Steelsoul/History
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
Character History
I'm an outlaw, Bad Leroy Brown. I'm the only John Wayne left in this Town - Kid Rock
The Demon: A brief history of 10,000 years
For untold millenia, Eyeronos served as as a general and a warrior in the legions of the damned. Commanding all the metals and alloys of hell, he was a fierce opponent, felling thousands of lesser souls whenever he strode into battle. As a greater demon, he had some manner of command over sorcery and dark arts, and could even, briefly, manifest on the mortal plane to do battle or wreak havok. However, the only way which he could maintain a presence on Earth was via lengthy possession.
Michael's New Friend
Little over a year ago, a group of occultists under the threat of Michael Clark summoned Eyeronos to the mortal plane in Kansas. Eyeronos quickly slew the magi, who had interrupted his business in the nether realm. However, in Clark he saw a will powerful enough to hold him in the mortal plane, perhaps even indefinitely. Forcing himself into the mortal's soul, Eyeronos changed and strengthened the young man. Even as his flesh twisted and rotted, protrusions of demonic metals would jut from his skin. He was infused with the strength of a demon, and could now channel the energies of hell itself to protect his form.
The Rogue Isles Part 1: Take my pain away
Clearly unable to return to his old life, Michael fled to the Rogue Isles, where he adopted the villainous moniker 'Steelsoul'. Here he used his strength and determination to slowly carve out a niche in the isles seedy underbelly. Originally, his vile appearance and crude behavior alienated others, but he was quickly adopted by the nascent band of Supernatural beings known as the The Children of the Night. While mostly composed of vampires and other monsters, the Children accepted Steelsoul and he worked and fought hard for them, earning their friendship and respect.
Steelsoul's Original Appearance
For a time, Steelsoul could feel nothing but constant pain, a result of his possession. This pain was only ever alleviated by inflicting physical harm on others, which was the Demon's way of directing Michael's actions. Alternatively, truly prodigious amounts of alcohol could dull his misery as well.
For a brief time, Steelsoul wore a ring which he stole from some Hellions which enabled him to cast an illusion on his person, appearing normal.
The Man of Steel
After a few months of this existence, things started looking up. Steelsoul had risen through the ranks of the Children, and had started making a name for himself. It was around this time that he battled the Cult of the Coralax in Sharkead Isle. Eventually, in battle with one of their High Priests and his minions, Steelsoul was slain. Or, at least, Michael was. The demon Eyeronos, not wishing to lose his foothold in the mortal realm, chose to recreate and strenghten his mortal host, instead of a monstrous being of vile flesh and metallic shards, he would now become a true man of steel, a being of pure demonic metal. Even his hair was made of unyielding steel.
Returning to the living, Steelsoul was now far more powerful than ever. He was promoted once again by the Children of the Night to the rank of Master, and his friendship with the coven's leader Armando de la Vega, as well as his childer Sibyll Noir grew stronger. Also, Steelsoul occasionally worked alongside freelance assasin Red Death Mk V and others.
Steelsoul's Metallic Form
Steelsoul vs Statesman
Now powerful enough to oppose the massive forces of Longbow entrenched in the Nerva Archipelago, Steelsoul was a true threat to the forces of justice and law. It was in this time that he came to battle several notable superheroes, such as Ether, Infernal, and Aurora Borealis. It was this final victory that would end in a massive defeat.
Upon delivering a savage beating to the psychic heroine, Steelsoul found himself surrounded by members of the Freedom Phalanyx themselves, eager for vengeance for their friend. A brief battle ensued, in which Steelsoul engaged Statesman in one-on-one combat. He quickly lost, finding the world's greatest hero more than a match, and even ending up literally dented for some time. This landed Steelsoul in the Ziggursky prison, where he spent several months until he was able to escape due to Arachnos assault on the prison.
A Most Embarrassing Scenario
Mere hours after returning to the Rogue Isles from prison, Steelsoul made a somewhat foolish and painful mistake. Engaging in flirtation with the then new to the isles Irmine. After ingesting a drug and having his will subverted, he left the D with her against the urgings of his allies and was violated. However, due to his nature of being composed of mystic alloys, Irmine soon aborted the attempt and left Steelsoul to his shame.
Back in the Flesh
Some weeks after the incident with Irmine, Michael gained more understanding of his powers and was able to merge his supernatural abilities with his original mortal form. For the first time since his possession, he could be both Steelsoul and Mike Clark at the same time!
This was the high point of his villainous career. He was gaining power, money, wealth, and friends. It was around this period where Steelsoul first befriended Onyx Panther. Shortly after this he met the notorious Strawberry Poundcake at the Cape Radio beach party. He asked her to dance and he was nigh instantly smitten.
The Rise and Fall
What went up, however, very quickly came down. The demon, Eyeronos, had ridden within Michael for so long he could now begin to influence and manifest on a more permanent basis upon the mortal plane. First, by influencing Michael's emotions, he drove away his friends. He verbally abused Sibyll Noir, Aiden Conner and other members of The Children of the Night. And he unwittingly was quite rude to Strawberry Poundcake, as well. Then, without warning, one night Eyeronos manifested himself permanently, literally clawing his way forth from Michael's body in his full demonic glory.
The next few days were an orgy of violence and cruelty. Eyeronos attempted to align himself with The Ariosophist but his brashness and short temper rendered that impossible. He did, however, manage to attack Strawberry Poundcake and her then lover Patrick Craft, damaging some of Craft's robots and beating Poundcake bad enough to bleed her, and destroying her rocket boots. He was, however, driven off by Patrick's mechanical minions. A day later, Eyeronos was assaulted by forces of the The Fifth Remnant led by Dr Von Dread and Sergeant Prentice. They left him alive, but battered.
Destruction?
For a few more weeks the demon general wreaked havoc on the Rogue isles until, ultimately, he was slain in combat with Michael Clark, who had purchased technological superpowers and used his former bond with the demon to his advantage.
Remnants
What was left of the demon were two horns and a few other scraps of metal. Steeldriver collected the horns, delivering one to Irmine and the other to Strawberry Poundcake. The other scraps, however, were gathered by the devious wizard Damien Black, who used them to infuse himself with the demonic powers once posessed by Eyeronos.
Rebirth
Damien Black was not able to manifest the powers of the Demon Eyeronos for long, however. Only a week after he assumed the mantle of Steelsoul, Michael Clark committed suicide in Paragon City. After finding himself in Hell for his transgressions and sins, Michael came across the very weakened essence of Eyeronos. There, in flames and darkness, they came to an accord. Eyeronos would infuse Michael with the remnants of his strength and abilities, and together, they would be reborn a final time in the world of men.
Since returning to life, Michael has returned to the Rogue Isles. While working for Vanguard, he has become a citizen of The Netherlands in an attempt to avoid criminal charges in the United States. Officially an independent security contractor, Steelsoul works closely with the United Nations and Vanguard in an attempt to keep earth safe from Rikti aggression. In his spare time, Michael fights to protect the weak and fearful citizens of the Rogue Isles.
Ghost Widow's Patronage
Unable to fully control his demonic powers, however, Michael came under the tutaledge of Arcachnos Lieutenant Ghost Widow. Learning to keep the evil influences of Eyeronos wholly in check, Michael performs freelance work for Arachnos in order to continue his learning.
An Eye for an Asskicking
Recently, Steelsoul kidnapped Paragon hero and Freedom Phalynx member Positron. This was not taken kindly by his former sidekick, Valkyrie, who battled Mike. After fighting his way through numerous Longbow soldiers, the Man of Mystic Metal clashed with the sword-swinger, and after a fierce clash, the base was ruined, her hands were busted, and his eye was gone. It is slowly growing back.
A few days later, Steelsoul had a heart to heart of sorts with Berry, which ended in a few leveled buildings, a few awkward kisses, and lots of crying and pathetic behavior. Since then, he has not been seen or heard from...
All Tomorrow's Yesterday's
During a raid on a top secret Rikti facility, Steelsoul was blasted by an experimental weapon and hurtled into the future, sans his demonic essence. Spending 3 years, 2 months and 16 days in the future (Starting in 2017) he had several adventures in a Rikti-dominated, war-torn world. He is reluctant to talk too much about it, but sufficent to say, the experience has changed him greatly, and he is now a wiser, and yet, angrier, soul.
The Eye of Rage
Sometime after his return from the future, Steelsoul has begun having odd, painful dreams. They are of death and destruction and mayhem on a grand scale, always with himself as the orchestrator. While these disturb him greatly, he has noticed one possitive: he isn't sad anymore. He is only... angry.
More disturbingly, is that these powers intensify whenever he has contact with any powerful source of mystic energy, as though they feed him greatly. Upon running into longtime friend Cityscape at the Pocket D, Mike accidentally stole his friend's powers, which were granted by the spirit of Paragon City herself. After a few days of dealing with this immense power, things came to a head with Cityscape, Lunar, and Steelsoul
With a Bang, not a whimper
After deciding to sacrifice the Citypower back to Cityscape, Michael seemed to return to some semblance of sanity. He spoke kind words to all those gathered, even those he did not know. Indeed he even forced a catgirl to blush!
He made one final request for a 'good going away song' on The Cape, and, to the shock of those gathered, pulled a pistol and shot himself in the mouth. With all of his powers seemingly gone, the shot was fatal. The scourge of Steelsoul was gone for good, and all was right.
Sierra Oscar Sierra
With a jolt of electricity, Michael's body was restored to life. Teleported shortly after his death to an alternate reality, he was resurrected, bound, and sold to a mysterious villain.
From here, he was sent out and destroyed that universe's Ellicot City, before being defeated by a team of local super-heroes. Taken into custody, Mike helped defeat a great monster who returned from the stars. This monster, also a being of great anger, taught Mike that "it isn't what they say about you that matters. A hero, a monster. It's all what you choose."
With the aid of that world's heroes, Mike returned to Paragon. The demonic energies stayed behind to plague that world.
The Dead Have No Records
Having been legally dead, Mike's criminal record was considered expunged. Demonstrating enthusiasm, skill, and bravery, he joined the ranks of paragons hereos, determined to find redemption. He wielded swords of impervium, and called himself "The Penitent Blade". It was during this time that he reforged a friendship with Cityscape, and also failed to repair relations with the Lunar Eclipse.
In the winter of 2007, Mike met a woman who was almost his exact personality and temperment in Methrine Alexander, a half-breed refugee from an alien dimension. The two became fast friends, but never more. Steel claims he "could have nailed her" but respected their friendship too much.
Bang! Are you dead?
While fighting Council forces in Striga Isle, Penitent Blade and Cityscape were nearly overrun by the fascist forces. Mike was critically injured, receiving 5 broken ribs, a severe laceration to the face, multiple other fractures, and the loss of 3 pints of blood. While not dissuaded, he began to wear heavier armor claiming to "really miss having superpowers".
Infanticide
A month after his return to Primal Earth, Michael visited the Rogue Isles on a challenge/date with the Council Soldier Amanda Webb. On his trip home, he was assaulted by his son, Bellum Pugnus aka Clark X. The fight was brutal. However, when his son hesitated to land the killing blow, Michael did not. He stabbed his own progeny in the heart. After the battle, during autopsy, it was revealed to him that this boy was his own son, and a member of the terrorist cell Inevitable Evolution.
Another result of the battle was that Mike was a parapalegic who needed an exo-skeleton to walk. Determined to not remain in this state, he made a grave mistake.
Widowmaker
Mike took a flight to the Rogue isles, where he met again with the Ghost Widow. She revealed to him that the source of Michael's power was never any particular demonic entity. He was his own master. His will was unique, in that it attuned itself to the darker side of magic, and, using this, he could sculpt and remake his own physical form.
Agreeing to help the Widow become mortal, Michael undertook her lessons and restored his body to it's superhuman state. He removed scars and injuries, as well as corrected what he believed was his only weakness: His intellect. He claims to have enhanced it fourfold, but that would make his IQ well over 350, so he may be exaggerating.
Hell of a Night Part One
His affection for Amanda Webb having grown, Mike and the Adjutant had decided to spend the night together in a room at the Golden Giza in St. Martial. However, this fell through when Webb's CO denied her leave. Finding Webb drinking heavily at the Pocket D, Michael confronted her, concerned, and things quickly went from bad to worse. Desperate to evoke an emotional response, Steel confided in her that he had raided a council base on Sharkhead Isle earlier that day to kidnap a scientist for Arachnos. He surrendered to the drunken Soldier, and to his sorrow, she took him into custody.
While escorting Mike to her barracks in Port Oaks, Webb's orders came down: Eliminate Steelsoul. Playing on his emotional attachment to her, Webb got close and attempted a quick kill via slicing his throat. His invulnerability to mundane arms and her inebriation lead this to fail, so the two engaged in a fairly brutal combat, leaving Webb battered and Michael on the run. After a quick stop at the Haven of The Children of the Night to clean blood off and collect his thoughts, Michael attempted to visit Webb in emergency surgery aboard the Bluestar, the Vessel-Base of the Survivors of Vega. He was quickly asked to leave by Chancellor Rxa, and told that perhaps the Queen would be willing to hear his story.
Mike returned then to the Pocket D to try and sort things through, speaking to his friend DJ Pyrria. Determined to go home and put the whole thing behind him, Mike was on his way to leave when confronted by Run Riot and several members of Inevitable Evolution. Wishing merely for rest at this point, and not to hurt anyone else, Michael allowed himself to be beaten severely by Riot and left pinned down to a rooftop in Port Oaks. Fortunately, Pyrria, who had witnessed the dispute begin, searched for and found his battered body and got him to a doctor.
Hell of a Night Part Two
The Next Day, mostly healed from his injuries, Mike was able to contact Xena and arrange a meeting in Ourobouros to discuss the events which went down the previous day. Speaking to her honestly and from his heart, he revealed all that had transpired since her met Amanda Webb. Believing the Queen an ally, he left, to be summoned by her again later.
Returning to Ourobouros, Michael again met with Xena and her bodyguard Didatch. Soon he realized, however, the Queen had offered herself as bait to enable Run Riot and his soldiers to again ambush Steelsoul. Desperate and alone, he contacted Sibyll Noir who sent Gunsang to aid Michael, before arriving herself.
Sibyll watched as Michael was taken into custody by a join task force of Vegans, Inevitable Evolution members, and 5th Remnant soldiers. Willing to die to spite them, Mike transferred all of his powers into Sibyll's Vitae and went with the men to a secret lair.
Here, Mike learned some of the dark secrets of Dr Von Dread and was tested for demonic possession. What the doctor discovered was not a demon, but a unique will, a man who required further testing. The Council released Mike into Riot's custody who, much to the dismay his Vegan allies, was left to his own devices.
Vacation
Mike quickly acquired two tickets to the Dominican Republic, and asked Pyrria to spend a week there with him. She agreed, and the two left the next night. However, before then, Mike was forced to deal with Amanda, seeing her injured and recovering, at the Pocket D. The Undying One still has some sort of feelings for her, and promised her that "he would hold her again" though this seems dubious.
Also, before leaving, Michael spoke to a mister Adam Moone. It seems that there is a reckoning coming, and some things will be settled on many sides. And there will be blood.
Returning to Happiness
Mike spent the next several days lounging comfortably. Despite their growing close, 'Clark' (as she always calls him) and the DJ did not become lovers. Their friendship, however, has never been stronger.
Mike DID sneak away one night for a fling with Gadgette, and this lead him to the theory that maybe someone, maybe, would put up with him. He returned for the final Underwear party of Cape. This lead him to be stood up for a '69 Mustang, and led to another night of binge drinking.
Freedom
Completing a few tasks for Ghost Widow, Mike came to realize he had become tied up in Project: DESTINY. Having the revelation that he has the potential to (and perhaps, destiny) destroy all life on earth, he had two options: Convince Lord Recluse to stop the project or die himself. Not one to lay down and die (heh, ok so he is) he fought Recluse. And lost. Repeatedly. Their battle took place in the future, with Recluse have 10 years to prepare.
Eventually, with the aid of Tzun Locke, Steelsoul defeated Recluse and convinced him to settle and debts or squabbles with Arachnos. He is now free to do as he chooses.
Cheers, Mate
The next month or so was full of ups and downs. He tried in vain to be with Sibyll Noir, this failed. So Mike spent time courting and cavorting, spending time with various women until, finally, he wound up in a relationship with Sophia, a British Doctor and a cybernetic member of the Death 7 PMC. This was a tumultuous relationship, as she claimed to love him, a feeling he did not return. But still he stayed faithful, as best he could, until in a moment of total self destruction he shared his bed with a particular woman. And her, her he cared for but, since he was once again unable to be with someone due to their role in the world.
The Confrontation of Darkness
On Sunday, February 17th, mike killed himself, again. He needed an escape, an outlet from the world. This however did not end well, nor last long. First, his corpse was Embraced into undeath by Ani Reaves, only to be wrathful and disgusted with them for violating him and his wishes. Then, his spirit, which was residing in the area of his Condo, discovered horrible abuses done to Sibyll. Returning to life, he went straight to information gathering and, once determining that the culprit was indeed Armando de la Vega, he set out to destroy the monster once and for all.
After a battle in St Martial involving RPGs, damascus steel, cloaks of darkness, Rikti blasters, clashed wills, and fisticuffs, Mike and Armando (as well as Sibyll and Sera Renata). After a fierce struggle, Mike was eventually defeated by Sera's surreptitious stabbing of his spine, he was left with his fate in Sibyll's hands. He healed her of her wounds and then he parted with the Kindred, hopefully for good.
