Malfire
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Putting the flunk in flunky | |
| Malfire | |
| Player: ElCucuy | |
| Origin: | Mutant |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Corruptor |
| Threat Level: | 42 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Lawrence Flambeau |
| Known Aliases: | French Fry, Malfy |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 27 |
| Height: | 5' 10" |
| Weight: | 165# |
| Eye Color: | Red |
| Hair Color: | White |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Canadienne |
| Occupation: | Unemployed |
| Place of Birth: | Gatineau, Quebec, Canada |
| Base of Operations: | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Parents |
| Known Powers | |
| cellular control at nuclear level | |
| Known Abilities | |
| safecracker, demolitions, electronic security expert | |
| Equipment | |
| Kevlar costume | |
| No additional information available. | |
Malfire started out as a costume experiment trying to blend three colors. When I had picked three colors I really liked (red/yellow/white), the suit obviously said "fire powers". Having no characters it fit, I decided to create a new character to fit it. I had yet to play a Corruptor; I was avoiding it because I'd always had a strong dislike for the gameplay of the Defender archetype. So he was truly a disposable character.
Because of my detachment, he became a really despicable villain, barely even liked by those that he works with. As his character developed more and more, and I found I truly enjoyed playing the Corruptor archetype, Malfire's personality took off to the point where he quickly became one of my favorite, and higher level, characters.
"Sure thing, boss."
-Malfire
Contents |
Affiliations
Malfire is known to work with Arachnos. He is also an active member of The Crime League.
Personality
Malfire likes to think of himself as a big shot, a powerful villain to be reckoned with. In truth, his nuclear powers are phenomenal, and only seem to be growing. But Malfire has been on the wrong side of the playground for so many years that he really doesn't have the backbone or the confidence to do anything truly extraordinary. In addition, he is fairly indecisive and is easily talked into others plans, which beats having to put together one of his own...a thought that secretly terrifies him. Because of this, Malfire has always played the lackey, the right hand man, or even the minion on occasion.
Powers
Radiation Blast
Malfire has long since honed his abilities to control radiation and turned the gift into a variety of lethal attacks. His signature move is to generate laser beams from his eyes. He will generally use these beams to all manner of effect: opening safes, melting windows and lighting cigarettes.
Thermal Radiation
Lawrence's first manifested powers allowed him to manipulate cellular structures, either to benefit (by repairing tissue and invoking regeneration) or harm (by breaking down nuclear bonding). He uses his arms in elaborate gestures to accomplish these feats, but it is not known if the gestures are required or simply another of his attempts to draw attention to himself.
Additional Powers
Super Speed
Malfire is able to use his abilities on his own cellular structure to 'enhance their efficiency', as he calls it. This allows him to push his body to achieve unimaginable speeds. These changes do not seem to be having any long-term side effects, except for profuse sweating when Malfire uses his super speed.
Concealment
In addition to aiding him in rapid movement about the Rogue Isles, Malfire is also able to use this tremendous speed to move so fast as to avoid being seen or even picked up via regular surveillance devices.
Fitness
Spending most of his adulthood in the Ziggurat didn't give Lawrence a lot of options for picking up new skills, but he did find time to work out. He's no longer the doughy French-Canadienne kid who got pushed around on the playground. With his new physique, he's now the lean, muscular French-Canadienne kid who gets pushed around the Rogue Isles.
Weaknesses and Limitations
Malfire isn't a long-term planner. In addition, his decisions are very much governed by his emotions. What results is a relatively unsuccessful criminal career.
Character History
Lawrence was always an outcast child, small and picked on by the others, usually ridiculed for his extreme sweating, a rare condition diagnosed shortly after birth. He was always a handful, always into mischief, and from what can be learned from his elementary school records, not the brightest of students. It was no surprise when his parents divorced, both blaming him for ruining their marriage. He was quickly turned over to the state for care.
Upon puberty, Lawrence began to physically alter. His appearance became more and more inhuman, much to the chagrin of his caregivers. His skin became more ashen colored each year. His irises became misshapen and blood red in color. His incisors grew to a fearsome length. Some who saw him said he was starting to look like a devil. The children, instead of being spooked by his odd looks, just found more and more to bully and terrorize Lawrence with. The abuse became nearly constant, and Lawrence withdrew into a solitary world of comic books, video games, and television.
One day, while being picked on by a group of teens, Lawrence felt the anger in him rise to an uncontrollable level. He began glowing with a nauseating green energy, driving the boys away and eventually to the hospital. Taken away by the authorities, Lawrence was remanded to a Crey-sponsored state facility for study. It was soon ascertained that Lawrence was able to produce atomic fission at times of heightened stress. Through a vast array of tests, Lawrence learned that he could both harm and help things depending on what types of energy he created and where he directed it.
Soon realizing that he was in danger in the labs, Lawrence managed to escape. It wasn't long afterward that he ran afoul of U.S. law and was sent to the Ziggurat Penitentiary in Paragon City. There he spent most of his adult life, a hanger-on of whichever crime faction was currently on top. In the Zig, he learned the way of the world, or at least the underworld, and worked out endlessly to bulk up. After his accidental escape during an Arachnos raid, Lawrence put together a costume like one he saw in a forgotten comic book and took the name Malfire. While he now possesses the strength and control of his powers to make his name as a major villain, he does not possess the mental fortitude or confidence for anything so lofty. As such, he is usually found serving as a lackey to more ambitious villains like General Nacht, Imperialus, or Mr. Malice.
Trivia
- On Malfire's first foray into Paragon City, he was defeated by the Jolly Viking, the hired spokes-hero of the Jolly Viking Ice Cream Company. Even though the Jolly Viking uses hi-tech gear on par with that issued by Longbow, his role as spokes-hero for the ubiquitous ice cream company makes the Viking a less than fearsome hero in the minds of most villains. That Malfire was soundly defeated by the Viking is an embarrassment that he tries to keep secret.
- Malfire's original name used when he escaped from Crey was French Fry. After it was met with nothing but laughter, he sought a new name. For the record, he did not come up with the name Malfire. His cellmate in the Zig thought it up.
