The Atomic Think Tank

by **The Stray** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:57 am

This is one of the threads I like to check often, because the wrtie-ups are so detailed and interesting.

I've notived that a lot of people seem to like to lurk, instead of at least posting appreciation. I've been guilty of that myself.

by **White Howler** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:57 pm

Exile

PL: 10 (165pp)

Abilities: STR: 10 (+0) DEX: 18 (+4) CON: 12 (+1) INT: 14 (+2) WIS: 10 (+0) CHA: 16 (+3)

Skills: Acrobatics 6 (+10)*, Bluff 12 (+15)*, Concentration 12 (+12), Diplomacy 12 (+15), Disguise 0 (+3/+53), Knowledge [Tactics] 8 (+10), Notice 8 (+8), Pilot 6 (+10), Sense Motive 8 (+8), Stealth 12 (+16)*

Feats: Dodge Focus (12), Equipment, Improved Initiative (2), Improved Trick, Skill Mastery [Acrobatics, Bluff, Disguise, Stealth], Uncanny Dodge [Hearing]

Powers: Mind Shield 6 (6pp), Morph 10 (Humanoids; Flaw: Move Action [-1]; 10pp), Shapeshift 8 (Flaws: Check –Concentration [-1]; 56pp)

Combat: Attack +12 [Unarmed +0] Defense 24 (11 flat-footed) Init +12

Saves: Toughness +4 (4 flat-footed) Fortitude +4 Reflex +10 Will +4 (+10 vs. Mental Powers)

Equipment: Morphic Uniform [+3 Toughness; Mimic Shapeshift; 4ep], Comm-Link [1ep]

Drawbacks: Power Loss [All Powers; When in Contact with Cold Iron; 3pp], Weakness [-1 Strength / Round in contact with Cold Iron; 6pp]

Cost: Abilities 20 + Skills 21 (84 Ranks) + Feats 20 + Powers 72 + Combat 28 + Saves 13 – Drawbacks 9 =165pp

Background:

Twilight’s spy and infiltrator, Exile, is not of this world. Well she is of this world… just not of this dimension. She hails from an unknown parallel Earth that Twilight had dubbed Earth-W. On this world Meta-humans began to appear in the early seventeenth century, and by the dawn of the twentieth century they had instituted themselves as the lords of the Earth. However centuries of interbreeding and social control had given rise to various castes of meta-humans. The highest caste is the mind benders, who used mental or magical powers to alter the mind or perform amazing acts without actual physical exertion. Below them are the warrior caste, made up of those with purely destructive powers, serving as the enforcers and elite troops in the mind benders’ armies. The lowest caste of meta-humans are the Shadows, those whose powers rely on deception, such as teleporters, shape shifters, and the like. Normal humans and other races exist as slaves below the meta-humans, while especially powerful or highborn meta-humans make up a class even higher than the mind benders.

Exile, who has never shared her real name, was a member of the Shadow caste, the youngest member of a clan of shape shifters who claimed to draw their power from a bloodline of magical fey creatures. Exile’s clan served a particularly powerful highborn noble house in its schemes against the other highborn families. Exile was never happy with her station, her low caste set several social taboos on her. The most uncomfortable being that as a shape shifter she was not allowed to favor one gender over another and had to maintain a gender neutral form when not operating on her master’s orders. Exile swallowed her distaste for this rule always having much preferred to take female forms than male, however she was severely disciplined when she expressed these feeling to her family.

At age nine she was sent away from her family to her masters’ war college. There she was trained in the subterfuge that she would be asked to carry out as a career. She was trained physically to enhance her natural grace, and conditioned mentally to refute the powers of most mind benders. Exile was a very skillful pupil and on her seventeenth birthday she was inducted into the service of her clan’s ruling house.

For seven years Exile served masterfully, slaying her masters’ foes, collecting vital intelligence, all for the glory of the highborn house. The entire time however she hid the seceret in her heart. She truly enjoyed being a woman, she would spend hours in her quarters attempting to put together her ideal form, but knowing that she could never truly embrace this form.

It was only a matter of time until she was caught. The reaction was swift, Exile was taken away from her clan, and the highborn house placed her into a maximum security “re-education center”. For most inmates re-education consisted of an entirely new personality given to them by the mind benders amongst the senior staff. However, Exile’s mental protections prevented them from easily doing this. They instead resorted to physical punishment and what we would consider medieval psychoanalysis. The entire time Exile openly defied them, taking a different female form every day refusing to be beaten down by them. She was often beaten for her insolence, and thus spent a lot of time in the infirmary.

In the Infirmary she met another inmate, his name was Zell, he was a powerful mind bender who liked to use his telekinetic and telepathic powers in was that made him behave more like a member of the warrior caste. He was recovering from a near fatal session of electroshock therapy following him mind wiping the mind bender sent to mind wipe him. Exile appreciated the irony and the two became close friends during their time in the infirmary. They were kindred spirits and as time went on Exile even began feeling something more for Zell, she was falling in love with him.

One day while walking in the yard with Zell Exile struggled to tell him how she felt about him. She was preparing to chide herself for expressing this kind of feeling for someone that society taught her was beyond her station when Zell smiled to her.

“I love you too.” He said softly to her, having read her mind.

The two held one another close and kissed. It was that kiss that sealed both of their fates.

Guards had seen the kiss. They quickly separated the two putting them into solitary confinement. It was against the laws of society for members of two different castes to relate to one another like Exile and Zell had done. As the member of the lower caste Exile was quickly cast as the villain, using her powers to tempt a mentally troubled mind bender whose instability was the cause of his incarceration. That accusation hurt her more than anything, she had never attempted to use her female forms to seduce Zell.

The inquisitors were called in to discern the truth of the incident. It quickly became apparent that Zell was the son of a highborne house and that Exile had committed what amounted to a religious crime by kissing him, or sullying him as the inquisitors called it. During the investigations Exile was subjected to sensory deprivation, and interrogation for hours at a time before being tossed back into her cell.

One night she was awoken and dragged from her cell and thrown in front of the inquisitors. They proceeded to play a video recording of a shape shifter in one of Exile’s forms murdering Zell in his sleep. They then presented DNA evidence that said that she’d been in his cell, and that her cell had been empty during the murder. She was proclaimed guilty within fifteen minutes and condemned to the worst fate imaginable, Exile.

Earth-W’s experiences with extra-dimensional travel had all been violent and bloody, therefore it was assumed that all alternate dimensions were unimaginably deadly places. In a ceremony Exile was thrown into a portal to a randomly determined alternate Earth, ours.

Exile began wandering our Earth, as an outsider. She was scared of our world, unsure of everything. She longed to return home, she felt as though she’d landed on a savage world. That was until she met Robert Jones. Twilight had seen her using her shape shifting power to protect herself and knew that she was both skillful and powerful. He used his silver tongue to gain her trust, and then showed her his vision of the world. He told her that if she would work on his behalf that he would search for a way to return her to her home. Thrilled at finding someone she thought understood her Exile agreed, taking her current code name. She even designated a new “default” form as an attractive teenaged human girl.

In many ways Exile has been the victim, but do not let that fool you. She has been an assassin since the age of nine, she displays a cold blooded ruthlessness that even causes members of the syndicate seven to pause. She won’t hesitate to do anything to return home.

What she isn’t aware of is that Twilight already has a means to return her home via his servant Transit. Twilight has already planned for her eventual discovery of this fact however, and is prepared to play upon her fear of her status as a deviant in her home world to cow her into staying on this Earth as long as he requires her skills.

by **Psistrike** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:55 pm

I've had trouble with my eyes the last few days and can't read that much. Finally caught up on all of the new characters you have posted, White Howler, and like each of them a lot. Living Dead Girl, it is hard to hate someone with such a tragic background, even if she is a murderer. Grave though you have to sympathize with because of his origins and who he used to be.

Glad to see MDSnowman's stats and history posted up here, fun read. And Exile, talk about an in-depth history including the world she came from. Due to what happened to her she probably doesn't trust telepaths and magic-users too easily.

Great work to everyone involved in the creation of these characters from White Howler's imagination.

by **White Howler** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:59 pm

Tribe's Background:

Today one of the most feared villains on Earth is the demonic Tribe. Of course six years ago Tribe didn’t exist, there was just Zach Carter and his old high school buddies. The lot of them had been legends at their high school. They were the bad boys, they wore leather jackets, listened to heavy metal, and dated the best looking girls in school.

Of course then they graduated. They entered the real world, none of the five having bothered with any forethought as to what their lives would eventually hold. They all ended up in dead end jobs and drinking too much. They lost contact, drifting apart until several of them had even done time in jail for various crimes.

They would have likely died separate anonymous deaths had it not been for one of the most treasured moments of life, the ten-year high school reunion. The five friends met back up and touched base once again. After striking out with their old girlfriends they decided to ditch the party and go to a local bar.

There the five of them began to talk about their lives. They all lamented how far they’d fallen since high school and wanted to relive those glory days, therefore they agreed to meet every week.

Every Saturday night the five friends would all go to Zach’s apartment, drink, play video games, or poker, and once they were suitably buzzed the group would go bar hopping. The group continued this ritual for several years, aside from some drunk and disorderly charges they were largely unremarkable.

Again things would have likely continued this way if fate hadn’t intervened.

Zach had long studied the occult, even becoming a Satanist to better explore what he believed to be his destiny of greatness. He’d become so interested that an acquaintance of his had invited him to see some “real” Satanism in action… on a Saturday night. That was a deal breaker for Zach, told his acquaintance that he’d be there with every intention of blowing him off for his buddies.

So the weekly ritual commenced as usual. Two cases of beer, several rounds of Halo, and several hands of poker the five friends hit the bar consuming more booze. Finally someone mentioned that they wanted to try something new. Zach, drunk but still able to think, mentioned the chance to see “real” Satanism. The guys, all interested in the occult, or the pop culture representations of it, agreed instantly.

Now when the invitation to witness “real” Satanism was extended no one was expecting Zach to show up drunk, or with four equally drunk buddies. You see the buddies managed to barge in on a very complicated magical ritual being performed by an old mystic intent on becoming some sort of demonic god. He had recruited unwitting losers to use as sacrifices during the ritual. The slaughter had already occurred by the time that Zach and his friends arrived. The stumbled all over the warehouse where the ritual was taking place unaware that they were walking through puddles of blood that had been specifically placed to confer their power to the old mystic. When they were discovered the mystic rushed them in a rage, but it was too late. They had already ruined the ritual and the resulting backlash killed the old mystic. It had apparently killed the friends as well, because standing in their place was a tall shirtless man with a pentagram carved on his chest and glowing red eyes.

This villain played havoc all over the city that night. It was only the next day that he separated into the five friends. Each of the five discovered that they could remember the experience as this single being and that each one had gained one of his powers. They experimented and discovered that they could combine into this super powerful man at will. They went on a reign of terror embracing their new powers and becoming the bad boys that they had been in high school, only this time for real.

Tribe, as this being called himself, became wildly popular amongst the counter culture of the country. He, and by extension his component parts, became something akin to super villain rock stars. After all there were few heroes at the time that could stand up before his raw power, and his message of violence, taking what you wanted, excess, and disregard for authority had struck a cord with disaffected youth everywhere.

Of course success seldom came without a price. When not committing crimes Zach and his friends and degenerated into a bunch of drunk, bitter, and angry men no longer the kids that they had been. After a year or two they could no longer stand one another. They had come to blows several times, but discovered that when used against one another their powers ceased to function. Despite making a “communal girlfriend” out of the horned internet celebrity Brimstone it was quickly growing apparent that the group was drifting apart.

Twilight was well aware of every facet of Tribe’s background and when he approached the five men he offered them something they had never known, real respect. Fan boys had adored them, but no one had taken them seriously. By joining the Syndicate Seven Tribe would be respected, he’d be feared. Though it took a bit of effort to convince all five men to join Twilight managed the task.

Since that day Tribe has served as the Syndicate Seven’s trump card. Able to overpower an entire team of superheroes when used properly he is usually kept in reserve. This is due chiefly to the fact that the five men who make up Tribe are still usually barely on speaking terms, or bickering over some perceived slight against one another. Only their desire to increase their infamy or lust for Brimstone is the only thing that unites them now. Even so Tribe has proved incredibly easy for Twilight to control, due simply to the fact that no one man who makes him up is really a genius, and that Tribe himself is easily fooled.

Secretly Twilight has also looked into options to get the power of Tribe invested into one person, but came to the decision that if this were done that person may attempt to usurp him afterwards. Therefore while he can't rely on Tribe 100% of the time he believes that the situation could be worse.

by **Psistrike** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:31 pm

Okay, that is a twisted way for a villain to be created. Tribe's history starts out simple enough, til the friends get back together after many years and everything starts going downhill from there. Would hate to meet any of them, as each seems to have temper issues and like to throw their power around.

by **teleportingbassist** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:35 am

That is a really great background, Howler. 1000 cookies! Great job.

by **Dirigible** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:16 pm

Exile is great. That whole bit about parallel worlds and caste-based superhuman societies tickles me immensely.

by **White Howler** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:32 am

by **Libra** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:38 am

HO! HO! HO!

It is a Merry Christmas after all!

by **White Howler** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:28 pm

Candice “Candy” Claus

PL: 10 (165pp)

Abilities: STR: 14 (+2) DEX: 18 (+4) CON: 14 (+2) INT: 16 (+3) WIS: 10 (+0) CHA: 20 (+5)

Skills: Bluff 3 (+8/+16), Craft [Structural] 6 (+9), Craft [Mechanical] 6 (+9), Diplomacy 3 (+8/+16), Handle Animal 10 (+15), Knowledge [Pop Culture] 12 (+15), Knowledge [Arcane Lore] 12 (+15), Notice 4 (+4), Perform [Singing] 12 (+17), Pilot 8 (+12)

Feats: Accurate Attack, Animal Empathy, Attractive (2), Equipment (22), Defensive Roll (2), Dodge Focus (7), Minions (4) [8 Flying Reindeer]

Powers: Device 12 [Santa’s Sack - Variable Power 15 (Any One power of the Christmas Descriptor); 36pp], Device 1 [Holiday Uniform – Protection 3, Immunity 2 (Heat & Cold); 4pp], Immortality (5pp)

Combat: Attack +5 [Unarmed +2] Defense 23 (13 flat-footed) Init +4

Saves: Toughness +7 (5 flat-footed) Fortitude +3 Reflex +8 Will +3

Equipment: Santa’s Sleigh [Str: 40; Speed: 14 (Flaw: platform); Defense: 8; Toughness: 9; Size: Huge; Powers: Time Control 14 (Invisibility; Flaw: Requires Reindeer [-1]); 110ep]

Cost: Abilities 32 + Skills 19 (76 Ranks) + Feats 39 + Powers 45 + Combat 22 + Saves 8 – Drawbacks 0 =165pp

Flying Reindeer
PL: 2 (15pp)
Abilities: STR: 14 (+2) DEX: 14 (+2) CON: 14 (+2) INT: 06 (-2) WIS: 10 (+0) CHA: 06 (-2)
Skills: Notice 4 (+4), Survival 4 (+4)
Powers: Flight 4 (8pp)
Combat: Attack +2 [Unarmed +2] Defense 12 (12 flat-footed) Init +
Saves: Toughness +2 (2 flat-footed) Fortitude +2 Reflex +2 Will +1
Drawbacks: Animal Physiology [8pp]
Cost: Abilities 4 + Skills 2 (8 Ranks) + Feats 0 + Powers 8+ Combat 8 + Saves 1 – Drawbacks 8 = 15pp

Background:

Growing up as the daughter to an important person isn’t easy, especially if that person happens to be Santa Claus. Candice Claus was born some nineteen years ago to Nicholas “Santa” Claus and his wife Nancy “Mrs.” Claus. Candice, or Candy as the Elves liked to call her, had the life growing up. After all what child wouldn’t like growing up at the North Pole and experiencing Christmas 365 days a year.

And Candy did truly enjoy herself, aside from a little too much sugar in her diet things were outstanding in her life. She learned how to figure skate from her mother, and gained a bit of her father’s enjoyment for extreme winter sports. By the age of twelve she was putting in strong performances in every event in the annual North Pole Olympics.

Well as jolly as the North Pole was certain expectations came along with being Santa’s only child. Candy was groomed most of her young life to eventually take her father’s place. As much as Candy loved living at the North Pole she wasn’t as excited about the high pressure position of making presents for all the children in the world and delivering them all in a single night. Candy’s passion always ran more towards music, she harbored dreams of being a pop princess.

While her parents encouraged her love of singing they still tried to gently push her into the family businesses. Though they weren’t keen to admit it Santa had been doing this job for hundreds of years and he needed a break from the near constant work.

Things would have likely continued on this course for another decade or more if it weren’t for a mishap. On December 16th 2006 Santa broke his leg and his wrist while snowboarding at the North Pole. With the days and hours until Christmas counting down only one person can save Christmas, Candy Claus.

Personality:

Candy is a very happy and perky girl, years of excessive sugar intake, plus living in the happiest place on Earth have made her extremely cheerful. This cheerfulness even persists when confronted about her disagreements with her parents over her future. She just isn’t comfortable expressing unhappiness. With her irrepressible happiness some people think that Candy is a bimbo. However, while she can be a bit ditzy, she is extremely intelligent. Something that show’s itself when she’s asked to build a toy, something that she’s proven to have a knack for even if she doesn’t practice it much.

by **Psistrike** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:07 pm

"Candy" Claus is definately one of the most unique Christmas themed characters I've ever seen. Great work to everyone involved, although if men knew she was delivering the presents they would stay up to catch Santa with their kids. :lol: