Deep Dive Sneak Peek: Marcus Laqueus

This week I'm finally sharing the Devoted for the Symposium, a Standing 10 conspiracy using the bootstrap paradox to bring itself into existence as early in human history as possible. I had perhaps a bit too much fun with this one. My goal was to make someone who is absolutely terrifying in combat without being a walking TPK, which makes a high-powered, combat-focused character frustrating for players.

The usual caveat applies: This is the first draft version of him. There will be changes.

Marcus Laqueus

Quote: “It’s cute that you think you stand a chance against me.”

Background: Marcus is one of a line of Devoted engineered as assassins in the service of the Symposium – hybrids of humans and an extraterrestrial species of sapient gas. Their indoctrination makes them regard people of the past as beneath notice except insofar as their deaths further the conspiracy’s goals. Marcus is a model servant of the Symposium, and if he resents their control over him at all it’s only because he doesn’t get to torment and asphyxiate as many people as he would like.

Appearance: When Mimicry is active, Marcus has the olive complexion of a Greek or Italian man in his early 30s, with short black hair and brown eyes. He dresses in a tan suit and tie. When Mimicry is inactive, his body resembles a humanoid made of tan gas, with eyes like glowing violet lights.

Roleplaying Hints: Marcus likes to make anyone who doesn’t originate from the far future feel small. He disdains everything about the past and makes no secret of it. Unless kept on a short leash by Symposium agents, he will use Delude to frighten or incapacitate someone at the smallest provocation.

Origin: Born

Clade: Chimeric

Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 2, Resolve 2; Strength 5, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2; Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 2

Mental Skills: Academics 1, Investigation 1, Occult 1, Science 1

Physical Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl (Grappling) 3, Firearms 2, Stealth 2, Weaponry 2

Social Skills: Intimidation 2, Persuasion 1, Socialize 1

Merits: N/A

Willpower: 4

Stability: 7

Conviction: 2

Loyalty: 3

Aspiration: Show a local just how weak and inconsequential they are.

Initiative: 4

Defense: 4

Speed: 7 (10)

Health: 7

Size: 5

Acclimation: 2

Adaptations: Adrenaline Surge, Ferocious, Untamed

Forms: Devoted

Persistent Scars: Addictive Variation (Delude; Compounded) 4, Conspicuous Appearance (Storm-Caller; Terrible) 4, Dependency* (Hyper-Competence, Superhuman Strength, Anomalous Biology) 5, Frozen Heart (Boneless 5), Hubris** (Mimicry; Balanced, Calling Card, Scar-free from Origin) 4, Subliminal Conditioning*** (Carapace, Immunity, Specialized Sense x2) 4

Variations: Boneless 5, Carapace (Leathery) 1, Hyper-Competence (Brawl) 3, Immunity (Cold, Electricity, Fire, Radiation) 2, Specialized Sense (Technology; Night Vision) 1, Specialized Sense (Technology; artificial hearing and noise compensation) 1, Storm-Caller (Poor Lighting, Silence****, Thin Air) 3, Superhuman Strength 3, Mimicry 5, Anomalous Biology (Ageless, Breathless, Hungerless, Tireless) 3, Delude (Sever, Aura) 4

* Dependency: Marcus requires regular injections of a serum that can only be manufactured in the far future.

** Hubris: Marcus has a strong preference for strangling, smothering, or asphyxiating his victims, even when more expedient means of killing are available. He rarely kills anyone he hasn’t already designated as a Conviction Touchstone, instead choking out his enemies and leaving them unconscious.

*** Subliminal Conditioning: Anyone making a particular hand gesture can command Marcus, although conspiracy agents are always careful to pair it with a meaningless passphrase to conceal the real trigger.

**** Silence: Hearing-based rolls suffer a -3 penalty (moderate) or are impossible (severe) in the area.

Techniques: Garrote (Delude; as a severe Tilt, may prevent a target from breathing), Tonic Immobility (Hyper-Competence [Brawl]; as a grapple option, may impose the Suppression [Strength] 2 Scar on the opponent for 3 turns or until the grapple ends).

Acquainted: +1 Strength, +1 Stamina; +1 Academics, +1 Crafts, +1 Science, +2 Intimidation; Storm-Caller 5 (Conspicuous Appearance 5), Delude 5 (Addictive Variation 5)

Personal: +1 Dexterity; +2 Brawl, +1 Stealth; Flight (Perilous Variation 2) 2

Obsessive: +1 Stamina; +1 Occult, +1 Firearms, +1 Weaponry, +1 Persuasion; Flight (Grace; Perilous Variation 4) 4