What's in a Name?

[Hermit]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Hat Guy- A mysterious figure who appears, dispenses cryptic advice or insight, then vanishes again. No one can really remember much about him, how tall he is, what color his eyes were, anything...

 

but they always remember he wore a hat.

 

Next up:

Suppression

[Haven Walkur]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Suppression

 

 

Joscelin Etien d'Envers was the seventh son of a seventh son in a huge and ancient family that marked such things closely. As the name suggests, the Famile d'Envers had long been in the service of dark forces, forging pacts with creatures demonic, diabolic and utterly evil. ("Envers" is a corruption of the French words "Enfers", meaning "Hell".) The Famile d'Envers were black magicians of the darkest stripe, gleefully tracing their ancestry from the Demoness Melusine of Lusignan in 1174...a forebear they proudly shared with numerous European monarchs and nobles.

 

An old family, an evil family, a powerful and wealthy family, the d'Envers worked their spells and forced their will upon a defenceless and unknowing world in the 21st Century as they had in the 12th. What the d'Envers wanted, they got; what others had, the d'Envers allowed. This state of affairs might have persisted indefinitely for the Famile d'Envers, but for the Prophecy....

 

Every d'Envers knew it: When the seventh son of a seventh son is born blind and deaf to the magic that is his due, then shall the Famile d'Envers be struck down in silence and stillness, mute and dumb they from that day and no sound making save the weeping of their wretched ghosts to trouble the nights when the moon is new.

 

Joscelin -- he prefered "Jozz" -- grew up unaware that he was the prophecied seventh son. But his parents, the warlock Alberic d'Envers and Isabella d'Envers, the Black Madonna of her generation, knew very well what their son's destiny held. When Joscelin -- his parents refused to call him Jozz -- reached his 21st birthday, his parents would preside over a Grand Sabbat, which would climax with the sacrifice of Joscelin to Adramelech (a fallen angel once of the order of Thrones, now demonic king of fire and prince of hypocrites) and Bernael (a fallen angel once a prince of the order of Virtues, second-created after Lucifer, now demon lord of arrogance, pride and deceit), the patron demons of the Famile d'Envers.

 

In fact, Jozz grew up rich, spoiled and clueless, with no inkling of what his family (or the Famile) were up to in the shadows of the Chateau de Lusignan that was his home. But oddly enough, Jozz was neither vicious nor cruel -- as his siblings were -- and dismissed the things his brothers and sisters did with the unthinking exasperation of the youngest child in a large family. When his siblings got too annoying -- "Ssh!" Jozz would tell them sharply, putting his forefinger to his lips, and shush they would.

 

Every time.

 

And they'd think it was their own idea. After all, everybody knew that worthless chubby Jozz didn't have any magic.... Yes, Jozz was a little overweight; he was also a little aimless, a little selfish and a lot spoiled -- but not evil. The family's darkness had no claim on him...perhaps because he was the seventh son of a seventh son, or perhaps just because he was, at base, a decent person.

 

Three nights before Jozz's 21st birthday and the Grand Sabbat, Jozz was kidnaped and immured in the dungeons of the Chateau, a terrible prison he'd never believed existed. There he was tortured physically and mentally in preparation for the sacrifice...and on the third night, the torturers were his immediate family; mother and father, brothers and sisters. When they started on him again, Jozz seemed to lose his reason, and was babbling like a madman when he was taken to the Black Altar for sacrifice.

 

Like the Catholic rite the Black Mass perverts, the rituals take some time...time enough for a wounded and outraged (but nowhere near insane) young man to work free of his carelessly tied bonds. And though no student of religion -- of any sort -- Jozz's unguessed-at perceptiveness came to the fore, prompted by threat, shock, pain and outrage, and informed him that this crazy party was building up to something.

 

So Jozz waited, lying bleeding on the cold stone of the Black Altar. The entire Famile d'Envers, multiple generations of evil, were gathered for the ceremony that would re-affirm their ancient loyalty to their patron Dukes of Hell...and not incidentally, grant the Famile the full measure of their Dukes' favor. A seventh son of a seventh son; Prophecy or no, that was a princely sacrifice!

 

Jozz almost waited too long. At the climax of the ritual, when his mother Isabella swept down upon him with a wickedly glittering blade, screaming and chanting in a strange and horrid language, Jozz almost didn't get his hand up in time.

 

But he managed it. Finger to lips, he looked up at his mother in her robes of the Black Madonna, and..."Ssh!" he said.

 

And in that instant, the ceremony failed. The spells broke, the Chateau shook and the demonic Dukes recoiled as if burned. Now, for the Famile d'Envers, there was quite literally going to be hell to pay for that moment of silence!

 

And Jozz ran.

 

Paris, London, New York...and there he settled. Jozz, as the heir to his (all mysteriously deceased) Family's wealth is now a very rich young man. But he's not just rich in money these days; he's rich spiritually too. For now Jozz has a profession, a direction, a cause. In his simple Puritan-inspired costume of black and white, Jozz finds ways of tracking dark mages and dark magic and infiltrating himself into the secret rituals of evil -- only to stand up at the climax, raise a finger to his lips and say, "Ssh!"

 

Now Jozz d'Envers is "Suppression", heroic exorcist and foe of dark magic with a debt to pay and forty pounds to work off! And his quote...you've surely guessed it already.

 

"Ssh!"

 

And now let's try...Teddy Edward

[concord]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Suppression

 

 

Now Jozz d'Envers is "Suppression", heroic exorcist and foe of dark magic with a debt to pay and forty pounds to work off! And his quote...you've surely guessed it already.

 

"Ssh!"

 

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Haven Walkur again.

[Asperion]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Teddy Edward grew up with basically no worries. He was the son of a U.S. Senator who had been able to work his way high up in the Senate's ranks. This did include all the associated perks and problems that accompany that position. His father saw only one problem with him: he always had his face in some book, either printed or comic. No one ever realized just what was going on in his solitary life. Then one day while he was flying with his family to some vacation spot he suddenly and for no reason went asleep, almost unconscious. The medics on the plane could not figure out why he did that. Then suddenly a missile hit the plane, or should we say that the plane ate it, doing no damage. A few minutes later Teddy awoke unaware of what happened. Several days later as Teddy was traveling with the required entourage he went into his lapse. The security agents with him could not figure out what the reason could be. Then several agents from a terrorist group attacked them. Teddy's group was out-manned and out-gunned by at least four to one. Despite this problem, any incoming attack seemed to be eaten up by some mysterious force. After the attackers retreated, Teddy woke up completely unaware of the attack. The terrorists attempted to attack Teddy several more times all with the same result.

 

The thing about Teddy is that before birth a being had moved into Teddy's body. For the most part this being will not reveal itself to anyone. However if it detects by some unknown method danger approaching it, then it will manifest itself and "eat" the attack. During the times that this being is protecting everyone, Teddy is comatose until the being returns.

 

For the next name: Jaded Soul

[Christougher]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Leann Hunter thought she had it all, a good life and a loving husband, or so she thought. Garth was a dark sorcerer, and some of his rituals involved acts that counted as cheating on his wife. When Leann discovered him in the midst of one of these rituals, her mind snapped. She grabbed the green dagger at the center of the ritual and stabbed her husband repeatedly with it, capturing his soul within the blade. His "assistants" soon joined him there.

 

The jade dagger is now a symbol of her psychosis. Without the blade, she is believes her husband is still alive, lost somewhere and she misses him terribly. With the blade, this Jaded Soul seeks to collect enough souls within the blade to be able to resurrect Garth.

 

Next entry: Flux

[Karma]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

 

Next entry: Flux

 

Dave remembers the time he had a job, a family, a home, some type of self respect. Of course all that's gone now, he lost one after the other simply because he was the most convenient scapegoat for the company. He ended up on the street a stinking drunk, sure that he'd hit rock bottom. There are times now he wishes to God that he had been right.

Unfortunately homeless people make great test subjects for the less scrupulous. He realises now he would have been better off if he'd just gone quietly, not fought and not smashed vials containing several different mutagenic compounds, covering himself with them.

But he did and the result is that now his body is unsure what it wants to do with itself and constantly mutates. No-longer entirely human Dave now tries to avoid people. But has run ins with local law enforcement have given a name to the being he has become. Since the reports describe him as having a face and body constantly in flux the media calls him FLUX.

Dave just wishes they'd leave him alone.

 

Next up a duo: Ember & Rose

[Badger]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Ember and Rose McKenzie are identical twins.

 

Ember- is a fire manipulator, though she only manipulate already existing flames. To compensate for her power quirk she is also a martial artist, and katana expert (she uses one for each hand). Of course she always has a box of matches and a magnifying glass with her just in case.

 

Rose- is a "floramancer". She keeps a bag of seeds with her, all she has to do is throw them and shortly after hitting the ground they grow to supersize to do her bidding. It doesnt matter the type of ground (even the asphalt of the urban area works). She also has an unusual ability to create thorns the size of daggers to blast as projectiles at opponents.

 

They are low-level criminals for hire. And they rarely tolerate leaving the others side even for a few minutes. Their last known job was as bodyguards for a local Mafia boss.

 

Well to keep the duets going how about: Shock & Awe

[Asperion]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Shockabrenitolikenus "Shock" was the commander of a renegade team that was being pursued across space. They were flying passed a primitive planet that seemed as though it would be a good place to hide out for a while. What they did not realize was that the planet was more developed than they thought and their ship was picked up on its scanners. When they discovered that the planet had dispatched primitive combat aircraft to investigate them, they tried to communicate with the aircraft but got no response. Finally the aircraft deployed missiles that (after several misses) hit and severally damaged several important functions that caused the ship to crash. Only Shock was able to get out before teams from the planet found the crash site and retrieve to other members.

 

At the same time of the crash, someone known only as Awe was traveling near the small Iowa town when he felt a low level rumble and seconds later saw a cloud of dust rise. Several minutes later when he arrived at the location that he assumed to be the source, he saw one figure hobbling from what looked like a severely banged air (space?) craft. He assisted the figure away from the craft just as the USAF arrived on the scene. Now the two are on the run, Shock because (as reported) had committed several murders and Awe for aiding and abetting a fugitive.

 

Now lets have fun with this common item: Teflon

[Karma]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Now lets have fun with this common item: Teflon

Teflon's origins are shrouded in mystery, if only because no-one can hold him down long enough to ask him. An expert in escapism and seeminly superpowered in the same area Teflon is seemkingly immune to all Entangles, grabs, or in fact any form of restraint, escaping them with ease. Even his mind seems impervious to anything that could stop or control it.

As an added benefit Teflon seems to also be immune to any sticky/uncontrolled or persistant attacks that rely on the attack staying in contact with the victim (acid, etc.)

taht said it's easy enough to catch Teflon by simply knocking him unconcious, it's how to keep him once he wakes up that remains elusive (just like him).

 

Next up: Bubblegum

[Enforcer84]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Brian Conelly was a frustrated musician. Sure he had the chops; played guitar, sang, wrote. His problem, he was a man out of time; literally. Brian was on the cusp of fame in the early 70's. His talent got him a record deal. That began to ruin his life. He fought with his label over his music. His lyrics were "too moody, they were so personal that the lable feared he wouldn't find the universal hook that made songs huge. Songwriters were brought in. Brian was losing his cool. He'd gotten the deal with the harmonies and intricate song stylings and they simply wanted to turn him into a bubblegum pop flash in the pan.

Then he one day an old man in a white jumpsuit, with silver devices whirring and whining all aboout; appeared before him, told him he was needed and they disappeared in a wave of light.

The first thing he realized when the old man left him in the middle of London was that he was decades out of time. Running to a bookstore, he tried to figure out what had happened. Then he saw an old news article about the studio he'd been recording in burning down the day he'd been taken.

 

Why me?

 

It had been almost six years since Captain Chronos had transported him to the future. His attempts at breaking into the music industry had failed. He was out of touch. He had considered trying to end it all when Captain Chronos again entered his life. The old man appeared one day, gave him a box.

 

"Why are you doing this to me?" Brian yelled.

"Open the box, Brian." The older man said.

inside the box was a rather garrish silver costume. It had a dark purple cape and a metallic purple lightning bolt on the chest. Brian stared at it. It was a costume his old bassist had designed for them. Back then they were going to be glam rock heroes.

"What is this?"

"It is an artifact of great power from a timestream that no longer exists."

The old man's voice was soft; it kind of disarmed Brian. Who expected random loony ticks or crackpot orations.

"Why are you giving it to me? Why am I here?"

"He wanted you to have it. "

"Who?"

"You know who."

"But he died in the fire."

"No, in fallen stream of time he survived. He went into science after you perished in the fire. He developed this suit when I took him to the future."

"Why did you save him?"

"It was necessary."

"I-I don't understand."

"It's okay, it's very complex. Let me just say that my son loved your music, Brian. He would want you to have this."

 

"This is ridiculous." Brian said looking in the mirror. The suit fit. The power was palpable. The look was 70's bubblegum rock. The fact that no mask protected his integrity made him laugh even more. Okay, so he'd shun the media; help people and leave.

 

"Up up and away Rick. Up up and away."

 

though the press eventually dubbed him the Thunderbolt, he would always be:

 

Bubblegum.

 

 

a little long eh?

 

Howbout this one:

 

 

Dreamweaver

[Ockham's Spoon]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

This is a great thread! My contribution for Dreamweaver:

 

Background: Selene Tejido originally thought that she might have a psychic gift, that her dreams predicted what was to come. As she concentrated more on her dreams, she found that universal childhood fantasy was reality for her; her dreams were coming true. She began to relish sleep, and her dream-self became a more active participant in her night-time visions. Although timid by day, her dream-self could do anything and was fearless, an alter-ego that accomplished her deepest, and ultimately her darkest desires. The alter-ego became more independent, and even took created a name for itself, Dreamweaver. When Dreamweaver killed her sister's abusive husband, Selene was a little disturbed, but the man had been beating her sister for years and deserved what he got. But after a co-worker she was merely irritated with turned up murdered, Selene got scared. The police had no clues, but Selene knew that she had lost control of her alter-ego. She began to have nightmares about Dreamweaver, and Dreamweaver made them come true. Now Selene is a nervous wreck, doing everything she can to keep from sleeping, from drinking coffee to taking illegal drugs. But she can't stay awake all the time, and when she finally succumbs to sleep, Dreamweaver will be waiting.

 

Powers: Selene really is a psychic with some low-level psionic powers. But her mind has been co-opted by an atavistic spirit that is driven more by emotion than reason. Initially it gave Selene power in her dreams and she gave it direction, but now it is becoming more independent. It feeds off of emotions, especially strong emotions like fear, and Selene's own fear only powers it more. Still, it can only take control when she sleeps, and her exhausted state has hampered its forays into the night. Dreamweaver is a desolid version of Selene (an Astral Form in game terms), affected by mental powers and magic, with powerful Mental Illusion abilities. As its power has increased, Dreamweaver has also developed some telekinetic abilities that directly affect the real world.

 

Quote: "This is the nightmare from which you will not awake."

 

 

Okay, for the next character try: December

 

 

____________________________________________________________

"Why follow me to higher ground, lost as you swear I am?" - Ed Roland

[st barbara]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Jack Charles was a scientist. A hardworking man who specialised in supercooling technology. He wasn't a superhero (or supervillain) until the day he accidently witnessed a murder! The murderers came after him, tracking him down at work and trying to set off a bomb to kill him in an "accident" when he was working alone in his lab late one winter night ! But the bomb didn't kill him, it some how gave him the power to leach heat from anything around him, to superchill anything that he touched and to create ice ! Jack had never been an "obvious" man so, instead of using a name that told people immediatly what his powers were he called himself "December" after the coldest month of the year. Now he is looking for the people who set the bomb; and any other criminal who thinks that they are "untouchable" ! Next :"Resplendent Jade"

[Karma]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Because it seems to be the year of the resurrected threads I give you the Return of "What's in a Name".

 

Resplenant Jade: He is a member of the PRC's super-team. A walking 8 foot green stone (not actual jade) statue whose loyalty to his country is unquestioned. His origin is an official government secret, but rumors have it that the Forbidden City is missing a statue.

 

Next: Lupe (Tongan for Dove, Pigeon and poetically 'Beloved (F)')

[Split Decision]

Re: What's in a Name?

 

Neat!