Post by Michael on Apr 1, 2012 19:25:18 GMT -5
MICHAEL ANDERSON
-- INFORMATION
[/size]MIDDLE NAME: N/A
LAST NAME: Anderson
NICKNAMES: The White Knight, The Wandering Gunslinger, Fastest Gun in the West
SPECIES: Human
ORIENTATION: Heterosexual
RELIGION: Agnostic in Theory; Christian in Practice
GENDER: Male
BIRTHPLACE: New York City, NY
BIRTHDAY: June 1st
AGE: 21
MEMBER GROUP: Human
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-- APPEARANCE
[/size]HAIR COLOR: Black
HEIGHT: 179 cm (5 feet, 10 inches)
WEIGHT: 82 kg (180 lbs)
DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS:
SCARS: Etched across Michael’s chest in a perfect horizontal slash is a scar nearly faded as-of this writing, appearing to have been received near the beginning of the cataclysm.
TATTOOS: N/A
PIERCINGS: N/A
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-- PERSONALITY
[/size]To that end, this young man is notoriously tenacious. Though his marksmanship is revered wherever he has set foot, what most who have encountered him recall more clearly than any other trait is Michael’s amazing capacity for never giving up. Once focused on a goal, the combined forces of the Underworld could very well fail to deter him. Even if told by a reliable source that a battle is hopeless, he will give no more than a moment’s hesitation before rising to the challenge undaunted. Of course, this recklessness has earned him more than a few ambushes and scars, but Michael has a very unique aptitude for staying alive which he attributes to his natural, human resilience above any supernatural abilities he possesses. He may escape by the skin of his teeth and with debilitating injury, but he always seems to find a way to get out in one piece, albeit battered and bruised.
More than anything, this could be explained by Michael’s at-times obsessive need to better his capabilities. Of all those walking the Earth, he has, by far, the most respect for scientists and intellectuals, believing them to be the key to restoring human civilization to its former glory. Knowledge, Michael reasons, must be protected at all costs, for if a man dies without sharing his ideas, experiences, and philosophies, then that knowledge will be lost forever without the luxury of accurate records as existed in the days of old. In other words, “each time a human dies, a library burns”, at least as far as Michael is concerned. To aid in this reconstructive effort, he has taken it upon himself to absorb as much scientific knowledge as possible in addition to his ever-expanding repertoire of combat-related expertise.
Even so, despite his intellectualism and self-professed suspicion, Michael is also rather easy to manipulate if one plays their cards right. True enough, his initial appearance of a calculating machine is sufficient for discouraging more simple-minded villains, but those who look past that will see him for the trusting optimist that he really is. He wishes to see the good in everyone, which typically works out in his favor. However, this is most definitely a double-edged sword, as any particularly clever adversary could wreak havoc on him through the application of subtlety and guile.
LIKES: Optimists, Heroism, Cities, The Pursuit of Knowledge, Science, Cinema, Music, Literature, Animation and Comic Books, Sunlight, and People In-General (though he possesses a profound soft spot for those who have managed to maintain a pure heart in such a grim world)
DISLIKES: Cynicism, Cowardice, The Betrayal of Trust, Manipulative Individuals, Abuse of Power, Harsh or Jaded World Views, Death, Arguments, Coffee, Rural Environments
HOBBIES: Practicing Marksmanship, Physical Conditioning, Deeds of Valor/General Heroics, Reading, Playing Guitar, Singing
FEARS: Death, The Extinction or Complete Enslavement of Mankind, Failure, The Ultimate Defeat of His Philosophy, Irreversible Loss of Information, Complacency or Apathy
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-- HISTORY
[/size]FATHER: Lillian Anderson; DECEASED
SIBLINGS: Mary Anderson (Older Sister); Location Unknown
SIGNIFICANT OTHER: None
CHILDREN: None
OTHER: Unknown
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-- ABILITIES
-Superhuman Reflexes and Agility: As the sun set on modern civilization the world over, Michael- standing weary among the few survivors of the great cataclysm- began taking heed of subtle changes in his faculties both physical and mental. In the months immediately following initial bloodbath, he was convinced that it was mere luck and wit to which he owed his life. However, it quickly became clear that he was somehow better equipped for this perilous new world than most of his contemporaries. The claws and teeth of his supernatural predators found it most difficult to pin him down as he weaved through their repeated onslaughts with nimbleness far surpassing that of even the spryest young man. Soon, these narrow escapes became almost routine as his agility increased by, at the very least, an order of magnitude. In time, the scope of his cognitive abilities reached a state of such transcendence that even dodging automatic gunfire was within his domain.
With Michael’s incredible reflexes came similarly advanced agility. His athleticism puts to shame the greatest humanity has to offer, allowing for displays of acrobatics which would inspire wonder in mundane onlookers. However, it is worth noting that his foot speed has not enjoyed such a vast improvement. It is, rather, still within human limitations, albeit considerable by those standards. As a side effect of his body’s radically increased efficiency, Michael has developed the running speed of an Olympic sprinter, allowing him to, if nothing else, keep pace with his foes. By a very wide margin, his field of excellence remains in the realm of reaction and swiftness of motion. What he can boast is an amplified vertical leap, allowing Michael to, for the space of a few brief seconds, ascend as though defying gravity and land unharmed no matter what the surface may be, so long as it is relatively stable. Such strength has led to the mistaken belief that Michael was gifted with the power of flight; rather, his athleticism has been raised to levels unfathomable to most mortals.
-Enhanced Toughness/Physiological Efficiency: As his mind began to race, Michael’s body had development to do if it hoped to keep up with his augmented neural impulses. The result was a secondary adaptation inherently necessary to the functioning of his primary skill. Michael possesses incredibly dense muscles, as indicated by his considerable weight, otherwise disproportionate for one of his stature and lean, toned physique. This can be attributed to the fact that his body- more importantly, his skeletal structure- has increased tremendously in overall efficiency, allowing him to survive the impacts that he inevitably suffered while leaping about at such high speeds. As a result, Michael is heavier than he otherwise would be, but what mass he has is grown for the express purpose of swift, powerful motion. Thus, his durability can be considered superior to that of an unaltered human, allowing him to continue fighting after suffering what would, to a man of weaker composition, have otherwise been a fatal or debilitating blow. This, combined with his infamous tenacity, make for an at-times implacable foe who will absolutely not go down even under threat of death.
Of course, Michael is far from invincible, however strong his conviction may be. Bullet and blade alike will still pierce his skin, they merely will not cut quite as deep. To expand, his vital organs and brain have been offered the most adamant protection, while his limbs and lower torso are comparatively light to allow for quicker movement. This has afforded Michael with one other benefit, however slight it may be. Similar in nature to his minor increase in speed, Michael’s brute strength is just a hair in excess of what would be considered “elite” for a human being. His deadlift, for instance, comes in at approximately 255 kilograms (562 pounds), while his bench press is 165 kilograms (363 pounds). Neither weight is considered superhuman, though to most, it would be within the exclusive realm of Olympic weightlifters. In short, Michael’s body is more machine than conventionally “human”, being capable of continuing strenuous activity for long stretches of time while remaining durable throughout. This offers the tertiary benefit of being able to hold his breath for comparatively long periods of time due to an increased respiratory system. To date, his record is twenty minutes.
-Expert Marksmanship: Even before the radiation brought on by the great cataclysm enhanced his body, Michael was a certified expert with a handgun. Indeed, while his powers were still in their infancy, it was the skill that he possessed prior to society’s destruction that saw him through most encounters. He was capable of reliable accuracy at the maximum range for his weapon, whether at a range or under stress of combat. His incredible reflexes and coordination only served to further bolster his capabilities, culminating in perhaps one of the deadliest gunslingers in the new world. While the supernatural creatures roaming the world may have a number of advantages over humanity, this remains one field in which Michael holds the upper hand. He fires with such precision and speed that the bullets appear as extensions of his will. Unfortunately, the fact that bullets are no longer being mass produced means that Michael has had to conserve his ammunition, regardless of how much he had stockpiled. As such, he will use his guns only against foes he deems threatening. Lesser opponents will be dealt with through other means…
-Proficient Swordsmanship: By no means is Michael equally skilled in melee combat when compared to his superb sharpshooting. However, he can most definitely hold his own with his trusty short sword, not least of all because of his powers. His style is rough and unrefined, as any master would notice straightaway, yet Michael manages to compete with most opponents due to his incredible agility and toughness. That said, he does possess a certain amount of skill; his manner of fighting is just focused more on pure, relentless energy and momentum rather than calculated movements. That said, he is attempting to improve his swordsmanship in light of the knowledge that bullets are scarce. It is his hope that he will only need to use his guns against truly upper tier adversaries, so he is trying more and more to rely on his short sword.
STRENGTHS:
-Incredible Willpower: Even discounting his superhuman toughness, Michael is a man of great tenacity. Allegedly hopeless odds or the knowledge of a foe’s invincibility will deter him no more than a moment’s time before he rushes eagerly into the fray. Even when vastly outnumbered or subject to the deepest depths of exhaustion, he will continue moving forward until his mortal coil gives out altogether. It would be no exaggeration to say that forcing Michael into surrender would require total incapacitation, be it through unconsciousness or the inescapable restriction of his limbs. Such is his astounding determination that some who have fought him have described him as akin to an avatar of human willpower.
-Rigid Adherence to Altruism: Some would consider this a weakness in such a bleak world as Michael’s, but relentless insistence on doing what is right has gained the young man a number of invaluable allies. He cannot leave alone another in danger, and neither can he do anything less than all that lies within his power to help the victimized of the world, of which there are a great many. This leaves him weary but in good company, as his sheer dedication to the cause of heroism has granted Michael a certain natural charisma. Had he been any less resolute, this would most certainly have been his undoing, yet his innate tendency to push through such difficulties has turned it to a priceless asset.
-Optimism: Yet another trait which would have torn a lesser man to shreds in a world full of demons and otherworldly horrors, Michael retains hope that the world can be restored to its previous glory. Be it through strength of arms or the unspeakably improbably goal of reconciling the desires of humankind with those of the supernatural, Michael has not given up on the idea that his species is not yet to be counted out. To that end, he has been seen as something of a symbol of hope to those who he has helped. The benefits offered by Michael’s optimism are twofold: He is able to keep forging onward due to his very goal-oriented outlook, and he has a tendency to inspire those he helps to further action in the name of righteousness.
-Quick Thinking/Pursuit of Knowledge: Despite having had his formal education cut short, Michael holds the acquisition of information to be of the utmost importance. As such, his mind has been independently sharpened by whatever independent studying he could get his hands on. He knows very brief smatterings of military strategy, geography, and literature, but his foremost interest has always been the sciences. In battle, this has its advantages. He has a knack for thinking on his feet and developing innovative maneuvers on the fly, which is most useful in exploiting the weaknesses of his strongest adversaries.
WEAKNESSES:
-Overactive Metabolism: This is an unfortunate drawback of his superhuman abilities. Michael’s body requires a fair bit more energy to keep going as compared to the common man. In matters of combat, this does not tend to be overly debilitating. However, with regards to long-term campaigns or periods of travel, it has cut short his efforts on numerous occasions. Michael, in brief, needs more food to keep going for extended stretches of time. It has been, in the past, said that he “fights and eats like a demon”. It is worth noting that this tends to come into play mainly when he is forced to use his powers multiple times without being given time to rest.
-Overly Trusting: Michael’s impressive optimism and altruistic tendencies, though unquestionably beneficial, could easily be interpreted as double edges swords. This would be the opposite edge. He has an unspoken faith in the idea that everyone is inherently redeemable and fundamentally good. If asked whether there existed those beyond redemption, Michael would, of course, answer that “of course there are”. However, in practice, he never acts upon that sentiment. Certainly, it would be foolish to say that, with demon and vampire alike running rampant, there are none who are merely rotten to the core. Yet, Michael has proven himself thoroughly incapable of refusing to make an effort to convince even the worst villains to cease their wanton acts of violence. This has come back to bite him more than once, and as he travels further into the depths of demonic territory, it is likely to happen again and again.
-Philosophical Insecurity: As stated, Michael is an optimist, but by no means is he stupid. He can see for himself the condition of the world, and a man of lesser intelligence would not be blind to the radiation, genocide, and vile creatures plaguing what remains of society. In the best of times, he remains undaunted and singularly focused on the reformation of the world. However, Michael’s lofty idealism stands as the most outstanding chink in his armor. Though he is a fiercely dangerous combatant able to tangle with the worst of the underworld and walk away, those who are clever enough to attack his psyche in more subtle ways will find that throwing him off his game is all too possible. In time, he is likely to pull himself from the depths of despair, but before that happens, he is liable to falter at a critical moment.
-Reckless: This could be described as an unfortunate side effect of Michael’s excessive determination. He has an insatiable tendency to throw himself headlong into the fray without regards to whether it would perhaps be safer to keep hidden his hand. At first sign of someone else in danger, he will rush into action even if it were an obvious trap. This is the line at which he intellectualism ends and his unabashed heroism begins. To be sure, Michael’s foolhardiness at least means that he does not lose time to hesitation, but it could just as easily see him run off to face an army when he thought he would be engaged in a one-on-one duel.
WEAPONS:
-Askur and Embla: In both function and appearance, Michael’s primary weapons seem as little more than two ordinary semi-automatic pistols, one ebony and the other ivory. They load sixteen-round magazines, are actuated by a standard trigger mechanism, and can be assembled or disassembled to the whims of knowledgeable human hands. However, the rounds they fire and the effects of those rounds bear unique effects not seen prior to the apocalypse. Askur and Embla both had been, as far back as Michael’s recollection would allow, noted as especially effective firearms- constructed from the finest metals available and reliable as a gun ever was. However, they did not unveil their extraordinary properties until the hellish nightmares crawled from the depths.
Askur and Embla can fire from their chambers High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition, which is, itself, something of an oddity for handguns, though not unheard-of in special cases. What makes them noteworthy, however, is their efficiency in dealing away with creatures of paranormal origin. Through some unknown property of their creation, these firearms can deal considerable damage to Demon and Fallen Angel alike, piercing their skin in such a way that reforming the impacted flesh is more a nuisance than it otherwise would have been. Certainly, this should not be taken to mean that one shot will down the fiercest adversary, but there is not a creature on Earth which should feel comfortable enduring a direct hit from either firearm. Michael’s family, in passing these weapons down to him, relayed a tale of steel once used as ore by Dwarven smiths which had found its way into his favored Arms. At the time, he thought it little more than familial superstition, but, as he owes his very survival to these weapons several times over, he has since become more generous to the possibility.
-Short Sword: It is no great secret that Michael is, first and foremost, a sharpshooter. His capacity for trick shots and quick draws far outstrip his ability with a melee weapon. However, when forced to do battle in closed quarters- as he tends to do out of concern for running out of bullets, he is far from helpless, as he does carry on his person this elegant sword. To that end, he does possess a great deal of aptitude with the weapon, but his training has not been quite as extensive. It possesses a thin, slightly curved blade serrated toward the end of its cutting edge, lending it a rather unorthodox yet nonetheless effective design. Its length is moderate, reaching farther than a dagger by a great deal yet remaining a sword comfortably wielded with one hand. This weapon is, however, no more effective against the supernatural than any other melee weapon. It is well-made, having been forged traditionally rather than mass produced, and possesses a notoriously fine edge, but in every sense, it is a mundane sword. That said, thanks to Michael’s unique talents, he can be a shockingly lethal adversary in close combat despite his relative lack of training.
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-- YOU THE RP'ER
[/size]RP'ING FOR HOW LONG: 3 Years
TIME ZONE: Eastern United States
OTHER CHARACTERS: N/A (as-of this writing)
RP SAMPLE:
(you only need to provide one if this is your first character on the site.)
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