Nitroburst
Energy Aura
Leviathan Mastery
“You don’t know what it’s like, to have to stay absolutely, completely in control of my power every second of every day. All this power bottled up inside, with me terrified I’ll let it out. I take raw, random, cosmic energy and cohere it into a focused plasma state: I’m a living solar reactor cast in human form. I do inside my body just what the sun does. And if I ever cut loose—the way I’ve always been terrified I could, the way I always wanted to—a star is what I’ll become!”
—Nitroburst
HISTORY
(Sliding timescale/floating timeline in effect)
Early Life
Bryan Attfield was born to Robert Attfield and Samantha Warren in Eastgate, one of Paragon City’s wealthiest residential districts. His birth on a beautiful spring day belied such peaceful circumstances: Samantha was rushed to the hospital with rapidly deteriorating vitals and a c-section was ordered to hopefully save her life and that of her unborn child. The cause of her ailment was never discovered but was in fact due to Bryan’s mutant gene passively activating for the first time while in utero, slowly sapping his mother’s life force.
In comparison to his birth, Bryan’s childhood was idyllic, growing up in a tight knit community amid beautiful New England houses, sprawling hills, and spectacular ocean views. Sadly for him, puberty would be less kind. The Trolls had planted a series of explosive charges throughout the sewers along of a row of Eastgate condominiums. They planned to ruin the district and move in before city crews could properly respond. What the Trolls didn’t know was that a series of underground caverns already riddled the area. The cataclysmic chain reaction known as “the Hollowing” devastated a huge section of the neighborhood, causing it to fall in upon itself.
Terrified by the destruction unfolding around him, Bryan’s mutant abilities had the misfortune of triggering at the same time. A blast of energy burst forth from his body and left him unconscious in a crater where his house had once stood. While the Hollowing was eventually attributed to the Trolls, Bryan initially believed that he had caused his neighborhood to cave in. The realization that he hadn’t been responsible for this tragedy eased some fears regarding his abilities, but knowing what he had done to one building was enough to scar him for life just as Eastgate was now forever scarred.
Formative Years
Vowing to suppress his powers to ensure he’d never lash out, Bryan carried this secret shame all his life and sought to hide his abilities in order to save face and pass as a normal human. Things all changed at Paragon University when he met like-minded individuals who encouraged him to tap into his full potential and to finally embrace who he was. One such person was fellow student Jonathan Hart. Jon was someone Bryan jealously wanted to hate but grew to love: he was handsome, intelligent, athletic, popular, and unfailingly nice…
Despite his better judgement, Bryan fell in love with a man who could not return his feelings. And while the love was one-sided, a genuine friendship developed between the two. Jon eventually confided in Bryan that he was a mutant gifted with superhuman strength and durability. Codenamed Brickbat, he was officially registered with the FBSA and often patrolled the streets of Paragon City. Moved by his candor, Bryan opened up about the events surrounding his own powers. An excited Jon eagerly encouraged him to register so they could team up but an ever-fearful Bryan balked at the idea. The Overbrook and Fossburg incidents further fueled his misgivings as they both served as grim reminders of the destructive forces he also wielded.
But for all his protests, Bryan ultimately reconsidered in the face of another personal tragedy. When the Shivan meteors decimated the Paragon Heights neighborhood, Jon eagerly lent a hand to fend off the would-be destroyers. Unfortunately, Brickbat was not as invulnerable as he thought and was fatally wounded while saving civilians from certain death. Losing his best friend and unrequited love was a grievous blow but Bryan rallied and registered as a hero to honor him, settling on the code name Nitroburst (or Nitro for short) due to his explosive powers.
Present Times
Bryan eventually obtained his MBA and graduated magna cum laude, joining the ranks of Kearny-Lansing LLP. He did in-house public relations for a few years before branching out as an independent consultant. His ambition and business acumen have earned him contracts in the USA with the likes of Anthony Kord of Kord Technologies, Thomas Worthington III of Worthy Consolidated, and James Grayson of Grayson Technologies, and with Hazel Merrick of Covelli Industries and Investments in the Etoile Islands. Crey Industries actively attempt to recruit him but he rebuffs the Countess’s offers owing to his intimate knowledge of their illicit activities. Besides, if the Countess were to find out that he was the hero Nitroburst, she would surely have him terminated—in both sense of the word.
Bryan also started dating Miles Carrington, a scion of Paragon City’s elite with ties to The Providence Society and cousin of his teammate TalonKnight. While initially charmed by the glitz and glamor, Bryan eventually discovered that Miles possessed a ruthless streak and chose to hide his true self from him, using work as an excuse for his heroics. To further complicate matters, Nitro was immediately drawn to fellow hero Ensorcelled who proved to be a tonic after a long series of trials and tribulations. Bryan ultimately broke things off with Miles and began a new relationship with Orion, choosing love on equal terms over blind admiration.
APPEARANCE
Bryan Attfield primps and preens obsessively to look his best regardless of the occasion. He prefers dressing in well-tailored suits, shirts and sweaters over following the latest trends. His personal style could be described as timeless and understated.
Costumes
Nitro’s first costume as a registered hero was a spandex suit with navy blue tights and a white top with navy blue stripes running down the sides of the torso and under the arms. He wore gold gloves, boots, and a metal belt. It earned him the “Power Penguin” moniker due to its resemblance to a certain Antarctic avian.
His looks evolved throughout the years but he has maintained the navy, white, and gold palette with each new iteration. Nitro’s primary costume is a combination of leather, Dyneema, and metals. While his energy aura affords him some degree of defenses, this particular costume grants him even greater protection. The visor connects directly to the Bastion’s ARCHI interface and serves the dual purposes of protection while in-flight and of concealing his identity.
His secondary costume, inspired by his very first, is a reinforced bodysuit with detachable cape that seeks to convey archetypal heroism.
All his costumes have been treated with unstable molecules allowing him to integrate them into his matrix while transformed into pure energy.
PERSONALITY
A typical WASP, Bryan takes pride in good posture, genteel manners, personal hygiene, pointless discipline, and the ability to sit still for long periods of time.
He possesses a sharp wit and will happily engage in sass and banter, often revealing more of himself than he intends to. And while there is a heart beneath the veneer, he finds it difficult to open up to others, made all the more difficult by his intransigence.
Just like he keeps his powers in check, Bryan is known to keeps his emotions bottled up. He’s turned looking the other way into an art form and represses everything to an unhealthy degree that it’s only a matter of time before the dam bursts open.
This compartmentalization has proven to be an asset as he leads a double life with work and as a hero, but can he maintain the façade?
BASE OF OPERATIONS
The Bastion: The Bastion serves as the official base of operations for The Protectors League. Strategically situated on an island, this state-of-the-art facility enables rapid and effective responses to both domestic and international threats. Initially belonging to a director of the Protectors Foundation, the island underwent a remarkable transformation into a cutting-edge center for Earth’s Ultimate Protectors. In addition to the prominent tower structure visible above ground, the team's most secure resources are situated several hundred feet beneath the main building. The Bastion is controlled and operated by an artificial intelligence called the Advanced Reactive Cognitive Holographic Interface or ARCHI for short.
Icarus Condos: Located in the Talos Island neighborhood of Paragon City, the Icarus condo tower is one of the premier addresses on the island. The Icarus boasts ample floorplans, impressive views, and modern luxury amenities (with a price to match). The Icarus Condos: reach for the sky!
POWERS & ABILITIES
Energy Conversion: Nitro absorbs ambient cosmic energy into the cells of his body and processes it into plasma. This results in control over an extremely destructive force. When each of his body's power-storage cell enclaves reaches its capacity, excess cosmic energy is thereafter absorbed and immediately re-emitted in negligible quantities. Upon the total expenditure of all his available energy, it takes Nitro's body about 15 hours to recharge to its peak level unless he absorbs a large amount of energy at once. The act of concentration involved in releasing this energy in anything other than an omnidirectional wave is physically exhausting for Nitro if he continues it over an extended period of time. He can absorb cosmic energies from his environment and store them within his body cells, metabolizing the energy in order to generate concussive plasma bursts.
- Energy Absorption: Nitro can passively absorb ambient cosmic energy and has shown he can willingly absorb, store, and re-process various other thermal energies through conscious force of will.
- Plasma Emanation: Nitro can emanate plasma in the form of a blast or discharge with a tell-tale energy signature. This energy will emanate from his body in all directions unless he purposely channels it in a single direction, usually along the length of his arms. These destructive energy bursts can cause objects to shatter or explode but are otherwise non-lethal at their lowest intensity.
- Energy Form: Nitro can convert his body into a humanoid form composed of cosmic energy. While in this form he has no need for air, food, or water and is virtually immortal. He retains the ability to speak by transmitting his voice as waves of pure energy.
- Energy Aura: Nitro is naturally surrounded by a glowing energy aura that acts as a defensive shield and casts light. He can dim and dampen it at will.
Flight: Nitro can fly by energized propulsion.
Infrared Vision: Nitro can alter his vision between the visible spectra and the infrared one, giving him the ability to see heat signatures in his surroundings.
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ROLEPLAY HOOKS
Fervent Fan: Nitroburst isn't known for his grandstanding as a hero, but are you perhaps a fan of this doughty hero in blue, white, and gold?
Nosy Neighbor: Are you a resident of the same condo building as Bryan Attfield? Have you noticed his coming and goings at all hours of the night which he claims are work related?
AFFILIATIONS
The Protectors League: When darkness descends upon Paragon City and the Earth is engulfed in chaos, The Protectors League swiftly answers the call of duty! United in their unwavering resolve, they stand as a beacon of hope in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through courage, sacrifice, and unyielding determination, they emerge as the first and last line of defense, determined to fight through uncertain times–and certain death–to establish a lasting peace. The league protects humanity from all threats by uniting Earth's most powerful superheroes, who are committed to upholding justice, protecting the innocent, and preserving peace.