Code-Name: Animax Name: Martin Tylendel Maxwell "Ty" Ethnicity: Caucasian Position: Student Sex: MaleAge: 16
Appearance:
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Black Skin: Tanned Weight: 200 lbs. Height: 6'0 Other: (physical defects/mutations that set your character apart from others) Date Of Birth: August 5th Place Of Birth: On a train somewhere between St. Louis and Chicago (birth certificate lists Chicago Illinois) Education: Home-schooled Mother: Name: Rachel Maxwell Age: 31 Race: assumed human Father:
Name: Michael Delmont
Age: 40
Race: assumed human but possibly a mutant
Other Relatives:
Uncle: Charles Maxwell
Powers:
Primary:
Animal Shape-shifting (strong)
Ty has the ability to morph into any animal. His power enables him to even radically alter his body structure and take forms of animals without limbs, like snakes, or those without skeletons like a jellyfish. Even extinct or mythical creatures are possible as long as he meets the criteria of his limitations.
His power enables him to completely alter his body mass, being able to take the shape of animals far larger and heavier than himself, such as an elephant, a hippopotamus, or a Tyrannosaurus Rex, or smaller and lighter animals such as mice, birds and insects.
When he changes, it only takes a couple of seconds, and it doesn't matter how big or small. He can change from a rat to a hippo in seconds. Changing forms does not put strain on him.
When he changes into an animal, he gains all that animal's physical abilities and characteristics, such as great strength (gorilla), speed (cheetah), durability (turtle), flight (bird), and aquatic breathing
(fish). He can even gain the specific poison produced by specific animals. Along with the change comes an intuitive understanding of the animals abilities and how they may be useful.
While in animal form, he retains his human intellect, humanity, memories, and the ability to speak.
As a corollary to this power, he can transform back into his human form even if an external force such as magic transforms him into an animal. He can stay in an animal's form indefinitely (or at least as long as
he can stay awake).
Anything (up to about 10 pounds so far) that he is wearing, holding, etc is incorporated into the morph, disappearing when he changes into an animal and reappearing when he returns to his normal form.
Secondary:
Animal Telepathy (limited)
He can communicate mentally with animals. The animal will have an idea of what Ty is saying, although complex sentences and cultural concepts can cause difficulty. Ty can likewise understand whatever the animal chooses to say, with the same obstacles as noted above. Also it should be noted that just because Ty can communicate with an animal, it does not mean that the animal will care about what he is saying.
Ternary:
Animal Control (sporadic) He can mentally take over/dominate an animal. Note that the animal's
psyche will probably try to reassert itself, especially if it is being forced to do something against its nature.
Power Limitations:
He can only assume one, natural form at a time.
He cannot change or return to a form if the space he currently occupies is too small and he would not normally be able to break out of the confines. Such as morphing into a mouse, being placed into a
locked box and then trying to morph from mouse to Elephant. The morph would start to occur but then abort itself before causing him damage. It would be a different story if he had been placed within a paper
bag.
He must have come within 10' of, and seen an animal to later mimic it. The creature however can be alive, dead, or even bones.
He reverts back to his normal form when unconscious, sleeping, etc. Ty's animal telepathy is currently
limited to visual range unless he is well acquainted with the animal but that may change as time goes by. While Ty can use telepathic control on an animal it is limited to visual range, is very exhausting and he can not keep it up for more than a few minutes at this time. Also the animal's psyche will most likely be attempting to reassert itself- especially if he is making it do something against its nature. Hobbies and Interests: Animals obviously (care, habits, handling, training, etc), gaming (video, tabletop, live action), gambling (especially poker), reading (anything and everything), swimming, equestrian arts, acrobatics/tumbling (both aerial and ground based), slight-of-hand/magic (mostly small but a few medium difficulty tricks and illusions), pugilism and self defense, fire-eating, knife throwing, and if there is a way to cheat at or rig a game of chance he probably can do it, spot if it is being done, and even has a good chance at figuring out a way to circumvent or get around it. (mostly things picked up with the circus/carnival or during tours with it). Ty knows a spattering of several languages (picked up during tours) and is also semi-fluent in Spanish, French, and Klingonese. He can play the guitar fairly well, a piano/organ okay, and has a excellent singing voice (baritone). Background:
Ty was born literally into a circus. His mother was the assistant to the resident magician, the Great Santini by name; of a small but exceptional traveling circus/carnival. His uncle was one of the animal
handlers, and as he grew up the other carnies became as close as if not closer to him than a real family ever could have. Ty's father has never been around. When pressed about the subject of his father all
his mother will say is that it was just one of those things that happened when she was much younger and stupid.
He seemed to always have an affinity for animals from the very start, and they for him. His gift was first noticeably manifested at around age 5. One of the trainers was unexpectedly attacked by one of the
tigers he was working with.
There was no warning, and before anyone knew that anything was amiss, the tiger had man downed, unconscious, and bleeding. The other tigers milled uncertainly about as the rogue tiger snapped, snarled and occasionally torn at the fallen man with its large formidable paws.
Organized chaos ensued as the carnival folk attempted to reach and rescue the fallen trainer with no success. The rogue tiger snarled and struck at all that drew close, while the other tigers grew more and
more agitated and dangerous as well. Other trainers tried to coax the tigers into their holding cages at one side of the main cage, and soon all but the one were safely contained. While the trainers were coaxing
and the tranquilizer rifle was being brought, a small figure wove through the crowd of people.
Before they could react, Ty toddled towards the tiger and fallen man barely evading grasping hands and ignoring cries of warning and threats of punishment if he didn't return at once. The tiger growled but did not swipe at Ty, but as the child approached it seemed to grow slightly less angry and then backed away from the trainer, and towards the far side of the cage. A quick slap of a bolt and the tiger was safely in its cage, just as the man with the rifle arrived.
Rushing forward the carnies aided their fallen, bleeding, but alive comrade. Placing him on a backboard and out of the tent towards approaching medical teams. The child tried for several minutes to get
the attention of someone, but after several quick, you just wait, God be praised, but your mother is going to kill you or such, he managed to snag the pants leg of one of the workers.
Holding onto the mans pants leg with one hand Ty rubbed a spot behind yet above his left ear while saying kitty oowie here. The man moved Ty's hand and gave Ty a rapid check in the area but saw no injury.
Regrettably the owners had the animal put to sleep and it wasn't until much later after an autopsy of the slain beast was performed, that a tumor was found impinging on the animals brain and nervous system. The veterinarian concluded that it was likely this that had caused the animals unpredictable change and attack.
Things like this occurred on and off for the next few years. When his shape shifting was discovered his uncle and mother went to the carnival master and asked for his advice. His advice was simple; we
put the boy in the show and make a few extra dollars while training him to control and perfect his gift. Thereafter his carney family all helped in his education both mundane and in regards to his new found
abilities.
He began aiding the handlers and trainer, and once he gained a semblance on control over his morphing, he was added to end of the Great Santini's act as a finale or blow-off. After the main act, the carnival master would come forward and make his pitch. He would invite six random people in the audience up onto the stage, asking them to bring the chairs they had been sitting on up with them.
Then he would have them select an area of the stage and arrange the chairs into a rough rectangle. The selected people would then be directed to assemble a piecemeal cage of metal bars suspended above
the floor by their chairs. Once the cage was assembled, Ty would be called out and would enter the cage which would then be locked by one of the people. While standing on all sides of the cage the carnival
master would ask the audience to select an animal from those pictured around the stage. Once an animal was chosen the people on stage were directed to pull a thick purple velvet cloth down over the cage. The
Great Santini would step forward and voice an incantation, direct the cloth to be removed and there would be the chosen animal within the locked cage.
Ty loved traveling the world with the carnival, performing, seeing the world, and learning about life. Unfortunately over the last decade or so, the carnival experience has once more lost the appeal it had
regained. Attendance dropped off, bookings grew fewer and further in-between.
Recently the circus has fallen on very hard times and is in the process of being disbanded and sold off/absorbed by other carnivals. Ty's mother and uncle chose to retire and while not wealthy by any
stretch of the imagination, had put away enough to live modestly for several years. They found mundane jobs in Miami and Ty was enrolled in a public high school. While it hasn't been terrible, Ty hasn't been
happy with his new life. He has heard through the grapevine about the Grey Institute and has submitted an application to them including a request for financial aid, work study, etc.
Personality:
He is basically a glass is half-full kind of guy. He tries to get along with people, but truly prefers animals over people most of the time (except for females of course- he is after all an adolescent).
He drinks, occasionally a bit more than he should (although he has never yet had a hangover or passed out- knock on wood), but doesn't smoke or do drugs. While Ty has sort of dated within the carnival circle, there has never been anything lasting or intense.
He knows about and understands sex and sexuality, and from his time spent in animal forms he has come see both sides of sex- it can be a simple biological function and activity, no more important or worthy
of attention as the search for nourishment; or it can be something that is shared with one other, forming a life-bond. He ascribes to the latter belief and since he has never found his life-mate he is still
technically a virgin. Some of his make-out sessions however came within a hairs-breadth of causing him to break his vow to himself to wait. Such as the young (20 year old) girl that traveled with the show
during one tour in Ireland and was billed as a mermaid; and the 15 year old daughter of the sword-swallower and the snake dancer.
Ty doesn't like to lie, but when he needs to he can be very good at it. However, one must always remember that one doesn't lie to, cheat, abandon, or betray family; one only does so to friends in the direst
and greatest need, and as for the marks and rubes; well they really don't count do they- they are marks and rubes after all.
He is an avid trekker, rpger, and likes a good party.
Growing up in the carnival Ty has developed a tolerance and understanding of those different from himself or what the common folk would classify as the norm. He, himself has never been interested in other guys, but doesn't let it prejudice him if someone else does, nor does he let appearance or ability affect his opinion of a person. He believes that each of us must be judged by and for our own actions, not by our thoughts of how someone should be, or what someone else might think of them.
The phrase, my word is my bond actually means something to Ty.
Special Notes: Played by: Drew Van Acker