Saturday, October 27, 2012

Apollo the Sun God

Thalia Took illustration
Joseph Mora hates his day job. His night job, however, defines his existence.

     Joseph earned his B.A. in Classical Studies from San Diego State University and his M.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Although his studies were fascinating, they offered him few job skills that he could apply to the world outside academia. For the past few years Joseph has attempted to make ends meet by working as a copy editor for a marketing firm in Los Angeles.

     Uninspired by his work and terribly depressed over his massive student loans, Joseph does the best he can. He rents a one room, dilapidated apartment in North Hollywood. He doesn’t make very much money as a copy editor, so his apartment is rather spartan. What he does have in abundance are comic books and books about ancient Rome and Greece.

     The comic books are a guilty pleasure, but within the stories of heroism and danger are echoes of a mythic past that Joseph loves to daydream about. Sometimes Joseph feels that he was born a few millennia too late. Perhaps his life would have been more glorious as the captain of a Greek trireme.

     While fantasizing one day about heroes, both comic and mythic, Joseph hatched an idea. Why not live as a hero? It might be fun to combine comic book heroism with ancient mythology. After a trip to the hardware and fabric stores to put together a costume, Apollo was born!

     Joseph’s costume features a white, spandex body suit. He has gold boots, gloves, mask and cape. Since Apollo is the sun god, Joseph secured flashlights to his forearms and even wears a utility belt with all kinds of glow sticks, small flashlights, laser pointers, etc. As Apollo, Joseph wishes to shine the searing light of truth upon the injustices of the world.

     Joseph was so happy with himself that he wanted to show off his costume, but he couldn’t exactly parade down the street in a home-made super hero costume, or could he? Downtown Hollywood isn’t too far from Joseph’s apartment and in a place like that, he might not even get a second glance. Hollywood is that strange. On a Friday night Joseph went walking the streets of Hollywood.

     Normally shy and reserved, Joseph was encouraged by the enthusiastic responses he received. A couple on a sight-seeing tour from Sheboygan, WI asked him to pose for a picture. He used his flashlights to help a tipsy party girl find her car keys under a sewer grate. Joseph even tied a glowstick to a homeless man's shopping cart to make it more visible in dark alleys

     Since that evening, Joseph has decided to patrol the streets of Hollywood four nights a week. He’s even attained minor celebrity status in the area and had his photo appear in an issue of LA Weekly. Although he’s been attacked by a mugger and was hit in the head with a bottle thrown at him by a drunk, Joseph enjoys shining a helpful light onto rather dark and dangerous streets. Now if he could just get a better day job and pay off his student loan.

Joseph Mora aka Apollo (59 points)
SM 0 (5’ 10” tall, 175 lbs.);
ST 11 [10], DX 10, IQ 13 [60], HT 11 [10];
HP 11, Will 13, Per 13, FP 11;
Basic Lift 24, Damage: Thr 1d-1/Sw 1d+1;
Basic Speed 5.25, Basic Move 5;
Dodge 8, Parry (see attacks), Block -;
DR 0.

Advantages and Perks
Daredevil [15], Honest Face [1], Reputation (being helpful and kind, downtown Hollywood, all the time; +2 to reactions) [3].

Disadvantages and Quirks
Charitable (9) [-22], Debt 20 [-20] Secret (serious embarrassment) [-5], Sense of Duty (humanity)  [-15].

Skills
Area Knowledge (Los Angeles)-13 [1], Computer Operation-13 [4], Driving-10 [2], History (Classical)-13 [12], Sewing-10 [1], Writing-13 [2].

Attack
Mag Lite-5 (short sword default), 1d+2 cr, Reach 1, Parry 5.

Equipment
2009 Honda Fit, LG Esteem smart phone, flashlights, super hero costume, $30.

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11 comments:

  1. Oh my God so you dress up in tights and walk around Hollywood pretending you are a superhero? What does your girlfriend say about that?

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  2. Cool! Are you a real superhero? I love Spiderman. Do you know him?

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    Replies
    1. No, kiddo, I'm not a real superhero, but I do like to help people.

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  3. Son, you need to do something about that Maglite skill. Someone is going to crush your skull if you can't defend yourself.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly. Just ask Mr. Reed what happens to you if you can't handle yourself in a fight.

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  4. OMG, this is so cute! You are so nice, Joseph. Don't let anyone make fun of you. :)

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  5. Apollo is a funny god with a dark side - read his prayers. He is god of light and not having light, god of shepherds and wolves, healing and disease - oriental gods like his sister influence sets of opposite things - Helios and Roman version of Apollo very different. I dont know if this is least bit useful. I would believe josephs story would make a great 3min fake news video. My own backyard heroes here:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/konsumterra/sets/72157622814954471/

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    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh, I love your photos! That gas mask is so great!

      Delete