Luther Bellamy

Chesterfield Act Registry of the Expressive Database

File #11 Feb 2018 07:53

Summary

Name Luther Marion Bellamy Aliases Status Registered Expressive (Class A/C Chemical) Ability Energy Conversion Superhuman Strength Gender Male Birthdate June 1, 1969 Age 51 Height 6'3" Build Muscular Eyes Grey Hair Brown Residence Phoenix Heights Employment Security at The Deveaux Society Volunteer at The Hands of Mary Former Head of Security for Raytech Industries Parents Luc (Deceased) Helen (Deceased) Siblings John (Deceased) Marital Status Widower Children Luke (Deceased, 10) Joanna (Deceased, 6) First Scene Twitchy Last Scene Profile Former Head of Physical Security for Raytech Industries. Having had his previous affiliations with extremist fighters pretty much bombed out by the Portland nuke, he's restarting from scratch to build a life (and a future) in the New York Safe Zone once again.

portrayed by Liev Schreiber

Background

The Walking Dead

Luther would be the first to admit that he should be a dead man. Official records placed him right near Ground Zero for the first bomb, and his body was never found. Vaporized, some thought. But after surviving the second bombing of New York City on the 5 year anniversary of the first, Luther decided not to embark on any more drastic measures to jeopardize his extremely good luck - or as he viewed it, dumb luck. He'd gotten very good at wandering around and surviving among the disparate ruins of society's edges, and he thought that was where he was destined to stay.

He didn't anticipate how swiftly martial law came down. Luther was caught in a surprise raid operation of military forces seeking out an "Evo-terrorist" hiding amidst the homeless encampments around the city. Upon being discovered as SLC Expressive, he was thrown in with other people, both Evolved and sympathizers, who were to be publicly executed. The squad commander wanted it public for the show.

Luther would not have to face such an ignoble death. Instead, the unnecessarily dramatic demonstration brought Luther face to face with a coalition of freedom fighters who freed him and the others in a daring rescue. He would not soon forget that night as he joined the fighting. For the first time ever, Luther killed a man with his power. Killed him out of anger rather than desperation. He watched the squad commander burn. He willed him to. The kill would not be his last.

Building a New Future

Falling in with some of the extreme groups of fighters, Luther fought in many skirmishes, pushed his qualms aside about the group's questionable motives, and spackled any holes in his own darker fears with the sheer will to survive. The group ended up on the Pacific Northwest where the fighting culminated in the two nukes launched by General Moritz striking Seattle and Portland areas. Luther was not in the blast zone, but he and his comrades were caught in the immediate fallout. Nearly all of the squadron fell sick either with radiation poisoning and perished, including the woman Luther had grown accustomed to and intimate with. Luther managed to escape by heading eastward, but by the time he crossed back over the Rockies, he was once more alone. It would not be until the Raven Rock assault that Luther joined up with a group of fighters to help in the take down of President Mitchell's regime and avenge the deaths of his squadmates in Portland.

Initially not trusting Praeger or the Chesterfield Act to keep anybody safe (his assumption that he was still a fugitive of the law notwithstanding), Luther wandered the country, listless, purposeless, not settling in any spot for long until the Safe Zone was built and Exclusion Zones declared. In a moment of nostalgia, he looked into his old Redbird login and was rediscovered by the feelers put out from Raytech. They got in contact with the man, and along with the Safe Zone move-in monetary incentive, Luther returned to New York. He's started a cleaning company, using his ability to venture into the Exclusion Zone and other radiation or hazardous environment areas to aid in the cleanup efforts and lend a hand in rehabilitation of the broken city. As it was pitched to him, to build a future, rather than see them destroyed time and again.

Psych Profile

On first impression, Luther is a man content with his place in the umbral space of average. Unambitious but not dispassionate, he would be fine to live his life to the best of his capabilities. But after surviving not one, not two, but three nuclear bomb-level events, not only is his survival instinct strong, but so is the survivor's guilt and no small amount of trauma.

The darker part of him acts purely out of self-interest and skepticism. Anger, passion, cynicism, and ruthlessness that were buried since the first bomb have been exacerbated by the events of recent history. But the flip side of the coin is an deep understanding of hardship that drives a need to help, to be contributing, to not let the forgotten and downtrodden stay as such.

He is no longer content to stay on the sideline, even if he doesn't need nor want the spotlight. Luther takes it upon himself to contribute in ways that can push for a better future for all. He'll intervene if he sees oppression of those who need help, and will give as much as he can manage.

Evolved Ability

Energy Conversion

Luther's ability is the conversion of energy, the change of one form of energy into another. Though it may give the appearance of being able to generate energy from thin air, in truth he draws only from available sources of energy in the environment or his own natural energy.

The energy conversion works best off of environmental energies: solar, thermal, radioactive, and all across the electromagnetic spectrum. To a lesser extent, his natural energy can be used and converted to a practical form. Over time he has also learned to harness kinetic energies. Inert potential energy (such as matter based non-renewable sources) do not work within the realm of this ability.

TL;DR

Effects
Passive Absorption	Luther's ability causes him to passively absorb energies which then dissipate at lower level rates, usually in the form of a slightly elevated natural body heat or, if he focuses effort, via a converted form.
Temporary Immunity	He is temporarily immune to the damaging effects of the absorption and conversion of energies when using his power. He is not sickened by radiation, burned by heat, shocked by electricity, etcetera when the power is at work; however, anything else could be vulnerable to the effects, such as his release of heat setting things on fire or an EMP shorting out nearby devices. He is still otherwise human and vulnerable to normally harmful things like getting the sniffles or getting shot.
Natural Entropy	Through natural entropy, the changed energy form is always less than the original energy source, with the reformed energy about 10 percent less its original source's power level at the most efficient conversion rate. Any excess energy left in the source that is not converted remains in its original state, though its intensity is lowered.
Target Range	He can focus the emission point of energy up to 30 feet (10 meters) away from him. Although he does not need line of sight, it's generally a good idea if he can see what he's working with.

Limitations
Osmotic Pressure Check	In a situation where the energy levels of the environment are extreme, such as being in an irradiated zone, his body will be inclined to allow the energy to diffuse in rapidly. Luther must keep a focused check on himself, as if applying osmotic pressure to keep out the extra energy.
Overload	Unfocused, unchecked absorption could cause an overload which, while not fatal, could cause disastrous effects that range anywhere from the personal - such as mental drain, physical weakness, feverish symptoms, hyperactivity, seizures, falling unconscious, or even actual wounds, to a "gag reflex" reaction where the energy involuntarily discharges back into the environment. It could come out in a short, sporadic releases or in a full on uncontrolled gush.
Involuntary Discharge	In all cases of involuntary discharges, the form is in basics: heat and light. The dissipation of energy begins immediately even when he's stored it, like a battery losing chemical energy over time. By the end of the day, he will have expended at least a portion of the energy stored in him.
Exposure Limit	Over the past years he has trained further to expose himself to and work with higher levels of energy conversion, and to an extent better usage of his own biochemical energy stores. He has increased conversion capacity to be able to take up to double of otherwise fatal levels of open exposure, and a longer delayed conversion capacity of four hours.
Time Limit	As long as he is focused, he can continue using his ability for up to four hours as well.
Collateral Damage	Even though Luther is temporarily immune to the energies while his ability is at work, the environment and those around him are not. He won't explode like a nuclear bomb (a la Peter or Ted Sprague), but nearby items could get set on fire, people could get blinded by accident. His body armor if he’s wearing any could still take damage. The environment might also be damaged.

Examples of Usage

Examples of Usage

Stunt Name	Effort	Description	As Seen In
Most low level energy conversion takes the form of passive or supportive uses. He could perform such stunts as:
Light Switch	Low	Absorbing solar energy to create a finger flashlight to read by at night.	Will Work For Food
Walking Heater	Low	Soaking in the radiation to power himself, to generate body heat in a cold environment.	Twitchy
Wireless Charging	Low	No need to worry about your car or your phone running out of juice with him around.	Fake It Til You Make It
Push On	Low	Enhance the velocity (kinetic energy) of outgoing bullets, slinging them out to a longer range and hitting with stronger force.	Pending
Mid level conversions require more focus and energy, and often take on the form of more defensive stunts:
Silent Flashbang	Moderate	Shadows beware of this classic move. Using immediate sources of energy, changed into a manifestation of bright, blinding light burst.	The Sins Of The Past
Flash Point	Moderate	Changing Radioactive to Thermal energy can heat up a piece of wood to set it aflame or boil water.
Moving Microwave	Moderate	Microwave dinners for all	The Muffin Man
Hand Buzzer	Moderate	Brief, low level static electricity shocks or sparks
Impact Absorption	Moderate	Against falls from over 25 feet, he could slow his fall by landing on a “panel” of light that dissipates the shock of kinetic energy.	Pending
Miss Fire	Moderate	Reduce the velocity/kinetic energy of incoming bullets (by half speed). At short range or against a hail of bullets this is not very helpful (more than 2 shots with a 9mm or higher caliber causes Overload). But long-range sniping is much less likely to succeed against him and his allies around him, as the rounds are likelier to miss (rounds dropping out of trajectory, failing to penetrate cover) or cause bleeding injuries.	Pending
High level energy conversion takes the most focus and effort, but offers better payout with offensive stunts:
Hot Hands	High	A stunt that saw much use in the 2nd Civil War and most recently Sunspot. Throwing fire and flames by a sudden high energy conversion to superheat the air.	Give Blood, Get Mud, Closing The Loop, Part I
Heat Metal	High	Superheat a piece of metal to the point of welding or melting.	The Walled Tomb, Call Off The Search
Force Lightning	High	Built up radiation energy can change into a lightning bolt strike	Please Refrain From Smoking
Light Shield	High	Kinetic energy transformed into an array of photons with enough mass to interfere with physical objects. Like tiny lasers, the effort generates small, short-lived “spark”-like lasers that destroy or weaken the projectile structure, possibly disintegrating the bullet or causing it to fragment before actual impact.	Pending

Superhuman Strength

Linked to a passive conversion of energies to biokinetic power, Luther gains a degree of superhuman strength and durability. While the fusion power is mostly passive sourced, if he focuses, he can draw on his primary power of energy conversion to greatly enhance his body’s strength and durability.

TL;DR

Effects
Passive Enhancement	The energies passively absorbed by his power are stored and used in a natural enhancement of strength.
Focused Enhancement	As he focuses his energy and effort, his strength level rises beyond peak human level.
Temporary Resilience	When focused on feats of superhuman strength, his body’s durability rises to match and keep him from harm by his own acts. Superhuman leaps allow for safe landing, punching brick walls doesn’t break his inner bones or tear soft tissues, etc.

Limitations
Uptime and Downtime	Luther’s fusion power is linked to his energy levels. He needs a source to provide the fuel of his superstrength, be it from outside energies or his natural energy levels. His limitations match up with the primary energy conversion ability and depending on the effort spent, requires the energy to perform the strength feat. If there’s nothing left in the tank, then he is no longer a tank.
Personal Range	This power is limited to himself.
Max Load	At a passive state of conversion his strength level could match a trained human athlete’s. At max load he can tilt up a small truck or forcefully flip a small car.
Collateral Damage	All the usual collateral damages that might come from superstrength apply.
External Injury Factor	Still susceptible to harm by normal outside factors; getting shot, biohazardous conditions, getting stabbed, etc. Punching a brick wall might not break the bones of his hand, but sharp edges can still cut skin.

Feats of Strength

Examples of Usage

Effort	Description	As Seen In
Luther's strength level depends on how much energy is used to enhance it. Put in the work, get the result like:
None	Tear a phonebook in half, bend a gun barrel	Pending
Low	Trained Olympic weighlifting	Pending
Medium	He’s like a gorilla.	Pending
High	He's like an ANGRY gorilla.	Pending

"Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,

Which we ascribe to Heaven."

All's Well That Ends Well (I, i, 231-232)

Appendices

Hooks

Known to Most

• Luther is the former Chief of Physical Security at RayTech Industries. His operation procedures are in use at the company's offices today.
• Formerly he was a hazmat cleanup and resource retrieval contractor for RayTech. He can still be called upon and sent out into the field when the area is potentially radioactively or environmentally hazardous. Fun times if you're on the crew!
• The government (before its implosion) registered him among the dead since the 2006 Midtown bomb, then alive again in 2010 when he worked for Redbird. He was technically dead again post-2011 and through the war. He's since been revived in the paperwork around the time SESA became a thing. Suffice to say his official file is kind of confusing for anybody looking.
• A veteran of the civil war, Luther was among the action at Raven Rock to take down Mitchell. Maybe you saw him fighting there. Maybe you fought alongside him.

Known to Some

• Luther's name appeared in international news mid-2019 when he and a few others were accused of international terrorism. Though they were eventually exonerated of all charges, the rumors of its truth and reputation is sure to have followed.
• During the 2nd Civil War, Luther was a willing participant in some fairly extreme-minded, pro-Evolved guerrilla rebel groups pretty much traveling all over the country. These groups had strong philosophies of protection and aid, but their methods may have been highly questionable, their mentality of a means to an end, including acceptable losses many a time. Many of these groups did not survive the war, particularly the last one he was with (the Mud Dogs), which was based out of the wilds around Portland, Oregon.
• He was kind of a scary dude in the group who could and would slip into the battle and cause equipment disruptions or guns and munitions to explode in enemy hands, and burn or electrocute (and maybe in more than a few skirmishes, outright cook) people, then retreat without ever firing a bullet. Although he did fire bullets. Many of them.
• He also could have rolled up on your camp to help provide energy sources. Heat, electricity, etc. Support or refugee camps might've seen him around. He liked being a Merry Man. Also could have played Santa, you know, for the kids.

Known to Few

• Founding member of the unofficial vigilante group, BOOM along with Eve, Monica, and Chess.
• He is one of the few in direct knowledge of the events of Sunspot, New Mexico. But signed an NDA, so there's that.
• Post-nuking of the West Coast, Luther fled back east and roughed it for much of the time in the Midwest, mostly serving as a rough-round-the-edges guard for anybody who would provide a warm meal and a place to lay his head. Including but not limited to less savory types.
• He's in a bit of a long-distance relationship with Jane. A bit.

Security Threat Level

Green

	A war contact turned pretty much adopted daughter. Luther regards her practically as his own, and protects her in much the same way. Her sisters are also have begun to fall under this umbrella of protectiveness.
	The prophet, seer, and overall fairly good fortune to see when on the battlefield. "Ducky" often gets a pass for her wild and woolly ways around Luther, a result of pulling his ass out of several fires during the war whether she knows it or not. She's the only one who gets to call him what she calls him.
	Jim originally was Luther's nurse at Elmhurst hospital when Luther's arm had been broken in a fight (oops). After patching him, up, Jim brought root beer and food after his shift. This makes him good people indeed.
	Raytech Board member, momfriend, and a source of trouble but in the way that is definitely keeping Luther busy. He's not entirely sure if he's going to be able to keep her safe, but will do whatever he can to meet that goal.
	Between the pair, Lynette and Luther could do some real damage. And they did, back in the days. They've got an implied friendship tab that will likely never need settling.
	When Monica lost her arm in Alaska and took off, Luther didn't hear about her again until a chance reunion, seeing her contribute to war efforts in a supporting capacity. They're back in action in a self-formed vigilante-style group, BOOM, which has been operating around the Safe Zone with some explosive results.
	Along with Monica, she shares a particular special place in Luther's being for being the one to have lifted him up. With her return to the Safe Zone, Luther is readily supportive of Peyton's efforts. Although, he still doesn't really know what happened back in Alaska, and even further in her past.
	The younger Ray sister triggers a soft spot in Luther the way he's not entirely able to admit. He'll go out of his way to keep her safe.

Blue

	One of the newer additions to an ever growing group of friends in the circle of his acquaintances. The Mugai-ryu operative is privy to some secrets now. How far will she be able to push in remains to be seen.
	The ever-growing complexities of Luther's ties with this man are as complicated as the Ray family itself. He's convinced that Richard means well. He believes Richard wants to build the good future that he'd said he would, which was what got Luther on board. But there are worries that he doesn't trust Luther to do the job. And there's going to be disagreements of how as well. If he's really honest, Luther regards him as he would a brother. And brothers, they sometimes fight.
	Nothing quite like going on a walking tour of the tomb of New York City with a SESA agent, and then bringing back a piece of a bench for her nostalgia's sake. There's a lot more to learn about her yet.
	Homeland Security Secretary Lazzaro. A man after Luther's own… boss. That's kind of worrying. He's also partly responsible for the continued slow buildup of Luther's trust in government agencies. Not as worrying. Vincent's been straight with him thus far, which is definitely someone Luther is going to need when shit gets crazy.

Yellow

	Is she? …
	After discovering Des' (or Odessa's, rather) affiliations with Humanis First, Luther had cut off the amicable tie to the woman. Since her trial and imprisonment, he's left his last visit with her on better terms. But if he's truly forgiven her, will depend still on the choices she has yet to make.

Orange

A final clone of Chess' pod group, perhaps the worst suffered of them all. She has a ways to go before they're likely to breach the line of trust.

Red

	Somewhere on a legal yellow pad, Adam Monroe's name is written on a single line. Luther's waiting for the time to cross it off.
	Natalie Gray aka Eileen Ruskin has threatened Raytech's executives. This will not stand with the Chief of Security, of course.

Logs

Older Logs Here: Original Luther

Aftermath Icons
Aftermath	Raytech	Civil War

Garden of Forking Paths
Srs Bright	Happy Bright	Wasteland

Book 1
Original Recipe

Miscellaneous

Gallery

Skills

• Education: It's been decades since Luther has been in any academia. His knowledge is out of date, even if the theories are existant. Instead, his reasoning skill is based off experience and logic, and he keeps his mind open to learning anything new on the fly.
• People Watcher: What he didn't learn from studying psychology and working in marketing, he's since picked up through observation and experience in watching and dealing with people through life in the bottom levels. He's good with reading the room, especially if he has to duck out of it.
• Mechanical Aptitude: Luther understands enough to repair a car into working condition, even if it's not going to win the Indy 500. Over the years of having to jury-rig things together out of scraps or junk, he's gained an aptitude for crafting what items he needs with whatever is around.
• Survival: A hostile environment, this world has become. Luther has street smarts to survive in an urban environment, and over the course of having to hide in the wilderness with others, he's learned about living off the land and survival skills in a natural environment too.
• The Low War: Coupled with all the years of living in the shadows and sidelines, he makes for a decent fighter using guerrilla hit-and-run tactics through urban and natural environments.
• Guns: He still doesn't really like to use them, but he's now quite practiced in the use of them. His preferred type is the standard hunting rifle, with pistols coming up second.

Music

Present: I'm waking up I feel it in my bones / Enough to make my systems blow / Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Past Life: I've been knocked down, drug out and left for dead / Barely held together by a few old threads / And I'm still here there ain't much left to see, no / Well I'm still holding on and there ain't much left of me
Life: When your day is long / And the night / The night is yours alone / When you're sure you've had enough / Of this life / Well hang on
Low Life: I'm nothing but a low life / Thinking 'bout my own life / I'm trying to fight, the good old fight / But after it all I'm still just a low life
Past Love: Over yonder in the graveyard / Where the wild, wild flowers grow / There they laid my own true lover / She's gone from me, forever more
Dream: In these bodies we will live / In these bodies we will die / Where you invest your love / You invest your life

More Coming Soon…

Alts

	Cesar is a SESA field agent, formerly an NYPD Officer with a decade's worth of service behind the badge. He's doing his best to be the "good cop" when it comes to Evolved affairs. He is Non-Evolved but stands for the rights of the Evolved as much as an ally tries to. Find him around, he's probably working (or working out). Or finding some way to keep his ancient iPod full of music going.
	Marlowe is Director of Technology at Yamagato Industries, previously senior engineer but recently promoted. She was also in the Army Corps of Engineers. Her dreams to be Blasian Tony Stark are slowly coming around. Her matter manipulation ability and background of mechanical engineering are key factors of her skills, but she's also quite keen on that whole being well-off enough to just do whatever the F she wants - with a moral base, of course.
	Shaw is one of the timeline travelers, originating as a scavenger and eccentric in the Virus Future. The Bright Future timeline saw his happiest moments as a courier/delivery driver going under the alias of Morris Morrison. In the Wasteland, his scavenging skills and his resilience was put to the test when he was kidnapped by marauders. Somehow, he didn't drown in the Flood. Now he's come to a final stop in the Prime timeline to find a place to settle.
	Joaquin is a recent student of Brooklyn College and odd-jobber. His family were Ferrymen, and had been amongst those killed during the siege at Pollepel Island. He was a part of the group of Lighthouse Kids brought to Canada during the 2nd Civil War, but has since returned to live in the Safe Zone.