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CALVIN ZHENG AKA "Verse"
THE DOOMED
HERO NAME: Verse
REAL NAME: Calvin Zheng
LOOK: Male, Asian, steely eyes, casual clothing, cheap costume.
ABILITIES: Superhuman strength & speed, vitality absorption, memory manipulation.
NEMESIS
Earworm, a being trapped in an unsung song that slipped through the Tangee timequake.
LABELS
| DANGER | FREAK | SAVIOR | SUPERIOR | MUNDANE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | +2 | +1 | -1 | 0 |
CONDITIONS
| AFRAID | -2 to Directly Engage a Threat | |
| ANGRY | -2 to Comfort or Support or Pierce the Mask | |
| GUILTY | -2 to Provoke Someone or Assess the Situation | |
| HOPELESS | -2 to Unleash Your Powers | |
| INSECURE | -2 to Defend Someone or Reject Others' Influence |
BACKSTORY
-
When did you first learn of your doom?
Ever had a song stuck in your head? It's kinda like that... if the song was a supernova. You wanna scream the words as loud as you can before your brain explodes. Except you don't, cause you'd probably die while releasing some cosmic horror into the world. Yeah. It's kinda like that. I call it Earworm because it will not stop wiggling around in there.
Look. I don't like talking about this because it sounds so dumb, like some X-Files episode from the 1800's, okay? I was just a normal kid. I snuck out of my bedroom after curfew one Thursday night because I needed a break from school. My parents wanted me to be a doctor, or a lawyer, but I just wanted to make manga. I was on my way to hang out with my friends, Luke and Rina, at the 24-hour diner. Next thing I know, I see an object in the sky, a bright light, and then I'm surrounded by Beaks.
They must have got the wrong guy. I was just a normie. I didn't have any stupid powers. I barely got straight A's in school! If my mom found out about that one A-, she'd flip. I don't remember what they did, or if they even did anything. Hell, maybe I did something. All the sudden, I was back on the street, alone. I went to the diner. Everything was fine. Except, I started to understand things on a whole new level.
These words just kept coming to me. I would see them everywhere, in everything. I couldn't stop thinking about them. One day, I was bored, I said one out loud... and that was a big mistake.
Long story short: I think I was accidentally abducted and experimented on by Beaks. Now, I can understand things no one in their right mind should know. Earworm talks to me, keeps me safe, and makes me jacked with superpowers. I realize now that Earworm is probably just making sure I'm strong enough to say this damn song out loud in this horrible language. It feels like reality is coming undone in my mouth just thinking about it.
- Where did you get your sanctuary?
Earworm told me about it. I know, I know! I shouldn't listen to something I just told you was dangerous. You think it's so easy? Try it! Lemme know how that works out. Anyway... Earworm led me to a graveyard. Guess it crawled straight outta hell, huh? It's not like the city graveyard, it's some rando place in the woods. Filled with junk. It honestly looks like my room, if I was a crusty, old, zombie wizard. Books, scrolls, maps... Paper everywhere. All these weird offerings and artifacts in-between the tombstones. Sometimes inside of the graves. There's even a crypt that I haven't fully explored yet. I'm not that stupid.
- Why do you oppose your nemesis?
Oh, I dunno. Guess I don't want to DIE? Sorry, not sorry to disappoint, if you're a hater. Besides, who likes being told what to do? Not about that life. I'm not about to sing and dance just because I can't get a song out of my head. These are hard times, y'know? I don't wanna be the guy that couldn't keep it together. I don't wanna start the timequake, destroy everything and everyone I know. I mean, yeah, I'd die first, but I don't need that kinda grief. That's why I went to the sanctuary.
It's like Weiss Ophidius, the main character of my manga, Gentle Darkening. Everything that ever happens in Duskveil is cursed. Every person, object, and place has at least one curse on them. Some people learn to use to use their advantage. I just gotta find a way to do that with mine. Otherwise, I'd just be a villain, right? Feels bad, man! I never asked for this crap.
- Who, outside of the team, is crucial to defeating your nemesis?
So, the sanctuary isn't all bad. I got my own Maiden in Gray! Y'know, like in those super hard Devil's Spirits games? She's my personal occult guide, power-up station, and guardian type. That's what I tell myself, anyway. She's bound to the sanctuary and knows everything about it and Earworm. I think she's some immortal crypt keeper who was supposed keep these dangerous toys buried... but here I am. Now, she helps me master my powers without getting too many black scrawls over my body. See? This one covers my left leg.
Sometimes, I feel so powerful, like I could legit do anything! I tried it once when I was stupid, and this happened to me after. Gray says I gotta be more careful. This is like some binding contract that slowly gives control of my body to Earworm. Whoops! A few more of these, and I'm done for. My bad. Gray is usually monotone, but sometimes, I think she'd kill me for being dumb if she could get away with not triggering Earworm's endgame. She'll warm up to me, though. They always do.
It's cool, though. With Gray being my Samwise Gamgee, I'll find a way to throw Earworm into Mount Doom. Wait... Do you think Gray's helping me because she wants to help Earworm instead!? Oh man... Now I gotta re-think my whole life!
- Why does the team matter to you?
Gotta justify everything I do now, huh? Gotta make sure I'm a good guy with good feelings? Whatever. I care about the team because they don't ask dumb questions. Just cause something evil is hitching a ride in my body, doesn't mean I'm evil, too. Of course I care about the team. They're my friends... they're the only ones who know what I'm going through. It's not like Luke and Rina. They're normies. I can't tell them about Earworm or get them wrapped up in super stuff. If I can't hang with a team... I gotta do this all on my own. I don't think I can.
WHEN OUR TEAM FIRST CAME TOGETHER...
We paid a high cost for victory. When we fought Vultros, Calvin unleashed his first Doomsign (whether intentionally or not) and became wounded in a Doomed fit. The team helped him recover from an otherwise dangerous situation, but Vultros and the Beaks attempted to capture Calvin in his weakened state. Having witnessed Earworm's potential first hand, Max, the team's strongman, made a snap decision to prevent that from happening by sacrificing his vitality and getting captured instead. Calvin has survivors remorse.
RELATIONSHIPS:
You told Ben all about your doom and the trouble you're in.
Calvin sees a kindred spirit in Ben because they both have evil stigmas attached to their image (Calvin for Earworm, Ben for his dad). He opened up to Ben to make him know that he's not alone, and get some advice from him about how he deals with the bad rap.
You'd love to kiss Temperance before your doom comes.
Both Temperance and Calvin seem like geeks; they like video / card games. Neither of them asked for the responsibility of a hero, but they accepted it. They both have to deal with the loss of ancient societies (Noctis / The Grays). Calvin hopes they can go on a PG-13 date before he maybe sorta dies.
INFLUENCE:
These people matter for what you need to do. Give Influence to two of your Teammates: (Temperance and Charlie)
Verse has Influence over...
- Charlie
- Temperance (2)
Verse is Influenced by...
- Temperance
- Charlie
DOOMED
You're doomed. Your powers may be killing you, or maybe you're hunted ruthlessly, or maybe you embody an apocalypse. But one way or another, your future is grim. What brings you closer to your doom?
- Talking about it openly.
- Facing danger alone.
Whenever you bring your doom closer, mark one box on your doom track.
DOOM TRACK: ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
When your doom track fills, clear it and take one of your doomsigns.
DOOMSIGNS
◼️ Dark Visions: Mark your doom track to have a vision about the situation at hand. Afterward, ask the GM a question: they will answer it honestly.
⬜ Infinite Powers: Mark your doom track to use any ability from any playbook, one time.
⬜ Portal: Mark your doom track to appear in a scene with anyone you want.
⬜ Burning Bright: Mark your doom track to ignore one of the GM's requirements when you call upon the resources of your sanctuary.
⬜ Bolstered: Mark your doom track to use an Adult Move one time.
⬜ Your Doom Arrives: confront it and perish.
SANCTUARY
You have a place where you can rest, recover, and reflect upon your powers. Choose three features:
◼️ A library of valuable tomes.
◼️ A scattering of ancient relics.
◼️ An assistant or aide.
Choose two downsides of your sanctuary:
◼️ Draws dangerous attention.
◼️ Tied intricately to your doom.
When you call upon the resources of your sanctuary to solve a problem, say what you want to do. The GM will give you one to four conditions you must fulfill to complete your solution:
⬜ First you must ____________.
⬜ You'll need help from ____________.
⬜ You and your team will risk danger from ____________.
⬜ You'll have to obtain ____________.
⬜ The best you can do is a lesser version, unreliable and limited.
⬜ You'll need to mark one box on your doom track.
PLAYER QUESTIONS
-
What kind of player are you?
I'm a collaborator that tries to make sure everyone feels psychologically safe and empowered to have fun and tell great stories. I like a mix of intrigue, action, and drama.
- Why are you excited for this game?
I love the Powered by the Apocalypse system and most of the games under its umbrella. For MASKS specifically, I enjoy the idea of young heroes coming-of-age together. The Doomed playbook enables me to explore the "power at a price" theme. It's more about the consequences of having and wanting to use power, rather than being powerful in and of itself. How far are you willing to go to do what needs to be done? How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice for others?
- What are your expectations for this game?
To be challenged and confronted with choices that don't always lead to a happy outcome. Leaving the drama to the characters rather than the players. Teamwork in and out of the game. A good post cadence with understanding that life happens (and communication if it does).
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for the game?
I'm easy going, empathic, insightful, and creative. I'm invested in the narrative and everyone's well-being. I like to share the spotlight.