New Freedom League [IC: 5]: The World of Shadows

[Tattooedman]

Freedom City. November 1, 2008:

It had been an interesting week to say the least, it had been only seven days ago that you’d been heard about the Freedom League’s call for heroes to apply for their first “local expansions”, right here in their home town of Freedom City. There had been talk of how many people in the city feel somewhat abandoned by the League since their move up to the Lighthouse and becoming more “globally active” and the super villains haven’t been letting up in their efforts: the White Knight’s appearance at a parade supporting Marko Worth and his racist group the Worthy, the Psions’ attack on one of the Albright Institute’s facilities, the recent set of fights between SHADOW and VIPER.

It’s understandable why the public feels the way they do, and the League decided to move up their plans of expansion to assure the public’s trust in them. After all Freedom City is technically their home town, many of the League members are still active here but even they have their limits. So they reached out to several people they knew were active and would be interested in joining the League full time.

When you’d first arrived at Freedom Hall several days ago you were surprised to see so many people had been come to answer the League’s call, granted it was only about fifteen people total but when you considered that each of them possibly were at least as powerful as any member of the League that number is somewhat staggering. First came the one-on-one interview, in which you’d been questioned about your powers: what they exactly were, how well you understood them (in some cases that takes longer than others), how long you’d been active as a super hero, why you wanted to join the League, some of your experiences so far as a super hero, as well as a short testing of your powers to demonstrate you skill and control of them as well as your ability to adapt their use in random situations that was monitored by different members of the League.

That was followed by a kind of mixer where everyone was encouraged to get to know some of the others who had applied over a small meal. After that everyone was divided into groups to see how well you could work as part of a group and were given random situations to deal with: from a bank robbery by Rant and Rave along with a group of thugs to dealing with the fall-out of a earthquake, to even an attack by members of the Crime League, a really involved process overall. But once everything was said and done everyone was thanked for their time and efforts and were told that they would soon be contacted by a member of the League.

That happened last night for you, the League has chosen you to represent them in Freedom City. You were told to come today to Freedom Hall to meet the other members of the “new League”, be issued your membership I.D. cards, get the full tour of the Hall, and for those who would be staying at Freedom Hall to move in any personal items they might want. As the appointed time grew closer you prepared yourself for this next big step in your life and started to make your way to that famed landmark of Freedom City.

Let the fun & games begin! Character descriptions, what's on their minds and all the usual things you'd have in a first post.

The only thing I‘ll ask for specifically is that you end your first post in the lobby/reception area of the 1st floor of Freedom Hall where you tell the A.I. receptionist “Cynthia” your name and she’ll direct you to the nearby seats to wait on one of the League members to greet all of you. Otherwise have at it gang!

[Arthur Eld]

Tony MacKenzie-Avatar

Tony couldn't believe it. Here he was, a twenty-five year old chemist, in Freedom Hall. How many times had he walked past this place, always wondering what went on? He had lived in Riverside for two years now, near the Park, and had gazed on the Sentry Statue time and time again. He never missed a chance to head to City Center, if only because it meant traveling past Freedom Hall. And now, just five short months since he had first donned the costume of Avatar, he was really here, and not just as a visitor or wide-eyed sight-seer.

He was going to be part of the Freedom League! It was unbelievable, a dream come true.

Tony walked through the doors into the lobby, a few minutes earlier than he had been told to arrive. He always believed in being early. He felt a bit silly in full costume-a half-length black cape, white boots and gloves, and a mask that covered the top half of his face. There was a single, bold 'A' on his chest in red, although Tony didn't really consider it 'his' costume. From time to time, channeling the powers of others altered his powers as well, including the costume. It made Avatar one of the harder to recognize members of the super-hero community, as one could never be quite sure what he would look like when he showed up.

At the moment, he wasn't channeling anyone, and that made him feel slightly vulnerable. Still, its not like it was necessary, and besides, it didn't take him long to do it-he just had to say a name, and he could do anything from soar to the skies to solve complex mathematical problems (something that had helped him keep his job at Majestic after his first few hero-related problems at work) or lift a car with one hand. Lately, he had been trying to channel some sort of magical powers, tapping into the arcane forces, but so far no luck.

He walked up to Cynthia, his voice surprisingly calm to his own ears. "Hello, Cynthia." He knew she was a robot, but Anthony had been raised to be polite to everybody, even an artificial being. "I'm Avatar, here for the new Freedom League." Tony's voice got a little shaky at the end there. He was really going to be part of the Freedom League, with all that entailed. The flying bikes, saving the city, being part of a proud tradition stretching back to the Liberty League. Him, Tony MacKenzie.

It was incredible.

He dimly heard Cynthia telling him to take a seat, and he moved slowly, still drinking in everything around him. He had been in the lobby before, but it felt different to him now, sharper, more real. As he sat down, trying to find the proper way to adjust his cape, he wondered who else would be in the new team. There had been so many amazing people present to join the team, he felt honored just to be among them. He just hoped there wouldn't be any problems. Working in a chemistry lab could be stressful enough for some people, he only imagined the kind of tension saving the world might bring out in his new team mates.

[Corin]

Inductor

"Well, here I am." Travis looked up at Freedom Hall, he let out a loud whistle. There was a lot of history in that place... well it wasn't scholarly pursuits that had brought him here. It had only been a month since he was captured by SHADOW, that had been enough to convince him to take Daedalus up on his offer to join this regional branch of the Freedom League. Maybe SHADOW would think a little harder before coming after him again? Not to mention the Labyrinth.

Travis stood reasonably tall, brown eyes, and black hair. He had decided, after a long debate to come in full costume. Dressed in a red jacket with a red jump suit underneath. The Jacket was adorned with a yellow lightning bolt design. The only thing standing between his face and the world was a small rubber mask that covered the area around his eyes. Travis had no idea how that was enough, but even his sister didn't know. Wow, he would have to tell her eventually... ah, well worry about the present not the future.

"Mommy lookat 'im mommy!" A little boy excitedly pointed at Inductor, jumping up and down. HIs mother smiled and said, "I see him Trevor, now come along, we have to meet your father." The little boy waved goodbye to Inductor as his mother dragged him off. Inductor smiled and waved back, he remembered when Terra was that young- wait how long had he been standing out here? Sure enough everyone on the street was starting to stare. After all a man in a red jump suit just standing in front of Freedom Hall didn't bode well in this city's history.

Inductor sighed Well I'd better get in before someone calls AEGIS. Sure enough he thought he saw someone pull out their cell phone as he entered Freedom Hall. Laughing he continued to the front desk. As he approached he was startled that this woman was setting his senses off, this woman wasn't real. He could feel metal inside her, as well as some electricity. Figures, Daedalus works here afterall. "Ummm, Hi." He says, slightly uncertain what to do with a robot. He quickly added, "I'm Inductor, I was told someone would meet me here." The android nodded, "Hello Inductor, a member of the Freedom League will be with you shortly please have a seat in the waiting area." "Alright thanks." He went over to the waiting area, and saw a young man also dressed in full costume, he vaguely remembered someone dressed like him at the trials, though he couldn't what he was called, Aviator, Detontar? Still he was a bit relieved that he wasn't the only one who had decided going in full costume was a good idea, he went over and extended his hand, "Hey, I'm Inductor, nice to meet you." After shaking the man's hand (or not), he asks what's blindingly obvious, in some attempts to start a conversation. "So, shot in the dark... but I take it you're here for the New League?"

[ClassDunce]

Sea-King II - Marcus
HP: 1 Luck: 2 Condition: Fine

Freedom City was amazing. Marcus had thrown himself into surface living with as much gusto as he could manage giving his circumstances. He had been on dry land for barely two weeks and his eyes had already adjusted, for a time he couldn’t go out in the day without sunglasses because of the brightness of the sun. He walked the streets of the city for at least three hours of everyday and the pure number of people living here had to exceed the capitol of Atlantis by the tens of thousands.

He was honestly surprised to be accepted into the Freedom League, he thought that he hadn’t fared well on many of their tests. He did well in stopping the ones they called Rant and Rave but was outshone quite easily during the earth quake recovery, many of the applicants were stronger than he was and most had more experience and more varied abilities. All he was able to do was aid in pulling people from the rubble and organize others who were better suited to the task than he was.

Marcus was walking the distance between his former hotel room and Freedom Hall it was a short trip, barely fourteen blocks, he had walked more than that nearly every day since he’d come ashore. He was wearing a white linen shirt that the sales girl had said would look good on him, and a pair of khaki’s. A plain canvas sailor’s bag thrown over his shoulder with the butt of his trident sticking a good two feet out of the top, his armor was somewhere at the bottom of the sack right next to his net-caster. He stopped in his tracks and stared as soon as he saw Freedom Hall in the distance.

His father had been in the League, and his Grandmother had been a founding member, he’d heard stories about their heroics his entire life. He was one of them now, a member of the Freedom League. Before he even realized it he was walking again. He was born after his father left the League and the surface world but he had met many of the members at one time or another. Anytime a crisis would lead the league to the oceans depths his father would eventually have to become involved. His father called them team-ups.

Marcus stopped again as he finally reached the door inside. Through the glass door he could see into the lobby and saw a couple men already there. He recognized them from before during the exercises he had forced himself to learn everyone’s name. It was Inductor and Avatar, it made sense, Avatar was about as versatile as they came he was useful in any given task that he was pointed towards and Inductor had great power.

He stepped inside the building readjusted the strap of the pack across his shoulder and approached Cynthia. The AI kind of weirded Marcus out at first but he had gotten used to it, after informing it that he was here and why he approached the other two men with a greeting. “Hello again.” He took a seat as he dropped his bag on the floor next to his chair and used the end of the trident to adjust it into an upright position. “I’m Marcus son of Theseus if you don’t remember me, the trials were hectic, so it’s fine if you don’t.”

[9thDoctor]

Witness
HP:3

Yaaawwwn, so...who am I today? Usually it was a sign of Alzheimer's or a deep rooted schizophrenia when you had to ask yourself that. Either that or you were immortal and had taken on too many names to remember.
Ezrah wasn't worried. he knew he didn't have Alzheimer's and his schizophrenia wasn't a problem. But he was immortal.
Immortal and tired. The celebration yesterday went quite late and then he had to unpack his last moving boxes in his new appartement. Anyway, he now was settled in.

After a quick shave and a coffee, he took off to Pyramid Plaza and the Freedom Hall. As his cab dropped him off, he looked at the building. Neo classical, he smirked. He had seen the original buildings all these columns tried to imitate. The temple of Artemis, Pallas Athene and Zeus...the ruins were still to be seen today, the Akropolis. He remembered a time he walked the temples as a worshipper.
And yet, this Freedom Hall...a mere century and a few years old...at most and it had achieved to be as great a symbol of hope than the mighty Akropolis. Well, weren't the people inside not gods amongst men?
And now he was to be one of them.

He stepped inside, nodding to the android and spotting the fellow heroes he had met the other days. He smiled at their costumes. He wore his...normal street cloth and his trusty trenchcoat. Weren't it such a hot day, he would have even worn his Fedora.
Only one item wasn't standard equipment for a journalist. On his back he carried a Blaster rifle. It looked crude compared to those that were common today, but it still did its job.

"Hello and a good day to you all. I guess we are to wait here? Of course, we are only the regional super bums, not the original League." While his words could have come afoul, his tone wouldn't. He was cheerful and smiling...indicating it all a joke...or was it?
"Didn't catch your names yesterday, or if I did I blame the cocktails. Avatar, Junction and Aquarius, right? I am Ezrah, Ezrah Johnstone."

[Arthur Eld]

Tony MacKenzie-Avatar

Tony stood up as the other man approached him, shaking his hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, Inductor. I'm Avatar." If he remembered correctly, the other man had powers dealing with electromagnetism in some way. A very versatile ability, to command one of the four basic interactive forces of the universe.

The other two who soon entered, Tony only really knew anything about the one called Marcus. He was supposed to be the son of the king of the Atlantis. What an amazing thing, to meet someone who was not only royalty, but not even really human. A real Atlantean.

Tony extended his hand to Marcus and Ezrah in turn, a small smile on his face. "Its nice to meet you both. That's right, I'm Avatar." He said to Ezrah. A regenerator, now that was impressive. Tony could channel a few powersets to make himself difficult to hurt, but to simply ignore injuries because one could heal from them in moments, that must give one a real sense of invincibility. But of course, Tony would prefer not to get hurt in the first place.

"Its kind of hard to believe the League would form an entire new team out of new members." He said to the other assembled heroes. "They must have a lot of faith in us."

[Corin]

Inductor
HP:1

"Nice to meet you, Inductor. I'm Avatar."

"Right, sorry about that I'm bad with names."

Avatar? Ah, that started ringing bells in Travis's head, this guy was pretty versatile back in the trials, powers like... well he saw multiple power sets from this guy, no suprise he was chosen.

“Hello again.” He took a seat as he dropped his bag on the floor next to his chair and used the end of the trident to adjust it into an upright position. “I’m Marcus son of Theseus if you don’t remember me, the trials were hectic, so it’s fine if you don’t.”

Then Marcus came in, Inductor smiled, it was hard to forget the guy with the trident. "Hey Marcus, Inductor incase you don't remember." Of course he probably did, Travis was well aware he was the one bad with names.

"Hello and a good day to you all. I guess we are to wait here? Of course, we are only the regional super bums, not the original League." While his words could have come afoul, his tone wouldn't. He was cheerful and smiling...indicating it all a joke...or was it?
"Didn't catch your names yesterday, or if I did I blame the cocktails. Avatar, Junction and Aquarius, right? I am Ezrah, Ezrah Johnstone."

Then Erzah came in, him getting his name wrong caused Inductor to chuckle slightly. "Inductor, but close shot. Ezrah right? Don't worry about it, I'm not so great with names either. Well, that and I may have had a few drinks that night as well."

"Its kind of hard to believe the League would form an entire new team out of new members." He said to the other assembled heroes. "They must have a lot of faith in us."

Inductor shrugged, "Either that or they want to be as far away from this as possible when it blows up." After a few seconds he adds smiling, "kidding. They probably just need all the members they have right now to watch the rest of the world. Other than that," Inductor rubs his shoulder where he ate a blast from Black Star during one of the simulations, "I think those, trials were tough enough to weed out anyone who couldn't handle it.

[ClassDunce]

Sea-King - Marcus
HP: 1 Luck: 2 Condition: Fine

"Didn't catch your names yesterday, or if I did I blame the cocktails. Avatar, Junction and Aquarius, right? I am Ezrah, Ezrah Johnstone."

"It's a pleasure Ezrah, I'm actually Marcus in the field I'll be going by Sea-King." He replied, "It was my father's title while he was with the League." He answered in anticipation of the question.

"Its kind of hard to believe the League would form an entire new team out of new members." He said to the other assembled heroes. "They must have a lot of faith in us."

"I think those, trials were tough enough to weed out anyone who couldn't handle it.

Marcus nodded along with Inductor's reasoning, there were a great number of men and women that were at that first meeting and the tests did prove their weaknesses and strengths. "I'm sure that the Core members have good cause in the selections that they made. We may have more oversight then we think." He answered with a shrug, "I've been reading the newspapers at your library, it's a wonderful place the library, and the city already seems to have several teams. Force Ops did a fine a job with the SHADOW/VIPER matter*. We won't be all alone here."

*Read Force Ops Issue# 4: The SHADOW of VIPER! - Editor

[9thDoctor]

Witness
HP: 1 Luck HP: 2

Force Ops did a fine a job with the SHADOW/VIPER matter*. We won't be all alone here."

"Yeah, though I still get the Jeevies when I hear FORCE Ops...those were no easy times. I covered them with a colleague in my first year at the Globe. So, you are the son of Sea King? Well that goes even further back. How is he?
By the way, would you mind if I make a short fluff piece of you all for the Observer? You know, how you feel being chosen and such."

Already he is pulling a notepad from his trench's pockets with a pencil stuck in the binding.

"Don't worry, I'm a serious reporter, not one of those who invent an affair with lady Liberty to increase sales. But I still can dream of that coming true..."

He fakes a dreamy-lusty expresion before his face again becomes all business. As you watch, you see that he is a social chameleon...like most good reporters.

Hehe, playing a bit with the fact that he is the oldest looking with his grey hair....As I recall the Moore era and the hero time of Sea King would be well in the life experience of a mid 40's guy, right? Because he looks that age.

[Kaisius]

Otakumon
HP : 1 Luck : 2
Cond : late for a very important date....

Wretched hell, Thomas Kirby thought to himself, I'm going to be late. Why on earth would Harvey want me to hand deliver those last pages? This last minute errand required Thomas to go from Riverside, past Freedom Hall, to the Castle Comics offices. It hadn't amounted to a long delay, but it meant that Otakumon was going to be the last one to arrive. Even with an imaginary flying motorcycle. Okay, Tom, throttle down. No need to panic anyone by coming in hellbent for leather. Thomas banked his Skybolt Akira into a graceful, but swift, descent to land in front of Freedom Hall. Swinging himself off the construct and taking a step back, he allows it to fade back into the ether that he formed it from.

"Wow..."

Thomas turned to see a young boy, wide eyes watching with utter amazement. Watching him with utter amazement. And that's when it really hit. A chill ran down his spine and his chest tightened suddenly. This was for real. No tapbacks, no turning back. He was going to be Otakumon, a real, live superhero. That little little boy Believed in him, without even knowing his name. And he was going to have to be worthy of that Belief. Please, Lord, let me be so. With a beaming smile and brief salute to the little boy, Otakumon turned and with a purposeful stride entered the Hall.

Inside, he immediately saw Cynthia at the reception desk. He remembered his very first visit to the Hall, years ago, as a teen. Cynthia had been here then, too, and though her hair and clothes had changed, she hadn't aged. He knew this was the same "person". "Hello, Miss Cynthia. Otakumon, reporting for duty."

"Ah, yes. The others have already arrived. If you'll join them, a core League member will be with you all shortly."

With a nod of thanks to Cynthia, Otakumon joins the other brightly dressed people in the waiting area as they finish their introductions. "Gentlemen, I am Otakumon. You must be my new teammates, or this is the most polite and sedate supervillian attack in history. Pleased to meet you."

[Arthur Eld]

Tony MacKenzie-Avatar

Tony extended his right hand again (he had a feeling he'd be doing that a lot today). "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Otakumon. I'm Avatar. Oh, and thanks for punching a hole in my ego. I'm not completely new to the scene, you know. Been doing this for half a year now." Of course the biggest threat he had ever had to deal with was when the Symphony of Destruction tried to jack an ATM near his apartment. Most people hadn't even heard of the four small-timers.

The surprisingly athletic (Tony thought it had something to do with the accident and Formula 1011) chemist turned to look at Ezrah. "As a reporter, you should know that. Getting a first scoop on this many new heroes could be really good for your career."

He wondered why Ezrah would have told them his real name. It was different for Marcus-he wasn't an American, and as both a foreign national and a member of a royal family he could get way with that-but Ezrah should know better. Right?

[Kaisius]

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Otakumon. I'm Avatar. Oh, and thanks for punching a hole in my ego. I'm not completely new to the scene, you know. Been doing this for half a year now."

Otakumon chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'll give you pretty of opportunity to puncture me right back in no time."

By the way, would you mind if I make a short fluff piece of you all for the Observer? You know, how you feel being chosen and such."

Already he is pulling a notepad from his trench's pockets with a pencil stuck in the binding.

"Don't worry, I'm a serious reporter, not one of those who invent an affair with lady Liberty to increase sales. But I still can dream of that coming true..."

Pencil and paper. Old School. I like it. "Going to give "imbedded journalist" a whole new meaning? With the team, I mean.", he said, with a wry smile. "What would you like to know?"

[Ares]

Vanguard

Vanguard rocketed through the sky, leaving a faint glowing trail behind him as he intentionally kept his from cracking the sound barrier. It was something of a struggle tho, given his top speed was just over Mach 14, and he was so happy that he wanted to cut loose. Still, great power, great responsibility, can't go around causing window shattering sonic booms for no good reason, he reminded himself.

So at his comparatively sedate pace, he approaches Freedom Hall, circling it in a gradually decending spiraling loop, checking out the Hall and the surrounding area to make sure nothing was out of place before finally landing. He took stock of his appearance, wishing not for the first time that he could perhaps alter his costume a little bit. His superpowered form stood about 6'4", about half a foot taller and nearly 50 pounds heavier than his regular body, all of it sculpted muscle. The costume was an alternate colored combo of the Freedom League's uniforms, a hooded cloak similar to Dr. Metropolis, an inverted version of Daedalus's symbol, a combo of the 'stripe' look Capt. Thunder, Johnny Rocket and Pseudo sported, Thunder's golden armbands and boots, Lady Liberty's red coloring and Raven's mask. Given his powers were likewise an odd mix of the League's powers, it made sense, but he still felt like he had perhaps stolen something he hadn't truly earned, however unintentional.

He took in a deep breath, and told himself to calm down. You're ready for this, remember? This is what all those solo adventures were for, those hours of training, the nightly patrols, you were getting ready for this. Relax.. He smiled at his own nervousness, letting out the breath he'd taken and, in doing so, he let the tension flow out of him as well. With that Vanguard walked into the Hall, noding to the familiar recpetionist.

"Hello Cynthia, it's Vanguard. Please let the League know I'm here, I'll go join the rest of the rest of the new recruits."

He walked past 'her' to the meet and greet area, a sincerely friendly smile on his face as he approached the other heroes and gave them a wave. "Hello gentlemen. I'm Vanguard, it's a pleasure to meet you all.

[Corin]

Inductor
HP: 1

"By the way, would you mind if I make a short fluff piece of you all for the Observer? You know, how you feel being chosen and such."

Already he is pulling a notepad from his trench's pockets with a pencil stuck in the binding.

"Don't worry, I'm a serious reporter, not one of those who invent an affair with lady Liberty to increase sales. But I still can dream of that coming true..."

He fakes a dreamy-lusty expresion before his face again becomes all business. As you watch, you see that he is a social chameleon...like most good reporters.

"I don't mind. But I can't answer anything too personal." He gestures to his garb, "I even came down here in this getup, thankfully I can fly. Don't have to deal with people staring at me on the bus."

Then he notices Otakumon, "Good to meet you, I'm Inductor." Again not a shocker he got chosen, the guy could do amazing things. So far he was pleased with the selections, these were all people who could accomplish change on their own... at least from what he had seen. Together, well that will be interesting.

Then Vangard comes in. Inductor waves back, Looks like the gang is all here."Vangard, nice to meet you, I'm Inductor." Inductor looks around, "Is that everyone?"

[9thDoctor]

Witness
HP:1 Luck HP: 2

"I'm not completely new to the scene, you know. Been doing this for half a year now. As a reporter, you should know that. Getting a first scoop on this many new heroes could be really good for your career."

"As my grizzled hair surely betrays, I am not entirely new to this....well being a reporter, that is. I am new to reporting on superheroes. My last station was as political correspondent at the London Times. I even wrote a book about the trial of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, accused of lying to the people and thus getting them involved in the Iraq desaster. So, while I think it wouldn't damage my career, i am not too dependent on it...which is good. It means i am free to decide what to write about and when...I am not easily pushed into delivering one more piece every week. Because this pressure usually results in half-baked articles which contain as much information than a SUV commercial."

"Going to give "imbedded journalist" a whole new meaning? With the team, I mean.", he said, with a wry smile. "What would you like to know?"

"I don't mind. But I can't answer anything too personal." He gestures to his garb, "I even came down here in this getup, thankfully I can fly. Don't have to deal with people staring at me on the bus."

"Hey, it really does...and it means I have exclusives written all over me. And don't worry. I respect and honor your secret identities and even if, at some time, I get to know them, I won't betray you. my lips are sealed as tight as a nun's legs. Well....make that tighter.
As for what I'd like to know...First, tell me how you feel being chosen for this regional chapter? Do you think it will fade as the first attempt at that? I mean this group a few years back...Re-Bar, Guardian, Jenny Quick and a few others.

Also, I think I still have what you said about your powers, correct me if i'm wrong: You, Avatar can channel other personalities and get their abilities to a certain degree, Otakumon can draw stuff and them make it become reality, Vanguard has an assortement of powers of the original Freedom League and Mar....Sea King has some increased strength and toughness. That about right?

As for myself, I think you wonder why I have no fancy codename like The Correspondent or Typewriter, right? I knew it.
Well, the reason is my pride. I can't write under an alias and I think it would rise suspicion if the Ghostwriter is part of the team and the articles get published by Ezrah johnstone. Also, I think my face is too well known for that. After all, a photo is included on my book's cover...not that it had sold that well..."

He waits for the answers, writing them down.

A different take on the introduction, I think.
As for the former regional team...it is from a game some time back, CD was Jenny Quick. It had the same premise (FL creating a regional group) but fell from the board along with the GM. Sad, because it had really great characters, my favourite was Re-Bar.
Tattooedman, if you don't want me to mention them, tell me...I can edit it out.