Robert was taken back to America by the Russian government with profuse apologies on behalf of the Russian people, but Robert would forever be affected by this event. He took to calling himself Vita Nexus, taking inspiration from the latin that seemed to be an institution in arcane writings and from the idea that all life he came in touch with was somehow a part of him. He redoubled his efforts to control his curse as best he could, training not just to control the curse better but to also lash out, incapacitating those who threatened him or others. When he went to university, he also registered as a superhero, and took to patrolling the streets, draining muggers and criminals into unconsciousness instead of draining innocent crowds of people to control his decay. Most importantly, he stuck by his oath: as long as he could, he wouldn't allow harm to come to anyone while he could do something. He would not allow himself to be powerless again.
After finishing university, Vita's activity becomes unclear. He believes he moved to a place known as Paragon City and continued his crime fighting there, aided financially by working as a librarian, but much more than that he cannot remember. Only two pieces of information have come to him about this time: that there was some great event that he knows only as "the Storm" that resulted in his current situation, and a single word - Eternal - is significant in some way. How, or why, he does not know.
What is known is that Vita Nexus spent at least two years in some form of alternate plane or planes. It is suspected that, during this time, he somehow made it to almost all planes that would accept life - the Yetzirah, the Briah and even the Atziluth. How he managed this without any way of doing so, or even how he survived the journey, is unknown. The next time any person had contact with him was in 2014, two years after his last known activity. He was found comatose in an alleyway in the Westside of Millennium City and taken to the Millennium City General Hospital for treatment. After an altercation with doctors there as well as the Champions, he was released on probation pending review. As of the beginning of 2015, Vita Nexus is acknowledged as a temporal refugee and citizen of America, as well as a registered superhero.
As of this moment, Vita Nexus continues the good fight. He has had to fight an uphill battle - his brief fight with Defender has put the general public on edge and the influence of the Vita Adficio has not helped matters - but his efforts have been great and he has proven himself adept at dealing with everything from the Psychos of Westside to the perils of Monster Island and beyond. He approaches everything as a chance to learn, to grow and to do as much good as he can... and if he can find some peace through keeping the Adficio's effects upon him as gentle as possible, that's just a bonus.
Powers, Skills, and Attributes
Powers
The Vita Adficio - What was once a dark curse and a death sentence for those bearing it has been subtly shaped and molded over the years into something more like a disability - a challenge, but a surmountable one. The curse itself drains energy on three main fronts, corresponding to the needs of most arcane rituals - energy of the body (physical energy, energy that does work on the physical world, exertion), energy of the mind (mental awareness, the energy of imagination and alertness, inspiration) and energy of the soul (social energy, the power one gets from being connected to another, exaltation). This leeching of energy, without guidance, is ubiquitous and insatiable. It has a varying range, being capable of drawing minute traces of energy from anywhere up to a kilometer away, but is acutely felt at a range of about fifty metres - ambient temperatures drop, movement becomes difficult as energy is sapped from muscles and electrical apparatus may fail. Additionally, acute feeling of paranoia, frustration or even rage may manifest if exposed for too long, though this level of exposure is unusual in this day and age. Finally, super-powered humans find their powers limited under the influence of the Adficio. Powers still function, but great merely becomes good and good is sapped down to barely noteworthy.
Mystic Channeling - To Vita Nexus, this curse is an opportunity to do some good in the world. He is able to direct the drain of energy to an unheard of extent for the Vita Adficio, keeping any side-effects mostly to himself in the process. Among other tricks, Vita Nexus is capable of shielding himself from significant harm by leeching energy from projectiles and blows, decaying the link between foes and breeding mistrust between criminals once thick as thieves and fatiguing mind and body into unconsciousness while maintaining vital integrity. He also uses the innate lack of goodwill his curse forces upon him as a diversionary tactic - a quick leech of an opponent's mind and soul energy will encourage emotional action, and at that moment, emotion runs towards hurting Vita, the unconsciously chosen target.
Suspected Superhuman - The Vita Adficio prevents accurate testing being performed, but it is suspected that Vita Nexus is more than human on several fronts. Despite his curse (assumably) limiting his movements and requiring more effort to simply function on a day-to-day basis, Vita is just as strong, quick and healthy as a normal person. Even more impressive, though the Adficio is a severe psychological depressant, driving a significant number of it's sufferers to drastic actions, Vita appears psychologically fine, if a little withdrawn. It has been suggested that, were the Adficio fully removed from him, that Robert Spalding would be a horrifically unbearable idealistic optimist.
Skills
Adficio Supprimere - Since birth, Vita Nexus has been trained, taught and prepared to bear the Vita Adficio. His training, the culmination of more than a thousand years of minor cantrips, meditative control and a hundred other techniques designed for those who held no mystic or martial prowess themselves, is what allows him such control over the Adficio. Indeed, he has added a (comparatively) great deal to his own arts through study and contemplation of his own. Whether by will or by distillation of good practice, none have shown such expertise in controlling the Adficio as Vita Nexus.
Arcane Study - As well as requiring some arcane knowledge to fully master the art of Adficio Supprimere, Vita has an extensive knowledge of the fundamental workings of magic. His examinations of the curse have led him to learn about rituals and curses of all sorts, as well as energy manipulation, the use of such energy in practical terms and other such teachings. Though he himself lacks the spark to use his knowledge, he is an expert in arcane theory and research.
Attributes
Will of Iron - Though Vita Nexus still isn't quite acclimatized to the idea of being killed, it is surmised that Vita is under almost constant pain on every conceivable level. His mental faculties constantly suppressed, his body under immense strain just to keep going and his soul a flickering candle in a sea of darkness... and still Vita holds his head high and looks towards the dawn. His spirit, though not overwhelming, is nigh irrepressible.
Guardian Familiar - Through accident, Vita Nexus has found himself bound to a guardian familiar - a magical pet of sorts that doesn't exist tangibly, but works to protect Vita Nexus from harm. Though it has limited power, the Guardian Familiar is capable of reinforcing Vita's mind against psionic assault and can produce simple wards to keep magic at bay. Said wards are nigh ineffectual, given that the Adficio swallows them up almost instantly, but the ability is still able to catch impact in a small way.
Weaknesses
The Vita Adficio - His greatest tool is a double edged one. Every second he isn't allowing the Adficio to drain something or someone is a second he's turning that hunger inwards, sacrificing his own health and wellbeing. Even bringing his curse to bear on an opponent isn't without risk - if he includes himself in any areas where the Adficio is draining, he can be hit doubly by the curse. His is a great skill, but one that might ultimately kill him.
Cold Vulnerability - Vita feeds off of energy of all types, including heat. While he enjoys a somewhat heightened resistance to fire, both natural and magical, cold is a particular threat to him. The Adficio turns any drop in temperature from uncomfortable to dangerous, and dangerous to potentially fatal if Vita isn't careful. Even if Vita knows about the risk, continued exposure is a dangerous prospect as the curse can easily drop Vita's core temperature very quickly.
Nobody Loves Me - Though Vita's physical and mental wellbeing are at risk from the Vita Adficio, his social status is well and truly tanked. Vita gets no love from the general populace whom he doesn't know personally, thanks to the tenuous links his soul makes with other people being shredded to fuel the Adficio. As such, any normal citizens, at best, view Vita Nexus as a vigilante that is morally questionable at best and potentially dangerous and a super-villain in training at worst.
Gear and Equipment
Gear
Pen and Pad - Vita might strike the average arcanist as an impossibility - he channels energy with such ease and he doesn't have a focus? How is that even possible? In truth, Vita's abilities are the culmination of many simple tricks and intense focus on his part. He needs nothing to keep going. That said, in his favorite trench coat, he is never without something to write on and with. Vita is very protective of his notebook, but those who ask to see what's inside can see theoretical arcane sigils, musings, sketches and all manner of writings. It is at once a field manual, a grimoire and a personal diary.
Relationships
Friends/Allies
Recently, Vita Nexus has found a group willing to accept him as one of their own - the Ultimate Guardians. Though new, he knows that he can count on them to aid him, as well as knowing that their cause is true. He is still a probationary member, though he is fast gaining friends amongst their ranks.
Enemies
Though Vita Nexus is still somewhat new to this dimension, he has nevertheless made some fearsome foes.
Koschei the Deathless
Koschei the Deathless has been active for well over a hundred years as a sorcerer of great power. His greatest conquest was over the Vita Adficio some fifty years ago by ripping the secrets from Ruby Spalding, killing her in the process. Possessing phenomenal powers, including an array of spells unequaled by any mortal practitioner and access to what seems to be a derivative of the Adficio that can be placed on unwitting people at will, Koschei has learned of Vita's existence and sees this as a way of gaining ultimate control over the Adficio's nigh limitless power for eternity.
In Vita Nexus' world, Koschei the Deathless was known as the Iron Warlock and attacked him instead of his grandmother.
General Perception
Vita Nexus is not to be trusted. Vita Nexus is a harbinger of bad things to come. Vita Nexus is to be feared. Much as he might try and work against his reputation, Vita's curse is omnipresent in his community. He can't ever seem to catch a break, despite his tireless work in keeping the streets clean on every conceivable level. If asked about, nobody will ever actually say they themselves think badly of him... it's just common knowledge he's not a good sort.
To superhumans, though, Vita is an entirely different story. Since their souls are inherently stronger than most, most heroes aren't sold by the hype. They see Vita as a firm ally with horribly bad publicity, skilled and willing to put his life on the line for good.
Roleplay Hooks
- Vita Nexus isn't exactly innocuous. He's generally given a wide berth if out in public and his presence fills any room with a deathly chill. If you want to find him, just look for the personal space bubble being rigidly enforced.
- If you're a magically inclined hero, Vita is a walking talking paradox. He's the conduit for an incredibly powerful energy source, but can't use any of it himself. He's forgotten more magical theory than most will ever know, but he's no sorcerer. If your particular school of magic doesn't know of the Adficio, then Vita Nexus is an oddity worth looking into.
- Vita Nexus has bad publicity. It's just a sad fact. He and Spider-Man could sit and talk about bad headlines for days. Anybody watching the news will see that Vita is a threat.
- To anybody who can detect extraplanar creatures, Vita Nexus appears to have been marked by all layers of the multiverse, save the Qliphothic. He bears marks of at least having been in a different aspect of the Assiah for a significant period and has alighted in the Yetzirah, the Briah and the Atziluth at some point.
- In general, if you have questions regarding magic, mysticism or arcane matters, Vita Nexus will be able to help as far as knowing what's going on. If you need a spell cast, you'll have to go see an expert.
Trivia
- Thanks to rituals involving singing and chanting, Vita actually has a relatively good singing voice. He sings a quiet baritone.
- Vita has a fondness for, of all things, tea. He is almost as much an expert on different types and preparations of tea as he is of arcana. He prefers Lapsang Suchong, a chinese smoked tea.
- Due to home schooling and a general lack of socializing, Vita's speech patterns tend towards the wordy and overly polite.
If you wish to, this is the place to speak of Vita Nexus. Anything goes - he appreciates positive comments, and is used to criticism.
