I just think I'll plonk my completed sheet here. = ]
EDITED: Just edited the description of 'The Firestorm'. Just realised why it seemed like I was intending for it to be a form of grenade. the phrase "grenade-like" will do that to a person. I've amended that part to avoid confusion.
I await judgement with bated breath
EDITED: Just edited the description of 'The Firestorm'. Just realised why it seemed like I was intending for it to be a form of grenade. the phrase "grenade-like" will do that to a person. I've amended that part to avoid confusion.
I await judgement with bated breath
Name: Jake Saylin
Gender & Age: Male, 35
Appearance: Jake stands at an average 5'10" and weighs just over 12 stone. His hair is a dark brown that falls below his ears, stopping just short of his shoulders and pretty much always looking wind-swept. He hasn't owned a comb since he was a kid. Jake hasn't shaved in the past week and so has amassed a scratchy covering of stubble. His hazel eyes are often weary and cast a haunted look to his fairly good-looking features.
Jake tends to wear casual clothes. He currently sports a pair of baggy, dark grey jeans, a navy long-sleeved top with the sleeves rolled to just under his elbows and a black suede jacket with the zip halfway up. A pair of dark red skate shoes on his feet, and a jumble of beaded bracelets on his left wrist complete the outfit.
When Jake has his arms bared, you can see that his right arm has various tattoos running from the wrist to just above the elbow. These are mainly band and video game tattoos from his youth, but the most notable are the bats [http://www.tattoobite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/amazing-bats-tattoo-design.jpg] running up and around his forearm.
Faction: The Consortium. Specifically the worldwide print news conglomerate, EarthSheet, that specialises in fabricating stories in order to keep the Extraplanar activity a secret from the entire public.
Personality: Jake is a deeply troubled man. Knowing enough about the existence of Extraplanar beings, he lives his life in perpetual terror. He has only ever encountered one such being but it confirmed to him the fears outlined by HP Lovecraft a hundred years ago; that humanity is insubstantial and its existence inconsequential in the face of such incomprehensibly superior beings. His terror stems from the knowledge that any of these creatures could attack - and kill - him with impunity, or that at any moment, Earth could cease to exist should a Type V creature decide upon it.
Many with Jake's heavy heart would likely have ended it long ago, but he continues to fight through his terror. For one thing, he has a family that he could never willingly leave for death. For another, he struggles within himself to find the best course of action for his journalistic talents.
For five years, Jake has worked as one of the foremost EarthScreen reporters, liaising with other companies in The Consortium and Foundation to alter the news in order cover up strange goings-on. However, having gone into journalism to pursue truth for the common man, Jake obviously considers himself a terrible hypocrite and liar, but struggles with the concept of revealing to the world exactly what he knows. On the one hand, he believes that humanity deserves to know the truth. On the other hand, he doesn't think humanity is ready for the truth. He considers his own terror as part of the argument and often concludes that if the truth were to be leaked before the public were ready, then the ensuing panic would be a disaster far greater than the current Extraplanar activity.
Aside from these hesitations, Jake also has misgivings about the ethics involved in some of the factions' practices. The Foundation's experiments help mankind but, morally, aren't they just torturing and operating on unconsenting living creatures? Jake can't decide either way. The process of harvesting holds a similar conundrum for him.
In terms of the other factions, and magically-geared persons, Jake holds a sort of frightened respect. Compared to them, Jake feels as he does against the Extraplanars - insignificant. However, he also likes to think of himself as one of the few representatives of the common man. He may feel like a fairly useless and always terrified representative, but he likes to think it keeps the world balanced, and that if he can survive then perhaps so can the rest of humanity. And that's a thought worth holding onto.
Despite constantly worrying himself over the fate of the world, Jake tries to be congenial to people and never goes out of his way to upset others, just in case they happen to be a vampire or shapeshifter or something. On rare occasions, the old Jake surfaces - fun-loving, passionate - but is quickly stamped down again by thoughts of humanity's irrelevance.
Extraplanar Technology: After his first, and only, terrifying encounter with an Extraplanar being, Jake decided to call in a favour owed him by a top Foundation scientist. The favour consisted of asking for a weapon capable of protecting Jake from the dangers of Extraplanar beings. With a host of warnings about it's dangers, the scientist handed over 'The Firestorm'.
'The Firestorm' is a small, handheld device that has a button at it's top with a sharp pin attached to the button. The only way for the user to activate the device is to draw blood on the pin whilst pressing the button. 'The Firestorm' contains the pure essence of an Ifrit and when activated, produces a raging inferno (much like this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ovWefwC3w]) around a ten metre radius, with the user at the center. The act of drawing blood as you activate the device is a failsafe produced by The Foundation, that creates an affinity between the user and the Ifrit's fire, stopping the user from being engulfed in the flames.
Once activated, 'The Firestorm' lasts approximately 7 seconds and has an unknown number of uses due to the magical properties of it's core materials. All attempts at measuring it's heat levels have proven unsuccessful as all materials seem to be destroyed by the fire.
'The Firestorm' is a very formidable weapon, just what Jake needs to keep himself safe. Unfortunately, he has never used it and is still unsure exactly what it does, aside from "make fire". Also, due to the fact that it uses powerful Extraplanar materials, he is deeply, deeply afraid of it and will only ever consider using it if all other options have failed.
Aside from 'The Firestorm', Jake also carries a regular 9mm hand gun. He's never fired it.
Notable Skills: Jake has a lot of contacts, expecially within The Consortium and Foundation. Many companies that he has helped in the past owe him some favours that he could call upon in times of need. This could amount to weapons, military aid, money or even just refuge.
Being a journalist who makes his living outright lying about worldly events, Jake is great at manipulating people. He's conscious of how immoral it can be, but in a world where shadow creatures can eat his face off, he's not completely bothered by lying and manipulating people to survive. As a result of this, people tend to like him, though whether they're seeing the real Jake Saylin is up for debate. It's highly unlikely though.
Other: Jake enjoys reading. In his youth, Jake read lot of HP Lovecraft's stories and, despite trying for the past five years, he just can't shake the feeling that the bloody guy was right about humanity's role in the universe.
Jake has been sent to Boston by EarthScreen in order to investigate the recent murders and fabricate a story suitable for the world's public to see.
On his person, Jake carries a notebook and pen, a dictaphone, a mobile phone, a small book containing all his important contacts (in case he loses his phone), a 9mm hand gun and 'The Firestorm' device.
At his hotel, he also has a suitcase that contains a laptop, a copy of Catch-22, toiletries and a week's worth of clothes.
A note on Jake's introduction into the RP: I think he'd be suited to getting rescued after being attacked? Or perhaps interviewing another character about the murders before being dragged into the thick of things?
To be honest, I'm not entirely bothered how he'd be introduced so if anyone else has any suggestions, they're more than welcome.
Gender & Age: Male, 35
Appearance: Jake stands at an average 5'10" and weighs just over 12 stone. His hair is a dark brown that falls below his ears, stopping just short of his shoulders and pretty much always looking wind-swept. He hasn't owned a comb since he was a kid. Jake hasn't shaved in the past week and so has amassed a scratchy covering of stubble. His hazel eyes are often weary and cast a haunted look to his fairly good-looking features.
Jake tends to wear casual clothes. He currently sports a pair of baggy, dark grey jeans, a navy long-sleeved top with the sleeves rolled to just under his elbows and a black suede jacket with the zip halfway up. A pair of dark red skate shoes on his feet, and a jumble of beaded bracelets on his left wrist complete the outfit.
When Jake has his arms bared, you can see that his right arm has various tattoos running from the wrist to just above the elbow. These are mainly band and video game tattoos from his youth, but the most notable are the bats [http://www.tattoobite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/amazing-bats-tattoo-design.jpg] running up and around his forearm.
Faction: The Consortium. Specifically the worldwide print news conglomerate, EarthSheet, that specialises in fabricating stories in order to keep the Extraplanar activity a secret from the entire public.
Growing up, Jake's life was unremarkably average. He was born and raised in New York with both parents earning enough to make living comfortable. He was just a regular kid who liked to read, play videogames and listen to loud, heavy music.
As an adult, Jake found himself graduating NYU with a degree in Journalism and already a local reputation as an entertaining and truthful newswriter and commentator. As the years progressed, Jake pursued his career as a print journalist for various magazines, earning himself a national reputation as being one of the most trustworthy and talented young writers in America. Eventually, after winning a number of national and international journalistic awards, Jake was offered a writing job at one of the world's leading magazines. Without much hesitation, he accepted and soon found himself thrust into the international spotlight because of his approach to investigative journalism.
Despite the responsibilities of his work and being in the public eye, Jake never really grew up. He would still go see bands play whenever he could and he'd often spurn dinner parties with high-profile guests in favour of playing the latest video games. He became a notorious symbol of independence and irresponsibility in the face of the pompous world of print journalism. Many of his peers despised him behind their backs, joking about the "crass nature of the man-boy's articles". But Jake didn't care.
All Jake really cared about was the woman he married after knowing for two years, Melissa. They had a daughter, Amy, and were living very comfortably in New York when the 21st of December 2012 came around. It wasn't until summer of 2013 that Jake's life would be affected by the arrival of the Extraplanar beings.
During that summer, Jake found himself recruited by an entirely international news conglomerate called EarthScreen. He was paid an insane amount but the stipulations were that if he ever tried to leave the job or tell anyone of the details - including his family - he would be killed. With surprisingly little resignation at these stipulations, Jake accepted the job, which turned out to be a kind of anti-journalism.
Jake's job was to be sent to areas of Extraplanar activity that had high risks of being exposed to the public. He would investigate the area, interview supposed witnesses and then fabricate a believable story in order to keep things secret. Obviously, the revelations of Extraplanar beings were an initial shock to Jake; but not as big a shock to what he would learn about the factions in years to come.
For five years, Jake has covered up over one hundred incidents - some small, some large - but has still only encountered one Extraplanar entity alive. One night, when walking back to his apartment, Jake was terrified to be confronted by himself. Unsure of what to do, he tried to step around the doppelganger, only for it to suddenly transform into his seven year-old daughter. Numb with fear, Jake believes the thing would have killed him there if it hadn't been scared off by a nearby car alarm. After that day, Jake bought a gun and sought out an old Foundation contact to procure a powerful weapon to use against any Extraplanar threat.
Today, Jake is only the dimmest shadow of his former self; his wife and daughter have noticed the dramatic melancholy that seems to be crippling the man they love, but he still tries to hide this from them. He's been seeing a therapist in order to put their minds at ease, but without telling the truth, how can he hope to unload the heavy burdens weighing down his life?
Only once has Jake contemplated suicide. The gun's muzzle was pressed against his temple before he realised that he could never willingly leave his family. And so Jake fights on, doing what he tenuously believes is his duty to the world.
As an adult, Jake found himself graduating NYU with a degree in Journalism and already a local reputation as an entertaining and truthful newswriter and commentator. As the years progressed, Jake pursued his career as a print journalist for various magazines, earning himself a national reputation as being one of the most trustworthy and talented young writers in America. Eventually, after winning a number of national and international journalistic awards, Jake was offered a writing job at one of the world's leading magazines. Without much hesitation, he accepted and soon found himself thrust into the international spotlight because of his approach to investigative journalism.
Despite the responsibilities of his work and being in the public eye, Jake never really grew up. He would still go see bands play whenever he could and he'd often spurn dinner parties with high-profile guests in favour of playing the latest video games. He became a notorious symbol of independence and irresponsibility in the face of the pompous world of print journalism. Many of his peers despised him behind their backs, joking about the "crass nature of the man-boy's articles". But Jake didn't care.
All Jake really cared about was the woman he married after knowing for two years, Melissa. They had a daughter, Amy, and were living very comfortably in New York when the 21st of December 2012 came around. It wasn't until summer of 2013 that Jake's life would be affected by the arrival of the Extraplanar beings.
During that summer, Jake found himself recruited by an entirely international news conglomerate called EarthScreen. He was paid an insane amount but the stipulations were that if he ever tried to leave the job or tell anyone of the details - including his family - he would be killed. With surprisingly little resignation at these stipulations, Jake accepted the job, which turned out to be a kind of anti-journalism.
Jake's job was to be sent to areas of Extraplanar activity that had high risks of being exposed to the public. He would investigate the area, interview supposed witnesses and then fabricate a believable story in order to keep things secret. Obviously, the revelations of Extraplanar beings were an initial shock to Jake; but not as big a shock to what he would learn about the factions in years to come.
For five years, Jake has covered up over one hundred incidents - some small, some large - but has still only encountered one Extraplanar entity alive. One night, when walking back to his apartment, Jake was terrified to be confronted by himself. Unsure of what to do, he tried to step around the doppelganger, only for it to suddenly transform into his seven year-old daughter. Numb with fear, Jake believes the thing would have killed him there if it hadn't been scared off by a nearby car alarm. After that day, Jake bought a gun and sought out an old Foundation contact to procure a powerful weapon to use against any Extraplanar threat.
Today, Jake is only the dimmest shadow of his former self; his wife and daughter have noticed the dramatic melancholy that seems to be crippling the man they love, but he still tries to hide this from them. He's been seeing a therapist in order to put their minds at ease, but without telling the truth, how can he hope to unload the heavy burdens weighing down his life?
Only once has Jake contemplated suicide. The gun's muzzle was pressed against his temple before he realised that he could never willingly leave his family. And so Jake fights on, doing what he tenuously believes is his duty to the world.
Personality: Jake is a deeply troubled man. Knowing enough about the existence of Extraplanar beings, he lives his life in perpetual terror. He has only ever encountered one such being but it confirmed to him the fears outlined by HP Lovecraft a hundred years ago; that humanity is insubstantial and its existence inconsequential in the face of such incomprehensibly superior beings. His terror stems from the knowledge that any of these creatures could attack - and kill - him with impunity, or that at any moment, Earth could cease to exist should a Type V creature decide upon it.
Many with Jake's heavy heart would likely have ended it long ago, but he continues to fight through his terror. For one thing, he has a family that he could never willingly leave for death. For another, he struggles within himself to find the best course of action for his journalistic talents.
For five years, Jake has worked as one of the foremost EarthScreen reporters, liaising with other companies in The Consortium and Foundation to alter the news in order cover up strange goings-on. However, having gone into journalism to pursue truth for the common man, Jake obviously considers himself a terrible hypocrite and liar, but struggles with the concept of revealing to the world exactly what he knows. On the one hand, he believes that humanity deserves to know the truth. On the other hand, he doesn't think humanity is ready for the truth. He considers his own terror as part of the argument and often concludes that if the truth were to be leaked before the public were ready, then the ensuing panic would be a disaster far greater than the current Extraplanar activity.
Aside from these hesitations, Jake also has misgivings about the ethics involved in some of the factions' practices. The Foundation's experiments help mankind but, morally, aren't they just torturing and operating on unconsenting living creatures? Jake can't decide either way. The process of harvesting holds a similar conundrum for him.
In terms of the other factions, and magically-geared persons, Jake holds a sort of frightened respect. Compared to them, Jake feels as he does against the Extraplanars - insignificant. However, he also likes to think of himself as one of the few representatives of the common man. He may feel like a fairly useless and always terrified representative, but he likes to think it keeps the world balanced, and that if he can survive then perhaps so can the rest of humanity. And that's a thought worth holding onto.
Despite constantly worrying himself over the fate of the world, Jake tries to be congenial to people and never goes out of his way to upset others, just in case they happen to be a vampire or shapeshifter or something. On rare occasions, the old Jake surfaces - fun-loving, passionate - but is quickly stamped down again by thoughts of humanity's irrelevance.
Extraplanar Technology: After his first, and only, terrifying encounter with an Extraplanar being, Jake decided to call in a favour owed him by a top Foundation scientist. The favour consisted of asking for a weapon capable of protecting Jake from the dangers of Extraplanar beings. With a host of warnings about it's dangers, the scientist handed over 'The Firestorm'.
'The Firestorm' is a small, handheld device that has a button at it's top with a sharp pin attached to the button. The only way for the user to activate the device is to draw blood on the pin whilst pressing the button. 'The Firestorm' contains the pure essence of an Ifrit and when activated, produces a raging inferno (much like this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ovWefwC3w]) around a ten metre radius, with the user at the center. The act of drawing blood as you activate the device is a failsafe produced by The Foundation, that creates an affinity between the user and the Ifrit's fire, stopping the user from being engulfed in the flames.
Once activated, 'The Firestorm' lasts approximately 7 seconds and has an unknown number of uses due to the magical properties of it's core materials. All attempts at measuring it's heat levels have proven unsuccessful as all materials seem to be destroyed by the fire.
'The Firestorm' is a very formidable weapon, just what Jake needs to keep himself safe. Unfortunately, he has never used it and is still unsure exactly what it does, aside from "make fire". Also, due to the fact that it uses powerful Extraplanar materials, he is deeply, deeply afraid of it and will only ever consider using it if all other options have failed.
Aside from 'The Firestorm', Jake also carries a regular 9mm hand gun. He's never fired it.
Notable Skills: Jake has a lot of contacts, expecially within The Consortium and Foundation. Many companies that he has helped in the past owe him some favours that he could call upon in times of need. This could amount to weapons, military aid, money or even just refuge.
Being a journalist who makes his living outright lying about worldly events, Jake is great at manipulating people. He's conscious of how immoral it can be, but in a world where shadow creatures can eat his face off, he's not completely bothered by lying and manipulating people to survive. As a result of this, people tend to like him, though whether they're seeing the real Jake Saylin is up for debate. It's highly unlikely though.
Other: Jake enjoys reading. In his youth, Jake read lot of HP Lovecraft's stories and, despite trying for the past five years, he just can't shake the feeling that the bloody guy was right about humanity's role in the universe.
Jake has been sent to Boston by EarthScreen in order to investigate the recent murders and fabricate a story suitable for the world's public to see.
On his person, Jake carries a notebook and pen, a dictaphone, a mobile phone, a small book containing all his important contacts (in case he loses his phone), a 9mm hand gun and 'The Firestorm' device.
At his hotel, he also has a suitcase that contains a laptop, a copy of Catch-22, toiletries and a week's worth of clothes.
A note on Jake's introduction into the RP: I think he'd be suited to getting rescued after being attacked? Or perhaps interviewing another character about the murders before being dragged into the thick of things?
To be honest, I'm not entirely bothered how he'd be introduced so if anyone else has any suggestions, they're more than welcome.
