Medietas App

[orions_shadow]

Player Information
Name: Imp
Age: 30
Contact: plurk at impiousimp
Characters already in Medietas: n/a
Reserve Link: http://medietas-mods.dreamwidth.org/1679.html?thread=416911#cmt416911

Character Basics
Character name: Mathieu Carver
Character Journal: orions_shadowCanon: City of Heroes
Age: 13
Icon: http://v.dreamwidth.org/9486668/2430140

Original Character Information
Appearance: He has the form of a semi anthropomorphic lion/human hybrid. Semi, in that his face is much flatter and more human somewhat like a werewolf or werelion. Dark grey fur, green eyes and a black mane and tail tip. He can walk both on his back legs or all fours easily which makes his torso and hips favor lion anatomy over humans. He can shapeshift between a true lion and his semi-human form as well.

Setting: The world of Primal Earth was once just like any other world, relatively normal, with the notable exception of the long forgotten myths of the ages that have been shown to be true, most notably by a pair of stalwart friends seeking a cure for a life-threatening illness shortly after WWI. The two stumbled upon the Well of the Furies, and in drinking from it, they gained the god-like powers of the incarnate. The two friends also discovered the fabled Pandora’s Box, which instead of containing all the world's plague and disease, contained all of the golden light of creation, and all of human creativity from the past millennia. Once released, it began the new golden age of superheroes. The two friends went their separate ways, later becoming Statesman and Lord Recluse.

Today, superheroes are so prevalent that there is an entire economy based around them in Paragon City, the home to many of the greatest heroes Primal Earth has ever seen, from Numina and Manticore in the Freedom Phalanx, to hundreds of everyday men and women gifted with god-like abilities fighting for truth, justice and freedom against hoards of vicious criminals. Paragon itself had suffered a serious blow at the hands of the aliens known as the Rikti. The city set themselves up with a series of war walls around each borough constructed with the very technology the Rikti had used against them. Circa 2007, Paragon City took down the mothership and isolated it in it’s own sector of the city, inviting many heroes to take their heavily guarded fortress down once and for all.

Meanwhile, across the sea, the Rogue Isles fester with all manner of villainy, ruled by the iron fist of Lord Recluse and his Arachnos organization. Ruled by anarchy and chaos, the rogues and villains gather there, making it an extremely dangerous place. Civilians would rather bow their heads than risk provoking a super villain, or their ruling power, lest they be stolen away in the dead of night. Everyone here is aware of the war zones scattered along the coast, the ultimate showdown of Recluse’s evil might, and Statesman’s righteous heroism. The world awaits the conclusion of the conflict of these age old enemies.

History

Mathieu Carver was born in the isles, a young son to a magically inclined family. His grandfather was a powerful wizard, retired but formerly an informant in the magical underworld for the Midnighter’s Club. Hiis mother, meanwhile, was a skilled potion maker and alchemist. His father was a petty crook, trying to make it into the big leagues and pull off a few good heists so they could leave the isles behind them. When Mat was five he disappeared, forcing the family to move into a more modest living arrangement.

Mat didn’t much care for the family arcane business, and usually kept his mouth shut about it and his grandfather’s history. He instead took an interest in the things his father taught him, like sleight of hand. This was a skill which his grandfather Bastien cultivated by introducing him to the concept of stage magic, which was more appealing to Mat but with little practical application. Thus it came to everyone’s surprise when the boy was confronted by a being of magical light, Orion. Orion introduced himself as a long dead warrior given new life and form, that of a lion, by the Well of the Furies. He had chosen his descendant Mathieu to be his vessel to someday return to the battlefield upon the arrival of “The Coming Storm”. Eve and Bastien were not exactly thrilled by the news, but given how enamored Mat was with the entity, they gradually accepted the idea.

It was around that time that Mat turned 10 that he began to hang around with other kids in the community that were his age. Some were orphaned children of villains, a few were naturally powered, and others were just normal kids like he was sans the lion companion. The existence of these children did not go unnoticed by those keeping tabs on the metahuman population and those interested in exploiting them. A subsidiary of Arachnos, a sort of evil school for gifted youngsters called Nest Academy, had the resources and the incentive to do so. As far as Arachnos was concerned they were responsible for producing the next generation of super villains to fight on Lord Recluse’s behalf.

A trap was set for the group of kids as a ‘routine’ contraband investigation was issued for their area, and the kids were sent off towards the coast to play. They didn’t expect anything, at least until Orion was snagged by a specialized containment field used to trap the spectral pirates that haunted another area of the island. Once he was taken care of, a powerful psionic was then deployed to knock the kids unconscious. From there, they were loaded onto a carrier ship and sent off towards Cap Au Diable, another island in the system.

Upon their arrival, a magical specialist named Thaddeus was called down to examine Mat and Orion to see what was to be done about them. They found that Orion was too powerful to control on his own, and Mat was powerless without him, but it was clear that they shared a powerful arcane connection. Through further research, it was determined who Orion was and what his purpose with Mat truly was, so they decided to speed things along with a little of their own magic. Using a powerful spell and a number of other magically inclined staff, they chose to infuse Orion with the essence of an umbral beast in order to take control of him and his power, while still using Mathieu as a vessel. Using their most powerful spells, they forcefully merged the two.


The results of this unnatural fusion were quite traumatic, forcing the boy’s body to warp and morph to a different configuration, accommodating a more predatory anatomical structure. A happy medium between man and beast, the transformation left the boy unconscious for a week. When he came to, it was to a new and changed body that he would have to relearn how to use. Time, however, was not a luxury his new captors were willing to afford him.

He learned quickly what the consequences of bonding with Orion would have been, were he corrupted or not. The two individuals were gone, a single consciousness leaving Mat to wonder which thoughts were his and which were Orion’s. There was a heavy presence in his mind likewise, the darkness, counterbalanced only by what was left of Orion’s strong spirit, protecting Mathieu’s soul, in a sense. Were it not for that, there was probably nothing stopping the boy from embracing the darkness wholeheartedly.

If that wasn’t a headache enough, he was frequently put into what appeared to be a courtyard inside a fortress along with others. Power inhibitors were used to insure the youths couldn’t kill each other with their powers but still allow them to figure out a pecking order. The only solace he could find was that his friend Emile, an older boy with sonic powers, was more than willing to look out for the poor kid as he readjusted.

After months of learning to co-exist with others, Emile and he were decently settled though neither of them had much interest in the training. The only difference between the two was that Thaddeus had Mat under his thumb. Thaddeus had a strong ability to control the boy with his power over the dark essence that he had instilled in him. Any order given to him, Mat was compelled to obey. There were some notable exceptions such as his refusing to kill a prisoner scheduled for execution, for which he was reprimanded harshly. For his punishment, Thaddeus had simply trapped the boy in his own shadow for a few days, leaving him completely isolated from his friends or sensual stimulation. This power over him made him easier to handle, but it bred a strong dislike for authority in the boy. He hated every minute of it.

As time moved on he became more accepting of his circumstances, and the fact that he felt distinct from either Mat or Orion, but those two parts contribute to the whole. He choose to take on the name his peers had been calling him, Shadow, as a moniker for his current form. Straight to the point and simple, just like he preferred it.

Then came Mot, a long forgotten god of death and destruction. It sought to consume everyone and everything, if its reach were to escape the confines of Dark Astoria in Paragon. Word got out that some heroes were seeking to bind him so he would be forever trapped in his prison within the warwalls in Astoria. Lord Recluse himself sent and order down calling for every able bodied superhuman to join the fight in Dark Astoria, fighting alongside the heroes against a common enemy. The kids at the Nest where all left behind with minimal supervision..

It would have gone fine, except one of Mot’s corrupted tendrils breached the walls of the fort and killed the base’s power source and the power inhibitors, meaning there was nothing stopping the kids from retaliating. Most of the kids fought against Mot’s minions, driving them off and defending what little they had, others turned against the staff who had held them here against their will. Throughout the fight, Shadow was forced to stay near Thaddeus’ side, as the man chose to stay behind to watch over the Nest. It seemed as though they were pushing back until a spined tendril arced into the air and slammed down toward the two. Shadow was grazed but dodged the brunt of the blow with his quick reflexes. His eyes fell upon his controller, as the man begged, then commanded the boy to save him. He actually might have, but be it through his own willpower or Thaddeus’ rapidly fading power, Shadow just stood there and watched as the tendril sunk further into the ground, pulling the man down with it.

Finally free, the boy sent a rallying cry to the others, to bust out through the wall while they could and earn their freedom, but only a few, including Emile, followed through with him, and only after clearing the path. If the world was going to end, Shadow figured he’d go out on his own terms. The night was long and bloody, but suddenly, everything stopped. The hoard of monsters and tendrils seemed to melt away into the ground, leaving the kids grateful that they still had their lives. Most of them split away, either doubling back to the hives to check on things or going out on their own. Shadow, Emile, and two others, however, simply boarded the nearest ferry and headed to Nerva Archipelago. Not exactly safe, but they could figure something out.

They made their home in a cave in the jungles of Nerva. Their biggest problems being the Longbow base to the south and the Circle of Thorns to the north, but the cave they chose to inhabit was well-isolated from either camps. They made a base inside an old forgotten pirate ship that they fixed up to fit their own needs. From here, they managed to live pretty securely, though without most luxuries one might hope for. For three years they lived there, looking for other kids like themselves to increase their ranks. Eventually they reached numbers of over twenty in their modest fort, and searched for their parents in the chaos that was the rogue isles.

Personality:
Shadow is a composite being, two souls occupying the same body. While Mathieu's personality is clearly the dominant one, Orion's traits are still present, as well as influencing the boy in certain ways. Orion was an old proud warrior, valiant, a bit cavalier and reckless, but generally wise and commanding respect. Where as Mathieu was a sweet young adventurous boy with a perchance for the occasional bouts of mischief. Their personalities together resulted in confusion and chaos, but eventually settled into a bit of a middle ground. Shadow is a youthful and inexperienced boy with a warrior's heart, trying to resist the pull of the darkness sleeping within him. It's a feeling of unease, tugging at him and pushing him to be more aggressive, violent, and malevolent. If it weren't for the contrast of Orion's pure light magic protecting Mathieu from being corrupted, he would probably be far more easily swayed by the urge to do terrible things. Even so, he tends to partake in smaller, less severe crimes if only to keep the edge off, as it's like having an addiction you have to feed now and then. He can't help himself.

In becoming a lion, he has started to form habits that would be more expected from a cat than a human. He's mostly nocturnal, sleeping upwards of fifteen, sometimes twenty hours every day to preserve energy. Grooming with his tongue, attention to moving objects, and hunting have all become normalized for him, even though he's only begun to hunt for a short time. His diet has also changed considerably to a more carnivorous diet. He's still willing to eat human food, but fresh meat is far more appetizing to him. Plus, the thrill of the kill also helps stave off his less desirable impulses.

If he's comfortable enough with his surroundings and the people he surrounds himself with, he's very easy going and generally friendly with known people. To strangers, and especially adults who he feels threatened by, he is aloof at best, anxious at worst. He's not fearful enough of them that he won't give them a chance to prove themselves, but he's less likely to extend trust to someone who isn't close to his own age at first meet. He regards people with caution, but once he warms up to someone he's incredibly loyal and can be quite physical with his affection, which is mostly a side effect of his cat like behaviors over riding his human ones. He doesn't have much consideration for personal space either, provided he's actually comfortable with the person he's spending time with.

That said, recent events in his life has made him skittish around unknown people, as well as pushed him to rely on his new instincts more and more to survive in the harsh environments he's been forced to exist in. The Nest was a world of 'the strong survive', as was the philosophy of Arachnos, which was very centered on the notion of social darwinism. He therefore puts an unrealistic amount value on his own personal strength and prides himself on getting stronger, and he was encouraged and conditioned to do so during his time in the Nest. Despite his rebellious streak, he was subject to much of the same conditioning as other students, though he rarely ever followed orders as directed, which got him into quite a bit of trouble. He's obstinate and stubborn to a fault, rarely wanting to take the orders of anyone who try to impose their authority over him or others. He is more likely to comply if there is a measure of mutual respect, or something that he gets in return for his obedience.

Bull headed and stubborn as he is, he's not terribly stupid, and is capable of seeing situations where he must cooperate as directed, but falling short of that he's usually going to do his own thing regardless. Going into a fight, he tends to scout out his opponent before entering into battle. He believes a strong opening attack is crucial, as well as how it ends. Still, even then the desire to fight sometimes overrides his common sense and he rushes in anyway. Usually depends on who or what he's going up against. His skill in the area of fighting is not quite as developed to match his power, and so he relies almost entirely on his brute strength to get him through a fight.

He's fairly clever, at least with word play and wit, or at least he tries to be. Intellectually he falls back on the wisdom of his mother and grandfather to accumulate knowledge, more than happy to read a book rather than attend school as his recent experiences soured the idea of a formal education for a long time to come. Far more apt to learn by doing than actually sitting and listening to someone tell him how to do something. Trial and error is just the path to finding an answer, after all. He had tenacity, but his eagerness to figure things out on his own might just as well get him in over his head, or drive others up the wall with some of his 'failed' experiments.

Emotionally, he is extremely insecure. Having much of his self esteem torn down from being transformed into a monster, and trained to be a tool for evil, he doesn't have a high view of himself. He's also been teased and tormented by others, as such he tends to be a little touchy when people make comments on his appearance or questions his intelligence. They may very well be right, but he probably would still act out in protest if he's worked up enough. In his defense, he's young and has had a crucial part of his social development corrupted by people who would mean to use him to do other people harm. His emotional stability is somewhat fragile, leaving him equally angry and depressed. He hasn't really figured out how to cope with what has happened to him.

There are some social conventions that Shadow may not be aware of, as his social and emotional development in a positive setting was stunted the moment was was kidnapped by the Nest Academy. Personal space, taking things without asking, and other simple social graces are not usually exhibited by him. He's a cat, after all, and he gonna do what he gonna do. That's not to say that he can't learn, but as it stands he just doesn't know any better. As for civil laws, he has very little reverence for, which means he's completely willing to break the law if he thinks he can get away with it. Thankfully he's not particularly malevolent.
Shadow Manipulation Shadow possesses the ability to manipulate shadows in a variety of ways, as well as teleport through them, using them as a conduit. He can change the shape and size of shadows, given adequate light contrast, as he can't work with something that's not there. As stated he can use shadows as a tunnel like conduit for travel, phasing through the objects they're cast against as if they were incorporeal. He can store things in his own shadow, but also leave things trapped inside them if he wanted to.

Due to his control over the shadows, he can create dark tendrils of of darkness in order to immobilize his foes, but the nature of this darkness also has life draining components to it. Shadow can drain life force to heal himself, make himself physically stronger, or revitalize his endurance should he require it in battle. Fair to say that these powers are ones that he's still beginning to understand.

The darkness also grants him a strong resistance to psychic powers, the reason being that the darkness inside his mind, in his soul, acts like a haze which is hard for most psychics to penetrate or navigate. Likewise, it manifests physically as well, making it difficult for a telekinetic to hold or effect him for any length of time provided he's conscious. However as good as his resistance is he is not immune to the effects of psionic attacks, just resists damage taken from them specifically due to his dark power.

The darkness causes him to be prone to bouts of fury, leading him to relish in combat and battle. It encourages the fighting by giving him a slight boost to his attack power with every blow that hits him, and every hit that he lands on his opponent, at the cost of all reason. He lacks the experience to control himself during these periods, and can be provoked into this state rather easily provided the fight is intense enough.

Given the conditions of his transformation, he is now basically made of magic with Orion's entire spiritual form sealed inside him. The power manifests mostly physically, granting him speed and strength far beyond either a lion or a man. However this is really limited to his relative side and how much of that power he can actually tap into, and at the moment, it's a fraction of what he's actually capable of.

Physical attributes.
Orion's power inside him grants him a number of abilities that the darkness inside of him does not. He has a measure of super strength, and can lift upwards of 2000 pounds. Speed and agility is also greatly enhanced, allowing for him to leap higher and farther than any natural born lion.

He is extremely sturdy, able to take blunt force blows, cuts and stab wounds rather easily, as well as low caliber bullets in non vital areas may not be enough to slow him down. Energy blasts and light however are extremely effective against him and will take him out in short order. He does not fair particularly well against ranged weaponry. Bright light weakens his darker power, as well as drains his endurance, which is usually quite high in low light conditions. Being able to run long distances at fifty miles an hour is a fairly good mark of said endurance, but don't expect him to be running around at high noon.

On top of his ability to siphon off energy to heal himself, he also has a base passive healing factor. It's not perfect, but his wounds and injuries heal rapidly. Taking a few minutes to a few hours depending on what the injury is or was. Severe injuries however, will take a few days to heal from.

Shape shifting.
Shadow can shapeshift from his semi-human form to a feral lion form at will.

Sleight of hand and stage magic. Shadow has some skills as a pick pocket and playing card tricks and card games, things his father taught him as a young boy. Though with his powers, using these skills are not exactly at the forefront, and he can actually use his powers to make his illusions much more convincing. It's probably the only hobby he has.

What 4 items would you like your character too have with them on the island during their stay?

1. Authentic 18th century pirate cutlass.
2. Deck of cards.
3. A very very well worn training bag made of an incredibly strong rubber like material
4. A blue blanket with some stars crudely painted on it.
Samples - Can be linked
First Person

Neh... [A young teen with leoine features appears on screen, peering into his little communication device. He looks less than thrilled to be here, more irritated than anything that he has to deal with this technology now. His paw like fingers aren't built for playing on phones, which was a luxury item where he comes from.]

Saying I wanna go home would be a lie. I don't wanna go back to that hell hole, but this place? What even is it? I don't... How did I get here? Why? Magic? Trans dimensional portal I somehow forgot I jumped in?

What's the deal, people?

[He sighs, leaning forward and presses his face into his paw. This is balls. There is no good reason why he should be here, but if nothing else, it was an escape from the madness of trying to carve out a place in Primeva.] Rrrr.

So what now? What do I do? Nothin' about this makes any sense.
Third Person
He panicked. Enough to rock the boat he was on once he awoke. The little lion man scrambled onto the docks, craning his head off the side to look at the sky... the sky is below. Oh gods. Wisely, he backs up from the edge and starts moving towards the town near the end of the docks, only to face something more intimidating. People. He freezes and watches them approach, handing him something, a phone or whatever, and started talking to him.

He's not really paying attention to anything but the alarm blaring in his head, screaming at him to get outta here and figure out where the hell he is before he talks to anyone. Off he goes, dodging past the envoy and charging down the street. He runs about four blocks before finally stopping in an alley to catch his breath. Normally, if he had come here on his own volition, he would not have a problem with this place at all. Actually, if he were to see it without panic blinding him, he'd be highly interested in exploring. Instead, he's got his back against a wall, watching people pass him by while he waits for his brain to catch up to him. He needs to calm down.

For all he knew, this was just a trick. Some kind of illusion or computer world being sent to his brain. That was scary. But if it was real? Maybe that was okay. He heaved a sigh, finally coming down from his anxiety, only to sit back on his haunches and stare at the device, frowning some. If it's real, then was he sent here for a reason? Or is he just here by accident? And either way, what was he supposed to do? The only thing he's ever done was run from the Nest and try to avoid being shot, sacrificed or any other horrible face one could face living in a place ruled only by anarchy.

Suppose the first thing he should do is find a place to rest, get cleaned up, and get something to eat. Good lord, he wanted something to eat. And something out there smelled delicious.

Finally, out of the 4 words, pick one: Chimes, lake, gravel, or sun? Lake