Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

[Blue Jogger]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

It started as a harmless experiment in smart matter. Download a configuration to a microscopic CPU or legs that is networked with all its friends, and it would shuffle around and slowly form into complex structures. It was amazing to watch, it was like mercury, it flowed like a liquid and then became stronger and lighter than steel.

 

Like most big ideas, it started out as a small. Just about a sugarcube size with hundreds of tiny disposable CPUs. However, over the years, more and more students improved the designs, CPUs became smarter and smaller, the design became even more mercurial, but size was always a problem. It could never get beyond a certain size or else signal delays would cause problems.

 

Some would say it was just a matter of time, especially on a college campus, but it "somehow" got injected into a mouse's brain and "somehow" it's wireless interface was designed to understand the rat's neural interface and had an access to an IP address.

 

For years, it walked around as a smart rat listening to the whims of the college students and the occasional spam. Occasionally it would burble something almost intelligable back.

 

Then, there was the car accident, it seemed incredible unlikely that the student would surrive the night. If only there was a way to interface....

 

What was done next was highly illegal, but done for all the right reasons. One self-adapting neural interface plugged into the brain of a college student with instructions on how to make it work.

 

Cue for the song "Weird Science" from Oingo Boingo.

 

The college student didn't surrive the accident, at least her body was died and there was no brain activity... in her skull.

 

"What the hell??? Where the **** am I?"

 

Quicksilver is a being composed of smart matter, which can flow like liquid, or become stronger than steel.

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

What? No other candidates? Sure this ones quite good, but no alchemists or knife-throwing werewolf hunters to compete with her? Ah well, I guess we know who wins. So, what's the next one?

[Blue Jogger]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Ok, how about something different with the name Prometheus.

[TheRavenIs]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

As the ancient Titan once existed so now a new one rises. He was a young stundent of mythology, he always dreamed that the Greek Age of Heroes and Gods were real, all he ever wanted was to prove it.

 

After learning how to both speak and read Greek he was able to get into a stundent program that allowed him to go to Athens and finish he's education in that country. Steven Andrews, or what would have been he's name if he's grandfather hadn't anglinized it, Stavros Adrov, began to study the past in the nation where the past happened.

 

Stavros read a very ancient partchment, it had a story that had never been seen before. It had a location for the halls of Promethus, and it told that Promethus had left in that place the eternal flame that he had stolen from the gods. Reading he also translated a hidden message, "To the one that reads this I promise to them my powers. come find my hall and win your birthright.

 

Stavros took the partchment and with it he searched for the Hall of the Titan. It took him over a year but he was able to find it. Climbing the mountain he found the entrance. Slowly he entered and as he did the flame burning before him flared and from it a voice, "Come my heir and take from this place my power, be the one that will show the world that the Gods of the ancient world were real. Take my power, my name and be the one that awakens the fire within the hearts of men to be more than they know is possiable."

 

Stavros walked without fear and stepped into the fire and when he walked from it Promethus was reborn. Within Stavros was the knowledge of the ancient world and the powers of the titans. Now with the ability to grow to 25' and with the strength, duribility, and ancient magics he would be the one to remind the world.

 

Returning to the USA, a new hero appeared. He told the world that was Promethus reborn and that he was the Titan that gave unto man so many gifts, he had returned to once again protect the ones he loved enough to dare the fury of the Gods, the human race.

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Arvin Pollock was one of the more "out-there" scientists. He had no degree because his arrogance led him to reject the status quo theories that the teaching establishment loved and he'd generally get ejected after committing assault on someone. But he did acquire an extensive, although perhaps more wide than deep, understanding of many differend scientific disciplines before settling down to his true speciality, attempting to reinvent the "lost secrets of alchemy". With advancing maturity he developed the gift of gab which would convince many people to invest in his work, investments that were invariably lost. That the police arrested him as a con-artist helped him develop a raging case of paranoia but after he got out of jail, he found himself a new investor, an heir to a once great but now diminished fortune. What was left of the fortune was soon consumed by Pollock's quest for the philosopher's stone, and this led his impoverished investor into a violent confrontation with Pollock which caused the prototype stone to explode. The investor was transformed into the fantastically powerful Paragon, a "living philosopher's stone", while Pollock, shielded from the blast by Paragon's body realised no benefits.

 

When Pollock realised what had happened, he was furious and intent on seeing that his backer not be allowed to profit from his "attempt to steal the product of my genius". He recreated the philosopher's stone and use it to create super-powered homunculi (aka androids), adopting the name Prometheus from the full title of Frankenstein "a modern Prometheus", since after all, he was really doing what the fictional doctor had only aspired to do. He hoped to one day capture Paragon and remove his "stolen powers". Over the course of his long career, Prometheus has produced many villains, and some heroes.

[prodigyduck]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Jogger! It's been more than 48 hours. Pick a winner! I wanna see where this goes.

 

I would make a suggestion, but I have no good ideas for a "Prometheus" character besides fire (yes, I'm that lame).

[Lord Zod]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Larry Hawkins lived in a world overrun with so-called superheroes. Where most mere mortals looked up at the sky and marvelled with awe and admiration at the handsome flying men, beautiful soaring women, and shaggy jet-powered apes that defended them, Larry's heart raged with jealosy everytime he looked up in the sky.

 

One day, after a humilating rescue from a burning building by the city's most obnoxious champion, Larry pledged that just as ancient Prometheus had stolen fire from the gods and given it to man, he would steal the power of the superhumans for himself.

 

Applying his technological genius, Larry built a formidable suit of powered armor, capable of siphoning the energy off of superhumans and projecting their own power back upon them. He became the archvillian Promethius.

 

Promethius has defeated several major superpowered criminals, but only because he draws no distinction between them and the heroes he fights. He has deluded himself into believing that he is the people's champion, sticking up for the little guy, striking a blow for all of humanity everytime he knocks another star out of the sky.

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

OK, let's try another one:

 

Next character: Hammerhead

[prodigyduck]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Young Lord Trident was the noble son of the weapons-keeper of Atlantis. He found a strange solace in swimming with schools of hammerhead sharks. His parents and instructors warned him of the dangerous nature of sharks, despite the Atlantean ability to manipulate aquatic creatures. He paid them no heed, confident in his inherent powers.

 

It was not the sharks that brought about Lord trident's downfall, but the Deep One cultists of Dagon the Devourer. Disguised as sharks, they captured the Atlantean youth and took him to their lair. Here, they subjected him to the full might of their Elder God. In the end, Lord Trident was transformed into a tool for Dagon and his followers. Mutated and mind-controlled, Trident was no more... now only Hammerhead existed!

 

Possessing the strength and immortality of an Atlantean noble, added with the savagery of a shark, Hammerhead was a formidable physical threat. His ability to communicate and manipulate aquatic creatures was altered so that he could only control sharks. In addition, every sentient being Hammerhead consumed fed their immortal soul directly to the final spell that would ultimately summon the Elder God Dagon into the Mortal World.

 

The oceans of the world were no longer safe. (Insert scary music)

[bwdemon]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

"8... 9... 10! Ring the bell, it's all over, folks! Hammerin' Ed Hinkley knocks out the #1 contender 'Gravedigger' Grossman to move into contention for the NABA Cruiserweight title! Let's take a look at the third round, where things really went wrong for Grossman..."

 

Sometimes, when you aren't expecting it, the greatest moment in your life can pass you right by. Ed Hinkley, "Hammerin' Ed" to boxing fans, had his greatest moment on June 13, 2003. In a nationally-televised fight, he became the #1 contender and knew, without a doubt, that the title would be never be his.

 

Throughout his whole life, in school, at work, and in boxing, Ed never did anything great. He was always middle of his class, one of the middling workers, or one of those guys destined to be a journeyman boxer; the guy other people beat to move up in the rankings. But with one lucky uppercut in the third round of a fight he wasn't supposed to win, things changed. He didn't know what it was, it was like he was in the right place at the right time and everything just clicked. Just as quickly as he reached this peak, though, he knew he couldn't go any further, because at that moment, with that one lucky uppercut, Hammerin' Ed Hinkley knew he was a mutant.

 

He didn't look any different or sound any different. He seemed as normal and undistinguished as ever. Just to try to quash his fears, though, he had a doctor run some tests and they found that his bones were higher density than most, that his strength was disproportionately greater than his muscle mass, and that his reactions were just that little bit beyond what a person should be capable of. Even as a mutant, Ed was purely middle-of-the-pack. Still, it was enough to ensure he'd never get that title shot.

 

Ed dropped out of boxing, stumbling through an excuse about needing to find himself, placed a call to his agent to sell what few belongings he owned, and bought the first of many bus tickets that would take him across North America, looking for the place he could do the most good and become something more than he ever dreamt possible.

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Well between these two choices there's no clear-cut favourite. But I'll give the nod to bwdemon by the faintest of margins. bw it is up to you to pick the next name.

[bwdemon]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Name: The Thing

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

In a major metropolitan university there are a group of students in the drama program, one of whom stumbled across a tome of great arcane lore that a certain Professor Arken had been looking for, for years. They began experimenting with the spells contained therein, and Arken, one of the tenured professors quickly realised from the bizarre events on campus that someone in the Drama department had it. And so his used his own powers to summon up an horrific tentacle sprouting creature to seek out the book and bring it back. The students attempted to banish the demon but only released it from his control. Now it dwells in the sewers and tunnels underneath the university complex, where sightings of "The Thing" have spawned rumours of escaped experiments from the genetics labs. Smart students make sure not to walk alone

[bwdemon]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Just one entry so far? I figured a name like this would spark a little more interest... I'll give it another week, just in case.

[Sundog]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

What was it?

 

Dane Beresford walked around the high-tech portal twice, gazing upon the - thing - that sat upon the receiving cradle. The idea had been to punch a hole into the fifth dimension - a dimension at right angles to all others, even time - send through a camera, and photograph the reality of the trans-dimensional matrix of reality.

 

But what ever it was that sat upon the receiving cradle, it certainly wasn't a camera. At least, not anymore.

 

It maintained no shape for more than a microsecond. Parts seemed to fly off in orbits - and fly straight through the appartti surrounding the cradle. Other parts disappeared without trace - or appeared in place without fuss or bother. It's utter, roiling chaos extended to it's spectra - according to his devices, the thing radiated a varying amount in all visible light colours - yet not at all outside that spectrum.

 

Dane couldn't help himself - he had to touch it. Instantly, the suddenly liquid material engulfed him - entered him - became him. And Dane Beresford ceased to be what he had been.

 

Moments later, three men in green and yellow uniforms burst in. The Viper troops wanted the pictures - to certain researchers, they'd be worth a fortune, and the stupid university would have released them for free! Instead, they found something beyond their imaginations - or terrors.

 

When the local police arrived, they found one Viper agent had exploded; another was found merged with the steel floor. The last, still alive despite having his limbs neatly shorn off, could only mumble - "that thing. That unearthly thing..." as he was rushed to the hospital.

 

The Thing that was Dane Beresford now stalks the streets of his city, without form, but with purpose - those that harm others must be harmed in return. And harm he can. The Thing can control the molecular structure of itself and whatever it touches - making it insubstantial, changing it's shape, increasing density or chemical makeup - even forming explosives from living material.

 

And somewhere inside, so deep even the Thing cannot hear, Dane Beresford is screaming...

[Sundog]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

I think it has been more than a week...

[bwdemon]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

First off, I apologize for taking quite so long. My studying got the better of me and I completely forgot about it. Second, this is a very hard pick for me. I like both of the creations a lot, enough that both deserve rep and a chance at picking the next name (and perhaps use in future games). Since David has already won, though, I'm going to go with Sundog as the winner here and let him pick the next name.

[Sundog]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Wooty! I think I'll go for someone a little less iconic - Blue Devil.

[TheRavenIs]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

In a distant mystical reality a small creature dwelled, he would be called a devil in our reality due to the way he looked and the powers he possessed. He was one of the few being in that realm that had a heart of gold, but he was too small and weak to actually be seen as a threat to those that ruled.

 

A young man with a gift for art began to dream of the small creature, the Blue Devil. Over time this young man began to draw adventures of the Blue Devil in the world he lived in, a world of Superheroes and Supervillains.

 

The connection between the two grew slowly stronger and then one day the rulers of that realm sensed the connection and planned on using it to open a door that would allow the evil within to enter and overwhelm the other. The door was opened and the small creature, but in ours a man sized being of great power, used that moment to crossover to our reality, bonding himself to the young man in this reality, the two became one.

 

The Blue Devil, one of the most powerful forces of good in our reality, the new being was able to close the door and remained in our world, the two now one now share existence and give each other lives meaning. The young man the power to fight the darkness and the other the place to fight that darkness.

[JmOz]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Going back to the Crimson Fox

 

A young man known as Dartanan was something of a ladies man a few hundred years ago, he was also possibly the greatest swordsman to ever live. One of his conquests, a young lady married to an innkeeper, would have his child. Her child would have a child, and it would go on as it normaly does...

 

At about the same time Dartanun and his three friends were running around, a young man, something of a revolutionary, was fighting for the common man in Los Angeles, under the nomenclature of "The Fox". Anyone who saw him with a sword thought he was the greatest swordsman ever. He eventualy married, and settled down to have children, who in turn had children of there own...

 

It has been a couple centuries now, and these two lines have brought brought forth a daughter. With hair the color of Fire she has embarked to rescue the common man, as her two great ancestors have...She is the Crimson Fox

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Bobby Teller grew up in the care of a mother who was subject to "spells". She called them "the blue devils". A psychiatrist would call them acute depression. Bobby was a sensitive child, more sensitive than anyone realised. He was in fact telepathic, and every time his mother spent the day in bed, her acute depression poured into his impressionable mind. He learned all the intimate ins and outs of the mental characteristics of clinical depression. Eventually he came to "realise" that he was the source of her mental problems (believing that because he could now induce depression that he had been doing it without knowing) and he ran away. Now he lives on his own and gets along by putting on a halloween devil mask painted blue and pulling off heists by just making everyone too depressed to stop him.

[Sundog]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Pretty good so far - I'll give it until wednesday so that anyone else who wants to chime in can.

[Sundog]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

This is very, very hard. They're both excellent, and completely different takes on the name.

 

I think in the end I have to choose David Johnston's take. He came at it from a direction I was utterly unprepared for, and I think I need to reward his originality.

 

Take it away, David. The next choice of name is yours.

[David Johnston]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Ahem: Iron Man

[TheRavenIs]

Re: Re-Imaged Hero(ines)

 

Working as a miner can be dangerous, but it does pay well. Jacob Irons was just a hard working man, a good heart, kind and honest, just not one that was anygood at looking where he was walking.

 

A Fight between a superteam and a villianteam happened to come right thru the iron mine. A mystic Hero and a mystic Villian both fired at each other with eldrich power, but poor Jacob walked into the line of fire, both of the energies struck him.....well he fell right into the smelter.

 

Both sides stopped when a figure came climbing out of the smelter pot, it was and wasn't Jacob. What came out was 'Iron Man', a living man of iron. What was left of Jacob saw he's friends in danger and got angry. The man of iron, 'Iron Man' attacked both teams, driving them back. As Iron Man fought less and less of the old Jacob remained, all was left was a being that had the soul of a hard working, good hearted man that was both honest and kind.

 

In the end the Heroes were able to get this 'Iron Man' to help them, he did. The villians went down and a new Hero was born. The first words he said were, "I am Iron Man, I do what heroes can."