8 [1 round], Flaws: Limited [If decapitated, he requires outside aid to reunite his head and body before he can resurrect; If impaled through the heart with a wooden stake, or a blade or bullet made from his other weaknesses, he requires outside aid to remove the "stake" before he can resurrect; He requires outside aid and extra time to resurrect if his body is completely burned, disintegrated, or dissolved]) [4PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Speed 3 (50MPH / 500ft per Move Action, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [1PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Superhuman Speed, Undead)

 

Super-Movement 1 (Trackless) [2PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Super-Movement 1 (Wall-Crawling, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [1PP]

(Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Super-Senses 11 (Acute Analytical Tracking Smell/Taste, Darkvision, Microscopic Vision, Postcognition [Flaws: Medium {Blood}], Ultra-Hearing, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including one or more of the following Descriptors: “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane”; Frequency: Common]) [7PP] (Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Vampire Power 8 (16PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 4) [20PP] (Descriptors: Black Magic, Blood Magic, Darkness, Death, Evil, Necromancy, Shadow, Undead)

 

Base Power: [16PP] (Additional Descriptors: Blood Divination, Blood Drain, Euphoria)

Drain Constitution 8 (Extras: Linked [Mind Reading, Nauseate], Flaws: Limited [1 rank per round], Requires Grapple, Feats: Insidious, Slow Fade 4 [1 hour], Subtle, Drawbacks: Power Loss 3 [While exposed to Daylight, he can only bite with a regular unarmed attack, which will not have any euphoric effect on the victim; Cannot attempt to bite anyone while he is Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Cannot attempt to bite any character wearing or wielding "Fire", a Mirror, or an item with any of the aforementioned descriptors, or anyone hiding behind that character; Frequency: Very Common]) [6PP]

Mind Reading 8 (Extras: Action [Standard], Linked [Drain, Nauseate], Flaws: Duration [Instant, Lasting], Range 2 [Touch], Requires Grapple) [2PP]

Nauseate 8 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Linked [Drain, Mind Reading], Flaws: Requires Grapple) [8PP]

Alternate Power: [6 + 7 = 13PP]

 

Autofire Strength 8 (Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Frequency: Common]) [6PP] (Additional Descriptors: Super-Speed)

 

Damage 2 (Extras: Autofire, Penetrating, Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Incurable, Mighty, Variable Descriptor [Claws and/or Fangs; Piercing and/or Slashing], Drawbacks: Inaccurate, Lethal, Power Loss 2 [While exposed to Daylight, he cannot create claws, and his bite is a regular unarmed attack; Cannot create claws or attempt to bite anyone while he is Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Frequency: Common]) [7PP] (Additional Descriptors: Claws, Fangs)

 

Alternate Power: [7 + 2 = 9PP]

 

Concealment 10 (All Non-Mental type Senses, Flaws: Phantasm, Feats: Selective, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Frequency: Common], Progression [Counter Rank / Save DC] 2 [-2 = Rank 8 / DC18]) [7PP] (Additional Descriptors: Hypnosis, Mind Control, Psychic Invisibility)

 

Emotion Control 8 (Extras: Area [Perception, Visual], Flaws: Limited [Fear], Range 2 [Touch], Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Frequency: Common]) [2PP] (Additional Descriptors: Fearsome Visage, Glimpse of The Abyss)

 

Alternate Power: [15PP] (Additional Descriptors: Mist Form)

Flight 2 (25MPH, 250ft per Move Action, Extras: Linked [Immunity, Insubstantial], Feats: Subtle, Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight, or while Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Frequency: Common]) [3PP]

Immunity 2 (Critical Hits, Extras: Duration [Sustained], Linked [Flight, Insubstantial]) [2PP]

Insubstantial 2 (Gas, Extras: Linked [Flight, Immunity]) [10PP]

Alternate Power: [14PP] (Additional Descriptors: Hypnotic Eyes, Psychic)

Mind Control 8 (Extras: Conscious, Duration [Sustained, Lasting], Linked [Transform], Mental, Flaws: Action [Full], Distracting, Sense-Dependent [Visual], Feats:Subtle, Drawbacks: Power Loss 3 [Lost while Exposed to Daylight; Lost while Restrained with bonds including the “Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy”, “Garlic”, “Jade”, “Salt”, “Silver”, and/or “Wolf’s Bane” descriptors; Cannot be used against any character wearing or wielding "Fire", a Mirror, or an item with any of the aforementioned descriptors, or anyone hiding behind that character; Frequency: Very Common]) [6PP]

Transform 8 (Memory Alteration, Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Duration [Continuous, Lasting], Linked [Mind Control], Mental, Range [Perception], Flaws: Action [Full], Distracting, Sense-Dependent [Visual]) [8PP]

 

 

DRAWBACKS -13PP

 

Vulnerability ("Blessed/Celestial/Consecrated/Holy" effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP]

 

Vulnerability ("Fire" effects, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-2PP]

 

Vulnerability ("Silver" effects, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor [+1 DC]) [-1PP]

 

Weakness (Daylight, Frequency: Very Common, Intensity: Moderate [Cumulative -1 Drain on Toughness, Destroyed when Toughness reaches -6], Time: 1/round) [-8PP]

 

Weakness (Healing effects without Descriptors which identify them as being "Evil", "Unholy", or otherwise beneficial to the "Undead" do not work on him, even if they have the "Affects Objects" extra, and they also inflict Damage of equal rank; Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Minor, Time: Instant) [-1PP]

 

Abilities (20) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (5) + Skills (8) + Feats (2) + Powers (168) – Drawbacks (13) = 206/216 Power Points

 

I didn't wind up using this thread for its original purpose, but it didn't get deleted either. So I'll use it to feel some stuff out.

Sounds good. Want me to burn a Hero Point, since you basically just fiated in my favor?

o_O His net Toughness save modifier is -6?

It's now been about two weeks since the last IC post. Can we get a status update for this thread?

Mister Strix responded to Antonio's assault with a series of rapid-fire blocks from a dizzying variety of angles, diverting the incoming strikes into circles away from him. Any fan of Hong Kong cinema would recognize it as a classic Wing Chun defense.

 

"You were a big fish in your little pond," he whispered. "But you're in open water now."

 

His Wing Chun defense suddenly shifted to a Muay Thai offense as he launched a brutal fist/elbow/knee combination at Antonio's nose, solar plexus, and jaw.

All-Out Attack for +2 Attack / -2 Defense and Power Attack for -2 Attack / +2 Damage.

 

Standard Action: Unarmed attack against the flat-footed foe.

 

Attack: 15.

 

If that hits, it's a DC25 Toughness save, at -2 since he's Demoralized.

 

If he's still conscious after that, then:

 

Move Action: Demoralize again as a move action at -5.

 

Intimidation: 12. Antonio gets +1 to resist this time.

 

The man in white stood almost still for several moments. His only movement for those moments was to menacingly crack the knuckles on each of his fists.  Then, without the slightest shift in stance to telegraph his movement, he burst into the air. A standing jump that would baffle an Olympian morphed seamlessly into a spinning jump kick straight out of Tae Kwon Do. It missed Lt. Antonio's head by a fraction of an inch, parting his hair like a gust of wind. It missed because it was supposed to. A kick like that would normally be used to keep a foe at a distance, but Mister Strix twisted around as smoothly as a shark through water to slide in close.

Initiative: 24.

 

Standard Action: Acrobatic Bluff to feint. Take 10 with Skill Mastery for 25.

 

Move Action: Demoralize as a move action at -5.

 

Intimidation: 17.

Looks like I'll have to go through the motions before I can get any answers.

 

Mister Strix took a deep, quiet breath to focus his senses, forcing the cacophony of heartbeats and footfalls and coughs and whispers of the surrounding crowd back into the background.

 

Clever. If I lose, it damages the legend I'm trying to build. If I win, I publicly humiliate the local police. Oh well. Won't be the first time I've taken down a cop.

 

"Don't hold back, Lieutenant" he growled. "Come at me with everything you have."

First piece of advice: Look at the way other character sheets are formatted. Most things are written as lists, not as sentences.

 

Second: I recommend writing the powered-up values first, then the de-powered values. The former will be applicable far more often than the latter. So I'd write Str 30/10 (+10/+0) rather than the reverse.

 

Those two things should make it easier for other people to read and understand your sheet at a glance, which is the main purpose of the character sheet.

 

I don't think most GMs are going to want to make rolls once every 4 rounds to figure out which spirit is in control. It's probably best to leave it to the GM's discretion when the switch occurs. In general, when it comes to setting Complications, it's better to suggest possible mechanics for them than to dictate them. And you definitely won't get a Hero Point every time someone new takes over. As with any other Complication, you would only get a Hero Point if the switch actually hinders you in some way.

 

Mechanical notes:

 

Why is "Protection 4" giving "+3 Toughness?"  Why wouldn't it give +4 Toughness?

 

The skills don't seem to add up. For example, I see "Bluff 10 (+15)," but his Charisma bonus isn't +5, it's either +10 or +2. So shouldn't this be "Bluff 10 (+20/+12)?"

 

The house rules allow everyone to use Accurate/All-Out/Defensive/Power Attack for +/-2 for free, without having the feat. You only need to have the feat if you want to shift by +/- 3-5. So depending on your plans regarding combat tactics, you may not need those feats.

 

For less than the 3PP you're spending on those accelerated Feint/Taunt/Trick feats, you could just buy 5 more skill ranks, which would give you the same net benefit, and also a better skill bonus for non-combat checks.  You're not hitting your PL caps for skill ranks yet, so it's an option.

Also, you didn't actually buy the Taunt feat.

 

Attack Specialization (Unarmed) doesn't add to your grapple bonus. It's for unarmed attacks for damage only. The only attack bonuses that add to your grapple bonus are base attack bonus, Attack Focus (Melee), and Attack Specialization (Grapple).  I'd recommend ditching the Attack Specialization and just getting Attack Focus (Melee).

 

The knockback resistance appears to be wrong. If he has Toughness 14 and 6 of is Impervious, then it should be 10. 14 - 6 = 8, 8 / 2 = 4, 4 + 6 = 10.

 

I'm assuming that the "Chi" power listed here is the one from Ultimate Power. If that's the case, then you have to choose which version of it you have. It's either Healing (Flaws: Personal), or Boost (Any One Physical Ability, Flaws: Personal), 1PP/rank either way. I assume it's Healing, since Boost would violate your power level caps, but you have to specify.

 

On the sword's Damage power, you don't have to specify that the Improved Critical applies to the Damage power. That's self-evident, since it's a power feat on the Damage power. And Penetrating is an extra, not a feat.

 

Also, sorry, I forgot to make this explicit: I assumed that, between Hide In Plain Sight, Skill Mastery with Stealth for an automatic 25, his smoke bombs, and Quick Change would combine to allow him to make it up to the ring unnoticed and make his grand entrance.

Let me know if anything I set the scene with contradicts anything you had in mind. I literally just Google Image Searched the park, and went to weather.com to find out what it's like in Chicago today.

Despite his best efforts, Brian didn't have much time to surveil the park. What little he did "see," he didn't like. One big wide-open space. Nothing taller than a tree for a mile in any direction. Less chance of property damage, but still surrounded by innocent people. So much moisture in the air, walking feels like swimming. Barely any heat from above at all. Sky must be overcast. But the weather reports say the sun doesn't go down for another hour. Never done this during the day before, and never with this much direct scrutiny. I doubt the usual costume will have the same impact.

 

Brian wasn't carrying his white cane as he made his way through the park. Don't want to draw attention to myself...until I do.

 

At 4:44PM, seemingly out of nowhere, a cloud of white smoke appeared at the edge of the fighting ring. Out of the smoke stepped a large man wearing a tailored silk business suit, all in white. The fabrics, the buttons, even the leather of his gloves and shoes, every piece of his outfit gleamed like ivory and alabaster. The cuff-links, buttons, and tie-tack were all shaped like tiny crescent moons. A black circle containing a white crescent moon was embroidered over the left breast of his jacket. A white mask, like a balaclava but without any eye-holes, covered his entire head. Large black teardrop-shapes around the eyes dominated the face of his mask. Small, yellow mirrored lenses covered what were presumably his eyes.

Mister Strix (5)

Supreme Ultimate Competition: The Original (5)

 

Good, Mister Strix thought as his fingers caressed the face of the envelope. The name is spreading. He lifted the parcel up to his face and sniffed it before tearing it open. But this also means my movements are too consistent. I can't afford to be predictable. I can't afford to be careless.

 

His mind raced as he ran his thumb across the card. Chicago. Of course. If they've heard of me, then they probably know that everyone who matters in this city wants me dead, yesterday. If they tried doing this in Bedlam, not only would the local syndicates want their cut, but they'd blow up the whole block if they thought I might be inside. But neither the Scarpias or the Gorganzuas have any friends in the Chicago families. Taking the bait would let me get close while hiding in plain sight. So much for not being careless.

 

Within the hour, after a quick stop at home, Brian Brubaker was sitting in a Regency Crown taxi headed to the Bedlam "International" Airport, and a box of his "art supplies" was being over-nighted by FedEx to his hotel in Chicago. Last-minute bookings aren't cheap, and R.C. will overcharge me, especially when they find out I'm blind. No licenses, no meters, no rules. But I'm in a hurry. I need time to get the lay of the land before my "appointment." And the European galleries are still selling out, so for now, I can afford it. At least R.C. won't literally try to rob me, like a Yellow Cab driver might. And nobody else will get me to the airport faster. Garwood's people live in the Meadows, so unlike the fresh-off-the-boat rookies driving for everyone else, they actually know the way. I'll lose too much time in the air as it is. No direct flights to Chicago on Air Wisconsin. But I can fly to General Mitchell in Milwaukee, and switch to a real airline from there.

Thanks for the individual IC intro, but mine might need some tweaking. The person putting up his invitation probably wouldn't have reason to know it (unless it is one of the Shambala monks calling in a favor), but Mister Strix is blind. He wouldn't notice his name written on anything at a distance. He's a Daredevil knockoff, so the only way he can read text or "see" color on an object is if he's physically touching it.

Mister Strix would be using his vigilante name and keeping his mask on. He tries to guard his secret identity carefully.

Mister Strix is a PL9 martial artist (I don't know what sort of PL range you were thinking of), and he's about as "investigative" as it gets. He'd be unlikely to enter the tournament voluntarily, but I could see him getting caught investigating it and being forced to compete, if it's a sinister Enter The Dragon style affair. Alternately, one of the Shambala monks who trained him could get him to enter by calling in a favor (he owes them plenty). As for what could put him on its trail: His archenemy is a human trafficker who helps supply bodies to The Labyrinth for DNAscent experimentation (as well as more mundane slavery). So his usual investigations could naturally put him on the trail of an underground fighting circuit.

Frank raised an eyebrow.  "You're kidding."

 

Taylor shook her head.  "No, seriously.  'Brian Brubaker.'  Is he, like, your cousin, or...?"  She trailed off.

 

Frank's eyes widened, almost bulging out of his skull.  "WHAT?!  What the..."  He grabbed Taylor's phone out of her hand, stared at it for a second, then shoved it against her chest.  "WHAT...HOW...THE HELL?!"  He turned away from her and started walking in half-circles, doubling back on himself.

 

Taylor took half a step back and swallowed.  "Frank, what's wron-"

 

Frank pointed a finger at Taylor's face.  "NOT NOW."  He pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket, hit one of the speed-dial buttons, and brought it up to his ear as he stormed out of the room.  "Hey, remember seven years ago, when MY BLIND SON VANISHED INTO THIN FREAKIN' AIR?!"  His voice echoed from the adjacent rooms.  "YEAH?  YOU EVER FIGURE OUT HOW THE HELL HE DID THAT?!  OH, YOU THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD?!  YEAH, SO DID I!  BUT HE ISN'T DEAD!  NO, EINSTEIN, HE'S HERE, IN MY FREAKIN' CITY!"

 

When Taylor heard the sound of glass shattering and wood breaking, she ran for the front door.  "IN MY CITY, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HE'S ALIVE UNTIL I FIND OUT FROM MY DECORATOR!  NOT MY SOLDIERS, NOT MY COPS, NOT DAPPER FREAKIN' DONNY, MY FREAKIN' DECORATOR!"

"Body horror is all the rage in Europe this year."  Taylor didn't look up from her phone except to roll her eyes.  Like most of the wealthy people of Bedlam City, Frank had more money than taste.  "The beauty of the grotesque.  You're lucky we could get our hands on this one.  I had two offers on this piece in the time between when you bought it and when it arrived here.  Apparently the artist's exhibitions in Paris and Barcelona both sold out."

 

Frank grunted.  "Hmph.  What kinda mind comes up with this stuff?"  He'd broken his fair share of faces over the years, mostly before his children were born, but he'd never turned someone inside out to play mix-and-match with their parts.

 

Taylor tapped and swiped the screen of her phone a few times, still not looking up.  "Some blind guy, a recluse, too tragically hip to show up to his own gallery openings.  Says here...huh.  That's weird."

 

Frank took a couple steps forward and quietly wrapped his arm around Taylor's waist.  "Weirder than this?"  His other hand pointed a thumb over his shoulder back at the sculpture.

 

"The shows were in Europe, so I just assumed he was European.  But he's American.  In fact, he lives right here, in Bedlam City."

 

Frank chuckled.  "Yeah, that makes sense.  This is that kinda town.  Even the fancy art's all about murder."

 

Taylor finally looked up from her phone.  She turned to face Frank.

 

"Frank...his name's Brubaker."