Author Topic: Smokey Emberstone  (Read 4847 times)

ReaperJoe

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Smokey Emberstone
« on: March 02, 2018, 02:45:58 AM »
CHARACTER

Name: Smokey Emberstone

Age: 18, Born 5th of Saaral

Species and Gender: Human Male

Symbol:  The top of a volcano, smoke pouring out of the crater

Occupation: Combat Academy Student (Beacon, 1st year)

Appearance: Smokey is a Caucasian male with ash-colored hair that's kept short but untamed, black eyes, and a five o'clock shadow that's probably better off shaved.  He's squat in stature, standing about 5'4", but he's very stocky, well-built, and muscular.  He wears dark heavy armor into combat that's covered by a thick dark gray coat that changes to red then orange as it stretches down to his dirty brown boots.  He keeps his spare ammunition under his coat, a variety of what most people would consider over-sized bullets and casings.  Strapped to his waist is a comically large pistol, and on his back you would see his symbol, if not for the massive rifle covering it.

History:
Smokey was raised by a single father.  His mother died in childbirth.

Smokey's father, Lucas, was a gunsmith in Mantle that was affiliated with the Schnee Dust Company, albeit not entirely without animosity.  The SDC offered Lucas a contract worth about 250 million lien.  He would get to keep his shop but would have to make custom weaponry for Atlas military.  All in all, that deal seemed fair at first, but the devil is in the details.  Quotas were so high they could barely be met, and the contract had clauses that increased the workload if more employees were hired, so Lucas couldn't hire any more help.  If quotas weren't met, harsh financial penalties would be put in place, devaluing the contract.  Lucas would be forced to work to the bone, but as long as he kept his employer satisfied, the Emberstone family would have few financial troubles.  Thus, he let the SDC get away with this borderline extortion.   

Because he had no mother and his father spent so much time working, Smokey grew up mostly by himself.  He was smaller than other kids his age, which made him easy target for bullying.  He had no authority or protective figure to run to, so he developed the only coping mechanism he could: a temper.  Whenever kids started picking on him, Smokey would get mad and start throwing punches.  And he wouldn't stop until he made them say sorry, or until he was beaten black and blue.  No points for guessing which happened more often. 

Due to his demanding work schedule, Lucas only learned of Smokey's violent tendencies when he managed to come home early one day and saw Smokey walk in with two black eyes, a swollen lip, and bruises up and down his legs.  After inquiring, or more accurately interrogating, his son for the details, Lucas quickly discovered Smokey's anger issues.  This worried Lucas tremendously; having your own son come home beaten and bruised multiple times a week and not knowing about it should worry any parent.

But Lucas was a good father, and he had a plan.  After hearing of his son's plight, Lucas took Smokey to a BB gun range to shoot Grimm shaped targets.  And it was fun!  The staff had an entire obstacle course that made kids like him feel like extraordinary huntsmen capable of taking down giant monsters.  Smokey had a blast! 

But afterwards, Lucas took his son aside and taught him some of the true nature of Grimm: that they're attracted to negative emotions.  If Smokey got mad, he'd bring more Grimm to his home, and to the people he cared about.  If Smokey really wanted to protect himself and his family, he had to control his temper.  Then Lucas made a deal with his son: for every week Smokey didn't get into a fight, Smokey would win and Lucas would take him to the gun range.  However, if he lost his temper and threw a punch, the Grimm would win, and he'd have to stay home and do chores.

It worked.  It worked beautifully.  With a new outlet for his aggression, Smokey became much calmer.  With his calmed demeanor, he was able to restrain his anger in order to "fight Grimm" with his dad on the weekends.  Kids would still pick on him, though, and occasionally he had to stay home and clean the toilets with a toothbrush (not his, thankfully). 

As he got older, Smokey would start helping his dad around his shop.  Lucas taught him how to maintain firearms and ammunition, how to handle weapons, even how to craft his own.  And Smokey was absolutely fascinated, especially when his father showed him his "big guns."  But his father would only let him shoot these guns if kept his temper under control, which still plagued him into his early combat school days.

And combat school kids had aura and semblances.  It only took a couple of absolute butt-kickings to learn he shouldn't start a fight.  But bullies knew how to press his buttons.  He'd still come home black and blue every once in a while, and it still worried his father, who already had more than enough on his plate to worry about.  Even worse for Smokey, he had earned a reputation as "Mt. Shortstack."  It became a game to see who could make him blow his lid the fastest.  Naturally, this only made Smokey even more angry.

But one day, a bully crossed a line.  He was a big, strong lad, things Smokey currently wasn't.  And he had brought Smokey's father into his bullying routine.  He called Lucas a "sellout," a "cheapskate," and an "SDC dog."  Smokey immediately started to see red.  His father was an over-worked man who cared deeply for the only family he had, and Smokey would be damned if he let someone get away with insulting his father.  But another voice creeped into his head, "If you hit him, you'll lose.  You'll go home bruised and beaten."

I can't let him get away with it though!

"If you hit him, the same thing will happen tomorrow.  Someone else will say the same things, and get the same reaction, and you'll get the same result."

But I--

"The only way to truly win is to not get mad, remember?"

His father's words.  Violence in his name would be the last thing Lucas would want.  Smokey wouldn't let it happen, and he started to walk away.  The bully didn't like that, and started to chase after him, winding up a punch.  A punch that had sent other students, and possibly even instructors, flying.  But Smokey's mind was made up.  He wouldn't turn around, and he wouldn't start this fight.  His temper was under control, and immovable.  And at that moment, so was his body.   

Smokey and his father celebrated that night, and a few months later, Lucas surprised Smokey with a weapon that he had been secretly working on for years, a modified version of a weapon meant to be mounted on an Atlesian Paladin, and would later be known as The Good News.

Unfortunately, Smokey's story doesn't quite end on that happy note.  The years of overwork and worry have cost Lucas greatly, and he's aging rapidly.  The only benefit the SDC have provided is money, and Lucas has decided to use it to let Smokey follow his dreams of becoming a Huntsman.  Because Smokey partly blames the Atlas Military and absolutely resents the SDC for Lucas's deteriorating state, Smokey shipped himself off to Vale instead of attending Atlas.  Smokey hopes that if he can make it at Beacon, he can earn enough money buy out his father's contract before he's worked to an early grave.

Smokey doesn't have a lot of time in that regard.  The years of overwork and worry for his son have left Lucas much more frail than a man his age should be.  He'll often head into work sick, assuring his son it's nothing more than a cough.  He most often operates on five hours of sleep, and looks very sleep-deprived.  If this rate keeps up, Smokey will only have about 20 years, maybe less, to raise the 250 million he needs to buy out the SDC contract. 

Personality:
Smokey used to be infamous for his terrible temper, but during early combat training, that temper has seemed to all but disappear.  People who spend time with him would now describe him as stoic, calm, if a bit tense.  He'll generally avoid starting conversations, but if someone starts talking to him, he'll answer back. 

He generally loves talking about firearms, especially his own guns, but he also likes discussing Grimm hunting techniques and the goings-on of famous Huntsmen and Huntresses.  He can be quite the talker if he's engaged in the conversation, but if he's not interested in the current discussion or doesn't really know how to respond to a given topic, he'll start replying with one word answers or "I dunno."   

He didn't really have a lot of friends growing up, and he spent most of his time alone or attempting to fight off bullies, so he has issues with communication.  This may cause problems with the team he's assigned, especially if that team wants to make use of Smokey's firepower. 

And although Smokey's a lot better at dealing with his temper, it isn't completely gone. If Smokey becomes annoyed or perturbed, he'll start muttering mantras such as "Don't take it personally" or "You are literally immovable, act like it" under his breath in order to keep calm.  If that isn't enough, he'll try to walk away from the situation, visibly mad, but still doing his utmost not to react.  If that's not possible, or if the situation follows him, he'll start aggressively attacking whatever poor soul that thought it was a good idea to piss Smokey off.  That poor soul's fortune is only worsened by the fact that Smokey now has access to very large guns, which should probably be kept out of the hands of an angry Smokey.

The easiest way to start making Smokey angry is to start talking about the SDC.  Due to his father's conditions, Smokey resents the SDC and will not hesitate to share his opinions on their business practices.  Another easy way is to push around his friends, especially those who aren't trained fighters.  If he sees someone picking on a friend who can't defend himself, Smokey will almost immediately move in front of the offending party and offer a challenge.

As for his father's condition, Smokey is generally tight-lipped about it, only sharing details with those who have earned a great deal of trust.  If he's ever asked why he decided to be a Huntsman, he'll simply say, "Money."

Aura and Semblance:
Smokey's aura is a dark gray color, similar to an ash cloud rising from a volcano.
Smokey uses his aura to enhance the strength of his punches or strikes with the butt of his gun, as he doesn't really use melee weapons like swords and maces. 

Semblance:  Immovable Object
Smokey's semblance makes him partially immune to effects that would displace him.  For instance, if someone tried to trip him by sweeping his legs, it would be equivalent to attempting to trip up a solid iron statue.  Punches that would normally send people flying would only knock him back a few feet.  Damage would be sustained as normal, however.  The primary advantage of this semblance is that it makes Smokey essentially immune to the recoil from bigger guns.  Thus, his weapons pack way more firepower than your standard Huntsman.

Additionally, since his Semblance resists displacement, the power behind punches and kicks would be cut in half against Smokey, as they wouldn't be able to follow all the way through.

There are two main drawbacks to this semblance, although one is by Smokey's own design.  The first drawback is that, while active, Immovable Object prevents Smokey from using really anything besides his legs to increase his mobility.  The second is that Smokey has to use his semblance to fire his weapons, otherwise the recoil would put some strain on his aura or even dislocate his shoulder if his aura runs dry, as well as throw off his aim tremendously.

When he activates his semblance, his aura solidifies around him like a rock.

This semblance uses a "charge" system.  He can use 20 charges before his aura reserves start to run low, with each charge lasting between 25 and 30 seconds.  When a charge runs out, Smokey must wait about 10 seconds before he is able to use another charge.

Combat Behavior: 
Smokey carries two guns with him, both for different purposes.  The first gun, Good News, is his big-game rifle.  It's mainly used to target large, behemoth Grimm, such as the Goliath.  His armor and semblance let him handle any damage the recoil would normally have.  His strategy for using this gun is very simple, yet very effective.

Step 1.  Point big scary gun at big scary monster
Step 2.  Pull the trigger
Step 3. ?????
Step 4.  Profit

Now, while firing this gun is great fun and very satisfying, it has a few drawbacks which keep him from using it to one-shot every encounter he ever comes across.  One, it's built to house only one bullet at a time, and it's a lever action.  It's also most effective at long ranges, even the ammunition made specially for Good News is multi-staged.  And that specially crafted ammunition is expensive.  If you want a bullet that can actually hurt big Grimm, you're paying for quality. 

His other weapon is the one he uses for most combat encounters.  Matchstick is used either as an extra-strength 7-round revolver that fires shotgun shells, or it can shift into its secondary form, a volley gun, that fires all 7 rounds of ammunition at once, which is useful for taking out groups of clumped up enemies in one go.  Getting close to Smokey while he still has rounds left in Matchstick is a very bad idea.  It's very effective at close to medium range, and fires in a cone.

Unfortunately for Smokey, Matchstick takes time to reload, as each round has to be loaded individually.  Once he's blown his load, he either has to retreat and reload, or use Matchstick as a glorified club in melee.  He does walk around in heavy armor and carry heavy guns, so he isn't lacking in the power department and his semblance lets him deal with some of the more tricky opponents, but he would much prefer finishing fights before running out of ammo. 

If he is forced into melee, though, he'll try to use his strength and aura to his advantage, either grabbing opponents and holding them still, or bludgeoning them to a pulp with his fists and Matchstick.  His semblance resists displacement, so opponents that prefer fighting hand-to-hand will find their power cut in half, as they won't be able to follow through a full punch or kick.  It's an interesting dynamic where blocking a sucker punch with his gut is actually a viable strategy for Smokey.  Nimble fighters that excel at taking down opponents through a constant barrage shouldn't have much trouble beating him, but he's more than willing to go for a slug-fest.

A more exploitable weakness, however, is his vulnerability to enemy cover.  At a medium-long range distance firefight, Smokey's kind of useless.  The Good News is meant for one or two large targets, and Matchstick's volley doesn't have much impact outside of its effective range.  Smokey also can't hop around from cover to cover like some Huntsmen or Huntresses, and thus can only close distances the old-fashioned way.  If he's kept pinned down by suppressing fire,  there's almost nothing he can do about it. 

tl;dr Smokey uses really big guns, but they take time to reload.  He's immobile, but wears heavy armor and won't go down in one or two good hits.  Prefers fighting at extremes, either long range, or short-medium range.  In between those ranges, he lacks effective weaponry.  In CQC, he's not useless, but he'll definitely be outclassed by specialists. 

WEAPON

Name: The Good News

Primary Form:
The Good News is best described as a hybrid between a sniper rifle and a cannon.  It's a lever-action rifle, capable of housing only one bullet at a time.  It's heavy, requiring a fair bit of strength to even hold it, let alone fire it.  It has a long, shiny, black barrel connected to a dull gray stock.  The scope has several small knobs to adjust any calibrations needed to take a long-range shot.  Compared to Smokey's gruff appearance, The Good News is clean and well-maintained.   

Individual bullets for the Good News are equally large, containing two chambers separated by a thin wall and a small hole in the back.  The smaller chamber towards the back is filled with a low-grade strain of Fire dust, while the larger is filled with a much more volatile strain.  When fired, after about 100 meters, the small chamber begins to ignite, causing the low-grade fire dust to burn, causing pressure to build up that leaves through the hole in the back of the bullet. This turns the bullet into a mini-rocket, essentially. 

Over the next 100-300 meters, the fire dust in the smaller chamber depletes.  As it depletes, the heavier chamber will start to pressure the wall separating the chamber.  If the bullet impacts, the chamber wall will break, letting the explosive fire dust into the already ignited smaller chamber.  After that, the bullet explodes and possibly sets the immediate vicinity on fire.

This description outlines the effective range of the Good News, and it means that the bullet will not detonate prior to the first 200 meters, give or take.  The effective range is around 200-600 meters, with the sweet spot being around 250-400.  On a good day, with good conditions, against a non-moving target, and the feng shui of the stars is just right, Smokey might hit a target at 800 meters (1/2 mile).  If the gun hits an object before the first 100 meters, there's enough force behind the bullet that it might just tear on through and keep going, although the bullet would certainly be knocked off-course.

Secondary Form:
The Good News collapses into a more compact form when it's not in use.  The barrel shrinks into the stock, and the scope slides into a hidden compartment. It looks like a very convoluted box.

Dust Functions:
Every round of ammunition uses a large amount of explosive fire dust, in order to give it a boost in damage.  It is expensive to fire this gun, so every shot has to count.

History:
The Good News is the gun his father gave him when Smokey discovered his Semblance.  Unfortunately, while awesome, he quickly realized its impracticality, and made a secondary gun along with Lucas for use in most other scenarios.  Smokey will only carry a very limited supply of ammunition at a time, only about 8 rounds or so, and he'll have to work part-time jobs or find high paying missions if he wants to make more bullets.  Smokey considers this weapon his most valuable possession and would prefer not to leave it out of his sight.

Name: Matchstick

Primary Form:
Matchstick is an over-sized revolver with seven compartments.  These compartments are filled with shotgun rounds, essentially making this a revolver-shotgun hybrid.    Smokey uses his semblance to handle the kickback of Matchstick, allowing him to "fan the hammer" and fire all rounds of ammunition in rapid succession without a major loss in accuracy.   Each round is loaded individually from the back. 

Secondary Form:
Matchstick's cylinder can extend into 7 barrels, while the stock extends back so Smokey can rest it against his shoulder, essentially transforming Matchstick into a volley gun.  When fired, all rounds are fired simultaneously, dealing massive damage to anything down range.  Smokey will then have to reload after using this form.
reference image: ShowHide


Dust Functions:
Dust is added separately from the bullets in a special compartment in the back of the stock.  This allows Smokey to decide on the fly if he wants to add dust to his ammunition, rather than having to decide as he's loading the gun.

Smokey will use either fire dust to add some extra oomph to this gun's already high damage, or ice dust to hamper speedy foes and gain some battlefield control. 

History:
Matchstick is the result of Smokey needing a gun that won't drain his bank account dry.  He and his father both crafted it together.  It boasts best-in-class firepower, and Smokey can win fights with one well-placed shot if his opponents aren't careful. 
« Last Edit: May 06, 2018, 07:02:45 PM by ReaperJoe »
Smokey Emberstone Beacon 1st Year and the Immovable Gunslinger of Team DASE "I've got more than enough firepower to beat you" "You've only got one bullet!" "Like I said, more than enough"

Aurelia Lumen Beacon 3rd year and the Warhorse of Team (TBD)  "Lay down your weapons, lest you wish to taste my steel!"

Wabul "Toast" Paka Shade 1st year and the Acrobatic Swashbuckler of Team (TBD)  "Hey, I'm gonna go jump off a bridge, who's with me?"

Lucas Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Hermit of Team CLVS  "What's so great about 'bittersweet'?"

Clara Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Blast Magician of Team (TBD) "No one likes just plain ol' bitter"

August Flare Beacon 1st year and the would-be ruler of the world "Join me, and witness the Brightest Future!"

Hexcodes:
515151
FFD700
E55812
CCE9AE
Cyan
FFA400

Kingnoname1

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2018, 12:17:38 AM »
Yea fixed everything in WiP +1 approval. Good job.
No criticism is too harsh so hit me with your best shot.

Calen Shrike - ASTC - First Year Beacon.

Saffron de Cortez - SALT - Third Year Atlas.

Amarant Lovis - (formerly of)ACCE - Headmaster of Atlas Academy

Ramalia - RASB - First Year Shade

Dr. Gustave

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2018, 09:07:47 PM »
Seems mostly fine but I'd just note that the vast majority of characters are at beacon so you might have a hard time finding threads for Atlas.
Atlas: ShowHide
Mercenary: Kol Augur ~ The Judicator of Atlas
Speaking: #5C5054 Thinking: #EAC117

Mistral: ShowHide
Huntress-in-Training: Aca Roth ~ Member of Team RWND
Speaking: #E05260 Thinking: #EA857F
Huntress-in-Training: Brook Pallas ~ Member of Team CNBR
Speaking: #4863A0 Thinking: #98AFC7
Council Member: Phaedo Katsaros ~ Figurehead for Faunus/Human relations
Speaking: #667C26 Thinking: #B6CC76

Vacuo: ShowHide
40th Vytal Tournament Champion: Zabar Aga ~ Member of Team DAWN
Speaking: #CD7F32 Thinking: #EE9A4D

Vale: ShowHide
Huntress: Malina Nahualli-Roth ~ Leader of Team MCCA
Speaking: #993A64 Thinking: #8B0C44
Beacon Professor: Titania Printemps ~ Assistant Headmistress of Beacon Academy
Speaking: #4AA02C Thinking: #E55B3C
Drop-out: Durian Ghede ~ Former leader of team DFDL
Speaking: #E1BD27 Thinking: #AF8B00

ReaperJoe

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2018, 10:34:27 PM »
Yeah, I've been looking around, Atlas seems pretty sparse.  I switched references of Atlas to Beacon.
« Last Edit: March 04, 2018, 10:36:35 PM by ReaperJoe »
Smokey Emberstone Beacon 1st Year and the Immovable Gunslinger of Team DASE "I've got more than enough firepower to beat you" "You've only got one bullet!" "Like I said, more than enough"

Aurelia Lumen Beacon 3rd year and the Warhorse of Team (TBD)  "Lay down your weapons, lest you wish to taste my steel!"

Wabul "Toast" Paka Shade 1st year and the Acrobatic Swashbuckler of Team (TBD)  "Hey, I'm gonna go jump off a bridge, who's with me?"

Lucas Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Hermit of Team CLVS  "What's so great about 'bittersweet'?"

Clara Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Blast Magician of Team (TBD) "No one likes just plain ol' bitter"

August Flare Beacon 1st year and the would-be ruler of the world "Join me, and witness the Brightest Future!"

Hexcodes:
515151
FFD700
E55812
CCE9AE
Cyan
FFA400

Dr. Gustave

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2018, 10:28:01 AM »
You'll want to edit part of the history as well since it still seems to imply he's going to Atlas, just give some reason for why he's going to Beacon/how he got there.
Atlas: ShowHide
Mercenary: Kol Augur ~ The Judicator of Atlas
Speaking: #5C5054 Thinking: #EAC117

Mistral: ShowHide
Huntress-in-Training: Aca Roth ~ Member of Team RWND
Speaking: #E05260 Thinking: #EA857F
Huntress-in-Training: Brook Pallas ~ Member of Team CNBR
Speaking: #4863A0 Thinking: #98AFC7
Council Member: Phaedo Katsaros ~ Figurehead for Faunus/Human relations
Speaking: #667C26 Thinking: #B6CC76

Vacuo: ShowHide
40th Vytal Tournament Champion: Zabar Aga ~ Member of Team DAWN
Speaking: #CD7F32 Thinking: #EE9A4D

Vale: ShowHide
Huntress: Malina Nahualli-Roth ~ Leader of Team MCCA
Speaking: #993A64 Thinking: #8B0C44
Beacon Professor: Titania Printemps ~ Assistant Headmistress of Beacon Academy
Speaking: #4AA02C Thinking: #E55B3C
Drop-out: Durian Ghede ~ Former leader of team DFDL
Speaking: #E1BD27 Thinking: #AF8B00

ReaperJoe

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2018, 11:41:52 AM »
You mean I can't just hand wave it by saying "because there aren't any first years at Atlas?" /s

All kidding aside, I added a bit at the bottom of the history to explain why he's choosing Beacon.
Smokey Emberstone Beacon 1st Year and the Immovable Gunslinger of Team DASE "I've got more than enough firepower to beat you" "You've only got one bullet!" "Like I said, more than enough"

Aurelia Lumen Beacon 3rd year and the Warhorse of Team (TBD)  "Lay down your weapons, lest you wish to taste my steel!"

Wabul "Toast" Paka Shade 1st year and the Acrobatic Swashbuckler of Team (TBD)  "Hey, I'm gonna go jump off a bridge, who's with me?"

Lucas Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Hermit of Team CLVS  "What's so great about 'bittersweet'?"

Clara Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Blast Magician of Team (TBD) "No one likes just plain ol' bitter"

August Flare Beacon 1st year and the would-be ruler of the world "Join me, and witness the Brightest Future!"

Hexcodes:
515151
FFD700
E55812
CCE9AE
Cyan
FFA400

Dr. Gustave

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2018, 01:50:25 PM »
All good, approved and moved.
Atlas: ShowHide
Mercenary: Kol Augur ~ The Judicator of Atlas
Speaking: #5C5054 Thinking: #EAC117

Mistral: ShowHide
Huntress-in-Training: Aca Roth ~ Member of Team RWND
Speaking: #E05260 Thinking: #EA857F
Huntress-in-Training: Brook Pallas ~ Member of Team CNBR
Speaking: #4863A0 Thinking: #98AFC7
Council Member: Phaedo Katsaros ~ Figurehead for Faunus/Human relations
Speaking: #667C26 Thinking: #B6CC76

Vacuo: ShowHide
40th Vytal Tournament Champion: Zabar Aga ~ Member of Team DAWN
Speaking: #CD7F32 Thinking: #EE9A4D

Vale: ShowHide
Huntress: Malina Nahualli-Roth ~ Leader of Team MCCA
Speaking: #993A64 Thinking: #8B0C44
Beacon Professor: Titania Printemps ~ Assistant Headmistress of Beacon Academy
Speaking: #4AA02C Thinking: #E55B3C
Drop-out: Durian Ghede ~ Former leader of team DFDL
Speaking: #E1BD27 Thinking: #AF8B00

Kingnoname1

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2018, 02:37:42 AM »
Pre edits: ShowHide
CHARACTER

Name: Smokey Emberstone

Age: 18, Born 5th of Saaral

Species and Gender: Human Male

Symbol:  The top of a volcano, smoke pouring out of the crater

Occupation: Combat Academy Student (Beacon, 1st year)

Appearance: Smokey is a Caucasian male with ash-colored hair that's kept short but untamed, black eyes, and a five o'clock shadow that's probably better off shaved.  He's squat in stature, standing about 5'4", but he's very stocky, well-built, and muscular.  He wears dark heavy armor into combat that's covered by a thick dark gray coat that changes to red then orange as it stretches down to his dirty brown boots.  He keeps his spare ammunition under his coat, a variety of what most people would consider over-sized bullets and casings.  Strapped to his waist is a comically large pistol, and on his back you would see his symbol, if not for the massive rifle covering it.

History:
Smokey was raised by a single father.  His mother died in childbirth.

Smokey's father, Lucas, was a gunsmith in Mantle that was affiliated with the Schnee Dust Company, albeit not by choice.  It was more of a takeover rather than mutually beneficial partnership. However, Lucas's quality in craftsmanship was something that the SDC couldn't afford to lose, and they allowed Lucas to keep his shop.  However, he was forced to make custom weaponry for Atlas military officials only, and in amounts that forced him to work to the bone.

Because he had no mother and his father spent so much time working, Smokey grew up mostly by himself.  He was smaller than other kids his age, which made him easy target for bullying.  He had no authority or protective figure to run to, so he developed the only coping mechanism he could: a temper.  Whenever kids started picking on him, Smokey would get mad and start throwing punches.  And he wouldn't stop until he made them say sorry, or until he was beaten black and blue.  No points for guessing which happened more often. 

Due to his demanding work schedule, Lucas only learned of Smokey's violent tendencies when he managed to come home early one day and saw Smokey walk in with two black eyes, a swollen lip, and bruises up and down his legs.  After inquiring, or more accurately interrogating, his son for the details, Lucas quickly discovered Smokey's anger issues.  This worried Lucas tremendously; having your own son come home beaten and bruised multiple times a week and not knowing about it should worry any parent.

But Lucas was a good father, and he had a plan.  After hearing of his son's plight, Lucas took Smokey to a BB gun range to shoot Grimm shaped targets.  And it was fun!  The staff had an entire obstacle course that made kids like him feel like extraordinary huntsmen capable of taking down giant monsters.  Smokey had a blast! 

But afterwards, Lucas took his son aside and taught him some of the true nature of Grimm: that they're attracted to negative emotions.  If Smokey got mad, he'd bring more Grimm to his home, and to the people he cared about.  If Smokey really wanted to protect himself and his family, he had to control his temper.  Then Lucas made a deal with his son: for every week Smokey didn't get into a fight, Smokey would win and Lucas would take him to the gun range.  However, if he lost his temper and threw a punch, the Grimm would win, and he'd have to stay home and do chores.

It worked.  It worked beautifully.  With a new outlet for his aggression, Smokey became much calmer.  With his calmed demeanor, he was able to restrain his anger in order to "fight Grimm" with his dad on the weekends.  Kids would still pick on him, though, and occasionally he had to stay home and clean the toilets with a toothbrush (not his, thankfully). 

As he got older, Smokey would start helping his dad around his shop.  Lucas taught him how to maintain firearms and ammunition, how to handle weapons, even how to craft his own.  And Smokey was absolutely fascinated, especially when his father showed him his "big guns."  But his father would only let him shoot these guns if kept his temper under control, which still plagued him into his early combat school days.

And combat school kids had aura and semblances.  It only took a couple of absolute butt-kickings to learn he shouldn't start a fight.  But bullies knew how to press his buttons.  He'd still come home black and blue every once in a while, and it still worried his father, who already had more than enough on his plate to worry about.  Even worse for Smokey, he had earned a reputation as "Mt. Shortstack."  It became a game to see who could make him blow his lid the fastest.  Naturally, this only made Smokey even more angry.

But one day, a bully crossed a line.  He was a big, strong lad, things Smokey currently wasn't.  And he had brought Smokey's father into his bullying routine.  He called Lucas a "sellout," a "cheapskate," and an "SDC dog."  Smokey immediately started to see red.  His father was an over-worked man who cared deeply for the only family he had, and Smokey would be damned if he let someone get away with insulting his father.  But another voice creeped into his head, "If you hit him, you'll lose.  You'll go home bruised and beaten."

I can't let him get away with it though!

"If you hit him, the same thing will happen tomorrow.  Someone else will say the same things, and get the same reaction, and you'll get the same result."

But I--

"The only way to truly win is to not get mad, remember?"

His father's words.  Violence in his name would be the last thing Lucas would want.  Smokey wouldn't let it happen, and he started to walk away.  The bully didn't like that, and started to chase after him, winding up a punch.  A punch that had sent other students, and possibly even instructors, flying.  But Smokey's mind was made up.  He wouldn't turn around, and he wouldn't start this fight.  His temper was under control, and immovable.  And at that moment, so was his body.   

Smokey and his father celebrated that night, and a few months later, Lucas surprised Smokey with a weapon that he had been secretly working on for years, a modified version of a weapon meant to be mounted on an Atlesian Paladin, and would later be known as The Good News.

Unfortunately, Smokey's story doesn't quite end on that happy note.  The years of overwork and worry have cost Lucas greatly, and he's aging rapidly.  The only benefit the SDC have provided is money, and Lucas has decided to use it to let Smokey follow his dreams of becoming a Huntsman.  Because Smokey partly blames the Atlas Military and absolutely resents the SDC for Lucas's deteriorating state, Smokey shipped himself off to Vale instead of attending Atlas.  Smokey hopes that if he can make it at Beacon, he can earn enough money to let his father retire before he's worked to an early grave.

Personality:
Smokey used to be infamous for his terrible temper, but during early combat training, that temper has seemed to all but disappear.  People who spend time with him would now describe him as stoic, calm, if a bit tense.  He'll generally avoid starting conversations, but if someone starts talking to him, he'll answer back. 

He generally loves talking about firearms, especially his own guns, but he also likes discussing Grimm hunting techniques and the goings-on of famous Huntsmen and Huntresses.  He can be quite the talker if he's engaged in the conversation, but if he's not interested in the current discussion or doesn't really know how to respond to a given topic, he'll start replying with one word answers or "I dunno."   

He didn't really have a lot of friends growing up, and he spent most of his time alone, so he has issues with communication.  This may cause problems with the team he's assigned, especially if that team wants to make use of Smokey's firepower. 

And although Smokey's a lot better at dealing with his temper, it isn't completely gone. If Smokey becomes annoyed or perturbed, he'll start muttering mantras such as "Don't take it personally" or "You are literally immovable, act like it" under his breath in order to keep calm.  IF that isn't enough, he'll try to walk away from the situation, visibly mad, but still doing his utmost not to react.  If that's not possible, or if the situation follows him, he'll start aggressively attacking whatever poor soul that thought it was a good idea to piss Smokey off.  That poor soul's fortune is only worsened by the fact that Smokey now has access to very large guns, which should probably be kept out of the hands of an angry Smokey.

The easiest way to start making Smokey angry is to start talking about the SDC.  Due to his father's conditions, Smokey resents the SDC and will not hesitate to share his opinions on their business practices. 

Aura and Semblance:
Smokey's aura is a dark gray color, similar to an ash cloud rising from a volcano.
Smokey uses his aura to enhance the strength of his punches or strikes with the butt of his gun, as he doesn't really use melee weapons like swords and maces. 

Semblance:  Immovable Object
Smokey's semblance makes him partially immune to effects that would displace him.  For instance, if someone tried to trip him by sweeping his legs, it would be equivalent to attempting to trip up a solid iron statue.  Punches that would normally send people flying would only knock him back a few feet.  Damage would be sustained as normal, however.  The primary advantage of this semblance is that it makes Smokey essentially immune to the recoil from bigger guns.  Thus, his weapons pack way more firepower than your standard Huntsman.

There are two main drawbacks to this semblance, although one is by Smokey's own design.  The first drawback is that, while active, Immovable Object prevents Smokey from using really anything besides his legs to increase his mobility.  The second is that Smokey has to use his semblance to fire his weapons, otherwise the recoil would put some strain on his aura or even dislocate his shoulder if his aura runs dry, as well as throw off his aim tremendously.

When he activates his semblance, his aura solidifies around him like a rock.

This semblance uses a "charge" system.  He can use 20 charges before his aura reserves start to run low, with each charge lasting between 25 and 30 seconds.  When a charge runs out, Smokey must wait about 10 seconds before he is able to use another charge.

Combat Behavior: 
Smokey carries two guns with him, both for different purposes.  The first gun, Good News, is his big-game rifle.  It's mainly used to target large, behemoth Grimm, such as the Goliath.  His armor and semblance let him handle any damage the recoil would normally have.  His strategy for using this gun is very simple, yet very effective.

Step 1.  Point big scary gun at big scary monster
Step 2.  Pull the trigger
Step 3. ?????
Step 4.  Profit

Now, while firing this gun is great fun and very satisfying, it has a few drawbacks which keep him from using it to one-shot every encounter he ever comes across.  One, it's built to house only one bullet at a time, and it's a lever action.  It's also most effective at long ranges, even the ammunition made specially for Good News is multi-staged.  And that specially crafted ammunition is expensive.  If you want a bullet that can actually hurt big Grimm, you're paying for quality. 

His other weapon is the one he uses for most combat encounters.  Matchstick is used either as an extra-strength 7-round revolver that fires shotgun shells, or it can shift into its secondary form, a volley gun, that fires all 7 rounds of ammunition at once, which is useful for taking out groups of clumped up enemies in one go.  Getting close to Smokey while he still has rounds left in Matchstick is a very bad idea.  It's very effective at close to medium range, and fires in a cone.

Unfortunately for Smokey, Matchstick takes time to reload, as each round has to be loaded individually.  Once he's blown his load, he either has to retreat and reload, or use Matchstick as a glorified club in melee.  He does walk around in heavy armor and carry heavy guns, so he isn't lacking in the power department and his semblance lets him deal with some of the more tricky opponents, but he would much prefer finishing fights before running out of ammo. 

If he is forced into melee, though, he'll try to use his strength and aura to his advantage, either grabbing opponents and holding them still, or bludgeoning them to a pulp with his fists and Matchstick.  His semblance resists displacement, so opponents that prefer fighting hand-to-hand will find their power cut in half, as they won't be able to follow through a full punch or kick.  It's an interesting dynamic where blocking a sucker punch with his gut is actually a viable strategy for Smokey.  Nimble fighters that excel at taking down opponents through a constant barrage shouldn't have much trouble beating him, but he's more than willing to go for a slug-fest.

A more exploitable weakness, however, is his vulnerability to enemy cover.  At a medium-long range distance firefight, Smokey's kind of useless.  The Good News is meant for one or two large targets, and Matchstick's volley doesn't have much impact outside of its effective range.  Smokey also can't hop around from cover to cover like some Huntsman or Huntresses, and thus can only close distances the old-fashioned way.  If he's kept pinned down by suppressing fire,  there's almost nothing he can do about it. 

tl;dr Smokey uses really big guns, but they take time to reload.  He's immobile, but wears heavy armor and won't go down in one or two good hits.  Prefers fighting at extremes, either long range, or short-medium range.  In between those ranges, he lacks effective weaponry.  In CQC, he's not useless, but he'll definitely be outclassed by specialists. 

WEAPON

Name: The Good News

Primary Form:
The Good News is best described as a hybrid between a sniper rifle and a cannon.  It's a lever-action rifle, capable of housing only one bullet at a time.  It's heavy, requiring a fair bit of strength to even hold it, let alone fire it.  It has a long, shiny, black barrel connected to a dull gray stock.  The scope has several small knobs to adjust any calibrations needed to take a long-range shot.  Compared to Smokey's gruff appearance, The Good News is clean and well-maintained.   

Ammunition for The Good News is large, and generally filled with fire dust, which begins to ignite en route to the target, giving the bullet a boost in speed necessary to carry it the entire distance.  On impact, the bullet ideally penetrates armor and skin before detonating inside the target, dealing massive damage.

Secondary Form:
The Good News collapses into a more compact form when it's not in use.  The barrel shrinks into the stock, and the scope slides into a hidden compartment.

Dust Functions:
Every round of ammunition uses a large amount of explosive fire dust, in order to give it a boost in damage.  It is expensive to fire this gun, so every shot has to count.

History:
The Good News is the gun his father gave him when Smokey discovered his Semblance.  Unfortunately, while awesome, he quickly realized its impracticality, and made a secondary gun along with Lucas for use in most other scenarios.  Smokey will only carry a very limited supply of ammunition at a time, only about 8 rounds or so, and he'll have to work part-time jobs or find high paying missions if he wants to make more bullets.  Smokey considers this weapon his most valuable possession and would prefer not to leave it out of his sight.

Name: Matchstick

Primary Form:
Matchstick is an over-sized revolver with seven compartments.  These compartments are filled with shotgun rounds, essentially making this a revolver-shotgun hybrid.    Smokey uses his semblance to handle the kickback of Matchstick, allowing him to "fan the hammer" and fire all rounds of ammunition in rapid succession without a major loss in accuracy.   Each round is loaded individually from the back. 

Secondary Form:
Matchstick's cylinder can extend into 7 barrels, while the stock extends back so Smokey can rest it against his shoulder, essentially transforming Matchstick into a volley gun.  When fired, all rounds are fired simultaneously, dealing massive damage to anything down range.  Smokey will then have to reload after using this form.

Dust Functions:
Dust is added separately from the bullets in a special compartment in the back of the stock.  This allows Smokey to decide on the fly if he wants to add dust to his ammunition, rather than having to decide as he's loading the gun.

Smokey will use either fire dust to add some extra oomph to this gun's already high damage, or ice dust to hamper speedy foes and gain some battlefield control. 

History:
Matchstick is the result of Smokey needing a gun that won't drain his bank account dry.  He and his father both crafted it together.  It boasts best-in-class firepower, and Smokey can win fights with one well-placed shot if his opponents aren't careful. 
No criticism is too harsh so hit me with your best shot.

Calen Shrike - ASTC - First Year Beacon.

Saffron de Cortez - SALT - Third Year Atlas.

Amarant Lovis - (formerly of)ACCE - Headmaster of Atlas Academy

Ramalia - RASB - First Year Shade

ReaperJoe

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2018, 07:05:43 PM »
Alright I think I got everything.

I added a bit to Smokey's history that further detailed Lucas's relationship with the SDC, as well as added a section toward the end about how long Lucas has before he's literally worked to death.

I added a section to his personality that details additional ways to ignite Smokey's fuse, as well as how he feels regarding explaining his father's condition.

Added a section to Aura and Semblance that reiterates a point that was made already in Combat Behavior regarding punches and kicks.

Added a great deal of detail to The Good News' primary form, mostly about what happens to the bullet when fired.

Added a reference image for Matchstick's secondary form.
Smokey Emberstone Beacon 1st Year and the Immovable Gunslinger of Team DASE "I've got more than enough firepower to beat you" "You've only got one bullet!" "Like I said, more than enough"

Aurelia Lumen Beacon 3rd year and the Warhorse of Team (TBD)  "Lay down your weapons, lest you wish to taste my steel!"

Wabul "Toast" Paka Shade 1st year and the Acrobatic Swashbuckler of Team (TBD)  "Hey, I'm gonna go jump off a bridge, who's with me?"

Lucas Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Hermit of Team CLVS  "What's so great about 'bittersweet'?"

Clara Meridiem Beacon 1st year and the Blast Magician of Team (TBD) "No one likes just plain ol' bitter"

August Flare Beacon 1st year and the would-be ruler of the world "Join me, and witness the Brightest Future!"

Hexcodes:
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E55812
CCE9AE
Cyan
FFA400

Kingnoname1

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Re: Smokey Emberstone
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2018, 03:22:03 AM »
edits approved
No criticism is too harsh so hit me with your best shot.

Calen Shrike - ASTC - First Year Beacon.

Saffron de Cortez - SALT - Third Year Atlas.

Amarant Lovis - (formerly of)ACCE - Headmaster of Atlas Academy

Ramalia - RASB - First Year Shade