Shadowstormm
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| The Shadowstormm | |
| Player: @Hollow Point Heroism | |
| Origin: | Natural |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Blaster |
| Security Level: | Achieved Omega level Clearance as of 11/6/07 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | De'Havaland, Adrian Graeham |
| Known Aliases: | Shadow, Stormmy, Spikey, Grae, "Paragon's Grim Huntsman", "Oh Fuck, NOT HIM!" |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 27 |
| Height: | 6'5" |
| Weight: | 231lbs |
| Eye Color: | Grey |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Licensed Hero, Former Mercenary |
| Place of Birth: | The De'Havaland Estate on the Northen-most tip of Talos Island (now demolished) |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Maria De'Havaland (Mother, deceased), Marco De'Havaland (Father, alsoThe Black Iscariot, Deceased), Olivia De'Havaland (Sister, also Graywing), Agetha Morcombe (Aunt, deceased), Ryan Morcombe (Uncle, Deceased) |
| Known Powers | |
| None aside from intense physical training, firearms know how and advanced tactical knowledge. | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Advanced firearms aptitude, Demolitions expertise, Advanced knowledge of combat on various terrain and flight via an anti-gravity device. | |
| Equipment | |
| Cerberus Military Armaments MPAR-38 multi-purpose assault rifle, Colt Python, Numerous pieces of combat hardware, Throwing Knife. | |
| No additional information available. | |
The Shadowstormm was born from a combination of Moon Knight, The Punisher, The Phantom with the speech patterns of a surly Jayne Cobb of 'Firefly' fame.
Contents |
Affiliations
Shadowstormm has been rumored to be operating with an enigmatic group of Vigilantes known only as The Blood Angels, a group known for their brutal and remorsless approach to crime and for being about as dangerous collectively as a velociraptor in a crowded room. It is rumored that this organisation actually stems from several harder hitting members of the Guardian Angels, now defunct thanks to a vicious smear campaign by a corrupt senate-hopeful.
Outside the mask, Adrian De'Havaland also maintains a small group of regular aquaintences, with some of them managing to break through his somewhat cautious demeanor and establish themselves as friends, and on the rarest occasion: Family.
Personality
Adrian has grown up with the typical, sharp intellect and determination that finds it's way to many soldiers, mercenaries and men and women skilled in the art of putting very big holes in people while tactically avoiding the same situation themselves. While usually posessed of a quiet, calculating and occasionally downright icy demeanor, he secretly maintains a noble and curiously empathic streak which has been known to unsettle certain people, not expecting understanding and empathy from a heavy-handed vigilante.
However, his approach to being the Shadowstormm is one of a burden of responsibility. In his own mind, the deeds performed while wearing the mask are not derived from a twisted enjoyement, but rather a solemn notion that so long as HE continues to make the difficult choices, the personal sacrifices and maintains the will to do what is neccesary, someone else won't have to.
That said, any question or counter-argument in regard to his methods is met with stubborn vehemence, occasionally bordering on fierce zealotry. To him, his modus operandi is an inflexible point, both from a matter of duty, and to again keep others from having to walk the same path.
Powers
Shadowstormm has no inherent powers of his own. He instead relies on his intense physical training and weapon skills to carry him through along with his myriad of high tech gadgetry.
Equipment
Cerberus Military Armaments MPAR-38 Multi-Purpose Assault Rifle
Developed as a man portable, multi caliber, multi function weapons platform capable of out-stripping the OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon). The MPAR-38 'Ashenhammer' assault rifle is capable of firing a literal library of ammunition types ranging from 00 buckshot to M30 Grenades and high power anti-armor sniper rounds. It even carries an under-slung micro flamer for situations where heavy anti personnel measures are needed.
The Lion's Fang
A large throwing knife given to him by his former commander, a mercenary by the name of Gregori Rykov, this blade is perfectly balanced and is attached to a thick piece of cord for easy recovery. It can be laced with a number of poisons thanks to small channels in the blade, Shadowstormm's personal choice being Sodium Cyanide. Not so much for its lethal capability, but rather because it kills quickly and humanely.
Colt Python .357 revolver
Another relic from his Mercenary days, His ever faithful sidearm gives him another way of swiftly dealing death to the unjust. However, due to the extremely powerful projectiles that he makes for it, the revolver needs a complete overhaul after every thirty shots.
Gadgetry
Through research and development links in the De'Havaland family, The Shadowstormm has access to all kinds of handy tech devices such as diamond edged caltrops, laser targeting drones, cloaking devices, non lethal web grenades and much more.
Travel
Aside from basic on foot methods of transport (running, jumping, swimming and the like), Shadowstormm has also been issued with an anti-gravity device that is mounted in his belt buckle. This gives him an unrestricted flight capability.
Uniforms
The Stormm suit
Shadowstormm's most recognizable outfit of black and white with spiked shoulder guards. Made from high density-polymerized titanium Micromail (except for the mask), it protects Adrian from serious injury quite well. That said, it suffers slightly from a lack of internal dampening and a weakness to heavy ammunition calibers and focused strikes. The mask is fitted with both integrated comms and an IFF designation system linked to the Hero Corps Database of registered heroes and known criminal threats. This system is represented by the dull glow emanating from the eyes of his mask. The system is also integrated with a series of pocket dimension generators in the belt pouches and behind his right shoulder from which he can quickly summon his combat gear.
Approximate Manufacture cost: $160 000 USD
Full Tactical Gear
Designed to be as low maintenance as possible, This suit comprises of basic General Purpose boots, combat fatigue pants, a simple flak vest, basic LBE (load bearing equipment)and a monocular night vision sight. All the items included are designed to reflect the K.I.S.S principle ideology behind this uniform but still be effective in combat situations that require him to be effective over long duration battles.
Approximate Manufacture Cost: $ 2000 USD (if that)
The "Deimos" Hazardous Environment and Combative Protection System (HECPS)
One bad day in the Warzone would lead to Shadowstormm's original "Guardian" Hazardous Environment System being nigh on utterly destroyed after a misfire from quad howitzer battery. The Vanguard, now caught red-faced after having fired upon not only one of their on enlisted Majors but a fully fledged Hero of the City immediately offered to pay for a new system to keep things quiet.
They did not however expect Shadowstormm to completely go to town on their offer...
After a brief consultation with his usual sales representative from Cerberus Military Systems, the Deimos system went into one time production.
The vast majority of the suit is constructed from thee layers of polymerized Impervium with slightly weightier armor around the torso to protect his vital organs. Also in the chest is an automatic defibrillator as well as emergency medical systems to assist with the immediate clotting and healing of injuries. The gauntlets are fitted with the same system of holographic intel readouts that feature in his Avenging Angel system. New features however are a set of teleportation matrices in the form of sturdy spikes on his forearms. This can be used to call allies out of danger and assist with speedy transportation. They're also sturdy enough to aid as combat blades when in melee range
The cape and shoulder guards form a complex flight and image disruption system, both aiding him in flight speed enhancement and covert tactics.
The mask and Faceplate are probably the most complex systems. The combination of the two act as a highly detailed HUD, target assessment computer and multiple view mode vision enhancement suite. The mask is a highly complex yet extremely lightweight filtration system that can be used in the worst conditions to keep out unwanted toxins, poisons, nerve agents and other vaporous attacks that might come his way. This ensures that the worst of environmental conditions are kept at bay but at the same time not restricting his ability to speak normally.
Finally, the entire system is completely sealed and radiation shielded ensuring that that it is not only effective in combat but in extreme environments as well. It is also fitted with his typical Pocket Dimension Access System that stores his gear.
This suit is undoubtedly marked to be one of the greatest achievements in personal body armor systems, though unfathomably expensive to manufacture.
Total Manufacture Cost (to the Vanguard: $61 Million USD
Modular Guise
Often a situation will require a specialised set of equipment that a self-contained suit cannot adequately handle. For this, Adrian maintains a myriad of different body armor, life support and technological systems for operating in specific conditions. Designed to be modular and easily swapped out, this final 'appearance' that the Shadowstormm maintains is pretty-well always in a state of flux based upon the situation at hand, be it a highly radioactive environment like the Terra Volta core, or toxic atmospeheres in the depths of the Abandoned Sewers beneath Paragon City.
Casual Attire
When the time comes for Adrian De'Havaland to relax, he calls upon whatever happens to be in the wardrobe at the time. Usually sporting a pair of lightweight shoes, Cargo pants and more often than not a "Red Lions" emblem T-shirt, his dress sense is a balance between comfort and style (more often than not, leaning towards comfort).
Approximate Cost: about $250 USD (the shoes were pricey apparently)
A Note of Sorts
One thing must be noted with all his combat outfits: Despite the equipment mounted over his mask, the design never changes. Neither does the hood. Also, due to the implementation of a Crey model 400 hybrid prosthetic, Shadowstormm has done away with his other models due to the new limb being both sturdy and at the same time normal looking enough to be considered viable for both combat and civilian situations.
Weaknesses and Limitations
While he is very skilled with firearms and considered to be fitter than most Olympic athletes, Shadowstormm is basically human. Not only that but his ties to his family and those he holds most dear are considered paramount, leading him to make rash decisions should they be put in danger.
Funding
At many times, it has been unclear exactly how the Shadowstormm funds his endeavors as well as his munitions expenditure. Little is it known that Adrian's mentor withheld most, if not all of his funds from his days as a mercenary under his command. The final sum equated to around eight million dollars however, this is not the only location of his source of funds. The De'Havaland family had been well known for their shrewd investment strategies. Often th purchasing of shares in up-and-coming technological research companies (One of which being Portal Corporation) at their inception allowed for a healthy share in profit margins. However, it was not until Adrian purchased approximately one tenth of a newly established Military Systems company that combined the efficiency of German precision manufacture with a shrewd business and legal team. As Cerberus grew and prospered, so it did not forget those who had supported them from the very beginning.
Those shareholders (Adrian De'Havaland being one) were entitled to a cut of the stupidly high profits as well as bonus incentives for continued investor loyalty.
As for munitions, Shadowstormm orders all of it through the Red Lions Mercenary Company at a discounted price. In return he issues them a healthy financial contribution to keep them funded and armed during lean periods that may occur.
Character History
History of the Shadowstormm
It is said that when you can take no more of being bitten, it makes sense to bite back.
Tired of the way the bloated and useless police of Victorian London handled things (or rather DIDN'T handle things), Garth De'Havaland, a cobbler turned assassin in lower Manchester took it upon himself to see to it that justice got dished out accordingly. Donning black clothes, hood and decorating his face with two different tones of boot polish in the image of a skull, he set out to administer a swift blade to those who would attempt to perverse the course of justice. This in turn was the dawn of a family tradition that would carry on right up until the present day.
Notable appearances of The Shadowstormm include: Victorian England, Several decisive battles during the American civil war, numerous pieces of unclaimed artworks from the great depression, world wars one and two, Operation: Rolling Thunder, Both the Watts and the 12th Street Riots, The eruption of Mt St Helens (to assist with looting) and the Assault on Grenada.
Just as the appearances of The Shadowstormm have been varied throughout history, so has the personal appearance of the masked vigilante been varied according to the personal tastes of the carrier of the title. Armaments have changed throughout the ages, from swords, katanas, axes and other melee weapons to the more conventional weapons of today. The outfit has changed as well, suiting the wearers personal preferences. Though throughout the ages only two things have never been changed:
1) The mask and cowl.
2) the elimination of more subversive criminal elements with lethal force.
These two items are matters of tradition and will never be changed.
History of Adrian De'Havaland
Adrian was born as the first of two siblings to Maria and Marco De'Havaland. Maria was a typically doting mother, caring and ever proud of her two children. Marco at that time carrying the title of the Shadowstormm, was a strange man. Having been a pariah most of his life had given him a slightly self-centered approach to the world. Still Maria chose to see the good in him and stayed by his side, much to the amazement of her friends and family. Things began to change when Adrian was three.
It was common knowledge that the couple had chosen to have children late in the picture but when Marco was diagnosed with malignant lymphatic cancer he soon realized that he was facing down his own mortality. This caused him to seek any form of help that would preserve his own life. He appealed desperately to friends at MAGI and many other departments of town hall to see if there was anything that could be done to deal with his faltering health. Lost and dejected and with no help from his friends and relatives, his dedication to preserving his life began to descend into obsession.
A Break in the Line
Not all things are totally incorruptible in this world and the line of the Shadowstormm is no exception. Marco's grim search for a cure to his ailing heath ended in a dark alleyway with a none other than Ghost Widow herself. Claiming that she had the methods to not only cure his condition, but bestow on him the gift of immortality. She proposed a bargain: End the De'Havaland line, swear allegiance to Arachnos and you will have what you seek. Marco went away with Ghost Widow's words ringing in his ears. Surely he couldn't murder his family. He was a Hero! But what of his ailing health? Who would train his son? Would there even be any point with villains like Lord Recluse in the world?
Driven to near insanity by these questions, he made a snap decision. On his Wife's thirty-sixth birthday, with all the members of his family present and accounted for, the massacre began. None were spared from his demented rampage and he stalked through the halls of his home, cutting down anyone who stood in his way.
Maria in the meantime had been clever enough to escape the carnage with her two children. She called two of her remaining relatives, Agatha and Ryan, Adrian's aunt and uncle and told them to flee with the two children. They would split up and hide the two from their father. With the two children out of the picture, Maria confronted her insane husband. When questioned with the whereabouts of the two, she simply issued him with an accusing stare. Marco in return simply removed her head. At that moment Adrian and his uncle stepped out into the hallway. The image of his dead mother would be burned into Adrian's mind for all time as the pair fled from the estate.
Two days later at the airport, Adrian and Ryan were confronted by a masked villain carrying the same sword. It appeared that while failing to destroy his entire family, Ghost Widow was still pleased with Marco's effort and kept her end of the bargain. Even going so far as to issue him with the new identity of "The Black Iscariot" and appointing him as her Envoy. This masked attacker managed to plant a single strike on Adrian's uncle, killing him outright before fleeing despite having not succeeded in his mission to assassinate his son. Marco would inevitably be captured seven years later where he would serve twelve years in the "Zig" before breaking out, having not aged a day.
Five year old Adrian and a legal representative of the De'Havaland family continued on to Israel in accordance with his mother's last wishes. There they met Gregori Rykov, a mercenary commander and leader of the Red Lions. After a long back and forth chat between the lawyer and the merc, Adrian was carted off and the training begun.
For the next fourteen years he would live with the Red Lions, both being schooled in both a regular curriculum and the skills he would need to become the next Shadowstormm. Things would get interesting when Adrian was nineteen.
The battle for Jerusalem
During the midst of the Rikti Invasion, The Red Lions were called on to assist with the protection of the city of Jerusalem in a last ditch stand in the Gaza strip. Having been deployed as a sniper, Adrian had been posted forward of the main battle line in order to take out one of their War Chiefs. This would effectively cripple the main assault force, leaving them in disarray. Things got out of hand when a portal opened up between him and the main line, effectively cutting him off as a dropship spewed enemies onto the streets an nearby rooftops. While Adrian succeeded in removing his target, he also sustained a severe plasma burn to his right shoulder from a Rikti weapon after trying to fall back to the main grouping.
Separated from Adrian by a literal wall of Rikti invaders, the rest of the Red Lions had no choice but to retreat after having sustained heavy casualties, leaving the young mercenary with no choice but to face countless enemies with his arm nigh on useless thanks to brutal and irreversible nerve damage as it began to fester in the hot sun. For four days he would stagger in agony through the warzone, hunted by the invaders hell bent on vengeance. Things seemed almost hopeless as the building he had opted to rest in for the night was surrounded with attackers making sure that he would not escape his death. It was a peculiar twist of fate that saved him in the end.
The four days of taking the cream of the enemy's crop on a wild goose chase had given both the army and the Red Lions a chance to regroup and ready for a second assault. Not simply willing to just defend their city, the group of 7000 strong armed men comprised from the Israeli Regular army, The Red Lions (which formed about 17 of the total group) and several dozen PMC's in nearly 500 armored vehicles went on the offensive, charging down the Rikti foot soldiers, either gunning them down or crushing them under armored tracks. A maneuver that would become known as The Gaza Rikti Mincer.
it was right at this moment that the second Rikti War Chief leveled his weapon at Adrian's face. Being now too weak to move, all he could do was stare into finality and then in awe as an APC with a rearing red lion emblazoned on it charged through a wall and ruthlessly crushed his attackers under its weight. The Red Lions had come for their young soldier. Those still left alive were deftly eliminated using confiscated rikti plasma weapons as Adrian was evacuated back to the marshaling area.
While the cost had been high, the final assault of the invaders had been stifled and the day belonged to the people of Earth. All that was left to do was pick up the pieces, though fate had another twist in store for the would-be Hero.
The Rise of the Shadowstormm
Adrian awoke a grand total of two weeks later in an Israeli military hospital with his arm replaced by a mechanical prosthetic. He had been rescued in the midst of the fighting and been brought back here in the nick of time. Standing by his bedside, along with all seventeen Red Lions albeit somewhat battered, were two legal representatives from the De'Havaland Estate. The time had come for him to take up the mantle that was previously thought to be scattered to the wind.
The time had come for Adrian to become the Shadowstomm.
Many things were made familiar to him again. The massacre of his family, the whereabouts of his sister(who had now moved to Steel Canyon to prepare for university entrance exams in the hopes of studying Archeology)and the responsibility he now had to carry. The young mercenary calmly took what had been said into account. Emotions from that fateful day began to rise within him again and revenge flickered in his eyes. He agreed to go with the two men back home to Paragon City where he would spend five years training with ELITE, learning the skills and building up the contacts needed to perform his job. Though he would not leave without a parting gift. Gregori Rykov issued to Adrian two things: A throwing knife called The Lions Fang which had been Rykov's pride and joy and a multi purpose assault rifle. With that, our young hero left for Paragon City and his inevitable vengeance.
Operation: Scarecrow
It remains a wonder to this day that a person, with such a vindictive approach to law-enforcement should be allowed on the streets of Paragon City at all. Offering such a person with such a deadly M.O a 'Hero Licence' would set a truly dangerous precedent for those to come. However, the spiralling crime rate in Paragon City dictated to several officials in Hero Corps that more drastic measures would be required to keep the city streets clean.
Conviened in secret by a collection of officials, the details of Operation: Scarecrow were drawn up. Under the terms of this shadowy collective of individuals, a collection of hard-hitting individuals would be officially ordained to operate with their merciless, vengeful or honestly downright murderous methods within the walls of Paragon City. Officially, they would be branded as vigilantes and considered unregistered elements, however behind closed doors, they would be encouraged to make sure that the criminal elements in Paragon City were given good reason to be genuinely terrified of those who kept the law enforced, adding a dangerous glint to the sword of justice that was the heroic community.
It was through this program that the Shadowstormm was given leave to step back onto the streets of Paragon City. He would inflict terror upon the criminal underworld, leave a swathe of destruction in his wake. If the subversives of the city wanted to call themselves 'soldiers' and enact their 'wars' in the streets, then he would see to it they would submit to the Rules of Engagement...whether they wanted to, or not.
Recent Events
The Second Invasion
The second Rikti assault took a severe toll on Shadowstormm, both mentally and physically. After nearly dying at the hands of a stray rikti bomb near Peregrine Island, he spent two days adrift at sea before washing up on Talos Island, tired, hungry, and with his suit in complete disrepair. His situation would only get worse after a rikti bomb stuck his apartment complex only minutes after recovering his Hazardous Environment System.
The next few weeks would leave him deprived of sleep, suffering from severe fatigue in the wake of the severe attacks that peppered the city. Not to mention a rather uncomfortable sleeping situation stuck next to the generator at the GA's underground bunker.
His own inadequacies too, would be laid before him as he struggled time and time again to convince Vanguard Security Officers that he was ready to assist in the warzone despite his lower than required Security Clearance. After being knocked back time and time again, he resolved to show the Vanguard exactly what they had turned away, throwing himself at every emergency situation he could in order to rub his skill in their faces, while keeping a careful eye on the activities in White Plains thanks to info relayed by many of his allies borne of a loftier security clerance than his own (most notably Erica Nidhogg and Hydrophidian, who both had much to say regarding the political stupidity going on there).
After finally reaching the required clearance level with the assistance of several high ranked members of the GA, he made his way to the warzone, but already seemed to have a rather jaded opinion of the Vanguard in general. This was cemented after a Sergent Major made some rather disparaging comments regard his sister, to which Adrian responded with a swift kick in the groin.
While for most this would mean an automatic ejection from the Organization, it would appear that the officer in question was not at all popular, especially with Lady Grey. Shadowstormm was swiftly issued with the rank of Major, with "prior battlefield experience" being sited as the reason.
Recovery
After the Second invasion died down, Shadowstormm actively sought out both a new apartment and a hell of a lot of sleep. Finally recovering from the severe fatigue, he returned to his normal self and re-commenced his hunt for his murderous father. Though Fate would have another card to deal to him that would have the potential to throw a spanner in the works...
A meeting with Mendacity
A simple night at Pocket D would turn into a point of serious consideration for Adrian upon meeting a mysterious young woman who simply addressed herself as 'Anne'. A combination of her somewhat ethereal baring and in depth knowledge of both his history and the events that transpired on the day of his family's murder. She even went so far as to claim that she was there on that very day. While initially aggravated by her claim, further explanation would cause him to open up and take everything into account. She would leave him with the idea that killing his father was not a necessary evil as he had previously thought.
A second meeting as well would only bring more confusion to his mind. After being addressed by none other than Ghost Widow herself, the information relayed to him indicated that Marco had made the choice to end his family. This being contrary to what he had though previously, the notion he had come up with being that Ghost Widow had forced his father into it.
Caught for the moment in a state of confusion and indecision, he would mull on it for the moment. Was the murder of his father really needed? Could he simply forgive and forget? Only time will tell...
Mikuruneko's Blade
Shadowstormm had at one point run into a young anthromorph by the name of Mikuruneko. Seeing eye to eye regard the best way to deal with Paragon's less than friendly contingent meant that these two were somewhat destined become good friends. However the information that a certain Rikti Chief Soldier had not only wounded her, but both taken pleasure in the act and also taken her sword as a trophy sparked the Dark Hero into action. During any of the rikti Raids that followed afterward, he would dutifully search the bodies of any fallen war chief to see if they were carrying a Katana.
It would be after a particularly brutal battle in Galaxy City where he would reclaim said blade. After sighting a particular War Chief with a Katana at his side, Shadowstormm succeeded in both crippling and finally killing the Rikti Warrior with a skillful shot through the eye. He collected both the blade and the helmet of his adversary as a trophy, the message of "an eye for an eye" clearly indicated to the Rikti before it passed on.
He presented both items to her, the blood on the helmet still fresh and as instructed, had made sure the Rikti suffered before it had died.
Falling for the Rose
A simple patrol in Steel Canyon would lead to so much more upon running into a young woman who would shatter his somewhat somber demeanor and bring forth the noble soldier that had been for a time buried beneath the desire to see his father brought to justice. Upon executing several members of the Outcasts in the defense of a university student and interrogating another, the incident was stumbled across by none other than the Rose Maiden. Upon ending a people-trafficking ring between local outcasts and the Vhazilok with her assistance, the pair found a strange bond of trust.
The coming weeks would only see them grow closer, things finally coming to a head at the Eternals End of Summer party. They pair are currently dating, Shadowstormm seeming to be a lot happier than he once was.
Lately the pair have seemed nigh inseparable, things yet again coming to a head upon the shores of Cimerora where Adrian finally gathered the courage to finally pop the question.
All Good Things...
Fate as it has been said, is a cruel mistress. Adrian had been handed everything he had ever wanted on a silver platter after so many years of struggle and hardship. However, such it was not meant to last. Deep in the back of his mind, he knew that while the Black Iscariot still lived, he and Rose would have no peace. The looming shadow of this insidious figure cast a lingering feeling of worry across his mind and he knew the lengths that were required to find his father and put and end to him, namely, calling off his relationship with Serena to hunt Iscariot down.
Torn between the emotional trauma of ending his relationship and Serena, and the thought of having his father come calling when they were both at their most vunerable, Adrian shouldered the price of vengeance and said his goodbye. Broken-hearted, but with the knowledge that his choice was the nobler one, he headed after the fleeing Arachnos agent who had been carving a bloody path across Europe in Recluse's ungodly name.
Vengeance is a dish best served on cold concrete...
Over the next two years, sightings of a fury-fuelled Shadowstormm would be reported in Belgium, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and finally, Italy. Through a secretive dealings with local law enforcement, MI-5 and Interpol being the more prominant players, the trail of Recluse's influence was swiftly swept away by a path of bullets and grim determination, all claim that the acts of precision violence were caused by the Shadowstormm hastily denied and blamed upon a street war between multi-national crime syndicates.
The chase finally came to a swift and brutal end in Tuscany, Black Iscariot having holed-up in the Monte Oliveto Maggiore, an old abbey in the Tuscan hills. Surrounded, and with all chance of escape taken, Shadowstormm closed the gap on his father. The fight that ensued was swift and without quarter, things finally coming to an end twenty feet up inside the bell tower. Iscariot spat all the venom he could muster, but Adrian would not be shaken, not be changed from his course. The most horrific chapter in the De'Havaland family's legacy came to an end when both of them took a tumble over a railing and hurtled toward the stone floor below. Shadowstormm was 'lucky' enough to have his fall slowed by his leg catching on a railing half-way down, however this also utterly mangled his left knee. Iscariot was not so lucky, landing head-first on the stone floor, dying instantly from head trauma.
The deed was done, Marco De'Havaland, the Black Iscariot was dead...and his son had paid dearly for it.
It took two months in an Italian hospital for his knee to come close to healed. He would never regain full mobility, and at its best it was painful to walk on. Now forced to carry a cane with him at all times, Adrian fast considered that his days of hunting criminals, saving lives and leaving a shadow of fear in Paragon's evildoers had come to an abrupt end. He had spent his entire life training, hunting, fighting and waiting for the moment where he would end his father's life. Now that it had come to pass, the life of vengeance he lived and let guide him now fell to pieces, losing all direction.
He returned to Paragon City as soon as he was able, opening a Firearms sales and repair store dubbed the "Red Mane Armory" in lower Talos Island to try and seek some manner of purpose now that his heroing career had been effectively ended. However, the selfless nature that drove him never abandoned him for a moment.
At this juncture, it's a wonder if the Shadowstormm will be seen again on the streets of Paragon City, however, the cries of the innocent are a powerful siren-song and the world has a way of awakening old phantoms...
"Shadowstormm? Yeah, I heard of him..."
((This section is for the general populous of regular Virtueverse attendees to post their character's feelings or notions on the Shadowstormm in quote form, good, bad or otherwise. I will only moderate this section insofar as to remove anything that could be construed as blatent trolling. ~HPH)
"You strike fear into the hearts of criminals, but do you know what that does? The fear makes them arm themselves with bigger and heavier weapons and it's MY people in the PPD who have to face that! I won't be your enemy, but neither will I be your ally." -Sgt. Phalanx
Trivia
Did you know that the Shadowstormm...
- Is an avid Formula 1 fan, his favorite team being Mercedes McLaren.
- Loves spicy food. Preferably Mexican, Moroccan or Thai.
- Was born on the 25th of May. (This date is coincidently the same date that the author first started playing CoH)
- Favorite beer is Becks, but is known to drink shots of Bacardi 151 when in need of something with more kick.
- Is rather self-conscious about his right arm, it being a bio-mechanical prosthetic. He considers it his worst flaw.
- Favorite musical artists are Audioslave, Chris Cornell, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and curiously enough, James Brown.
- Speaks fluent Hebrew. (Authors note: Stormmy may be able to speak it but I can't. Don't go expecting me to belt out fluent Hebrew!)
- Tends to be quite chivalrous, a habit instilled in him by Gregori Rykov, who was known for being somewhat old-fashioned.
- Is sighted every year on the 11th of August at a small rock formation on the northern tip of Talos Island. He can later be found in Astoria placing flowers in front of a large-ish tomb. It is unknown to many at this point who lies there.
- Is often written about in forum RPs while the author listens to the Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory soundtrack. Either that or a lot of cinematic music by Two Steps From Hell. Makes for great inspiration music!
- The double 'M' variant spelling of the name 'Shadowstormm' originated from a printing error in a 19th century newspaper. Somehow it just seemed to stick due to its quirkiness. It should be noted however that the second 'M' is indeed silent.
