Extor Prime
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| File:Extor vv herobox.jpg | |
| Extor Prime | |
| Player: XT-0R13 | |
| Origin: | Mutant |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Controller |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Alexander Eisenstein |
| Known Aliases: | Lightforger |
| Species: | Post-Human / Energy Being |
| Age: | 32 (no longer ages) |
| Height: | 7'' |
| Weight: | Variable |
| Eye Color: | Brown / Glowing |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Jewish |
| Occupation: | Licensed Superhero, College Professor |
| Place of Birth: | Moscow, Russia |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, Rhode Island |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | None alive; parents and fiancée killed in the first Rikti attack. |
| Known Powers | |
| Energy generation and manipulation; solid light constructs, invisibility, minor invulnerability, fight, quantum manipulation. | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Highly resistant to mental attacks and probing; after transcending into energy form, no longer requires rest, sleep or sustenance. Expert linguist and computer specialist. | |
| Equipment | |
| None | |
| Alexander carries a bitter, borderline-obsessive grudge against the Rikti and the Fifth Column. On several occasions he was chastised by his peers for using what was deemed excessive force against the members of both factions. | |
Contents |
Personality
Alexander Eisenstein is optimistic, humorous, pugnacious and straightforward - sometimes to the point of being undiplomatic. He is never afraid to speak his mind, consequences be damned (though it costs him dearly at times). Being a college professor, he's a natural mentor and leader, though he rather dislikes being a "team figurehead". There's a darker side to his personality however, stemming from his vengeful obsession with the Fifth Column and the Rikti. Because of that, Alexander tends to be a loner, pursuing his own agendas in solitude for weeks at a time.
Powers
Extor Prime is the only known living Lightforger. His powers roughly correspond to the Adept level as classified in Lightforger records, but he is unique due to his Transcended status, which is normally attained only by Master Lightforgers after many decades of practice.
Lightforging
The most common and obvious ability of all Lightforgers is creation of shapes and constructs made of "solid light". These can be as simple as projectiles and forcefields, and as intricate as completely autonomous creations capable of moving, acting and fighting on their own.
Despite significant experience gained in the field, Extor Prime's powers are still relatively unimpressive in comparison to their full potential. He is able to create solid-light combat constructs that fight on his behalf, distract his enemies, or sow general chaos on the battlefield. These creations are quite durable, but they are not fully autonomous, and require concentration to be sustained.
Alexander's main offensive force is a quartet of humanoid constructs that attack both in close quarters and from a distance, using a variety of energy-based attacks. A fifth construct, affectionately referred to as "Gruesome", bombards opposition with a barrage of ultrasound and microwaves, inducing panic in living foes and disrupting control circuits in artificial opponents.
Energy Manipulation
Beyond Lightforging, Alexander's abilities include generation of energy fields that destabilize matter caught within them by weakening it on subatomic level. The results are quite debilitating, and affected enemies find themselves severely weakened and an easy target for Extor's and his allies' attacks.
Early in his career, Extor Prime learned to project brief pulses of energetic "white noise" that proved to have a scrambling effect on both organic and inorganic neural networks. Enemies thus affected displayed symptoms ranging from extreme confusion to outright frenzy, wandering about aimlessly, attacking random targets and becoming a general liability for their allies.
Alexander can also form simple, but devastating projectiles of pure energy or superheated plasma, and generate personal energy shields. He can only use these shields to protect himself - a limitation most likely stemming from his subconscious.
Minor Invulnerability
While not truly invulnerable, Extor Prime is a great deal more durable than most human beings. Though his body appears human to all senses, it is really a persistent solid-energy construct. When injured, Extor Prime can quickly reconstitute himself by concentrating and absorbing ambient energy.
Invisibility
By literally bending the light, Extor Prime can make himself and nearby allies completely invisible.
Flight
Alexander is an expert flier, and has always taken pride in his ability to soar. Early in his career, he only had marginal control over this talent, mastering "combat flight" and precision maneuvers relatively recently. This had resulted in a few rather comical incidents and embarrassing crashes... not to mention collateral damage in form of smashed windows, broken trees and destroyed car roofs. Much to his chagrin, Extor Prime is still frequently dogged by a particularly persistent reporter hoping to get a shot of him stuck in one or another obstacle head-first.
Quantum Manipulation
In the wake of the Kheldian Shift, Alexander discovered that he can access quantum-based powers manifested by Peacebringers and Warshades. This requires a lot of preparatory meditation, and blocks Extor from using his regular Lightforger powers. As these powers are not yet fully developed, Extor's Umbral and Luminal forms are significantly weaker than his Prime form - at least for the time being.
Abilities
Cerebral Fortitude
To maintain and develop his abilities, Alexander constantly trains, utilizing a daily regimen of grueling mental exercises. This grants him a certain amount of mental resilience. Extor Prime is naturally resistant to mental probing and mental-based attacks, though not entirely immune.
Self-Sustenance
Due to his status as a Transcended Lightforger, Extor Prime is an energy being - though to all senses he appears human. His body subsists on ambient energy, and he no longer has any basic human needs besides sleep. Alexander can go on for several weeks without resting, but eventually he must sleep in order to prevent mental fatigue from accumulating and disrupting his powers.
He can still consume food and drink if he chooses to, and appears to be breathing even in vacuum - most likely due to a lifetime "force of habit" translating onto his energy form. Curiously, the same "force of habit" allows Alexander to still experience the effects of alcohol - though he must imbibe a great deal more in order to feel even slightly inebriated.
Extor no longer physically ages. His appearance may eventually change to look "older" due to acceptance of advanced age, mental fatigue or trauma profound enough to affect his subconscious. It is, however, unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Shape-shifting
Over time, Extor has learned to manifest a number of appearances that he can sustain indefinitely. These include his traditional red and black "Paragon" costume, a suit of hi-tech armor (which he frequently alters), a rather ostentatious set of "faux-medieval" armor and civilian clothes of his choosing. Extor is quite particular about his appearance and frequents the Icon locations, studying the latest patterns to incorporate into his image.
It should be noted that "costume" differences are entirely superficial; for example, though one of Alexander's armor patterns includes an impressive pair of hi-tech wings, he does not need them to fly. The armors, despite looking quite formidable, do not provide any extra protection - any and all defenses that Extor possesses stem from his powers alone.
Prior to the Kheldian Shift, Alexander was been utterly unable to overcome his subconscious limitations and appear as someone else entirely. However, on one occasion a complete transformation was forced upon him during a battle with a powerful telepathic foe. Already weakened from a previous battle, Extor succumbed to a particularly vicious mental assault. His mental defenses crumbled, and he wandered off disoriented and convinced that he was a Vahzilok Luminous Eidolon. Fortunately, Alexander's subconscious reasserted itself a week later, and he regained both his wits and his normal appearance. This humiliating experience significantly impeded Extor's many attempts to master true shape-shifting.
Ironically, the mental trauma of the Kheldian Shift helped Alexander overcome his limitations. He is now able to appear as practically anything, as long as his form remains approximately human-like in size. Additionally, while accessing his Kheldian powers, Extor can replicate Dwarf and Nova forms, much like true merged Kheldians. Even so, true shape-shifting does not come effortlessly to Alexander and requires significant concentration and mental exertion.
Weaknesses and Limitations
Obsessive
Alexander is obsessed with exacting vengeance on the Rikti and the Fifth Column (and, by extension, the Council). When faced with enemies from either faction, he tends to be both reckless and merciless, which often puts him and his teammates in danger. In general, Extor Prime is known to hold long-standing grudges and be slow (if not completely unable) to forgive past transgressions. This trait drives away potential allies and has been exploited by his enemies on several occasions, and may very well eventually be the end of him.
Alcoholic
Alexander Eisenstein was a functional alcoholic prior to Transcending, his descent into addiction spurred on by loss of his loved ones. He hid the problem quite well, however - though it may have contributed to his initial recklessness and subsequent capture by the Fifth Column.
After becoming an energy being, Alexander is no longer physically addicted. However, drinking large quantities of alcohol still has a psychosomatic effect on him. He retains full control of his powers while inebriated, and his personality and behavior become even more abrasive than usual, often bordering on outright abuse. At one point this cost him the membership in a high-profile supergroup, which he left after a rather ugly public altercation with the leader.
Despite this and a number of similar incidents, Extor has made no attempt whatsoever to curb this habit, and it is likely to cost him dearly in the future.
Allies and Associates
Jade
The mysterious and dangerous woman known only as Jade teamed with Extor Prime during several extra-dimensional operations. The two formed a close friendship and continue to frequently aid one another. Jade is one of the closest allies that Extor has ever had. A vicious combatant that is a fearsome "force of nature" on the battlefield, Jade is among the few opponents whose powers match, or perhaps exceed, Alexander's. Periodically, she attempts to playfully goad the Lightforger into a friendly "contest of skill", a proposition that he seems adamant on artfully dodging every time.
Jade has numerous contacts and associates both in Paragon City and in Rogue Isles, and quite possibly "friends in high places", but much of her background remains unknown. Despite this, Alexander trusts her and counts her as a true and reliable friend.
Xynthia Blaze
Cynthia Blake (alias Xynthia Blaze) is a student at Paragon University; she attends several classes taught by Alexander Eisenstein. She inherited fire manipulation powers from her Native American ancestors and recently became a registered superhero. Cynthia does not know that the popular "Prof E" (Alexander's affectionate nickname among the Paragon U student body) is actually Extor Prime. Alexander secretly sponsors her career, having gone as far as arranging for Cynthia to receive training from Jade.
Cynthia is openly lesbian. She shares a rented apartment in Atlas Park with her longtime girlfriend, Alana Moore. Cynthia discovered her powers protecting Alana and herself against a gang of Hellions.
Invicitus
"Igor da Invincible" was a Troll Caliban whom Extor Prime apprehended during a Superadine Raid in Skyway City. Igor managed to make a partial recovery from Superadine addiction while confined to the Zig. Having regained much of his sanity and his memories prior to becoming a Troll, Igor began a slow and torturous road to redemption. Under the assumed name Invicitus, he joined Back Alley Brawler's grassroots campaign against Superadine on the streets of Paragon City, aiming to redeem as many of his former Troll comrades as possible.
Uriel Stern
Uriel Stern is a gestalt being formed from the merger of Uriel Kagan - formerly Prelate Uri'El of the Lost - and Morgenstern, an unbound Kheldian who aided Extor Prime in battle against Uri'El and the monster Kraken. Both the human and the Kheldian sustained significant mental trauma in combat - Uriel from being severed from the collective mind, and Morgenstern from Uri'El's mental attacks.
The two later merged, forming a Peacebringer that chose the name Uriel Stern for himself. While fully functional, this Peacebringer is an almost complete amnesiac, remembering nothing prior to the moment of merger.
Amish Prime
"Amish Prime" is an alternative-universe version of Alexander Eisenstein. A peaceful man with no powers whatsoever, he lives in an Amish community in Pennsylvania, in a dimension designated Omega Gamma 356X. His quiet existence was disrupted when Extor Prime ended up in Omega Gamma 356X while in pursuit of a dimension-hopping villain.
Extor and "Amish Prime" briefly met face to face, and parted profoundly disturbed by discovery of each other. Amish Prime has since become a punchline in some of Extor's dimension-traveling stories. Over the years, Alexander has made several covert visits to Omega Gamma 356X, presumably to check on his counterpart's wellbeing.
Enemies of Note
Doctor Pripyat
Boris Korshunov was once the foremost Russian expert on robotics and cyber-organic modification. He volunteered to join the Liquidators during the Chernobyl disaster, and his robots saved countless lives during the reactor containment phase. Sadly, radiation exposure from working on contaminated equipment eventually drove Boris insane. He then escaped into the ghost town of Pripyat, taking it over with a sophisticated network of reprogrammed robots and makeshift traps, claiming that he was "saving" it.
Doctor Pripyat, as he now called himself, was eventually driven out by a Spetznaz task force. Since then, he resurfaced all over the world, committing crimes that are both brazen and bizarre with the aid of a small army of weaponized robots. In Paragon City, the Doctor finally met his match in Extor Prime; the two tangled on several occasions. At one point, Doctor Pripyat joined forces with the deranged telepath Mindgamer - a union that proved as short-lived as it was powerful. Though the two scored an impressive victory over the Lightforger at one point, Extor was later able to turn the two against each other. The ensuing confrontation ended with Mindgamer dead, and Boris thrown in the Zig.
The Doctor recently broke out of the Ziggursky Penitentiary, and is undoubtedly working on rebuilding his robotic army somewhere in the Rogue Isles.
Mindgamer
Genevieve Gossen, alias Mindgamer, was a particularly powerful telepath born in Rogue Isles. She was drawn into the ranks of Arachnos at a young age to be trained as a Fortunata. The strength of her telepathic gift, however, bordered on unmanageable, and eventually her sanity crumbled. Genevieve briefly made a name for herself by embarking on vicious, but largely pointless rampages with death toll reaching hundreds, and survivors left mindwiped or driven insane.
Mindgamer formed a brief alliance with Doctor Pripyat, and the two bested Extor Prime in a pitched battle during a raid on Paragon City. Genevieve's mental assault temporarily overwrote Extor's consciousness, persuading him that he was a Vahzilok Luminous Eidolon. This was the one and only time a complete transformation was forced on Alexander. The trauma of it possibly deprived him of the ability to shapeshift.
Mindgamer and Doctor Pripyat's alliance fell apart shortly thereafter. In the fight that ensued, Genevieve Gossen was killed by Volkodav, Pripyat's Assault Bot.
Uri'El
Uri'El was a Pariah Prelate of the Lost, who conspired to sabotage Extor's attempt to recover a number of the Lost with Midnighter Lost Cure. Using his telepathic abilities, Uri'El managed to set the monster Kraken on Alexander while the latter was in Perez Park. The battle against the Kraken and a number of advanced Lost would've ended quite badly for Alexander if not for the interference by an Unbound Kheldian.
The Kheldian's assistance allowed Extor Prime to drive away the Kraken and use the Lost Curing Wand on Uri'El and his cohorts. Unfortunately, Uri'El succumbed to mental shock when he was severed from the collective consciousness of the Rikti. Though his human form was restored, his mind was irreparably damaged.
Speedo Jogger
The strange "villain" known as the Speedo Jogger seems intent on regularly atagonizing Extor Prime for no other reason than to be beaten and end up in the papers. Though the Jogger possesses minor invulnerability and a degree of enhanced speed and strength, he is barely a match for regular beat cops, much less a Lightforger. Nevertheless, the ridiculous man (who legally changed his real name to Buff Studman) continues to commit petty crimes with the express purpose of attracting Extor's attention.
After a recent arrest, Speedo Jogger was interviewed in his jail cell by a freelance reporter. The Jogger was quoted saying that he aims to end Extor's superhero career by gradually discrediting him - after all, "nobody looks particularly good fighting a guy in a pair of Speedos".
Character History
For Alexander Eisenstein, metahuman "powers" were always a part of his life, though he never paid much attention to them. Endowed with an amusing, but rather useless ability to project flashes of light and create simple, intangible 3D images by will alone, he never considered himself a potential superhero. Instead, the 28-year-old Russian immigrant devoted his life to his one true passion: teaching.
One of the youngest tenured professors ever at Paragon University, Alexander quickly became popular with both the faculty and the students. Intent on furthering his career as an educator, for a time he was happy, leading a stable - if rather unremarkable - existence as the world around him changed at the hands of metahumans.
The Rikti Invasion of 2002 brought an end to that.
The horrific event that took the lives of both his parents and his fiancee awakened Alexander's slumbering bravery and resolve. When he was treated for injuries sustained during the invasion, a series of routine tests revealed more about his abilities, which he previously thought useless. They stemmed from a peculiar flaw in Alexander's genetic makeup, and with training, could be developed into functional superpowers.
Inspired by heroes that stood against the tide of the Rikti in Paragon City, Alexander did his best to research and develop his gift. His first humble ventures were nothing more than scraps with petty criminals that infested the city. He did not bother with a mask or a secret identity at the time, seeing himself more as a weekend warrior and a neighbourhood watchdog than a superhero. Somehow, Alexander's actions attracted the attention of the Fifth Column; one night he was followed home, overpowered, severely beaten and taken to a secret lab beneath the ruins of Baumton.
Alexander's memories of what followed are tarnished at best, and most he can recall is being subjected to horrific torture. He was eventually rescued by a mysterious individual, who gave him an old journal containing clues to the true nature and extent of his powers. With his mysterious benefactor's help, Alexander escaped from the lab, taking the label from the force cage where he was kept as a morbid souvenier. His superhero identity's name, Extor Prime, is derived from the designation assigned to him by the Fifth Column, "Subjekt XT-0R13".
Studying the journal, Alexander discovered that he was one of a long lineage of mutants who call themselves the Lightforgers. Their powers manifest in a variety of forms, most notably allowing them to manipulate energy on subatomic levels, and create constructs of solid light. To develop, a Lightforger must constantly train and attain great mental discipline; otherwise, his powers begin to slowly fade and eventually disappear altogether. The oldest and most powerful Lightforgers transcend their material existence and become immortal beings of pure energy. They are purported to have truly godlike powers that let them manipulate the foundations of reality itself. However, all of them have retreated to a higher plane of existence for reasons known only to them. Alexander's mysterious savior turned out to be the last transcended Lightforger who lingered to pass on the mantle. The Fifth Column were aware of the nature of Alexander's powers, and intended to devise a way to either duplicate the mutation, or transfer the powers to a different host. Fortunately for Alexander, the lab and most personnel associated with Projeckt Sternlicht were destroyed during the Council takeover and he was spared the further pursuit by the Neo-Nazis.
Since the incident, Alexander has taken great pains to protect his true identity. Donning a mask and a costume of his own design, he continued his crusade against the many enemies that now plagued Paragon City as Extor Prime. Obsessively seeking vengeance against the Rikti, he joined the Vanguard and volunteered for a number of high-risk missions. During the course of one such mission, Extor came face-to-face with Hro'Dtohz, the Rikti Lord of War himself. The powerful alien made a mockery of Extor's powers, easily defeating him. As Alexander lay dying at the feet of Hro'Dtohz, the shock of his horrific injuries triggered the next evolution of his Lightforger powers. In a blinding flash of light, Alexander's shattered body was gone, replaced with a construct of solid energy. Shocked, and perhaps recognizing a greater threat than he could handle, Hro'Dtohz teleported away.
Recent Events
Alexander Eisenstein continues his tenure at Paragon University, doing his part as the whole city tries to eke out some semblance of normalcy. His career as a registered superhero takes more and more of his time. Thankfully, as an energy being, Extor no longer needs sleep, rest or sustenance, which allows him to lead his dual life with relative ease.
Alexander constantly trains and practices, pushing his powers to new limits. For a while, his powers seemed to hit a "plateau", which caused him great frustration. Ironically, his anger allowed him to tap into abilities he did not previously possess - projection of blasts and shields composed of pure superheated plasma.
Extor is fearless, and takes on tasks that some might consider suicidal, particularly when Rikti are involved. He takes his role as one of city's protectors seriously, though often without much regard for the image he projects. Though his intentions are for the most part noble, Alexander tends to brood and hold grudges. His vengeful obsessions often get the best of him; on some occassions, his methods were called into question by his peers. Extor Prime makes no distinction between the Traditionalist and Restructionist Rikti, referring to the entire race as "slugheads". He does little to hide his distaste for working with friendly Rikti when the situation calls for it. Extor may have even gone so far as to manipulate events in such way that put Rikti Traditionalist allies in harm's way during missions, though no definite proof of it exists. It should be noted, however, that Alexander is extremely protective of the Lost, seeing them as innocent victims of the invasion. He clandestinely sponsors research for a conventional Lost Virus cure, and volunteers for Lost recovery raids when Midnighter magic-based Curing Wands are available.
Extor Prime seems unable - or unwilling - to stick with any one group or team for too long, striking out on his own sooner or later. The extent of his lone-wolf pursuits is known only to him. Extor has few allies and many powerful enemies, whom he has been able to keep at bay thus far - though just barely. Whether he manages to stay alive on his own or his stubborn independence eventually spells his doom remains to be seen.
Kheldian Shift
In early 2009, Alexander was exposed to a massive energy spike resulting from a simultaneous explosion of four Shadow Cysts. The damage was grievous enough to significantly disrupt his energy form. Extor only survived by entering a meditative coma for several months, slowly reconstituting his body. After he awoke, Alexander was unable to access his powers for quite some time.
When his abilities at long last reasserted themselves,Extor discovered a curious side-effect of his near-death experience. Apparently, by concentrating and meditating for several hours, he could "reconfigure" himself to copy attributes and powers of merged Kheldians of either type, though not at the same time. Accessing Kheldian powers also prevented Extor from utilizing his regular Lightforger repertoire. Extor's Kheldian powers currently operate at moderate levels, and he continues to enthusiastically train and explore them.
While accessing Kheldian powers, Extor Prime gives off an energy signature that represents him as a Peacebringer or a Warshade, though he lacks a symbiote of either type. This causes a great deal of confusion, especially when dealing with true Kheldians. Unfortunately, the energy signature also attracts the attention of the Nictus and their Void Hunter underlings.
