Tahquitz (Triumph)

Tahquitz, ready and awaiting battle.
Tahquitz
Player: @Tahquitz
Server: Triumph
Origin:	Magic
Archetype:	Blaster
Security Level:	50
Personal Data
Real Name:	Timothy Verne
Known Aliases:	Tahq
Species:	Human/Trickster Demon
Age:	Verne: 16, Tahquitz: 2,103
Height:	5' 6"
Weight:	when Human, 145
Eye Color:	Blue
Hair Color:	When human, Blond. As a Demon, White
Sexuality:	Heterosexual
Biographical Data
Nationality:	Native American/Irish
Occupation:	Student, Steel Canyon Central High School
Place of Birth:	Agua Caliente, California
Base of Operations:	Paragon City, Rhode Island, USA
Marital Status:	Single
Known Relatives:	Elena Verne-Terriquez, Grandmother
Known Powers
Fire Blast, Ice Manipulation, Fire Mastery
Known Abilities
Limited shapeshifting
Equipment
None
No additional information available.

Tahquitz is a level 50 Fire Blast/Ice Manipulation Blaster on the Triumph Server, played by @Tahquitz. He is a co-leader of the Heads of Cerberus supergroup.

Overview

Timothy Verne, a teenager of average form, is the current host of a Trickster Demon, Tahquitz, who has been imprisoned in a fetish necklace by the Cauhilla People for committing crimes against their hero, Konvaxmal. After 1,000 years of slumber, the spirit of Tahquitz was greatly diminshed upon Verne's discovery. They have a symbiotic relationship; in return for the powers of the Altar of Storms, Tahquitz is learning through Verne's eyes about the future and his place in it when someday, his power can return where he no longer needs another being to live.

In-Game Description

From Agua Caliente, CA, Timothy Verne was a young boy who ran away from home and discovered an ancient altar in a cave. After a collapse blocking his only way out, he disturbed the altar to find a talisman that reformed him int Tahquitz, the Raven God of Storms.

With the powers of Ice and Fire at his command, Tahquitz travelled to Paragon City to combat the menace of the Circle of Thorns. They removed artifacts from the residents of Agua Caliente that hold enormous power, which should not be wielded by anyone alive or dead.

Pre Paragon City History

The soul of the man that became Tahquitz, born Juan Chocne in 1544, lived as a Andean farmer who led a revolt against the Conquistadors of Southern America. As the leader of Taki Oncoy, he fought the efforts of Christobal de Albornoz to subjugate and enslave the Andean people. He met his demise in 1574 as a confessed heathen sentenced to death. His rage and unfinished fight was determined by a shaman travelling through the domain as he captured his spirit for later use. Through years of trade, travel and later conquests, a Aztec priest used the soul to bring the son of Xolotl (the god of Lightning and Death) to the mortal realm, creating Tahquitz.

Initially, Tahquitz was used by the Aztec people to join the Gods in reversing the fortunes of Spanish Conquistadors, laying waste to armies, ships and entire villages. However, as technology began to supplant magic, the deities were defeated one after another in a calculated fashion, leaving lesser Gods like Tahquitz to take flight north and suppress further occupation by Spanish forces.

The Final Fight for Freedom

In his travels, Tahquitz finds his final residence at what is known as present day Agua Caliente. His defense of the California outpost against his archrival, Snr. Santigo de la Amezcua Cabral, brought him worship to the villagers of the land, keeping the Spanish from their winter lands. This relationship continued for hundreds of years until a champion of the people arose, Konvaxmal, who rejected Tahquitz as an old world solution to their problem. Other gods could keep the Cauhilla people safe. Tahquitz was not of this place, and he needed to be stopped.

In the last years of Tahquitz's rule over the valley, his attacks not only punished the Spanish, but also the native people when they stepped out of line as they were encouraged to disobey him. As Konvaxmal organized the villagers in a campaign to capture the Trickster Demon and contain him in their mountain temple, Tahquitz turned on those he once protected and destroyed their towns. After three failed attempts, the plan succeeded, binding Tahquitz to the Altar of Storms without escape. The settlement rebuilt, the demon contained, and the Spanish afraid to tread, the desert valley enjoyed a century of relative peace.

The 1,000 Year Sleep

Konvaxmal, using the same technology and skills utilized by the Conquistadors to conquer other Gods, sealed the Altar and declared it forbidden to the Cauhilla people.

After 100 years, his body began to decay, 200 years, his consciousness was confined to the relics left in the altar. In 300 years, the relics themselves fell apart, save for a single weathered talisman: a fetish necklace holding the strongest part of his soul. From then on, the Altar of Storms was a quiet tomb to a powerful being without form, without purpose. And he was forgotten by the people as myth replaced truth and Tahquitz was merely used as a name to scare disobedient children out of climbing the mountain named after him.

The 20th Century

Timothy Verne, a Freshman at Cathedral City High School, was running up the San Jacinto Mountains. It's been 12 hours after his father died, leaving him an orphan. Ten miles into his trek, his energy was low, his right foot sprained, and barely able to continue. He sat at the edge of a moraine between peaks when the rocks gave from under him. The initial break collapsed the surrounding rocks and boulders into the moraine and sent him 200 feet to what should have been his death.

Recovering during rainfall, a weakened and dying Tim crawled to the center of the cavern to a stone altar that has been eroded by rainfall and winds inside the chasm, with a sole artifact at the top of the altar. The fetish necklace containing the spirit of Tahquitz. He touched the necklace, and the resulting shock knocked him out.

In dreams the two could communicate, but through images, emotions and sensations, not words. Tim learned of Tahquitz's origins, seeing his battles first hand while the two spirits, both Tahquitz and Tim, slowly convalesced. In two weeks after being reported missing, Tim Verne was barely alive. His contact with Tahquitz prolonged his life, but left him about to die from starvation and thirst. There was only one way out... he willingly put on the necklace. He agreed to a soul pact with the Raven God, transforming him into Tahquitz and allowing for his escape from the mountains with a surprise lava flow parting the rocks. After emerging from the mountain chasm, he learned that he could shapeshift his appearance, hiding Tahquitz's coal-black skin and white hair from the public. He walked freely back into CPS custody.

Present Day

Tim Verne as Tahquitz was reluctant to share with others that he had superpowers, training in secret at first and avoiding the Registration Acts until he could stand by no longer. While awaiting his fate in a group home, a sect of the Circle of Thorns raided his hometown in the night as Tahquitz took to the night skies to stop them. His 'outing' as a superhero was met with mixed reviews, as his powers were too out of control, costing as much damage to property and infrastructure as the lives and artifacts saved. The residents regarded him initially as a villain since he destroyed more than he saved.

Consequently, this caught the attention of the FBSA, who took temporary custody of him. Tim was taken to Paragon City, RI to serve in the Young Heroes program to develop his powers as well as finish his education.

Powers & Weapons

Fire Blast/Ice Manipulation

Fire and Ice is Tahquitz's forte. While he's not a master of either power, the dual damage types allow him to exploit vulnerabilities in others with fire, while slowing the progress of high power villains using Ice.

Pyre Mastery

A frequent tactic of his is to drop in on a group of villains, attack the minions at will, then allow the boss to slay him. Using the techniques of the Phoenix, Tahquitz returns to battle to deliver justice in a very surprising way.

Flight

As a raven demon, Tahquitz has developed his flight prowess to rival the top heroes in Paragon City at his young age.

Fitness

Tahquitz has a slim build and athletic physique. His form can change into others, however, he is limited to his own body mass to do so, so his appearance can vary. His physical prowess when shapeshifted depends on the form he takes.

Speed

While on the ground, Tahquitz is as fast as any other hero. His attack speeds can be temporarily boosted, but the duration is temporary.

Other Weapons

Tahquitz works with the Midnight Squad irregularly, and is often carrying an ancient or cursed weapon for certain missions. When in his demon form, most cursed weapons have no effect on him.

Notes

• Tim Verne is known for having a irreverent sense of humor, which sometimes crosses paths with more by-the-book heroes.
• Tahquitz is technically a Construct, as he isn't human anymore, but nowhere near powerful enough to be called an Incarnate.
• As a co-leader of Heads of Cerberus, Tahquitz's is partnered often with fellow co-leader as well as legal guardian, Ventus vis Vires.
• In RP, Tahquitz is sometimes written as an Ice/Fire Blaster, ignoring the Manipulation Secondaries. In doing this, Tahquitz is incapable of the Inferno or Blizzard Alpha Strikes when Tim Verne is in control. Those powers are only accessible under extreme duress, and in doing so, Tim Verne's personality is cast to the background allowing Tahquitz the Raven God the same kind of justice and accountability as was once found in Aztec America. (In short, it takes a bunch of heroes to knock him out to get Tim Verne back.)