Unchained Melody
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Contents
Personality
Melody is very aloof with an almost inhuman quality to her. Her fractured memories of her past coupled with her superhuman nature put forth the appearance that she simply doesn't understand humanity anymore. With her memories starting to piece themselves together lately her personality is turning more toward the girl that she used to be.
History
Unchained Melody has very little memory of her life previous to her rebirth. You see, Melody Griffin died in the Battle for Detroit. her last memory, and unfortunately one of the strongest memories that she possesses is the face of an office building crashing down on top of her. it sticks in her mind stronger than anything else. She sees it everytime she closes her eyes and whenever she lets her mental guard down. She uses that memory as motivation for her newfound life.
Melody Griffin was simply an unknown face in over 60,000 people that died on that day in 1992. No body was ever found and she simply became another name forgotten to history as possibly never having existed. What all but the most advanced mystics fail to realize that, that day in Detroit a force outside of our existence claimed Melody and removed her from the Wheel of Fate. Her past vanished along with her memories. She became a blank slate for the world. She reawakened to the harsh reality of the world in 2005. With only fractured memories of her past and an ingrained mission to protect Millenium City she walked naked from the dark alley she had found herself in.
She found herself in possession of strange weapons. Her arms were wrapped in golden chains called the Chains of Fate. They were not simply wrapped, but attached to her soul. She had complete mental control over the Chains and complete understanding of their purpose. She's taken to protecting her home with an endless fervor and dedication.
Equipment
Unchained Melody has access to a small amount of equipment. Due to her unique nature she doesn't have much requirement for large amounts of items.
Chains of Fate
These strange chains seem to be made of an unbreakable substance. These obviously supernatural implements are the physical embodiment of Fate. The irony is that while Melody may have been unchained from Fate, the unfettered chains of her own Fate attached to her essence, locking her in an eternal stasis. The chains seem to have no limit to their length, being able to ensnare an enemy from a long distance. The only real limit seems to be to Melody's mental control.
Aside from the physical abilities of the Chains of Fate, there's an unanswered question that even the most advanced mages don't dare to approach. The chains are able to wrench a victims fate from them, leaving them to suffer a nearly eternal agony as they relive their deaths forever. But the question is raised about what happens to those souls. There is no trace that can be identified after they die. Some suspect that the Chains are in fact an infernal relic and that Melody's heroism is simply feeding a larger evil entity. Some doubt their effect altogether, believing that the chains in fact cleanse the soul of it's prior evil. No one truly knows, not even Melody herself.
Twin Blades
The other item in her possession upon her awakening were two scabbards. The Twin Blades seem to have no definite form, in fact turning into whatever design of blade that Melody wishes. Most times they take the form of twin katanas. Melody likes the weight and ease that the katanas possess. Other forms that they've taken have been of Gladius' and Falchions; all depending on Melody's need.
They seem to be made of an unbreakable material as Melody hasn't found a way to break one yet. They take on all other properties of the blades that Melody envisions, including weight and cutting ability. These are not all-powerful blades capable of cutting anything, they're simply useful.
Powers
Melody is host to a number of powers currently, and her 'mysterious benefactor' seems to grant her more on a regular basis. Whether that comes in the form of a new power or simply greater knowledge of her abilities, they all seem to serve a singular purpose, punishing evil in Millenium City.
Immortality
Melody never ages. This is due solely to the fact that she has no Fate. She is eternally locked into her current form of a 22 year old girl. Melody hasn't currently found a way that she can be killed.
Regeneration
A beneficial side effect of her Immortality is that she cannot permanently suffer any damage. Bullet holes and burns heal nearly instantly. Holes will close up and healthy skin will regenerate after a short while. If she loses a limb it will grow back within several minutes. There are definitely limits to her abilities, but nothing that will permanently damage her. In addition to these more obvious benefits there are several that are harder to pinpoint. Toxins and poisons have no effect on her. Neither does she feel any pain, though this may be more of a function of the fact that she is dead.
Chains of Fate
These are Melody's primary weapon. They are grafted onto her soul and can never be removed or destroyed by any means currently known. They are in fact the shattered remains of her own Fate. They are unbreakable and can extend to any length that Melody wills them to. She has used them both as a weapon and to detain criminals; some at a great distance. Melody has complete mental control of the Chains, able to make them turn corners and make loops if she so wishes. Her only limitation is that she needs to be able to see where she is directing them.
Appearance
Melody is able to clothe herself in whatever she wishes. She can go from battle armor to street clothes with a thought. She finds herself wearing street clothes more and more recently as her memories seem to be straightening themselves out and she remembers that she was once a girl like the people she saves. more of her former personality is starting to come forward and it's being reflected in the clothing that she has decided to wear lately.
Physical Attributes
Melody possesses the strength and dexterity of someone who engages in heavy physical training. She was, in fact a gymnast for several years prior to her death and she possesses the agility and dexterity that she had then. She is able to lift up to 300 pounds. She has no physical need for food or water, but she occasionally chooses to eat, perhaps in an effort to relax the unnatural nature of her existence. She has no need for sleep.
Condemnation
One of her more recent abilities is her ability to Condemn evil souls. With a moments concentration a pillar of white light strikes her targets. Those who are truly evil burn away to ash, leaving those without evil intent unharmed. What these souls are condemned to, no one knows as there is no trace that there ever was a soul; it is burned entirely out of them.
Weaknesses
Melody has only one weakness, however it is a large one. Melody can never leave the soil of Millenium City. This is, however, something that she has found a way to work around to a certain extent. Melody is able to fly, so long as she brings a part of Millenium City with her. While travel inside of Millenium City isn't much of a problem, she must always remain in contact with the chunk of earth if she wishes to travel outside of its boundaries. So while she may be able to travel, she is unable to set foot in other places, making it difficult to lodge or simply visit a store or restaurant outside of the city. Maneuvering a large hunk of earth and stone inside of narrow spaces is incredibly difficult.
This weakness is double in that if she ever truly leaves Millenium City, her body will rapidly turn to ash and fade away into nothingness. This also means that her powers are greatly reduced outside of the city, only being able to draw power from the chunk of Millenium City that she uses to fly. Her Regeneration is greatly reduced and she is unable to Condemn villains outside of Millenium City.
The Truth
The Truth of Unchained Melody is something different entirely. The embodiment of Fate held onto Melody's soul after her death. Fate is neither good nor evil. Fate simply is. In some places in this world, the will of a place is such that the place seems to take on a life of its own. Such was the case of Detroit and later Millenium City. And of the more than 60,000 people that died in the Battle for Detroit, Melody's was stronger than all of the others. And so as the will of the people to rebuild and prosper was made nearly tangible, so was Melody given another life; as a protector of that will. The Spirit of Detroit raised her and made its new incarnation, Millenium City, her life force. As Millenium City deteriorates, so will Melody. As it prospers, so will she. And so it will go until the end; leaving Melody with a potentially very long lifespan. What effect this will have on her later is anyone's guess.
This Is a Work in Progress. As soon as I get back to my computer it will be fleshed out.
