MODERN
Hysteria
You know him. He's the one from that rock band- the one in charge, with the eyeliner and the pitch-perfect voice. Or he's the one from the alley you crossed last night- the one in hiding, with the hat and the soul-rending voice. Or he's the one from the record store down the road- the one behind the desk, with the iced coffee and the half-awake voice.
You know him- part of him.
You know him- part of him.
consumed by the vanity
HUMAN
Composure
To any observer, there is little to distinguish him from a regular human. However, he has a few unseen abnormalities- small quirks which, whilst not quite significant enough to call powers, still serve to aid him in his endeavours.
ENHANCED HEARING
, for example; the range of frequency and of volume that he can distinguish is far beyond that of a human, making him almost impossible to sneak up on, unless moving in absolute, unnatural silence.
IMMUTABLE COGNITION
means that any attempt to alter his thought processes--be it metahuman, chemical, or otherwise--is doomed to fail. This, of course, includes his own abilities.
MOMENTUM INTUITION
, vague as it seems, means that he has phenomenal aim, and is able to hit moving targets as easily as static ones. On top of this, it allows him to utilise objects in the environment for better mobility, without having to deal with any guesswork.
PERFECT PITCH
, though it is the most common of his abnormalities, is more useful than it appears- his primary strength comes from obscure frequencies, and it helps to get them right.
IDOL:
Vanity
Lead singer of garage rock band PREMORTEM and sole creative force behind VANITY PROJECT, the eccentric and enigmatic persona of Vanity has proved successful in capturing the hearts of the alternative public.
His work, especially his solo venture, is known for being dark and experimental, whilst remaining mostly palatable. Though little is known about him in the public eye, one thing is for certain; he puts on a good show.
His work, especially his solo venture, is known for being dark and experimental, whilst remaining mostly palatable. Though little is known about him in the public eye, one thing is for certain; he puts on a good show.
he claims to control,
SILENT
Discordance
He possesses a second voice, from a second set of vocal cords- classified as a metahuman mutation, owing to its abnormal gravitas. Its frequencies are below the range of human perception, bypassing the conscious completely to strike at the subliminal. Through experimentation, he has identified a number that are particularly effective.
This primarily manifests as the ability to manipulate emotions, inducing and intensifying emotional states with particular tones- to maddening degrees, if exposure is long enough. Though he doesn't yet know how to control the full spectrum, he has a few named notes that he can utilise;
It is likely there are more he has not yet discovered, and his research continues.
This primarily manifests as the ability to manipulate emotions, inducing and intensifying emotional states with particular tones- to maddening degrees, if exposure is long enough. Though he doesn't yet know how to control the full spectrum, he has a few named notes that he can utilise;
"DISQUIET"
for fear, and "UNREST"
for fury.
"OBSESSION"
draws attention to itself- and away from everything else. The longer it is left to play, the stronger its pull becomes, until it's all but impossible to perceive anything else.
"REPULSION"
, unlike the others, is just barely audible- a torturous sound, forcing those who hear it to do anything and everything to make it stop. Usually, this involves moving away from the source until it's no longer audible. When this isn't an option, however, then the source of the noise--or the organs which hear it--must be destroyed.
It is likely there are more he has not yet discovered, and his research continues.
DEVIL:
Lament
.
Once a music project dedicated to recording and remixing the last moments of Pittsburgh's dead, the persona of Lament has warped into something far more sinister.
Though his actions remain unseen, his tactics have changed as of late. No longer content with merely recording murder scenes, he now silently orchestrates them, pulling the strings of the violent to lure out the vulnerable- human or or metahuman, for either party.
For now, he remains anonymous; with very little to tie him to his public identity.
Though his actions remain unseen, his tactics have changed as of late. No longer content with merely recording murder scenes, he now silently orchestrates them, pulling the strings of the violent to lure out the vulnerable- human or or metahuman, for either party.
For now, he remains anonymous; with very little to tie him to his public identity.
controlling the vain
CRUEL
Harmonies
Though the effects of his frequencies last only as long as they are played, it is possible to cause more lasting, more specific conditions through combining and layering them into a song. In order for anything to last, the song must be played to completion- no skips, no interruptions, through a system of speakers complex enough to handle the clashing infrasound frequencies without any loss of quality.
Nothing he does can ever be subtle. Though the frequencies used are mostly unheard, it is obvious once a song starts playing that it should not be allowed to finish- he relies on threat and violence to keep his listeners engaged.
"COERSION"
is, so far, the only one he has deemed worth the set-up. It instills a persistent, subconscious threat, forcing listeners to comply with his demands- as the alternative, to them, is inconceivable. The spell is broken, so to speak, when the listener fails a request, resulting in an intense feeling of dysphoria and, eventually, nothing.
Nothing he does can ever be subtle. Though the frequencies used are mostly unheard, it is obvious once a song starts playing that it should not be allowed to finish- he relies on threat and violence to keep his listeners engaged.
MASK:
Kosuke
Charming, knowledgeable, and lazy to a fault, you'd be hard-pressed to find a hipster in Pittsburgh who hasn't met (or at least heard of) Kosuke. He owns and runs VULTURE, a record store and vinyl cafe, and is notably far more approachable than his on-stage persona might suggest.
Though he appears absent-mindedly upbeat, those who get close may notice he's somewhat jaded beneath the surface. He seems to have a dark past- but, surely, that's all there is to him.
Though he appears absent-mindedly upbeat, those who get close may notice he's somewhat jaded beneath the surface. He seems to have a dark past- but, surely, that's all there is to him.
who dare to consume;
CLAWED
Possessions
He hides a number of weapons on his person at all times- some conventional, others reliant on his specific power. Though the exact amount may vary, he's never seen without at least something. Even the harmless shopkeep is armed to the resonant teeth.
"FRONTCLAW"
: a large knife, more practical than threatening.
"VENOM"
: a tazer- a new addition, but a favourite of his.
"HAIL"
: a collection of lightweight throwing knives- thrown, of course, with devastating accuracy.
"HINDCLAW"
: blades built into the toes of his shoes, unsheathed by a spring when he hits his heel.
"FANG"
: a handgun. The boring way out.
"CRY"
: a portable speaker, capable of playing back pre-recorded sounds, as well as amplifying his live voice.
"STOCKPILE"
: he runs a record store, and the store sells audio equipment. As such, he has access to a number of speakers and sound systems which, whilst they may take some time to set up, are enough to turn their new-formed soundstage into a sonic death trap.
ACE OF
Hearts
.
No matter which face presents itself, there always seems to be something missing from the picture; an extra layer of detail you're not quite getting, not yet privy to. A musician with unnatural talent. A madman who outsources his cruelty. A shopkeep trusted by his horde. A metahuman, unknown to all but a curated few-
But, for those few, it's already too late.
But, for those few, it's already too late.
a madness, recursive.
⠀
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ONE
MODERN
Hysteria
You know him. He's the one from that rock band- the one in charge, with the eyeliner and the pitch-perfect voice. Or he's the one from the alley you crossed last night- the one in hiding, with the hat and the soul-rending voice. Or he's the one from the record store down the road- the one behind the desk, with the iced coffee and the half-awake voice.
You know him- part of him.
You know him- part of him.
consumed by the vanity
HUMAN
Composure
To any observer, there is little to distinguish him from a regular human. However, he has a few unseen abnormalities- small quirks which, whilst not quite significant enough to call powers, still serve to aid him in his endeavours.
ENHANCED HEARING
, for example; the range of frequency and of volume that he can distinguish is far beyond that of a human, making him almost impossible to sneak up on, unless moving in absolute, unnatural silence.
IMMUTABLE COGNITION
means that any attempt to alter his thought processes--be it metahuman, chemical, or otherwise--is doomed to fail. This, of course, includes his own abilities.
MOMENTUM INTUITION
, vague as it seems, means that he has phenomenal aim, and is able to hit moving targets as easily as static ones. On top of this, it allows him to utilise objects in the environment for better mobility, without having to deal with any guesswork.
PERFECT PITCH
, though it is the most common of his abnormalities, is more useful than it appears- his primary strength comes from obscure frequencies, and it helps to get them right.
IDOL:
Vanity
Lead singer of garage rock band PREMORTEM and sole creative force behind VANITY PROJECT, the eccentric and enigmatic persona of Vanity has proved successful in capturing the hearts of the alternative public.
His work, especially his solo venture, is known for being dark and experimental, whilst remaining mostly palatable. Though little is known about him in the public eye, one thing is for certain; he puts on a good show.
His work, especially his solo venture, is known for being dark and experimental, whilst remaining mostly palatable. Though little is known about him in the public eye, one thing is for certain; he puts on a good show.
he claims to control,
SILENT
Discordance
He possesses a second voice, from a second set of vocal cords- classified as a metahuman mutation, owing to its abnormal gravitas. Its frequencies are below the range of human perception, bypassing the conscious completely to strike at the subliminal. Through experimentation, he has identified a number that are particularly effective.
This primarily manifests as the ability to manipulate emotions, inducing and intensifying emotional states with particular tones- to maddening degrees, if exposure is long enough. Though he doesn't yet know how to control the full spectrum, he has a few named notes that he can utilise;
It is likely there are more he has not yet discovered, and his research continues.
This primarily manifests as the ability to manipulate emotions, inducing and intensifying emotional states with particular tones- to maddening degrees, if exposure is long enough. Though he doesn't yet know how to control the full spectrum, he has a few named notes that he can utilise;
"DISQUIET"
for fear, and "UNREST"
for fury.
"OBSESSION"
draws attention to itself- and away from everything else. The longer it is left to play, the stronger its pull becomes, until it's all but impossible to perceive anything else.
"REPULSION"
, unlike the others, is just barely audible- a torturous sound, forcing those who hear it to do anything and everything to make it stop. Usually, this involves moving away from the source until it's no longer audible. When this isn't an option, however, then the source of the noise--or the organs which hear it--must be destroyed.
It is likely there are more he has not yet discovered, and his research continues.
DEVIL:
Lament
.
Once a music project dedicated to recording and remixing the last moments of Pittsburgh's dead, the persona of Lament has warped into something far more sinister.
Though his actions remain unseen, his tactics have changed as of late. No longer content with merely recording murder scenes, he now silently orchestrates them, pulling the strings of the violent to lure out the vulnerable- human or metahuman, for either party.
For now, he remains anonymous; with very little to tie him to his public identity.
Though his actions remain unseen, his tactics have changed as of late. No longer content with merely recording murder scenes, he now silently orchestrates them, pulling the strings of the violent to lure out the vulnerable- human or metahuman, for either party.
For now, he remains anonymous; with very little to tie him to his public identity.
controlling the vain
CRUEL
Harmonies
Though the effects of his frequencies last only as long as they are played, it is possible to cause more lasting, more specific conditions through combining and layering them into a song. In order for anything to last, the song must be played to completion- no skips, no interruptions, through a system of speakers complex enough to handle the clashing infrasound frequencies without any loss of quality.
Nothing he does can ever be subtle. Though the frequencies used are mostly unheard, it is obvious once a song starts playing that it should not be allowed to finish- he relies on threat and violence to keep his listeners engaged.
"COERSION"
is, so far, the only one he has deemed worth the set-up. It instills a persistent, subconscious threat, forcing listeners to comply with his demands- as the alternative, to them, is inconceivable. The spell is broken, so to speak, when the listener fails a request, resulting in an intense feeling of dysphoria and, eventually, nothing.
Nothing he does can ever be subtle. Though the frequencies used are mostly unheard, it is obvious once a song starts playing that it should not be allowed to finish- he relies on threat and violence to keep his listeners engaged.
MASK:
Kosuke
Charming, knowledgeable, and lazy to a fault, you'd be hard-pressed to find a hipster in Pittsburgh who hasn't met (or at least heard of) Kosuke. He owns and runs VULTURE, a record store and vinyl cafe, and is notably far more approachable than his on-stage persona might suggest.
Though he appears absent-mindedly upbeat, those who get close may notice he's somewhat jaded beneath the surface. He seems to have a dark past- but, surely, that's all there is to him.
Though he appears absent-mindedly upbeat, those who get close may notice he's somewhat jaded beneath the surface. He seems to have a dark past- but, surely, that's all there is to him.
who dare to consume;
CLAWED
Possessions
He hides a number of weapons on his person at all times- some conventional, others reliant on his specific power. Though the exact amount may vary, he's never seen without at least something. Even the harmless shopkeep is armed to the resonant teeth.
"FRONTCLAW"
: a large knife, more practical than threatening.
"VENOM"
: a tazer- a new addition, but a favourite of his.
"HAIL"
: a collection of lightweight throwing knives- thrown, of course, with devastating accuracy.
"HINDCLAW"
: blades built into the toes of his shoes, unsheathed by a spring when he hits his heel.
"FANG"
: a handgun. The boring way out.
"CRY"
: a portable speaker, capable of playing back pre-recorded sounds, as well as amplifying his live voice.
"STOCKPILE"
: he runs a record store, and the store sells audio equipment. As such, he has access to a number of speakers and sound systems which, whilst they may take some time to set up, are enough to turn their new-formed soundstage into a sonic death trap.
ACE OF
Hearts
.
No matter which face presents itself, there always seems to be something missing; an extra layer of detail you're not quite getting, not yet privy to. A musician with unnatural talent. A madman who outsources his cruelty. A shopkeep trusted by his horde. A metahuman, unknown to all but a curated few-
But, for those few, it's already too late.
But, for those few, it's already too late.
a madness, recursive.
ONE
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