Revision as of 20:24, 20 March 2015 (view source) George 1 7 (Talk | contribs) (→‎Ringleader) ← Older edit		Revision as of 20:43, 20 March 2015 (view source) George 1 7 (Talk | contribs) (→‎Skills) Newer edit →
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	'''Martials Arts''':		'''Martials Arts''':
−	Blackflight wields several Martial Arts in an Idiosyncratic mixture:	+	Blackflight wields several Martial Arts in an Idiosyncratic mixture, perfecting more and more in his long life:
−	''Proficient in Ninjutsu'' - Blackflight trained in Ninjutsu from Ninjas in Japan, in an attempt to practice stealth, escapology, guerilla tactics and the joint-lock heavy hand-to-hand combat style with which to fight with. He also developed his skill with thrown weapons - his modified shurikens, whilst training there. Whilst by no means a Master, he does use his Ninjutsu training to great effect in stealth situations.	+	''Mastery of Ninjutsu'' - Blackflight trained in Ninjutsu from Ninjas in Japan, in an attempt to practice stealth, escapology, guerilla tactics and the joint-lock heavy hand-to-hand combat style with which to fight with. He also developed his skill with thrown weapons - his modified shurikens, whilst training there. As a Master, he does use his Ninjutsu training to great effect in stealth situations.
	''Proficient in Eskrima'' - Whilst in the Philippines, Blackflight trained in Eskrima, specifically the dual wielding component of it - which he still actively practices today, through the use of Eskrima sticks which can be joined together to form a Bo Staff, to compliment his Ninjutsu training, forming an Idiosyncratic mixture between the two Martial arts.		''Proficient in Eskrima'' - Whilst in the Philippines, Blackflight trained in Eskrima, specifically the dual wielding component of it - which he still actively practices today, through the use of Eskrima sticks which can be joined together to form a Bo Staff, to compliment his Ninjutsu training, forming an Idiosyncratic mixture between the two Martial arts.
	''Skilled Boxer'' - Whilst growing up in Bishop City, he trained in Boxing alongside a personal trainer. He still incorporates the heavy punches into his combat routines, his physical strength leaving him able to knock out a weaker opponent in a single punch.		''Skilled Boxer'' - Whilst growing up in Bishop City, he trained in Boxing alongside a personal trainer. He still incorporates the heavy punches into his combat routines, his physical strength leaving him able to knock out a weaker opponent in a single punch.
		+
		+	''Proficient in Muay Thai'' - Blackflight is highly skilled in Muay Thai, able to incorporate all of his body and limbs into various free-flowing combat techniques, making him a deadly fighter at close range.
		+
		+	''Proficient at Jiu-Jutsu'' - Blackflight is very skilled when it comes to submission holds, owing both to his strength and training in Jiu-Jutsu and Brazillian Jiu Jutsu, able to to subdue even stronger opponents with ease.
	''Mastery of Kung Fu'' - Blackflight has mastered a single style of Kung Fu, focusing around counters and moving with the flow of the battle - Wing Chun. He learnt it in Hong Kong from some of the early modern practitioners of the style. He relies in his Mastery of Kung Fu to perform his seemingly impossible counters and manage handling multiple opponents.		''Mastery of Kung Fu'' - Blackflight has mastered a single style of Kung Fu, focusing around counters and moving with the flow of the battle - Wing Chun. He learnt it in Hong Kong from some of the early modern practitioners of the style. He relies in his Mastery of Kung Fu to perform his seemingly impossible counters and manage handling multiple opponents.
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	'''Academics''':		'''Academics''':
−	Blackflight is by no means an unintelligent man, having pursued several fields of study throughout his life:	+	Blackflight is by no means an unintelligent man, having pursued several fields of study throughout his life, making him somewhat of a Polymath:
	''Psychology'' - Through his extensive study of Psychology, the subject of his degree alongside Criminology, Blackflight has extensive insight into the theories of crime, the criminal mind and the behaviour of the insane, he uses this knowledge to help profile criminals within his territory, keeping track of their predicted movements to isolate them before they can cause too much harm.		''Psychology'' - Through his extensive study of Psychology, the subject of his degree alongside Criminology, Blackflight has extensive insight into the theories of crime, the criminal mind and the behaviour of the insane, he uses this knowledge to help profile criminals within his territory, keeping track of their predicted movements to isolate them before they can cause too much harm.
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	''Forensic Science'' - Blackflight has knowledge of the field of Forensic Science, he is hardly a genius when it comes to it, but his knowledge is valid enough to allow him to conduct scientific investigations and collect evidence at crime scenes.		''Forensic Science'' - Blackflight has knowledge of the field of Forensic Science, he is hardly a genius when it comes to it, but his knowledge is valid enough to allow him to conduct scientific investigations and collect evidence at crime scenes.
		+
		+	''Proficient in the three basic sciences'' - While speaking for itself, Blackflight does possess a talent for Biology, Physics and Chemistry. He just did not take his study in those fields as far as his other specialisations.
	''Detective training'' - Blackflight has trained in various methods of investigation across the world, enabling him to be considered a skilled detective, something he employs regularly in Bishop City.		''Detective training'' - Blackflight has trained in various methods of investigation across the world, enabling him to be considered a skilled detective, something he employs regularly in Bishop City.

---

Revision as of 20:43, 20 March 2015

Born into a wealthy family in the urban cesspool that is Bishop City, John Summers lived a life of substance and privilege, something very few heavy within his home city. After his sobering induction into the extensive criminal politics throughout the City, John swore he would never be a pawn to be used for the benefit of others. He had seen the belly of the criminal underworld, and he did not blink or give in. He swore to destroy it, make his city a place worthy of its holy, benevolent namesake.

Taking his second chance after being freed from his abduction, John Summers travelled the world - eventually returning to his home city, becoming the Blackflight.

... That was years ago. He was just a boy with high-tech toys. A boy who's antics endangered the lives of others. He retired after the death of his partner, guilt weighing heavily on him. The return of an old foe left him not content to simply sit around and age quietly, he has claimed the Amulet of Vengeance and reclaimed his mantle as Blackflight, bringing his reign of Justice back - this time to Millennium City.

History

Origin

Most vigilantes like John usually have a terrible, defining tragedy - usually revolving around the death of a father figure or such like. John isn't quite so dramatic.

John is descended from one of the Founding Fathers of Bishop City - a group of four large corporations with roots dating back to the founding of the city, and practically every crime that occurs in it, as such he had always lived a life of wealth and substance, but also a life of politics and intrigue. Whilst well-loved by his parents, he was despised by other Founding Families. He grew up completely unaware of the political scheming and movements that surrounded his family. Blissfully unaware of his family's own criminal connections, John tried to have as normal of an upbringing as possible.

He did this. If you don't include the numerous self-defence classes and extensive education he got, albeit depriving him of normal human socialisation.

His life changed, however, on his 15th birthday, in the midst of a power struggle between vying rivals, the Summers and the Brookhyders. In a bid to gain leverage over the Summers, the Brookhyders ordered the kidnapping of the young John Summers, which was carried out to brutal effect. The experience proved traumatic to the young boy, even more so when it turned out that his parents refused to heed the Brookhyders demands to free him; only estranging him from his parents. Eventually, John was rescued after a brief and decisive shootout between the Summers private army and the force holding John - but the experience proved to be a harsh awakening to the politics of Bishop City. In the wake of his weakness in the situation, how easily captured he was, he was set down a path, a path that would inadvertently set him against his own family...

He left the city shortly after that night, with the blessings of his parents, leaving under the guise of protection and training to take over the family business. He went to begin training - training that would shape the man he would become...

Original career and retirement

At twenty years old, John Summers returned to Bishop City after 5 years of extensive, intense training abroad. He assumed a management position in his family's company, Summers Industrials, focusing mainly on the manufacture of industrial goods and the occasional underground weapons contract. John wielded this new influence, alongside his connections to a secretive technology-broker to begin the creation of various assets with which to fight crime from. He created his distinctive battlesuit, car and gadgets to start with - operating out of the basement of Summers Tower first, in a secret sublevel he constructed himself. It connected to the extensive sewer system underneath Bishop city, enabling him to get anywhere within the city without being seen.

It was shortly after he had laid the groundwork for his new purpose that rumors and murmurings of a dangerous, shadowy figure started appearing in the Ireton District, several gang members checking into various hospitals with extensive broken bones and other disfiguring injuries.

After a news-breaking bust up of a docklands drug shipment, the figure was officially named "The Shroud" by tabloids and other newspapers in the area, becoming somewhat of a folk hero to the good people of Bishop City. A journalist shortly after then refined the name, under an anonymous tip, to the name Blackflight.

Blackflight exploited his new found infamy among the people; preying on the people believing him to be an urban legend. But with this infamy, rogues began to rise up, seeking to challenge Bishop City's new champion and protector - with the Founding Fathers scrambling to remove him as soon as possible.

Rise of the Sideshow Syndicate

With the rise of Blackflight, some criminals became more bold.

Blackflight's presence had weakened the strong grip that the Founding Fathers had retained over their city for hundreds of years, allowing newer, deadly criminals to spring up in a grab for power. One of these was the elusive "Ringleader". A man by two names, Boss Jester and Ringleader, he was a classic case of a psychotic mental patient. He escaped from Bishop City's Thomas Forsythe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. An infamous serial killer and almost peerless tactician and manipulator, it didn't take long for the Ringleader to appeal to the disenfranchised of the City - the poor and destitute, and even low-level enforcers of the Founding Fathers who desired more.

He formed a new criminal faction, the Sideshow Syndicate, themed after a circus show - with himself as Ringleader, deadly acrobat assassins, brutes as strongmen, all forming a macabre and violent imitation of an otherwise enjoyable pass-time. Ringleader, with his multiple personalities, could not decide whether he preferred being the leader, or a simple clown - opting for both. The Sideshow Syndicate went on a rampage across the city, banks and businesses failing in their violent crime spree. This attracted the attention of Blackflight who, after several run-ins with the Syndicate, was able to capture an Enforcer for interrogation (more like torture). It didn't take long for him to extract the location of Ringleader and the base of operations.

Ringleader operated out of an abandoned Amusement Park in the Stuart Improvement District of the City. A place where the gang continues to operate out of to this day, forming a stronghold of sorts.

Current Events

Characteristics

Appearance

Blackflight is a 52 year old man, but, outside of his mask, he appears to have aged somewhat well, comparable to celebrities like Tom Cruise. He has greying brown hair, early wrinkles and world-weary eyes, his looks befitting his previous playboy lifestyle. He does, however possess and imposing, muscular figure, larger than his younger self through routine workouts and preservation techniques to keep his body spry and fit. To people of his appropriate age group, he could probably be seen as attractive.

As Blackflight, he wears a kevlar-mesh suit, not dissimilar to the kind that Nighthawk wears. He wears a partial mask with a web-like fibre over the mouthpiece to conceal it, whilst allowing ease of breathing. At the end of each of his arms are bladed tips, again, another cue taken from the vigilante, Nighthawk. His suit is made up of a dark, black cape. The cape merges into his shoulders seamlessly, seeming to droop onto the chest slightly. The chest is covered with an armor-style pattern, a black-undermesh with lighter grey plates on top. A centerpiece of his suit is his jet black utility belt, known to contain his infamous gadgets. Below the belt, the mesh pattern continues again, being swiftly finished by matching colour grey combat boots.

Personality

Blackflight is an elderly, bitter man.

Years of crimefighting have taken their toll on the old man, forming a cynical, realist outlook. He rarely sees optimism in any situation and rather looks at the circumstances he finds himself in analytically. Alongside these issues, years of giving up crimefighting have broken his heart, watching his city fall into decadence in the absence of its protector, in spite of the efforts of other vigilantes to curb rampant crime and corruption. His bitterness has resulted in an excessively violent outlook and attitude when in the suit since his return to crimefighting, the only way to curb the issues in his city being to do so with more violence.

In his day-to-day persona of John Summers, he once seemed vacuous, now he puts on the act of a man approaching retirement, frequently making sure to appear a dedicated worker that stocks up his pension to retire to a nice life afterwards. A far cry from his younger playboy persona, he does occasionally dip into it at socialite gatherings. When not in such gatherings, he is known to be a grump, seemingly discontented with the state of modern society, feeling it relies too much on celebrity worship - basically your grumpy grandpa.

Skills

Blackflight has developed an array of Skills with which he continues to fight crime in Bishop City, refined over years of practice. Some are detailed below:

Martials Arts:

Blackflight wields several Martial Arts in an Idiosyncratic mixture, perfecting more and more in his long life:

Mastery of Ninjutsu - Blackflight trained in Ninjutsu from Ninjas in Japan, in an attempt to practice stealth, escapology, guerilla tactics and the joint-lock heavy hand-to-hand combat style with which to fight with. He also developed his skill with thrown weapons - his modified shurikens, whilst training there. As a Master, he does use his Ninjutsu training to great effect in stealth situations.

Proficient in Eskrima - Whilst in the Philippines, Blackflight trained in Eskrima, specifically the dual wielding component of it - which he still actively practices today, through the use of Eskrima sticks which can be joined together to form a Bo Staff, to compliment his Ninjutsu training, forming an Idiosyncratic mixture between the two Martial arts.

Skilled Boxer - Whilst growing up in Bishop City, he trained in Boxing alongside a personal trainer. He still incorporates the heavy punches into his combat routines, his physical strength leaving him able to knock out a weaker opponent in a single punch.

Proficient in Muay Thai - Blackflight is highly skilled in Muay Thai, able to incorporate all of his body and limbs into various free-flowing combat techniques, making him a deadly fighter at close range.

Proficient at Jiu-Jutsu - Blackflight is very skilled when it comes to submission holds, owing both to his strength and training in Jiu-Jutsu and Brazillian Jiu Jutsu, able to to subdue even stronger opponents with ease.

Mastery of Kung Fu - Blackflight has mastered a single style of Kung Fu, focusing around counters and moving with the flow of the battle - Wing Chun. He learnt it in Hong Kong from some of the early modern practitioners of the style. He relies in his Mastery of Kung Fu to perform his seemingly impossible counters and manage handling multiple opponents.

Academics:

Blackflight is by no means an unintelligent man, having pursued several fields of study throughout his life, making him somewhat of a Polymath:

Psychology - Through his extensive study of Psychology, the subject of his degree alongside Criminology, Blackflight has extensive insight into the theories of crime, the criminal mind and the behaviour of the insane, he uses this knowledge to help profile criminals within his territory, keeping track of their predicted movements to isolate them before they can cause too much harm.

Criminology - As the minor part of his degree, Blackflight has insight into the theories associated with Criminology and their management, understanding and prevention of crime. He uses this knowledge to isolate areas of the population and his city which crime is most likely to occur in, patrolling these areas extensively.

Forensic Science - Blackflight has knowledge of the field of Forensic Science, he is hardly a genius when it comes to it, but his knowledge is valid enough to allow him to conduct scientific investigations and collect evidence at crime scenes.

Proficient in the three basic sciences - While speaking for itself, Blackflight does possess a talent for Biology, Physics and Chemistry. He just did not take his study in those fields as far as his other specialisations.

Detective training - Blackflight has trained in various methods of investigation across the world, enabling him to be considered a skilled detective, something he employs regularly in Bishop City.

Weaknesses

Blackflight is just a man, and a man has many weaknesses:

Just Human - Blackflight is, at his core, just a man in a fancy suit. He's vulnerable at the exact same points as any human, maybe even more so given his age. Groups of people can overwhelm him, superpowered opponents can probably beat him into the ground, those of greater combat skill are probably just as likely to defeat him.

Elderly - Without the amulet shards inside him, Blackflight is an elderly old man - this extensive physical activity would catch up with him in an instant, maybe even proving fatal to him.

Old wounds - Several of Blackflight's old wounds failed to heal properly, forming weak spots on his body, not that he'd reveal those easily.

Mental instability - From a young age, Blackflight has demonstrated a degree of mental issues, these manifest in excessive violence nowadays, but he could be driven into shock and other associated issues under the right stimulus.

Equipment

The MAV

The Manoeuvrable Attack Vehicle, Blackflight's personal car both constructed and modified by Blackflight and his mysterious tech broker - Codenamed Hephaestus - over the years. The original concept was simple, to build a car with the speed of a Formula racing car, and with the armor of a light-armored vehicle, with which Blackflight could conduct his war on crime in the form of car chases. The vehicle in its original form proved to be cumbersome and tank-like, yet dramatically falling short in the armaments department. After an encounter with some heavily armed VIPER cells, the car was all but wrecked, forcing Blackflight to return to the drawing board alongside his mysterious benefactor to redesign the vehicle with combat in mind, to make the vehicle even more versatile and effective on the streets.

These added armaments included two automatic machine guns, located at each tip. These were adjusted to fire air-rounds and rubber bullets for the sake of subduing and injuring foes and even protesters, for the sake of causing panic and dispersion rather than grievous injury. A later addition was the Heavy-duty military grade turret, retrofitted to fire gas rounds filled with tear and knock out gas, to disperse and subdue crowds. It does have a heavy-fire capability, but it is rarely used.

Allies and friends

Rogues Gallery

Threat levels explanation:

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

1 - Easily apprehended, not much threat to Blackflight or his city.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

2 - Slightly higher threat than previous, likely more heavily armed.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

3 - Usually some form of gang leader or minor threat to Blackflight, might possess knowledge or technology of a high standard

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

4 - Higher level gang leader or even an enforcer, might have injured Blackflight or even defeated him before.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

5 - Moving out of simple gang leader territory, more on the 'supervillain' level. Usually well-armed or superpowered, poses a threat to the City and to Blackflight.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

6 - Approach with caution, verging onto State most wanted lists here, known terrorist or murderer, capable of standing even with Blackflight.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

7 - Villains of this calibre prove few and far between, they're resilient and highly personal threats towards Blackflight, or every dangerous to the City.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

8 - Reserved for the pinnacle of Blackflight's Rogues Gallery, they can be anything from deadly personal threats to Blackflight, to threats on the scale of causing Citywide evacuation.

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

9 - Worldwide threats, usually not a part of Blackflight's personal Rogues. OR the Founding Fathers themselves.

Ringleader

Threat Level:

██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██	██

Ringleader, an escaped mental patient and dreaded serial killer in Bishop City. He is one of Blackflight's most enduring and deadly foes. Whilst not a physical match for Blackflight, he is more than an intellectual one, his unpredictable thinking proving at odds with Blackflight's need for logic and order - and his extraordinary tactical mind proving to match Blackflight's at every turn. Ringleader is the... Well... Ringleader of the Sideshow Syndicate, one of the most debased and evil gangs in Bishop City, filled with psychopaths and murderers. His gang proves more deadly than ones under the Founding Fathers, the Syndicate isn't restricted by rules holding the men back for the sake of the city, instead it is a rampant force of anarchy, supporting Ringleader's mad, psychotic agenda.

Blackflight and Ringleader are almost obsessed with each other, proving to be two enduring foes representing polar opposites, chaos and anarchy on one side and order and logic on the other. Their battles are drawn out and intellectual, and usually end in despair and tragedy.

The Sideshow Syndicate

This is Ringleader's own personal crime organisation, based out of an amusement park in the Stuart Housing District - compared by some to the Court of Miracles on 1700s France, an area for the poor and destitute. Upon the appearance of Blackflight, Ringleader was able to play upon the deprivation and poor conditions on the area to rally the desperate, psychotics and even local Founding Fathers Enforcers. Together they have formed a violent and uncontrollable rabble of murderous and selfish impulses, all taking Circus-like personas to fit Ringleader's ideals.

They form an almost private army, dedicated to their leader and almost unflinching in their beliefs. Some have heard rumours of an almost deadly initiation ritual involving deadly drug cocktails and violent acts, a deterrent to all but the most insane the City has to offer, only bolstering Ringleader's already large ranks. Operating out of the now-militarised, fortress like Amusement Park.

Some say that the Sideshow Syndicate has even begun appearing in other cities, namely Millennium City...

OOC info

Tropes

Music

Inspirations

The obvious inspiration for this character is Batman from the Dark Knight Returns, alongside Nite Owl from Watchmen. I'm hoping this will only remain an inspiration rather than being something cloney, the eventual product should be diverse enough from the original Batman mold.