Saturday, November 16, 2024

The 'Tender, Manipulative Villain of Nightfall Bay, leader of The Clamor Collective

 

Real Name: Carl "Clyde" Donovan
Age: 50s (date unknown)
Marital Status: Married (Estranged)
Aliases: The 'Tender
Motivation: Seeking Attention at all costs
Occupation: Former EMT
 
DEX: 3 STR: 3 BODY: 3
INT: 4 WILL: 4 MIND: 4
INFL: 6 AURA: 4 SPIRIT: 3
INITIATIVE: 13 HERO POINTS:
 30

Skills:

  • Deception: 5
  • Influence (Manipulation): 5
  • Intimidation: 6
  • Performance (Voice/Acting): 5
  • Streetwise (New York): 5

Powers:

  • Sonic Voice Boom: 5
    • By saying  "Hello!", The Tender emits a powerful sonic wave that knocks enemies back and can disorient them. The wave's effect is especially strong in enclosed spaces, and the impact can throw enemies several feet away.
  • Emotion Manipulation (Sympathy): 5
    • The Tender can manipulate emotions to make others feel immense sympathy or guilt for him, often making them believe he's a victim. His emotional manipulation can cloud the judgment of those around him, making them easily swayed by his words.

Advantages:

  • Master Manipulator: The Tender’s ability to influence people’s emotions is almost unmatched, particularly when he’s able to play the victim card.
  • Compelling Presence: His charisma and emotional manipulation give him the ability to gain trust and sway others, even when they should know better.
  • Tough Exterior: Years of heavy drinking and unhealthy living have made The Tender physically resistant to some damage, though it has left him slow and unwieldy.

Drawbacks:

  • Unstable: His emotional manipulation sometimes backfires when people see through his bullshit act, causing him to spiral out of control and make rash decisions.
  • Physical Decline: Due to his poor lifestyle choices (heavy drinking, lack of fitness), The Tender struggles with his health, leading to an inability to sustain long engagements in combat or physical confrontation.
  • Overconfidence: He tends to overestimate his ability to manipulate others and often gets reckless when things don’t go his way.

Equipment:

  • Tattered Suit:
    • BODY: 3
    • EV: 4
    • Special: Scruffy, stained, and ill-fitting. Not designed for protection but adds to his unkempt image.
    • Description: His suit is a mess, stained with food and alcohol, giving him a disheveled appearance that only adds to the illusion of his pitiable victimhood.

Wealth: 3

Background:

The Tender’s a walking contradiction. On the outside, he’s a sad, bloated mess—a man who’s let the years of hard drinking and bad choices carve a permanent mark on his face and gut. His hair’s a rat’s nest, untamed, just like the wreckage of his life. He doesn’t care anymore, not about appearances, not about respect. The world’s turned its back on him, and in return, he’s made it his mission to get something—anything— at all costs.

Born and bred in the gritty streets of New York, The Tender learned early that the world wouldn’t give him a damn thing unless he took it. So, he honed his gift—the power of persuasion & bullshit, the art of spinning a sob story that pulls on heartstrings like a damn orchestra making people believe he is the victim no matter what the case. By the time he was old enough to talk, he was already using people like pawns. His voice—a boom, a thunderous rumble—became his weapon of choice. “Folks, hello!” and he could knock you on your ass without lifting a finger. It’s a joke, really, how easy it is for him to clear a room. The sonic blast leaves you dazed, disoriented, but it’s his words that get under your skin.

What makes him dangerous, though, isn’t just the power of his voice. No, it’s the way he manipulates emotions. The Tender’s a master at making you feel sorry for him. He’ll twist your pity into something far more dangerous, making you believe he’s the victim, no matter what the truth is. It’s the New York hustle. The accent’s the hook. His tough-guy act makes him sound like he’s been through it all, and when he tells his stories, you’d swear on your life that they’re true. His pain becomes yours, his suffering becomes yours—until you find yourself doing things for him, things you never thought you’d do.

But behind all the talk and the manipulation is a man falling apart. His body’s a wreck from years of drinking, and he’s slowing down, physically. The Tender’s life is a slow spiral into nothing, and he’s not above using his powers to prolong that moment when everything catches up with him. He leans on his abilities, convinced he can keep playing the game, keep pulling the strings. It’s a dangerous gamble, though. The more he uses his powers, the more they take a toll. The booze, the neglect—it’s catching up. But when the smoke clears and the mask slips, you’ll see the real enemy: a man who’s so consumed by his own lies, he’s ready to drag everyone down with him.

You can underestimate him, you can laugh it off, but The Tender’s got a way of turning the tables. And when he does, you’ll be the one wondering who’s in control.

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