Gypsum
Feb 5, 2015 14:23:51 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2015 14:23:51 GMT -5
-Player Info-
Name/Alias: Darcarin – Dar – Dragony
IM/Email: Ask for AIM messenger. E-Mail: Darcarin.rp@Gmail.com
Age: 29
Where did you find us?: Moon and Rumi finally lured me in.
-Character Info-
Name: Gypsum, Gyp
Age: Late 30’s-ish seeming
Gender: Male
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Neutral
Original Occupation:
Before dissent turned into war, Gypsum busied himself with menial low-wage drudgery. Mostly, this came in the form of bussing tables and general janitorial work for various low-end dive bars with the occasional under-the-table odd job thrown in for variety.
Occupation/Specialization:
With the war drawing skilled miners away from the trade and towards combat, opportunities were left open for the enterprising. When staying on-planet became less appealing, Gypsum left along with others who had no use for getting involved in the conflict. Through his desire to earn a living away from the warfront, he found his way to a neutral-owned mining colony. There, he learned the skills of the trade, specializing in underground ore extraction with a basic generalized knowledge of mineral and crystal extraction.
Altmode: Chevy Silverado extended cab pickup, with a shabby sage-green paint-job.
Appearance:
Gypsum is a stocky, solid-framed, sturdy armored mech, built for long hours of demanding physical work. He is boxy without being sharp edged and strong looking without appearing aggressive. His paintjob is often ramshackle and worn from where he does not bother to touch it up until he is more exposed base metal than paint. He has a kindly, rounded face, with blue edging into teal optics. Height-wise, Gypsum is roughly equivalent to Ratchet, perhaps a hair shorter.
During his days as a miner, he also converted from plantigrade modestly digitigrade legs, with articulated toes. Such a modification came in handy for gripping rocky surfaces and easy movement through mining tunnels and the exploration of caverns.
Transformation and altmode kibble wise, he is fairly straight forward. Gypsum is a simple mech, why would his transformation be any different? His chest is made up of pieces of his altmode’s hood, headlights and front bumper. The front tires end up laying flush at the backs of his shoulders, with the rear tires being incorporated into his lower legs. Other nuances of the shapes and curves of his alt mode can be seen in his shoulders, arms, and the outsides of his legs. There is nothing fancy, novel, or unusual about his transformation or the placement of kibble.
History:
Before the war, life for Gypsum was largely uneventful. Things were not easy by any means, but his existence was not plagued by a string of catastrophes. As one of the working poor, he muddled along through life as best he could. Bills and rent were paid though not always on time, he had fuel if not in overabundance, sometimes he even had a bit left over after necessities and obligations for a bit of fun, and he had the work to make these things possible. Still, he was a simple creature who had simple needs out of life, and as such he was content.
Of course, the work to be found in seedy dive bars was not glamorous. Mostly he bussed tables and helped to keep the places clean, but there was still dodging rowdy and drunken patrons, ducking the periodic brawl, and listening to the occasional life story when work was slow. Then, keep in mind the low bars where he tended to easiest find employment, were rarely in pleasant neighborhoods. So getting to and from work could be a hairy ordeal. Still, it was work, a living, and for that Gypsum was grateful.
Then, the rumblings of dissent began. Dive bars were where the low wage and disenchanted gathered. They would cluster around tables with friends and tolerated acquaintances, they would drink, sometimes they fought, but most importantly they would talk.
It was from the words of mechs like these, overheard while clearing tables or cleaning rubbish, that Gypsum kept tabs on what was brewing. He heard from them the whispers of hope for change. He heard the passive discontent turn into the will for action. He heard many things said at tables, as informal gatherings slowly became more like meetings. It was from them he first heard the name “Megatronus”, of his influence, and of his desires.
At first, he thought he understood, and he agreed. Change would be good. Change would make life fair again, better for the less privileged and abused by society Better, like it used to be in a time that he had not personally known. Pushing to remove the caste system and open the world up to everyone again was something the world needed, and Gypsum believed in that. He was one of the trapped, after all, even if he was not as discontent as some.
So, he listened in to the chatter, and he learned. He followed the progression of the movement. He listened when other meetings, rallies, were spoken about. He even listened well enough to visit a few. He was a simple mech, but being informed about less simple things was important.
It was when the movement turned to violence, that Gypsum began to turn away from the cause. He could support the push for change, he could support the rebellion, he could support the cries for justice, and freedom. He could not, and would not, support the escalating aggression. He believed in the ideals of change, but he did not believe in the dawning war. In neither supporting what the rebellion had become, nor supporting those upper-caste mechs who fought to suppress them in order to keep the world the way it was, Gypsum declared himself neutral.
When the fighting became more wide spread, and avoiding the warfront while remaining on Cybertron became increasingly more difficult, Gypsum decided it was time to leave. It was a hard-made choice, to leave the only world he knew, but he decided it was for the best. He had heard of a good number of neutrals who were leaving, seeking life and work away from the upset of the war, and began to look into doing the same.
Time and travel eventually lead Gypsum to a small mining colony on a distant, dusty world. It was a place with minimal native life, and vast empty expanses highlighted by occasional violent weather. Where the planet lacked in hospitality and appeal, it had lucrative resources. Metal ores were abundant, and in turn made up the bulk of the colony’s exports, along with a handful of desirable minerals.
The company that was the heart of the colony had once been a part of a larger mining association, but had broken away to turn independent rather than to be caught up in the politics of war. Remaining neutral also had the benefit of retaining clients on both sides of the war, even if the atmosphere around the commercial district could get a tad tense when conflicting merchants crossed paths on the rare times representatives of both factions were present. Here, Gypsum found work, learned the skills of the trade, and spent his days in the tunnels of underground mines.
Over all, Gypsum found no complaint in living or working in the colony, it was remote, a bit rough, and the work was hard but fair. The only visitors they received were those looking to buy materials, or those bringing in supplies. The work paid more than his busser days ever did, too, which afforded for a comfortable living bought off of the wares merchants and traders brought in from other worlds. There was also the perk of being at the edge of the war, which meant that other than a few brief tense times, the colony was largely unaffected by the combat. It was through the mining work that Gypsum gained his appreciation for geology, and would spend his spare time reading up on the science.
Being in such a remote place was not without its drawbacks though. Keeping up what was going on with the war, and elsewhere in the universe tended to be erratic and not always reliable. Much of the news passed through the camps would come in second hand via merchants and contractors, and often warped from the original story by virtue of repeated retellings and dramatic embellishments.
Hearing about the war in this fashion became less about dry facts and more imagination catching tall tales of heroes and villains shared over drinks. Of course, who was the hero, and who was the villain was often a subjective matter. Gypsum spent a good few nights like that, listening to travelers retell what they had heard about the warfront, and about the organic world Megatron and Optimus Prime supposedly were fighting upon. It made mechs like Gypsum curious to know if anything of the tales were true.
No matter how vast, the resources of a mined world are not infinite. The high days of the colony started to fade as several of the most lucrative mining camps depleted over the span of a few years. Contractors began to look elsewhere for their ores, merchants ceased to stop by to sell their wares, and the colony began to decline. The work remaining was not enough to support what the colony had grown into. Miners gradually left to seek work elsewhere; some striking out for other known mining colonies, others considered following the company’s scouting parties in the search of new opportunities.
As the colony continued to decline, Gypsum decided it was again time for him to move on as well, but he was not interested in following the mining camps, at least not quite yet. He turned his attention, and curiosity, towards Earth. He would go see for himself just what was truth, and what would remain a tall tale.
Personality:
Gypsum is a kind mech, through and through. He is mild, friendly, and often cheerful with the potential to be cheeky. He is hard working, honest, and humble to a fault. Gypsum is the sort that works hard not because he is reaching for praise or recognition, but simply because the work needs to be done and slacking does not benefit anyone in the end. There is nothing about him that is aggressive or violent, though he will not hesitate to step up in the defense of a friend when needed.
He is often hard pressed to feel anything more than moderate dislike for someone. Gypsum is one of those sorts that just seems to not be able to generate solid hate towards anyone. It is just not in his nature. Generally, his reaction to someone he has distaste for or is not certain of is to just stay out of their way. Failing a good sound avoiding of someone in particular, he will resort to being cautiously polite until he can slip away. This is not saying he will just take abuse without defending himself if someone gets uppity or hostile with him.
He can also be awkward around those of much higher status, or greater importance than himself. Gypsum just rarely feels that an average no-body like him is worth the time or attention of anyone of any importance, and will keep his head down around them and just try not to be noticed.
Likes:
- Crystal formations - Grow-em-yourself crystal kits - Geology - That shiny rock over there because it’s interesting - Plants -Trying to grow plants - Writing simple songs, and singing them to himself to pass time. - Friends! He’s a social critter - Thunderstorms -Peaceful, quiet time when he is inclined to be alone -The smell of peppermint – Looking at the ocean and watching the waves
Dislikes:
-Combat or aggressive confrontation in general - Seeing others unhappy or upset -Seeing someone left out of a social situation - Hail -Driving in slippery snow conditions. He’d rather walk, thanks. -Not feeling useful or like he is not earning his keep – Getting in the ocean. Nooooooo.
Strengths
-Gypsum is capable of significant heavy lifting and hauling when a situation calls for it. His strength is often a surprise as at a glance he is unassuming in the way of strength, and while blocky he just does not look like a heavy hitter. The humble, modest way he carries himself along with his lack of inclination towards showing off, just means he flies under the radar. Gypsum would be the guy that surprises you in an arm wrestling match, he might not win against the big shots but he’d not be a pushover.
-Along with his digitigrade legs, his mining days also left him with the upgrade of his original worker-class plating to thick, impact resistant armor geared towards upping the chances of surviving cave in situation. He is not as strongly armored as heavy frontliners, but he can take a fair thumping before he’s down and out.
Weapons:
- He carries is a small, generic, low-powdered plasma-bolt handgun type weapon. This was issued by the mining colony for self defense, after there were a few … incidents involving raiding parties. In real combat it would be roughly useless, but it packs enough of a punch to cause a startle and potentially open up a chance to skitter off to freedom if he was cornered. Really, you could say it was a flash-bang with delusions of being a gun.
-While not a traditional weapon, his miner’s pickaxe works as one in a pinch. This is a large, hefty, long handled, double headed tool. For easy transport and storage, the blades fold down along the handle shaft. When paired with Gypsum’s strength, it can be a formidable weapon. It is a pickaxe after all, meant for chipping away at solid rock surfaces. While perhaps only moderately annoying or distracting to someone with heavy armor, those with medium or light armoring could be severely damaged by this item. Of course, given he is not keen on combat or causing harm without good reason, he is not likely to strike out with it unless directly threatened.
Both are leftovers from his mining days that he just didn’t get rid of when he left the mining colony, and really isn’t inclined to carry them unless he needs to for some reason. They’re likely to be in storage somewhere more often than not.
Weaknesses:
-The cost of being built sturdy for hard, heavy, work is that he is not a very quick mech and has little endurance for high speed situations, nor is he the most agile. At a dead run with a group he would be among the first to slow and lag behind, and one of the more likely to get shot compared to more agile companions. He can endure long and steady-paced work shifts, but asking him for rapid fire speed will wear him down quicker than some.
-Mining is also hard, rough work. It wears on the joints, roughs up the paint job, and just wears a frame out. Repeated injury and the conversion from plantigrade to digitigrade left him prone to blowing out knee joints. It starts at a limp and just goes downhill from there until he either can get it replaced, or if it gets too bad before a spare is on hand, weld the joint stiff. The knees are an ideal weak point to aim for in order.
-He is not a fighter, really. He is not trained in any sort of formal combat skill, and has no battlefield experience. He has a basic understanding of self defense and knows how to throw a decent punch if he has to, but up against a hardened combatant he would be at severe disadvantage. His solid build and sturdy armor has been all that has saved him in tough spots in the past.
Special skills (that are not weapon related):
Over time, Gypsum has acquired a modest suite of geological focused scanners and sensors. With them he can scan for and read various details about the earthen and rocky structures around him. He is capable of reading details such as type, composition, and quality.
For example he can examine a rock sample and pull readings on the type of rock it is, what it is made of, and the overall quality and purity of the sample. He can do the same with minerals (including crystal formations and gemstones) and metal ores. These abilities can be extended to scan for structural quality, integrity, and stability within some geological formation. Such a skill came in handy during his time as a miner for keeping track of how safe stable mining tunnels and shafts were. These scans are run via sensor pads and sample receptors built into his palms and fingers.
Extra Info:
-Gypsum talks a bit funny, aye? Poss’bly a mix of th’ dialect picked up workin’ on th’minin’ colony, o’ertop o’th’ local dialect from back ‘ome Sometimes it’s thicker’n other times, especially when ‘e gets t’runnin all kinds’a’words t’gether in a muddy mess. So askin’ ‘im t’repeat tha’ isn't out o’th question.
-He also sings rather well, but he does not think much of his singing ability and isn't much for performing for others. Singing is just something he would do to pass the time while working, be it an original song or one he has picked up somewhere along the way. Gypsum has a folksy sound to him, and is used to singing with little to no accompaniment. His singing voice is inspired by Stan Rogers and his style, for frame of reference (Rolling Down to Old Maui, Flowers of Bermuda).
Sample RP
“ . . . But we will travel on, till th'break o'dawn
'An till 'ome is jus’ a distant memory
'till ‘ome is jus’ a distant memory.”
Gypsum let the last notes of the song fade, allowing the quiet of the small observation deck to return. Through the viewing windows that dotted the outer contours of the room, he had been watching the approach of the blue and green world, while he passed idle time with a few songs. The merchant vessel had come close enough now, that the world took up the entire field of view, the dark background of space eclipsed by the sunlit face of the planet.
Earth. It was curiosity that drew Gypsum to lean closer to the window, as if bridging that short gap would bring the approaching planet into clearer view. It was a vibrant, organic world, lush with organic life. He honestly did not know what to expect of such a place, given he had only been on two planets; home, and the barren, rocky place the mining colony had existed. They had passed a red planet a ways back, actually, that had reminded him of the colony world, actually. Neither had exactly been havens for organic life, so coming here where there was both scads of non-robotic life and a local civilization to learn about would be an utterly alien experience.
Bartering passage from the colony with a merchant ship had not proven terribly difficult. It was an avenue of escape many of the colony residents took when time to move on came. The hardest part was locating the planet featured in the war-front “news” that the colony received, then a vessel headed in that general direction, willing to detour enough for a drop off.
It would be interesting, seeing what was here to see. The features of an organic world alone would be worth the trip and trouble of getting here. Finding out the truth of the tales he heard on the colony was just extra incentive. Of course, he had no idea just what he was stepping into, or how life would go once he was on the ground, but that was half of the adventure, wasn't it?
Gypsum turned his attention from the window when the intercom system crackled, indicating an oncoming announcement. He listened to the Captain chatter, informing the crew on the estimated time of planetfall, and to prepare for a quick turnaround. It was not going to be a sight-seeing stop for the crew that much was obvious. At the intercom crackling off, Gypsum figured it was time to get ready to disembark, and to make sure his debts for the ride were paid. Sparing anther glance out the window, he grudgingly pulled away from the view, and wandered off the observation deck, singing once again as he went.
“I ‘ave seen friends come ‘an go,
Lovers too, y’know.
Through th’mines an’ through th’dreams,
Drifting ‘cross forgotten seams,
As if dust on warm breathless air,
An’ y’wonder if they ‘ad ever truly been there.
They are those who are not forgotten,
But those who will always be missed,
By those who ‘old in common,
A friend once cherished.
I ‘ave lived th’ ‘ard miner’s life,
Filed with struggle, topped by strife,
But there ‘as always been brightness there,
In those friends so fine ‘an fair,
‘An one day I wish t’be,
One of those captured in memory.”
Name/Alias: Darcarin – Dar – Dragony
IM/Email: Ask for AIM messenger. E-Mail: Darcarin.rp@Gmail.com
Age: 29
Where did you find us?: Moon and Rumi finally lured me in.
-Character Info-
Name: Gypsum, Gyp
Age: Late 30’s-ish seeming
Gender: Male
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Neutral
Original Occupation:
Before dissent turned into war, Gypsum busied himself with menial low-wage drudgery. Mostly, this came in the form of bussing tables and general janitorial work for various low-end dive bars with the occasional under-the-table odd job thrown in for variety.
Occupation/Specialization:
With the war drawing skilled miners away from the trade and towards combat, opportunities were left open for the enterprising. When staying on-planet became less appealing, Gypsum left along with others who had no use for getting involved in the conflict. Through his desire to earn a living away from the warfront, he found his way to a neutral-owned mining colony. There, he learned the skills of the trade, specializing in underground ore extraction with a basic generalized knowledge of mineral and crystal extraction.
Altmode: Chevy Silverado extended cab pickup, with a shabby sage-green paint-job.
Appearance:
Gypsum is a stocky, solid-framed, sturdy armored mech, built for long hours of demanding physical work. He is boxy without being sharp edged and strong looking without appearing aggressive. His paintjob is often ramshackle and worn from where he does not bother to touch it up until he is more exposed base metal than paint. He has a kindly, rounded face, with blue edging into teal optics. Height-wise, Gypsum is roughly equivalent to Ratchet, perhaps a hair shorter.
During his days as a miner, he also converted from plantigrade modestly digitigrade legs, with articulated toes. Such a modification came in handy for gripping rocky surfaces and easy movement through mining tunnels and the exploration of caverns.
Transformation and altmode kibble wise, he is fairly straight forward. Gypsum is a simple mech, why would his transformation be any different? His chest is made up of pieces of his altmode’s hood, headlights and front bumper. The front tires end up laying flush at the backs of his shoulders, with the rear tires being incorporated into his lower legs. Other nuances of the shapes and curves of his alt mode can be seen in his shoulders, arms, and the outsides of his legs. There is nothing fancy, novel, or unusual about his transformation or the placement of kibble.
History:
Before the war, life for Gypsum was largely uneventful. Things were not easy by any means, but his existence was not plagued by a string of catastrophes. As one of the working poor, he muddled along through life as best he could. Bills and rent were paid though not always on time, he had fuel if not in overabundance, sometimes he even had a bit left over after necessities and obligations for a bit of fun, and he had the work to make these things possible. Still, he was a simple creature who had simple needs out of life, and as such he was content.
Of course, the work to be found in seedy dive bars was not glamorous. Mostly he bussed tables and helped to keep the places clean, but there was still dodging rowdy and drunken patrons, ducking the periodic brawl, and listening to the occasional life story when work was slow. Then, keep in mind the low bars where he tended to easiest find employment, were rarely in pleasant neighborhoods. So getting to and from work could be a hairy ordeal. Still, it was work, a living, and for that Gypsum was grateful.
Then, the rumblings of dissent began. Dive bars were where the low wage and disenchanted gathered. They would cluster around tables with friends and tolerated acquaintances, they would drink, sometimes they fought, but most importantly they would talk.
It was from the words of mechs like these, overheard while clearing tables or cleaning rubbish, that Gypsum kept tabs on what was brewing. He heard from them the whispers of hope for change. He heard the passive discontent turn into the will for action. He heard many things said at tables, as informal gatherings slowly became more like meetings. It was from them he first heard the name “Megatronus”, of his influence, and of his desires.
At first, he thought he understood, and he agreed. Change would be good. Change would make life fair again, better for the less privileged and abused by society Better, like it used to be in a time that he had not personally known. Pushing to remove the caste system and open the world up to everyone again was something the world needed, and Gypsum believed in that. He was one of the trapped, after all, even if he was not as discontent as some.
So, he listened in to the chatter, and he learned. He followed the progression of the movement. He listened when other meetings, rallies, were spoken about. He even listened well enough to visit a few. He was a simple mech, but being informed about less simple things was important.
It was when the movement turned to violence, that Gypsum began to turn away from the cause. He could support the push for change, he could support the rebellion, he could support the cries for justice, and freedom. He could not, and would not, support the escalating aggression. He believed in the ideals of change, but he did not believe in the dawning war. In neither supporting what the rebellion had become, nor supporting those upper-caste mechs who fought to suppress them in order to keep the world the way it was, Gypsum declared himself neutral.
When the fighting became more wide spread, and avoiding the warfront while remaining on Cybertron became increasingly more difficult, Gypsum decided it was time to leave. It was a hard-made choice, to leave the only world he knew, but he decided it was for the best. He had heard of a good number of neutrals who were leaving, seeking life and work away from the upset of the war, and began to look into doing the same.
Time and travel eventually lead Gypsum to a small mining colony on a distant, dusty world. It was a place with minimal native life, and vast empty expanses highlighted by occasional violent weather. Where the planet lacked in hospitality and appeal, it had lucrative resources. Metal ores were abundant, and in turn made up the bulk of the colony’s exports, along with a handful of desirable minerals.
The company that was the heart of the colony had once been a part of a larger mining association, but had broken away to turn independent rather than to be caught up in the politics of war. Remaining neutral also had the benefit of retaining clients on both sides of the war, even if the atmosphere around the commercial district could get a tad tense when conflicting merchants crossed paths on the rare times representatives of both factions were present. Here, Gypsum found work, learned the skills of the trade, and spent his days in the tunnels of underground mines.
Over all, Gypsum found no complaint in living or working in the colony, it was remote, a bit rough, and the work was hard but fair. The only visitors they received were those looking to buy materials, or those bringing in supplies. The work paid more than his busser days ever did, too, which afforded for a comfortable living bought off of the wares merchants and traders brought in from other worlds. There was also the perk of being at the edge of the war, which meant that other than a few brief tense times, the colony was largely unaffected by the combat. It was through the mining work that Gypsum gained his appreciation for geology, and would spend his spare time reading up on the science.
Being in such a remote place was not without its drawbacks though. Keeping up what was going on with the war, and elsewhere in the universe tended to be erratic and not always reliable. Much of the news passed through the camps would come in second hand via merchants and contractors, and often warped from the original story by virtue of repeated retellings and dramatic embellishments.
Hearing about the war in this fashion became less about dry facts and more imagination catching tall tales of heroes and villains shared over drinks. Of course, who was the hero, and who was the villain was often a subjective matter. Gypsum spent a good few nights like that, listening to travelers retell what they had heard about the warfront, and about the organic world Megatron and Optimus Prime supposedly were fighting upon. It made mechs like Gypsum curious to know if anything of the tales were true.
No matter how vast, the resources of a mined world are not infinite. The high days of the colony started to fade as several of the most lucrative mining camps depleted over the span of a few years. Contractors began to look elsewhere for their ores, merchants ceased to stop by to sell their wares, and the colony began to decline. The work remaining was not enough to support what the colony had grown into. Miners gradually left to seek work elsewhere; some striking out for other known mining colonies, others considered following the company’s scouting parties in the search of new opportunities.
As the colony continued to decline, Gypsum decided it was again time for him to move on as well, but he was not interested in following the mining camps, at least not quite yet. He turned his attention, and curiosity, towards Earth. He would go see for himself just what was truth, and what would remain a tall tale.
Personality:
Gypsum is a kind mech, through and through. He is mild, friendly, and often cheerful with the potential to be cheeky. He is hard working, honest, and humble to a fault. Gypsum is the sort that works hard not because he is reaching for praise or recognition, but simply because the work needs to be done and slacking does not benefit anyone in the end. There is nothing about him that is aggressive or violent, though he will not hesitate to step up in the defense of a friend when needed.
He is often hard pressed to feel anything more than moderate dislike for someone. Gypsum is one of those sorts that just seems to not be able to generate solid hate towards anyone. It is just not in his nature. Generally, his reaction to someone he has distaste for or is not certain of is to just stay out of their way. Failing a good sound avoiding of someone in particular, he will resort to being cautiously polite until he can slip away. This is not saying he will just take abuse without defending himself if someone gets uppity or hostile with him.
He can also be awkward around those of much higher status, or greater importance than himself. Gypsum just rarely feels that an average no-body like him is worth the time or attention of anyone of any importance, and will keep his head down around them and just try not to be noticed.
Likes:
- Crystal formations - Grow-em-yourself crystal kits - Geology - That shiny rock over there because it’s interesting - Plants -Trying to grow plants - Writing simple songs, and singing them to himself to pass time. - Friends! He’s a social critter - Thunderstorms -Peaceful, quiet time when he is inclined to be alone -The smell of peppermint – Looking at the ocean and watching the waves
Dislikes:
-Combat or aggressive confrontation in general - Seeing others unhappy or upset -Seeing someone left out of a social situation - Hail -Driving in slippery snow conditions. He’d rather walk, thanks. -Not feeling useful or like he is not earning his keep – Getting in the ocean. Nooooooo.
Strengths
-Gypsum is capable of significant heavy lifting and hauling when a situation calls for it. His strength is often a surprise as at a glance he is unassuming in the way of strength, and while blocky he just does not look like a heavy hitter. The humble, modest way he carries himself along with his lack of inclination towards showing off, just means he flies under the radar. Gypsum would be the guy that surprises you in an arm wrestling match, he might not win against the big shots but he’d not be a pushover.
-Along with his digitigrade legs, his mining days also left him with the upgrade of his original worker-class plating to thick, impact resistant armor geared towards upping the chances of surviving cave in situation. He is not as strongly armored as heavy frontliners, but he can take a fair thumping before he’s down and out.
Weapons:
- He carries is a small, generic, low-powdered plasma-bolt handgun type weapon. This was issued by the mining colony for self defense, after there were a few … incidents involving raiding parties. In real combat it would be roughly useless, but it packs enough of a punch to cause a startle and potentially open up a chance to skitter off to freedom if he was cornered. Really, you could say it was a flash-bang with delusions of being a gun.
-While not a traditional weapon, his miner’s pickaxe works as one in a pinch. This is a large, hefty, long handled, double headed tool. For easy transport and storage, the blades fold down along the handle shaft. When paired with Gypsum’s strength, it can be a formidable weapon. It is a pickaxe after all, meant for chipping away at solid rock surfaces. While perhaps only moderately annoying or distracting to someone with heavy armor, those with medium or light armoring could be severely damaged by this item. Of course, given he is not keen on combat or causing harm without good reason, he is not likely to strike out with it unless directly threatened.
Both are leftovers from his mining days that he just didn’t get rid of when he left the mining colony, and really isn’t inclined to carry them unless he needs to for some reason. They’re likely to be in storage somewhere more often than not.
Weaknesses:
-The cost of being built sturdy for hard, heavy, work is that he is not a very quick mech and has little endurance for high speed situations, nor is he the most agile. At a dead run with a group he would be among the first to slow and lag behind, and one of the more likely to get shot compared to more agile companions. He can endure long and steady-paced work shifts, but asking him for rapid fire speed will wear him down quicker than some.
-Mining is also hard, rough work. It wears on the joints, roughs up the paint job, and just wears a frame out. Repeated injury and the conversion from plantigrade to digitigrade left him prone to blowing out knee joints. It starts at a limp and just goes downhill from there until he either can get it replaced, or if it gets too bad before a spare is on hand, weld the joint stiff. The knees are an ideal weak point to aim for in order.
-He is not a fighter, really. He is not trained in any sort of formal combat skill, and has no battlefield experience. He has a basic understanding of self defense and knows how to throw a decent punch if he has to, but up against a hardened combatant he would be at severe disadvantage. His solid build and sturdy armor has been all that has saved him in tough spots in the past.
Special skills (that are not weapon related):
Over time, Gypsum has acquired a modest suite of geological focused scanners and sensors. With them he can scan for and read various details about the earthen and rocky structures around him. He is capable of reading details such as type, composition, and quality.
For example he can examine a rock sample and pull readings on the type of rock it is, what it is made of, and the overall quality and purity of the sample. He can do the same with minerals (including crystal formations and gemstones) and metal ores. These abilities can be extended to scan for structural quality, integrity, and stability within some geological formation. Such a skill came in handy during his time as a miner for keeping track of how safe stable mining tunnels and shafts were. These scans are run via sensor pads and sample receptors built into his palms and fingers.
Extra Info:
-Gypsum talks a bit funny, aye? Poss’bly a mix of th’ dialect picked up workin’ on th’minin’ colony, o’ertop o’th’ local dialect from back ‘ome Sometimes it’s thicker’n other times, especially when ‘e gets t’runnin all kinds’a’words t’gether in a muddy mess. So askin’ ‘im t’repeat tha’ isn't out o’th question.
-He also sings rather well, but he does not think much of his singing ability and isn't much for performing for others. Singing is just something he would do to pass the time while working, be it an original song or one he has picked up somewhere along the way. Gypsum has a folksy sound to him, and is used to singing with little to no accompaniment. His singing voice is inspired by Stan Rogers and his style, for frame of reference (Rolling Down to Old Maui, Flowers of Bermuda).
Sample RP
“ . . . But we will travel on, till th'break o'dawn
'An till 'ome is jus’ a distant memory
'till ‘ome is jus’ a distant memory.”
Gypsum let the last notes of the song fade, allowing the quiet of the small observation deck to return. Through the viewing windows that dotted the outer contours of the room, he had been watching the approach of the blue and green world, while he passed idle time with a few songs. The merchant vessel had come close enough now, that the world took up the entire field of view, the dark background of space eclipsed by the sunlit face of the planet.
Earth. It was curiosity that drew Gypsum to lean closer to the window, as if bridging that short gap would bring the approaching planet into clearer view. It was a vibrant, organic world, lush with organic life. He honestly did not know what to expect of such a place, given he had only been on two planets; home, and the barren, rocky place the mining colony had existed. They had passed a red planet a ways back, actually, that had reminded him of the colony world, actually. Neither had exactly been havens for organic life, so coming here where there was both scads of non-robotic life and a local civilization to learn about would be an utterly alien experience.
Bartering passage from the colony with a merchant ship had not proven terribly difficult. It was an avenue of escape many of the colony residents took when time to move on came. The hardest part was locating the planet featured in the war-front “news” that the colony received, then a vessel headed in that general direction, willing to detour enough for a drop off.
It would be interesting, seeing what was here to see. The features of an organic world alone would be worth the trip and trouble of getting here. Finding out the truth of the tales he heard on the colony was just extra incentive. Of course, he had no idea just what he was stepping into, or how life would go once he was on the ground, but that was half of the adventure, wasn't it?
Gypsum turned his attention from the window when the intercom system crackled, indicating an oncoming announcement. He listened to the Captain chatter, informing the crew on the estimated time of planetfall, and to prepare for a quick turnaround. It was not going to be a sight-seeing stop for the crew that much was obvious. At the intercom crackling off, Gypsum figured it was time to get ready to disembark, and to make sure his debts for the ride were paid. Sparing anther glance out the window, he grudgingly pulled away from the view, and wandered off the observation deck, singing once again as he went.
“I ‘ave seen friends come ‘an go,
Lovers too, y’know.
Through th’mines an’ through th’dreams,
Drifting ‘cross forgotten seams,
As if dust on warm breathless air,
An’ y’wonder if they ‘ad ever truly been there.
They are those who are not forgotten,
But those who will always be missed,
By those who ‘old in common,
A friend once cherished.
I ‘ave lived th’ ‘ard miner’s life,
Filed with struggle, topped by strife,
But there ‘as always been brightness there,
In those friends so fine ‘an fair,
‘An one day I wish t’be,
One of those captured in memory.”