Hailstorm Manifest
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
| |
| Thumbs up, can-do, let's go, JUST DO IT! | |
| Hailstorm Manifest | |
| Player: @Se7enFall | |
| Origin: | Science, Magic |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Tank |
| Security Level: | 12 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | K.K. |
| Known Aliases: | Fall |
| Species: | Unverified |
| Age: | 19 |
| Height: | Unverified |
| Weight: | Unverified |
| Eye Color: | Unverified |
| Hair Color: | Unverified |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Unverified |
| Occupation: | Vigilante |
| Place of Birth: | Los Angeles, California |
| Base of Operations: | Steel Canyon, Paragon City |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Unverified |
| Known Powers | |
| Frozen Armor, Chilling Embrace, Wet Ice, Barrage, Energy Punch, Hasten, Hoarfrost, Hurdle | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Vast technical knowledge in energy manipulation, processes and application. | |
| Equipment | |
| Modified CT5472 Power-Enhancing Suit, PPD Police Scanner, Pocket D VIP Pass | |
| Hailstorm Manifest enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic dinners, and picnics in parks. | |
Contents |
Overview
Hailstorm Herald's arrival has been...unremarkable. After visiting the City Hall in Atlas Park, Hailstorm Manifest has taken to quietly helping the local citizens in whatever perils they may find themselves in. On rare occasions, Hailstorm Manifest has accepted missions from officials in the City Hall but remains mostly dedicated to fighting crime on the literal streets of Paragon City. It seems he is biding his time in anticipation of some specific event...
Affiliations
Background
Unfortunately, Hailstorm Manifest is rather guarded about his private life. Indeed, he is only referred to as K.K. in Dr. Voldskrut's private journals (most of Hailstorm Manifest's background has been pieced together with Dr. Voldskrut's journals). However the origin of his powers can be traced back to a life form known as the Atuku. The following is 30% fact, 60% unsubstantiated hypotheses and 10% literary flair:
Pre-Hero Life
KK, actual name unknown, was a student at an undetermined university in southern California. From there, he secured an internship at the Los Angeles division of Crey Industries. Under the guidance of Dr. Voldskrut, KK quickly developed an aptitude for energy manipulation and processes. However, an otherwise smooth internship would soon be disrupted by the discovery of a rather enigmatic life form.
The Atuku
The Atuku is the name given to the substance that was at one time the subject of intense study in the laboratories of Crey Industries. Found underneath a 12-million square mile glacier on the planet Neptune, the Atuku was previously mistaken for a mere pebble--the only thing that caught the exploration party's attention was a slight red aura. However, by the time the pebble was brought to the laboratories, even the red aura had faded and the Atuku appeared to be no more noteworthy than a paperweight. However, initial scans did reveal that the core of the pebble appeared to reach temperatures that surpassed the surface of the sun (hypothesized to be reaching temperatures of up to 6,000 Kelvin). What deepened the mystery was that the core seemed to be surrounded by a shell of a frozen substance that readings have found to be at absolute zero. Theories about the Atuku range from it being an advanced battery to it being a magical talisman. Unfortunately, interest in the Atuku began to stagnate once no more definite conclusions could be reached about its origins.
Initial Contact
By the time KK began his internship at Crey Industries, the Atuku was no more than a curiosity, filed away in an unremarkable bin in one of Crey Industries innumerable warehouses. However, in exploring options for his independent research project (a requirement upon entering the final phase of his internship), he happened across the old scans of the Atuku. Eager to make discoveries that no one else could, he immediately picked up the project. Because the Atuku was still shrouded in mystery, KK was only able to interact with it under Dr. Voldskrut's supervision in an isolation chamber with all the precautions in place (isolation suits, self-contained air supplies, emergency force fields, etc). It was during one of these sessions that Dr. Voldskrut first witnessed the red aura that was reported by the exploration party that had initially discovered it. On this occasion, the Atuku began glowing as soon as KK neared it. Upon inspection, it was discovered that KK's isolation suit had been improperly sealed. However, this was curious because Dr. Voldskrut himself had previously come into direct contact with the Atuku and nothing had happened.
Further Investigation and Treachery
Although Dr. Voldskrut was initially hesitant to allow KK to come into contact with the Atuku again, KK's enthusiasm gradually eroded the doctor's judgement. On 22 May 2005, KK and Dr. Voldskrut watched as the Atuku's red glow embraced KK's exposed right hand. KK reported feeling like he was able to lower the temperature around his hand at will. After a period of lengthened exposure, the Atuku even began changing shape--in fact, it seemed that the specimen was growing. As exciting as these new developments were, the fundamental nature of the Atuku was still an absolute enigma. Finding their research capabilities limited, Dr. Voldskrut filed a report detailing their findings and asking for more funding. This is where Dr. Voldskrut's personal journals end. Although Dr. Voldskrut's journals end, news reports from relevant dates offer a continuation of the story. According to these articles, Dr. Voldskrut eventually unlocked the enigmas of the Atuku while concealing his progress from his intern. Driven to greed by the potential of the Atuku, Dr. Voldskrut attempted to use the Atuku to extort money from Crey Industries. Unfortunately, Dr. Voldskrut sorely underestimated the Atuku's potential and was killed in an explosion caused by the Atuku. Both he, the Atuku and several blocks of Crey property were destroyed.
A Temporary Deviation
KK, thought sorely lacking in proper credentials, was hired as a "general technician" at Crey Industries and given room and board. Continued college education was also provided at a Crey Industries site. However, KK was only pretending to be an unquestioning bystander. He actually had many, many questions...and few legitimate ways of answering them. During the day, he remained an unassuming intern at Crey Industries. He spent his nights apprenticed to the infamous Halcyon Herald. His dealings with Halcyon Herald are unclear, but will be dealt with in greater detail later. Although lacking in superhuman capabilities of any kind, KK quickly became a master at the subtleties behind all manners of heists, assassinations, exhortations, kidnappings, and various other forms of criminal dealings. Finally, on 11 July 2007, he broke into the innermost sanctums of Crey Industries and lifted all files pertaining to Dr. Voldskrut and the Atuku. KK's private suspicions were quickly confirmed as he uncovered what Crey Industries had so successfully covered up.
The Atuku Revealed
KK soon found that Crey Industries knew much more about the Atuku than what Dr. Voldskrut and KK reported. Crey Industries had found references to the Atuku in obscure Circle of Thorns literature (although it was known as L'shivl'ak in the readings). The readings described the Atuku as an icon of great potential that could required the presence of its "owner" to operate. The Atuku and its "owner" were to "unlock" each other's latent powers. Researchers at Crey Industries, not satisfied with the magic-laden explanation found in the Circle of Thorns readings, dug further. Their hypothesis (which is now confirmed) is that the Atuku is actually a symbiotic creature that lays dormant until its "owner" (an entity with a very specific gene pattern) interfaces with it. Included with this information was the exact location of the Atuku and a document which implied that Dr. Voldskrut may not have been simply eliminated after all.
A Hero is Born
Equipment
The CT5472 is a prototype armor based loosely off of the armor Crey Power Tanks currently wear. However, Hailstorm Manifest has removed the power source and rewired many components, converting the primary function of the armor from personnel empowerment to the manipulation and the harnessing of the ambient energy of the symbiotic relationship between KK and the Atuku. Also, because it is necessary for the Atuku to bind to KK by wrapping itself around KK's body, the armor had to be enlarged to accommodate the extra size.
The medieval design on the exterior of the suit was a purely aesthetic choice:
"Why not? I could be a chivalrous knight! And it looks badass." -Hailstorm Manifest
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