Mask Gallery - Rockstar

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NAME: Rockstar

REAL NAME: Unknown

CLASS: 2

POWERS: Made of solid rock, Rockstar possesses supernatural strength, endurance, and an immunity to biological concerns (poison, exhaustion, sleep, hunger, etc). In addition, Rockstar can control soundwaves in his immediate vicinity--granting limited flight, perfect sound mimicry, and the ability to create focused or unfocused blasts of sound.

QUOTE: "Nothing can stop the rock."

BIOGRAPHY: Crafted by a cabal of Dark Gods to bring about 'Ragna-rock' (aka 'The Rockening'), Rockstar's exact date of origin is unknown. His first reported appearance was during an archeological dig amidst the ruins of Pompeii in the 60s (allegedly, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was a direct result of him throwing one of his more 'wicked' riffs); he was activated shortly thereafter and proceeded with a brutal and violent campaign of music tours across much of Europe and later America, causing massive levels of property damage with each successive concert.

It wasn't until 1969 that he would have his fateful encounter with Euterpe, Muse of Music and Goddess of Rock, during an attempt to crash Woodstock and impose his message of 'Hate and Awesome' over one of 'Peace and Love'. The on-stage battle that ensued would be the first of many--as would his defeat at her hands. Thereafter, through the 70s and up into the mid-80s, they would fight over the future of music--Rockstar allying with its darker, destructive urges, while Euterpe fought for its aspects of creative power and joy.

During the events of 1984, Rockstar disappeared--only to resurface in the mid-90s. Since then, he has stayed relatively low-key, still working toward the 'Rockalypse'--a concert where he claims he will play the 'wicked awesome riff' which will end the world.

DESCRIPTION: 6 and a half feet tall, made of granite, and often clad in 'punkish' attire, Rockstar is, like many magical beings, difficult to grasp. He claims to want to end the world with 'the Rockalypse', a concert that he describes as one to 'end all other concerts', but it is unknown precisely what is required for him to accomplish this feat or what steps he has taken in this direction. It is believed by many high-ranking government agents that Rockstar has grown secretly fond of the world and is reluctant to bring about its destruction.

Initial analysis of his psychology reveals an intense, unprovoked hatred of everything and anything around him; he rebels against all authority without reason and looks upon anything not directly related to violence or hard rock as 'for duck-fuckers'. He is destructive, violent, and intensely interested in disrupting the status quo wherever he goes, regardless of its value.

CURRENT STATUS: Active

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Cape Gallery - The Mulligan

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NAME: The Mulligan

REAL NAME: Jack Mulligan

CLASS: Unclassifiable

POWERS: Time-travel. Mulligan can relive the same 12 seconds again and again until he feels satisfied as to the result; this allows him to 'play back' a given situation any number of times, granting him a certain degree of limited pretercognition.

QUOTE: "My super-power is kicking your ass."

BIOGRAPHY: The precise details of Mulligan's past remains a mystery; Mulligan himself appeared two years ago in a hospital in Philadelphia with no memory of how he arrived or what occurred prior. He lived on the streets for several months, using his powers to steal and survive until he was discovered by a member of the Society who was sensitive to temporal displacement. He was offered a job in Metro City as a member of Epoch--an offer which he readily took.

To this day, all attempts to discover exactly who Mulligan is or where he came from have failed. Initial telepathic scans reveals that Mulligan himself still has no idea.

DESCRIPTION: Mulligan remains one of the few capes who makes no attempt to hide his actual identity and prefers to work out of costume. He is an (assumed) eighteen year old caucasian male of average build; his preferred weapon is a Louisville Slugger and his 'costume' is usually a collared shirt and tie.

Both psych profiles and continued interaction with Mulligan have revealed a deep anti-authoritarian streak that goes far beyond a mere disrespect for those in power. He is defiant, violent, pessimistic, and prone to depression. Nevertheless, he has a considerable passion for justice and a desire to ensure that no one around him dies. Continued attempts to keep him under control have been made possible only thanks to his relationship with Paladin, aka James Montgomery; Mr. Montgomery remains one of the few people who's opinion Mulligan will respect.

Mulligan is currently involved in a homosexual relationship with James Montgomery, his teammate and leader of Epoch. Considering both Mulligan's violatile nature and his particular power, close observation of this relationship is highly recommended.

CURRENT STATUS: Active

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Cape Gallery - Paladin

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NAME: Paladin

REAL NAME: James Montgomery

CLASS: 3

POWERS: Can emit immense amounts of 'white energy' from any part of his body; this allows Paladin to create any number of simple objects. Said objects exist only so long as they remain in contact with Paladin's body. In addition, he can modify the attributes of this 'white energy', making it incredibly dense, heavy, or light.

QUOTE: "We're the good guys. We don't run away, and we sure as hell don't lose."

BIOGRAPHY: Both Mr. Montgomery's parents died in a fire when he was six; placed in the care of his aunt, he soon demonstrated considerable intelligence and a passion for fairness. He became a volunteer firefighter at the age of 15; his powers erupted shortly thereafter during a tenement blaze. Approached by the Society, James Montgomery agreed to become Paladin in exchange for a college scholarship, a considerable salary, and a position of his own choosing in the Society's ranks. Shortly thereafter, he became the leader of one of Metro City's top super-teams, Epoch.

DESCRIPTION: James Montgomery is a seventeen year old African American with an above average build; he possesses both an overwhelming desire to see justice done and an ongoing anti-authoritarian streak (demonstrated most clearly in his early negotiations with the Society and the friction he has with his handlers, law officials, and Society representatives). Intelligent, competent, and strongly religious (Christian Protestant), his psychological workup indicates an intense admiration for Sovereign and other 'incorruptibles' coupled with an equally intense dislike for the bureaucracies that surround and ultimately control them.

Despite his ongoing opposition to authority, the Society values Mr. Montgomery highly. His passion for justice, his competence and charisma as a leader, and his status as a minority have all made him a prime candidate as one of the Society's front-men--helping to maintain the Society's image as a clean, shining beacon of justice and fairplay to the world.

Mr. Montgomery is currently involved in a homosexual relationship with his teammate and second-in-command, Jack Mulligan. Our sources indicate that he has yet to express his homosexuality to family and friends--considering Mr. Mulligan's volatile nature (and his particular powerset), close observation is highly recommended.

CURRENT STATUS: Active

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Cape Gallery - Jin

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NAME: Jin

REAL NAME: Unknown

CLASS: Unclassifiable

POWERS: Ability to leap across continents, equipped with a sword that can reportedly cut through any substance, and possessing a fighting style that has been described as 'impossible, unstoppable, and utterly untouchable'. A full understanding of Jin's powers is not available at this time, largely because of a lack of experience--for example, it is unknown if she is invulnerable because no attacker has ever managed to land a hit.

QUOTE: "Break my legs and I will crawl. Break my arms and I will drag myself by my jaw. I will bite your foot even as it descends to crush my skull. So long as there is injustice, I will never cease."

BIOGRAPHY: Full knowledge of Jin's history remains elusive; America's government first became aware of her in the 1930s, while China has reports of her dating back to decades before--with more than one source putting her arrival all the way back in the early 1800s.

Jin's first encounters with the Japanese military during the Second Sino-Japanese War are what awoke American interests--although powers were nothing new in China or Japan, Jin stood out as being capable of effortlessly dispatching any opposing power regardless of their class. Though unaffiliated with the Chinese government, Jin would often join battles within her immediate proximity--protecting civilians and dispatching units who directly threatened them (earning her the popular title of '戰爭天使', roughly translated as 'Angel of War'). Japan responded with several powers of their own, almost all of whom were effortlessly slain. Notable exceptions included Shinigami and Ipponsugi, both whom allegedly surrendered to Jin and were judged 'innocent'. The details of this situation remain classified by the Japanese government.

Shortly after the Second Sino-Japanese War, Jin began an active one-woman campaign of toppling 'unjust' and 'oppressive' warlords, bureaucrats, and politicians throughout all of Asia. Inevitably, her targets were those who demonstrated that they thought themselves to be above the law; one by one, she either placed them in the hands of their people or executed them in their homes. Eye witness accounts describe how she would list their crimes in great detail; rather than denying them, her victims would often weep openly and beg for leniency. There are no accounts of Jin ever showing mercy.

American response to her was largely indifferent up until September 3rd, 1974--when, on public television, Jin landed next to Jim Brennigan, one of Pennylvania's Federal Congressmen, during a political rally not far from his home. She proceeded to list his crimes in plain, clear English--including allegations that he had participated in the murder of a young woman in Thailand during his stay there several weeks ago. Then, in front of thousands of witnesses (including Mr. Brennigan's own family and friends), she decapitated him and left.

Public outcry was immense; however, attempts to mobilize the Society against her proved unfruitful. Many Asian governments forbade American troops on their soil, and it was unknown which country Jin had left for. When evidence came out that Mr. Brennigan had visited a brothel in Thailand where one of the prostitutes had reportedly been murdered during his stay, much of the American-led anger and antagonism toward Jin had started to dissolve under the realization that it was nearly impossible to find her.

Shortly after the events of 1984, Jin disappeared into northern India. She has been missing since.

DESCRIPTION: Over seven feet tall, described as 'ferociously beautiful', with distinctly Chinese features. Jin's obsession with justice is singleminded and unwavering; she slays those she judges as unjust with no remorse or hesitation. In particular, her targets are almost always those who believe themselves to be above the law--particularly when they do harm to those who are otherwise powerless. Her fixation on administering justice for those who would be unable to seek it out for themselves has earned her a great deal of popularity among the disenfranchised in several Asian countries; it is not unheard of for people to worship her as a Goddess.

When possible, Jin seems to prefer to leave criminals to their country's respective court systems. But when it becomes clear that the court systems are unequipped to dole out reasonable justice, she will take matters in her own hands--and execute the perpetrator without fail.

It is suspected she has some means to determine guilt, but the nature of this power or its accuracy remains unknown.

CURRENT STATUS: Missing

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Classification System

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A UNITED STATES FEDERAL EMPLOYEE META-HUMAN EDUCATION INITIATIVE NOTIFICATION
FIVE SIMPLE STEPS: YOUR FIELD GUIDE TO THE META-HUMAN CLASS SYSTEM

A meta-human, or 'power', is traditionally defined as an individual who possesses traits or is capable of actions that cannot be replicated in an unmodified 'genetically standard' human being without the aid of technology or magic. Technically speaking, a significant minority of humans come under this definition. It is when the range of aberration is such that government policies of public safety, law enforcement, correctional management and national security must take them into account, that they qualify for the Class system.

The Class system is made up of five tiers, into which individuals are fitted based on their powered traits, not on their person. Ability, intelligence or personality are not taken into account – the Class system is indicative only of an individual's meta-human status. Security responses must be formulated from a much wider range of data, though the Class system is intended to provide a rapid baseline for response coordination, particularly on the field.

The five tiers to the system are as follows:

A Class 5 power is any individual who satisfies the basic definition of meta-human, with the addendum that their aberrant features are in any way relevant on commercial, criminal or security terms. A Class 5 security threat can likely be attended to with the same law enforcement and correctional staff and equipment as a non-powered individual, though extra caution is often warranted. Over 13% of the United States prison population is composed of Class 5 powers. Though individuals classified as Class 5 are legally obliged to register with the National Meta-Human Registry, they are typically not approached for Society membership or other government service relying on the application of meta-human ability.

A Class 4 power is a meta-human who, in a security situation, would require the application of non-standard tactics or equipment, though potentially implemented by standard staff. Law enforcement faced with a Class 4 security threat may or may not require the assistance of so-called 'Cape Buster' personnel, but any criminal case involving a Case 4 falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Powered Affairs. A Class 4 prisoner can be housed in the appropriate wing of a standard correctional facility and all federal buildings and security details are considered fit to process and hold a Class 4 individual when required.

Class 3 contains any meta-human who is capable, by their inherent ongoing meta-abilities alone, of representing a security threat that standard law enforcement and correctional staff and facilities are incapable of containing. Standard military procedure, however, will often suffice. Law enforcement faced with a Class 3 threat are instructed to secure the perimeter, evacuate civilians and immediately contact the BPA. The 'Cape Buster' unit's success rate of pacifying Class 3 security threats has reached almost 100% following the 1997 McKinley Act. As a result, Society intervention is no longer standard procedure in Class 3 criminal cases. The majority of Society members are themselves Class 3 individuals.

A Class 2 meta-human capable of engaging with both BPA staff and military forces. While the BPA possesses protocols and security capability for Class 2 cases, Society intervention is to be expected. Even with significant military commitment, a Class 2 threat by definition will likely result in casualties. The application of Class 2 personnel forms a major part of modern military strategy. Small Class 3 Society teams may prove insufficient, though any coordinated response from the Society against a single Class 2 individual will be a short one.

A Class 1 meta-human is an individual who, in a security situation, demands a major and ongoing military commitment or a meta-human of equal classification for resolution. A fairly accurate truism regarding this Class is “it takes one to beat one”. Successful alternatives have included military mobilisation, nuclear weapons and quantum disruptor technology, though the costs associated with these approaches have seen Society deployment remain the most common response to a Class 1 situation. Since the 1997 reformation of the BPA and Society, the Society's central mission statement is to safeguard America from the threats that cannot be dealt with any other way – the Class 1 threat. With never more than a few dozen simultaneously active in American history, any active Class 1 Society member is almost certainly a household name.

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Mask Gallery - The Grin

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NAME: The Grin

REAL NAME: Unknown

CLASS: Unknown (Variant, often treated as Class 2 equivalent)

POWERS: Unknown (Suspected to be none)

QUOTE: "..."

BIOGRAPHY: Nothing is known about the Grin's history beyond that he first began operating sometime in the mid-50s. His one-man murder spree started with several ritualistic killings, leaving his victims with a horrific grin carved into their face. The murders showed no pattern beyond proximity and convenience--he preferred victims within the Metro area, and would often kill an acquaintance of a previous victim (it was later surmised that he selected new victims based on information taken from previous ones). Despite several manhunts, he always eluded capture--until he eventually caught the attention of the Society. A strike team of capes was assembled to bring him in--and thus began his career as the number one cape-killer.

Despite an apparent lack of powers or technology, the Grin displayed a near-supernatural knack for planning, preparation, and execution. Throughout the sixties and seventies, he murdered over 46 American registered capes--and considering his propensity for silence, it is both feasible and likely that he murdered many, many more. This alone nets him the highest registered cape kill count of any mask in the history of America. In one glaringly embarrassing incident in 1982, he nearly managed to kill Sovereign--a tragedy averted only by the timely intervention of Blink.

After the events of 1984, the Grin disappeared for two decades before resurfacing amidst a renewed murder spree during the mid-2000s. His brilliantly sociopathic career ended abruptly in 2006, when, in a televised showdown between himself and the Society, the Skull shot him in the head. Though clearly killed, the Grin's body has never been found. Several cults continue to insist that he is not dead, and will one day return.

DESCRIPTION: The Grin has never been heard to utter a single word. Attempts by experts to analyze his personality based on his actions have yielded little to no results; the few patterns his killings subscribed to were often far too bizarre to provide any insight into his character. On the rare occasions that telepaths have attempted to infiltrate his mind, the end result was nearly always intense psychic trauma followed by localized amnesia. Just who he was, what he wanted, or why he did what he did remains an impenetrable mystery.

The Grin's face was never seen--only his mask, which consisted of a yellow sphere that bore an inhuman grin. The only sound he was ever heard to make was the dull grinding of teeth clenching tightly against teeth--as if his grin was growing ever tighter. He communicated strictly through pre-printed business cards, arriving on a scene to deliver a silent ultimatum that would lead to anguish and death regardless of what choice his victims made.

CURRENT STATUS: Deceased (allegedly)

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