Presto chango
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| The Master of Misdirection! | |
| Presto Chango | |
| Player: @SusieBot | |
| Origin: | Magic |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Controller |
| Security Level: | 6 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Unknown |
| Known Aliases: | n/a |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 35 |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 152 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Green |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | United States Citizen |
| Occupation: | Stage Magician, Amateur Detective |
| Place of Birth: | Unknown |
| Base of Operations: | Founder's Falls, Paragon City, RI |
| Marital Status: | None |
| Known Relatives: | Unknown |
| Known Powers | |
| None | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Illusionist, Escapist, Mesmerist | |
| Equipment | |
| Wand | |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
BACKGROUND
The Travelling Years
The early years of Presto Chango, Master of Misdirection, are a mystery known only to Presto himself, and to Sanjay, his Hindu assistant and bodyguard. The man known as Presto Chango first appeared twenty years ago at the London manor of Roger Whiterock, famed stage magician. The boy begged the elder master to instruct him in the art of illusion and, through persistence and unwavering dedication, convinced Whiterock to do so. Presto studied with Whiterock for ten years, before inexplicably disappearing from London. Whatever transpired between them, Whiterock seemed perfectly happy to never set eyes on Presto again.
Presto next appeared in Manhattan, where he ingratiated himself to famed escapist Nicholas Stradovsky. For a year, the two were inseparable, and Presto learned many of Stradovsky's secrets. The two appeared to part on good terms, and maintained correspondence until Stradovsky's untimely demise in a botched escape.
For a year, Presto wandered North America, finding magicians of renown and exchanging secrets with them. During this trip, Presto began his epic work, "On Magic", a treatise detailing magic as a set of basic principles from which all illusions could be derived. The book is as yet unfinished, and Presto's intent regarding the book is unknown.
The following year found Presto in India, studying the mesmeric mysteries of the great yogi. From there, and now accompanied by Sanjay, he travelled to Tibet and Nepal to study the meditative techniques of the Buddhist masters. From there, he travelled to Romania, studying the unique confidence techniques of the gypsies, and thence to Rome to study chemistry with Giovanni Tutti.
Star of the Stage
Eventually, Presto appeared in Paragon City, and began his meteoric ascent to the upper echelons of the magic world. His shows, infrequent and often at short notice, were the stuff of legend, featuring illusions that had never been seen in the United States. He was paid vast amounts to appear at private functions, and turned away yet more money from misguided individuals asking him to act as a clairvoyant, spiritual guide, or paranormal investigator.
Presto constantly emphasized that his feats were mere illusions -- that any man or woman, sufficiently trained, could do them. Never the less, he seemed to be a magnet for "supernatural" trouble. In time, he became known as a debunker of charlatans. With his keen mind and encyclopedic knowledge, Presto had a unparalleled ability to tear asunder the veils of trickery surrounding scam artists and con men.
Magician Detective
His career took a decidedly different turn with the murder of Georgianne MacMillan. The girl had disappeared for a week, only to reappear murdered in Perez Park amidst the trappings of a supernatural ritual. Police suspected cult activity, while those close to the girl claimed that she consorted with demons.
Presto, as a favor to the girl's father, investigated her murder. After a week-long inquiry, Presto revealed the decidedly mundane truth -- that the girl had been killed by a jealous suitor, and that the "supernatural" angle had been cooked up by the young man and his friends. The case ended in a chase across the rooftops of King's Row, with Presto capturing the boy with an impromptu illusion.
The newspapers of the day seized upon the story, and Presto was labelled as the "Magician Detective". Rather than eschewing the label, Presto seized upon it, befriending the chief of police and offering his assitance in the strange and unusual cases that plagued Paragon City.
PERSONALITY
Presto the performer is flamboyant, eloquent, and outgoing. While on stage, or working on a case, he presents himself as the consumate showman. Always immaculately dressed and groomed, he is ever-ready to take the stage.In private, Presto is quiet and serious. His singular goal in life is the accumulation of knowledge and the perfecting of his craft. For Presto Chango, to be anything less than the greatest illusionist in the world is utter failure.
ABILITIES
Illusionist
Presto Chango has travelled the world studying under the greatest living illusionists, and has plumbed vast libraries of magical secrets in pursuit of knowledge. This intensive study, coupled with countless hours of practice, has made Presto one of the most skilled illusionists in the world today. His abilities in sleight-of-hand, misdirection, and large-scale illusions are virtually unparalleled.
In recent years, Presto has extended his repertoire to include "impromptu" magic -- large-scale illusions that lack the preparation and foreknowledge of traditional stage illusions. It is these illusions that Presto relies on when he is forced to do battle with the forces of evil.
Escapist
In his travels, Presto Chango has studied with a number of talented escapists -- most notably the Russian "Master of Escape" Nicholas Stradovsky. Presto has made the techniques of these mentors his own and, after hours upon hours of practice, has memorized techniques for escaping from a variety of bindings, handcuffs, straitjackets, and more elaborate deathtraps such as water tanks.
Presto always has secreted on his body any number of picks, files, and saws needed to realize his escapes.
Mesmerist
Presto Chango has studied under the world's greatest swamis and gurus, and mastered their techniques in mesmerism. Given time and concentration, Presto can hypnotize almost anyone, and convince them to do his bidding.
Presto has diligently been perfecting a technique of "flash hypnotism", but it has only reliably worked against the very weak-minded. The public at large also believes that Presto has telepathic abilities. He has denied this.
EQUIPMENT
Wand
Presto's wand is a miracle of modern engineering, designed by famed Swiss inventor Henrich von Streusel. Via a compressed-air mechanism, the wand can be used to fire a number of projectiles a distance of several meters. Presto utilizes this ability in his stage show, but it is invaluable in his crime-fighting activities. Presto has developed numerous cartridge projectiles for the wand, which he carries secreted on his person. These cartridges, no larger than a thimble, can contain potent knockout gasses, deployable nets, oils, glues, and even super-cooled gases.
ASSOCIATES
Sanjay
Presto's only close companion is his mute Hindu servant, Sanjay. What transpired between these men while Presto was studying in India is unknown, but Sanjay has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to lay down his life for Presto. Sanjay has intimate knowledge of Presto's magical techniques, and often assists in their execution. Via elaborate disguises, he has even been known to double for the magician when it was required.
Sanjay, trained in the art of stealth and assassination by the Thuggee cults of his homeland, is never seen, but he is seldom far from Presto.
TRIVIA
- Presto is a pulp-era magician detective, in the tradition of Mandrake (in appearance) and the Shadow (in his reliance on illusionist's techniques). He was the result of a week-long jam session where I created a half-dozen pulp characters and played them all to level 5, as a precursor to applying to the Barnstormers.
- While the pulp influence is clear, Presto is actually most informed by James "The Amazing" Randi. Presto's insistence that his abilities are simple illusions, and the complete absence of "magic" from his repertoire, as well as his role as "debunker" are all inspired by Randi.
- I have already written two chapters of a full-on Presto pulp, "The Death Cabinet", as an exercise in finding the character's voice. I intend to keep working on it.
Coming soon! Stories! Art! Other...stuff!
