Ravrohan wrote:

I like the name Ezra Fraiser, any connection to the Aether Pirates? With or against.

I was thinking he was potentially inspired by them, and has certainly ‘acquired’ some of their weapons and modified them to fit his own ends and theme.

I was thinking that the moniker of the Highwayman is like a...family legacy thing? In the 1790’s it was the Mongomery’s, the 1820’s To Aldridge’s, old money in Massachusetts needed a balancing but not from an outsider and true vagabond, but one of their own.

This era, it is the Frasier’s turn, with their young scion, Ezra Frasier, being sent to a retreat in London wherehe learned about the tradition, it’s importance, and why the mantle is nessecary. The Highwayman is like a sort of equalizer for the city, keeps certain families in charge and others in either debt or chains, and serves to make sure that at least some wealth is given to the poorer people of Titan City.

I was spitballing here, but personality wise think a mix of Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, Catwoman, Robin Hood, etc. Charming, sometimes sexy and mysterious thieves who have motives and schemes that may not be immediately clear.

Thoughts?

Ideas on how exactly he was trained? I feel like he would be an upper crust or high society urban legend, and is treated like a warning or boogeyman by superstitious old families.

Thoughts on weaponry and various skills he would need? He already has the capital and funds.

Ravrohan wrote:

From a pretty young age I'd imagine since this is an established organization. Maybe someone in his immediate family trained him, or there's a specific person or group dedicated to that. It makes me think of the Court of Owls and Talon from the Batman comics and animated movie, so they may be a good reference point.

Gadgets and weapons. A rapier as a signature weapon or badge of office if he isn't the sort to get up close. Various aether pirate gear, maybe more refined and upper class looking. Skills, gymnastics, social skills, how to fight. I'm picturing a control/assault type. So his toys and the ability to mix it up at range/melee.

I like the idea of a stun/taser capable rapier being used a signature weapon, perhaps along with electric snares, knockout gas pellets, deployable ‘lanterns’ to light his way and also reveal lasers during heists, and such. I even had in mind he uses a falcon appearing drone to scope out targets and perch on and download security system information?

He also is gifted in psychology, seduction, environmental awareness, and escape artistry.

I do want to make a distinction that he isn’t a character with more skills than he knows what to do with, like comic Batman or other characters. He’s well trained but he’s a thief first and foremost, in the vein of Felicia Hardy/Black Cat or Selina Kyle/Catwoman and hints of Robin Hood and Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes novels.

Ideas on the person who trained him or how he was raised? And thoughts about how the Frasier’s gained their wealth?

Rottweiler wrote:

Loving this guy already. I'm gonna be curious to find out how he ended up with a crew like Chilblaine's. It'll be like Robin Hood paling around with Jesse James.

Perhaps they work for the same benefactor or boss and both need to get out from under his thumb, hence the creation of the Rabble?

Ideas on the Frasier’s form of income or business, or what Ezra Frasier does specifically as a civilian job that allows him to get close to rich clients and potential marks without arousing suspicion?

Hmmm, I could potentially see it. I thought about art appraisal but thought that was too narrow.

Want to expand more on the stock broker angle?

Ravrohan wrote:

Well, he'd be able to fulfill the purpose you had in mind. Getting close to rich clients and potential marks. In a position to shift funds through legal (or illegal but mundane) means and if the result wasn't what he hoped, get more involved directly. News of a business getting rocked by the Highwayman may mean its stocks take a dive. It's sort of like Daredevil. He's a lawyer by day, but if the criminals get away with something, he can resort to his alter ego.

He could also be very good at his job and make a lot of money for himself. Though I wonder how he'd react to being too successful and fulfilling his own criteria for a Highwayman appearance.

I imagine he keeps himself comfortable and wealthy enough that he fits in with the rest of the family but not so much to be too affluent or risk making himself a target of sorts.

I like that he almost has to maybe self police his wealth and the way he goes about his job.

I was wondering, thoughts on what the Frasier family business is as a whole? I see them as an old money family but still having a niche role and being active members in their current form of income. Law, or maybe banking?

Ravrohan wrote:

Banking would be a safe choice. It could also be they themselves made a killing in the stock market, someone had the foresight to buy stock in Microsoft and Google or something. As a clan, they could have multiple avenues as everyone more or less supports the family. Ezra could have siblings or cousins that are high paid doctors, lawyers, engineers. High paid jobs that could crossover into whatever best supports the Highwayman and the other side of the family.

The self policing could be interesting if he donates the excess money to charity. Completely throw people off. If anyone suspects he's a cape, the natural go to would be to say he's a hero. Throwing people off the trail. He could even support a hero or group of heroes like your teen group to really throw things through a loop. The potential plot hooks expand \o/

Noted. I think I will go with banking and stock and serving as financial advisors initially, but other members of the immediate family have taken their own path to secure their own wealth.

Oh, and do you think only a kind of inner circle knows the patron family of the Highwayman, and the secret is maybe disclosed only to members of the family already inducted?

Thoughts on just how he was trained and what kind of devices he would use? Skill level?

Ravrohan wrote:

Skill level I think depends on how new to this role you see him being. If he's just taken on this mantle, then you could say he has plenty of skill, and no experience to make the most of them. If he's been at this awhile, then obviously he'll have the experience to make the most of those skills. That'd include creative ways to use devices. I don't usually make characters who rely on them, but I'd say whatever a spy may find useful. Bugs, small shaped charges, stun guns that fit in the palm of his hand. Grapple hooks. For more advanced stuff, maybe things like short-range EMP grenades, night sight/infrared goggles, micro rocket or two for a little more destructive power. Best examples I can think of are Batman and Boba Fett.

A secret like this, I'd say only an inner circle should know, maybe not even all his immediate family. The bare minimal amount of people neccesary for the tradition to work and adapt to the times. Whoever brought him into this role, his trainers, and a small support staff who may be close or immediate family themselves.

Training depends on what his skills are, though if he's making his own gadgets and not just using them, M.I.T or some other prestigious school would fit, but to keep knowledge of his skills private, it could be that other members of the family went and learned these things, then came back and taught him in secret.

I like to think he’s had the mantle officially for perhaps two years, running a few jobs and notable heists but keeping a low enough profile to not arise the attention of say the Paragons or special TCPD units.

I agree that his gadgets should be spy like, ideas on how to keep them thematic to the Highwayman motif? I already have in mind he uses a electrified Aether Pirate stun rapier, a falcon like drone for detecting police bands and RIFD signals, etc.

Thoughts and ideas?

I do like the idea of a inner circle and small retinue of servants and staff and trainers for the mantle, with the general idea being that family can’t be trusted, or could be security and and secrecy risks?

I also believe this Inner Circle needs a name, especially if it’s order or tradition almost as old as American Star.

Hmm, and ideas on appearance? I’m almost inspired to maybe make him adopted or perhaps Asian American, but otherwise I just see an old Massachusetts banking family.

Costume thoughts or ideas?

Ravrohan wrote:

I dunno, adopted seems less likely, like they wouldn't trust the blood or something and would just choose another member of the family. Old Massachusetts banking family seems far more likely here.

Fair enough. Do you see him gaining any enhancements eventually, like for instance the case of Black Cat in Spider-Man gaining luck altering powers due to an experiment by the Kingpin, that sort of thing?

Ravrohan wrote:

I think anything is possible, if you're going to RP him, then I'd wait and see and base it off the RP. If that's less of a factor, you can decide what you'd like through teritaries.

Yeah, wait to see what develops naturally. Out of curiosity, what superpowers could you see him maybe sporting? Teleportation perhaps?

I could see a kind of supernatural charming power or maybe an ability to slip into and through shadows, perhaps.

Ideas about appearance and costumes, and why he could be working with the Rabble?