Facade

Codename: FACADE
Full Name: Liev Aleksandr Ehrlichman
Age: 130 years, appears mid-twenties
Race: Superhuman, Caucasian
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Is this a canon?: No



Hair Color: Dark brown
Eye Color: Gold
Gender: Male
Height: 6’6”
Build: Lean, Muscular
Other Traits: Liev is very handsome and artsy in appearance, most often sporting a black actor's bodysuit with a full, white ruffled collar. The mask in his character drawing is symbolic of his greed and compulsion, just as the pig is known for. Liev has more blocky-shaped eyes versus the more common almond that slant downward at each end, exemplifying his typical glee while adding a bit of mystery to each of his emotions. He nearly always wears white powder stage makeup, only taking it off for occasions that require subtlety. If wearing colors other than black and white, Liev chooses gold items that match his eyes.


Main Power Origins: Mutation

Powers

MASK MANIPULATION:
Liev has the ability to shapeshift according to the mask he puts on. This includes physical appearance, voice, and general mannerisms. For example, if Liev were to put on a mask of Dolly Parton, he would morph into an exact replica. Animals and creatures of the like are also included in what he can transform into. Once Liev removes a mask, he immediately returns to his normal form. Most of the masks he wears are hand-made and pertain to a certain personal aspect, just as the pig mask in his drawing represents greed. If he needs to transport his masks, Liev carries them in a sleek, thin pack he wears on his back. If transformed into an animal or creature, he retains his ability to speak. He does not gain the abilities and or powers of the mask he uses.

Specific Weakness(es): If he wears the same mask for more than four hours, it will physically graft itself into his skin. Also, in order to remove a mask, Facade must be able to reach the back of his neck and touch it somehow, thus enabling an enigmatic row of stitchings to appear and unravel the mask; consequently, morphing into creatures who have limited means of flexibility or have primarily stationary limbs prove to be troublesome unless a companion can touch the back of his neck for him. Additionally, Liev does not gain any extra abilities when shapeshifting into powered individuals.

PSEUDO-IMMORTALITY:
Facade does not age, availing him from age-related illnesses and appearance. However, he can be hurt just like any mortal and does not have healing powers. This is more of an aesthetic than practical power, but still a power nonetheless.


Skills

SKILL I: HUMAN LIE DETECTOR
With this quirk, Liev will nearly-always know whether someone is being genuinely honest with him or just giving a line of bull. Facade is also able to detect which parts of a story are stretches of the truth or near-truth. This ability comes not as quirk bestowed upon him or born with, but, instead, from the uncanny fact that he lies so much himself; Liev knows lies inside and out. He has studied them, he has practised them, and this practice goes much further than just pulling a good poker face; it's an involuntary action that humans experience that tells what they're really thinking, better known as “micro-expressions." If you get the chance, look them up. It'll give a little more truth to this master of lies' truthful disguise. Honest can only utilize this ability if he sees someone’s face and is looking directly at them, face clear of any ‘obstacles’ such as masks, helmets, a hand attached to one’s face, etc.

SKILL II: PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY 
For Liev, this "power" is actually a learned skill mainly brought about his extensive studies in human psychology, a childhood where education and superior intelligence were versed adamantly, and a career as an actor with lots of lines to learn. Literal and factual ideas such as sequence equations, memorization of words, and audio memories tend to impress his mind more so than visual queues that are commonly associated with Eidetic Memory. And although this ability is favourable for a great deal of instances, it often hinders Facade more than helps him due to the fact that he has been subjugated to so many traumatic events during his lifetime; this makes it increasingly difficult for him to concentrate on events that happen in the present, for too many hauntings of the past linger in his mind.

Abilities
Acrobatic and flexible despite his height, Facade is a fast-mover with quick reflexes and boasts a background in krav maga, combat sambo, capoeira, and muay thai. He has years of experience in each martial arts giving him an edge over competitors. Still, he prefers fighting with masks than fists.

Physical Weaknesses

MAGICAL ATTACKS: attacks of a magical nature are harder to deal with than physical due to their more chaotic and unknown nature.

PHYSICAL ATTACKS: although a seasoned martial artist, Liev is no match for opponents who are physically strong than he and must rely on his masks to gain the upper hand.

FACIAL TARGETING: Liev's face, no matter what form he takes, is his weak point. A hard enough hit to the face can disrupt his shapeshifting and force him to return to his human form.

Mental Weaknesses

FIRE: more of a hindrance than a weakness, it’s not only his biggest fear; it’s also his greatest interest. It’s hypnotic to watch for god-knows-what reason even though his face was destroyed because of the destructive yet life-giving element.

TELEPATHS/TELEPATHIC POWERS: if you get into his mind, he can feel it, even if it’s something as innocent as a second means for communication between team members. It’s a labyrinth up there, and one that could rival any creation that Daedalus himself could design. Just the notion of someone prodding about in his cerebral cortex can send Facade on a mental, maniacal, looney episode of rage, confusion, and the utmost loathing that rivals ten-thousand exploding stars to the transgressor who dared to enter his sacred, secret, and forbidden domain.

Equipment
He always carries a sleek, compact backpack that easily blends in with the darkness of his costume that is always equipped with an assortment of his favorite masks. Liev never goes anywhere without that bag, but when in "serious combat situations," he switched the purse to a light, compact black pouch that sits flat on his back, making it nearly undetectable. In addition to the masks, he packs a number of tricks of the trade: flash powder, flashbangs and combustive glitter. Yes, combustive glitter – it comes in a party-popper like container and profiles great fun… for Liev, that is.

His bodysuit is lightly lined with Kevlar, providing some defense to his person. He carries no weapons.




Personality
Liev's personality, much like the masks he uses, changes often. For the majority of the time, he reflects a small, rambunctious child that always does the opposite of what he’s told and takes joy from causing mischief, while at others reveals a completely different face; this is when the “Facade" persona really starts to drive deep. Everything happy about his normal self is replaced with dark, traumatic, and haunted emotions. Facade will confine himself in his own mind and attack anyone who tries to penetrate it, especially those few he loves dearly.

Likes:  Deception • Manipulation • Immaturity • Rhymes • Enigmas • Playing the Violin•Acting • Theater • Writing • Paradoxes • Kittens • Cross-dressing • Lady Gaga • Invading Personal Bubbles

Dislikes:  Adults • Seriousness • Hospitals • Guns • Loud Noises • Kaiser • Fire • Telepaths By Default • Jocks • The “Preachy” Types • Religious Discussions • Megalomaniacal Villains • Death • Funerals • Human Sheep • People Invading His Bubble

Strengths:  Persuasiveness • Intelligence • Good Looks • Cleverness • Charisma • Entertainment • Agility • Quick-Thinker • Manipulator • Entertainer • Empathetic • Inspiring • Go-Getter • Deception • Master of Disguise • Easily Motivated • Physically Fit • Manipulative

Other Flaws:  Immature • Sensitive • Fickle • Compulsive • Irrational • Indecisive • Arrogant • Naïve • Lies Constantly • Distrusting • Pride • Haunted • Doesn’t Deal Well With Death



Family Members: Runaway; although it is possible he has living relatives, Liev has separated himself from them.

Place of Origin: Bremen, Germany

History
Born to an elite family of proud and accomplished superhumans, Liev was always the underdog, having not developed his powers until his teens. This led him to run away and pursue his passion: the theatre. He traveled to Munich and found a new family in the members of the theatre troupe at the Grand Guignol theatre, famous for its macabre plays and modernized penny dreadfuls. There, he honed his acrobatic skills and learned the art of capoeira. However, a group of Christian extremists who had been protesting the theatre’s “blasphemous” plays committed an act of extreme hatred and violence by setting fire to the Guignol when the cast had gone out to celebrate. However, Liev had stayed behind, making masks for the next production. While the fire burned above, the actor was trapped below stage and suffered major burns to his face before being able to escape.

But it was through this trial that Liev discovered his strange power of shapeshifting through masks. He grabbed a mask to hide his face––that of a monkey––and immediately transformed into one. He woke up days later in the care of the owner of the circus, human once again after his tail had brushed up against the back of his neck. What caused the bizarre event to transpire is still unknown to Liev and his companions, many of whom had previously hidden their superhuman abilities. Together, they helped to heal their comrade both physically and psychologically, later taking to developing his supernatural powers and engaging in vigilante work. Not long after, Liev became known as “Facade,” a play on his condition and his powers. After many years with the troupe, Facade wished to branch out and see the world.

That was the year 1899, the year that Facade also discovered that his body had stopped aging. He could still get hurt and certainly was not your cliched “immortal.” Instead, the German man soon learned that his condition was a curse, seeing so many people of whom he loved pass away. He lived through countless wars, political unrest, manmade discoveries, the wave of superhumans, medicinal and scientific advances. He witnessed the first man on the moon, women gaining the right to vote, the United States depression, the tearing down of the Berlin wall, human rights violations and achievements, and many more history-changing events, all the while continuing righteous vigilantism. He fought in both world wars, becoming a key spy in World War II against the Nazis. He honed his skills and became a master craftsman, multi-disciplined martial artist, physical threat, tactician, intellectual, and historian. At these points in time, he thrived. Facade had a sense of purpose and belonging.

By the year 1999, he had lost more than he could bear, fought harder than his body would allow, and became bitter to the world and idea of heroism, both of which seemed to have only become more and more corrupted. Facade wanted only to die, but every time he attempted to end his life, every action seemed to fail miserably. Turning inward, he vowed to never join another crusade, nor involve himself with another soul. He felt defeated, and acted as such.

The year was 2019, the month of December, the day before Christmas when he received a call from an unknown number. Facade had tossed the phone long ago, and yet it rang. Cautiously, he brushed away the dust from the device and picked up. A strange, heavily-accented voice came through, resolute and pointed. The voice was somehow familiar, yet tinged with a foreign sound. Could it be? No. She was long-gone. And yet... “…R-Ryuuzaki Akai?” the tired man managed shakily.

“Close,” came the unique voice. “She was my grandmother. But I speak of the present, Liev Aleksandr Ehrlichmann, the one where I have a use for you.”

Ready for inspection.

BY THE POWER OF CHAOS INVESTED IN ME, BY ME AND FOR ME, I DECREE THE HAPPY MASK SALESMAN TO BE APPROVED.