GranspearZX

"...just a hunch." Marcus scratched at his chin, musing thoughtfully over the symbol Malloy described. The symbol seemed like something familiar, but without a visual reference, he couldn't quite put his finger on its purpose. The other materials used in the ritual could certainly have provided even more revealing clues.

"I'm probably gonna need more to go on than just this... Would you mind if I had a look around the woods?" He pretty much expected the officer to say no, but there was no way he was going to be able to track anything by scent in his current form...

"No patterns or circles or anything like that?" Marcus frowned, his mind immediately returning to the officer's earlier comment about the windstorm. He'd seen a spell in his own book about creating one with enough force to move a small vehicle; if that sort of thing could be sustained, it could've blown a considerable portion of the evidence away. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and temple, closing his eyes for a few moments before regarding the scene again.

Vampires usually aren't this... voyeuristic. Maybe someone was trying to summon something. Getting to the 'who' is gonna be impossible without knowing the 'why'...

"Do you remember what was written on him?" He wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to translate what was written; he silently cursed himself for not learning a bit more Latin as Etain had suggested. Still, if someone had blown away all the evidence of a ritual, then there was an even better route that he could possibly take. "...just how strong was that windstorm? And do you remember the direction of the wind that day?" If he knew where to begin, he could transform and sniff out anything in the woods that didn't belong. That would, of course, entail somehow ditching Officer Malloy... he'd cross that bridge when he got there.

Marcus nodded, slipping the plastic over his boots. He was well versed enough in being outdoors to know how to not leave tracks and that sort of thing, but there was no telling what he might accidentally step on or nudge. He blinked at the hair net and, for a second, gave the officer a look as if to ask if he was really serious; rather than verbalize that, he just put it on. He decided not to think about the whole credentials part; right at that moment, he didn't want to think about trying to call the scant few people he knew in the magical community. As far as he knew, no one even knew he was here yet.

"Alright... I'm ready when you are, officer." He squinted a bit as he tried to see if the officer even had a name.

"..." Marcus bit back a sarcastic remark. He certainly wasn't in the habit of having to prove these sorts of things, and he definitely wasn't going to activate the Beast Rune right in front of this police officer. Really, that didn't prove much of anything.

"...this isn't my first rodeo, officer. But I won't even know if I can help until I actually see it for myself." He adjusted his knapsack a bit--more to scratch the itch on his shoulder than anything else. "Prayers aren't gonna solve the immediate problem. And I'd rather not waste the sheriff's time if there really isn't anything I can offer. I just need a few minutes, that's all." It was true enough; Marcus didn't see the point in even mentioning what he could do if none of it would really help. And there was a lot he could discern in a 10 minutes, even without the benefit of his bear form.

Marcus frowned; the fact that he could smell blood even without the benefit of his ursine senses wasn't terribly encouraging. Before he could think any more on the subject, however, he had company.

"Huh? Oh, uh..." Marcus's mind scrambled for a suitable excuse. Curiosity just wasn't going to cut it. "Sorry. I was just... looking around." When in doubt, it seemed like the smartest thing to do was just be honest. He was here to help, after all; there was no sense in putting up massive subterfuge when it wasn't completely necessary. Still... Marcus could tell just by the officer's expression that he thought he was just some punk kid looking for some random thrill.

What exactly was he supposed to say? 'Hi, I'm the magical Sherlock Holmes'? While the brief thought did amuse him, it seemed incredibly inappropriate. Still, he needed to see that crime scene...

"I'm... just here to help is all. It's kind of hard to explain, but that's what I was sent here for." By who or what, he wasn't even sure, but the effort and stress of trying to come up with some elaborate excuse was making the Beast Rune itch a little bit.

Marcus felt very much like a tourist as he stepped off the bus. He'd gotten a fairly good glimpse of the town on the way in, but it was still largely unfamiliar to him. All he had was a knapsack and a gym bag; he could probably stay for a week without incident, not counting the inevitable aftermath at school. This seemed important--he needed to be here, though he wasn't yet sure why.

He was carrying his book as well, attached to its strap and hidden underneath the long brown trenchcoat he was wearing. It was hard to look inconspicuous--a 16-year old traveling alone. There wasn't much about him that didn't scream 'runaway'. Still, having a credit card in his own name helped him find a motel room without much incident, and he immediately left once he'd gotten himself settled. His first thought was to try and see where this crime had taken place; going to the police station would draw a little more attention to himself than he'd like, and really, who would divulge the sensitive information bound to be wrapped up in this incident to a teenager? He needed to see it with his own eyes, though he mentally prepared himself for some considerable resistance prior to arrival.

Walking through the town reminded him vaguely of himself--sleepy and boring until he learned of what magic was really about, and even now, he didn't think he had a full, 100% grasp on the subject. It didn't take him long to find the woods, though. Hands stuffed into his pockets, he kept an eye out for anyone in the area, his mind already working through speculation of what the scene might actually look like.

Arcturus held his ground. He wasn't going anywhere... and he wasn't afraid. That seemed to be outright disagreeable with the incorporeal monster... and it tried to attack Rene instead. He could see a very visible, if not entirely physical reaction from him and his eyes narrowed. His eyes brightened into an angry red as he looked back at the monster's figure.

"THAT'S ENOUGH."

His voice carried a threatening echo, reverberating outward from the big bear's position. Magic or no magic, his uncertainty faded into outright rage, and he was determined to put this monster back into whatever hole it had crawled out of.

Arc is going to try and use his Fearsome Presence--and extra effort to increase its rank by 2. It's got a 20 foot radius at that point, DC14 vs the boogeyman's Will. Also going to use an HP to negate the fatigue afterwards. :)

Marcus was certain that he as going to be in a lot of trouble.

Skipping school was a pretty rebellious thing to do. Under normal circumstances, he never would have done such a thing. One thing he had learned when starting to embrace his magical heritage, however, was that signs were not to be ignored. Even though he was new to meditating, he'd been in his dorm room for hours before the television flickered on of its own volition. It was on the news, and the volume was uncomfortably loud. At first, the young hedge wizard thought that it might have been someone with some sort of electrical powers wandering down the hall; he never really watched the news, so he knew that wasn't the channel on which he'd left the television when he turned it off. He got up and poked his head out into the hallway, seeing no one... and then he tried to turn it off.

Nothing.

The best he could do was lower the volume, but by then, he was paying attention to the story. It was a high profile murder in a relatively small place, and they were throwing around words like 'ritualistic' and 'Satan'. Usually, Marcus would have tuned that sort of thing out--the media had a way of overblowing things for the sake of doing so. This, however, seemed different... and a familiar, uncomfortable feeling settled over him, not entirely like his accidental run-in with the Boogeyman a month before. It was a sign, alright... and a none too subtle one at that.

Surely, his teachers would understand... he hoped. Bus ticket in hand, he had already made up his mind. Stratford, Pennsylvania was waiting.

(Looking to do a complete overhaul on Arcturus. The core of his powerset is virtually the same, but there's quite a few things in different places.)

Player Name: GranspearZX

Character Name: Marcus Anthony Irons

Power Level: 10 (153/153PP)

Trade-Offs: None

Unspent PP: 0

Progress to Bronze Status: 3/30

In Brief: A typical teenager with an atypical beast living inside him. Oh, and his parents are supervillains.

Alternate Identities: Arcturus

Identity: Secret

Birthplace: Chicago, IL

Occupation: High School Student

Affiliations: Claremont Academy

Family: Richard Irons (father, 43. Also known as the supervillain "Khimera";), Lyrica Irons (mother, 40, also known as the supervillainess "Runic"). Married for 20 years.

[floatr][/floatr]

Age: 16 (DoB: March 1994)

Apparent Age: N/A

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: African American

Height: 6' (8' 4" in bear form)

Weight: 225 lbs (550 lbs. in bear form)

Eyes: Brown (red in bear form)

Hair: Black

Description:In his normal form, Marcus seems like a normal kid. Tall and broad-shouldered, he's a bit on the heavy side, and looks like he was built for sports. His head is usually shaved bald, and his facial hair is trimmed into a nice, even goatee. Despite his size, Marcus is deceptively agile--he's no gymnast, but he's actually capable of more mobility than a tank. His brown eyes are often half-closed, and he always looks a little worn out--not that there's anything wrong with him. He simply looks disengaged from everything around him unless he's specifically focused on a person or a conversation... or even his studies. He has a notably brighter look about him when he's busy. Someone might actually catch him smiling on occasion.

In his 'beast' form, he's a lot more intimidating. Standing well over eight feet tall, Marcus--or Arcturus, as he prefers--is a particularly grim-looking beast of a man. Largely resembling a brown bear, Arcturus's fingertips ending in vicious claws. Covered in black fur, his most notable marking is the white, crescent-shaped patch across his upper chest.

Power Description: Marcus's abilities are purely magical; even his alternate form, while it is something he was born with, is a result of the runic symbol on the back of his right shoulder blade--as far as he's concerned, it's a birth mark, and he's largely ignorant to its true meaning. His form's magical nature is readily apparent, though, when he transforms; it creates a circle of magic around him before the shift begins. It doesn't take long, but it looks generally painful--one of many reasons why Marcus isn't yet completely comfortable with using his werebear form, and on occasion he even gets a little bit nauseated and confused from the sensory overload between his human and bear senses. His staff looks relatively new for being a large, oak, rune-etched weapon, and it seems to share transformative abilities with Marcus's bear form.

History: Marcus Irons lead somewhat of a sheltered life. Being an only child, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't in the company of at least one of his parents, and he never wanted for anything. That certainly wasn't to say that he was spoiled; Richard Irons was a gruff disciplinarian, almost military in his imposition of order on his only son. While both parents often had to go away on business from time to time, he more often than not spent that time with his father. Richard taught him all sorts of things--fishing, hunting, and even how to fight when he started getting bullied at school. His mother was a lot less heavy handed; she wouldn't let Marcus get away with just anything, of course, but she gave him considerably more freedom. It gave him plenty of chance to wonder why his parents had so many books on occult subjects, but he rarely acted on the impulse to read any of them. He had enough problems with just algebra.

Marcus and his father had just come from celebrating his 15th birthday a few weeks early, watching a Blades game. He thought it would be an unforgettable night; the two of them stuck around the stadium and he managed to get Andre Leroux to sign his jersey. It was, in fact, a night he'd always remember, but not for the reasons that Marcus thought. They went home, and hours later he was awakened by the breaking of glass and a lot of yelling. Marcus arrived in the living room just in time to see a group of men tackle his father. Without thinking he rushed to try and help, leaping uselessly on one of their backs, only to get thrown off. The landing hurt, but something else in him snapped... Everyone was especially surprised when the 15 year-old boy came back at the SWAT-geared man, grabbing him by the collar with a clawed hand and slinging him across the room.

The next few moments were a blur. The room flooded with more people and he remembered something giving him a nasty shock. He remembered his father's voice, sounding uncharacteristically desperate, and then... nothing. He woke up several days later in the hospital, with a strange man in his room, introducing himself as Duncan Summers. That was when he learned the truth--his parents were wanted supervillains. At first, he didn't believe it. His parents, as far as he knew, hadn't even had so much as a speeding ticket. Sure, his dad was over six and a half feet tall and intimidating as all hell, but imagining his father as a monster? No way.

Seeing the evidence, however, was sobering. His father could transform, just as he had that night, only his form was... far less friendly on the eyes. He had a body count well into the triple digits, most before he was born. He wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with the reality that his father was even capable of the destruction of which he'd been accused.

His mother's involvement was considerably more obscure. As the sorceress Runic, she had managed to suppress his father's transformation through the use of her knowledge and research on magical artifacts and symbols, allowing them to lead normal lives. She was wanted for hiding him, among other things... and Marcus was almost certain that it contributed to her not showing up when his father was carted off to jail. He wasn't stupid--he realized that his father never fought back, and that he'd plead guilty, skipping a trial entirely. Marcus wasn't sure what to do next... Summers provided him with an option.

Personality & Motivation: Marcus is something of a loner--largely by circumstance rather than choice. The why, as far as he's concerned, is largely unimportant, and he doesn't go out of his way to be social. Nevertheless, he's notoriously big-hearted, and is unquestioningly loyal to those who manage to earn it. He's something of a pacifist at heart--contrary to the look and overall aggressive nature of the Beast Rune on his back.

His forays into magic have given him significant exposure and insight into Freedom City's magical community, and though he's still learning, he feels like far less of an outsider when his nose is in a book and he's applying the things he's learned.

Powers & Tactics: Marcus is surprisingly insightful for a big guy, and his father taught him to solve problems with intellect and reason rather than brute force. Then again, his father also taught him that a brawl is occasionally necessary, and while Marcus is a little too timid to go out hurting people on purpose, he'll end a conflict with brute force if he has to do so. After learning a little bit of his mother's magic through self study, he prefers that enemies keep their distance so that he doesn't have to transform and do some major damage.

Complications:

Inner Beast: The Beast Rune almost seems to have a mind of its own; it heightens Marcus's latent aggressive nature. While that doesn't translate into him rampaging all over the place, it severely limits his ability to use magic.

Phobia: Water gives Marcus all sorts of problems. He never learned to swim, and his father had the brilliant idea of tossing him into the ocean as a teaching method. As a result, anything larger than a bathtub full of water makes Marcus immensely nervous--even then, he prefers showers.

Secret: Marcus's parents? Supervillains. Khimera is a monster that could've come out of a horror movie, and Runic is an international criminal specializing in magic and forgery. Just the fact that his mother is still at large (and still committing crimes) is cause for major issues.

Temper: Insulting Marcus's father is an easy way to start a fight. As far as he's concerned, no one knows the man behind the monster better than he does (and his mother, as far as he's concerned, doesn't count).

Abilities: 0 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 0 = 10PP

Strength: 10 (+0) / 18 (+4)*

Dexterity: 12 (+1)

Constitution: 24 (+7) / 28 (+9)*

Intelligence: 12 (+1)

Wisdom: 12 (+1)

Charisma: 10 (+0)

*Bear Form

Combat: 16 + 16 = 32PP

Initiative: +5

Attack: +8 [+10 melee] / +7 [+9 melee]

Grapple: +10 (+18 in bear form)

Defense: +10 (+8 Base, +2 Dodge Focus), +3 flat-footed / +9 (+7 base, +2 Dodge Focus, -1 Size)

Knockback: -3 (-8 in bear form)

Saving Throws: 5 + 8 + 8 = 21PP

Toughness: +7 (+7 Con) / +9 (+9 Con)*

Fortitude: +12 (+7 Con, +5) / +14 (+9 Con, +5)*

Reflex: +9 (+1 Dex, +8)

Will: +9 (+1 Wis, +8)

*Bear Form

Skills: 84R = 21PP

Acrobatics 9 (+10)

Climb 5 (+5)

Craft [Artistic] 9 (+10)

Gather Information 10 (+10)

Intimidate 9 (+9, +11 in bear form)

Knowledge [Arcane Lore] 10 (+11)

Knowledge [History] 6 (+7)

Notice 5 (+6)

Search 5 (+6)

Sense Motive 8 (+9)

Stealth 4 (+5, +1 in bear form)

Survival 4 (+5)

Feats: 12PP

Artificer

Attack Focus [Melee] 2

Dodge Focus 2

Fearless

Improved Grab

Improved Grapple

Improved Initiative

Improved Pin

Ritualist

Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Gather Information, Intimidate, Sense Motive)

Powers: 40 + 7 + 10 = 57PP

Alternate Form 8 [40 PP] (Source: Magical)

• 
  Enhanced Feat 3 (Fearsome Presence 3 [15 feet, DC 13]) [3PP]
  Features 1 (Fur-covered hide [immunity to sunburn and cold]) [1 PP]
  Growth 4 (Large; +8 Str, +4 Con, -1 Attack/Defense, +4 Grapple, -4 Stealth, +2 Intimidate) [12 PP]
  Leaping 1 (x2; 28/14/7 ft. running/standing/vertical) [1PP]
  Regeneration 10 (Recovery Bonus 1 [+10 total], Bruised 3 [no action], Injured 6 [no action]) [10 PP]
  Strike 5 (claws; PF: Mighty, Split Attack 1) [7PP]
  Super Senses 6: (Danger Sense (Olfactory), Acute Scent, Track 2, Darkvision) [6 PP]
  

Device 2 (Ursa Minor's Quarterstaff, easy to lose; PF: Restricted [Artificer feat]) [7PP]

Enhanced Constitution 10 [10PP]

ATTACK                  RANGE    SAVE                  EFFECT

Unarmed                 Touch    DC20 (vs TOU)         Damage

Strike 5 (staff)        Touch    DC20 (vs TOU)         Damage

Strike 5 (bear, claws)  Touch    DC24 (vs TOU)         Damage

Strike 5 (bear, staff)  Touch    DC24 (vs TOU)         Damage

Abilities (10) + Combat (32) + Saving Throws (21) + Skills (21) + Feats (12) + Powers (57) - Drawbacks (0) = 153/153 Power Points

Doktor'd

Actually, I was intending on trying to use Arc's Fearsome Presence, but this works out better... maybe.

Arc's Intimidate roll! 1d20+11=29

"I don't think so." Arcturus moved to interpose himself between Mary and the apparition. That put him in front of Rene, as well, though he hardly seemed to mind. The red of his pupils intensified as he leaned forward, fangs bared into the mist. On paper, the very idea of trying to intimidate the boogeyman just seemed ridiculous. He wasn't about to let anything happen to this girl, however; he'd never be able to live with himself if he did.

"Anyone can pick on a little girl... Pick on someone your own size."

Arcturus:

Complications: Added several. God knows he needed better ones.

Powers: Overhauled Arc's alternate form to bring him up to caps (moreso than he had been, anyway); upgraded his Alternate Form to rank 11, and I dropped everything other than his Alt form out of the array.

[floatr][/floatr]

Player Name: GranspearZX

Character Name: Arcturus

Power Level: PL11 | 162/163 PP

Trade-Offs: None

Unspent PP: 0

Progress To Bronze Status: 13/30

In Brief: A typical teenager with an atypical beast living inside him.

Alternate Identities: Marcus Irons

Identity: Public

Birthplace: Chicago, IL

Occupation: High School Student

Affiliations: Claremont Academy, Parkhurst Mystics

Family: Richard Irons (father, 43. Also known as the supervillain "Khimera";), Lyrica Irons (mother, 40, also known as the supervillainess "Runic"). Married for 20 years.

Age: 17 (DoB: March 1994)

Apparent Age: N/A

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: African American

Height: 6' (8' 4" in bear form)

Weight: 225 lbs (475lbs. in bear form)

Eyes: Brown (red in bear form)

Hair: Black

Description: In his normal form, Marcus seems like a normal kid. Tall and broad-shouldered, he's a bit on the heavy side, and looks like he was built for sports. His head is usually shaved bald, and his facial hair is trimmed into a nice, even goatee. Despite his size, Marcus is deceptively agile--he's no gymnast, but he's actually capable of more mobility than a tank. His brown eyes are often half-closed, and he always looks a little worn out--not that there's anything wrong with him. He simply looks disengaged from everything around him unless he's specifically focused on a person or a conversation... or even his studies. He has a notably brighter look about him when he's busy. Someone might actually catch him smiling on occasion.

In his 'beast' form, he's a lot more intimidating. Standing well over eight feet tall, Marcus--or Arcturus, as he prefers--is a particularly grim-looking beast of a man. Largely resembling a brown bear, Arcturus's fingertips ending in vicious claws. Covered in black fur, his most notable marking is the white, crescent-shaped patch across his upper chest.

History: Marcus Irons lead somewhat of a sheltered life. Being an only child, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't in the company of at least one of his parents, and he never wanted for anything. That certainly wasn't to say that he was spoiled; Richard Irons was a gruff disciplinarian, almost military in his imposition of order on his only son. While both parents often had to go away on business from time to time, he more often than not spent that time with his father. Richard taught him all sorts of things--fishing, hunting, and even how to fight when he started getting bullied at school. His mother was a lot less heavy handed; she wouldn't let Marcus get away with just anything, of course, but she gave him considerably more freedom. It gave him plenty of chance to wonder why his parents had so many books on occult subjects, but he rarely acted on the impulse to read any of them. He had enough problems with just algebra.

Marcus and his father had just come from celebrating his 15th birthday a few weeks early, watching a Blades game. He thought it would be an unforgettable night; the two of them stuck around the stadium and he managed to get Andre Leroux to sign his jersey. It was, in fact, a night he'd always remember, but not for the reasons that Marcus thought. They went home, and hours later he was awakened by the breaking of glass and a lot of yelling. Marcus arrived in the living room just in time to see a group of men tackle his father. Without thinking he rushed to try and help, leaping uselessly on one of their backs, only to get thrown off. The landing hurt, but something else in him snapped... Everyone was especially surprised when the 15 year-old boy came back at the SWAT-geared man, grabbing him by the collar with a clawed hand and slinging him across the room.

The next few moments were a blur. The room flooded with more people and he remembered something giving him a nasty shock. He remembered his father's voice, sounding uncharacteristically desperate, and then... nothing. He woke up several days later in the hospital, with a strange man in his room, introducing himself as Duncan Summers. That was when he learned the truth--his parents were wanted supervillains. At first, he didn't believe it. His parents, as far as he knew, hadn't even had so much as a speeding ticket. Sure, his dad was over six and a half feet tall and intimidating as all hell, but imagining his father as a monster? No way.

Seeing the evidence, however, was sobering. His father could transform, just as he had that night, only his form was... far less friendly on the eyes. He had a body count well into the triple digits, most before he was born. He wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with the reality that his father was even capable of the destruction of which he'd been accused.

His mother's involvement was considerably more obscure. As the sorceress Runic, she had managed to suppress his father's transformation through the use of her knowledge and research on magical artifacts and symbols, allowing them to lead normal lives. She was wanted for hiding him, among other things... and Marcus was almost certain that it contributed to her not showing up when his father was carted off to jail. He wasn't stupid--he realized that his father never fought back, and that he'd plead guilty, skipping a trial entirely. Marcus wasn't sure what to do next... Summers provided him with an option.

Personality & Motivation: Marcus is surprisingly mature for his age, often coming off as stand-offish, humorless, and far more serious than necessary. He's actually notoriously big-hearted and loyal to the people who actually earn his trust, and something of a pacifist at heart--contrary to the look and overall aggressive nature of the Beast Rune on his back. It's certainly not that he isn't capable; on the contrary, it's knowing that he could potentially lose control and seriously hurt someone that keeps him from doing anyone serious, crippling harm. Seeking largely to guard against the stigma of his parents' pasts, Marcus makes it a point to know as much as he can about both the magical and physical world and how they interact with one another.

Powers & Tactics: Marcus is a brawler, plain and simple. Being especially good at it, his fists are often the first course of action for him. When he can actually plan ahead, he does so--more with a working knowledge of the situation than any real magical backup, other than his animal form. When especially pressed for a solution, he's been known to use the Beast Rune in its rawest form, able to transform into something other than his 'default' bear form.

Complications:

Aspect of the Beast: Marcus is exceptionally aggressive and blunt in his bear form, and finds it difficult to back out of a fight.

Colorblind: In his bear form, Arcturus can't really distinguish colors; everything looks grayscale.

Phobia: Marcus can't swim. It's less of a problem in his human form, but his fear of drowning causes him to avoid large bodies of water whenever possible.

Secret: Marcus's mother, Runic, is an international thief and forger, and has crossed and double-crossed numerous heroes and villains in her career. His father, the previous holder of the Beast Rune, destroyed an entire town before the power was stripped from him. If anyone did a little digging, it would cause Marcus a colossal headache and earn him a lot of enemies and unwanted attention.

Temper: Marcus has full control over his transformation... usually. Typically, however, pain causes his usually strict control to slip--whether it's physical, or seeing a friend get hurt.

Wardrobe Malfunction: Typically, Marcus wears something of a uniform underneath his clothes--his normal clothes typically don't survive his transformations.

Abilities: 0 + 2 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 0 = 18 PP

Strength: [28] 10 (+9/+0)

Dexterity: 12 (+1)

Constitution: [26] 22 (+8/+6)

Intelligence: 12 (+1)

Wisdom: 12 (+1)

Charisma: 10 (+0)

Combat: 18 + 18 = 36PP

Initiative: +5

Attack: +9 [+10 melee] / +8 [+9 melee, +14 unarmed]

Grapple: +10 (+23 in bear form)

Defense: +11 (+9 Base, +2 Dodge Focus), +5 flat-footed / +10 (+9 base, +2 Dodge Focus, -1 Size), +5 flat-footed

Knockback: -3 (-9 in bear form)

Saving Throws: 5 + 8 + 8 = 21PP

Toughness: +6 (+6 Con) / +11 (+8 Con. +3 Protection)

Fortitude: +11 (+6 Con, +5) / +13 (+8 Con, +5)

Reflex: +9 (+1 Dex, +8)

Will: +9 (+1 Wis, +8)

Skills: 76R = 19PP

Acrobatics 9 (+10)

Climb 3 (+3, +8 in bear form)

Craft [Artistic] 9 (+10)

Intimidate 7 (+7, +17 in bear form)

Knowledge [arcane lore] 9 (+10)

Knowledge [earth sciences] 3 (+4)

Knowledge [life sciences] 3 (+4)

Knowledge [physical sciences] 4 (+5)

Languages 2 [English (base), Greek, Latin]

Notice 4 (+5)

Search 4 (+5)

Sense Motive 5 (+6)

Stealth 9 (+10, +6 in bear form)

Survival 5 (+6)

Feats: 13PP

Artificer

Attack Focus [Melee] 1

Attack Specialization [unarmed] 2*

Challenge - Forceful Intimidation*

Dodge Focus 2

Fearless

Fearsome Presence 8*

Improved Grab

Improved Grapple

Improved Initiative

Improved Pin

Luck 1

Ritualist

Skill Mastery [Acrobatics, Intimidate, Craft (artistic), Knowledge (arcane lore)]

Takedown Attack 1

*Bear Form

Powers: 55PP

Alternate Form 11 (Duration: Sustained; Source: Magic) (Beast Rune Bear form, Magic) [55PP]

• Enhanced Feats 11 (Attack Specialization [unarmed] 2; Challenge [Powerful Intimidation]; Fearsome Presence 8 [DC18, 40 ft]) [11PP]
  Enhanced Skill 2 (Intimidate +8) [2PP]
  Enhanced STR 10 [10PP]
  AP: Super Strength 4 (19.2 ton heavy load; PFs: Bracing, Groundstrike) [1PP]
  Features 1 (fur-covered hide [cold/sunburn immunity]) [1PP]
  Growth 4 (Large; +8 Str, +4 Con, -1 Attack/Defense, +4 Grapple, -4 Stealth, +2 Intimidate) [12 PP]
  Leaping 4 (x25; running jump: 475 ft., standing long jump: 237 ft., vertical jump: 118 ft.) [3PP]
  Protection 3 [3PP]
  Strike 1 (claws; PF: Mighty) [2PP]
  Super-Senses 9 (Danger Sense [Olfactory], Detect Lies [Olfactory], Low Light Vision, Extended Smell 2 [x100], Scent, Tracking 2 [normal speed]) [9PP]

DC Block:

ATTACK            RANGE     SAVE                     EFFECT

Unarmed           Touch     DC15/24 TOU (Staged)     Damage (Physical)

Strike 1 (claws)  Touch     DC25 TOU (Staged)        Damage (Physical)

Abilities (18) + Combat (36) + Saving Throws (21) + Skills (19) + Feats (13) + Powers (55) - Drawbacks (0) = 162/163 Power Points

If nothing else, Arcturus felt a whole lot better about himself after dispatching the spider... even if it wasn't real.

Returning to Rene's side, he watched the color of the landscape drain, leaving just them, the girl, and... the Boogeyman. A feeling of general unease settled in on Arcturus, knotting in his stomach as he visibly tensed. He'd never believed in the Boogeyman... his parents had told him that there was no such thing as monsters. But then, that was years before his father actually admitted to being one, once upon a time.

"We're Pest Control," Arcturus said flatly, straightening up and staring the shrouded figure straight in the... well, in the mouth. He could definitely see kids being scared senseless of this thing, and even now he had a feeling that this particular incarnation was tame in comparison to what could really happen.

"And you, you're a pest. Get out."

I could go for some semi-magical shenanigans with Arcturus.

I think I'm getting better at this.

Edits this round:

Spent the 2 unspent skill ranks in Climb

Changed Super-Senses to just one of the two flaws (limited it to just his past lives), and used the extra point to add Danger Sense (visual). Also added the complication of too much use of the Postcognition to give the Crusader a massive headache.

Edits!

Abilities: Reduced Charisma by 2, from 16 to 14. Edited Skills accordingly.

Combat: I totally missed that house rule; my apologies for that. To fix, I bought up his defense and reduced the rank of the Shield power, giving him a base defense of 2 and a dodge bonus of 4.

Skills: Fixed all his skills to properly reflect their modifiers; a lot of them were wrong. @.@

Feats: As per your suggestion, I dropped Improved Block 2. I also dropped Attractive, Inspire, Leadership, and Connected, and picked up Beginner's Luck.

Powers: Changed his shield to Device 5, and added Indestructible as a power feat. Also changed the Strike power to Blast, and added rank to the Ricochet power feat. The idea behind Postcognition was really interesting, so I went with that too; not entirely sure I needed Limited AND Unreliable, but if that needs to be changed, let me know.It even gave me another idea for a complication (Hostile Takeover) to add.

Hopefully I didn't miss anything else; thanks again for reviewing. :)

Player Name: GranspearZX

Character Name: Crusader

Power Level: 7 (108/110PP)

Trade-Offs: None

Unspent PP: 2

Progress to Silver Status: 5/60 (Bronze Status earned with Arcturus)

In Brief: A high school teacher trying to follow in the footsteps of his father.

Alternate Identities: Clark Allen Noble

Identity: Secret

Birthplace: Freedom City

Occupation: High School Teacher

Affiliations: FDR High School

Family: Carla Noble (mother), Benjamin Noble (brother), Regina Noble (sister)

Age: 32 (DoB: May 1979)

Apparent Age: 32

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: Irish

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 231 lbs.

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black

Description: Clark Noble could easily be mistaken as a professional athlete; tall and muscular, Clark is a wide-shouldered and often imposing figure to most. His short, blonde hair is often hidden underneath a featureless black cap, and sunglasses usually shade his dark blue eyes.

As the Crusader, his costume is white and red, with red boots and gloves. He also wears a white mask that covers his entire face. His round shield is white, as well, with a red cross dominating its center.

Power Descriptions: Clark doesn't appear to have much in the way of superpowers, but he manages to hold his own with the help of extensive physical training and the help of his shield. The shield itself seems to have unusual properties of its own, virtually indestructible.

History: Clark lead a fairly simple life. He was the first in a set of triplets, and for years it was speculated that being the first-born afforded him a unique advantage. He was an especially charismatic and focused young man, and while he was a fairly perceptive child, he never really noticed that his father wasn't around all that often. As a 5-year old, he was a bit too young to understand what exactly his father was doing. Eventually, Clark did find out, after finding his father sneaking into the house late one night--in costume as the Crusader. In exchange for keeping his father's secret, Brian Noble promised to teach Clark everything that he knew; with the climate as it was for superheroes in the early 80s, Brian could only hope the city would relinquish its ban on their activities.

Tragedy struck in 1993; the Terminus Invasion caused widespread chaos across the city, and Brian Noble went missing during the evacuation of their neighborhood, and when it was all over, many heroes were gone--including the Crusader. Only Clark knew his father's secret, and only he knew that his father was more than just 'missing'. It forced him to grow up a bit faster, taking on the responsibilities of his family even as his twin brother and sister put an increasing strain on his grief-stricken mother. In 1998, he graduated from high school; he nearly joined the military until he started having odd, unsettling dreams of his father. Keeping the part-time job he'd found, he started recreating his father's costume from memory--memories that, he soon discovered, weren't entirely his own. Visiting his father's grave in Memorial Grove, he was suddenly flooded mentally by a vision of his father's spirit--and every Crusader before him, stretching back to the 13th century. When he awoke, nearly a week had passed, and his father's shield lay along side his gravestone. Using his newly acquired powers, he began building on the legacy his father and his ancestors left behind.

Operating largely out of Hanover, Clark put himself through college and earned a B.S. in Athletic Training with a minor in biomechanics, later earning a Master's in education. By then, his sister had moved on, working for the World Health Organization; Robert, however, had developed a gambling addiction. More than once, Clark tried to bail his brother out of situations involving drugs and owing mobsters money, only to later have to take him down along with the other criminals he encountered as the Crusader.

Personality & Motivation: Most people who get to know Clark find him to be very easy going, although his naturally competitive nature often manifests itself from the sidelines when he's coaching. As the Crusader, he tries to curb that instinct and is exceptionally well-suited to working with others. As a leader, he can be an insufferable optimist, stubborn and unrelenting when it comes to achieving his goals. Driven by the desire to honor the Crusader legacy, he presses forward, no matter what, though never at the expense of sacrificing anyone but himself.

He isn't at all the single-minded simpleton that his moral code would lead one to believe, however; while strives to be the quintessential hero, he recognizes that he's human. If nothing else, he tries to conduct himself as a role model, but even he has moments of weakness where righteous indignation overtakes any pretense of taking the moral high road.

Powers & Tactics: Clark has never been one to shy away from a fight, but he's surprisingly adept at team tactics, able to analyze both his allies' strengths as well as his enemies' strengths and weaknesses. He often prefers to use the Crusader Shield's ricochet effect to dispatch weaker enemies before focusing on the greatest threat, charging shield-first into foes too tough to be taken out from a distance.

Complications:

Hatred: Clark's dislike for organized crime borders on the irrational; he's often a little bit rougher with gangsters and mobsters than he probably should be.

Mistaken Identity: Clark's twin brother, Ben, is a notorious gambler and owes a lot of people money, superpowered and not. Despite Clark's best efforts to keep his brother out of trouble, he often gets caught in the crossfire of his brother's immoral behavior.

People's Champ: Clark is guided--and often bound--by his moral code, and he finds it difficult to do anything that might be perceived as 'unheroic'. He'll never willingly strike a downed opponent, and is extremely reluctant to put women or kids in jeopardy.

Secret Identity: No one else knows that Clark Noble is the Crusader--a separation that Clark will go to great lengths to keep a secret.

Warrior's Pride: Clark has difficulty backing down from a fight, especially a one-on-one challenge.

Working Stiff: Clark Noble is a high school football coach and history teacher at FDR High School. He takes his job pretty seriously, and has been known to lose sleep over trying to keep up with his double life.

Abilities: 4 + 8 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 30PP

Strength: 14 (+2)

Dexterity: 18 (+4)

Constitution: 20 (+5)

Intelligence: 12 (+1)

Wisdom: 12 (+1)

Charisma: 14 (+2)

Combat: 14 + 4 = 16PP

Initiative: +4

Attack: +7, +9 Blast

Grapple: +9

Defense: +6 (+2 Base, +0 Dodge Focus, +4 Shield), +1 Flat-Footed

Knockback: -2

Saving Throws: 0 + 0 + 3 = 3PP

Toughness: +5 (+5 Con)

Fortitude: +5 (+5 Con, +0)

Reflex: +4 (+4 Dex, +0)

Will: +4 (+1 Wis, +3)

Skills: 84R = 21PP

Acrobatics 6 (+10)

Climb 5 (+7)

Craft (Mechanical) 5 (+6)

Diplomacy 6 (+8)

Escape Artist 6 (+10)

Gather Information 6 (+8)

Intimidate 6 (+8)

Investigate 6 (+7)

Knowledge (History) 6 (+7)

Knowledge (Tactics) 6 (+7)

Notice 6 (+7)

Sense Motive 8 (+9)

Stealth 6 (+10)

Swim 6 (+8)

Feats: 15PP

All-Out Attack

Assessment

Beginners Luck

Defensive Attack

Fearless

Improved Critical (Shield) 2

Improved Disarm

Improved Sunder

Interpose

Luck

Power Attack

Seize Initiative

Startle

Takedown Attack

Powers: 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 21PP

Device 5 (25PP Container, Extra Effort applies to user, Flaws: Easy-To-Lose 2, Feats: Indestructible, Restricted 2 [Crusader]) (Crusader Shield, Impervium) [18PP]

Leaping 1 (x2 [24ft Running Long Jump, 12ft Standing Long Jump, 6ft Verticle Jump]) (Training) [1PP]

Speed 1 (10mph / 100ft per Move Action) (Training) [1PP]

Super Senses 1 (Danger Sense [Auditory]) (Training) [1PP]

DC Block:

ATTACK     RANGE     SAVE                       EFFECT

Unarmed    Touch     DC17 Toughness (Staged)    Damage (Physical)

Shield     Ranged    DC19 Toughness (Staged)    Damage (Physical)

Abilities (30) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (3) + Skills (21) + Feats (15) + Powers (21) - Drawbacks (0) = 108/110 Power Points

Marcus Irons / Arcturus

Quote

Gather Information

DC10: Marcus Irons is a sophomore at FCU, majoring in library sciences.

DC15: Marcus often makes visits to Blackstone Penitentiary, at least twice every month.

DC20: Marcus's father and mother are both highly sought-after supercriminals; while his father (Khimera) is currently in custody and a model prisoner, his mother (Runic) is still at large.

Knowledge (arcane lore)

DC10: Marcus possesses the Beast Rune, a magical symbol that allows him to transform into an enormous bear.

DC15: The Beast Rune shares a common thread with lycanthropy; the difference is significantly more controlled, and theoretically could allow Marcus to transform into nearly anything. The Beast Rune is unique in that only one person can possess it at any given time.

DC20: Every single user of the Beast Rune prior to Marcus has died from being overwhelmed by the Beast Rune, unable to synchronize with its profound effect over their aggression, save one. The previous holder is serving a life sentence in Blackstone.

DC25: The version of the Rune Marcus possesses is also called Animus. Animus himself is an actual, physical entity that currently inhabits Marcus's mind and can actively speak to him through dreams and meditation.

Knowledge (streetwise)

DC15: Marcus spends a good portion of his off-campus free time in the park and the museums surrounding it.

Uh... Arc is a Claremont student. o.o

But no worries; I'll find something else to do, I'm sure. ^^

*also raises hand?* ^^

Just casting a line; I'm really up for anything. :)

No matter what Steven Colbert says. >.> <.<

At any rate, Arcturus is very much available for a thread, if anyone's interested. :)

Arc's Grapple roll:

1d20+18=36

And the spider's going... going... gone! :D

"Sounds like a plan."

Marcus nodded, smiling nervously as he fished out a ten-dollar bill of his own. "Well, if you're sure..." It's not as if this was a date or anything. Marcus had actually managed to finish all of his food; he didn't realize just how hungry he was until after everything was gone. Tapping the book at his right side with a finger, he waited until they were both ready before standing up and heading outside.

"Thanks again for the help, by the way... I'm probably gonna say that a lot, but I really do appreciate it."