James Diesel

James Diesel

Diesel is a non-sanctioned super in his mid 30s. He's a newcomer in San Padua, still establishing himself, but determine to carve a place of his own in this city of supers.

Background: Diesel's early life was marked by extreme hardship and violence, which shaped him into the formidable survivor he is now. As an infant, he was left for dead in a trashcan. He spent much of his youth bouncing between foster homes and juvie halls, changing cities and states as often as he could as soon as he was old enough to figure out how. Once his powers began to manifest, the system stopped treating him like a kid and started sending him to the detention facilities that were designed for supers. It was in these brutal environments that he honed his fighting skills and developed his keen survival instincts. He became infamous for his ability to escape from even the most secure prisons, earning him a fearsome reputation among both criminals and law enforcement.

Personality: Diesel is ruthless, cunning, and utterly self-reliant, with a strong survivalist mentality that drives most of his actions. Despite his often brutal behavior, Diesel adheres to a personal code of honor and has moments of unexpected compassion, particularly towards innocents and those he considers worthy of his protection. Intelligence is one of Diesel's defining traits. He possesses a sharp, analytical mind and is a master strategist, often outthinking his opponents and manipulating situations to his advantage. This intellectual prowess, combined with his physical abilities, makes him a formidable adversary. Trust doesn't come easily to him, and he generally prefers solitude to companionship. However, on the rare occasions when he does form connections with others, he can display a fierce loyalty. His relationships are often complicated and his moral compass is distinctly gray. He's capable of great violence but also of great sacrifice. His actions are primarily driven by self-interest and survival, but he has been known to put himself at risk to save others, especially children. A notable aspect of Diesel's personality is his dark sense of humor. He often makes sardonic comments or grim jokes, even in life-threatening situations. This gallows humor serves as both a coping mechanism and a way to unnerve his opponents.

Appearance: Physically, Diesel is an imposing figure. He's tall, muscular, and exudes an aura of barely contained power and danger. His most striking feature is his eyes, which have been surgically altered to allow him to see in the dark. These eyes appear to shine in low light conditions, giving him an otherworldly and predatory look. He typically keeps his head shaved bald and often sports a short beard or goatee. His skin is tanned and weathered, bearing the scars of countless battles. He moves with a fluid grace that belies his muscular build, capable of both explosive violence and silent stealth. His attire is usually minimalistic and functional, often consisting of dark, form-fitting clothes that allow for ease of movement. He's frequently seen wearing goggles to protect his light-sensitive eyes. He's is also known for his proficiency with various weapons, but he has a particular affinity for knives and shivs, which he wields with deadly precision.

Abilities:

Enhanced Vision: Diesel's most notable ability is his surgically altered eyes, allowing him to see in complete darkness. This gives him a significant advantage in low-light conditions.

Physical Prowess: He possesses extraordinary strength, speed, agility, and endurance, far beyond that of an average human.

Combat Skills: Diesel is an expert in hand-to-hand combat and proficient with a wide variety of weapons, particularly bladed ones.

Stealth: He's incredibly stealthy, able to move silently and remain undetected in various environments.

Survival Skills: Diesel can survive in extremely harsh conditions and adapt quickly to new environments.

Intelligence: He has a sharp, analytical mind and is an excellent strategist and problem-solver.

Enhanced Senses: Besides his night vision, Diesel seems to have heightened senses, particularly his sense of smell.

Pain Tolerance: He has an exceptionally high pain threshold and can continue functioning even after sustaining significant injuries.

Escapology: He's notorious for his ability to escape from even the most secure prisons.

I don't wanna...

I don't wanna go to work. I get about 2 hours a day, Mon - Fri, to be my own human being, and it's not enough. I don't want to go to work. I want to stay home and write all day, please and thank you.

It's not too pathetic to pretend your character is coaxing you into doing what you need to, is it? Asking for a friend

The Edge

The Edge is a rundown dive bar in the Old Quarter of San Padua. Its flickering neon sign out front declares its name in red glowing letters, and it's definitely seen better days. Tim "Buck" Buchanan, a grizzled 56-year-old man, has owned the place for the past twenty-five years and runs it with a steady mix of apathy and minimal effort.

Inside, the atmosphere is dim and musty. The air is thick with the smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke that seems to have soaked into every surface. The bar is long and scarred, its surface bearing the marks of countless drinks, brawls, and late-night confessions. Mismatched bar stools line the counter, some wobbling precariously on uneven legs.

The floor is sticky in places, a testament to Buck's lax cleaning standards. Old posters and faded photographs line the walls, their edges curling with age and humidity. A few ancient ceiling fans spin lazily overhead, doing little to circulate the stagnant air.

In one corner, a jukebox that's probably older than most of the patrons is stocked with an eclectic mix of classic rock and country tunes. Near the back, you might find a pool table with worn felt and a set of cues that have seen better days.

The clientele is a mix of regulars who've been coming for years and the occasional newcomer drawn in by the promise of cheap drinks and anonymity. It's the kind of place where people come to forget their troubles or to hide from the world outside.

Despite its rough appearance, The Edge has a certain charm for those who appreciate a no-frills drinking establishment. It's a place where the beer is cold, the music is loud enough to drown out your thoughts, and the bartenders don't ask too many questions.

San Padua's Underworld

Overview

The criminal underworld of San Padua is a shadowy and intricate network where the rules of the surface world don't apply. Here, power and influence are the ultimate currencies, and the existence of superpowers adds an unpredictable element to the already volatile mix.

Key Factions

The Syndicate: 

A powerful and organized crime group that operates with military precision. They control large portions of the city's illegal activities, including arms trafficking, drug smuggling, and high-profile heists.

Leader: Victor "The Collector" Moreno, a ruthless tactician with the power to manipulate shadows, making him a master of stealth and assassination.

Operations: Engage in high-stakes heists, arms trafficking, and exert control over various criminal enterprises.

Strengths: Highly organized with a strict hierarchy and a focus on strategic, large-scale operations.

The Obsidian Circle: 

An elite group of mercenaries for hire, known for their discretion and deadly efficiency. They employ both sanctioned and non-sanctioned supers.

Leader: Zara "The Wraith" Thorne, who can phase through solid objects and become intangible, making her almost impossible to capture.

Services: Provide elite mercenaries for covert missions, often operating in legal gray areas.

Tactics: Known for their precision and ability to complete missions without leaving traces.

The Hive: 

A network of information brokers and hackers who deal in secrets. They have eyes and ears everywhere, making them invaluable for espionage and blackmail.

Leader: Cassandra "Queen Bee" Lin, who possesses telepathic abilities, allowing her to gather and disseminate information effortlessly.

Capabilities: Specialize in cyber espionage, information brokering, and digital sabotage.

Network: Extensive web of informants and hackers, capable of infiltrating nearly any system.

The Underground Market: 

A black market that deals in illegal goods, from superpower-enhancing drugs to forbidden technologies and rare artifacts.

Leader: Elias "The Broker" Castillo, a former sanctioned super with the power to enhance or suppress other supers' abilities temporarily.

Trade: Deals in superpower-enhancing drugs, forbidden technologies, and other contraband.

Influence: Acts as a central hub for the city's black market, with connections to various criminal factions.

The Vanguard: 

A rebellious faction of non-sanctioned supers fighting against government control and for the rights of supers to live freely.

Leader: Darius Blake, who can generate energy blasts and has a charismatic presence that inspires loyalty among his followers.

Mission: Fight against government oppression and advocate for super rights and freedoms.

Methods: Employ guerrilla tactics, protests, and direct actions to challenge the status quo.

Key Locations

The Sanctuary: 

A luxurious underground club that serves as neutral ground for all factions. Here, deals are brokered, alliances are formed, and a strict code of conduct is maintained.

Owner: Madeline "Maddie" Rivers, a former syndicate member with the power of precognition, making her an exceptional arbitrator and negotiator.

Rules of Engagement: Strictly neutral ground where any violence is met with severe consequences, enforced by Maddie's powerful enforcers.

Main Hall: A lavish space where supers from all factions can mingle under strict neutrality rules.

Private Rooms: Secluded areas for discreet negotiations and secret meetings, monitored to ensure no violence occurs.

VIP Lounge: Reserved for high-profile guests and leaders of the underworld factions.

The Labyrinth: 

A maze-like section of the old sewers where the Hive operates. It's filled with high-tech surveillance equipment and hidden entrances, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate without inside help.

Security Measures: Equipped with traps, surveillance devices, and safe rooms, making it a fortress for the Hive.

Meeting Halls: Secret rooms used for clandestine meetings and negotiations among information brokers.

The Boneyard: 

An abandoned industrial complex in the Industrial Zone used by the Syndicate for covert meetings, weapon storage, and as a training ground for their operatives.

Activities: Used for training new recruits, storing illicit goods, and planning operations.

Defenses: Fortified with guards and advanced security systems to prevent infiltration.

The Vault: 

The Obsidian Circle's secure headquarters, hidden beneath a seemingly innocuous warehouse. It's equipped with cutting-edge technology and fortified to withstand even the most powerful attacks.

Design: Hidden beneath an innocuous facade, the Vault is a high-tech facility with secure rooms and training areas.

Protocol: Only accessible to trusted members, with biometric security measures ensuring no unauthorized entry.

Freedom Square: 

A hidden enclave within the Old Quarter where the Vanguard meets. It's protected by a network of loyal civilians and non-sanctioned supers who share their ideals.

Protection: Guarded by a network of loyalists and non-sanctioned supers, making it a safe haven for the Vanguard.

Community Hub: A place where civilians and supers alike come together to support the Vanguard’s cause.

Economy and Operations

Black Market Deals: 

The underground market is bustling with transactions involving rare and illegal items, from superpower-enhancing drugs to exotic weapons and stolen technology.

Supply Chains: Managed by the Underground Market, ensuring a steady flow of illegal goods and services.

Clientele: Includes both criminal factions and desperate civilians seeking superpower enhancements or forbidden tech.

Information Trade: 

The Hive's information brokers sell secrets to the highest bidder, making them a crucial resource for anyone seeking an edge in the underworld.

Market Value: Secrets are highly valuable, and the Hive capitalizes on this by selling critical information to the highest bidder.

Intelligence Gathering: Constantly expanding their network of spies and informants to stay ahead of competitors.

Mercenary Contracts: 

The Obsidian Circle takes on high-risk assignments, from assassinations to corporate espionage, for substantial fees.

Scope: Ranges from high-profile assassinations to corporate espionage, with a reputation for success and discretion.

Payment: Often involves substantial fees, rare items, or favors from powerful individuals.

Revolutionary Activities: 

The Vanguard orchestrates protests, sabotage, and guerrilla warfare against government facilities and sanctioned supers to promote their cause.

Tactics: Include sabotage of government facilities, organizing protests, and direct confrontations with sanctioned supers.

Support Network: Relies on sympathetic civilians and non-sanctioned supers for resources and shelter.

Code and Ethics

The Code: 

An unspoken set of rules governs the underworld. Key tenets include respect for neutral ground (like the Sanctuary), honoring contracts, and avenging betrayal.

The Currency of Favor: 

Trust and reputation are vital. A favor owed or granted can be more valuable than money, and breaking one's word can lead to severe consequences.

Character Dynamics

Mayor Evelyn Cortez and Director Marcus Kane: 

These two powerful figures share a tense alliance, each with their own vision for the city's future. Cortez’s charisma and public-facing role often clash with Kane’s rigid enforcement tactics.

Detective Lila Santos and The Vanguard: 

Santos finds herself conflicted as she empathizes with some of the Vanguard’s ideals despite her duty to uphold the law. Her interactions with Darius Blake could add layers of personal and professional conflict.

Madeline "Maddie" Rivers and Victor "The Collector" Moreno: 

Their shared past within the Syndicate complicates their present. Maddie’s neutrality in The Sanctuary is constantly tested by The Collector’s underhanded tactics and their unresolved history.

Zara "The Wraith" Thorne and Cassandra "Queen Bee" Lin: 

These two leaders, despite their different methods, form an unlikely partnership to achieve a common goal. Their relationship can evolve from mutual distrust to a powerful alliance, blending Thorne’s physical prowess with Lin’s mental acuity.

Marek "Ricochet" Zima

He's American with Czech heritage. He goes by Mark outside of his family and close friends, and "Ricochet" when "on the job". He's nearly 30 years old, runs a food truck that launders money for his family, and is a non-sanctioned semi-vigilante with rubber powers.

Marek is part of a unique crime family - they act as the "clean up" of San Padua's underworld. If a criminal or vigilante needs to hide a body or clean up a crime scene, they call the Zimas. Because of this, his family is seen as neutral, boarding on welcomed, almost anywhere in the city. Marek's parents were murdered the summer before his freshman year of high school, targeted by another "family" trying to take over the role of city cleaners. The issue is mostly resolved, as far as the rest of the criminal underworld is concerned, but Marek hasn't forgotten. He was taken in by his uncle, who is now the head of the family, and raised alongside his cousins. The family is surprisingly well adjusted and rather affectionate with both Marek and each other.

Marek has powers of rubber, meaning he can stretch himself and his limbs (which is well known) and that he's immune to the effects of electricity, (which is a closely guarded secret only known to his family). He has a lifetime of fighting experience. He and his family are ruthless and viscous when opposed, but they also follow a strict moral code. They do their best to avoid injuring civilians and go out of their way to protect children.

Marek's had multiple bed partners and enjoys taking a dominant role in the local BDSM scene, but never engages any potential partners without explicit permission and interest shown. Between running his food truck in his "off time" and looking after Cora, though, he hasn't had as much time to relax this way lately. Instead, he's started experimenting with new recipes and cooking techniques. It's not as effective, but it helps him keep his head on straight and gives him another thing besides his food truck that he can talk about to Cora without revealing his criminal identity.

His favorite way to unwind is spending time with Cora, one of his very best friends. They became friends in the first year of high school, when Marek's grief over his parents was still fresh and he was barely able to go through the motions of adjusting to the new school he had to attend since moving in with his uncle. Cora's family had just moved to the area, and she recognized that he was a fellow new student, taking it upon herself to help him keep track of homework and assignments, while helping to deflect any bullying. Her unconditional support, her seamless addition to the friendship he already had with Jai, and her complete lack of ties to anything in San Padua's underworld were a lifeline in those days and earned Marek's intense loyalty.

Marek and Cora share a unique dynamic - their friendship isn't romantic or sexual, but platonic in an intense, intimate way that confuses anyone who doesn't know them well. It also includes dominant/submissive aspects that sometimes lean toward codependency. Cora can get overwhelmed when particularly stressed or tired, and while Marek hates seeing her distressed, he relishes that she turns to him to protect and guide her when she's vulnerable like this. He's hyper-aware of of the power she hands to him and of her instinctive obedience to the lower, rougher registers of his voice, too. He's incredibly careful to never abuse his position, only ever making decisions and giving instructions to her that will keep her healthy and happy.

He's never revealed his powers or his criminal ties to her, partly out of fear of never seeing her again, but also out of a desire to keep a small piece of something normal in the chaotic and dangerous world he lives in. He's very close to Cora's parents and two little brothers, as well, though they aren't aware of Marek's other life, either.

Marek's other best friend is Jai Leo, the first-generation son of Lao immigrants, and he's the closest thing Marek has to a brother. Jai's father was the best friend and right-hand man of Marek's father, roles the two sons have also taken on. Jai has become Marek's trusted sounding board over the years, always willing to listen to Marek's thoughts and ideas and give his opinion bluntly, and loudly, if needed. Jai started a fan page for Ricochet as a joke, but it's developed such a large and passionate fan base, that he manages the group full time now and has found ways to start monetizing it. Marek is vaguely uncomfortable with this, but tolerates it and Jai's teasing about the whole situation with good humor.

Marek lives in a nice apartment deep in his family's territory with Jai as a roommate. The apartment in general is decorated in a combination of rich brown woods with dark metals to compliment. Marek's room continues to use rich, dark woods, but also includes deep blues and a medium to lighter grey color. He has bookshelves covering any available wall space, filled with a combination of cookbooks, family albums, and the detailed journals he keeps.

Marek enjoys cooking, especially for the people he's close to. His mother was also a skilled cook, and her recipe books are his most treasures items. Food is a form of affection for him. He'll go out of his way to learn the favorite recipes of those he cares about and will refuse to cook for people who have genuinely upset him.

Only a Jai and Marek's closest cousins know this, but Marek wants to get revenge on his parents' murders by becoming the next bank for the city's criminal underworld. He already owns a food truck, which he uses to launder the money his family receives as payment, but he dreams of becoming a powerful enough force to be able to punish the criminals who killed his parents and have no one oppose him.

Marek is terrified of deep water. He can handle standing in water as high as his hips, but he doesn't know how to swim, and won't go any deeper. The memory isn't clear, but he nearly drowned as a toddler in a pool accident.

Marek has strong, violent feelings about anyone who takes advantage of others sexually, especially if they're stronger or more powerful than their victims. He's gotten into fights with his family in the past because he refuses to let such actions go unpunished once he finds out about them, no matter who they are.

Marek's uncle and cousins know about his deep friendship with Cora and have welcomed her into their family as well. As far as San Padua's criminal underworld is concerned, Cora and her family are part of the Zima family's territory and are under their protection. This leads to complications sometimes, because of her clerical job at the Sanctioned Supers Division, but it's a topic everyone has long adapted to.

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