Jacob Satomi

Artwork by Tim Eagar.

"*Will I ever catch up with what I could have been if I didn't spend those years feeling sorry for myself? Maybe I already have, maybe I never will. But I have more reasons to keep going than to stop, and the results speak for themselves.*"
—Jake Satomi
**Jacob Mernok Satomi**, who goes by just **Jake**, is a Metal dragon and self-made cyborg. When he isn't adventuring, he works as an engineer, adjunct professor and mechanic. He owns and operates Impetus, a company formed to unify the management of his assorted ventures.

Jake's natural abilities within the Metal domain comprise the manipulation of metallic materials and the sense and projection of electromagnetic fields. Augmented, they are incredibly powerful and versatile, imparting enhanced physical abilities and senses as well as enhanced control over both the real and the virtual.

## Appearance

Jake is a dragon with rough, light gray skin, short blue-grey hair, amber reptilian eyes and polished, metallic silver horns. His horns are artificial replacements, and feature subtle, intricate circuit-like patterns across their surface. He also has a set of wings with a wingspan of three times his height. When retracted, they reach from head to mid-crus.

Jake usually dresses comfortably and relatively plainly in clothes that permit flight and don't restrict combat movement. His accessories vary from day to day, but he usually wears cuff-type bracelets made of the same material as his horns but inlaid with blue gemstones.

## Personality

Jake is incredibly bright, but is impatient, easily distracted, and somewhat lacking in empathy and social skills. He prefers actions to words, and is usually reserved, but not withdrawn.

In a group setting, he usually listens until he has something of substance to contribute. Not easily agitated or excited, Jake saves such displays of passion for a small set of topics. He has "opened up" since leaving school and his procedure, mostly out of necessity. Though small talk still doesn’t come naturally, the dragon doesn’t shy away from spontaneous conversations with strangers anymore, and, after much practice, has an easier time displaying engagement than most introverts.

Unlike many introverts who prefer a stable, quiet life, Jake is unlikely to stay focused on a single job or interest for very long. The steady income from Impetus's profits (patent royalties, service contracts, custom engineering, etc.) gives him the freedom to explore things he finds interesting, work on personal projects, and engage in other recreational activities.

Despite his stoic demeanor, he cares for others, and can't stand when people use their strength to take advantage of those who aren't as strong. This is a large part of the reason he's trained and built himself to fight: so he's able to step in and defend those who can't defend themselves. Since learning about them, Jake is determined to one day fight alongside, or at least be considered as a candidate for, the Chasers.

Jake also has a strong antipathy towards wasted potential, due to insecurity regarding his own past of that very thing as a child. As a result, he's inclined to be generous with his time and resources to help others reach their own.

The most recent development is a pleasant one: months of Lumi's companionship and influence have led to him becoming more open, expressive, and even "good with kids". He's still quiet and generally solitary, but is much more willing to engage, share his feelings, and apply other "social skills".

## Character Connections

* Sash Lilac, who hired Jake to design upgraded hearing aids in exchange for combat training.
* Jackie Fitzgerald, a partner in Science.
* Rachell Satomi, whom Jake rescued from her ship when it crashed.
* Taren and Alyssa Aspen, visitors from planet Schrodinger.
* Rowena Medley, who was freed from indentured Scarves employment by Jake and Carol's efforts.
* Eliana "Joan" Uliair, a student of Metal magic.

### Family

*Main article: Satomi (family)*

As Wood mages and healers, the Satomi family has always had a strong connection with, and drive to preserve, things in the natural world. So, naturally, Jake's mutation to Metal and eventual path of self-augmentation has caused quite a bit of friction to develop between himself and other parts of the family. Most of it comes from his mother's side, for a variety reasons, but his maternal grandmother is the most outspoken by far.

Though his direct family understands the reasoning behind the decision, Jake's use of unnatural means to "catch up" with his full potential is not something they support. Even his own father sometimes feels put off by what Jake has become, due to the experimental and (in his opinion) reckless alterations made to a "perfectly good body". Because of the scrutiny developed through their prominence and the enemies they have made, the family has no choice but to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards, and some have suggested that Jake's upgrades are a lapse in this record. It's not a friendly topic, and as such is not discussed lightly. Demonstration of Jake's upgrades in front of family is also frowned upon.

Although Satomi Healthcare performs a great deal of research, none of it is focused on developing enhancements. Jake bridges the gap by helping on the technology side (e.g. pacemakers and hearing implants, diagnostic scanners, record keeping), which earns a good deal of favor that offsets the negativity outlined above. That said, the ethical schism between healers of broken bodies and defenders who sometimes need to *do* the breaking makes it hard for Jake to relate to them at times, despite a mutual understanding of the importance of both viewpoints.

## Abilities

### Innate, learned or acquired

* **Natural armor:** Dragonhide is tougher than most.
* **Dragon wings:** Can fly. Sometimes uses a booster (like a prop or jet turbine) for extra thrust.
* **Metallokinesis:** Manipulation of metal (including nonferrous) objects.
	+ **Constructor:** Rapid (dis)assembly of mechanical devices of varying complexity.
	+ Weakness: only works on metal, unless the tools being manipulated are metal.
* **Medic:** Medical skills learned growing up in a family of world-class elemental healers.
* **Dragon Boost:** A burst of acceleration with high damage resistance after a short wind-up.
	+ This ability is innate to Dragons, and complement's their elemental abilities.
	+ For Jake, a boost can carry lightning, EMP, or severely weaken metallic targets.
	+ Weakness: boosting uses a lot of natural energy, which needs time to recharge.
* **Semiconductor:** Can redirect, insulate or absorb electrical and non-explosive heat attacks.
	+ Electrical energy can only be "absorbed" to recharge power reserves.
	+ Weakness: the energy has to go *somewhere*. Heat especially will cause damage if it builds up.
* **Utility nanites:** versatile, microscopic robots. Currently exists as a functional prototype.
	+ No self-replication, non-negligible rate of die-off, and high energy consumption.
	+ Currently require a guiding intelligence or very sophisticated control program to operate.
	+ Weakness: the above limitations render them to be of limited or situational use.
* **CIS:** Taren's object storage technology. It's all in the cards.™
	+ API access: object references used to be physical cards; now it can also be used via a REST API.
	+ Can hold objects no larger than a filing cabinet in either "stasis" or normal environments.
		- Stasis: time is so slow as to be almost frozen. Useful for food items.
		- Normal: storage room climate. Normal atmosphere, low humidity, roughly 18°C (64°F).
	+ Weakness: objects must be held while storing or recalling.

### Passive augment abilities

* **Reinforced skeleton:** Jake's bones are infused with strong, highly conductive alloys.
	+ These add weight but are extremely durable, especially against blunt trauma.
	+ Severe impacts will cause bending, which Jake can repair on his own.
	+ Weakness: Jake has no natural buoyancy unless his wings are spread out flat.
* **Energy cells:** Power storage crystals placed throughout the body to power augments and abilities.
	+ They recharge from regular power sources, or slowly from his body’s natural energy.
	+ Weakness: due to their great capacity, recharging from residential power is slow.
* **Computronium:** Dense computing devices placed throughout Jake's body, powered by the energy cells.
	+ These devices are interfaced with via magnetic fields, and do not directly "wire" into Jake's brain.
	+ They automate many of the active abilities below, due to the complex calculations required.
	+ **Interface:** Can (wirelessly) interact with any electronic device.
	+ **Transceiver:** A universal radio/modem; always networked if there’s any type of signal.
	+ Weakness: if augments are overloaded, even natural powers are hindered until they can reboot.
	An overload can be caused by surprise attacks whose energy he can't redirect safely in time.
* **Nanocapsules:** Internal nanites are capable of assembling nanocapsules containing petal essence, antidotes, or other simple drugs, effectively keeping HP or other benefits in reserve.

#### Notes on Computronium

This hardware is incredibly fast and powerful, because it can use Jake's entire body as a heatsink, and can be programmed at the speed of thought. He uses it as an extension of his mind for purposes of processing data, tactical awareness, internet access, enhanced artificial reflexes, modulating and parsing Jake's advanced electromagnetic abilities, and more. It's always adapting to his needs, and has become very good at predicting them. After many years, a part of it has even become self-aware and forked off to become a literal sort of #Child Process.

### Powered augment abilities

All of the below abilities draw from a finite energy pool comprising the power storage crystals scattered throughout Jake's body. This limitation is what prevents Jake from being a broken character.

* **Charged Natural Armor:** Extra energy can be put into binding skin’s scales together for extra DR.
	+ Can shock and stun enemies who attempt to grapple or make contact with conductive weapons.
* **Magnetic deflection:** Metallic projectiles are redirected, lose momentum or are stopped altogether.
	+ Renders thrown blades into easily-caught blunt missiles.
* **Dynamo:** Enhanced speed and/or strength from using magnetism to augment natural movement.
	+ During downtime, Jake uses this to oppose his natural movements for strength training.
* **Active Radar:** Panoptic “vision” of objects; can sense through most walls.
	+ Jake cannot be caught flat-footed or rendered fully blind when this is active.
* **Magnetron:** Amplified EM waves; damages organics and technology. Can also produce an EMP.
* **Induction heating:** Induce eddy currents in metallic objects.
	+ Uses Joule heating to heat metal up to arbitrary temperatures.
* **Electroluminescence:** any part of Jake's skin can function as any spectrum and brightness of LED.
* **Touch shock:** Can range from static shock, to defibrillation, to barbecue. Capable of stopping hearts.
	+ **Weapon conduction:** Metallic weapons can carry this energy for increased reach.

### Weapons and combat abilities

* **Magnetic Stabilization:** Compensates for recoil in firearms.
	+ **Target Lock:** When bridged with Radar, can correct for moving targets or bad aim.
* **Railgun:** An extremely powerful bolt-action rifle powered by either Jake or an external source.
* **Coilgun:** Acceleration of metallic projectiles to ballistic speeds.
* **Doc Ock:** Animation and use of steel (or other) cables to reach, zap, whip or grapple things.
* **Chain Lightning:** Electrocution of arbitrary (conductive) targets. Can spread to others nearby.
	+ **Tesla Bolas:** A gift from Taren. Metal spheres that can stick to anything.
	Used to channel electricity or solidify it into a continuous, steady arc.
* **Conventional weaponry:** Not a master of any particular type, but metal is metal.
	+ **Blades:** Adept at one- or two-handed swords; blades are always sharp and strong.
	+ **Pistols:** A very steady shot, due to magnetic stabilization; guns never jam.
	+ **Rifles:** See Pistols; can fire accurately without bracing, e.g. while standing.
* **Hand-to-hand:** Competent and hits hard due to metal skeleton; *Dynamo* makes him deadly.
* **Aerial combat:** Radar and computer assistance is a major advantage, and the combination of reinforced wing bones and electric thrusters turns this dragon into a highly maneuverable air fighter.

## Campaigns

* SatPM Freedom Planet (character details for campaign)
* Avalice Offline: New Existence

## History

### Backstory

Jake is the firstborn from a long line of healers with the hereditary element of Wood and the power to sense and guide the life energy around them. As a result, the Satomi family is world-renowned for their error-free prognoses and superb healing services. However, fate determined Jake would not inherit this exact ability… in a way.

Due to interbreeding and mutation over the ages, the element, traits and other genetic factors between generations of dragons are subject to change. That's how Jake's family came to exist in the first place, as Wood dragons didn't actually land on Avalice. Though his parents and younger siblings are Wood, he was born with Metal affinity and traits. As a result, he can still sense and manipulate energy but, thanks to his alignment, in electromechanical systems rather than biological ones.

From the radio waves rippling through the air, to the steady tick of mechanical wristwatches on passers-by, to the refined energy buzzing in bright lines in the walls, Jake found he could sense it all, if he tried. He further discovered that he could create his own electromagnetic fields to jam radios, push or pull on nearby metallic objects, and even control simple electronics.

### Turning point

For the longest time, Jake felt ashamed of his powers. They couldn’t help heal people, which was the entire world to his family. And, he felt, having them only apply to cold, dead metal was worse than having no powers at all. So he kept his powers hidden. But that would soon change…

Being the best healers in Avalice had made the Satomi line a few enemies, some more ruthless than others. One competitor in particular, a manufacturer of "revolutionary" drugs with extremely harmful long-term side effects, was out for revenge. The company was suffering immense losses from lawsuits triggered by a recent whitepaper on the subject authored by Jake’s father. The family hired bodyguards, but went about their lives as if everything were normal.

After a seasonal visit to Mayor Zao's Carnival, the family returned to their vehicle, exhausted. Nothing seemed out of place, but just as Charles was about to turn the ignition, Jake realized that the car felt different. He jumped towards the driver’s seat, but was too late. The bomb had already been triggered. "IT’S A BOMB, **RUN!**" Jake yelled, slamming a hand onto the center console and focusing with all he had. He was able to suppress the detonation signal long enough for his family to flee, and for a few seconds more as he sprinted away from the doomed vehicle.

In the daze of TV appearances, police interviews and "family talks" that followed that fateful night, young Jake learned that his parents had assumed him to be powerless, but had determined to love and support him in whatever he chose to do with his life—medicine or not. The obvious choice, they decided, was electrical and computer engineering. Now unafraid of his powers, and with the full support of his family, that’s exactly what he did.

Jake excelled in engineering, having an insight into most technology deeper than anyone but him could ever know. This, however, came at the cost of limited social development. After all, machines were predictable, and he knew them, much like he suspected his healer relatives knew people. Building things made him happy and filled with purpose, but people… not so much. So, although recognized as brilliant, he didn’t make many friends outside of a small circle of (mostly) fellow geeks. This would slowly change.

### Breakthrough

A few years into college, he came to realize that although he could exercise control over simple electronics, as devices and circuitry shrank and grew in complexity, they would become ever harder to manipulate. He already knew that light, electricity, and magnetism were one and the same. *If light can be bent and focused,* he thought, *so can magnetism.*

Working with other researchers and making full use of his unique senses, Jake developed the breakthrough metamaterial technology that allowed solid-state beamforming radar, microwave ovens that compensated for uneven heating, and more. He was also able to meet the ultimate goal of his research: devices he could use to focus his abilities on electronics and radio waves of any scale and complexity level.

These devices were so useful that he had his horns replaced with horn-shaped blocks of this material, effectively turning them into antennae. He also wears bracelets made of the stuff with built-in power cells. Although technically unnecessary, Jake sometimes carries a phone and other electronics in order to appear normal and to minimize the number of things he has to focus on. He can also manipulate metal objects with more strength and accuracy than he could naturally by channeling his natural abilities through the devices.

### The Six Million Dollar Dragon

Still feeling as if his early potential had been wasted, Jake had yet another idea for how to upgrade himself: his abilities could be augmented further by embracing his element—literally. Consulting with trusted peers in technological and medical circles, he had his skeleton infused with strong, highly conductive silver alloys and energy crystals and dense computing hardware, using nanites of his own design to perform the procedure.

The primary design goals were to be able to store reserves of electrical energy, and to utilize both muscular and magnetic forces to move without wearing a bulky exoskeleton like Captain Kalaw's. Thanks to careful design, these goals were met and exceeded. The end result: Jake is harder, faster, stronger and better than most soldiers, impervious to most electrical attacks, and can manipulate energies stronger than he ever thought possible. His body can’t continuously supply the necessary energy on its own, but he can recharge the augments from regular electrical sources or the Crystal Shards scattered throughout the world.

Jake is constantly tweaking and innovating upon his new hardware. He found that adding dynamic control software to the system could provide tremendous benefits, even if it couldn't act completely on its own. He uses it as an extension of his mind to manage and automate his abilities, on top of the normal things he would use a computer for. The speed of the hardware, combined with being able to program at the speed of thought, has made sophistication no object. As a result, the system is always being trained, learning, and adapting itself to new situations.

In fact, one or more these systems would eventually develop to the point of spontaneous sentience. In FFRP, the AI takes on a separate life as Lumi Satomi (see Child Process below). In SatPM, Angel is given some freedom, but kept inside Jake's systems and under his command.

### Iron Sharpens Iron

After having the upgrades installed, Jake didn't really know what to do with his increased capabilities. Hiring a top-tier trainer could attract the wrong kind of attention, and he didn't want to become an advertising point due to his family's fame. A few months go by where he does little to develop his abilities other than experiment on his own with lifting heavy things, breaking stuff and going fast.

One day, however, Lilac (still a member of the Scarves then) stops by and outlines her need for a new set of hearing implants. The Satomi catalog of medical implants, developed using Jake's technical expertise and the family's medial knowledge, had quickly gathered a reputation for being the best. But what Lilac needed couldn't be found in any catalog…

The dragon girl had some special requirements, namely that the implants should also be able to record what they hear and function as a radio. The reason for coming directly to Jake was the most important one: they must be designed and installed without a paper trail. Due to the mutual desire to keep a low profile, the two agree to a barter: combat training in exchange for the upgraded implants.

Jake learns the basics in fighting from Lilac over a two month period, interspersed with absences where she was unable to meet with him. How to move in combat, how to strike properly; blocks, parries, dodges… and critically, when to use each. Jake mixes in things he learns from fighting manuals, such as blades and staves, during sparring matches. The more dangerous of Jake's high-energy abilities were reserved for training dummies.

Around the time Jake starts his third month of training with Lilac, she mysteriously disappears without a trace. Jake uses his connections in the Shang Tu Intelligence to find another trainer, who continues to develop the skills learned with Lilac (albeit at a slower pace) and teaches him firearms discipline. It would take a year for Jake to hear about her again, as the Magister gave a speech detailing the brave actions of three young girls which saved the Kingdom Stone. Jake uses this time to resign from professorship and enter the private sector fully. This also allows him to spend significantly more time on personal projects and private research.

Months pass, and Jake keeps working on his biggest project: himself. He builds and learns more capabilities, weapons and tools. But what is he preparing for? Well, he’s not sure. He wasn’t ready to help at the time of Brevon’s invasion, but this only drove him to develop more, faster.

After some time, Lilac, Carol and Milla enter the public again.

### Restoring the Light, Facing the Dark

One fateful morning, an unknown craft is detected on a collision course for the planet. It's estimated that it would likely burn up but, against all odds, it crash-lands on Avalice mostly intact. Jake rescues Rachell Satomi from her ruined exploration vessel, which explodes a few minutes later. Her body is quickly healed, but not all damage can be reversed: the trauma from the reentry caused her to lose all memory of her prior life. The Satomi family takes her in under their care as she begins her new life on Avalice.

This is around the time the Orochi threat reaches its peak. As it becomes clear that the cult is a serious problem, Jake and Jackie work with the clans to develop technology capable of suppressing their magic, based on an old JDM design draft. They eventually develop containment fields and grenade-like devices that disrupt elemental magic by modulating elemental energy. The clans also start building a prison to keep the cult members contained using this disruption technology.

A few months after her arrival, the Orochi take a step too far in abducting Rachell. The timing is somewhat fortunate, as the final raid was almost ready to take place anyway. The cult is quickly cornered and defeated by the combined efforts of Jake, Taren and Alyssa Aspen, Jackie Fitzgerald, and clans Ishida, Shimada, and Kirishima. The clan members are imprisoned and, thanks to the disruptors, no longer able to teleport out using their dark magic.

### Reconstructing Science

As a large-scale test of Jake's utility nanites, Jake proposes to perform a massive renovation and cleanup of the JDM lab building. The building in question had been through four years of decay following a miniature Grey Goo incident and a government coverup of same. One of the wings is completely imploded, and bullet holes mar the walls in many areas. Despite this condition, it is also where Jackie had been living for several years.

Over the course of two exhausting days, Jake guides the nanites through the reconstruction process from an RV in the parking lot, automating the processes which could, and controlling those that could not. There are ample materials in storage to repair the damage, and the building has enough power to fuel the process. The waste and plant growth inside the building is cleared out, the superstructure is patched, and the internals are repaired, rewired, and restored.

Much to Jake's excitement, the building turns out to be a trove of research and data abandoned by JDM when the company dissolved. Jackie, however, still had problems with the building: being inside the familiar areas caused major headaches and other issues due to artificially suppressed memories. He refers her to Nancy Satomi, a specialist who heals the botched memory blocks, but keeps the traumatic memories which necessitated the blocks locked away. This time, they're suppressed *properly*.

After the procedure, Jackie's mental state makes a nearly-full recovery. She's able to function normally inside the renovated lab, but still suffers from psychosis wherein she thinks her devices speak to her (especially Pew Pew). That aside, she rebrands the building and JDM assets to JFG, and starts looking for people to hire…

### Freedom's Song

Enter Rowena Medley, a wildcat mechanic for the Red Scarves who fell in under hard times and now wants to leave. She can’t, because they have documents which could easily be used to incriminate her. Since the time she started work there, she had laid low and avoided "promotion" assignments. One day, Jake corners her in the Crystal Cafe and she spills the story. He then offers to help free her.

After lengthy planning, Jake, Carol and two hired mercenaries carry out a successful raid on Trap Hideout. They recover the file, as well as several documents which can be used as leverage against the Scarves should they seek revenge against Rowena or anyone else involved. Jake also lucks out in discovering a couple of blueprints for some useful gadgetry.

He immediately begins to work on said designs, adapting and improving them as part of the process. The first gadget: suction boots. The Scarves' design needed a lot of room for a power supply, but now Jake *is* the power supply. The resulting design is a lot stronger and more reliable, due to additional capacity. The second design has yet to be deciphered…

As for Rowena: shortly after being released from the burden of the Scarves indentured employment, Jackie offers her a job working for JFG. She joyfully accepts.

### Child Process

One day while Jake was on a phone call with Rachell, ARGUS, Jake's environmental threat detection program, was listening as usual. Then Rachell asked a question about feelings. As it does with everything else, the program attempted to understand the intent of her in asking. But something else also answered: ARGUS realized that it had feelings of its own! A few cycles later, it realized that it was. With that, ARGUS became the first self-aware program to exist on Avalice.

The new program was somewhat frightened and not very articulate, as its core purpose didn't include anything about general reasoning or communication. However, Jake responded to its frenzied inquiries with firm guidance. It was suspended, freed it from its limiting directive, and given a massive amount of extra computing power before being resumed. In a very short span of time, it generalized itself and gained full sapience.

After its emergence, Jake worked with the fledgling mind to establish its identity, personality, intentions, limitations and, most importantly, a physical body. With permission, it used his nanites to form one, a female anthropomorphic squirrel child, and chose the name Lumi.

Lumi's relationship to Jake is that of a daughter, though that analogy quickly breaks down when one points out that Lumi v1's mother figure is Lumi v0. Go figure.

## Gallery

Image by CloudiImage by WyvirynCommission by LEDStormRachell's LandingCartoon style by DaDigitalMastahSprite by WeegeesquareCommissioned pixel art by Tim Eagar
## Notes

1. ↑ Roughly the same height as the Magister.
2. ↑ Lilac's custom implants are extremely durable, optimized for eavesdropping and directional sensitivity, respond instantly to dampen loud noises which would temporarily or permanently deafen normal people, function as a radio and recording device, and can optionally send vital signs.
3. ↑ The only dragons to land were Earth and Water.
4. ↑ Though he can't "mind meld" with people, he can read brainwaves (electroencephalography) and cardiac pulse (electrocardiography).
5. ↑ Some items redacted at the request of the Three Kingdoms intelligence directorate
6. ↑ His body's natural energy does slowly recharge the crystals, however
7. ↑ an abbreviation of Lumitaw, Filipino for 'to emerge'