Astal

Theme: Let Me Try Again

ASTAL
Affiliations: SOLO D8, BUDDY D10, TEAM D6
Distinctions:
HOT-TEMPERED
FIERCE PROTECTOR
KIND-HEARTED
Power Sets:
RED JEWEL
ELEMENTAL INFLUENCE D6, ENHANCED SENSES D8, GODLIKE STRENGTH D12, SUPERHUMAN DURABILITY D10, SUPERHUMAN STAMINA D10, SUPERSONIC FLIGHT D10
SFX: Area Attack. Against multiple targets, add a D6 and keep an additional effect die for each additional target.
SFX: Berserk. Add a die from the Doom Pool to one or more attack actions. Step up the Doom Pool die by +1 for each action; return it to the Doom Pool when you're done.
SFX: Immunity. Spend 1 PP to ignore stress, trauma or complications from poisons, disease or radiation.
SFX: Multipower. Use two or more RED JEWEL powers in a single dice pool. Step back each power once for every additional power beyond the first.
Limit: Collateral Damage. Both 1 and 2 on your dice count as opportunities when using a RED JEWEL power, but only 1s are excluded from being used for totals or effect dice.
Limit: Exhausted. Shutdown any RED JEWEL power to gain 1 PP. Recover power by activating an opportunity or during a Transition Scene.

BIRD COMPANION
ENHANCED DURABILITY D8, FLIGHT D6, SUPERHUMAN SENSES D10, WEAPON D8
SFX: Burst. Step up or double a WEAPON die against a single target. Remove the highest rolling die and add 3 dice for your total.
SFX: Dangerous. Add a D6 to your dice pool for a physical attack action and step back the highest die in your pool to step up stress inflicted by +1.
SFX: Second Chance. Spend 1 PP to reroll when using any BIRD COMPANION power.
Limit: Clipped Wings. BIRD COMPANION may be affected by stress, complications and other effects like a normal character. If stressed out or overcome by a complication, shutdown BIRD COMPANION and recover as normal during a Transition Scene, or until a successful recover action is completed.

Specialties:
COMBAT EXPERT D8
Milestones:
PROTECT LEDA
Your purpose is to protect Leda from anything, and you will not fail in your mission. You'll find and free Leda, no matter the cost to yourself or Quartalia.
1 XP when you explore a new vista in search of Leda.
3 XP when you gain a new ally in your quest to find Leda and defeat Jerado, or when your ferocity ruins something peaceful and harmless.
10 XP when you finally rescue Leda safely, or when your overzealousness to protect Leda results in catastrophic collateral damage.

DEFEAT JERADO
The demon Jerado is responsible for your imprisonment and Leda's abduction. If he has his way, he'll twist all of Quartalia into a dark, broken reflection of itself. You must stop him once and for all.
1 XP when you encounter a new type of Jerado's minions.
3 XP when you confront one of Jerado's most powerful creatures and defeat it, or lose the fight.
10 XP when you defeat Geist, Jerado's human creation, or when you defeat Jerado himself.

History:
After creating the world of Quartalia, the goddess Antowas created two humans to live upon it. To the boy Astal she gave a Red Jewel, which granted him phenomenal power. Astal was charged with protecting Leda and Quartalia as life blossomed upon the crystalline world. Astal performed his duty well... a little too well. While Antowas slept, the demon Jerado coveted Quartalia and Leda, and so sent his own human to capture her and her Green Jewel. Astal managed to stop them, but ruined the ocean in the process. When she awoke, Antowas was furious, banishing Astal and Jerado both.

From his imprisonment on the moon, Astal watched helplessly as Geist, Jerado's human, captured Leda with the intent of freeing Jerado and seizing control of Quartalia from Antowas. Astal broke his chains (destroying the moon in the process) and returned to the world to pursue Geist. He was joined by a strange and friendly bird, and together the two ventured across Quartalia, battling Jerado's forces. At last, Astal confronted Geist and defeated him, but it was too late: in killing the monsters of Jerado, Astal had been providing the demon with the power he needed all along. Astal and his bird companion battled Jerado and ultimately destroyed him. Afterward, the bird revealed itself to be Leda in disguise, and the two returned to their peaceful life.
Personality:
Astal is somewhat of a hot-tempered youth, fierce in his fury and his desire to protect Leda. Combined with his great strength, his zeal often leads to heavy collateral damage. Despite that, Astal is a pure-hearted boy who simply desires to enjoy life, along with his counterpart Leda. He helps those in need and has no desire to hurt anybody, until they anger or threaten him.
Abilities and Resources:
The gift of Antowas to Astal was power, nearly overwhelming power. He can fly at great speed and endure much physical hardship. His strength is unmatched, proving sufficient to grapple with and overcome large and terrible monsters, or even topple giants like Jerado himself. He is also capable of throwing a huge boulder several miles to stop up a volcano. One of Astal's favored tactics involves pounding the ground with such force as to stun or even hurt nearby enemies. He can also inhale great volumes of air into his lungs for the purposes of blowing enemies away or extinguishing flames.