the Human Torch (deceased) Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 9x 6d 3c 6c Hand Size: 5 (30) Edge: 3 Powers: Energy Sheath / Flames (a): in addition to his impressive fire manipulation abilities, Jim can surround his body with a fiery energy sheath, a sheath that substitutes its power intensity (15) for Jim's strength, for the purposes for defense against attack. If Jim takes damage from any attack, however, he must pass an average difficulty Willpower check in order to maintain the sheath. Fire Control (i): his singular power, the Torch wields this ability at intensity 17. This allows the Torch to shoot a burst of flame from his body at this intensity, which automatically incinerates items of material strength 2 or less (like paper, glass, etc...). He can also raise existing fire sources to an intensity equal to this power intensity, or lower them by this amount. So far, he has shown these power stunts: * Absorption / Fire (i): Jim can absorb an amount of flames into his body that is equal to his fire control intensity; this is intensity 17. Jim can absorb this fire from anywhere within firing range. Jim hasn't yet demonstrated any of the power stunts associated with the absorption power, though it may only be a matter of time before he does... * Fire Elementals (i): Jim can conjure forth quasi-intelligent energy drones, composed of fire. These elementals function with intensity 17 strength and agility. It takes Jim one full exchange to bring these beings into existence, and they remain as long as he is conscious (or wants 'em around). They take double damage from watery attacks. * Fire Missiles (i): Jim can command any existing source of flames, using it to strike out at any target within firing range of the flames. Unless he has already raised the intensity of the flame to 17 with his fire control power, Jim can only inflict an amount of damage equal to the intensity the flame already had. Still, this comes in handy as a surprise attack... * Fire Restraints (i): Jim can create cages, spheres, or whatever similar shape he desires out of his or any other flames, in order to contain a person. He can do this if he passes an average difficulty fire control action, opposed by the agility of his target. These restraints will inflict no damage upon Jim's opponent, unless he crosses through the restraint; this inflicts the power intensity in damage to him. * Flame Shapes (i): Jim can create 'objects' of flame, in any shape he desires, either from his own flames or from an external source. He can use these either as a form of art, or to write letters in the sky. Either way, these fiery object will remain in existence for a complete aura duration, or for at least as long as Jim continues to concentrate on maintaining their existence. * Flight (a): by projecting his fire and heat behind him, Jim can achieve flight, of a sort. He can use this backward energy projection to fly at a speed of 140 miles per hour, which translates into a speed of 6, game-wise. As long as there is oxygen to burn around him, Jim can use this power to propel himself through the air. * Heat Control (i): Jim can also manipulate sources of heat as well as flame. He can raise the temperature of any person or object (or everything within firing distance) by up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit; for example, he could raise a person's temperature from 98.6 degrees to 268.6 degrees -- this inflicts Jim's power intensity (17) in damage to people... * Nova Flame (i): Jim could, if necessary, push his power in order to blast everybody within firing distance with his full intensity flame; this is an intensity 17 attack upon everybody within this distance. However, this also inflicts like damage to Jim, and he cannot use his flaming powers again until his full hand has been restored after this harm has been inflicted. Psychic Link (w): having given Spitfire multiple blood transfusions (as emergencies have arose), the Human Torch has developed a sort of rapport with the lady. This deep, psionic connection seems to work at intensity 10, functioning no matter how far apart the two are. It's nothing conscious, mind you, just a sort of sense how each other are doing. Resistance to Fire and Heat Attacks (s): as he wields these forms of energy naturally, Jim is almost completely immune to their effects, no matter who happens to be generating them. He possesses +10 resistance to fire and heat, making him virtually immune to the stuff unless they are actually even more powerful than his own, intense energies. Resistances (s): as an artificial life-form, Jim Hammond isn't as susceptible to some types of damage as are normal humans. For instance, since his flesh is artificial, Jim has +7 resistance to disease, poison, and of course, aging; as long as he maintains his personal systems, he can continue to function indefinitely. Hindrances: (none) Skills: Energy Control / Fire (i): Jim has worked for years upon years in the refinement of his powers, both to be more effective with them and to reduce the risk of injury to innocents . He can make any action with his fire control powers (aside from his fiery blasts) at one difficulty level lower than is usual. Law Enforcement (w): for years before he joined up with the Invaders, Jim was a member of the N.Y.P.D., and as such, he is familiar with law enforcement procedures. Furthermore, if he reenlists with a local P.D., he can even carry a gun and badge legally (not that he needs such things). Military (w): having worked with the armed forces via the Invaders for years, Jim has a real understanding of the military mind, and what makes it tick. As such, he can attempt to lead military troops and understand the plans of a military commander at one difficulty level lower than is usually required. Piloting (a): though he himself can fly with ease, Jim has been seen flying Namor's Atlantean aircraft on numerous occasions. As such, he can likely operate any aircraft produced to date, as that thing was rather advanced for its time, and he could fly it with ease. Trivia (i): Jim was rather well-versed in 1930s and 1940s culture. After being taught everything he needed to know while in that cement vault by Professor Horton, and then living in that era for, well, that entire era, Jim can be considered an unabashed expert on those times. Calling: Vestiges of Humanity: though he's not human, Jim aspires to such a state. He does feel emotions and is fully sentient, however; he's just trying to fit in with the rest of society... which is hard when everyone knows he's an artificial man. Costume: When not wearing civilian clothes, the Human Torch is usually clothed in a red body suit, marred only by the yellow cuffs and collar. Of course, the vast majority of the time that you encounter him, he's ablaze - so you wouldn't really see anything but him inside his energy sheath. Once he joined the V-Battalion and retired from perpetual action, Jim used two different costumes. The first included an ankle-length purple overcoat with red cuffs under a black leather belt and a large, red 'V' shaped collar, and red leather boots. When not operating 'outside', he wore a primarily dark blue spandex body suit, which was accessorized with red buccaneer boots, red and blue gloves, red and blue boots, a red 'V' shaped belt, and a red and white 'V' shaped collar with a blue and white cape attached. Finally, upon joining up with the New Invaders, the Torch adopted a less ornate uniform. It includes a navy blue, long sleeved shirt beneath a red vest with a torch emblem on the front, navy blue trousers, black leather boots and red leather gloves. Personality: The Human Torch often felt loneliness, being the first of his kind - much less an outsider in human society despite his many attempts to fit in. He's found friendship in the form of his fellow heroes, particularly the surviving members of the Invaders team from way back. Real Name: the Human Torch Occupation: adventurer, former police officer, legally deceased Legal Status: unrevealed Marital Status: single (if applicable) Alias(es), if any: Jim Hammond Group Affiliation: the New Invaders, the V-Battalion, former member of the Invaders, former member of the All-Winners Squad, former member of the West Coast Avengers, former leader of Heroes for Hire Height: 6' 3" Hair: blond Eyes: blue Weight: 300 lbs Other Distinguishing Characteristics: occasionally the Torch will sport a full beard and moustache. Story: The Human Torch was created in the laboratory of one Phineas T. Horton. He and his assistant were pioneers in artificial intelligence and robotics - truly decades before their time. Working in secret for years, these two managed to eventually produce a working android: an artificial being that mimicked virtually all of the normal functions of the human body! The only problem was that this android would catch fire as soon as it was exposed to oxygen! Attempting to earn back some of his investment on all his work, Horton called a press conference to show off his new creation; this irked his assistant, who subsequently made off with a second, almost complete android body - and he proved to have been correct in doing so. This was because the press reacted quite poorly to Horton's showing of this 'Human Torch', condemning it as a 'monster' and a 'menace to society'. Cowed by the press's reaction and threats against him, Horton locked the android away in a cement chamber underground, its only link to the above world a speaker with which Horton could teach this nascent entity about humanity. Time passed though, and Horton's air-tight tomb proved to be not as sealed as he thought. Eventually, the Human Torch managed to break free of his prison, making his way through a New York City completely unprepared to handle such a freakish event. Panic ensued as the Torch poorly interacted with his surroundings, inadvertently setting fires and causing all kinds of damage. The Torch eventually got control of his powers, however, and declared himself independent of Horton when the man tried again to cash in on his creation. In fact, the two had a violent altercation that seemed at first to kill Horton, but the man ultimately escaped to create further androids. The Torch, meanwhile, adopted the identity of Jim Hammond, and became a police officer. He fought crime for a time in this role, at least until some manner of villainous threat would force him to catch fire and deal with it directly. On one such occasion, the Torch found out that the Asbestos Girl had targeted the Raymond family for their secrets in fireproof technologies. Though he routed her, the Torch couldn't prevent her from killing most of the family. Save for the youngest member, Thomas - who, upon meeting the Torch, displayed fantastic fire-based powers of his own! Since the youth no longer had a family, the Torch took him under his wing, and the duo started fighting crime together. Though he was a human being, Thomas - who took to calling himself Toro - began to think of the android Torch as a father figure, and the two became best friends. They would fight evil together wherever they could find it, whether alone or together. These feats of heroism included numerous clashes with the aquatic Sub-Mariner, who had a grudging respect for the Torch despite his opposition to assaults on the human world. Of course, the Torch would wind up working with Namor eventually, when the two were asked to join a team by Captain America. Tasked with the opposition of fascist forces world wide, the Invaders would be the earth's premiere combat team. The Torch readily joined up with Captain America, taking Toro with him, as did Namor and the Cap's own side kick, Bucky. This team would grow over time to become as effective as planned, the individual members slowly learning how to fight alongside each other more efficiently. And they were joined by others, including the second Union Jack and Spitfire, British siblings who both gained super-human powers; Union Jack 2 by a variant of the Super-Soldier Serum, and Spitfire by the mutagenic reaction caused by exposure to vampire ichor and a blood transfusion from the Torch himself. This team proved so mighty that no fascist threat could stop their onslaught. In fact, it was the Human Torch who officially ended the Allied war with Germany when he personally killed Adolph Hitler. With this done, and the rest of the Axis falling like bowling pins soon after, the Invaders were no longer needed to, well, invade anything. As such, they transformed into the All-Winners Squad, continuing the fight against super villainy for several more years. This ended for the Torch when he was abducted by American criminals who sought his destruction. Obtaining a chemical known as Solution X-R, they sprayed both the Torch and Toro with it, retarding both of their powers. They ditched Toro and buried the Torch in the Nevada desert, where he lay immobile for years, until the test detonation of a nuclear bomb on the spot where he lay. His powers reignited, the Torch resumed crime fighting with Toro, as the All-Winners Squad had since disbanded. This continued until the Torch's powers began to grow out of his control, possibly due to the radiation that freed him from Solution X-R's influence. Returning to the desert, the Torch tried to burn his powers out, rendering himself inert for a very long time. His body was eventually discovered by the Mad Tinkerer, who used a brainwashed Human Torch against the Fantastic Four. After this debacle, two odd things happened all at once. First, the time-traveling Immortus appeared and duplicated the Torch's inert body, and secondly, Ultron showed up to steal the Torch for his own purposes. Thanks to the duplication, both villains had their very own copy of the Torch. While Ultron's copy was built into the android Vision, the Mad Thinker's 'original' was buried until such a time that the villain could use it again. He never got the chance though, for years later the Scarlet Witch and Ann Raymond, Toro's wife, revived the Human Torch anew. Fighting crime with the Witch and her 'West Coast Avengers' for a time, the Torch wound up saving Spitfire yet again. Though it cost him the use of his powers, the Torch gave Jacqueline a second blood transfusion when minions of the Master Man had shot her. Though he was rendered powerless, she was reborn and empowered anew, and he left it to her to carry on the fight against evil. Deciding to live a normal life, he became the head of the Sub-Mariner's corporation, Oracle, and settled down with Ann Raymond. A normal life was not to be for the Human Torch, however, even if he didn't have his flame powers. He was eventually recruited to lead the V-Battalion after its current boss, the Mighty Destroyer 3, decided to retire. He steered the vigilante group to a more positive end until he was also recruited into the New Invaders, due to his interest in Tara, an android built on his own design. Making sure she was well taken care of, the Torch wound up fighting various Nazi evils alongside the New Invaders, and his own powers were reignited when he felt the intense heat Tara gave off when her secret programming, installed by the Red Skull, was activated. Though he stopped her from destroying the world by siphoning off her heat, the Human Torch couldn't contain it for long, and exploded right after. Recovering his body, the New Invaders saw that he was buried in a proper ceremony, which most surviving heroes from both the Golden Age and the Modern Day attended. Though dead, Jim was not afforded proper rest, for his body was taken by U.N. scientists for study, and subsequently stolen by Zhang Chin, who wanted to use it to wipe out half the earth's population. The new Captain America, himself Bucky from years past, stopped Chin from doing this (with Namor's help) and made sure the Torch's body gained a proper burial... again. The Human Torch entry originally written with Keith Kilburn!