Darius Phen

From PRIMUS Database

Darius Phen Player: @AZSolii "I'd rather not make some metaphor involving light at the risk of sounding too cliché." Class Focus: Tanker/Protector/Healer Power Level: 40 Research & Development: Mysticism -> Arcana (400) Personal Data Real Name: Darius Phen Known Aliases: Dari, Fuzzy Species: Human Ethnicity: White (Technically) Age: 23 Height: 6'9" Weight: 488 lbs. Eye Color: Green Hair Color: ...Blue? Biographical Data Nationality: American Occupation: Philosophy Major at MCU, Writer and Assistant Editor in the Millennium City University Academic Journal of Philosophy Place of Birth: Kentucky Base of Operations: Millennium City Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Joseph Phen (Father) - Deceased Diana Phen (Mother) - Deceased Known Powers Super Strength, Super Constitution, Light Manipulation, Light Channeling Known Abilities Well-read, Writer, Mixed-Martial Arts knowledge, Investigative Skills, Innate Sense of Critical Thinking, Able to move and maneuver quickly and with purpose despite size Equipment Loose fitting clothing, weathered chain, multi-purpose communicator (ear piece and mic inside left ear, main console in his pants pocket)

Appearance

"It flows through all things, inside and outside, and returns to the origin of all things."

Darius stands just less than seven feet with a straight posture, giving a powerfully intimidating or reassuringly inspiring appearance due to his heavily muscular build. His entire body is covered in a short and decently groomed blue fur coat, though does little to hide the definition of his form. Large ivory claws emphasize his dense, hulking hands. A bestial, wolf-like head is in the place of what would otherwise be a human face, with large, sharp teeth lining his mouth. The two large canines from his upper jaw jut past his lower, resulting in a saber-tooth-like appearance when his mouth is closed. Contrasting this entire appearance are two large green human eyes, which clearly express a great deal of emotion and compassion.

His regular attire consists of loose fitting and flowing clothing, in particular, a large white open robe with gold-colored trim and baggy pants. A heavy, dulled chain that seems to have had more than its fair share of wear and tear is wrapped around his waist.

PRIMUS Registered Abilities

Darius’s abilities stem from a force which can best be described as the energy of the universe in which all things are done. By acting as a conduit of this force and letting it use him, Darius has obtained a formed a strong connection within himself which is dubbed as The Enlightened Bond. As a result, he is capable of many supernatural feats which are manifested by this conscious connection of his heart, himself, and the world around him. This same connection is what has caused him to take his altered humanoid form and innate physical abilities.

While this force is particularly aligned with light and warmth, it is neither holy nor sacred. It is a pure projection of the self and energies pertaining to it.

Super Strength/Constitution

Eh, it may not be a 1998 James Cameron blockbuster, but he can lift it!

Although large size is never a sure-fire indicator for strength, Darius plays the assumption straight. Many have speculated Darius’s absolute threshold for strength, but there is very little to give a definite answer as he does not use his abilities unless absolutely necessary. The best guess comes from witnesses confirming that he has lifted and tossed semi-trucks and freight containers, marking his strength at least fifty to one-hundred tons. However, other reports indicate that he is capable of lifting and flinging VIPER tanks and transports, though these are not yet confirmed. In melee, his is often seen fighting hand to hand with subduing, but potentially bone-shattering blows, often flinging enemies to the side away from further combat.

In addition to his strength, Darius has been known to take a tremendous amount of punishment. His work with Meta-S.W.A.T. pushed him to test the limits by taking hits ranging from gunshots, point blank bombs and missiles, and blows from super-powered entities. This resilience is further strengthened by his Light which can passively protect him when under a threat.

Light Manipulation

ZOMBIE GOASTS, LEAVE THIS PLACE!

One of Darius’s main abilities is the creation and manipulation of Light in the form of barriers, projectile bolts, and even simple light sources. In most cases, the energy is a constant flow of power, much like a river of water. Anyone able to sense an aura would be able to see his as a literal beacon of warmth. As such, using his powers is not difficult, but forcing their use can cause strain on him as well.

Darius’s barriers are formed by either subconsciously acting as a deflector for a parry in the midst of a combat or spurred as a means to protect himself from a premeditated blow (such as the recoil from one of his own punches, which can otherwise flay his skin). When touched, the barrier responds according to however it is touched. If someone simply puts a hand on one, it will react by giving a warming, calm sensation. Yet, if someone tries to push on it with force, it will push back as necessary, but never at a more than lethal force.

By conscious will or by simply letting the energy course through him, Darius can fire concentrated bursts of “hard light” from his palm. In cases when he is surrounded, he is able to let the Light course through his entire body, covering it in a temporary shell which can dull pain and protect his form.

More recently, he has managed a way to use his Light as a ground to surge forward at incredibly high speeds. He is also further able to use this trick to otherwise move quickly in a chaotic situation, subverting his large form with displays of purposeful agility.

Lastly, Darius is able to produce sources of illumination by concentrating his Light energy into his claws. There are no special properties in this other than it can light up a dark room or cavern. However, this doesn’t prevent clever applications of it (for example, using morse code with it across long distances).

Light Channeling

"Acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue."

Much like Darius is able to manipulate the flowing energies of his Light in multiple ways; it reveals its true nature and power when he simply lets it flow as a constant, unfiltered and unfettered stream. By doing this, he is able to channel his Light to others, allowing them to relax or to reinforce or speed up their natural healing from a wound.

In rare cases, Darius is able to enter a trance like state in which his movements work with the Light he manifests. From this, his actions and movements become more purposeful, almost as though he’s not even trying to act; he simply does. In this state, he is able to direct his Light to his allies, acting as a morale booster by greatly increasing their capabilities and allowing them to bounce back from otherwise crippling injury.

Personality

"If you open your eyes, night opens doors of musk, the secret kingdom of the water opens flowing from the center of the night."

When hearing him speak, many hear a calm, compassionate baritone who sounds more befitting of a quiet bibliophile whose good idea of an evening well spent is reading a book by the fireplace. While this may be a fairly accurate depiction, when taken with his physical appearance, it causes a great amount of confusion in what to anticipate from the brutish looking character.

Those who take the time to know him will find an individual with a remarkable amount of patience that often figuratively and literally rolls with the punches. When he does act, he does not strain in effort to act in resistance, but rather in tandem with the opposing force (For example, in a literal case, he will use his barriers to deflect blows. Not in resistance, but rather as a way to continue the motion of the attack and using the blows against his opponent).

He puts forgiveness above justice in nearly any sort of situation. Just as much as he may be the character to bring someone to their knees, he may also be the one to extend his hand to help them back up, regardless of what they have done.

Fighting for the sake of fighting is a concept that Darius has dropped in the past several months, finding that the price of people getting hurt, regardless of the purpose, is great and should be avoided. While originally one to take to the front lines and fight in a fray of villains by decking them in the face, Darius now holds steadfast to the mindset of acting without action, often only making his move when it is deemed necessary by his instinct and his feelings.

Despite his serious demeanor and attitude, he has a gentle and clever sense of humor, and will display it when appropriate.

History

Stuff happened and then…HOLY <expletive of choice> BLUE WOLF! PEW PEW LASER BEAMS AND STUFF!

((…actual bio in progress. I’m just going to take the Blizzard approach and say it’ll be finished when it’s finished.))

The Story So Far...

((Coming Soon™))

RP Hooks

• Those who have read philosophy journals and/or essays may be familiar with Darius’s last name of Phen, as his father was a philosophy doctorate whose papers were often published. More recently, Darius himself has decided to take up his father’s mantle in this by writing an occasional essay for the Millennium City University Press. In both his own work and his father’s, concepts of Eastern Philosophy, particularly Taoism, are heavily prevalent.
• Darius was a member of a group known as the Pack, which he believes himself to be the only mortal survivor of since the Blood Moon. The only individual he knows who is still alive is the immortal Anthony Kinistrel.
• With little to no traceable arcane source of his powers, Darius has been an enigma to several psychics and mages due to the seemingly implausible abilities he displays. However, a keen eye can observe that his abilities are not channeled from the Astral Plane, meaning they come from somewhere else…
• While Darius may be twenty-three years old, his writings and observations in the psychology and philosophy of heroism and the human conscience seem to suggest that his biological age and his own personality don’t exactly line up. Many may simply shrug it off as him just having a lot of insight, but someone may have other suspicions…
• Despite being a previous member of the MCPD, Darius is NOT a registered superhero. Instead, the profile within the PRIMUS database is one which was quickly created and maintained by the original unit director of Meta-S.W.A.T., Lt. John Wheeler.

Trivia

Facts

Seriously, he isn't a pacifist. Don't let the compassionate nature fool you.

Darius...

• …has a slight pet peeve about people making “dog” jokes about him, although typically he humors them.
• …is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, and has also taken a hand at writing himself, typically on philosophical speculation or train-of-thought style diaries.
• …may show great restraint, but he is attracted towards members of the opposite sex and is not immune to the charms of women.
• …is the meta-guardian of Sun Toki (AKA, Monkey Girl).
• …despite having wolf-like features, has a sense of smell and hearing only as strong as human limits provide.
• …does not stay for the press, unlike most heroes. Upon the completion of stopping a villain or its aftermath, Darius typically is not seen afterwards, not wanting to draw attention. However, he does not shy away from others if he is approached otherwise.
• …is not even sure where his powers stem from; he only knows that they simply “are”.
• …is rarely seen at Club Caprice. He’ll only go if he’s forced in by someone.
• …has only recently discovered what the furry fandom is. His reaction was one of awkwardness and disbelief, particularly when he saw art of himself…

Rumors

Rumor has it that...

…he is a big cuddly carebear.

…Jon Talbain is his brother.

…Dr. Henry Philip McCoy is his cousin.

…he is a werewolf.

…he was never human at all.

…novels by Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams are among his favorite books.

…he has taken lives before.

…he is a technical pacifist.

…he is legally dead.

…lives above the pharmacy in West Side, where the store owner blasted him point blank with a shotgun thinking that Darius was some sort of demon the first time he entered. The result was his first month of rent being paid for.

Quotes

Blue streak speeds by, Sonic the--no wait, false alarm.

• “For a long while, the strength I had gained with my form had caused me to crush or break nearly everything I touched. I tried so hard to control it, that it almost seemed that I would never be able to even hold a glass without cracking it. It was only after I had stopped trying and simply let go of my control that I was able to not only stop breaking drinking glasses, but shake hands without hearing a crack and even give a compassionate hug to a thankful person without causing them to gasp for air. This one lesson made me realize that I had been playing the part of the hero incorrectly. It wasn’t the fact that I was trying too hard that caused me to break things; it was the fact that I was trying.” – Excerpt from his first essay in The MCU Quarterly Philosophy Journal

• “When the life of a child not of this world was in jeopardy due to our laws and regulations, I made a realization: I don’t stand for the law. I stand for doing the right thing.” – Excerpt from his letter of resignation from the MCPD.

• “I used to believe that evil was evil and good was good, and by force and might, things could be made right. But my journeys and my own introspection have shown me that nothing in this world or others is purely one thing or another. The good and the bad come from the same place.” – To Van Loganis Skitoshov on the depths of human morality.

• “I…will…NEVER SERVE YOU!” – To Superior (@Superior) before managing to break his control.

• “I know this may sound very awkward but…I’m not ‘into’ fur…” – to Eclipse on women.

Opinions

((Place whatever the heck you want here if you have a comment about this guy))

"D has gone through some seriously rough times since I got to know him, his friends disappearin' left and right, then that whole werewolf fiasco durin' the Blood Moon. Still, he keeps a big grin on his face throughout and can bang with the best. Glad to have him as a friend." - Spitfyre

"Still waters run deep. Darius for a long time lingered in my peripheral vision, I wonder if perhaps it is a time to change that." - Striker

"He always seems kinda sad. But he's a good person, putting others first when he's obviously dealing with something big. He has my respect." - Giga Gal

"Mr. Phen. Hm. Well, for his beastly appearance, he is as afraid as anyone else. Afraid of loss. Afraid of failure. Afraid of being alone. That being said, when decent people are consumed by fear, the world is all the worse for it. I believe Mr. Phen to be a decent person." - Kastor

"It's amazing how often he'll be where he's needed most without any fanfare whatsoever, doing his job with virtually no mistakes. He may be a wolf, but he's not gloryhound. He's quiet around me, but I respect him a great deal." - Thundrax

"He's a weird one I'll give him that. He and I see the world through different eyes and our views collide but both are right. I gave him a trial one that I think few could pass and yet he went beyond that, beyond what I thought could be done. For that I see him as a powerful ally and a great friend. He also knows the best places to get food." - Van Loganis Skitoshov

Tropes

((Just a stupid for-fun section. If you want to add one that applies, feel free!))

Barrier Warrior – Slightly subverted, but otherwise played straight. Many of the barriers Darius uses also shield his punches to protect from the recoil of force. Incidentally, any blows he pulls have that wall of force to enforce it.

Combat Medic – He’s always the healer of any team he’s on…and he’ll STILL punch the boss with a haymaker to the face.

Does Not Know His Own Strength – Was played straight when he first started being a hero. This happened as a result of his trying too hard to control it. Once he learned how to trust himself, he managed to overcome this.

Fixer Sue – Typically, I’m VERY careful about how Darius goes about trying to solve a problem. But, the flexibility of his abilities still leaves me with this thought constantly in my mind when I RP. Trust me: I try to avoid it as MUCH as possible, but if I get too close to this realm in the midst of RP, I’m relying on you guys to smack me in the face. …huh…is it considered fixer sueish to fix a fixer sue from fixing?

Hard Light – Related to Barrier Warrior. His barriers and Light-based projectiles are based off of this.

Light the Way – Played straight. Each of Darius’s abilities stem from this in some way.

Neutral Good – Best way to describe his alignment: Do the right thing. Lawful or not.

The Paragon – Darius doesn’t wish to be the hero people hold out for; he strives to be the hero that people look up to as an example. He does this so that at the end of the day, others can say “Amazing, we did this all by ourselves!”

Personality Powers - …as if I need to say anything else! Both subverted and played straight!

Power of Trust – Played straight to the point that it can lead to the view that Darius is very, very naïve. He is open to nearly anyone who asks for his help, regardless if friend or foe. Takes the mindset of “You don’t need a reason to help someone”.

Technical Pacifist – Does not fight unless absolutely necessary. If he is provoked by a villain who simply wants to fight him, he will refuse. If engaged in combat, he will focus on protecting others over striking back.

To Win Without Fighting – Has often managed to avoid fights by bringing up logical points and dissuading an aggressive party from taking action.

Meta-Data

Musical Inspirations/Themes

Although The Pack (Supergroup) is long gone, he still keeps the cave they lived in maintained.

Personality/Main Theme

Cave of Mind - Joe Hisaishi - ((For those of you who recognize the tune: Yes, it is a major theme from the Miyazaki film "Howl's Moving Castle". Honestly, I feel the trumpet's melody is the outline of who he is, and when the other instruments come in, you realize he may be more than just a simple musical line. But, that's just me. That, and the title is particularly fitting, heh))

Alternate Personality Theme

Anthem - Kamelot

Motivation

Battle 1 - Yasunori Shiono

Voice Actor

Troy Baker

Inspirations

Jon Talbain [from Darkstalkers] - ((This was the blue furred werewolf character. Honestly, I had not thought of him at the time when I was in the character creator making Darius. I just thought "Eh, blue fur. Why not?!" Then I remembered this character about two months after making him and realized it was probably from this, though subconsciously.))

Zidane Tribal [from Final Fantasy IX] – ((The mindset of not needing a reason to help someone is something I wish a lot more people would employ…))

“Let’s be careful out there”-Man (My dad) – ((If there is anyone as compassionate or reliable as Darius is, it is definitely my father. Truly someone I can count on.))