"The way I see it.. there're two types of people: those who spend their lives trying to build a future. And those who spend their lives trying to rebuild the past."

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Max is a physically fit middle aged white man, befitting his status as a long time policeman and detective. He stands at around six feet tall. The Event caught him wearing his trusty jacket, as well as a white shirt, a tie, and grey khakis.

A life of loss and hardship wears on him. He is prone to being unkempt, only straightening himself up whenever professionalism demands it. Even then, he carries himself like a man that has to work to find a reason to get out of bed in the morning; his body slightly deflated like a days old balloon.

PERSONALITY ASPECTS

- Cynical
- Snarky
- Depressive
- Jaded to All Hell
- Fatalistic
- Morbid Sense of Humor
- Poetic Sense of Description
- Capable of Fanatical Levels of Perseverance

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Max Payne's story starts on August 22, 1998. That was the night that Michelle and Rose Payne, his wife and infant daughter, were killed by a bunch of drug addicts in a home invasion. The addicts were all high on a new designer drug called Valkyr. This prompted him to leave the NYPD and join the DEA. After three years there was a break in the case when an informant linked the Punchinello crime family to the distribution of Valkyr.

Going undercover, Max only had two people in the DEA aware that he was undercover: Alex Balder and B.B. Thus when Alfred was killed during a meeting with Max, he was the prime suspect. With the NYPD hunting him for murder, he was forced to uncover a conspiracy leading to the Aesir Corporation and their CEO Nicole Horne. The company was responsible for developing Valkyr for the military in an effort to create a super-soldier drug, but when the project was cancelled she continued to produce the drug and sell it on the streets through the Punchinellos.

Nicole Horne had been a member of a secret society called the Inner Circle. Her rival, Senator Alfred Woden, had sent incriminating evidence to DA's office, where Michelle worked. This was why Horne targeted her, sending the junkies to kill her that fateful night. With Woden's support, Max was able to storm the Aesir building, killing Horne before she could escape.

Exonerated of the hundreds of killings with Woden's help. Transferring back to the NYPD as a detective, Payne kept working until 2003 when he uncovered another conspiracy. After getting himself involved in a brewing mob war between Vladimir Lem and Vinnie Cognitti, he ends up with a contract on his head. With the help of the assassin Mona Sax, he eventually discovers that Vladimir Lem, who had helped him with the 2001 incident, was a rebel member of the Inner Circle and was the one behind the hitmen going after both Mona and Max.

Having been betrayed by one of his last friends on Earth, Max went after Vlad. However he was stopped at the last minute by Mona, who had been hired to kill him but ultimately she couldn't go through with it as they had fallen in love during the proceedings. Unfortunately this gave Vladimir a perfect chance to shoot her, leaving her to die in Max's arms like his wife before her.

Max was able to kill Vlad, using his own gun no less, and was exonerated for all the killings he'd committed, Max soon spiralled into a deep depression even as his work helped dissolve the Puchinello Crime Family. And then The Event happened. Wandering for the better part of a day, across fragments of twisted versions of New York city, he thought he was stuck in one of his reoccurring nightmares. It didn't help when he came across the alien queen, or the Captain Baseball Bat Boy rip-off. If one good thing can be said about The Event can be said, waking up on a couch in the middle of nowhere sure breaks a man out of a funk.



~SKILLS~
Firearms: Max has shown extreme proficiency with all sorts of guns, from his trusty 9mm to Ingrams to the mighty Jackhammer.

Grappling: While his training as a cop doesn't make him the best hand to hand fighter, he is still trained in multiple techniques to subdue a foe to arrest them. If he feels like it.

Trained Detective: Max is a veteran homocide detective and had spent time working undercover. Despite his more (in)famous exploits, he is a solid investigator who is familiar with police procedures.

~SPECIAL ABILITIES~
Bullet Time: Whenever he's in danger, Max has been known to react with superhuman speed and grace. One of his most famous techniques is dive through the air while firing his weapons.

Rapid Reload: Payne has the miraculous ability to reload his guns in the blink of an eye, allowing his concerto of carnage to continue.

One Man Armory: After working undercover in the criminal underworld, Max has picked up many of the subtle techniques required to hide multiple weapons on his person. In short, so long as he's wearing something to hide them under, he can carry a remarkable number of weapons without issue.

~Perks~

Happiness at the Bottom of a Bottle: Max has been known to shrug off tremendous injury just by downing a bottle of painkillers. For some unknown reason alcohol, drugs, and other similar pharmaceuticals are more effective.

~Faults~
Barrel of Monkeys on His Back: In a bit of irony that isn't lost on him, Max has developed a few addictions and dependencies. While he is currently high functioning, he is addicted to the pills that helped him get through many a gunfight, as well as some alcoholic tendencies.

~Weaknesses~

Just a Man: Despite his ability to seemingly shrug off the worst that New York can throw at him, a solid shot will put him down. His ability to survive things such as a bullet to the head and an overdose of Valkyr seem to be largely due to grit and luck. He is not superhumanly strong nor fast outside of his bullet time.

Ghosts of His Past: Payne's name is truly apt. A history of loss and hardship has made him bitter and depressed. Vengeance for his family drove him for years, and that is not something you give up easily. Ultimately he still tries to do the right thing but he has jade colored glasses. When he sets his sights on someone or something, he plunges in with a near suicidal determination.



~STARTING EQUIPMENT~

9mm pistol: Standard issue to the NYPD and known as "America's Avenger", this pistol holds 16 rounds of common 9mm ammo. Starts with one 16 round magazine.

Leather Jacket: Worn, patched up, and reliable. This jacket is a metaphor for Max himself.

NYPD Detective Badge: Number 8349. The last remnant of one of the largest police departments in the world.

Three Photos of Three Girls: Michelle, Rose, and Mona. Tragedy befalls those he loves, leaving only images.

~CURRENTLY EQUIPPED GEAR~

What your character is currently wearing/using in regards to equipment.

~INVENTORY~
- Just Starting Equipment


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For anything else.