This Mutant Life

#158 STAR FIST (Slovakia)

2009-12-19T16:13:00.002+11:00

STAR FIST

Alena Štefánik

Background
The finals at University of Bratislava had been brutal, and Alena needed a serious break from all the studying she had been doing for months. When her friend Anna suggested that they go skiing in the High Tatras Mountains, Alena jumped at it. She quickly packed her Yugo and away she went. Her Yugo might have been a relic from a bygone day, but at least it worked, and Alena had stopped paying attention to that 'Check Engine Soon' light years ago.

Alena growled as she made her way out of Bratislava, the traffic had been horrific, and she was late getting up into the mountains. She refrained from cursing under her breathe when she remembered that one of her headlights didn't work. Normally Alena only drove her car during the day. However, as she headed up into the mountains Alena turned up the radio and put shifted the cranky gear shift into the next gear. Alena was singing along to a Pink song and whipping around corners too fast when she barely saw the hay wagon before it was too late. In a panic Alena swerved to miss the hay wagon. Tires screeched and the nearby guardrail shattered into a little pieces of steel as the Yugo went airborne. Things seemed to go in slow motion and Alena barely had time to scream.

Bright lights flared out of nowhere illuminating the night sky over the High Tatras Mountains. The Yugo plummeted down into a ravine where it promptly exploded into a massive fireball, just like in the movies. As for Alena, she saw it all. She standing looking down at the scene of the accident the wind gently ruffling her her short hair. Plus she was standing in mid-air and that was certainly a new experience for the college student. Another scream felt like it was coming up and Alena fought it down.

Alena turned her head to look back at the road she had just left moments ago. She knew that she shouldn't been alive and couldn't explain it. Alena blinked back tears, and as she did the blinding flash of light came again. When Alena finally got control of herself, she saw that she was no longer standing over a ravine in the High Tatras Mountains, but was standing on the road once again. This was too much for the young woman and she went to her knees retching.

A few minutes later a shaky Alena got back to her feet. Looking around for the hay wagon, she didn't see it at all. This angered Alena a lot. The jerk hadn't even stayed around to see what had happened to her. The anger was hard to control, and without thinking Alena lashed out. Her fist slammed into the cliff side and again came the blinding light. This time, however, there was a loud explosion as several cubic meters of rock, and dirt were obliterated in the blink of an eye. Alena couldn't believe it. In stunned silence she looked down at her hands, which glowed slightly in the moonlight. She had done this, she had somehow rescued herself from her plunging car.

The trip back to Bratislava was one which Alena did her best to forget, however, all along the way she kept asking herself how she would dealt with this. She had super-powers. Would she use them for good or would she use them for evil? Would she ever really have them under control? Alena just couldn't be sure.

A week after getting back home and telling everyone that her car had been stolen and finding that no one really cared, Alena stumbled across an ad in the paper for a new dojo opening near the university. Alena thought karate would be perfect to help her control her powers. Often times Alena would find her hands glowing when she got upset or really excited. It turned out that karate was part of the answer for Alena.

One night after sitting down in front of the TV, Alena caught a newscast on GUNN the Global Uber News Network. In nearby Sarajevo the Serbian Six were confronting the Dawnstars. Alena was mesmerized by what she saw on the TV. There were loud explosions all over the place. A cheerful Terry Davis, star report for GUNN, attempted to report on the mayhem. In the end the Dawnstars were victorious even though a good chunk of Sarajevo had been damaged in the melee. After watching the broadcast Alena knew what she was going to do. She was going to be a super-hero, just like those people in Dawnstars. Becoming a super-hero was the second part of the answer for Alena.

A new super-heroine calling herself Star Fist made her presence known in Slovakia. Star Fist has made a name for herself battling bank robbers and other small time criminals. However, her efforts have also brought her to the attention of the Serbian Six. The six don't take kindly to this new super-heroine and have been trying to find her so that they can take her out. So far Alena hasn't had to face the entire Serbian Six, but it's just a matter of time.

Personality
Alena is new at the super-hero game, a so far she has been lucky not to have a short career as a super-hero. However, Alena believes that there isn't anything she can't accomplish so long as she tries her hardest. Some people think that Alena, as Star Fist, is quite naive, but time and a few beatings might bring her around. In some respects Alena has been luck in that she hasn't been challenged by any major super-villain. To most super-villains Alena comes across as very young. So far, only the Serbian Six have been gunning for Star Fist.

Quote
"Gee, who would've thought that would've happened."

Powers
Alena isn't exactly sure where her powers came from, or even how her powers work. What she knows is that she's able to produce a powerful burst of energy which she calls her 'Star Punch'. The major drawback to her powers is that they take a lot of energy for Alena to use them, and Alena will tire quickly if she uses them too much. Alena's second most powerful ability is the power to generate a blinding flash, which has no effect on her. She calls this power her 'Star Bright'. Like her 'Star Punch' power, her 'Star Bright' power can only materialize a couple of feet away from her. Alena can use the energy to alter her clothes making her into Star Fist.

Alena can also use the energy to fly after a fashion. However, Alena isn't very fast, but flying doesn't tire her out as fast as her offensive powers. Also with a little concentration, Alena can physically move herself from one point to another without having to go through the same space. This teleportation, however, isn't the safest mode of transportation, and Alena is leery of using in enclosed areas.

Since Alena has a little trouble controlling her powers, she has taken to learn karate. So far she has proven to be quite adapt at the martial arts. In her Star Fist identity, Alena often falls back on her martial arts training as it doesn't tire her out as does her other abilities.

Appearance
Alena a slight young university student. She keeps her hair cut short, and Alena likes to add hair jel to it to keep it in stylish spikes. Alena can use her powers to warp her costume on her body without taking the time to change. The transformation is almost instantaneous, but sometimes comes with a bright flash. Alena has brown eyes that just proclaim that she's too young to be a super-hero.

As Star Fist, Alena wears an armored two part costume leaving a generous bare mid-drift. The upper half is skintight and covers from the ends of her arms with a wide collar at the neck. Her costume is two colors: yellow and white. The lower half of her costume is skintight as well, and has a similar color scheme as the top. Naturally, Alena wears a domino mask to maintain her secret identity.

#158 Slovakia

2009-11-11T18:16:00.002+11:00

The second part of the former nation of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia is known for being part of the Soviet Union after WWII. In 1989 communism fell, just like the Berlin Wall (nice timing on the 20th anniversary of that event, by the way). Czechoslovakia divided intself into Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 1993.

Official Name: Slovak Republic
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5,463,046 (July 2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Major Languages: Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

ANd now for the building blocks of this character...

Step One: Slovakia
Step Two: (4) Single Character
Step Three: (2.5) Female
Step Four: (4.1) Hero
Step Five: (11.6 and 5) Martial Artist and Energy Projector
Step Six: (4.1) 250 Points (150 Base + 100 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (2) 0XP
Step Eight: (3) Modern Age

Let's Go!

#157 EVOLINA (Singapore)

2009-11-11T16:22:00.002+11:00

EVOLINA KHAN

Background
It was all Evol Khans' fault. Well, in so far that he is really Dr. Eve Addams-Khans' father, despite the nasty rumor Eve is Evol Khan's clone. Eve is actually the daughter of one of Evol Khans' concubines. Later, when Eve showed some promise, Evol Khan actually adopted her, a rare treat for one of his bastard children.

There is not much doubt who her father was and so when Eve was only twelve years old, she graduated from the Santo Miguel Boarding School in Andorra, an ultra-exclusive boarding school. Evol Kahn paid for Eve´s tuition in some of the best scientific universities in the world. Eve studied hard and wanted to go into medicine. She probably would have made a very good doctor, but while trying to get her grad paper ready she stumbled upon some old papers from Doctor Sukamo in her fathers' study. Little did Eve know that Doctor Sukamo and Doctor Komodo were the same person.
Eve was fascinated with the lost papers of Doctor Komodo. She started to apply her considerable intellect upon the problems described in those papers and within a very short time she was able to solve a few problems that had so far stumped of the most famous geneticists in the world, including Doctor Komodo. Fortunately, Eve was smart enough to realize how far ahead of the rest of the scientists she was and she concealed her breakthrough at forced growth. In less than a year after discovering the papers, Eve graduated with honors.

The scientific community was astonished about what Eve had accomplished in so short a time, and Eve was lauded as a Wunderkind the world over. Even her father was impressed. Using his vast fortune and immense power, Evol Khan opened a few doors in Singapore for and Eve went for it.

Her first foray into business was the establishment of the Khan Institute, which became one of the most important think tanks in south east Asia. Only the Superhuman, Arcane, Genetic, and Extra-terrestrial Investigators or S.A.G.E., and the Numen-Kami Institute can boast of having more intellectuals on staff. With the backing of Evol Khan, Evoline has gone further in founding a subsidiary to the Khan Institute, called the Khan Medical Industries. Khan Medical Industries, is the largest producers of medicine that deal with genetics, in the world. There have been a few times that Eves' daddy has asked for assistance, and Eve has only been too happy to help. Eve has become Evol Khan's scientific expert since Doctor Crab has returned to Japan.

Her nickname, Evolina, comes from her fascination with the evolutionary theory and of course the fact that she is daddy's little girl.

Personality
Eve loves her father and science, in that order. She looks up to Evol Khan, as if he were her hero. The way she looks at it, if it wasn't for Evol Khan, she wouldn't be where she is today, one of the most brilliant minds in the world. Following a close second in her affection in science. Unfortunately for Eve, ethics has little to do with the way she thinks. For Eve, ethics are for lesser men, and it is the end result that counts in her book.

Eve believes that she's doing mankind a favor by tampering with the genetic code. Her bodyguards are a prime example of her improvements. They are stronger, faster, and more resilient than a normal person could be. Just because they're also extremely violent at times is just a minor side effect, one which Eve will solve in the next batch.

Some of her success, has certainly gone to Eve's head. She has always had a competitive streak in her, and isn't above ruining a fellow scientists life and reputation so long as it furthers her career. Those scientists who prove too stupid to not agree with Eve's findings occasionally will have a visit from one of bodyguards.

Quote
"I think I could do it better."

Powers
Eve has tampered a little with her own genetic structure. As such she is now completely immune to almost any disease, or bio-warfare agent. Eve needs little sleep, and has extended her life expectancy to an unknown level. Her flesh is more resistant to lethal blows. Eve has been shot before by rivals, and has come back to attend their funerals. She has always been an athletic woman, and with a little alteration can run and swim like an Olympic athlete. Lastly, Eve doesn't miss anything. This is something she has been able to do since childhood.

Since Eve was a teenager, she has studied Pentiak Silat, or Indonesian stick fighting. Eve considers herself quite adapt in the martial arts. Even with her martial arts background, Eve knows she has a target painted on her back, and the best way to protect herself was to modify a few of her bodyguards. These ten men guard Eve day and night. Each is capable of putting his fist through a brick wall. While not powerful enough to probably stop a super-hero, a normal person wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Appearance
Eve is a ravishing Eurasian woman with long straight black hair. She looks more Asian than European, but Asians certainly know that Eve isn't one of them. Eve stands taller than more Asian women, and even a few the men as well. Her brown eyes are also more European than Asian as well. Eve also appears to be younger than what most people would think when they first meet her. She is often pleased when people complement her on how young she looks. To this Eve usually says that it is because of “good genetics”.

When out in the public, usually with her father, Evol Khan, Eve dresses in the finest and most expensive of silk dresses with matching handbag and shoes. Eve is considered one of the best dressed women in Singapore. However, in her usual environment, the dresses are replaced with more casual clothes and the standard lab coat, a few spots of unidentified matter splattered on the sleeves.

#157 Singapore

2009-11-11T16:04:00.003+11:00

Singapore was founded by the British as a trading colony early in the 19th century. It has been an independent city-state for most of its' existance. Singapore is one of the wealthiest cities in Asia. Evol Khan, is known as the power behind the city, and is a sponsor of the cities super-hero group, Singapore Samurai. Little do the heroes know of the evil in their midst.

The CIA Factbook has the following on Singapore:

Official Name: Republic of Singapore
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Capital: Singapore
Population: 4,657,542 (2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%
Major Languages: Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9%

Once again, Black-Ops has graciously offered to do Singapore's entry.

#156 THE FREE MEN (Sierra Leone)

2009-10-18T17:26:00.002+11:00

THE FREE MEN
Agents of Solomon Bangura
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
The Free Men were established in Sierra Leone after the bloody civil war ended in 2002. When the United Nations left three years later, the Free Men's founder, Solomon Bangura, was established as the new president. Since then Bangura has passed anti-uberhuman legislation which now prohibits any ubers from operating within its boundaries. Popular belief amongst Sierra Leoneans is that ubers were responsible for the war and Bangura's government is active in the reinforcement of these beliefs.

The agents who work for the government are most likely taken from the military, although not much is known about their origins at all. The technology that they use is highly advanced and SAGE believes it is extraterrestrial. Whether or not this is true is unknown, but the Free Men are ardent followers of the Bangura regime and hunt out uberhumans within the borders of Sierra Leone, as well as sometimes offering their services to other governments. There are rumours that an uberhuman detention facility has been established in northern Sierra Leone, but again, nothing has been confirmed.

Personality
The Free Men are secretive and loyal. They do not publicly contradict their superiors and follow their assignments with precision. When on a mission they operate effectively in co-ordinated synergy, utilising their high tech communicators and teleportation ability to sneak in and grab their target.

Quote
"'Port in, grab the demon and get out again. No heroics."

Powers
The Free Men uniform is composed of a highly resistant polymer, possibly alien in origin. It has a fine layer of electronics in between its protective coating which enables them to form teleportational fields, the range of which is approximately 30m. The uniforms also possess potent psychic-shielding and an advanced communications system which has never been hacked into, despite some governments' best attempts.

The Free Men use two weapons: an energy pistol and a tangle web sphere. When their mission is to capture an uberhuman they generally teleport in and restrain the target with the tangle web and then teleport back out again. They can also simply teleport in, grab the target and teleport out again if the target is less dangerous. All agents are trained in hand to hand combat.

Appearance
The Free Men wear a black uniform which assists them in their covert operations. Their entire body is covered.

#156 Sierra Leone

2009-10-18T14:46:00.002+11:00

This will be a quickie... Sierra Leone is an African nation on the west coast, and was a location for freed slaves from Jamaica. There's been strife recently (1991-2002 Civil War) but after that was resolved the country seems to be stable under the watch of the United Nations.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Sierra Leone (although it looks like the CIA have dropped information on the country's history...):

Official Name: Republic of Sierra Leone
Government: Constitutional Democracy
Capital: Freetown
Population: 6,440,053 (July 2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups: 20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Major Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

And the character is ...

... already written up.

I went with an organisation that was anti-Uber and their agents are known as the Free Men. Classic fodder for anti-mutant styled games.

#15 Flair (Seychelles)

2009-10-18T12:22:00.006+11:00

Flair

Felicite Laroche / Lang Far

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Felicite's mother along with three of her sisters fled Hong Kong for Seychelles fearing that the Chinese were going to take over the city from the British earlier than was planned. Her mother was a famous actress from the seventies in Hong Kong along with her sisters who were known as the Seven Sisters of Shaolin. Felicite's mother married a fisherman in Victoria. Her mother and her sisters set up a home, while her father kept out of the way on his boat.

Growing up with her mother and her aunties, Felicite heard countless tales of Hong Kong. In addition to the fascinating tales, Felicite learned the Seven Sisters of Shaolin style of Kung Fu. From the age of six, Felicite spent several hours a day studying under her mother and her aunties. Over the years Felicite quickly mastered the secrets of kung fu, eventually learning all the secrets of the Seven Sisters of Shaolin style.

Felicite always that living in Seychelles was too provincial for her. She longed for the Hong Kong that her mother and aunties spoke of. Felicite was barely eighteen when she stowed away in a freighter bound for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was all that Felicite wished for and feared. In Hong Kong, Felicite made contact with her aunties that had remained in the city and stayed with them for awhile. It was her aunties who got Felicite into the movies. At first Felicite go a few bit parts, but soon the directors notices her natural beauty and grace. Using the assumed name, Lang Far broke into pictures. Her first movie was called “The Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” Far was great in the role, however, the producers failed to give the Triads their bribe, so the movie was never released. In fact Far has the only surviving copy of the film. Another thing that Far kept from the movie was the mask.

Her next film is the one that made her a household name in Hong Kong. It was film titled “The Princess and the Silver Sword”, in which she played the title role of Princess Butterfly. This was also the film where she met Peter Fu, one of the greatest stuntmen in Hong Kong. Peter played male lead in the film, and the two hit it off quite well, even though Peter was always accusing Far of always hamming it up too much. After the movie wrapped the two dated for awhile.

Both Far and Peter were quite wild in those days, and liked to live life on the edge. One evening they were invited by Smiling Charlie Man, a leader among the 14k Triad to a little party he was throwing on his private yacht in Victoria Harbor. As the party progressed, Smiling Charlie had his men bring out a huge circular mat. When laid out the Taijitu symbol was laid out over the deck. This was greeted by cheers by many of Smiling Charlies' guests. Far and Peter were intrigued by this. Soon a hulking Korean by the name of Kim Sun Lee came out on deck and took his place on the mat. The crowd roared at the sight of Kim Sun Lee. From the opposite side of the yacht came Song Zuang, a low level member of the 14k Triad. Zuang looked frightened out of his life.

“Today,” said Smiling Charlie Man to the crowd, “Song Zuang has transgressed against his family. However, the family, his brothers, are always forgiving. A test must be in order, a test that will show the Gods that Song Zuang is truly repentant. In this circle he shall face Kim Sun Lee.”

The crowd went wild. Bets were taken and Song Zuang was clearly the underdog. Even Far put a bet on Kim Sun Lee, but Peter demurred. Far chided him on this. However, the disagreement didn't last long because the fight started.

Like a tiger, Kim Sun Lee struck first with a flying side kick, which was amazing in itself because the Korean was so big. Song Zuang tried to dodge, but the kick clipped Song Zuang's shoulder sending him sprawling out of the circle into the waiting arms of the crowd. Without pause they threw Song Zuang back into the fight and the waiting Kim Sun Lee. Song Zuang was right in line for a punch straight to the face. He went down without a groan.

Again cheers went up, and money quickly changed hands. Far was quite pleased at how well she did. Smiling Charlie came and stood over the fallen Song Zuang, who was still unconscious and said, “The Gods turn a blind eye to you Song Zuang. The family rejects you. You have a day to get out of Hong Kong. Get him out of my sight.” With a flick of his hand Smiling Charlie motioned to his men to haul Song Zuang away.

“Not much of a fight,” said Far to Peter, but Smiling Charlie overheard her.

“So, you weren't entertained my dear.”

“Not really, poor Zuang didn't really have much of a chance.”

“Ah but that is all that life offers us my dear, chances. Song Zuang had his chance. His failure to succeed is what costs him most. Perhaps, you Peter Fu, would have more of a 'chance' against Kim Sun Lee?”

Far bridled a little at this. She knew her kung fu was better than that silly Jeet Kune Do that Peter subscribed to. Smiling Charlie should have asked her fight the Korean. She knew that she had a better 'chance' than Peter. However, before she could say anything Peter was handing her his jacket.

“Please hold this,” he said with a smile. Far was tempted to throw the jacket back in his face, but before she knew it, Peter was taking off his shirt. He certainly had a fine physique and Far kept her mouth shut. For some reason, Far mused, Jeet Kune Do practitioners liked to show of their chests. It was all Bruce Lee's fault.

With a spring in his step Peter jumped in the circle. However Kim Sun Lee was waiting for him. Letting out a wild yell Kim Sun Lee leaped into the air delivering a roundhouse kick, but Peter proved to be quick on the uptake, and got both arms up in a block, and while Peter slide backwards a few inches the kick lost a lot of its power. This also allowed Peter to follow up with an elbow strike to Kim Sun Lee's solar plexus that caused the Korean to let a loud whoosh as the air was forced out of his lungs. Kim Sun Lee rolled backwards in a ball, but with incredible grace was instantly back on his feet charging back at Peter. The crowd roared and more and more bets were made. With a sweeping kick, Kim Sun Lee took Peter's legs out from under him, and Peter fell hard down on the mat. A trickle of blood leaked from his nose as he hit the mat. A smile crossed Kim Sun Lee, first blood was his. Kim Sun Lee pounced. The Korean was in the process of delivering a front kick right down on a prone Peter when he reached up and grabbed Kim Sun Lee's foot preventing the Korean from delivering. With a twist, Kim Sun Lee was throw back into the crowd. However, this time the crowd parted and the Korean slammed back first into the railing and almost toppled over into the harbor. Kim Sun Lee was slow to regain his feet, while Peter waiting patently in the circle doing a little martial arts dance in anticipation. Sweat glistened on his skin making him practically glowing in the moonlight. Kim Sun Lee spat on the deck and with a roar charged. Peter was waiting for him. As soon as Kim Sun Lee came into the circle, Peter's knee came up slamming into the jaw of the Korean. Teeth shattered under the impact of Peter's knee strike. Without a sound Kim Sun Lee fell backwards out of the circle like a fallen tree. The crowd was stunned. No one thought that an actor like Peter Fu could so easily defeat a monster like Kim Sun Lee. However after a moment the crowd was cheering for Peter, everyone except Far, who had lost her bet. Handshakes and slaps on the back quickly followed. Far wanting to be the center of attention planted a passionate kiss on Peter as celebration of his winning, but inside Far seethed. She should have been the one to fight Kim Sun Lee.

After that night, Peter and Far grew apart. When Peter survived his incredible fall on the set Guns of the Plum King, Far tried to see him, but was politely and firmly told her mind her own business by the security guards at the door to his hospital room. That was the last time for a few years that Far heard anything about Peter Fu. Instead Far concentrated on her movie career, but that night on Smiling Charlie yacht ate at her. It should have been her. She had more style, more flair than Peter Fu. Far had to do something about it.

It was six months after Peter's disappearance that Far made an appearance at Smiling Charlie Man's yacht. This time no one knew her because she was wearing the golden mask from “The Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” Smiling Charlie greeted her cordially, but obviously wasn't happy to see her. The Immortals were said to have been seen in Hong Kong, and that could only be bad for business. Smiling Charlie feared that the mystery woman was one of the so-called Chinese super-heroes. However, when his guests were clamoring for 'entertainment', Smiling Charlie felt he had no choice.

When the first round of fighting started, Far jumped right in the middle of it. She performed Fang's Irresistible Kick against one breaking his leg in the process, and then turning in a whirlwind move performed Yumie's Powerful Punch on the other. The man fell backwards into the crowd spitting blood and teeth.

“There,” said Far, “I show you. I show you all, all it takes is a little style, a little flair.”

The crowd, and Smiling Charlie were outraged.

“I don't know who you are lady, but you've pissed of someone you'd rather not,” growled Smiling Charlie as he pulled out a handgun.

“Guns are for amateurs,” said Far as she leaped right in front of Smiling Charlie, “I prefer the flair of a flying fist and the style of deadly kick.”

Far grabbed a hold of Smiling Charlies' lapels of his jacket before he could even get his gun free. With a deft twist, Smiling Charlie was screaming through the air as Far performed Jun's Heavenly Throw. Smiling Charlie flew through the night sky of Victoria Harbor splashing down almost a mile away. Meanwhile other 14k Triad members swarmed Far. Blow upon blow rained down on her, but through it all Far kept to her feet thanks to the Ling's Iron Will maneuver. Far dished out crippling blows, and devastating kicks, and she felt that she was doing it all with the flair that she knew only she possessed. In the end none of the Triad members could stand up to her.

“Who are you?” asked the last conscious Triad through broken teeth.

“Oh who me,” said Far coyly, “you may call me Flair. You're little boys' club needs an airing out. I'm here to provide that. Oh stop looking at me like that. I'm not going to take over. That would be just too much work. Instead, I'm offering you boys a little something your probably familiar with, protection.”

“Protection, but you're just a woman,” said the Triad. This was the last thing he said before Far drop kicked him into the harbor.

A week later several members of the 14k Triad met with Flair and gave into her demands. Flair would act as a bodyguard for certain members of the triads and for this she would be paid handsomely, but make no mistake, Flair had style and her style was Seven Sisters of Shaolin style kung fu. Any Triad who got out of line would pay for it.

Personality

Far thinks she is the only martial artist who has any style, and is only too happy to point it out to any opponent. She's constantly pointing out to her foes their shortcomings, and mistakes. Most times, Far cannot resist taunting her foes. Usually her opponents find this disconcerting and thus give Far an edge against them. Of course there have been a few that find the taunting impossible to take and really blow their cork. Against foes obviously in a blood rage, Far will switch her tactics to a more defensive position and let her foe wear themselves out before providing the finishing maneuver.

Far makes no bones about it, but she doesn't like firearms. Those who use firearms against Far, usually get the worst end of the deal. Far has little mercy for those who pull guns on her. Far believes in the flair of flying fists and deadly kicks. Firearms are for the unenlightened and the desperate. Those who don't measure up to Far's standards are sure to get themselves hurt.

Like Peter Fu the Stuntman, Far has an actors need to show off. Her favorite way to show off is to beat the stuffing out of a hapless foe in such a way to demonstrate to the whole world what a great martial artist she is. Far doesn't go for simple punches or kicks. Her attacks always must have flair, grace, and usually end up with her foes spitting teeth.

Far also knows that she's very beautiful, and this is possibly the one of the reasons why she wears the golden mask as protection against blows to her beautiful face. However, even with the mask it's obvious to anyone who looks at her that Far is quite attractive. Far goes out of her way to remind everyone of this fact too.

Quote
"What you really need is a little style, a little flair."

Powers
Felicite is an accomplished martial artists, possibly the only one today who practices Seven Sisters of Shaolin style kung fu. The only others who really know the martial arts are her mother and her aunties. The style is quite flashy, involving wild punches and dead kicks. The style was developed by Felicite's mothers and aunties while performing in kung fu movies before the Chinese took over Hong Kong. In addition to the standard maneuvers that Felicite learned there were seven other special maneuvers that she has learned as well. Most of the special maneuvers are just more powerful versions of the Seven Sisters of Shaolin maneuvers, but a few of them border upon the surreal. Ling's Iron Will allows Felicite to ignore almost any physical blow, and often times she'll use this maneuver along with more standard maneuvers to devastating effect. One of the oddest maneuvers is her Min's Distracting Dance, which creates multiple images of Felicite, which most foes are unable to differentiate between the illusion of Felicite and the real one.

Felicite is extremely graceful and dexterous able to dodge not only bullets and arrows, but on occasion has even been able to dodge energy blasts. Naturally, Felicite is in tip top physical condition, on equal level to the most fit Olympic athlete. She practices her kung fu several hours a day, a tradition instilled in her by her mother and her aunties. Due to conditioning, Felicite is able to run and leap over long distances with ease. Felicite has also been known to run up walls as if they were vertical surfaces.

Felicite also wears a golden mask, which she took from the filming of “the Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” While wearing the mask, Felicite is protected from most flash attacks, and the mask also inhibits the use of mental powers against her.

Appearance
Felicite is of Eurasian descent. Her mother is from Hong Kong, while her father is of French descendent from Seychelles. To most people who meet Felicite or Flair for that matter don't realize that she isn't fully Chinese. Only those few who speak to her in English would note a slight French accent. Felicite is a small woman with delicate features. She has long dark raven locks, which she usually has pulled back into a pony tail. Felicite doesn't wear a standard costume, but wears a variety of silk cheongsams that has a slit that runs up over her thigh. Felicite believes this gives her more maneuverability. It also gives a view of her incredible legs.

In addition to her daring dresses, Felicite wears a golden mask that covers the majority of her face. While wearing her mask, it is impossible to see what looks like, and so far even the Triads have been able to like Flair with the actress Lang Far.

#155 Seychelles

2009-10-18T11:59:00.005+11:00

The republic of Seychelles is made up of over a hundred islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madigascar. Most consider Seychelles as a part of the African countries. However, for most of its history the Seychelles were uninhabited. The French were the first European power to take control of the islands, but eventually they lost control to the British Empire. Seychelles didn't gain independence from Britain until 1976.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Seychelles:

Official Name: Republic of Seychelles
Government: Republic
Capital: Victoria
Population: 87,476 (July 2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Major Languages: Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%

And the dice speak....

Step One: Seychelles
Step Two: (1) Single Character
Step Three: (4.5) Female
Step Four: (5.5) Villain
Step Five: (9.4) Martial Artist
Step Six: (4.3) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (1) 0 XP
Step Eight: (4) Modern Age

#154 ATOMIK (Serbia)

2009-09-27T21:56:00.002+10:00

ATOMIK
Aleksandar Filipovic
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Chosen from the ranks of the Yugoslavian Army, Aleksandar Filipovic was subjected to horrendous experiments involving the fusing of a man with raw atomic energy. Somehow Filipovic survived the experiments, although his body was damaged beyond repair and his mind soon showed signs of deterioration as well. With their surprising success, the government offered the services of Atomik to both sides of the Cold War: the USSR and USA. Moscow won the very short bidding war and unleashed Atomik on the West. It was clear to all parties, except for Aleksandar Filipovic himself, that Atomik was only going to survive for a short but devastating time.

And so he was sent to Italy where he decimated many parts of Rome until he was pushed away by the forces of Sanctity. He then appeared in the USA, somehow arriving in Baltimore where he again caused widespread devastation. The incident would later be dubbed The Greenmount Event and resulted in Atomik's death high above the Bay. The day was November 4, 1971.

No body was recovered and it was assumed that he disintegrated. However, there have been rumours that the Americans did recover some parts of Atomik's body and have been using it in an attempt to recreate a similar 'agent' for their own uses. Rumours of this secret operation exist into the present day, and other rumours of similar projects in Russia also continue to circulate although there has been no confirmed sighting of Atomik or any other similar atomic-energy being in the modern age.

Personality
Nothing was really known about Aleksandar Filipovic apart from the fact he was a soldier before being experimented upon. Records suggest he was drafted and was a good soldier. There are no reprimands against him. Thos who knew him have said he was a good boy who loved his country and loved his family.

Atomik, however, was always a damaged man. He was mentally unstable and would often scream at opponents who were not there, or imagine a very different environment around him. His body was also irradiated beyond repair and it is possible he knew he was dying.

Quote
"Atomik!"

Powers
Atomik was composed of atomic energy and it killed him. His body gave off deadly radiation which made him a pariah even amongst his own people, but he was only ever considered a weapon. His employers, or owners, never considered him a man worthy of respect. As a weapon he was devastating. He could generate blasts unheard of during the 1970s. He could wither opponents with radiation sickness and create force fields and fly at incredible speeds. He was seemingly resistant to his own powers, at least in the short term, but it was the transformation which killed him.

Perhaps if he was offered more assistance Atomik may have survived longer, and more of his powers could have been studied and understood.

Appearance
The Human Atom Bomb, Atomik was a blinding man of atomic energy when he used his powers. Even when his powers were restrained through force of will, he exuded deadly radiation which often manifested as a glowing corona around his body. He wore a simple red costume and kept his face visible. When he used his powers his eyes would glow white hot, and sometimes his hair would burst into a deadly flame.

#154 Serbia

2009-09-27T20:42:00.003+10:00

Serbia was once a part of Yugoslavia and was instrumental in that country's disintegration in the early 1990s. Further back in history Serbian separatists were blamed for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo which led to the outbreak of World War I.

In more recent times there has been conflict within Serbia over the independence of Kosovo and Montenegro, and there is still unsettled frustrations within its borders - perfect fruit for an Uberworld character.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Serbia:

Official Name: Republic of Serbia
Government: Republic
Capital: Belgrade
Population: 7,379,339
Ethnic Groups: Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%, Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)
Major Languages: Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census)
note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all official in Vojvodina

With over seven million people, Serbia should have an uberhuman population of around 7. There is a team of young uberhumans operating within Serbia known as The Serbian Six. The team were created by Milosevic's scientists and seek to return Serbia and the other former countries of Yugoslavia back into a united country - preferably under their control.

Step One: Serbia
Step Two: (2) Single Character
Step Three: (6.2) Male
Step Four: (4.4) Villain
Step Five: (4) Energy Projector (Edit: Cool, I can use my Ultimate Energy Blaster book!)
Step Six: (6.4) 600 Points (400 Base + 200 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (4) 8XP
Step Eight: (6.3) Silver Age

Silver Age... that puts it around mid-1950s to early 1970s in the time of science. After the Second World War Yugoslavia was a communist state under Tito, but the country was able to have contact with the West as well as the Soviet bloc.

As a villain this guy may have been aligned with the Soviets, although the Uberworld Soviets didn't really like Ubers. Perhaps they managed to link a man with a nuclear missile or something so he wasn't an uberhuman, but rather a regular soldier used as an experiment. Sounds good enough to me, although I'd say this guy ultimately paid the price and didn't live a very happy life.

#153 NAVIGATEUR (Senegal)

2009-09-27T19:17:00.002+10:00

NAVIGATEUR
Kene Gakou
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Kene Gakou was born in a garage and it seemed that she never really left the place. Her father and uncles were mechanics: experts called upon every couple of years for the international Dakar Rally. Kene's mother was nothing more than a shadow amidst the men of the family, and Kene grew up with her eyes firmly set to follow her father's trade.

Her family were poor and while the men were naturally gifted with engines, the work was seasonal at best. Kene grew up in poverty and found herself begging on the streets of Dakar alongside her mother and sisters. She hated the desperation she saw in herself and every day the self-hatred grew within her. She drifted away from her family, even from her father and the garage he shared with his extended family. She began to look at the world as a challenge, a hurdle put in front of her by God. She looked for the solution, the loop-hole, the hiccup in the engine of her life.

On afternoon she stumbled across a drunk Westerner in an alley. His wallet lay tantilisingly across his rising chest, and Kene's instinct was to grab it and run. As she stood there she found herself watched by a third figure who was clothed in shadow. Without knowing she was being watched, Kene ignored the wallet - against her better judgement - and tapped the prone man with her foot, trying to raise him from his slumber. He stirred, but remained blissfully asleep. Again the temptation rose within her, but instead she knelt beside the man and slipped the wallet securely under his waistband, out of view. She knew it would do little to stop the hardened thieves of the streets if they stumbled across him, but she knew it was a better chance than leaving it out in clear view.

She cursed the man and then turned away.

In her way was a handsome man in a finely cut suit. He smiled at her and although she trembled she took his hand and allowed him to lead her into a building. There was some imperious magic in his stare. Kene felt her life was about to end.

Instead it was about to begin.

The man was Akello Lwanga, the Witch Doctor of Azambia. And he had come to Senegal to recruit a local to stir the pot of African politics. He greeted Kene like a princess, leading her into one of his temporary residences amidst splendour and excess.

Kene wasn't a fool, so when she was rescued by the Witch Doctor she knew there would be a price. And, of course she recognised him. He initially regaled her with gifts and compliments but when it was clear she would not believe his story that she was a 'chosen one', the Witch Doctor told her of his plan to infiltrate the Dakar Rally and cause extreme mayhem in the name of the Sons of Set, so that his cadre of militants, The Hunt, could storm in and bring about calm again - in front of the world's media. Kene was to be the pawn who would bring about the downfall of the Race that her father had given his whole life to. The Witch Doctor thought it would be poetic justice. Kene wasn't interested in poetry or justice. The money she was being offered was enough for her to agree. It was more than she could expect in a lifetime.

When the time came to execute the attack on the Rally, Kene found herself decked out in a battlesuit designed by the Witch Doctor but engraved with serpents to draw attention to the Sons of Set. Kene was impressed with the power it gave her, and revelled in the freedom of flight. In the days preceding the attack she was trained in all facets of the power suit - and she proved herself to be an adept student.

The Dakar Rally began as normal, but five hours into the race Kene attacked the front runners. She detonated a series of mines which blew apart vehicles and support convoys, and then flew in to strike at the media and the vehicles which remained.

Within an hour The Hunt arrived. They had not wanted to look eager, and they had time as the Witch Doctor had distracted Africa Force long enough in Azambia where he had called peace talks. While Africa Force were suspicious they were also too far away to be of any assistance. The Hunt proved to be very effective and seemingly destroyed Kene and a series of drones which appeared to be aiding her. The Savage Lion addressed the media and condemned what was happening in Egypt. The news was dominated by reports on the Sons of Set, although a flood of counter-stories soon appeared denouncing the 'cult' as a myth and a set-up by the Witch Doctor.

Whatever the result, Kene walked away unharmed. She reappeared before the Witch Doctor a month later and handed in her battlesuit in exchange for the second half of her pay. In addition to the money, the Witch Doctor opened a contract with her as an on-call mercenary. Her natural ability with the battlesuit and affinity for motorcycles was noticed by the monarch and he agreed to outfit her to continue her work as the Navigateur. Since the initial contract Kene has become a semi-regular mercenary across Africa and Europe. She specialises in custom-made motorcycles with an array of weaponry depending on the assignment. She has also worked for the Witch Doctor regularly, although not as part of The Hunt.

Personality
The Navigateur is a professional mercenary and accepts or rejects assignments depending on her own set of guidelines, which tend to change from year to year. Most times she only accepts work that pays well and provides little in the way of threat from uberhumans. She does not enjoy uberhuman entanglements, especially Africa Force. However, she has proven herself an elusive opponent for the African superheroes on more than one occasion.

Her life of poverty is long behind her and Kene enjoys a modest life where she wants for nothing but does not indulge herself in excess. She follows Islam, perhaps more now that she has abandoned her blood-family. She believes that she has been assisted by the Prophet in her new life, although she is never vocal about that belief.

Her relationship with the Witch Doctor is professional, but she respects him more now than she respected her own father. She sees him as her saviour, in physical form, even as the Prophet is her spiritual saviour.

While she enjoys her work as the Navigateur, Kene now allows herself other pursuits, including motorcross riding. She has a garage full of modified vehicles and uses them in her work as well as play.

Quote
"I am a faultless instrument. It is what I am paid for."

Powers
The Navigateur employs a modified battlesuit along the lines of the Witch Doctor's own, although it lacks much of the master's firepower. The suit enables its wearer to fly, provides protective from energy and physical attacks, possesses enhanced sensor arrays and a personal force field generator. The gauntlets of the suit are capable of emitting a concussive force blast, capable of punching through concrete. The suit also allows the wearer to breathe indefinitely and survive in a host of hostile environments.

However, the Navigateur is not a standard 'power suit' adversary. She is a skilled mechanic, and with the assistance of Azambia she has modified a fleet of motorcycles, each capable of being adapted to specific conditions and employing their own offensive and defensive capabilities.

Appearance
In her battlesuit, Navigateur looks like a sleek silver knight. Her torso is covered in horizontal plates and beneath the shock-resistant plates is a microweave black bodysuit. The entire suit can be sealed and also has a force field generator, which, when applied, emits a soft golden aura around her body. While the Witch Doctor's armour is capped off with an extraordinary headdress, the Navigateur's helmet is sleek and almost serpent-like. Her original assignment was to pose as a Sons of Set terrorist, and while the serpent motifs have been mostly removed, the helmet remains something of a signature.

Out of her suit, Kene Gakou is a woman in her thirties. She has shoulder-length braided black hair and impressive eyebrows which have the ability to darken her face when angry, or lighten it when amused. Kene has used her money to build a good life for herself, and she always dresses well, careful to remain modest and not draw attention to herself.

#153 Senegal

2009-09-27T16:28:00.002+10:00

Home to the Dakar Rally until recently when it was transferred to South America because of threats from terrorists, including Al Quaeda associates, Senegal is known for its long history of participating in international peace keeping. So it's fitting that the country should have an active uberhuman population. However, Uberworld's main African superhero team, Africa Force doesn't have a base in Senegal, and Senegal isn't even one of the accord countries. Blame that on me for being ignorant, but we can use it to our advantage. Let's say Senegal offers an alternative to Africa Force, not enemies but more like professional rivals.

Let's look at the CIA World Factbook entry for Senegal:

Official Name: Republic of Senegal
Government: Republic
Capital: Dakar
Population: 13,711,597 (July 2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Major Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Let's put the dice to work and see what we can do for Senegal.

Step One: Senegal
Step Two: (1) Single Character
Step Three: (1.4) Female
Step Four: (3.6) Villain
Step Five: (8) Gadgeteer
Step Six: (5.4) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (5) 15XP
Step Eight: (3) Modern Age

#152 Hyena-Hybrid Form (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T05:31:00.003+10:00

HYENA

Hazim bin Hazim

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Eighth centuries Arabia had changed dramatically in the two centuries since Mohammed brought the word of Allah to the faithful. Like a sandstorm Islam spread from Arabia to Africa, east to India, and even as far as Europe. It was a Golden Age in the Middle East. Pilgrim from far and wide came to Mecca to perform the Hadj and to pray at the Mosque of the Prophet.

Enter Hazim bin Hazim, a man with vision. Hazim's vision was one in which he was the wealthiest men in all of Arabia. How was Hazim bin Hazim going to accomplish his vision? He was going to rob every pilgrim he could find. However, Hazim bin Hazim was a fair bandit, as bandits go. He would offer his victims a choice. Either they make him laugh or Hazim bin Hazim would feed them to his pet hyena.

Once during the height of the Hadj, Hazim bin Hazim ambushed a group of pilgrims. After the dust had settled Hazim bin Hazim was sitting down counting his loot when one of his victims proved to be more alive than Hazim bin Hazim thought he would be. Hazim bin Hazim being disappointed in his take though he would have a little sport with his victim.

“Not dead are you?” Hazim bin Hazim asked while giving the man a few choice kicks.

“I'll tell you what,” said Hazim bin Hazim “you make me laugh, and I'll let you live. Fail and I'll feed you to my hyena.”

The man looked up at Hazim bin Hazim with a bloodied face and spit out some sand.

“You are truly a wicked man Hazim bin Hazim. I won't humor you monster. Allah turns his face from you. I curse you and your sons. May every ninth generation of your sons become unto the hyena, which you relate more to than you fellow Muslim.”

“You know,” said Hazim bin Hazim, “that wasn't very funny. Not funny at all.”

With a whistle Hazim bin Hazim summoned his pet hyena. Hazim bin Hazim never again thought about the man or his words to his dying day. However, these words were to haunt his descendants ever since.

Hazim bin Hazim was the first descendant of Hazim bin Hazim the bandit. He changed one night into a ravening beast. Hazim bin Hazim was a clerk in the court of the caliph in Baghdad. He was to kill six people before he was hunted down by the caliph's soldiers. His family fled into the night. Thus did the curse on the sons of Hazim bin Hazim continue on down through the generations.

Enter the current Hazim bin Hazim; for all the sons of Hazim bin Hazim who were cursed were named thus. However, this Hazim bin Hazim was different then most of the Hazim bin Hazims. This Hazim bin Hazim actually had a sense of humor. Hazim bin Hazim actually got the meaning of the family curse and because of his understanding has given Hazim bin Hazim some control over his transformation. It also help that Hazim bin Hazim is a stand up comedian.

Hazim bin Hazim was doing his act at a coffeehouse in Riyadh when he noticed a strange man sitting in the front row. This guy looked like a tough nut to crack, because the guy, who was pretty spooky looking with his eye patch and all, just sat there staring at Hazim bin Hazim. Hazim bin Hazim tried all night to get the man to laugh to even crack a smile, and nothing worked.

After his set Hazim bin Hazim went outside for a smoke. Naturally the strange man followed him.

"Hazim bin Hazim," said the man.

"Yeah that's me."

"I am Colonel Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud."

"So, do you want my autograph."

"Uh, no. I want you."

"Okay what is the joke buddy."

"No joke, Hazim bin Hazim, I never joke. The kingdom needs your unique abilities. I know all about you and your problem. I am head of a secret organization called the Directorate. You will be joining the Directorate."

"This must be a joke, but it might be good for a laugh. So I am your man, or maybe I am your hyena."

Personality
Hazim bin Hazim has always been a comedian. He's always telling jokes or just plain laughing regardless of whether he's in his hybrid or human form. To Hazim bin Hazim life is a joke, and he's the only one who gets the punchline. He is never serious, and of course this often times gets on the nerves of Colonel Saud. Of course being a wiseguy, Hazim bin Hazim goes out of his way to try and get the stodgy to laugh.

Quote
"No, no stop me if you've heard this one before."

Powers
Hazim bin Hazim is a lycanthrope, but his is different the the run of the mill lycanthrope, Hazim bin Hazim is cursed to become a monstrous werehyena. Being a cursed person, Hazim bin Hazim cannot pass the curse onto others like a typical lycanthrope.

As a werehyena, Hazim bin Hazim can assume three different distinct forms. His human form is probably the weakest of the three, but in all three forms Hazim bin Hazim maintains a certain resilience that could only be considered supernatural. Blows that don't come from silver weapons heal super-humanly fast, and energy attacks that aren't fire based heal just as quickly.

It is when Hazim bin Hazim is in his hybrid form that he is the most dangerous. As a hybrid, Hazim becomes super-humanly strong and quick. His fingers end with super sharp claws, and his teeth become just like those of the animal he becomes. Also in this form, Hazim bin Hazim can run and jump like an Olympic athlete. His sense of smell becomes quite acute when in his hybrid form. Hazim bin Hazim's other senses become more than human as well.

In his purely hyena form, Hazim bin Hazim still has a powerful bite, and retains the senses that he shares with his hybrid form.

Appearance
In his human form, Hazim bin Hazim is a dark skinned Arab with mousy brown hair. Hazim bin Hazim is fairly hairy fellow, and always has a mustache and a light beard. When expecting action, Hazim bin Hazim typically wears just a pair of green shorts with a white border on the sides. This is because his transformations has a tendency of destroying his clothes. There is a small birthmark on his right hand shaped like a star. Only those who're born with the curse have this birthmark in Hazim bin Hazim's family.

In his hyena form, Hazim bin Hazim becomes an unusually large spotted hyena. He's constantly cackling when in this form.

In his hybrid form, Hazim bin Hazim combines the traits of hyena and human. Hazim bin Hazim grows a little taller and puts on more weight. His body becomes covered with fur just like a spotted hyena. The only clothing that his hybrid form wears are the green shorts. In his hybrid form, Hazim bin Hazim always a wide smile that displays his rows of super sharp teeth.

#152 Directorate Agents (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T05:25:00.003+10:00

DIRECTORATE

AGENTS

Varies

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Directorate agents are some of the best that Saudi Arabia can produce. Each agent is hand selected by Colonel Saud for membership in the Directorate. Agents come from a variety of backgrounds, but usually military, or even from the commission for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vices. Each realizes that they could be killed almost any day, especially since they're dealing with uberhumans. It is a prospect that most would quell against. The men of the Directorate are cut from a different clothe.

Personality
The one thing that almost of the Directorate agents share is a supreme loyalty to Colonel Saud. They believe in what he is doing for the kingdom, and support their commander completely.

Quote
"We serve the kingdom with honor."

Powers
The Directorate agents wear the latest high tech armor and armament that the kingdom can afford. The standard equipment included high tech body armor that protects the wearer from almost any attack. Each agent is also assigned a pair of goggles that helps against flash attacks. Those agents who've worked with Al-Nil treasure their goggles. The agents also carry a radio mic that is hidden in their goggles that allows them to communicate with one another. Each agent is always armed with a combat knife. In addition to this each carries a unique fire arm. These weapons range from an assault rifle that fires multiple bursts to the more traditional blaster. Directorate agents also are known to carry more exotic weapons like the needle rifle that fires needles at super-sonic speeds, to the net gun that fire thousands upon thousands of polymer strands that instantly harden around a foe entrapping them. All Directorate agents have some training in hand-to-hand combat thanks to Colonel Saud.

Appearance
Directorate agents are powerfully built individuals as normals go. Each was selected not only for their intelligence, but for their build as well. Agents wear the standard Directorate body armor which is a light green. The armor covers the entire body except for the hand, feet, and head. Their gloves and boots are a matching green. Over their chest each agent wears a white harness and the belt of their armor is white as well. Directorate agents wear a light green beret denoting their membership in the Directorate. At their waist they keep their combat knife. Their eyes are hidden behind a pair of goggles that matches the color of their uniform.

#152 Colonel Saud (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T05:12:00.002+10:00

COLONEL SAUD

Colonel Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Things are always unstable in the Middle East. This was a lesson that Faisal al-Saud knew and lived for, because without a little instability, life would be too boring for the third son of the second wife of the Abdullah crown prince of Saudi Arabia. The year was 1985, and war raged over the kingdom to the north. On one side lay the Republic of Iraq ran by the Butcher of Bagdad a militarist if there ever was one. Further to the east lay the Islamic Republic of Iran, a country rife with turmoil since the Shah of Iran was ousted and replaced by the moralist Khomeini. The war between the two countries had been raging on for several years now, and Faisal’s uncle King Fahd grew worried that maybe his two northern neighbors argument might expanded into the kingdom, especially after the reports that Saddam Hussain was using nerve gas in his war against Iran. For King Fahd, there could be no man better to get information than Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud.

About six years ago, Faisal along with his father had made a state visit to the United States. It was also at the time that Faisal started his training with the Central Intelligence Agency. Faisal proved to be a natural spy. Upon his return to the kingdom, he was immediately put work divining the intentions of Saddam Hussien.

The night was silent, as was Faisal, as he swam closer to the chemical factory that lay alongside the River Tigris. His head popped briefly out of the water as he scanned the surrounding area. On one side lay his target, the chemical factory and to the other the huge freighter flying the flag of Singapore. Like a shadow, Faisal left the water and was quickly up against the outside wall of the factory. With a small mirror, Faisal was able to peer around the corner of the building. He could barely make out two heavily armed Republican Guards patrolling.

Odd he thought to have such elite Iraq troops guarding this factory. Pocketing the mirror Faisal scanned the walls for possible handholds. While with the CIA, Faisal had trained under a little Gurkha who knew more about climbing that anyone Faisal had ever known. To most the wall was just a wall, but for Faisal it looked like an inviting highway. In no time at all the Arab topped the wall, and none too soon because the guards had just turned the corner. They were being sloppy though, one of them was even smoking a cigarette.

The roof of the building was dominated with television antennas and someone’s laundry. It was hard going in the moonless night across the minefield that was the roof. However, soon the target was in sight, the roof access hatch. The lock on the hatch looked simple enough, but after a brief inspection, Faisal could see that it was attached to a fairly sophisticated alarm system. Nothing that Faisal couldn’t handle. No spy of his caliber would back down from this type of challenge. Five minutes later, Faisal was in and no one the wiser.

Moving using the map of the factory that Faisal had committed to memory he crept further inside. He was moving along a catwalk when he heard the voices below. An Iraqi along with two Republican Guards at his side casually walked into the light below. Faisal recognized Ali Hassan al-Majid, known to the Arab world as Chemical Ali. The man was smoking a cigar the size of a baby’s arm. Ali paused and turned as another man came into the light. This man was obliviously wasn’t an Arab, probably a European from the way he walked.

Blowing out a smoke ring, Ali said something in English. “So, doctor, the people of the Republic of Iraq thank you for providing with this so excellent VX gas. We shall surely use it on those hapless Persians. Victory is to be certain, and it is all thanks to you.”

“No need to praise me so high,” said the mystery man, yes definitely an European, a German from his accent, “the gold your president is paying is reward enough.”

“Ah yes,” said Ali as he drew on his cigar making the tip look like a third glowing eye, “a handsome price indeed.”

The German frowned at this. Could the Iraqi be insinuating that they might have paid too much for this VX gas? Ali seemed to not notice the change in the German, or chose to ignore it for he just kept on smoking.

“Yet,” Ali drawled on, “you say that you have something for us that is even better than the VX gas. Hm. I am sure that my cousin Saddam might be interested; I am one of his closest advisers after all.”

“Yes,” said the German, “I call this formula the Möbius Syrum. I reformulated a serum designed by the one of the greatest scientific geniuses of Nazi Germany. My Möbius Syrum will grant whomever I inject it with with a healing factor far superior to any mere human. Just think of the possibilities, a soldier could fight much longer in the battlefield; outlasting any opponent.”

“Indeed,” said Ali, “that would be most useful. How would your formula work against chemical and biological attacks? My dear cousin has expressed an interest that his Republican Guard acquire this ability as well.”

“Excellent,” exclaimed the German, “I can see that I came to the right people for this. Obviously President Hussein read the literature I sent about the Möbius Syrum.”

“Yes, yes,” said Ali trying to calm his excited guest, “but, President Hussein isn't completely convinced that your drug will do as advertised. A test must be in order. Are you prepared doctor?”

The German crossed his armed and frowned. It didn't look like he liked Ali's implication that his miracle drug wasn't so miraculous.

“I am German after all Herr al-Majid. We are nothing, if not prepared.”

“That is what I like to hear,” said Ali as he clapped the German on the back, a huge smile behind his cigar.

“Right this way. I have a subject waiting patiently for your test.”

They couldn't get away, Faisal needed to hear more. This was starting to become a little more important than whether the Iraqis were going to bring war to the kingdom. This sounded like Saddam was trying to create an army of invincible soldiers. The Arab world couldn't survive this.”

Faisal had barely took a dozen steps from his spot, before the shoddy Iraqi building codes brought him low. It started out as a low moan, but quickly turned into a metallic shriek as the catwalk gave way, plunging Faisal three stories down to the concrete floor. Faisal barely heard Ali as the Iraqi stood over his brutalized body.

“So, I guess we have someone else who is in even more of a rush to meet Allah. Bring him.”

Consciousness came back slowly for Faisal. For some reason he couldn't see out of his right eye, but that seemed to be of little importance. Pain racked his entire body from head to toe; he must have broken every bone in his body from that fall. When his head swam a little less, Faisal could see that he was stretched out on a table. Chains attached to his arms and his legs had him spread out.

The smell of a cigar had Faisal turning to look at Ali.

“So our little bird is awake. I'm joyous. I'd hate for you to miss this. No, no, don't try to speak. That would ruin the drama. Doctor if you'd please.”
Faisal tried to look towards the German, but couldn't see him with his ruined eye.

“This will only hurt a little bit,” the German said softly.

There was a stabbing sensation at the base of Faisal's neck as the needle was injected into him, then the burning sensation started. Like a wildfire the Möbius Syrum raced through Faisal's blood. The pain was intense.

“You can cry if you like,” whispered Ali right next to his ear and then proceeded to blow smoke in Faisal's face.

The Iraqi then straightened up.

“Enough of this. Doctor you said that your formula would protect a soldier against the effects of the VX gas. Well now that we have our lab rat, I want to try it out. Everyone out. You there, bring in that vial of VX gas. We shall see. So doctor, if he lives, I'm sure a bonus is in the offing, and if he doesn't, well you better be right with Allah.”

Just before a metal door was slammed shut, Faisal could hear the sound of glass shattering as the vial of VX gas hit the floor. Instantly Faisal's lungs started to burn, but just as quickly the pain stopped. In fact a lot of his pains were going away, and strength was quickly returning. However, Faisal was no fool. He pretended to be dead. It was almost an hour later before Ali, the Doctor, and Ali's goons came back into the room.

“Doctor, doctor,” tsk'd the Iraqi, “it was a really nice try. You almost had me fooled. You take out the good doctor, and shot him. My cousin doesn't like to be duped by a conman. As for this offal, dump it into the river.”

“But, but,” stammered the German, “It works I tell you. It works!!!”

However, Ali didn't seem to hear him as his Republican Guardsmen dragged the screaming German away. He was more interested in the smoking of his cigar. As for Faisal, a burly soldier hoisted him over his shoulder and unceremoniously dumped him into the River Tigris. After that it was a simple matter for Faisal to make his way back to Saudi Arabia.

For his efforts in discovering, and ultimately preventing Saddam from creating an army of super-soldiers, King Fahd promoted Faisal to colonel. It was Faisal who convinced his uncle to let him form the Directorate, because Faisal knew in his heart of hearts that mad men like Hussein and Khomeini that the kingdom would never be safe it weren't for protection that only those with a touch from Allah could provide, and Colonel Saud would be there to keep an eye on things for the good of the country.

Personality
There is no lengths that Faisal wouldn't do for his country. His loyalty first and foremost is to Saudi Arabia and really to the king who sits on the throne. Faisal sees himself as a caretaker of the kingdom, and any threat to the kingdom is a threat that Faisal will deal with in any fashion that resolves the threat. Faisal does not see himself as a hero, and while some of his acts may be misconstrued as heroism, he would never see himself in that way. Naturally those without Faisal's agenda have accused him and his Directorate of using excessive force, and even torture to get confessions out of prisoners. To this Faisal remains closed mouth.

One of the things that the outside media don't like about Faisal is that he is such a grim figure. Faisal takes the business of being in charge of the Directorate very seriously. For Faisal, there is nothing funny about keeping the kingdom from threats internal and external. Faisal has little time for humor. He thanks Allah everyday that the media in Saudi Arabia is state controlled.

Faisal does have a warm spot in his heart for the common people of Saudi Arabia. It is for them that he has sacrificed so much of his time and energy to safeguard. Faisal seems himself as another of the guardian forces in the kingdom keeping the public safe.

Quote
"I am no hero. What I do, I do for the kingdom. Imshallah!"

Powers
Faisal is a well trained intelligence agent, trained by the Central Intelligence Agency. His a master at surveillance, infiltration, and stealth. Faisal sees himself as one of the guardians of the kingdom, something he can take pride in. His training also includes an extensive understanding of hand-to-hand combat.

Faisal has no real uberhuman powers. However, the Möbius Syrum has augmented his physique to such a degree that he's now as fast, as strong, and has the endurance of a top Olympic athlete. Another effect of the Möbius Syrum is that he's completely immune to almost any poison, drug, chemical, or disease in the known world. This includes nerve agents like VX gas. Faisal, however, is unaware that the formula also has extended his life to a unknown level. Lastly the Möbius Syrum has provided Faisal with a healing factor. His healing factor allows Faisal to heal faster than a normal person could. Faisal can be killed, but it would take a lot of damage to do him in.

As a member of the Directorate, Faisal wears a suit of green body armor that protects him from most attacks. Unlike other members of the Directorate, Faisal wields a weapon that he had designed uniquely for himself. He calls the gun his Serpentine Pistol. The gun is filled with thousands upon thousands of needles. By flipping a switch on the side of the pistol allows Faisal to fire explosive type needles, to a more traditional paralyzing needle into a foe.

Appearance
Faisal is a powerful built Arab with a strong jaw. He keeps his jet black hair fairly short, and his one vanity seems to be an equally short goatee. A long scar runs from his scalp down to his lower jaw. Faisal got the scar when he fell to the floor in Baghdad, and lost the use of his eye. Oddly enough the Möbius Syrum never regenerated the damage to Faisal's eye. Over his missing eye, Faisal wears an eye patch that matches his body armor. As Colonel Saud, Faisal wears a suit of light green body armor that covers his entire body, except for his head. In addition to his body armor, Faisal wears a white harness over his chest. Also his belt is white. His Serpentine Pistol looks like any other pistol, except for a white coiled cobra in mother of pearl on the grips on both sides of the pistol.

#152 Du'ad (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T05:07:00.002+10:00

Du'ad

Du'ad bin Gamal

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Du'ad bin Gamal has always lived his life in the Rub'al Khali, a true Bedouin. He has never felt comfortable in any city prefering the company of his fellow Beni Gazi deep in the Rub'a Khali. Du'ad was the eldest of the Beni Gazi in the ecampment the day strange men showed up and attacked the Beni Gazi. He was sleeping at the time, as he was wont to do. Du'ad woke up long enough to get a sword in the gut and left for dead. The other Beni Gazi weren't so lucky. Du'ad would've died if young Khalid bin Ghanim hadn't showed up and saved his life.

Khalid then took off after the attackers, later to return to Du'ad changed in a thousand ways. The boy told him of what he encountered beneath the sands of Iram of the Thousand Pillars and what had happened to him. Du'ad counciled the boy as well as he could. Afterwards, the two started off again like the Bedouins they were, unfortunately they were the last two of the Beni Gazi tribe.

Personality
Du'ad is an old, old man. His quite knowledgable about the Rub'al Khali and the people who live there. Being old Du'ad often times likes to tell stories to anyone who'll listen to him.

Quote
"Only the strong survive the Rub'al Khali."

Powers
The only powers that Du'ad bin Gamal has is a sharp mind and a treasure trove of knowledge about the desert. Other than that he is an old old man. Du'ad has never driven a vehicle in his life, but he's pretty good riding on a camel.

Appearance
Du'ad is an old man with a long flowing white beard. What hair he had growing on his head has fallen out long ago. He wears simple brown Bedouin robes, held together with a green sash. On his feet he wears a pair of well worn sandals.

2009-09-19T04:59:00.003+10:00

BEDOUIN

Khalid Bin Ghanim

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
The winds were picking up and the sands were starting to fly. Grit blew into Khalid's eyes forcing the Bedouin to pull his scarf tighter around his head; not that the scarf did much good. Soon a sand storm would rage over the Empty Quarter and Khalid's quarry would get away. Khalid couldn't allow it.
Two days ago a band of strangely garbed men had attacked the Beni Gazi encampment. They were merciless, killing all they came across with oddly shaped swords. The Beni Gazi didn't stand a chance. Khalid was one of the lucky ones. He wasn't in the camp that day; he had been out hunting gazelle. It was the smoke that cued Khalid in that something was wrong.

The only person left alive in the encampment was old Du'ad, a man so old that he had slept through most of the attack. Khalid didn't know how the attackers had missed him. Khalid found Du'ad stretched out behind a tent that was on fire. While throwing sand on the fire Du'ad told Khalid about the attack. It made no sens to Khalid. The Ben Gazi were Bedouins; they didn't own anything worth killing for. That had been two days ago.

Bow in hand Khalid stalked the men. He prayed to Allah that the sandstorm would hold off long enough for him to get revenge for the Beni Gazi. Why the attackers had traveled to Iram the City of Pillars was a mystery to Khalid. The place was a ruin, and had been one for centuries.
Through the swirling sands Khalid saw one of the attackers. Here was his chance. Swiftly as he could, Khalid stalked closer and closer. This was going to be a one in a million shot. Khalid drew back his bow, an arrow knocked against his right ear. That was when the earth fell out beneath him. A sink hole opened up beneath Khalid like the maw of a ravenous mouth.

Khalid didn't know how long he laid there in the dark. It started out as a sneeze that quickly turned into a scream of pain. Khalid had dislocated his shoulder. He struggled to his feet fighting back the pain. It took awhile for Khalid's eyes to adjust to the darkness. When he did, Khalid thought he could see a light in the distance. Staggering and stumbling towards the light, Khalid kept going.

Soon the light became brighter and brighter. It was the smell of water that came as a great surprise to Khalid. Looking around, Khalid saw that he was in an enormous circular room. Pillars rose from the floor to disappear in the gloom near the ceiling. A large pool of water that seemed to glow from within illuminated the chamber.

As Khalid drew closer to the pool he could see strange pictographs carved into the pools. It was the weirdest thing that Khalid had ever seen before. The pictographs told the history of the city from its founding by little green men to the raising of thousand upon thousand of pillars. Khalid thought that the little green men used them as houses of some form or another. None of it made sense to Khalid. As he drew closer to the pool he saw the progression of the city all the way up to its downfall.

A great darkness came from the southwest. The little green men didn't understand the threat until it was too late. Darkness, horror, annihilation came in their turns to the city of a thousand pillars. The last part of the pictograph was a blank right next to the pool. Khalid was sore, and his thirst raged like a jinn. Khalid flopped down next to the pool and with a trembling hand reached down and scooped up a handful of the water.

It was cool and refreshing. Khalid dipping his hand and drank more. As he hand there came a humming sound that seemed to grow louder and louder. Soon he could hear words. It sounded like the call of the muezzin or the call for daily prayer. For some reason Khalid knew that the call came from Mecca, which didn't make much sense either because Mecca was thousand upon thousand of miles from where he was.

Turning towards Mecca, Khalid was further surprised. His body lifted from the ground and he floated. Khalid was so surprised that he instantly dropped down onto the ground, and kept going. Passing through rock like a ghost Khalid panicked. Then in another instant he was solid again, but felt no pressure from the surrounding earth. In fact Khalid felt incredibly strong. With powerful arms, Khalid dug his way back to the chamber. Oddly enough he no longer ached.

In fact Khalid felt powerful, probably the first time in his short life that he felt this way. Khalid wanted to try flying again, and like a hawk found himself soaring around the chamber going faster and faster. Screaming with wild abandon, Khalid passed through the rock up and up until once again he was under the sky flying over the ruins of Iram.

It didn't take long for Khalid to find the men. Their voices, later Khalid was about to find out that it was their minds, spoke loudly to Khalid. They proclaimed that they were the Sons of Set, and they had attacked the Beni Gazi because of a rumor that they held a key to a chamber in Iram. Supposedly in Iram a great power lay, and these Sons of Set wanted to lay that power at the feet of the mistress, Nepthys. All of this Khalid gleamed in moments. Tears welled up in his eyes. These murderers would pay. Like a mountain falling upon them, Khalid fell upon the Sons of Set. None of them ever left Iram.

Since gaining his strange powers from the waters, Khalid has acted as a guardian for the kingdom against the Sons of Set. While not yet eighteen years old, his reputation as a force of good in Saudi Arabia has brought him to the attention of Colonel Saud. Seeing a good thing for what it was, Colonel Saud insisted that Khalid, whom is known all over Saudi Arabia as Bedouin, be included in the Directorate. While Khalid does help the Directorate, he's still something of a mystery to them.

Personality
Khalid has always been a boy with a keen sense of adventure. He is constantly exploring the Arabian Peninsula, mostly for threats from the Sons of Set, but also just for the sheer joy exploring brings to him. The few members of his tribe respect this in Khalid, but at times wish he'd settle down more. There are a few who wouldn't mind if Khalid became the next shaikh of the Beni Gazi.

Because his powers seem to set him on a different level than most people, Khalid likes to maintain an air of mystery about him. With his ability to change his shape, become immaterial, or even become completely invisible it would be very difficult for anyone to find out his identity, and Khalid would rather keep it that way. Even his own tribe has no inkling that he is the super hero known as the Bedouin.

Quote
"I am the Guardian of the Rub' al Khali."

Powers
The alien waters that Khalid drunk has given him complete control over his molecular makeup. With a mere thought Khalid can harden his flesh to an unknown degree. This increase in mass cause a proportional increase in strength. At his greatest density Khalid becomes super-humanly strong, as well as super-humanly heavy. Conversely, Khalid can reduce his density to such a degree that he become practically immaterial. Anyone attacking Khalid will find that their attacks pass through him as if he were a ghost. Not only is Khalid able to alter his density, but the very shape of his body. Khalid can assume almost any shape that he can think of. Lastly Khalid can make his own flesh transparent. When in such a state, it is almost impossible to see him.

Besides granting control over his molecules, it has also granted Khalid vast mental abilities. His mental powers not only effect humans, but aliens as well. Khalid can sense a single mind within the entirety of the world. Once Khalid senses a mind he can either contact it and form a bond sharing information and commication with the other mind, or Khalid can shut an opponents mind down completely. Furthermore, Khalid is telepathic, and can use his mental powers to read anothers memories. Naturally, being a powerful psychic, Khalid is resistant to most mental powers.

The waters have transformed Khalid in other ways as well. He no longer feels the effects of severe heat or cold, no is uncomfortable at the deepest depths or the coldness of space. While Khalid does breath, he doesn't have to. Lastly, Khalid can harness his mental powers and can fly.

Appearance
Khalid is a young Arab, with finely chiseled features. Even though he isn't even eighteen years old yet, he doesn't even shave. Khalid has curly black hair and dark brown eyes. He isn't very muscular; a little on the lean side, like most desert dwellers. As the Bedouin, Khalid wears a pair of loose fitting trousers, a similar fitting shirt, along with a sash. All of these are a dark green color. Over his clothes, Khalid wears a hooded cloak, which Khalid always leaves up casting his face in shadow. Naturally, with all of his powers, Khalid can always change his appearance enough

#152 Azim (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T04:51:00.002+10:00

Azim

Zenada bin Mohammed

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Zenada was always a big guy from a long line of dock workers in port city of Jeddah. He was just sitting down to his lunch when the attacked happened. Zenada was biting into a falafel when a nearby ship exploded into flames. He was thrown from his bench landing on his rump. Zenada was so surprised that he barely had time to react before a sandstorm blew in from the desert turning the day to night. In all his years of working on the docks, nothing like this had ever happened before. Zenada had barely gotten to his feet before he heard the nearby crane collapsing; right on top of him.

Zenada barely got an arm up before several tons of steel came crashing down on him. He should have died then and there, and certainly the world went to gray and then to black. It was the sound of gunfire that brought Zenada back to consciousness. Groggily, Zenada brushed aside the girders and then unsteadily got to his feet. His clothes were torn to shreds. A man wearing a suit of strange armor came running onto the docks paused for a second before unloading an auto pistol towards a man with flaming wings who was flying towards Zenada.

“Get Down before you get hut,” shouted the man.

Unfortunately the mans bullets had no effect on the flying man other than to get his attention. Twin gout of flames flew through the air, one towards Zenada and the other to his would be rescuer. What clothing remained on Zenada was instantly turned to ash, and while fire hurt like crazy it didn't last very long. As for the man he had dodged the flames by leaping into the water.

The man flew up to Zenada and paused.

“By Allah,” he said, “you are certainly a huge one. Well no matter. Prepare to enter Paradise defiler of the Lands of the Two Holy Mosques.”

Zenada had no idea what this man with wings of flame was talking about, but he certainly was getting tired of having his lunch ruined by a bunch of lunatics. Glancing around Zenada saw a piece of the crane that had fallen on him. Inspiration suddenly struck him, and Zenada picked the piece of steel up. It felt like a feather in his hands, even though it probably weighed in the hundreds of kilos. Swinging the piece of steel at the man, Zenada got really lucky. The metal slammed into the flying man, and Zenada knew he hurt ribs cracking. There was a bright flash of fire and Zenada's makeshift club was melted down almost to where he was holding it. Shocked Zenada dropped the piece of steels and stared down at his hands. It was true, his hands were like nothing Zenada had ever seen.

Zenada turned to a slap on his lower back. Looking down he saw the man who had tried to help him. He didn't look to happy.

“Next time I tell you to get down Azim,” the man growled, “by Allah you had better do it. But otherwise you did a fair job. Not many people could hand the likes of Al-Humra Nisr.”

“Al-Humra Nisr?” mouthed Zenada, “isn't he one of those terrorists? One of those Fatwa guys?”

The man looked at Zenada as if he had come from another planet.

“Of course,” said the man, “didn't I just say so. I am Colonel Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud, but you can call me Colonel Saud. I am his majesties right hand, and the head of the Directorate.”

Zenada had never heard of the Directorate, but he certainly knew a member of the royal family when he met one. He bowed to the colonel.

“Enough of that,” said Colonel Saud, “Al-Humra Nisr or one of the others of Fatwa are probably sit about, although you dealt him a nasty blow. Come we must move.”

The day had changed Zenadas' life. He along with Colonel Saud and his Directorate agents had chanced off Fatwa, with only minor injuries to the Jeddah locals, but with a lot of property damage. Colonel Saud never did learn why Fatwa had attacked the port of Jeddah, but chalked it up to more of Imam's crazy quest for power. As for Zenada he got a trip to Riyadh, where he underwent several exams. It was determined that he possessed the ubergene, and was becoming super-humanly strong. Colonel Saud told him that it was his duty to serve the kingdom as a member of his Directorate, and was given the code-name: Azim or Huge in Arabic. At first Zenada didn't know what to think, but when he thought back to how much destruction Fatwa had done to Jeddah, he knew he had to remain and help out any way he could.

Personality
Zenada has quickly learned since his transformation into an Uberhuman that almost nothing can hurt him. Hence Zenada doesn't think twice or hesitate when it comes to a fight. Thinking that he is invulnerable makes Zenada a very confident person. This has been his undoing a number of times, especially when fighting opponents who don't rely on brute strength. When fighting those times of foes, Zenada downplays it as if his opponent got a luck shot in on him.

One of the main reasons Zenada has remained with the Directorate is that he truly is concerned about his fellow Arab. Zenada tries his best to see that innocents are out of the way of any fight that he is going into, and woe to any super-villain who blatantly attacks a civilian. There are few ways to anger Zenada, and hurting innocent people is the easiest.

Quote
"Is all this violence really necessary?"

Powers
Zenada is an uberhuman who is super-humanly strong. He has been known to lift some incredible amounts of weight. In addition to his superhuman strength, Zenada is also resistant to almost any physical harm. He took a direct hit from a plasma bolt from Al-Humra Nisr with little actual damage. Most uberhumans wouldn't have survived such an attack. Zenada has also been known to just shrug off attacks like so many buzzing insects.

During his time working for the Directorate, Zenada has learned a few combat routines. One of them is to grab a foe and squeeze the life out of them. So far, Zenada hasn't killed anyone with this particular attack. Another favorite of Zenada is for him to pound the ground with both fists causing massive shock-waves. Unfortunately, this attack also tends to cause massive property damage. Another is for Zenada to go in the middle of a bunch of normal attacks and fling his arms in all directions. Most normal people cannot take this abuse and usually end up in the hospital. Zenada isn't one to know how much strength to use.

Appearance
Zenada is an enormous man. He stands about 3 meters, or almost 10 feet in height. Just looking at Zenada the first impression people make of him is that he is just simply massive. Zenada tips the scales at over 450 kilos, or almost a half a ton, and most of that is muscle.

Zenada wears a standard Directorate suit, but unlike the other suits worn by the agents, his isn't armored. He doesn't need any extra protection. Otherwise his suit consists of light green trousers, tunic, and boots. Also Zenada has removed the sleeves of his tunic. Zenada is more comfortable that way. He also has a white belt and the standard white harness that most Directorate agents wear.

Zenada is a dark skinned Arab with bright white hair. When his ubergene became active his hair gradually lost all of its pigment. Zenada also likes to keep a small soul patch to be stylish.

#152 Q (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T04:39:00.003+10:00

Q

Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
For many years, Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam was the personal research assistant to one of the greatest geniuses of the Soviet Union, Professor Sergei Proserpov. Yklymberdi assisted the professor in some of his most landmark experiments. The last one the two work on was the super-soldier project before Prosperpov was sent into exile in Siberia after the experiment failed miserably. Yklymberdi never did learn what caused Super-Spetzna to go berserk, but being an astute Soviet knew the writing on the wall.

Yklymberdi fled back to his native Turkmenstan SSR, just knowing that the KGB would be hot on his heels. He was able to evade detection for several years until something curious happened. The Soviet Union collapsed upon itself. Seizing the oppurtunity Yklymberdi stowed away in an oil tanker bound for Saudi Arabia. He tried to blend in his best with the Saudi's, but somehow he was caught up.

In a small apartment in Riyadh there was knock at the door followed by the door being kicked in. In stalked a huge man with an eye patch pointing a gun squarely at Yklymberdi's face.

"Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam," said the man, "you are under arrest for espionage against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Yklymberdi of course had no idea what the man was talking about, but he wasn't about to argue with a man with a gun. Several more men came into the apartment and handcuffed Yklymberdi and hauled him out to a waiting van. While in the van someone put a hood over his head and he couldn't see a thing. Yklymberdi felt like he was being kidnapped.

A little while later he was hustled into a building sat down in a chair and had the hood ripped off. Again the giant of a man who broke into his apartment was there. He was reading from a file. Without looking up he spoke.

"Do you know what the penalty for spying in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is?"

"I wasn't spying."

"You are Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam are you not?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything. I was merely seeking political assylum in Saudi Arabia."

The man closed the file with a snap.

"So that is it. Hm. Well in that case doctor, assylum is granted, but on one condition. That condition is that you work for me. I am Colonel Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud the head of the Directorate. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in need of your talents doctor. I don't take no for an answer."

"I am no super-hero Colonel Saud."

"That I know doctor, therefore I need you to make one for me."

At first Yklymberdi was against the idea, but the longer he was with the Directorate the more the idea made sense. Using the knowledge that he gained working with Professor Proserpov, Yklymberdi recreated the experiment that Professor Proserpov used on his daughter to make her into the super hero Prezma. Yklymberdi's super-hero was code-named Al-Nil or the Indigo. The good doctor keeps a close eye on his creation, and Colonel Saud keeps and eye on him.

Personality
Yklymberdi is a medical scientist through and through. His greatest passion is working in his lab often times forgetting to eat or sleep for days. While not as great as scientist as Professor Proserpov or the Professor, Yklymberdi isn't a slouch when it comes to science.

Quote
"I be not knowing why everyone be calling me 'Q'?"

Powers
Ykylmberdi is a man with a lot of scientific knowledge, most of which he gained while working alongside Professor Proserpov. Like other agents of the Directorate, Ykylmberdi wears a suit of light weight body armor. He also carries around a serpentine pistol which he designed for himself and Colonel Saud. Otherwise, Yklymberdi isn't much of a physical man.

Appearance
Yklymberdi is a slight man with huge glasses. He wears the standard Directorate uniform of light green body armor with boots and gloves with a white harness and belt. However, unlike other agents, Yklymberdi wears a white lab coat over his armor. Yklymberdi is an unassuming man with a dark mustache and light beard. The other agents of the Directorate like to call him 'Q'.

#152 Al-Nil (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T03:25:00.013+10:00

AL-NIL (The Indigo)

Ramdan al-Nil

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Ramadan is the name that they tell him is his, but he can never be sure. Memories are like moving points of light; here and then gone again. He can never be sure. His handler the man the Directorate agents call 'Q' is his handler, and creator. So is this man his father? He can never be sure. Q tells him that once he was soldier, a brave man in the Saudi Arabian army.

However, he was brought down not by an enemy of the state, nor a bomb, but by his own body. He was dying, so they told him. Cancer.

The Directorate was looking for volunteers for an experiment by Q. He doesn't know how many people accepted the sacrifice, nor how many died in the attempt to create a super-hero for Saudi Arabia. Q doesn't like to talk about it. He was going to die anyways, he felt that this would be a good way serve his nation one last time. He survived, but is slowly forgetting his past. Maybe that is for the best.

He was nervous when the laid him down in the photonic chamber, but he didn't notice much. The cancer ate at him like a ghoul and all he knew was pain. Q explained the procedure to him, but he couldn't understand or remember half of it. There was a blinding flash. Then came the pain. He thought the pain from the cancer was unbearable, but this pain made that pain seem infinitesimal. On that day he died, only to be reborn.
They told him his name was Ramadan al-Nil. He could never be sure. He was no longer human, but something more. He was light, he was color. He was reborn. Q would stay with him. Q would be his link to humanity. Al-Nil would serve his country in the best way he could. This time he would be a super-hero.

Personality
Since his transformation into a being of light, Ramadan is slowly loosing his grip on humanity. He has extreme difficulty expressing emotions or even feeling them. In a way he seems to be detached from himself, as if he were looking in on what is going on around him. He makes no friends or enemies for that matter. He does what he is asked to do, and nothing else. Some foes have thought that he is some kind of automaton, without really understanding what he has become.

The only thing that seems to link Ramadan with the world is his sense of duty. He volunteered for this duty and nothing will prevent him from being the best super-hero for Saudi Arabia. Ramadan will not betray or allow any harm to come to his country, even if this means his own destruction.

Ramadan is slowing forgetting his past. If it wasn't for Q, he would probably have forgotten it all by now. At times Ramadan regrets the transformation, but this emotion is getting harder for him to recognize or feel.

Quote
"On Ramadan I died. On Ramadan I was reborn."

Powers
Ramadan has been transformed into a creature composed completely of photons. As such he is effected little by anything that doesn't effect light. He never get hot nor cold, and doesn't even breathe. Diseases such as cancer do not have a hold on him anymore. Ramadan can survive the deepest depths of the oceans and even the vacuum of space.

Being composed of light, Al-Nil can naturally fly. He's probably one of the fastest fliers on Earth about to travel across millions of miles in a blink of an eye. He has incredible vision which allows him to see things thousands of miles away from him as well. Al-Nil can also travel out into space and jump faster than the speed of light. Other abilities that he has gained from the transformation is the ability to form a force field around himself that most attacks cannot get through. With a mere thought, Al-Nil can become completely immaterial, all attacks except those that are light-based or darkness-based have any chance of harming him.

Al-Nil can project light out of his body, which is naturally replenished by natural light. He can vary the intensity of the light from a simple blinding light to a lethal laser blast. While not a killer, Al-Nil usually reserves his laser blast for foes that aren't affected by his other attacks.

Appearance
Since his transformation, Al-Nil has shed almost all of his mass. He still appears to be a man of average height, but that is where his similarities to any other human end. Al-Nil is completely hairless, and finds no use to wear clothes. His skin, for the lack of a better term, constantly glows an indigo, which grows brighter when he activates his force field. His eyes are a darker shade of indigo. Another thing that sets Al-Nil from other humans is the indigo crescent and star on his forehead.

Al-Nil has no life outside of being Al-Nil. His transformation makes it impossible for him to maintain a normal life, even if he wanted to. On occasions, Al-Nil will wear clothes but he usually finds no use for them.

#152 The Directorate (Saudi Arabia)

2009-09-19T03:09:00.003+10:00

Background
The Directorate found its origins in the first Gulf War. Colonel Faisal ibn Abdullah Al Saud was sent to Iraq to investigate reports that Saddam Hussein was gathering chemical and biological weapons to use against Iran. The kingdom was worried that if Iraq actually defeated Iran than maybe Iraq would turn their eyes to the south to the oil rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While Colonel Al Saud did find evidence that Saddam Hussein's cousin Chemical Ali was buying chemicals to make nerve gas he found also that Saddam was willing to create super-soldiers as well. Colonel Saud was barely able to escape by playing dead. Once back in Saudi Arabia the colonel got an audience with his father who was acting as regent of the kingdom after Faisal's uncle King Fahd had suffered a stroke.

Colonel Saud was able to convince his father that Iraq posed a great threat to the security of Saudi Arabia. However, due to the political climate, in which Saudi Arabia actually supported Iraq, there was little the king could do against Iraq directly. Instead, he made Faisal head of a new independent covert organization in his government that only answered to the king. The basic mandate of the Directorate was for Colonel Saud to gather together any and all uberhumans, not including females as this would certainly outrage the imams, in the kingdom and form them into a team to act as the protectors and defenders of the kingdom. This turned out to be more difficult than what was first proposed. Uberhumans typically appear in 1 out of million people. It wouldn't be likely for Colonel Saud to find one uberhuman, let alone a whole team.

During the time of the first Gulf War, a super-hero group formed in the Middle East. The group was known as the Five Pillars, and consisted of Iron Amir from Qatar, Pearl from Bahrain, Roc from Iran, Saluqi from Lebanon, and Veil from Egypt. Colonel Saud considered recruiting any of them, except for Veil, but his mandate only allowed for him to recruit uberhumans from Saudi Arabia. In a way, Colonel Saud always resented this fact, but his loyalty to his kingdom would never allow him to compromise. So to this day there is ranker between the Directorate and the Five Pillars. In fact, not of the Five Pillars are allowed to operate inside the kingdom.

It was during an attack in Jeddah that Colonel Saud found his first uberhuman. Fatwa, for some reason only known to their power crazed leader Imam, had laid waste to the city. Colonel Saud along with a few of his Directorate agents attempted their best to hold off the attack when Colonel Saud ran into Hamra al-Nisr. Even though he had unloaded an auto pistol at the Palestinian it didn't have any effect on the uberhuman. Colonel Saud was forced to dive into the water. When he surfaced the fiery uberhuman was gone. Standing on the dock was a huge man holding what looked like what had once been part of a crane. The thing must have weighed several tons, yet the man wielded it like it were a paperweight. Colonel Saud had finally his first uberhuman, but even with Azim, Colonel Saud knew that just one uberhuman would not be enough.

Following some really old records of events that had occurred over several centuries, Colonel Saud was able to piece together the history of the hyena, a creature of myth. One of the earliest records he could undercover was about a certain clerk in the court of the Caliph in Baghdad who turned into a monstrous hyena killed several people before he was killed by the caliphs' soldiers. Colonel Saud was intrigued by the records. He pondered whether this hyena man could be of use to the kingdom. After that it was only a matter of time for Colonel Saud to track down a descendent of that poor clerk in ancient Baghdad. To his horror, the man had turned out to be a stand up comedian. This man surely wouldn't be fit to serve the kingdom. Colonel Saud spent an entire evening watching this young mans' act, and while Colonel Saud didn't enjoy the show at all he did come to the conclusion that this Hazim bin Hazim would do, if only to irritate him. After the show Colonel Saud confronted the man, and he admitted that he was this werehyena. The man thought it would be entertaining to him to be with the Directorate. Colonel Saud wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to turn this aid from the kingdom.

Colonel Saud had recently been hearing reports of a Bedouin with superpowers, but no matter how hard he tried to find this uberhuman none of this efforts were brought to fruition. He had entered his office one day to go over some more reports on this Bedouin when Colonel Saud saw someone standing in the shadows. Instantly Colonel Saud had he gun out and firing. It didn't pay not to react when dealing with uberhumans. Colonel Saud had lost several agents over the years due to not reacting properly against uberhumans. The two had a silent communication between them, and Colonel Saud was able to convince Bedouin that he could better protect the kingdom better by being a member of the Directorate.

Thing quieted down for a few years. There was no clear winners to the first Gulf War. Both sides bungled their way through the war. Saddam not only attacked Iran with nerve gases but turned on his own people as well; those who weren't part of his political party or a member of his form of Islam. Fortunately, at that time Saddam didn't turn his attention south.
After the Iraq-Iran War things turned the worst between Iraq and Kuwait. Kuwait had financed a large portion of the war for Iraq and were not willing to forget the billions of dollars Iraq owed to Kuwait. Eventually Iraq invaded Kuwait quickly overrunning whatever defenses Kuwait had. Colonel Saud's father just knew that Saudi Arabia would be next. He ordered Colonel Saud to get another super hero for the Directorate regardless of the cost.

Meanwhile the United States and its' allies were protesting the invasion. Against the advice of Colonel Saud, the king actually invited American super-heroes to come and defend Saudi Arabia. Sanction was the first American super hero group to come along with the United States military for what was to be known as Operation Desert Storm. Colonel Saud was only thankful that Lady Liberty wasn't invited. Sanction alongside super heroes from the United Kingdom and even the Directorate super heroes were involved with driving Iraq out of Kuwait. Colonel Saud thought at the time that things were settled with Iraq. In the future he was proven to be wrong.

The one thing that came out of the Operation Desert Storm was the collection of an illegal immigrant, Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam, who one time was a personal assistant to Professor Proserpov, probably one of the greatest minds in the world. With a little arm twisting and threats of deportation, Colonel Saud was about to convince the good doctor to assist the Directorate in finding another super hero. The result was Al-Nil.
Currently the Directorate has not expanded its ranks. Colonel Saud is still looking for uberhumans to fill the ranks of the Directorate, but is making do with his Directorate agents instead. Since the Americans have invaded and now occupy Iraq he keeps a close eye on the activities to the north. At time Colonel Saud thinks that the Americans might pose a greater threat to the kingdom than Saddam Hussein.

Area of Operations
Mostly Saudia Arabia. From time to time the Directorate will covertly sneak into other Middle Eastern countries, northern Africa, and even as far as Pakistan.

Goals
The primary mandate for the Directorate is to gather together Saudi Arabian uberhumans and enlist them in the defense of the kingdom against threats foreign and domestic. The Directorate is responsible for combating super villains wherever they might show up in the kingdom. Colonel Saud as the head of the Directorate keeps an eye on terrorist organizations, extremist groups, and any Middle Eastern uberhuman. Imam the leader of Fatwa is high on the list of super villains sought by the Directorate. The main reason being that he is Saudi Arabian.

Reputation
The Directorate has a mixed reputation in the Middle East. Most other countries do not trust the Directorate, and at times there has been conflict between the Directorate and Five Pillars. Five Pillars are not allowed to operate in Saudi Arabia. However, the other countries in the Middle East do see that while the Directorate concentrates mostly on Saudi Arabia they do an excellent job of protecting Saudi Arabia from superhuman threat and thus provide some stability to the Middle East.
Outside the Middle East, and the Directorate is met with mixed blessings. The United States official group Sanction has good relations with the Directorate as does a few super hero groups in Britain. However, groups like Russian Dawn are suspicious of the Directorate, especially after they discovered that Doctor Yklymberdi Aronshtam, a wanted criminal in Russia is working for them. To the east, the Assembly look upon the Directorate as a force of possibly instability in Pakistan. The Directorate has often been accused by the Assembly of sowing discord in Pakistan.

#152 Saudi Arabia

2009-09-19T02:49:00.004+10:00

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest of the Middle East countries. It is also the birthplace of Islam. Saudi Arabia is the home of two of the most holy sites in Islam, Mecca to which every Moslem turns his head when he does his five daily prayers, and the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina.

Saudi Arabia also contains a large amount of the world oil reserves. This makes it a very wealthy country. However, a large portion of the country is desert, one of the largest in the world.

The CIA Factbook has the following information:

----------------------------------------------------------
Official Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Government: Monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Population: 28,686,633
Ethnic Groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Major Languages: Arabic
-----------------------------------------------------------

This time I'm going to go with an idea that I've had, instead of using the Random Character Generator.

#151 CABECA DE RADIO (Sao Tome)

2009-07-26T14:59:00.003+10:00

CABECA DE RADIO (RADIOHEAD)
Luis Miguel Sabrosa
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
After landing a job at Oleo Industries, Luis Miguel managed to land lucky break after lucky break, first getting a promotion to the CEO's office and then being accepted as one of only three admin assistants to accompany the CEO on an experimental oil expedition. Luis Miguel didn't think of the dangers, and only saw his future - all bright lights and smooth moves at parties. The expedition left Sao Tome in a state of the art submarine but soon drew the attention of global pirates, Deep Six, who attacked and took control of the submarine, issuing a ransom to the Portuguese government with a 24 hour time limit.

The Portuguese government had no way of paying the ransom, and weren't actually involved directly in the expedition anyway, so in the following 24 hours there were many harried conversations and meetings in the European Union and in Africa with Africa Force. With only an hour remaining to the deadline, Africa Force launched a rescue mission and arrived underwater to find the submarine completely abandoned, with only minimum power remaining.

While the governments and corporations were bickering over the ransom, Treasure and her pirates had raided the submarine for all of its experimental technology and also unwittingly causing it to shut down, depriving the occupants of air. Only Luis Miguel survived and he was so traumatised that he was taken to a hospital on Sao Tome where he remained for nearly a year in and out of trances. He received psychiatric assistance but would never have recovered without the onset of his telepathic powers which appeared during his hospital stay and allowed him to begin living his dreams as part of reality. He relived his hostage situation every day but slowly reorganised events in his mind so that he survived along with his employer and friends. Somehow this managed to return Luis Miguel to a mostly balanced mind. He convinced the doctors that he was better and returned to Oleo Industries in a diminished capacity.

While he looked like he was coping on the outside, within his mind Luis Miguel was constantly reliving moments of his life - from what had happened five minutes earlier to times when he was a child. His mind seemed to be able to recreate any memory and to reform it into anything he could imagine. Soon he turned his attention to his colleagues - a pretty assistant at the desk next to his suddenly found him very attractive and agreed to marry him; he could read his boss' mind and knew exactly what the old man wanted to hear. Suddenly Luis Miguel was going places again.

These petty manipulations inevitably led to more criminal ones and so 'Cabeca de Radio' became known across the small island, and even across to the mainland. He revelled in his power, enjoying the feeling he received when he read the minds of people he had taken hostage. He realised that Deep Six were certainly on to something and decided to strike fear into as many people as he could, while also grabbing as much cash as he could along the way.

Since taking on a secret identity, Luis Miguel has begun to separate his mundane life at the office from his larger than life escapades, to the extent that he sometimes thinks the other life is just a dream. The further he goes along this path the less likely he will ever be able to reconcile these two aspects of his life.

Personality
Cabeca de Radio is a mean telepath who enjoys kidnapping people so that he can delve into their terrified minds. He has not killed anyone yet, or seriously harmed them in a physical sense, but the potential is there. He follows a standard strategy of grabbing one or two people (usually young women) and then taking them to a warehouse where he subjects them to terrifying illusions while sitting back and eating fast food while dipping into their minds.

Luis Miguel, on the other hand, is a mostly meek and mild office worker. Since his ordeal with Deep Six, his co-workers treat him like a leper and he therefore has very little in the way of a social life. He does his work well enough, and sometimes dips into the minds of his co-workers, but it isn't until he puts on his costume that Luis Miguel becomes sadistic.

Quote
"A little more gore, a little less lace... that is picture perfect. Ah, the screams... like in stereo!"

Powers
A telepath with the ability to create illusions, read people's minds and control their memories and thoughts, Cabeca de Radio could become a considerable threat. However, he limits his powers to hostage situations and self-indulgent journeys into people's fears. He has revealed low level telekinetic powers as well, although these are sometimes forgotten, such as in the case when Cabeca de Radio was briefly caught by the police and failed to fly away as he had on other occasions. He nonetheless escaped once they arrived at the police station, but it is interesting to note that the man himself seems to forget that he has the ability to fly and create walls of pure force.

Appearance
Cabeca de Radio has a sense of dramatic flair and dresses in dark red leather jacket which buttons to his mouth and provides him with a bit of anonymity (bolstered by his telepathic powers). He wears an eye patch in honour of his 'founder', Deep Six, and spikes his hair when in costume. When he is regular Luis Miguel, he wears cheap business attire and his hair is generally lifeless and long, often covering his face. His entire body seems to lift when he becomes the villain, and beneath his meek appearance is a tougher than expected body.

Given the nature of his abilities, Cabeca de Radio (and Luis Miguel, as well) can change their appearance - subtly or dramatically.

#151 SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

2009-07-26T13:31:00.002+10:00

I thought I'd take a crack at this small set of African islands. Sao Tome is located off the west coast, near Gabon on the equator. Portugal colonised the islands in the late 15th Century and turned it into plantations of sugar and coffee. In recent times the waters surrounding Sao Tome have revealed oil deposits, which may or may not mean an improved economic situation for the small Arican country.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information (although I admit that I liked the old website much, much better):

Official Name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Government: Republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Population: 212,679 (July 2009)
Ethnic Groups: Mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Major Languages: Portuguese

Time to rock the dice...

Step One: Sao Tome
Step Two: (2) Single Character
Step Three: (2.3) Male
Step Four: (3.4) Villain
Step Five: (12) Mentalist
Step Six: (2.5) 200 Points (125 Base + 75 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (2) 0XP
Step Eight: (1) Modern Age

I'll get onto this character right now. Stay tuned...

#150 MARIA CORELLI (San Marino)

2009-07-25T07:16:00.005+10:00

MARIA CORELLI
Maria Corelli

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Maria Corelli ne Poggiali was born 1979 in Borgio Maggiore (a muncipalitie of San Marino).
Nothing implicated that she was born with a latent ubergene. She had the usual backround for a girl from the mountains. Maria worked in the Adriatic resort hotels during the summers and lived with her family during the winters.

In 1995 an earthquake hit the area she was living at and Maria's power manifested themselves. Maria worked like a maniac to help until local forces came to her relief.

It was by later consensus decided that her powers were a miracle granted by San Martino, the local patron saint, a stonemason. (A scientific examination proved her uberhuman status, but the locals disregard this.)
Maria tried to continue living as before but her public exposure during her rescue work made that virtually imposible.

Maria lived nearly as a hermit for a year, until she met her future husband, Carlo Corelli, the owner of a local quarry, while hiking. Carlo wanted to hire Maria at the beginning only for her powers but the two fell gradually in love and married after a year long stormy relationship.

---Maria Corelli was written by Black Ops

Personality
Maria is very temperamental, but not convinced that her powers make her special. She is trying to live a normal live, but will do what she deems necessary. Maria is not overtly thrilled with the decission of her countrymen that her powers are a divine blessing, but she remains a devout catholic.

Quote
"Hang on I am coming to help you!"

Powers
Maria is very strong and has some sort of power over earth and stone, that might one day be developed in some sort of Earth-Powers. She mostly relies on her strength and toughness.^^Maria was never really in a superfight. She does a lot of rescue work.

Appearance
A tiny Sammarinese woman, with black hair and warm brown eyes. When doing rescue work she wears a stout white overall with the Red Cross symbol. Privately Maria wears nice trendy clothes.

#150 San Marino

2009-07-25T06:59:00.004+10:00

San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world, about one third times the size of Washington, DC. It also claims to be one of the oldest republics in the world as well. San Marino is a mountainous country completely surrounded by Italy. Italians and Sammarinese are very similar in attitudes.

The CIA Factbook has the following information:

----------------------------------------------------------
Official Name: Republic of San Marino
Government: Republic
Capital: San Marino
Population: 30,324
Ethnic Groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Major Languages: Italian
-----------------------------------------------------------

Black Ops has generously offered to do the entry for San Marino.

#149 DOLPHIN RIDER (Samoa)

2009-07-24T16:06:00.006+10:00

DOLPHIN RIDER
Liliele Tatapu

Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
It was supposed to have been a simple trip, a trip to Aunt Sina's house on Upolo to celebrate her 80th birthday. However, things quickly turn to the worse. The ship developed engine problems ten miles offshore, and no matter how much Liliele's father babied the motor, it eventually gave out. Things quickly progressed as storm clouds raced in from the west. The storm churned the waves and rocked the families ship violently. Liliele was below deck when the lightning struck. There was a loud explosion and the next thing Liliele knew she was outside of the ship plunged in the deep waters off the coast of Upolo. Liliele struggled to the surface, her parents' ship was nowhere in sight. Waves and wind crashed down on Liliele as she struggled to just survive.

Liliele didn't know how she did survive. She was lost at sea and was sure that her family had parished as well. Dark depression swam in her mind, as Liliele contimplated giving up her struggle to survive. It was when things were at their darkest that the dolphins came. Like a group of playful young children the dolphins bobbed up next to her. Two came under her arms and helped Liliele back to Upolo, at the feet of Aunt Sina.

Liliele came to live with her aunt. The rest of her family were presumed to be lost at sea. Liliele was desolate without her family, so Aunt Sina, who knew some magic started teaching Liliele some of her craft to help the girl deal with her grief. Liliele has been with Aunt Sina for about five years now, and has learned a lot of magic from her. She's known as Dolphin Rider by the people of Samoa. Liliele likes to use her magic to rescue people lost at sea and also to fight against those who pollute. She still misses her family dearly, but sees her actions as a way of preventing others become orphans like her.

Personality
Liliele is a young woman, who knows she's going places. She doesn't back down and is rarely persuaded when it's something important to her, especially the environment. So long as Liliele tries, she's completely confident that she will achieve her goals. The few times that things haven't turned out the way Liliele thought they should, she has fled to the sea to be with her dolphin friends and have a good sulk. However, this moods are infrequent and Liliele is quickly to resume her crusades.

The environment is of great importance to Liliele. Not just the environment around Samoa, but the world at large. Liliele knows her magical powers aren't enough to change the world, but this hasn't stopped her from trying. So far, Liliele hasn't faught any super-villains like Ruin or the Elementals, but she would face them with courage and conviction that they are wrong and that she's right.

Quote
"Woho! Man this is such a rush!"

Powers
Aunt Sina has taught Liliele a number of spells. All of her magic is associated with the sea, and dolphins in particular. One of her most powerful spells is a spell that'll summon nearby friendly dolphins. With a little twist of magic, Liliele can take on the appearance of a dolphin. Usually when Liliele becomes a dolphin she'll cast other spells that allow her to hear like a dolphin, breathe underwater, and swim a little faster than a human, but nowhere close to as fast as a dolphin could.

Liliele has also learned two other spells that deal directly with water. She can cast a spell that allows her to walk on water, as if Liliele was walking upon a firm surface. Her other spell, is a spell that allows Liliele to shape water into any form she desires. Liliele is still young, and is still learning magic at the knees of Aunt Sina, so there is no telling how powerful she might become.

Appearance
Liliele is an athletic Samoan girl with dark skin tone. She doesn't maintain a costumed identity, and like most girls her age she is constantly changing her clothes. However, she's known all over the islands as the Dolphin Rider. When acting as Dolphin Rider, Liliele usually wears a bikini. Her Aunt Sina tattooed a symbol of power on her belly, and when Liliele wears a bikini it is quite prominent. Otherwise, Liliele is a typical teenage girl and dresses as such. Liliele has long straight black hair and brown eyes, showing off her Samoan ancestry.

#149 (Samoa)

2009-07-05T03:22:00.002+10:00

Samoa long ruled as a mandate by New Zealand since World War I. Samoa declared it's independence in 1962 becoming the first Polyneasian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The "West" part of the nations name was dropped in 1997

The CIA Factbook has the following information:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Official Name: Independent State of Samoa
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Capital: Apia
Population: 219,998
Ethnic Groups: Samoans
Major Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
-----------------------------------------------------------
And the Dice speak....

Step One: Samoa
Step Two: (4) Single Character
Step Three: (3.4) Female
Step Four: (2.2) Hero
Step Five: (4.3) Mystic
Step Six: (1.3) 150 Points (75 Base + 75 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (2.0) 0 XP
Step Eight: (3.0) Modern

#148 INTEGRA (St Vincent and the Grenadines)

2009-07-03T22:02:00.004+10:00

INTEGRA
Virginia Morse
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Virginia Morse worked for nearly a decade in various British Intelligence agencies before moving to the United States where she joined the official superhero team, Sanction. Her telepathic powers were never strong enough to make her part of the field team, but she worked diligently behind the scenes and eventually earned a reputation as a competent undercover agent.

Unfortunately, on her third assignment in Colombo, she was caught and held ransom. The US government refused to negotiate and Morse wasn't seen again for nearly two years. Everyone assumed she had been killed, but she had grown disillusioned with her adopted government and begun working on her own escape.

The Colombian cartel had neutralised her telepathy through a chemical cocktail designed by the criminal, El Disenador, so Morse had to rely on her mundane skills. She developed a close relationship with some of her captors and eventually managed to have them disrupt her drug routine. When her mental powers resurfaced she used them to escape, taking her allies with her.

Morse was a different woman when she surfaced on the Grenadines. She was as efficient as ever, but she no longer felt loyalty to anyone except herself. With a number of enemies and no discernible allies beyond the men she brought with her from Colombo, Morse made the decision to create her own good fortune. While never openly working against the United States, and her former employers Sanction, Morse has shown little regard for any government or law enforcement agency.

Personality
Integra no longer follows rules. She makes her own. While she is not out to forge a criminal empire, she is determined to never have to rely on anyone again. She targets drug runners, particularly coming from the mainland, and has built a secure base of operations in the Grenadines.

A calculating woman, Integra rarely makes mistakes.

Quote
"Some days I wonder how this happened, how I got here. But, really, this is a world of self-interest and it was only a matter of time before I was sacrificed for the so-called 'greater good'. "

Powers
Integra is a mid-level telepath with a variety of mostly defensive powers, including the creation of illusions, the reading and manipulation of memories and the ability to scan large areas for particular minds. In addition to her telepathy, she is also a cunning strategist and has a small team of loyal and well-armed men.

Appearance
Morse is an attractive woman in her late forties who has maintained a well-regimented physical training programme. She has a toned physique and a steely gaze. Since leaving Colombo she has never worn her Integra costume again, and prefers wearing conventional clothes. Occasionally she will wear an armoured vest, but prefers the fluidity of regular attire.

#148 AUNTIE XU (Saint Lucia)

2009-06-25T13:40:00.007+10:00

AUNTIE XU
Xu Ling-Ling

Character Sheet
Click Here

Background
The cries of a nearby nightingale mingled with the cries of Xu Ling-Ling. The young maid sat next to the river under a maple tree contemplating killing herself. Her master had dismissed her from his estate, all over the mistake of hers. Xu had accidently spilled tea on the silk vestments of the visiting Mongol overseer. In his rage, her master had beaten her with a bamboo rod and then had her thrown from the estate. Xu was inconsolable. The welts across her back throbbed and she dipped a strip of a clothe from her dress in the cool waters of the Fen River to cool down the pain.

It was the clopping of hooves that brought Xu out of her misery. A giggle escaped her lips, before she had time to cover her mouth. Out of the darkness came an ancient man riding a white donkey, backwards. Obviously the man was quite drunk as he swayed back and forth as the donkey, who seemed to know where he was going, walked.

The donkey walked up to Xu and nuzzled her hand looking for some sweets. Xu tried to push the beasts head away but it persisted.

"I am so sorry," said Xu Lin-Ling to the donkey, "I have no treats to give you."

"Huh," said the ancient man turning in his saddle to look at Xu, and promptly fell off the donkey.

Worried that the old man might have injured himself Xu rushed to his side. He tried to brush Xu off saying that he was fine, and had only hurt his pride. With the help of Xu the elderly man was able to regain his feet. The donkey barely noticed this being too busy drinking from the river. The man swayed a little, but Xu did her best to keep him from falling again.

"Now my child," said the ancient, "Why all the fuss? Why all the tears? The night is young, and the nightingales sing. This is a time of contimplation, a time to reflect, a time for a drink."

So saying the old man pulled forth a bottle from the long sleeves of his sparkling white robes, and took a long pull upon the bottle. A warm glow seemed to enfuse the old man. He let out a long sigh after his drink, which was followed by a belch.

"Excuse me my dear," said the ancient man, "That was most rude of me."
The man turned around as if looking for a place to sit. Finding no chair or stool, he merely sat down in the dirt next to the river. Xu was horrified. She was certain that he would ruin his fine robes, and told him so.

"Please, please my dear," said the man, "Do not carry on so."

This just seemed to have the opposite effect on Xu. She burst out in tears.

Xu's tears seemed to sober the old man somewhat. In desperation, he offered her his bottle, but Xu turned face away. The ancient man scratched his head a little, and then his eye lit up.

"Perhaps," said the old man, "you are hungry instead?"

A grumbling from Xu's stomach was answer enough. From his other sleeve the old man pulled out a wonderful looking peach. It was golden yellow and seemed to glow in the moon light.

With a smile the man held it out to Xu. She just starred at the peach.

"I cannot take it," said Xu, "It would be wrong."

"Perhaps, you are right my dear," said the old man, "Perhaps an exchange. You tell me what goes on hereabout, and while you do you may take of this peach that me and the others of my clan partake."

Smiling through the tears that plastered her face Xu took the peach.

"A word of warning though," said the old man a little to late. Xu had been starving and had already bitten into the fruit. The juices were light and tangy like ambrosia, the flesh of the fruit was the sweetest thing she had ever eaten. It was heaven.

The old man said no more, and all through the night Xu told him all that she knew, and when the dawn crested the horizon the old man was quite satisfied, and smiled on Xu.

That meeting with Elder Zhang Guo, one of the eight immortals was centuries ago. He had given Xu Ling-Ling one of his peaches of immortality. Xu has traveled the world a thousand times over, and has been countless people. However, even all of this became too much. For Xu it was time to retire. Using her fortune, Xu constructed a boardhouse in Saint Lucia, and decided to stay awhile. To the natives of Saint Lucia, she's known as Auntie Xu a local favorite. However, there are a few super-powered people in the Caribbean who've tried to attack the people on Saint Lucia. All of them were in quite a suprise from this little Chinese lady called Auntie Xu.

Personality
Auntie Xu is a well liked person on the island. She's always caring for the children and the sick. Auntie Xu does her best to make sure everyone is healthy. While she does run a boarding house, she often times lets her renters fall behind on their rents. However, the one who disrespects Auntie Xu in anyway finds themselves flung to the road, usually with the aid of Auntie Xu's broom.

Auntie Xu is normally a very calm and philosophical woman, radiating serentity whereever she goes. Nothing ever upsets her, except for possibly rude people. Her one real weakness, is that Auntie Xu loves to gossip. She has even made a profession of it. If there is something that Auntie Xu doesn't know she certainly knows the person to talk to about it. Auntie Xu likes to keep abreasted of everything that goes on, and most people don't mind.

Quote
"No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."

Powers
Believe it or not, but Xu Ling-Ling is probably the greatest martial artist in the world. However, Auntie Xu as she's known the island over isn't one to brag, let alone let most people even see her perform her form of martial arts, which she calls Broom Fu. Part of her style comes from centuries of practice, but some of it comes from the Peaches of Immortality that she ate. Needless to say even the most experienced martial arts cannot hold a candle to Auntie Xu.

Her Broom Fu is quite impressive. Auntie Xu can use all parts of her broom to deal damage to a foe from the end of the broom to the brissles at the other end. She's adapted some parts of accupuncture to an attack that paralyzes the victim, so that they cannot move until freed by similar means.

Other abilites that Auntie Xu has aquired over her long life is the ability to leap from place to place with what appears to be no effort. One moments she could be standing in front of someone, and the next she could be halfway across the island. Auntie Xu has also seen it all, and nothing really impresses her much anymore. Pirates, and other thugs have left her alone just because of the fact that they couldn't intemindate her.

Auntie Xu knows the ancient Chinese art of accupuncture, and often times acts as a doctor for the peoples of the island. Her helping others on the island makes the islanders quite protective of her. Often times people coming looking for Auntie Xu will not find her simply because the islanders will mislead the person, or just not answer their questions.

Lastly, Auntie Xu is immortal. She gained this by unknowingly eating of the Peaches of Immortality.

Appearance
Xu Ling-Ling isn't very tall. That is probably the first impression anyone makes upon meeting her. The second is that she's a Chinese woman living on an island in the Caribbean. Auntie Xu's normal way of dressing is a green dress with matching slippers. She isn't a super-hero, and certainly doesn't dress like one. Usually not far from her hands is her trusty broom. Since Auntie Xu likes to keep it a secret that she's immortal she over time adds makeup and coloring to her hair to make her look older. When it is time to change identities, Auntie Xu pretends to retire back to China, and has a granddaughter from China take her place. No one has ever figured out that the new Auntie Xu is the same person.

#148 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

2009-03-14T14:13:00.002+11:00

A few small volcanic islands at the tail end of the Westward Islands, a hop, skip and a jump from Venezuela, really. The population is low and the geographic location just cries out for some kind of secret base, so most likely this character will be a tourist - someone who wasn't actually born there but has made some kind of lasting impact on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Actually the name sounds like a superhero team: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines!

Official Name: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government: Parliamentary Democracy (Part of the Commonwealth)
Capital: Kingston
Population: 115,500
Ethnic Groups: Black (66%), Mulatto (19%), Asian (6%), White (4%), Other (5%)
Major Languages: English, English Creole

The above information is from my atlas so it might be a little out of date. Still, Uberworld is like our own world, but not exactly.

It's been nearly 6 months since I've done one of these characters, so the dice are rusty but let's see what they come up with...

Step One: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Step Two: (4) Single Character
Step Three: (2.5) Female
Step Four: (6.3) Vigilante
Step Five: (3) Brick
Step Six: (3.3) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (4) 8XP
Step Eight: (4) Modern

I still haven't got my Hero Designer on this computer so I might have to go back to manual calculations which would be both retro and liberating, I guess. I think this character will be a ruthless pirate-type who attacks smugglers and rich folks alike.

#147 PLACE HOLDER

2009-03-14T14:12:00.000+11:00

#147 Saint Lucia

2009-01-03T08:57:00.004+11:00

Once again we return to the Caribbean for the next exciting entry, Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia was originally founded by the French, but was later contested by the English. Both nations fought over Saint Lucia throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, changing hands 14 times. Eventually the English gained control of the small island nation. Saint Lucia gained independence in 1979.

The CIA Factbook has the following information:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Official Name: Saint Lucia
Government: Parliamentary Democracy (Part of the Commonwealth)
Capital: Castries
Population: 159,585 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Black; Some East Indian
Major Languages: English (official), French patois
-----------------------------------------------------------
And the Dice speak....

Step One: Saint Lucia
Step Two: (3) Single Character
Step Three: (1.6) Female
Step Four: (4.1) Hero
Step Five: (9.2) Martial Artist
Step Six: (6.6) 800 Points (600 Base + 200 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (5) 12 XP
Step Eight: (2) Modern

#146 SILVER SHARK (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

2009-01-03T07:36:00.008+11:00

SILVER SHARK
Simon Mosse

Character Sheet
Click Here

Background
Irving “Irv” Irvine could believe it. How on Earth did his wife convince him to take a vacation, especially seeing how Irv was the greatest and busiest TV producers in Hollywood, and how in the world did she find this place, Saint Kitts. Iriv Irvine had never even of the island nation until his wife had told Irv about their reservation. Didn’t she know how busy Irv was?

The sun was torture on Irv’s skin, and the hat his wife had given him just wasn’t enough to keep the sun off of his face. Irv sighed a little as he reached for the zinc for his nose that was on the small table beside the pool chair he was sprawled in. Tube in hand, Irv was just about to slaver some of the zinc on his nose when Irv saw the boy coming out to of the pool. He was amazed. The boy was an Adonis for sure. Irv instantly knew that he would be perfect for the new show that Irv was producing, ‘The Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark’. This boy would be perfect for the part of the Silver Shark, well almost perfect. The boy was a black. Well Irv could work with that. Irv was no racist. Hadn’t he escaped Nazi Germany when he was a little kid? They didn’t call it Hollywood magic for nothing. It could work.

Irv knew this kid from MIT or one of those egghead schools back east, who had been pestering Irv about this new design he had come up with, and needed some major backing for his research. Irv was known around Hollywood for his realism. The ‘Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark’ were going to be as realistic as the studios could afford, Irv would see to it.

Irv was mildly surprised that the star of his new TV show was actually the bartender.

Holding up his umbrella topped pineapple, Irv got the kids’ attention.

The bartender toweling himself off came over with a big smile.

“Say, kid,” said Irv, “how would you like to be in pictures?”

“Sure,” said Simon, “that would be great.” Again a great smile.

‘The Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark’ ran for two years from 1967 to 1969. It was eventually cancelled to the extreme costs of building the Silver Shark armor. In fact the cost of the armor itself almost bankrupted the studios, but Irv did get his way. Later when reruns became popular, ‘The Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark’ became a cult classic.

Personality
Simon, and through him Irv, was never one to shy from the spotlight. Irv knew how to pick a star, and Simon was certainly that. In his day, he was one of most popular actors in Hollywood, and if he was refused services in some places, there were certainly others that were willing to pander for him, and Irv always had reporters on hand to get great photos of him. Simon loved and lived it.

Naturally being in the public’s eye had had a serious impact on Simon. He started to believe his own publicity. Simon believed that he was the life the party, the center of everyone’s conversation. It came as a great surprise to Simon to find out that his name was no longer on everyone’s lips when ‘The Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark’ was finally canceled. Since his show was canceled Simon found himself typecasted for the rest of his career.

Throughout his career as the Silver Shark, Simon portrayed a super-heroes super-hero. He never cursed or seriously harmed anyone. Silver Shark was known for giving talks to school children encouraging them to stay in school, and to never miss an episode of ‘The Undersea Adventures of Silver Shark.’

Quote
"By the sea!"

Powers
Simon wears a state of the art (for the 1960's) battlesuit. The suit provides him with superhuman strength, stamina, and speed, making Simon a true super-hero. Servos in the suit allow Simon to lift two hundred tons over his head without stress on the suit. Naturally the suit had a power pack that provided all of the energy for the Silver Shark.

The suit was completely self-contained even carrying its’ own oxygen supply. Because of Irv’s desire for realism, the battlesuit was armored, able to resist bullets fired at Silver Shark point blank.

One of the most amazing things about the battlesuit, was that while wearing in Simon could actually fly, without wires even. The suit was so aerodynamic that Silver Shark could fly through the water with greatest of ease.

The suit also has the highest level of sensors built into it. Silver Shark had sonar, the ability to see underwater as if it were a clear day, and the ability to hear the clicking of dolphin several miles away while underwater.

Appearance
The Silver Shark suit was the state of the art in battlesuit in the 1960's. The suit itself was a skintight suit of a silvery metallic which covered the wearers body entirely. A dorsal fin ran the length of the back of suit, from the tip of the head down to lower back. Similar fins were located at the wrist and ankles.

Outside of the Silver Shark suit, Simon Mosse was an extremely handsome black, always with a quick smile for the cameras. Simon always wore the most fashionable clothes for a star of his age.

#145 Saint Kitts and Nevis

2008-10-02T21:52:00.002+10:00

The Caribbean beckons again with episode #145 as we head to the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis which are actually in some kind of dispute. Nevis wants to become independent. The water between the two is known as The Narrows and there are two volcanoes just ready for Uberworld treatment.

Saint Kitts is home to Brimstone Hill Fortress which is Heritage Listed and the largest fortress built in the Caribbean. It was built with slave labour over nine decades by the British but was over-run by the French in 1782. I'd say the Fortress would suit a super hero group or a villain. You know, either way.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information:

Official Name: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Government: Parliamentary Democracy (Part of the Commonwealth)
Capital: Basseterre
Population: 39,817 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Major Languages: English

And the dice tumble...

Step One: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Step Two: (3) Single Character
Step Three: (4.1) Male
Step Four: (4.3) Hero
Step Five: (16) Powered Armour
Step Six: (5.4) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (2) 0XP
Step Eight: (6.3) Silver Age

Another non-Modern Era character. Cool beans. I think this guy will be an Iron Man homage with a dash of The Phantom thrown in for good measure - perhaps some pirates in his background.

#144 UMURIRO (Rwanda)

2008-10-02T21:48:00.002+10:00

UMURIRO
Patricia Mekelle
Character Sheet (Click Here)
Created by Rodrigo Vergueiro

Background
The legends said that the old Kings of Rwanda had been blessed by fire, being Sons of Nkuba, the Heavenly God of Fire. Fire played a central role in traditional Rwanda, both in ritual and in ordinary life. The fire in the hearth of the houses had to be tended and never be allowed to die, and if it did, then it was to be rekindled as soon as possible, for a fireless home was a lifeless house.

On April 6, 1994, Rwanda started burning in a way that the Gods and the ancients Kings could had never predicted. Brother turned against brother, neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend. The Hutu-led military and Interahamwe militia groups started killing all the Tutsis and Hutu moderates that they could find. The Hutu had always been the majority in the country and still resented the fact that their former colonial masters had given all the political power to the Tutsi minority. When the current president (a Hutu) was killed, the military decided it was time to cleanse Rwanda of all the Tutsis.

Patricia Mekelle was 14 at the time, the daughter of a Tutsi nurse and a Hutu teacher. She was roused from bed by her mother, saying that they had to leave town. Her father had phoned from school saying that he would pick them up with his old car. He warned them not to leave the house because there were militia roadblocks and military patrols springing up everywhere.

Unfortunately, he never arrived. He was shot in a roadblock because a Hutu neighbor had denounced him – after all, he was married to a Tutsi woman. The same neighbor organized a search party in their street, rounding up all the Tutsis. The males of all ages and the old women were to be executed on the spot, but the younger women would be spared for “further entertainment”. Patricia’s mother heard and saw the first shots and the mob on the street, searching the houses. She knew that her husband couldn’t reach home through all those people and decided to act. She took Patricia to the back of the house and helped her climb the wall to the other side, a deserted backstreet. She told her to seek refuge on the town’s church and that she would join her there when her father arrived.

Patricia followed those orders, using the backstreets to reach the church. But she found the building burning, surrounded by military vehicles and soldiers shooting everyone who tried to leave the church. Scared, she slowly made her way back, trying to reach home and warn her parents that their meeting point wasn’t safe. A trip that had taken 15 minutes took almost 2 hours, but she never reached her goal.

Even from a distance she could see the flames engulfing her house and the ones around. She stood there, with her back to a ruined house, watching the fire, not knowing what to do, oblivious to the old jeep coming up the street. It was then that a firm hand grabbed her, pulling her into a door of the house. She landed roughly on the floor, trying to search for the one responsible for that. She found herself surrounded by 4 tall people. They were all dressed in colorful clothes and their black skin was shinning with an inner light. They appeared to be very old, but their voices were filled with power:

“Child, we are the Ibimanuka, Those who came down from Heaven. Lord Nkuba sent us, His Children, to help. The people are returning to their animal ways. The time has come to once again cleanse this land and start afresh.”

Joining their hands, the started chanting in unison, announcing to the heavens that the new champion had been found. And it was also in unison that they said: “Rise, Umuriro. You shall be the avatar of this new age. You will bring the cleansing fire that shapes the future.”

With these words, Patricia found herself back on the street, with a strange fire burning inside and her mind filled with a new mission. The air around her started shimmering and waves of fire flowed from her pores, burning her clothes in a flash. The jeep was parked a few meters from her, filled with startled militia members, who couldn’t stop leering at her naked shimmering body. With a gesture of her wand, she blew up the vehicle, killing everyone inside. After that, Patricia walked home, snuffing the fire that burned her house and finding the remains of her mother, tied to a bed.

Her hatred grew stronger, and so did her fire. Walking slowly through the town, she killed everyone with a weapon. Her cleansing fire didn’t know ethnic groups, killing both Hutus and Tutsis. Taking the road to Kigali, she destroyed every vehicle she encountered, every person armed and every trace of modern civilization that she didn’t deemed useful. U.N. and French forces tried to stop her, but she got rid of them easily.

Reaching the capital she announced that the country was now a Kingdom again and she would protect it until a new King could be “forged from the people” by the Ibimanuka. She warned that further ethnic bloodshed and foreign intervention of any kind would only cause her wrath. The Rwandese accepted her rule out of fear but the neighbouring countries didn’t, and in 1995 both Burundi and Uganda tried to invade Rwanda and were soundly defeated by Umuriro.

Since then, the Kingdom of Rwanda has been left alone by everyone. The few visitors and the refugees that leave the kingdom, tell the same stories: a country turned into a kingdom from the old African tales; where the people live peacefully amidst the ruins of cities without electricity or running water. The public order is maintained by an unarmed militia, called the “Sons of Nkuba”, who reports directly to Umuriro. Every year, the capital, Kigali, holds a week of traditional sports games, where all the youths of the kingdom are compelled to participate. The winners are then taken to Umuriro’s residence, were they are further tested by the Ibimanuka, who still search for a new King. They usually don’t survive the tests…

Personality
Patricia Mekelle doesn’t exist anymore, only Umuriro. Her body and her knowledge are now used by something very old and unearthly. Her mission is what drives her – stop the bloodshed in her country at any cost and rebuild the Kingdom. A small voice in her head sometimes wonders if she’s doing the right thing, but then she remembers what happened to her mother and to all the other innocents and the fire in her rekindles again.

Quote
“My fire will cleanse the land.”

Powers
Umuriro is some sort of fire elemental. She can create and manipulate fire at will from her body and from other sources. She’s always surrounded by flames and heat, a very effective protection field. She can also blast fire from her hands and fly.

Although her fire is very hot, it doesn’t burn the ground where she walks nor the people and things around her unless she wants it. The only ones who can touch her body at any time without burning are the four Ibimanuka.

Appearance
Umuriro appears as a shapely woman of indeterminate age, surrounded by very vivid flames. The only skin that can be seen looks like a cracked lava flow and her eyes are just bottomless pits of flaming light.

#144 MONGOOSE (Rwanda)

2008-10-02T21:41:00.002+10:00

MONGOOSE
Real Name Unrevealed
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Not much is known about the man calling himself The Mongoose, apart from the fact that he is a talkative thug with a very high opinion of himself. He has appeared across southern Africa as well as Europe, particularly in France, where he has operated as hired muscle for various criminal organisations. The Mongoose does not appear to be an uberhuman, although he has a very powerful leaping ability. Africa Force has not bothered to search for more information on him, and the villainous group The Hunt has tried to shake off his attention several times. It appears that The Mongoose considers himself worthy of joining The Hunt and serving The Witch Doctor.

Personality
The Mongoose is a motor mouth, never stopping in his endless tirades against opponents during heated battles or even during routine guard duty. It is because of this inability to keep his mouth shut that The Mongoose's career has not blossomed over the years. Most employers stay away from him, leaving only the inexperienced or desperate to offer him assignments.

Quote
"HAHAHAHA! You should have seen their faces when I pulled out the Dzembabi Diamond - right under their noses the whole time, and they didn't even suspect me. Me? The Mighty Mongoose who has, time and time again, proven his worth and astounded his employers. It must truly be your honour to be here sparring with me this evening, and you do not need to feel unworthy just because you have yet to lay a hand on me. Not many do, I can assure you. But did I tell you about the time when The Hippo split his pants during a robbery in Johannesburg?"

Powers
The Mongoose is a thug. He is hired to hurt people or to protect something, usually illegal or shady in the extreme. He dresses as a super villain and uses two sets of retractable claws which can be quite deadly. He is a strong man and has the abilities of an Olympic gymnast coupled with the attention span and vocabulary of a thirteen year old suffering from double doses of ADHD. He is also an incredible leaper, able to cover distances of over 40m. The ability does not appear to be uberhuman in origin, although it is also not connected with his costume as he has used it to escape custody several times.

Appearance
No one really knows what The Mongoose looks like under his mask. He appears to be a man in his twenties and is usually unshaven with stubble on his chin. He wears an orange jumpsuit reinforced with kevlar and highlighted in black and a dark crimson. There are retractable claws in each of his gloves. His boots have the ends cut out so his bare toes are visible. Despite this there have been no links with finger or toe prints, despite the times he has been apprehended.

Notes
Not happy with the quote... I was going for something along the lines of Deadpool but got this gunk... help??!

#144 Rwanda

2008-10-02T15:07:00.002+10:00

Straight from wikipedia:

The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Home to approximately 10.1 million people, Rwanda supports the densest population in continental Africa, with most of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. A verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain, the small republic bears the title "Land of a Thousand Hills".

The country has garnered international attention most markedly for the infamous Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Rwanda has applied to become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a decision on its application is expected in 2009.[citation needed] In 2008 Rwanda became the first country in history to elect a majority female national legislature.

Interesting fact about the country electing a majority female national legislature. In the Uberworld Rwanda is not a party to the Africa Force agreement, nor is it infiltrated by the Sons of Set so there is some scope for this upcoming character.

Actually, Rodrigo has volunteered to create a character for Rwanda, and I'll be doing one as well - just for kicks.

Let's see what the CIA World Factbook has to say about Rwanda:

Official Name: Republic of Rwanda
Government: Republic; Presidential, multiparty system.
Capital: Kigali
Population: 10,186,063
Ethnic Groups: Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
Major Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Rodrigo will handle his side of the character generation and I'll take a shot at the following one -

Step One: Rwanda
Step Two: (5) Single Character
Step Three: (2.3) Male
Step Four: (2.4) Villain
Step Five: (10.4) Martial Artist
Step Six: (2.4) 150 Points (75 Base + 75 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (4) 7XP
Step Eight: (1) Modern Era

There you go. A bad guy with some moves and not many points!

#143 UXB (Russia)

2008-10-02T14:48:00.003+10:00

UXB
Sergei Yagudin
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
When Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988 it signalled the end of the Cold War, but it also signalled the rise of the uberhuman super villain UXB who would go on to become one of the most devastating ubers of the 1990s. Before his transformation, Sergei Yagudin was like most of the other young soldiers in his platoon. He was trained in the basics of warfare, equipped with flawed weapons and sent to Afghanistan to fight the Americans through a proxy conflict. His goals were simple: to survive long enough to return home and hopefully work in his father's truck repair business.

The Soviet super team 'Oktober' was active in Afghanistan and were hailed as heroes. Yagudin and his friends looked up to them with pride and a little envy. During the withdrawal Oktober vanished: the government was not interested in any protracted negative publicity so the team was called back to Moscow ahead of the troops. Yagudin felt a little betrayed, as did many of his friends and most of the military command.

When the platoon was ambushed by Mujhadeheed forces there were pleas for Oktober to rescue the young, doomed soldiers. There was no help and the Russians were slaughtered except for three who holed up in a cave which was surrounded by the Mujhadeheed.

For several days the soldiers were trapped and the Mujhadeheed enjoyed torturing them with obscene displays against the dead soldiers. One of the survivors shot himself in the cave, leaving Yagudin and one other in darkness. What happened next is not clear but most believe Yagudin went insane with the death threats becoming more and more graphic and the dwindling hope extinguished by the darkness.

Apparently he was an uberhuman and as the pressure built up he literally exploded, shattering his own body and the mountain he was hiding in. A crater can still be seen at the site. There were no survivors and no eye-witnesses apart from Yagudin who admits that he has no clear recollection of what happened.

He survived, though, and reformed his body although it was now more powerful than it had ever been.

Feeling betrayed by Russia he remained in Afghanistan causing mayhem and nearly reversing the Soviet and West withdrawal. He grew bored with the wanton destruction and moved to the Middle East where he continued to cause trouble, but this time as a mercenary, reaping financial rewards for his explosive acts.

The Americans called him UXB (Unexploded Bomb) and the name caught on. Yagudin hadn't considered a name for himself but when the media began taking an interest in his crimes and his past, he began to liken himself to his heroes, Oktober. In fact, he and Oktober met several times and most of those were on friendly terms. It was during the end of Oktober that UXB actually eclipsed them in fame. Oktober had been disbanded during the 1990s but UXB moved even more on to the world stage.

During what is now known as The Iron Age, UXB clashed with American super teams on American soil and abroad, most famously when he blew up three Navy vessels off the coast of Washington State : USS Callaghan, the George C Marshall nuclear submarine and the Range Sentinel. He was also successful in defeating Sanction twice and was responsible for the deaths of Hawk Lord, X-Kavator and Darkstar II.

While he was briefly incarcerated in America in 1992 UXB was never really contained until his death in 1995 at the hands of the villain group Maximum Force in what became known as The Acts of War. Other villains involved included the Havoc Masters, Deep Six and the (Alternate) New Men.

Personality
UXB was mad. The trauma of his transformation was never really reconciled and he went through his explosive career with utter abandon. He loved destruction and had no regard for anyone except himself, a factor in his eventual death at the hands of Maximum Force. He betrayed partners but was never blacklisted in the mercenary world because his powers were so devastating.

By the end of his life he was a hollow man. There was nothing in his life and earning money from jobs was not making him any happier.

Quote
"Game Over!"

Powers
His powers were known throughout the world as he was the walking time bomb. UXB's body was able to detonate massive energy, easily able to topple buildings and more than enough to throw down even the hardiest of super heroes. The range of his explosions was generally a 60m radius and he had shown himself capable of multiple detonations in the space of a short time.

Appearance
After his transformation Sergei Yagudin grew a foot and put on over 60lbs of muscle. He was thick and red-faced, seemingly immovable and incredibly aggressive in his stance and gaze. He wore his reddish hair in a buzz cut and had a block head. For a costume he wore an assortment of iron link chains over a red and black armoured jumpsuit. He never concealed his face because he knew that he could wipe out any witnesses to his crimes: living or mechanical.

Notes
This character is based on one of my brother's characters from way back when we played Champions FtF. UXB back then was a good guy, but this new version fits the Iron Age villain type. Massive damage, no moral compass.

#143 Russia

2008-09-29T21:17:00.002+10:00

What can you say about Russia? It has been home to the Czars, revolutions, Lenin and Stalin, space-faring chimpanzees and capital C communism. In comic history the Russians have been the 'bad guys', the communist foil to America's democracy.

In Uberworld we've pretty much followed that idea. Russia under the Soviet regime had very, very tight controls over uberhumans up until recent times when the newly democratised Russia unveiled its super hero team, Russian Dawn. You can read more about it via the campaign page as Russian Dawn is a game in Uberworld, complete with players and posts.

For more CIA-Based information (at least the declassified information) see the CIA World Factbook entry on Russia:

Official Name: Russian Federation (Rossiyskaya Federatsiya)
Government: Federation
Capital: Moscow
Population: 140,702,096 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)
Major Languages: Russian, many minority languages.

The Russian entry will be:

Step One: Russia
Step Two: (4) Single Character
Step Three: (4.2) Male
Step Four: (3.5) Villain
Step Five: (13) Metamorph
Step Six: (6.2) 450 Points (300 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (3) 0XP
Step Eight: (6.5) Iron Age (edit: hmm, haven't had one of those in a while!)

I think Noah will be creating a Russian or two as well, so we'll see what eventuates. Stay tuned.

#142 DRAGONFIRE (Romania)

2008-09-29T21:12:00.002+10:00

DRAGONFIRE
Georgeta Dragulescu
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Dragonfire is the result of a communist-era science experiment. Georgeta was one of twelve subjects chosen by the Romanian government, under close supervision of the Russians, during the early 1970s. Of the twelve only three were ever seen publicly. The first Dragonfire was male and opposed Uber Force during 1972. Despite widespread destruction, the first Dragonfire was ineffective against the super-heroes and consumed himself in flames rather than be captured. He died at the scene.

The second Dragonfire was female and also opposed Uber Force. She managed to get close to Max Uber and assisted in his capture in 1973. Apart from that she was never seen again.

The third Dragonfire was Georgeta Dragulescu, the only one to survive past her first appearance. She was a member of an Eastern bloc assassin corps which infiltrated the United Nations and killed several key ambassadors, including the American ambassador. After several other high profile raids Dragonfire moved to America, discarding her Romanian handlers in favour of a more freestyle operation as a mercenary.

She was well suited to mercenary work and managed a steady and prosperous career during the 1980s.

During the 1990s she reformed briefly and worked as a private investigator in New York City, and although the police never gave up pursuing her, she did some good. Sanction made it a priority to capture her but were unsuccessful for many years. In the end she seemed to get bored with altruistic work and returned to the more lucrative (and destructive) world of the mercenary.

In the current day she works as a sole operator across the United States and Europe.

Personality
Georgeta has been around for a long time and has only ever been imprisoned for short periods of time. She is tough and stubborn. While she is active in the modern world, her roots in Eastern Europe have made her suspicious of 'modern science' and scientists in general. She sometimes goes out of her way to bring down scientific installations and will never work for scientists. In contrast she is very comfortable discussing magic and alternate worlds in a New Age style - although she has no real knowledge of such places or situations.

Despite her long years of active service in the mercenary world Dragonfire still retains a certain awkward Eastern European accent and persona which borders of stereotype. She finds social situations tiresome and always makes time to cast aspersions on the West in general and super heroes in particular.

Quote
"Dis is your un-lucky day."

Powers
All three Dragonfires exhibited the same powers: hardened skin, enhanced strength and physical attributes as well as the signature power to breathe fire. Georgeta has learned to use her abilities to a greater extent than her predecessors, most likely because she has managed to live longer than the earlier ones.

Georgeta is also a trained boxer and wrestler. She wears hardy bracelets which she uses to deflect bullets: a fearless ability she has used to great advantage in striking fear in her non-powered opponents.

A weakness she has exhibited is poor eyesight during daylight, something she attempts to overcome through the use of shades.

Appearance
Dragonfire is a strong, powerfully built woman who certainly looks like she is a wrestler. Her shoulders are broad, her neck thick, and her back rippled with muscles. She wears her thick black hair in dreadlocks and her skin has a dark, leather-like look.

Over the years she has sported a variety of costumes ranging from the government-sponsored spandex of the 1970s to the leather and spikes of the 1980s. Generally she now wears regular clothing as well as a fire-inspired vest made of kevlar.

#142 Romania

2008-08-24T16:18:00.002+10:00

Riddled with corruption and oppression during 1947-1962 under communist rule, Romania is now a member of NATO (2004) and the European Union (January 2007). Since travel between countries has become easier, Romania has seen many of its people move to other countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and even overseas to the USA and Canada. The Wikipedia site suggests over 2 million Romanians have emigrated although there is no source cited.

From an Uberworld perspective that means that any Romanian uber could find themself in any number of countries - which makes it easier to slip into campaigns. Let's see what we roll up.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Romania:

Official Name: Romania
Government: Republic
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Major Languages: Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%

Noah is working on a Romanian, but I'm going to do a random one too, so let's see what the dice say:

Step One: Romania
Step Two: (2) Single Character
Step Three: (1.5) Female
Step Four: (2.6) Villain
Step Five: (6) Energy Projector
Step Six: (4.5) 400 Points (250 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (1) 0XP
Step Eight: (5) Modern Era

#141 ROCKRETE (Qatar)

2008-08-24T16:14:00.002+10:00

ROCKRETE
Fahim Abd-Al-Malik
Created by Rodrigo Vergueiro
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Fahim Abd-Al-Malik was proud to be working on the coastal city of Lusail, the newest city in Qatar. He was only an engineer in a “sea” of hundreds, but was well respected by his peers and above all, he was loved by his workers. Unlike most Qataris, he treated his subordinates like real workers not like slaves who tolled endlessly to build the new architectural wonders of Qatar.

It was that devotion from his workers that saved him when the foundations of the building he was supervising collapsed. Buried alive with four other men, under tons of sand and concrete, Fahim saw his life flee past his eyes. He knew he didn’t have much oxygen left and he couldn’t feel his legs anymore, but he also knew that he had to hold on a bit longer and rescue would come.

He was right. His teams hadn’t waited for the rescue workers to get there and had started digging through the wreckage themselves. After half-an-hour they found the bodies of the other four men, but they couldn’t find his body, only his clothes. The puzzled workers continued digging around the area. He had to be under that! He couldn’t have vanished.

It was then that a miracle happened. The sand and the concrete started congregating in a human form. Fahim Abd-Al-Malik had returned to them!

He was not sure of what happened, and he couldn’t explain it to the authorities, but he didn’t have a human form anymore, just a fluid form, which changed from sand to concrete and rock. After a visit by the Iron Amir itself and some scientists, a theory was formed - the stress of the situation had triggered his ubergene and transformed him.

Soon he was released from the hospital and become a minor public celebrity. He returned to his old workplace and found out that his powers could help a lot in the field of constructions and such. After his employers saw this, he was offered a big raise and was assigned to be the spokesperson for the construction company. They even invented a nickname for him – Rockrete, an English amalgamation of “rock” and “concrete” – in a bid to win more foreign contracts for the company.

Unfortunately the name didn’t catch and he soon reverted to using his real name.

Personality
Fahim is an easy-going person but very professional when it comes to work. He doesn’t discriminate anyone because of their origins and likes to get his hands dirty, working alongside his teams of guest workers.

As a Muslin, he can’t really explain what happened to him. He sometimes sees his powers as a curse sent by Allah and he doesn’t like the way some of his illiterate workers worship him, thinking that it borders on blasphemy.

Quote
“Here, let me help you.”

Powers
Fahim's physiology changed dramatically after the accident. He isn’t made of flesh and bone anymore but of sand, concrete and rocks. That makes him very tough but also a bit slower than a normal human. After some careful experimenting, he found out that he could reshape his body or any part of it into different forms (he usually turns both hands into stoning hammers) and he can disintegrate himself (although forming a new body is quite strenuous). He can also manipulate any kind of sand, rock or concrete, shaping it with his mind.

Appearance
Rockrete is a mix of sand, rock and concrete shaped into a human form. It’s got a pair of black eyes, a mouth but no nose or ears. During his hospital stay, the medics couldn’t explain it, but he also had a heartbeat and brain waves although there isn’t any sign of an actual heart or brain in that mass of different materials. When working or in public he usually dresses in comfortable work clothes but when home alone, he doesn’t bother.

#141 Qatar

2008-08-24T16:06:00.003+10:00

Qatar is ruled by an Amir from the al-Thani family. In Uberworld, Mustapha bin Gamal al-Thani is the superhero Iron Amir, leader of the Five Pillars superhero team. It's a relatively stable country with no border disputes and very lucrative oil and natural gas reserves. It has the highest per capita income in the world.

The World Factbook has the following information on Qatar:

Official Name: State of Qatar
Government: Emirate
Capital: Doha
Population: 928,635 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Major Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Rodrigo is going to create a character for Qatar. Given the population and the fact that Iron Amir and Slick are already written up, I think Rodrigo's character will be the last of the Qatari ubers.

#140 ROAD RAGE (Puerto Rico)

2008-08-16T21:58:00.002+10:00

ROAD RAGE
Ruben Boscana
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Six hours, twenty-four minutes and fifteen seconds... six hours, twenty-four minutes and sixteen seconds... six hours, twenty-four minutes and seventeen seconds...

Ruben barely blinked as the red Chrysler rolled through the toll gates. The clink of the coins sounded distant and tinny. Somewhere in the back of his head a pressure began mounting.

Six hours, twenty-five minutes...

A pickup came to a temporary halt, its engine idling. The driver fumbled for change and banged his elbow on the horn.

Behind the pickup, a woman slammed on her brakes as she saw the red tail lights. She had been expecting a smooth transition through the toll gate. Her children were screaming about a dropped Bratz doll. The tyres screeched and her car swerved, just scraping the pickup's bumper bar.

Within seconds the burly man in the pickup had poured himself out of his vehicle like molten lead, fury rising through his thick body. He glared at the woman who was desperately winding down her window, the children screaming all the louder because of the slight bump.

Six hours, twenty-five minutes and ten seconds...

Ruben's chin slipped off his palm and he looked with a dazed interest as the man brought down a crowbar on the woman's family car.

He blinked again, disinterested although he knew he should probably call the supervisor.

Glass sprinkled on to the road. Obscenities flew through the afternoon air.

Ruben wondered how hot it was outside his booth.

The temperature gauge on the pickup spiked at the thought, and its engines revved even though there was no longer a driver in the seat. Exhaust blew backward, there was a change in gears. Behind the pickup, the man holding the crowbar turned around, his face contorted with anger.

The pickup skidded backward, the tyres burning fast in an acrid cloud. It lurched backward, barely held in place by the brakes. And then the brakes were released, the pickup leapt backward and crushed the man between the bumper bar and the woman's bonnet.

The woman's car revved forward, nearly cutting the man in half as it took control of itself, forcing the woman driver to cover her eyes and scream for help. It reversed and then spun around 180 degrees, facing the oncoming traffic. With another rev of the possessed engines the woman, her children and her battered family Ford sped towards a distant wave of five o'clock commuters.

Ruben Boscana rubbed his chin and turned his swivel chair around to look at the clock.

Six hours, twenty-seven minutes and fourteen seconds...

It was proving to be a long afternoon shift.

Personality
Ruben Boscana is a recent immigrant from Puerto Rico and has found himself a low-paying job manning a toll booth on a highway within the Los Angeles area. He hates his job and its monotonous routine, but he has little choice.

What he doesn't realise, though, is that his frustration has triggered his ubergene and his wildly creative and destructive personality has unleashed itself on vehicles in his area. He lives his fantasies through taking possession of cars and trucks and turning them on the world around them. He doesn't really accept that he is responsible for the death and destruction, though.

During one extended rampage through downtown Los Angeles, his possessed cars were opposed by Hella Chill and he had a glimpse of what he was capable of. The thought of him being responsible for the attacks sent him momentarily catatonic, and Hella Chill was able to restore order although neither she nor the FBI know that Ruben is responsible. They have suspected an uberhuman is behind the attacks and have dubbed 'him' Road Rage.

Quote
"This is my life, hombre: one second after another second after another second... and all I get is the fumes and abuse. It is a wonder no body goes loco around here."

Powers
Road Rage is able to temporarily take possession of vehicles in his immediate area, be they cars, trucks, motorbikes or even aeroplanes. Once in his control they tend to cause as much mayhem as possible and exhibit suicidal rage. He has never actively used his powers at this time, but it is possible and the consequences would be disastrous. Most of the time it is his subconscious which activates the 'road rage', generally brought about by extreme boredom.

Appearance
Ruben Boscana is a Puerto Rican man in his early twenties. Everything about him is unremarkable even down to the clothes he wears. He is on the skinny side and his complexion is getting worse as he continues to live a lifestyle of poor diet and little exercise.

The vehicles he possesses tend to become demonic in appearance.

#140 Puerto Rico

2008-08-15T20:56:00.003+10:00

We've made #140 and Puerto Rico (Borinquen), which is apparently also known as La Isla del Encanto, which translated means "The Island of Enchantment." I'm not sure what else to say about the island. It's closely alligned to the United States and is even considered a colony or territory of the US.

Let's ship over to the CIA World Factbook and see some stats:

Official Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Government: Commonwealth. Unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Capital: San Juan
Population: 3,958,128 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: White (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9% (2000 census)
Major Languages: Spanish, English

Let's see what Puerto Rico can offer up to the Uberworld:

Step One: Puerto Rico
Step Two: (5) Single Character
Step Three: (2.2) Male
Step Four: (1.4) Villain
Step Five: (13) Metamorph
Step Six: (4.1) 250 Points (150 Base + 100 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (4) 6XP
Step Eight: (2) Modern Era

O-kay...

#139 O ENCOBERTO (Portugal)

2008-08-15T19:56:00.003+10:00

O ENCOBERTO
Ricardo Almeida
Created by Rodrigo (predatorpt)
Character Sheet (click here)

Background
Ricardo Almeida was going through a mid-life crisis. His work was boring; his wife was probably cheating on him and the historical book he was trying to write had already been rejected by 3 publishers.

In the spur of the moment, he had taken leave from work, withdrawn all of his life savings from the bank and booked a flight to Sao Miguel Island, one of the Azores Islands. His wife had been totally against the unplanned vacation even after he explained that he needed the time to finish his book. He then tried to reason with her, saying that it would be like a second honeymoon for them.

In the end, she had agreed to come with him, but had just spent the first week; always complaining about the weather before returning to the mainland: Ricardo was certain that she would be using that time alone to be with her lover and that seemed to crush him even more.

He found himself near the shore of the Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), one of the two lagoons that constitute the Seven Cities Lagoon. The final draft for his book – The Hidden Story of King Sebastian – was in his backpack and the wind was behind him, as if trying to push him forward into a new future. This was the time for making a choice. To continue with his old life or start a new one…

He decided to take a different path. It was time for his life to end. He dropped the backpack and wrote a little goodbye letter for his wife. He was sure that after he was gone, she would really miss him. And he still loved her, so he explained how she could publish his soon to be posthumous book and get rich by doing that.

After that, he stepped into the water, took a deep breath and plunged into the depths. He was never a strong swimmer, but it wasn’t very difficult to swim in those calm blue waters. His plan was to stay underwater until he couldn’t hold his breath anymore and then just open his mouth.

But something caught his attention. Something was pulsating some meters under him. A pale golden light that looked like some sort of beacon, calling to him. Pushing himself to the limits, he dived even further until the tips of his fingers touched the light.

An electrical current charged through his body and he opened his mouth in pain, letting the water rush in. He never felt the liquid metal pooling around his fingers and covering his body. He was drowning but at the same it was like he was being immersed in a suffocating oven. Then the metal sang… The story it sang was story of loss. The metal was a living being, the last of its kind. A living machine created by the Atlanteans. It had waited and waited for them to return but to no avail. It had lost track of time and had had been covered by layers upon layers of sediment, powering down to conserve energy. But a minor earthquake had set it free, just in time to feel something dive.

It could feel the being dying and it knew the only way to help him. It would graft itself into his host body and together they would return to the surface.

Even in his dying moments, Ricardo felt the excruciating pain as the machine joined him at a cellular level. His jumbled neural pathways were mapped in mere nanoseconds and in a burst of speed, a man covered in golden metal flew out of the lake and into the shore.

They were confused, so It split the personalities again. It knew what it was: an Orichalcum based, sentient work suit. But the other part – the being that looked like an Atlantean but wasn’t – was a mess. His neural fingerprint was jumbled. It scanned deeper and found that the being had lots of information about someone called “Sebastiao” (Sebastian). That was one of the last coherent thoughts in the Human’s mind.

It made a decision. It was sure that Sebastian was the true identity of the Human, so it reconfigured their outer shell to resemble a suit of armour like the one It could see in it’s host mind. That seemed to appease the Human, who directed them to a lone backpack left on the shore. There It found the story of the Human. He was the King of Portugal, lost in a battle in another country. He would return to help Portugal in its darkest hour.

Satisfied with that answer, It merged both personalities again, correcting the neural pathways of the Human with the new information and relegating itself to the maintenance and support role. They took their first steps and the Human half of their personality announced that They would now be known as “O Encoberto” (The Hidden One). And that Portugal awaited them!

With that in mind, They flew to the mainland. Of course the Portuguese Government wasn’t very pleased with the arrival of someone who claimed to be the King of Portugal. After all, Portugal was a Republic since 1910, and D.Sebastiao had vanished in the 16th Century...

But “O Encoberto” would bide his time and wait for the people to acclaim him. He was their saviour and he proved that several times, attacking the symbols of the Portuguese Republic. Who needed a President if they had a King? Who needed a Parliament if they had his wise rules and laws? Who needed money if those coins and notes didn’t even have the symbols of Portugal? It’s just a matter of time until the people bow down once again to Sebastian, the King of Portugal!

Personality
Ricardo Almeida was never the most sane of people to start with. He was obsessed with writing his book and that cost him his marriage. When he tried to commit suicide, we was near a mental and nervous breakdown.

That fact, plus the fact that he was drowning when the Atlantean work suit mapped his neural pathways – and only found his obsession about the king -, explains why the suit overlaid what remained of his brain with what it perceived to be his true identity and personality – that of the D.Sebastiao.

That’s why “O Encoberto” can’t be reasoned with. No one can convince him that he isn’t the real king. All remains of his past life as Ricardo Almeida have been deleted and replaced with his vision of D.Sebastiao – based on his research and his book, both that weren’t very good to begin with.

Quote
“Why do you people keep rejecting me? I’m your King!”

Powers
All the powers of “O Encoberto” come from the Atlantean creation. The suit isn’t really a battlesuit. It was conceived as a semi-autonomous machine, which could latch itself to an Atlantean user for deep underwater work. In its original form, It looks like a pool of golden metal. When touched by the user, It covers all of the wearer’s body like a tight bodysuit. Due to a malfunction, It went beyond that and meshed with Ricardo on a cellular level.

Its Orichalcum metal construction makes it impervious to crush depths up to 10,924 meters (35,838 ft), so in the surface world it’s a very tough suit. It can reconfigure both hands gauntlets to shoot sonic or plasma beams (although in their original form, both were used to do some underwater mining and repairs, “O Encoberto” found out they could be used for offensive duties).

Due to its anti-gravity thrusters, the suit can also fly.

Appearance
Ricardo never steps out of the suit. He can’t do that right now, because they are joined on a cellular level. But the suit can reconfigure its exterior to look like a person, albeit a metal one.

On several occasions, the suit was severely damaged and witnesses caught glimpses of the wearer before the Orichalcum repaired itself. They say that the wearer was some sort of pale, shrivelled human being; a mix of Robocop and a drowning victim.

When “O Encoberto” first appeared, the suit looked like a gold imitation (a bad one) of a 16th century armour. After some time it evolved and now looks like a streamlined knight suit of armour, with the legs and arms in deep red and the chest and head in blue and white (reflecting the Portuguese flag of the time of D.Sebastiao). The head piece has two slits in the place where the eyes should be, and they both pulse with a red/golden light. It has also a gold crown, but very streamlined.

Notes
I'm still working on the picture. I'll post it as soon as it is done... and many thanks to Rodrigo for coming up with this nice meglomaniac villain.

#139 Portugal

2008-08-15T19:47:00.005+10:00

Boa vinda to Portugal's entry. Located at the opening to the Mediterranean Portugal has been one of the most powerful 'empires' on the planet, having its dominance during the 15th and 16th century.

We have a guest writer from Portugal this week: Rodrigo (predatorpt from the Hero Boards)

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Portugal:

Official Name: Portuguese Republic
Government: Republic / Parliamentary Democracy
Capital: Lisbon
Population: 10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)

Rodrigo has come up with a character based on Portuguese legend with a twist of Atlantean heritage. The name is O Encoberto... stay tuned.

#138 RUNECASTER (Poland)

2008-08-14T12:13:00.002+10:00

RUNECASTER
Michal Rysiukiewicz
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Michal Rysiukiewicz was raised by gypsies in the 1970s after his family seemingly abandoned him. He has never re-connected with his family, although there has been some speculation that he is related (distantly) to the Witch King of Estonia. Whether this is true or a part of the Witch King's plan to corrupt Rysiukiewicz remains to be seen. What is known is that the young boy who would grow up to become the Runecaster began his life travelling around Poland and East Germany. During this time he was exposed to the supernatural world including werewolves, sorcerers and the Witch King, himself. When he was a teenager, Rysiukiewicz was taken back to Warsaw and lived with a gypsy family there in an attempt to get him away from the supernatural world he had been dipping in and out of for most of his life. The plan failed and Rysiukiewicz soon found himself in a firestorm caused by the Witch King, the result of which was the death of his host family and his estrangement from the gypsies. He later learned that the Witch King had sold his foster sisters into slavery.

For several months Rysiukiewicz wandered alone across Poland, shunned by all.

When he resurfaced two years later he was calling himself the Runecaster and had joined the East Guard - East Germany's uberhuman team. He remained a member of the team up until it merged with Uber Force after the reunification of Germany. At this time Runecaster left the team and 'retired' to Warsaw where he opened a book shop and worked as a 'mystic consultant'.

In recent times he has worked alongside Longshot and Brain Drain in bringing down corruption in Poland. His motives are not entirely clear but must have something to do with the supernatural world. Some speculate that he is attempting to make amends for the loss of his sisters in Warsaw, and it is true that he has embarked upon several quests to find them or to piece together their disappearance.

He has also been seen battling the Witch King's daughter, Porguneitsi, who he has apparently promised to marry. Their battles have made international news, particularly an impressive melee during Latvia's Eurovision Song Contest in 2003.

Personality
Runecaster has made his mark on the supernatural world as being enigmatic and closely tied with the Witch King of Estonia. He is honourable, almost to a fault, and will never break his word. This has caused him some problems since Porguneitsi claims he has promised to marry her. While he cannot remember doing so he is in an awkward position.

Rysiukiewicz has spent much of his life battling evil and working in peculiar situations, but his personality remains rather light-hearted and elusive. He laughs often and is enchanted by beauty and art. While he doesn't go out of his way to work with other ubers he does not shun them either, and has become well known as a consultant in the areas of mysticism.

Quote
"By the lights of the northern star, we shall see what evil goes on in this place!"

Powers
Runecaster is a sorcerer who relies on the knowledge and application of runes. He must 'trace' runes in air or on objects which result in a bright energy residue, releasing the magic. He has his favourite runes such as the Rune of Power, Rune of Mystery and Rune of Fire; but his powers are seemingly limitless and he has brought out new runes on many occasions.

In addition to his runic magic, Runecaster also possesses magical artefacts including a cape which allows him to teleport, a ring which projects eldritch energy in a concussive blast, and an amulet of protection.

During frequent absences from Eastguard, Runecaster trained extensively in karate. He is still a formidable opponent and carries a karate sword, its steel having tasted the blood of countless demons.

Appearance
Runecaster is known for his thick black moustache and sideburns. He wears a blue domino mask, a black stage magician's cloak and a velvet vest over a blue bodysuit. Around his waist is a golden sash and he sometimes wears his sword in a scabbard attached to the sash.

He is a man in his forties who remains physically fit and mischievously animated. In his secret identity, Rysiukiewicz appears older than in his costumed persona, and decidedly less animated. Whether this is an act or a sign of his advancing age, Rysiukiewicz won't say, although he is much more content with his life as a costumed sorcerer than the retiring shopkeeper.

#138 BRAIN DRAIN (Poland)

2008-08-11T22:32:00.003+10:00

BRAIN DRAIN
Piotr Chojecka
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Piotr Chojecka's telepathic powers were triggered during a beating on the border between Poland and Germany. He and his mother were being smuggled into the West, but were betrayed by a criminal gang and left to the mercy of an over-zealous German army. Piotr was nearly killed and sustained terrible head trauma. His powers whipped out at his attackers and managed to stun many of them, but not before he was knocked unconscious. While he remembers nothing, his psychic body fought on and saved his life. His mother was not so lucky, and when Piotr woke up in a hospital in Warsaw where he had been sent by the Germans, he was not the same as he had been. He had sustained brain damage and doctors thought he would be institutionalised for the rest of his miserable life.

However, the vigilante Longshot, arrived at the hospital and adopted him, paying the doctors and administrators to turn a blind eye. Piotr was already listed as a hopeless case, so when a costumed vigilante arrived ot take him off their hands they didn't mind, and didn't fill in any forms. Piotr was traumatised but Longshot helped to bring him back to what seemed like a normal life.

Piotr's psychic powers returned during his recovery period and his brain damage has partially reversed.

Following in the tradition of Longshot, Piotr took on the role of Brain Drain and cloaked himself in the colours of his country (despite the fact Poland had abandoned him). Longshot was not impressed, but after a few missions he realised that Brain Drain's powers were useful at times.

Piotr and Longshot now work as a team to help bring down Longshot's father's criminal empire.

Personality
It is difficult to work out exactly how Piotr sees the world. He often appears slow and ignorant, and most times he really is. However, his psychic powers enable him to temporarily reclaim his lost intellectual capabilities, and Piotr has shown himself to be quite insightful almost like an idiot savant.

One constant in his approach is his hatred of authority - something which carries over from his serious beating as a child. Longshot has helped him overcome this hidden rage, but it is still there.

Quote
"Du-don't come cuh-closer. Bad man."

Powers
Brain Drain is a telepath but serious head trauma has limited his potential. He is able to link minds but is unable to probe other people without their permission. He is able to smother other people's minds and limit their processing, hence his name: Brain Drain. An interesting side effect of this smothering is to make people fall asleep.

As Longshot's sometime-sidekick Brain Drain often uses a pellet-gun which makes him more combat-effective.

Underneath the flashy costume and flashy gun, however, is a young man with a serious brain injury and a sometimes ineffective mental power.

Appearance
Piotr is barely twenty years old and out of his patriotic costume, he appears to be a wide-eyed youth with curly red hair and watery blue eyes. In costume he appears more powerful, but close examination of him shows that he is a simple, often confused man. His costume is armoured and based on the Polish flag of red and white. He carries his pellet gun on his belt, but the holster is pushed to the back and not seen from the front.

#138 LONGSHOT (Poland)

2008-08-11T22:03:00.002+10:00

LONGSHOT
Zenon Krzesinski II
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Being the favoured son of a crime boss has its perks, and Zenon Krzesinski used his father's influence and reputation to set himself up as well-trained and even better equipped vigilante. His father discovered Zenon's interest in gadgetry early but always assumed his son would use his weaponry and skills to assist with the 'family business'.

After graduating from a German university, Zenon discovered that his father's criminal empire actually extended into the murky depths of people smuggling and prostitution. The discovery triggered repressed memories of his early years when he had witnessed his father abusing his mother. Although traumatic, Zenon pursued any remaining evidence about his mother who had disappeared when he was ten years old. He discovered that she had been murdered by his father after she had attempted to blackmail him.

Zenon found that his long held anger towards his father now had a focus. His resentment towards his father's illicit activities had been percolating for years and had indeed fuelled his inventions and tinkering with mechanical and electrical devices.

His father was initially amused with Zenon's attacks against his businesses and warehouses, but soon the attacks could not be ignored. Sometime during the next twelve months Zenon Krzesinski became Longshot and his father cast him out of his inheritance. Longshot didn't even blink at the disinheritance and continued to systematically sabotage his father and the other organised crime bosses of Poland and Eastern Europe.

Longshot has been operating in Eastern Europe for nearly five years, and has teamed up with another Polish vigilante, Runecaster. Their alliance has proved to be especially effective against organised crime and has even raised the interest of the Russian terrorists, Oktober. Longshot has also assisted in the rehabilitation of many sex workers and smuggled people, most of whom have been abused by his father's businesses. One of these people turned out to be an uberhuman with psychic powers, later to be known as Brain Drain.

Longshot is known across Europe as a hardlined vigilante. His tactics are ruthless and he has been responsible for many deaths, not all of them criminals. He, Runecaster and Brain Drain have earned the wrath of Europe's ragtag team of heroes, The Brotherhood. Although they have worked together at least once, The Brotherhood and Longshot are constantly at each other's throats.

Personality
Zenon Krzesinski feels guilty about his father's activities: from the death of his mother to the many, many deaths of people who have been smuggled from Eastern Europe in the hope of a better life. He has worked hard to make himself the man he has become: from the high tech gadgetry to his athletic body and intense, one-tracked mindset. Zenon is a classic example of a driven man, and he takes no criticism from anyone although he is very judgemental of everyone around him.

He is softer when dealing with Brain Drain who he sees as a little brother. The fact that his father was responsible for the boy's brain damage has made Zenon into an overprotective 'older brother'.

Quote
"There's no escape for you, no matter how you grovel or beg for your life."

Powers
Longshot is an excellent marksman, able to kill with a variety of weaponry - much of which was designed or adapted by himself He is a highly trained athlete and has developed many skills to make him a capable killer and saboteur.

His gadgetry is varied, depending on the assignment, and usually includes a powerful compound bow, offensive and defensive pellets, and rocket-powered missiles. His helmet provides him with enhanced sensors including a targeting computer which allows him to increase his efficiency over great ranges.

Appearance
Longshot is known to the authorities and criminal underworld of Poland and many other Eastern European countries. His dark red armour and glistening black gauntlets are his trademarks. His armour is skin-tight and allows him to move like an Olympic gymnast, but it also contains many pockets and pouches where he keeps his various gadgets.

#138 Poland

2008-08-03T12:41:00.002+10:00

Poland has had a contentious existence, being formed after World War One to keep Russia and Germany apart. The Nazis' invasion of Poland is often seen as the action which spurred the Allies to finally step up and oppose Hitler. After the Second World War Poland was effetcively annexed by the Soviet Union and gained independence again by 1990.

It is a member of NATO and the European Union.

It's also home to Auschwitz/Birkenau. When I was semi-living in Germany on an extended holiday thing in 2006 I had planned to travel from Cottbus to Auschwitz but it was going to take the better part a day across bleak countryside so I opted for a quick trip to see a friend in London and then Glasgow. I don't regret not going - there's some places I can respect from a distance. The images surrounding the former concentration/death camp are vivid. Eli Wiesel's 'Night' is a particularly powerful account, and one we study at my school in Year 11. It always produces sombre and reflective discussions and hopefully we can make a difference.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Poland:

Official Name: Republic of Poland
Government: Republic
Capital: Warsaw
Population: 38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)
Major Languages: Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

And the character looks a little like this...

Step One: Poland
Step Two: (6.2) Team (3 Members)
Step Three: (1.1) Male (5.2) Male (1.3) Male
Step Four: (6.3) Vigilante
Step Five: (12) Mentalist (8) Gadgeteer (20.1 - 14.3 10.1) Spellcaster/Martial Artist
Step Six: (3.5) 400 Points (250 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (3) 0XP (2) 0XP (3) 0XP
Step Eight: (3) Modern Era

#137 ABO (Philippines)

2008-08-03T12:39:00.003+10:00

ABO
Danny Javier
Created by Derek Barnes
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Danny Javier, a geologist was studying Mt. Pinatubo, when the ground beneath him collapsed sending him plummeting into a deep cavern. As he got up, the ground shook and lava started to pour out the sides of the cavern. Soon, the outcropping that Danny was on was completely surrounded by the molten lava. Danny thought he was done for and got on his knees to pray to God. After he said his prayer, he looked down and saw a large orange gemstone lying on the ground. He picked it up and instantly passed out.

When he woke up, Danny found himself about a mile away from the volcano. He also found that his body had changed. He now had grey skin with crimson red eyes. The orange gemstone that he had discovered was now embedded in his chest. As he made his way through the jungle back to civilization, he discovered that his strength had increased and his skin was tough enough to shrug off a lot of damage.

When he got back to Manila, he decided that he had been saved for a reason. He decided that reason was to protect the people of the Philippines. He put on a costume and took the name Abo, which means ash in Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. He has, in a way replaced Aliguyon, as the premier superhero operating in the Philippines. They have met on numerous occasions when Aliguyon has come back to visit the Philippines. They have noticed how their gemstones are very similar.

Abo has also fought Dumaguete, a supervillain who belongs to the group Gauntlet. Each time they have fought, Abo has beaten him, but Dumaguete has always escaped. Dumaguete has promised revenge, but has not been able to get it yet.

The Filipino government has recently asked Abo to become the leader of a Filipino national superhero team. Abo is now in the process of looking at acceptable applicants.

Notes: Abo was originally a player character of mine during the 4th edition days. I had to upgrade him substantially to boost him to 5th edition levels. In the disadvantages, Basura (trash in Tagalog) is a supervillain that can cause things to decay and rot. I have not written him up. Sharon Domingo is a reporter for one of the TV stations in Manila. Abo met her after he rescued her from an attack by Dumaguete and romance soon blossomed.

Personality
Abo has a very outgoing personality. He is a very caring person and is often out in the public trying to give hope to the Filipino people.

Quote
“Nothing can defeat the spirit of the Filipino people!”

Powers
Abo has super strength and his skin is impervious to lots of damage. He is able to shrug off a lot of damage, particularly if it is heat or fire-based. He has also learned to use his strength to great effect and in ways that might surprise his opponent.

Appearance
Abo has grey rocklike skin. His eyes are now a deep crimson red. He wears a costume that is modelled after the Filipino flag. The orange gemstone that gave him his powers is embedded in this chest and cannot be removed.

#137 Philippines

2008-08-03T12:29:00.002+10:00

The Philippines has a history of anti-government insurgents, I think mostly from Islamic extremists, which have led to frequent kidnappings and subsequent government military counterstrikes. President Marcos (and his shoe-loving wife Imelda) were dominant figures in the Asia-Pacfic region during the 1980s (and porbably before) but after his death there were more democratic elections. The current President is Gloria Arroyo.

I've organised to have a guest writer appear for this entry, from over on the Hero Boards, so I'll just give you the World Factbook information and leave the rest to Derek:

Official Name: Republic of the Philippines
Government: Republic
Capital: Manila
Population: 92,681,453 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)
Major Languages: Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Given the high population you could expect that the Philippines would have around 50-90 uberhumans. We already have two: Ando Dumaguete and the Catholic hero Aliguyon.

Derek's character will be called Abo (Tagalog for Ash). I'll set up a place holder and move to Poland.

#136 ROBUSTEZA DOS (Peru)

2008-08-03T10:06:00.003+10:00

ROBUSTEZA DOS
Mercedes Quevedo
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Mercedes Quevedo is the second Peruvian to take on the name Robusteza, although she is not technically a robot but a cyborg. During the 1990s the Peruvian government in conjunction with RobusTECH Industries created an artificial intelligence housed in a nearly indestructible metal casing. The technology was part conventional and part extraterrestrial. The result was Robusteza.

'He' was given the job of protecting Peru from the threats of a modern world and was quickly put to this task by a series of attacks by rogue robots, which turned out to be earlier prototypes of his design. Robusteza proved to be highly intelligent and adaptive, and in front of millions of television viewers despatched the robot enemies with ease and ingenuity.

Taking the name Roberto, he was accepted by the Peruvians as their champion and became a public hero as well as government agent.

As the years progressed he became more and more sentient and displayed emotions which led to an unusual affair with the daughter of his governmental aide. Mercedes Quevedo was eighteen when she and Roberto publicly revealed their relationship. She was caught up in the whirl of publicity, but what began as a strange and quirky relationship developed into something deeper.

Roberto loved her. And she began to love him, even with his on-again, off-again emotional responses.

When Roberto was destroyed during an attack by the uber-supremist group, Junta, the country went into mourning for their hero. Mercedes couldn't cope and attempted suicide only to end up clinging to life with the help of a life support system. The government called in cybernetic expert Dr Guy L'Estrie and commissioned him to forge a new Robusteza using Mercedes. L'Estrie opposed the idea but did assist with stabilising Mercedes and then bringing her out of her coma. Before he left, the government swooped down on Mercedes and told her of their plan to use her to bring Robusteza back to the people.

Mercedes was still devastated by the death of her robot husband and she agreed to the procedure which would save her life, enable her to walk again, as well as make her something more. L'Estrie was not fully convinced but he was also intrigued with the first Robusteza's technology. He agreed to work on Mercedes and after twelve months of initial and follow-up procedures Mercedes became Robusteza Dos, the second Robot.

Her cyborg body was mostly discreet and she was able to pass for normal in the streets if she wanted to, but more and more Mercedes felt detached from the people around her. She could see more than they could and hear beyond their normal conversations. Long after L'estrie left she worked on her own cybernetic developments and added a third arm, using her husband's actual body.

She continued his work with the government although her offensive capabilities are more conventional and consist mainly of handguns. This change from the first Robusteza's flashy energy blast attacks has stropped Mercedes from becoming as popular a public hero as her husband, but she is still embraced by the people of Peru, more through a shared grief than any genuine love for her.

Robusteza Dos works for the government in a public as well as covert manner. She has also initiated her own investigation into Junta's operations and seeks revenge.

Personality
Mercedes was once a wide-eyed girl thrust into the public life. She grew up in the spotlight as the young bride of Peru's robot superhero. After his death she fell into a deep depression and has never fully recovered. Her outlook is much darker than the first Robusteza's ever was, or was ever capable of. She has faced death many times and also delivered death to opponents, although this is kept from the public.

She is also very lonely and feels like she has exchanged her life and humanity for one shot at vengeance. She is consumed with a growing passion to take revenge on Junta, but she is also very patient and is making sure her strike will eradicate them once and for all. Her hatred and opposition to Junta has also made her somewhat of an anti-uber proponent and she has made some 'racist' remarks in press releases, although she never follows up on them.

Quote
"Sub-systems indicate a low level radiation in the area. Probable cause uberhuman physiology. Weapons primed. It is time to clear out this cess pool."

Powers
Robusteza is a cyborg with concealed and obvious cybernetic enhancements including reinforced skeleton and musculature which grants her uberhuman levels of strength, speed and reaction times. She has enhanced senses allowing her to see and hear well beyond that of a regular human, and she carries conventional handguns.

Appearance
Mercedes is the daughter of a Peruvian government official and an American journalist. She has pale skin and blonde hair which used to be long but is now cut very short. The most obvious change to her physiology has been the addition of a third arm which is metallic and composed of an alien compound. One of her eyes is also obviously cybernetic, while the other has the appearance of being natural. In truth both eyes are artificial. There are several tubes visible on the outside of her body which suggest her cyborg nature, but inside her body much of the original tissue and organs have been replaced and enhanced.

Robusteza Dos has a uniform, based on that of her late husband, but she only wears it on official government holidays or for visiting dignitaries. Other times she wears a simple khaki body armour chest plate and jeans. More and more she exposes her cybernetic nature, often wearing crop tops and showing a lot of skin. This has further divided public opinion into those who find the changes in her exciting and those who are repulsed by the truth of her transformation. It was all very well to love the robotic hero when he appeared human, but to see a human become more and more robotic is not the same.

Notes
This picture was originally for the villain Triune, but I thought I'd recycle it.

#136 Peru

2008-08-02T23:51:00.002+10:00

The cradle of the Incas which was over-run by the Spanish in 1533, Peru is dominated by the Andes, its highest point being Nevado Huascaran (6768m). The eastern part of the country includes the mighty Amazon.

The World Factbook has the following information on Peru:

Official Name: Republic of Peru
Government: Constitutional Republic
Capital: Lima
Population: 29,180,899 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Amerindian 45%, Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Major Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

Last character for the weekend...

Step One: Peru
Step Two: (3) Single Character
Step Three: (5.4) Female
Step Four: (4.2) Hero
Step Five: (15) Patriot
Step Six: (5.2) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (2) 0XP
Step Eight: (4) Modern Era

#135 ARENADORA (Paraguay)

2008-08-02T22:40:00.002+10:00

ARENADORA
Acacia Oviedo
Character Sheet (click here)

Background
For seven years, Acacia Oviedo worked almost anonymously at the hydroelectric power plant. She served under eight supervisors and two management transitions without even aiming for promotion or recognition. She hadn't impressed the interviewers when she first applied but there was a shortage of applicants and so she had been given the job. She thanked them politely but they weren't listening. She was a number and she never gave them reason to doubt it.

When the power plant was taken over by minions serving the Infinite Man in 2002, Acacia was kept hostage with her co-workers in the hastily erected communications room where the Infinite Man was able to broadcast his threats to the world at regular half hour intervals. It was a time when the arch villain was relatively sane, or at least relatively stable. He declared that South America would have to be severed from North America and had decided to use the power plant as his starting point. It made no sense to the world, and even Acacia wondered what the real purpose was for taking over her workplace.

When the Sentinels arrived a massive battle erupted. The heroes surrounded the facility and sent in their heavy-hitters. Sitting in the communications room Acacia watched in horror as the Infinite Man picked off the heroes one by one with various death traps. The situation became desperate for the world-class heroes, but their numbers were reinforced with the arrival of seven members of Sanctity.

When the forces of good burst into the communication room, they discovered, along with the hostages, that the Infinite Man was actually a body-double created by the real villain who was destroying large tracts of military land in North America while the heroes flocked to his diversion. As the heroes realised their mistake a death trap was sprung in the communications room: bolts of deadly electricity arced across the room like a lethal electro-spider web. The power plant itself was feeding the charge.

Many heroes went down, some of them permanently.

But when the trap was neutralised and the remaining heroes staggered to their feet, there was an extra figure amongst them: a slightly surprised woman with frizzled hair and charcoal on her face. Electricity seemed to coarse through her and she helped to return the power plant to its former state.

None of the heroes stopped to question the newcomer, they were so intent on returning to the United States to intervene with the Infinite Man.

Acacia wasn't really sure what had happened, or how it happened; but as she walked out of her workplace she realised she was walking just a little bit taller. She could sense the people around her, their fear, their aspirations and their anxiety. Her mind seemed to be operating at two levels: her old self as well as a newer, more confident one. And added to that new awareness was a veritable battery of electricity running through her body. She saw the energy lap at her fingertips. Her arms were thicker, too. She was stronger. Bigger.

The media didn't manage to catch her on that afternoon, but within a few days Acacia had succumbed to her new fantasy life and donned a cape and tights. She leapt into action with electricity exploding in front of purse snatchers, her mind stopping thieves in their tracks, and her fists knocking down those who managed to avert her other attacks. Acacia was nervous but the journalists swarmed and she couldn't easily escape.

Among the crowd of eager reporters was Isadora Munoz: famous evening news hound and darling of the international news set in Paraguay. Acacia answered Isadora's questions, although she didn't remember the words or the responses. Somehow she agreed to an exclusive interview.

Her origin story was published the next week, although Isadora kept Acacia's secret identity. A few glasses of wine and an intimate setting on top of one of the tallest buildings in Asuncion, and Acacia had told her life story. She trusted the journalist, recklessly she supposed, but in the end it was the right thing to do. Isadora proved to be a trustworthy confidant and over the years, in between rescuing Isadora from Junta and other uberhuman threats, the two women built up a working relationship which blossomed into a romantic one.

Now, almost six years after the incident with the Infinite Man, Acacia Oviedo continues to work at the power plant during the day and is as anonymous as ever amongst her workmates. But after hours she and Isadora are daring heroes: Arenadora (or sometimes Blaster Girl) has become Asuncion's only known super hero, and Isadora covers the stories with the inside angles only she can uncover.

Personality
Acacia has always been introverted and unsure of herself. It was a family trait shared by her parents and two sisters, all of whom took on bland occupations in the public service. She is intelligent but not ambitious, even as a superhero. Without the direction provided by Isadora Arenadora's career would have been over in less than a fortnight.

Ironically once Acacia begins to talk she rarely manages to keep anything secret, often spilling top secret plans to villains probably as a way of overcompensating for her natural shyness. She wonders how long it will be before she makes a slip-up over her secret identity. Isadora also wonders, and has managed to bury several leaks over the past few years.

Acacia is also a devout Roman Catholic, although she is constantly wracked with guilt over her sins with Isadora and her actions as Arenadora. Her priest knows her secret and has helped guide her to work on doing good in the wider community. He disapproves of her relationship with Isadora and constantly warns her about her sins, but realises that the good she can do is often enough for him to maintain contact with her.

Her powers arrived suddenly, and Acacia has convinced herself that they were delivered to her by God, something which fills her with a sense of invulnerability (although she is regularly reminded of her lack of invulnerability, mostly against Junta). In battle she never really considers the opponent's abilities and always assumes she is better than they are. It is true that the variety of her powers often leads to victory, although she has had her fair share of defeats.

Quote
"BLA-ZAM!"

Powers
Arenadora has three distinct uberhuman abilities: the generation and projection of electricity, telepathic powers and uberhuman strength. She is most famous for her electro-powers which are generally limited to lightning bolts, a field of crackling electricity which protects her from attacks, and the ability to fly along lightning bolts she generates. Her telepathic powers are fairly general as well, including the ability to read and control minds as well as a short-range mental blast. Her strength is within the uberhuman range, allowing her to lift in excess of 6000kg. She often surprises opponents with her powerful punches as they confuse her for a regular energy projector.

Appearance
Acacia is easy to overlook, particularly at work where she has begun to deliberately assume a bland look with the help of Isadora. Her face is a little lumpy and her eyes are a dull brown (unless she is using her electricity and they become white with blue highlights). She has shoulder-length brown hair which is always messy, due in part to her high levels of static electricity.

As Arenadora she cuts a more impressive figure. She wears a form fitting blue bodysuit with a white lightning bolt across her chest. Her hair is hidden with a dark blue wig and she wears a white domino mask.

#135 Paraguay

2008-08-02T19:51:00.002+10:00

A landlocked country in South America also known as Corazón de América, the heart of America. Sounds like a super hero name, doesn't it?

Before the Spaniards arrived the land that is now known as Paraguay was populated with semi-nomadic warrior people and there has been a thread of conflict in modern times too, especially the War of the Triple Alliance and later the Chaco War.

Paraguay currently has the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world and is also the largest exporter of hydroelectric power. Again, sounds like a Champions link, doesn't it?

Let's see what the CIA World Factbook has to say about Paraguay:

Official Name: Republic of Paraguay
Government: Constitutional Republic
Capital: Asuncion
Population: 6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Major Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Dice? Where'd I put them...?

Step One: Paraguay
Step Two: (4) Single Character
Step Three: (6.3) Female
Step Four: (3.2) Hero
Step Five: (20.3) Roll 3 Times (5) Energy Projector (12) Mentalist (3) Brick
Step Six: (4.2) 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (4) 4XP
Step Eight: (1) Modern Era

I think I'll have this one be a member, or ex-member of Sanctity, the Roman Catholic superhero team. She'll have an origin surrounding the hydro-electric power plant so her powers will most likely be elctric.

Noah has a pro-wrestling character I'll post alongside this one.

#134 ANGEL (Papua New Guinea)

2008-08-02T19:38:00.002+10:00

ANGEL
Ryan Loa
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Ryan is the grandson of Somare Loa who was one of the earliest uberhumans outside of Europe. Somare exhibited enhanced strength and durability and assisted Australian soldiers along the Kokoda Track as the eponymous Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel. Ryan shares some of these classic-Brick powers but does not register as an uberhuman, casting some doubt on earlier claims that the original Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel was an uber. While there are no definitive answers, it has been suggested that Somare Loa was actually powered by an ancient magical blessing, possibly originally cast as a curse, the powers of which seem to have been past down the line to appear every two or three generations.

Somare Loa and the other Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels became well known in Australia for the role in helping diggers. The poem by Bert Beros encapsulates the image of Somare and others like him.

Many a mother in Australia

when the busy day is done

Sends a prayer to the Almighty

for the keeping of her son

Asking that an angel guide him

and bring him safely back

Now we see those prayers are answered

on the Owen Stanley Track

For they haven't any halos

only holes slashed in their ears

And their faces worked by tattoos

with scratch pins in their hair

Bringing back the badly wounded

just as steady as a horse

Using leaves to keep the rain off

and as gentle as a nurse

Somare was a man of a lost world, though; and before the Second World War he had only seen one or two white men.

Ryan Loa is a different man in a different world. He has become the leader of his tribe despite his relatively young age and mostly due to the possession of his impressive abilities. Ryan has purposefully researched the modern world, particularly business operations and the mining industry which has spread through the mineral-rich lands of PNG. He and his tribe have rebuffed offers to cut open their land for profit, but through shrewd business deals Ryan has managed to secure finances from tourism and investments - enough to keep his tribe afloat.

His superhero career has been low-key as he has deliberately restricted his activities to PNG, working in Port Moresby as well as his own lands. He has worked in other areas in the wake of tragedies such as earthquakes and tsunamis; and has even worked in Australia alongside the Southern Knights to oppose the maniacal exploits of his compatriot Paradise.

Personality
Ryan is aware of the wider world but has no interest in turning his back on Papua New Guinea to exploit his powers for profit elsewhere. He knows he could make a lot of money in Australia or south-east Asia, but after securing his tribe's financial future he has decided that money is no longer important. He is staunchly opposed to the spread of mining companies in PNG and actively works to ensure any agreements struck are not biased against the landowners, many of whom are still naive in such dealings.

He has a good relationship with the Southern Knights, particularly Nostrum on account of their shared powers of healing. He is also a supporter of relations between Australians and Papuans, and has worked with the Australian government in setting up heritage sites along the Kokoda Track.

Quote
"No one will be left behind: not in the days of my grandfather and not in mine."

Powers
Angel has uberhuman level strength allowing him to bench press 6000kg, and has some resistance to injury, although the extent has not been tested beyond lab-based scenarios. He has a healing ability which makes his recovery of any attacks all that faster. It is possible that he could withstand direct firearm attacks.

His healing ability seems to work as an aura which covers his body and is able to extend itself to cover other people or creatures. The aura doesn't seem to work when he is asleep or unconscious which suggests that it is an uberhuman ability rather than a mystical power. There are no records that Ryan's grandfather or other ancestors had a healing ability.

Angel is also able to move through forests and cliff-faces with ease, able to traverse almost any wall or barrier with an unnatural finesse.

Appearance
Ryan is a strong and fit man in his twenties, with a shock of white hair, including rather bushy sideburns. He was born with white hair, something he shares with his grandfather Somare. As Angel, Ryan wears a black bodysuit with red and yellow bands across the top of his chest. The uniform has no sleeves and has a prominent white star in the centre of his chest.

As Ryan is proud of his public identity he never conceals his face.

#134 Papua New Guinea

2008-08-02T17:04:00.004+10:00

Papua New Guinea is located just north of Australia and actually shares its island with West Papua which is part of Indonesia. It's famous for its steep mountainous terrain and hidden tribesmen. A lot of Papua New Guinea is relatively uncharted from a westerners point of view which makes it a perfect place for super villain bases, hidden civilisations and magical objects of power.

Uberworld already has a Papuan, Paradise, who is an insane super villain. She's really nuts and doesn't seem to be getting any better as her career continues.

On the heroic side of things Papua New Guinea is home to the Kokoda Track, one of Australia's wartime heritage spots - a place where Australians faced off against Japanese invaders. There are innumerable tales of heroism and partnership between the Australian diggers and the local Papuans who were known as 'fuzzy wuzzy angels' (source) (and still are, although I'm not sure if it's considered derogatory these days).

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Papua New Guinea:

Official Name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Government: Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy
Capital: Port Moresby
Population: 5,931,769 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Major Languages: Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)

And the dice rolls reveal the following.... (drum roll puh-lease!)

Step One: Papua New Guinea
Step Two: (3) Single Character
Step Three: (1.2) Male
Step Four: (1.2) Hero
Step Five: (2) Brick
Step Six: (3.1) 250 Points (150 Base + 100 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (5) 11XP
Step Eight: (3) Modern Era

So there we have it... er, there he is. Considering he's a hero he will have some link to the Golden Age where his father, perhaps was an ally of the Australian diggers.

#133 ESTRELLA (Panama)

2008-08-02T16:48:00.002+10:00

ESTRELLA
Nina Ortez
Created by Noah Thorp
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
The jeeps rumbled up the dirt road deep in the heart of jungle heading toward the little village of San Benjamin. In the lead jeep sat Colonel Roberto Ortez, the sunlight glinting of his sunglasses. The Colonel had been told that the people of San Benjamin hadn’t been heard from over a week, and Colonel Roberto Ortez had been sent to investigate.

There were also reports of strange lights in the night skies over the region which the National Air Service couldn’t explain. For Colonel Ortez the whole mission felt like a wild goose chase. San Benjamin wasn’t that far from the border with Columbia; maybe guerillas from Columbia had attacked; nothing really unusual when one dealt with the drug trade.

In less than a half an hour the three jeeps roared into the center of the village circling the village well. Nothing. No one came out to see the three jeeps full of soldiers, no little old mothers staring up from their daily chores, no children running in the streets. Nothing.

Colonel Ortez’s jeep came to a halt throwing up a cloud of dust. With military bearing, Roberto climbing out of his jeep and turned around the center of San Benjamin trying to figure things out. The whole village was silent; in a way the whole situation was eerie. The colonel took of his glasses as he motioned his men out. “Search everywhere,” he commanded. With an efficiency of soldiers the men spread out.

While his men searched, Colonel Ortez went to examine the well. He drew up a bucket of water from the well used a little of it to clean the road dust from his face. Feeling a little refreshed, Roberto joined the search.

Doors in San Benjamin mostly consisted of hanging sheets, so it was easy for Roberto to enter a nearby house. The smell of rotting food greeted the colonel, but no people. The evening meal still sat at the table, but none of it had been eaten. From the looks of things the food had sat there for at least a week. It didn’t take Roberto long to search the house, and he joined his soldiers back at the well.

Corporal Maderas was the first to rush up to the colonel. With a quick salute to his commanding officer, the young corporal explained that the entire village had been searched and no one had been found and even the livestock and the dogs were missing. Colonel Ortez scratched his beard in thought. This whole mission was getting stranger by the moment.

Turning to his private, Colonel Ortez commanded, “Search the area around the village. A whole village cannot just disappear without a trace. I’ll set up my command post at the mayor’s home. Report back within the hour. Dismissed!”

The men rushed to follow the colonel’s command. None of them thought they’d find anyone This was the third village this year where the entire population had gone missing.

Thousands of miles over the country of Panama a huge alien spacecraft orbited. The people of Earth were totally oblivious to the alien spacecraft, as the aliens had intended. Even the powerful sensors of S.A.G.E. didn't even detect the alien spacecraft.

Within the walls of the alien spacecraft, the aliens performed experiments on their captive humans. Most didn’t survive. However, one female proved to be the perfect test subject, or at least so the aliens originally thought.

Things were going well. The female was injected with the sun crystals and her skin started to glow with the crystals as the grew. The aliens watched intently; this was their tenth subject, all the rest had failed to assimilate with the alien sun crystals. The female survived the first phase, and the aliens moved to the second, which was exposing the sun crystals to solar radiation, or sunlight.

With a flick of a tentacle, a section of the spacecraft raised bathing the female with the light of the sun. Readings from the probes in the female started flooding in. However, something was wrong. The readings were climbing too high, and too fast. The female arched her back off of the examine table as a scream burst from her lips.

The spacecraft bucked with the explosion that quickly followed. For a brief moment the alien spacecraft was quite visible from Earth. Soon the Sentinels were alerted to their presence. Knowing that they stood no chance against the Sentinels, the aliens quickly retreated. They didn’t notice that the female test subject was missing.

That night in San Benjamin, a star fell to Earth. Colonel Ortez was watching the strange lights up in the night sky trying to figure out what was going on. When one of the lights was coming closer and closer he called to all his men, and they ran away as fast as they could. Colonel Ortez was expecting an explosion, but there wasn’t one. Curious he and his men returned to San Benjamin only to find a young girl at the well crying. All the soldiers were in awe. The girl glowed with an inner light that was almost painful to look upon. Being a brave man Colonel Ortez approached the girl.

Ten years have passed since Colonel Ortez found Nina. Nina was the name the colonel gave her, as Nina didn’t remember anything of her past. Panamanian doctors explained to the Colonel that the girl was repressing her memories. Roberto was the only person that the young girl would trust and he was given Nina as a ward, and later Roberto adopted Nina. The Colonel helped Nina deal with her powers as best he could, and even encouraged her to take on a super-heroic identity. Nina took the code-name: Estrella or Star. As Estrella, Nina has strived to protect the Panama Canal and the Colon Free Trade Zone from dangers like Deep Six or Los Piratas.

Personality
The abduction by aliens when Nina was young had an extreme traumatic effect on her. She doesn’t remember anything of her past from the point where she met Colonel Ortez. The doctors assured the colonel that eventually she would regain her lost memories. However, it has been ten years and so far no memories of her previous life have surfaced.

Estrella isn’t exactly sure where her need to protect normal people came from. She believes that it comes from her association with Colonel Ortez, as he’s quite the humanitarian. However, it might also stem from a feeling of being unable to protect herself and the other people from San Benjamin. Regardless, Estrella always throws herself into the thick of a battle in which normal people are threatened by super-villains.

Quote
"Time to throw a little light on the subject."

Powers
Estrella’s body is impregnated with millions upon millions of an extraterrestrial crystal known as sun crystals. The exact purpose of the aliens placing the sun crystals in Estrella’s body is unknown. However, the effects of the sun crystals has granted Estrella with powers similar to an uberhuman.

Through the sun crystals, Estrella is able to project a variety of photonic energy from a blinding light field that is almost impossible for anyone to see through, to a variety of damaging light bolts. With a mere thought Estrella is able to transform her body into light itself, passing through most objects, and becoming invincible to certain attacks. Naturally Estrella is able to fly and project a force field around herself.

Appearance
Estrella is a dark skinned woman with long straight dark hair. Her costume consists of a white leotard with a golden centerpiece that has a white star emblazoned over it, along with a golden belt. On her arms, Estrella wears silver bracelets, and on her feet she wears fashionable white boots. Estrella also wears a white cape with a golden lining. To hide her identity, Estrella wears a small domino mask that is also golden. With her powers, Estrella can change back and forth between her costume and her regular clothes.

When not in her Estrella guise, Nina is an university student, where she’s studying to become a nurse. Her favorite clothing to where are tank tops and jeans with the knees cut out. On her feet Nina likes to wear comfortable shoes.

#133 Panama

2008-08-02T16:41:00.002+10:00

Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.

Source: CIA World Factbook.

Famous for connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic, Panama needs a resident superhero to keep the ships moving. I think Panama is a target for the Uberworld's two resident 'pirate villains', Deep Six and Los Piratas.

The following information was gleaned from the CIA World Factbook (linked above):

Official Name: Republic of Panama
Government: Constitutional Democracy
Capital: Panama
Population: 3,292,693 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Major Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Noah has already started work on this character and has a really cool image sorted out. Can't wait to see the finished product.

#132 DOCTOR KOMODO (Palau)

2008-08-02T16:31:00.002+10:00

DOCTOR KOMODO
Real Name Unrevealed
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Doctor Komodo is one of the longest active super villains of the world, although his activities have included interrupted periods of many years. He first appeared during the Second World War near Komodo Island and was responsible for slaughtering a large contingent of Japanese soldiers. History has suggested that Komodo slew the Japanese with the assistance of mutated komodo dragons, although his dabbling into nuclear power and radiation came later which suggests the dragons were most likely not irradiated at that time. Komodo himself has never explained the true nature of his success against the soldiers and has even dismissed the incident as a false memory at times. Considering the many and varied experiments he has subsequently subjected himself to it is quite possible that Komodo is no longer in full command of his sanity which may have impacted on his memory. On the other hand it may simply suit him to have the stories of his early years distorted or disputed.

After the Second World War Komodo was famous for attacks in South East Asia and was a principal member in many countries' call for independence: most notably the formation of Indonesia. While he had some contacts within the military of the emerging Indonesia, he seemed more interested in pushing out the Europeans than with establishing any kind of government. During the 1950s and 1960s he appeared quite mad and erratic, often threatening Australia and New Zealand as well as Hong Kong and other areas frequented by Europeans. His threats were usually thwarted although the damage was generally astronomical. He constructed giant robots, mutated komodo dragons and even managed to trigger a series of tsunamis.

In the 1970s Komodo made his way (inevitably) to Sauropolis where he was grudgingly accepted by the dinosaur society. Although he only spent a few months in the hidden land he managed to become privy to unusual science and when he reappeared in the world he had mutated himself into a saurian-human hybrid. During this time he battled heroes across the Pacific, even to San Francisco. His evil genius was still there but he seemed to rely more on brute strength and a cunning predator's instincts. Because of this he ended up nearly beaten to death many times and was also the man responsible for numerous bloody deaths and injuries to others.

In the 1980s, Komodo changed again, reverting to human form and nearly-responsible and law abiding persona. He established himself as Dr Sukarno and helped form the pseudo-super hero team known as the PACERS (PACific EnforceRS). His genius provided the young team with fantastic gadgets and a brilliant tactical mind, but it all proved to be a ploy and Komodo sent the PACERS to their deaths against the criminal power broker Evol Khan who was, at the time making moves in Asia. The demise of the PACERS made fleeting international news but when it was over Komodo discarded any dreams of being a 'good guy' and returned to his original interest in the komodo dragons.

He began breeding mutant komodo dragons and trained them as efficient and hardy killers. Still human in appearance he generally carried out crimes from behind the scenes, sending out the dragons to rob banks and silence threats. These clandestine activities somehow led Komodo to meet with the Infinite Man and the two hatched a plan to take over the world - beginning with the subjugation of the Sentinels. Komodo used his growing army of mutant komodo dragons to draw the Sentinels into three areas: Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta. With the team split, the Infinite Man was able to transform the heroes into statues. Unfortunately for Komodo, the Singapore Samurai were able to intervene in the Infinite Man's plans in Singapore, and Atomic Girl proved to be able to withstand the Infinite Man's powers. She channelled his powers through her body and then into the body of Komodo, who mutated again into a lizard-like creature. The transformation drove him insane, at least for several years, and during that time he lost his entire fortune.

However, as in most of his stories, Komodo returned bigger and more determined than ever. In the current world, Doctor Komodo is a mad scientist with the body of a powerful uberhuman. He combines his wit and strength to maintain his wealth and advance his creations. He seems destined to come up with glorious plans to destroy or enslave the world, but even his most grandiose plans always come unstuck. It is his curse.

Personality
Komodo is generally considered a mad scientist with an obsession to take over the world. During most of his career he has utilised various inventions or harnessed mutated komodo dragons to achieve this goal, although he has never succeeded. He is certainly egotistical and rarely considers the views of others. A rare exception to this has been Princess Komodo, his genetically engineered 'daughter', although his fatherly protection of her waxes and wanes even more regularly than the moon.

At times he has shown some variation on the desire for world domination, particularly evident in his days as a pseudo-hero leading the PACERS, although his true motivations during this time are clouded in mystery. It may have been an attempt to reinvent himself, a case of concussion or a masterful plot to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.

What remains true to this day is the Doctor Komodo is a major threat and is likely to unleash devastation on a large scale to achieve his plans to take over the world.

Quote
"BWAHAHAHA, I am Doctor Komodo, you blithering fools. Pure intellect housed in the indomitable form of nature's grandest killing machine!"

Powers
Throughout his career Komodo has generally been considered a gadgeteer, able to construct masterful and deadly devices to use against his opponents. His genius level intellect has given him the edge over many heroes and law enforcement agencies. When he first took on the appearance of a humanoid lizard he seemed to lose this intellect and devolved into a classic thuggish villain, smashing opponents with little regard to strategy.

In his current form, Komodo has his intellect and his devices as well as the power of a lizardlike man. He is strong, incredible fast and able to withstand your regular superhero attacks at least for the short term. He lacks natural impervious defences but has been known to create force field generators, and given the time he can generally come up with a defence for anything or any one.

His latest mutated form can breathe underwater and exist in most dangerous environments as well as being immune to most animal toxins. His thick tail is his primary weapon and is capable of slamming even the most buff of heroes. Once he unleashes his claws and teeth on a prone body he is known to rip out throats and cause horrible gashes. There are rumours that his bites can cause disease, but this has not been proven and could have been a serum he created rather than a natural ability.

Perhaps his most dangerous ability is to unleash hordes of irradiated, mutant komodo dragons. The lizards have been bred by the doctor for decades and he always seems to have more of them locked away in deserted Pacific islands ready for a fresh onslaught. At one time he managed to call upon over one hundred and fifty of the beasts to over-run an American naval base in the Philippines.

Appearance
Doctor Komodo is a very large humanoid lizard. He has dark eyes and a harsh snout which is lined with razor-sharp teeth. His skin is grey and hard with calluses gouged along its surface from previous battles which have never fully healed despite his famous regeneration ability. He has a thick tail which measures nearly 150cm, and although it is not prehensile or useful for manipulation it does assist him with balance and delivers a powerful blow to enemies.

His clothing changes depending on his needs, but he is most commonly associated with a classic white lab coat.

Before his transformation into a komodo dragon hybrid Komodo was obviously of Indonesian descent, probably Javanese. The last photographs of him show him to be a slightly overweight man in his fifties with round glasses and a rather severe hair cut. Since his transformation most experts assume he will never look that way again.

#132 Palau

2008-07-20T12:19:00.002+10:00

Palau is a group of islands in the north Pacific, southeast of the Philippines.

The CIA WOrld Factbook has the following information on Palau:

Official Name: Democratic People's Republic of Palau
Government: Constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital: Melekeok
Population: 21,093 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)
Major Languages: Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

And the character will look a bit like this:

Step One: (3) Single Character
Step Two: (5.2) Male
Step Three: (3.6) Villain
Step Four: (7) Gadgeteer
And The Rest: Since I haven't written up the last parts of the randomizer yet (see right hand panel), I'll make them up.

I think I'll surprise you with power levels and so on.

Take care!

#129b THE SHAPER (Norway)

2008-07-20T11:45:00.002+10:00

OOC: Glen Murie created this character just as my off-screen problems began so I misplaced him for a few months. But here he is and boy is he powerful?! A fun addition to any superhero game.

THE SHAPER
Thorston Grunvald
Created by Glen Murie
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Norway has an excellent social system that does a good job of taking care of its citizens. Their quality of life is among the highest in the world, and their health system is one of the best. It is as a direct concequence of this that the world now has the Shaper.

In a small house outside of a high security mental health facility in one of the more remote Northern parts of Sweden is a single man. Nearly ten percent of that institution's budget and resources are dedicated to keeping the occupant of that one house happy, sane, and safe. There are large generators that suppress psychic phenomenon anywhere close to that house. The occupent of the house, Thorston Grunvald, is one of the most powerful mentalists on the planet. His powers can reshape reality for a dozen kilometers around himself, and he's crazier than a sack of rabid cats. His powers are the result of trying to do good with the products of mad science.

Originally Thorvald wsa merely (though that trivializes his own personal plight) a manic-depressive and delusional schitzophrenic. He was a terrible burden on his family and community, but that was all. He'd get it into his head that he was supposed to build a theme park based on Norse mythology because Odin demanded it. He'd start building dangerous structures out of stolen lumber and garbage in a public park until the police got him off the streets yet again. For the most part Thorsten was harmless, but his being institutionalized for the rest of his life was a near thing.

In a world of super science it was inevitable that someone would create a mind control ray. Surely, these dangerous weapons could be turned to good! Until Thorston came along the project was going well too. Several people with incurable mental disorders were now fully functioning members of society thanks to controlled uses of a mind control device created by the Professor using stolen research; he's not been able to duplicate the weapon since. The Swedish government had seized the weapon when Russia's villain group Oktober attempted to take control of Sweden with it as a means of ultimately taking control of Russia. In Thorston the device only made his insanity worse, and in addition activated an almost godlike psychic ability.

The first inkling that anyone had that something had gone awry was when every single citizen of Tromsø where Thorston was being treated became convinced that there was treasure buried under the city somewhere. The destruction that a lone crazy person with a pick and a shovel can do is mildly amusing. The destruction that an entire city's populace can inflict on it is epic.

Just as quickly as the city got turned into a giant crater the whole of the city was rebuilt, but rebuilt under a single guiding influence. An influence that had no interest in building styles from after 1920 or so. The whole of the city was, to Thorston's credit, rebuilt in an interesting and efficient way, but the whole populace was uprooted and disorganized. Then the whole population of the city just disappeared along with every civilian and military authority sent to investigate. A few days later a fleet of longships was spotted making a direct course for England! Every attempt to arrest the perpetrators just resulted in the ships and police sent to stop it getting absorbed into the fleet.

Fortunately, before military force was brought against the fleet, a number of European mentalists were able to get close to Thorston and knock him out. Several hours later the effects of his mind control faded, and eventually everyone made their way back home, and were able to find equitable arrangements in Tromsø even though their old homes were gone. They were certain that Thorston meant no real harm by it, but he could have gotten a number of people killed anyway. England briefly tried to hold on to the Shaper, but quickly turned him over to Norway when he turned everything around him into a real life Bond film with him as the protagonist. He was shut down again, though it was a much nearer thing the second time.

Personality
Thorston does not live in the same reality as everyone else. He's usually mildly depressed or slightly manic with occasional forays into full out hyperactive mania. Usually, this is just marked with unusually high levels of energy and aggression. However, he's also schizophrenic, and the ideas and plans emerging from his mania are often accompanied by delusions and hallucinations. Now that he has the power to create mental illusions and mind control on himself and everyone around him this is even more crippling than it was before he got his powers.

Thorston's motivations vary. It depends entirely what reality he happens to be inhabiting. One thing that people have noted is that he's careless and has caused accidental deaths, but neither he nor his powers directly cause harm to others. The attacks generated by his Mental Illusions are STUN only for example.

Quote
"So, we meet again you meddling fools! But this time I, Doctor Thor, have prepared! Get them my minions!"

Powers
Thorston can totally reshape the reality and behaviour of every normal human (EGO+52 vs. EGO:8) within five miles of himself. His powers don't take effect until he's gotten the cumulative 60 point threshold on them, and the orders and illusions usually require at least EGO+30 to work. Enough to take over a mid-size city if Thorston had any desire to rule anything, which he doesn't. He's not in full command of his powers, he can only drag everyone into his current delusion and hallucination.

Once he's taken over enough minds the shared power and information of all those people allows Thorston to wreak physical changes on the world. It also causes the mass hallucination to become more detailed and real the longer it goes on. Thorston is always at the center of these events, but people attempting to take him out of them will get pulled into his power and have to deal with him on his terms. This means that they might forget they have superpowers, and instead believe they're characters from a children's television show instead for example.

Thorston doesn't have tactics. He's a lunatic with a monumentally potent power that takes over when he's off his medications and away from the psi suppressors used to control him. He and just about everyone around him will attempt to keep him from being captured. People who travel inside the effect of his powers to capture him will still want to capture Thorston, but must do it by the rules of the reality he's built.

Notes

There are three ways to use Shaper in a game. The first and easiest is Thorston as a kidnap victim. He's a monstrously powerful psychic uber, so if some megalomaniacal supervillian were to somehow get control of him there's no telling what kind of damage would be done. The second and somewhat mechanical way to do it is to have Thorston get loose, and for the PC's to be sent into retrieve him. Have an NPC give the PCs the power to ward off his mental powers for a limited time so they can capture him before they're overwhelmed. The final way is to use Thorston's powers as a plot device and have the PC's get pulled into Thorston's reality. The PC's would have all of their powers and abilities replaced with analogous powers in the new reality created by Thorvald; be it a pulp adventure or a spy thriller. The PCs will still know that they have to find and capture Thorston, but they'll have to do it within the rules of the reality he's built. You can try to hew closely to the mechanics of Thorston's power doing this (the VPP, Mind Control, and Mental Illusions) but it's just as easy to give the PC's character sheets of themselves as Pulp Era Gentleman Adventurers once they succumb to Thorston's control. To make Thorston more powerful give him better statistics and more skills. If any PC's are likely to be able to resist his powers long enough to just fly up and knock him out before his powers have any effect on the PCs increase the power of his Mind Control and Mental Illusions so that this isn't possible.

Appearance
Thorston is an imposing and well built man. He'd be handsome if not for the obvious signs of insanity like his poorly groomed hair, beard, and chewed fingernails. And of course his eyes, which betray something of his insanity even when he's properly medicated. Of course when people are under the effect of his mental illusions he looks however he thinks he's supposed to look.

#131 JAZBAH (Pakistan)

2008-07-20T11:26:00.001+10:00

JAZBAH
Hussein (last name unrevealed)
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Fifty years into the future, India's plans to expand its power over its neighbours have come to fruition with it ruthlessly occupying land as far east as Thailand and as far west as Afghanistan. In its wake the super team Assembly has laid waste to the uberhuman population of those occupied countries, as well as much of its infrastructure and defence forces. India has become a powerful colonial force with its influence matching that of the United States, China and Russia.

Within the wreckage of Pakistan a small fire of rebellion grew, however, in the early 2040s. A man, whose identity was burnt away even as his flesh was stripped from his body by hideous experiments, made a pledge to overthrow Ganesh and the cruel soldiers of the Assembly. He was forged into Intezaar: a cyborg avenger. For years he fought against the Indian armed forces and the Assembly, but it was only when he was teamed with other Pakistani avengers, the Farishtah Zhiyaan, that a glimmer of hope was shown to the rebellion.

Time travel.

It showed how desperate the times were that only by returning to the past could they overthrown the tyranny before them.

Jazbah's past has not been brought up although it is assumed he avoided detection by the Assembly in his era with the assistance of the rebellion. He has mentioned that he had a sister, but that she died when he was very young. Since joining Farishtah Zhiyaan just prior to their departure for what they assumed was the 20th century, Jazbah has shown himself to be dedicated to the cause.

However, once the team arrived in 2008, several years ahead of their planned point, Jazbah has clearly shown himself to be the least dedicated of the team. He is the youngest and most naive of the team. While he hates the Assembly enough to want them dead, he has discovered the the wider world here in 2008 is not as harsh as the world he knew. While he is famous for being close-mouthed, when he does speak Jazbah has on occasion suggested they try to live as best as they can in this new time. The others in the team consider him to be weak-willed, but they require his strength in their fight against the Assembly and have to put up with his fantasies.

Personality
Hussein has found himself questioning his mission. He is surrounded by hope for a better world and wonders how long he will last in the team before he runs away to live amongst the enlightened people of 2008. He is a genuine person brought up in a hostile world, and since being exposed to the relative calm of our time he has been able to explore his caring personality.

When not directly controlled by his team mates, Hussein has slipped away to work amongst the people of whatever society he is sheltering in, be it his regular stops in Bangladesh, Thailand or Burma. He has been welcomed by the people who consider him a hero.

All his life he has been trained to fight the Assembly, to tear them apart; but his acceptance as a hero has offered him an alternative future. He knows that he will leave the team one day and wonders how they will cope with the betrayal. At times he has raised the question of turning their mission into something more positive, but each time he has been derided by Afroza or Intezaar.

When he is not being introspective, Hussein is a happy soul and probably because of his bulk and strength he tends to be combative in a friendly push-and-shove kind of way. To him everything is a game or competition, although it is always of a friendly kind.

Quote
"My turn, brothers... let me bring this thing tumbling down!"

Powers
Jazbah was supposed to be a ruthless killing machine with the strength of a storm giant. Instead he is a gentle giant who sometimes doesn't know his own strength. He is able to comfortably bench press 100 tons and is resistant to almost all forms of injury. However Jazbah isn't too bright, especially in combat. He prefers the direct approach and can be outwitted or tricked into disastrous situations.

On the other hand, his opponents often mistake his oafish behaviour for slow reflexes, whereas his speed and reaction time is way beyond normal human capabilities. His senses are also highly attuned. Given time and more training he really could become an accomplished hero or villain.

Appearance
Standing at 6'4" Jazbah is nearly half as wide as he is tall and bristling with tight muscles. In costume he wears a black body suit over a hardened green armour which includes a cowl. He has dark red bands over his chest and a prominent number 4 which designates his role amongst the team (the last and least important, as quoted by Raast).

Out of costume, Hussein is a handsome man who may be just 20 or a little younger. He is obviously strong and healthy, with a bright smile and shoulder-length glossy black hair. On his back is a tribal tattoo, although the design is not known in the present and most likely has something to do with the future Pakistani rebellion.

#131 RAAST (Pakistan)

2008-07-20T11:24:00.002+10:00

RAAST
Yunus Gul Khan
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Raast means truth, although the word is perhaps only ever used to benefit Yunus Gul Khan himself. He has always been self-centred and self-serving: his genius level intellect allowing himself to ingratiate himself into the ranks of the Pakistani rebels of 2050. While he joined the Farishtah Zhiyaan as a way to test his theories on time travel, it wasn't until during the journey to 2008 that his powers manifested and his body transformed into a diamond-like form.

The Farishtah Zhiyaan have been in our time period for several months. It has been revealed recently that Raast is actually the grandson of the Assembly member, Krystal. His actions in the present have led his team mates to question his loyalty and Raast himself is keen to explore the opportunities his arrival in the safety of 2008 have produced.

He has begun organising a split from the team in the hope of beginning an international career as a supervillain.

The idea thrills him.

The freedom.

The power.

The truth.

Personality
Raast wants to be a serious contender amongst the worl'd super villains. He has the brains and the motivation. All he needs to do is manage to escape from Intezaar's suicide mission and start out on his own.

He has no respect for anyone except himself as he has yet to meet his equal. Intezaar openly distrusts him but Raast realises that he no loner cares and has sometimes goading the leader almost to the point of open warfare.

Quote
"You need me to make this work. Consider your plea again, Intezaar, and this time ensure that you include a little grovelling."

Powers
Yunus Gul Khan is a genius and was the main brains behind the time travel portal, although he has yet to rebuild the device in the present. During the transportation to the past, though, his body underwent a further mutation and he is now composed of a diamond-like substance. He is unsure what his natural state is now and every hour his body tends to shunt off to its alternate form.

In his diamond form he is exceptionally difficult to harm, although his strength is still well below uberhuman levels.

Raast still relies mostly on his intellect and is usually behind the play during battles. He would prefer to stay out of action altogether and send in minions to do his dirty work - something he plans on doing in the future when he becomes an independent master super villain.

Appearance
Yunus has olive skin, dark curly hair and a short beard and moustache. He has a wiry body and affects a smirk most hours of the day giving the impression of someone who is certainly superior to all those around him. As Raast his body is composed of a hard diamond-like substance which seems to be partially translucent at times. His grandmother is Krystal although his skin is much more resistant than hers ever was.

#131 AFROZA (Pakistan)

2008-07-20T11:22:00.002+10:00

AFROZA
Afroza Younis
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Fifty years into the future, India's plans to expand its power over its neighbours have come to fruition with it ruthlessly occupying land as far east as Thailand and as far west as Afghanistan. In its wake the super team Assembly has laid waste to the uberhuman population of those occupied countries, as well as much of its infrastructure and defence forces. India has become a powerful colonial force with its influence matching that of the United States, China and Russia.

Within the wreckage of Pakistan a small fire of rebellion grew, however, in the early 2040s. A man, whose identity was burnt away even as his flesh was stripped from his body by hideous experiments, made a pledge to overthrow Ganesh and the cruel soldiers of the Assembly. He was forged into Intezaar: a cyborg avenger. For years he fought against the Indian armed forces and the Assembly, but it was only when he was teamed with other Pakistani avengers, the Farishtah Zhiyaan, that a glimmer of hope was shown to the rebellion.

Time travel.

It showed how desperate the times were that only by returning to the past could they overthrown the tyranny before them.

Afroza Younis found herself drafted into the Farishtah Zhiyaan because of her powers. When she first burst into flames as a toddler, she was spirited away from her family and raised with the rebellion. At the age of sixteen she was sent to work with the cold-blooded cyborg, Intezaar, and when the time travel portal was opened two years later she entered it along with her team. In those two years she had hardened. Her mission was simple: destroy the Assembly.

The time portal missed its mark and the team of assassins found themselves arriving after the Assembly had formed. Ganesh had already arrived on Earth. It was 2008.

Afroza was furious, but under Intezaar's tutelage she quickly turned her fury and frustration to better use. Even though the Assembly had already entrenched itself in this time, they had yet to find general acceptance in the international community. Intezaar ordered the team to strike at the Assembly, to strike them again and again. Afroza had nothing to lose.

The Farishtah Zhiyaan have been in our time period for several months. The Assembly is now aware of them and have made them the number one on their hit list. Afroza has already managed to set up a deadly rivalry with Saraswati, despite the fact that Saraswati has been ordered by her CIA handlers to get Afroza and her team to the United States. The US believes that Farishtah Zhiyaan can be used to their advantage, and they would also like to learn more about time travel.

Personality
Afroza is, as you might imagine, quite a fiery woman. Her flames burn the brightest when she is offered an opportunity to destroy the Assembly or anything related to the Indian oppressors. She is blinded by her hatred for them and will do anything to avoid the future that she was born into. Of the team, only Afroza and Intezaar remain fatalistic, knowing that they will die in the present so that their future may never come to be.

The longer she stays in this time, the less hold she has on her emotions. In her future she was surrounded by misery and pain. Now that she finds herself in 2008 she realises that there are many people in the world who are happy, and the fact that Jazbah continues to suggest they forget the crusade and settle down is driving her insane. Part of her wants to give up the fight and life as peacefully as she can, but the dominant part of her is consumed beyond redemption.

She will die for her cause.

And she knows it... embraces it.

Quote
"I will not stop burning until it is all gone!"

Powers
Afroza means light from fire. Even at an early age, Afroza exhibited signs of being the fire-woman she grew into being. Her hands burst into flame within the first weeks of her life, and after that she was whisked away to be hidden by the rebellion. As she grew within their shadowy ranks, she learned how to control her powers and how to use them to destroy the enemy.

She is able to transform her normal looking body into one covered in flames. This produces a field of intense heat which is capable of melting most projectiles before they even touch her, as well as harming anything or anyone who comes into contact with her. She is able to create short light-bursts as well as devastating blasts of fire.

As she has grown Afroza has become more and more athletic and agile, and when she is in her fire form she is able to elongate her body almost as if she were composed purely of flame. She is also very quick in her fire form and able to move as fast as a wildfire. She is a competent hand to hand combatant and combat acrobat.

Appearance
Afroza is a young woman in her twenties although her life has been very hard and she has a beaten-down look about her when not in her flame form. She seems very anxious and uncomfortable without her flames, something which is even more striking when she does transform into her fiery form. When she does do this, her thin black hair explodes into a luminous fiery orange and her eyes brighten with their own flames. Her skin turns red and she gives off extreme heat.

Her uniform is a sleeveless red top and shorts. She wears red boots, a yellow belt, and the number two on her uniform signifying that she is considered second in command to Intezaar (although Raast has never given her respect).

#131 INTEZAAR (Pakistan)

2008-07-20T11:19:00.002+10:00

INTEZAAR
Real Name Unrevealed
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Fifty years into the future, India's plans to expand its power over its neighbours have come to fruition with it ruthlessly occupying land as far east as Thailand and as far west as Afghanistan. In its wake the super team Assembly has laid waste to the uberhuman population of those occupied countries, as well as much of its infrastructure and defence forces. India has become a powerful colonial force with its influence matching that of the United States, China and Russia.

Within the wreckage of Pakistan a small fire of rebellion grew, however, in the early 2040s. A man, whose identity was burnt away even as his flesh was stripped from his body by hideous experiments, made a pledge to overthrow Ganesh and the cruel soldiers of the Assembly. He was forged into Intezaar: a cyborg avenger. For years he fought against the Indian armed forces and the Assembly, but it was only when he was teamed with other Pakistani avengers, the Farishtah Zhiyaan, that a glimmer of hope was shown to the rebellion.

Time travel.

It showed how desperate the times were that only by returning to the past could they overthrown the tyranny before them.

Since arriving in 2008: several years later than expected; Intezaar has become a little more unhinged than he was in the 2050s. He is exhibiting signs of a total psychotic personality. Even his team mates are not safe from his bouts of aggression and cruelty.

Intezaar has managed to gain the attention of the Assembly and they consider him a real threat.

The don't realise that they were the ones who actually created him.

Personality
Intezaar was once a man, but there is very little remaining of him physically or mentally. He has been systematically replaced ver the years by dedicated and desperate men. He believes that he must destroy the Assembly, particularly Ganesh, and that there are no excuses for failing to do this.

He will stop at nothing to destroy them.

Recently he has shown the world just how unstable he is after he indiscriminately killed dozens of United Nations delegates in Mumbai even after they had shown an interest in hearing Intezaar's story, particularly the fact that he and his team were time travellers. Since the massacre the world has come to see Intezaar as a terrorist and even SAGE has begun to hunt for him.

Quote
"That will not be allowed." - quickly followed by bursts of gunfire or the crushing of bone.

Powers
Intezaar is a cyborg of unknown origin. He appears to be a skeleton, although it has become known that within his bone structure lies a sophisticated biological system which replicates regular human organs. He does not require oxygen to operate and seems quite capable of working under the most extreme of circumstances, but he does require sustenance eventually.

The most advanced of his systems is the ability to quickly modify his sensors. He seems quite capable of mimicking any sense within seconds and is an expert tracker.

He is stronger and faster than humanly possible as well as having an almost unlimited endurance. His usual method of attacking is a rapid punch with his metallic alloy fists: an attack which is capable of punching through steel walls.

Appearance
He is tall and frightening, as any metallic-skeleton would be. It is clear to anyone that Intezaar is less than human. His bones are exposed almost as an insult to the humanity he is seemingly so desperate to save, and his voice is robotic and obviously lacking in compassion. He wears a uniform, although he doesn't need to, and it is black with dark red stripes crossing his chest and up his legs. There is a prominent number 1 on his chest which signifies his leadership status amongst the Farishtah Zhiyaan.

It also suggests that he only answers to himself.

#131 Farishtah Zhiyaan (Pakistan)

2008-07-20T11:13:00.002+10:00

Farishtah Zhiyaan

Four desperate ubers from the future who have come back to our time to eradicate The Assembly and put a stop to India's expansionist foreign policy.

Now they are trapped in 2008 the team is fragmenting.

Intezaar has gone mad and is even more hell-bent on destruction.

Afroza has become fatalistic and knows that she won't be going home ever again. She has turned her depression into a fiery vengeance.

Raast has begun to see the possibilities this new world offers, particularly in the business of master super villain. It's only a matter of time before he leaves the team to begin his own reign of villainy across the world.

And Jazbah who just wants to live a happy life and put down the weapons. Being the youngest, though, he rarely gets any attention. Perhaps one day he will simply walk away from the others and settle down.

The threats do not just come from within, though. The team's primary mission is to destroy The Assembly, and The Assembly is aware of their existence. Just how long can a team of outcast ti8me travellers survive against the world's largest and most ruthless superhero team?

#130 RAML (Oman)

2008-07-07T18:50:00.009+10:00

RAML
Jamal bin Rub’ al Khali
Created by Noah Thorp
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
The winds whipped across the desert for days. Rashid hunkered down in his tent waiting for the winds to die down. Born a bedouin, he knew that these things could go on for days, and afterwards he’d have to go searching for his herd. Hopefully the sheep wouldn’t have scattered too far away from the tents, but only Allah knew for sure.

That night the storm finally blew off towards the sea, and Rashid came out to see a sky clear and dark. The moon had waned, and all the stars shone brightly in the night sky over the desert. Rashid said a quick prayer to Allah in thanks. As the beduin turn to return to his sleep rolls, a falling star flashed across the sky. Rashid took this as a good omen.

The next day luck was with Rashid and he quickly found his stray sheep, and was going to return them to their feeding grounds when he saw something flashing in the distance. Curiosity got the better of Rashid; the sheep could wait for a little while.

Rashid trudged deeper into the desert, the light seemed to call Rashid on. It took most of the day to find the object that was emmitting light. In a crater created from a falling piece heaven Rashid found a sand colored stone that glowed with the light of heaven. Reverently, Rashid picked up the stone with both hands. The stone was warm, but not hot to the touch. For some reason the stone made Rashid think of the Black Stone in Mecca. Rashid knew that he had to present the stone to his shiekh, and wrapped it up in a strip of the clothe of his robes.

With light steps Rashid retraced his path back towards his tribes lands. Rashid wasn't paying close attention and almost droped the stone. In fear he opened his bundle. The stone had a crack in it, and like a hen's egg hatching it fell into pieces. However, Rashid was left with an infant boy newborn in his hands. However, this boy was like no other. The child was made entirely of sand. Rashid was in awe, and then the infant opened its' sandy eyes and looked at Rashid and smiled.

Rashid named the boy Jamal, and raised him as his own. Jamal has used his abilities to protect the bedouins of Oman, and on occassion the everyday people of Oman and the Arabian Penensula. To the outside world, Jamal is known as Raml or Sand Dune. Rashid has never been able to explain to Jamal what exactly happened the day that the bedouin found the stone that became Jamal.

Personality
Raml presents to the world a wise and confident adult. He likes everyone to think that he's an adult, but the truth is more like an act. When angered or frustrated Raml typically acts like the teenager that he really is. However, while Raml does age, he has no idea how long he'll live.

Raml has a strong sense of justice. He doesn't see himself as a hero, but feels that often he must act to make sure justice is served. Otherwise, Raml thinks of himself as an average bedouin.

Quote
"The desert is a harsh mistress. To me she is my mother."

Powers
Raml is able to control the medium of his body as if it were made of individually controlled grains of sand joined in a liquid-like state. By drawing in more matter between his grains of sand he can grow in size or length. By changing how these sand grains relate, Raml can immitate the color or texture of rock or sand. His inherent ability to know every little grain of himself allows Raml to reform missing sand grains of himself from other stone.

Appearance
Raml normally wears no clothing beyond an occasional set of slippers when he doesn't want not to ruin expensive floorings or carpets. He is normally beige in color, or red brown, with lighter or darker hues dependent on the ground he's most recently moved through. While his form varies, it's mostly recognizable as vaguely humanoid, even when the overall form isn't.

When not actively shaping himself, Raml usually settles into a youngish looking man of a lean build, with close cropped hair (shaped anyway) with the raised texture of a long sleeved tunic, a sleeveless cloak, and a headclothe or kufiyya --all made of the same material, him.

#131 Pakistan

2008-07-07T18:50:00.007+10:00

Pakistan is one of those countries which is experiencing a vastly different existence in Uberworld. As previously mentioned, Pakistan has been annexed by India with the ruthless assistance of its immense uberhuman team, The Assembly.

In our world, Pakistan borders Afghanistan and has been on the world stage since the breakout of the so-called 'War On Terror' in 2001. Pakistan was quickly allied with the United States in opposing the Taliban and its leader, President Musharraf has been seen as a 'good guy' as well as a 'psuedo-dictator'. His power has been eroded by a new government and has relinquished his leadership of the military. In December 2007 Benazir Bhutto, who was an outspoken critic of Musharraf, was assassinated. In elections which followed Musharraf's allies lost many of their seats.

Pakistan and India have long had strained relations, made all the worse by their status as nuclear states.

In Uberworld, India launched a stunning and deadly attack on Pakistan and killed most of Pakistan's ubers.

The Uberworld encyclopedia has the following information:

Pakistan was once a thriving Islamic Republic, but after being invaded by India in 1999 it has effectively been reduced to a Protectorate of its once hated neighbour. During the invasion, India's uberhuman strike team destroyed cities along the border as well as nearly 80% of Pakistan's uberhuman population. The attacks were swift and merciless, leaving Pakistan defenceless against India's encroachment.

Since becoming a Protectorate, Pakistan has seen a decline in health, education and GDP per capita. Pakistanis are treated as lesser beings, and Indian nationals have been given most of the positions of authority.

There is a covert resistance group operating in Pakistan, led by the uber Azadi (meaning freedom), although their actions have had little effect on the occupation.

My plan for this entry is to have a team of Pakistani ubers from a possible future, travel back to the 'present' and serve as a militant, desperate team of 'terrorists' to be used as villains and/or vigilantes/anti-heroes.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Pakistan:

Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Government: Federal Republic
Capital: Islamabad
Population: 167,762,040 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
Major Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%

I've adjusted the figures and information to illsutrate the Uberworld Pakistan as follows:

Official Name: Indian Protectorate of Pakistan
Government: Protectorate (annexed by India)
Capital: Islamabad
Population: 162,420,000
Ethnic Groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
Major Languages: Hindi (official), Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (former official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%

Now for the rolls...

Step One: Pakistan
Step Two: I've already decided this will be a team (4 members)
Step Three: (4.1) Male (4.3) Male (2.6) Female (2.1) Male
Step Four: (2.4) Villain
Step Five: (8) Martial Artist (18) Mastermind (19.9.4) Martial Artist/Energy Projector (1) Brick
Step Six: 400 Points (250 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: (6) 27XP (1) 0XP (5) 15XP (1) 0XP
Step Eight: From the FUTURE!

I'll call the future-warriors Farishtah Zhiyaan (terrible angels).

#130 Oman

2008-07-07T18:42:00.003+10:00

One of the middle eastern cuntries, Oman has good relations with Britain and relies on its oil industry which is rapidly declining. The country has vast interior deserts and mountains to the north and south.

The CIA World Factbook has the following information on Oman:

Official Name: Sultanate of Oman
Government: Monarchy
Capital: Muscat
Population: 3,311,640
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Major Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects.

I've got the new random character generation tables ready but Noah has already started this character. It'll kick in with the next country, Pakistan.

#129a HUGINN and MUNNIN (Norway)

2008-07-06T10:54:00.002+10:00

HUGINN and MUNNIN
Erik and Lief von Bruim
Character Sheet (Click Here)
Created by Noah Thorp

Background
Erik and Lief von Bruim are the great grandsons of Otto von Bruim, who was once known as the German super-villain known as the German Eagle during World War II. Otto was a member of the Ubermensch. Near the end of the war a few of the Ubermensch became disillusioned with Nazi Germany, or awoke to the horrors of Nazi Germany.

In the end the Ubermensch turned upon one another. In one of the most cataclysmic battles of the war several of the Ubermensch were killed and most were severely wounded. German Eagle was one of the wounded. In a fight with Max Uber, Otto’s wings were ripped from his back. Normally this would probably kill Otto, but Otto was given his wings in a mystical rite, and in effect the removing of his wings freed him from the magic.

After the war, Otto retreated into Norway, eventually making his way to Spitsbergen probably one of the most remote places in the world. Otto did his best to hide from the world; his shame for his participation with the Ubermensch making him into a recluse.

However, as the years pasted the horrors of the war were put behind him, and Otto married a Norwegian woman and they had many children. When Otto was called by his oldest son, his son sounded really worried. His twin sons, Lief and Erik who had just reached puberty were sprouting wings from their backs. Otto had never told his children about his dark past as a member of the Ubermensch.

Otto was beside himself, and out of desperation contacted his form Ubermensch teammate, Max Uber. Max gladly came to Spitsbergen to meet with Otto whom he hadn’t seen since the war. The famous German super-hero talked with Otto’s son, and as briefly as possible explained that his sons were Uberhumans and that they needed to use their gifts to help protect the world like he and the other members of Uber-Force were doing. The boys father wasn’t too pleased with what Max told him but there was little he could do about it.

When Lief and Erik were old enough to go to university in Oslo they left with two gifts from their great grandfather, twin sets of costumes and goggles. Otto knew that his great grand children would make up for the dark legacy that he had created during the war. Like the twin ravens of Odin, Lief and Erik would debut to the world as Huginn and Munnin.

Personality
Lief and Erik have been close to one another since birth. The twins seems to even have developed a sort of ‘twin speak’, which keeps them in constant contact. There is nothing the other wouldn’t do to protect his twin.

The twins are dreamers, dreaming about how one day they’ll become the greatest super-heroes in the world. They’re a little naive spending more time dreaming about becoming great than doing something about it. Fortunately there isn’t much Uberhuman crime in Norway for the twins to fight. However, they’ve tangled with Blitzkrieg and the Kinder der Zukunft on a number of occasions.

Quote
"We see far, no villain can hide from Huginn and Munnin."

Powers
Lief and Erik both have a set of fully functional wings growing from their backs. The twins can fly at great speeds and have even created a coordinated attack where they fly around a foe really fast. This attack sucks all the air from between them by causing a compression wave. However, the twins aren’t always successful with this attack.

The twins also wear a suit of reinforced clothe that protects them from most damage. To protect their eyes, the twins were goggles that also protects them from flash attacks.

Lief and Erik’s eye sight is greater than a normal person, and they can pick out a target from a long distance. Each twin has also trained themselves in how to fight with their wings. Many a foe has gotten a wing in the face.

Appearance
As Huginn and Munnin, Lief and Erik wear a reinforced costume similar to the flag of Norway. Their costumes are hooded and cover their upper faces. Growing from their backs are a pair of fully articulated wings which are covered with black feathers.

When attending university, the twins usually wear clothing typical of university students. The twins make no effort to hid their uniqueness from others, even though their super hero costumes hides their upper face.

Notes
Noah created these guys just before I dropped out of cyber-existence and I totally forgot about them. So I guess for this entry you, faithful readers, get a two-for-one deal. Enjoy!

#129 T-BANE (Norway)

2008-07-06T10:48:00.002+10:00

T-BANE
Kjell Knarbakk
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Kjell Knarbakk worked for twenty years on the railway, and for what? When cutbacks were announced and retrenchments showered down upon the drivers and rail engineers of Norway Knarbakk found himself alone in his mid-forties with no family, no job and no prospects. He moved south into Europe searching for work and found itinerant jobs driving heavy machinery, but only ever for a short time. He was too old. There were always cut backs. There were other reasons too, but after several months Knarbakk stopped listening. He received every knockback with the same expressionless grunt and nod of his large head.

One night, as luck would have it, he took a job driving a train in eastern Poland which was attacked by Oktober: a terrorist group of uberhumans determined to return Russia to its communist past and expand its territories. The team's witch, Baba Natasha, had been possessed by a powerful demon called Sitkesh which had temporarily commandeered the team. Sitkesh's plan was to hunt down and destroy the progeny of the Witch King of Estonia, specifically Porguneitsi.

Knarbakk found himself driving a train right into the middle of a battle between the powered-up Baba Natasha and the supremely angry Witch King.

In the midst of the battle, Baba Natasha shattered one of the Witch King's staffs which exploded and then immediately imploded causing a major rift in the dimensions. The Witch King was vanquished and the demonic Sitkesh was also drawn out of the young Russian witch. Oktober fled after Baba Natasha realised she had been played by a demon, and the train wreckage was abandoned.

The only evidence of the clash between the two waging creatures was a single shard of the Witch King's staff - which had imbedded itself in the chest of the astonished Kjell Knarbakk.

Once he realised he wasn't dead, and in fact had actually grown in stature and strength, Knarbakk took a relatively short time to become accustomed to his new powers and his new life as an enforcer. The money was easy and he was able to vent his years of frustration with unmatched power. No one could stop him. Not even the police.

Personality
Knarbakk is big and loud, with little formal education and a heck of a lot of anger towards the world. Since becoming T-Bane, or Subway, he has cast off any pretence of patience and is liable to fly off the handle at anything. His strength is formidable and he has yet to find an opponent who can match him, although Armstrong of the Brotherhood has come close.

T-Bane works for anyone with the right kind of money. Through some kind of loyalty to his homeland, T-Bane has established himself in Oslo and works mostly throughout Scandinavia.

Quote
"I have twisted the head off bulls, dreng. And sometimes I play the songs of AC/DC with the leg of a bull. Are you scared, no?"

Powers
Imbued with magic from a broken staff once possessed by the powerful Witch King of Estonia, T-Bane has exhibited immense raw strength and durability which has him within the realms of the strongest uberhumans in Europe. He is highly resistant to conventional, as well as magical, attacks and is capable of immense property damage. He has shown a tendency to run through walls and buildings, often collapsing entire blocks to hide his trail or to block pursuit.

One particular perk of his new occupation has been the purchase of state of the art body armour.

Appearance
In his costume, Knarbakk is intimidating. He is very large and incredibly heavy, which makes him difficult to move if he wills it. His arms and legs are particularly thick giving him the impression of a barrel. His armour is metallic and dense with semi-translucent shoulder guards. The costume is dark grey with red bands. Out of his costume Knarbakk is recognisable as having a broken nose and small, mean blue eyes. His face is creased with wrinkles and he often wears a moustache or goatee beard. Since being stabbed by the magical shard, Knarbakk often feels he is getting younger. He is certainly a lot more powerful than he ever was in his younger days, and it is quite possible his aging process has been retarded.

Notes
T-Bane is my first attempt at using this blog - Fabrica de Herois.

His villain name means subway in Norwegian, btw.

#129 Norway

2008-07-05T18:08:00.003+10:00

It's been a long time coming, I know, so I'll get right into it. Norway is one of the Scandinavian countries along with Finland, Sweden and Denmark. It's cold. Has a heritage of vikings and Norse mythology which is always attractive to comic book types. It turns out that Norway is not a member of the European Union, which is problematic for me because my Dawnstars game is set up as a team of heroes sponsored by the EU. There have been two Norwegians so far: Eternity and Nordkapp Man. Now, granted, Nordkapp Man is actually a neanderthal who was trapped in ice for thousands of years, but he considers himself Norwegian.

I will have to say that Norway in Uberworld has joined the EU. There will be a story explaining why, of course, but maybe not yet. Who knows, perhaps it is linked to this character.

Speaking of Grak (Nordkapp Man), he has left the team and now (as an NPC) heads up a special school for ubers in Trondheim, Norway.

And also speaking of Grak, his creator Rob Rogers has written a fantastic book - Devil's Cape. One of the best books I've read. And it's crying out for a sequel (or film!). Check Jeff Hebert's blog for a great review. (And check out Jeff's other great stuff - awesome blog!)

Now, let's create...

Official Name: Kingdom of Norway
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Oslo
Population: 4,644,457 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Major Languages: Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities.

And the dice rolls ... um. Actually my hard drive broke so I don't have the rolls anymore. I'll have to write them up again, but in the meantime I'll just make it up. This is the last N country, anyway.

Step One: Norway
Step Two: Single Character
Step Three: Male
Step Four: Villain
Step Five: Brick
Step Six: 350 Points (200 Base + 150 Disadvantages)
Step Seven: 0XP
Step Eight: Modern Era

Standard Brick.

#128 BELOVED LEADER (North Korea)

2008-06-30T18:25:00.003+10:00

BELOVED LEADER
Kim Jung-Il
Character Sheet (Click Here)
Created by Noah Thorp (Could all North Korean interests please email Noah rather than me, particularly if the message you wish to pass on involves a death threat. Thankyou.)

Background
From the Top Secret Memories of Beloved Leader:

“I was born in the shadow of Baekdu Mountain as was foretold by a sparrow, and was heralded by a double rainbow over Baekdu Mountain and a new star in the heavens above.”

“Soon after, my father moved the family into the Soviet Union where he learned the true meaning of communism as the leader of a soviet brigade. After the Great Patriotic War the family moved back to North Korea. We lived in a huge mansion with a pool. My brother was fascinated with the pool. Maybe it was my push that helped him study it better, or not. Alas his fascination did him in. Later mother argued with me. She later died in childbirth, or so they said.”

“I studied political science under my father, Kim Il Sung, and at his side my education grew. Father had me even study abroad, even going as far away from my beloved homeland as Malta, where I studied English. I am a good speaker of English.”

“My raise through the ranks of the Korean Workers’ Party, would be considered meteoric. At first I was involved with protecting the party from revisionists after the Sino-Soviet split. Those writers and others who didn’t follow the dictates of father were dealt with. Later I was to be involved in straightening out the wrong thinking in the military. Several revisionist officers were expelled.”

“It was my work with artists and writers that influenced me to get involved. I found the work fascinating, and during those years wrote thousands of books, operas, and plays. All to show the common man the truth about Marx-Leninism.”

"All great things come to those who wait. Father has passed. The state funeral for the great man lasted for days. The people did their utmost to honor Father, and further honor me by proclaiming me their Beloved Leader. They're willing to give everything for me. I truly am their Beloved Leader."

Personality
Kim Jong Il thinks he’s the greatest political mind of the age, and oddly enough the people of North Korea agree with him. There is no plan that Beloved Leader doesn’t believe will be successful, but in the unlikely event something were to go wrong, Beloved Leader has four million scapegoats to pick from.

Beloved Leader like his people is convinced of his own greatest. He knows that he’s the greatest writer in the world, and has written several bestsellers (in North Korea), and even some operas that have been critically acclaimed (again in North Korea).

Kim Jong Il is obsessed with secrecy. He’ll have anyone who divulges state secrets executed, with a few exceptions. Beloved Leader, also is obsessed with his own security, and almost has a sixth sense when it comes to danger to himself. The real sign of his own insecurity is the fact that he rides around in a giant robot.

Quote
“Herro Heroes! It was inevitabre that you wourd farr into my crutches! My devoted scientists terr me that this death trap is inescapabre!”

Powers
Kim Jong Il has no actual powers per se. However, to the North Korean people, he’s almost a god, and they generally treat him as such. Hence the title Beloved Leader. Kim Jong Il wears special khaki’s that acts like body armor, glasses that lets him see through other peoples, usually women clothes, and has a hidden pistol for emergencies.

The one thing that sets Kim Jong Il from other dictators is the Red Flag Vanguard Robot. While the design for the robot are about fifty years out of date, it still is impressive, and has been upgraded with the finest North Korean technology. With the Red Flag Vanguard Robot, the Beloved Leader is assured to make the capitalist, imperialist Americans and their nefarious allies quake in their boots.

Appearance
Kim Jong Il, or Beloved Leader as he’s affectionately known to the people of North Korea, is an odd looking man. He’s short, barely standing over five feet in height, and pudgy, obviously overweight. Beloved Leader is a bespeckled man with a high pompadour, who most would over look, however, Beloved Leader, is probably the most powerful communist leader in the world. His usual dress is in khaki, a windbreaker, trousers, and elevator shoes.

Little bit of a hiatus...

2008-06-30T15:28:00.001+10:00

It's been a few months since my last post, which is a bit of a problem when you consider this blog was supposed to showcase a new character every week.

I'll be posting again in the next couple of days. First thing to do is catch up on the images which are missing. I've got a new scanner and an updated version of Hero Deisgner.

Thanks for waiting.

#128 North Korea (Noah Thorp's Challenge)

2008-03-22T18:10:00.002+11:00

It's Noah's turn at the challenge wheel, with North Korea (and then followed swiftly by Norway which will end our N countries).

As you probably know North Korea, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the DPRK or locally, Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk) is a country 'blessed' with a charismatic leader, Kim Jong Il, and a penchant for getting into the international media (and up America's nose).

It has been labelled one of the 'Axis of Evil' countries by Bush, and has threatened both America and Japan with what may or may not include a nuclear arsenal (but probably 'may' rather than 'may not').

With its antagonism in mind when you take a look at the CIA World Factbook entry on North Korea what you get is filtered through the reliable sources of the CIA. Be warned:

Official Name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Government: Communist State One-Man Dictatorship
Capital: Pyongyang
Population: 23,301,725 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Racially Homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Major Languages: Korean

Noah has taken the task of creating and fleshing out The Beloved Leader. You see, Neil Ma decided that Uberworld needed an uberhuman running North Korea. So it's his fault, really.

Good luck Noah!

#127 THUNDER (Nigeria)

2008-03-22T18:08:00.003+11:00

THUNDER
Ahmed Abubakar
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
In the early hours of the morning, truck driver Ahmed Abubakar collided with another container truck on a remote highway. The resulting fireball could be seen for miles and when emergency services eventually arrived on the scene they expected to find nothing but carnage. However, Abubakar was alive. He had been thrown from the inferno and he lay unconscious on the road. All around him, the road was shattered, as if it had been pummelled by a sledgehammer.

He was taken to a hospital in Abuja where he slowly made a recovery, despite frequent relapses brought on by equipment failure. Doctors couldn't immediately explain why his room would be collapse around him. The bed would creak and break; the IV tubes would dissolve; the walls would collapse. Eventually a visiting scientist suggested he be tested for an active ubergene. The scientist was an expert in the field, as well as being an intelligent chimpanzee: Professor Pan. Abubakar was diagnosed as an uberhuman. Pan took him into care where he could provide effective monitoring equipment as well as dampeners to limit the man's destructive abilities.

Pan was assembling a team of super heroes and saw the potential in Abubakar. His powers were incredibly destructive, perhaps uncontrollable; but they were also unbelievably powerful. Pan was hungry to harness the man's power and decided that the potential damage to the environment was worth the risk. Abubakar was the last member of the team to join, and he was given the name Thunder to balance Lightning, another Muslim uber who had befriended Abubakar. Together Lightning and Thunder have helped each other through their emerging powers, as well as their meteoric rise to celebrity status. Neither Abubakar nor Lightning had ever had much money or influence; so with the almost limitless amount of money at their fingertips Abubakar has had quite a lot of adjusting to do.

Abubakar's powers were documented by the government from his hospital visit, and news reports quickly sprung up about his destructive nature. Pan managed to deflect much of the criticism but subsequent Next Gen adventures have shown Abubakar's powers are perhaps even more destructive than initial reports. He is embarrassed by his potential for mass destruction, but he is also bound to Next Gen and realises that the only reason he was hired was because of the destructive power at his disposal.

Personality
Abubakar is very aware of how much he can destroy the environment. Since his days in the hospital he has given up any desire for personal belongings. He has rightly learned that nothing lasts forever in his vicinity. He has given up much in his transformation from lonely truck driver to public hero for hire. He has embraced his Muslim faith as a way to explain the turn of events, and has become more comfortable with himself, especially without any of the trappings of his previous life.

He has developed a patience borne from the fact he can destroy the world around him if he loses his temper. He is very hesitant to use his powers and will not be bullied into doing so. He only unleashes them when he can see that there is little option, and never if it would involve hurting innocents.

Quote
"When they call me in, you know it is over."

Powers
Thunder is able to generate extremely powerful waves of disruptive energy which breaks down the atomic structure of inorganic material in a 40 metre radius. This alone is cause for mass destruction but he is also able to follow up this wave with a concussive force blast which literally obliterates inorganic matter. Used in combination there is so far nothing which can resist him. Through concentration he is able to focus his disruptive energy into a beam rather than affecting a whole area. He has also learned to choose the objects which will be affected by the waves of energy: a trick he has developed in consultation with Pan in a way to avoid mass property damage.

He is also able to control his breathing to such an extent that he no longer requires air to survive, as long as he remains conscious. His hearing is also enhanced into the ultrasonic region.

Appearance
Ahmed Abubakar is a man in his early thirties, with dark skin and a powerful build. He is very quiet and seems to be judging the world around him with soulful eyes. He keeps his hair shaved on his head and maintains immaculate personal hygiene, particularly with a very close shave every day. As a member of Next Gen he wears the team costume which is made from an armoured material with a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 LIGHTNING (Nigeria)

2008-03-22T18:06:00.004+11:00

LIGHTNING
Farouk Nafada
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Farouk Nafada led an ordinary existence for the first twenty-eight years of his life. He was married but not blessed with any children. He worked hard with the three heads of cattle his father had left him, and managed to live from one day to the next. One day, however, his life was ripped out of its mundane trajectory. While tending his cows, Farouk was struck down by a freak lightning bolt which had formed from dark clouds overhead. It was unseasonal weather and no one expected any such disaster to befall one of their neighbours, but Farouk was laid out on the plains, seemingly dead.

On closer inspection it was discovered that Farouk was not dead. He sported a wicked-looking lightning scar on his chest and his skin was charred, but he could move and soon he could talk. The staff he had held to keep the cattle in line was transformed, as if by magic, into a powerful spear. Some of the elders believed they had seen such a weapon in the distant past, but whatever its origins, Farouk soon found that it had bonded to him and when he held it, strange powers were unleashed and his body was transformed.

Lightning crackled through his body and demanded to be released. It was certainly too much for the simple-minded Farouk and he found himself shunned from his family and neighbours. He was forced to leave and began to walk aimlessly, trying to forget about the look of fear in his wife's eyes. His own eyes were crackling with electricity.

For a while he tried to control his powers. He learned to fly and enjoyed the sensation, although he was never fully comfortable in the air. He came across Africa Force and joined them for a shot time before coming into conflict with the thief known as Scarab. Farouk's spear was of great interest to the thief and while Scarab escaped capture, the powerful spear did not escape Scarab's attention.

Farouk was convinced to return to his wife by Africa Force and he did so with relief; but when he arrived he found that Scarab had already sought him out to acquire the spear. He threatened Farouk's wife and without a moment's thought Farouk dropped the spear. His powers vanished and Scarab took up the powerful weapon, seemingly stealing away Farouk's new life even before it had really begun.

The spear had no effect in Scarab's hands and the thief was furious. In his rage he killed Farouk's wife with the spear: an accident, for sure, but Scarab never stopped to contemplate his actions. In a rage Farouk found that the spear had returned to his hands, as if by magic.

Lightning flared throughout the house, blowing its walls down and chasing the thief out of the village. Farouk followed and battled Scarab for nearly an hour before subduing him. The battered Scarab pleaded for his life and Farouk stepped away. While Farouk could easily have ended the man's life he decided against it: for no other reason than the children of the village had gathered to stare.

He warned Scarab to keep away from him or he would kill him the next time, and then he passed the thief into the custody of authorities.

Finally he attended his wife and saw that she had a decent burial. The act severed all ties with the village and Farouk felt himself drawn to the capital, although he had no idea of what lay there for him.

As it turned out Professor Pan was assembling a team of Nigerian superheroes and Farouk wandered in to the city at an opportune moment. He was snatched up by Pan and given more money that he had ever seen before. Farouk accepted the position and has since tried to establish a new life for himself in the capital, although he has had great difficulty in adjusting to his new circumstances.

Personality
Lightning possesses great power but looks out at life through simple eyes. He is still most comfortable by himself on the land, but with the advent of his powers he has had very little time to be so withdrawn. Pan encourages the team to be public faces, but Farouk refuses to reveal his identity to the world, partly because he is afraid that more tragedy may befall his village, but also because he wants to hold on to something of his self.

Quote
"The stick is a part of me, as I am a part of the stick."

Powers
Lightning gains his powers from the magically transformed spear. It seems to hold immense power but the power can only be released through Farouk's touch. Pan has reasoned that the spear is tied to Farouk's life force and if Farouk dies the spear will either lose its power or be released from the bond and be able to be used by another. Pan's interest in any succession plan is obvious to many on the team but Farouk doesn't seem to notice or care that Pan is planning on what to do in the event of Farouk's death.

The spear is able to generate a powerful lightning bolt which can strike at range, or be combined with the fierce spear head for a deadly attack. It enables him to fly through the air, produce an electric-field which can protect large areas or be used to encircle enemies. He has enhanced physical attributes when wielding the spear, particularly speed and durability. He also gains increased mental resistance and an iron will, which has shown to be powerful enough to stop mentalists from dominating his mind.

The bond between Farouk and the spear is very powerful. He is able to summon the spear to his hands from great distances. However, without the spear in his hands, Farouk possesses no powers and should be considered a regular human.

Appearance
Farouk Nafada is a farmer from a village near Makurdi. He is mostly unremarkable in appearance apart from a prominent scar on his chest which he received from the initial lightning strike. The scar is, as you would expect, in the shape of a lightning bolt. When he touches the spear his body is infused with energy, and this can be seen most clearly in his eyes. When he is in possession of the spear lightning shoots across his eyes like a storm across the prairie. As a member of Next Gen he wears an armoured costume which has a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 RICOCHET (Nigeria)

2008-03-22T18:04:00.004+11:00

RICOCHET
Pepper Adu
Character Sheet (Click Here)

Background
Pepper Adu is the son of a wealthy banker, Richard Adu, and was spoiled rotten in his early childhood when both of his parents left him in the care of a nurse and spent most of their time jet setting around Africa. As a result, Pepper became a computer aficionado with a desperate need for human contact. His nurse was old and well past the usual retirement age, and his school friends were equally self-centred and distant. When he began to socialise on the internet Pepper found that he was no longer alone.

Within months he had established a wide range of cyber-friends from all corners of the globe, but it was his friendship with one which ultimately brought him undone. Her name was Pru and she seemed to be everything Pepper wanted in a friend, particularly in a friend who also happened to be a 'girl'. As a fifteen year old he was smitten with her, which was exactly what the real mind behind 'Pru' wanted. The Pru persona was created by a computer criminal dubbed Computa who had begun using her prodigious gifts with computers to organise scams across the internet. She was an uber, a technopath, and she was soon responsible for numerous 'Nigerian Scams' which flooded the inboxes of millions of people across the world.

She soon learned everything there was to know about Pepper and his father, and while the boy was good with computers he was an easy touch when it came to scams. He was quickly hooked by Pru and gave her enough information to bankrupt his father as well as the bank he worked for. When Pepper discovered what his information had led to, he was devastated. Unfortunately he never had the opportunity to find out who she was, because the police quickly arrested him and brought him to trial in one of Nigeria's most infamous trials. Because he was a minor, his name was suppressed, but the story was sensationalised. It turned out that Pru had committed a series of high profile crimes and Pepper was intrinsically linked to her. In fact, Computa had made sure that Pepper was seen to be the boy behind the Pru persona. He was blamed for everything.

Pepper spent a year in juvenile detention. His father disowned him and he was left to flounder in a dangerous new world. Pepper doesn't really talk about what happened behind bars but it is clear that it still haunts him today.

When he was released he was sent to a state-run foster home because his family refused to allow him back into their house. While the government attempted to coerce his father to take him back, Computa took her opportunity to silence Pepper once and for all. She dispatched two hit men to kill him in the foster home, but they killed the wrong boy and when they realised their mistake, Pepper had made a run for it, clambering over the roof of the home and onto an adjacent building. The hit men chased him and during the course of the chase Pepper was wounded and fell through a skylight in one of the buildings, plunging head-long into a vat of chemicals which lay below.

He quickly surfaced and pulled himself out, only to be confronted by the hit men. They fired at him, but the bullets simply bounced away. When the hit men recovered from their shock (after quickly ducking in case the bullets struck them) they realised Pepper was gone.

He had been slammed backwards by the force of the bullets and careened far across the neighbourhood, landing safely in a park several blocks away. He realised he was now an uberhuman and he decided there and then that he wouldn't let anyone else manipulate him into anything he didn't want to do. He refused to return to his father's home, even after the courts ordered Mr Adu to do so, and struck out on his own, earning some money as a computer technician as well as working nights as a super hero.

After trying to hunt down Computa and failing miserably, he settled into his new role as Ricochet; so when he was approached by Professor Pan to join his superhero team, Next Gen, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Plus there was the incentive of regular pay cheques and the resources to perhaps capture Computa once and for all.

Personality
Rico, as he likes to be called, is a bright-faced overly talkative kid. He is a keen computer technician, bordering on obsessive, and extremely overconfident about the quality of his work (something which got him into trouble with Computa years ago). He also likes submerging himself in spy thrillers, especially conspiracy theory stories like the Da Vinci Code, and dreams that one day he will be the subject of a similar title. He considers himself a hero, without any hesitation.

His upbringing has made him selfish but dense about his poor interactions with other people. He doesn't realise he is annoying and pretentious, nor does he seem to care if others act that way. With that in mind he gets on well with everyone, until they get tired of his antics.

Beneath his effervescent precociousness is a dark brooding boy who has experienced some horrible things in the youth detention centre. It is quite probable that he will need counselling very soon, and may even change his personality once he begins to deal with the issues which still haunt his dreams.

Quote
"Ooooh nnoooo! Nottagain!"

Powers
Ricochet is able to withstand nearly any level of assault, whether it be a bullet or a cruise missile. His body generates an absorbent/reflective field which absorbs great levels of energy while also shunting away any excess. This shields him from nearly everything but has the sometimes awkward side effect of shoving him backward with great force. He has become the human soccer ball, able to be kicked great distances without any harm coming to him.

His team mate, Crash, has begun using Ricochet as a weapon in combat by slamming into his field and sending him flying into enemy lines. While Ricochet was initially hesitant about such tactics he has since found that being Crash's bowling ball has its benefits: the gregarious Crash now considers Ricochet more of a friend, and that's something Rico is always on the look out for.

Appearance
Pepper is a scrawny kid of eighteen, although he looks to be much younger than that. He has grown up without much guidance and has the look of an outsider about him, perhaps in the way his eyes constantly dart from side to side. He talks all the time, ALL the time, and this combines with his nervous appearance in a way that quickly annoys those around him.

As Ricochet, he wears green goggles to protect his identity as well as the armoured costume of Next Gen, which has a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

Notes
A Speedball homage (of course!).