Character You Have Created: Brandon*Animus*Halmer(formerly Cooper)
Alias: Animus
Speech Color: blue standard forum text( though I have absolutely no idea what this means)
Character Alignment: Hero with bad publicity
Identity: secret
Personality: Brandon was raised to be an upstanding young man. His parents taught him and his sister the virtue of helping those that cannot help themselves, and always putting the common good first. His parents were heroes, through and through and they did what they could to pass this onto their children. Unfortunately the powers handed down from the parents came with their own weaknesses as well His parents knew how to handle these weaknesses, and were teaching Brandon, but were cut down before their training had finished.
He himself, enjoys being a hero, however. He enjoys helping people, and keeping the common man safe from danger. Besides the adulation that comes from someone he has rescued, which he admits to being intoxicating ( perhaps because his instincts want him to believe the display of power makes him the automatic alpha), it is also because he genuinely believes in the lessons his parents instilled into him.
Uniform/Costume: ( At this time I can only describe my costume. I am sorry. I am on my I pad. If anyone has any suggestions, or wants to draw my character I am all for it.)
Animus wears a black short sleeved shirt
google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&sourc..black spandex pants
google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&sourc..and a blackish blue book bag
google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&sourc.., in which he carries all his gear) his mask is his own face, in that he can transform it into any animal's ( he personally prefers wolf)
Origin Info/Details: Brandon Cooper was born in Georgetown New Hampshire in what to all the world would seem to be your average run of the mill family. His mother Tilly Cooper, was an RN For the maternity Ward of New Hampshire General. It was an often mentioned joke that Brandon, and later his sister, had a dozen parents. The tight knit community that was Georgetown Maternity were present at almost all birthdays, and BBQs, throughout his childhood.
His father Mason Cooper, a member of the US Air Force, was an idol for Brandon much like Tilly would be later for his sister. He taught Brandon how to throw a ball, ride a bike, and even fight when he learned his son was being bullied. When Brandon reached what Mason believed to be the right age he even taught him how to use a gun.
It was the average American life style, and Brandon couldn't be happier. He had fantastic parents and a sister who he loved. Unlike how many siblings seemed to interact with each other, Brandon and Sarah actually got along very well in fact, aside from some good natured teasing, they were best friends. Brandon was having amazingly good fortune up until he reached puberty around his thirteenth birthday. He was playing a game of baseball with his friends, who were all nonpowereds when he needed to reach a high fly ball that he was almost certain he would miss. To both his surprise and joy, he suddenly found himself flying towards the ball. To his recollection, it was beyond obvious that things were far from normal, but he later figured he was likely in shock. After getting his hand on the ball he vaguely realized he had been in the air too long. Looking down he realized he had somehow sprouted wings, and was actually in flight. Realizing this however promptly caused him to freeze up, lose his wings, and fall a dozen feet onto his arm which broke with a sick snap.
After taking him to the hospital, Brandon was afraid to reach home with his family. He didn't know what was happening to him, and he was afraid they would think he was a freak, maybe even kick him out onto the streets. He felt certain that not only would his parents hate him, but perhaps worse yet, his sister would hate him and be afraid of him. When he reaches home, however, his worries are turned on their ear. Behind the privacy of closed doors his parents, instead of thinking he was a freak, were elated. It turned out he came from a long line of Animagi, people capable of changing their physical aspects with that of an animal's whenever neccessary. Even with both parents Animagi, Brandon only had a 1 in 20 chance of having the gift. Upon realizing that their son would follow in their footsteps, his parents began his training immediately. He was pulled from school, and began taking class under his own roof so that his unstable instincts and new emotions could be closely monitored by his parents and not put others in danger. This went on for almost a full year before the bane of the Animagi,and the reason for their endangered population level, The Hunters, came for them.
The Hunters are an organization against the nature of the Animagi, believing that their communion with animals, as well as their animalistic instinct to be sights of approval from satan himself. Though the organization is made up almost entirely of nonpowereds, they are so adept in hunting Animagi, the short war between these two groups was more of an extermination. After their victory against the Magi Council was complete, they began the individual hunting and slaughtering of the remaining population, hence the name. This is in fact the reason Brandon's parents were so secretive of their powers, and why they kept what they were from him until they knew that he was one as well. Not because they didn't trust him of course, but because the Hunters do not kill other normal humans. Even if the child in question could still become one, in fact this is how the descendants of many honorable Animagi were recruited into the Hunters. They were captured at young ages so their minds would be more malleable, and then apply as much pressure as it took to break the child in question. Their minds would be broken to the point that they can't see their family and fellow members of their species as anything other than the enemy.
It was with this dark agenda in mind that 6 Hunters penetrated the Cooper estate. Despite the safety measures Mr and Mrs Cooper put in place, such as several traps throughout the home, as well as attempting to maintain a low profile, the Hunters found their domicile and managed to penetrate deep into its heart.
Tilly and Mason attempted to distract the hunters, in order to give their children a chance to run. They fought bravely and felled several hunters, but were eventually overwhelmed. Meanwhile, despite orders from his parents to take Sarah and run Brandon found himself starring down several hunters himself. He could not find it in himself to abandon his parents. Unfortunately, despite having been trained for just such a scenario, his lack of actual combat training, coupled with the readiness at which the hunters keep themselves gave Brandon very little chance of actual victory. He was felled quickly, but they hadn't killed him, he had just been badly wounded. As they always did, they lit the Cooper home aflame as a sigh to other Animagi that they were coming for them. The salt in his wounds was the reminder of the other life he had put on the line with his fool heartiness. Sarah, who hadn't come into her powers would be taken into the Hunter cult, and made into someone unrecognizable. His last thought before unconsciousness took him was that he had failed all those that he had loved.
Brandon believed himself already dead when he reached unconsciousness. However, what he didn't foresee was an old ally of his parents', having kept a watchful eye over his family, stepping in to rescue him. She was unfortunately too late to save his parents and she was too old to take the two remaining hunters on by herself to save Sarah, but she was able to save Brandon. She dragged him out of his burning home, and took him to her own, where she treated his wounds. She knew the Hunters would periodically check the hospitals on the off chance one of the Coopers had survived. She also knew that to ever be able to go outside again Brandon would need to change his identity. While she couldn't do much about his appearance it didn't matter. The Hunters seemed to think all Animagi looked alike anyway, likely something drilled into their heads during training to make them seem less human. What she could do, however was provide him with a new home, and a new identity. As long as he bleached his hair, and wore colored contacts she was fairly certain everything would be fine. He would get his old life back soon enough, but first he needed to finish his training, and his 'grandma' Halmer would be the one to whoop him into shape.
Upon recovery, Brandon's all consuming goal became the rescue of his sister. When he practiced his powers, which he did as often as Old Lady Halmer would allow, it was always with the knowledge that he would have to be at his best to rescue Sarah. In fact, Brandon would practice around the clock if not for grandma( an affectionate term, as well as an appropriate one considering he had adopted her last name.) Halmer. She, however forced him to attend high school, a different one under her name ( Halmer) granted, but he would go as long as he was under her roof. In addition to this, she also made him promise to make at least two friends before she would continue his training. Despite this aggravating him to no end, Grandma Halmer has noticed both an extreme decrease in unprovoked aggressive behavior, as well as a generally higher control of instincts as a whole. Which, despite her keeping Brandon unaware, was actually her plan all along. Having to not only deal with people, but to also sway them to his side, was going to force him to keep his instincts and feelings in check. Couple that with the fact that he wants nothing more than to train himself to the point that he can rescue his sister and take down the hunters, and she knew this would be an effective tactic.
As things fell into a routein for Brandon he found himself feeling content, happy, and horribly guilty. When he had first gone back to highschool, he had felt like a fish out of water. Socializing with people that weren't in his immediate family? He hadn't done that since the incident in sixth grade. Just like then, however, he felt a sensation he'd thought he'd never feel again... Normalcy. With his instincts getting the better of him an ever present fear, he was hardly a member of the cool circle Still, he had friends who weren't his family. He went to class, and while he didn't excel, he found that he did better than most. This actually gave him pride, pride in something that wasn't martial training, unheard of.
He'd go home after school and, after training, he'd do his homework. Grandma Halmer would cook diner, and Brandon would share his day with her. At first Halmer would have to force him to make time for his friends, but after a while he found himself doing it just because he liked being around them. He never gave very much information on his background, but with their shared interests, as well as well as their status on the social ladder it hardly mattered. Occasionally, when he forgot himself, and he didn't have school, he whittle away an entire day having fun with them. This made him feel that wonderful addicting feeling of comfortable normal, which he had almost forgotten.
Then he would remember where his real family was. How his parents had been murdered without mercy, while he was helpless to stop it. How his sister was, even now in the clutches of those same monsters. He would count the days since she had been taken, and feel like a failure for every second he relaxed in his little bubble of normalcy. This drove him to train harder, and while Grandma Halmer promised she'd keep her ear to the ground for any news regarding his sister, he still felt utterly useless. That is until he found a better use of his time.
( to be continued in my intro post)
Hero Type: Shape Shifter
Power Level: City level
Powers: Brandon has the ability to shift any part of his body into the corresponding part of the animal. For instance, if he needs a weapon, he can shift his hands into a panther's paws so he has claws, or exchange jaws and teeth with a shark's. Should he need to breath under water he can add to himself the gills of a fish.
He also has the ability to adopt the powers of various animals as necessary. If he needs a burst of speed he can gain it from the cheetah. If he needs to increase his strength, he can borrow the might of the ant. (Ect)
Attributes ( all are dependent, as will be explained in weaknesses)
Strength Level: 100x
Speed/reaction time level: 70
Agility: 15 X
Endurance at maximum effort: 3 hours ( could use some help with this one
Intelligence: average
Fighting Skill: trained
Rescources: High average
Weaknesses: the more power Brandon uses the less time he is able to use it. For instance while he can run at up to 70mph, he is only able to maintain that speed for roughly a minute. Up to five under dire circumstances, with severe repercussions to his body. However, if he uses a more modest amount of power he can keep it going for an increased amount of time with the only drawback being fatigue.
Animagi have a severe phobia of electricity, to the point that they have a bred in instinct to flee from it. No one can agree on where it came from, as it they aren't overly susceptible to it, there are theories but no one knows for sure. (Side note:) Hunters use electricity in the capturing and killing of Animagi. It is believed, though no one other than hunters themselves know for certain, that Electiricyy is used in the breaking of Animagi children.
Brandon ( aside from his ability to fully transforming emergencies) can only perform two power shifts at a time. Most experienced Animagi are able to shift up to four, though this is draining. This limits Brandon in his ability to hide his identity since his mask is a transformed face.
People with a high level of intelligence can take advantage of Brandon's shaky hold of his instincts. While he isn't an idiot, he dosent have even close to full control over them, and can be forced sometimes into sloppy fighting and poor judgement calls
Significant others: (Father)Mason Cooper
Status: Deceased,Inactive
(Mother) Tilly Cooper
Status:Deceased,Inactive
(Sister) Sarah Cooper
Status:Captured, Alive, Inactive
(Adoptive Grandma/Animagi Trainer/Friend): (first name unknown) Grandma Halmer
Status:Active
(Best friend/Clasmate) Chad Englebuck
Status: Inactive, Unaware
(Best Friend/Classmate) Jennifer Tameli
Status:Inactive, Unaware
Do you know how to post images on RPG Boards: As far as I know the best I can do from my IPad is demonstrated above
Origin Post: Brandon sat in the kitchen of his adoptive home, seated at the largish kitchen table, picking at his corn flakes. As far as he was concerned the tension could be cut with a knife. Soon Grandma Halmer would wake up, and turn on the news, like she always did.Brandon looked at the flat screen situated on the wall adjacent to the stove, if there was one thing to be said for Grandma's house it was that it sure was extravagant, with mounting dread. Maybe he would get lucky. Maybe Halmer would decide to sleep in this morning. Of course he knew that wouldn't happen, she never slept in, ever. Still, you couldn't fault a guy for dreaming.
9:00 AM had scarcely slid onto the digital clock over the oven, when Brandon heard the door to her room open and close and close above him. She would be in the kitchen within a minute. The teen took a deep breath, this was it. He had no idea what she would do, but she would be doing it in under a half hour. He half wondered to himself if he should start packing his bags now.
"Good morning Brandon!" Grandma Halmer exclaimed happily as she entered the room, and began digging through the refrigerator for eggs, as she did every morning. As she did Brandon took note of her. For an older lady, she wasn't half bad looking though he didn't find any interest in her himself, he had happily fallen into the role of her grandson, objectively however it was true. For instance, even though she was was into her sixties, she could pass as early forties. Her wrinkles, though becoming plentiful, were actually somewhat pleasant to observe. Laugh lines, and wrinkles from too much time in the sun spoke of a life well and happily lived. Brandon hoped that some of that good cheer might strike her this morning, what she was about to see would sure call for it.
" Good morning Grandma, sleep well?" Brandon responded after only a brief moment, he tried to act causally, dragging out the inevitable. "Like a log! Well, if logs slept in beds that is. Huh, I wonder if logs would even be comfortable in a bed, maybe that isn't a very good analogy. More like an old woman in a particularly comfortable bed. You?
"Oh, not bad." Brandon said, sure his transparent lie went observed. He he hadn't slept at all last night, in fact he had just gotten in under an hour ago. He knew that Grandma Halmer recognized his bedraggled appearance, and tone of voice, to put two and two together. He couldn't very well TELL her he gone against her wishes however, she had asked him to keep a low profile which he had more than failed at last night. She may have had a bubbly personality, but she was sharp as a tack, and got deadly serious when the situation called. Nothing got past her, absolutely nothing. Oh! That's so good to hear, you must be ready to get in some good training today then! I still need to make my breakfast first though. Would you be a dear and switch on the news while I cook?" She said, having cracked the eggs and started the oven. She turned to face the tv, expectantly.
This was it then, he would be forced to sign his own death warrant. Resigned to his fate, he reached for the remote, switched it on, and turned to channel 11. "Breaking News coming out of the downtown area today, as a suspected mugging was stopped by an apparently deranged man dressed as a wolf."Come on, right out of the gate! Brandon griped to himself silently, hearing the severe sounding voice of the serious looking anchorman. "Last night a man suspected of mugging an elderly woman was evidently himself mugged. Local man, Norton Wite, was attacked by a masked man while supposedly attacking Matilda Hersing, a local school teacher. While Norton cannot be reached, as the injuries sustained from the attacks have landed him in intensive care, we will now take you to an interview from Mrs Hersing.
"He attacked from out of the blue, he was like a wild man. Not the Wolf man you understand, the mugger. Yes, yes. I know everyone is saying how terrible it is that Mr. Wite is in such serious condition, and I suppose it is." The woman's voice took on a scolding tone " The man should have known when to stop, and stopped. But I also have very little doubt that I wouldn't be here right now if it were for him, I would almost certainly be dead." The woman's image disappeared from the screen, and the anchorman returned. "There you have it ladies and gentlemen. Hero? Or villainous animal? You be the judge. We'll have more after commercial."
As the Television switched from news to a commercial for 'SUPER CRUNCHY CEREAL!!!' Brandon took a long pause, before daring to look at his grandmother. When he finally did, however, he was surprised to find a reflective smile on her face. " Huh, so I guess we'll have to teach you when to stop punching." She said, with a slight laugh, turning to face him. Meanwhile Brandon could feel weight leaving his chest leave him breathless. " I'll also have to show you to my store room! I think you'll love it in there, all full of gadgets and whatnot!" Grandma Halmer beamed with pride, Brandon felt like he was being tricked, no way he was getting off the hook that easy. Even as he thought this, however, Halmer slid her cooked eggs onto a plate and headed for the door. " Oh, and an extra 100 laps around the estate after the school today, for lying to me and going against my wishes.