I still have to write the sample post, and I may add another supporting character or two, but for now here's what I've got on my second character:
Create a Hero RPG ApplicationCharacter you have created: Marcus Lance
Alias: Redtail
Character Alignment: Hero
Identity: Secret
Character Personality: Marcus has always been a little rough around the edges. He’s quick-tempered, prideful, and unwilling to back down from a fight. For all his life, he has possessed a certain knack for getting himself into trouble. Following the events of the past three years [see Origin below] Marcus is more centered and collected. He has thrown himself fully into his mission to clean up Lost Haven to the point of almost being single-minded about it. Nothing can deter Marcus from something once he’s put his mind to it.
Uniform/Costume:
Origin Info/Details: Marcus Lance was never particularly good at following the rules. Growing up, he earned a reputation as a rebel and a troublemaker. He got into fights with his classmates, often after being instigated by teasing about his family’s money situation. The Lances didn’t have much, but they did their best to provide all they could for Marcus. His disciplinary problems didn’t make matters easier.
Marcus’s older brother, Raymond, by contrast was a model student. Only a few years older than Marcus, Raymond was far more mature. Ray often reluctantly bailed Marcus out of trouble, though his brother’s antics always frustrated Ray. This pattern continued well into adulthood for the boys. Ray became a police officer and eventually rose to the rank of detective. Marcus bounced from job to job, always looking for his next paycheck. Marcus’s attitude problems persisted in new forms. He fell in with some bad crowds, continued to pick fights, and generally made life difficult for his older brother.
One day, Ray uncovered mob corruption within the Lost Haven Police Department. A high level police official was implicated. Ray’s knowledge of this corruption put a target on his back. Not knowing who to trust in the department, Ray handed over all the evidence he had compiled on a flash drive to Marcus. Ray made Marcus promise to keep the information safe until Ray had figured out what to do with it. Within a week, Ray was murdered.
Only Marcus knew why Ray had been targeted. Unfortunately, the people that killed Ray had also learned about Marcus’s involvement. They broke into Marcus’s apartment, turning the place upside-down until they found the flash drive. Marcus knew he was a loose end and that his head was next on the block. Grabbing a few of his things – including a backup copy of Ray’s evidence – he fled to the bus station, where he found police officers waiting. The same was true of the airport. And the train station. With nowhere left to turn, Marcus sneaked into the train yard after dark and stowed away on one of the boxcars.
As it turned out, the train belonged to a visiting circus which was on its way out of town. They discovered their stowaway the next morning. Marcus made up a cover story to explain why he was fleeing town, and he asked if he could have a job. Over the next few months, Marcus performed odd jobs and manual labor for the circus. Eventually, he caught the ringleader’s eye, and the ringleader offered to train Marcus in the performance arts. Marcus began mastering various circus acts, from the trapeze to the highwire to illusions and magic. In his free time, Marcus trained in boxing, jiu jitsu, and other fighting styles. He began to formulate a plan to return to Lost Haven, avenge his brother’s murder, and expose the corruption within the police department.
After three years, Marcus has returned with a repertoire of skills, gadgets and equipment to wage a one man war, and a plan…
Hero Type: Normal/Acrobat
Power Level: Street Level (Ex. Punisher, Daredevil)
Powers: None as such, but Marcus has spent a lifetime acquiring useful skills, including three years of intensive training following his brother’s murder. From his time in the slums and on the streets, Marcus learned to pick locks, eavesdrop, and fight – albeit crudely. From his time with the circus, Marcus learned acrobatics, balance, illusions, sleight of hand, hypnosis, knife throwing, contortionism, escapology, and showmanship. He also picked up a few forensic and investigation skills from proximity to his brother’s work.
In addition to the many skills Marcus has acquired, he also relies on equipment and gadgets. Chief among these is his feathered gliding cape, a relic from the circus which allows him to soar on air currents and perform disappearing illusions. Marcus wears body armor to protect himself from blades, bullets, and falls. He also wears goggles equipped with night vision and infrared. He arms himself with a utility belt containing pouches for shuriken, smoke bombs, lock picks, flash bangs, a grappling hook, and more.
AttributesStrength Level: Normal Human
Speed/Reaction Timing Level: Normal Human
Endurance at MAXIMUM Effort: 2 hours
Agility: 5X Human level
Intelligence: Average
Fighting Skill: Trained
Resources: Average
Weaknesses: Beneath his cape and armor, Marcus is just a man. He has no powers, no special protection against harm, and no healing factor. As such, he can be quickly outmatched by a metahuman opponent – though this deficit can be overcome by quick thinking and training. On a personal level, Marcus’s mission can be a lonely one. While he has a small group of friends and confidants, he is largely removed from society as a whole.
Supporting CharactersRaymond Lance (deceased): Marcus’s older brother. A former detective who began investigating corrupt cops and got killed for it.
Derek Cole: Ray’s former partner and Marcus’s confidant within the Lost Haven Police Department. Derek agrees to help Marcus on his crusade out of a sense of guilt for his unintentional involvement in Ray’s death.
Vanessa Lance: Ray’s widowed wife and Marcus’s sister-in-law. Marcus keeps watch over Vanessa and her [see below] children from afar, ensuring that no harm will come to them.
Allison Lance: Vanessa and Ray’s six year old daughter. Marcus’s niece.
Derek Lance: Vanessa and Ray’s two year old son. Marcus’s nephew.
Lily Chapman: One of Marcus’s old friends from the slums. Lily is a painter, and she rents out the apartment over her studio to Marcus.
Do you know how to post pictures on RPG boards?: Yes.
Sample PostMarcus holds the rapidly melting bag of ice to his mouth as he sits on the curb. The sharp stinging sensation from his split lip has been reduced to more of a dull throbbing, though it still hurts like hell. As he looks up, he uses his free hand to shield his eyes from the flashing red and blue lights of the squad car parked just a few feet away. The owner of that vehicle, an uptight police officer in an overly starched uniform, stands just behind the squad car, taking a statement from Ronnie the bouncer. Occasionally, the officer will glance in Marcus’ direction or Ronnie will motion towards him, but for the most part the two gentlemen pay him no mind.
A few minutes later, a black car pulls up. It bears no sirens or markings denoting the LHPD, but it’s clearly a cop car. More to the point, it’s a detective’s car. Marcus rolls his eyes.
Oh, good. He’s here, he thinks to himself sardonically. A man in a suit and tie steps out of the car. Though it’s impossible to tell in this light, he shares Marcus’ blue-gray eyes, a feature both men inherited from their father. The detective doesn’t even glance in his younger brother’s direction. Instead, he simply walks over to the officer writing up the report. The officer brings the detective up to speed on the incident while Ronnie steps away and fumbles with a pack of cigarettes. Moments later, the detective gives the officer a polite nod before moving towards Marcus.
Lowering the half-melted bag of ice from his lip, Marcus begins, “I don’t suppose it would change much if I told you that the other guy started it.”
Raymond Lance grabs onto his brother’s arm and roughly pulls him to his feet. “They always do with you, don’t they, brother?” he answers, his tone laced with bitterness and disappointment. He begins marching out of the uniformed officer’s earshot, still pulling Marcus by the arm. “When are you going to grow up, Marcus?”
Marcus grits his teeth and shakes loose of Ray’s grip. “Probably around the same time that you stop treating me like I’m still a kid,” he answers with a hateful glare.
“Then stop acting like one!” Ray shouts a bit too loudly. He looks over Marcus’ shoulder to see the officer and Ronnie the bouncer craning their necks in the direction of the two brothers. Lowering his voice while maintaining the same angry tone, Ray continues, “Do you ever
once think about how your behavior reflects on me?”
Marcus narrows his eyes. “Honestly, Ray, I try to think about you as little as possible.”
The anger in Ray’s eyes flickers for a moment, replaced briefly by surprise and hurt. But the moment is gone too soon for either brother to recognize it. And in that same instant, the anger returns. “I am done covering your ass for your mistakes,” Ray says curtly. “You want to pick fights at the bar to show how much of a tough guy you are? You can sleep it off in a cell.” He motions for the uniformed officer.
Marcus feels the officer grab him by the wrist. An all-too-familiar refrain begins as Marcus feels the cold metal of handcuffs closing around his wrists. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as I have recited them to you?”
Marcus stares into his older brother’s eyes. “I understand.”
