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[Mutants & Masterminds] A World Less Magical But No Less Fantastic
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<blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8377618" data-attributes="member: 30538"><p><span style="font-size: 26px">Shinji Higashikata</span></p><p><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-5gxVZ6R/0/e5af23cc/S/sample-3011b93994466692be6ecb59d9d36c23-S.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></p><p></p><p>In Japan's underworld, the mystics speak in terrified tones about the Shēngxiào, a dark agency of powerful entities who destroy any who dare oppose them, except for <em>that person</em>. They speak in frustrated tones about the Ghost Sweepers, the group who seems to act with the blessing of the mundane state and has ruined so many clever schemes, often with the assistance of <em>that person</em>. And from time to time, someone will start talking about <em>that person</em> directly, and be quickly silenced, out of sheer paranoia that doing so will attract the attention of the greatest mystical power in Japan.</p><p></p><p>Higashikata Shinji was one of the founders of the group that became known as Ghost Sweepers, just over a decade ago, and was installed as its leader because of his vast and undefined mystical powers. Eventually, he retired from that position to take up an advisory role within the Yokoyama Group, out of concern that his vast power would cause disaster if used so freely as it had been. Nevertheless, he remains willing to exert himself, when matters call for it, descending to lend his aid to the organization he helped to found.</p><p></p><p>It's all a crock, a farce. Deception and delusion reign supreme even among those who imagine that they know the hidden truths of the world. Higashikata was (and is) a confidence artist who got caught up in the events that created the Ghost Sweepers. Realizing that he was completely helpless in the face of the powers and principalities that the team was confronting, he created a myth about his own vast power and wisdom, employing it as a defense and a weapon. When they were succeeding, it was through the use of his power, too subtle for any of them to detect. When they were failing, it was despite the best efforts he was putting forth, and yet if they just kept trying, perhaps he, and they, could break through.</p><p></p><p>And it worked, for years. Eventually, he was moved upstairs to exert his powers for the financial benefit of the Yokoyama Group. This was what he'd been angling for the whole time. He doesn't have to do much, just make oracular pronouncements and take the credit that people are far too willing to give him for their own success. For this, he's paid an almost embarrassing amount of money and could live like a king. Of course, that would attract far too much attention, and so he lives simply and modestly.</p><p></p><p>There's just one problem -- this life is pretty darn boring. Actually, there are a lot of problems besides that. When we practice to deceive, we often start by fooling ourselves, and the truth is that Higashikata Shinji is not nearly as much of a greedy and selfish person as he likes to think. He was (and is) badly frightened by what he learned through the Ghost Sweepers' cases, but he didn't use his talent for deception to escape from this situation. (Admittedly, he had no idea where he could go that the opposition couldn't find him.) </p><p></p><p>Instead, he used those talents to help others who <em>could</em> successfully oppose these forces, and often worked to keep them on their feet and saved their lives. Most of those who were his colleagues, especially Sayo Asagiri, have Higashikata figured out, but respect his courage and well-hidden conscience enough to avoid ruining his mystique. They often end up suppressing groans when he shows up to 'help out' due to his boredom, but he continues to use his wits and ridiculous talent for telling plausible lies for their benefit, so they in turn continue to protect their former captain, no matter what.</p><p></p><p><strong>Shinji Higashikata -- PL 6</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong></p><p><strong>STR</strong> 1 | <strong>STA</strong> 1 | <strong>AGL</strong> 1 | <strong>DEX</strong> 3 | <strong>FGT</strong> 3 | <strong>INT</strong> 4 | <strong>AWE</strong> 5 | <strong>PRE</strong> 4</p><p></p><p><strong>Powers:</strong></p><p><strong>Vast and Undefined Mystical Abilities, The Likes of Which You Cannot, Nay Dare Not, Imagine:</strong> Actually doesn't have any - 0 points</p><p></p><p><strong>Advantages:</strong></p><p>Assessment, Benefit 2 (independently wealthy), Connected, Contacts, Daze (Deception), Defensive Roll 2, Fascinate (Deception), Improved Defense, Jack-of-all-trades, Languages 2 (English, Korean, others, [Japanese is native]), Leadership, Set-up, Skill Mastery (Deception), Taunt, Teamwork 2, Uncanny Dodge, Well-informed.</p><p></p><p><strong>Skills:</strong></p><p>Athletics 4 (+5), Close Combat: Unarmed 2 (+5), Deception 7 (+11), Expertise: Business 6 (+10), Expertise: Magic (INT-based) 6 (+10), Expertise: Streetwise 5 (+9), Insight 6 (+11), Investigation 6 (+10), Perception 3 (+8), Persuasion 5 (+9), Sleight of Hand 5 (+7), Stealth 5 (+6), Treatment 2 (+6).</p><p></p><p><strong>Offense:</strong></p><p>Initiative +1</p><p>Unarmed +5 (Close Damage 1)</p><p></p><p><strong>Defense:</strong></p><p>Dodge 5, Parry 5, Fortitude 3, Toughness 6/1, Will 9</p><p></p><p><strong>Totals:</strong></p><p>Abilities 44 + Powers 0 + Advantages 21 + Skills 31 + Defenses 12 = 108 points</p><p></p><p><strong>Offensive PL:</strong> 3</p><p><strong>Defensive PL:</strong> 6</p><p><strong>Resistance PL:</strong> 6</p><p><strong>Skill PL:</strong> 6</p><p></p><p><strong>Complications:</strong></p><p><strong><em>Profit--Motivation. Responsibility--Actual Motivation. Friendship</em></strong> (Ghost Sweepers organization.) <strong><em>Reputation</em></strong> (vastly powerful mystic.) <strong><em>Secret</em></strong> (complete fraud.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Davies, post: 8377618, member: 30538"] [size=150]Shinji Higashikata[/size] [img]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-5gxVZ6R/0/e5af23cc/S/sample-3011b93994466692be6ecb59d9d36c23-S.jpg[/img] In Japan's underworld, the mystics speak in terrified tones about the Shēngxiào, a dark agency of powerful entities who destroy any who dare oppose them, except for [i]that person[/i]. They speak in frustrated tones about the Ghost Sweepers, the group who seems to act with the blessing of the mundane state and has ruined so many clever schemes, often with the assistance of [i]that person[/i]. And from time to time, someone will start talking about [i]that person[/i] directly, and be quickly silenced, out of sheer paranoia that doing so will attract the attention of the greatest mystical power in Japan. Higashikata Shinji was one of the founders of the group that became known as Ghost Sweepers, just over a decade ago, and was installed as its leader because of his vast and undefined mystical powers. Eventually, he retired from that position to take up an advisory role within the Yokoyama Group, out of concern that his vast power would cause disaster if used so freely as it had been. Nevertheless, he remains willing to exert himself, when matters call for it, descending to lend his aid to the organization he helped to found. It's all a crock, a farce. Deception and delusion reign supreme even among those who imagine that they know the hidden truths of the world. Higashikata was (and is) a confidence artist who got caught up in the events that created the Ghost Sweepers. Realizing that he was completely helpless in the face of the powers and principalities that the team was confronting, he created a myth about his own vast power and wisdom, employing it as a defense and a weapon. When they were succeeding, it was through the use of his power, too subtle for any of them to detect. When they were failing, it was despite the best efforts he was putting forth, and yet if they just kept trying, perhaps he, and they, could break through. And it worked, for years. Eventually, he was moved upstairs to exert his powers for the financial benefit of the Yokoyama Group. This was what he'd been angling for the whole time. He doesn't have to do much, just make oracular pronouncements and take the credit that people are far too willing to give him for their own success. For this, he's paid an almost embarrassing amount of money and could live like a king. Of course, that would attract far too much attention, and so he lives simply and modestly. There's just one problem -- this life is pretty darn boring. Actually, there are a lot of problems besides that. When we practice to deceive, we often start by fooling ourselves, and the truth is that Higashikata Shinji is not nearly as much of a greedy and selfish person as he likes to think. He was (and is) badly frightened by what he learned through the Ghost Sweepers' cases, but he didn't use his talent for deception to escape from this situation. (Admittedly, he had no idea where he could go that the opposition couldn't find him.) Instead, he used those talents to help others who [i]could[/i] successfully oppose these forces, and often worked to keep them on their feet and saved their lives. Most of those who were his colleagues, especially Sayo Asagiri, have Higashikata figured out, but respect his courage and well-hidden conscience enough to avoid ruining his mystique. They often end up suppressing groans when he shows up to 'help out' due to his boredom, but he continues to use his wits and ridiculous talent for telling plausible lies for their benefit, so they in turn continue to protect their former captain, no matter what. [b]Shinji Higashikata -- PL 6 Abilities: STR[/b] 1 | [b]STA[/b] 1 | [b]AGL[/b] 1 | [b]DEX[/b] 3 | [b]FGT[/b] 3 | [b]INT[/b] 4 | [b]AWE[/b] 5 | [b]PRE[/b] 4 [b]Powers: Vast and Undefined Mystical Abilities, The Likes of Which You Cannot, Nay Dare Not, Imagine:[/b] Actually doesn't have any - 0 points [b]Advantages:[/b] Assessment, Benefit 2 (independently wealthy), Connected, Contacts, Daze (Deception), Defensive Roll 2, Fascinate (Deception), Improved Defense, Jack-of-all-trades, Languages 2 (English, Korean, others, [Japanese is native]), Leadership, Set-up, Skill Mastery (Deception), Taunt, Teamwork 2, Uncanny Dodge, Well-informed. [b]Skills:[/b] Athletics 4 (+5), Close Combat: Unarmed 2 (+5), Deception 7 (+11), Expertise: Business 6 (+10), Expertise: Magic (INT-based) 6 (+10), Expertise: Streetwise 5 (+9), Insight 6 (+11), Investigation 6 (+10), Perception 3 (+8), Persuasion 5 (+9), Sleight of Hand 5 (+7), Stealth 5 (+6), Treatment 2 (+6). [b]Offense:[/b] Initiative +1 Unarmed +5 (Close Damage 1) [b]Defense:[/b] Dodge 5, Parry 5, Fortitude 3, Toughness 6/1, Will 9 [b]Totals:[/b] Abilities 44 + Powers 0 + Advantages 21 + Skills 31 + Defenses 12 = 108 points [b]Offensive PL:[/b] 3 [b]Defensive PL:[/b] 6 [b]Resistance PL:[/b] 6 [b]Skill PL:[/b] 6 [b]Complications: [i]Profit--Motivation. Responsibility--Actual Motivation. Friendship[/i][/b] (Ghost Sweepers organization.) [b][i]Reputation[/i][/b] (vastly powerful mystic.) [b][i]Secret[/i][/b] (complete fraud.) [/QUOTE]
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