Patience Lee
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| File:Patience1.jpg | |
| Patience Lee | |
| Player: @Patience Lee | |
| Origin: | Magic |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Defender |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Patience Lee |
| Known Aliases: | None |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 31 |
| Height: | 5' 7" |
| Weight: | 105 lbs. |
| Eye Color: | Hazel |
| Hair Color: | Varies |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Confidential |
| Place of Birth: | Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Base of Operations: | Skyway City |
| Marital Status: | Confidential |
| Known Relatives: | Confidential |
| Known Powers | |
| Offensive and defensive magical capabilities | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Patience has both empathic and telepathic abilities. She also has the power to change herself into pure magical energy at will, though this will exhaust her after an extended session. | |
| Equipment | |
| Confidential | |
| No additional information available. | |
History
The Great Zanzibar
Zanzibar was born to a coven of witches living in the Smoky Mountains in the early part of the 17th century. The coven was known as the Order of the Eternal Phoenix. Their beliefs dictated that a male born to the coven was to be left in the mountains for the animals. In their minds, this was not a cruel thing. They believed that their male offspring would become the animals. Thus, they believed they were returning their boys to their own.
Zanzibar's mother, however, did not abandon her son. Oh, she took him to the mountains, as she was ordered. And she turned and walked away, in spite of the child's crying for his mother. But as soon as she had opportunity, she returned and immediately began making shelter for the boy. She cast magical wards of protection on him to prevent the predators from stealing him away. She nursed him and kept him clean and dry.
Eventually, the young boy grew into a young man. His mother never told him her name nor told him where the coven gathered. She did, however, train him in the ways of magic. Over time, the boy showed great promise and eventually became a rival to herself.
Knowing that this could pose a threat to the coven, should Zanzibar ever have found them, she took him far away and told him that he had one last thing to do before he could truly prove himself worthy of the Order. She told him that he would have children of his own one day and that he should ensure that the Order's ways would not fade away. She gave him a leather mask and told him it was the mark of the Order and that he should ensure it stayed in his family. Unsure of what she meant, but eager to please his mother, Zanzibar made the promise.
Zanzibar wandered from town to town for many days, not knowing exactly how to involve himself in the affairs of civility. Finally, he happened upon a traveling circus. He found their ways similar to his mother's and began traveling with them. About three years later, he met the woman who would become his wife, a fortune-teller named Listra Renning. Shortly after they were married, Listra gave birth to twin boys, Adam and Caden, who was born with poor health. Since he had no known surname, Zanzibar chose to give the children the surname of his wife.
Strange Prophecy
The circus refused to care for Caden, and with no money to speak of, Zanzibar and Listra made the difficult decision to give the child away. The next day, the circus arrived in Manipeg, South Dakota. While shopping for supplies in a local grocery store, Zanzibar was confronted by a strange woman who told him that the city was on the brink of total destruction and that he was the only one who could save them. When pressed for details, the woman said only that "demons will come from afar through circles of light." She told Zanzibar that his power alone could stop them. She gave him a stone and told him that he would have to sacrifice himself by containing his magical essence in the stone. The people could then use the power of the stone to stop the demons.
The Heirloom
In spite of Listra's arguing, Zanzibar agreed on the condition that the city care for his family. The deal was made and Zanzibar performed the ritual, thus preventing the invasion. Before he did so, he gave his mask to Listra. He told her to pass it on their children as an heirloom and that one day, one of his descendants would use the mask to claim the stone, his power, and ultimately, the right to join the Order of the Eternal Phoenix.
The Hand of Fate
Shortly after Zanzibar's sacrifice, the circus returned to Manipeg. Listra, missing the circus life, returned to them with her son, Adam. Caden was unable to travel because of his health and was taken in by a local couple who had been unable to have children. Before leaving, Listra gave Caden the mask of his father.
A Life Restored
Vintners by trade, the couple who adopted Caden were quite wealthy and Caden was given the best healthcare possible. In spite of this, however, Caden soon lost the fight and died. His parents, then, were completely surprised when Caden miraculously returned to life in a fiery display right before their eyes. It was discovered later that Caden was born with a genetic mutation that had both ended his life and returned him from the grave. He had the uncanny ability to manipulate fire and chose to use this power to make money. He donned the mask of Zanzibar and called himself Zanzibar Reborn.
War Breaks Out
When World War II broke out, Caden joined with the other super-powered heroes who stood against the evils of the Nazi regime. He was honored for his bravery and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for wiping out an entire platoon by melting their vehicles, weapons and clothing, without taking a single human life.
Soldier's Honor
After the war, Caden returned to Manipeg. He married Patience Warren and they had one child, a daughter they named Tara. And at the age of 22, Tara met a young soldier named Marcus Lee who was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The gallant young soldier soon swept young Tara off her feet and she followed him to Kentucky, with her parents' blessings. Caden died an old man, glad to know that his daughter was in the care of an honorable soldier like Marcus. Tara inherited the mask.
Along Came A Spider
A few short years later, Marcus was approached by his brother Nathan, who was an agent of Arachnos. Marcus' expertise in combat had proven an invaluable asset to the Armed Forces and Lord Recluse wanted him. The lure of wealth and fame got the better of him and Marcus agreed. Soon, he was involved in activities that Tara disapproved of, but Marcus refused to listen, arguing that it was Recluse's money that put a roof over their heads and kept them fed.
The Lee Sisters
In spite of the growing chasm between them, Marcus and Tara eventually gave birth to two children. The elder they named Patience. The younger, Brianna, who inherited the same genetic mutation as her grandfather, Caden.
Perhaps because of the relationship of their parents, the two girls were very close. Only three years apart in age, they did most everything together. Brianna was a bit mischievous and Patience was always there to save her from getting into any serious trouble.
Then, when Patience was 17, Marcus and Tara divorced. The girls were unaware of Marcus' Arachnos ties and their mother never told them, believing that he would never return. She packed everything up and moved the family to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Soon after, Brianna discovered her mutation when a boy named Timmy Teeson tried to rape her. Bri lost her temper and accidentally scorched his hair. Young Timmy panicked and ran out of the barn, but not before setting it ablaze.
The Legend
About five years later, Patience discovered her mother had terminal cancer. Tara died within months of diagnosis. On her death bed, she told Patience about her magical heritage and about the sacrifice Zanzibar made. She also told Patience about the stone. She told her of the legend of the Order of the Eternal Phoenix and that only a descendant of Zanzibar could rightfully claim the stone without risking the fate of the world. She gave Patience the mask and made her dying request - for Patience to reclaim the heritage and honor of her family. Patience tried to argue, saying that the heritage belonged to both Bri and herself. Tara told her that she had foreseen both girls fighting side by side against the forces of evil, Patience with her magic and Bri with her fire.
After the funeral, Patience made her way to Manipeg, where she found the stone locked away and safely hidden. She substantiated her claim with the mask and was given the stone.
She then took to the road, becoming a hero-for-hire. She gave herself the name "Virtue Girl" because she thought all superheros had to have a secret identity. ((The Adventures of Virtue Girl is a series of stories detailing Patience's exploits before coming to Paragon. I will have a link here to it when it's finished.))
Return of the Spiders
Brianna had stayed behind to tie up loose ends when Marcus arrived unexpectedly. He told Bri that their mother was narrow-minded and didn't understand the power she possessed. He told her he knew someone who could help her control her power. Bri was vulnerable without Patience there to help her and agreed to go with her father. He told her of a planned prison break at Ziggurat Prison in Paragon City. He told her that in order for her to get into Lord Recluse's good graces, she would have to be in that prison when the breakout occurred. Thus, she had to commit a crime worthy of prison time. To this day, Bri will not say what she did to get thrown in prison, but it's obviously something she is not proud of.
After the breakout, Bri was soon caught up in the Arachnos machine and found herself in a mess when Longbow agents showed up to bust a heist Marcus was leading. Marcus fled, leaving Bri behind. She fought with Longbow agents and was injured. Her face is adorned with a scar to this day that serves as a reminder to Bri of her past.
Because of the secrets she had concerning Arachnos and her father, Bri was released from Longbow custody. She went back to Gatlinburg, in hopes of finding Patience. Friends of the family told Bri that Patience had moved to Paragon City a few years before, where she had joined the fight against the Rikti. They called Patience to let her know Bri was looking for her, not realizing that Bri would go to Paragon.
Reunited
The two finally reunited in Paragon. Patience recruited Bri into the Legionnaires, a super group she had joined a few weeks prior. A couple of months later, when Flame Bandit - leader of the Legionnaires - mysteriously vanished, Patience was given the task of keeping the group together. She was finally named General of the Legionnaires.
Romance
Though her youth was wild, Patience has had few real relationships. Most of them have been utter failures. Patience often attracts men who she refers to as "chest thumpers." On more than one occasion, she has completely lost the attention of a man she was with simply because he felt the need to prove his manhood to other men in the area.
When Patience joined the Legionnaires, she had to undergo an interview process. Interviewed with her was a peacebringer named Fiona Fletcher. Patience found Fiona strangely compelling. Though she always considered herself heterosexual, Patience couldn't deny the attraction she felt for Fiona. One night, at the Legionnaire's base, the two played drinking dice, a game Fiona taught her. One of the first things Patience had learned after recovering Zanzibar's stone was that she had the power to sober herself. She had found the ability very useful in the past for finding out information and also for allowing her to be spontaneous without having to explain herself. During the game, she used her power on herself, but continued to act the part. She would drink even if she won and, when she felt she would have been sufficiently drunk, she decided to take a risk. With one big bolster of confidence, Patience kissed Fiona to see what her reaction would be. To Patience's surprise, Fiona seemed to react positively to the move. However, they both agreed not to tell anyone what happened. Patience believed this meant Fiona was not interested in a relationship. In spite of this, she continued to subtly pursue her.
About two months later, Fiona was ambushed by Nemesis and forced to go into hiding. Not knowing what had happened, Patience was an emotional wreck - though she did not show it. After several weeks with no contact from Fiona at all, Patience finally decided to accept that she was not coming back. Though she never believed Fiona was dead, she did believe she would never see her again.
As if the universe itself was trying to console her, just as she was getting adjusted to the idea of no Fiona, she met a man named Tyler whose hero name was Northern Paragon. Tyler was everything Fiona was to Patience. She almost immediately found herself infatuated with him.
Unfortunately, they were not meant to be. After only one date, Tyler also disappeared, dropping Patience even further into emotional chaos. Though she tried many times after, she just could not find that perfect someone. Ultimately, she was looking for Fiona.
It was then that Patience experienced what she would describe as the worst relationship of her life, when a young girl named Elizabeth Crey, codenamed Pink Poetry, became infatuated with Patience. Not wanting to hurt the girl's feelings, Patience tried to subtly explain that a relationship was not possible, but the girl would not have it. (It was later discovered that Liz was an unknowing accomplice in a scheme by Patience's father, Marcus, to destroy the Legionnaires from within.)
Patience found herself in an awkward position, unsure of how to handle it.
And then the universe smiled on her once again. In what can only be described as an amazing turn of events, Fiona returned to the Legionnaires. Patience found renewed hope and wasted no time telling Fiona how she felt and what had happened. But again, Fiona seemed reluctant to pursue a relationship. However, simply her presence was enough to help Patience regain focus.
Finally, the two decided to have a date. Gradually, Fiona began to open up to Patience and eventually told her that she was afraid to pursue a relationship with Patience because of their positions in the Legionnaires. Eventually, however, love conquered and the two began an open relationship.
It was during this time that Patience's sister, Bri, was married to fellow Legionnaire Joshua Stone. Afterwards, Fiona and Patience began spending more and more time together and unofficially moved in together (Fiona kept her apartment, but spent little time there.)
Soon after, Fiona found a homeless girl by the name of Liszte and brought her in to the Legionnaire base. They fed her and gave her a place to sleep. Over time, both Fiona and Patience grew a fondness for the girl. They finally asked the girl to move in with them, taking the extra room left vacant when Bri moved out. While rocky at first, the relationship among the three strengthened over time.
Full Circle
Patience experienced a transformation after her date with Northern Paragon. One night, she awoke to find that her body had completely changed into something...else. Something pure. Magic. She didn't know what was happening, but she understood that it was related to her powers. She was afraid to let anyone near her and ran far away from civilization, fearing that she would hurt someone.
She ended up in Croatoa and sought out War Witch. War Witch told her that the transformation she was undergoing was normal for a member of the Order of the Eternal Phoenix. Of course, this was the first Patience had even heard of the order. War Witch explained everything to her about the Order's history and the mask. She told her that it was believed that the Order had faded from existence. Thus, she explained, this would make Patience the High Priestess and one of the last two surviving members of the Order (Brianna being the second). When Patience asked War Witch if she should rebuild the Order, War Witch would not say. She only told Patience that the Legionnaires were her coven now and that she should not be close-minded to those who aren't magical in nature.
Patience understood this to mean that she should not worry about rebuilding the Order, but instead leading the Legionnaires to glory and restoring honor to heroes everywhere.
Then, one night, Brianna brought Patience a book that she found while remodeling their old house in Gatlinburg. The book was the diary of none other than Zanzibar himself. Though pages were missing, Patience found out from the diary that the Circle of Thorns were responsible for the destruction of the Order of the Eternal Phoenix. This put Patience on the path of vengeance, tempered only by her relationship with Fiona, who would keep her from doing anything stupid (although she still occasionally found herself, at times, in Perez Park for no apparent reason, and - during one particular mission ((during a Posi TF)), she found herself alone with one of the Circle mages).
Several days later, she encountered a man by the name of Janus Alderman who asked for Patience's help in recovering a mysterious tome that allegedly contained parts of the Codex Gigas. After receiving the tome from Patience, Janus decided to join the Legionnaires. He then told Patience about an enigmatic group known as the Squared Roses. Janus told her he believed the mages of this order to be nothing less than magical essence in human form. Of course, this intrigued Patience due to her own transformation.
Janus made the comment that these beings would need a power source. This began Patience thinking about her own power source. She knew that crystals she would scavenge from Oranbega helped to increase her power. After the conversation with Janus, she believed the crystals were her source and that this would explain why she was often exhausted after taking her magical form.
Then, during a conversation with Fiona about Patience joining with a shard from Fiona's symbiont, "Ray", Patience realized the potential. By joining not only her body, but also her magical essence, with the shard, she could have the power to literally choose how long she lived (because her power would be significantly increased). This would theoretically end her search for immortality.
The Ascended One
Soon after discovering her ability to transform into non-corporeal magical essence, Patience was kidnapped by the demoness Lilitu who indirectly explained to Patience that it was she who had engineered everything that had happened to Patience throughout her life. Not only this, but it was Lilitu who had convinced her ancestor Zanzibar to give his life all those years ago. The point? To create "The Ascended One."
Lilitu explained to Patience that she was destined to be the Circle of Thorns' champion in the eternal struggle against the Mu. Patience, however, was not a willing accomplice and soon freed herself (so she thought) from Lilitu's trap.
Time and again, Patience found herself face-to-face with the demoness. Finally, Lilitu created an alternate reality where she kept Patience for about a year and a half. It wasn't until her Praetorian counterpart tracked her captive essence to the depths of Oranbega. Jolted into reality, Patience went temporarily insane and - after turning on her captor and all but destroying her - blew a hole, quite literally, through her Praetorian self. (In the alternate reality created by Lilitu, Praetorian Patience had killed Fiona.)
After coming to her senses, Patience tried to revive her counterpart, but was too weak from her final attack on Lilitu. However, a voice from inside her told her she could save herself and her counterpart. Digging deep within, Patience found the strength and brought her rescuer back to life. However, Patience has yet to show herself publicly again.
Our Father, Who Art Incarcerated
Patience eventually found out about Bri's past and their father's connection with Arachnos. She formed a security detail to assist in locating and detaining him. Once found, the Legionnaires took proactive measures and finally arrested Marcus. He is currently incarcerated and poses no more immediate threat to the girls or the Legionnaires.
OOC Information
Though Patience does not know it, the invasion that Zanzibar thwarted was actually a Rikti scouting attempt. She still has not come to this conclusion, even though she's well aware of Omega Team and Hero 1's similar sacrifice.
Zanzibar's magical essence now resides in Patience. That is the magical "aura" that is seen when she is fighting. Zanzibar is not dead in the typical sense of the word; therefore, those who speak to the dead will not be able to communicate with Zanzibar.
The girls have a cousin - Angie, Nathan's daughter - who is now working with Marcus. Both characters (Marcus and Angie) are villains on Virtue.
