SCKnight's Crusaderverse: Major Revisions in the Works

[SCKnight]

I can't believe it! I didn't even realize that I was almost to 50 builds.

But here I am, almost there. After that, 50 more builds till I get to a hundred builds!

[SCKnight]

Technology in the Crusaderverse

Technology in the Crusaderverse is the same as that of the modern world. However, despite this, the world is starting to see a slow rise in more advanced technologies, such as nanotechnology, fusion energy, and holograms. However, such technologies are still years away from becoming widespread. Despite this, advanced technologies are occasionally seen in the hands of militaries, corporations, and superheroes, as well as other groups, such as terrorists.

At the moment the Crusaderverse is mainly a Tech Level (TL) 5 universe which is slowly edging towards a TL 6, with some devices from TLs 6, 7, and 8 scattered about. Some factions such as the Kraken Syndicate and the NWRA as well as various other groups have gotten access to these devices, although they are not widespread.

Powered Armors

Various militaries and governments from around the world are currently experimenting and researching powered armor technologies. France, Australia, United Kingdom, Iceland, Ukraine, and Germany, dubbed the Armored Sextumvirate, are heavily funding the research of such technologies. However, the United States and Russia have made much progress in such areas, especially since both nations researched powered armor technologies during the Cold War. However, after the Cold War, both nations began to cut research in these fields, but there research still continues for both nations even to this day. Japan and China are also heavily researching powered armor and mech technologies, which has caused some to worry of a Mech Cold War of developing between the two Asian countries. India and UAE are also researching powered armors as well, but not to the extent of the Armored Sextumvirate.

Still, powered armors are not commonplace on the battlefield despite such progress. Money and power issues are the two big roadblocks that continue to hinder powered armor research.

Among the Armored Sextumvirate, Germany, France, and United Kingdom are the most powerful, with Germany being the leading researcher into powered armor technologies. Australia, Iceland, and Ukraine eventually became powerful as well, in that order. The term 'Armored Sextumvirate' isn't really an alliance or organization, but merely, a nickname of what nations are conducting a great deal into armor technology. Iceland, which has surprised many, is the leading researcher into mech technology.

Fusion Energy and Energy Weapons

Fusion energy is still years away, but at the moment, Knight-Tech International has successfully completed a fusion reactor at the Savannah River Site (SRS), giving clean energy to the entire CSRA. While SRS continues to use fission reactors, the success of the Knight-Tech Fusion Reactor has caused much funding into fusion research.

Energy weapons are nowhere near used by the armies of the world, and are mainly found in the hands of terrorists, supervillains, and superheroes. Still, prototype energy weapons are often tested by various corporations such as Maxicorp and Obrien Tactical Innovations. Of course, Cape-killers love to get their hands on energy weapons in order to go after their favorite and hated targets: superheroes.

Public outcry after the death of Mr. Slam-Fist at the hands of a Cape-killer armed with an energy weapon led to many nations attempting to control the production and spread of energy weapons and research into such weapons, with mixed results of course. The United States has made much success in this, as the United States military and the Department of Homeland Security keep a close eye on who gets energy weapons. Still, a few weapons get missed and end up in the hands of those who would use them for...illegal purposes.

There is, however, one area that very few conduct research into: Super-Soldiers.

Super-Soldiers

During the Second World War, there was a great deal of research conducted and funded into creating the perfect soldier by many nations: a super-soldier. The United States came very close to succeeding with the creation of Colonel Solar. Although, the Colonel Solar was considered a super-soldier, his acquiring of additional powers such as plasma energy control and flight were not anticipated by the American scientists and government officials. This meant that the process that created Colonel Solar didn't actually succeed.

Other attempts were made as well, such as the creation of the Third Reich super-soldier Malice, whose delusions of grandeur meant that he wasn't a success either. Russian Bear is actually the closest anyone has ever gotten to success. Russian Bear wasn't human to begin with, since he was a Chimera, although this wasn't known at the time. The Soviet scientists and researchers figured that humans were unable to become super-soldiers because of some unknown factor.

Some believe that God never intended humans to become perfect killing machines and put some sort of flaw in us to keep us from becoming warmongering monsters.

Regardless of why, in 1953, the United Nations outlawed and banned the research of Super-Soldiers. Still, this did not keep nations from conducting such research. Although, with a vast majority of the world's nations behind this ban, such research was...limited for lack of better words.

Alien Technologies

Alien races and civilizations have access to far more advanced technologies than the most powerful nation on Earth. For example, the Tenkothan Union is one of the technologically advanced civilizations in the galaxy. However, even they admit that there was at one time civilizations far more advanced than even they. These Lost Ones are believed to have been destroyed eons ago, but no one is quite certain...

[SCKnight]

Night Jackal




“I’m the Maiden of the Night!”

PL 9

Strength: 14 (+2)
Dexterity: 16 (+3)
Constitution: 14 (+2)
Intelligence: 14 (+2)
Wisdom: 12 (+1)
Charisma: 13 (+1)

Skills: Acrobatics 7 (+10), Bluff 6 (+7), Climb 6 [+8], Computers 5 (+7), Disable Device 6 [+8], Escape Artist 6 (+9), Gather Information 6 (+7), Intimidate 6 (+7), Investigate 6 (+7), Knowledge (physical sciences) 6 [+8], Knowledge (streetwise) 6 [+8], Notice 6 (+7), Search 6 (+7), Sense Motive 4 (+5), Stealth 6 (+9)

Feats: Acrobatic Bluff, Attack Specialization 1 (Bo Staff), Attack Focus 1 (Plasma Control), Beginner’s Luck, Defensive Roll, Equipment 6, Precise Shot, Uncanny Dodge (visual), Uncanny Dodge (auditory), Instant Up, Move-By Action, Interpose, Teamwork

Fighting Styles:

Acrobatic Bojutsu and Ninjutsu Fighting Style: Defensive Strike, Improved Block, Improved Defense, Improved Trip, Stunning Attack, Sweeping Strike, Blind-Fight, Fearsome Presence 1, Lightning Strike, Dodge Focus 1, Evasion 2, Hide in Plain Sight, Startle, Takedown Attack
Street Fighting: Agonizing Strike, Dirty Fighting, Improved Disarm, Crippling Blow, Follow-Up Strike, Improved Feint, Improvised Weapons, Sneak Attack

Powers:

Jackal Chimera Racial Template (PF: Innate):

Leaping 1 (x5)

Quickness 2 (Perform routine tasks at 5x speed; Flaw: One Type (Mental Tasks -1))

Speed 2 (25 mph)

Strike 2 (bite, Mighty)

Strike 2 (claws, Mighty)
AP: Super-Movement 1 (Wall-crawling)

Super-Movement 3 (Slow Fall, Sure-Footed, Trackless)

Super-Senses 6 (Accurate smell, Extended smell, Low-Light Vision, Scent, Track, Ultra-hearing)

Super Senses 1 [Danger Sense (visual); Source: Training]

Plasma Control 9 (PF: Quick Change)
AP: Plasma Strike 9 (Extra: Penetrating 2, mighty; Descriptor varies, PF: Affects Insubstantial)
AP: Create Object 6
AP: Plasma Field [Energy Aura 8]
AP: Plasma Force Field 5 (Impervious)
Immunity 6 (Heat damage and Radiation)

Equipment:
Costume (Protection 3, Impervious)
High-tech Goggles (Functions like Flash Goggles, Camera, GPS Receiver, Commlink, Video Camera, Binoculars)

Grapple Gun (Super-Movement 1 [Swinging])
Bo staff (+2 bludgeon damage; critical 20; Mighty, Extended Reach 1/Split Attack 1, Collapsible)
Mini-Tracer
Handcuffs (1 ep)
Cell phone
Utility Belt (array): Flash-Bangs (Dazzle 3 [visual and auditory; Extras: Area (Burst)]); Alternate Powers: Bolas (Snare 6), Concussion Grenade (Stun 3 [Extras: Area (Burst), Range (Ranged)]), Smoke Bombs (Obscure 4 [visual; Extras: Independent), Shurikens (Blast 2; Autofire), Throwing Orbs (Blast 2 [Power Feats: Mighty 3, Ricochet 2]), Power Knuckles (Strike 4 [Mighty])


Background Information:
Name: Althea Walsh-Hensley
Age: 16
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 105 lbs.


Althea Walsh, while a kind-hearted girl, became something of a problem child when she became a teenager. Her parents worked as researchers for a sub-division of Maxicorp. Althea learned some street fighting from some of her ‘friends,’ people who her parents didn’t want their daughter associating with.
While a troublemaker, she was very good in academics and gymnastics, two things her parents greatly encouraged Althea to stick with in the hopes that it would break her out of her ‘problem teenage phase.’ However, fate had different plans in store for Althea.
After getting into a fight with a bully at school and getting scolded by her parents (who admitted that they were proud of her for sticking up for her friends), Althea watched them as they worked on a plasma energy device. Unknown to them, a jealous fellow researcher had sabotaged the device, hoping to make the Walshs look bad in front of their supervisors. However, he had sabotaged the device too good because the moment they turned on the device, it exploded!

Althea had to watch in horror as her parents were consumed by the plasma energy explosion. She was thrown back by the shockwave against a wall, knocking her out. She was only 13.

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Conway Hensley had heard about the accident and had known Althea’s mother since childhood. Althea had no other living relatives to take care her. However, the jealous researcher soon discovered that Althea had absorbed large amounts of plasma energy, which had changed her physiology, allowing her to control plasma energy. Believing that he could capitalize on this, he attempted to use her for extensive, and very painful, experiments in the hopes of gaining praise from Maxicorp. Luckily, Jackie, as Twilight Wolf, discovered his plans and was able to rescue her. In the process, the man responsible for Althea’s parents’ deaths died from a heart attack. He was the only one who knew about Althea’s condition, thereby depriving Maxicorp of a useful, but expendable test subject.

Jackie adopted Althea. It was a difficult move, but one that benefited them both. One day, Althea found Jackie’s hidden bunker underneath the skyscraper where Jackie’s penthouse was located. However, Jackie caught Althea, and revealed her identity as Twilight Wolf. Althea wanted to help her adoptive mother just as she had helped her and countless others. Reluctant, Twilight Wolf agreed nonetheless. Althea designed a suit and took part in some training to help her in fighting against thugs and terrorists. She called herself Night Jackal.

[SCKnight]

Chimeras

Chimeras were the result of the twisted experiments of a small group of Third Reich scientists. After escaping the Allies' victory over the Nazis near the end of World War II, they were able to set up a base on an uncharted island in the Atlantic Ocean. There, they began to create an army of soldiers. Using their technology and equipment, they bred humanoid animals. These Chimeras as they would later be called were not only bred from scratch, but also the scientists captured members of the dregs of society, people who wouldn't be missed, and then transformed them into Chimeras as well. However, their belief that no one would take notice was entirely flawed. As the conflict in the Pacific Theater began to reach its end, Colonel Solar and the Hero Legion began to notice a number of refugees missing from both Europe and Asia as well as several POWs missing as well. Other heroes back in the United States also noticed a drop in the number of homeless people in such cities like Foxgate City, and New York City.

Deciding to investigate, they found the scientists' island and were horrified by what they discovered. During the battle, the scientists ordered their creations to attack the Hero Legion, but to the shock of everyone the Chimeras refused! Many of them wanted to live out their own lives and being someone's cannon fodder wasn't one of them. Angered, the scientists began to slaughter their own creations. This act would not stand with the Hero Legion who leaped to the Chimeras' rescue.

After the creation of the United Nations, the nations of the world were unsure what to do with the Chimeras. Both the United States and the Soviet Union saw much use in the scientists' research and attempted to create their own Chimeras as well. It is believed that this was how Geneitech was founded in the US. The Soviets and Americans worked for awhile on their Chimeras, but as they continued to have problems creating the perfect Chimera, much of the funding was diverted to other fields like space exploration. Eventually, in the late 1950s, the UN ban on the creation of super-soldiers shut down what some people jokingly called the Gene Race. In 1968, the United Nations recognized the Chimeras as being members of the human race, although they were labeled as near-humans.

Despite the fact that there are 6.5 billion people living in the world today, the majority of them are human. Only 1.4 million are Chimeras.

Chimeras come in many types and feature various characteristics. There are canines, felines, reptiles, avians, and many others. However, mammals seem to be the most common type of Chimera. However, despite this, Chimeras can have children even if they themselves are entirely different, i.e. a mammal Chimera and a reptile Chimera having children together. Still, researchers have noticed that when Chimeras have children with a human spouse, the children are almost always human as well. Scientists believe that this is because the human gene is much stronger than the Chimera gene, although no is certain. Others believe that Chimeras weren't meant to interbreed with humans, although this is belief held by many anti-Chimera hate groups. Whatever the reason, Chimeras are here to stay it would seem.

[SCKnight]

Going to be doing a ton of revisions and updates to all of the characters here. I want to try to organize and straighten up the Crusaderverse. This is going to take a long time too.