S A R A H M A R I E K I N G
S A R A H M A R I E K I N G
Sarah is above average height at five feet, ten inches, built upon a lean frame, and boasting a confident posture and a capable physique and visibly balanced proportions. She is of naturally tan skin, that grows deeper after time in the sun, but with an otherwise mixed and ethnically ambiguous complexion. Her hair is jet black, though often with traces of dust from recent altercations, and is wildly curled when left unkempt; she typically keeps it cut near shoulder height, and managed in cornrows. She is brown-eyed, and a dark shade thereof, though lighting can reflect different hues beneath them, and they grow noticeably brighter when she is exerting her power to its limit.
She spares little time or space on her body for accessories or ink, knowing that the former can be a liability and the latter easily ruined in a fight; at best, she might be seen wearing an inexpensive digital watch. Her style of stress is simple, dressed down, and generally non-descript: a hooded sweatshirt, either black or gray, worn over a plain tee shirt, jeans or cargo pants, and well-traveled pair of black, mid-top Converse or Vans shoes. Thus far, she has yet to adopt a proper “Hero” ensemble, but will often adorn a bandana for “important occasions,” or a balaclava should the need for anonymity arise.
Superpower: Chi Manipulation; As a natural conduit of life force energy (Chi), Sarah’s first and foremost gift is a heightened physiology, which affects her skeletomuscular, cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems, affording her feats of prowess and the ability to weather adversities that may challenge others. Drawing upon latent potential, she can amplify her abilities, either for all-around gain, or enhancing specific movements, actions, or functions. Chi can also be expelled from the body as a tangible form of energy. Projections are both malleable and maneuverable, taking on various forms, effect ranges, and trajectories, depending on how Sarah wills it; these hit with exponentially greater force than her physical strikes, as they are amplified by the effort to expel the energy.
While at rest, or engaged in trivial activities, Sarah’s powers give her a superhuman stamina and vitality. However, higher levels of activity, and pulling from her latent energy, causes drain and fatigue, especially over extended timeframes; proper rest is the only remedy for this. Chi projections are especially draining. Thus, Sarah can rarely go all-out in any circumstances, lest she risk exhausting her reserve of energy too soon.
Through her prior training, she has learned to focus her collective senses into a form of sixth sense, though it isn’t a perfected skill, as it takes a high level of focus to fully capitalize on.
Sarah’s emotional state also plays a role in the function of her powers. Proper control over Chi requires soundness in Body, Mind, and Spirit. Upheavals of anger are of particular concern for their propensity to burn energy at higher rates; though she may be more capable during these moments, she is also overexerting herself, and tiring out more rapidly.
Skills: - Fighting Instinct. Between the rough-and-tumble streetfights of her adolescence, and her tutelage under her sensei, Ken Shimazu, Sarah is a capable fighter. She does not conform to a single style, making her somewhat difficult to predict. Improvised weaponry, and use of terrain, are not outside of the scope of her skillset.
- Street Cred. Sarah is accustomed to a light on the streets, and is quite comfortable inserting herself into and navigating the underground of society.
- Self-Sufficient. A survivalist at her core, Sarah is more than capable of operating alone if need be.
Equipment: Sarah rarely carries more than the clothes upon her back, and a switchblade she picked up at a corner store.
Personality: Hard lives breed hard people. What little vulnerability Sarah has is reserved for those that have earned it through loyalty and shared strife; any semblance of a more open door was shut tight when her Sensei was killed. She plays her emotions close to her chest, holding back on the most meaningful of feelings. Laughter is beyond her, smiles are rare, and she’s determined to hide her tears. The singular emotion that she remains open with is her anger, presenting an outward shell of confrontation. Sarah speaks pointedly and aggressively, and with liberal use of curse words. She is easily irritated by people not getting to their point.
If someone is looking for a person of action, Sarah is the one for them, as “hesitation” simply isn’t in her vocabulary. She runs low on faith that words can make a difference, and thus, chooses to settle conflicts with her fists as a first resort. Valuing integrity, Sarah commits to her decisions, as well as her oaths and promises; if she says she’ll be there, she will be there. Either lacking the present ability or desire for pre-meditation, Sarah can be impulsive and somewhat reckless, and the sort insist on her ability to get herself out of situations. It isn’t typically her prerogative to slow down for anyone.
For all of that, Sarah is capable of tremendous loyalty to those that she connects and bonds with. While she may step away at times, she’ll never outright ghost on someone, and will almost always come back to a friend’s side if she is able to do so. To those that she calls her friends and allies, she is stable and reliable. Those closest to her are also among the few that can properly stay her hand in action, or ease her down from her emotional highs. One that Sarah truly bonds with becomes family.
Biography: A SoCal homer, Sarah was born and raised in a neighborhood where destitution bred desperation. While her block, for the most part, was a safe, if underfunded, bastion, the surrounding area was addled with crime and gang activity, and local law enforcement presented more of a problem than a solution. Brought up by a single mother, stretched thin by multiple jobs, Sarah took to the streets, becoming something of a hoodlum crossed with a latchkey kid. She found community within her peers, and the handful of adults who were present enough to offer moral support. Through run-ins with gangs and corrupt police, and skirmishes with kids from other blocks, Sarah learned hard and fast the importance of strength, resilience, and a good right hook… things that became all the more important as her powers began to boil to the surface.
Through the tumultuous upbringing, Sarah might have landed herself into a life of crime, if not for the timely intervention of one Ken Shimazu. A retired, and disenchanted Los Angeles police sergeant, Shimazu had previously garnered a reputation among superhero groups as “Sage,” due to his ability to sense the ebbs and flows of energy, read auras, and the degree to which he could foresee future events. After witnessing Sarah’s abilities first hand, Shimazu took her under his wing; though it was rough at the outset, Sarah grew to see Ken as both a mentor, and a father figure. From his ability to perceive energy, he was able to train Sarah to properly manage the flow of her Chi, which to that point had been a spontaneous and explosive force. From Shimazu, Sarah would also refine her self-defense; to a lesser degree, she learned to manage her anger.
But all good things are destined to come to an end.
Shimazu’s past, whether through his career as a police officer, his time as an aid to heroes, or his missteps mentoring others like Sarah, had made him his fair share of enemies. One night, after storming out of a particularly heavy meditation session, Sarah returned to her Sensei’s home to find it razed to the ground, and the closest person she had had to a father died in her arms as the last embers died.
Sarah has since been on a rage-fueled warpath, operating as a vigilante under the alias “Stryke.” Under this moniker, she has been taking on gangs, jumping uncouth law officers, and entering unregulated, underground MMA fights. Through her efforts, she hopes to find, and exact revenge on the one responsible for her Sensei’s death.
Relationships:- Anna Elizabeth King. Mother Alive
- Ken Shimazu. Mentor/Father Figure Deceased (Murdered)
Extra:- Foodie. It’s not often that Sarah gets to enjoy a good meal. But when famished after exercising her abilities, she is something of a bottomless pit.
- Character Soundtrack.
- Lioheart, by Emancipator [Main Theme]
- Waves, by Oh Hiroshima [Heavier Theme]
- Spiritual Instinct, by Alcest [Combat Theme]
