Roland Masseau

"No one man or faction will lay claim to this city so long as I breathe. New York belongs to the people and it always will."

### Voice Reference

Marc Diraison / Gutshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLXQcMEtoEw

## Status

### Affiliation

Saint Valentines (Former)Iron Talon (Former)

U.S. Armed Forces (Former)

### Occupation

Saint Valentines Gang Member (Former)Iron Talon Wild Card (Former)

U.S. Armed Forces (Former)

## Other

### Character Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKJDAVvs\_JA

> *"I need your help. One last time..."*
>
>

> ***"STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER!"***
>
>

**Roland Masseau** (Mass-Saw) is a vigilante currently bringing the fight against all three major parties participating in the gamble for New York: The Four Kings, the Black Watch, and Volker's Chosen. In the end, he is hoping to free New York from the clutches of foreign influence and bring down it's gang scene.

His soul is chained to the remaining energies of Columbia, the dying personification of the U.S. made real due to psychic anomalies in relation to the passion many Americans felt for their country during its formative years.

Currently, due to his ability's nature, he has been encased in a metallic shell and been in a comatose state since the conclusion of the Four King's Crisis.

## Appearance

Roland is a tall, muscular male with well defined features and broad shoulders. He keeps his hair in a faux hawk style with several stars and stripes likened to that of the U.S. flag shaved onto the sides of his head and he keeps his face shaved. He has a mole to the bottom left of his left eye that is rather noticeable. His eyes are bright green.

He has several tattoos and scars. The most noticeable tattoo is one depicting Columbia leading U.S. expansion westward, which is placed directly on his back. The words "Columbia Semper" is placed above the depiction. He also has the words "Ad Mortem Inumicus" placed along his right forearm. Across his collarbone, he pays homage to the most American man in history - Hulk Hogan - with a tattoo that says "I AM A REAL AMERICAN" in reference to his entrance theme song.

His casual attire varies, but his vigilante garb does not. It consists of a dark brown U.S. officer's trench coat with the American Flag burned into the back followed by a black bandanna wrapped around the lower portion of his face and a pair of steel colored aviators to conceal his appearance. He wears a pair of black Oakley gloves.

After his two week comatose period, Roland's vigilante garb underwent small changes. His U.S. Officer's coat now has a left shoulder pad with a small U.S. flag cape trailing off of it, along with several other pieces of padding. Underneath it he has added a bullet proof vest capable of stopping most small arms fire, and he has forgone the use of a bandanna in favor of showing his face when fighting. His aviators now have a golden metal rims and black lenses.

## Personality

> *"Come and get me you fascist son-of-a-bitch!"*
>
>

Raised under the watchful eye of Columbia, Roland grew up learning the value of true American ideals, and thus has come to be an avid supporter of people's rights and a United States free of corruption and fear, with which the country has struggled with for years, and still is. Not to mention it is this dilemma that is causing Columbia to die out. As expected, he will show great hatred towards communists, fascists, and anyone who's got a bone to pick with a person's right to freedom.

Roland has demonstrated advanced tactical knowledge when planning out operations and seems to have a good understanding of how most processes work. This is evident by how he came to find the correlation between the Wolf and Neo New York's previous criminal environment, and by how he was able to estimate the necessary distance to evade Kid when he stopped time in just a few seconds.

Roland himself is a very optimistic person, meeting most of his issues with a happy attitude, but is prone to violence more so than talking things out. He can also be very loud and likes to taunt his opponents in combat.

## History

### *Early Years, Military Service, and a Promise to His Country*

Born **Roland Adonis Masseau**, the future All-American powerhouse began as the youngest son in the Masseau family, one of the most decorated military families in the United States. Roland's older brother, **Henry Andrew Masseau**, was a key figure in bringing peace to the middle east after years of unrest in the area, and allowed many middle eastern countries to become highly advanced nations. A Masseau was responsible for turning the tide of the Civil War, and a Masseau brought democracy's hammer down against the Soviet Union during a series of brief conflicts between the U.S. and the Soviets during the Cold War. With what his family had done in the name of their country and for the betterment of others, Roland had quite a lot to live up to.

Life in the Masseau estate was immensely educational and was responsible for many of the morale values Roland stays true to today. As he was schooled at home and taught many of the attributes a Masseau should have, he was also taught Columbia, who seemingly has been with Roland since his birth. By the time he was sent to West Point at the age of 17, he was an intelligent young man with a tendency to handle things head on, earning him a reputation at the military academy.

With news of the Alliance attempting to annex Alaska, Roland eagerly took up arms, but was surprised when an exhausted American populace did not show as much readiness as he did. Roland joined the United States Army and was quickly assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and became a Captain of a company within the 18th Infantry Regiment thanks to his education at West Point. At the start of the war he would supervise many of the first actual pushes of the Alliance-U.S. lines in Alaska, many of which were successful until the Alliance deployed their navy and Wild Card forces in retaliation to U.S. defiance.

With the introduction of the Alliance's monstrously terrifying Navy and their extremely dangerous Supers referred to as Wild Cards, the U.S. forces on ground suffered significantly and territory was rapidly lost to the Alliance. In the bloodiest battle of the annexation - The Battle of Tanana River - Roland's abilities manifested and thus the spear of freedom was born. With the battle quickly favoring the Alliance, Roland activated **Stars and Stripes Forever**, obliterating a strong portion of the Alliance fleet present in Alaska (it is rumored the ship graveyard found near the future Great Walls of Alaska was the aftermath of Roland's attack) and won a major victory for the United States. However, regardless of the victory, the war itself would see the Alliance as victors. The memories of the horrific conflict would stay with Roland well into his adulthood.

With the defeat at Alaska, the U.S. began to deteriorate in terms of economic wellness and public wellness. The war had been expensive and extremely unpopular. Roland came home to an ungrateful and unmotivated American populace and began to see firsthand the troubling state of the United States. Roland promised himself at this point that he would take the responsibility of leadership for the country and lead it back to it's former glory.

> *"The proud singing of an America I once knew has been silenced. This isn't the country I once had pride in. These aren't the green forests I fell in love with when I was a child, and these aren't the city streets I ventured through with friends as we looked for sweet girls to talk to and wandered on those dark, lonesome nights where one might only find solace with themselves. The singing is gone. The sounds of America are gone. They've been replaced by the cries of a country in pain. On my honor as a Masseau and the spear of Columbia, I will take up the mantle of president and restore this country back to it's former glory. As decreed by Columbia, it is my destiny to lead this country. By her will, my destiny will be made manifest! America will sing again!"*
>
>

### *Inter-Annexation Period*

Through the inter-annexation period (the period between the annexation and the eventual Spellplague), Roland found himself in many bizarre situations within the city of New York and took part in less than honorable deeds. For a brief moment, he had a debt to pay to the Saint Valentines Gang, and temporarily worked under them to repay it. When news of the Alliance-Separatist conflict reached the United States, Roland was one of many supers who volunteered in relief efforts for Canadian refugees. While he was positioned south of Montreal, Roland once again saw many of the devastating horrors he had once seen in Alaska. For a brief moment during the Exodus, Roland cut down over a hundred and fifty Alliance deserters who attempted to raid the Montreal Refugee camps.

### *The Spellplague*

The Spellplague changed the world as it was known, and violently changed Roland's. Refugee camps were devastated, as new supers were born and others were violently disfigured or killed, along with normal people. Roland himself was changed by the Spellplague, which severely amplified and altered many aspects of Manifest Destiny, leading to the Manifest Destiny seen within the NYC theater. The Masseau family was massacred save for Roland's younger brother, **Aiden Masseau**. In the events leading up to Dominance: NYC, Roland trained Aiden to use his new ability and prepared him for West Point, which he would be attending like all members of the Masseau family. Once he departed, Roland returned to New York City in hopes of quelling a supposed rise in violence and possibly taking the steps necessary to reach his destiny.

### *Dominance: New York City*

After several weeks in New York City Roland familiarized himself with the King's crisis and hunted after a group of individuals supposedly uniting the gangs of New York to stand against the Four Kings. While not exactly a fan of using criminals against another band of criminals, Roland felt he would have gotten nowhere without some sort of backing and thus they would do.

After finally locating the band of individuals responsible for uniting the gangs (consisting of Laura Wilkinson, Iva Saskia, and Dexter Mallaworthy, along with others) in Baker's hideout during the initial police actions of the Blackwatch (after a brief scuffle that was "fatal" for Kong), he assisted them in their fight against the Blackwatch and very hesitantly would later join the fight as their "ally" and helped put down Teodora Petrova's predecessor with the help of Laura in a one-versus-two duel.

Roland would continue supporting the offensive the united gangs had started, killing many King's members and seemingly also Lucas Moore with the help of the original group, before ultimately departing after saving Volker Stahlwulff. A state-wide broadcast followed his departure, and helped rally the populace under his ideal for a future where the United States was restored to it's former glory, essentially creating Roland's Rough Riders. With his own militia at his disposal, he took the offensive straight to the Kings as they began their complete takeover of the city's government.

While his intention was to destroy the King responsible for the hostile takeover once and for all, he would meet his match against Augustus' secret weapon - Yellow Diamond. As the united gangs of New York helped push the offensive to the One World Trade Center with the Rough Riders, and Roland's friends fought to reach Augustus, Roland himself tried to help the monstrosity at bay, but was eventually gravely wounded at the base of the Statue of Liberty, allowing Yellow Diamond to return to the One WTC in order to annihilate the team already inside.

As the fight between the team and Yellow Diamond began to tilt into YD's favor, Roland sacrificed his well being by activating ***Stars and Stripes Forever*** a second time, which resulted in significantly boosting the physical capabilities of the team to the point where Laura -- a non-super -- became one, albeit temporarily. Per Manifest Destiny's adapt-to-survive function, and the devastating damage inflicted on Roland by his use of his ability, Manifest Destiny encased Roland in a metallic shell and has been keeping his body in a state of hibernation since then.

Six months have passed since Roland turned into a "statue", and it is unknown if he will ever fully recover or if Manifest Destiny is simply prolonging his death. Regardless, a majority of the populace and the Rough Riders believe Roland to be dead, and fight in his memory to mourn him and to do right by his vision of a once again great America.

## Powers and Abilities

#### **Manifest Destiny**

An ability born from his chain to Columbia, Manifest Destiny is an ability that grants Roland access to various enhancements and boosts based on what exactly his current goal or situation is (he is **manifesting** what is necessary to reach his **destiny**, or what he perceives it to be.) This powerful ability is one to be reckoned with, but is not at all anywhere near maximum potential.

Manifest Destiny doesn't just include the adapt-to-survive ability either. It comes with a set of default boosts/enhancements due to Columbia's connection with Roland, and works on from there.

* Default Super Strength (Manifest Destiny can currently x3 this without bodily harm depending on situation)
* Default Enhanced Agility (^)
* Default Mental Processing (Manifest Destiny can only boost this once)

There are default abilities that cannot be boosted by Manifest Destiny. Training is the only way to advance these.

* Default Durability (Acts as a limiter to Default Super Strength)
* Default Mental Capacity (Acts as a limiter to Default Mental Processing)

Here's a list of non-default abilities, and can possibly be gained during a situation. This is not a complete list.

* Toxin Resistance
* Boosted Lung Capacity
* Sustained Gliding
* Heat Resistance
* More will be revealed...

The peculiar thing about the ability as a whole is that its psychologically linked and that it can only go as far as Roland's body can handle it. Manifest Destiny does a good job of making Roland strong enough to get some boosts and enhancements already, but if he intends on improving these, he must train. If he gets ahead of himself, his body will get hurt. Any enhancements he *can* handle already do enough damage. Imagine how bad the ones he can't are.

#### **Manifest Destiny - Power Levels**

The extent of Roland's Manifest Destiny can be ranked via power levels, of which there are fifty, one for each state. The first rank would be Roland at default strength. The fiftieth is Roland at maximum capacity - Columbia's level.

#### **Manifest Destiny - Special Moves**

***Secession*** - Roland raises a leg up into the air, and brings it down quick enough with the force to split just about any object in his way.

***Nuclear Pacification: Hiroshima*** - Roland channels Manifest Destiny into a single arm and reels it back, launching it forward into his opponent. The punch alone causes a gust of wind to shoot forward. The closer an opponent is to the punch, the worse the damage. Weaker variant, but still strong enough to hurt anyone caught in it's crossfire or directly hit.

***Nuclear Pacification: Nagasaki*** - Stronger variant. The requirements to perform the move result in heat being produced from the punch. Wind gust effect is still active.

***I Bleed For You, America*** - With Manifest Destiny pulsing energy through an arm, Roland causes his veins to blast blood out from the back of the arm, shoving it forward at a frighteningly fast speed. High damage for opponent, but risks disabling the arm for the duration of the fight. Only used as a last resort counter attack.

***Manifest Destiny: Gatling Gun*** - Veins pumping with the fury of a patriotic American, Roland begins thrusting his fists towards his opponents at devastatingly fast flurries. Speed and damage of the attack is determinant on how far Roland's power level has increased.

***Manifest Destiny: Eagles Lariat*** - Aerial attack. Roland swoops down with an arm sticking out but slightly bent, and catches an opponent in between where the forearm and upper arm meet, then proceeds to slam them into the ground.

***Liberty Made Manifest!*** - Columbia herself appears into the corporeal plane, and fights alongside Roland, but must stay within five meters of him.

***Stars and Stripes Forever*** - Roland's most powerful move. Causes Roland's power level to skyrocket to the 50th state, putting him on par with Columbia at her peak. He quite literally *turns* into personified America. Catastrophically high damage output, both for his opponent and for himself. Roland has used it twice now.

#### **The Soul of Liberty**

With a strong decline in American patriotism and overall approval of initiatives taken by the government, Columbia, a deity of sorts who had manifested thanks in part to the combined psychic energies of the patriotic American people, began to weaken as well. With America currently a remnant of what it once was - with large cities being the only places known to have law within them - Columbia couldn't survive. Upon the beginning of the Spellplague event, Columbia chose to chain her soul to the person she believed would return America to it's former glory. That person was Roland Masseau.

With Columbia tied to Roland, he hasn't just gained Manifest Destiny, but has also gained her support. She has the ability to heal Roland when he is out of combat, and generally gives him advice too. She can even go as far as to manifest in the corporeal plane and help Roland fight, but as this is heavily draining for the two, it has only been done in situations where complete defeat is inevitable without intervention.

## Equipment

> *"Jokes on you, commie. The only weapons freedom needs are FISTS!"*
>
>

## Significant Traits

***I Am a Real American!*** - Roland is a hardcore patriot. A real American.

***Freedom is non-negotiable*** - He's very hard to convince due to how hardheaded he is, but it can be done.

***Hit Me Harder, Punk!*** - Roland taunts during fights, and generally stays optimistic during them.

***Put Those Hands Up!*** - Despite occasionally utilizing kicks in his fighting style, he mostly keeps it restricted to a fighting style similar to how a boxer would fight, having trained when he was younger.

## Memorable Quotes

* *"You don't think I know what you're doing here? This isn't just some pacification mission. You're laying **claim** to this city. THIS CITY! **AMERICAN SOIL! UNACCEPTABLE!"***
* *"I am liberty made manifest!"*
* *"The current government is a bunch of Soyboy-Honda-Buyers as far as I'm concerned."*
* *"Think of home, officer."* - Roland's intended final words for Lieutenant Evelynn.
* *"By Columbia's will...**MY DESTINY WILL BE MADE MANIFEST!*****"**
* *"AMERICA STANDS AS A DEMOCRACY! WE WON'T STAND TO BE RULED BY GODS! **OR KINGS!**"*
* *"The Civil War was proof that even the strongest of Unions can shatter. I will make you a living example!"*
* *"I have to say: you are a real piece of work! Probably the second most American thing I've ever seen in my life! The first most? **ME!**"*
* *To himself: "Wow, Roland. You look like you need a vacation." In a tone mocking himself: "Democracy never rests!"*
* *"Let's dance, big boy!"*

## Trivia

* Columbia is not the first time psychic energy has formed an anomaly, but she is definitely the most successful out of all of them as she has survived and remained powerful for quite a long time.
* The U.S. officer's coat Roland has on is his own.
* Roland views the Blackwatch as fascists.
* Roland and Columbia, as one would expect, have a very close relationship.
* Roland's ultimate goal is presidency. With the majority of America in disarray, the only functioning parts of it's society being large cities, and a weak president, Roland believes himself the best choice for America's survival as a country.