Joshua Caine
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Joshua Caine | |
| Player: @coyotekid | |
| Origin: | Magic |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Blaster |
| Security Level: | 31 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Joshua Caine |
| Known Aliases: | Kleitos Drumfist, "Josh", "Big Green", and Kleitos the Traitor |
| Species: | Human/Troll |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Height: | 6'5" |
| Weight: | 230 |
| Eye Color: | Hazel |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | USA |
| Occupation: | Crime fighter |
| Place of Birth: | Unknown |
| Base of Operations: | Unknown |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Unknown |
| Known Powers | |
| Energy blasts, Enhanced Strength, Martial Prowess | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Survival Skills, Small Team Tactics, Meditation | |
| Equipment | |
| Comm unit, Hospital transporter, Criminal transporter tags, | |
| In an odd twist of fate, Joshua is now a leading member of Lt. Wincott's Troll Task Force and is recognized throughout the city for his work with the Paragon City Police Force. | |
Joshua Caine was initially created by coyotekid as a character for the The Cerulean Legion. The goal was to find an original concept that matched the same level of creative inspiration found in the Legion while using one of the more overlooked elements in the game, the Trolls. Character inspiration is a mix of The Thing, Alien Legion, and the Green Lantern Corp.
Contents |
Affiliations
Joshua is currently enlisted with The Cerulean Legion. He also has close ties with millionaire Grant Rendell which has afforded him several contacts within the upper financial circles of Paragon City. Though reclusive and typically a solo operator, he has been seen teaming with Tessa Chevoit, Dale Deering, other members of the Cerulean Legion. He has also, most recently, signed onto Vanguard and has become a fervent operative for them against the invading Rikti.
Personality
Joshua underwent massive swings in personality upon absorbing the Shard. At first, little more then a wild creature held in check by some more human part of his mind. He was prone to fits of rage and frustration which he barely kept under control.
As the Shard healed more and more of the damage done by the Superadine, Joshua regained much of his human personality. As it developed, he surprised many with his coherent thought patterns, intelligence, dry humor, and even wisdom.
Currently, he is appears to have completely moved away from any vestiges of Troll-like attitude or expression. He appears, for the most part, very well-spoken, peaceful, and warm to everyone.
It has been noted, however, in comparison to his early days as a Legionnaire, Joshua has become much more experienced and, some have reported, "hard" in his dealings with individuals. Typically reserved for the villains he faces, he has been known to show this side of himself in a few confrontations with other heroes.
Appearance
Joshua currently appears as a tall black haired, blue-green human with a perpetual glow of bright blue energy surrounding his arms and hands. The previous signs of his past life as a Hollows Troll are all nearly gone.
Powers
Energy Blast
From the beginning, Joshua was able to summon powerful blasts of blue energy from the Source Shard. That ability grew over time into a large array of practical uses, from a solid wave to a fine, thin shot of super concentrated energy.
Flight
Though his first few weeks were clumsy, Joshua enjoyed the ability of flight from the beginning. Another power granted to him from the Shard but seems to have carried over into his current form.
Hand to Hand
His past training as an undercover DEA agent as well as his rough life as a Troll in the Hollows have given Joshua an extensive arena of experience with hand to hand combat. Coupled with his ability to channel strong amounts of universal energy into his fists and arms, this makes him a very dangerous close quarters combatant.
Psionic Resistance
Joshua seems to be able to ignore or brush aside all but the more powerful psychic attacks. Whether this is due to his daily practice of meditation and other techniques taught him by Talshak or something else remains to be seen.
Toughness
Caine is incredibly tough. It is believed this is a function of several factors, some of which may be linked to his previous exposure to a Source Shard, a mental toughness from living in the Hollows, and part, perhaps, due to his personal psychology.
Character History
Pre-Shard
Little is known of his real life before absorbing the Source Shard and that lack of memory of his youth, his human life, plagues him. As a troll within the Hollows, he had risen in the ranks to become one of a group known as Atta's Guards. His closest friend, Leander Ribtaker joined him on several expeditions to attack nearby Outcasts or Skulls in the perpetual gang war within the area. Other actions Joshua was a part of are unknown at this time. As a member of Atta's Guard he was able to command a small group of lower ranking trolls, live in the wilderness for days on end, and was expected to defend his ranking within the tribe at any time by killing any challenger. Life as a troll was hard, merciless, and savage.
The Shard Chooses
--Wherein, Kleitos Drumfist acquires his powers and begins to remember who he REALLY is...
Time of Transition
Joshua spent many weeks between the Legionnaire base and the Hollows learning the basics of his newfound powers. His trollish rage and Superadine addiction subdued and controlled by the Shard, he found he was able to think more quickly and clearly. Other habits ingrained into him by life in the Hollows were harder to break. He became known as a quiet and stoic member only because he was forcing himself daily to not issue challenges, growl, or retort gruffly to those that were helping him. He decided his best option was to watch and learn.
The most difficult challenge was dealing with the response of his presence among the civilians of Paragon City. At first, he was unable to go to public places without one of the other Legionnaires with him. Attending group gatherings or group missions were a dizzying event for him. As word of his deeds spread, the drastic responses of the public around Atlas Park diminished. Eventually, the other Legionnaires decided he was safe to be on his own and Joshua, uncomfortable with being anywhere else, gravitated towards the Hollows once again.
Gaining Trust
Deciding that his work needed to first begin in the savagery of the Hollows, Joshua came under harsh scrutiny when he reported to Lt. Wincott of the Troll Task Force. With Wincott's fierce dislike of the Trolls, he begrudgingly handed Joshua his first mission which, of course, Joshua handled well. Over the next few weeks, Joshua worked hard for the Lieutenant in clearing out gang activity in the Cherry Hills area but Wincott refused to trust the shard-bearing Troll. In fact, he saw an increase in troll violence in the area as word that Kleitos Drumfist had returned to the Hollows as a traitor. Joshua met all of Lt. Wincott's challenges and, eventually, began to win the confidence of the Lieutenant. He was granted a small apartment building near the Atlas Gate since, in the words of Wincott, "He doesn't leave the area anyway."
After saving a small squad of policemen pinned down by Trolls in the southern areas of Cherry Hills, Joshua was awarded a place within Wincott's Troll Task Force and has been a recognized member ever since. Lt. Wincott speaks fondly of Caine and made it a point to pave the way for the ex-troll with other members of the Paragon Police force. Currently, Joshua and Wincott share a relationship like that between an Uncle and an older nephew.
Kleitos the Traitor
It was also during this time that Joshua began to hear what the Trolls of the Hollows, and elsewhere, were calling him. Apparently branded as "Kleitos the Traitor" by Atta himself, Joshua was to be hunted down and his head was to be brought to the Troll Chief. Joshua discovered the true force of the Troll's hatred towards him when Atta appointed his old friend, Leander Ribtaker, the command of a tactical unit of Trolls designed to hunt and kill Joshua. The two of them, Joshua and Leander, fought briefly but were interrupted by a third party of Outcasts. Shortly afterwards, Joshua went after Leander and tracked him to back to his base deep in the twisting tunnels underneath the Hollows. The resulting battle caused a cave-in and Joshua believes it killed Leander. Joshua himself took several weeks finding his way back to the surface after being cut off from the main entrance tunnel.
With the apparent death of Leander, the "Kleitos the Traitor" title began to fade away. It is still used, however, by the more hardcore and higher ranked trolls in the Hollows as well as Skyway.
Seclusion and The Turning Point
By the urgings of Legionnaire Kirste Talbot and others, Joshua began to explore more and more of Paragon. As he practiced with the powers given to him by the Shard, he discovered how to fly and came to love the rooftops of Steel Canyon. However, the modern urban landscape and culture still frightened him and he was plagued with occurrences of savagery against his villainous targets as well as bad dreams hinting at his forgotten childhood. His only peace could be found in the Hollows and it was here he returned. After an unseen incident where Joshua released a full combination of Shard power, strength, and Troll brutality on three criminal thugs in Steel Canyon, he received a cryptic message from Talshak the Mystic who haunted the ruins of Grendel's Gulch in the Hollows.
Seeing him, he discovered that Talshak knew much of who he was and what he had been dealing with. Claiming to be motivated by supernatural messages, Talshak took the young Joshua under his wing and began to tutor him in ways to control his savage nature. Removing him from the Hollows and his endless quest to rid the Hollows of all Trolls, Talshak also began to instruct him in basic knowledges such as correct speaking and reading and moved onward to concepts of philosphy and an overall worldview of things beyond Paragon. It is rumored that Joshua stayed with Talshak for nearly six months.
What is known as fact is that the Troll that returned was only a Troll in appearance. Much of what happened remains a mystery. All that has been placed together from rumors and reports is that Joshua finally left the Hollows to find his way in the outside world. It was also said that he had taken an oath which said he would not return to the Hollows unless it was to fight and defeat Atta.
From that point forward, Joshua stayed active throughout the Steel Canyon area as well as working heavily in the Faultline area.
Facing His Past and Celebrity Status
Several months past his training with Talshak. Over time, his humanity began to show more and more and the troll-like appearances began to subside. Working solo and mainly from Steel Canyon, Joshua continued to become acquainted with the various threats to the city. He continued his study of the ancient martial and spiritual cultures of Asia and due to this, pursued several leads against the Tsoo. Within no time, he became a feared opponent amongst them.
His other arena became Striga Island due to its rugged beauty and constant challenges. There he found something similar to his old territory of the Hollows. With the Council's population of monsters on the island, he found he could truly unleash some of his Troll savagery against those foes.
Try as he might to stay in the wild areas or rooftops of Paragon City, his actions eventually cast him into the public eye. When Joshua rescued kidnapped multi-millionaire Grant Rendell from an Outcast plot, it propelled him into the celebrity spotlight. Rendell, in his gratitude, could not believe that Joshua had been surviving amongst the rooftops of Steel Canyon and the rocky outcroppings of Striga Island. He graciously gave Joshua a very nice penthouse apartment at the top of the Rendell Plaza which had fallen into disrepair. He also assigned to him Serena Holden, a beautiful and highly intelligent assistant to help him Public Relations and with the pressures of the overly interested press. Rendell had chosen Serena carefully and Joshua quickly came to appreciate her candor, intelligence, strength, and stubborness.
The time eventually came when he knew it was time to face his past. On the fateful day, he flew to the Hollows and down into the lair of Atta. The battle against Atta was not, at that time, what he had expected having built the Troll leader into something far more then reality. What Joshua found was a drug ravaged man fixated on only trying to survive to the next day. Knowing that Atta would be one of the few that knew of who he had once been before the Superadine, he demanded the Troll Lord tell him. Atta struck a deal with him and handed over to Joshua a single artifact from his past life. A beaten and torn leather wallet. Inside was the ID that read "Joshua R. Caine".
It also contained a DEA Identification and a badge.
It was after this he realized that Talshak had been right. Only by facing his past as a Troll could he see how far he had outgrown them. And, in doing so, let go of their influence over his psyche. He flew back to his apartment and slept soundly clutching the leather badge the entire night.
The Head of Kaosu
In investigating the abduction of a little girl, Joshua uncovered a much larger and vicious plot against the Cerulean Legion and Paragon City. A small underground group of the Tsoo known only as the Locust Clan and led by a calculating sorceror known as The Lord of Signs and his general, Celestial Dragon, were conspiring to launch an all out assault against the Cerulean Legion. Their goal being to wipe out the Legion in its entirety.
During the investigation, Joshua met the Green Mantis, a rogue female Tsoo warrior who displayed amazing abilities of stealth and combat. The two worked together feverishly to stop the plot and it was only near the end that Joshua discovered that the Green Mantis was actually the daughter of The Lord of Signs who had come to stop her father from dishonoring her family any further. More tragically, during a showdown against the Celestial Dragon, Joshua's close friend and fellow Legionnaire Kirste Talbot sacrificed herself against the fury of the Celestial Dragon so that Joshua could escape with the abducted girl.
By the end, the entire Cerulean Legion were involved in a pitched battle to save the city and themselves in Atlas Park. As the Lord of Signs attempted to fully unleash the Head of Kaosu, he realized he might not be able to control its full power. As the Legion was embroiled in staying alive against the forces of the Locust Clan, The Lord of Sign's daughter stepped from her invisibility and stabbed her father. As he fell, he dropped the Head of Kaosu from his perch upon a high rooftop. The Head of Chaos tumbled towards the street. Only by the last desperate measures of John Talbot, Xelos Ti, Joshua, and others of the Legion, the Head of Kaosu was controlled and in a blast of Shard power, reality was contained and restructured.
In the fallout of the plot, Kirste Talbot was discovered but without her memory. The shattered Locust Clan scurried back into the shadows. Green Mantis disappeared once again after a small conversation with Joshua who was deeply shaken by the full effects of what had happened. Withdrawing into solitude for long periods, he spoke rarely with others and worked entirely alone on all other assignments.
Then, before his fellow Legionnaires or Serena Holden could have a long talk with the recovering ex-troll, he disappeared. Several weeks later, Talshak the Mystic appeared to a Cerulean Legionnaire. "Tell them he is gone," was all he said.
When asked where, the Mystic simply smiled, pointed to the sky, and teleported away.
The Return
Joshua has only recently returned to Paragon City. Everyone who has known him before has commented on the obvious changes both to his appearance and his manner. He is simply, "more human", than ever. What happened to him during his year long disappearance has not yet been revealed though it's rumored from public interviews held since his return that he had possibly been gone on a long journey, with the help of the Shard, into space.
After quietly meeting with Mr. Rendell and Serena Holden, he moved back into his apartment in Steel Canyon. Since then, he has been seen by the media getting back to the business of stopping crime and saving citizens. He recently signed on to the Star Striders Squad which specifically help defend against the growing Rikti invasions to the city.
At the end of the winter of 2008 and throughout 2009, he has been involved with several humanitarian projects. His humanitarian work includes working closely with Tessa Chevoit and her Rebound project in King's Row as well as helping new heroes arriving in at City Hall in Atlas Park. He's been incredibly busy but with Serena's help, he's been also able to keep his contacts with the media open and leverage them into helping his humanitarian projects.
Since returning, he has been very outspoken against the war-driven Rikti and has signed on with Vanguard. His recent work with them lately has brought him even more fully into the public eye since a journalist reported on his rescue of a Vanguard squad in the War Zone. He can typically be found in the Vanguard offices or working with new members of the Cerulean Legion.
The Adventures of Joshua Caine!
Below are all the stories and snippets of Joshua Caine I've written. As I get more done, they'll be archived here!
This is the original origin story posted on the Cerulean Legion forum boards.
This is an ongoing serial piece I wrote which covered the time period between a Time of Transition and Facing His Past above.
Allies
Joshua can call upon a large assembly of allies. Besides his past affiliations with the Cerulean Legion he calls the following close friends.
- Lieutenant David Wincott
In charge of the Troll Task Force and lead contact in the Hollows. Did not trust Joshua at first but now considers him nearly family.
- Talshak the Mystic
Mystic who lives an unusual life of solitude amongst and within the Hollows. As Joshua's spiritual mentor, he was key in helping Joshua deal with his savage past.
- Thao Ku
Thao worked with Joshua for a short time and trained him in the discipline of the martial arts as a way to control his fierce and sometimes savage urges.
- Grant Rendell
Multi-millionaire, socialite, and owner of several expensive properties, Rendell Plaza being one of them. Will do just about anything and spend nearly any amount to help Joshua.
- Serena Holden
Assigned to Joshua as his main assistant in helping him discover more about his destroyed past life as a human DEA agent. Also assigned to help Joshua with his public relations. Unknown to all, Serena Holden is actually in the employ of a mysterious agency that wishes to bring about the fall of several key superheroes and their supergroups. Their motives, and hers, are not entirely known.
- Green Mantis
The only thing known about the asian woman known as the Green Mantis is that she is one of the only female Tsoo and the daughter to the now dishonored Lord of Signs, a high ranking sorceror underneath the Tsoo's boss, Tub Chi.
Enemies
Joshua has several enemies which range across Paragon City. Chief among them, at this time, are the Tsoo and the Banished Pantheon.
- Leander Ribtaker
As a troll by the name of Kleitos Drumfist, Joshua had one close friend within his pack. That troll was Leander Ribtaker. When Joshua took the crystalline shard and manifested it's powers, Atta declared him Kleitos the Traitor. He placed one individual in charge of bringing Kleitos the Traitor to justice. That was Ribtaker. Angered by what he saw as the deceit and dishonor of his friend, Leander went to great lengths to subdue Joshua as he tried to survive in the Hollows. The two fought a fierce battle where Ribtaker was believed to have perished in the caverns below the Hollows.
It is now known that Leander Ribtaker survived and eventually, somehow, made his way to the Rogue Isles where he is reportedly building a small army of mercenaries to bring to his Lord Atta's aid and to destroy Kleitos the Traitor once and for all.
- The Lord of Signs
A cunning and fierce sorceror of the Tsoo, he single-handedly formed the Locust Clan as a response to the heavy attacks the Tsoo had suffered at the hands of Joshua. He devised a combination of magical alchemy and artifacts to create magical weapons in his quest to unleash the powers of the Head of Kaosu. His body was never found after the last horrible battle in Atlas Park. It is believed that he teleported somewhere to safety and found a way to neutralize the poison which covered his daughter's blade when she stabbed him.
Contact Information
In-game: @coyotekid
Forums: Coyote Kid
Email: coyotekidATGeemaildotcom (*grin*)
This article about a character is a stub -- a small, but growing, work in progress. If you're the creator of this character, why not consider expanding it?
