Revision as of 05:36, 17 December 2013

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(( This is a background writeup for a character of mine that I've had in mind for a year or two, but this doesn't mean that it can't be used by other players as an explanation for where a character gets a power source from, or anything like that. This entire thing is totally and completely open. Additionally, all information on this page is ICly available.

If anyone has any questions about this stuff, feel free to contact @MainframeError in-game or here on PDB, or D-Pad on the CORP forums. ))

Overview

The Virtues of Humanity, also known simply as the Virtues, are a group of re-occurring individuals throughout the course of history. Although the sides that they take differ, as well as the forms they inhabit, it is known that at least one Virtue is present in the world at any given time; as soon as someone carrying a Virtue passes on, the essence of their Virtue is transplanted into another individual, even if the Virtues take years or even generations to grant themselves to a new host. The Virtues each operate differently, though older records indicate a possibility that they all amplify each other when brought within close proximity to each other. The powers granted to an individual depend entirely on the Virtue that they have received, with said powers being the embodiment of that particular virtue.

It is important to remember that despite their names, the Virtues themselves are neutral entities. Although the Virtues are embodiments of moral excellence as well as various human traits, the Virtues do not compel their carriers towards any particular action or faction, and instead leave them to use their gifts for whatever purpose they may see fit.

What Are the Virtues?

The Virtues, in their purest forms, are "spiritual" representations of human traits and moral standards. Each Virtue represents a different facet of the human experience, and once they find a human shell in which to deposit themselves, they amplify that particular facet of the person's being, turning them into a perfect example of that particular Virtue. Despite a decent amount of research going into uncovering more about the Virtues, information on specific Virtues is quite scarce. As a result, exactly how many there are, and what their powers are, are rather scarce.

Currently, there are two confirmed Virtues alive today. The Virtue of Thought is currently embodied in a newly-emerged supervillain responsible for the theft of a gem from a high-security bank vault. His Virtue appears to have granted him a high level of psychic and empathic powers, as well as possible others that have not yet been observed. The Virtue of Kindness currently appears to belong to retired activist Martha Goodwill.

Additionally, two questionable Virtues have also been observed. A Moonlighting hero by the name of Lightbringer displayed powers similar to the Virtue of Subtlety before his death, and a woman that has previously broken away from operations with the Virtue of Thought appears to display tendencies and powers that are in-line with the Virtue of Will.

It is also of note that it seems that the Virtues naturally attract each other. Those in possession of a Virtue are able to sense the Virtues of others in some form or fashion, even if they may not know what exactly these feelings are attempting to denote.

History of the Virtues

Although information on the Virtues themselves is scarce, there are enough pieces of information throughout history that appear to relate to the Virtues in order to make the creation of a rough history possible.