test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Character Back Story - Fan Fiction
Archived Post
Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
Hi,
I am pretty much new to role-playing and I have never really written a back story before. I am working on one for a character I was hoping to role-play called "Millennium Man".
The story I have so far is below, I apologise for any poor grammar or spelling in advance and would appreciate any feedback. Also my knowledge of The Champions Universe isn't great just what I have picked up from playing Champions Online, The Website and the Wiki so I apologise if I have made any big errors in Lore.
1st Draft
Joseph Rogers sat amongst the still smouldering rubble of his home and workshop in downtown Detroit. The golden metal fragment he held in his hand glimmered as he wiped the dust from its surface with his thumb, the other side was blackened and scorched.
Joe cursed at the fragment as he slowly lifted his head to look at the ruined skyline of his beloved city. Alarms and sirens sounded close-by, there was rubble everywhere, fire and thick smoke plumed into an increasingly black sky.
As he gazed at what was left of his city Joe's heart sank further, he had failed her and all her citizens. He had failed all those innocents, all those he had sworn to defend with his life. When Detroit needed him most he hadnt been able to stop her destruction. He had answered the call like scores of others but for Joe this failure was personal. Detroit had been his to protect of course he would fight for her, and he should have done more.
But it was over almost as soon as it had begun the orbital cannon laid waste to both his enemy and his friends in one fleeting simultaneous moment. Then it ripped out his heart as it rained havoc and destruction throughout his beloved Detroit. Joe had only survived the initial blast due to his power armour and dumb luck.
He cursed his own survival, the guilt he felt was too painful and the shame of his failure immeasurable. He longed to have perished with his fellow heroes; he wished he had died that day too. Peering down once more at the fragment he had been squeezing so tightly in his hand Captain Detroit felt broken inside.
In the weeks and months that followed the death toll kept rising as some of the badly wounded succumbed to their injuries. Joe attended more funerals of his family, friends and colleagues than he ever thought possible. Six months after the battle of Detroit he had decided that his hero career was over. The Mayor and several big corporations had unveiled plans to build a new city over the ruins of his beloved Detroit. A city of the future! they said, Pah another lifeless monstrosity no doubt with no soul in her he spat as the plans were laid out on the evening news.
After the horrors of that day Joe already doubted his strength to continue as Captain Detroit and this news just blackened his mood further. They were not going to rebuild his beloved Detroit; they were going to bury her. His friends The Champions had told him not to make any hasty decisions; they said they would help him if he ever wanted to return and Dr Silverback loaned him a manufacturing replicator for his workshop. It was to help him rebuild his home and workshop and so he could help others too he said. But Joe knew it was also to try and entice him to construct new armour. And he certainly considered it for a while but after weeks of soul searching he felt his sprit was utterly broken. The guilt of such loss and the shame of such failure lay so heavy with him that Joe took the decision to hang up his cape. He finally got his wish to all intents and purposes it seemed Captain Detroit had perished in the Battle of Detroit after all.
Joe spent the months that followed trying to rebuild some of his old life; he took a grant offered from one of the big corporations to help rebuild his home and workshop. And he used the manufacturing replicator to help out what few friends he had left to do the same. The replicator could replicate any material into any shape as long as you had a sample for analysis. In mere moments it allowed Joe to replicate structural metal beams wooden doors and glass for windows items that would have taken weeks to acquire by any normal method given the demand. As the months passed slowly a new city began to emerge around him. It certainly wasn't Detroit but she wasn't as lifeless as he had imagined. Sure she was modern and sleek and fancy looking, but she seemed to have a soul too. Through the camaraderie of the survivors some of the gritty fight of Old Detroit seemed to live on and pass over into this new body.
Though he would never admit it, slowly she was growing on him. That said he could never take to the streets to defend her, all the fight had been taken out of him. Besides she wouldn't need him now that The Champions had set up their Headquarters in what people were now calling Millennium City.
He admired the courage of his friends The Champions and was in awe of their dogged resolve and persistence. Joe wondered how they ever found the strength to go on after the battle of Detroit. He for one was certain nothing could ever make him want to take to the streets again.
The city alarm sounded in the early hours, and it made Joe's blood run cold. He shot up in a sweat from his bunk in the workshop and ran to the window. Suddenly there was an explosion in the distance then another and another, NOT AGAIN please god, not again... he gasped.
He gazed out of the window and on the horizon he saw fire and there were strange lights in the sky. Just then he heard a familiar buzzing coming from his bedside drawer and his blood ran cold once more. He walked in what seemed like slow motion over to his bedside cabinet and stared for a moment in horror at the half open drawer. Vibrating, flashing and dancing around inside he saw his old communicator, he slammed the drawer shut and slumped next to his bunk.
I cannot, I will not go through this again he said, resolute in his mind. But the buzzing persisted and seemed to get louder and louder, in a flurry of emotion he yanked open the drawer grabbed the communicator and stared at it flashing in his hand, he was shaking.
As he opened the communicator he heard a recording of the voice of his friend Defender. "Calling all heroes the Champions need your assistance an alien threat is invading our beloved Millennium City." "Aliens" Joe muttered to himself almost in a whisper. Then the communicator crackled again "All heroes of past, present and even new recruits no matter your experience we need you, if you can join us please fight your way to Champions HQ where we will mount a counter attack. We would not ask you to carry this burden if the situation was not grave. Thank you and Good Luck to you all".
With that the transmission ended, almost abruptly, Joe hoped The Champions were ok. What now? The Champions were calling ALL heroes no matter how experienced; this must mean a serious threat indeed, perhaps even as terrible as that day. I can't go He said to himself; I have no armour I have no strength left to fight. What if I fail, what if I fail her... again.
At that moment another explosion went off, much closer this time, so close in fact that it shattered the windows in Joe's workshop and sprayed glass all over the place. Then a split second later another explosion, this one blew a hole in the wall and sent Joe and much of his machinery and tools flying. Some drums in the corner of his workshop containing old used oil burst and sprayed all over the walls, floor and ceiling.
As Joe slowly lifted his head from the floor the oil ran down the walls and dripped from the ceiling. In the haze and through his blurred vision the oil looked like thick black blood. "She is bleeding!" he whispered My beautiful city is bleeding once more. Slowly he forced himself up onto one knee "I cannot allow this to happen again" he said, more forthright this time.
Joe ran through the dust and debris to his locker at the opposite end of the workshop to where the bomb hit. It was dented and he had to use a screwdriver to force the door open. He rifled through the shelves, Where is it, where is it he ranted. Then from the back of a shelf, from the darkness it shimmered at him the golden metal fragment.
If he was going to help The Champions and Millennium City it was his only hope. Joe scooped up the golden fragment and ran over to the Manufacturing Replicator. It seemed to still be functional as he cleared the dust from the control panel. Joe punched in his pass key and quickly scrolled through the library of blueprints. He quickly located his improved power armour blueprint which he had worked on over the weeks that he pondered a return as Captain Detroit. It wasnt perfect and he had never replicated a test version so it was completely untried, but he had no time. He hoped the small golden metal fragment would compensate for any flaws in his design and give him the edge he desperately needed.
He activated the blueprint and the machine requested a sample to replicate the armour from, it was then that Joe slowly and carefully placed the fragment of Dr Destroyers helmet into the replicator and hit enter.
The machine whirred into action the lights in the workshop flickered as the machine drained power from the workshop supply. Within minutes the sequence was complete and a full set of gleaming power armour shone with a brilliant luminescence in the middle of the now dark workshop. The machine had killed the power supply to the shop but it had worked!
Joe reached out and ran his hand over the chest plate, it felt cold and smooth but it looked strong. He wasted no time in donning the power suit, it was far lighter than he had imagined. Ok Joe said to himself Its now or never as he readied himself to leave.
Joe stepped through the huge hole in his workshop wall and he was outside in the cool early morning air. He took a moment and gazed skyward then he kicked his heels together to ignite his rocket boots. There was a fizz and a spark but nothing happened! Dammit! Joe exclaimed This is not a good start, looks like I am on foot.
Joe ran as fast as he could muster along 112th street, litter, ash and dust swirled by him. He could see strange shapes high above him as he glanced up. The invaders ships reminded him of giant beetles silhouetted against the sky. As he rounded the corner onto the street housing the Champions HQ he stopped dead in his tracks. There were groups of weird insect like creatures swarming towards the Champions HQ some were less than 100 metres away from Joe.
His jaw gaped Some of them must be over 8 feet tall! he stammered. For a moment the fear got to him, he felt a tremble pass through his body, but then it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. I cannot turn back now said Joe, pushing himself forward I guess its time to test this new armour.
And with that Joe launched himself at the nearest group of insect beasts with his new Laser Sword in hand. He was quite graceful in combat for his tall frame, and he was deadly. The first two groups fell quickly he attacked from behind and had the element of surprise. However the next group saw him coming and in the middle of them was one of the really tall ones. He struck a heavy blow to one of the smaller ones it reeled back making a bloodcurdling clicking noise. This startled Joe enough for the big one to get in a thumping blow, Joe was thrown through the air and his Laser Sword was knocked from his hand landing a few metres away and sliding underneath a parked car.
Continued below....
I am pretty much new to role-playing and I have never really written a back story before. I am working on one for a character I was hoping to role-play called "Millennium Man".
The story I have so far is below, I apologise for any poor grammar or spelling in advance and would appreciate any feedback. Also my knowledge of The Champions Universe isn't great just what I have picked up from playing Champions Online, The Website and the Wiki so I apologise if I have made any big errors in Lore.
1st Draft
Joseph Rogers sat amongst the still smouldering rubble of his home and workshop in downtown Detroit. The golden metal fragment he held in his hand glimmered as he wiped the dust from its surface with his thumb, the other side was blackened and scorched.
Joe cursed at the fragment as he slowly lifted his head to look at the ruined skyline of his beloved city. Alarms and sirens sounded close-by, there was rubble everywhere, fire and thick smoke plumed into an increasingly black sky.
As he gazed at what was left of his city Joe's heart sank further, he had failed her and all her citizens. He had failed all those innocents, all those he had sworn to defend with his life. When Detroit needed him most he hadnt been able to stop her destruction. He had answered the call like scores of others but for Joe this failure was personal. Detroit had been his to protect of course he would fight for her, and he should have done more.
But it was over almost as soon as it had begun the orbital cannon laid waste to both his enemy and his friends in one fleeting simultaneous moment. Then it ripped out his heart as it rained havoc and destruction throughout his beloved Detroit. Joe had only survived the initial blast due to his power armour and dumb luck.
He cursed his own survival, the guilt he felt was too painful and the shame of his failure immeasurable. He longed to have perished with his fellow heroes; he wished he had died that day too. Peering down once more at the fragment he had been squeezing so tightly in his hand Captain Detroit felt broken inside.
In the weeks and months that followed the death toll kept rising as some of the badly wounded succumbed to their injuries. Joe attended more funerals of his family, friends and colleagues than he ever thought possible. Six months after the battle of Detroit he had decided that his hero career was over. The Mayor and several big corporations had unveiled plans to build a new city over the ruins of his beloved Detroit. A city of the future! they said, Pah another lifeless monstrosity no doubt with no soul in her he spat as the plans were laid out on the evening news.
After the horrors of that day Joe already doubted his strength to continue as Captain Detroit and this news just blackened his mood further. They were not going to rebuild his beloved Detroit; they were going to bury her. His friends The Champions had told him not to make any hasty decisions; they said they would help him if he ever wanted to return and Dr Silverback loaned him a manufacturing replicator for his workshop. It was to help him rebuild his home and workshop and so he could help others too he said. But Joe knew it was also to try and entice him to construct new armour. And he certainly considered it for a while but after weeks of soul searching he felt his sprit was utterly broken. The guilt of such loss and the shame of such failure lay so heavy with him that Joe took the decision to hang up his cape. He finally got his wish to all intents and purposes it seemed Captain Detroit had perished in the Battle of Detroit after all.
Joe spent the months that followed trying to rebuild some of his old life; he took a grant offered from one of the big corporations to help rebuild his home and workshop. And he used the manufacturing replicator to help out what few friends he had left to do the same. The replicator could replicate any material into any shape as long as you had a sample for analysis. In mere moments it allowed Joe to replicate structural metal beams wooden doors and glass for windows items that would have taken weeks to acquire by any normal method given the demand. As the months passed slowly a new city began to emerge around him. It certainly wasn't Detroit but she wasn't as lifeless as he had imagined. Sure she was modern and sleek and fancy looking, but she seemed to have a soul too. Through the camaraderie of the survivors some of the gritty fight of Old Detroit seemed to live on and pass over into this new body.
Though he would never admit it, slowly she was growing on him. That said he could never take to the streets to defend her, all the fight had been taken out of him. Besides she wouldn't need him now that The Champions had set up their Headquarters in what people were now calling Millennium City.
He admired the courage of his friends The Champions and was in awe of their dogged resolve and persistence. Joe wondered how they ever found the strength to go on after the battle of Detroit. He for one was certain nothing could ever make him want to take to the streets again.
The city alarm sounded in the early hours, and it made Joe's blood run cold. He shot up in a sweat from his bunk in the workshop and ran to the window. Suddenly there was an explosion in the distance then another and another, NOT AGAIN please god, not again... he gasped.
He gazed out of the window and on the horizon he saw fire and there were strange lights in the sky. Just then he heard a familiar buzzing coming from his bedside drawer and his blood ran cold once more. He walked in what seemed like slow motion over to his bedside cabinet and stared for a moment in horror at the half open drawer. Vibrating, flashing and dancing around inside he saw his old communicator, he slammed the drawer shut and slumped next to his bunk.
I cannot, I will not go through this again he said, resolute in his mind. But the buzzing persisted and seemed to get louder and louder, in a flurry of emotion he yanked open the drawer grabbed the communicator and stared at it flashing in his hand, he was shaking.
As he opened the communicator he heard a recording of the voice of his friend Defender. "Calling all heroes the Champions need your assistance an alien threat is invading our beloved Millennium City." "Aliens" Joe muttered to himself almost in a whisper. Then the communicator crackled again "All heroes of past, present and even new recruits no matter your experience we need you, if you can join us please fight your way to Champions HQ where we will mount a counter attack. We would not ask you to carry this burden if the situation was not grave. Thank you and Good Luck to you all".
With that the transmission ended, almost abruptly, Joe hoped The Champions were ok. What now? The Champions were calling ALL heroes no matter how experienced; this must mean a serious threat indeed, perhaps even as terrible as that day. I can't go He said to himself; I have no armour I have no strength left to fight. What if I fail, what if I fail her... again.
At that moment another explosion went off, much closer this time, so close in fact that it shattered the windows in Joe's workshop and sprayed glass all over the place. Then a split second later another explosion, this one blew a hole in the wall and sent Joe and much of his machinery and tools flying. Some drums in the corner of his workshop containing old used oil burst and sprayed all over the walls, floor and ceiling.
As Joe slowly lifted his head from the floor the oil ran down the walls and dripped from the ceiling. In the haze and through his blurred vision the oil looked like thick black blood. "She is bleeding!" he whispered My beautiful city is bleeding once more. Slowly he forced himself up onto one knee "I cannot allow this to happen again" he said, more forthright this time.
Joe ran through the dust and debris to his locker at the opposite end of the workshop to where the bomb hit. It was dented and he had to use a screwdriver to force the door open. He rifled through the shelves, Where is it, where is it he ranted. Then from the back of a shelf, from the darkness it shimmered at him the golden metal fragment.
If he was going to help The Champions and Millennium City it was his only hope. Joe scooped up the golden fragment and ran over to the Manufacturing Replicator. It seemed to still be functional as he cleared the dust from the control panel. Joe punched in his pass key and quickly scrolled through the library of blueprints. He quickly located his improved power armour blueprint which he had worked on over the weeks that he pondered a return as Captain Detroit. It wasnt perfect and he had never replicated a test version so it was completely untried, but he had no time. He hoped the small golden metal fragment would compensate for any flaws in his design and give him the edge he desperately needed.
He activated the blueprint and the machine requested a sample to replicate the armour from, it was then that Joe slowly and carefully placed the fragment of Dr Destroyers helmet into the replicator and hit enter.
The machine whirred into action the lights in the workshop flickered as the machine drained power from the workshop supply. Within minutes the sequence was complete and a full set of gleaming power armour shone with a brilliant luminescence in the middle of the now dark workshop. The machine had killed the power supply to the shop but it had worked!
Joe reached out and ran his hand over the chest plate, it felt cold and smooth but it looked strong. He wasted no time in donning the power suit, it was far lighter than he had imagined. Ok Joe said to himself Its now or never as he readied himself to leave.
Joe stepped through the huge hole in his workshop wall and he was outside in the cool early morning air. He took a moment and gazed skyward then he kicked his heels together to ignite his rocket boots. There was a fizz and a spark but nothing happened! Dammit! Joe exclaimed This is not a good start, looks like I am on foot.
Joe ran as fast as he could muster along 112th street, litter, ash and dust swirled by him. He could see strange shapes high above him as he glanced up. The invaders ships reminded him of giant beetles silhouetted against the sky. As he rounded the corner onto the street housing the Champions HQ he stopped dead in his tracks. There were groups of weird insect like creatures swarming towards the Champions HQ some were less than 100 metres away from Joe.
His jaw gaped Some of them must be over 8 feet tall! he stammered. For a moment the fear got to him, he felt a tremble pass through his body, but then it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. I cannot turn back now said Joe, pushing himself forward I guess its time to test this new armour.
And with that Joe launched himself at the nearest group of insect beasts with his new Laser Sword in hand. He was quite graceful in combat for his tall frame, and he was deadly. The first two groups fell quickly he attacked from behind and had the element of surprise. However the next group saw him coming and in the middle of them was one of the really tall ones. He struck a heavy blow to one of the smaller ones it reeled back making a bloodcurdling clicking noise. This startled Joe enough for the big one to get in a thumping blow, Joe was thrown through the air and his Laser Sword was knocked from his hand landing a few metres away and sliding underneath a parked car.
Continued below....
Post edited by Archived Post on
0
Comments
Joe powered up his concussion beams and cut a path through the swarm of insects all the way to Ironclad running as fast as he could. The creatures were flung left and right and it put them down just long enough for him to reach his comrade.
Hero thank you for coming join us in this Glorious Battle! We must defend the cannon while it is prepared boomed Ironclad.
Ironclad its me, err... Captain Detroit.
You look different my friend, but I am glad you are here, we could certainly use your prowess these Qularr are very aggressive.
Joe took position as directed and over the next 20 minutes he fought tooth and nail alongside his fellow heroes. Wave after wave of the Qularr, as he now knew them to be called, dropped from small ships. At times he thought he was done for then a blast would come over his shoulder or from his flank to aid him. Joe fought with all he could muster to defend her once more.
Finally a speaker near the cannon crackled to life and the words it uttered were salvation to all who opposed the Qularr invaders. Launch the Ironclad Defence!
As the cannon fired Joe watched the shell impact on the hull of the alien mother ship and within moments the rest of the Qularr were in full retreat, this time he hadnt failed her.
In the days that followed there was a ceremony held by the Major to honour the heroes who had answered the call and had fought so valiantly to protect Millennium City.
When it was Joes turn to meet the Mayor and Defender he approached the podium reluctantly but with pride. I dont believe I have had the pleasure said the Mayor softly. What do they call you hero? he asked.
This is, I mean this was formally Captain Detroit, Mr Mayor announced Defender.
I am so sorry said the mayor But I thought you had fallen at the Battle of Detroit? the Mayor said embarrassed.
That is ok Mr Mayor said Joe You are indeed right the spirit of Captain Detroit did perish that day along with his beloved city. It is time for me to let that old ghost go.
As you wish hero, then what name should we put on your medal? asked the Mayor.
Well this is a new city, she is fragile and an important symbol of defiance to all the evil in the world, I see that now said Joe.
And as long as she will have me, and as long as she needs me I will be her protector I will be her Millennium Man.
1st Draft
Thanks for reading.
A 'very' nice story! You made great use of the tutorial missions, added an emotional side to the hero and descriped it in great detail. An awesome background story, and I hope to read more of Millenium Man soon.
-Eligar
A contender for what? lol
(( Just keep doing what you're doing. It's great.))
From:
Hero thank you for coming join us in this Glorious Battle! We must defend the cannon while it is prepared boomed Ironclad. Ironclad its me, err... Captain Detroit. You look different my friend, but I am glad you are here, we could certainly use your prowess these Qularr are very aggressive.
To:
Hero thank you for coming join us in this Glorious Battle! We must defend the cannon while it is prepared. boomed Ironclad.
Ironclad its me, err... Captain Detroit."
You look different my friend, but I am glad you are here, we could certainly use your prowess these Qularr are very aggressive."
Cool thanks I will take that on board.