Artifex

Variance

All good characters...all approved.

And, to me, Oscar's name is kinda perfect for a New Haven native. :-D

Variance

Manhattan McClain

Name: Manhattan McClain
Alias: Inverse
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Appearance:

Manny is 5'9” and about 185lbs. He has a muscular build but isn't massively buff. He does like to show off his arms, so most of his wardrobe is short sleeved or sleeveless.

Occupation:
Manny makes his living gigging around Ville Rouge. He’s pretty popular in a few of the bars and cafes, and is working towards having his own music studio.

Family:
Sonya Reed (mother); Richard McClain (father); Ellis McClain (older brother)

Personality:
Manny is quite the enigma when it comes to his emotions. Having been abandoned by one parent only to be fully embraced by the other has created a mixture of humility, sadness, determination, and compassion. He seems cool and collected most of the time, neither being the life of the party nor the buzzkill. At times, he feels he can be and do a bit more, but deeper issues keep him from embracing certain parts of himself.

Notoriety: Unknown
Class/Level: Class 4 / Red Level
Powers/Abilities:
Gravity Manipulation
Manny can alter his own gravity or the gravity of a given area, the largest being about the size of a school gymnasium. He also uses a few gravity-based attacks. Specific abilities include:

Gravity Generation/Negation: increase/decrease the effect of the planet's gravity in a specific area
Force Push/Pull: repel/attract objects using force
Zero Point Gravity: can attract all matter within a small area to a single point in space
Personal Gravity Manipulation: can alter the effects of gravity on himself enhancing his jumping ability, allowing him to walk on walls/ceilings, and giving him levitation and gliding abilities (though he can't technically ‘fly’). He also uses this power to land harder strikes when fighting and repel things like bullets (he has to be consciously doing this; he's not bulletproof).

Other Skills:
As one would expect, Manny is quite musically talented, especially with the guitar and keyboard.

Equipment:
Manny never goes anywhere without his music player.

Bio:
Manny’s parents met in their college years when Sonya, his mother, had come down to New Haven to go to med school. His father, Richard, who grew up in New Haven, was just starting his construction business which focused on restoring historical buildings around town. Sonya’s original plans to return to her hometown were changed when Richard proposed and convinced her to stay in New Haven. Not wanting to keep any secrets, Sonya revealed to Richard that she was a Variant and had healing powers. This nearly ended their engagement, because Richard had a strong dislike toward Variants for reasons not fully disclosed. It was only his love and devotion to Sonya that allowed him to overlook it, though, the fact that her power is actually helpful to people may have had some influence as well.

Sonya had to pretty much beg for children -- the second being an easier sell because the first didn't seem to have powers. When it was discovered that Manny had powers, though, it was more than Richard could take. Even at a young age, he saw the potential danger that Manny’s abilities possessed, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to love his son the way he needed to be loved. Without any real explanation, Richard decided it was best for him and Sonya to be apart. Manny was too young to know what was going on at the time, and Sonya made sure that her love would keep him from feeling the sting of abandonment. Growing up, Sonya helped Manny develop his powers while always urging him to keep it to himself. He didn't quite understand why he had to be so secretive when his mom used her powers for work, but she always told him he would get it one day. When that one day came, Manny realized why his father left, and he resented him for it. Yet, even though Richard left his family because they were Variants, Sonya taught Manny to never be ashamed of who he was and what he could do, while still letting him know that he needed to be careful. For this reason, he had always been wary about revealing his power.

Dante Romano

Name: Dante Romano
Alias: Sever
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Appearance:

Slightly taller than average, he stands at 5’ 11” and has lean build. He dresses normally in jeans and t-shirts, and is rarely seen without his favorite green jacket, which was a gift from his uncle.

Occupation:
None

Family:
Maria Verona (mother); Giovanni Romano (father); Antonio Verona (uncle)

Personality:
As a result of his parents' divorce, Dante is usually very antisocial and doesn’t really make friends or get in relationships. Though he is a very kind person, he'll usually try to break away from anyone trying to get close. His only real connection is with his mother and his uncle, which is the side of his family with Variant genes. Most of the time, he withdraws into his hobbies or simply escapes to a secluded place where he feels he can't be bothered. If one happens to break through the walls he's built - usually by having some common interest - they'll find that Dante is actually quite brilliant and rather creative. He often uses his power to gain all sorts of knowledge or multitask on supernatural levels.

Notoriety: Unknown
Class/Level: Class 4 / Blue Level
Powers/Abilities:
Replication
Dante is able to psionically create a perfect clone of himself and anything immediately on his person (as long as it is of natural origin). Each clone has an independent mind, though it is telepathically linked to the ‘original’. The clones, however, do not have the power to replicate themselves. Dante is able to reabsorb his clones, gaining their knowledge, memories, and skills, though as a consequence of splitting into multiple selves, he can have some confusion over which Dante did what, which can skew his memories. Because Dante is linked to each clone, it takes a certain amount of unconscious power to keep them around. The stronger his power becomes, the more clones he can create. Currently, he is only able to create up to 6 clones without much trouble. If he tries to go beyond his limit without having the sure ability to do so, the replication would be noticeably imperfect or may not occur at all.

Other Skills:
Pickpocketing, Lockpicking, Street fighting, Pro-level gaming

Equipment:
Always carries a pocket knife

Bio:
Dante’s parents, Giovanni and Maria, met while performing together on broadway. Maria’s immensely captivating voice and ethereal beauty had earned her the starring role in the wildly popular Goddess of the Sky, a play about a goddess named Seraphis who was charged with defeating an evil entity. What made this play so popular was not the music, but rather the experience of watching. It was in this show that Maria had used her powers of weather manipulation to fill the arena with varying weather patterns, drawing the audience directly into every scene. The show was so popular, in fact, that it was taken on tour around the country. Shortly after the first tour, Dante was born to both his mother’s and father’s joy. He spent most of his childhood touring with his parents and watching them perform. During his teens, however, his family fell apart when Giovanni was caught in an affair and left Maria. Devastated, Maria’s performances came to a screeching halt. She and Dante relocated to New Haven for a fresh start, though it did little to erase the trauma. Dante resented his father for abandoning him and his mother, and he was left pained and confused. He became antisocial and withdrawn, often wandering the streets of New Haven without much purpose other than to cause enough trouble to distract himself from the distress that engulfs him.

Tales of Millennium

“Oh, don't be sorry, sweetheart. Trust me, I have my own share of dreary stories,” Sonya said returning Aurora’s smile. Manny had indeed neglected to tell his mother that Aurora had actually been hurt twice, but only because the second time was his own fault.

“You know the perfect thing to clear away a dreary moment? A little music...,” Manny said with a grin. He motioned silently to Sonya with his eyes toward Aurora’s cast and gave his mom the ‘please heal my broken little friend’ look. He started lightly tapping a rhythm on the table and waited for his mom to join in. Sonya smiled and began to sing softly with Manny’s beat. It seemed quite automatic as if they had done the sort of thing regularly -- which was precisely the case. Music had a strong presence in Manny and Sonya’s relationship and they made music together constantly. As Sonya sang, she let her power activate to heal Aurora.

Variance

Since the enhanced hearing and reflexes would be more or less a 'side effect' of what I assume is a transformation ability, it would still count as Class 2 because the transformation is the actual 'main' ability. So, yeah, that all sounds fine. :-)

Variance

[ Variance ]

Some call us superhumans, some call us enhanced, some even call us freaks of nature.

Over time, the ‘politically correct’ term has become Variant -- as in, a variation of the normal human genome. We’re said to have an anomaly in our genetic code that allows us to manifest certain powers or abilities.

No explanation as to how or why or where this came from...either way, it’s a major source of conflict in our world.

While the world struggles to figure out what to do with Variants, the Variants struggle to find their place in the world.

Apparently, a normal life isn’t an option for someone who can turn into ice or has armored skin or can read minds...too much to ask, it seems.

But with every struggle, there’s a story...and this is ours.

---

General Info

New Haven

[ New Haven ]

The most ‘unique’ city in America. Vibrant culture, breathtaking architecture, rich history, festivals all year. One of the greatest cities the country has to offer...if you don't plan on staying, that is. Visiting is great; living there is a whole different story. Poverty, crime, and corruption all come to light once the veil is lifted and the allure fades away. The rich enjoy the most opulent of lives, while the poor struggle to keep food on the table. The city's rising crime rates are overwhelming local law enforcement. It's like biting into the most delicious dessert you've ever tasted...only to discover it contained a deadly poison.

Key Districts

Ville Rouge
The oldest part of town which also happens to be the primary cultural hub.


Business District/Midtown
The central urban area of New Haven boasting numerous skyscrapers and several rail lines.


Vines
A historical neighborhood filled with mansions on large plantations located just south of Midtown.


Uptown
Another wealthy district with slightly smaller estates than Vines.


The Shanty
The poor area located near Ville Rouge.


Country/Bayou
The rural area on the other side of the large river that borders the city.

N.O.V.A.

[ N.O.V.A. ]

The National Office for Variant Affairs, more commonly referred to as N.O.V.A., is a government agency that deals with Variants involving everything from public relations to legal issues to scientific research. The agency for the most part is quite professional, though, over the years, corruption has started to make its way through the system at various levels.

Ability Classes and Danger Levels

N.O.V.A. uses a system to classify Variants based on their specific abilities and also by the potential threat to society that those abilities pose. This does not necessarily take into account the notoriety of a Variant, but an especially aggressive or abusive Variant may have a higher danger level than normal (if he/she has been identified).

Danger Levels
Green - Low _{(oh please...are you even a Variant?)}
Blue - Mild _{(yeah, that guy kinda bothers me a bit...)}
Yellow - Moderate _{(hey now...you be careful with that, ok? we don't want any trouble)}
Red - High _{(wait...she can do what?!...yeah, we're screwed...)}
Black - Extreme _{(that's ok...we don't need the Earth anyway, right?)}

Class 1 - Enhancements
These are powers that usually only affect the person using them. They come in the form of things like heightened senses, superhuman strength, accelerated healing, and even immortality. Class 1 abilities are usually of very little danger to others when they aren't being specifically abused.

Class 2 - Alteration
Though Class 2 abilities are similar to Class 1 in the fact that they affect only the user, the difference lies in the nature of how they work. While Class 1 abilities are passive, Class 2 are alternatively more active. These abilities allow a person to alter their bodies, both partially and fully. Some examples would be a physical transformation, a manifestation of an elemental force, or adopting the physiology of a non-human creature. This classification isn't limited to changes in physical appearance. Altering one’s natural ability to adapt to certain situations or environments also falls into this category.

Class 3 - Mental Powers
This category of abilities involves those linked with the mind. Standard psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and ESP fall into this class as well as powers based on auras, sleep, emotions, and intuition. Other examples of Class 3 abilities would be dream manipulation, astral projection, super-enhanced learning, and illusions.

Class 4 - Manipulation/Creation
Though there may be a few abilities that blur the line between Class 3 and Class 4, Class 4 abilities primarily deal with the manipulation and/or creation of matter and energies outside of the body; however, the creation abilities are of a very specific and limited nature. This class quite possibly contains the widest variety of powers such as the power to manipulate the elements or organic matter, the power to control something more abstract such as color, and even limited power over space-time.

Class 5 - Almighty Powers
This category is reserved for powers that many would consider to be 'godlike’. These abilities are almost -- if not completely -- impossible to control or counter and, at times, have the potential to alter reality or cause an apocalypse. Oftentimes, they can be highly extreme versions of abilities from other classes such as the creation of highly complex life forms or the ability to gain infinite knowledge. The ability to manipulate intangible concepts like probability or physics also fall under this category. Because of their catastrophic potential, the powers in this class are always considered to be of the highest danger level.

Class 6 - Multi-Powered
This is a special designation for sets of powers that fall into multiple categories. This doesn't include a single power that has multiple uses.

Notoriety

One of the primary goals of N.O.V.A. is to identify and register all Variants living within the nation's borders. As one would expect, not all Variants are willing to comply with the agency's agenda, whether out of privacy or sheer rebellion. For these reasons, every Variant has a certain level of notoriety with N.O.V.A., whether officially or unofficially.

Variants who have yet to be identified by N.O.V.A. are considered Unknown.

Confirmed Variants fall into three categories: Watched, Wanted, and Missing. Those who have been identified but have not registered -- as Variants have no legal obligation to do so -- are put on a Watch list. Variants who are known to misuse their abilities and pose a threat to the well-being and quality of life of others are considered Wanted. Vigilantes operating outside of the law are also considered Wanted as oftentimes their actions can cause collateral damage to people or property. Variants on the Watch list whose whereabouts are currently unknown but who aren't as high of a priority to find as those who are Wanted are considered Missing.

Variants who register with N.O.V.A. do so under the obligation that they will gain or have already gained employment -- whether through their own means or through one of N.O.V.A.’s programs. This is to ensure that Variants who are compliant are ‘productive members of society’. While several Variants see the registration as a step toward tagging and tracking, others (usually the less fortunate) see it as a way to guarantee themselves a job in a world that has mixed opinions on the treatment of those with powers. Employed Variants must renew their registration once a year and are also subject to ‘check-ins’ with N.O.V.A., which is a large part of why many Variants choose not to register.

Cast List

Manhattan McClain/Inverse -- Gravity Manipulation

Dante Romano/Sever -- Replication

Jason Graves/Overclock -- Energy Absorption & Redirection

Emma Graves/Angel/Demon -- Angel Form/Demon Form

Oscar Fontaine -- Super Strength, Enhanced Toughness, Enhanced Speed, Flight, Superhuman Reflexes

Girard Babcock/Tank -- Super Dense Body Tissue

Donovan McMillian -- Worm Host, Enhanced Metabolism and Immune System, Rapid Evolution and Adaptation

Aurora Lorell/Raven Tale -- Storybook Creature Conjuration

Kaite Green -- Non-Variant

Jessica Beadle/Lightning Bug -- Electrical Manipulation/Generation, Teleportation, Mild Technopathy

Zoey Kasimir/Reaper -- Darkness Elemental

Alice Davis-Green -- Telepathy, Emotional Influence

Wrenly Monroe/Shifter -- Shapeshifting

Zane Wulf/Black Knight -- Armor/Blade Manifestation

Character Sheet

Name:
Alias:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Occupation:
Family:
Personality:

Notoriety:
Class/Level:
Powers/Abilities:
Other Skills:
Equipment:

Bio:

Rules/Notes

- This is taking place in the year 2126 and the general vibe of the RP is more dystopian.
- We are basically going to be a ragtag bunch of vigilantes trying to fight crime in the city. Not all characters have to be vigilantes (i.e. NPCs), but they should be significant.
- Though there is a class for almighty powers, it does not open the door for OP characters. Please take caution if you plan on dabbling into this territory.
- If your character is unknown, the class and level of their powers still apply.
- Character limit is TBD.
- A good bit of our discussion will happen in Discord chat. Being active in chat will make sure you don't get left behind, so it is a must.
- Have fun!!!!!

Tales of Millennium

Sonya smiled when Aurora spoke. It was obvious that the girl was extremely shy, but Sonya was used to it. Working with children all day automatically made you a pro at first impressions if you did it long enough.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Aurora,” she said in the sweetest voice. It wasn’t a forced kind of sweetness, but the sincere kind that can only come from a kind, calming soul. “Manny’s told me so much about you.”

Manny rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“That’s such a ‘mom’ line. You gonna show her my baby pictures next?”

“Don’t tempt me, Manhattan...Manny told me about the accident you had a while back...I’m sorry to hear about your horse, sweetheart.” Sonya noticed the cast on Aurora’s hand. “It must’ve really been something for you to still be in a cast.”

Tales of Millennium

Manny tapped his hands on his thigh in rhythm to the song coming through his earbuds as he waited outside the restaurant for Aurora to show. With his head bobbing, he scanned the streets every now and then for signs of the little blind albino. It wasn’t too long before a bark caught his attention as Aurora and her rottweiler approached.

"Seems Goliath here has taken a liking to you."

“Well, at least one of your companions has…” Manny knelt down to pet the dog. “Goliath, huh? Well, now I finally know your name.” Manny grinned as he scratched behind Goliath’s ears. He stood and turned his attention back to Aurora. “Finally, one of our meetings starts off on a good note,” he said with a slight smirk. “...My mom’s inside waiting for us. She actually can’t wait to meet you, she said...c’mon.”

He led her and Goliath through the restaurant to the table where Sonya was sitting. She donned an immediate smile as Manny and Aurora walked up.

“I’m back...and, Ma, this is Aurora...Aurora, this is my mother, Sonya,” Manny said with a bigger smile than he intended.

Tales of Millennium

It was somewhat comical how quickly the ‘Raven Tale’ toughness and attitude had been shed like a snake’s skin, and the childlike, sheepish Aurora had reemerged. The involuntary winces she made every few moments made her look that much more pitiful. It was pretty obvious that she had already been to a doctor judging by the cast on her hand, so Manny knew his offer seemed a bit odd. Even though there was still a slight apprehension to revealing his mom’s powers to someone who wasn’t family, the trust that seemed to be building in the moment made him feel a little better about it. He decided in his mind that he wouldn’t tell Aurora about his mother’s healing abilities outright. It was just as important to him to keep her powers a secret as much as his own. Although Sonya used her healing abilities at work, it wasn’t something Manny went around and shouted out to the world.

“Actually...she’s my mother. And trust me, it won’t hurt to get a second opinion. I’m telling you...she’s the best at what she does,” said Manny, grinning a bit too much. “Coincidentally, I’m supposed to be meeting her for lunch tomorrow. If you aren’t busy, you can join us and she can help you out.”

Tales of Millennium

Even though Manny was relieved that Aurora accepted his apology, he somehow felt that it was too easy. He watched her carefully when she approached and was a bit confused when she started reaching for his face. In his utter ignorance, he thought that maybe it was a ‘blind thing’ and she wanted to feel the face of the person she was talking to. Manny was at a loss for what to do and tried to figure out what was going on...but then he caught on about mid-swing. The punch wasn’t hard enough to do any real damage, but it was enough that he no longer questioned how the little blind albino could handle herself as a vigilante. He stumbled back for half a step and spat out a bit of blood. Under any other circumstances, he definitely would have retaliated, but he was more or less was expecting this to come eventually. Plus, there was no way he was about to hit a blind girl. Grinning and wiping his lip, he turned back to Aurora as she started her spiel.

He felt a bit worse upon hearing how hard she had had it in the past few days -- the real kicker being that he himself was the one who caused it. As far as her request for his help, he pretty much felt like he owed it to her...and he also had no intention of revealing her identity. He knew how precious secrecy was to his fellow vigilantes and he wasn’t about to compromise that...especially since she had the same information on him.

“First of all...you hit like a girl,” Manny said with a smirk. “But, it sounds like I messed you up really bad, so I’m somewhat obligated to help you anyway. Wouldn’t want you to break a promise you made to protect someone, now would we?” Manny folded his arms and adopted a slightly more serious tone. “And as far as identities go, yours is safe with me. I know how important it is to keep that bit of info concealed, so you have my word.”

He thought carefully about the next thing he was about to offer. Never before had he considered it until now, but he felt so awful about the pain he’d caused Aurora, he figured it was appropriate. He just hoped it wouldn’t be something he regretted later.

“I, um...I know someone who could help you with your injuries, actually. She’s a doctor and she can get you feeling a hundred percent better in no time.”

Tales of Millennium

Manny took a small bow and waved to the crowd as he stepped off the stage.

“Dude, how do you not have a record deal or something?”

“Eh...I don’t have time for all of that.”

“Oh, c’mon, Manny. That’s the kind of talent people pay for....live a little, dude.”

Manny chuckled a little and lightly shook his head. Just then, a bit of movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned to see a very familiar rottweiler with a red vest making its way directly toward him and his heart skipped a beat.

“You cannot be serious…”

“Looks like a service dog. It’s okay, they’re allowed.”

“No, it’s not the dog...it’s the owner. I think I’m being summoned.”

“Oh? You know this dog?”

“Yeah, I do. I’ll catch you later, alright?”

“I’ll be around.”

As his friend headed back to work, Manny peered down at the dog with a slight sense of dread. He was just sitting and waiting for Manny to follow. With a sigh, Manny motioned for the dog to go.

“Lead the way, boy.”

The small walk across the cafe felt like an eternity. The sense of dread within Manny growing stronger with every step. Was she angry? Frightened? Would she call him out in front of a bunch of people? Would he be able to do the same? Maybe she just wanted to smooth things over...no, that sounded too good to be true. Revenge, perhaps...? Whatever it was, Manny was prepared for the worst. When he reached Aurora’s table, she cut him off just as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Meet me outside if you can. And no, I'm not about to kill you or anything over what happened."

He had never before felt the amount of relief that he felt now. She didn’t sound super pissed, but her tone still had a mix of annoyance, anger, and weariness. As relieved as he was, though, it did little to calm his nerves. He had messed up pretty badly with this girl and he was finally about to face it -- he would not leave her hanging a second time. It took him a few seconds to build up the resolve to follow Aurora out of the cafe. He had faced things that were much more threatening than a chat with a blind girl, yet he felt as if his very life was on the line. Bundling up, he stepped back out into the cold and found Aurora leaning against the wall. He approached slowly, like a child forced to apologize to someone they bullied.

“I, uh...don’t know what to say…I guess I can start with sorry...”