Tao Jones
Context
Tao Jones (presumably a pun about the Dow Jones ) is a member of the dysfunctional superhuman youth clan Helix. Like the rest, she appeared in 1985.
We suggest first reading the Mister Bones character profile, where the context lives.
Tao Jones has unusual super-counter-attack powers.
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Background
- Real Name: Her actual last name is probably Siong.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Helix.
- Base Of Operations: Formerly the outskirts of L.A. (a ghost town in the desert near Bakersfield), then an abandoned mall in L.A., then Terminal Island (off the L.A. coast).
- Height: 5’1” Weight: 85 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
Powers and Abilities
Tao Jones is a somewhat proficient martial artist. However, she is chiefly about speed and accuracy rather than power and strength. She seems to mainly be a soft stylist employing throws, which is not surprising given her modest stature.
She also has weird energy-manipulation powers allowing her to do all sorts of unpredictable things. Tao Jones revels in the mysterious nature of her abilities. It is quite possible that she is the most powerful member of Helix.
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Active reflective
She has successfully manipulated attacks ranging from the classic (Silver Scarab’s solar blasts) to things that are seldom countered that way (such as Obsidian’s dark touch), adapted strength (or rather /STR/) from a power armour suit, and the like.
However she has to be aware of an attack to do something about it. If hit from behind she is vulnerable.
She usually says she reflects attacks with twice their original force. But in practice that actually depends on the usual factors for, in DC Heroes RPG terms, a Reflection/Deflection roll.
Again in DC Heroes RPG terms, her Enhanced Initiative comes from the fact that many of the tactics she employs only make sense in game terms if she wins Initiative and can know what her opponents are going to do.
Since her powers are mostly reactive in nature, she then will usually wait to be hit or touched by something and immediately counter, reflect, deflect toward another opponent, counter-attack, or anything she thinks is appropriate.
We all float
Tao Jones can also levitate, though it is unclear whether she can move around while she’s aloft.
It’s useful when she’s doing her toenails, though. She also uses that ability to make her belt defy gravity and float around in elegant shapes.
History
See Mister Bones’s entry for a full history of Helix.
Description
Tao Jones’ costume is a “generic Asian” slit gown. Though the red pattern on the front looks more like a very drunk pregnant pleiosaur than a dragon.
Personality
Helix members were raised outside of conventional morality. Until their late teens, they only knew about the world through television. They came into contact with the world as rowdy teens, which led to considerable trouble and further sharpened their clan-like mentality.
Tao behaves like one of the youngest of Helix. She’s rowdy, immature and tends to feud with Arak. Due to her potent power she tends to be cocky and aggressive. She also comes across as mercurial and easily bored.
Tao Jones is dead bored, being stuck in a stupid ghost town with her weird ’family‘ and wishing she had a real life. As a consequence, she watches hours of soap operas and cheap televised romance stuff each day. This has led her to become a bit boys-crazy.
She also likes expensive gowns and seems vain. She tends to paint or file her nails — while levitating — whenever she’s bored. Meaning she’s taking care of her nails almost all the time. She must have the neatest nails of the West Coast.
Like Arak, she’s irresponsible and unempathetic.
Quotes
(As combat is about to erupt) “I claim first crack !”
“You haven’t heard much about tao , have you ? In my version, you get back what you give — only more so !”
“’sides, I wouldn’t let Bones kill you, lover. You’re too cute.”
“What am I supposed to be — impressed ? I’ve seen sexier outfits on Miss Piggy !”
“Eat your heart out, short-dark-and-handsome. Nobody’s beat Tao Jones yet… and nobody ever will !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Tao Jones
| Dex: 05 | Str: 02 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Helix member |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 029 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Adaptation: 09, Air-walking: 01, Enhanced initiative: 15, Life sense: 05, Probability manipulation: 03, Reflection/Deflection: 14, Skin armour: 02
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Adaptation has no Range – but note that she has to be in contact with the manifestation of the Power, not its wielder.
- Tao Jones does not have to concentrate for a Phase before she Adapts. In fact she can declare which Power she Adapts at any point of the Phase, irrespective of Initiative (including before anybody has time to act).
- Defending with an Adapted power is instantaneous. For instance if she has Initiative and Wind-Walker declares he’s going to hit her with Air Control, she can wait, Adapt Air Control as it reaches her and use her newly-acquired Air Control to defend against Wind-Walker’s Air Control before she can take any damage.
- Adapted Powers have APs equal to her Adaptation Power, not to the corresponding Link Attribute.
- Tao Jones cannot Adapt Skills, but she can Adapt Attributes (such as STR).
- Adapted abilities disappear as soon as they are used. Of course, she can re-Adapt and use them over and over again, as long as she is in contact with the Power.
- Life sense is Contingent on Adaptation.
- Reflection/Deflection is effective against hand-to-hand attacks. However, this use is Contingent Upon her Martial Artist Skill.
- Reflection/Deflection also work on Ranged and non-Ranged Mental and Mystic attacks (+4).
- Skin armour only vs. Energy attacks.
Skills:
Martial artist (AV, OV) (including Techniques): 06, Martial artist (EV): 04
Advantages:
Familiarity (soap operas).
Connections:
Helix (High).
Drawbacks:
MIA toward attractive young men (such as Hector Hall), Misc.: body mass is 1 AP.
Design Notes
Her Adaptation Power and the Probability Manipulation are unclear (it could all be Reflection/Deflection with funky modifiers) but since she’s more interesting that way, I uncharacteristically went with a generous rather than minimalist take for her powers.
Source of Character: DC Universe .