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metaheroes
Pronouns: they/them
Are you over 18? yes
Contact: Discord: roximonoxide#9229 |
Current Characters: N/A
Who Invited You?:
Character Canon: 616
Character Age: 150 (give or take a quarter century)
Canon Point: current as of Jan 2022 (Wolverine #19, X-Force #26, etc.)
Link to History: Marvel Wiki | James Howlett (Earth-616)
Inventory:
→ 1 wallet containing: a government issued veteran card clearing him for metal detection due to a plate in the head. 50 bucks. The tattered page of a novel written in French.
→ 1 weathered copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
→ 1 Katana. Sheath included.
→ 1 sleeve of 5 cigars. 2 Perdomo Lot 23 Robusto. 2 San Christobal Revelation and 1 Padron Family Reserve
→ A box of matches.
→ A mickey of Alberta Premium
→ A 75 Chevy C-10
Powers:
Mutant Physiology
↳ Advanced Metabolism & Immune System: Logan's unique biology provides an accelerated healing factor, decelerated aging, superhuman strength, stamina, dexterity, metabolism and senses. In general, this means Logan heals instantly from minor injury, disease, and general environmental exposure. He is largely unhindered by toxicants like drugs, alcohol or poison. In great enough quantity common toxicants may have an effect, but his metabolism speeds up the rate of induction taking him from intoxicated to hangover within minutes. Substances known to effect him more acutely are only those created specifically to target his unique DNA. Logan's healing factor is powerful enough to overcome severe or mortal wounds, including the regrowth of limbs and organs, even restoring him from pronounced death or the decimation of all but a single cell. Severe injuries incur a variable amount of recovery time. Though Logan's immune system staves off injury and illness it does nothing to reduce pain sustained by either. Additionally, it's theorized that his own accelerated healing is the primary cause of his recurring issues with memory loss.
↳ Structural Phenotypic Traits: Logan's skeletal structure includes six retractable bone claws roughy the length of his forearms. At three in each arm, these claws release at will through channels along the palmar aponeurosis longitudinal fibres. His claws pierce the skin to extend between the knuckles on each hand. Even prior to his augmentation these could penetrate most flesh and many natural materials.
↳ Advanced Senses: Often compared to an animal, Logan's mutation is responsible for his acute senses and an inhuman capacity for animal empathy. However, his heightened sensory input can be used against him as it make him susceptible to attacks of sensory overload.
↳ Adamantium Augmentation: Experimentation left Logan's bones bonded with Adamantium Beta: A rare metal formed in the reaction between Adamantium and Logan's unique phenotypes. Adamantium Beta is capable of bonding directly to skeletal structures without inhibiting the living nature of the bone-matter. The Weapon X experiment is the only known usage of Adamantium Beta to date. As a result of this reaction and the formation of this compound inside the subject, it was discovered that Adamantium itself can regrow within Logan just as his natural bones can. When bonded with his claws these blades are capable of cutting through any solid material, with the known exception of Proto-Adamantium.
Minor Telepathic Resistance
↳ Incidental Mental Defences: Logan occasionally proves himself resistant to telepathic probing from even accomplished telepaths. This could be attributed to psi-shields implanted by Charles Xavier, his training for any number of special ops, and the natural “mental scar tissue” left by his own regenerative capabilities.
Learned Skills & Abilities
↳ Mercenary Skills: Trained as a samurai, tactician and spy Logan possesses an expertise in firearms, explosives, melee weapons and unarmed combat. Apart from his own claws, he is know to be especially skilled with the katana. As a long time covert operative, and combat specialist he's practiced many skills that would serve a mercenary, survivalist, solider, hunter and general handyman.
↳ Langauge Proficiency: A polyglot out of time and necessity, he is completely to conversationally fluent in many languages including English, Japanese, Russian, Mandarin, Cheyenne, Lakota, Spanish, French, German, Thai, Vietnamese, Farsi and DoopSpeak.
In over 150 years a litany of formative and reformative experiences have redirect the path of Logan’s life. Each one reshaping him to his circumstances and forcing him to rebuild.
Beginning with the manifestation of his mutant powers. In western Canada about the mid 1800’s, James Howlett was thrust from a wealthy home full of grim secrets into the wilds of the North West. The death of his parents and subsequent rejection by his grandfather marked many firsts; The first in a pattern of violent losses. The first blood his hands would spill. The first of many deaths to haunt him. The next time he failed to control his animal nature Rose O’Hara’s death would plunge Logan into savage isolation.
In Japan, teachers like Ogun fostered the discipline Logan needed to control his demons and an understanding of eastern philosophies. In Jasmine Falls he attempted a domestic life; something he rarely feels capable or worthy of. The loss of his wife Itsu and their unborn son would leave him with inalienable fury and regret.
Perhaps the most notable of Logan’s many entanglements, the Weapon X program, would prove the greatest known abuse of his body and autonomy. After both World Wars, another attempt at normalcy was interrupted by Department H. Their experimentation changed the course of Logan’s life and erased much that he had already lived. Weapon X cast him further into anger, confusion and mistrust while molding him into the most dangerous version of himself. What they did to him and what he did for them is something he still wrestles with.
Later, Department H would send him to assassinate Charles Xavier. Instead, Charles attempted to rehabilitate Logan’s fractured mind. This intervention would permanently put Logan’s worth as a weapon at odds with the promises of a persuasive pacifist.
Though Logan still holds his secrets tightly, he would eventually divulge pieces of himself to those closest to him; Sharing his real name with Nightcrawler, inviting the X-Men to his wedding, coming to call them family. X-Men HQ became the most reliable home he’d known. From protecting, to teaching, to opening a school in Jean’s name his experiences with the X-Men laid a new foundation for his damaged paternal instinct. Being a brother or father figure to many young mutants is an honour he think himself unworthy of but still attempts to live up to. Eventually, the return of his presumed dead son, and the culling of his other previously unknown children would set back that burgeoning instinct.
Today, Krakoa offers him a kind of optimism that makes him skeptical. As a covert operative for their burgeoning nation he sways between feeling well suited for difficult work that must be done and resigned his reputation for dirty work.
If asked, Logan would offer some cryptic cowboy wisdom about the futility of faith, but his actions suggest otherwise. His belief system is a pastiche of Eastern philosophies that emphasize inner peace over salvation. He rejects notions of idols, saviours or prophets. He lives for the moment and puts his faith in the people around him.
Logan’s history as a weapon has created something more than his makers intended: a monster compelled to make amends for his animal nature.
Though he insists on his own apathy, he holds himself to an impossible honour system that demands penance, self-reflection and keeping onerous promises like playing guardian to orphans, studiously observing of mournful anniversaries, or fulfilling a soulmates dying wish no matter how herculean the task.
Contributing to his found-family brings purpose to his life, but that purpose is rooted in shouldering tragedies and misdeeds so better people don’t have to. This creates a warped and destructive sense of self-worth.
Despite a reputation for being stubborn, Logan has proven capable of changing his mind, and admitting his mistakes. When he does refuse to budge that reputation becomes clear. His defiance usually results in fight or flight— an attack upon or defection from those making the decisions. When forced to act against his will he’ll take the decision maker to task for it, but rarely as much as himself.
In his own words, his philosophies are simple: Life is suffering. Morals are circumstantial. There’s no God. No heaven. No use for expectations. There’s only right now. Like the metal on his bones, that nihilism protects a softer truth. That his actions, though world weary, paint a portrait of an optimist. A guardian. An idealist. A philosopher. And a man whose sense of hope may prove more durable than he is.
Loss of control. Uselessness. Unworthiness. Being known for what he really is— whatever that may be.
In trying to prevent these fears from being realized he can range from aloof to hostile. He’s forever keeping people at arms length for fear of either hurting them or suffering some inevitable loss.
By his own admission he fears never making the strides towards salvation that those with faith in him hope to see. Jean, Kurt, Xavier, Amiko, Itsu, Mariko, Silverfox, they’ve all insisted on his ability to be better than he believes himself to be. While he often takes steps towards some kind of civility and domesticity he never stays there long. From running the school to leading other heroes, he eventually retreats from those obligations either out of his doubts in the system or his own deservedness.
Struggling with a sense of belonging, he creates his own traditions to maintain some connection to those he feels he's already failed. He’s also more apt to “be there” for important moments by observing from afar rather than showing up to sign the guest list.
The fear that he's right about the worst of himself makes him impulsive and reckless. It allows for the belief that taking collateral damage for others would at least be a positive use of his violent nature.
When there's no need for his violence he opts to spend his time labouring, because he judges his worth mostly by his usefulness to others.
He insists that he’s a simple man, because he weighs his own complexity in universal needs and wants. He wants peace. He wants to be wanted. He wants to belong. Unfortunately, struggling to admit this means he rarely gets what he wants and doesn’t know what to do with it when he’s got it. He’s long been stuck there between what he wants and what he deserves.
His current goals aren't explicit, but his actions suggest he's mostly interested now in taking care of the everyday needs of Krakoa through X-Force and figuring out where he fits in this new mutant society, by protecting their new home and rebuilding old relationships. As Kitty so aptly put it, he seems happy. Unfortunately for him, he’s rarely content being happy.
Like many mutants, his current life offers much of the peace he’s long sought. But too much happiness makes him suspicious. He’s seen mutant nations fall before and to keep this one safe he’ll insist on staying vigilante while other’s enjoy their levity.
A recent conversation with Scott demonstrated this skepticism with various choices they've made in building Krakoa, but loyal to a fault and not above a moment of hedonism, he's apt to enjoy what they have until their mistakes start showing up to haunt them.
Logan’s struggle with a sense of a belonging and a personal moral code that doesn’t always follow the letter of the law makes me interested in exploring the ways he might navigate the guild system in this new world. While rarely a total villain he’s certainly something of a stain on the well pressed image of a hero. He knows this. His time handling black ops like X-Force makes him a dirty little secret amongst his pacifist peers. This is a theme for him I can see lots of juicy opportunities to explore in the game.
His mistrust for government intervention and a general distaste the publicity of superhero life is liable to make him reject the Alliance. Meanwhile his desire to be good would likely see him reject the Society too. Being skeptical by nature and independent to a fault he’s apt to try to go it alone. Until he can’t. I look forward to seeing him struggle with finding his place within a system he’s unlikely to trust and people he’s fiercely loyal to.
His protective nature might make him concerned about leaving Krakoa behind, but generally, when he's stuck somewhere he adapts fast.
Samples:
Prose
Prose
Prose
First Person
Texting