Otis Munro is a local woodworker and cabinet-maker who has a small shop on the edge of the Queen's Cove woods. Not known for being overly social or verbal, he has been known to pick up odd jobs in town as a bouncer at local clubs. He also happens to be a were-bear from a long line of were-bears.
Personality
Otis has always been a quiet, solitary sort of person. Largely nonverbal, he nevertheless is able to make himself understood most of the time, although it can be frustrating for him on occasion. While he doesn't avoid other people, he's not one to seek them out. He has a big heart, and is loyal to those he loves, protecting them fiercely. Slow to anger, he is a force to be reckoned with when he reaches his tipping point. He's also a man of some pride, taking pleasure in the compliments his craftsmanship evokes.
Background
Back in the early days, the bear-goddess Atio found favor among the tribe of the Forest People, and blessed them and their descendants with her gift. Each was endowed with the goddess' bear form, and all the strength and power that conveyed. For a while the Forest People were invincible. But time and the march of man saw their glory fade, and the people slipped off into the world to live their solitary lives. Solitary, because they found that, like their goddess' chosen children the bear, they could no longer live together for long without violence between them.
As such, most took human mates, passing their gifts to their children and finding them diminished. Only rarely did boar and sow come together to mate and produce offspring. Maybe one child in a thousand had such lineage, and those that did were like the People of old: strong, fierce creatures who were not bound by the moon like the hybrids. They could shift in and out of their bear form at will.
By the late 20th century, the People had spread so far and so thin that a 'true' child had not been born in over fifty years. Indeed, many who studied such things thought that there were no People left that they could determine, and hybrids could never produce 'true' People. The People, as Atio had known them, were truly gone.
There's an exception to every rule, though, and Otis Munro is that exception. The product of a one-night stand between two People unaware of the other's nature, he was born in Queen's Cove, and raised by his mother on the outskirts of town, in a small house on the edge of the woods. There, his mother taught him what she knew of the People, and of the other shifter types in the world. How not to trust men with no shadows, and to avoid showing humans how strong he was even without his gift.
Like most of his people, Otis was solitary in nature, and eschewed things like team sports (much to the coaches' chagrin) and group activities. The few friends he did make found him to be solid and dependable. Slow to anger, but terrifying when that point was reached. When he found romantic relationships, they were always with boys and men who seemed to appreciate his massive build and strength.
He found a talent for woodworking and cabinet-making early in high school, and focused his attention on that, becoming known around town as a craftsman that made quality pieces. When his mother passed, he took over her old house, building a woodshop and living happily in the woods by himself. He was, on occasion, lonely, but he was happy.
A solitary life is lonely, but it also keeps one free of most danger. While he managed to avoid fights with the human children, he was still tested as one of the People, against a number of opponents. Eventually, he reached a sort of peace with those others, and settled into a comfortable, quiet life. Well, mostly quiet, anyway.
SIGNATURE ABILITY
Berserker Rage
When Otis is enraged to the point beyond reason, or injured badly, he has the ability as one of the People to summon a Berserker rage. In this brief period, his strength and speed increases exponentially, making him a deadly wrecking ball. During this time, he can take more damage than normal with no effect. It is brief, and it taxes Otis' energy greatly afterward.
SKILLS
Brawling - Competent Level
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Years of being a bouncer and a supernatural creature have given Otis a skill for defending himself and others. He's not what anyone would call graceful about it, but what he lacks in finesse he makes up for with speed and power.
Driving - Competent Level
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Otis is a licensed driver with many years' experience. He can handle a car or truck like no one's business. He can even drive commercial vehicles, up to large box trucks.
First Aid - Competent Level
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Being a loner means not going into Urgent Care for every little bump and scrape or nearly severed finger. Otis has trained himself in first aid and emergency triage and can dress a wound with a fair amount of skill.
Forestry - Competent Level
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Otis lives in the woods. He's roamed them both as man and bear. There's not much he doesn't know about the woods around Queen's Cove.
Otis knows the history and customs of his people, as well as enough information about other supernatural creatures in the area to stay alive and not actively make any enemies.
Otis knows how to sew, both with a machine and by hand. He's not great at it, but he can mend his own clothes and even make new ones that don't look terrible.
Survival - Competent Level
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Otis has skill enough to keep himself and others alive in the wilderness for several days.
Woodworking - Expert Level
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Otis has been working with wood since he was a child. He has nearly mastered his craft and there are few in town whose skill surpasses his.
ABILITIES
Power: Healing - Enhanced Level
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As one of The People, Otis has the ability to withstand damage from light weaponry without losing any of his ability. He can also heal at an accelerated pace. This ranges from a few minutes for minor injuries to a few hours for more serious wounds. A mortal wound or severed limb can take up to a few days.
Power: Natural Weapons - Enhanced Level
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In his bear form, Otis possesses razor-sharp claws and powerful jaws, capable of biting and tearing through most things, including bone, concrete walls, and sheet metal up to 1/2" thick.
Power: Physical Prowess - Enhanced Level
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The People are, overall, tougher and stronger than even above average humans. They can lift heavy objects with ease (up to 400 lbs), break through walls and structures with minimal effort, and tear sheet metal up to 1/2" thick. They can withstand a remarkable amount of blunt-force trauma, and in bear form are essentially bullet-proof.
Power: Senses - Enhanced Level
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Otis has heightened senses as part of his gift. He is capable of identifying scents that are weeks old, and can track a scent over many miles. His hearing is equally keen, making him capable of hearing the slightest whisper from 100 feet away. His sense of taste is keen enough to pick up flavors and odors that are several days old.
Power: Speed - Enhanced Level
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In his bear form, Otis is capable of running up to 60mph over short stretches. Up close, his paws can move faster than opponents can compensate for.
ADVANTAGES
Unlike the majority of bear shifters, Otis is not a hybrid. As such, he is capable of complete control over his shift between bear and human, without being subject to the moon. Emotion can still trigger a shift, however.
Otis has a reputation as a woodworker and craftsman. As such, he is a minor celebrity in town, even if he eschews the attention.
Otis makes a comfortable living selling his furniture and other woodworking. He's not fabulously wealthy, but he doesn't have to worry about paying his bills.
WEAKNESSES
Like most supernatural creatures, Otis has a vulnerability to Mountain Ash. He is unable to cross a barrier made of it, and inhaling or being pierced with it can make him very sick, if not kill him outright.
Otis is capable of speech; he just doesn't utilize it. This can make communication troublesome and frustrating both for Otis and for those with whom he's trying to communicate.
Otis is very large, and that makes him less agile than he'd like. It also renders much of the world inaccessible to him.
Otis is a loner, so he doesn't know how to work as part of a team. He can learn, but it'll take time.
