Weekend got busy on my end but I'm still working towards a pitch!
My current thoughts are moving towards focusing on the robots of the DC and Marvel universe, with a particular focus on a somewhat more heroic version of Ultron with an origin tied to the Metal Men.
My pitch from Bruce Banner is going to hinge on him being an art major instead of applying himself to the sciences. I want bruce to have little understanding as to what happened to him and his relationship with Gamma Ray's, the One-Bellow-All, and the Below-Place. Treating each of those components with more eldritch horror, being beyond human comprehension, with an emphasis on groups of interest hunting him down and trying to exploit the Hulk's properties for their own means. Meeting horrific, often terrible fates in the process.
I'd also like to play with things like The Red, The Green having beef with the hulk as well, viewing him as a perversion of the natural order of things.
_________________________________________________________ Valeria Cynthia Mary Richards, Miss Fantastic, The Smartest Woman Alive, Daughter of Doom Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond, Firestorm Benjamin Jacob "Ben" Grimm, The Thing Jaime Reyes, The Blue Beetle _________________________________________________________ The Fantastic Four _________________________________________________________ Multiverse 668 - Prime | Open
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S
M E M B E R S βββββββββββββββββββββββ βΊ Miss Fantastic
Valeria Richards was never truly born. Conceived in the Negative Zone, the unborn girl began to endanger both her mother and those around her through bursts of cosmic radiation similar to those that had empowered the Fantastic Four years before. Due to the disruptive effects of such radiation, it was impossible to observe the impact on the child herself and so there was hope, despite this, that Susan Storm would be able to carry her to term. This became a dim hope when the manifestations of such power began to destabilize the physical world, eventually pulling both mother and unborn daughter back into the Negative Zone with no trace of where they may have disappeared.
Alone, Sue gave birth to what appeared to be a stillborn Valeria, but help would come from the most unexpected of places. While Reed Richards and the other heroes who were able to aid him could not locate his wife, there was one who could. Victor Von Doom, nemesis of Reed and ruler of Latveria, called upon magic rather than science to locate Susan Storm and transport her back to the reality of Earth. Alive but distraught with the loss of her daughter, Susan was willing to accept the aid of Doom with the combined ability of both the supernatural and scientific means Victor had amassed. Doom was successful, able to restore life to the child and limit the energies of both the cosmic force and negative zone that she exuded. Had such power not been consumed in essentially resurrecting her, Valeria may likely have developed a gift akin to that shown by the original four. Instead, it was her mind that was altered, destined to develop early, and to ascend to heights that would outstrip even her father's genius intellect.
Victor's actions were far from altruistic, while certainly largely motivated by competitive desire with Reed, during the process Victor saw a new avenue for him to gain an advantage over The Fantastic Four. The child had been flooded with the mystical power of Doom's magic and so was a perfect candidate to become a familiar, allowing Doom to spy on the family through the eyes of Valeria. This advantage, however, would never have a chance to be realised. Only a few years passed before the events of the Baxter Catastrophe would take place. The exact circumstances of the disaster are unknown, simply that in a cascade of power, the Baxter Building, along with much of the surrounding city, simply ceased to be, a detonation that carved a crater into the face of New York City. At the time there were no known survivors, but there were two exceptions. The dormant form of Ben Grimm, The Thing, trapped within the rubble of the city, would remain undiscovered for decades. More pressingly, the arcane connection to Doom saved Valeria, pulling her to Latveria at the moment the small child would have been consumed.
At first at a loss with what use the child might be, Victor Von Doom shortly announced to the nation of Latveria that he had adopted a child, bringing her into the royal household. Valeria Von Doom. While Victor did not hide from the child that he was not her biological father, he never made any effort to explain her true parentage. The young girl worked it out on her own by the age of seven, her intellect already well above most adults. Valeria was well educated under the tutelage of Victor, blending the fields of science and magic as only the head of the Von Doom Household seemed capable. She had fine tutors from across the world, although rarely left Latveria. What caused Valeria to leave Latveria to seek her formal doctorate in the United States is not widely known, and it might be safe to presume she discovered the insidious nature of Doom's enchantments upon her, but the truth is simpler. Valeria and Victor had simply grown from mentor and mentee to rivals, and Valeria knows well that Doom accepts no rivals, even from family.
Valeria's first act upon returning to the USA, a country she only had passing memories of due to the prematurely developed nature of her mind, was to begin legal proceedings to 'restore' ownership of the land that had been the Baxter building to herself. A complicated combination of legal difficult and navigating the tempestuous public sentiment of New York followed. Feelings on the original Fantastic Four was mixed, generally depending on whether one considered them the cause or simply the most prominent victims of the Baxter Disaster. In the end, Valeria was able to reclaim a portion of the building's foundations which hadn't yet been set aside for redevelopment. After a short period of excavation, Valeria donated the land back to the city for use in the construction of a memorial. Having mostly grown up in the relative wilderness of rural Latveria, Valeria preferred to head out into New York State to break ground on the construction of her home in the USA, the isolated 'Baxter Estate' which now houses the new Fantastic Four.
βΊ The Thing
As with the rest of the Fantastic Four and their families, Ben was present at the scene of disaster many years prior. Whatever miscalculation, hostile force or simple cosmic bad luck lead to the disappearance or death of the other occupants instead buried Ben deep underground, knocked into a form of stasis. He was buried beneath the early attempts of property development and memorialization, shut off from the world.
If Valeria Richards knew of this before she returned to New York and reclaimed the land, or it was coincidental, is not widely known. But shortly after taking possession of what remained of the Baxter foundations, she began an excavation which would shortly uncover the dormant remains of βThe Thing.β The first project at her newly founded Baxter Estate in rural New York State was to awaken Ben, a task she was successful in. Ben appears to have no memories of the fateful day in question, but otherwise seems whole and conscious, a man out of time by a spattering of decades.
He finds it a great tragedy that Valeria has spent most of her life in Latveria as a Von Doom, but it determined to do what he can to connect her with the past of her parents, and the life they would have wanted her to lead. Valeria herself has enough fleeing memories of βUncle Ben the Rockmanβ and so cherishes the connection, even if the colder part of her mind dismisses his sense of care and pity. Together they have begun to reform the Fantastic Four, and both share a keen interest in uncovering the truth of the Baxter disaster.
βΊ Firestorm
Jason Rusch was an average high school student and worked for the school newspaper. During a terrorist attack on his school led by a mercenary named Cliff Carmichael, attacks the school looking for the Firestorm Protocol, Jason met with Ronnie and produced a vial, given to him by the deceased Professor Stein, which contained the "God Particle" which was one of several "Firestorm" Protocols. The God Particle transformed both Jason and Ronnie into Firestorm.
The pair of very different individuals βmergedβ under terrible conditions, an attack on their school and an unwitting use of the God Particle, Valeria and Ben recruited Firestorm as much to prevent the worst of what such errant power could do, as opposed to needing new teammates. The pair now live in the growing campus of the Baxter Estate, assisting Valeria with research through their metamorphic abilities, as well as enabling her to monitor the properties of their fusion. Both seem fairly happy with this setup, if not always each otherβs company. Now they have attained some amount of stability, they assist in the wider duties of the new Fantastic Four.
βΊ Blue Beetle
Jaime is not the first known Blue Beetle, although the ancient artifact had been presumed destroyed, instead, The Blue Beetle Scarab came down in El Paso, blasted afield via unknown means.
Jaime discovered the Scarab on the way home from school. He took it home, curious as to what it might be. That night, the Scarab came alive, and grafted itself to the base of Jaime's spine, inducing strange dreams in Jaime. Since then, Jaime has had consistent run-ins with groups of nefarious means seeking to either recruit him, or simply harvest the scarab.
Unlike Firestorm, Blue Beetle actively sought out the help of Ben and Valeria at the Baxter Estate, following rumors they were assisting Firestorm with understanding and controlling an unusual power. Having merged with a sentient weapon, they presumed this would qualify them for similar air. This was certainly true, and while the Beetle may not quite provide as much support in scientific experimentation as the use of Firestorm, the weaponβs capabilities are certainly of interest to Valeria, and Ben wouldnβt be one to turn down a βkid in troubleβ
They enjoy their time at the Estate, admittedly spending more time with Ben than Valeria and Firestorm who have their college educations to attend to, but itβs certainly so far a better life than attempting to decipher the nature of the beetle on their own. -
What if the original Fantastic Four had been heroes a generation before, but disappeared in a cataclysm that left deep scars on New York City?
The young woman who has spent most of her life in exile, Valeria Richards has returned to the land of her birth, reclaiming the rubble that was the Baxter Building and uncovering the abandoned and shattered form of her father's closest friend, Ben Grimm, has steadily reformed one of the world's first public superhero teams. They are joined by those who have looked for help from the world's smartest woman in controlling gifts forced on them by fate. The hybrid form of Firestorm, consisting of Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond arrived at the new Baxter estate with little explanation known to them about the God Particle that had forged them together. Jaime Reyes' induction into the Fantastic Four was more proactive, with Valeria tracking down and offering the young man assistance in learning to control the power of the Scarab following rumor and hearsay. The both of the newer additions to the team there is a chance to do good with the fate thrust upon them, and to Valeria and Ben they in turn could provide the means to finally discover what happened on the fateful day that robbed the world of the previous Fantastic Four and many innocent lives beside.
Few seem able to trust that Valeria is entirely altruistic, however. At best, she has a domineering and ambitious streak that makes the line her father often walked seem the height of humble virtue, at worst, she is considered a Latverian spy at the heart of both the United States and the wider network of Earth's heroes. Valeria has been seen with Doom on multiple occasions since moving to the United States, and the Latverian state itself has made little effort to suggest she should no longer be considered the heir apparent to the nation and household. Indeed, in Latverian State broadcasts she is still known by the name she has born most of her life, Valeria Von Doom.
P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S )
I've left the actual cause of the disaster vague to hopefully fit in with events that may occur through other characters and their arcs. In general the most pressing goal, particularly for Ben, is to discover what happened all those decades prior and to prove if the Richards, as well as Ben's wife Alicia Masters, are truly gone or where they might now be.
βΊ Caged Potential
While Valeria may have an intelligence far outstripping the norm and a penchant for magic and science, what she could be, or could have been, is far more than this. The cosmic radiation that caused her parents to develop metahuman powers had originally worked its effects on her, creating what would have been a being of great psionic power (similar to Franklin Richards in canon). Doom's work in saving Sue and Valeria at birth prevented this, locking away Valeria's potential as well as the cosmic radiation she was emitting. This is a gift and a curse that might be revealed, especially as Valeria spends more time away from Doom.
βΊ Lets Be Heroes
The Fantastic Four were some of the first true heroes and all four members of the current team have a desire to reclaim this heritage, for a wide variety of reasons. While Valeria, Jason, Ronnie and Jaime are all very new to this, they have Ben to guide them. Perhaps some time soon, their claim to the name of the first family may be tested.
Alright, I'm gonna post what I've got here, in hopes it'll hold my feet to the fire and see it finished in the next day or two.
S U P E R I O R R O G U E S S U P E R I O R R O G U E S
"Letcher in on a secret for free, mate. Your lot may be scientifically advanced and all that over us. But for downright mean and nasty... come to us." - George "Digger" Harkness, Captain Boomerang (not to be confused with that dodgy second rate bludger over in New York)
C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T
C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y
_________________________________________________________ The Superior Rogues of Spiders & Flash _________________________________________________________ Mercenaries, Thieves, Ne'erdowells & General Assorted Scumbaggery _________________________________________________________ Multiverse 668 - Prime | SRS&F is... Open
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S
M I S C E L L A N E O U S βββββββββββββββββββββββ βΊ The three bars have changed hands numerous times over the years. But ownership has always remained well aware of the current customer base they serve. -
WHAT IF 'THE BAR WITH NO NAME' WAS PART OF A FRANCHISE?
Three bars nationwide share mutually interested ownership.
MacBeth's ('The Bar With No Name'), Manhattan, NEW YORK
Only on official paperwork is 'the Bar' known as MacBeth's. With criminals being a superstitious and cowardly lot, 'the Bar With No Name's regular clientele first began avoiding use of the name on days of pulling a job. Then entirely. Sensing a marketing opportunity, ownership jumped at the notion and removed all 'MacBeth's signage until it's unofficial nom de plume spread by its regular's became it's most well known one. Now few but the oldest of its frequenters are familiar with its actual name and backstory. Made even rarer by the Bar's changes in ownership down the years.
The Bar With No Name operates out of Manhattan, and is well known to the less law-abiding elements of NYC, Jersey, Gotham and Bludhaven looking for a place to wet their whistle, and a stable discreet location where work can often find them.
The Keystone Saloon, Keystone City, KANSAS
Opened in 1805, before Kansas had even gained statehood. A bunch of enterprising gents had travelled westward into the newly acquired but not yet organised territories gained in the Louisiana purchase, with the thought being that so much was ripe for the taking, and that whatever order WOULD be established there, would likely find the path of least resistance, to deal with the American settlers who had already staked claims and established themselves.
The saloon was the first port of order, and a key locale for these new types, often of varying conscience.
And so became the bar's legacy of asking few questions, and serving all sorts.
Over 200 years later, and it remains very much the same.
The Nolle Prosequi (Also known informally as 'The Nolle' or 'The Grassy Nolle'), Gateway City, CALIFORNIA
The Nolle Prosequi started out as a lawyer's bar near the courthouse, in the 1937s.
The swirling hustle and bustle of the era, the glitz and glamour of the time, and it's reputation for seedy clientele saw the Nolle fall behind and become less competitive and an 'It' spot for the Who's Who of the day.
But their clientele still paid the bills, still kept the lights on, and even as it slowly sank away from the defense attorney's and it's original base as its reputation became too rough for them, it had forged it's own path and became an uttered meeting place, or contact point for the criminal underbelly of a lot of the coastal California crime scene whether they call Coast City, Jump City or even Star City home.
P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S )
Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go?
This one's my fun, cut-loose and bring-the-LOLs app.
Some of you might be familiar with my Blue Beetle run... think more along those lines, whilst J.S.A and Hourman are more of a love letter to the history of the comics medium.
S U P E R I O R C L I E N T E L E S U P E R I O R C L I E N T E L E
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Boomerang Shocker Beetle Overdrive White Rabbit Kite-Man
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Captain Cold Captain Boomerang Mirror Master Weather Wizard The Trickster Heatwave Abra Kadabra Golden Glider Top Doctor Alchemy
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Kangaroo Ringer Paste Pot Pete/The Trapster Slyde Big Wheel Stegron Speed Demon
Alright, I'm gonna post what I've got here, in hopes it'll hold my feet to the fire and see it finished in the next day or two.
S U P E R I O R R O G U E S S U P E R I O R R O G U E S
"Letcher in on a secret for free, mate. Your lot may be scientifically advanced and all that over us. But for downright mean and nasty... come to us." - George "Digger" Harkness, Captain Boomerang (not to be confused with that dodgy second rate bludger over in New York)
C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T
C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y
_________________________________________________________ The Superior Rogues of Spiders & Flash _________________________________________________________ Mercenaries, Thieves, Ne'erdowells & General Assorted Scumbaggery _________________________________________________________ Multiverse 668 - Prime | SRS&F is... Open
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S C H A R A C T E R N O T E S
M I S C E L L A N E O U S βββββββββββββββββββββββ βΊ Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus at mi mi. In imperdiet porta dolor, at fermentum nulla commodo eu. Suspendisse volutpat et ex tempor suscipit. Nullam tincidunt at nunc vel auctor. Donec venenatis, nisl nec fringilla varius, massa quam porttitor turpis, sed bibendum purus sem id risus. Nullam scelerisque lectus eget diam gravida malesuada. Maecenas consectetur est ac sollicitudin congue. Maecenas interdum erat dignissim lectus sodales, nec ultrices neque egestas. Integer convallis lacus at consequat volutpat. -
WHAT IF 'THE BAR WITH NO NAME' WAS PART OF A FRANCHISE?
Three bars nationwide share mutually interested ownership.
MacBeth's ('The Bar With No Name'), Manhattan, NEW YORK
Only on official paperwork is 'the Bar' known as MacBeth's. With criminals being a superstitious and cowardly lot, 'the Bar With No Name's regular clientele first began avoiding use of the name on days of pulling a job. Then entirely. Sensing a marketing opportunity, ownership jumped at the notion and removed all 'MacBeth's signage until it's unofficial nom de plume spread by its regular's became it's most well known one. Now few but the oldest of its frequenters are familiar with its actual name and backstory. Made even rarer by the Bar's changes in ownership down the years.
The Bar With No Name operates out of Manhattan, and is well known to the less law-abiding elements of NYC, Jersey, Gotham and Bludhaven looking for a place to wet their whistle, and a stable discreet location where work can often find them.
The Keystone Saloon, Keystone City, KANSAS
The Nolle Prosequi (Also known informally as 'The Nolle' or 'The Grassy Nolle'), Gateway City, CALIFORNIA
P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S )
Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go?
This one's my fun, cut-loose and bring-the-LOLs app.
Some of you might be familiar with my Blue Beetle run... think more along those lines, whilst J.S.A and Hourman are more of a love letter to the history of the comics medium.
S U P E R I O R C L I E N T E L E S U P E R I O R C L I E N T E L E
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Boomerang Shocker Beetle Overdrive White Rabbit Kite-Man
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Captain Cold Captain Boomerang Mirror Master Weather Wizard The Trickster Heatwave Abra Kadabra Golden Glider Top Doctor Alchemy
Expect to see the following familiar faces (amongst others) in this region: Kangaroo Ringer Paste Pot Pete/The Trapster Slyde Big Wheel Stegron Speed Demon
Hound: I'm going to play all the heroes through the JSA
Sorry this is taking me so long, I'm banished to the no computer zone and have to rely on my phone for all of this. I'm trying to get through the more complicated character sheet by my phone scrunched it all into arcane jibberish so I'm going to swap over to the simple one just to get the concept out there while I crack the code on this other one, so to speak.
Sorry this is taking me so long, I'm banished to the no computer zone and have to rely on my phone for all of this. I'm trying to get through the more complicated character sheet by my phone scrunched it all into arcane jibberish so I'm going to swap over to the simple one just to get the concept out there while I crack the code on this other one, so to speak.
No worries, mate. Take it in your own time. I can't be bothered to fuck with the advanced sheet, even though it's got filler text and everything. It looks cool but you won't get any points docked for formatting as long as it meets a pretty basic standard of legibility.