John Hancock

## History

Growing up in the ruling class of Vektan-Noveria, he was raised in a strict, disciplined environment, trained by his father, Atriox, and maternal uncle, Ruman Set, to become a warrior. John's mother died from an illness when he was a child. John initially refused to believe his mother was gone: going to a nearby forest to search for her, he became lost for three days until being rescued in the nick of time by his father.

The Kaesar Machines under Kaesar launched an invasion of the Novus Empire in 2293. John was one of eighty warriors who were sent in a desperate suicidal attack against the machines on a Vektan-Noverian borderworld, aiming to slow the invasion force down before they reach Vektan-Noveria. During the battle, John was grievously wounded and left for dead. John eventually recovered and gained valuable allies and skills which enabled him to capture significant portions of territory from the machines, becoming known as the **Raging Storm**. At the cost of this, however, was John's adherence to the warrior's code; this damaged his relationship with his mentor. John and his mentor, General Vilgefortz, eventually fought resulting in John being grievously wounded and left for dead. With the war over and rumours of his death circulating, John used an experimental form of travel to escape his world. Resulting in his DNA being altered from unprotected exposure to the void. Following his arrival on Eard, John became a mercenary, succumbing to his bloodlust for the following decades.

## Personality

> "My mentor taught me that a warrior masters his emotions. Like you master a horse. Or a blade."
>
>

John is, for the lack of a better word, complicated. John is perhaps the most feared member of The Peacekeepers, often dispatched for his lethal combat skills, ruthlessness, near-indestructability and extraordinary strength. His reputation is such that the mere mention of his name is able to strike fear into the hearts of the public.

One quality that John lacks entirely is tact, which is one of the main reasons that he is disliked so heavily by so many people. He often doesn't notice when his accurate deductions about other people's personal lives offend them. It does seem, though that, over time, John is becoming increasingly aware of his ability to insult, occasionally asking "Not good?" when he does see that he has upset someone. John appears to be the silent loner type and is somewhat socially withdrawn from other members of the peacekeepers. He rarely speaks but is apparently very in touch with his emotions as while being completely ruthless towards his opponents, he appears to have a soft spot for innocent life and his compassion also extends to animals.

Despite showing the capacity for compassion towards others, Noir shows he has no hesitation when it comes to using deadly force to take out targets or killing any witnesses that could pose as potential problems. Additionally he can become extremely ruthless when on missions, such as tearing a mans head apart to stop him from screaming. In many ways, John behaves less like a superhero and more like a soldier, in order to defend the city and it's interests. John is also someone who has no patience for speeches or memorials, and was allergic to politics and suspicious of causes. He also hates bullies and could never stand down when confronted with them, and when he took on a difficult mission, he was never interested in knowing the odds of success. John, deep down, is a traumatized man, He developed an emotional armour to keep himself safe from the world. He usually doesn't open emotionally with anyone and most people don't know what's going on with him and wonder what is behind the mask he wears literally and symbolically.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Superhuman Strength, Speed and Durability:** The combination of his dimensionally charged body coupled gives John an indeterminate amount of physical ability. He is able to punch through concrete and steel with ease, and lifting extremely heavy objects such as buildings. Due to his incredible durability, John is capable of withstanding immense punishment; without injury. He is able to fly at high speeds well in excess of 100 mph.
* Regenerative Healing Factor: John is able to heal even the most fatal wounds in minutes.
* Energy Manipulation: John's most common attack is his Umbric Essence energy blasts, which can vary in size. He can also infuse corpses with the essence which allows him to raise the dead and control them.
* **Reality Warping & Dimension Manipulation**: John can re-adjust the environment around him with his liking, readjust the planes of dimension, and can create black holes to the midnight hour.
* **Superhuman Strength, Speed, and Durability**: John possesses enhanced physical abilities, granted by the dimensional energy coursing through his body. While he is indeed stronger, faster, and more durable than an average human, his capabilities are not limitless. John can exert extraordinary strength, allowing him to punch through solid materials like concrete and steel, and lift objects of substantial weight. However, his strength has its limits, and there are physical structures and materials that he cannot effortlessly overcome. His speed grants him agility and the ability to move swiftly, but he is not capable of reaching speeds that defy the laws of physics. His durability allows him to withstand a significant amount of punishment without incurring major injuries, but he is not invincible and can still be overwhelmed by extreme forces or attacks of sufficient magnitude.
* **Regenerative Healing Factor:** John possesses a regenerative healing factor, which allows him to recover from injuries at an accelerated rate. However, this healing factor is not instantaneous and has its limitations. While he can heal from most wounds within minutes, severe injuries or critical damage may still take a longer time to heal, potentially requiring hours or even days of recovery. Additionally, his healing factor cannot regenerate entire limbs or organs that are completely destroyed.
* **Energy Manipulation:** John has the ability to manipulate the Umbric Essence energy within him. He can generate and project focused energy blasts, utilizing the essence as a form of offensive attack. The size and intensity of these energy blasts can vary, but they are not overwhelmingly destructive, typically capable of causing damage to structures and incapacitating opponents rather than obliterating them. The energy manipulation requires concentration and focus, and excessive or prolonged use may deplete his energy reserves.
* **Reality Warping & Dimension Manipulation**: John possesses a limited ability to manipulate reality and the dimensions around him. He can subtly influence the environment and alter certain aspects to his advantage. However, these manipulations are not all-encompassing and are subject to certain limitations. He can readjust the planes of dimension within a localized area, allowing him to create temporary portals or access the Midnight Hour, but he cannot reshape reality on a large scale or alter the fundamental laws of physics. While he can create small black holes within the Midnight Hour, these are not planet-consuming entities but rather localized anomalies with limited duration and effects.

## Weaknesses

* **Energy Depletion:** John's powers and abilities are fuelled by the Umbric Essence within him. Overexertion or sustained use of his powers can deplete his energy reserves, leaving him temporarily weakened and unable to access certain abilities until he has had time to replenish his energy. He needs to be mindful of his energy usage and conserve it during prolonged conflicts.
* **Vulnerability to Light-based Attacks:** The Umbric Essence that empowers John is inherently tied to darkness and shadows. As a result, he is more vulnerable to attacks or abilities that harness or manipulate light. Intense bursts of light or concentrated light-based attacks can disrupt his connection to the Umbric Essence, weakening his powers and temporarily impairing his abilities.
* **Mental Vulnerability**: John's extensive exposure to the Midnight Hour and the Umbric Essence has left him susceptible to psychic or mental attacks. His mind, already influenced by the energies he wields, can be targeted by skilled telepaths or individuals with psychic abilities. Psychic assaults can disrupt his focus, impair his decision-making, or temporarily disable his powers.
* **Emotional Instability:** The immense power at John's disposal, coupled with the influence of the Umbric Essence, can amplify and heighten his emotions. Extreme emotional states, such as anger, fear, or despair, can negatively impact his control over his abilities, making it more difficult for him to harness his powers effectively. It is crucial for John to maintain emotional balance and clarity to avoid unintentional destructive outbursts or loss of control.
* **Dimensional Instability**: John's connection to the Midnight Hour and his ability to manipulate dimensions can sometimes lead to unforeseen consequences. Excessive or careless use of his reality-warping abilities may destabilize the fabric of reality or cause unintended side effects. It requires careful focus and understanding to avoid unintentional disruptions or endangerment to himself and others.
* **Moral Dilemmas and Guilt**: John carries the weight of his powers and the consequences they can bring. He is haunted by moral dilemmas and the potential harm his abilities can inflict. This internal conflict can be exploited by adversaries, causing doubt, distraction, or hesitation in critical situations, and affecting his decision-making and effectiveness in combat.