[PbtA] Caught in the Web (Masks: ANG)

[Acathala]

Originally Posted by daikaiju

Posting for interest, I'll brainstorm a character later! I loooove Masks and I'm itching to play again. Acathala can probably attest lol.

Who are you? Seriously. Drawing a complete blank here.

Nah, just messing with you!

[Acathala]

His Red Right Hand
Complete

Conquest

Hero name Conquest

Real name Mark Barton/Mik’hail Barak

Pronouns He/him

Playbook the Doomed

Abilities Super strength and speed, vitality absorption.

Description/personality
Conquest is clad in black, gothic styled armour, along with a dark silver spiked crown, which is bejewelled with a jade gem, and the crown is connected to a metallic death mask. About all you can see of Mik’hail, is his eyes, as green as the jade in the crown. Despite the metal, he actually makes very little sound when he walks. He can no longer eat, or drink, and the only way he can sustain himself is through his powers. Touching someone is sufficient to drain them, though he has to be careful not to drain too much.
He is a snarky one, and slow to trust. Favouring combat pragmatism, he will use every advantage at his disposal to end fights before they start, or as soon as possible. Fair fights are for losers. Conquest is more on the punish the bad guy side than saving people, and if he’s on a team, he’d prefer to the smiting and leave the saving to others.

Backstory questions
How did you first learn of your doom?
Mark Barton, as he first knew himself, grew up in a family that was as part of a cult. He was praised as the chosen one, and lauded as the one whom would bring in a new golden age. His mother Miriam, was the head of the cult, and a very charismatic leader. Everyone was in awe of her, and would have done anything for her. Including Mark. Her word was law. Life was hard, if you were not Mark or Miriam.
Upon his sixteenth birthday, the cult performed a ceremony to “awaken” Mark’s true power. Placed in the armour, mask, and crown he would be imprisoned in to this day, he was suddenly chained, and the cult began to chant, as a baleful rift. Yet there is another unseen presence in the room. It whispers in his ear, mocking him, but telling him the truth. He wasn’t Mark. Never had been. He was Mik’hail Barak, kidnapped at a young age, to be this creature’s vessel when he was of age. It laughed at him, as it told Mik’hail his real name. Mik’hail screamed at a critical point, blacking out.
When he awoke, everyone was dead, frozen expressions of fear on their faces. Except for Miriam. She was gone. He went through the place that used to be his home, and found his “mother’s” diary. Turns out she had been manipulating everyone for years. Miriam was an agent of chaos, not good. Whilst he didn’t know this at the time, he was part of the core group of the cult, and there were other groups connected to it

How did you get your sanctuary?
It’s actually his grandfather’s house. Mik’hail found him whilst researching his real family. It’s somewhat of an anomaly within the neighbourhood, looking like a rundown mansion. The place is cool, and actually prepared for his enemies, full of traps for the unwary. As well as other resources.

Why do you oppose your nemesis?
Miriam is trying to break Mik’hail, so whatever entity is inside him can take over him. It’s pure survival for him. Plus she keeps endangering people to force him to use his powers.

Whom outside of your team, is crucial to defeating your Nemesis?
His grandfather Caleb Barak. He seems to know what’s going on with Mik’hail. He’s the epitome of cool old guy, and whilst understandably Mik’hail is slow to trust, Caleb has gotten through to him. Caleb has become the person Mik’hail cares about the most. He made money a long time ago, freeing him to study the occult, becoming kinda an expert on it. Caleb is also a beloved community leader, heading a couple of charities.

What has the Spiderweb taken from you?
Miriam used her contacts to have his parents killed, and Mik’hail delivered to her. He doesn’t really remember them, though Caleb has shown pictures of them. Caleb has been the only real relationship he’s had.

Why do you care about the neighborhood?
His grandfather lives in it. Plus Miriam keeps sending in people to hurt innocent people, which Mik’hail feels very responsible about. As an example, Caleb used to send Mik’hail to a bakery to pick up pastries. The real reason Caleb knew there was a cute girl working there Mik’hail might like. It’s takes a while, but gradually Mik’hail warms up to her. It however is his life, and he can’t be happy. The brides murder her.

Who most connects you to the neighborhood?
Caleb Barak, his grandfather. He’s been trying to encourage Mik’hail to try and make more friends. Given his situation, Mik’hail feels that is impossible. He also does some charity work at a thrift store for Caleb.

Who are the other groups connected to cult?
The faithful
A faction controlled by Miriam. Many have infiltrated much of the criminal element, that infests the city. Their ultimate goal is to bring about Mik’hail’s doom and let the creature achieve full

The brides
A splinter group that wants to have his babies, with or without his consent. Mik’hail hasn’t encountered them yet, but has felt their presence after they murdered a girl he liked. He did track down a base of theirs, which was abandoned. There was however papers on their ideology. Mik’hail is more disturbed by this group than the ones trying to kill him.

Katya’s friends
Not really their name, but they don’t have a formal name. A small group of ex cultists that initially wanted to kill Mik’hail, to stop the entity taking over. Kidnapped Caleb in a bid to draw him out, which was a move that backfired. He explained why it would be a bad idea to kill Mik’hail, as he was the only thing holding the doom back. He also had to talk a very angry Conquest down. Now there is an uneasy peace between them, and the group is now trying to find a way to help. Katya is the informal leader of the group. Right now they’re the closest thing to friends he has.

What do you want to explore with this character?
Learning to trust and make friends.

[Iron Signet]

Questions:

What are your thoughts on magic? There are certainly street level heros who have been magical in some comic runs.

How detailed do you want us to be answering the questions? My typical habit is to go into a lot of backstory detail, but the questions are pretty straightforward.

Are your The Spider's lieutenants and bosses pretty well detailed already? My thoughts had been to be a Scion of a Spiderweb elite, reared in a life of luxury and groomed to one day join their parents side, but was aside from hardcore combat training and questionable ethics discussions, was somewhat insulated from what that meant for most of their life.

Then a warp opened up nearby and gave them both powers, causing the parent also to decide to push the child harder into joining the "family business." Which goes horribly horribly wrong, and causes the Scion to reject the parent and run away.

Using gender neutral pronouns because I haven't decided on gender for them yet.

Don't necessarily need to be connected to the spiderweb, but the organization seems to fit better than the other ones I read about.

[NoizePollution]

Originally Posted by Iron Signet

Questions:

What are your thoughts on magic? There are certainly street level heros who have been magical in some comic runs.

How detailed do you want us to be answering the questions? My typical habit is to go into a lot of backstory detail, but the questions are pretty straightforward.

Are your The Spider's lieutenants and bosses pretty well detailed already? My thoughts had been to be a Scion of a Spiderweb elite, reared in a life of luxury and groomed to one day join their parents side, but was aside from hardcore combat training and questionable ethics discussions, was somewhat insulated from what that meant for most of their life.

Then a warp opened up nearby and gave them both powers, causing the parent also to decide to push the child harder into joining the "family business." Which goes horribly horribly wrong, and causes the Scion to reject the parent and run away.

Using gender neutral pronouns because I haven't decided on gender for them yet.

Don't necessarily need to be connected to the spiderweb, but the organization seems to fit better than the other ones I read about.

Magic is not an issue. I'm not against most of the abilities presented. What's more important, I think, is that we try to flavor it down a bit, or focus it in a way. Something that makes it less broad than just 'magic' in general.

By their nature, the intro questions don't need a book. A paragraph is usually more than enough to cover the question and I can always ask for details later when I'm looking it over.

The lieutenants are not written out and detailed yet but I aim for them to be before next Monday when I'll be doing my first pass over applications. I encourage everyone to design gangs/groups/NPCs to populate their backstory. Absolutely make a cool lieutenant for your character's parent.

It's an interesting launching point and it fits the setting so feel free to develop it.

[Howling Winds of]

Application - Nova/Delinquent/Janus Hero Name: Real Name (if different): Pronouns: Playbook: Abilities: These are specifically your powers from your playbook, not your moves or other selections. Description/Personality: How does your character present to the world? Give me as much or as little as you feel you need to make me understand them. Backstory Questions: Answer the questions in your playbook except for the question 'Why do you care about the team?' Additionally, answer the following questions here. What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Why do you care about the neighborhood? Who most connects you to the neighborhood? What do you want to explore with this character?

[Dunderklumpen]

Application - Ogre, the Transformed COMPLETE Hero Name: Ogre Real Name: Sonny Blair (but mostly Ogre now) Pronouns: he/him/it Playbook: The Transformed Abilities: impenetrable armor, inhuman might Description/personality Ogre is a menacing-looking figure— a huge, muscled brute over 2 meters tall and almost as wide. His skin is a dark russet red, and tusk-like fangs protrude from his mouth, giving him an imposing presence that often makes others recoil in fear. Belying this fierce exterior, he is quiet and shy. Ogre moves carefully, always conscious of the space he occupies and wary of inadvertently causing harm. He speaks in a low, rumbling voice, filled with hesitance, apologizing for taking up space or startling those around him. Since his change, he spends his life walking on eggshells, trying to counter the alarm that his appearance usually causes. Despite all these challenges, Ogre still possesses the optimism of a teenager. He is cheerful and excitable, with a generally friendly and empathetic demeanour. Backstory Questions Who were you before? Before the transformation, Sonny Blair was an ordinary high school student. He wasn’t the star athlete, the popular kid, the class clown, or the top of his class. He was quiet and unassuming, he coasted through school without causing much of a stir. He enjoyed art, music, spending his weekends playing video games or hanging out with friends. He and his mother, Gloria Blair, had a pretty good life by their own measure. Her minimum wage was just enough to get by, and they had friends, community, and support in the Narrows. Sonny helped out where he could, but his mother always made sure that education was his priority. When did you change? What caused it? The exact timing is important. There just needs to be time for Sonny to recover from his almost life-ending experience,Six months ago, Sonny got caught in a rift with devastating physical consequences. It broke his body down, reshaping it with horrible mutations. No one expected him to survive, but the after-effects of the rift slowly revealed themselves. Sonny’s body regrew into a huge, monstrous form. What emerged from the hospital was barely recognisable as Sonny. He had become the Ogre. Who, outside of the team, is helping you understand your new body? Laura Ellison is the founder and CEO of Gentech. A well-funded research start-up. Research into the genetic implications of Rifts, and their meta-human effects have supercharged interest in this company. Doctor Ellison was quick to offer to help Sonny in the aftermath of his Rift exposure. He probably wouldn't have survived without her sponsorship. Even though the effects of the Rift seem to have stabilized, Dr Ellison continues to have regular checkups with Sonny to better understand his condition. Why don’t you just try to hide yourself away? Sonny's mother has always been willing to fight for her son, and she's still his fiercest defender. She's determined to see that Ogre doesn't hide himself away and fights the prejudice against her son and tries to install in him the idea of his value and his right to live as normal a life as possible. When even Sonny has given up on himself, his mother refuses to. Setting Questions What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Sonny and Betty's (see below) favourite place in the Narrows used to be the Fulton Street Community Centre. It was a vibrant hub where they spent countless hours hanging out, playing games, and connecting with friends. But it closed a year ago after being corruptly sold to property developers, despite the city's promises to keep it open. Now, instead of a community space, it’s set to be transformed into exclusive apartments. Everyone knows the Spiderweb pocketed a lot of shady money from the deal. The loss of their beloved hangout still stings. Every time they pass the construction site, seeing the fancy signs and hearing the sounds of machinery, it rekindles feelings of anger and frustration. Why do you care about the neighbourhood? Sonny’s mother instilled in him a deep love for the Narrows. She taught him to see the dignity in the people around him — their quiet resilience, the way they supported each other through tough times. To Sonny, the Narrows isn’t just a place; it’s a community built on shared struggle. Even now, with his monstrous form, he holds onto that fondness for the people there and the sense of belonging he felt growing up. It’s what keeps him tied to the Narrows, no matter how much he’s changed. Who most connects you to the neighbourhood? Before his change, Sonny had deep ties to the Narrows. He and his mother were regulars at the local church, and he had friends who lived just down the street. The Narrows might not have been the nicest part of the city, but it was home—full of people who looked out for each other. Since his transformation, Sonny hasn’t been brave enough to return to the church, and most of his friends have drifted away, too scared of what he’s become. But Betty Moreno, his oldest friend, has stuck by him through it all. They’ve been neighbours, classmates, and friends for as long as he can remember, and the Morenos were like a second family whenever his mom worked late. How has Sonny's school experience changed since becoming Ogre? Ogre's experience at school has been pretty miserable. Initially, the school flat-out refused to let him return and only relented after his mother lobbied, wrote letters, and threatened to sue. Getting Ogre back into school and countering the discrimination against him has become a second fulltime job for Gloria, but she doesn't shirk that responsibility for a moment. So, with his mother's help, Ogre got to go back to school, but now he has to face the nasty whispers about him being a freak. Bullies started picking on him once they realized he was too afraid of hurting someone to retaliate, and most of the other students are too scared or freaked out to go near him. There are some bright spots, even though Ogre doesn't see them yet. He still has his best friend, Betty, and some of his classmates seem willing to accept, and even help him. The school is also making (grudging) efforts to accommodate the big, red giant. The trouble is, Ogre is way too careful and overly sensitive about his new form. He takes the worst comments to heart and would rather say or do nothing for fear of saying the wrong thing or drawing too much attention. I didn’t want to push this in a particular direction because I think his experience at school will be one of the fun things to explore during play. I do want to make Ogre much more aware of the horrible aspects of being different than the students, teachers, and friends who are genuinely good. With the support of friends, the team, and maybe a bit of luck, things could turn positive for Ogre — fist bumps in the hallway, the occasional "You da man!" — but, even if that happens, he'll always have a fragile ego and be super sensitive to any criticism or cruelty. What do you want to explore with this character? The transformed has a fairly diverse set of abilities, but I chose the "tough and strong" abilities from the Transformed playbook because I want to explore the challenges of a kid trapped in a huge beast of a body, trying to navigate the world. Sonny/Ogre embodies the "Nice guy monster" archetype — despite his terrifying appearance, he’s still a shy and gentle teenager at his core. I think there’s a lot of humour in the everyday challenges Ogre will face. I imagine him uncomfortably hunched over in the back of a classroom, trying not to draw attention to himself, jogging behind the school bus because he’s too big to fit inside, or apologetically squeezing into a lift, hoping not to make everyone else uncomfortable. Those images are what drive the character for me. But beyond the humour, Ogre’s size and appearance create deeper challenges. Even without prejudice or fear from others, navigating a world not built for him will fuel a lot of the drama. Add mean kids, high school politics, and questions of belonging, and there’s plenty of room to explore. Who will accept him? Will he find his tribe? How much can Sonny take before the pressure breaks him? And what happens if he loses his temper? Music Inspirations For Ogre's optimistic attitude, Can't Keep Johnny Down - They Might Be Giants Masks in general, Leave me Lonely - Hilltop Hoods Image Inspirations

[kanly]

Always interested in Masks! Will post something later.

Application -WIP Hero Name: The Fox (Mentor is The Hound) Real Name (if different): Kate Sune (Mentor is Tabor Starnes) Pronouns: She/her Playbook: The Protege Abilities: Unique power: Telepathy and telekinesis, Shared Power: Hacking, Mentor's Power: Detective Skills Description/Personality: Mask & Costume How does your character present to the world? Give me as much or as little as you feel you need to make me understand them. Backstory Questions: How did you first meet your mentor? When and why did you choose to train with them? Why did they agree to train you? Who else, outside of the team, knows about your training? What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Why do you care about the neighborhood? Who most connects you to the neighborhood? What do you want to explore with this character? Every playbook lends itself to certain tropes, but your character is more than that. Here's your chance to be explicit about the kind of stories that interest you.

[Ermine]

Tempted. So tempted. If I don't get into some other games I already applied for, I'll probably apply to this.

[A7ice]

Posting interest... for the Nova.
I have no experience but as I checked the system, I got tempted especially that I have a super hero itch to scratch for some time
I'll check the YT for how to make a character or rather wrap Masks around the concept I have

THE SIGN REWORK COMPLETE

Magnetika, The Nova Hero Name: Magnetika Pronouns: she/her Real Name (if different): Victoria "Viki" Flynn Playbook: Nova Abilities: Magnetism manipulation, Superhuman physical attributes via magnetic energies channeling, Skilled thief Description/Personality: Victoria "Viki" Flynn, at 16 years old, is a striking figure with a blend of athletic grace and street-hardened toughness. Standing at 174 cm (5'9") and weighing just 46 kg (101 lbs), she’s slim but deceptively strong, her body a product of both her time surviving on the streets of Port Valencio and the training she received from her adoptive father, Richard. Her natural agility and flexibility give her an almost feline grace, moving through her environment like a dancer crossed with a street fighter. Viki’s acrobatic skills, honed through years of necessity and training, make her quick and unpredictable, a master at getting in and out of dangerous situations. Viki’s long, flowing red hair and piercing steely blue eyes immediately grab attention. There’s an intensity to her gaze, something that reflects both the chaos she’s lived through and her inner conflict. Her appearance is captivating, yet there’s an edge to it—her alabaster skin and striking features make her seem just a little out of place, as if she’s constantly at odds with the world around her. She dresses casually but with an edge, a mix of practical street style and subtle hints of her rebellious streak, often exposing her flat midriff and highlighting her lithe figure. In personality, Viki is a bundle of contradictions. Raised on the streets and later by Richard and Judith, she’s tough, brash, and knows how to get what she wants—whether by charm, flirtation, or sheer force. Her flirty and playful demeanor is often used as a way to deflect from the deeper emotional scars she carries, and she’s quick to test people’s boundaries, pushing them just to see how they react. Though she might come off as cocky and aloof, Viki feels deeply for those she cares about, even if she struggles to show it. Her experience as a petty criminal gives her a certain streetwise cunning, making her adaptable and resourceful, but it also leaves her feeling disconnected from the ‘normal’ teenage experience. Beneath the confident, chaotic exterior, she’s a girl still figuring out who she is—torn between her desire for connection and her fear of losing control. Despite her rebellious attitude, Viki craves the love and stability she found with Richard and Judith, even if she doesn’t always know how to express it. Her past on the streets of Port Valencio keeps her rough around the edges, but it’s also what drives her to protect the people she now calls her own. Brief Backstory: Viki Flynn grew up in Port Valencio, bouncing between orphanages and living on the streets, often coerced into petty crime for gangs connected to the Spiderweb. She was only 12 when she was placed into the care of Richard, a former Marine Force Recon soldier, and Judith, a former kindergarten teacher, who couldn’t have children of their own. Their home gave her stability for the first time. Richard, with a rough and distant demeanor at first, began to share his military training with Viki, teaching her discipline, self-defense, and survival tactics. In a way, he projected his own desire for a son onto her, pushing her to become strong, capable, and focused, while Judith offered the emotional warmth and love Viki had never known before. At 14, her life was turned upside down. One night, a local gang attacked Richard for standing up to them. They brutally beat him, leaving him for dead. In a desperate bid to save him, Viki’s magnetic powers violently manifested for the first time, killing several gang members on the spot. Though she saved his life, she couldn’t stop the irreversible damage—they had already paralyzed him. The guilt from not acting sooner haunts her every day. It wasn’t her power that injured him, but her hesitation. That moment shaped her drive to never hesitate again, walking a fine line between heroism and brutality, and fighting to control the overwhelming forces inside her. Richard continues to train her in combat and survival techniques, pushing her to stay in control of herself as much as her powers. Their bond, while tinged with unspoken emotions, is one of mutual respect and shared pain. Viki seeks both to live up to Richard’s expectations and to atone for her perceived failure to protect him. Backstory Questions: When did you first use your powers? Viki first used her powers at 14, the night Richard was attacked by a gang. As she watched him being beaten, something inside her snapped. She tapped into her magnetism powers, pulling metal from the street and surroundings, hurling it at the attackers, killing several of them. Though she managed to save his life, the guilt she carries comes from not acting sooner. Richard was left paralyzed, and Viki blames herself for hesitating in the crucial moment that could have spared him that fate. Who was the first person you accidentally hurt with your powers? The first people Viki hurt were the gang members she killed the night her powers awakened. They were the ones who nearly killed Richard, and while she knows they were in the wrong, the sudden burst of her magnetic power turned lethal, and the bodies left behind still haunt her. She never meant to kill them, but the uncontrolled surge of energy proved how dangerous she could be. Who, outside the team, helps you control your powers? Richard, Viki’s adoptive father, plays a crucial role in helping her maintain control over her powers. With his Force Recon background, he trains her in discipline and mental focus, sharing techniques that help her channel her abilities and prevent them from spiraling out of control. His methods are tough but effective, pushing her to stay sharp and in control even when the emotional toll of her powers weighs heavily on her. Judith, her adoptive mother, provides the emotional balance. While Richard focuses on the physical and tactical side, Judith offers Viki a safe space to unwind and process her feelings. Her unconditional love and patience help Viki stay grounded when the magnetic forces within her feel overwhelming. Together, they provide a balanced foundation—Richard gives her the tools to physically control her abilities, and Judith helps her emotionally stay in check. Why do you continue to use your powers? Viki continues to use her powers because she believes that with them comes a responsibility to protect those who can't protect themselves—like Richard, whose life she saved, but not without consequences. Every time she looks at his wheelchair, she’s reminded of the danger of waiting too long to act. She uses her powers now to make sure that no one else has to suffer like he did because of her hesitation. What has the Spiderweb taken from you? The Spiderweb took Viki’s sense of innocence and safety long before she ever met Richard and Judith. From a young age, she was caught in their criminal web, forced to steal and commit petty crimes to survive. They robbed her of a real childhood. Later, when they nearly killed Richard, they also took the one person who had been a steady protector in her life, leaving him paralyzed and reminding her of how powerless she felt for too long. Why do you care about the neighborhood? Port Valencio is Viki’s home, despite its hardships. She was raised in its streets, knows the people, and sees how the Spiderweb’s influence corrupts everything. Richard and Judith gave her something she never had before: a sense of belonging. They made her care about the neighborhood in a way she never expected. Her loyalty to it comes from wanting to protect the home that took her in when she had nowhere else to go. Who most connects you to the neighborhood? Judith is Viki’s link to the neighborhood. Her warmth and generosity introduced Viki to a side of the community that she had never known before. Through her, Viki started to see the value in everyday people, in simple acts of kindness, and in standing up for the place they all call home. Judith’s commitment to the people around them has made Viki care about the city in ways she hadn’t before. What do you want to explore with this character? Magnetika’s journey is like walking a tightrope between heroism and villainy. Much like Jean Grey and Magneto (who inspire her concept), she battles the overwhelming power inside her, constantly fearing she might lose control — not just over her abilities but over her morality as well. Viki desperately wants to be good and protect her neighborhood, but the immense force within her makes it all too easy to cross the line. This struggle is amplified by the fact that, in a city like Port Valencio, the lines between good and evil are often blurred. However, there's also a teenage twist to her conflict. As much as Viki wrestles with her powers and the responsibility that comes with them, she’s equally struggling with her identity as a young woman. Her desire to feel powerful, not just in battle but in life, is mirrored in her confidence and charm, which sometimes leads her toward manipulation. Like Magneto, Viki often questions if holding back her full potential is the right thing to do — especially when a more forceful approach might bring about real change. But her temptation to rely on her charm and overconfidence to manipulate others often conflicts with her desire to build genuine connections. The tension between using power responsibly and succumbing to the ease of control — whether through force or manipulation — is central to her growth. As the story unfolds, I want to explore how Viki navigates moments where her power threatens to consume her, while also dealing with the everyday struggles of being a teenager coming of age. She has to deal with questions of femininity, wanting to embrace her more flirtatious and seductive side, yet constantly hiding her vulnerabilities — like her inability to handle close relationships or trust others — behind that same confident exterior. Can she reconcile these different parts of herself? Will she learn to build true emotional connections, or will her reliance on power and manipulation isolate her from those she wants to protect? Magnetika’s personal journey will be about finding balance between the overwhelming force inside her and the vulnerable person she hides beneath. At the heart of her character development is the question: Is she a hero, or is she someone who teeters on the edge of becoming a dangerous force waiting to explode? And can she find her path to adulthood — not just through strength, but through vulnerability as well? Inspirational music to listen when considering Magnetika anew : One Two Three Four Five Six

[kanly]

Most of the playbooks are written very broadly so that many comic book characters could be done up with a few different ones. Mostly it is just a matter of applying the right spin on their abilities and backgrounds.

[Ghrimm]

COMPLETE
Hero Name: Slingshot
Real Name: Traci “Trace” Nichols
Pronouns: She/Her
Playbook: Beacon
Abilities: Arm mounted slingshot and specialty/trick ammo (lead shot, flash, smoke, gas, stink bomb, tracker, bug, screamer, acid, etc.) & acrobatics/parkour

Description/Personality: Short for sixteen, standing just shy of five feet, Traci is on the wiry side with a slim athletic build. Traci considers herself to be rather plain – just another short, flat chested, brown eyed brunette girl in a sea of exotic faces. She is still hoping to grow a few more inches, and maybe fill out her figure a bit more, but it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. She doesn’t like to use a lot of makeup and doesn’t go in for trendy attire but has been experimenting with color highlights in her superhero identity.

Traci is a born athlete, strong for her size and in very good shape. She seems to have a knack for picking up physical skills, learning very quickly. She loves nothing so much as a good parkour run through the city rooftops. It is almost like flying, and there is a real sense of freedom.

While she tries to always look calm and collected, Traci is driven to prove herself. She is outwardly very confident in her abilities, but inwardly has doubts that she should be playing hero – especially now that there are people with real abilities out there. Still, Traci knows herself well enough to know that she couldn’t simply sit on the sidelines. She has to be out there, doing what she can.

Backstory Questions:
How did you gain your skills? Traci’s dad was a cop, one of the last good ones, and he always wanted his daughter to be able to defend herself. But because she was small for her age, he concentrated on teaching her how to take advantage of her mobility – to escape or avoid trouble all together. They enrolled her in self-defense classes, acrobatics, and parkour - where she really excelled. As for the slingshot, well, Traci always had a bit of a temper and a mischievous streak. The slingshot allows her to exact her revenge silently and from the cover of darkness.
When did you first put on your costume? After her father’s death, Traci suited up to get justice. Her grandfather, long since retired after an on-the-job injury had him finishing out his career in the armory, helped her put together her gear and come up with the name. It was only supposed to be so she could hunt her father’s killers, but the more she dug into it the more questions were raised. It wasn’t long before she realized just how far the corruption went. Traci maintains a 'nest' in an abandoned community theater. Since she can't have it around the house, she needed a place to stash her gear and to practice her skills. The catwalks, scaffolding and lighting rigs present a challenging obstacle course, with plenty of hidden nooks and crannies.
Who, outside of the team, thinks you shouldn’t be a superhero? Traci idolizes vigilantes, particularly Fawn and Lamb who she has had occasion to run into a time or two. She secretly hoped to team up with them, even considered trying out several animal themed names, however the sisters have done their best to discourage her from even trying to be a hero – convinced that she is too soft, too young, and too small. Perhaps it is just some sort of maternal instinct kicking in, or perhaps it is the fact that they have already had to bail Traci out of more than one sticky spot. That's okay, Traci is convinced she can still win them over - eventually.
Why do you try to be a hero? Because someone has too. Traci’s dad was a cop, as was his father and his father’s father before him. From the age of five she has wanted nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps. She comes from a family dedicated to protecting and serving the people, but that is a far cry from what the cops are doing today. Still, she wants to do her part and if putting on a mask is the only way to do it than that is what she will do.
What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Traci’s father was killed in a shootout. He was trying to stop a gang war that threatened to engulf the Narrows and was killed in the crossfire. For some reason he was the only cop dispatched to the scene and never stood a chance. Most the cops were unsympathetic, but Traci has maintained contact with one of his old partners - a Seargent Hines. He works the front desk now and has been known to drop a tidbit or two her way when plied with some of the finest pastries the Narrows has to offer.
Why do you care about the neighborhood? The Narrows was her father’s beat, the beat he died defending. He was well loved by the community - the kind of guy that would help out his neighbor, in or out of the uniform. He volunteered at the local shelter, played street ball at the community center, and was known to look the other way when new graffiti popped up. After his death, the Narrows did a candlelight vigil and a memorial near the site. Traci is just trying to pick up where he left off, looking out for the people of her neighborhood - because if she doesn't, who will? And she is a child of the Narrows, living here with her remaining family.
Who most connects you to the neighborhood? Foremost her father who died to defend it. Of course she lives in the neighborhood as well, with her mother and grandfather. They live above a corner market in a small apartment, living off her father’s benefits, her grandfather’s social security and her mother’s part time work in home healthcare.

What do I want to explore with this character? I think Traci is searching not just for justice, but for personal validation as well. She needs to prove to herself that she can compete with powered individuals, and to prove that in doing so she can help make a difference; that there is still room for hope and heroism even in the darkest times. Beacon is a good playbook for her because in many ways that is exactly what she hopes to become - a beacon of hope and justice in a world that desperately needs both. She will undoubtedly struggle with issues of self-worth along the way, come to doubt her purpose even, but in overcoming her doubts she will prove that even one ordinary person can make a difference.

[Dunderklumpen]

@NoizePollution, I feel like my application is complete. Please let me know if I've missed anything out or it's lacking in detail in some area.

[Iron Signet]

COMPLETE

Penumbra - The Scion Hero Name: Penumbra Real Name: Salem Wolf Pronouns: He/They Playbook: The Scion Abilities: impressive martial prowess, magical aptitude Impressive Martial Prowess: Salem was trained since childhood in all sorts of different forms of combat, hand to hand, bow, gun, swords and staffs, throwing knives, and etc. They worked hard because they didn’t want to seem weak to their father, who had already written off their temperament. Magical Aptitude: The rift that gave Salem and their father powers gave them connection to a mysterious dark energy that can be bent towards various purposes. In Salem’s case, it’s shadow magic. In his father’s case, it has taken the form of something more metaphorically darker. Salem typically uses their shadow magic to summon small objects, manipulate objects, hide things, to find things through sympathetic linking, and to form small objects they can control such as shadowy weapons like swords or grasping whips. They have a shadow cloak that conceals their identity and can also be used to glide or as a fifth limb. They can perform many small cantrips and small wards, but can’t make light or fire. Fire and light are too conceptually opposed to shadow. It’s possible their shadow cloak is semi-sentient like a familiar, but it also might just be running off of his subconscious. Description/Personality: Salem is fifteen years old and while he used to be more androgynous, he’s now beginning to get tall and broad shouldered and his voice is deepening, and he’s not sure how he feels about it. He looks more and more like his father every day, and he’s very sure how he feels about that: not happy. At the moment he stands just about 6’ tall, with a muscular build, but in an awkward way that makes it obvious he’s not done growing yet. Penumbra wears a hooded cloak made out of pure shadow, so black that it almost appears to lack any depth at all, and the shadow of it masks his face. He wears a costume of blacks and grays that he can summon into place using his magic. His cloak only sometimes moves with the wind, and sometimes just seems to move about on its own without wind. Gentle and kind by nature, but ruthless and brutal by nurture. He no longer knows what it means to be a good person, but he really wants to figure it out. He wants to be good. He can be a bit aloof, he doesn’t really fit in in The Narrows having grown up in a life of luxury. He’s not shy though, and he wants to be part of something real. He does tend to bottle up his emotions and expressions though, yet more remnants from dear old dad. Backstory Questions: Backstory Who is your supervillain parent? Vincent Wolf, AKA The Wolf Spider AKA The Umber Wolf - Vincent leads the Wolf Pack, a gang of elite enforcers under The Spider and part of the Spiderweb. Vincent Wolf also runs several “underground” fighting and gambling rings throughout the city, both human, animal, and free for all. Who told you about your parent’s true nature? Vincent never tried to hide who he was from his son, so much as he tried to paint himself in a good light and train his son to follow his footsteps, but the story of how Salem began to see his father for who he truly was began with Rory Tiernan.   Rory Tiernan met Salem Wolf at the Presidio Center one afternoon after school. Rory and his friends were just taking a look around for the fun of it, Salem was killing time and avoiding going home. They hit it off surprisingly well, though Salem had the foresight to hide exactly who he was. They all went back to the Narrows together, and Rory invited Salem over for dinner. The Tiernan's lived in one of the oldest parts of the narrows, where the buildings were still tall and skinny to make space, but the city had not yet resorted to row houses to pack people in. The Tiernan's had all been in the same house for generations now, and they still squeezed in together as an extended family. Rory and Salem became fast friends and ran around together everywhere for a while after that. Vincent had always thought of his son as “too soft” and “weak”, despite Salem’s best efforts to make his father proud. This new friendship with Rory was just one more “bad influence.” The final straw came when the boys rescued a street dog from a couple of gangers, and Salem brought it home with him. In order to teach his son a lesson, Vincent commanded Salem to put the dog down instead of nursing it back to health. Salem instead pretended to kill the dog and snuck it away to the Tiernan house. Later that night, the Tiernan house burned to the ground. Fire teams kept the fire from damaging any other homes. His friend never spoke to him again. It was at that moment that Salem truly realized that his father wasn’t just ruthless, but he was villainous. Salem tried to explain things, tried to apologize, tried to say anything to Rory after the night of fire, but to no avail. The other boy wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't look at him, and wouldn't even acknowledge his presence. Of course, Salem's dad had let them know who he was and why he did it, and so of course now everyone knew. Salem was just a little bit more isolated after that, but he understood exactly who his father really was much better. Why did you turn from your lineage to become a hero? Salem grew up with a silver spoon. He was taught about ambition and ruthlessness, but also about honor and loyalty. He was taught about treachery, but also about justice. After he started realizing that his father’s ruthlessness was more than just for business, but to actually hurt people, he also began to realize that his father’s “justice” and “loyalty” were only skin deep, and were only there so long as it furthered his own ends. He realized at that point that there was a disconnect between the image he was raised with of the world, and what the world actually was, and so he left. Who, outside of the team, helps you on your chosen path? Retired(?) Spiderweb assassin previously known as The White Recluse, Gloria Bianchi doesn’t seem to be working for The Spider anymore, but it’s hard to say what she’s doing instead. (Hint: covert hero work) She recognized Salem after he ran away, because he does bear a strong resemblance to his father and they had worked together often before she retired. Empathizing with his choice, she set him up with a friend of hers who runs a diner in the Narrows. He now stays in a flat above it that was too small and run-down to rent out, and Gloria also helped him transfer to public school. What has the Spiderweb taken from you? His innocence, his family, his sense of purpose. He always thought he was a good person, and that his father was just and right. Now he knows his father is unjust and wrong, and he doesn’t know about himself anymore. Why do you care about the neighborhood? This is where he lives now, and this is where he found people who took him in after he rejected his family. He also knows that it has been directly impacted by some of his fathers machinations, and so wants to fight back. Who most connects you to the neighborhood? Rory and his family likely still live in the Narrows, but Salem hasn’t talked to them recently. The woman whose diner he lives above has also become something of an awkward neighbor to him, but they’re on friendly enough terms. She’s a witch herself, though not supernaturally very gifted. They exchange notes sometimes. Additional Questions:   If Salem met his former friend again, what is the first thing he hopes they would say to him? "I forgive you" would be a good start "Everyone's okay" would also be good to hear, and "Your dad kinda sucks" would be a solid bonus. What is his favorite hangout in the Narrows? Absolutely not the diner that he lives above. Let's call it... Rosa's? I like to think a lot of teens do hang out at the diner, which makes him uncomfortable because he basically lives there. I'll say his favorite spot is the Brickhouse Cafe. They play live music, have a pool room and some arcade games, and have open mic nights and karaoke nights. He likes it because he feels like he gets so much more exposure to such a wide variety of people and things than he'd had before leaving home, and he feels like he can disappear in the crowd. The problem is that it's on the border to Presidio and it's relatively new, most of the people who go there are actually from the Presidio side looking for something "edgier" or "authentic". A more traditional teen hangout spot would be Rosa's Diner. Salem just doesn't want to hang out there. Who among the Gearheads has a personal grudge against Penumbra? "Sticky" Dick Gonzales. Sticky has the unfortunate power to make things stick to each other. Not the flashiest power, but useful for small things, like when you're stripping a car and run out of flat surfaces to put a wrench down on. He always wished he had the opposite power, to make things slippery. Then he could be "Slick" Dick instead, and it would help when trying to loosen yet another damn stuck bolt. Sticky was just rising the ranks when Penumbra was first starting out, and was hired by the Wolf Spider to steal a shipment of cargo trucks coming into the museum. The Wolf Spider has always had an interest in ancient artifacts that has only increased since he and Penumbra had their powers awoken. Penumbra tends to specifically target his dad's business when he can, and so interrupted the truck-hijacking. What should have been an easy job for Sticky to quickly rise through the ranks in the spiderweb turned into a disaster, and Sticky has held a personal grudge towards Penumbra since. What do you want to explore with this character? What does it mean to be good? Themes of nature vs nurture as a person leaves their childhood behind and becomes an adult, and the deconstruction of the world they thought they knew. The effects that come when you realize that the people who raised you aren’t who you thought they were. Becoming your own person beyond what your environment made you. I’m not expecting Salem to ever be able to redeem his father, but at some point I’d like Salem to learn enough and grow confident enough to confront him. There’s also the element of him trying to figure out who he is, and what he believes in, and yet people keep tying him to who they think he is because of his father. Interesting songs: Salem’s relationship with his father: Pretense - The Knuckle Pucks Salem’s mood in general: Heaven's Got a Back Door - Dead Sara A little of both: The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park Roots - In This Moment Honorable Mentions: In the Blood - John Mayer You don't know what love is (You just do as you're told) - The White Stripes

[Remorazz]

Always wanted to do a Masks!

COMPLETE

Phillie Hero Name: Shout-o? Boom Boy? Thunder? I don't know I'm still workshopping it... Real Name (if different): Philip Zafaros Pronouns: He/Him Playbook: The Nova Abilities: Unique power: Sound wave control (super-shouting) Description/Personality: Thin and gangly, still growing into his wiry body, looks like a rocker, but since he started to follow the Zero Rats he got more in a punky-metal style. He's rash and sometimes borders on being too frank, but he's good hearted, even though he's been asking himself of late how much the ends justify the means Backstory Questions:   -When did you first use your powers?Who was the first person you accidentally hurt with your powers? At my first concert as new lead singer in the Zero Rats. In the middle of the first song I shouted so much that I hurt the guitar&vocals girl, Sigil. Messed her up pretty bad, she's out of the hospital, but she doesn't want to see me anymore. The incident was reported to be caused by a faulty speaker that short circuited and exploded, but the surviving members of the band know the truth. -Who, outside the team, helps you control your powers? Seth, the older bassist of the band, Sigil's boyfriend. He's also pissed at me, but tries to pass on some wisdom down on me, muttered behind clenched teeth. -Why do you continue to use your powers? I'm not sure I understand the question. That's who I am now. I gotta control this thing before I hurt more people. I mean, I don't hate the spotlight, but that's not the only reason I'm doing this. -What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Our drummer Cody got capped by them a couple months ago, Sigil was still recovering in the hospital, so she found out the other week. Cody was the sweetest guy, I think his brother was involved in some shady crap with stolen cars, but I can't imagine Big-ol-Cody being involved in anything dodgy, which makes him a fricking innocent victim if you ask me! -Why do you care about the neighborhood? You mean why do I care for the only place where I have a roof over my head? I mean it's a crappy roof of a crappy house, don't get me wrong, but why should I stand there and look at people making it worse bit by bit? Nah man, I can make the Shi1tweb pay man, I can scream them into oblivion. Also, the Narrows is the best! The indie music scene is super awesome and everchanging, food places of every type to hang around when you only got money for one coffee for four friends, graffiti artists that make the street an art museum (well.. some graffiti..).. there everything you even need in the Narrows! -Who most connects you to the neighborhood? I mean, my mom of course.. but she's always so sick.. When I'm not at school I'm usually watching tv with her. Thanks to her we got this place in the projects. Now that our band fell to pieces I have some more time with her, which is a bit of silver lining. What do you want to explore with this character? I wanna try to play a very c*cksure guy, so much that it's almost annoying, but discovers to be human through his failures. Does it makes sense?

Am I missing something?

[MFCHOOM]

COMPLETE Hero Name TRIP Real Name Maktar Ezequiel Jallow Pronouns He/Him Playbook The Delinquent; doing bad things for a good reason. Abilities Telekinetic Constructs (Illusions, Psychic Weapons) Demeanor Maktar is a young man of Gambian and Jamaican descent, the son of hard-working immigrants embracing the American dream. He has a deep skin tone and black dreads that spiral and twist out from beneath his hat or beanie. Maktar has restless and untrusting eyes, fittingly so, as he's naturally suspicious of most people he comes across. While out and about, Maktar wears casual clothing, such as a hoodie and cargo pants, or a bulky puffer jacket on a colder evening; he personally avoids a costume, as his 'heroic' exploits are something he prefers to keep lowkey. Backstory Questions:   -How did you get your powers? Honestly, I know everyone says that everyone got powers randomly, but I think it's something we were meant to have. I don't know, it's like destiny, or the next phase of people, right? There's just no way something so big and impactful happens by chance. Nah, this is a gift, right, and we're meant to be doing big things with them. -What do you do for fun? Me and the squad just drive, find stuff to do around town. Sometimes we go too fast, don't worry about it, though. I hate it though, everything feels so lock-and-key now that things have changed around here. There's a lot of city left to check out. I don't know, wandering around is just something I like to do. You find trouble that way, and you find a lot of stuff people left behind. -Who, outside the team, thinks better of you than you do? Mom, I guess. But ever since dad died, she's been a lot more restrictive and worried about me. I get it, but it's frustrating. She's told me how I'm the man of the house now, and that I need to be smart about who I talk to, where I go. I get she loves me, like that's cool, but if I'm the man of the house then she needs to trust that I know what I'm doing. I can take care of myself. Mom thinks I'm meant to do a lot, like I'm going to change the city or be president or something. I just want to find out what happened to my dad. -Why do you try to be a hero? Who said I'm trying to be a hero? Like I said, I want answers. There's a big cover-up or something about what went down on the docks at my dads work. We're given nothing, no answers, no closure, no help. So I'm doing what I can with the gift I've been given to find out what happened and make sure that real justice happens. That's all I'm saying, man. -What has the Spiderweb taken from you? Everything. Dad was everything. Food on my plate, my best friend, only person I could really talk to. He's the only person who believed in our dream of making it in the city, and he was willing to work three times harder than anyone around us to make it happen. He was never a criminal but he got put down like he was one of them, and nobody seems to care. Ever since the Spiderweb started making moves, all of the people down at the bottom of the chain seem to be dealing with the consequences. Things are worse than ever. -Why do you care about the neighborhood? Who most connects you to the neighborhood? Dad told me that the community is only as strong as its weakest person, so it was up to the community to build each other up or something. We're all just trying to get by, and there's real culture here. It's so fake in the city center, nobody cares about anything but themselves, man. The neighborhood where I live has good people, and it sucks that we have to suffer because the people up top are selfish, greedy. My dad died here. He's buried in the cemetery. I can't leave him behind. Even if my mom doesn't want me to, he'd want me to do something with my powers. So that's why I care about this place, and that's why I need to find out what really went down at the docks. What do you want to explore with this character? I think there's fairly compelling drama to Maktar eventually arriving at the conclusion that it was a masked vigilante responsible for his father's death. It puts him at odds with the rest of the team, and forces him to make hard decisions. That's the long term goal though, if it's even achievable with the narrative. I'm also interested in general interactions with the other characters and seeing how everyone uniquely spins their playbook stories.