Hello! I managed to find my way to the forum a few days ago, read the RP board, and knew I had to give it a shot. After a couple days of trying to figure out what sort of character to play, I settled on this. You already have a bunch of interesting women (and an eldritch monstrosity), but playing a normal guy seemed a little too bland, so I came up with this. Please don't hesitate to let me know if I'm doing anything I shouldn't or if anyone's uncomfortable with a crossdressing character.
Also, I have really bad luck since Arachna posted their back up character and the concepts seem pretty similar. I'm more than willing to come up with something else if requested.
Character Sheet:
Real Name: Nico Otero
Stage Name: Calista
Hero/Villain Name: Sonata
Age: 20
Appearance/Picture:
History/Backstory:
Nico’s family immigrated to Century City when he was 9, hoping to provide a better life for him. Nico had trouble adapting in school, struggling to be a C student and being ostracized by his classmates. Upon reaching high school, Nico was presented with the opportunity to learn music. Well, it was more that he was forced to have a fine arts credit and hated drawing. However, he excelled with the subject, learning quickly enough to officially join the school’s choir within only a month. During his first concert, Nico realized that he was finally being heard by the hundreds of students in the crowd who had ignored him for so long. He actually had their attention, and he would make sure to keep it. After the show, Nico’s power first manifested. He was practicing his part when he realized he could literally see and manipulate the sound waves around him. Using this newfound ability, he quickly became the best musician in his school, earning the recognition and acclaim he had so badly yearned for from his peers.
Once Nico graduated from high school (barely), his now former music teacher and conductor recommended him to a friend who worked as a record company’s agent. The suit was impressed with Nico’s prowess, but she said there wasn’t enough market interest for another solo male act. If Nico truly wanted to be a renowned singer, he would have to cater to the demands of the demographics. Without hesitation (and without reading the contract), Nico signed with the record label, creating Calista. With his power, changing his high tenor voice into that of a girl’s contralto, or even alto, wasn’t an issue, and Nico looked androgynous enough that some small changes such as a high quality wig and some makeup allowed him to play the role of a pop idol.
Shortly into Nico’s new music career, his grandfather died. The will bequeathed to Nico a pair of karambits made entirely of jade which seemed to hum with power. In an accompanying letter, Nico’s granddad asked the younger Otero to take up the blades which their family has wielded for centuries. Wanting to honor his grandfather’s dying wish, Nico used his signing bonus from the record label to make preparations for joining Century City’s costumed superhumans, adopting a third identity dubbed Sonata. He hasn’t been active long enough to earn a reputation on either side of the law, and Nico is more interested in fame and fortune than he is in protecting the innocent.
Skills/Equipment:
Powers:
Acoustomancy (-2 points) - Control and generation of sound waves. Nico is able to control volume, pitch, etc. well enough to change his own voice, and he can use the waves to deafen, disorient, and even strike foes with a potent shock wave.
Talents:
Charismatic Performer (-1 point) - Years of practice and small, high school shows have forged Nico into a decent showman, able to work a crowd or win someone over.
Sound Sight (-1 point) - The ability to see sound waves, even if only faintly, grants Nico better “hearing” than most.
Kali Black Belt (-2 points) - Nico took a few years of classes at a martial arts studio since he grew up in a rougher part of Century City.
Gadgets:
Otero’s Charge (-1 point) - A pair of enchanted jade karambits Nico almost never allows to leave his person. Light as feathers and unnaturally durable, these blades are ancient weapons inherited from Nico’s grandfather.
Weaknesses:
Main Weakness:
Drowned Out - Nico’s practiced ears and sound-seeing eyes have an inherent drawback; very loud noises (e.g. things like jet engines, firecrackers, and firearms) can overwhelm him, causing him to be deafened, dazed, and unable to act (length of time disabled will be up to your discretion for balance).
Character Flaws:
Showoff (+1 point) - Nico loves to be the center of attention, leading to him trying to upstage or outdo others when he feels a challenge for the spotlight. He wants to be a household name in everything he sets himself to, including music and costumed shenanigans.
Crossdressing (+1 point) - If Calista’s fans were to learn that she was played by Nico, there’s no telling what would happen to Nico’s music career. Furthermore, while adopting a feminine persona was originally done only to sign with a record label, Nico has found himself secretly, ashamedly enjoying the role.
