A character concept I played around with recently; kind of Capt. A meets Wolvy, meets Hawkeye, meet Wanda... anyway, enjoy!
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HARDKNOX
Origin: Mutant

Real name: Kelly Harding
Other Aliases: Black Magic
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Age: 31
Birthplace: Unknown
Race: Irish/African American
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Occupation: Martial Arts Instructor, Butcher,
US Special Forces Soldier (former)
Legal Status: US Citizen, No criminal record
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Chloe Harding (niece);
Noreen Harding (sister, deceased);
Cole Harding (father, deceased); Abbie
Harding (mother, deceased)


Stats

F: In 40
A: Rm 30
S: Gd 10
E Am 50
R: Ex 20
I: Rm 30
P: In 40

Health: 130
Karma: 90

Res: Gd 10
Pop: 0


Powers

· Probability Field Alteration: In 40. Hardknox can disrupt probabilities with Incredible ability, so that unlikely (but not impossible) events occur. This can include the shorting-out of electronics; mechanical and structural failures or equipment malfunctions; spontaneous combustion of flammable objects; disruption of energy fields or transmissions, etc. This power is -1CS less effective against unnatural materials or energies i.e., complex alloys, force fields etc. (See, "Scarlet Witch")

· True Invulnerability: Pr 4. Harding's mutant anatomy is extremely resilient, reducing damage intensity taken from both Physical & Energy attacks by -2CS ranks.

· Regeneration & Recovery: Am 50. Hardknox heals at the accelerated rate of 5 pts/round even during combat, conscious or otherwise. He recovers any lost Endurance ranks at a rate of one per day, provided he make an Amazing FEAT roll to restore the lost rank.

· Extra Attacks: Am 50. Used to determine multiple attacks (2=Rm intensity FEAT; 3=Am intensity FEAT), Hardknox suffers no subsequent penalty for failing this roll, but is limited to one effective attack that round.

· Stealth: Ex 20. Hardknox is trained to leave no trace and cannot be detected by normal means. On the move, he slips the efforts of would-be Trackers with Excellent ability.


Equipment

· Stealth Suit, MK I: While offering no additional damage protection, Harding's costume does afford a +1CS to his natural Stealth ability by further enhancing thermal and motion cloaking. In addition the costume features:

· Reinforced knuckles, knees, shins, elbows, forearms and skullcap which serve his ability to deliver +1CS Blunt damage during Unarmed combat;

· Climbing Piton & Cable (left): Top forearm-mounted, fires piton spear/grapple capable of Excellent material penetration plus attached Remarkable strength cable with auto-winch and quick-release triggers (3 areas);

· K.O. Gas Dispenser (right): Under-wrist-mounted (ala Spidy's web) localized KO-gas jet spray (Range: approx. 10 feet, Dosage: 1-2 adjacent target(s), Damage: None, Effect: Endurance FEAT v. Typical intensity KO-gas or 1-10 rds incapacitated, Rate: 1 per 2 (1 round reload), 6 re-gas cartridges in belt)


Weapons

Precision-weighted Battle Baton: Excellent material, Damage & Type: +1CS Strength BA, BT

Crossbow, Modified: The crossbow remains Hardknox's preferred ranged weapon of choice. This particular custom-make is crafted of high materials and workmanship, resulting in improved range. It's kept securely strapped to his back or slung over shoulder while not in use.

Range: Ex (7 areas), Damage: Variable, Type: Shooting, Rate 1, Mat: Gd, Fired one-handed: -2CS

Hardknox's Quiver (36 bolt capacity):
12 standard bolts (Blunt Thrown - Ex)
6 broad-blade heads (Shooting - Ex)
18 fitted/variable specialty heads (3 each)
· Explosive - Am Grenade dmg
· Tear Gas - Ex Intensity, 1 area
· Smoke Bomb - Obscures 1 area
· Flare - 2 areas lit w/Remarkable light
· Putty & Cable - Remarkable strength adhesive + Inc. belt-winched wire line, 3 areas
· Bola - target grappled by Incredible strength cable


Talents

Martial Arts A, B, D, E
Marksman
Weapon Specialist: Crossbow
Thrown Weapons + Objects
Sleight of Hand
Repairs & Tinkering
Military


Contacts

Colonel James T. Braddock - US Special Forces
Sgt. Mitchell Wu - NYPD
Dwayne "Lucky" Fitzgerald - The Chisel, Trainer/Assistant Manager (think Mic a la "Rocky")
Frankie & Edda Macaluso - Fat Slice Butchery, Owners


History

Kelly Harding grew up in the bad streets of East Oakland, California. A mutant whose actual age is difficult to discern due to his body's uncanny regenerative properties retarding the aging process, he appears that of a tremendously fit, lean and athletic man, of mixed Irish/African American descent in his mid to late 20's.

Like many mutants, Kelly's dormant powers manifest in adolescence, and his peers quickly shunned and despised him, fearful because "bad things" always seemed to follow whenever he were around. As a result, Kelly got into countless fights as a youth, but more often than not, came away unscathed and victorious, most times against exceptional numbers.

After some time his sister Noreen recognized Kelly was a special kid, like the ones she'd read more and more about via internet or saw on the news; ones who climbed walls like a spider, or could lift cars with a hand gesture, or soar high in the sky on angelic wings. Some were definitely dangerous, others seemed not so. But Noreen knew her brother Kelly was a good kid, so she defended him, helped him control, hone, and temper his powers. But most importantly, Noreen taught him to use his "special gifts" responsibly, toward morally just causes.

Kelly's fighting prowess and talent to make untimely "accidents" occur to his benefit when he wished, would later serve him well in the US Army, as a sniper, sniper instructor, then later as principal combatives instructor of the 7th Special Forces Group. Call-signed, "Black Magic", he deployed numerous times on classified missions during the wars of the Middle East, and among his many awards, Harding received the Army's Bronze Star, given for valor under fire, as well as the branch's second-highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, for extreme acts of gallantry and risk of life in actual combat, above and beyond the call of duty.

Thirteen years of world-wide covert ops continued before Kelly abruptly departed the Army with honorable discharge, after being informed of the brutal, senseless murder of Noreen, his only sister, at the time a single-parent balancing life as a waitress in New York, while going back to school, on top of providing for Chloe, his precocious eleven-year-old niece.

Harding has since relocated to New York, and opened up a small gym/school of martial arts known as, "The Chisel", catered to training traditional boxers, aspiring MMA cage fighters, and Olympic hopefuls. He also works part-time at a mom-n-pop run Italian butchery called, "Fat Slice", and has assumed the role of Chloe's legal guardian.

His new mission: to get to the truth, and bring her mother's killer, or killers, to justice. In the meantime, Harding's intense training at the Chisel helps him stay sharp, as well as gather info of the latest "word on the street." To keep Chloe busy and channel her pent up emotions, Kelly began training her, and her progress has be nothing short of extraordinary.

"Chloe's something of a phenom celebrity now at the Chisel, which is good... as the prized, adopted-daughter of the many dedicated fighters who train there, I've less to worry about… not that I do much anyway now, as lethal as she's quickly become… the girl can already level most opponents twice her size and maturity; putting her in the ring with someone her own age range? That'd be criminal.

But I'm not surprised how focused, driven and determined Chloe is… poor girl never shed a tear through her mother's funeral service… whole thing's been traumatic for her, but now at least she has an outlet for her pain… even so, no normal kid let alone adult, could possibly have progressed to the skill level she's reached so far, and as rapidly as she's doing it… Chloe's special… I see it, just like her mother saw it in me ages ago… With my continued training, her discipline, tenacity and inner fire, the sky truly is the limit for Chloe… she may even pass my level of martial expertise one day; who knows what other "special gifts" she holds… in the meantime, my job is to keep her mind clear and head on straight, as Noreen did for me.

I'll avenge you sis, if it's the last thing I do. And the Almighty pray for your killers should Chloe find them first; at least I know I'll be quick about it."

And one day maybe Chloe will join him in the hunt for her mother's murderer. But for now, Kelly searches for clues and patiently, methodically pieces together the puzzle, taking every opportunity to leave his mark on the crime world as the masked, misfortune-manipulating avenger known as, "Hardknox."




Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/2012 03:29PM by Relic.

Great pic. I like the crossbow logos and the boot design.

I'm thinking Chloe might have a Karnak type power. That's my guess. She'll be a good sidekick one day, or perhaps a crime fighting comrade of Spider-Girl.

write up is nice and I like the mix of powers..and the history
The costume is fine..a little safe for my tastes. The colors are solid you are almost there.......give him more an edge?..

FTJ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great pic. I like the crossbow logos and the boot
> design.
>
> I'm thinking Chloe might have a Karnak type power.
> That's my guess. She'll be a good sidekick one
> day, or perhaps a crime fighting comrade of
> Spider-Girl.


Thx for the compliment and hadn't even thought about 'Karnak'... I like that idea a lot. Was originally thinking 'Hit-Girl'-ish but Karnak-like powers may be the way to go... or maybe Dark Phoenix, who knows, eh? ;p Incidentally... looking up "Kick-Ass" on IMDB just now, I just found out the real-life actress who played Hit-Girl happens to be named Chloe (Chloë Grace Moretz)... go figure! a cross-my-heart coincidence, or I channeled some latent mutant power...



nightson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> write up is nice and I like the mix of powers..and
> the history
> The costume is fine..a little safe for my tastes.
> The colors are solid you are almost
> there.......give him more an edge?..

Thx as well, and the retro 'safe'-look is intentional. I'll glady sacrifice 'edgy' if it means Hardknox looks more like he belongs with these classy champs:



than with these... err... edgier chumps






Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 06:44AM by Relic.

Relic as my ol sarge would say"Outstanding " character hell like the color scheme and the way you want to stick with old time super hero morals. thumbs up bro

GILGAMESH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Relic as my ol sarge would say"Outstanding "
> character hell like the color scheme and the way
> you want to stick with old time super hero morals.
> thumbs up bro

Thx mate and yeah, for me the "dark/edgy" character type pretty much peaks with Punisher and Batman