Appearance

Arlan Damaskinos is a tall man with an athletic build. He wears his light blonde hair short and usually slicks it back and/or spikes it up. He has pale skin and a handsome face, but still looks a bit unhealthy, due to his stern expression and slightly gaunt features which wouldn't look out of place on a man much older than he is. His cybernetic eye also causes his face to look kind of odd. He carries himself with an air of confidence and authority, despite the fact that he walks with a noticable limp due to his cybernetic leg. He usually dresses himself in a modern, but stylish way, preferring the colors blue, black and grey and apparently paying a good bit of attention to the latest trends. His usual outfit in his role as Cold Iron is a black turtleneck with dark blue slacks (with only one leg) he keeps in place with a simple black leather belt. On his non-cybernetic foot he wears a black leather boot. He completes his outfit with a dark grey longcoat of which he has the left sleeve rolled up to his shoulder and held in place by a pin bearing the Damascus Security logo so the fabric doesn't get caught in the gyros of his cybernetic arm. He usually carries his cane with him all the time.

History

If you will, picture for a moment rural Slovenia. A tiny village in the middle of nowhere. A soft breeze running over the seemingly endless forests and fields. This was the birthplace of Arlan Damaskinos. His father and mother were simple farmers and his childhood was quiet, but happy. He was a bright child, but not overly so. His friends and teachers liked him. Nothing unusual did happen in his daily life and he was content with it. One day he would take up his father's farm just like his father did after Arlan's grandfather had passed away.

Then the wolves came. One night - Arlan had just turned 10 a week before - a pack of feral werewolves descended upon the village. It was a massacre. The villagers had neither the weapons nor the training to defend themselves against the beasts. For three days the pack ravaged the village, dragging people out of their houses and mutilating them, feasting on the dead and destroying everything. Arlan's parents were one of the first to die, giving their son a chance to escape. For three days Arlan hid from the werewolves, forced to watch as they killed his friends and burned his world to the ground. On the third day, the pack leader found him hiding in the ruins. He dragged the boy into the town square taunting him and forcing him to watch as he and his pack feasted on the remains of the other villagers, before he ripped off the boy's left leg and arm and clawed out his left eye. Then the government troops and a small cadre of UNTIL soldiers finally arrived. It had taken three days before word of the attack got out. The pack of werewolves fled, leaving the crippled Arlan as one of the only survivors of the massacre.

It took Arlan long to cope with those events. Not only did he witness all those atrocities, he also lost everyone he knew and was bound to the wheelchair from that point on. Without any close relatives to care for him, Arlan spent the rest of his youth in government care. He was a quiet kid with few friends; most of the other children avoided him due to his disfigurements and his rather gloomy attitude, but otherwise he never really stuck out much. As he got older it became apparent that Arlan was quite intelligent, his grades in school were not bad, but were he really excelled was business.

((WIP))

Personality

Powers

Cold Iron is not the most greatest fighter in the world. In fact he isn't even on the same level as most superheroes and vigilantes. But there are some skills, technologies and advantages he does nonetheless have, which make him and his company a force to be reckoned with one the superpowered battlefields of Earth (and sometimes beyond).

Cybernetic Enhancements

Cold Iron's cybernetic enhancements have been provided by Cyber-Tech Inc., an international company specializing in the production of robots, power armor and - of course - cybernetic limbs. The original Cyber-Tech limbs have been improved and adjusted to Cold Iron's preferences ever since, both by freelancers and Damascus Security's own technicians.

* CT-07 Cybernetic Arm Enhancement: Cold Iron's cybernetic arm is a marvel of technology, allowing manual dexterity and fine motor skill almost on the level of a real arm and hand. Additionally it has been coated with a layer of ultra-leightweight titanium, making it very difficult to damage or even scratch. It also features several gimmicks which are not documented in the official Cyber-Tech product catalogue:

- The joints of the arm are rotatable by 360 degrees, which gives Cold Iron a wide range of mobility and an edge in close combat, because the limbs (and necks) of most other people don't enjoy that much freedom of movement. Additionally he uses it to perform otherwise impossible fencing maneuvers.

- A device, similar to a small jackhammer has been installed near the elbow. Using a powerful burst of compressed air, this device allows Cold Iron to perform a powerful punch, which is strong enough to break through concrete and similar substances. The device overheats easily though.

- The hand of the arm is fully detachable and other gadgets and weapons can be attached to the wrist instead. Unfortunately such equipment has to be customized with the appropriate hub and interface beforehand. Currently only Cold Iron's sword has been customized in such a way.

* CT-05 Cybernetic Leg Enhancement: Cold Iron's cybernetic leg is very similar to his arm, allowing the same range of movement and fine motor skill. It is also coated with the same layer of ultra-leightweight titanium and features joints rotatable by 360 degrees, which is useful for doging attacks. Additionally it is equipped with a spring-loaded emergency knife on the foot, which can be used for lethal kicks.

* CT-14 Cybernetic Eye Implant: Cold Iron's cybernetic eye is Cyber-Tech Inc.'s latest breakthrough. Not only does it replace Cold Iron's lost eye, giving him the full vision of a human back, it also improves it in numerous ways. The eye functions as a high-powered scope and camera, features night and thermal vision and is equipped with an advanced tactical HUD which is linked directly to the Damascus Security databases.

Skills

* CEO of Damascus Security Solutions: This actually everything Cold Iron might need. He is the one signing the paychecks. The big Boss. Damascus Security Solutions, one of the most powerful private security companies on Earth is on his beck and call. He has full access to every single facility, weapon and piece of equipment and has full authority over every single soldier from the common Troopers all the way up to the Furies and Fates. He also has an incredibly stylish private helicopter.

* Business Genius: Over the years Cold Iron has grown from a determined youngster full of revolutionary business ideas into a shrewd and experienced businessman full of revolutionary business ideas. Not many people can gain the upper hand against him in business meetings, negotiations and bureucratical war.

* Knowledgable: Working in the field of private security in a superpowered world does leave its marks. Cold Iron is quite knowledgable about the world of superhumans. While he isn't an expert in most of these topics, he has picked up an interesting detail here and there and he doesn't hesitate to use this knowledge to his advantage.

* Physical Conditioning: Cold Iron is stronger than he looks. Spending a good part of his life bound to a wheelchair hasn't stopped him from exercising regularly and he stepped up his training schedule after getting his cybernetic limbs. While he is not in league with superheroes, vigilantes or even the elite soldiers of UNTIL or VIPER, he is far stronger and enduring than normal people, which he often uses to his advantage when dealing with enemies who underestimate the 'cripple'.

* Tactician: Cold Iron has never been in the military or received any sort of strategic training, but his tendency to go into the field together with his troops have taught him some valuable lessons about tactics and strategies in combat. A combination of hard-won experience, a naturally tactical mind and charisma make Cold Iron a great field commander who has led his troops to victory on more than one occasion.

* Combat Skill: Cold Iron's abilities in leading and planning are greater than his personal skill in combat, which does not mean that he is helpless. In fact Cold Iron is a very capable swordsman, only hindered by his lack of experience and the difficulties his cybernetic limbs give him. He has started to practice traditional fencing in his free time when he was still bound to the wheelchair and intensified his training after getting his new limbs. His combat style is very defensive and static, relying much on counters, feints and using his opponents attacks and movements against him. He tends to incorporate his cybernetic limbs and other gadgets into close combat whenever he can to give him an edge over enemies who outclass him in skill or mobility. He has also started to practice shooting, preferring handguns. While not in the upper leagues he is more than a decent shot with his preferred weapons.

Weapons & Gadgets (by Damascus Security Solutions)

* High-Tech Sword Cane: Cold Iron's main weapon is a marvel of technology and craftsmanship which has been adjusted perfectly to his particular condition and fighting style. On the outside it appears as a common walking cane crafted of a leightweight but sturdy material, but it's much more:

- The blade of the sword cane is crafted out of a sturdy titanium/tungsten alloy and coated with a fine layer of questionite dust, which allows it to inflict heavy damage against most targets. Additionally it has been perfectly balanced and calibrated to Cold Iron himself, allowing him impressive feats of swordsmanship with it. If he desires so he can even attach it to his cybernetic arm instead of a hand.

- The tip of the cane itself is equipped with a high-voltage electric emitter turning the whole cane (or just the sheath if the blade is drawn) into a powerful shock baton. The charge of the electric emitter is powerful enough to stop many types of metahumans in their tracks. One of Cold Iron's favorite close combat moves is to shock an enemy into submission, then draw the blade to finish the job.

* Customized VL-S1 'Redeye' Laser Pistol: Actually a VIPER design, Cold Iron took this weapon off a VIPER Commander he once defeated in a duel and it has since then served as his personal sidearm. The excellent design of the VL-S1 didn't make any functional adjustments necessary, but Cold Iron had it repainted and the Damascus Security logo engraved into the pistol grip.

* DS-37 Tactical Marker: This little gadget looks a bit like a pimped-out laser pointer, but it is actually a highly advanced target marker which Cold Iron uses to send a wide range of tactical information to Damascus Security troops standing by, be they snipers or mortar teams or even helicopters carrying out airstrikes. Not only does it pinpoint the location of the target, it also sends a plethora of other information to said troops, for example heat signatures or rough scans of the target's defenses.

* DS-08 'Arachne' Mobile Bombs: These weapons are one of Damascus Security's own designs. Undeployed they look like metallic spheres about the size of an apple. When deployed on the field eight small robotic legs fold out of the sphere and allow the DS-08s to quickly skitter towards a marked target and explode with a powerful fordite charge once they reach their destination, even scaling walls and bypassing other obstacles. Cold Iron usually marks the targets with the DS-37.

* Wrist Computer: Carried on Cold Iron's right wrist, this device allows him quick communication with nearby Damascus Security troops on various encrypted frequencies and features a high-speed web browser, GPS and quite a few other gimmicks to make his life easier. Until now the advanced firewalls installed by technicians of Damascus Security Solutions have proven to be hack-proof.

* Other Equipment: Cold Iron also carries some more common equipment with him, for example his cell phone, a small number of stim-pack and a multitool. It should be noted though that theoretically he has complete and unrestricted access to the whole range of Damascus Security Solution's weapons, gadgets and equipment. He just usually doesn't bother himself with lugging more equipment around.

Weaknesses

Damascus Security Solutions

Alexander Hayden AKA Lodestone

Tamara Aristopoulos AKA Quicksilver

The Fates

The Furies

Common Troops

Troopers

Shock Troopers

Cyber Hounds

Storm Troopers

Operatives

Elites

Specialists

Other Resources

Allies

Enemies

Comments

Not much to see here right now, but feel free to comment on Cold Iron and Damascus Security Solutions!

• "I believe that Arlan is a good man. His heart is not as cold as his alias -- Cold Iron -- suggests. The Damascus Security Solutions are also professionals, that is an unquestionable fact. But I sometimes question their values, their methods. But at the same time, I'm thankful to see that he, and his men, are willing to do some of the most thankless jobs there is, so to speak. I don't know them personally, so my opinion on them may change in the future." -Natasha Roy

Other Stuff

Trivia

• Cold Iron is inspired by Adam Jensen, Roland the Paladin, Specialist Cross and General Oleg Petrovsky.

Tropes