The Virtues
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(( This is a background writeup for a character of mine that I've had in mind for a year or two, but this doesn't mean that it can't be used by other players as an explanation for where a character gets a power source from, or anything like that. This entire thing is totally and completely open. Additionally, all information on this page is ICly available.
If anyone has any questions about this stuff, feel free to contact @MainframeError in-game or here on PDB, or D-Pad on the CORP forums. ))
Contents
Overview
The Virtues of Humanity, also known simply as the Virtues, are a group of re-occurring individuals throughout the course of history. Although the sides that they take differ, as well as the forms they inhabit, it is known that at least one Virtue is present in the world at any given time; as soon as someone carrying a Virtue passes on, the essence of their Virtue is transplanted into another individual, even if the Virtues take years or even generations to grant themselves to a new host. The Virtues each operate differently, though older records indicate a possibility that they all amplify each other when brought within close proximity to each other. The powers granted to an individual depend entirely on the Virtue that they have received, with said powers being the embodiment of that particular virtue.
It is important to remember that despite their names, the Virtues themselves are neutral entities. Although the Virtues are embodiments of moral excellence as well as various human traits, the Virtues do not compel their carriers towards any particular action or faction, and instead leave them to use their gifts for whatever purpose they may see fit.
What Are the Virtues?
The Virtues, in their purest forms, are "spiritual" representations of human traits and moral standards. Each Virtue represents a different facet of the human experience, and once they find a human shell in which to deposit themselves, they amplify that particular facet of the person's being, turning them into a perfect example of that particular Virtue. Despite a decent amount of research going into uncovering more about the Virtues, information on specific Virtues is quite scarce. As a result, exactly how many there are, and what their powers are, are rather scarce.
Currently, there are two confirmed Virtues alive today. The Virtue of Thought is currently embodied in a newly-emerged supervillain responsible for the theft of a gem from a high-security bank vault. His Virtue appears to have granted him a high level of psychic and empathic powers, as well as possible others that have not yet been observed. The Virtue of Kindness currently appears to belong to retired activist Martha Goodwill.
Additionally, two questionable Virtues have also been observed. A Moonlighting hero by the name of Lightbringer displayed powers similar to the Virtue of Subtlety before his death, and a woman that has previously broken away from operations with the Virtue of Thought appears to display tendencies and powers that are in-line with the Virtue of Will.
It is also of note that it seems that the Virtues naturally attract each other. Those in possession of a Virtue are able to sense the Virtues of others in some form or fashion, even if they may not know what exactly these feelings are attempting to denote.
History of the Virtues
Although information on the Virtues themselves is scarce, there are enough pieces of information throughout history that appear to relate to the Virtues in order to make the creation of a rough history possible.
Origin of the Virtues
The origin of the Virtues appears to have taken place among a society of monks during a secret meeting, the location of which appears to have been lost. These monks sought to unlock the Secret of Humanity, believing that such a thing would bring them enlightenment through the complete understanding of human nature. Although their ultimate goal or result is unclear, it is clear that they managed to create something that is now known as the Overman. It is said that each monk took a piece of the Overman with them, and it is believed based on surviving documents that the pieces of this artifact held the energies that would eventually become known as the Virtues.
At some point after this initial gathering, the Virtues managed to escape the relics that they appear to have been housed in originally, perhaps by being absorbed into the monks that kept them. One by one, as these monks died, their Virtues spread outwards into the world to find new hosts. Due to the lack of documentation regarding what contained the Virtues, it is presumed that they were destroyed or otherwise lost either during the transfer process, or at some point following the freeing of the Virtues.
Speculation Regarding the Overman
Originally, source material that was gathered by research teams believed the Overman to be a physical being, perhaps in the form of a single enlightened individual. However, after acquiring additional information, this explanation was deemed to be unsuitable, especially after it was discovered that the monks had taken parts of the Overman with them, which later revealed themselves to be vessels for the Virtues. Given this new information, it is instead believed that the Overman is not a person, but a holy relic, perhaps imbued with the power of some god or higher being. However, if this is the case, who this being is or how they were called is currently unknown, as there is no mention of any sort of summoning ritual in any texts that relate to the Overman, the initial gathering of the monks, or the Virtues themselves.
In-Depth Information and Historical Samples
As previously stated, documentation on Virtues and their appearance throughout time are scarce, and as a result, much of the following information is merely speculation based on data that has been gleaned through observation and the careful examination of acquired sources. It is not even currently known how many Virtues there are, so it is possible that those accounted for here are nothing but a small section of the true number of Virtues. Since philosophical debates over what exactly constitutes as a Virtue are on-going, it is possible that the only way to find out how many there truly are is to discover all of them through careful observation or historical inquiry.
In early history, there is nearly no information on those who have been hosts to the Virtues, due to the loss of records over time, faulty record keeping, and various other errors that plague the field of history and archaeology. However, some Virtues have proven to be somewhat easier to track than others, and some even appear to follow patterns of incarnations.
The Virtue of Kindness appears to be the easiest virtue to track, due to the large amount of praise such individuals receive. The Virtue of Kindness almost always appears in places of need, causing the populous of the region to carefully document the actions and life of the Virtue's holder. Keepers of the Virtue of Kindness were often pious people as well, especially incarnations that appeared in Europe. The Virtue of Kindness often found itself in a monk, priest, holy man, prophet, or similar figure, and are recorded as being able to perform various miracles. They are also often recorded as performing acts of sacrifice, such as fasting during famines, protecting people during public demonstrations, and often giving their lives in order to save others, occasionally as martyrs.
The Virtue of Thought is another Virtue that appears to be well recorded, despite not being nearly as easy to track as Kindness. Keepers of Thought are incredibly varied individuals, going from philosophers and writers to scientists and engineers, all with varying personalities and outlooks on the world. An easy way to pinpoint someone as the Keeper of Thought is their usage of a state known as the Trance, in which their thoughts flow freely, allowing the Keeper to process information at rapid rates. However, interrupting the Trance may lead to devastating results on the mind of the Keeper, and the result has often proved to be unpredictable. However, the Virtue of Thought deals only with the power to think, and not what is actually being thought. As a result, many Keepers of Thought have come to conclusions that many may not see as just or righteous. Some Keepers have even moved to act on them.
The Virtue of Power has often found Keepers in great fighters, leaders, soldiers, and generals. In many instances, the Virtue of Power represents something closer to Command rather than brute force, although many of its Keepers have also shown rather impressive levels of strength as well. Keepers of Power have often been described as intimidating and forceful, while others have also been described as blunt without being crude, and simultaneously extremely efficient. Due to this, it is perhaps possible that Power represents either the extension of the abilities of one man into the hearts of many, or the concentration of the power of many into the heart of one. This is further supported by the evidence that leaders who were hosts to the Virtue of Power often had extremely effective armies under their commands, and that fighters and lone individuals that served as Keepers of Power were well endowed physically, and were also able to quickly acquire new physical skills.
The Virtue of Will has proven to be one of the much more rare Virtues as far as possible historical examples are concerned. The small few who have served as Keepers of Will have proven to be driven and calm individuals, and are greatly appreciative of focus and clear-mindedness. Similar to Keepers of Power, they have proven to have a high level of physical capability, as well as the ability to manipulate energy around them using nothing but their sheer will to do so. However, it should be noted that the physical capabilities of Keepers of Will are not necessarily translated into brute strength; the prime evidence supporting this is that many of the few who served as Keepers of Will seemed to have been acrobats and performers of dangerous or otherwise daring feats. The abilities wielded by Keepers of Will require an intense amount of mental focus, and emotion has shown to get in the way of their abilities on many occasions, sometimes leading to the death of the Keeper. Much like Thought, Will is a neutral entity, dealing only with humanity's power over itself and the world around them, and not what such talent is used for.
