Strikewing
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
Please note: Most of this information is not released by the character herself, and most of it is not not "public knowledge." Strikewing has only revealed her identity and past to a handful of people.
| [[Image:|300px|]] | |
| Strikewing | |
| Player: | |
| Origin: | Mutation |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Scrapper |
| Security Level: | ' |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Riley Sasaki |
| Known Aliases: | Strikewing |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 21 |
| Height: | 5'4" |
| Weight: | 130 |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Japanese American |
| Occupation: | Librarian |
| Place of Birth: | Kyoto, Japan |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, RI USA |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Father (Japanese), mother (American, mutant, deceased), two brothers. |
| Known Powers | |
| enhanced reflexes, energy manipulation | |
| Known Abilities | |
| martial arts | |
| Equipment | |
| motorcycle, grappling hooks | |
| ' | |
Contents |
Personality
"Oh, look a butterfly! What were we talking about?"
Riley can come off as a brat at times and stoic at others. She is prone to cracking jokes and making light of any situation. Her attention seems to move as fast as her body does, prone to distraction. However, she always tries to get the job done to the best of her ability and seems to truly enjoy helping Paragon.
Though Riley is half Japanese she is very American culturally and feels a bit out of place while visiting family in Japan.
When the mask comes off and she resumes life as Riley Sasaki, she appears markedly less confident and jovial. Her personal life often suffers for her heroic life. She is often late to appointments and social gatherings, and when she actually arrives her mind is often on a mission. This often makes it hard for her to keep friends and steady employment.
Riley is often involved in the political side of fighting crime. As Strikewing she endorses several initiatives, legislations, and politicians (usually liberal). She was quoted on the subject saying, "Anyone can run around smacking criminals out of commission, but does it put food on anyone's table? Does it improve education?"
History
Clan Legacy
In the Sasaki clan there is an old story of a samurai noble who was passing through the countryside on his way to his lord. Bandits set a trap intending to steal what they could from this samurai. Having tripped the samurai’s horse, throwing him from its back, they set upon him. His sword had slid into the ditch and he was unable to reach it. Out of nearby rice field there came a cry, and two unarmed farmers began to attack the bandits with surprising efficiency. With their help the samurai was able to overcome the bandits. The samurai asked where it was the farmers had learned this combat skill. They told him that they had developed it out of need to protect themselves from these bandits. The samurai was very impressed and made a deal with them. They would teach his family this art and in exchange he would pay them and see that their farm was protected from bandits.
Whether or not this story is true, it is believed that a humble farming family was accepted into the Sasaki clan as their protectors. To some degree this holds true today. Sasaki has branched out quietly around the world, teaching their martial art, haraido, to those who they deem as noble or just. This service isn’t usually for free. They have been hired by many law enforcement agencies such as the United States Secret Service.
Early Life
Riley was born the second child to Kenta and Allison Sasaki. Her brother Nathaniel precedes her by two years, and her younger brother, Ethan is one year younger. Her mother, Allison is a former member of the Knives of Artemis and a mutant (enhanced speed and reflexes). She met Kenta when she requested the Sasaki clan's help in extricating herself from their organization. They soon fell in love and when the process of hiding her identity was complete, they married.
When Riley was ten, Allison died in a plane crash on the way to the United States. Possibly caused by the emotions this incited, Riley's mutation revealed itself a few nights after. While practicing combat routines with her younger brother, Ethan (who she was normally an even match for), he was suddenly unable to keep up with her attacks, her hands moving in almost a blur. Delighted she had broken their usual stalemate, Riley went in for a grapple and pinned Ethan to the floor. As she did this she felt euphoric, and quickly leaped off her brother to begin a new spar. Her brother didn't get up, and Riley quickly realized something was wrong as he lay pale and shaking on the floor.
Her brother was hospitalized and recovered, but his growth seemed stunted and he never regained his strength. Riley deeply regrets the accident and rarely left his side after. She has many reasons for moving to Paragon but one of the chief reasons was to bring Ethan closer to doctors in Paragon in hope that someone could find a way to reverse the effects she caused.
Now it can be said that Ethan has equal part in the accomplishments of Strikewing because, from their apartment he directs her to new crime scenes and aids her in piecing together evidence.
Early Career
From nearly as soon as she could walk, Riley learned the ways of haraibo and several other martial arts until they were entirely reflexive. According to tradition, when a member of the clan turns eighteen they can be hired out to various companies, armed forces, and governmental bodies as protection. The clan has a only two real rules for their contracts. First, Clients can never be involved in illegal practices. If the client deceives the clan and/or uses their proctor for illegal practices, evidence is gathered and turned into authorities immediately. Secondly the proctor is kept entirely anonymous and wears a mask for the contract duration.
When she turned eighteen, Riley eagerly accepted contracts to protect various diplomats for her first few jobs. She excelled and was regularly requested for repeat contracts.
Powers and Abilities
"The power . . . to move you."
Martial Arts
Strikewing uses an unarmed martial art passed down in her family called haraido, though she never calls it by name. Haraido is based around the idea of using a large armed opponent’s strength against them, similarly to aikido. Those who are knowledgeable in martial arts might think it is an improvised, flourished version of aikido.
Energy Transference
Strikewing augments this combat style with the offensive side of her mutation. Though she doesn’t mention it, she is slightly afraid of this power and uses it sparingly. Through close contact she is able to sap some of the strength from her opponents and transfer it to herself. Prolonged use of this power can permanently harm those she applies it to so she normally only uses it in short bursts.
Enhanced Speed
"Super Attention Deficit Disorder"
Strikewing gets a lot more use out of, and even delights in her enhanced reflexes. Her speed can be a bit frightening to her foes as she directs a flurry of blows at them while simultaneously dancing around their attacks. She has been known to wear out foes without even attempting to retaliate.
Psychic Resistance
Snooping psychics will find it difficult to take hold of Strikewing’s mind as it seems as elusive as her movements. Normally a psychic will only find an annoying song or licentious images of Jonny Depp.
Equipment
- Costume: Riley's costume is made from materials resistant but not immune to tearing, slicing, extreme temperatures, and projectiles.
- Communication device: This is Riley's conduit of information from her brother, Ethan. He keeps her apprised of situations and keeps her focused. The device is able to download maps and other information from his computer.
- Motorcycle: "Transportation, duh."
- Grappling hooks: When a quieter method of transportation is required.
- The scarf: ". . . is pretty much there because it looks nice."
Weaknesses
- Strikewing’s reflexive portions of her powers, which she calls “Super A.D.D.,” have sped up many of her body’s systems. To keep from wearing out she needs to eat a lot, and can almost always be seen with a snack at hand—even on the job. She can stay awake for many hours longer than a normal human would, but she will suddenly need to “crash,” and then she’s completely out--and woe to those who disturb her down time.
- While speed can be said to be her greatest strength, it can also be used against her. If a foe manages to slow or immobilize her, Strikewing quickly runs out of options.
- Strikewing constantly holds back her offensive mutation out of fear of harming others. Feigning serious injury or death while fighting her will throw her completely off guard.
