World Traveler

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Before I finish my character sheet I wanted to know about my power being acceptable. Namely because it would play a large role in my characters personal statement. Please feel free to PM me concerns or comments so we don't flood the OOC with just my character power conversation.

PITY - Application for Academic Year 2015/2016

Student Name

Devin Coal

Gender

Male

Nationality

Canadian

Age

18

D.O.B.

April 6th

Appearance


Hair Color

Brown

Eye Color

Vantablack

Ethnicity

Canadian / Irish / Polish / German / French

Height

162 cm

Weight

69 kg

Powers & Abilities

Power Name

Black Eyes

Power Description

Mental and physical control over Dark Matter that collects in my eyes.

Abilities

My eyes are somehow capable of collecting dark matter in the same way a magnet attracts other metal. At least that is how the doctor explained it. It means that supposedly, with a lot of concentration, I should be able to control this matter by either combustion through the process called annihilation or solidify it. A lot of these words I don't entirely understand, but they are how the scientists talked. One thing that happened during the testing was I seemed to 'infect' a doctor with the matter when I got scared and my eyes shot some matter at him. The matter hit his eyes causing him to lose his eyesight, but it quickly returned when I calmed down.

• Devin's eyes are lined with an unknown substance that collects antimatter.
• This matter can be controlled by Devin mentally concentrating.
• Devin can concentrate and move the dark matter from his eyes; thereby, 'curing' his blindness.
• This energy can be released only from his eyes.
• The energy can either become explosive or solid though if it is a solid

Drawbacks & Weaknesses:

I don't really know. I am still learning what strengths I even have with this power. I guess if I don't concentrate the matter returns to my eyes and I return to being blind.

About You

Family:

Mother-Linda Coal
Dad-Sean Coal
Sister-Emily Coal

Personal Statement

I am special even for most of your applicants I guess. Being both special in the powers way and special in the normal way means I check plenty of boxes when I have to fill out forms like these. That said the most common questions I get asked are usually the best to get out of the way. I am big into music and my favorite sport is baseball. It has the best soundtrack. Also the large amount of numbers let me understand the game nearly as well as everyone else. Other sports like Hockey or Football are a little trickier for me.

It has only happened in a small scale, but I am scared to touch other people with my hands. The doctors said that dark matter can go through a process called annihilation which is where matter and dark matter meet causing them to both explode. Not sure if you have a special place at the school for people like me, but it would make me feel better if people didn't get scared around me.

I know I am lucky in the grand scheme of things. My disability hasn't destroyed my family, but seems to have brought us all closer together. They are excited for me, but I also know they are worried about me. They think I might mope around because they don't know what else I can do, but I am excited to learn about what my abilities can do. After all learning more about how I can control them could be the key to unlocking my ability to see. I don't dislike being blind mind you. I came to terms with it a long time ago, but if there is a chance to improve my sight I want to take it and will apply myself completely towards that goal.

Sample post

The constant buzzing of Devin's alarm clock woke him with the same relentless efficiency he had come to expect for its kind. Groaning over his inability to catch up on sleep he reached over to slam a hand on the snooze button. In a flash light that exposed his clean, almost pristine, room came through his eyes as his eyes fired a short burst of dark matter. When it made contact with the alarm clock a white light exploded and the clock was blown up into several dozen pieces.

It was several moments before Devin was able to relax. He swore at himself over the broken pieces of the alarm clock could be felt around his feet. When he got up from bed he had to slide his feet across the carpet so he didn't step on any sharp pieces of plastic. Nyx, his seeing eye dog, was already up and off the bed. She had a habit of sitting next to him while he dressed for the day. His shirts were mostly organized by his mother, but for the most part a white shirt and jeans was the look Devin sported during the weekends.

After putting his shoes on Devin clicked his fingers and Nyx moved next to him. He put her harness on with little difficulty. With everything locked and loaded the two made their way towards the back door of the house. When he opened the door he could tell it was going to be a beautiful day from the warm feeling he got as he was bathed in the morning sun. The two left the house just as he heard his sister starting the shower.

As Devin walked down the sidewalk he heard all the familiar sounds of his street welcoming the morning. HE could hear Jane and her friend Michelle going about their morning jog. They said hello as the passed and Devin nodding back with a smile. The sound of doors opening as those with jobs downtown headed out early to beat the traffic.A school bus also made its way down carrying the chaos that was 30 plus kids between the ages of terror and spaz. All of these were a part of the picture Devin had for his street and he loved every one of them. Turning the next block he decided it was time to head back. The sound of a light rumble could be heard and Devin wasn't interested in racing a storm home.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

@Tyler
Edited the power discussion part to show the blindness leaves when Devin breaks concentration.

I understand the dog thing. I might be a little close to this situation since I work with blind people often and have been a volunteer trainer for seeing eye dogs for several years. I understand you might not know a lot about the difference, but for a blind person who is going to a completely new place having a dog is a much better situation as the cane only tells you what is in front of you whereas a dog can assist with commands like "food" and would take the owner to a specific place like a kitchen or cafeteria.

The cane isn't a big hiccup, but it will require my character to constantly ask where he is or where something is for a large amount of the role play. Would it be acceptable to say that the school isn't allowing him to bring a dog and maybe it is something he is upset about?

Also when you talk about insurance and things like that the government (speaking of USA right now and Korea and Viet Nam since I have experience there.) actually has tax deductions for making a place more disability friendly and that includes returned funds from insurance companies and construction firms.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Made the changes to the powers sheet.

The only question I have is regarding the hesitation to having a seeing eye dog on campus? Is there a specific reason for not wanting a dog or is it more a worry that I am going to exploit the dog as a sort of second super power with smell or something? The only reason I ask is because the assistance of a seeing eye dog was one of the main reasons I was looking forward to playing a blind person as it added an alternate perspective to how my character would approach things. I am not saying it is a this or I quit, but am hoping to, if given a chance, at least put my best foot forward as far as reasons for why the dog might be a good mix in the role play.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

@Shard

Thanks for the speedy reply. Answers to your question below.

In regards to power I hadn't really thought that far ahead. If you have a look at my sample post my characters stress over the alarm clock caused his power to make it explode when he touched it to turn off. This is about how far I thought about the power. I am thinking that, because dark matter will go through the process of annihilation, that the explosion isn't a catastrophic type (This would kill him too!) but more a controlled explosion going outward from where it originates on his body. I would think at his PEAK ability maybe blowing a door off its hinges could be possible? He isn't going to be blowing people away just by shaking their hands but maybe cause burns if he loses control when someone shakes his hand too strong maybe. There aren't going to be massive explosions erupting from his hands every time he gets angry or something.

I would say my final thoughts on it are it is more the force push as the annihilation process doesn't actually involve heat so much as a reverse in pressure. Simply put if he were to put a bunch of the dark matter in his fist and then punch someone the person would be thrown back before his fist hit them. Instead they would be hit with the dark matter which would then annihilate (aka collapsing in on itself causing an explosion and the force of that would throw them backwards.)

Does that answer the question? Since this is a new power I am thinking up I am not completely confident in everything as it is a work in progress.

Romancing the Artifact

Devin and Brandy finished up their final moments in the shop by waving goodbye to the staff and saying their thanks. The two took the long way back to the hotel. The silence was notable, but enjoyed between the two. Instead of each awkwardly trying to break it they spent the walk enjoying each others company as they people watched. Devin had few regrets in his life and he wasn't about to let everything around him stop him from enjoying the moment he was in. A beautiful city rich with history and a beautiful woman rich with strength and surprises. When they reached the hotel he felt it was almost criminal to break the silence.

"I think it is about time to tell you where this little adventure started. You can put your things in your room and meet me in mine when you are ready." He then gave his clothes to the man behind the concierge's desk and informed them that the shop was going to send a person around later to tailor the remaining portions. He then excused himself to his room. Once inside he began laying out all the required documents and tools needed to tell his story. Upon Brandy joining him he smiled and had her sit down.

"The story starts like everyone knows. Marco Polo and his father left on a trip to the far east in 1271." Devin pulled out the compass he had been seen using several times. "During that voyage we already know that he made a hidden stop here in Alexandra. What the letters further showed was that it wasn't his only secret stop." Putting on a some gloves he then unwrapped an old map. "This is a Mongolian map drawn for Marco Polo during his journey to escort a Mongolian princess. Her name was Kököchin. They were supposed to go straight to the city of Baghdad in Persia; however, we know from his dictated book that he visited the city of Sumatra." Devin pointed to the island off the coast of Thailand. "The official reason he gave was to continue a trade negotiation between the two nations; however..." Devin then pulled out several sheets of paper from his journal that had been tucked in like a book mark. He shared them with Brandy.

"Marco Polo clearly talks about the beauty of the island as one that held a terrible burden which he was terrified to carry." Devin tapped at the letters written in historic Italian. "I believe that Marco Polo was somehow involved in an agreement that was reached between the west and the east to hid this terrible burden. The problem is I don't know what it was. I know it was something capable of transport so it has to be something manageable." Devin flipped through several pages in his journal and then stopped at a small map with a line along the coastal waters of India and the Persian Gulf. "

After their ships made port in Sumatra Marco Polo's fleet never once made port at a place with large population. They said this was for the protection of the princess, but that makes no sense. The Mongolian empire was the strongest around having conquered nearly all of the known world. What would a princess have to fear. Even if she was specifically special an assassin would know that the entire world would burn in retribution..." Devin sat down now and was getting excited. "It is because whatever they took from this island was so powerful that they feared it was uncontrollable. "We could be on the verge of finding one of the world's first weapons of mass destruction and whatever it was it was brought back here to Alexandria to contain or hide.

Another letter was pulled out from his bag. This time he did so with great care. "This is an official letter translated from Mongolian and Italian into arabic with the seals of the Roman Catholic church and Genghis Khan. It grants unquestionable travel to and from Alexandria to three people only a year after Marco Polo returned from his journey. "If you look carefully you can see two of the names are..." Devin didn't need to finish as he saw Brandys eyes get wider. The names were "Matteo Polo, the brother of Marco Polo, and Kököchin. The princess Marco Polo was charged with escorting. The two people in Marco Polo's life who knew the entire story of his travels."

Devin sat back and let his supposed trail connect inside Brandy's head. "That alone isn't enough however. The real ticket is the way Marco Polo left secret messages in his letters. Many people knew there were hidden codes within the letters, but what they didn't know was the even deeper secrets his communications hid..." Devin took the compass and then placed it on the large mongolian map. With care he dragged the compass to the middle where the needle started to swing to the north end of the room. "Watch the needle." He said and he then put the needle over Mongolia where the needle started to spin and then pointed towards the city of Sumatra. Devin gave a look to Brandy and then brought the map to Sumatra. At that point the compass swung around again. This time pointing towards Alexandria.

"You want to take a guess as to what happens when I put the compass over Alexandria?" Devin asked, but didn't wait for an answer. As the compass settled on top of Alexandria the needle began to spin in a full circle only instead of resting it continued to spin around and around. "In this case it is circle marks the treasure." Devin smiled as he sat down on his bed. "I have little understanding of what Marco Polo carried, but whatever it was it cost him several ships to transport. Nearly half of his fleet perished, never to be spoken of or mentioned in any text he passed down. The only way historians found out about this was through ship records and even those were difficult to uncover."

All his cards were on the table now, literally, and Devin remained silent as he waited to hear Brandy's perspective on everything he had just shared.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Added a few bullets to give specific usage of Devin's power. Would love feedback on the character sheet please.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Got it. I will keep the segment as is and then add a outlined form of the power below it. Thank you for the quick reply.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

@Tyler

Okay I think I am a little confused about the character sheet. I was under the impression that we were answering the questions like our character would if they were being interviewed. My character has very little understanding of what his powers are and what they can do. That said I put some amount of scientific explanation of what my character can do. I am sorry of the terminology was a little confusing, but I did explain in detail what he is capable of doing. Dark Matter, annihilation, and the other segments in the power description are all real terms used in the field of physics and astronomy which would be the fields his powers draw from. I am not sure where black holes came in as they have nothing to do with Devin's powers, abilities or dark matter.

I can see that my explanation of my characters powers might have been a bit high in the science field, but I am not sure how I should explain the power since my character would only read off what he was told by experts. Should we break character and just give a detailed explanation of the powers maximum ability would be if they were understood and at their peak?

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Finished a draft of my character. Though still unsure if even my power is acceptable so I didn't feel comfortable committing fully to my sheet. I will be adding more, but would really like some feedback on my power.

Romancing the Artifact

The 180 degree turn Brandy made in the matter of one conversation again nearly gave Devin whiplash. Just who was this woman really? She joined along in a chase running away from hired muscle, jumped on a plane to another country, and even stared down Codex. Even if you took the roughest and toughest of those Devin had met in the past none of them came close to competing for biggest surprise, and the redhead was a sharpshooter. Not one to be left behind he joined her as they made their way along the store fronts.

"This isn't my watch." He added as they walked into a store that seemed to catch his date's eye. When they walked in Devin felt more on a leash than he ever had before. She sent him off with a stylist or salesperson and then excused herself to the long selection of dresses that lined almost a third of the store. Nuzzled in the corner back of the building was a small but diverse mens formal section. After a short walk through Devin had worked with the stylist to pick out a few things that worked for him. The pants and suit; however, is where they seemed to butt heads. Devin liked the three button suit while the 'expert' seemed to think a two button would be best.

"If I am allowed to be honest sir a two button is much better suited when standing next to a woman in a gown." The woman was smiling and seemed to have the best intentions. The only problem was she didn't know the whole picture. For Devin the three piece had more room for a weapon. It also was somewhat slimmer which meant the material was likely stronger and would hold better if needed to be used for something other than a coat. Still he felt himself losing after she brought up Brandy.

"Then lets look at your two buttons." He said surrendering to style rather than practical needs. When he was shown the different suits he settled on a more conservative, classic look. Since their goal was to get in and make contact and not make a grand entrance he felt it was the best option. More than once he saw a few eyes from around the store zero in on him so he knew he looked good enough to mingle with. The question was if it was good enough to meet The Librarian.

"Sir I think we have made an excellent choice. You look good enough to take home." The woman was kind enough to offer compliments when she saw Devin start to think or worry. It kept him more in the moment which usually meant he glanced around to see if he could find Brandy. When he couldn't the woman would also catch on and tell him that his partner was busy with her own fashion worries. This made Devin laugh as he could hardly picture Brandy in any situation that made her worry.

"So how will you be paying for this. Would it be cash or credit?" The saleswoman was smiling, but at this point the smile was due to her happiness that a deal had been struck.

"I was hoping that we could barter." Devin said as he saw the women start to frown. Before she began to voice the stores official policy he pulled out two of the watches. The ROLEX symbol and letters could both be seen clear as day. "If possible it would be beneficial to both of us if we find this third option possible. In total Devin's suit cost a somewhat staggering 600 dollars, he had never understood those types of prices for clothes. He figured whatever dress Brandy picked would settle around the same maybe more. No matter what she picked the watch was easily worth over 3 thousands dollars.

"I believe we have reached an acceptable arrangement sir." The woman then went to the back to figure out the cost specifics while Devin waited for his partner to return while he held his suit in clothing bag. The woman also came back and informed Brandy that whatever she picked had already been paid for. Devin looked down at his own watch and saw that they have roughly 4 hours before they needed to leave for the party. The time would be best spent in their hotel room talking things through. Especially since they were both moving into the unknown at this point.