Ravener
Profile
ProfileIt would be easy to dismiss Jarl's actions as insanity, but a much scarier thought is that he is acting rationally. Jarl is not mentally healthy by any stretch of the imagination, but he is sane in a manner of speaking. His schemes and gambits are well planned and his goals are attainable. However, his thought patterns and priorities are almost alien. He makes plans that are purposefully suicidal or that will take over a decade to complete because death and personal safety are irrelevant factors. Even time may soon prove a minor nuisance.
While his ideas are at odds with most sentient beings, Jarl does have a strong sense of morality and order. The strong gain from the weak. The weak either defend themselves or become replaced by the strong. And thus the world hammers itself into a fine, tempered edge where the Rule of the Jungle is fact.
Jarl's personal appearance has degraded over the years. While he has always been fastidious and cleanly he pays little attention to how he might appear to other people, except where his presence might be used for intimidation. The serum he used to gain his powers has left his body scared and somewhat grotesque. His skin is cracked and red in many places and feels leathery to the touch. His eyes are entirely black but appear to glow red when they reflect light. Jarl's teeth are notably inhuman and resemble those of a canine in shape and number.
At one point in time he favored long coats, slacks, and button-up shirts and may still dress up when the need for civilian clothes arises. During battle he has more often been seen wearing a tight-fitting Kevlar suit with rubberized armor plates. Jarl has also taken to wearing an intimidating mask that covers his lower face. The accessory is made of bones and resembles the jaws of a deep-sea fish.
History
History((Whole mess o' stuff I'll post later))
Powers
PowersJarl is the apex of his creations, combining many of their greatest abilities while still appearing fairly human. While some of his monsters might be stronger or faster, none of them are as versatile or intelligent. A full writeup of powers that Jarl and common Raveners possess can be found here: So you want to be a Ravener?
- Immortality - Jarl has reached a form of limited immortality through scientific genius and sickening experimentation. While the physical body and the bodies of his clones can be killed, his memories and DNA are hardcoded into his Ravener serum. If he should somehow be annihilated a 'sleeper gene' triggers in the Ravener populace, beginning a process in which an individual can be mutated into a hive-queen and birth him anew. Only by destroying or curing everyone with the Ravener gene can he truly die.
- Biokinesis (Self) - Jarl has full control over his entire body, surpassing even skilled contortionists and so-called 'internal alchemists'. Simply by willing it he can stop a poison from moving through his bloodstream, shift his organs to avoid a deadly blow, and move his limbs and joints in impossible ways to slip out of an opponent's grip. Combined with his skill in martial-arts and melee weaponry, facing him in close combat is nigh-impossible.
Views
ViewsDr. Aaron Walker - If Jarl can be said to care about anyone other than himself, it would be Dr. Walker. The two share quite a history together and Aaron is one of the few beings in the world he would consider an equal and a friend. This doesn't mean they agree on anything at all and in fact Jarl considers most of Walker's opinions to be foolish and idealistic. However, he also respects him as an opponent and potential threat to his plans as Walker's creations tend to be stronger than most Raveners.
Shira Levi (Howitzer) - The woman Jarl and Walker helped to create has been a constant thorn in his side since the events of Project Firestorm by leaking his secrets and even directly opposing him at times. While she cannot match his wits, the soldier's training and dedication keep her just out of his grasp and one step ahead. Jarl despises Shira for her faith, her loyalty to Walker, and her dogged persistence in opposing his plans.
Van Davis (Vanguardian) - At one point in time Jarl would have considered Davis a threat and a fine example of the peak of human ability without augmentation. He was the ubermensch that Jarl would like the rest of humanity to resemble. While he doesn't regret having to kill him he is disappointed that his two successors, Racer Red and Cold Case, are mere shadows of Vanguardian.
Ryder Williams - Nytstrike claims to have gained many of his abilities from a perfected form of the Revelation serum he encountered in the future. While Jarl doesn't dismiss this idea entirely, he does doubt the validity of almost everything Williams says. Nytstrike has proven a troublesome opponent in single combat, but the Ravener does not consider him a true threat due his overbearing self-importance and suicidal tendencies.
Victory - Lisa Klien represents an interesting offshoot of the Ravener line in that her physical strength and durability far exceed the average mutation. Combined with her interest in biology and medicine, Jarl might have considered taking her on as an assistant. However, her strong morals and attachment to the meddlesome Young Renegades makes that an unlikely scenario.
Metagame
MetagameTheme Music - The Hounds - The Mosquito Song - Closer
Early Ravener news post: The Ravenous
I will also be using this page to upload an ongoing story which I will update very sporadically!
Story
Story1972 – Russia
Jarl
My companion for this evening was Kipling. Although one might expect me to empathize most with the antagonist of the story, the tiger was crippled and ineffective, both as a leader and as a predator. It was the boy whom I was most drawn to; raised in the wilds and mistrusted by his species. Ultimately it was his cunning and not his physical strength that allowed him to overcome his enemy, yet the victory is empty as his people continue to reject him.
The man in the cell next to me disturbed my musings. “Hey Gill, watchya readin?”
“The Jungle Book,” I replied. My thoughts returned to the deeper meanings behind the characters and what abstract concepts they actually represented.
“Sounds gay,” The inmate stayed silent for less than a second. “Does it got any pictures?”
“No,” I sighed, “Now would you please shut-up?” I waited for his reply, but none came. The silence continued on for several minutes and my mind was able to focus once again.
The silence deepened. A prison is never this quiet. There are always noises; footsteps, whispers, clanging. I looked up above the rim of my book to see four men standing outside my cell door. They were not inmates or guards. They were not government officials or policemen. They were soldiers garbed in black, their faces obscured by masks and paint.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” I stood and moved to the middle of my cell. Without taking my eyes off of them, I noted any potential weapons and escape routes available to me. The list came back woefully short.
The man on the far right spoke in an Arabic accent, though the region escaped me. “You are Dr. Jarl Gillium.” He did not phrase it as a question and so I did not answer. The fact that he referred to me by my name and profession rather than my crime or media title meant that these men were not here to kill me; and that was troubling. “We are the Black Sand. You will come with us.”
“No sir, I do not intend to.” I responded politely. They had the lock beat within seconds and slid the door aside. My mind played out a scenario of how the man directly in front of me would come forward and attack with the butt of his rifle. I would step to the side, break his elbow with my palm, and take the weapon to gun down the others.
As I predicted, the man approached and made his assault in that exact manner. But I had miscalculated; Four years in prison had left me weaker and slower than my mind remembered. I did not strike with enough force and the man did not give up his rifle.
My second mistake was assuming these fellows had been sent to capture me unharmed. I furrowed my brow and contemplated this error as I felt the knife slide into my stomach.
I gave the men the most hateful look I could muster, but it did little to stop them from driving me to the ground and pulling a sac over my head.
It smelled strongly of chloroform.
(Okay, I know it's bad to write the beginning and the end first, but this next scene was already played out in my head. XD)
1973 – Al Mawte (undisclosed location on the Arabian Peninsula)
Aaron
There are points in time that signal a turning point in history. Specific moments where an action is taken or a decision is made that will affect humanity for a century or more. This was one of those moments. How the next few seconds played out could save a man or damn the world.
I reached my hand through history and placed it on the shoulder of one of my dearest friend. My only peer. “Doctor, please. Come with me. Think of what we could accomplish together. Think of what we can do for mankind.”
“Mankind is undeserving our talents, Walker.” He stopped and turned his head to regard me with disdain. Before the mask went up, however, something else shown through. Pity? Regret? “They are not ready for my ideas. I will only be locked away once more.”
I set my jaw and kept from pulling away. “You've done some terrible things, Gill. But don't let that define the rest of your life. Whatever evils you have committed, you are still a genius. You can do more good in year than a normal man can work in his entire life.”
He smiled in sympathy and pushed my hand away. “To what end, Ben? You and I could cure all the diseases in the word. Feed the hungry, heal the lame and the blind. But they will still be blind, and ignorant, and cruel.”
His voice in anger. “I am not the exception, Walker. You are. Mankind is not as innocent as you hope, my friend.”
“You can't mean that, Jarl. Give them another chance. These people only need a guide. Someone to lead them into the future and teach them what's right. Why can't that be you?” I stepped toward him, pleading.
Jarl stepped away, “What if I make you the same offer, doctor? Escape with me. The world will write you off as dead.”
I shook my head. “No, Jarl. I am not done with the world yet. I must go to the United Nations and warn them of this new threat. And I must ensure these children are not used for war. More than any of us they deserve better...”
He regarded me sadly for a moment before turning away and walking into the night. “Go to your UN, Walker. If they will listen to anyone, they will listen to you. Prove me wrong, Ben, and I will return.”
I watched The Ravener disappear amid the fire and darkness. For better or worse, that moment in history had passed.
(Very heavily inspired by this song: The Good Doctor by The Protomen)
