Stonemason
History
Childhood
Of course, this lead the young Tobias to be the favorite bully victim in the school yard, since he never did anything to fight back or defend himself, he just silently lowered his head and did as he was told. In time, this lead Tobias to become bitter and withdrawn, often retreating within himself and locking everyone out. As he approached 10 years old, he started skipping classes to walk through the giant Madeleine Gardens, the city park that spanned most of the southern uptown district in Quistis City, just to get away from the bullies. It was here that he first came into contact with the aging Walter Peaks, the earth-bending superhero Stonemason (Although this was unbeknownst to Tobias at the time). Befittingly, almost ironically so, Walter's civil identity was that of the caretaker of Madeleine Gardens, as well as a stonemason who specialized in making statues of superheroes. Several of his works already graced the reaches of the park. The elderly man and the young boy struck a quick friendship, Walter helping the young kid through his frustration by giving him an outlet in the form of martial arts and aesthetic practices such as painting and stone carving. As Tobias grew into his teens, he started spending more and more time with Walter, his attitude eventually mellowing out conciderably.
Life as a Hero
Crisis in Quistis City
However, everything culminated in 2009, when the Bluthexen sisters instigated the Bloodied Carnival, intent on sacrificing every human within Madeleine Gardens in order to gain immeasurable power. Aided by several supervillains such as Atticus Hale, Wild Wind, Dreadmask and The White Hand, their forces seemed unstoppable. While Skychild and Demoness used their magic to open a gateway through the barrier erected around the gardens, Stonemason and his sidekick Geo-kid entered inside in hopes of stopping the villains, but they were completely outnumbered. However, the appearence of The Nightsiders, consisting of Razor, Hollow and Black Cape, three until then unknown vigilantes, changed the tides of battle. Before anyone knew what had happened, Atticus Hale was beaheaded, Wild Wind and Dreadmask shot between the eyes, The White Hand bested in martial arts and torn to pieces, and the Bluthexen's charred bodies were found hanging from the ceiling of Preathorian Cathedral. It was a massacre, leaving an unrepairable wound on Quistis City as the Nightsiders declared their presence as hunters of evil men. In response, Skychild teamed up with Demoness, Stonemason and Geo-kid to create the Element of Justice, and the two teams fought bitterly over the course of 2 years, despite having the same ultimate goal. However, in 2010 Quistis City saw the rise of a new superhero team: Genesis Squadron. The team of superpowered teenagers were more then capable of taking care of Quistis City, and with Skychild being called back to her people in the sky, the Element of Justice disbanded. Stonemason and Geo-kid continued to fight crime, including the Nightsiders, as a team. That too, however, came to an end in early 2011. In a last confrontation between Stonemason and Captain Conquest, the aging hero found that he could no longer keep up and ended up losing a leg to the superpowered warlord. And when Tobias tried to beseech the Living Earth to heal him, it refused, claiming that his time as its champion had come to an end. Instead, it bestowed its full power unto Tobias, though that did little to appease the enraged youngster, who almost crushed the being with the very power it had bestowed him in a rare fit of anger. He was only pacified by Walter's urgings, and eventually came to terms with the situation. It was better for the aging Walter to finally be able to retire, after all. In the hospital, Walter urged Tobias to distance himself from the Living Earth and test his wings on his own in the world. Tobias decided to wander, stepping out onto the open road where he would spend the next 3 years traversing the states on foot. Recently, he's arrived in Millenium city, where he took up work as a Park Ranger at a nearby wildlife preservation park. Eventually, his activity in and around Millenium city caught the eye of Sparrowhawk, the leader of the local supergroup Protectors of the World, who proceeded to extend an invitation for Stonemason to join with them in their fight against evil worldwide. Tobias didn't have to think too hard about the opportunity and leapt at the chance to be part of a team once more.Personal File
Appearence
Personality
"INFP personalities are true idealists, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people and events, searching for ways to make things better. While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or even shy, INFPs have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine. /.../ INFPs are guided by their principles, rather than by logic, excitement, or practicality. When deciding how to move forward, they will look to honor, beauty, morality and virtue - INFPs are led by the purity of their intent, not rewards and punishments. People who share the INFP personality type are proud of this quality, and rightly so, but not everyone understands the drive behind these feelings, and it can lead to isolation."
Tobias has been told that he has his head in the clouds, and for a person so decidedly connected to the earth this is strangely true. Tobias is free spirit, preferring to express himself through art, music or just not at all, being perfectly comfortable alone with his thoughts. He tends to drift off into thought whenever he has to sit still for longer than a few minutes and can get caught up on the most trivial details, embellishing them and ending up fascinating himself too much and spacing out for what appears to others to be for no particular reason. This may cause him to appear unfocused or detached from reality, and to a point that's true. Although, he's not completely out of touch with real life, his time as a hero having taught him that there's time for dreaming and time for facing reality, and that the two don't mix particularly well.
Tobias has few ambitions aside from making the world a slightly better place for the people who live in it. He's feels no need to prove his power or courage to anyone, making him come off as a laid-back and unambitious, sometimes even cowardly. True, he wears his emotions on his sleeve and isn't afraid to show them, wether it's happiness or fear. His Geo-Empathy tends to affect his mood as well, making it difficult for him to hide them even if he'd try to. Tobias has no problems with taking the backseat to someone more authoritan and charismatic than himself, being a follower rather than a leader. He's well aware of his shortcomings and feels no need to fight them or prove other people wrong about him, caring not for what it makes him look like in the eyes of his peers. He fights for what's right, and that'll always be good enough for him.
Having grown up as the sidekick to a superhero, Tobias of course always considers the need of others before himself. He's always the first to jump in should someone need his help and would never hesitate to step up to any villain trying to ruin somebody's day, no matter who they are. This level of self-sacrifice while admirable, usually ends up with him biting off more than he can chew, as his mindset won't allow for him to flee rather than fight as long as someone else is in jeopardy. This also reflects in his daily life, as he's not beyond giving away his last few dollars to a homeless man he passes on the street, even if those bills were supposed to pay for his food this week.Meta Data
Powers
Geokinesis
Seismokinesis
Champion of the Living Earth
But perhaps the most important is that the blessing renders him unchangable like the earth itself. Tobias is immune to transformations, magical or scientifical, of any kind since his human form is the form that the Living Earth recognizes as its champion. This means zombification, magical transformation, genetical tampering, vampirism or lycanthropy cannot affect him. This even extends to the unknown traces of Elder Worm DNA that resides within all humans, making it impossible for Tobias to be made an Helminth as well.
It should also be noted that all of Stonemason's powers stem from the Living Earth and should it ever deem him unworthy of being its champion, it can and will take them from him as easily as it granted it to him, designating another champion in his stead. It can also designating more champions than one, as it did when Tobias became the Geo-kid. It should also be noted that the Living Earth's powers is bound to Earth itself, and Tobias' powers diminish slowly if he leaves it for space or other dimensions. However, as a semi-mythological being, the Living Earth is just as strong in Faerie as it is on Earth, possible even stronger.Abilities
Furthermore, Tobias' love for the wilderness and his work as a Park Ranger has given him plentiful invaluable skills when it comes to surviving in the wild. He knows how to track, fish and set up camp with minimal equipment, as well as having proper knowledge of first aid and wilderness survival. He never leaves home without a watch and a compass.
Tobias also happens to be a practitioner of Chen-style Tai Chi, practicing it mostly to help himself relax and collect his thoughts but also to hone his body and keep it fit for fighting crime. He also has a tendency to mix in techniques and forms in his fighting style, admitting that he feels more comfortable and serene while practicing Tai Chi, claiming it to be easier for him to keep a cool head that way.Affiliations
Allies
Comments
"Stonemason is probably one of the hardest people I know to put a finger on, much to his credit. He comes across as somewhat laid back and nonchalant, I suppose you could say? But the truth of the matter is that he isn't. He's a paradox, personality wise, in my opinion. More like the waves of the ocean than the rigidness of the Earth when you meet him at first. He's intriguing, for sure... though undoubtedly effective once he maintains focus. Not to mention incredibly powerful, probably much more than he is even aware of. We just need to work on that screaming bit..." - Sparrowhawk
"Okay, confession time. The first time I met Stonemason, I wasn't so sure if I would call him a hero. He's got this laid back, surfer boy kind of vibe to him. He spent the last half of one mission we were on complaining about his hair. I'm glad to say that my original assumption was wrong. He's got some insane power behind that easy going attitude of his, and when the chips are down, he's got this incredible focus. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be dead and buried. So uh...if you're reading this? Thank you." - Tesseract
"My number is 555-6789. CALL ME. Oh, wait wait! I mean, Stonemason is very, very nice. And cute. But nice and cute! Does anyone think if we had kids they'd have my eyes or his eyes?" - Lash
"As long as he doesn't slack off during missions we'll get along fine." - Fathom
"While I have not been with Stonemason much yet, the few times I have, I have been very, very grateful to have him around. That said, he's a solid teammate, no pun intended. To be able to control the very earth he stands upon like that...it's almost downright scary in what he could do if he put his mind to it." - Razira
"Give him a few more missions and we'll make a man out of him. Either that or get him killed. It's a 50/50 chance." - Artifist
"One time in canadaland, we fought this dude together that looked like a giant, When we beat him, it exploded into sand. Stoney spent the next half our screaming like a three year old that had a lolipop stolen from him. I love telling that story." - Imp
"Look, he went into space once to help the Circle of Justice take down one of Mechanon's space stations, essentially tearing himself from his power source because we needed it. He handled a horde of vampires all on his own, while the rest of us were getting the snot beat out of us. I don't care if he's a little inexperienced. He's brave as hell." The Peacemaker
"Easily has the strongest stomach on the planet, no I dare say the universe. He's great in a fight and is an amazing artist." Keioseth II
Rogues Gallery
Dr. Petroleum
Name: Piotr Pietrovich
Abilities: Genius-level IQ, Petroleum-based Weaponry, Petroleum Mutation
Affiliations: Himself
Piotr Pietrovich was turned into Dr. Petroleum when his work as an Oil Rig inspector ended when he fell into an irradiated, abandoned drill site. Presumed dead, he nonetheless survived a bath in boiling oil, he mutated into an insane and ambitious madman with the ability to manipulate Petroleum-based oils. He's hellbent on turning the entire world's population into petroleum-based mutants such as himself, and create an Oil-fueled utopia with him as the new God. His first run-in with Stonemason II resulted in his defeat, and since then the two have come to clash on numerous occasions.
Incarcerated
Stanton Hagen
Name: Stanton Hagen
Abilities: State-of-the-Art Kinetic Weaponry, Power Armor
Affiliations: Himself
WiP
At Large
Volcano
Name: None
Abilities: Invulnerability, Superstrength, Magmakinesis
Affiliations: Chaos
Volcano isn't so much a villain as he's a pure force of nature. A primordial being as old as the Earth itself, he personifies the rage of the planet and the cascading fires and brimstone of its creation. Neither malevolent nor particularily violent, this being spends most of his time in slumber somewhere deep within the Earth but awakens every so often in order to walk the surface, often as a result of something tampering with the Earth near him. He does not wish to hurt anyone, but as soon as he wakes the Earth becomes primal and disasters run amok, with volcanoes erupting and earthquakes following in his wake. The sad task of keeping this unwitting being in slumber falls on the champion of the Living Earth, namely Stonemason.
In Slumber
Captain Conquest
Name: Baugan M'boto
Abilities: Immense Superstrength, Invulnerability, Regeneration, Sonic Amplification Bracers
Affiliations: Buwugu (Head of State), The Conquerors
Baugan M'boto is Captain Conquest, one of the absolutely strongest superhumans on the face of the Planet. A remnant of times long past, he has been active since the early 60s when he lead a revolt in his homeland of Buwugu and took over the land by force. Since then, Buwugu has risen as a military might on the African continent, with the seemingly undefeated Captain Conquest as its leader. A supervillain, but only by the book, Baugan is a clever politician, inspiring leader and honourable fighter despite his reputation. He will simply stop at nothing to ensure his nation's continued prosperity.
At Large
Revenant
Name: Markus Gau
Abilities: Peak Human Condition, Enhanced Information Processing, Near-Death Hyperkinesis, Assortment of Gadgets and Weapons, Mastery of multiple martial arts
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Field Leader)
Markus grew up in the slums of Buwugu, being a fighter from day one. Once he was given the chance to join the military, his first meeting with Baugen M'boto changed his life forever and he quickly turned into the most patriotic and loyal soldier among all of Buwugu's troops. For valiant efforts, he was given a special supersoldier treatment that perfected him physically and mentally, being brought to the brink of death and revived over and over until he reached a state of permanent near-death awareness. He now leads Buwugu's metahuman team, the Conquerors.
At Large
Killer Chrome
Name: Unavailable
Abilities: Human-level AI, Mobile Weapons Platform
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Enforcer)
Noone knows exactly what or who spawned the foul-mouthed robot with a horrible attitude, but there's no denying that Killer Chrome is 100% synthetic. His bodies are entirely robotic and he's constantly uplinked to a crypted server, and each of his bodies host more weapons than a smaller african country. The controversy arises when one takes into mind just how human the robot acts. He thinks, experiences emotions and even has his own dreams. All juvenile and spouted with more cursewords than necessery, meaning he makes enemies seemingly whereever he goes. The only one he seems to have some semblence of camaraderie with is Hitokiri, despite their constant trading of Vitriol.
At Large
Hitokiri
Name: Kenichi Sugushima
Abilities: Power Armor, High Tech Katanas
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Enforcer)
Kenichi was born and raised in the US, his parents having immigrated before he was born. However, due to a childhood filled with bullies and ridicule, Kenichi came to despise "The American Dream" and found himself drifting towards Japanese patriotism and isolationism as a result. He moved back to Japan to live with his Grandfather, studying the ways of the blade under his tutelage and mastering it in record time. Having since secured a position among the Conquerors after several years as a Mercenary, Hitokiri (Manslayer) has become a reknowned martial artist and villain worldwide. He has a strange brotherly bond with Killer Chrome and the two constantly bicker, but also work together more so than other Conquerors.
At Large
Josaiah Eselcain
Name: Unknown
Abilities: Sin Manifestation, Dark Magic, Hand of the Devil
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Mystic)
In this world, this man might very well be the closest to absolute evil. A "man" who has cheated both death and the devil, only in order to bring as much pain and suffering onto the world as he could possibly create and giving only curiosity and amusement as the reasons for his actions, that is the man called Josaiah Eselcain. Commanding tainted and forgotten magic from dark ages past, he's even gone so far as to turn Sin into a weapon, corrupting everything he touches. If there ever was a man deserving of the fires of hell, then Eselcain would be that man. If only the demons of the netherworld didn't fear him as much as most humans fear the devil.
At Large
Lady Silken
Name: Priya Amharanebdhasi
Abilities: Arachnid Empathy, Arachnid Telepathy, Mutated Arachnids
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Spymaster)
A genius Bioengineer who was more or less forced out of her promising career by her parents who wanted to marry her off to a wealthy business man twice her age. During her time of crisis, she started hearing voices in her laboratory, voices that came from the Spiders. With her newfound power, she broke herself off from her parents, using spiders to collect information and selling it off to the highest bidder. With the money, she started experimenting on her darlings, creating huge arachnid beasts to act as her enforcers. She's cold and calculating, caring nothing for human lives now that she has other, more loyal friends at her call and beckon.
At Large
Nereid
Name: Kahlen Valeria
Abilities: Atlantean Physiology, Gift of Atlan, Trident of the Roaring Tide
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Enforcer)
Born a weakling and sick with injury, Kahlen's life took a drastic turn when she came upon a Magical artifact called The Trident of the Roaring Tide, which imbued her with the Destructive Strength, Ferocity and Vigor of a Tidal wave. With these powers at her disposal, she sought to expand the realm of Atlantis through conquest but was stopped by the intervention of several heroes, including Stonemason. Feeling betrayed by her own people when they didn't back her crusade, she was freed from imprisonment by The First Son and has pledged her life to his service.
At Large
Signet
Name: Agali Oboto
Abilities: Pyrokinesis, Hydrokinesis and Lumenkinesis
Affiliations: The Conquerors (Enforcer)
The youngest and most brash of the Conquerors, Agali lived her life in Buwugu as most other citizens until she got stranded in the wilderness and came upon 3 carved rocks that imbued her with significant powers: The Blaze of the Sun, The Waters of the Moon and the Brilliance of the Stars. She can create and manipulate Fire, Water and Light at will through the use of these carved rocks, now embedded into rings she wears on her hands. She's convinced that she's doing the right thing for her country and sees the least action outside of Buwugu of the Conquerors. Wether the others leave her to this device in order to preserve her innocence, or simply because they'd rather not fight her too, is unclear.
At Large
Avalancer
Name: Josh Joels
Abilities: Cryokinetic Powersuit, Cold Plasma
Affiliations: Power Pack ("The Brains")
As a young prodigy in engineering, Josh Joels had a bright future ahead of him. If only his parents had been rich. They eventually lost their house, their car and even Josh's college fund in debt, and noone would lift a Finger to help them out. Eventually, his mother died in an "accident", leaving a hefty life insurance to fund Josh's College tuition. There was never an accident, she took her own life, but noone cared. Embittered, angered and betrayed by the system, Josh decided that he would take everything that the government owed him and his family back, using his skills in Thermal Engineering to build himself a power armor utilizing Supercooled "Freezer Beams" and started a Nation-wide crime spree.
At Large
Hypercharge
Name: Dylan Gray
Abilities: Dynamokinesis, Mach Speed
Affiliations: Power Pack ("The Cannon")
Dylan Gray was a problem child from the get-go. Started fights, talked smack and always wanted more than he deserved. His Dynamokinesis and minor superspeed surfaced at a young age, and he immedietally thought of using them for personal gain. Didn't take long before some hero caught him in the act, but Dylan always played the part of the "troubled, confused teenager" to get out of any real punishment. Worked up until he was 18 and the heroes had just had enough of him. The next 2 years he spent locked away, but that didn't deter him in the slightest. In fact, he used his time in the prison to train himself properly, and then went on to join Avalancer on his crime spree.
At Large
Burnout
Name: Martin Harker
Abilities: Pyroblasters, Jetpack,
Affiliations: Power Pack ("The Mouth")
Martin is a handsome, rugged rogue if you ask him. Most would just call him a delusional creep, but he pays them no heed. Arrogant and never shutting up about anything good he ever manages to pull off, he's a very insufferable person that takes narcissism to a new level, thinking himself God's Gift to womankind. He's a villain for the sole reason that he thinks it makes him look cool, and he likes money, having joined Avalancer and Hypercharge after a rather spectularily bad attempt at a solo career. That being said, he's a very shrewd combat tactician that can instantly spot cracks in enemy defenses... when he's not too busy admiring himself in the mirror, that is.
At Large
Powercore
Name: Dennis Donaldson
Abilities: Metallic Skin, Gravity Driver Core
Affiliations: Power Pack ("The Muscle")
Probably the most levelheaded of the pack, Dennis feels that it's his duty to look after the bickering trio in order to keep them out of harm's way, and to make sure they don't cross the line on their crime spree. He's covered in a metal that makes him nearly invulnerable and has been fitted with a Gravity engine on his chest. All this because one day, a mad scientist decided that Dennis was a perfect candidate for his experiments. Dennis isn't particularily malevolent, it's just that after 10 years of unemployment, he's just tired of the old and narrow path.
At Large
Razor
Name: Unknown
Abilities: Master-level Martial Artist, Chi Manipulation, Gadgets, Peak physical Condition
Affiliations: The Nightsiders
Razor is an infamous vigilante hailing from New York, but is active in Quistis City. As the de facto leader of the Nightsiders, he leads these dark avengers as they roam the night of Quistis City, hunting down any would-be villain with fervor and without mercy. Cold, calculating and worst of all, apathetic to the law, the Nightsiders do whatever they feel they have to do in order to bring the evil men and women their due. Razor himself is one of the most skilled martial artists in the states, and his chi manipulation lets him control the phenomena of "Kamaitachi", the cutting wind that is sharper than any blade.
At Large
Hollow
Name: Unknown
Abilities: Dual sabres, Chain, Enhanced Reflexes, Extensive Military Training, Peak physical condition
Affiliations: The Nightsiders
Among the Nightsiders, Hollow is by far the most zealous to rooting out any evil in Quistis City. Old Testament-levels of zealous. He will excuse no crime, sending all "sinners" to God for judgement, for nooone is free of sin and only the Lord may judge the evil. Appearing during the Praethorian Cathedral incident by nailing a corrupt politician, judge and attorney to crosses, and hanging 37 more sinners from the ceiling before setting the entire building ablaze, the insane vigilante is a high-priority target for Quistis City law enforcement.
At Large
Black Cape
Name: Unknown
Abilities: Trick Arrows, Composite Bows, Olympic-level Gymnast and acrobat, Peak physical condition
Affiliations: The Nightsiders
The only woman and possibly the most passionate of the three Nightsiders, she's a remnant of times past. When Jack the Ripper rampaged through London, the first Black Cape arose to protect the prostitutes and women of the streets from such foul acts. Over time, the mantle has been passed on countless times, and is now in the possession of the cloaked vigilante of Quistis City. Bearing a deep grudge against the city who failed to protect the gutters and its people, she will not stand idly by as evil men try to exploit their vulnerability. Do not mistake her passion and rage for a sense of justice and misdirection, she hungers only for vengeance.
At Large
Miscellaneous
RP Hooks
- Were you a hero active around the 80s-90s? Then the name Stonemason most definitely rings a bell, as Walter Peaks was carrying the mantle back then.
- From the West Coast? Quistis City is relatively new but bustling metropol where the East and the West clashes, acting as one of the biggest centers for international trade and commence.
- Aura reader? Tobias' aura is visually and empathically Identical to that of the Earth itself. Curious, huh?
- Ever battled with the old supervillain Captain Conquest? He and Stonemason go way back as Nemeses for eachother.
Trivia
- Feels a lot more at home away from home, out in the wilderness. Tobias will constantly find excuses to head off to the park, or a local hiking trail, just so that he doesn't have to sit still at home. His favorite season is late Summer to early Fall, thought he likes all of them better than staying indoors.
- Tobias' favorite romantic artist is Caspar David Friedrich and his favorite piece by him is Man and Woman contemplating the Moon. His second favorite artist would be the naturalist Gustave Courbet.
- Listens to pretty much any kind of music, but favors the early rock and punk of the 60's and the 70's, especially psychedelic rock. Among his favorite bands are The Ramones, Pink Floyd, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jefferson Airplane.
- Is the epitome of an omnivore, he'll eat just about anything and actually like it. He's got a very healthy appetite, albeit a very strange one that can appreciate combinations no man would think of. Like a Whipped cream, pepper jack cheese and sushi sandwich, or noodle soup with deep fried banana and mozzarella sticks. He doesn't tend to think his meals out, preferring to just grab what he can find in the fridge, when there's food in there. His food bill is quite extensive.
- Due to his dislike of sitting still at home, Tobias isn't a very technical person. He can barely operate his microwave and his TV hasn't worked for a month, he just hasn't bothered fixing it. When he does watch TV, he likes shows that doesn't require him to think a lot. Sitcoms and TV shows do it for him, though he complains that thrillers and criminal drama give him a headache.
- Generally buys all his clothes second-hand, when he bothers to actually buy some. Due to his extensive food bill, he rarely has money left to buy clothes and most of the stuff he wears is years old, often showing signs of wear and tear due to his penchant for outdoor life.
- May or may not be lacking in the hygiene department. His apartment has old clothes thrown all over and he only does laundry often enough to keep his neighbors from complaining about the smell. He has a bad habit of letting his dishes pile up in the sink, though he never lets any food go to waste.
Theme and Tropes
Theme Songs