Search the Community

Kord Dormitories, Second Floor Claremont Academy, Freedom City, New Jersey Monday, September 4, 2023 The start of the new school year was just a week away, and the activity on Claremont Academy had increased in anticipation. Today, students (and some parents) had descended on the school’s dormitories, getting students moved in ahead of the start of classes. The weather in Freedom City was still quit warm, pushing towards the 90’s, with the humidity making it seem even warmer. Lawrence Harrow exited the stairwell on the second floor of the dorms, a backpack over one shoulder and a large suitcase in tow. The blond sixteen year old’s parents had seen him off at home in North Bay and he had driven himself to campus. He was looking to get some of his things to his room and catch up with Baz so they could start meeting more of the classmates.

Lincoln, Freedom City, New Jersey Tuesday July 25, 2023 2:23 PM Lawrence Harrow pulled his parents' BWM iX electric SUV into the parking lot of the Cline Building, which was known to some as Freedom League Special Circumstances Housing. As someone who had grown up connected to the superhero community in Freedom City (let alone the son of a member of the Freedom League), Lawrence had visited the FLSCH quite a few times over the years, participating in fundraisers, community improvement projects and social mixers. Today the sixteen year old was here to meet Baltazar (Baz) Botez, who would be his roommate at Claremont Academy when the school year began in a couple months. The school had put the two in touch after it had decided to put them together in a room for the coming year and the pair had exchanged some emails and text messages. This would be the first time Lawrence would be meeting Baz in person. Stepping out of the SUV, the blond sixteen year old had a small box of pastries from a bakery in North Bay his mother liked in one hand. While is was only in the low 80's today, the humidity made it feel much warmer and Lawrence was dressed in a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a blue T-shirt. Making his way into the building, Lawrence headed towards the elevators that would take him to the floor where Baz had his apartment.

Gamma Buzz (a.k.a the Cockroach Kid) Power Level: 8 (180/185 PP) Unspent Power Points: 5 Trade-Offs: None In Brief: Radioactive Cockroach Catchphrase: " Alternate Identity: Baltazar “Baz” Botez Birthplace: Mexico City Residence: Freedom City / Claremont Base of Operations: Freedom City / Claremont Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Family: Bianca “Biz” Botez (Sister) Description: Age: 16 Apparent Age: 16 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Cockroach Height: 5’9” Weight: 75Kgs Eyes: Red Hair: None Gamma Buzz looks like a human shaped insect, covered in a green exoskeleton, with three fingers on each hand, and two antennae growing out of his forehead. He normally wears a t shirt, and jeans. History: Baltazar Botez grew up in the slums of Caracas, spending his time playing in a rubbish dump with his sister. His favourite activity was playing with the glowing green cockroaches that scuttled around suspicious rusty canisters. Illegally dumped experimental nuclear waste has strange effects. Whilst his sister mutated her eyes (and is able to see in infrared and ultraviolet), Baltazar mutated his eyes and everything else, turning into a half-man, half-cockroach radioactive mutant. Fearing prejudice, he and his sister illegally crossed into the USA so that Baltazar could join Claremont, whilst his sister scraped out a living cleaning the sewers and subways of Freedom City (Infrared vision is good for something…) Personality & Motivation Baltazar is a rumbunctious rapscallion who likes to play rather than study. He is keen to prove daredevil bravery. His hobby is electronics and DJ, and aims to set up his own pirate radio station in the future. Underneath the extravert personality, Baltazar is wounded; he is an insect, with no genitalia and (in his mind) a monster with no chance of getting a girl. He is awkward around females, and gets very angry with bullies. Baltazar is still working out his future. Part of him wants to be a hero, if nothing else to impress the girls and gain acceptance. He has a passion for the underdog and wants to help his sister. A rebellious streak in him makes him fancy himself as a “Punk Hero” – hence the pirate radio station. Powers & Tactics: Gamma Buzz has insect like strength, agility and senses. His armour plated skin affords some protection and allows him to crawl along walls and ceilings. He is immune to radiation, and at the same time can emit radiation in various forms. He is too inexperienced and impulsive to be tactically savvy, but he would generally prefer to crawl along a ceiling and dramatically surprise people. He generally fights with his fists, whilst glowing green (Aura Nauseate Power). Whilst his sensitive eyes can see throughout the EM Spectrum, this also makes him vulnerable to dazzles. He has a penchant for signing “GBB” (Gamma Buzz, Baby) with an elegant twist of his laser vision. Power Descriptions: Gamma Buzz’s radioactive powers look like green light. This includes his laser vision (which is also coloured green). His “Mutate” power looks like a sickly yellow green, whilst his “Dazzle” power looks more like a bright white-green. Complications: Half Insect: Gamma Buzz is half insect. He looks ugly and stands out easily, making disguise almost impossible. In addition, certain pesticides and chemicals will affect him if they target insects. Big Impact: He is no more vulnerable to impact damage / effects than the next cape, but impact can easily dislocate his limbs. He can pop them back into place, but that takes time and hurts like hell. Vulnerable Antenna: Even an average guy (or girl) can easily tear of his Antenna. They regrow back eventually, but without them he will loose his tremor sense. Green Greeny: Tactically unsound and fresh to the fight, Gamma Buzz hasn’t quite realised that the colour green reflects green light. Some of his powers (particularly the laser vision) will be markedly less useful, or ineffective, against green coloured objects (or people). Signature Move: Gamma Buzz will normally celebrate a victory (or percieved success) by carving his signature (GBB or Gamma Buzz, Baby) into surfaces with his laser vision, Apart from the trouble this vandalism might cause, it can delay him. Struggling Sister:: Has very limited wealth (mainly from his struggling sister, who is also a potential vulnerability for Baltazar). Radiation Pressure: Even without actively using his radiation powers, Gamma Buzz is radioactive enough to be easily spotted and tracked by a geiger counter or those with suitable senses. He also has to periodicallly use his powers (he will feel a pressure build up) after a few hours or he will lose control of them (for instance, unwittingly releasing an extra effort radiation burst at a bad time) inadvertantly releasing his radiation in an attempt to let of steam / release the pressure. Abilities: 16 + 18 + 12 + 2 + 0 + 4 = 52 Strength: 26 (+8) Dexterity: 28 (+9) Constitution: 22 (+6) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16 + 16 = 32 Initiative: +13 (+9 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) Attack: +8 Defence: +8, +4 Flat Footed base Grapple: +18 Knockback: -4 (-3 for Critical hits) Saving Throws: 4 + 3 + 4 = 11 Fort +10 (+6 Con, +4) Reflex +12 (+9 Dex, +3) Will +4 (+4) Tough +8 (+6 Con, +2 Protection), +6 vs Critical Hits Skills: 40 Ranks = 10 PP Acrobatics 10 (+19) Bluff 4 (+4) Craft (Electronics) 4 (+5) Knowledge (Popular Cultures) 4 (+5) Language 2 (English, Portuguese, Spanish [Native]) Notice 4 (+4) Perform (DJ) 4 (+6) Sense Motive 4 (+4) Stealth 4 (+13) Feats: 5 PP Acrobatic Bluff Evasion 2 Improved Initiative 1 Prone Fighting Powers: 37 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 72 Radiation Array (32 PP Array, Feats: Alt power 5) [37 PP] (Radiation Descriptor) BP: Blast 8 (Extras: Penetrating, Feats: Improved Range 3 (800’ Increments), Progression: Maximum range 3 (x10), Precise, Incurable) [32 PP] “Laser Vision” AP: Nauseate 5 (Extras: Sustained Aura [+3], Contagious, Feats: Selective Aura) [31 PP] “Radioactive Glow” AP: Nauseate 5 (1-50’ Cloud, Extras: Range, Contagious, Cloud Area, Feats: Decrease Area 5, Increase Area 1) [31 PP] “Fallout Bomb” AP: Dazzle 8 (10-200’ Radius, Visual plus Radio Senses, Extras: Burst Area, Feats: Decrease Area 6, Increase Area 2, Flaws: Range) [32 PP] AP: Environmental Control 5 (100’ Radius, Extreme Heat, Extreme Light, Heavy Radiation, Extras: Independent [+0], Feats: Selective [Mix and match effects], Slow Fade 6, one day, Flaws: Range [touch]) 32 PP “Irradiate Ground” AP: Transform 8 (Mutation to Mutation, 250lbs, Extras: Continuous- countered by medical treatment, Flaws: Random [No control over what power points are turned into]) 32 PP “Mutation Beam” Protection 2 (Drawbacks: Weak spot) [1 PP] “Armour plates” Immunity 13 (All Radiation Effects, Hot and Cold Environments, Disease) [13PP] Leaping 3 (x10 Distance. Running 180’, Standing 90’. High 45’) [3 PP] Speed 2 (25 mph) [2 PP] Super Movement 2 (Wall Crawling 2, Full Speed) [4 PP] Super Senses 6 (Infravision, Ultravision, Tremor Sense, Low Light Vision, Feats: Uncanny Dodge [tactile]) [6 PP] Super Strength 2 (+10 STR, total STR 36) [4 PP] Regeneration 0 (Feats: Regrowth) [1 PP] Feature (Iron Stomach, can eat anything) [1 PP] Drawbacks: -2 Vulnerability (EM base dazzles including light Frequency: uncommon; Intensity: Moderate [x150%]) [-2PP] Totals Attributes 52 + Combat 32 + Saves 11 + Skills 10 + Feats 5 + Powers 72 - Drawbacks 2 = 180/185