Sand Tiger
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:04 am
SAND TIGER (Arlo Thomas, aka Sand Trap)
Hgt: Variable Wgt: Variable
Role: Alternate Form Guy
PL 8 (179)
STRENGTH 1/7 STAMINA 2 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 1 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Athletics 2 (+9)
Deception 6 (+6)
Expertise (Criminal) 4 (+5)
Perception 4 (+5)
Stealth 2 (+5)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Power Attack, Startle
Powers:
"Low-Yield Psionic"
Mind-Reading 2 (Flaws: Tiring) [2]
Move Object 2 (Flaws: Tiring) [2]
Enhanced Fighting 3 (Flaws: Limited to Within Alternate Forms) [3]
"Mental Transference" Variable 20 (Powers Within Alternate Forms) (Flaws: Limited to Materials Copied) [120]
"Sand Form"
Enhanced Strength 6 (12)
No Stamina Score -7 (-14)
Immunity 30 (Fortitude Effects) (30)
Protection 7 (7)
"Particulate Anatomy" Insubstantial 1 (5)
"Swimming Through The Earth" Speed 5 (60 mph) (Quirks: Limited to Within Earth) (4)
"Frightening Form" Enhanced Skills 8: Intimidation 8 (+8) (4)
Morph 4 (Any Shape) (Flaws: Limited Coloring) (16)
Movement 2 (Permeate) (Flaws: Limited to Earth) (2)
"Hard To Hurt" Immunity 20 (Bludgeoning Damage) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) (10)
"Hard To Pierce" Immunity 20 (Slashing & Piercing Damage) (20)
Protection
-- (96 points)
Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Sand Form +9 (+7 Damage, DC 22)
Initiative +4
Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +6 (+9 Alternate Forms, DC 16-19), Toughness +2 (+7 Sand Form), Fortitude +3, Will +5
Complications:
Responsibility (Arrogance)- Like many "Psykers", Sand Tiger sees himself as a bit "above" the herd, and thinks little of civilians, or anyone without powers.
Enemy (The White Room)- The American government has its own wing of Psykers, and Arlo spent years there. Believed to be barely psychic at all, he was allowed to leave. When it was discovered that he was hiding his true power, they became VERY interested. Arlo now lives in fear of them capturing him once more, and taking pieces out of his brain until there's nothing left.
Relationship (The Agents of Aquarius)- Most of the Agents are there for back-up, assistance and a "get out of jail free" card. Arlo is all this and more- the Agents might be his only defense against his former bosses.
Power Loss (Psionics)- Psykers are prone to erratic power-loss when subject to certain sounds, vibrational effects, or elements.
Total: Abilities: 28 / Skills: 18--9 / Advantages: 5 / Powers: 127 / Defenses: 10 (179)
-Arlo Thomas was like many psionically-gifted children- taken from his parents at a young age (for their own good, of course) and placed in a national psionics program, meant to train, focus and study these children. Unfortunately, as such things tend to do, it went awry- many of the children lost their minds, had too many parts removed, were forcibly depowered, or turned towards evil. Arlo seemed calmer, more controllable, and of course less powerful, so he was mostly ignored. However, he had a secret- the boy was MUCH more capable than he'd ever appeared. His powers were hidden away, while he only showed off slight powers, such as weak Telekinesis and Mind-Reading.
-In truth, Arlo had the power of Mental Transference- the unreal ability to disperse his own body, and mentally place it within another form. Upon "graduating" from the program under minimal supervision (most of the surviving children were turned into government agents), he instead became a criminal, using his powers in order to steal. He found highly-durable too malleable forms difficult to control (his Telekinesis was rather weak, and this extended to his powered-up forms), something like a particulate form was much easier- the happy medium of things like sand, dirt or other particles. It was in his early career that the villain "Sand Trap" was recruited by Aquarius into becoming "Sand Tiger".
-Greedy, overconfident and sardonic, Arlo fit right in with his team, often taking a frontline point, or getting off on frightening people with his "Land Shark" act (typically manifesting as a large dorsal fin sliding across the concrete towards people). When he was defeated and discovered for the first time, he learned the consequences of his actions- the very agency he'd left of his own volition was now INTENSELY interested in him, and subjected him to numerous tests. Though he would escape frequently, often depending upon the other Agents to do so, he now fears for his life, as the implacable people he'd lied to were now very eager to gain access to the nature of his powers. Initially just one of the gang, seeing himself a big "above" them, he's become afraid to go anywhere without back-up, and appears almost sycophantic to the others.
-Sand Tiger is the most versatile member of the Agents of Aquarius, being able to take multiple forms. Concrete or Metal forms are harder to control (dropping combat ability considerably), but in his Sand Form, he is terribly difficult to injure, very fast, and can get nearly anywhere- he's even better at getting places than Oarfish.
Jab's Notes: Sand Tiger was one of the trickier ones to figure out. While I came up with the concept quickly enough ("Tiger Shark" was clearly taken by Marvel, so I didn't want to go there, but a type of Tiger Shark is called a "Sand Tiger", which easily led me to "tiger made of sand"), the exact nature of WHY a guy was made of sand, yet in the shape of a shark, was beyond me.
-I came up with the idea of a Psionic who was able to take sand-form- an undercurrent of my setting was an Evil Government Organization that took Psychic kids away and trained them- some of the heroes would inevitably fight these guys, or try to free the kids. I thought maybe this guy was permanently trapped in this form, and going insane. But that sympathetic backstory was also shared by Triggerfish, plus Thresher Shark was also a bit unfortunate, and I didn't want to overdo that concept. So instead I made him a huge liar who hid away his true powers, and could simply take alternate forms, a bit like Absorbing Man with a different gimmick. Obviously, the government would still be VERY interested in him, so he had that wrinkle added to his backstory, too. So now a Sandman rip-off has a slightly different schtick.