[hider=Elemental gunslinger]
[b]Name:[/b] Jared Nostrom

[b]Concept:[/b] Elemental gunslinger

[b]Background:[/b]
Up to the present day, Jared does not really know how exactly it started. He can't even tell when it started, only that the first changes were subtle and not even very specific. Once it had become more noticeable to him, he asked his friends way too many times about the probable cause of it, but all they could tell him before becoming annoyed by his repeated questioning was that neither radiation nor any known chemicals are to blame for it. A biological agent perhaps ? Well then it should have affected some of his colleagues, too, but that wasn't the case.

Ultimately, the rather... exquisite... state of 'health' Jared found himself in forced to quit his job at the Thompson Creek molybdenium mine. No more big lorry driving, no more daily dose of ANFO fireworks and no more afterwork beer and firing range sessions with nice coworkers. Instead, Jared now roamed the streets as somebody whose condition did not allow him to just find any new employment so easily and whose bank account could not take the usual monthly payments for much longer without one.

Jared turned into a homeless beggar and criminal, albeit just mildly so with the occasional shoplifting or just camping where park rangers didn't like it. Not great, but survivable. That almost changed when he screwed up once at Walmart and forgot to put the hood of his cloak back on after it had accidentally fallen backwards, releaving what was on his head to CCTV cameras. The damn store detectives didn't even really bother to catch him, but instead kept recording in order to upload things to social media. While that probably got them a zillion likes as the video went viral, it also managed to invoke the Sunday Group's attention this way.

Jared became one of the group's cases himself, but luckily, once tracked down successfully, there was a solution that could solve the issues of both parties involved. They could also determine that, apparently, some kind of benign elemental spirit has forged a bond with the former human to turn both of them into a new corporeal entity. Whether this transformation has actually completed or is still ongoing is still a bit unclear though.

 
[b]Appearance:[/b]
Jared has rather pale, almost slightly gray-ish skin, ordinary blue eyes and a bald head -- that is if a bunch of more or less small, quartz-like and slightly colored crystals sprouting through his skin still count as 'bald'. He has learnt from his past mistakes though and hides them under a tight fitting beanie that's less prone to falling off than a hoodie nowadays. Combined with his dark, medium-length beard he's still a bit more of a face to remember actually. People also tend to refer to him as being some sort of bear since he's quite tall and obviously very broad-shouldered and muscular. Another side effect that has slowly emerged over time.

 
[b]Powers & Skills:[/b]
[list][*][i]Miracle worker[/i]
Being associated with the element of earth can be a significant boon in a time when buildings, vehicles and many other everyday items contain vast amounts of stone and metal. He can fix such things, reshape them or break them. That being said, he's not a replicator or even just a fast coin making machine. Depending on the size and complexity of the task it takes its toll in terms of both time and mental focus. Doing things without explosives can still be highly advantageous though and so can effectively manufacturing one's own ammo out of some junk once back in the office.[*][i]Firearms aficionado[/i]
Jared never got any military training, but spent a lot of time with his colleages back then at the firing range for fun. Being able to keep bullet and cartridge prices at an all-time low for himself hasn't exactly mended his addiction either since he joined the Sunday Group. This should not be confused with always being very trigger-happy even in the most inappropriate circumstances however.[*][i]Knockout blow[/i]
Contrary to what some people who don't know him very well might believe, Jared's skin has at least not yet (?) transmuted into any more rock-like outer hull that would have any added physical resistance worth measuring. His bones though ? Not so sure if one assumes that things primarily happen from inside out. What is certain is that Jared's sheer size and bulk are not for decoration, but can hit very hard should he manage to get hold onto some individual. Of course it also helps with carrying stuff of all kinds, be it weapons or other equipment.[/list][/hider]