Burke the Beast
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Burke the Beast | |
| Player: @bernard_the_beast | |
| Origin: | Natural |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Stalker |
| Security Level: | 26 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Unknown |
| Known Aliases: | Burke |
| Species: | Unknown |
| Age: | 29 |
| Height: | 6' 3" |
| Weight: | 421 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Orange |
| Hair Color: | Orange-Yellow |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | None |
| Occupation: | Monk |
| Place of Birth: | Unknown |
| Base of Operations: | Tribal Village in Northern Mongolia |
| Marital Status: | Single, unattached |
| Known Relatives: | None Known |
| Known Powers | |
| Can Elude Visual Detection | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Extraordinary Strength and Endurance | |
| Equipment | |
| Titanium-crafted Claws | |
| See 'Powers and Abilities' section below for more information on Burke's supposed 'invisibility'. | |
Contents |
Burke the Beast
Brief History
Though his exact origins are unknown, Burke's earliest history begins in the Yablonovyy Mountains in northern Mongolia, bordering with Russia. His earliest life took place in a small tribal village where he was at first regarded as a mystical prophet due to his appearance. However, he eventually became an equal tribesman, and trained as a monk within the tribe's spiritual order. During this time period he was given his name, "Berke", in the Mongolian language a word meaning "difficult". It was indeed difficult, as his being seen as a religious icon meant it was a strange and challenging path attempting to see him as a tribesman of equality to them.
Nevertheless learning discipline through meditation and physical trial, Berke was accepted as a monk of the small tribe, and readily assisted in performing various religious duties that were required of one in his position. However, as the years passed and Berke grew to adulthood, he felt it was time to leave the tribe, and find his own path. It was a moment of transition spurred by the knowledge he had acquired through study and mental introspection; he was an animalistic being, and though tame and civilized by human standards, he knew within his heart that his differences meant he had a future different to his tribesmen.
In his early twenties, Berke set out from the tribe, and traveled west. Not even a month into his journey, he came across a nomadic clan whose interests and morals ran very much counter to the mental focus the tribe he had been in exhibited. Upon his introduction however, this group of Mongolian barbarians took him for a symbol of war from whatever religious history they drew such conclusions from, and strived to induct Berke through ritual into their clan. The belief was that with a beast such as himself, their fortune in battle would be significantly greater. Through his mental focus, he sensed that declining would be the death of him; though he was quite large and strong, his skill in combat was non-existent due to his monk upbringing.
Thus did Berke learn the ways of fighting. Though his first day of traveling he was trained in the use of a broadsword and falchion akin to that of the other clansmen, it was only after one of the brighter warriors of the clan realized Berke's animalistic nature might contribute towards skill in claw-like weapons that Berke began to excel. Though the nomad clan had many rivals, Berke demonstrated an incapacity for killing innocents, and somewhat through his example, he was able to influence the clan to do the same. His travels had taken him further westward, closer to civilization, yet as he began to see more and more advanced signs of modern society, he felt his calling once again taking him away from his nomadic existence. The rise of a rival khann within the clan speeding his departure from it, Berke found himself traveling through eastern Europe, and learning of modern life and technology. His initiation into the realm of the current was smooth, as he left the more traditional eastern lands, and slowly came to understand the technological advances found in western countries.
Yet as he entered these western lands, he found himself in a tough situation, as he had to deal with authorities and identity. In order to aid in his assimilation into modern culture, he also slightly modified his name, westernizing it somewhat; thus did Berke become Burke. It was a tough transition, but eventually Burke found resources that told him of the existence of Paragon City and the Rogue Isles; a place where beings such as himself were recognized as almost normal. Though super-powered heroes existed throughout Europe as well, it was in Paragon and the Isles that super-powers reigned.
Yet within the Isles, Burke found an appeal in the shady, warlike undercurrents. It was survival of the fittest, and coupled with his mental disciplines, he found his chances for success rather greater. In the end, Burke traveled to Mercy Island, and from there began his ascent in the meta-social hierarchy. After some time, and seeing many of the other Islands attached to the Rogue Isles, Burke discovered a trail that led him to Paragon City. It is there that he now continues to search for his true origins.
Powers and Abilities
- Hide: Burke possess an interesting and altogether inhuman ability to remain undetected. Whether through sheer mental discipline alone or through some genetic gift, Burke can remain essentially invisible to the human (or other) eye. Something to do with altering one's motions to not interfere with peripheral vision, and thus remain unnoticed, Burke can also remain essentially invisible even when standing directly in front of someone. This ability is yet another part of his true past that Burke is eager to investigate.
- Super Reflexes: One ability gained through rigorous physical and mental training is his evasive nature. Burke is capable of seeing attacks seemingly before the attacker themselves does, and as such can swiftly move aside before the attack has struck. Not only does this allow him to be agile in combat, but also outside of combat as he swiftly travels throughout the city.
- Strength and Endurance: With the broad-shouldered and stocky nature of a human strongman, Burke possesses strength beyond that of an average human. Coupled with his innate mental discipline, Berke is capable of performing feats of strength exceeding that of the strongest non-meta strongmen on earth.
Weapons
- Claws: Burke's training in Mongolia focused on utilizing claw-like weapons; steel blades mounted to his wrist that allowed for natural attacks. Today, Burke uses a modern version of this weapon: a pair of titanium-crafted claws that attach to his wrist in a similar manner, and allow him to attack with significant speed, skill and strength.
