Planet Smasher
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| "What? You were expecting someone... bigger?" | |
| Planet Smasher | |
| Player: @Starflier | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Controller |
| Security Level: | 41 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Jeffrey Stern |
| Known Aliases: | none |
| Species: | Homo Sapiens |
| Age: | 41 |
| Height: | 6'0" |
| Weight: | 185lbs |
| Eye Color: | Green |
| Hair Color: | Red |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Professor of Astronomy |
| Place of Birth: | Paragon City, Rhode Island |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, Rhode Island |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Known Relatives: | Paula Stern (mother, deceased), Adam Stern (father), Sara Stern (wife), Adrianna Stern (daughter) |
| Known Powers | |
| Earth Control, Thermal Radiation | |
| Known Abilities | |
| PhD in Astronomy, Karate | |
| Equipment | |
| None | |
| No additional information available. | |
This character is my new main, and the first controller I've managed to get into double digits level-wise. He's also my first serious attempt at a Virtue Verse page for a hero.
Contents |
Basic Information
Personality
Dr. Jeffrey Stern is an easy going middle-aged professor of Astronomy. He takes nearly any situation, good or bad, in stride. He is outgoing and tends to be very likeable. He and his wife Sara often host parties at their home and Jeff is every bit the perfect host.
Dr. Stern, as he's known to his students is respected as a strict, but fair teacher. He keeps his student's courseload light, but steady, and makes time for students in the mornings.
Manners
Jeffrey has, from a very early age, believed in good manners. Much of this is to do with his grandfather Gordon's adage that "A touch of class is better than a boot in the ass." He is respectful and keeps his cool in even the most trying situations. The consummate gentlemen, he is nonetheless a modern man and adapts well to the people around him.
Appearance
Jeffrey keeps his hair trimmed short, but otherwise neglects to style it. His beard is well groomed. Neither hair, nor beard, show signs of graying. As a professor, Jeffrey wears a suit and tie to work. In this he attempts to set an example for his students. When preparing to fight crime, Jeffrey simply adds gloves, mask, hat, and changes over to his old bomber jacket.
History
Origin
Jeffrey was working in his observatory on the outskirts of the Talos Island district late one night when he spotted a rogue comet heading for earth. Performing some quick calculations he determined it to be heading for Paragon City. Attempting to alert the Freedom Phalanx was unsuccessful, and Jeffrey returned to his observation screens to figure out more about this comet.
It was at that point that he glanced at his computer and spotted the final, more accurate trajectory of the meteor. It wasn't heading for Paragon, it was heading straight for...
The massive chunk of rock, ice, and fire slammed into the observatory, utterly destroying the building. As the dust settled Dr. Stern found himself lying in the bottom of the crater, glowing slightly, but otherwise unharmed.
Somewhat disoriented, he crawled from the crater to the parking lot where he met with firetrucks and several heroes. By this time the orange glow had faded, but not the confusion. As firemen and heroes battled the flames, the fire chief approached Jeffrey.
"It's a good thing you weren't in there."
"Yeah, a-a good thing," muttered the still shaken professor.
"So what happened?"
"I have no idea."
A Secret Life
It was over the next couple of months that Dr. Stern discovered his abilities. It began innocently enough as he drove to work, instinctually deflecting a rock headed for his windshield. After that initial display of power, Jeffrey began to test himself in private to find the limits of his powers.
As his control over his abilities increased, Jeffrey came to believe that he must use them to make a safer city for his family and friends. To that end he has registered as the hero Planet Smasher.
Jeffrey works very hard to keep his alter-ego a secret from friends and family, knowing that if anyone should discovery his true identity it could lead to terrible reprisals from the villain community. His work as a professor and his research as an astronomer keep him out of the house for long hours, and the solitude of the observatory gives him an excellent exit for his crimefighting forays.
Nightmares
Jeffrey fears two things above all else now that he has taken up heroing.
Firstly that his identity will be made public and his family and friends made targets by villain groups he has worked against.
Secondly that his sixteen year-old daughter might discover his secret and try to follow in his footsteps.
Relationships
Family
Dr. Jeffrey Stern is married, with one child. His wife Sara of 20 years is a pediatric nurse and spends her spare time acting and singing in local theatre plays. His daughter Adrianna is sixteen and excels in her studies. She is a competitive triathlete and an environmental activist.
Allies
Being quite new to the crimefighting gig, Planet Smasher has yet to make many friends, and fewer he would consider 'staunch' allies. Among those few is the heroine known as Starflier, a one-time student of the professor's.
Enemies
Like all heroes, Planet Smasher is always fighting crime and putting villains behind bars. He has made quite a few enemies among the Skulls and the Hellions, but has yet to engage any of the city's bigger, more dangerous threats.
Supergroup
Planet Smasher is a member of Virtue's Hero League. His alter-ego is a secret from them, and he is always wearing the mask in the company of other heroes.
Powers
Planet Smasher gained his powers from exposure to radiation from the rogue comet which collided with his observatory.
Earth Control
His most prominent ability, Planet Smasher is able to control the very earth beneath his feet. He finds this somewhat ironic since he's spent his entire adult life studying the stars. Trapping enemies in stone and liquefying the earth beneath them to quicksand are just two examples of how he has adapted his considerable abilities for fighting crime.
Thermal Radiation
Planet Smasher is able to control the residual radiation which granted him his abilities. He is unsure of the source of this radiation, as it is undetectable by human means. He is fairly certain that he is no longer using the original burst of radiation. Planet Smasher has thus far learned to use the radiation to heal the wounds of those around him, and to place barriers around his allies to protect them from harm. While his radiation can heal grievous injuries, it does not eliminate pain, or completely mask the fact that an injury has occured.
Abilities
Astronomer
Holding a PhD in Astronomy from Paragon City University, Dr. Sterns is well respected as an expert on the evoloution of the celestial universe. He has published several papers on the subject, added material to textbooks, and is often approached to speak at conferences.
Karate
Shortly after beginning his life as a crimefighter, Jeffrey enrolled himself in a Karate class at the university. He believes in being knowledgeable in all aspects of a subject, and hand-to-hand fighting skills may come in handy, as will the increased coordination and fitness. It also serves as an excellent excuse for aches, pains, and bruises acquired while fighting the villains of Paragon.
