Terra
===IDENTITY=== Full Name: Terra
Alias(es): Tara Markov (yeah, that'll do... though no relation to the judas contract)
Age: 16
Birth date:Classification: Civilian
Affiliation: Former hero, former villain, now a neutral student
===PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION===
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Height: Small
Weight: Light
===POWERS===
Powers: Former Geomancer, though powers are now allegedly non-existant. Was previously capable of creating eathquakes, mudslides, reshaping earth around her into fighting weapons, shields, and platforms of levitation.
===PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE===
Likes: Geology, socialising with friends, reading the news on superhero activities, rock music, mud pie dessert.
Dislikes: Anchovies, camping outside, pretentious gothic girls who snoop too much, geometry tests.
Strengths: Without her powers Terra is getting used to a level-headed way of life, and sees things from a (no pun intended) down to earth level. Perhaps she sees superheroes and villains outside the box, and their blatant vulnerabilities if their guard is down. A remnant of Slade's training on tactical awareness does linger. If geomancy was to ever be restored, Terra would harbour the ability to summon volcanoes, earthquakes, and even tidal waves. In close range she recalls the basics of Slade's martial arts skills, but this is a pale shadow compared to her previous skills with the neural-interface suit she had been tricked into wearing. Able to fire a sharp rock with the speed of a bullet, drop a ton of road asphalt onto an assailant, or forge a barricade of igneous stone against impact hits, Terra has repeatedly demonstrated the power of imagination can turn something as dull as earth movement into a city-shattering arsenal of power.
Weaknesses: Without the powers of geomancy, it would be fair to say Terra can be taken out of action by the simplest of hired henchmen. With said powers, especially focused to their fullest, Terra still posesses key weaknesses in being unable to bring her full power to bear against multiple opponents simultaniously. She also demonstrates a necessity to have visual sightings of her foe, making her vulnerably to smoke, gas clouds, bright flashes, areas of extreme darkness, and fog.
Skills: Minor martial arts, an extensive knowledge of geography from her travelling days, and though she's ashamed to say it, an understanding of psychology and how to get within peoples minds, coupled with some experience in spying.
Equipment: Ipod, camera, pens, calculator
Personality: Well you've all seen the show, and maybe know it better than I. Personality wise, Terra is an indecisive girl hurt by years of failing to do good. Never knowing a home, always knowing abuse and fear and prejudice, she seeks more than anything an element of stability. Willing to sacrifice her friends, The Teen Titans, just to stop the destruction building within her body, she allowed herself to be duped and tricked by the powerful words of a deadly manipulator. Yet even then she knew her wrong doings, and wasn't afraid to sacrifice herself to save a city. Terra seems apt for it sounds like terror, an emotion that dictates her life in the show. She shows concerns when the Titans offer to let her stay, when Beast Boy sees she can't handle her powers, when she battles Slade and loses. Again after she makes a deal with the devil and allows Slade to mentor her gifts into a level of stability, she naively assumes she can take flight from the city with Beast Boy, and not have to live with the consequences, just like when she ran from every other town she might have damaged. This rises to its peak in the house of mirrors where Terra is forced to come face to face with her actions and, not quite comprehending their severity or how things led to them, be rebuked by the normally jovial Beast Boy.
As a villain, or perhaps henchgirl, Terra hides from her emotions with anger and spite. Years of being the victim are now erased, and hurt emotions are brought to the fore. She does not hate the Titans, but knows as long as she feels angry, and as long as she's fighting, she wont have to think of her actions. This soon comes to an end when the Titans are defeated, though unusually spared when swallowed by the earth (I sometimes imagine Terra was giving them a chance to walk away, and do the running from danger routine Terra had adopted her whole life. though this is open to debate). Whilst flying through the empty, foggy city, she has flashbacks of a better time, and indicates an element of remorse. This is short lived as she is soon overwhelmed by a Titan counter attack. In the final battle in Slade's lair she has enough though, and fights the mental and physical shackles of Slade to reveal her true colours, and a desperation to do good. Sacrificing herself, and becoming stone, she averts disaster. At this point though I ponder if Terra planned to become solid. By turning herself into stone she has escaped the repercussions of her worst crimes, and the shame she must surely feel. Is it not odd the magics of Raven and the science of Cyborg could not find a way to reverse the process? Perhaps in their year long absence in season 5 Terra thought it might be safe now to sneak off and start a new life, and through an unfortunate coincidence, happened to choose a school in close proximity to a superhero battle with an element-changing being of great strength.
Lastly we have the final stage of Terra displayed in the show: Things Change. Though I cannot stand this episode (because the network forced the creators to cut the series short) it is still canon. We have Terra claiming a convenient memory loss, no recollection of her powers, and a desperation to escape a superhero who when not trying to be flirtatious, is a hero of the city (though there are instances of Beast Boy repulsing cute girls in previous episodes with his flirtatious behaviour). Terra rejects the communicator, being the only person in the series to turn down a social networking greater than any facebook, and a protection second only to divine intervention. Her reasons could be a deep guilt for trying to kill something as wonderful as the Titans, or maybe understanding that just because she had the power to manipulate earth and rock doesn't mean she should have used it. If she couldn't control her power initially, best to sit on it. But of course Beast Boy is different, for he is a Titan. He is a member of that thin line that can save and follow self sacrifice, but would be unable to do this if she posed a distraction. In this logic, and how I'd be RPing, its why she cut Beast Boy loose. A final act of self sacrifice to show she'd grown up as a person. Maybe this makes her entitled to use her powers, or maybe not, but it is a step in the right direction to making amends for that night in the fairground.
Now she shows a more likeable side. She has friends at school, and sometimes socialises to the point where it interferes with geometry. Life is good, though she still likes to keep an eye on the old team whilst scoping the newspapers every once in a while.
===PERSONAL BACKGROUND===
Family: None
Place of Origin: Unknown
History: Series 2 of Teen Titans, and last episode of season 5
Sample RPAt the school cafeteria two girls ate the flexible definition of food. One, a thin blonde girl by the name of Terra, the other her african american friend, Tiffany.
"I really don't know," Terra mused, "I mean of all the other candidates for president, why not? But then again... "
"Tara, you've been sweating over that school president election things for thirty minutes. Just tick a box girl. I mean its not like we fall into any of the social groups that matter" Her friend Tiffany offered that usual blend of nonchalant melancholy, seeing the political system in school as just another popularity contest. With a sigh, Terra, or Tara as she called herself these days simply accepted.
"I guess I'll just vote for Pedro then." She sighed, and that topic was over. Lunch today seemed dull. There had been no break ups, no fights, no tedious tests, and that alleged incident with Mumbo Jumbo making a getaway through the school and turning a student into a chicken had, well, just turned out to be an ordinary chicken.
"Where do you think it came from?" She asked, looking at what passed for food on her lunch tray.
Tiffany was chewing on a sandwich, and took a moment to respond. "The chicken? Maybe somebody bought one in for a joke. I wish they'd serve it in this cafeteria. The mystery meat here's getting suspiciously mysterious." Saying that she leaned over, peering at Tara's tray. "What did you order?"
"The mystery meat," Terra said with a smile. "Its good this time too. I think its octopus. Or maybe just beef and something like Tamaranian Gunka Berries."
"Tama-Gunka what now?" Tiffany looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Its er, French food." A quick backtrack. Terra/Tara scratched her head and smiled off the raised eyebrow Tiffany sent her way. "Say that chicken... what did they do with it?"
"Oh one of the science classes adopted it as a mascot. Don't think the rest of the faculty's too impressed. Say, can I try some of that meat?"
Terra slid the tray over, her appetite disappearing as her mind drifted to other things. "Do you know if it was green?"
"The chicken?"
"The chicken."
Tiffany raised the other eyebrow now, "You see, Tara, this is why your geometry test was a detention invitation. Your head's full of green chickens and french food. No it was white... or grey. Who has ever heard of a green chicken?"
She nodded, "Yeah, kinda dumb. I think they have them in France though."
There was another moment of silence. Tiffany tried the mystery meat and soon regretted it. She happily slid the tray back over.
"Anyway, Tiff, who are you voting for?"
"Me? Pedro of course."
Note On Terra This is my interpretation of how Terra would play out beyond Things Change, exploring the life of superheroes from outside the box, as a very human person. Perhaps geomancy might come back into it, or perhaps not. If there's anything people should think to be changed, let me know, or if people have other suggestions it would be awesome. Terra's one of my favourite characters (alongside Cyborg and Ding Dong Daddy - long story for those two) and I'm always up for friendly debate and other interpretations. Also if the RP's wrong or off, please let me know so I can see about changing it.
Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:45 pm by 
Subject: Re: Terra 
