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Post by Board Keeper on Jan 31, 2007 10:11:20 GMT -5
Security Briefing : SUPERADAPTOID At a recent New York function, the wife of a prominent Senator was captured by the clique, and multiple code blue members were killed. A sentinel sent to combat the terrorists was destroyed or dislocated by the Super Adaptoid. It is apparently under Clique control and is a double alpha class threat. What follows is a brief 'bio' (for lack of a better term) of the adaptoid. The Super-Adaptoid is an artificially intelligent android. Its level of intelligence has varied during its different appearances, sometimes being primitive and sometimes being fairly advanced and sapient. It has battled the Avengers and the X-Men. The Super-Adaptoid was built by AIM, a former branch of the super-terrorist group HYDRA. It has the ability to mimic the powers of up to eight superpowered individuals. This power was originally made possible by the use of a fragment of a Cosmic Cube, embedded within the android's body. However, this Cosmic Cube fragment was removed by Kubik at the conclusion of the story arc entitled Heavy Metal; how the Super-Adaptoid currently manages to take on the superhuman abilities of others is unknown. Powers and abilities The Super-Adaptoid is an artificial construct capable of mimicking the powers and skills of superhumanly powerful individuals, including specific equipment and clothing, which it generates out of its own mass. It can precisely mimic the physical appearance of a single individual whose powers it has stored; however, if it uses the powers of two or more individuals at the same time, its appearance alters to a mixture of the costumes and/or weaponry of the mimicked beings, and its skin, clothing and equipment alter to shades of Kelly green. It has artificial intelligence that seems to vary from appearance to appearance. Currently it is imprinted with the abilities of multiple clique members, including the ability to destroy or dislocate a sentinel in a single attack. The adaptoid's former form Again, the adaptoid, when using only one set of powers, is able to physically mimic that individual's appearance. _________________________________________________ Probable Clique Members Used As Templates (max = 8) |
Member | Powers | (Reported Use?) | 1. Schemer | Telepath | Yes | 2. Spectre | Teleporter | Yes | 3. Heatseeker | Heat Gen/Ctrl | Yes | 4. Thor | Strength/Mjolnir | Yes | 5. Shadowcaster | Darkforce | Yes | 6. Alchemical Man | Mol. Tranform | Yes | 7. Spectrum | Light Powers | Yes | 8. Arctic | Cold Powers | Yes | 9? Legerdemain | DImensional | Yes | 10? Fadeout | Phasing | Yes |
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Post by Board Keeper on Jan 31, 2007 10:11:42 GMT -5
Security Briefing : AQUAMAN Aquaman, born as Orin to Queen Atlanna and the mysterious wizard Atlan in the Atlantean city of Poseidonis. He was abandoned on Mercy Reef as a baby because of his blond hair, which was seen by the superstitious Atlanteans as a sign of a curse they called "the Mark of Kordax." The only individual who spoke up on Orin's behalf was Vulko, a scientist who had no patience for myth or superstition. While his pleas were to no avail, Vulko would later become a close friend and advisor to the young Orin. As a feral child who raised himself in the wilds of the ocean with only sea creatures to keep him company, Orin was found and taken in by a lighthouse keeper named Arthur Curry who named Orin "Arthur Curry" after himself. One day Orin returned home and found that his adoptive father had disappeared, so he set off on his own. In his early teens, Orin ventured to the far north, where he met and fell in love with an Inupiat girl named Kako. He also first earned the hatred of Orm, the future Ocean Master who was later revealed to be Arthur's half-brother by Atlan and an Inupiat woman. Orin was driven away before he could learn that Kako had become pregnant with his son, Koryak. Orin then returned to the seas, crossing paths with humans only occasionally but mostly staying out of humanity's sight. One fateful day, Orin discovered the city of his birth, Poseidonis. He was captured by the city's then-dictatorial government and placed in a prison camp, where he met Vulko. Vulko was also a prisoner of the state, and he taught Orin the language and ways of the Atlanteans. While Orin was there he realized that his mother was also being held captive, but after her death he broke out and fled. Eventually, Orin made his way to the surface world, where under the name of "Aquaman" he became one of several superheroes emerging into the public view at the time. Upon his return to Poseidonis he was made the king, and sometime later he met and married Mera. Mera was eventually driven insane by grief over the death of Arthur, Jr., and was committed to an asylum in Poseidonis. Shortly afterwards, an alien force conquered Atlantis. Arthur was forced to save the city but was hampered by an escaped Mera who personally blamed Arthur for the death of their son. In a fit of rage, Mera left Aquaman's dimension. Aquaman reluctantly decided to remain in Poseidonis as its protector once again. For a time, he served as Atlantis' representative to the United Nations but always found himself thrust back into the superhero role. Becoming more and more of a workaholic and solitary figure, Aquaman eventually returned to the oceans. He soon became tangled up in another attempt by Black Manta to destroy Atlantis by dragging it into a war with a surface nation. Aquaman learned that his birth name was Orin and that he and his enemy Ocean Master shared the same father, "an ancient Atlantean wizard" called Atlan. This revelation sent Orin into a bout of rage and depression, setting the stage for later confrontations between the two, as it was said that "two brothers will also battle for control of Atlantis". Aquaman lost his left hand when the madman Charybdis stole his ability to communicate with sea life and stuck Arthur's hand into a piranha-infested pool. This caused Aquaman to become somewhat unhinged, and he soon began having prophetic dreams. Soon after, he attached a harthingy spearhead to his left arm in place of his missing hand. This was the start of an entirely new look: the classic orange shirt was discarded for a silvery piece of armor that only covered the upper right half of his chest and part of his right arm. Forsaking his former clean-cut appearance, Aquaman grew long hair and a scraggly beard. After the destruction of the harthingy, Aquaman had it replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic from S.T.A.R. Labs. This new harthingy had a retractable reel that he could fully control. Atlantis is often taken as synonymous with its major city, Poseidonis, although another Atlantean city of importance at this time was Tritonis. Facing an unearthly invading species linked to the origin of the Atlanteans, Aquaman had to search out and unite the lost cities. This established him as a true Warrior King, and he became a major political power. Aquaman had rejoined the JLA when it reformed and remained an active member of that team until the Our Worlds at War event, during which Aquaman and the city of Poseidonis disappeared and were presumed to be destroyed. The JLA later discovered that Poseidonis and its inhabitants were taken into the ancient past by a powerful Atlantean sorceress named Gamemnae. The people of Poseidonis were made slaves by their Atlantean ancestors, and Aquaman himself was transformed into living water and imprisoned in an ornamental pool. After a few months of their time -- but fully fifteen years for the Atlanteans -- the JLA freed Aquaman and Poseidonis. It's people were returned to the present by the JLA. Aquaman's decision to sink ancient Atlantis caused displeasure among some of the city's citizens, and Arthur was once again driven out of Poseidonis. He spent some time in Ireland, where he met the Lady of the Lake, who gave him a new prosthetic hand composed of mystical water with unusual properties. From there he returned to his more traditional look: orange shirt, short hair, and beardless. Later, Aquaman went to San Diego after a massive earthquake plunged half the city into the Pacific Ocean. He soon discovered that the survivors of the catastrophe were able to breathe underwater and began helping them to rebuild the submerged portion of the city they now called "Sub Diego". During this time, Aquaman picked up a new sidekick named Lorena, who eventually became the new Aquagirl. For a time, it appeared that Aquaman might reconcile with Mera, as he attempted to take her to the surface in order to save her from the Atlantean mages who had transformed her into an air-breather. ________________________________________________ Powers and abilitiesAquaman has multiple abilities, several of which derive from his aquatic physiology. His amphibious lungs allow him to breathe air or water. He can withstand the pressure and cold of the depths which also provides him high durability and super strength out of the water. For instance, he can easily throw a car hundreds of yards away without much strain. He is a very fast swimmer which also translates to a high running speed on land. He is able to swim through the ocean at unmatched speeds, so fast that he can create a small tidal wave if the need arises. Arthur has been shown with the ability to throw water with the concussive force of a tidal wave, as well as leaping several stories at a time, either from land or water. He has enhanced senses due to his physiology as well. He can see in near total darkness and has super hearing. Aquaman's touch can also have a dehydrating effect, a consequence of how his body normally absorbs water while in the oceans. Outside of water, Aquaman will gradually dehydrate and his physical abilities and energy will waver in response. Arthur's most well-known power is his ability to communicate with sea life, which is actually telepathy. His range is unknown since he can summon sealife from undisclosed distances. Psychic battles he's had have reverberated around the world so it is possible that his range is worldwide. Though most often used on sealife, Aquaman has shown the capacity to telepathically affect anything that evolved from marine life including humans and Martians. His telepathy is fairly powerful, at one point helping Martian Manhunter tap into the minds of everyone on the planet. Further, it should be noted that he does not ordinarily mentally control sealife into helping him. When he commands, most help out of respect for Aquaman, while others can also be persuaded or bargained with. Some animals, like piranha will not obey him at all due to their non-social nature. Energy-Heat Resistance: Aquaman is extremely resistant to energy/heat based attacks as he has with stood multiple balsts from Amazo's heat vision, and Black Mantas heat beams. After the loss of his hand, Aquaman replaced it with a cybernetic harthingy (often mistakenly called a hook) that responded to his thoughts. The harthingy could be fired and stay attached to Aquaman via a long line. At times, Aquaman would replace it with a normal looking cybernetic hand. Later, it would be replaced by the Waterbearer hand given to him by the Lady of the Lake. The hand was magical in nature and possessed various abilites. Aquaman could control its density, making it very hard. If Aquaman uses the hand in a negative way, it releases the Thirst. Instead he primarily used it to heal as well as cancel magic spells. Waterbearer Hand Molecular Manipulation: Aquaman can alter the shape and density of the hand. Healing: It possesses healing properties. Farsight: Can be used as a scrying pool. Negate Magic: Can negate other magics. Prolong Adaptation: Significantly increases the time Aquaman can spend out of water. Independent Life: The hand can be separated from Aquaman and continue to work. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Aquaman
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Post by Board Keeper on Jan 31, 2007 10:12:12 GMT -5
Morgan le Fey Real Name: Morgana le Fey Nicknames: No known nicknames Former Aliases: No known former aliases Other Current Aliases: No other known current aliases Status Occupation: Occupation unknown Legal Status: Deceased; However she continues to exist as an astral from Identity: Secret Marital Status: Widowed Group Affiliation: Queen's Vengeance Base of Operations: Base of operations unknown Place of Birth: Tintagil Castle, Gorre (Now part of modern Cornwall, England) Place of Death: Camelot? Known Relatives: Mordred the Evil (son) Arthur Pendragon (half-brother, deceased) History Allegedly, two islands remained of Atlantis after it sank. These island did not sink until thousands of years later. One of these islands, called Avalon, had a member of its royalty named Igraine. Igraine had a daughter named Morgan, who went to Britain with Myraddin-later Merlin-when Avalon sank. Protesting the conversion of Britain to Pauline Christianity, Morgan opposed her half-brother, King Arthur Pendragon. Morgan attempted to used the Darkhold and was possessed by Chthon. Later, when Merlin and the Black Knight went off to battle Morgan, a mutant Nordheimr Vanir impersonated Merlin, and Sir Percival was slain by Mordred. Morgan herself was imprisoned within her castle. In modern times Morgan's astral form has battled the Avengers. She briefly altered the world to her own twisted version with the team serving as her Queen's Vengeance. Characteristics Morgan le FeyHeight: 6' 2" Weight: 140 lbs (xxx kg) Eyes: gray Hair: black Unusual Features: Currently exists as an astral form. Powers Known Powers: She is a powerful sorceress using both nature magic and spells from the Darkhold. Although she has been dead for centuries her astral form still remains. Weaknesses Morgan Le Fay is weakened by iron. Known Abilities: No known abilities. Strength Level: Strength level unknown Morgan's Le Fey and Atlantis ATLANTIS RISING www.marvunapp.com/Appendix2/morganlefay.htm(Namor I#62 - BTS) - Morgan's soul was reincarnated in the body of oceanographer Dr. Vivian Morgan. (Namor I#59 - BTS) - Vivian was awakened from her beachfront bungalow on San Paolo island, and she followed a call carried on the ocean breeze which brought her to a cavern, where a cult performed a ritual, summoning a wise "Priestess of the sea and the moon" to stop their island from sinking. The leader of the cult, the Priest of the Moon, told her to seek "the one who emanates magnetism of both the tides and the moon," and that his sacrifice would save the Azores. The priest of the cult gave Vivian the Star Sapphire pendant. (Namor I#60 - BTS) - Vivian tried to show the cult's cavern to Wilfred, but it was not to be found, though they did find the injured body of the Inhuman Triton lying in the surf. After bringing Triton back to the Institute Oceanographica de Ponta Delgada, Vivian became irate when Wilfred recommended they report their finding to the local constabulary. Refusing to allow them to "share the limelight," Vivian raked Wilfred's face with her nails, driving him off. Vivian studied the strong magnetism Triton was giving off, and she recognized him as the one the priests had foretold, especially since his presence excited a reaction in her pendant. When Vivian heard the sounds of a nearby struggle of Namor and Andromeda against the Blood Wraith, she assumed that Namor had come for Triton, and she headed out to find a place to hide him. She was discovered by Andromeda, but then unexpectedly clubbed the Atlantean, enabling her to escape. (Namor I#61) - In scuba gear, Vivian placed a number of explosive charges around a nearby undersea volcano. She then returned to her ship, surprising Wilfred with her hair, now magenta in color, and she kicked him off of the ship, escaping as the charges went off. Having ensorceled Triton, she returned to the coast, when she levitated the Ebony Blade back into the hands of the otherwise defeated Blood Wraith, enabling him to skewer Andromeda with it. Sir Percy's spirit enabled both Namor and Andromeda's spirits to escape from the Blade and revive their injured bodies. At that point, Vivian removed her cloak, having fully transformed into a duplicate of Morgan, and revealed her plot to raise Atlantis. (Namor I#62) - Morgan sent Triton and the Blood Wraith to assault Namor, but Namor took the Ebony Blade and hurled it far into the ocean. However, he then took Andromeda and fled towards Atlantis, where his and Andromeda's wounds could be better treated. As he recovered, Morgan summoned a group of Darkholder priests, using Triton to invoke the moon tide, calling upon Selene of the Moon and Levenah of the Tides, Isis, Gaea, Ea, Binah, and Shaddai el Chai. Namor arrived to stop her, wielding the legendary Sword of Kamuu. In addition, Namor returned with the Ebony Blade, restoring it to its sheath, which turned the Blood Wraith back into the benevolent Sean Dolan. Namor struggled with Trition, helping him overcome Morgan's influence, but when Sean hurled the Sword of Kamuu in an effort to kill Morgan, Triton leapt into its path, wishing to save the innocent Vivian Morgan who coexisted with Morgan. However, when the sword struck Triton, it completed the needed sacrifice, and Morgan used its power to draw Atlantis to the surface of the ocean. Triton had become imbued with magnetic power during a recent adventure with Namor, and this energy facilitated the terraforming. (Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising#1) - Morgan taunted Namor, who fled with Sean Dolan and Triton, taking the latter for medical care. About that time, Nathaniel Richards unwittingly set off a security device within Uatu the Watcher's citadel, which caused a black hole-like effect which rapidly consumed the citadel; Nathaniel narrowly teleported to safety in time. However, this effect so began to show in the nearby Attilan. The Inhumans requested aid from the Fantastic Four (Ant-Man, Invisible Woman, Thing), and Kristoff Vernard used Dr. Doom's memories to replicate his shrink ray, shrinking Attilan to tiny size and transporting it away from the moon in time to save it from destruction. However, the Fantastic Four lost the shrunken city to Maximus and his loyal "Evil" Inhumans. Meanwhile, Morgan gathered her Darkholders to the shores of the newly raised Atlantis, claiming it as her own. When Thor confronted her, she used her new Gaea-spawned power to enslave him. While Thor held off the returning Namor, Morgan cast an electromagnetic barrier over her new "Avalon;" though she opened a portal for and made an alliance with the Inhumans Genetic Council (Arcadius, Cynas, Furgar, Kitang, Porcal, Sapphiras, Targon, Thernon) when they arrived and subdued Namor. (Fantastic Four I#401) - Arcadius of the Genetics Council debated with Morgan over rightful ownership of the raised island. As the Fantastic Four's Stealth-Hawk ship approached, she sent Thor to capture them, but Nathaniel Richards teleported Attilan away. (Fantastic Force#9) - Morgan sent Triton to steal Attilan from Richards, who was based out of Castle Doom in Latveria. Meanwhile, Thor was freed from Morgan's control, and he joined forces with the Fantastic Four, Namor, and Kristoff. (Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising#2) - Morgan, having captured Nathaniel Richards, instructed him to devise the means to restore Attilan to full size. In addition, her Darkholders located the Ebony Blade for her, and she cast a potent spell to tap into its full power. Using this, she captured the FF, Thor, and Kristoff, but was then attacked by the Fantastic Force (Devlor, Huntara, Human Torch, Psi-Lord, & Vibraxis). She was also followed by the Genetics Council, who recognized that she could not be trusted with Attilan. Psi-Lord freed Morgan's captives, causing a backlash as the thousands of souls within the Ebony Blade were channeled through Morgan herself. Nathaniel enlarged Attilan, which gained a new home on the former Atlantis. The non-Inhumans fled the growing city, but the nearly incapacitated Morgan remained behind. Weakened, she retreated leaving Atlantis risen but uninhabited save by the inhuman city of Attilan. Note : Attilan has since relocated, but Llyron has designated it's resting spot as a reserve for them, should they ever need a docking point for their floating city again.
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Post by Board Keeper on Jan 31, 2007 10:12:38 GMT -5
Around 18,500 B.C., an Atlantean cult used the legendary Chthon Scrolls to create the first vampire in order to oppose King Kull, who had slain the mighty wizard Thulsa Doom. Varnae quickly slaughtered or vampirized the remaining Darkholders, including Verdelet, spawning a race of vampires. A number of other races or sects exist, some spawning from the Varnaean line or other, unknown sources; among these are the Adze, Ancients, Charniputra, Huskies, Jumlin, Nosferatu, Purebloods, Tryks, and Yiki Onna. When Atlantis sank 500 years later, Varnae placed himself in suspended animation, reviving occasionally, battling such warriors as Conan, Red Sonja, and Zula circa 10,000 B.C. and controlling the bat-like Afterlings. Around 2000 B.C., Varnae coerced the Sumerian sorceress Aamshed into creating the Ritual of Ascendance which would exponentially amplify the vampire lord's power; however, Aamshed made the ritual only able to be performed every 2000 years and on the vampire's native soil. Twice failing to complete the Ritual, Varnae battled Thor and the Catholic Church's Montesi line - who held the Darkhold spell for vampire destruction - for centuries before tiring and seeking an heir. Dracula was born in A.D. 1430; in 1444 he accompanied his father and Radu to Turkey to discuss peace, but they were ambushed, and the sons were held prisoner by Sultan Murad II to force Vlad the Elder to favor Turkey. After five years of torture, Radu had died, and Vlad the Elder and Mircea were killed by Vlad's advisors, led by John Hunyadi, for supporting Turkey. At 18, Vlad escaped and returned home, taking the title of voivode (prince) of Wallachia, but fled after a year, fearing his father's killers. Returning in 1451, Vlad threw himself at the mercy of Hunyadi, who trained him in war. Following through with a prearranged marriage, Vlad wedded Zofia, whom he despised. After a year, his obligations fulfilled, Vlad ousted Zofia and their infant daughter, Lilith. Again becoming prince of Wallachia, Vlad married his beloved Maria, sired Vlad Tepulus, ordered the impalement of all involved in his father's death, slew the Teutonic Knight Frank von Frankenstein, and ordered a massed assault on Turkey. Receiving deceptive "visions" from Varnae in 1459, Vlad Dracula was defeated in battle, but the warlord Turac had him spared, hoping to use him to seize control of Transylvania. Dracula was taken to the Gypsy Lianda, secretly a vampire, who used her "healing powers" on him. Dracula revived, but realized his powers moments too late to save Maria from assault and murder by Turac, though Turac soon fell before him. Dracula passed Varnae's test by destroying the false vampire-lord Nimrod, and, after Varnae resurrected him from destruction by a group of priests, Dracula became the Lord of Vampires by consuming the blood of Varnae, who then destroyed himself. Dracula initially slaughtered many Gypsies, blaming them for his transformation. Dracula then reclaimed his Castle and slew the vampire Bordia, learning of the Montesi formula. He sent the thief Murgo to steal the Darkhold from the Vatican, but the book was stolen by the sorcerer Cagliostro, beginning their long feud. Transforming several women into his Brides, Dracula avenged himself on Murad II. After fighting off an assassin in 1471, Dracula abdicated his rule, though he remained in his castle for over a century. Eventually he was forced to slay Vlad Tepulus, who had been raised by Gypsies who had taught him to hate and to kill his father. In the 16th century, Dracula encountered Esteban Diablo and twice battled Puritan adventurer Solomon Kane; a man named Durenyi stole Dracula's diary, which revealed his weaknesses and would eventually be read by 19th-century writer Bram Stoker. Dracula left his Castle near Snagov, moving to one near Burgo Pass, which he would keep for four centuries. In 1606, Dracula encountered the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, whose practice of bathing in virgin blood allowed her to resist and nearly entrap him, but he exposed her activities and slew her. Dracula ruled a Spanish province until being driven out in the first of many encounters with the mysterious Golden Angel. In 1691, tired of his wanton Brides, he sought out the American woman Charity Brown in Salem, Massachusetts. When she was framed as a witch and slain before his arrival, Dracula manipulated the slave Tituba into precipitating the Witch Trials. Around the same time, unable to pierce the anti-vampire defenses of a Swiss village, Dracula fed on a cow, Bessie, who would follow Dracula's trail for centuries. In the 18th century, pirate Hellyn deVill raided Castle Dracula; Dracula exposed her as a witch, and her crew slew her. Dracula fled Castle Dracula in 1762 due to the combined threats of Turks and Catherine the Great's Russia, relocating to France, where he renewed his enmity with Cagliostro after destroying his agent Jacques DuBois' animated gargoyle. In 1775, Dracula became advisor to King Louis XVI and then vampirized Cagliostro's wife, Lorena Serafina, surmising that the sorcerer no longer held the Darkhold. In 1789, Dracula narrowly survived destruction by Cagliostro's agent Montplier, escaping during the storming of the Bastille. Leaving France, Dracula vampirized Austrian Henry Sayge then attempted to dominate Transylvanian Baron (Grigori) Russoff, vampirizing his wife, Louisa, but he was staked and destroyed by Russoff. Upon reviving, Dracula retook his Castle and created defenses, such as his Pit of Death, though in 1809 it failed to stop Lupescu, who sought vengeance for his vampirized wife Velanna and slaughtered Dracula's Brides, arranging their bodies into a giant cross. Also in that century, Dracula vampirized the wife of Count Vryslaw, who maintained her on animal and then human blood for twenty years before ending their existence; used his Children of Judas vampire cult to vampirize the wife of Abraham van Helsing, renewing his ancestral feud; vampirized Lyza Strang after her betrayal following his assistance in making Otto von Bismarck leader of the German States; fell in love with Anabelle St. John, using his Legion of the d**ned vampires in 1862 to assist the Confederate army in exchange for her returning to Transylvania with him; occupied Vienna via his vampire-legions before being driven off by the Golden Angel; vampirized pirate Captain Cutlass; dated the royal Maria Kroner in 1879; and was destroyed by an American Marshal with silver buckshot. Though he was later resurrected, minute silver particles temporarily weakened Dracula, causing him to age rapidly when he went without blood. In 1890, Dracula fought Jonathan Harker, Abraham van Helsing, John Seward, and others, escaping death by turning into mist. Dracula was later staked by van Helsing, but revived with the unwitting aid of Frankenstein's monster in 1898. In the early 20th century, Dracula battled a manifestation of Death, vampirized John Falsworth (Baron Blood), slew Jon Harker, defeated mobster Nick Diablo in Rome, met Marianne Cutlass (daughter of the pirate captain), battled the Frenchman in Marsailles, and encountered the demonic Devil's Heart in North Carolina. During World War II, Dracula opposed the Nazis as they destroyed his Gypsy servants; he destroyed Hauptmann Rudolph Kris after he usurped Castle Dracula, and at least once worked with the Howling Commandos. In the latter 20th century, Dracula's exploits were more frequently recorded, and his many adventures included vampirizing Tartoff on whose family he had preyed for generations; seeking the powers of the demons Ypsilloth and Ryg beneath Tarrington's Jenning Mill; fighting Father Vergilius Flotsky in Brass Monkey, New Mexico; observing the destruction of the Immortal Nine's Pool of Blood; battling the young Blade and his vampire hunters in China; solving the mystery of Mortus the Death Man who sought vengeance on the Broadway Project for her father's death; failing to control vampirized CIA pilot Roberta Christianson, and failing to claim the powerful Yazdi Gem from Augustus Ebers. Eventually the vampire-hunter the Scotsman staked Dracula and knocked him into his own Pit of Death. Despite his body's destruction, Dracula's spirit sent his agent Comte St. Germaine to obtain the Amulet of Zarathos in a failed effort to resurrect him. A few years later, Dracula's descendant Frank Drake inherited Castle Dracula, but his witless friend Clifton Graves removed the Scotsman's stake, restoring Dracula. Drake joined a band of Vampire-Hunters that continually pursued and sometimes even temporarily destroyed Dracula, who traveled to America and then back and across Europe, encountering the likes of Duncan Corley's restless corpse, the Werewolf Jack Russell, the Elderspawn Y'Garon and Elianne Turac (the life-extended daughter of the Turkish warlord), and making a new Castle Dracula from Castle Dunwick, usurped from Sheila Witter. Somehow entering the Vatican despite great agony, Dracula slew Giuseppe Montesi, but not before Montesi had sent a copy of the Formula to Quincy Harker. A disembodied brain who needed human blood to survive and sought vampire servants to obtain it for him, Doctor Sun drained Dracula's power and had him destroyed; but to stop Sun, the vampire-hunters used Aurora Rabinowitz's virgin tears to revive Dracula, who helped Blade temporarily destroy Dr. Sun. Dracula then infiltrated Anton Lupeski's Church of Satan, posing as the devil and seeking to sire a human son. Lupeski saw through the farce but hoped to control the child, and he presided over Dracula's wedding to Domini and the mystic ceremony through which Dracula fathered Janus. Lupeski attempted to kill Dracula, but inadvertently slew Janus instead, and Dracula crushed his skull. Domini magically revived Janus, who merged with the Golden Angel and fought Dracula repeatedly. As punishment for bringing Janus into the world, Mephisto (as Satan) stripped Dracula of his powers, though he became amused and restored them when Dracula became so desperate that he prayed to God for help. Dracula reclaimed the title of Vampire-Lord from the usurper Torgo, but was soon after skewered by a silver spoke in a battle with Quincy Harker, who also perished, destroying the most recent Castle Dracula in the process. Shortly thereafter, Florence Ebers revived Dracula, seeking to resurrect Augustus in Dracula's body via the Yazdi Gem, but she destroyed the Gem when Augustus turned against her. Dracula encountered the satanic Cult of the Enclave and the life-draining Dimensional Man. Dracula's spirit and strength briefly drained into the young Jacque McDonald after she received a transfusion from her mother, whom Dracula had bitten years earlier. Dracula later bit Howard the Duck, which left a bad taste in his mouth and sent the Duck on a brief bite-frenzy, then vampirized former associate Harold H. Harold. The Defenders aided Dracula against usurper vampire-lord Gordski, who was backed by Puishannt of the Six-Fingered Hand. After twice failing to fully vampirize Storm of the X-Men, Dracula was backed by the magic of the Darkholders, increasing his power, and he fought Thor before being utterly destroyed, along with the rest of the vampires on Earth, when Dr. Strange recited the Montesi Formula; however, Strange's cryogenic suspension of his own vampire brother Victor years before weakened the mighty spell, which was completely broken when Marie Laveau used the Vampiric Verses spell to resurrect Varnae. Sometime later, a demon named Asmodeus orchestrated Dracula's resurrection. Confused over the absence of Dracula's remains from his castle (where they lay when Asmodeus last observed the Earth), Asmodeus located the vampire's soul, then replaced the soul and the restored remains at the site of his previous death, again skewered by Quincy Harker's silver spoke. Dracula was revived by Professor Gregor Smirnoff, accessing the power of Asmodeus. Through Smirnoff, Dracula tapped the psychic power of 666 students associated with the Belonging cult. He was opposed by Frank Drake, Blade, Katinka, and Inspector Judiah Golem. After being wounded by his enemies, Dracula was eventually overcome by the spirits of the dead passing though him and he exploded. A later explosion apparently merged Frank Drake and vampire Hannibal King into a new, monstrous Dracula who fought Blade, but the real Dracula's spirit eventually possessed this monster, displacing Drake and King and restoring all three to their original forms. Dracula created an artificial companion in Raynee, but Spider-Man and Dr. Strange drove him from her. Dracula was then infected with a vampire-destroying virus by Charles Seward (descendant of John), which made it impossible to consume human blood, but also turned out to be lethal and highly infectious to humans. Dracula ultimately cured himself by drinking Seward's blood, which had been used in developing the virus. Dracula encountered the mutants of Generation X, then was forced to work with Elsa Bloodstone, whose father he had fought in the past, to oppose the Nosferatu vampires, who sought to infect other "purebred" vampires with an Ebola-like virus, making them immortal blood donors. From within his Transylvanian castle, Dracula prepared himself for the Ritual of Ascendance. Weakened during the incubation period, Dracula surrounded himself with armies of vampires from across the world, including Varnaean vampires, as well as the Adze, Charniputra, and Yiki Onna. Succeeding despite a new batch of Vampire-Hunters, Dracula immobilized Blade and completed the Ritual, assuming immense size and power. Dracula claimed Vampire-Hunter Divinity Drake as his bride, but she then revealed her true identity: Aamshed, the Sumerian sorceress who had created the Ritual millennia ago. Having created a supernatural lodestone to attract the souls of those slain by vampires over the last two thousand years, Aamshed unleashed those souls on Dracula, their purity setting him on fire. Whether needed or not, Blade then leapt forward, plunging a stake into Dracula's chest. As the vampire lord was consumed by the souls, the residual energy spread throughout the castle and the surrounding countryside, consuming the vampires there as well.
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Post by Board Keeper on Jun 12, 2007 8:26:42 GMT -5
The mutant phenomenon Millenia ago humans aquired an incredibly complex cluster of genetic material capable of endowing humans with vast powers. These abilities can be as simple as eyes which change color to those as so vast that one can hardly imagine. For millenia these abilities were dormant, only coming into play in one person every few centuries. EVERY human has this potential ... no one is without such an x-factor. Then, in the 20th century, something happened which caused the rate of empowered mutants to explosively rise. Theorists suggest that is was the rise of pollution and radiation in the last century. But I suggest not. Mutant powers are, on the most part, powered or at least activated by cosmic energy. Remember basic physics ... you can neither create nor destroy energy. Mutant abilities are powered by ambient cosmic energy. Ambient cosmic energy pervades the known universe. I suggest that a certain undetected SPIKE in these energies within the last hundred years activated these normally latent x-factors, and created the rise of mutant kind. Today, the current percentage of x-factor mutants is 1 in 10,000. About 1 in 50 of these would have a 'useful' mutation granting some sort of useful power. Besides people with active mutations, an equal number of 'latent' mutants also exist. These are people who MIGHT have their powers activate if certain conditions occurred. The population of the earth is approximately 6 billion. 1 in 500, 000 of these would be empowered mutants. With a world population of 6 billion, that gives us approximatedly 12,000 empowered mutants world wide. Certain areas of the world have a higher percentage of mutants for unknown reasons. Some catalytic factor working with the theoretical cosmic energy spike may be at work. Mutant kind can be classifed in the following rankings : Class D : Latent, extremely minor or cosmetic physical mutations. These are the 98 out of 100 mutants without 'useful' powers. Class C : Useful abilities but not overly powerful. An electrical touch about the strength of a taser would fall into this category. Class B : Useful abilities putting one above and beyond the norm of mutant powers. Class A : Peak mutant abilties. X-men class powers. Alpha : Magneto or Xavier level ablities. Omega : Beyond even Magneto or Xavier. Phoenix-like abilities.
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Post by Board Keeper on Jun 12, 2007 8:27:09 GMT -5
Global Warming
Recently the humans have been having alarmist reactions to the supposed global warming effect that CO2 is causing. I wish to clarify some data. The theory is that rises in man-made CO2 are causing the earth's temperature to rise. However, there is data which conflicts with this theory. Truth : In the last century, the earth's temperature has risen by a small amount. Data : The majority of this temperature rise occurred before 1940, a time when industrialization was causing minimal CO2 emmissions. Following WW II, emmissions jumped and for the next 40 years the temperatures were dropping (leading the alarmists earlier in the decade to be predicting a new ice age). Then in the 1970's the world wide recession caused a cut back on industrial emmissions. The temperature -rose- during this time. The higher level of CO2 actually appeared to be causing a cooling effect upon the earth. Truth : Anarctic ice core samples have revealed a correspondence between higher CO2 levels and global temperatures. Data : The CO2 levels follow the rise and fall of global temperatures, not the reverse. Data : Human meteorological data for the past 400 years notes that heightened sunspot activity is directly related to rises and falls of the earth's temperature. During periods of heavy solar activity, the earth's temperature rises ... and during periods of lessened solar activity, the earth's temperature falls. The heightened periods are denoted by heavier sunspot activity. Data : Besides direct warming by the sun, a secondary heating effect is caused by the fact that increased solar winds generated during sunspot activity. Solar winds drive off cosmic rays, which increase cloud cover and help cool the earth. Data : Why do CO2 levels rise (slightly) during periods of heavy solar activity (higher temperatures)? The ocean when warmer holds less CO2 than colder water. This CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Data : Both satellite and high altitude balloons do not show significant rises in troposphere temperatures where one should expect rises if the cause of the earth's temperature rise were due to man-made CO2. Historical Data : The earth experienced what was called the 'little ice age' around the year 1400 AD, with decades long drops in average temperature. Later, in what they call the 'medieval warm period', the earth was for a long while slightly warmer. Conclusion : Even though there appears to be little basis for the 'global warming' scare, there is nothing wrong with letting the humans panic over this misconception. It will slow their industrialism, and thereby slow the pollution which affects our fish and plantlife. A much larger concern.
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Post by Board Keeper on Jun 12, 2007 9:55:40 GMT -5
Avengers Mansion History And LayoutWhen occupied, the mansion was originally the Stark family manor, until their only son, Tony Stark, inherited their fortune and soon took on the guise of Iron Man. He donated the mansion to the Avengers and had it financed through the charitable Maria Stark Foundation. It was primarily looked after by the Stark family butler, Edwin Jarvis, who not only took care of the mansion but also catered to the needs of the Avengers team. It served as a place to plan and strategize and a home for Avengers members when they needed it. It had three above-ground floors and three basement floors. The first three floors were open to the public and had twelve rooms to house Avengers who wished to reside in the mansion, as well as Jarvis's quarters. A portion of the mansion's third floor served as a hangar for the Avengers' quinjets, their primary mode of transportation. The three floors below ground were restricted to the public and had modified rooms for the Avengers' needs. Such rooms below ground were: Howard Stark's "Arsenal" chamber, the Avengers gym, Hawkeye's test-shooting room, the training room (much like the X-Mansion's Danger Room), the cryogenic storage area, and the ultra-secure assembly room. These underground areas have since been extensively expanded, updated and remodelled. The Mansion was surrounded by a wall twelve feet high and one foot thick, as well as an array of high-tech security defenses. A main feature of the defenses were large, restrictive coils. These were sometimes backed up by energy beams that shot out from the ground. Nonetheless, those defenses were often breached by the supervillains faced by the Avengers. The mansion's grounds at one time featured an array of statues of past and present Avengers, constructed out of adamantium. The statues were destroyed in a battle with the Asgardian God, Loki. One of the trees on the grounds used to hold a miniature lab belong to Hank Pym. DestructionsThe mansion has been destroyed twice. The first time was in Avengers: Under Siege when a huge grouping of Masters of Evil, led by Baron Helmut Zemo, attacked the Avengers and destroyed the Mansion and beat Hercules into a coma among other things before being repulsed. In the immediate aftermath, the Avengers would relocate to a floating platform called Hydro-Base, while the former Mansion site became known as "Avengers Park," and was unused, until Hydro-Base too was destroyed. Later, the Avengers built a new headquarters on the site of the Mansion and resided there until it was destroyed by the Gatherers, a team of alternate universe Avengers. Ute, a Watcher enslaved by Proctor brought an alternate reality version of the original Avengers Mansion to the site as a dying gift.
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