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[i]We live together, we train together, we fight together, we stand for good together. We are ninjas. We strike hard, defend, protect, and fade into the night. And there ain't no bad guy or monster ever gonna change that, that's what's important, and that's why we'll always be... brothers.[/i][/center]
| Identity |

Leonardo

| Origin and Backstory |

[hider][b]History of The Foot Clan[/b]

There is not a group more tied to the shadows of Japanese history and mythology than the shinobi, or ninja. Solid historical records of their methods and missions are rare, leading myth and fact to blend into one. Stories of ninja controlling the elements, walking on water, and turning invisible are as common place as reverence regarding their prowess in the martial arts and the art of assassination. History knows they existed. History knows they were masters of espionage and assassination, hired only by the most powerful of shoguns to ensure their power. But the records tell us little else. The myths and tales of the ancient land tell us of the clandestine families and guilds that made up the mythical bands. Cult-like in training, demeanor, and fanaticism, the ninja clans of old were feared as much as they were respected.

None were more feared than the infamous Foot Clan.

The Foot’s story, for those who are brave enough to tell it, began with the Samurai Takeshi Tatsuo. Tatsuo was a fierce warrior, and the leader of daimyo Ashikaga Yuu’s armies. The feudal lord often marveled at his general’s ability to win him battles against his rivals, but Yuu was an insecure man. He saw the way his men idolized and respected Tatsuo. Fearing a betrayal, the daimyo sent his most trusted and skilled men to ambush and kill the samurai during his yearly sabbatical to the snowy peak of a nearby mountain. The men failed to kill Tatsuo, and were cut down by the now ronin. Tatsuo did not come out unscathed, however. The battle cost him his leg, and he believed he would die from the wound. As he lay amidst the bodies of his fallen enemies, a beautiful woman emerged seemingly from thin air. Using powerful magic, she healed the ronin’s wound and restored his leg. She introduced herself as Kitsune, and claimed Tatsuo had a destiny to rule the land. Still delirious from the battle and the healing magic, Takeshi spotted his own, bloody footprint in the snow. From that day he decided to take his own destiny as leader of The Foot.

Tatsuo and Kitsune worked quickly to strengthen their cause. The ronin infiltrated his old army and gathered the considerable number of troops who were loyal to him. Under the cover of darkness, they slaughtered those that opposed them, and the ronin took his former master’s life, ironically causing the one thing Yuu feared the most.

Now a daimyo in his own right, Tatsuo began training his men as not only samurai, but as the ninja shadow warriors. Using dark magic learned from Kitsune, the Foot soon became the most feared force in all of Asia. Their influence spread quickly over Japan, and soon few opposed them.

In order to bring honor back to Japan, a final, desperate assault was undertaken by a shogun named Oroku Maji and his renegade band of samurai.  Maji and his men managed to trap and kill Kitsune while she was unguarded, throwing Tatsuo’s forces into disarray. In the confusion, Maji and the Foot’s leader squared off, with the Shogun coming out victorious. With his dying words, however, Takeshi put a curse on the Oroku family, and promised to return.

With their leaders gone, The Foot retreated into the shadows of the world. They became a respected group of mercenaries and spies once the dust settled. They remained in the shadows, but never again desired domination or dark magic.

[b]Rise of the Shredder[/b]

That is until the rise of Oroku Saki. Saki, a descendant of Maji, joined the organization his family had once so honorably fought against. Thanks to a merciless and sinister desire for power, Saki quickly gained the Foot’s leadership. Where it had long been a force of honor after the death of Tatsuo, Saki warped the Foot into a criminal and terrorist powerhouse within years. The Foot was once again a force of fear, and Oroku Saki was a name few spoke of without looking over their shoulder. Most called him by a name he gained from his rise through the ranks: The Shredder.

Saki started his covert war for domination by launching attacks on the Yakuza of Japan, who quickly fell under the dominion of The Foot. Using the Yakuza’s respectable false-front businesses, Saki gained the capital to spread his influence elsewhere, and set his sights on New York.

While most in The Foot were seduced by Saki’s promises of power and wealth, a young man by the name of Hamato Yoshi was not. He openly defied Saki and fled to New York with his wife Tang Shen and pet rat Splinter, unaware that the city was Saki’s next desired conquest.

Saki, petty and vengeful as he was, hunted the pair down personally when he arrived in America. He murdered Shen, and mocked Yoshi when he returned home from work. The two shinobi fought, but the Shredder dispatched him swiftly. During the struggle, Splinter’s cage was opened. As his master died, the faithful rat jumped at Saki’s face and clawed at it, disfiguring the ninja master. Before the Shredder could kill the rodent, Splinter escaped into the sewers of New York.

Shredder, now without any opposition that knew of his plans, set about taking over New York. What he thought would be a quick conquest turned into a quagmire, however. He did not count on the entrenched boss of NYC, known only as the Kingpin, to put up such a fight.

[b]Birth of Hope[/b]

While Shredder was just getting started in New York, an event of happenstance would start a ripple that would one day create a tidal wave of change in the city. While walking home from the pet store with four baby turtles, a young by watched as a teenager saved a blind man from being struck by an out of control truck. The truck rocked back and forth as it swerved, ejecting a canister of radioactive ooze from its bed. The canister struck the heroic teenager in the face, exposing his eyes to the ooze, before it slammed into the turtles’ bowl. The canister and the four turtles tumbled into the sewers, where the vial shattered completely and covered the baby amphibians.

As it happened, Splinter wandered by, and gathered the baby turtles out of the ooze, covering himself in the substance as well. Little did he know, he had been hunted by a feral cat for nearly a mile, and when he stopped, it took the chance to pounce on the hapless rat. Splinter fought for his life, and managed to claw the cat’s eye out, but not before it too was covered in the radioactive substance.

Splinter took the turtles back to his nest, and quickly found they were all growing at an unbelievable rate. Not only that, but they were all becoming more intelligent. Splinter, now mentally and physically maturing to his advanced age, realized the substance was changing them on a cellular level. They were becoming large, strong, and smart. With his now human-like intelligence, Splinter remembered the danger of Oroku Saki and what threat he posed to New York. He decided then to raise the turtles as his own, and to teach them to fight injustice.

He named the turtles Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, the names taken from a scrap of an old book in his nest. The five of them found a comfortable home in an old, clean sewer antechamber that was no longer in use, and Splinter began their training.

[b]Out of the Sewers, Into the Streets[/b]

The turtles grew together, and they quickly developed their own personalities, as all children do. Leonardo, the eldest, took their calling as protectors very seriously. He had a strict code of honor, and idolized the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and Superman. Leo was not adverse to having fun with his brothers, but often found the burden of leading his brothers difficult. Raphael, next in line, was the biggest and strongest of the four. He was usually quiet, though had an explosive temper. Still, his loyalty to his family was unmatched. Michelangelo was the loud, funny, and slightly-obnoxious member of the group. As the youngest, he was often getting into trouble. Donatello was observant, brilliant, and far less interested in his family’s combat training than the others. Each one brought something special to the table, but together they were stronger than they could ever be apart.

Splinter had kept them safe in the sewers for sixteen years, but he knew the time was coming for them to rise to the surface. On his sojourns into the city, he saw how the war between The Foot and the Kingpin was intensifying. The people of New York needed protection, and his sons could provide it.

Giving each of them their own weapon, Splinter sent his sons to the surface to begin gathering intel needed to fight The Foot. Leonardo was in charge of keeping his brothers on task, but even he was taken aback by his first nights in New York. He had never seen anything quite so beautiful, and he and his brothers enjoyed their nights on the town to the fullest. The watched the humans go about their business, ate pizza (which quickly became their favorite food), and even took in a movie.

But the harshness of reality snapped into focus when the brothers watched as a group of Kingpin’s men perform a drive-by shooting. The four brothers chased the murderers down. After an easy fight, they warned their new enemies that injustice would no longer stand in New York.

In the coming weeks they continued to clash with the Kingpin while also coming in contact with The Foot’s ninja army. Splinter was correct in thinking the war between the two had reached a boiling point. The Foot and Kingpin's empires were now in direct conflict, and innocent people were paying the price. The police were powerless to stop the escalating conflict, and the heroes of New York were the only line of defense. Leonardo struggled with the horrors of real battle, and worried that he was not fit to lead his brothers. They were behind him, and he hid it well, but his indecision was constantly following him.

That didn't mean the Turtles were alone in their fight, however. In the first weeks above the sewers, the allied themselves with student April O'Neil, her boyfriend-turned-vigilante Casey Jones, and the Purple Dragons, a vigilante gang led by Casey's cousin Angel.

Leonardo and his family now stand as one of the few barricades to open warfare in the streets of New York. He will have to fight his own teenage insecurities to help save the city he loves from the desires of Oroku Saki. The path he and his family will be lead on will take them to their limit, not to mention places they would have never dreamed of.
[/hider]

| Attributes |
Leonardo and his brothers are genetically mutated anthropomorphic turtles. Their mutations have granted them with slight superhuman strength, dexterity, agility, reflexes, and endurance, along with a moderate healing factor. Being turtles, they also have shells that can stop small arms fire and their hides are resistant to bladed weapons, though far from stab-proof. Along with these natural abilities, Leonardo and his brothers were trained as experts in nijutsu and the art of the samurai by their adoptive father Splinter. They are adept at hand-to-hand, weapon, and projectile combat. 

Leo carries two ninja swords with him at all times as his primary weapons. He also carries a variety of throwing weapons on his belt including shurikens, throwing knives, and smoke bombs. The turtles are also known to employ bows and arrows when the situation calls for it.

Thanks to Donatello's technical and mechanical prowess, the turtles have communicators and tracking devices handy.

| Character Notes |
[hider=Supporting Characters]

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[b]Splinter[/b] - The Turtles' father, sensei, and guide through life. Splinter is kind, patient, and deeply wise. While the mutation gave them all human-like intelligence, Splinter seems to have deeper knowledge of unknown origin. He cares for his adoptive sons greatly, and has come to consider April, Casey, and Angel as part of their growing family. He fears for them as they fight against the forces of evil. Splinter and Leonardo talk privately about the burdens of leadership often.

[b]Raphael[/b] - The biggest and strongest of the four turtles, Raphael is also the turtle with the quickest temper. He and Leo often butt heads, but Raphael knows Leonardo is the best chance they have to succeed in their mission. Raphael is fiercely loyal and protective of his friends and family, to the point where he can become distracted in battle. He is best friends with Casey Jones, often loses patience with Mikey, and ribs on Donnie for his geeky ways.

[b]Michelangelo[/b] - The youngest and smallest of the brothers, Mikey is immature, fun-loving, and just a bit clumsy. He is often the peacemaker when his brothers bicker, and he's always looking for new friends. He employs an unorthodox fighting style that fits with his free spirit.

[b]Donatello[/b] - Donnie is the smartest and most contemplative of the brothers. He is not a fan of violence, and only fights when it's absolutely necessary. He is the turtles' tech support, and he created their communicators and tracking devices. He also outfitted their lair with air purifiers, water purifiers, electricity, and communications equipment. He and April are good friends, as they share scientific minds. 

[b]April O'Neil[/b] - April is an Empire State University biology student studying under Doctor Curt Connors. She is a brilliant scientist, and an incredibly kind person. She's dating Casey Jones, an ESU hockey player. The two began dating after he gave her self-defense lessons in exchange for tutoring. She's helped the turtles acclimate to surface life, and has taught them all about human life and pop culture. She's currently taking her martial arts training to a new level by training with Splinter. Due to her lack of experience, she's general kept off the front lines, only used as a driver when needed.

[b]Casey Jones[/b] - An ESU hockey player and vigilante, Casey is the Turtles's most trusted ally on the front lines. He has an anger issue similar to Raphael, and they are working on that together. Casey uses a mix of martial arts, boxing, and brawling to fight their enemies, and often employs weapons such as baseball bats and hockey sticks. He also introduced the Turtles to Angel and the Purple Dragons, solidifying their alliance.

[b]Angel Bridge[/b] - Angel is Casey's cousin and lifelong friend as well as the leader of the Purple Dragon Gang. Angel leads her gang in protecting the people of Brooklyn against the Foot, Kingpin's men, and Old Hob's thugs.

[b]The Purple Dragons[/b] - A Brooklyn street gang who was started by Angel's father "Hun". Angel wrestled control from him, and changed the gang's direction to protect the people of the neighborhood from attack. Their numbers had been dwindling thanks to assaults by both The Foot and Kingpin's men until the Turtles allied themselves with the Dragons. Now the newest threat to Brooklyn is Old Hob's Gang, an upstart group funded by the Kingpin.[/hider]

[hider=Antagonists]

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[b]The Foot Clan[/b] - The ancient and deadly ninja clan, The Foot have invaded New York. Though they seemingly are in a quagmire gang war with the Kingpin, The Foot are slowly turning the tide. They are ruthless, well trained, and deadly. With seemingly unlimited numbers, the Foot are spreading their influence not only in the city, but across the world. Fueled by Oroku Saki's rage and ambition, the Foot's shadow looms over the planet. The Turtles need to stop them before their plans come to fruition.

[b]Oroku Saki[/b] - The ruthless leader of The Foot Clan, Saki desires power above all else. He is a master of combat, who is possibly unmatched in the realm of martial arts. None have gone face to face with the Shredder and lived to tell the tale. Saki is also adept with the magical arts, and continues to teach himself new ways to break into the mystical planes. He inspires unwavering loyalty, and fear, in his troops. Saki is even feared in the circles of supervillainy, though few have ever encountered him.

[b]Viper[/b] - A former agent of HYDRA, Viper was recruited to The Foot after she realized HYDRA would never let a woman gain power. Saki, on the other hand, saw her fantastic abilities and brought her to his side. She quickly became his most trusted lieutenant. She leads the Foot in the field, and serves her master well. she is a deadly combatant.

[b]The Mad Dog[/b] - A deadly, and unstable, warrior in Saki's Foot Clan. The Mad Dog was the lone survivor of an experiment performed by Saki to craft the perfect killer. Half-feral, the Mad Dog now waits until his master lets him off the leash.

[b]Karai[/b] - Saki's teenage daughter. Karai is learning her father's craft at his side.

[b]Kingpin Crime Syndicate[/b] - A large, well-funded mafia, the Kingpin's family is the most powerful traditional crime family in New York. Led by the mysterious Kingpin, they're currently in a gang war with The Foot. 

[b]Hob's Gang[/b] - A new, violent gang in Brooklyn, Old Hob's gang is led by a vicious killer. They're currently at war with the Purple Dragons, and are employed by the Kingpin.[/hider]

| Character Goals |
I want to ingrain the Turtles, Foot, and supporting characters into the Marvel/DC lore. Considering the plethora of ninjas, mutants, and teen heroes in each, there will be plenty of opportunities for interaction and new storytelling opportunities. Other than that, I'd love to work out the Foot's war on New York, as well as bringing light to the Shredder's bigger plans for the world at large. I'd also like to take the Turtles into the...weirder aspects of their comics history. No reason we can't see Krang, the Utroms, Triceratons, and Neutrinos interacting with the Kree, Skrull, and Green Lantern Corps. Basically I want to have fun with these characters, while also playing up the family aspect they share.

The Turtles are only recently active, no more than a few months. So there's a lot that needs to be done with them.

| Sample Post |

Leonardo could still see it sometimes. The blood that flowed from the bodies as the Kingpin's men screeched away in their car. It was the Turtles' first taste of violence. Well, real violence. He had seen guns in the movies Donnie downloaded off the internet. He had been trained in nearly every form of hand-to-hand combat the world had ever seen. There was nothing like the real thing, however. Seeing what a firearm could do had told Leonardo many things. That those that used them had no honor. That violence was king on the surface. But most of all it told him that there was a need for him and his brothers to protect the people that lived in this great city. They were his responsibility now. That was something he wouldn't take lightly.

[color=red]"Hey look, he's brooding again!"[/color] Raph laughed as he slapped Leo on the shoulder. [color=red]"What're ya thinking about? What would Captain America do? We should make a bracelet for you with it on there."[/color]

[color=blue]"Very funny, Raph,"[/color] Leo rolled his eyes and looked around the lair. Mikey was buried in a video game, Donnie was tinkering with something, and Raph was on his third set of pushups for the day. They had been on patrol the night before, and had taken down a few groups of Foot soldiers doing who knows what. They were in a good mood, that's for sure. [color=blue]"So are we patrolling tonight?"[/color]

[color=orange]"Do we have to?"[/color] Mikey whined as he pressed away at the controller, half his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. [color=orange]"I'm so in the zone."[/color]

[color=blue]"You don't become a hero like Superman by taking nights off, Mike,"[/color] Leo shot back to his brother.

[color=red]"Yea, well, maybe when you can fly around the world in an hour you can be like the big blue boy scout,"[/color] Raph grunted through his reps. [color=red]"Hell, you definitely got the boy scout part down."[/color]

[color=purple]"Besides,"[/color] Donnie piped in, [color=purple]"we told April and Casey we'd meet them at the movies later."[/color]

[color=orange]"Yea, bro!"[/color] Mikey exclaimed. [color=orange]"Furious 7! Ride or die, Leo!"[/color]

He chuckled, and had to admit they were right. They had been working for weeks without a night off, and it would be good to hang out with their friends when they weren't nearly being killed by gangsters or ninjas. Still, Leo kept his mind on the Foot. They had been getting more brazen in their moves. The leader of the Turtles wasn't sure if it was due to the vigilante group's emergence into the gang war or what, but The Foot were pressing the advantage they were building against Kingpin. Things would come to a head soon.

[color=red]"Seriously, Leo,"[/color] Raph shook his head as he grabbed a towel, [color=red]"no one can possibly brood this much."[/color]

As his brothers got ready to leave, Leonardo slunk into his father's room and found him meditating. Leo crossed his legs and sat directly across from his sensei, [color=blue]"Father."[/color]

[color=brown]"I thought you were going to the movies?"[/color] Splinter asked without opening his eyes. [color=brown]"I would not want you to miss the show."[/color]

[color=blue]"We have time,"[/color] Leo shook his head. [color=blue]"Father, I'm worried about-"[/color]

[color=brown]"The Foot,"[/color] he cut his son off. [color=brown]"Of course you are. We all are. As we should be. The Shredder is not to be trifled with. But until we find out what his true intentions are, we will stab blindly in the dark to stop him. What have I always told you about control, Leonardo?"[/color]

[color=blue]"Without control and wisdom, we lose everything,"[/color] Leonardo recited from memory. [color=blue]"A true combatant needs steady ground under his feet. Must mind his surroundings. Fighting blind means losing, no matter how strong you may be."[/color]

[color=brown]"Which means go to the movies. Have fun with your friends," [/color]Splinter smiled.[color=brown] "The Foot will be there when you're done, my son."[/color]