tribe

#118 EL-SAIF RAKKAS (Morocco) EL-SAIF RAKKAS Ibrahim ibn Ahmad Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Ibrahim ibn Ahmad studied to become a Sufi at a very young age. His master saw greatness in the boy, and together they traveled all over Morocco and even into Algeria, and Egypt. Ibrahim was like a sponge, and absorbed all his master could teach, including sword dancing. When Ibrahim was twenty he and his master were attacked by strange garbed bandits while traveling back to Morocco from Egypt. His master was able to wound several of the bandits using the sword dancing technique of his brotherhood. Unfortunately, the two Sufi were greatly outnumbered, and Ibrahim’s master was mortally wounded. The two Sufis fled into the Atlas Mountains where Ibrahim buried his master in a cairn, next to a hidden spring. Before he died Ibrahim’s master gave him his only real possessions, a pair of nimcas. Ibrahim stayed in the area of the hidden spring for the next twenty years practicing sword dancing, and studying Sufism as an anchorite. Fortunately the spring provided water, and over the years Ibrahim found he needed he needed to eat less and less. When Ibrahim returned to the civilized world he was astounded by all the changes. As he traveled he begged for food, and any money that fell in his bowl, he would give to others who were poor. In one town he came across a mullah speaking to a crowd. He was extolling the people to let him know about any mystical artifacts saying that he would take them and destroy them because they were things of Shaitan. Ibrahim ignored the man as much as he could begging among the crowd. Little did he know that the mullah was actually Omar al-Rajastani, the super-villain leader of Fatwa known as Imam. By poor luck, Imam caught sight of his nimca. Instantly Imam knew that the blades were mystical in nature and he wanted them. Imam was able to incite the crowd against Ibrahim, and the Sufi was forced to flee. Ibrahim again returned to the Atlas Mountains sure that Imam would pursue him. In this he was mistaken. Soon several members of Fatwa were on his trail. Ibrahim led them on a merry chase through the mountains until they were completely lost. Ibrahim returned again to his hideaway in the mountains to contemplate and pray for guidance. It finally came to him after a week of fasting. He would return to the world of men, and revel to his fellow men the charlatans among them. Before Ibrahim knew what was happening he was fighting against forces he didn’t understand. The name Sons of Set was often spoken in back alley’s and Ibrahim came to realize that the Sons of Set were responsible for the death of his master. What had started out as a simple quest had taken on a new meaning. Calling himself El-Saif Rakkas of the Sword Dancer, Ibrahim would strike back at the world that was quickly heading for destruction and madness. Personality Ibrahim is a very devout Muslim, and even more so because of being a Sufi. He’s bound by an oath of poverty so keeps few material possessions. However, beyond that Ibrahim is a seeker of self-awareness, and thinks little of the real world. Ibrahim has been alone for a good part of his life. Even when he was studying under his master, the two rarely mingled with others. Since the death of his master, Ibrahim has spent even more time by himself. He’s uncomfortable around most people, choosing instead to contemplate Allah on his own. Like most Sufi, Ibrahim likes to make himself appear to be mysterious. Most people rarely understand what he’s talking about. Quote "I searched for Allah and I only found myself. I searched for myself and only found Allah." Powers Ibrahim is a master swordsman, of a unique style known only to him. He carries a pair of nimcha, which are a Moroccan type of scimitar. Ibrahim can cause the blades to practically blur; he’s so fast with them. Anyone getting too close to him could be easily cut. Armor has proven to be no obstacle to his fighting style. Ibrahim is so fast that he can strike a foe five times before they can react. Most foes cannot stand up to his sword Ibrahim is a master swordsman, of a unique style known only to him. One of his more obscure techniques is to instantly appear and then disappear right before the eyes of his foes. He carries a pair of nimcha, which are a Moroccan type of scimitar. Ibrahim can cause the blades to practically blur; he’s so fast with them. Anyone getting too close to him could be easily cut. Armor has proven to be no obstacle to his fighting style. Ibrahim is so fast that he can strike a foe five times before they can react. Most foes cannot stand up to his swords. Ibrahim has been known to knock bullets out of the sky with his swords. In addition to his swords, Ibrahim wears voluminous robes. Most attacks against him cut into his robes, and not Ibrahim. Ibrahim’s life has been dedicated to discovering Allah, as such material things mean little to him. He rarely has to eat much anymore, and for a man in his sixties he’s extremely fit. The heat of the desert and the cold of the mountains don’t affect him in the least. Appearance Ibrahim is a slight man who has been tanned so long from a lifetime in the wilds of the Atlas Mountains that his skin looks like leather. Whatever hair he might've had on his head has long since fallen out. Fortunately Ibrahim still has all his teeth. For a man in his sixties, he's still rather spry. Ibrahim wears voluminous robes that are made from a patchwork of materials, so parts are a light brown to a dark brown. Similarily Ibrahim wears a long winding turban with a veil that he wraps around his face to keep out dust. Overall, Ibrahim looks like a begger, which in a way he is. However, his nimcha, which are similar to a scimitar except they're slightly more straighter, are obviously of extreme value, and flash brightly in the light. However, woe to anyone who would seek to take them from Ibrahim. The sufi has a pair of these blades, and seems to be able to secret them on his person. Notes Noah (The_Arc) finished this character a while ago, but it took me a bit of time to get the picture organised. If you like this character please take the time to seek out The_Arc and give him some reputation.

Re: Character Creation Polls for 'Around the World With A New Character Each Week'

Re: Character Creation Polls for 'Around the World With A New Character Each Week' Two days to go for the Serbian Six. Anyone else want to vote? We have about five votes per character so far - plenty of scope for more.

Re: Character Creation Polls for 'Around the World With A New Character Each Week' Yeah, well it is a RIGGED vote so you have to vote 'correctly'. But seriously, I'm not sure what is going wrong with it. I don't think you need to log on or anything. It should take them. Has anyone else had trouble? Thanks Ben

Re: I bought me some Stronghold! Or maybe they are referring to hours rather than years. Seven hours and nine hours old. That'd work.

Re: I bought me some Stronghold! I'm going to wait for PS238 so I can get them at the same time. Stronghold should be a great source book. So very tempted to buy it now....

Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week Good spotting, Black Ops. Suprema is of the royal family, while Ona isn't. I'm going to say that Suprema is an unusual example of the Aqjibujans. She has excelled herself in all areas whereas Ona is an average citizen. So, I'm going to say the Aqjibujan royal line has developed some longevity, whereas the regular classes have had more outside influences such as adopting non-Aqjibujans and coupling with less than perfect mates. As for the royal family clash with the republic idea, I took the model from Star Wars. It's a republic run by elected officials but with a figurehead Queen. I hope they're good enough answers. Have some rep!

#3P ONOMATOPOEIA (Aq Jibuji) ONOMATOPOEIA Onataru Tula Character Sheet (Click Here) Background When Ona's sister ran away to see the world beyond the rises of the Aq Jibuji valleys, the matriarchs stood with their heads bowed. Whenever a daughter fled the republic, it was the Earth Mother's way of keeping the traditions strong. The rogues would leave and the strong ones would remain. But Ona couldn't let her little sister disappear into the wide and dangerous man-world, the place her people called Sidfurus, so she gathered together the essentials of her survival pack and headed out of her homeland. The trail led Ona north, to Central America and then via air to New York City. Ona's sister had met a man and had fallen in love which was against all of the Aqjibujan rules. Ona was distraught and vowed to find her sister and bring her home, and be damned any man who stood in her way. When she arrived in New York she gravitated towards the bus terminals where she was assaulted by a gang of street youths. Their ferocity surprised her and despite her training Ona was hurt badly and subsequently robbed. The dishonour of being manhandled drove her into hiding where she tried to cleanse herself of the images, but all she managed to do was become more and more confused by the burgeoning metropolis around her. She didn't understand this world of men, and her hearing implant had been damaged by the assault. It was created using advanced Aqjibujan technology but Ona had enough knowledge to fix it, although it took her a long time: time she used to decide her next move. She returned to the streets under the cover of darkness, and did so as a warrior of Aq Jibuji rather than as a questing sister. She outfitted herself with two pistols which she had stolen from an apartment building full of abusive men, as well as her technologically advanced synthesisers. She used the implant to surprise criminals, by bombarding them with their own insecurities and the wild noises which seemed to inhabit the strange city. And when they were submissive, she would question them about her missing sister before tying them up for the police. The newspapers reported her actions, and the NYPD sought her for questioning. Everyone began calling her Onomatopoeia because of her calling card sound effects. In a way she enjoyed the name and despite not being able to find her sister, Ona called in the support of another ex-pat Aqjibujan, Suprema. The princess was proud of Ona's activities and supplied her with advanced body armour and new components for her hearing implant. Ona continued to stalk the streets, partly in search of her sister, but partly just to enjoy the thrill of the hunt. She turned her prowess on the street-level thugs, never tiring of beating the men who seemed to hold themselves above the women. Suprema mentored her, and cautioned her on using lethal force. Despite these warnings, however, Ona did kill one night. She had finally found her sister who was living in a squat near the docks with a man who looked more like a shadow than a real person. Her sister had developed a drug habit. Ona was devastated. She lashed out at her sister, almost like when they were children in mock battles. But this time Ona was far more powerful than her emancipated sibling. She broke her sister's jaw and then killed the man who tried to protect the woman he claimed to love. Ona felt nothing, as if by killing the man who had drawn her sister into this Hell, she had somehow forever severed the link of blood and family with her sister. Ona left. She felt like returning to Aq Jibuji but found that she was now an outsider as well. There could be no way to return to the life she had before. So, taking the name Onomatopoeia, she etched out a life on the streets of New York. She protects the young runaways, hoping to save them before it is too late. She knows her sister is still alive somewhere in the city but she no longer has any time for her. It is as if she is dead. The NYPD have come to distrust her and are actively attempting to arrest her for the murder of her sister's boyfriend. Ona has no respect for the male-dominated police force and has no intention of submitting to their rules. Personality In Aq Jibuji, Ona was a quiet and studious woman. Since birth, her hearing was limited, but with the help of advanced Aqjibujan technology she was able to hear as well, if not better than her sisters. The implants gave her the ability to hear into the ultrasonic range as well as the ability to project sound so that she could imitate sounds - something she later utilised in her role as vigilante in the streets of New York. Ona is still a quiet woman, but she has cast aside any aspirations of becoming an inventor or scientist, so that now all that drives her is a desire to protect young girls from the predators she sees every night in the streets. She hunts around the Times Square and bus terminals and has established a series of safe houses where she can take girls who need help. With the assistance of Suprema (particularly her alter ego, Naomi Bridge) Ona has helped to find secure housing and lives for these girls, some of whom have been returned to their homes. Ona has also succeeded in sponsoring some of these young girls into Aq Jibuji where they have been granted citizenship. Quote "CRASH! BANG! PTTT, PTTT, PTTT. BANG! BANG! BANG! ARGH!!!!" Powers Onomatopoeia is known for her creative use of synthesised sound. Her hearing implants grant her the ability to hear into the ultrasonic range as well as being able to emit sound. She uses this mainly to mimic sounds of the city or even people's voices, but she can also use it as a high frequency stunning beam or as a deafening blast. She carries two pistols and wears protective armour. Appearance Ona is a lithe young woman with dark skin and jet-black hair which is straight and falls to her shoulders. She doesn't maintain a separate identity and keeps herself inside most of the time during daylight hours. When she ventures out she wears a black body armour with a full face mask. Her hair streams out of the back of the mask but otherwise her entire head is covered. On the face of this mask is an exclamation mark. Notes Ona is also active in the Golden Age, as the hero Murmur. Character Sheet (Click Here) Recently, Ona was caught in a temporal rift as she was breaking into an affluent apartment in Greenwich Village. She thought the owner was involved in illicit brothels, but it turned out her was a practitioner of mystic arts and somehow Ona tripped a security alarm. Before she could turn tail and run she was thrust backward through time and space until she arrived quite suddenly outside Brussels in 1942. Originally terrified, Ona managed to pull herself together enough to make her way to a nearby farm. Her hearing implant had been destroyed and she had difficulty hearing anything. At the farm she was harboured by a kindly family, but within a few days she had left. She knew a little about the era from her school days and knew that the evil men of the Nazi Party were a real threat to her. She couldn't stay still in case they should capture her. Her plan was to contact Princess Power who she knew operated in this Golden era, but before she could reach safety she was attacked by soldiers. She lost her advanced pistols and was captured and taken to the nearby town for interrogation. Despite being weaponless, Ona attacked the soldiers after regaining her composure, and fled. She no longer had any connection with her own time. Later she joined a cell of Resistance fighters, all of whom were French women. Ona convinced them that she was a Spanish woman on the run and they gradually trusted her. She found their company comforting, despite the war situation. During the days she and the other women worked in the village of Lille, France. Ona worked in an ammunition factory, which she found ironic. During the nights she and the other women waged more and more daring raids on the local soldiers. She is currently at large in 1942 and despite having had the opportunity to send out a message to her compatriot Princess Power, Ona has put it off. Strangely enough she has found her new life in the past to be rewarding, unlike her vigilante days in New York City. In the tradition of the heroes of the future, Ona has taken on a new name: Murmur.

Poll: Serbian Six I'm looking to get votes on the makeup of a supervillain team (otherwise known as an extremist patriot team). There are six members of the team. Go to the blog and cast your vote for the team makeup. Thanks.

#116 MINGGAN (Mongolia) MINGGAN Besud Enkhbold Chuluun Character Sheet (Click Here) Background They came out of nowhere. A horde of Mongolians leapt through the air and landed all around the compound: some on the roof and others inside the actual courtyard. The Chinese workers scurried away in all directions but were cut off by more of the archers. Lightning streaked through the sky, crackling in the air. The Minggan killed everyone in sight: soldier, worker, child. And then they were gone just as quickly. When news reached Beijing, the Gang of Five were informed. They dispatched spies to Mongolia in search of the men who were responsible for the murders. When no news was forthcoming, Snake was sent to personally investigate. She discovered that the horde of ubers were actually a single, troubled man and that he had the ability to multiply into hundreds of equally berserk warriors. Snake reported back to the Gang of Five and they came up with several plans. One of the plans was to capture the 'Minggan' and to turn his powers into a weapon for China. Another was to murder him. Snake led a team of Rong Yu Jing Wei in Ulan Bator. They moved in secret to avoid an international scandal, but their purpose was clear. Snake discovered the Minggan's family and had them tortured and killed. No information was found, though, and Snake was forced to move on to family friends. While Snake and her team pursued answers in the city, Minggan was razing villages in northern India. News of his appearance reached Snake and she ordered her team to travel to the Indian border as quickly as possible. As he retreated from the Assembly, which had eventually forced him away from his target, Snake and the Rong Yu Jing Wei attacked him. At Snake's orders, they were merciless. Minggan suffered many casualties and his bodies lay strewn across the steppes. But no matter how many they killed, there always seemed to be more of them. During the battle, Minggan sent one of his 'brothers' to safety, so that when Snake eventually succeeded in eradicating all of the warriors, Minggan was still able to survive although Snake and the Chinese government had assumed he was neutralised. Minggan discovered his parents had been murdered and his fury was white-hot. He travelled towards Beijing: a horde of warriors capable of throwing lightning and leaping through the air. The Immortals stood between the hordes of Minggan and the Chinese Parliament. There was a massive battle which lasted for nearly a full 24 hours, after which Minggan was beaten senseless and incarcerated at the secretive Camp Zero. The Chinese scientists attempted to discover the secret of his duplication, and the hero Pig was able to locate the specific ubergene responsible. However, before the scientists could attempt to replicate the gene, Minggan committed suicide in an electrical explosion. Years passed and everyone assumed Minggan had perished, however, in the past few years he has been spotted in India again. His tactics seem to remain the same. He attacks outlying settlements which he feels encroach upon the land of Mongolians. He doesn't seem to accept boundaries, though, and has been influenced by the legendary exploits of the Khans. He may even consider the continent of Asia to be the rightful territory of his people. Minggan means 'the thousand'. Although no exact number of duplicates has been counted, it is doubtful he could produce that number. Eyewitness accounts list the number of Minggan to be in excess of eighty at one time. Indeed, the battle in Beijing resulted in the bloody deaths of seventy-five Minggans over the twenty-four hour period. Personality Minggan is something of an enigma. He doesn't seem to have any kind of independent thought, but at the same time he remains fiercely independent and refuses to be controlled or influenced by others. His independence is focussed outwards while he is dominated by an internal collective. There doesn't seem to be any kind of mental connection between the Minggan, although they shout out tactics in a guttural Khalkha Mongol. Since the death of his family, the man who was once Besud Enkhbold Chuluun has lost all contact with society. He remains loyal to his country but forever apart from it. He only communicates with himself, or 'himselves'. He is aggressive and bloody-minded, although his hatred applies only to outsiders. Quote "The war is composed of many, many battles. If we lose one battle, it does not matter, for we will still win the next ten." Powers Minggan is able to generate multiple bodies, or duplicates. Each duplicate warrior possesses the same abilities and memories. There doesn't seem to be an upper limit to the number of duplicate warriors he can create although he has yet to produce more than eighty at one time. Each Minggan also possesses the ability to generate electricity. This grants them resistance to energy attacks as well as the offensive capability of generating electro-arrows. Each warrior carries a Mongolian bow which he uses to focus the energy. Without the bow the energy does not form correctly. The lightning blasts are devastating, and when faced with eighty warriors each with the ability to harness such power, the Minggan are truly awesome to behold. The warriors also possess the ability to fly, although this is more of a super-charged leap, linked to their ability to create bursts of electricty. Appearance Chuluun was once a normal-looking young Mongolian man, but his bloody experiences as Minggan had permanently marked him. His eyes are ringed in dark shadows and his face seems to be haunted. His cheekbones are prominent and he wears a long black moustache which adds to the gauntness of his face. His armour is fashioned on ancient Mongolian armour, although it is made of modern materials which he has somehow come into possession. He carries a long curved bow but no arrows. Presumably, when Minggan is not actively marching on the enemies of his country, he exists quietly in some village or township. During these times he presumably lies low and is unnoticed by the people around him. He possesses survival skills which would allow him to live off the land.

Poll: AQ JIBUJI Character The Poll has closed. The character is: Single Character Martial Artist / Weaponmaster 250 Points Golden Age / Modern Era I assume she will either be a Golden Age character who is now in the present or a Modern Era girl who has been thrust back in time.

Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week

#115 PRINCESS SUSAN (Monaco) PRINCESS SUSAN Princess Susan of Monaco Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Susan Barras was an accomplished thief at the age of eighteen and established a name for herself, the Silver Phantom. She excelled at break-ins to expensive hotels and using her uber powers she was quite adept at melting room safes and making off with valuables. She was active between the west coast and Chicago, and worked in both Canada and the United States. She crossed swords with the super hero team Tribune in Vancouver, as well as Canadian Shield, but was never considered a serious threat. Her criminal career came to an end when she attempted to burgle the hotel suite of Prince Albert II of Monaco. She cracked the safe but never made it out of the hotel. Instead, she was startled by the Prince and invited to an intimate dinner in the room which she agreed to. They spent hours talking over champagne and when the sun rose Susan explained that she had to leave. The Prince asked to see her again, but she didn't take him seriously. She agreed to see him again the next night in the same place, but had no plans to do so. The Prince took her at her word and set up a beautiful dinner. Susan's curiosity got the better of her and she watched the Prince's suite from across the street in another high rise hotel. Her heart stirred as she watched the Prince wait for her. There was no security, no police trap. It was just the Prince and he was waiting for her. Susan stayed in her secret room for hours and never once did the Prince give up hope of her return. She was touched. But she knew it couldn't be possible for the two of them to continue such a relationship. Susan had plans to leave Chicago the next day but something about watching the Prince patiently wait for her, made her change her mind. She snuck into the hotel the following night, as she had two nights before. When she slipped inside she found that the Prince was gone. Her heart sank immediately. She walked slowly through the suite and touched his belongings: those small things he had brought from Monaco to make his stay more comfortable. She didn't know much about him, apart from the tabloids which reported on his many social forays and many allegations of paternity. His father, Prince Rainier had recently died which made Albert the ruling monarch. He was unattached. Susan opened the wardrobe and looked at his immaculate suits. And then the door opened. Security men walked in and then the Prince. Susan slipped into the wardrobe and closed it behind her. The security detachment swept through the suite and then retreated to another room. Susan watched as the Prince walked through the room passed her hiding spot. He looked tired. She opened the door and stepped out. 'You look like you could do with a back rub," she said softly. He turned, and to his credit, he did not appear startled. Susan smiled. He looked relieved to see her. "Ah," he said. "My intruder." Two years later, in 2007, the two were married in Monaco, and Susan Barras became Princess Susan of Monaco. Any outstanding warrants for her arrest have been dealt with and she lives a high profile life in Europe, only returning to America and Canada with her husband. She has given up her uber-thief career and has given birth to twin children: Rainier and Charlotte. Personality Princess Susan is a confident woman but knows that she is now a part of a proud and important tradition. She is gracious and defers to Prince Albert, especially in public. Her life is focussed on children's charities and the lives of her young children, Rainier and Charlotte. Although she is the wife and consort of the ruling monarch of Monaca, she has friendly relations with Albert's two acknowledged former lovers and their illegitimate children, Alexandre Coste (born in 2003 to a Togo woman) and Jazmin Grimaldi (born in 1992, Palm Springs). Susan's children are the heirs to the throne as no illegitimate children will be considered in issues of succession. Since becoming the Princess, Susan has vowed never to use her uberhuman abilities and has so far been true to her word. She has managed to oppose two members of the International House of Crime when they attempted to steal valuable paintings from the Princess' residence showing that she is capable of looking after herself and her loved ones. The International House of Crime has marked Susan as an important target so members of the organisation are encouraged to attempt robberies against the Royal Family of Monaco. Quote "Every day has the potential to change the world. One day we may live the life we always thought was ours, but the next may see a whole new life whether we are expecting it or not. There are people around the world, children around the world, who must deal with these changes every day and unlike my own life of fortune, these children are not living in fairy tales with happy endings." Powers The Silver Phantom was famous for her dazzling entries and exits from expensive hotels across the northern United States and Canada. She still retains her powers but refuses to use them. She had the ability to generate light in bursts as well as focussed bolts of energy. She was always in top physical condition as the Silver Phantom and was an evasive martial artist and acrobat. Since becoming Princess Susan she has allowed her training to slip away as she no longer feels the necessity of daily training. Nonetheless, Susan is still capable of defending herself and is very resourceful. Appearance Princess Susan is in her late thirties. She has silver-blonde hair which is cut in a bobbed fashion, and has a bubble-like nose which makes her seem younger than she actually is. As the consort of a monarch, she has access to high fashion and she has become the sponsor for a series of fashion designers in Paris and Monte Carlo. While she is frequently photographed by the paparazzi, Susan always appears dignified and composed. She prefers to wear simple designs and does not wear too much jewellery, except on official occasions. As the Silver Phantom, Susan was famous for her silver catsuit with black domino mask. Her hair was a fuller blonde back then and her figure was more lithe with the element of mischief and danger. Incidentally, Susan still has the catsuit.

Re: Double The Hero Excitement! Yikeses! That just goes to show how hard it is to keep a secret. I've tried City of Heroes but gave up after a bit (cost too much for what I got out of it). I hope this Champions one isn't pay per month. Oh well, wait and see.

Poll: AQ JIBUJI Update There are six days remaining in the Poll for Aq Jibuji. So far the votes are as follows: Single Character (5 votes) Team of Four (1 vote) Team of Five (1 vote) Technology: Gadgeteer Technology: Power Armour (2 votes) Martial Artist (2 votes) Weaponmaster (3 votes) Normal 150 Points 250 Points (4 votes) 350 Points (3 votes) 400 Points Golden Age (3 votes) Silver Age (1 vote) Modern Age (3 votes) Future So the character would be a single character whow as a 250 Point Weaponmaster from the Golden Age and the Modern Age. Perhaps she begins in the Golden Age and is somehow transported to the Modern times. Or perhaps she will be created as a young woman in the Golden Age and a very old one in the Modern Age. Perhaps your vote can change things.

Poll: AQ JIBUJI Aq Jibuji is hidden in the Andes of South America. It is a fiercely matriarchal society. No men are allowed. The women travel out of Aq Jibuji to mate with men from surrounding areas and then travel back to their country to give birth. Boy children are either exposed to the elements beyond the border or are taken back to the lands of their fathers to be raised as orphans or in the families of the father. There are currently two characters in Uberworld from Aq Jibuji. Suprema is a hero in the modern world and Princess Power is a hero from the Golden Age. The following information somes from Suprema's background: The Aqjibujan society withstood the Spanish Conquest of South America and remained secret up until the 1990s when the New Men accidentally 'discovered' it when their plane crashed into one of their hidden valleys. Located along a series of seemingly inhospitable valleys within the Andes mountain range, Aq Jibuji is a matriarchal society with a difference, having absolutely no males within its borders. For over a thousand years the women of Aq Jibuji have ventured secretly out into the world to couple with suitable mate, only to return to Aq Jibuji where they give birth to their children. In the past, male children were either killed at birth, returned to their fathers in secret, or exposed on the mountains. As the society progressed they have developed advanced medical technology which now allows for accurate gender identification early in the pregnancy (and even potential for directed gender 'modifications' which change a male embryo into a female embryo). Unlike some other 'secret kingdoms' Aq Jibuji has advanced technology, keeping up with the advancements of their neighbours and the international community. They have always believed in understanding and outsmarting their opponents, and so when the Spaniards came, they repelled them, but also took the technology and education offered by the missionaries. Nakmihe Cotbaru was the first Aqjibujan to openly enter the outside world, or the land of the Sidfurus ('not woman'). Since the New Men's visit the secret world of Aq Jibuji ended, and although the country was welcomed by the international community, they refused to fully open their doors to the curious people who flocked to see the secret land. They allowed women tourists in to some areas, but men are still prohibited. Nakmihe was sent to New York City as the country's ambassador to the United Nations, although Aq jibuji is not a member of the organisation (or any organisation for that matter). Her country proved itself to be at the forefront of medical research, especially in the areas of women's health. Nakmihe soon found herself targeted by all kinds of misogynistic threats and became a reluctant super hero, although it has been revealed by Saul Numen that the Aqjibujans are possibly the only humans on the planet to not have the ubergene. Nakmihe became the symbol for feminists worldwide and became outspoken on women's rights, which led to even more attacks by super villains and disgruntled weirdos. She decided that she needed some kind of assistance and joined the Argonauts as a way to possibly deter some of the more unbalanced minds who hated her. When not operating openly as Suprema, she is an assistant district attorney in Pittsburgh using the name Naomi Bridge. If you would like to vote on what form this new character takes, please go to the blog site and vote. It can be located in the column on the right hand side of the screen when you click here.

I've decided to put the rolling polls for characters from fictitious or unusual countries here rather than in the main Thread (which is here). The premise of these Polls is that Uberworld has a handful of fictitious countries such as Azambia, Atlantis etc, and it would be a fun idea to have Polls to create the characters for these countries rather than approach them in the same way as the 'Around the World' project. Hopefully that makes sense. There were some great Polls here on the Boards a month or so ago and I was inspired to try and glean some of that creative energy. The Polls on the blogsite are not as detailed as the ones here, but it's a start. So far I have created a character for Azambia (a country in Africa similar to Dr Doom's Latveria where the people are ruled by Witch Doctor), and a character from Atlantis. Avatar can be found here. Siren can be found here. If you could help by adding your vote to the Polls, that would be awesome. Thanks.

#113 GEMINI (Micronesia) GEMINI Percilla Shoniber Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Gemini is one of the Zodiac Agency's Star Agents: a group of twelve mercenaries named after the astrological star signs. She was originally a member of the regular Zodiac Agency before becoming a specialist mercenary, although the exact details of her promotion are not known. What is known is that her real name is Percilla Shoniber and that she once worked in the field of anthropology. She is of Pohnpeian heritage, more specifically from the atoll of Pingelap where many of the population suffer from maskun which means 'not see' in Pingelapese. She is colour blind and can only see the world in black and white. Gemini has worked predominantly in the United States for the Zodiac Agency, but has also worked on international projects such as the Agency's attempt to steal the seven so-called Arcadian Crystals: a project which involved all twelve agents over three continents. Although the project ultimately failed, Gemini and her team mates proved themselves capable agents and were able to deceive or defeat the Brotherhood in Europe, Sanction in the United States and the Singapore Samurai in Asia (not to mention stealing a crystal from the crime lord Evol Khan). Personality Gemini has shown little or no empathy for other people. She seems to live in her own world, cut-off from everyone else. This could be an extension of her visual world where she can only see black and white. It is true that she often complains about the so-called complexities of life which to her are nothing more than excuses and crutches for people who are unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions. She appears to be a hard woman who is rarely satisfied, unless she has achieved a well-defined goal. She continues to work in the field of anthropology, often gaining temporary work at universities across the United States under a host of assumed names. Her work in the universities is not usually criminal but is a way for her to maintain the semblance of a normal life. Despite her hard lined mercenary mentality, Percilla gains comfort from working in the 'real world' for at least some of the time. Quote "To me the world is in black and white. There's no need for explanations or excuses. It is what it is." Powers Gemini is a mercenary in the exclusive employ of the Zodiac Agency. She has been outfitted with a cache of weaponry ranging from a standard automatic pistol with armour-piercing bullets, to steel line bolas and an air cannon built into gauntlets which can fire air shots or grenades which can release smoke or explosive charges. She also carries two knives which can be use din hand to hand combat or thrown, and has the ability to secrete acid from hidden jets in her wrists or release sleeping gas. She wears an advanced light-weight body armour designed by the Agency, and seems to have the uncanny ability to discern an opponent's weaknesses which she readily exploits to her full advantage. Gemini is a very athletic woman and her peak performance keeps her above the ranks of the regular Zodiac Agents. Appearance Gemini takes her name from the astrological star sign of the same name: a symbol which suggests duality or division. She wears a costume divided down the centre with one side dominated by black and the other white. Her face is plastered with heavy white make-up on one side and black make-up on the other, while her hair is jet black and hangs to her shoulders. Her weapons are concealed around her body in holsters at her belt or hidden in her heavy gauntlets or boots. To help protect her eyesight, which is sensitive to light, she wears dark wrap-around shades. Rarely, if ever, does she wear a smile. Despite her severe nature, though, Genesis is attractive and charming if it suits her. She is lithe and catlike, and certainly not to be trusted.

#112 FURIA SOLITARIA (Mexico) FURIA SOLITARIA Yolanda Valdez Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Yolanda gained her powers during Apocalypto's attack on Mexico City which she was covering for a Zapotec radio programme. She and her sound recordist were caught in the line of a falling skyscraper and would have been killed if not for the timely intervention of Esperanca and the rest of the Southern Knights. Instead, Yolanda was given a short reprieve during which she began to move faster and faster, as if she was stuck on fast-forward. Her co-worker watched in awe as Yolanda started to spin out of control, her form lost in a whirlwind of activity. She sped towards a building but turned at the last second and spun away out of view. It took a long time to get control of her spinning but Yolanda never did give up on things. She found that travelling at high speeds as a kind of red twister provided her with protection from running into walls and cars, and she never seemed to tire. When her body stopped spinning, Yolanda found herself on the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis of Mexico City. She watched Apocalypso lashing out at the city and the assembled heroes, but she could do nothing. Months passed and her powers never returned. She continued to work at the radio station and began to report more and more on the uberhumans of Mexico, particularly focussing on the emerging super hero team known as Defensa Suprema. She even managed to get the outspoken Nautili woman, Night Wind, on the programme. Her powers returned on the night Huitzilopachtli arrived in town. He planned to make the world over in his own image and to draw more power to him by destroying key parts of the city. Yolanda was one of twelve women he summoned to a high-rise hotel. On the roof he had established a temple and Yolanda and the other women were to be sacrificed at dawn. Yolanda was in a trance, but when Cactus was dropped on the roof by Ana Cascabel and her Suprema plane, the mesmerism was broken. The other women were powerless as Cactus struggled with the god, but Yolanda's powers burst into life with a vengeance. She blurred into a red twister and slammed into Huitzilopachtli sending him over the edge. While it allowed the god to regain his power and disentangled him from Cactus, it also sparked the beginning of the major campaign against him. Defensa Suprema were ready and attacked him in the streets below. Yolanda joined in, and although she showed her inexperience she also showed her fiery spirit. When the god was routed, Yolanda was asked to join the team as a trainee member. She agreed and worked hard to make full membership. Her super hero career is important to her, but she has so far refused to give up her secret identity and her job at the radio station. She has interviewed other members of the team since joining, which has been awkward for some of the more public members of the team who believe being a hero is about being forthright and honest about everything. Yolanda doesn't worry too much. She enjoys both of her lives. In fact she enjoys her lives so much that complications from one life often encroach upon the other, mostly in the area of romances - which are almost always passionate and fiery and end up with a jilted boyfriend and a new beau. She makes a point of only going out with one person per identity, and she never reveals the truth to them on principle. Personality Yolanda is a bit of a vamp, placing importance on first appearances and physical contact. She never holds back and is easily distracted unless she is the centre of attention: personality traits which have made her a very popular and talkative radio host. Yolanda is an optimist with an unshakable sense of humour, always able to see the fun in something or some situation. She often plays practical jokes with Vengador and has progressively become more and more of a party animal in both of her identities. Yolanda has taken the name Furia Solitaria, which means 'lone fury'. While she has come to like the name, she really chose it as a joke, playing up to the idea of American super heroes who take themselves too seriously. She is such a bright light that she tends to look upon dark and angst-ridden vigilantes as a waste of time. Most people simply shorten her hero name to Furia. Quote "Trust me, darling, if you spin around fast enough anyone can be a super hero." Powers Furia Solitaria is able to spin an incredibly fast speeds and to move along a surface as a kind of red twister. While spinning she is virtually impossible to harm and can move at blurring speeds. As well as being highly agile and quick moving, Furia is also tireless. She has been known to move continuously for two days and only stopped because she was distracted by a song which had become stuck in her head. She didn't know the artist and had to stop in order to find out who it was. She doesn't have the desire to test her reserves again, but suffice to say that she can continue moving for a long, long time. Furia also wears a custom-made bodysuit which is composed of a kevlar-style armour. Appearance A blur of red is all people really see of Furia Solitaria when she is in full swing. Her body blurs to such an extent that she becomes almost like a sentient whirlwind. When she is standing still, or moving at a normal pace, she reveals a dark skinned woman with a prominent beauty mark on her left cheek, curly permed brown hair and hoped gold ear rings. She wears a white bodysuit with red lining and red gloves and boots. To conceal her identity she moves fast and avoids cameras, but also wears red shades which look impressive but are actually just for decoration (and disguise). She picked them up at a junk shop and has become attached to them. Out of costume, Yolanda avoids wearing red to keep her two identities separate. She will usually wear jeans and shirts, although she has a large collection of t-shirts with slogans from the brilliant to the crude. To help conceal her hero identity she usually wears hats and shuns the public as much as she can during daylight hours. As a radio presenter she can get away with wearing baggy clothes and looking a little under the weather some mornings. The important thing is that her inquisitive and bright voice is irrepressible.

#112 VENGADOR (Mexico) VENGADOR Ernesto Salinas Character Sheet (Click Here) Background A successful wrestler, or luchador, Vengador (Avenger) was a member of the popular Carmesi stable of wrestlers. He fought in many bouts and gained popularity, mostly amongst teenage boys and young adults, but his popularity soared when he visited Japan as a member of a touring group of luchadores. His aggressive style and buffed physique attracted hundreds of fans and soon he was hailed as the most popular fighter of the touring group, even though he was ranked behind two of the others. Vengador faced off against a Japanese wrestler and fought five rounds before the judge awarded the championship to Japan, the host country. Vengador wasn't overly worried. It was part of the game, part of the kayfabe. When he returned to Mexico he was treated with more attention by his handlers. He was given more and more high profile fights and he began winning more of them, catapulting him into the main championship competition. During a fight with Cometa Enscarlata (Red Comet) Vengador was attacked by the insane comedian villain, The Heckler. In an attempt to disrupt the fight and strike against what he considered a blight on the comedy circuit, The Heckler exploded a protest balloon in the face of Vengador, spraying him with a semi-liquid compound known as X-24. The compound was designed to degenerate a life-form's structure on a genetic level. Somehow it mixed with Vengador's uber gene and had the opposite effect, bolstering his physical attributes and providing him with great resistance to physical harm. However, the immediate aftermath of being blasted with compound X-24 left Vengador convulsing in a fit. The other luchador, Cometa Enscarlata stepped in and tried to apprehend The Heckler but the clown-criminal killed him with his electric handshake. When Vengador stabilised ringside, The Heckler was long gone and his opponent was dead. The Carmesi stable tried to capitalise on the attack and organised a fight with funny-man Rey de Burro (Donkey King), but Vengador's enhanced strength became too difficult to manage and Rey de Burro withdrew from the fight. There seemed to be only one option. Vengador would have to become a superhero. He was signed by Televisa and attached to a film crew which followed him through the streets of Mexico City as he opposed street gangs. The initial thrill of fighting crime on national television faded for Vengador. He realised that he was now capable of so much more than stag-acting, even when he was fighting real criminals. There wasn't really a challenge when the bad guys crumpled at the first punch. Vengador and the Televisa executives started to look for greater threats. They tracked down a retired super villain, Fornalha (Furnace) and paid him a large sum of money to stage an attack on an oil refinery outside of Verona Bay (with full permission from the owners). Vengador arrived on scene and had his first battle with a super villain against the pyrokinetic Fornalha. He discovered that his resistance was more against physical attacks and that he could still be hurt, especially against a man who wielded fire. The battle was well received by the television company and the two adversaries were given an encore performance in Tijuana. Incidentally, Vengador and Fornalha became good friends and spent time together at resorts in the following few years. Fornalha was killed in an automobile accident in 2005. His funeral was a quiet affair, but Vengador was able to make a speech commending his friend's later life. Vengador turned towards bona fide crime fighting when the Aztec God Huitzilopachtli attempted to subvert Mexico in his bid to return to his full power as a deity. He joined the super hero team Defensa Suprema and was invited to join them after forcing Huitzilopachtli into hiding. Vengador ended his contracts with Televisa and the Carmesi stable and became a national hero. He has kept connections with the luchadores industry and has appeared several times in charity fights. He is also very popular still in Japan. Personality Vengador has embraced Kayfabe. He is Vengador. There never was a man called Ernesto Salinas. It must have been someone's fantasy. He keeps in contact with his family but they call him Vengador as well, and it has come to a point where Vengador really has convinced himself that he has no other identity. He wears his mask all the time in public, and most of the time in private. He is a gregarious man who always makes time for his friends. He has been known to hold extensive parties which roll into night after night of entertainment. He gets along with almost everyone - the one notable exemption being the American wrestler, Major American. For some reason the two have never met without some kind of insult or brawl. The chemistry between them is volatile and Vengador has developed a very low opinion of the American as a result (something he is keen to share with whoever will listen). For his part, Major American has proved himself to be far more powerful than Vengador, and he has shown some restraint when appearing in the same place as the Mexican. However, Major American has also fallen into name-calling and scuffles. Sanction and Defensa Suprema have come to an agreement to keep the two wrestlers apart. So far it has worked, although inflaming comments still managed to be published in a variety of magazines. Quote "I hate these interviews, but I love the wrestling. Maybe you and me could take this into the ring. I'll answer your questions and you can feel your face planted against the mat. We be both happy, yes?" Powers Vengador has always had a very offensive fighting style, even for luchadores. He is showy and makes a good show of his flailing arms and legs. This can make his moves predictable or be extremely distracting, depending on the professionalism and nerves of his opponent. The X-24 compound has increased his strength to uberhuman levels so that he can generally press about 13 tons without much difficulty. He is also very difficult to hurt, although this durability is lessened against energy attacks. The X-24 compound causes him to enter into a convulsive fit and drastically reduce his strength. The compound is manufactured in the United States but is rare. Vengador has only ever encountered it four times. The Mexican government has approached the American producers of the compound to cease production but have not met with any willingness on the company's part. Vengador often suggests a more offensive approach, but he isn't really serious. The vulnerability doesn't overly bother him. Since joining Defensa Suprema, Vengador has made use of the government resources. His mask has been custom-made and includes a short-term air supply and an in-built psi-screen developed by Israeli scientists which protects him from mental attacks. Appearance Standing at just over two metres tall, Vengador is impressive and knows it. He is incredibly buffed and has bronze skin and flashing white teeth. His face is always covered with a red leather mask which has yellow and white stripes. His eyes are visible as well as his mouth. In addition to his mask, Vengador wears red leather trunks, a wide yellow belt and black boots. When off-duty he will wear casual clothing such as sweats, but he always keeps his mask on.

#112 DOCTOR DIFUSION (Mexico) DOCTOR DIFUSION Dr Salvador Miguel Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Dr Salvador Miguel was a low-level telepath with the ability to read people's surface thoughts. He used these powers to do well at college, although he never deliberately cheated - it was more a case of being incredible sensitive to the needs of others. He pursued a career in psychology, naturally, but tinkered on the side in electronics. His powers were a blessing, but also a curse because they opened up such a wide world for Miguel but he was unable to fully access it. His powers were simply too weak to do anything extraordinary beyond gleaning a few surface thoughts from people around him. He decided to amplify his powers through electronics, believing that he could send pulses of electricity through his mind which would bolster his telepathy. At first the experiments were promising, but when he attached himself to a large power source his luck ran out. The source was too powerful and nearly fried Miguel's brain. He was blown out of his apartment and into the street and the building caught fire and burned to the ground. Some would say that such a catastrophe was a bad omen, but after Miguel regained consciousness several days later in hospital, he decided that he must have been on the right track so he tried again. The power was too great again but this time Miguel electrocuted himself into a coma which lasted months. During the coma, however, Miguel began to sense strange environments including a feeling that he was listening in on people's conversations and watching them from behind a screen. Before he regained consciousness in the hospital, Miguel regained consciousness in the vast television network in Mexico. He discovered that he could move around using the television broadcasts to appear in any number of television sets across the city. He became desperate and called out to people watching the television, but they panicked and fled. By sheer chance Miguel appeared in the apartment of the crime fighter, El Bruma Azul. Rather than flee, the hero assisted Miguel find his body and once the mind was back in its place the doctor awoke. La Bruma Azul spent a long time with Miguel as they both came to understand the breadth of Miguel's new powers. It seems that his telepathy was gone, but in its place was a strange ability to project his consciousness through televisions and radios. His powers had increased dramatically although he sacrificed some of his versatility in the transition. Calling himself Dr Difusion because of his ability to 'broadcast' his thoughts, Miguel assisted the newly formed Defensa Suprema on many occasions before accepting full time membership himself. He rarely ventures into the field and prefers to assist with co-ordination and information gathering from the safety of the team's headquarters. Personality Miguel likes to remain safely out of the harmful world of the uberhuman, although he readily assists his team mates with his television-based psychic powers. As a trained psychologist, Miguel enjoys the intricacies of the human mind and works as the team's psychologist and counsellor. He abhors widespread property destruction which the previous super hero team in Mexico was famous for, and he advocates diplomacy before any hard hitting, a philosophy which has led to some of the team considering him a soft liberal. Miguel realises that some of the more physical members of the team assume his powers are weak, but he doesn't feel the need to prove himself. He is a happy man who is able to mix his work with his pleasure. Quote "Please stand by for a very special news bulletin, proudly brought to you via the magic of television by the one and only Doctor Difusion." Powers Dr Difusion is able to project his mind into televisions and radios and has been known to appear on the screens of televisions in France, England, and even Australia. Once inside the broadcast, Miguel is able to track down specific minds, focus his mental energy into a psychic blast or debilitating trance ray. He enjoys finding new ways to use his powers but never steps out into a real battleground because he knows that it's not his physical attributes which make him formidable, but his mental ones. Appearance A man who enjoys his life, Miguel is in his forties and enjoys fine food and wine which has led him to develop something of a paunch. He has curly brown hair and bushy eyebrows, with dark green-rimmed glasses and a small goatee beard. When he is using his powers his eyes glaze over with a white film and his face will appear on a television screen nearby or within range of his powers. He never wears a costume, preferring comfortable casual clothing. The face of Dr Difusion is usually only recognised on the television where it appears as a large blue skinned man with white eyes.

#112 EL CAPITAN (Mexico) EL CAPITAN Enrico de le Vega Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Captain Enrico de La Vega marched through the hills near San Diego in a training mission along with his American counterparts to stem the illegal drug trade between Mexico and the United States. The terrain was quite rough, and Enrico quickly became separated from the other members of the squad. Enrico took a moment to stop, took a drink from his canteen, and tried to radio the squad. However, either he was out of range, or the valleys interfered with the radio. Cursing under his breathe Enrico trudged towards a spot where he thought he could make contact. Eventually Enrico stopped at a river which didn't seem to be on his map. It was at that moment that Enrico knew he was totally lost. Enrico knew when he got back he was in for some major ribbing by the others. Enrico saw to the north a waterfall, possibly a place to put up for the night. He was totally prepared with a pack full of equipment. Enrico gathered up some wood and using a flare set it aflame. Hunkering down, Enrico dug into his pack finding his MRE's. The sun quickly faded in the west and the moon was coming up. To pass the time Enrico took time to clean his weapon. Every once in a while Enrico would try his radio with no luck. It was while Enrico was cleaning his rifle that he heard the horse. The sound really surprised Enrico. He got up and scanned the surrounding terrain, but saw nothing. Just when he was about to give up, he heard the noise again. It sounded like it came from behind the waterfall. Cautiously Enrico moved towards the waterfall his weapon at the ready. It was while Enrico was going through the waterfall that Enrico stepped on a slippery rock. With a scream Enrico fell down into a cavern that was hidden behind the waterfall. Pain coursed up and down Enrico's leg. And he seemed to have lost his rifle. Face down on the floor of the cavern the smell of straw came to Enrico's nose. With some effort Enrico propped himself up. However, looking around the cavern proved totally fruitless. Darkness greeted him in every corner. Digging into a pocket, Enrico found his flashlight. Turning on the light the flashlight illuminated a large cavern. In one corner there looked like there was a corral of some sorts. The wooden planks were all rotted though. Gingerly Enrico got to his feet. The pain in his leg was almost tolerable. Exploring the cavern further showed that the floor and walls were all smooth. It was near the back of the cavern that he discovered the sword. The sword was of obvious Spanish make, possibly made from Toledo steel. But the thing that really caught Enrico's attention was the fact that the sword seemed to be floating in the air about chest height. Tentatively Enrico reached out for the sword. He didn't seem to notice that the sound of the waterfall ceased. After Enrico grasped the blade he turned back around and was stunned once again. Light exploded in the cavern chasing all the shadows away. The corral was once again in perfect condition. Standing in the corral was one of the biggest black horses that Enrico had ever seen. However, even this isn't what shocked Enrico the most. Standing in the exact center of the cavern was a handsome Spaniard clothed all in black. And Enrico could see right through him. With a strangled cry, Enrico dropped the sword. It was a ghost. Enrico proceeded to cross himself several times. The ghost seemed to frown when Enrico dropped the sword. "So is this the way my descendants handle the Sword of De La Vega?" asked the ghost. Calmly the ghost walked over to the sword, and even though his hand should've passed through the blade, the ghost easily picked up the sword. The ghost studied the blade before offering it back to Enrico. Hesitantly Enrico took the sword. "Did you say De La Vega?" ask Enrico. "Oh course," commented the ghost, "I am Miguel de La Vega but I was better known in my day as El Zorro." "Zorro," said Enrico with awe and a little disbelief. "Surely you are joking?" asked Enrico. "Zorro has been gone for over a hundred years." said Enrico. Once again the frown crossed the face of the ghost. "Truly, I do know that I am a ghost and that you are an impudent descendant of mine," finished the ghost. "I came back because I felt that a new evil is facing California, yes and even Mexico itself. The threat I feel comes from the east and it comes like a thief in the night. However, I'm unable to leave this cave, which was one of my hideouts. Therefore I shall train you in all the arts of Zorro so that you may face this threat." finished the ghost of Zorro. "While I do believe that you are the ghost of Zorro, I know nothing of this threat you mention. I'm only in these hills to train for drug interdiction," said Enrico. "I could never become a costumed hero like El Zorro. I'm a captain in the Mexican army. I have my responsibilities," said Enrico. This last comment seemed to enrage the ghost. In anger the ghost rushed at Enrico. In desperation, Enrico tried to raise the unfamiliar weapon to defend himself. What happened next neither the ghost or Enrico expected. There was a flash of brilliant white light and then nothing. A week later Enrico was picked up by search and rescue. He was disheveled and definitely dehydrated but otherwise in good physical health. Curiously though, Enrico was found with an antique sword which he claimed to have found in his wanderings. Finally Enrico had some time to himself. He sat in his hospital bed at a local military hospital. He wouldn't let anyone take the sword from him. Enrico claimed it was his lucky piece. While there were some shrugs they let him keep it. Enrico finally got up and went to use the facilities. As he was washing his hands Enrico looked into the mirror. What looked back wasn't his face at all; it was the face Miguel de le Vega. "So you wouldn't take my place as El Zorro. Fine, but I am determined to help you to meet this threat whether you want my help or not," smiled the face. A month later... Aztec looked at the man before him. While he looked a lot like El Zorro from the movies, this masked man wore all white. "So tell me again, who you are?" asked La Bruma Azul. "Well," said the strange man in white, "you can call me El Capitan and this sword swings in the defence of justice." "Fine," said La Bruma Azul, "Defensa Suprema is need of you and your sword." Thus El Capitan joined Defensa Suprema whether he wanted to or not. It's hard to argue with the ghost of your ancestor. Personality Enrico suffers from the same problems his ancestor suffered from. He cannot resist taunting his foes while he’s fighting them. Enrico just cannot seem to be able to resist giving his foes a verbal jab along with a jab from his sword. However, against determined opposition, Enrico knows when to quit. Some foes just don’t seem to have Enrico’s sense of humour. The infusion of the ghost of El Zorro into Enrico has given him a strong sense for justice. There isn’t any cause that Enrico won’t fight for. This has at times brought him into conflict with the very government that he as a soldier is trying to defend. The De La Vega were all heroes of some sort. Miguel, who along with a few other of the De La Vega’s who wore the mask of El Zorro, is just one of many. Enrico just wasn’t aware of the connection for him to such an illustrious line. Now because he knows his family background better, Enrico is going to do his best to become a great hero; if it doesn’t get him killed first. Quote "You know, I do look awful dashing in this costume." Powers Enrico since having the ghost of his ancestor fused with him has become a master swordsman. He can wield the sword of the De La Vega as if it were as light as a feather. The sword itself contains the skills of El Zorro, and can strike with deadly force, even against foes who’re intangible. Enrico can also use the sword defensively batting away almost any projectile. With some effort, Enrico can become intangible himself, and pass through walls. When Enrico becomes El Capitan, the transformation creates leathers similar to the ones worn by El Zorro. When in his El Capitan guise, Enrico is able to run faster and leap farther than what a normal person could. Also to the ghost of El Zorro protects Enrico from mental intrusions, and against attacks that would affect his vital energy. Lastly, Enrico gains enhanced senses when he’s El Capitan. Enrico can also summon up the ghost of Toronado. Appearance Enrico is a man of average height, and rather gaunt of build. However, Enrico has very little body fat, due to his almost constant training and his military background. Enrico is a handsome man with chiselled good looks. Miguel is always after him to grow a moustache, but regulations prevent it. When not in his El Capitan guise, Enrico dresses in military fatigues. When Enrico changes, he becomes something completely different. As El Capitan he wears a supple white leather tunic, jeans, gloves, and riding roots. Over this he wears a white cloak that sweeps around him as he walks. On his head he wears a white hat similar to the one worn by El Zorro. A white domino mask completes his ensemble. Notes This is another of Noah's characters. I'm hoping to get him to do some more characters for this blog... er, don't tell him that. I haven't asked him. I just knew there would be a Zorro-inspired character!

#112 CACTUS (Mexico) CACTUS Felix Mendoza Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Felix knew he was in trouble. The noon day sun glared down on him as he stumbled across the desert wasteland of southern Nevada. His wounds ached from the heat and the beating he had received from the two goons. Felix thought back to the day before. He was working in the Lucky Ace Casino as a busboy. The pay was horrible and the working conditions were equally repulsive, but it was a better living than he made while living in Mexico. That day the air condition in the kitchen had broke, and the place became like a sauna. The heat made Felix feel sick. He struggled to remain working. Things took a turn for the worse when Felix was ordered to clean the table of the owner of the casino. The heat proved to be to much for Felix and he spilt a whole glass of wine on Don Marco Paradise. At first the man was angry and yelled at Felix who didn't understand a word of what the man was saying. Eventually he calmed down and ordered Felix back to the kitchen. It was after that incident that Felix got fired for the spilling of the wine. Dejected Felix gathered his stuff and took off walking down the strip. He never noticed the two large hairy men who were following him. The men dragged Felix into a deserted alleyway and proceeded to beat him up. Eventually Felix passed out from the pain. But before he totally lost consciousness he overheard one of the men talking about taking a little drive. Felix awoke in the dark. He was stiff and hurt all over. Eventually his eyes adjusted to his surroundings. He was in the trunk of a car. The bumping that was going on is what woke him up. Finally the car stopped and when one of the men opened the truck, Felix was able to hit him in the face with a tire iron that he had found. Stunned the man reeled back. Felix took off running pell-mell. Shots were fired at him, but Felix never looked back. That was yesterday. Onward and onward Felix walked on into the heat. His thirst was killing him. Sand under his feet made walking difficult. Then Felix thought he saw a mirage. Was that a building in the distance? Maybe he could find water there? With new hope Felix practically ran to the building. His hope crashed once again. The building turned out to be nothing more than sand blasted ruins of a concrete bunker. But at least it could provide Felix with some shelter from the sun. Felix hunkered down inside the building and quickly fell asleep due to exhaustion. Felix's dreams were greatly troubled. In them he saw bright flashes, howling winds, American soldiers running around. It made no sense to Felix. His thirst eventually awoke him. The sun had set and the heat that was so overpowering was quickly fading into the cold of night. Looking around, Felix found a large chunk of rusty metal that might serve as a knife. Felix picked up the object and as he was doing this so happened to look out of the window of the bunker. Not far off from the bunker were a group of cactuses. Felix knew from his years of living in Mexico that one could find water from sucking on the flesh of the cactus. With a mad rush, Felix charged out of the ruined bunker towards the cactus. Headless of the thorns Felix cut into a particularly large cactus. His relentless thirst drove him on. Finally Felix was able to get a large chunk of cactus and squeezed enough liquid to sate his thirst. While the liquid felt strange, Felix thought it was greatest thing he had ever drunk. Felix walked back to the ruined bunker thinking that he might be able to actually get out of the desert, and even make it back to Las Vegas and get some revenge on the men who beat him up. Felix once again laid down and slept from pure exhaustion. While he slept strange things started to happen to him. Felix first started by turning green and then sprouting thorns all over his body. These were minor changes compared to what happened next. His body lost most of it definition that night. No longer was he human in appearance, but became a vaguely humanoid cactus-like creature. And then Felix started to grow, and grow, and grow. It was the destruction of the bunker that finally woke Felix. The changes in him caused Felix immense pain. In a rage the gigantic cactus stormed towards Las Vegas. Soon Felix was stomping down the Strip causing destruction where ever he went. And there was no one to stop him. Felix would have his revenge. However, before Felix knew what was happening a powerful wind was blowing him away from the town. Turning his head he spied a strange man up in the sky directing the blow. Raising an arm towards the man, millions of needles fired from his arm like a machine gun. His attacker was lost in a haze of needles, but miraculously the man was unharmed. His winds had blown the majority of the needles away. Felix didn’t have much time to contemplate this before a huge lightning bolt slammed into him. Like a falling tree was knocked into a nearby casino taking a chunk out of the Lucky Aces Casino. Pain raced up and down his body, but oddly enough it didn’t hurt for long. The two battled out of Las Vegas, towards Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Neither Felix or the man calling himself Aztec seemed to get the upper hand. Aztec kept out of arms reach, and Felix healed from Aztec’s attacks so fast that neither gained much. Their fight ended on Hover Dam. With a powerful burst of wind, Aztec blew Felix off of the dam into Lake Mead. It seemed the shock of the water brought Felix out of his rage. Aztec landed on the dam, and spoke with Felix who was submerged up to his head in the water. Once Felix explained what had happened to him the American government, were just as glade to have Felix, whom the media had dubbed Cactus, return to Mexico. Back in Mexico, Felix was allowed to join Defensa Suprema. Cactus was kept mostly as reserve member, mostly because his enormous size made it difficult for him to fight crime. However, Cactus was on hand to fight against Apocalypto when the extradimensional creature returned to Mexico City. Cactus didn’t fair well, because Apocalypto practically ripped Cactus from limb to limb. Cactus has since healed from his wounds, but has remained as a reserve member ever since. Personality Felix mourns his lost humanity, and considers that he has become a monster. He just doesn’t know why. Since becoming Cactus he’s yet to find a way to reverse the transformation into a humanoid cactus. Luckily for him, he doesn’t need to eat anymore (other than sunlight). Felix has no real desire to be a super-hero, probably one of the reason he’s just a reserve member of Defensa Suprema. However, if someone were to offer to find a way to return him to his human form, Felix would certainly jump for it; even if it meant working for a super-villain. Felix spends most of his time out in the desert absorbing sunlight. He rarely speaks anymore, and certainly doesn’t interact much with anyone either. Occasionally Aztec or a few of the other members of Defensa Suprema will visit him, but he barely acknowledges them either. Felix seems to be adrift in life, neither going forward or backwards. The only part of his humanity that seems to be left is his desire not to harm normal humans. This is another reason for a twenty six feet tall monster to keep himself out in the desert. Cactus has used his body to protect innocents, and many consider him a hero, but for safety sake, Cactus prefers the desert where there is little that he can hurt. Quote "Give me the strength to be what I was, and forgive me for what I am." Powers Cactus is an extremely strong uberhuman. He can lift over three hundred tons over his immense head. Because of his size, it’s difficult to move Cactus when he doesn’t want to be moved. Also because of his pulpy nature, most blows have little effect on him. His body just seems to absorb the damage with no effect on him. During the battle with Apocalypto his arms were ripped off, but even then Cactus was eventually able to regenerate them. While it’s possible to damage Cactus, his nature allows him to regenerate from almost any wound. Cactus is covered with millions upon millions of razor sharp thorns. He can uses the thorns as a supplement to his strength and cause even more greater damage. Foes physically striking Cactus often find themselves slashed by his thorns. Cactus can also project his thorns, usually from his arms, in a blast that covers a lot of area. Appearance Cactus is an enormous walking cactus. He stands about eight meters (or twenty six feet) tall, and weighs several tons. Cactus has arms and legs like any other humanoid, but that is where the similarities end. He neither has fingers nor toes. Black holes mark the places where his eyes and mouth would be located; lacking a nose or ears altogether. Other than the black holes, Cactus doesn’t have any other distinguishing facial features. Cactus’s rind is a dark green colour, and he’s covered with millions of sharp needles. He doesn't wear clothes either. Needless to say it would be impossible for Felix to maintain a life outside of his current predicament. When not occasionally aiding Defensa Suprema, Cactus stands in the desert absorbing the sunlight. Notes This is one of Noah Thorp's characters with a very scary picture by me.

#106 SAHARA (Mali) REVISED SAHARA Idrissa Cisse Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Idrissa Cisse is the daughter of a third-generation law enforcement officer and grew up with a high regard for law and order, although it was clear from a very early age that she would never follow in the footsteps of her male relatives, despite her overwhelming desire to do so. She found work at a local police station as a secretary, but her large size and intimidating family connections soon ended that career. At the suggestion of her grandmother, who was an amateur armchair detective, Idrissa opened up a private investigator's office in Bamako with a male partner. The partner was a hopeless drunk, but by having his name of the company letter head, Idrissa managed to secure some assignments. Her father was furious and told her that she was insulting the police profession. She was on the verge of giving up when, during one investigation Idrissa found herself uncovering a plot by the Sons of Set to poison the Bamako water supply. She had no back-up as her partner was unconscious back at the office with his hand clutching a bottle of whiskey, so she confronted the saboteurs single-handedly. Despite her best efforts she was bundled up and thrown into the water supply inside a chemical drum. She experienced the obligatory flashbacks as she felt death approaching, but rather than die she gathered strength from the family line and her ubergene activated, granting her the ability to transform into living sandstone. She smashed her way out of the drum but found herself at the bottom of the reservoir, unable to swim to the surface. She calmed herself and managed to revert back to her human form which then allowed her to swim to safety. Once back on land she focussed her thoughts and called in the police, but she also knew she had enough time to capture the saboteurs herself. She transformed again into her sandstone form and beat them senseless. When the police arrived she stood before them with the saboteurs, proudly displaying her new look. Within days she was back on good terms with the police force and the Chief of Police and Minister of Defence had her appearing in public to stir the country's confidence. She has become a solid symbol for her people and has defended Mali from all manner of threats, most often having something to do with the nearby Sons of Set. Personality Sahara is a bigger than life symbol for Mali and she has been determined to achieve such a status. While she is now the darling of the government and Ministry for Defence, she still remembers the ill feelings towards her before she became an uberhuman. She has a developed a tendency to baby the police officers around her, so while she does manage to rescue them frequently they rarely thank her for her timely intervention. This uneasiness within the force is something she has grown to accept, and she looks at the other police officers as being somewhat lacking in moral fibre and professionalism anyway. She tolerates them but knows deep down that she is the one who is holding everything together. Idrissa is a devout Muslim and between her job and her faith she really has very little time to devote to other pursuits. She is vehemently against gambling in any forms and is a vocal opponent of alcohol, especially when sold to minors. While she has worked briefly with Africa Force, she refuses to join them because she sees them as being too caught up in international politics and intrigue - usually at the expense of protecting the world around them. She has, however, developed a close friendship with Peacemaker, and the Tsholofelo family has helped create synthetic clothing which is able to withstand her metamorphosis into Sahara. Quote "Our people have been here since the dawn of time, we don't need your kind of interference and 'help' here....." (heavy sarcasm on the 'help' part) Powers Sahara is able to grow living sandstone over her entire body which endows her with uberhuman strength, enable her to lift in excess of 12 tons, and provides her with extensive resistance to physical attacks. While in her sandstone form she weighs close to a ton and is able to draw energy from the sun. She generally uses her brawn to pummel her opponents into submission and has a wicked punch which is capable of collapsing buildings and denting armoured tanks. Appearance Even before she became Sahara, Idrissa Cisse was an imposing woman at 6'5" and looking like a weight lifter. She intimidates most of her erstwhile police colleagues and no longer cares about it, seeing herself as now being beyond the confines of normality. She wears the costume she received from Africa Force as her regular clothes are not able to withstand her transformation into Sahara. As Sahara she appears to be covered in a thick but flexible sandstone. Her face is also covered but it is still possible to discern her eyes, nose and mouth. Her costume is a flexible black leotard and boots, with red headscarf and belt sash. Over this she wears a soft yellow hajib and robe.

Re: #106 SAHARA (Mali) Thanks Black Ops. I'll change her tonight and post her new background. You know when I was writing her up I was hesitant about making her a policewoman. Good quote too. Repped!