Individual
Character's full name: Herbert Ulysses Dunham
Alias/ Nickname/ Code name: Gremlin
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Date of Birth: July 17, 2004
Birthplace/ Home/ Place of origin: Chicago, Il
Nationality: American
Ethnicity/ Cultural Heritage: English, Irish
Appearance
Hair color and style: Medium brown hair that can be a little unruly but stylish none the less
Skin Tone: pale (spends a lot of time indoors)
Eye Color: Ice Blue
Height: 5'5
Build: Slender and wiry over all Herbert has not hit his final growth spurt yet which will fill him out like his father.
Visible mutation: None
Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: small but noticeable scar on his lower back from a childhood accident. Involving a skateboard, a yard rake, and neighbors 20 year old
blackberry bush. …. Don't ask!
Other features: None
Everyday clothing style: Herbert likes to dress more for function rather than fashion. Relying on plain t-shirts and jeans or cargo pants with lots of pockets.
Uniform: (if applicable)
Sleepwear: Nothing. (easier if he shrinks in his sleep)
Miscellaneous clothing: Always wearing a pair of antique looking wire rimmed eyeglasses. He is also never without his single strap messengers back pack that is set up as a minor emergency BOB. (Bug Out Bag containing 2 pairs of extra socks, non perishable high energy snack food, Water bottles, survival supplies, small first aid kit, Minor level pain killers, emergency cash/one time use credit card (100 dollar limit) and a few emergency foil blankets)
Character
Personality: When one first meets Herbert other than give him an odd look for having such a old fashioned name. The first thing they will notice is that he's very polite. Raised to respect his elders and mind his manners he seems to exude an aura that has the annoying habit of flipping the switch on the big sister instincts in women. Whether that is due to Herbert's life of solitude he isn't really sure. But he see's it as the bane of his existence.
Resigned to his fate in life so too speak Herbert instead does his best to remain as friendly as possible with those in his life. But what people don't seem to understand is he's not just being friendly. He is admiring them for being able to face the world for what it could be. Raised to have a suspicious out look on the world. Herbert lives in a near constant state of paranoia. This manifests itself as a rather timid body posture and a semi jumpy nature when it comes to surprises.
Yet when he is alone or around folks that he can feel safe around. Herbert relaxes and is a rather expressive person. Able to finally pay attention to the situation at hand Herbert becomes a very adamant listener and problem solver. Having spent a great deal of time alone in the past it has allowed him to amass a great deal of knowledge on the world at large. Random trivia and simply typing into Google the dumbest questions he could think of. This eclectic jumble of information often acts as a weird bit of symmetry when he gives his take on the problem at hand.
Others may struggle to understand the logic behind how he can connect a communication error with another friend with the pressure gauge usage of unclogging a toilet. But for some reason his metaphors seem to make an odd sort of sense. And when it helps solve the issue it's like a small light goes on in Herbert's eyes. He feels useful and valued. But when it doesn't he can't help but feel like he failed on some fundamental level. He takes responsibility for the issue usually without their knowledge and this just feeds back into his paranoia. Not sure if this is an actual psychosis but it's got to be indicative of something.
So for the chosen few that get to know this side of Herbert the true nature of the young man comes through with flying colors. Knowing that they have his back inspires a great
deal of a need to prove himself worthy of that respect. He becomes one of the most loyal and self sacrificing people most could ever meet. Even if it meant doing something to cover for another and taking their punishment for them.
Additional noticeable quirk: Herbert refuses to swear. Instead he uses the more polite terms or his two stand by expressions. Jumping German Jesus and Oh Nut Bunnies.
Hobbies/ Interests: Anime, videogames, Cosplay, building stuff,
Job or part time job and description: He builds custom cos-play gear and weapons to sells it online.
Fears/ phobias/ concerns: The best way one could describe Herbert here is that he has a case of severe social anxiety disorder. This manifests as a constant state of paranoia in which he worries about inadvertently offending or angering those around him. In the back of his mind he's constantly wary of someone suddenly lashing out in his direction either verbally or physically. While this is not so much the case with family and extremely close friends. New people put Herbert on such an edge that after some interactions he needs time to visibly decompress from the mounting pressure. Ironically when out in public unless folks are paying noticeable and direct attention to him directly he can function as anyone else would tuning out the rest of the world as if it was the back ground scene in a movie or tv series.
Special talents:
Parents/grandparent training and professional training - all terrain wilderness Survival, Cooking, Baking, First aid, pistol and long gun safety (including conceal carry), self-defense training (including baton training), Family specific style of MMA, woodworking, basic automotive mechanics.
YouTube self-taught and honed in the use of building cos-play gear and items from video games or anime. - Amateur Electronic repair and construction, soldering, fabrication of
items (using foam, plastic, wood, and light metals such as tin and aluminum), blueprinting. Basic engineering.
Herbert only speaks 2 other languages than English with any sort of definable skill. Gaelic which he was taught by his grandfather from birth. And passable yet still slightly rough Japanese which he learned from watching anime all the time.
He's also extremely talented in the kitchen. Not professional level but he could compete in master chef jr competitions.
Morality
Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: Chaotic good. Herbert is what one would call a pragmatist. While he looks for the good in folks and situations he's often not surprised when things go to hell in a hand basket and thus acts accordingly without remorse at the time. Though afterwards when the trouble has passed and he is able to dwell on what has happened he has a habit of breaking down like any normal person would.
Feelings toward Humans: Herbert judges on a case by case basis.
Feelings toward Adapteds: Herbert judges on a case by case basis.
Feelings toward Mystics: Herbert judges on a case by case basis.
Mutations
Mutation description: Size manipulation
Herbert has the uncanny ability to reduce his usual 5'5 frame as well as an addition 75% of his overall mass to the height of no more than 10 millimeters tall or 1 centimeter. By shutting off his mass into the spaces between dimensions Herbert is able to compress his molecular structure by removing the spaces between them and increase his base density at the same time.
Strengths:
Size proportional Enhanced durability. - When he shrinks Herbert's molecular structure becomes so dense that he is nigh invulnerable to all forms of physical damage. In his reduced state he can be crushed, smashed, thrown into or through solid objects, shot, and any other number of things and walk away from it with nothing more than a loss of breath from having the wind knocked out of him.
Size proportional enhanced strength – While Herbert is normal sized he can lift and throw the same as any normal human of his age range which is commonly 134% of his base weight. So given Herbert weighs in at 135 lbs he is able to lift a total weight of 181 lbs under optimal conditions. When he shrinks down to his reduced size of 10 mm (1cm) tall his bodies increased density allows him to retain his normal strength levels and power as if he were at full size. But this has the side effect of putting a great deal of power into a compressed area often resulting in extreme reactions. (IE: his full strength punches can dent concrete)
Size proportional enhanced leaping – Given his proportional super strength Herbert is able to propel his tiny body great distances. This allows him to leap up from the floor to the top of a kitchen counter or a dinner table in one shot. This is relatively comparable to someone of normal size leaping to the top of a 30 story building. Given their relative sizes it's the same distance. (I'm using a 1ft to the 10ft ratio for simplicity sake given that an athlete of Herbert's age range can leap between 2 - 3 ft)
Size Proportional Enhanced speed – Without the mass to hinder the power of his enhanced strength Herbert can move about at speeds while you'd be able to follow the naked eye are relatively the same as a normal human running at a speed of 8.3 miles per hour. Given his relative size, this allows him to move about a room at an average of 12.2 ft per second. (1mph = 1.45667 fps) Easy to track once spotted but his small size makes him easy to lose track of.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Size Reduction – While an almost instantaneous effect, Herbert can only hold his reduced size for a maximum of 15 minutes before he is forced to return to his normal size. The manner in which Herbert shrinks can be described as the same motions one goes through to go number 2 in the bathroom. Herbert has to flex some unique to him muscle and force the additional mass out of this reality and into the space between. Once voided of the mass Herbert then locks it off like a valve and has to mentality maintain a seal against the pressure of his mass wanting to return to it's natural place in his body and this reality. As with all beings the perception of time is somewhat slowed down. What may seem like a swift movement to us is incredibly slow to Herbert. Picture yourself trying to swat a house fly without a fly swatter. This puts a additional mental strain on him as he maintains his minimalistic size. As such he often needs a few minutes to recuperate from the strain of being unable to hold on any longer. Forcing it beyond the limit can result in severe migraines and bleeding from his nose ears and eye's.
Reduced Mass – Herbert's Reduced mass means while he can put power forwards into everything he does he is still only 10 mm (1cm) tall and weighs relatively the same in proportion. Meaning he can be thrown about by a baby with the same ease as an adult or even a stiff wind.
Enhanced Durability – While Herbert is incredibly difficult to harm when in his reduced size physically he is still subject to a great deal of the usual vulnerabilities that a normal human has to face. He still needs to breathe, he can be drowned by water, shocked by electricity, and so on and so forth So while there is no damage he can still feel the pain of such attacks. A side effect that is both a blessing and a curse is that Herbert's skull and brain matter are so incredibly dense that psychics may find it difficult to interact with his mind.
Shrinking additional matter – While Herbert is able to shrink other objects regardless if they are organic or inorganic in nature with him he must remain in contact physical contact in some way with said items for them to remain in their reduced state. If Herbert involuntarily lets go or they leave his person for more than 30 seconds the shunted mass rapidly returns the object to normal size.
Physical Abilities
General Physical Capabilities: Herbert is typically what one would expect from a young man of his late teenage years. Not overly strong he does have a strength, agility, and speed that compliments his slender and wiry frame.
Fighting Style: Herbert doesn't have a fighting style per say. But he is trained in self defense tactics and how to fight with a baton or asp. Which his family has turned into their own unique style of a mixed martial arts. Taking things from various fighting styles, and dirty tricks combined with moves that are mostly to disarm and disable opponents rather than permanently injure or kill.
Fighting Style Pros/Cons:
Pros: The style is very random and seems to have an almost drunken fist style of flexibility of movement and improvisation. It's a rapid and overwhelming technique that baffles and confuses the opponents to bring about quick ends to the fights or allow for quick escapes.
Cons: It's primarily effective against those who have little to no training. Those with moderate and even dedicated training see it as a flailing mess it is that can be taken advantage of in a prolonged fight. The longer they fight against Herbert the less of a chance at victory he has.
History Of Your Character
Herbert was a long awaited blessing when he came into the lives of Gregory and Beatrice Dunham on July 17th 2004. Born in St. Mary's of Nazareth Hospital on a rainy afternoon in Chicago Illinois. To say that Herbert Ulysses Dunham was going to have a normal life was a bald face lie. Right from birth his parents vowed that they would not hide the evils of the world from their son. And they believed that they were the best people in the world to help prep him for the world around him.
By the age of 5 Herbert was already learning from his father who was a successful Private investigator and bail bondsman, Many useful things such as basic wood lore and emergency plan executions. Viewing the whole thing as a a game Herbert became very good at hiding and reciting the lists his parents drilled in to his memory. Earthquakes, floods, fire, blackout and riots. Just about any disaster you could think about the Dunhams were ready for it. But coming from a family of preppers wasn't exactly the best of reputation to grow up under as well. Though well respected in the community and even a much beloved member of St. Mary of the angels church.
Herbert's family was looked upon as a source of amusement due too their ever vigilant outlook on life. But as the old saying goes “God helps those who help themselves”. That never came to be more true and accurate when folks started to talk about the mutant problem. It was like watching the Hindenburg crash of 1937. Filled with horror beyond reckoning but unable to stop watching as neighbor turned upon neighbor and family upon their own. The more Herbert seen the more he seemed to turn into himself.
By the time he reached 15 years old his parents had begun to really worry about his social development. He didn't go out and enjoy life like the other kids he would seclude himself for days if not weeks on ends burying himself in his hobbies and projects. While proud of all his newly acquired skills in engineering, cooking, and electronics and seeing it as a bonus to the myriad of other survival skills he already has. His parents worried that being a social outcast has turned their bright son into a craven coward. Which wasn't far from the truth with all due respect. Herbert had discovered something that scared the bejesus out of him. Herbert discovered he is a mutant.
Most folks find out their a mutant thanks to times of intense emotion or stress. From what Herbert could gather it's a reaction to the fight or flight response. For Herbert it was the same only his was due to a nightmare. Waking up buried in blankets and in the dark wouldn't be as frightening as one would think but try dealing with that when your only 1 cm tall. It took Herbert almost 5 minutes to fight his way through the blankets to the edge of the bed only to gape in stunned silence at the world about him. And that's when he started screaming ….. till he passed out. When he came too he was on the floor and normal sized again …. naked but normal sized.
It took him a while before he managed to come to grips with what had just happened. And in the end he went to the only person he truly trusted ….. his grandfather. Coming from a generation that was used to keeping secrets Seamus O'Neill took his grandson under his wing and the two of them began to try and figure out what exactly was going on. From the perspective of his parents it didn't look much different then normal. Herbert would often spend great deals of time with him. Within the first month the two conspirators managed to find Herbert's on off switch and from there it looked like smooth sailing.
That was till 14 months later when Seamus passed away in his sleep and they had the wake. It was the first time in fine Irish tradition that Herbert ever got drunk. It was during that time during a spot of inconsolable anger at the situation that Herbert lost control and seemingly vanished in front of his parents while they were in the kitchen getting more food.
When his parents managed to get out of the shock of what had just happened. They managed to find Herbert and get him stowed away in his room without alerting the rest of the
guests. And the next day they sat down and managed to drag the whole story out of Herbert. Now that everything was out in the open all was left was to figure out the best course of action to deal with their new situation. Realizing that they were way out of their depths with this one. And seeing the MRA for exactly what it is both in a legal and moral stand point. Herbert's folks began to research their other options and through a few rumors and some favors owed to some of the more darker sides of society they managed to make contact with the X-men and spoke with a representative.
Roleplay
What’s your OOC alias?: Knight of Sask
Where did you learn about this site?: Top 100 rp sites list
Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who: N/A
Sample RP:
"Are you sure?" Asked the raven haired beauty as she looked over at her husband as he shook his head. "He's not on dope? Your certain?" Her eye's pleading as she looked into her husbands eye's. "I checked every bit of his room and the shop. The most dangerous substance he's on is sugar and caffeine from all those cokes he likes to drink." Sighing as
he sat down beside his wife he shook his head.
"I have no idea why he's been acting so strange. Sure kids have their secrets for all we know he could be ... you know... a lot." Shaking his hand in a particular motion he stopped shaking his head and blushing he reached over and pushed a strand of hair from in front of his wife's eye's. "But that doesn't explain how he keeps disappearing the way he does. He was always good at moving around quietly like we taught him but this …." He watched her shudder and wrap her arms about her body as her husband held her close. "It's un natural."
It tore him apart watching this from across the room as he sat on the edge of the bookshelf. But there was no way he could let his parents know the truth about their son. "I wish I could tell you everything mom. But it's too dangerous." He knew there was no way either of them could hear a word he was saying. He was just too small and lets face it the only one who could hear him at this size was the family beagle who was sitting at the base of the bookshelf wagging his stupid tail and whining as he stared in Herbert's direction.
Looking down Herbert shook his head and dropped down onto the dog and gripped his collar. "Ok Murphy .... lets head back to my room." Trotting past his folks Herbert sighed and shook his head again. There was no way he was going to risk it. If they knew they would become a target. He'd just have to hide it for now. Maybe in a year or so he could figure out a way out of this mess. But for now .... all he could do was hide ... hide and pray no one ever found out his secret.
-Fast forward 6 months and a rather annoying family fight.-
Being stuck 60 and a half hours in a car with your parents was never anyone's idea of a good time. It made Herbert wonder exactly how folks managed to keep themselves from going nuts when his folks were his age. At least he had his phone and music to keep him occupied but those were only recent inventions of the last 20 years or so. He couldn't imagine what they did to keep from going nuts on their fabled family trips back in the 60's and 70's. It actually made him shudder slightly which got the attention of his father.
Gregory Dunham wasn't a man most folks looked at twice. Average height and looks the man gave off an air of harmlessness that put the world around him at ease. But he also had a uncanny way of knowing exactly what was going on in the world around him seemingly without needing to pay attention too it. “You ok back there? Do you need me to turn the heat up?”
Jerked from his thoughts Herbert shook his head as he looked at his fathers eye's in the rear view mirror. “No I'm good just … just thinking about stuff.” The sigh he heard from the front seat spoke volumes as to how out of their depth his parents were and he understood why. Neither of them were mutants or had special abilities. But growing up they always seemed to have everything worked out.
While Gregory was a study in blandness Herbert's mother was quite the opposite. She was a raven haired beauty who could have easily gone into a successful modeling carrier,
but instead to the envy and hatred of the rest of Chicago's male …. as well as a fair percentage of the female population and married the only man who seen her for the intellectual beauty she truly was. She reached over and gave her husbands hand a squeeze interlacing their fingers. “I know this is hard for you to understand and deal with honey. But we don't know how to help you deal with this and it's what they specialize in. Think of all the new people and friends your going to make.”
“Seriously Mom? That's the argument your going to go with?” Slumping down in the back seat Herbert crossed his arms over his chest and glanced at the screen of his pip-boy (Really nothing more than a glorified and rather tough smart-phone case he made from some online blue prints he found.) He watched the little arrow move over the map as the gps tracked their progress.
“Well if you have a better idea lets here it.” Though his voice was sharp and to the point Gregory was honestly interested in hearing Herbert's thoughts on the matter. While he was
going to go to this school regardless it didn't mean that his son's opinions were worthless. And it was always a good exercise for him to work things out for himself.
Looking out the window as Herbert thought he scrunched up his eye's and tried to concentrate but in the end shook his head. He honestly had nothing and his father knew it. “Yeah yeah I know …. always defer to those with the greater experience. But why are we going to this Xavier's place?”
Both his mother and father grinned to each other as they entered the outskirts of Westchester New York and it was his mother who finally said. “Because they are the ones who wrote the book.” Letting out a sigh he opened up a file and took out his stylus pen and began to work on some blue prints he had been tooling with for weeks. “At least tell me that they will let me build my own gear. Cause I got an idea for a grappling gauntlet system based off of Attack on Titan.”
