webboysurf

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

Previously...

“Dude, did you iron your dress uniform?” Lorcán asked before kicking his feet into the air and jumping upright again. “I totally forgot about the senior dance after the Homecoming Trials, you think you’re going to ask anyone?” Lorcán fished, his fiery eyes darting back towards their redheaded teammate. His arm shot up to wave towards the gathered members of Blackjack while his mind began going through all the things Lorcán knew Aurora enjoyed.

His father had always said that you don’t ask someone out empty-handed. You need to bring a gift. But what gift could possibly say enough, while simultaneously playing it cool to lowkey ask a girl to the Senior Dance?

“...How do you go about asking someone?” The question escaped from between Lorcán’s lips, but his words weren’t directed at Rory. It was more like a thought meant to be kept inside rather than suddenly out there for the Canis boys to hear. The smile on Lorcán’s face continued to grow.

“Bro, can you pass me one of those 'Claws?”

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_{Location: The Beach - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.018: My Own Worst Enemy

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_{Interaction(s): Lorcán - @Lord Wraith, Haven - @Skai, Aurora - @Melissa, Pallyx - @Bartimaeus}

Previously: TBD

^{| Monday, September 4th, 2028}

As Rory patted Lorcán on the shoulder, he took a moment to notice that all of Blackjack was back together again. His smile was near infectious as he wrapped an arm around his best mate, steering him in the direction of the coolers and the others. "I asked an underclassman to iron my uniform for me, in exchange for a case of beer. We both know what happened last time I tried to iron the fancy set. As for the dance..." Rory's mind echoed with Lorcán's question. How do you ask someone out? Well, you obviously just ask if they are going. It seemed so easy even he could figure it out. But as the two began approaching the rest of the group, Rory looked towards Aurora and just nodded to himself. He looked over to Lorcán and whispered, "Don't worry, bro. I'll show you how it's done."

Time seemed to slow down for a moment, though, as a familiar rush of wind came in from the side. Rory's gaze slowly turned towards the winged figure, the sun seeming to trace and illuminate the tips of her tawny feathers. The wind was swept up in and around her face, but he would recognize that body anywhere. Haven moved in with a nonchalant air about her that always made him envious. As soon as that grin adorned her face, he slowed to a near stop and just watched her for a moment. Rory simply lifted a hand in acknowledgement, but nothing more than a grunt managed to escape his lips. It took everything in his power to not down as she walked towards the cooler. He removed the arm from around Lorcán and approached the cooler, leaning over to pull out a Claw next to Haven. "Thanks for bringing the drinks, Rory."

"Uhh... yeah, no problem, Wi-err... Haven. You look..." Rory paused as he motioned towards her with an occupied hand, taking her all in before instinctively looking away towards Lorcán to toss him the Claw. He muttered softly, "You look really good, Wings." He cleared his throat, hand reaching up to wipe the sweat from his brow. He must have worked up quite a sweat playing catch. That was clearly it, nothing else. Rory's hand was barely making an impact, so he quickly removed his Hawaiian shirt and used the sleeve to wipe a bit of the sweat. Afterwards, he tossed it towards his bag and leaned back towards the cooler. He gave a brief smile to Pallyx, reaching in to pull a cider for her and held it out. "Let me know if this is fruity enough for ya, Vamps. If not, I can shake up a cocktail for ya."

Satisfied in his hosting, he fetched a can of water and cracked it open. He took a refreshing sip, and gave a nod towards Aurora as she approached. “Yeah, Rory, really sweet of you to think of everyone. Where’s your brother? Will, right?”

Record Scratch

Rory's happy go lucky smile, in an instant, became a hollow shell. He stared blankly at Aurora for a moment. He knew she meant nothing by it... but Will's sadistic smile was still burned in his mind. That was the last thing he wanted to think about right now. When she immediately moved on to the others, Rory felt relieved. He gulped down half his can as Aurora eventually moved on to talking to Lorcán.

“...How do you go about asking someone?”

Rory looked from Aurora, to Lorcán, and back to Aurora. The soft smile returned to his face. They were cute whenever they spoke. Her smile was different around him, and he seemed to be lost in her presence. Surely, she wanted to go to the dance with him. And he wanted to ask her. All they needed was an opening.

Enter, Rory.

Rory took a couple steps towards them, lifting his elbow high to rest it on Lorcán's shoulder. He looked to Aurora, smiled, and made his opening move.

"Hey Red, Hot Shot over here just reminded me... there's this senior dance after the Homecoming Trials. You want to go?" Rory looked over towards Lorcán with a knowing, smug look.

There, on a platter right in front of him, was an opening to ask her to the dance.

There's no way this could possibly be misconstrued.

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

Rory leaned against the railing of the ferry, taking in the familiar ocean breeze as the strings of his hoodie whipped up into his face periodically. It took a minute for him to finally stuff them down the front, flashing a smile of recognition and nod to one of his underclassmen in Canis. His eyes turned back towards the island as the boat cut through the choppy waters. His stomach tightened slightly as the senior anxieties began bubbling up at his core. He had already wasted so much time already... and for the first time in nearly forever, it felt like there was finally somewhere that he belonged. This was more of a home than the four bedroom townhouse in Ottawa ever was.

"If I end up in Canis, can you please just pretend like we don't know each other?" Will Tyler saddled up a few feet away from Rory, back against the railing as he picked at some dirt underneath his fingernail. He didn't even look at Rory, his eyes instead scanning the rest of his classmates.

"You think I'm gonna pass up an opportunity to embarrass the hell out of you now that we're at the same school?" Rory's infectious smile was unwavering as he slid over to Will, attempting to put a hand on his brother's shoulder. Will shrugged it off instinctively.

"Then Alces it is. Gentle, Mindful, Honourable. Guess I'd just have to pretend to be an idiot like you for a few days to guarantee an invite, right? It'll be tough, but I think I could manage." Will looked up at his brother for a moment, giving him the same cold and calculating stare he gave everyone else. And then came the sadistic smirk. Rory's smile never faded, but they both knew those words wounded him. Will walked away, and Rory just turned to look back at the island.

Now it felt like home.

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_{Location: The Beach - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.008: Sun's Out, Guns Out

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_{Interaction(s): Lorcán Roth - @Lord Wraith}

Previously: TBD

^{| Monday, September 4th, 2028}

Rory had gotten to the beach early, still reeking of sweat and a heavy dose of deodorant and cologne meant to overpower the stench of a five mile run at dawn. He had quickly changed out of his tracksuit, opting instead for a pair of bright red floral print swim trunks and a matching unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt. He had pre-packed most of the gear he needed the night before, stuffing a duffel bag full of towels, blankets, sunscreen, a cocktail shaker, and an assortment of footballs and beach balls for entertainment. He already pulled a couple umbrellas from storage, and had stuffed his fridge full of everyone's preferred drinks in advance: Craft beers, hard seltzers, half a case of lager, a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon... Blackjack was picky about their beverages. He didn't mind, though, as it gave him an excuse to get a big chest cooler years ago. And of all the things in Rory's room that wasn't a ball, that cooler easily saw the most use.

Rory was at the beach fairly early, before most students were willing to wake up to party at the coast. He dumped his treasure trove of beach essentials at a primary spot in the center of the beach, and immediately got to work setting up the rest. He had lugged some of the nicer beach chairs out under some central umbrellas for those who wanted to relax under some shade, while keeping a few other chairs nearby for those not afraid of some sun. Poorly folded towels were left on all the chairs, and the large cooler of drinks was parked up under the umbrellas. Rory took his time setting up the drinks in the cooler in a healthy mountain of ice. He left the lid open, hoping the drinks would last long enough for either Blackjack to get their fill or Calli would take pity on them and work her HZEs. In the meantime, Rory cracked open a can of water let the waves lap over his feet at the shore.

Then, of course, came the distractions. As more and more students began to flock to the beach for some downtime before the academic year officially began, Rory found himself getting practically dragged half-way down the beach talking to dormmates, classmates, incoming freshmen... you name it. Just about everyone knew Rory Tyler: a starting striker for the P.R.C.U. Chimeras, quarterback of the Canis intramural football team, shortstop on their baseball team, former chair of the Model UN... while he wasn't the resident movie star, he was the next best thing. Rory had a nonsensical or opaque nickname for nearly half the campus, and the other half he inexplicably knew by last name only. It was only a matter of time before he got a few folks together to toss around a football.

"Think we can finally snatch the Laurels from Alces this year, Tyler?" A fellow Canis student queried, while lobbing the ball across the circle to Rory.

"Alces' reign ends this year, boys. They don't have a chance." Rory chuckled a little as he caught the ball and brought it up to his chest, eyes scanning the circle for who to throw the ball to. He noticed some movement in the background, and his gaze lingered for a few moments too long as a dripping Banjo waded to shore. A cough from someone in the circle shook Rory back to attention, and he quickly launched the ball in a high arc past his target. He flinched as he saw a familiar mop of light brown hair in the trajectory. "Heads up, Hot Shot!"

Lorcán managed to push his cousin out of the way of the ball, before tossing it back into the circle with more refined aim. Another dorm-mate swooped in for an interception, tossing the ball behind his back mid-air to Rory. The latter rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Where was that in the finals last year, man? We need this kind of energy in game time!" Rory looked over to his boy Lorcán and rocketed the ball towards his best friend, just as a certain red-head was removing her cover-up not too far away. Of course, as soon as Rory had let loose the football, he felt a cold shiver run up his spine. He felt his gaze drawn to the pale form of his teammate Amma Cahors. He was genuinely surprised to see her, as were a number of bystanders from what he could tell. Somewhere deep down, the smile plastered on her lips felt more akin to a predator baring its fangs and licking its lips than a woman enjoying a walk on the beach. Somewhere even deeper down, part of him wanted to be prey.

A sudden thud and a series of uncomfortable hisses stole Rory's attention away from a tempting danger. Rory's aim had been true, but his target's attention seemed also divided. The ball had socked Lorcán right in the face, and his best friend slid to his side almost immediately. "Shit, Lorc, sorry about that. Figured you had your hands up, so I was going for a tight spiral, and..." Rory trailed off mid-sentence as his distracted scan of the beach spotted Aurora and Harper speaking to Gil a ways down the beach. He looked back to Lorcán slowly, his cheery smile transforming into a knowing grin. "I see, I see... something else catch your eye, Hot Shot?"

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

R O R Y T Y L E R
R O R Y T Y L E R

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_{^{"You can mess with me... but I'm not gonna let you mess with them, man."}}

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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 _________________________________________________________ Rory Anderson Tyler _________________________________________________________ September3rd | 23 | Caucasian _________________________________________________________ Single | Male | Pansexual _________________________________________________________ Ottawa | Ontario | Canada _________________________________________________________ Canis | Team 21 - Blackjack C H A R A C T E R S T A T S C H A R A C T E R S T A T S _________________________________________________________ ◼ B U I L D || Average/Muscular ◼ H A I R C O L O U R || brown ◼ E Y E C O L O U R || Blue ◼ H E I G H T || 6'0" ◼ W E I G H T || 185 lbs ◼ S C A R S || None ◼ T A T T O O S || None ◼ P I E R C I N G S || None

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory Tyler's life hasn't been particularly remarkable. He was the oldest child of three, his younger two siblings being twins named Will and Mary. All three were born the Hype-gene, which came as little surprise when considering both parents were hyperhumans. Rory's father was a hyperhuman working for H.I.T. by the name of Cole Tyler. Cole had met Julia Morse at PRCU decades ago, as they both went through the H.E.A.T. program. Cole was placed in the Enforcement and Response Division (fitting given his Dermal Armor power), while Julia was placed in Justice Services (fitting her Passive Persuasiveness power). They kept in touch, and eventually grew to love each other. That love expanded into a loving family. Cole served in H.I.T. for most of his prime, leaving him absent for a lot of Rory's childhood. Rory's mother was heavily involved in politics, having a heavy workload. The byproduct of this left Rory alone and to fend for himself for a lot of his childhood, and to protect and support his younger siblings. Will and Mary are 3 years younger, and are both smarter than Rory could ever hope to be. Rory spent a lot of his free time getting involved in all sorts of sports and physical activities. His younger siblings were brainiacs, and have grown up to be perhaps more intelligent than their big brother. Rory, despite loving his family and being very protective of his younger siblings, couldn't help but feel inferior to most of his family and classmates. The only thing Rory truly enjoyed more than anything was wrestling, as he enjoyed the challenge and skill of it. Even then, Rory never seemed to be particularly good at anything. He always seemed to sort of fade into the background. It's only fitting Rory's power would develop to be an ability to only copy other people briefly. Rory opted not to attend PRCU for collegiate study, as Rory's mother's work in trying to promote equal standards of living and education for humans and hyperhumans inspired him to study at a more traditional school. Rory blended into the background, as his younger siblings attended more prestigious boarding schools. Rory kept tabs on them, but mostly just tried to fit in where he could. His powers inevitably developed while living with his parents innocuously, and took some time for the family to register the situation. Rory started wearing an inhibitor immediately, only to find himself somewhat of a social outcast. The only arena in which he seemed to be comfortable and respected in was when he was wrestling in high school. He knew he was subjected to more stringent tests and accusations of cheating due to his status as a hyperhuman, but his teammates always had his back. He competed on a national level starting his freshman year of high school. And really only his freshman year. As once the pandemic hit, Rory quit wrestling. He was alone all over again. Shortly after high school, Rory's father and mother, both of whom were forced to work in a more public capacity, were both victims of the pandemic. This uprooted Rory and his siblings, who were graciously adopted by their maternal aunt Lillian Morse. Lillian Morse is a staff psychologist for the students of PRCU, a hyperhuman in her own right with telepathic powers. She has been trying her best to help her niece and nephews settle into their new lives in the years since, despite having raised no children before and having limited contact with the children prior. Rory and his siblings were enrolled in PRCU, where they have been for the past few years. Rory was around for the Hyperion attack his freshman year, after which he became a bit secluded for some time. It wasn’t until his Sophomore year that Rory truly began to prosper. Now, Rory is scrambling to finish his psychology degree while making sure to make time for his friends and keep an eye on his siblings. Soon, the twins will be on their own and Rory will have to make something of himself on his own. Until then… he’s got two semesters to make lasting memories with his friends. After that, he still isn't entirely sure what the future holds. D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory doesn't pay too much attention in maintaining his appearance, and it shows. He focuses on comfort where he can. Rory tends to keep his hair cut short so he doesn't need to worry about styling it (and it prevents anyone from grabbing his hair when wrestling). Rory’s uniform is always worn just up to code. Whenever he doesn't need to be in uniform, Rory wears comfortable athleisure clothing. He is often seen in t-shirts, muscle shirts, basketball shorts, or sweatpants when he can dress down. Rory’s idea of dressing up out of uniform is a varsity jacket, a Henley, and black jeans. Rory has several pairs of sneakers he wears for all occasions. He doesn't dress particularly modest, though that is more of a byproduct of his constant physically activity and need to cool down. M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory is a loud, joyous, and personable golden retriever. He is loyal and protective of his friends, and strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. Rory has been the kind of guy to step in and take a punch for a friend or his brother, but tries to solve conflict without aggression or being mean. He is also very quick to notice when a friend is acting different, and makes a concerted effort to make space for them to open up if they wish. Rory does, however, have noticeable issues with focusing and staying still at the same time. He often has to drum his fingers on something or pace to focus. He is prone to get lost in thoughts or distractions when left without something to keep his body moving. An audio-book subscription combined with laps around the rec center have been instrumental in Rory's continued education at PRCU. Rory would be the first to admit he's dumb sometimes, but it doesn't make it any less of a blow to his self-esteem when he is viewed as an idiot. His parents, siblings and aunt are some of the smartest people he's ever met, and Rory has always felt like the odd one out. While this has led to him overcompensating and trying to make tons of friends, it also leaves him feeling inferior when he doesn't get a joke or a reference or can't help friends with homework / studying. He has a hard time seeing himself as emotionally intelligent or useful outside of a sports environment. This makes Rory a great confidant, but Rory hardly ever shares his true thoughts and fears with his friends out of fear of being a burden. Rory undergoes a significant shift in aggression when he gets competitive. If you put a trophy or accolade up for grabs in a physical or team-based challenge, he will put it all on the line for a scrap of glory. He is competitive, and will push himself to his limits to win any challenge he can. Every win helps prop up his self-esteem, and make him feel like he can stand toe to toe with his friends and siblings in some way. The most noticeable quirk that has become evident to those close to Rory is an almost compulsive obsession with not "losing control." Despite being a frequent flyer at a number of parties on campus, he's never been seen drinking a drop of alcohol. He's also seemed particularly frustrated and iritable at the drawback of his hyperhuman ability.

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A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ H Y P E R H U M A N A B I L I T Y || P O W E R M I M I C R Y __PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION || Esoteric __SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION || Dynamic __POWER SCALE || 08 __THREAT CLASSIFICATION || Γ Rory Tyler possesses the ability to steal a charged HZE ion from a nearby hyperhuman and subconsciously alter his own body's DNA to mimic that hyperhuman's esoteric or exoteric ability. When borrowing an esoteric ability, Rory's body undergoes practically the same physical shift as the host of the "borrowed" ion for up to a few minutes. His body essentially just "activates" the HZE ions already present, which are expelled through proportional use of his powers. When mimicking an exoteric ability, Rory is able to draw and increase the HZE ions he stores as other exoteric hyperhumans. This worsens his body's reaction to using the power, and severely limits Rory's "overload" limit when mimicking exoteric abilities. Regardless of which type of power Rory mimics, he currently only seems able to stabilize the use of this new power for up to 3 minutes, can only borrow one power at a time, and suffers an "intoxication" effect after using the power. L I M I T A T I O N S || Rory's two primary limits come from the range at which he can "borrow" an HZE ion from another hyperhuman, and the time through which his own body's HZE activated HZE ions are able to keep his DNA altered. In terms of range, Rory must be within 3m of an esoteric hyperhuman to absorb an expelled HZE ion. For exoteric hyperhumans, Rory needs to make near physical contact with the hyperhuman to absorb an attracted ion. Once the ion is absorbed, it takes Rory seconds for his DNA to subconsciously alter itself. Once the DNA is altered, it is incredibly unstable and almost immediately begins to decay. Rory can maintain this altered state for up to 3 minutes, and his powers are limited in scope in accordance with the limitations and weaknesses of the host Rory borrowed the power from. Rory does not gain any specialized knowledge on how to use the power, or even what it does. Usage of this ability requires significant preparation and study in order to be effective. Notably, Rory's power differs significantly from the Intuitive Aptitude possessed by Yakob Kowalski. His ability is far more restrictive than Hyperion's was... much to Rory's relief. W E A K N E S S E S || The major side effect to use of Rory's powers, and what significantly inhibits his ability, comes from a strange interaction in the rapid change to his DNA structure and body after mimicking another power. In order to help stand the shock and minimize the pain felt after such a transformation, Rory's body depresses the central nervous system. In some sense, this ends up mimicking the physical effects of intoxication. This typically does not kick in until Rory has finished mimicking another individuals powers. This "intoxication" is sudden and strong, and is amplified significantly if Rory has borrowed an exoteric power due to the need to purge activated HZE ions. This intoxication effect can last anywhere between seconds and minutes, and seems to be influenced by the complexity of the power borrowed. The only temporary means by which Rory can forgo the intoxication effect is to borrow another power, assuming he has any dormant HZE ions in his system. This does exponentially worsen the intoxication effect when the subsequent mimicry ends (which can cause it to last hours), and abuse of this could lead to serious health complications or even death. P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) ________________________________________________________________________________________ There is a nostalgia as Rory's time in university is drawing to a close that has prompted one desire above all else within him: make as many memories with those he cares for before it's all over. Part of that, obviously, involves making memories with his siblings while they are at university with him... but Team Blackjack is an eclectic bunch Rory knows he won't be able to see as much once they get their diplomas. So, for his final year, Rory has a few subgoals: Make sure his teammates graduate without any regrets, get one more trophy under his belt for either his dorm or Team Blackjack, and finally connect with his friends enough that he can be open about his fears and insecurities. Unlike his freshman year, Rory doesn't want the year to end with a single thing left unsaid or action not done.

S K I L L S & T A L E N T S S K I L L S & T A L E N T S _________________________________________________________ S K I L L S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ E M P A T H E T I C R E A S O N I N G || Rory is much more emotionally intelligent than academically gifted. Rory doesn't win people over with reason, but instead focuses on connecting with everyone he interacts with to try and win them over to his way of thinking... and learn someone else's point of view in the process. ◼ W E L L - R O U N D E D A T H L E T E || Rory has played nearly every sport he could sign up for since he was six. He has competed in a number of divisions and leagues over the years, and used to have a whole bookcase worth of trophies. Rory, by extension, has tremendous hand-eye coordination and a fundamental understanding of his body's limits. He was also in his high school's varsity wrestling team, where they won their championship two years in a row. T A L E N T S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ P E R S E V E R A N C E || Quit is not a word in Rory's vocabulary. He has always had to work tremendously hard to pass his classes, and has pushed himself past his limits when it comes to sports for over a decade. No matter what is thrown his way, Rory never backs down and never gives up. C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L _________________________________________________________ A T T I R E ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ O L D C A N I S S W E A T B A N D || One of the final gifts Rory's father gave him before he passed, Rory carries a well-washed and well-worn sweatband in his jacket when in uniform. When working out or competing, he proudly wears the sweatband in honor of his father. I T E M ( S ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ T H E P L A Y B O O K || A collection of index cards stored in a forearm-strapped football playbook with the names, abilities, and general notes about various individuals Rory has met at PRCU. These notes include teammates, friends, rivals, and even some faculty. T O O L ( S ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ S P O R T S B A L L S || Rory almost always has some kind of ball in his possession: football, basketball, tennis ball, baseball... you never know what Rory has accidentally left or stuffed into his backpack on any given day. A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C E L L A N E O U S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Rory's favorite film is still Treasure Planet. ◼ Rory's private room is a landmine of sports equipment and dirty clothes. He rarely brings any romantic partners over as a result. ◼ Rory calls a lot of people by their last name to get their attention. Rory uses embarrassing nicknames for his friends when he's trying to get a serious point across. ◼ Rory has a habit of using sports metaphors in serious heart to heart conversations. They can be surprisingly endearing or helpful analogies. - P O S T C A T A L O G P O S T C A T A L O G _________________________________________________________ [+] - P O S T C A T A L O G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ -

P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S
P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S

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_{E N T E R I N G I N T O Y O U R F I N A L Y E A R, W H A T A D V I C E D O Y O U H A V E T O A N E W S T U D E N T?}

Rory clicked his tongue as he stared up at the ceiling, swaying his upper body back and forth as he thought for a moment. Suddenly, the thought came to him and he stared the interviewer down intensely. "Hyperball is a marathon, not a sprint. It's not about starting strong, it's about pacing yourself until that final whistle is blown."

_{W H A T W E R E Y O U R A S P I R A T I O N S W H E N Y O U S T A R T E D H E R E? W H A T C H A N G E D, W H A T S T A Y E D T H E S A M E?}

"I started off kind of... aimless, my first year. I didn't really have any plans or goals... just doing what seemed right. Or maybe it was more that I didn't have anything else to do?" Rory readjusted himself in his seat, his fingers drumming on his thighs as he thought for a moment. "It took me a while to figure out the kind of person I wanted to be here. I think it was my first psych class, and the professor was talking about working with hyper-human children and how lost they felt in some of the early years... that changed everything. Helped me figure out that I could be the kind of person I needed when..." Rory's voice trailed off, before he just shook his head and smiled in anticipation of the next question.

_{I F Y O U C O U L D M A K E O N E C H A N G E T O Y O U R T I M E A T P . R . C . U ., W H A T W O U L D I T B E?}

"I wouldn't have told Banjo my gym lock combo Sophomore year... he said he lost his old one, wanted to borrow mine. Took me three months to figure out it was him stealing my clothes and leaving only a speedo." Rory chuckled, until the light left his eyes and he stared at the wall. He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. "Actually... probably my freshman year... not shutting down after Hy... the attack, that is. I lost out on a lot of opportunities then... and I wish I spent more time with my friends then."

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "I saw that coming, Dick." ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Younger brother to Rory Tyler, Will is a Freshman at PRCU in House Strigidae. His Hyperhuman ability is Calculated Prediction, and he is a genius even without his powers. He has a particular fondness for mathematics, with aspirations to continue study in this field in the future. He is somewhat cold and pretentious when interacting with others, often getting himself into messes that Rory inevitably has to clean up. Rory and Will often butt heads, with the later tossing calculated insults at the older sibling and Rory having to just take it. ▅

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "I swear, I'm fine, Rory... yes, I did get the breakfast bars, thank you." ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mary Tyler is the most extroverted of the siblings, and the most popular. She doesn't slack when it comes to her studies, finding a great interest in the arts and humanities over the hard sciences. She is good at practically any skill she picks up, with it being unclear if that's due to her intuitive aptitude power or just raw talent. Mary's calendar is always overbooked, and she hardly has time to take care of her basic human needs. ▅

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "Now... how does that make you feel?" ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Lillian Morse is one of the school psychologists at PRCU to provide the students and faculty support. She is the maternal aunt and was temporary guardian of Rory and his siblings, having taken them in following the death of her sister and her brother in law. Lillian Morse has been at PRCU for over five years, and has little time through the school year to check in with her niece and nephews. She pulled some strings to let Rory help with her intake forms and administrative work as part of his community contribution, so he can start getting some practical training in the day to day of her line of work. Lillian is incredibly welcoming to all who stop by her office, but tends to refrain from sharing many details about herself to keep things professional. She is a hyperhuman with the power of telepathy, but is only able to share/read images from one's mind through physical touch. ▅

R E L A T I O N S H I P S H E E T
R E L A T I O N S H I P S H E E T

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_{☯ NEUTRAL ☯ || ☮ FRIENDS ☮ || ♫ BEST FRIENDS ♫ || § TENSE § || ♥ CRUSH ♥ || ☠ ENEMIES ☠}

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♥ Barnes, Haven ♥ "I don’t know what she sees in me, man… I don’t want to fuck this up." ♫ de Leon, Calliope ☮ ”Calli’s like the big sister I never had. But don’t tell her I said that, she’d hate that." ☮ Kruger, Katja ♥ "Hey, she isn't the first friend who has rejected me. No matter what, though, I've got her back. Even if she's hiding things from me." - transferred ☯ Penada, Pallyx ☯ "Can’t blame her for bouncing before shit got wild." ______________________________________	☮ Baxter, Harper ☮ "She watches out for us, but I always feel like she knows more than she lets on." ♫ Galahad, Gil ♫ "He's a good guy… can't quite figure him out sometimes. Feels like he's not there when he's there." ☯ Mitchell, Aurora ☯ "I think she only tolerates me because I hang with Lorcán." ♫ Roth, Lorcán ♫ "I'm worried about him, man. He's been different lately. Hope he knows I’ve got his back." ______________________________________	§ Cahors, Amma § "I don't know if I trust her, man. She’s got Foundation ties, but ain't on our side either. And I hate the way she talks to my friends." transferred ♥ Hisamatsu, Mei ☮ "I hope she didn’ take me and Wings personally… but knowing her, she probably did." ☯ Olyphant, Banjo § "Calli trusts him… that's all I need to know. Still can't understand half his nonsense." ______________________________________

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Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

R O R Y T Y L E R
R O R Y T Y L E R

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_{^{"You can mess with me... but I'm not gonna let you mess with them, man."}}

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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 _________________________________________________________ Rory Anderson Tyler _________________________________________________________ September3rd | 23 | Caucasian _________________________________________________________ Single | Male | Pansexual _________________________________________________________ Ottawa | Ontario | Canada _________________________________________________________ Canis | Team 21 - Blackjack C H A R A C T E R S T A T S C H A R A C T E R S T A T S _________________________________________________________ ◼ B U I L D || Average/Muscular ◼ H A I R C O L O U R || brown ◼ E Y E C O L O U R || Blue ◼ H E I G H T || 6'0" ◼ W E I G H T || 185 lbs ◼ S C A R S || None ◼ T A T T O O S || None ◼ P I E R C I N G S || None

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory Tyler's life hasn't been particularly remarkable. He was the oldest child of three, his younger two siblings being twins named Will and Mary. All three were born the Hype-gene, which came as little surprise when considering both parents were hyperhumans. Rory's father was a hyperhuman working for H.I.T. by the name of Cole Tyler. Cole had met Julia Morse at PRCU decades ago, as they both went through the H.E.A.T. program. Cole was placed in the Enforcement and Response Division (fitting given his Dermal Armor power), while Julia was placed in Justice Services (fitting her Passive Persuasiveness power). They kept in touch, and eventually grew to love each other. That love expanded into a loving family. Cole served in H.I.T. for most of his prime, leaving him absent for a lot of Rory's childhood. Rory's mother was heavily involved in politics, having a heavy workload. The byproduct of this left Rory alone and to fend for himself for a lot of his childhood, and to protect and support his younger siblings. Will and Mary are 3 years younger, and are both smarter than Rory could ever hope to be. Rory spent a lot of his free time getting involved in all sorts of sports and physical activities. His younger siblings were brainiacs, and have grown up to be perhaps more intelligent than their big brother. Rory, despite loving his family and being very protective of his younger siblings, couldn't help but feel inferior to most of his family and classmates. The only thing Rory truly enjoyed more than anything was wrestling, as he enjoyed the challenge and skill of it. Even then, Rory never seemed to be particularly good at anything. He always seemed to sort of fade into the background. It's only fitting Rory's power would develop to be an ability to only copy other people briefly. Rory opted not to attend PRCU for collegiate study, as Rory's mother's work in trying to promote equal standards of living and education for humans and hyperhumans inspired him to study at a more traditional school. Rory blended into the background, as his younger siblings attended more prestigious boarding schools. Rory kept tabs on them, but mostly just tried to fit in where he could. His powers inevitably developed while living with his parents innocuously, and took some time for the family to register the situation. Rory started wearing an inhibitor immediately, only to find himself somewhat of a social outcast. The only arena in which he seemed to be comfortable and respected in was when he was wrestling in high school. He knew he was subjected to more stringent tests and accusations of cheating due to his status as a hyperhuman, but his teammates always had his back. He competed on a national level starting his freshman year of high school. And really only his freshman year. As once the pandemic hit, Rory quit wrestling. He was alone all over again. Shortly after high school, Rory's father and mother, both of whom were forced to work in a more public capacity, were both victims of the pandemic. This uprooted Rory and his siblings, who were graciously adopted by their maternal aunt Lillian Morse. Lillian Morse is a staff psychologist for the students of PRCU, a hyperhuman in her own right with telepathic powers. She has been trying her best to help her niece and nephews settle into their new lives in the years since, despite having raised no children before and having limited contact with the children prior. Rory and his siblings were enrolled in PRCU, where they have been for the past few years. Rory was around for the Hyperion attack his freshman year, after which he became a bit secluded for some time. It wasn’t until his Sophomore year that Rory truly began to prosper. Now, Rory is scrambling to finish his psychology degree while making sure to make time for his friends and keep an eye on his siblings. Soon, the twins will be on their own and Rory will have to make something of himself on his own. Until then… he’s got two semesters to make lasting memories with his friends. After that, he still isn't entirely sure what the future holds. D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory doesn't pay too much attention in maintaining his appearance, and it shows. He focuses on comfort where he can. Rory tends to keep his hair cut short so he doesn't need to worry about styling it (and it prevents anyone from grabbing his hair when wrestling). Rory’s uniform is always worn just up to code. Whenever he doesn't need to be in uniform, Rory wears comfortable athleisure clothing. He is often seen in t-shirts, muscle shirts, basketball shorts, or sweatpants when he can dress down. Rory’s idea of dressing up out of uniform is a varsity jacket, a Henley, and black jeans. Rory has several pairs of sneakers he wears for all occasions. He doesn't dress particularly modest, though that is more of a byproduct of his constant physically activity and need to cool down. M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Rory is a loud, joyous, and personable golden retriever. He is loyal and protective of his friends, and strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. Rory has been the kind of guy to step in and take a punch for a friend or his brother, but tries to solve conflict without aggression or being mean. He is also very quick to notice when a friend is acting different, and makes a concerted effort to make space for them to open up if they wish. Rory does, however, have noticeable issues with focusing and staying still at the same time. He often has to drum his fingers on something or pace to focus. He is prone to get lost in thoughts or distractions when left without something to keep his body moving. An audio-book subscription combined with laps around the rec center have been instrumental in Rory's continued education at PRCU. Rory would be the first to admit he's dumb sometimes, but it doesn't make it any less of a blow to his self-esteem when he is viewed as an idiot. His parents, siblings and aunt are some of the smartest people he's ever met, and Rory has always felt like the odd one out. While this has led to him overcompensating and trying to make tons of friends, it also leaves him feeling inferior when he doesn't get a joke or a reference or can't help friends with homework / studying. He has a hard time seeing himself as emotionally intelligent or useful outside of a sports environment. This makes Rory a great confidant, but Rory hardly ever shares his true thoughts and fears with his friends out of fear of being a burden. Rory undergoes a significant shift in aggression when he gets competitive. If you put a trophy or accolade up for grabs in a physical or team-based challenge, he will put it all on the line for a scrap of glory. He is competitive, and will push himself to his limits to win any challenge he can. Every win helps prop up his self-esteem, and make him feel like he can stand toe to toe with his friends and siblings in some way. The most noticeable quirk that has become evident to those close to Rory is an almost compulsive obsession with not "losing control." Despite being a frequent flyer at a number of parties on campus, he's never been seen drinking a drop of alcohol. He's also seemed particularly frustrated and iritable at the drawback of his hyperhuman ability.

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A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ H Y P E R H U M A N A B I L I T Y || P O W E R M I M I C R Y __PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION || Esoteric __SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION || Dynamic __POWER SCALE || tbd __THREAT CLASSIFICATION || tbd Rory Tyler possesses the ability to steal a charged HZE ion from a nearby hyperhuman and subconsciously alter his own body's DNA to mimic that hyperhuman's esoteric or exoteric ability. When borrowing an esoteric ability, Rory's body undergoes practically the same physical shift as the host of the "borrowed" ion for up to a few minutes. His body essentially just "activates" the HZE ions already present, which are expelled through proportional use of his powers. When mimicking an exoteric ability, Rory is able to draw and increase the HZE ions he stores as other exoteric hyperhumans. This worsens his body's reaction to using the power, and severely limits Rory's "overload" limit when mimicking exoteric abilities. Regardless of which type of power Rory mimics, he currently only seems able to stabilize the use of this new power for up to 3 minutes, can only borrow one power at a time, and suffers an "intoxication" effect after using the power. L I M I T A T I O N S || Rory's two primary limits come from the range at which he can "borrow" an HZE ion from another hyperhuman, and the time through which his own body's HZE activated HZE ions are able to keep his DNA altered. In terms of range, Rory must be within 3m of an esoteric hyperhuman to absorb an expelled HZE ion. For exoteric hyperhumans, Rory needs to make near physical contact with the hyperhuman to absorb an attracted ion. Once the ion is absorbed, it takes Rory seconds for his DNA to subconsciously alter itself. Once the DNA is altered, it is incredibly unstable and almost immediately begins to decay. Rory can maintain this altered state for up to 3 minutes, and his powers are limited in scope in accordance with the limitations and weaknesses of the host Rory borrowed the power from. Rory does not gain any specialized knowledge on how to use the power, or even what it does. Usage of this ability requires significant preparation and study in order to be effective. Notably, Rory's power differs significantly from the Intuitive Aptitude possessed by Yakob Kowalski. His ability is far more restrictive than Hyperion's was... much to Rory's relief. W E A K N E S S E S || The major side effect to use of Rory's powers, and what significantly inhibits his ability, comes from a strange interaction in the rapid change to his DNA structure and body after mimicking another power. In order to help stand the shock and minimize the pain felt after such a transformation, Rory's body depresses the central nervous system. In some sense, this ends up mimicking the physical effects of intoxication. This typically does not kick in until Rory has finished mimicking another individuals powers. This "intoxication" is sudden and strong, and is amplified significantly if Rory has borrowed an exoteric power due to the need to purge activated HZE ions. This intoxication effect can last anywhere between seconds and minutes, and seems to be influenced by the complexity of the power borrowed. The only temporary means by which Rory can forgo the intoxication effect is to borrow another power, assuming he has any dormant HZE ions in his system. This does exponentially worsen the intoxication effect when the subsequent mimicry ends (which can cause it to last hours), and abuse of this could lead to serious health complications or even death. P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S ) ________________________________________________________________________________________ There is a nostalgia as Rory's time in university is drawing to a close that has prompted one desire above all else within him: make as many memories with those he cares for before it's all over. Part of that, obviously, involves making memories with his siblings while they are at university with him... but Team Blackjack is an eclectic bunch Rory knows he won't be able to see as much once they get their diplomas. So, for his final year, Rory has a few subgoals: Make sure his teammates graduate without any regrets, get one more trophy under his belt for either his dorm or Team Blackjack, and finally connect with his friends enough that he can be open about his fears and insecurities. Unlike his freshman year, Rory doesn't want the year to end with a single thing left unsaid or action not done.

S K I L L S & T A L E N T S S K I L L S & T A L E N T S _________________________________________________________ S K I L L S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ E M P A T H E T I C R E A S O N I N G || Rory is much more emotionally intelligent than academically gifted. Rory doesn't win people over with reason, but instead focuses on connecting with everyone he interacts with to try and win them over to his way of thinking... and learn someone else's point of view in the process. ◼ W E L L - R O U N D E D A T H L E T E || Rory has played nearly every sport he could sign up for since he was six. He has competed in a number of divisions and leagues over the years, and used to have a whole bookcase worth of trophies. Rory, by extension, has tremendous hand-eye coordination and a fundamental understanding of his body's limits. He was also in his high school's varsity wrestling team, where they won their championship two years in a row. T A L E N T S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ P E R S E V E R A N C E || Quit is not a word in Rory's vocabulary. He has always had to work tremendously hard to pass his classes, and has pushed himself past his limits when it comes to sports for over a decade. No matter what is thrown his way, Rory never backs down and never gives up. C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L _________________________________________________________ A T T I R E ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ O L D C A N I S S W E A T B A N D || One of the final gifts Rory's father gave him before he passed, Rory carries a well-washed and well-worn sweatband in his jacket when in uniform. When working out or competing, he proudly wears the sweatband in honor of his father. I T E M ( S ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ T H E P L A Y B O O K || A collection of index cards stored in a forearm-strapped football playbook with the names, abilities, and general notes about various individuals Rory has met at PRCU. These notes include teammates, friends, rivals, and even some faculty. T O O L ( S ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ S P O R T S B A L L S || Rory almost always has some kind of ball in his possession: football, basketball, tennis ball, baseball... you never know what Rory has accidentally left or stuffed into his backpack on any given day. A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C E L L A N E O U S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Rory's favorite film is still Treasure Planet. ◼ Rory's private room is a landmine of sports equipment and dirty clothes. He rarely brings any romantic partners over as a result. ◼ Rory calls a lot of people by their last name to get their attention. Rory uses embarrassing nicknames for his friends when he's trying to get a serious point across. ◼ Rory has a habit of using sports metaphors in serious heart to heart conversations. They can be surprisingly endearing or helpful analogies. - P O S T C A T A L O G P O S T C A T A L O G _________________________________________________________ [+] - P O S T C A T A L O G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ -

P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S
P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S

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_{E N T E R I N G I N T O Y O U R F I N A L Y E A R, W H A T A D V I C E D O Y O U H A V E T O A N E W S T U D E N T?}

Rory clicked his tongue as he stared up at the ceiling, swaying his upper body back and forth as he thought for a moment. Suddenly, the thought came to him and he stared the interviewer down intensely. "Hyperball is a marathon, not a sprint. It's not about starting strong, it's about pacing yourself until that final whistle is blown."

_{W H A T W E R E Y O U R A S P I R A T I O N S W H E N Y O U S T A R T E D H E R E? W H A T C H A N G E D, W H A T S T A Y E D T H E S A M E?}

"I started off kind of... aimless, my first year. I didn't really have any plans or goals... just doing what seemed right. Or maybe it was more that I didn't have anything else to do?" Rory readjusted himself in his seat, his fingers drumming on his thighs as he thought for a moment. "It took me a while to figure out the kind of person I wanted to be here. I think it was my first psych class, and the professor was talking about working with hyper-human children and how lost they felt in some of the early years... that changed everything. Helped me figure out that I could be the kind of person I needed when..." Rory's voice trailed off, before he just shook his head and smiled in anticipation of the next question.

_{I F Y O U C O U L D M A K E O N E C H A N G E T O Y O U R T I M E A T P . R . C . U ., W H A T W O U L D I T B E?}

"I wouldn't have told Banjo my gym lock combo Sophomore year... he said he lost his old one, wanted to borrow mine. Took me three months to figure out it was him stealing my clothes and leaving only a speedo." Rory chuckled, until the light left his eyes and he stared at the wall. He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. "Actually... probably my freshman year... not shutting down after Hy... the attack, that is. I lost out on a lot of opportunities then... and I wish I spent more time with my friends then."

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▅ _{S U P P O R T I N G C A S T}
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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "I saw that coming, Dick." ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Younger brother to Rory Tyler, Will is a Freshman at PRCU in House Strigidae. His Hyperhuman ability is Calculated Prediction, and he is a genius even without his powers. He has a particular fondness for mathematics, with aspirations to continue study in this field in the future. He is somewhat cold and pretentious when interacting with others, often getting himself into messes that Rory inevitably has to clean up. Rory and Will often butt heads, with the later tossing calculated insults at the older sibling and Rory having to just take it. ▅

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "I swear, I'm fine, Rory... yes, I did get the breakfast bars, thank you." ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mary Tyler is the most extroverted of the siblings, and the most popular. She doesn't slack when it comes to her studies, finding a great interest in the arts and humanities over the hard sciences. She is good at practically any skill she picks up, with it being unclear if that's due to her intuitive aptitude power or just raw talent. Mary's calendar is always overbooked, and she hardly has time to take care of her basic human needs. ▅

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "Now... how does that make you feel?" ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Lillian Morse is one of the school psychologists at PRCU to provide the students and faculty support. She is the maternal aunt and was temporary guardian of Rory and his siblings, having taken them in following the death of her sister and her brother in law. Lillian Morse has been at PRCU for over five years, and has little time through the school year to check in with her niece and nephews. She pulled some strings to let Rory help with her intake forms and administrative work as part of his community contribution, so he can start getting some practical training in the day to day of her line of work. Lillian is incredibly welcoming to all who stop by her office, but tends to refrain from sharing many details about herself to keep things professional. She is a hyperhuman with the power of telepathy, but is only able to share/read images from one's mind through physical touch. ▅

▅ _{R E L A T I O N S H I P S H E E T}
▅ _{R E L A T I O N S H I P S H E E T} ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

_{☯ NEUTRAL ☯ || ☮ FRIENDS ☮ || ♫ BEST FRIENDS ♫ || § TENSE § || ♥ CRUSH ♥ || ☠ ENEMIES ☠}

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▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ "TBD" ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅	T B D , T B D || T B D T B D , T B D || T B D _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TBD▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ ▅ Use as many or few of the above symbols as needed to balance this cell with the cell containing the image.

Avatar: The White Jade Gambit

Huo

---

Flying is just controlled falling. It is an art of airbenders to manipulate the currents of wind around them to lift them high into the air, flipping and gliding as seamlessly as a bird in the sky. Huo had always found the birds of the swamp to be the most graceful of creatures, and what little envy lived in his heart was reserved for those who could ride those currents of wind and sail high enough to truly observe the world as it was.

Huo was falling without an ounce of grace as the winds had betrayed him... no, an airbender. A nonviolent nomad using violence. Huo had not been expecting the sudden shift in behavior, a sudden enemy he had failed to notice. Huo must have missed something... had the airbender not just launched two of the earth kingdom soldiers into the ocean? Did he believe Huo to be working for the soldiers? No, even he knew that didn't make sense. He must have missed something, clearly. Was the nomad trying to abscond with the residents of the fishery with the swordswoman? It seemed unlikely, given his warning. Though he was offering a kindness to her that was denied to him... perhaps he had trouble hearing in the chaos? It could explain why the soldier had ignored the waterbender's plea. He'd have to work on projecting.

All of that was a less immediate concern, as Huo smacked into the rippling waves of the sea. The force had knocked the breath out of his lungs, filling the vacuum with water. Huo's eyes shot open with sudden panic, before instinct took control. A simple wave of his arms, and Huo pulled a swell of water under himself to shoot back up to the surface. His head bobbed up for air, and he spit a stream of water out of his mouth like a stone fountain. He was facing away from the shore, staring at two earth kingdom soldiers who were just regaining their own senses after meeting a similar fate. Huo sighed as he addressed them. "Y'all aren't very welcoming around here, y'know that?" Huo lifted both arms quickly and slammed them back down on top of the water, launching two streams of water to blast the soldiers farther into the sea. Last thing Huo needed was more surprises. The two streams of water jetted Huo backwards towards the shore at a slower rate, before he twisted his body and waved his hands in the water to swell a small wave to slow his approach. About five feet from the shore, Huo simply breastroked until he could stand and walk out of the water.

Huo stood at the very fringes of the fight, not far from the Tao the bag of rice, dripping with seawater. A bit of seaweed was tangled in his unkempt mane. He watched for a moment as the earth kingdom soldiers formed a wall around Ryschi and the airbender assailant Tianshi. Huo took a pause to catch his breath, lifting his hands to his chest to help center himself. With a spin and a flicking of his arms, Huo shot a concentrated whip of water out from the sea towards the nearest soldier. Huo took a step back and pulled the arms back, just as the whip coiled around the soldier's leg and yanked him off his feet. The soldier slammed into the earth face first, and the whip of water floated near Huo. He took a defensive stance, the water nearly licking his heels as he was ready to make full use of his environment this time around. Unlike Chi, Huo had at least one person ready to fight by his side.

Huo called out in a very loud voice, clearly overly projecting to make sure his friend could hear him. "Ryschi, can you tell yer friend in there to cool his gourd? The water round these parts is mighty cold and salty."

---

@Hero@Kronshi@Achronum

Avatar: The White Jade Gambit

Huo

---

"If you know where our contact is, we need to go find her quick. Otherwise, we may want to leave town for a bit and return when things calm down."

"Shunon is likely finishing up a shift, so he's probably at the port. If you can't find him, I'm sure his sister or his friend know where he is, they all work for Old Man Bido over at the Knotweed Fishery."

Huo's blood ran cold as he listened to the bartender, putting together the pieces of where this Shunon probably was. The figure who had run out the tavern earlier probably had some kind of connection with him, and the sudden attention towards the fishery meant that things were bound to spark momentarily. Part of him wanted to just stay at that bar and continue playing his banjo, laughing and singing with the patrons. But a quick look to Ryschi and taking his former words into account, Huo knew now wasn't the time to sit around. He gave a nod of thanks, put his leaf hat on his head, and walked out the front door of the Black Eel Inn. He looked back to Ryschi briefly to mutter, "The storm is already here. Best we follow the tracks now 'fore they wash away."

As soon as he stepped outside, the chaos was already immediate. A stranger ran past, being called after by a couple soldiers shouting about a fugitive. Huo lowered his head slightly as they passed, not making eye contact with them. His fingers flexed reflectively, his body ready to call forth the nearby waters... but he restrained himself. The sight of an erected wall in the direction of the fishery and the sound of boulders crashing and the dull thuds of impacts captivated Huo's attention. He needed to do something. Anything.

So, Huo began to push against the dispersing crowd, finding himself getting pushed back with equal measure. He looked to his left, towards the shores upon which this fishing village was built, and an idea crept into his mind. He pushed himself laterally towards the docks, until he was at the edge near the water. He took a deep breath, lifted his hands into the air, and dove into the cold water. The shock was different than he was used to back home. It was much colder, and it stung his eyes. It wasn't nearly as bad as the water in the Southern Water Tribe, but this would suffice. While sinking into the water, Huo whirled his arms around himself, pulling the water underneath and behind him in a consistent motion. The water obeyed his commands, swirling and crashing around him. Within moments, Huo emerged in the open waters riding atop a wave. He rode it down the length of the docks, to the border of the wall. He briefly looked towards a young man in flowing blue and white attire, hoisting a large bag of rice in his arms. He didn't appear to be an aggressor.

Huo's eyes shifted up towards the 9 soldiers and the two figures that stood in opposition. The more aggressive of the two was familiar, a patron of the inn who had left in a hurry only moments ago. She seemed to be more akin to a local, and seemed to be holding her own. The other Huo only recognized as seeming to dress a little similarly to Ryschi... most likely a fellow air nomad. The small wave carrying the waterbender lapped up onto the dock enough to deposit Huo, where he stood with his arms at the ready in a defensive stance. His eyes scanned the fight, watching the various soldiers as he arrived.

The nearest soldier turned to face Huo, boulder already hovering in the air and ready for a strike. The soldier hesitated at the arrival of another interloper, and Huo spoke softly. "Woah... woah... I think things round here are getting a bit out of hand, feller. I'm sure we can talk things-"

A singular movement cut off Huo's attempt at diplomacy. He recognized the shift in stance from his last encounter with soldiers at the shore. His heartbeat shot up, and his body acted on instinct. Two quick motions, and water seeped up from behind Huo in a tendril-like whip. Huo took a step forward, flicking his arms towards the soldier. The whip obeyed the command, blasting the earth kingdom soldier in the chest and knocking him into his ass. On the inside, Huo's panicked heartbeat echoed inside his head. His breathing remained surprisingly steady, and Huo took a step backwards. He pulled his arms back, and the water returned and flowed through the air between his open hands. He moved his hands to keep the water contained and at the ready, turning his gaze towards the soldiers. His mind focused on the faces of the scared citizens he had been pushing against seconds ago. "Please... leave the people here alone. Is this really worth it?"

Avatar: The White Jade Gambit

Huo

---

Among the laughter and joy in the Black Eel Inn, a young man rested on a stool not far from the entrance, head leaned back against the wall as his fingers strummed an old banjo furiously. He did his best to match the tempo of the lively conversations in the room, a small leaf hat bent into a cup-like shape rested at his feet as those with a spare copper or two tossed a pittance to their makeshift performer. Most seemed to enjoy the novelty of the situation, but even Huo recognized the harsher stares. He knew the looks of suspicion... his cousins in the Southern Water Tribe shared a similar gaze when he had first arrived. These strangers would soften too, certainly. No one could resist a good song.

Huo clocked the shift in atmosphere as the sounds of footsteps outside reached his ear. His gaze turned briefly outside, to the earth kingdom soldiers. His fingers stopped strumming suddenly, sending a few confused stares his way. But Huo was too preoccupied with a sudden paralysis that overtook his system. The reality of Huo's situation had begun to solidify itself. He was a fish out of water here... and he had come to this village with a purpose. Starting trouble wouldn't help Huo find his contact... and he wasn't exactly confident in his ability to deal with an entire band of soldiers even if his newfound companion Ryschi had his back. So even as he heard the soldiers begin to order demands, the waterbender instinctively moved away from the source of the noise. He needed to follow the lead he had been given.

He needed to trust where the wind was blowing him. It had guided him this far.

Huo quietly slid the strap of his banjo over his shoulder, scooped his tips into a pouch on his belt, and began molding his handmade cap back into a wearable form as he meandered up to the bar itself. He found himself a spot in between two groups of individuals while waving in a friendly manner to the bartender. As soon as he has the bartender's attention, Huo's voice oozed with an infectious accented optimism. "Well howdy there, slim. I hate to bother ya... I was looking for a friend of mine, their name's Shunon. Would you be able to steer me in the direction I could find 'em?"

---

@Achronum

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Edmund Silvaine

---

One would think, based on his fondness for literature and poetry, that Edmund would be thrilled to have found himself in an esteemed location filled with the written word. It seemed, somehow, Doumerc had managed to find a way to spoil even the usual thrill that would come with such an excursion. He had done some reading on the way in, and had put Maya's security team to task in gathering some basic information regarding the location and any of its staff. Everything in the report reeked with self-importance that bristled his spine. Blowhard braniacs were not high on the list of Edmund's preferred company. Combine that with a pompous prince, an acquitted apostate, and a megalomaniacal model-to-be, and you had a personal hell designed only for Edmund.

Of course, their trip had to begin with a wild goose chase. Edmund remained quiet through the comments and questions, his head on a swivel as he stared down every passerby intently. He didn't like being this public and this open. He felt some level of safety when it came to castles, as royals tended to have a healthy paranoia. Edmund did not trust they would show the same caution. So he walked, two steps behind Maya the entire way. He followed her as she asked around about Rhaveus, up until she suddenly jumped back into him and clutched at his sleeve. Edmund's left hand instinctively reached for the holster of his revolver as he stepped beside Maya, taking his own brief peek around the corner. The site of Kaudians sent a flurry of thoughts in his mind. Even he had to agree their presence here was suspect, especially given they were expected here. Edmund's confidence in the doctor's reliability to relay accurate information was immediately tanked.

As Renault approached, Edmund instinctively lifted his other hand to press against the wall in front of Maya. He kept this guarded stance as Renault rounded the corner and made his presence known to the Kaudians. He sighed, looking down at Maya. Even he knew her enough to tell why she had suddenly been startled. He spoke softly in the direction of the other Templars, hoping to be drowned out by Renault's greetings. "It might be best if her holiness and I hold back and listen from here until the Kaudians pass... the last thing we need is an international incident." He turned his gaze to Maya, praying for once she would heed his advice.

---

@Hero@Obscene Symphony@Mcmolly@Scribe of Thoth

Avatar: The White Jade Gambit

Huo of the Foggy Swamp Tribe

_{"We're all trees on the same branch... wait, that's not right..."}

_NAME

Huo

_AGE

19

_BIRTHPLACE

Foggy Swamp

_ELEMENT

Water

_{APPEARANCE DETAILS}

Huo is tall, but not altogether imposing. He leans more on the lean side, and is almost always seen in the travel garments of his people. He sports a hat made from a leaf sourced from the swamp, along with natural fiber wraps around his forearms and shins. He keeps his hair cut roughly to shoulder length, but does little to style it. The rest of his garments are assorted basic earthbender attire with the sleeves removed, as Huo finds them too restrictive. The most notable addition to his outfit that he prefers to keep intact is the wooden plate on his chest, a symbol of his pride in his homeland.

_PERSONALITY

Huo is, for better or worse, a child of the Foggy Swamp Tribe. He has remained fairly sheltered from the politics and culture of the outside world, and was instead instilled with the virtues of his people: community, generosity, joy, and a deep respect for the natural world. Some may call it immaturity and innocence, but Huo has a deep love of people and the world that he is experiencing for the first time. He wishes to see the best in people. In terms of his general beliefs, Huo ascribes to a simple philosophy: we are all branches on the same tree. The best way to solve any problem, in his book, will involve cooperation and different perspectives, and is quick to acknowledge alternate views in influencing his decision or approach.

That is not to say Huo is soft and unwilling to fight now. He had let Chi fall at the hands of the Earth Kingdom the first time he had truly faced adversity, and that shame dwells in his heart. He hopes to make it up to her through his actions going forward, but does his best to note let the shame turn to hate. He would rather fight for his love of others than in retribution for their failures... though that is a line that he finds tough to balance. His shame and desire to see the best in others does carry with it naivety and a predisposition to be manipulated.

_BIOGRAPHY

Huo was born into the Foggy Swamp Tribe, and has remained somewhat disconnected from the politics of the world as a whole. While Earth nation kingdoms have bickered and fought, and even as a coup occurred early into Huo's life that installed King Wei into power... the Foggy Swamp Tribe has remained relatively remote and isolated. They had little to offer the changing world outside, and Huo felt a strong connection to the values he was raised with. He believed in a harmony and connection with all things that lived in the swamp, and with those he considered to be family. He was a strong and brave kid, picking up bending from a young age. Since he was nine, Huo was racing skiffs alongside grown adults through the expansive reaches of the swamp.

That is not to say Huo was a reckless child, or entirely ignorant of the outside world. Even in somewhere as remote and independent as the swamp... it was noticeable when the communication trickled to a near dead halt. It was even more noticeable when guardians of the Foggy Swamp tribe who would patrol near the very fringes of the swamp began going missing. A tension filled the air year by year, as it became clear that something very wrong was afoot. Even as that anxiety was clear to a young Huo, he remained sheltered from the true horrors of what was to come. They all were.

Until they weren't.

Huo was a gifted water bender, and was trained from the age of twelve in more complex waterbending forms. Back then, it always felt like playing. Water whips, octopus form, even surging up waves of water to defend against getting pelted with a torrent of water... it all felt like games then. It was fun, and Huo enjoyed his training. One of his "instructors" was just... gone one day. She had been selected as a messenger, to simply travel to the nearest town to get some answers about the state of the world. She was only supposed to be gone a few days... but Huo hasn't seen her since. Huo's training became more intense after this. It was becoming clear that he wasn't being trained for the sake of learning or education: this was more about survival than anything else.

Huo was sixteen when the first confirmed spirit attack occurred in the Foggy Swamp. Spirits had become somewhat more of a frequent sighting before this... but a frog spirit growing in size and crushing a grown man underfoot was a change. It was the first serious injury in some time. Huo was, understandably, shaken by the sudden turn in the status quo within the swamp itself. The tribe had only one elder trained in the art of healing, Yi. Given more injuries of a serious nature and an inability to do much about the spirits directly, several young skilled waterbenders were trained to help tend to the wounded. Huo was one of the few who volunteered immediately. He hated seeing his people in pain... and hated more that there was little he could do to stop it. So, he did the best he could to provide some healing and comfort to his brothers and sisters who had been harmed in their own homeland. But the more fellow members of the tribe were injured, the more clear it was that something had to be done.

Huo, a few months shy of turning 18, was in attendance when a meeting was held among the Foggy Swamp Tribe about how to deal with the growing threat. For the first time, the adults and elder of the Tribe discussed openly their growing predicament. All attempts to get answers from the outside world yielded nothing. However, it was becoming clear at this point that if anyone was going to help solve their current predicament with the spirits and help secure the safety of the free people of the swamp... it was the Avatar. Before they could even find the Avatar, though... the people of the swamp would need more information. Their best bet would be to make a beeline for the Southern Water Tribe and hope to gather more information. They would need strong, swift waterbenders. Three volunteered, all relatively young and competent benders. Huo was one of them. Even he could tell there was a greater poison... a greater disease at the tree of humanity at large. If anyone was going to help his people, it would be the Avatar. The last two had decent relations with the Foggy Swamp Tribe. Certainly this next Avatar would be no different.

The three scouts travelled swiftly south by night, using the cover of darkness to avoid whoever they could. They relied on hunting and gathering in less populated regions, and slept in caves during the day. It did not take them too long to reach the coast. Though it took several nights camped out in a cave not far from the coast in the Xing Fuhua province to cut down several trees and fashion together a makeshift skiff... a right of passage they had all undergone at a younger age. Of course... the stakes were much higher this time around. By the fourth night, the scouts were ready to disembark.

Of course, four nights was one night too many to stay in one place so long.

They were caught on the beach by a small patrol of Earth Kingdom soldiers. Huo tried to speak for the group, and tried to explain simply they were just heading for the Southern Water Tribe. He wasn't able to say much before the rocks started flying. The eldest of the scouts, Chi, quickly took command of shielding her companions. She ordered them to get to the water with the skiff, swearing she would catch up. Huo and the other scout followed their orders, and quickly disembarked. Huo wheeled his arms around, propelling the skiff out into the choppy waters as quickly as he could. Only two Swamp Tribe scouts made it to the Southern Water Tribe, and among them... Huo was the only one conscious when they were found.

A little over a year ago, Huo discovered from his cousins in the Southern Water Tribe the truth of larger scale politics. He learned of the invasion against the Fire Nation, and the efforts the waterbenders made to defend them. He made allies with his cousins, and explained his desire to find the Avatar. Needless to say, he was less than pleased to discover that there was no Avatar. He knew trying to return to the Swamp would have been a suicide mission, given recent developments... and as he lived in communion with the Southern Water Tribe for a few weeks (whilst heavily bundled and recovering from hypothermia), it became clear that Huo's mission would have to change. Spirits were little threat when it came to the intense suffering that would come from an invasion into the Swamp by the Earth Kingdom. And if the Earth Kingdom was bold enough to attempt an invasion against the Firebenders, it would only be a matter of time. Huo committed himself to aiding the Water Tribes in repelling any attempt by the Earth Kingdom to invade by boat, biding his time until an opportunity would arise to do something more proactive.

As of three days ago, a new plan has formed. The second murmuring had begun that an Avatar had awakened, Huo knew this would be his best opportunity. The growing Rebellion would be his best chance to find the Avatar, and the Avatar was easily the answer to both threats facing his people.

_TRIVIA

Huo constantly talks to animals as if they are people. He thinks he understands them when they chirp back.

Huo has some training in healing as a waterbender. However, he has not come close to understanding how some elders were capable of plantbending.

Huo has been tried hiding his accent, but has made little progress.

The only physical possession, besides his clothes, that Huo has maintained since leaving the Foggy Swamp Tribe is his banjo. It is unclear if he is bad at playing it, or if that's just how it sounds.

Avatar: The White Jade Gambit

@webboysurf The only appearance question you need to answer is if Huo committed to the leaf loincloth life

@Obscene Symphony

As much as I would love to for the bit, I think he will be more clothed. The leaf loincloth will be reserved for any inevitable beach episodes.