Shining Example (WORM ORIGIN QUEST)
- Thread starter IKnowNothing
- Start date
- Location
- Mists of Albion
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus bysurprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down.
One day we'll be able to one shot Lung and people like this easy. For now we just have to make do and rely on others. That's why we have a team
One day we'll be able to one shot Lung and people like this easy. For now we just have to make do and rely on others. That's why we have a team
- Location
- Hyperborea
[X] Step out yourself, but be smart about it. Incubus probably won't resort to killing the cop when he's still useful as a power battery and you're bulletproof. If he aims his gun on you, take it out. If he doesn't, keep him talking and try to give Harbinger or Contessa an opening.
Is this a viable plan?
Is this a viable plan?
IKnowNothing
....What?
- Location
- I got lost so.....Where are we?
Speaking of plans, I'm only going to be keeping the vote open for another day, two at the max so I can keep the story moving and get rid of those pesky one-month lulls between chapters. Thanks for your guy's patience during those times.
In the meantime, I'll be posting a small new year present in a little bit, hope you enjoy.
- Location
- Leeds
Oh you.
I'll believe it when I see it
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus bysurprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down.
0.6: The Man Who Has Nothing
IKnowNothing
....What?
- Location
- I got lost so.....Where are we?
It might not be what you expected, but it deserves to be said anyway.
So, to help head into the new year, I give you the life of the most powerful man in the world.
So, to help head into the new year, I give you the life of the most powerful man in the world.
Name: David Mahoney
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8
Appearance: (Coming soon)
Power:
All Encompassing: David's power is not something that can be described in normal terms. Words fail to encompass everything that his abilities can touch. If one were to try, they would describe his ability as All of them.
That statement bares repeating. David's power allows him to access all known powers that could be formed through Agent intervention. The second that they 'power up' so to speak, his agent intervenes, accessing their data and feeding it directly into his conscious mind. With this, he can instantly access all ways to use the power that the Agents have devised with them, putting him on the same level as veterans with the same power in just a few moments. He can hold three to four powers at a time, with bigger, more destructive or influential powers either taking up more space or taking longer to manifest.
The only drawback with this power is that while he will never admit it, David has little to no control over the powers he receives. They just come to him when he's in a moment of need, or he feels like he needs to do something specific. He can forcibly choose which powers he gets, but that costs both time and energy, both of which is something he'd rather save in a fight.
Despite being able to choose, he rarely does it. The powers he receives are more than enough to take down every opponent he's ever faced.
In simple terms, one could describe him as a god without equal.
Even if he wants one.
History:
In a small hospital room in Houston, a boy was born.
But he was born… wrong.
He was small, sickly, his bones frail and the very things nature made to keep him going were on the verge of failure. He was never going to be able to run like a normal boy. Play with friends, or even live on his own.
It was the truth, and no one ever tried to dissuade him from it.
Even when he grew older and he started to learn for himself, he remembered the one thing that his Mother whispered to him as he fell to sleep.
"I'm sorry."
Years went by, and David grew, in all the ways he didn't want. His legs got longer, but the muscles could barely help him lift a toe. With his arms, nothing changed. Strapped to a wheelchair, David never knew the simple pleasures that all children take for granted.
With nothing physical giving him hope, he turned to his mind. For a time, he dreamed about being the next Einstein, the next Tesla. Creating technology or making a discovery that would change the world. He would do it all, even with the sickness that held him back.
But it was pointless.
He could barely keep up in the classes that he could get to, or even understand the books that he forced himself to read.
For years he forced himself to keep going, to keep trying. Even when his family told him it was ok, that he didn't need to, he still tried.
… he should have just listened to them.
Because nothing stuck.
There was no breakthrough, nothing worth the life he'd been thrown in.
With nothing to show, he found himself believing the little whispers that he'd been hearing his entire life. He was so pathetic, so useless. He could barely get into his own wheelchair without someone helping him. Hell, he couldn't even go to the bathroom without someone there to help. Even when he tried to show everyone that he could do something, be something, he was rejected.
The army didn't want him slowing them down, his family didn't want him to be something that he wasn't.
And he… he didn't want to live like this anymore.
So he tried, but he couldn't even kill himself without help.
He tried again, and again, he couldn't do it.
Every time, either his hands would fail, or his body would. His own sickness that made his life a living hell was exactly what was keeping him alive.
Eventually, he gave up on that dream too. So he did the only thing that he could do on his own, wake up, and sleep. Day in and day out, watching the world pass him by.
Then one day, a miracle came to him.
She called herself Doctor Mother, and she had something with her. A vial, filled to the brim with pitch black liquid.
She offered it, and told him a story. A story where four of these vials had already saved people just like him. A blind boy was able to see a world. A crippled child that can walk and build whatever he wanted.
And two people without hope had the chance to live again.
He didn't even ask the side effect as he took the vial in hand.
As he slept, he saw them, heard them.
More than that, he learned from them.
He learned everything.
When awoke, and he felt it.
Power.
Raw, unfathomable power, and it was all his.
He moved his legs, and for the first time in his life, he stood on his own two feet.
He'd never felt so happy.
And with that happiness, a desire.
With a desire, came a purpose.
The first one he'd ever gotten.
When he came to their little base, he didn't see the point in the others. They have their uses, and they were good people, but he was just better. They asked him to train his gifts, but why would he need to? Everything came to him without a single thought. Their powers were amazing, but he could create better, greater powers without even trying.
That didn't stop him from getting into a small little spar. It was just to prove himself to everyone there, it wasn't meant to be anything more than a little walk.
For a short time though, it was exhilarating. For the first time in his life, his adrenaline was pumping. Everything was tense, his breathing was ragged in a way that he'd never felt. And all it took was a good fight.
It was amazing.
This, he realized, this is what he was born for.
Stopping the cycle, showing the world his power, what he could give, who he could save, everything.
He was born to be the greatest.
For the first time in his life, David felt whole.
Then he just felt… hollow.
The fights always ended the same, he always won, no matter what powers he tried to use. They got better but it didn't matter. They couldn't bring the power together to challenge him again, they couldn't make him feel alive again.
He did spar, but that didn't do much other than confirm his suspicions.
Rebecca was strong, but he could be stronger.
Matthew was fast, but David could hit anything within his line of sight.
Charles didn't fight, and even if he did his trinkets wouldn't do much against him.
And just like that… he felt weak again.
He waited, begged, ridiculed and insulted, did everything he could to motivate them to get better faster.
Nothing worked.
Then, he woke up.
Contessa told him that he was awakening and that he possessed a power that even David could barely manifest. It was one power, but it had so much potential.
A day later, she said he had chosen him as his mentor. David accepted without a second thought. He prepared himself and when he first walked through the doors, David felt one thing.
Disappointment.
He knew nothing, he had no drive, no presence.
His first attempt at showing the great power that Contessa promised was lifting a rock. That wasn't going to be good enough. So David provoked, attacked, and when the kid retaliated.
Oh lord above it was glorious.
With barely a flick of his hand, he threw a mountain. When David destroyed the rock, he turned the pebbles into projectiles to finish the job.
If David hadn't put a shield in front of him, he would have died.
He didn't notice it at the time, but he was smiling.
His Agent brought forth powers that he'd never seen before to defeat him, and the wasteland they created from just a few exchanges was enough for him to see that.
At the end of the day, Contessa confirmed his suspicions. One of him might not have been enough to defeat the warrior when the time came.
But two of him? Then it was more than possible.
So he let Alex become the centre of Cauldron's attention. He let Rebecca lose her way, Charles spend his time, and Matthew to get distracted as they welcomed the new face.
He even let him set the building blocks of the system that no doubt would be his legacy.
So what if it was? From what he'd seen, what he heard, and what he'd done, he deserved such an honour.
But the honour of saving humanity, that would be David's legacy.
If he could have that, then everything he does will be worth it.
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8
Appearance: (Coming soon)
Power:
All Encompassing: David's power is not something that can be described in normal terms. Words fail to encompass everything that his abilities can touch. If one were to try, they would describe his ability as All of them.
That statement bares repeating. David's power allows him to access all known powers that could be formed through Agent intervention. The second that they 'power up' so to speak, his agent intervenes, accessing their data and feeding it directly into his conscious mind. With this, he can instantly access all ways to use the power that the Agents have devised with them, putting him on the same level as veterans with the same power in just a few moments. He can hold three to four powers at a time, with bigger, more destructive or influential powers either taking up more space or taking longer to manifest.
The only drawback with this power is that while he will never admit it, David has little to no control over the powers he receives. They just come to him when he's in a moment of need, or he feels like he needs to do something specific. He can forcibly choose which powers he gets, but that costs both time and energy, both of which is something he'd rather save in a fight.
Despite being able to choose, he rarely does it. The powers he receives are more than enough to take down every opponent he's ever faced.
In simple terms, one could describe him as a god without equal.
Even if he wants one.
History:
In a small hospital room in Houston, a boy was born.
But he was born… wrong.
He was small, sickly, his bones frail and the very things nature made to keep him going were on the verge of failure. He was never going to be able to run like a normal boy. Play with friends, or even live on his own.
It was the truth, and no one ever tried to dissuade him from it.
Even when he grew older and he started to learn for himself, he remembered the one thing that his Mother whispered to him as he fell to sleep.
"I'm sorry."
Years went by, and David grew, in all the ways he didn't want. His legs got longer, but the muscles could barely help him lift a toe. With his arms, nothing changed. Strapped to a wheelchair, David never knew the simple pleasures that all children take for granted.
With nothing physical giving him hope, he turned to his mind. For a time, he dreamed about being the next Einstein, the next Tesla. Creating technology or making a discovery that would change the world. He would do it all, even with the sickness that held him back.
But it was pointless.
He could barely keep up in the classes that he could get to, or even understand the books that he forced himself to read.
For years he forced himself to keep going, to keep trying. Even when his family told him it was ok, that he didn't need to, he still tried.
… he should have just listened to them.
Because nothing stuck.
There was no breakthrough, nothing worth the life he'd been thrown in.
With nothing to show, he found himself believing the little whispers that he'd been hearing his entire life. He was so pathetic, so useless. He could barely get into his own wheelchair without someone helping him. Hell, he couldn't even go to the bathroom without someone there to help. Even when he tried to show everyone that he could do something, be something, he was rejected.
The army didn't want him slowing them down, his family didn't want him to be something that he wasn't.
And he… he didn't want to live like this anymore.
So he tried, but he couldn't even kill himself without help.
He tried again, and again, he couldn't do it.
Every time, either his hands would fail, or his body would. His own sickness that made his life a living hell was exactly what was keeping him alive.
Eventually, he gave up on that dream too. So he did the only thing that he could do on his own, wake up, and sleep. Day in and day out, watching the world pass him by.
Then one day, a miracle came to him.
She called herself Doctor Mother, and she had something with her. A vial, filled to the brim with pitch black liquid.
She offered it, and told him a story. A story where four of these vials had already saved people just like him. A blind boy was able to see a world. A crippled child that can walk and build whatever he wanted.
And two people without hope had the chance to live again.
He didn't even ask the side effect as he took the vial in hand.
As he slept, he saw them, heard them.
More than that, he learned from them.
He learned everything.
Agents.
The Thinker.
The Warrior.
The Cycle.
The Thinker.
The Warrior.
The Cycle.
When awoke, and he felt it.
Power.
Raw, unfathomable power, and it was all his.
He moved his legs, and for the first time in his life, he stood on his own two feet.
He'd never felt so happy.
And with that happiness, a desire.
With a desire, came a purpose.
The first one he'd ever gotten.
When he came to their little base, he didn't see the point in the others. They have their uses, and they were good people, but he was just better. They asked him to train his gifts, but why would he need to? Everything came to him without a single thought. Their powers were amazing, but he could create better, greater powers without even trying.
That didn't stop him from getting into a small little spar. It was just to prove himself to everyone there, it wasn't meant to be anything more than a little walk.
For a short time though, it was exhilarating. For the first time in his life, his adrenaline was pumping. Everything was tense, his breathing was ragged in a way that he'd never felt. And all it took was a good fight.
It was amazing.
This, he realized, this is what he was born for.
Stopping the cycle, showing the world his power, what he could give, who he could save, everything.
He was born to be the greatest.
For the first time in his life, David felt whole.
Then he just felt… hollow.
The fights always ended the same, he always won, no matter what powers he tried to use. They got better but it didn't matter. They couldn't bring the power together to challenge him again, they couldn't make him feel alive again.
He did spar, but that didn't do much other than confirm his suspicions.
Rebecca was strong, but he could be stronger.
Matthew was fast, but David could hit anything within his line of sight.
Charles didn't fight, and even if he did his trinkets wouldn't do much against him.
And just like that… he felt weak again.
He waited, begged, ridiculed and insulted, did everything he could to motivate them to get better faster.
Nothing worked.
Then, he woke up.
Contessa told him that he was awakening and that he possessed a power that even David could barely manifest. It was one power, but it had so much potential.
A day later, she said he had chosen him as his mentor. David accepted without a second thought. He prepared himself and when he first walked through the doors, David felt one thing.
Disappointment.
He knew nothing, he had no drive, no presence.
His first attempt at showing the great power that Contessa promised was lifting a rock. That wasn't going to be good enough. So David provoked, attacked, and when the kid retaliated.
Oh lord above it was glorious.
With barely a flick of his hand, he threw a mountain. When David destroyed the rock, he turned the pebbles into projectiles to finish the job.
If David hadn't put a shield in front of him, he would have died.
He didn't notice it at the time, but he was smiling.
His Agent brought forth powers that he'd never seen before to defeat him, and the wasteland they created from just a few exchanges was enough for him to see that.
At the end of the day, Contessa confirmed his suspicions. One of him might not have been enough to defeat the warrior when the time came.
But two of him? Then it was more than possible.
So he let Alex become the centre of Cauldron's attention. He let Rebecca lose her way, Charles spend his time, and Matthew to get distracted as they welcomed the new face.
He even let him set the building blocks of the system that no doubt would be his legacy.
So what if it was? From what he'd seen, what he heard, and what he'd done, he deserved such an honour.
But the honour of saving humanity, that would be David's legacy.
If he could have that, then everything he does will be worth it.
Last edited:
- Location
- Mists of Albion
David's younger than I thought. And a lot more concerned over legacy. He seems extremely arrogant as well, claiming he let Alex create the basis for a new world order because he couldn't be bothered to.
But he seems like he'd be a good bro. A bit of a battle maniac but still. Probably going to become Alex's best friend or something
But he seems like he'd be a good bro. A bit of a battle maniac but still. Probably going to become Alex's best friend or something
- Location
- USA
We probably need to spar with our resident god in human form friend more often. We're the only thing that gives him a challenge, so we better keep providing so we never get the endbringers.
HatsuZ
Phantom Thief
- Location
- Over the rainbow!
Friendship through trying to kill each other? Is this Worm or Nanoha?
- Location
- Mists of Albion
It's a Worm where everything isn't Grimderp. At this point anything is possible. Including Magical Girls.Friendship through trying to kill each other? Is this Worm or Nanoha?
- Location
- Leeds
You know I found this invisitext on my phone when I was about to make a smarky about that person being an anime character who is unfamiliar with the abrahamic concept of omnipotence. Or the existence of Scion.
Oh and the video is unavailable.
Friendship through trying to kill each other? Is this Worm or Nanoha?
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus bysurprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down.
-[X] Listen to me!
- Location
- Reno Nv
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus by surprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down
IKnowNothing
....What?
- Location
- I got lost so.....Where are we?
Truly, you've learned true restraint.
Should be fixed.
A reminder that Doctor Mother gave two cancer patients unstable vials that were more than likely going to fail, and they were only 17.
Plus, a younger, more desperate mind is easier to convince.
- Location
- Leeds
You insult me sir.Truly, you've learned true restraint.
Vista joining founders when?
- Location
- USA
Random question at this point, but what will be our stance on minors serving? Would we do something like the Wards, something more, something less?
I'm leaning on something more personally, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
I'm leaning on something more personally, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
- Location
- Leeds
Not yet discussed. If you have any thoughts please share.
- Location
- nowhere
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus by surprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down.
- Location
- Mists of Albion
I would think we'd put them on the 'Second line' so to speak. Let them patrol in areas with mainly Mundane Crime, and only let them fight against non murderous villains like the Undersiders.
Possibly we could organise each 'Class' of them into squads of five about a year before they 'graduate' from the Second Line where they could move into Higher Tier areas. Each squad being looked after by a volunteer, mature, 'graduate' hero.
After this tour as a squad they'd be given the chance to back out of deployment either go independent or retire. This gives them experience and protection and comprehensive lessons on how to be a hero by those willing to teach.
What do you think @Dark as Silver? And @Blonddude42?
Last edited:
- Location
- Leeds
This doesn't say much honestly. It's basically the canon situation except you changed the names.
Are we potentially requiring relocation to maintain squad sizes. Are these 5 person patrols at once or 5 people in two patrols and one console?
We know how out numbered heros will be and we're not going to make a dent in that on a country wide scale are you hoping that by alleviating the adult heros need to patrol mundane crime they would be able to manage all superpowered crime without involving the minors? Are we keeping them away from the really dangerous criminals at all costs?
- Location
- Canada
[X] Throw caution to the wind, have everyone jump out. Catch Incubus bysurprise, shield the cop with your waves and have Contessa and Harbinger take him down.
- Location
- Mists of Albion
As far as I was aware the canon situation didn't restrain the wards very much or give them organised leadership from older Heroes when easing them into harder tiers of difficulty. Nor did it organise them into squads to teach them teamwork and such.
Squad sizes should be about 5, makes it a larger group that can make it easier for them to take out villains of higher calibres should they encounter them especially when factoring in the Graduate leading them.
Issues with group sizes and lack of graduates will be left up to the local branch leadership to handle. Giving them the flexibility to deal with the situation they have more information on. If there's three particularly strong junior capes they can be made into a group instead of five for example. If there's a lack of Graduates to lead groups they can take two groups and alternate in shifts between the two keeping the non led group back when it's not their shift for example.
On the issue of numbers, we are trying to fight that via the use of Teamwork, which will be fostered by the squads. These children will learn from their time under Graduates how to work in a disciplined manner and will suffer less casualties due to working in a sizeable group under an experience leader. Teamwork and unity will allow us to counteract the Villains numbers, as they are usually disorganised and internally fighting.
On the issue of taking them against bigger threats. They are in reserve. They can be used if deemed necessary by the local command, but they are meant to be primarily used against non lethal villains like the Undersides, whilst worse Villains face Graduate squads and other more experienced groups. They can be brought in if the situation is massively dire and in their last year who they go up against and where they are deployed is up to the Graduate who leads their squad.
Overall this setup is supposed to create a safer environment to ease the Younger Capes into it, to teach them teamwork and a sense of discipline an hierarchy needed to properly organise young Capes whist also allowing them to crate bonds that will aid them as the continue their part as a hero.
- Location
- Leeds
Sorry to cherry pick but this stood out to me.
How high do you think that casualties and Ward casualties in particular where?
The only ward I can remember dying during their tenure as a ward was Browbeat.
- Location
- Mists of Albion
That's the only example we're given. I'm sure that in the length of time they Ward system was in use there were more casualties than that. And every little helps. This also lowers hypothetical casualties that could be taken if they were not looked after in such a manner, for example running into a more dangerous villain is less dangerous by far with 4 other capes and a Graduate at your back. I also count injuries as casualties somewhat as it reduces effectiveness.
Not only that but by casualties I mean losing them in other ways, turning independent or quitting. With a Grafuate and a squad to support them emotionally they are more likely to be able to vent, get connected to the program and stay with us due to attachments and a support structure.
- Location
- Leeds
I'm a little confused you agreed with Browbeat as that was a joke about how he sort of vanished. I don't think he actually died.
Anyway your answe I think confirmed my thoughts that you're overworried about how dangerous it is to be a ward. The wards system was about as safe as a job that involves being shot at can be. Aside from the pressure that the Youth Guard put on the PRT and Cauldron wanting as many parahumans alive as possible, villains where actually heavily disincentivised from killing wards because it would immediately cause the heroes to stop following the rules.