Taiz Treffalman

by **Terrance** December 20th 2011, 3:45 pm

Real Name: Taiz Treffalman? (makes use of aliases regularly)
Superhero/Villain/Renegade/ Name: Taiz Treffalman
Title: Sultan of Sound (self-proclaimed)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Race: Caucasian Human
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Dark Brown
Height: 6’1
Weight: 200 lbs. (estimate)

Costume Description/Image:
Taiz usually dresses in old victorian fashion, and is somewhat of a dandy. Taiz has no real costume, and dresses himself as he pleases.

Personality:

Narcissistic, passionate, eccentric, hedonistic and impeccably polite is how one could best describe Taiz’s usual behavior. He is seemingly quite in love with himself and loves to flaunt his wealth and knowledge, even though he claims to be humble. He is hedonistic in the sense that he lives life only for his own pleasures. He does hold some values of course, placing much of it an aesthetics and music, but also a certain moral compass of his own, though it is somewhat…peculiar.

Taiz has a dramaturgic perspective on life. He views the world as a stage, and all the people actors performing on it. Each person’s life is a play of its own, a story, one inevitably intertwined with that of others. When one chooses his own role however, and seeks out to perform it to the best of his or her abilities, that is the most admirable thing one can do in Taiz’s eyes. He considers it the world’s only intrinsic good; dramatic value.
It is no wonder then, that he has taken a liking to the lives of costumed heroes and villains. Coupled with the fact that he himself has powers of his own, this has lead to his becoming a ‘hero’ as well, though hero may not be the best term for him. He has not yet taken a prominent role in the whole ‘superhero and villain’ business, and does not have an official super name. Because a super identity would be consistent with his flair for the dramatic, it is not entirely unthinkable that he may take up such an identity some day.

When in low spirits, or in a particularly somber mood, Taiz may turn to a solipsistic philosophy, believing that he may very well be the only person in existence, all others being parts of a dream, or as he would say ‘actors in a play’, in which he is either protagonist or director. When in these particular mood, Taiz can be more dangerous than normally, for his usual ethical considerations will be nullified.
Taiz cannot stand criticism and ridicule. When confronted with this, he may very well turn to earlier mentioned solipsistic thoughts, and become a remorseless sociopath who just so happens to control sound.

His main interests are music (he practices several instruments, and is also proficient as a dj), classic literature, poetry, painting and inventing sound-based technology. He is also fond of sightseeing and exploring other cultures, and may take extended breaks from his usual activities just to travel the world. Taiz has a bit of a drug habit, indulging himself in illegal narcotics whenever the mood strikes.

History:
Very little information can be found on Taiz Treffalman’s history, and whether that which there is to be found is true or not is an entirely different question altogether. Official records would indicate that he was born and raised in Vienna, but this is dubious at best, and may be forgery.
For that matter, Taiz Treffalman may not even be his given name.

At some point he pops up in America, where he sells several patents for sonic inventions of varying natures. These inventions ranged from home entertainment installations to sonic weaponry for the military. All of these transactions have become untraceable, and Treffalman once again disappears from the world, leaving behind only what little evidence of his existence we could find.

His first act of crime was during the world premiere of a highly awaited Hollywood blockbuster. Everyone who was present at the premiere was put to sleep by the usage of what was probably advanced sonic machinery, and was found stripped naked. The movie had been replaced with a looping video that contained a harsh critique of the movie and its soundtrack, signed with T. Treffalman. The technology responsible for this had been wired into the speakers, but could not be recovered due to a self-destruct mechanism installed in each piece that activated when people tampered with it before professionals could arrive. Surprisingly, no one was physically harmed, and all possessions and clothes were found piled in the janitor’s closet.

This was most likely the most juvenile of Treffalman’s crimes, and presumably the first.
Later crimes were, for a time, of similar vandalous and mischievous nature, but recently crimes have been committed by use of similar sonic gadgets. The difference is that these crimes were far heavier than the earlier crimes, including murder and robbery, and have probably been executed by several persons. Also significant is the lack of a calling card. This leads to the possibility that either Treffalman has moved on to higher crime and employs henchmen like so many a villain, or that he has been selling his sonic gadgets to criminal organizations.

Powers: Sound Manipulation/Sonokinesis

Taiz has an innate control of sound, and can produce and control soundwaves merely by thinking.
The range in which he can generate sound is about 50-100 meters, though this depends on the intensity of the sound and his focus. Combat applications must originate from the user's body due to the focus required to use these.

With his power comes an advanced form of synesthesia. Taiz can see sound as lights and colors. He uses this to his advantage in creating and controlling sound, as it gives him a better grasp on what he's doing.

High intensity sonic bursts *combat application, organic damage
-Depending on intensity can damage organs and inflict severe pain, leading up to death at the highest tiers of strength. In order to be harnessed as such, sonic bursts must be very focused and at short-range; otherwise the soundwaves cannot be controlled (they will spread) and Taiz will suffer the effects himself as well (which is bad, since his physique is far from superhuman and as such he is vulnerable to his own power).

Sonic blasts *combat application, kinetic force
- Blasts of concentrated sound that cause strong kinetic impact with potentially destructive force, strong enough to blast through most walls and such.

Disorienting Sonic Emissions *combat application
-Taiz can project loud sound at enemies in order to cause damage to hearing and cause inner ear disturbance (similar to the effect of a stun grenade). Similar to the high intensity sonic bursts, only far less dangerous and executable at longer range.

Sound Mastery *non combat-applications
-Having control over sound, Taiz can create any sounds he can think of within earlier established range. Useful applications are creating voices out of thin air (much like ventriloquism, only with this memorized voices can be perfectly mimicked of course), making music (Taiz is a one-man orchestra) and masking sounds (useful for stealth, and for relaxation).
-Soundmasking is his ability to stifle soundwaves. He can not only use this for stealth, but also for example to protect himself from his own weaponry and tech (in case of customer betrayal or lab mishaps).

Negative effects of using his powers are nosebleeds, headaches, nausea and eventually loss of conscience, but these effects only appear when Taiz overexerts himself (usually when pushing himself to the max of his ability's combat abilities and or when trying to expand range and complexity of his power's non-combat application to extreme levels.

Abilities:

Superhuman intellect:
-Along with his power over sound Taiz was blessed with superhuman intelligence. This intelligence is mostly put to use in his inventions and artistic creations. Taiz has a surprisingly high insight in human psychology. It is unclear whether he is able to apply this to self-reflection or not. He is either quite aware of his pathologies and madness but chooses to disregard them, or too trapped in his delusions to even make an attempt at understanding himself.
-Consistent with his dramaturgic perspective on life, he is also a rather skilled actor, able to fully immerse himself in whatever roles he chooses to take on. This is also partially due to his mental unstability, as he can lose himself in his role.
-Talented tactician and strategist. Taiz rarely goes into battle unprepared, preferring to set the conditions of combat himself. If that is not possible, he is still quite skilled at analyzing his opponents' strengths and weaknesses and adapting to them.

Scientific Genius+Intuitive understanding of sound
-Manifests in his ability to create high-level sonic technology. Taiz is also able to create technology of different natures, but chooses to stay within the realm of sound for most of his inventions.

Physically fit.
-Being a rather vain specimen of mankind Taiz trains his body regularly. He has not hit human peak, but is certainly stronger and generally more fit than most normal people.

Martial Training
-In line with keeping himself fit, but also in the interest of safety, Taiz has trained in Aikido and Krav Maga. He specializes mostly in defense. Though by itself his martial prowess is only so limited, when combined with his more dangerous close range sonic attacks he can be considered a dangerous opponent even in close combat.

Capital
-Taiz has a small fortune ranging within several millions, due to his selling patents to some of his lesser inventions.

Weaknesses:

Mentally unstable
-Sometimes unable to distinguish reality from his imagination.
-Dangerous and sociopathic when driven to insecurity.
-Easily manipulatable with flattery.

Power-reliant
-Without his power and gadgets is basically useless in most combat situations.

Moral Compass
-Not necessarily a weakness, but it does get in the way of him committing the more villainous of crimes. His reasonably high regard for human life and lack of killing intent can make it difficult for him to be a true villain and can make allying himself with other villains a problem. (or when already allied can have second thoughts or lapses of conscience)
Nullified only by lapses of depression- or rage-induced solipsism.

Low pain threshold
-When dealt physical damage, Taiz is quick to surrender, unless sufficiently inspired to endure.
-Taiz has an especially great dislike of electricity, and the pain it can inflict. The mere threat of electrocution might be enough to force him into submission.

Power Grid:

Character Image/Description:
Taiz Treffalman Emines11

Roleplay Sample:
The hour was late in the night. The shadows in the room stirred with the spectres of imagination, subdued only by the flickering light of a television screen. My body lay on the sofa, helplessly weak and motionless, but safe. My mind however, was in far different places. I had been chasing the dragon, and in the pursuit lost sight of my whereabouts. And now I was lost.
I didn’t mind of course. It was quite a pleasant situation. Odd, but pleasant.
I was only vaguely aware of the television screen, but did not think of what images it was displaying. Instead, I wondered why there was no noise coming from the television. Ah! I had muted the noise after preparing the opium. It behooved the situation for there to be silence. Silence? No, I had woven some soothing music to create the right atmosphere. It seems that my music fell silent as my mind gradually lost its way, and drifted away from this world. From my worries, pains and…insecurities.
Pleased with my deductions, at least in the light of my current condition, I directed my faculties upon the television’s screen. Ah, the news. I adjusted my body slightly so that I could better view what knowledge the broadcast had to offer me.
A news special on this Doctor…Necrodium, yes, that chap. Very menacing he was. If it weren’t for the effects of the illegal narcotics I’m sure my hairs would have been standing straight up.
I really didn’t pay much attention to whatever gibberish the villain was spouting. Something about mass annihilation or whatnot, no doubt. The devilish armor he wore and the green light that shone through its openings was a nice touch. I listened a little more intently, as far as my current condition allowed.
He mentioned Pain. Who’s that? Oh, yes. Only the world’s ‘greatest hero’. Hm, well, the man sure showed commitment to his cause. I can respect that. There’s a stark beauty to self-sacrifice and selfless heroism. A bit too tacky for my tastes, but respect it I certainly do.
I sink back into the softness that is my Persian sofa. Perhaps I’ll give this all a look later. Now is not the time for such matters. I relax my mind and give in to the numbness.