Characters / Heroes On Campus

The Main Cast

This page contains tropes relating to the specific characters from Heroes on Campus. It is mostly an ensemble cast, and only towards the end does Herbert begin to take higher prominence in the final arc. See the picture on the left for a line up of the characters.

See tropes pertaining to Heroes On Campus Next Generation here.

The Students

Herbert Flynn

Herbert Flynn

"I know that no-one believes me, that they laugh about the things I've seen, but it has to be me. I'm the only one with the power to stop this."

Ability: Empathy - Empathetic Mimicry

It's Luke Skywalker!

Herbert comes from a family of supers, which is either exceptionally rare, or the first example of this happening. A student who, at first, seemed to have super speed but it was actually revealed to be a delayed reaction from his parent's powers, and he is in fact a mimic.

Associated Tropes:

• All-Loving Hero: Herbert is caring and sensitive and wants to help everyone. Maybe a little arrogantly, he believes he is the only chance anyone has. He may be right. Turns out, he is.
• Arch-Enemy: The Redeemer. Herbert is convinced that he is the only one that can stop him. He may be right, as no one else can fight against his time powers except for someone who can copy them (like, say, Herbert...) Ultimately this turns out to be the case. It is Herbert who chases the Redeemer into the 70s when he attempts to kill Captain Omega, and Herbert who ultimately defeats, then redeems him.
• Beat Them at Their Own Game: Played with: How he intends to fight the Redeemer, and how he battles most people he comes across. Herbert's power actually allows him to face the Redeeemer head on, and negate his powers when he uses Nathan's to absorb time. In the end, this is played straight when Herbert finally gains the Redeemer's powers.
• Chronic Hero Syndrome: So badly to the point where he nearly died and then actually died trying to absorb Signe's (who was dead) injuries and then heal. He had to be brought back after a dodgy deal between Margarita and the Redeemer with Lucio's help. In fact, it almost consumes his life, the amount of time he puts into this.
• Did Not Get the Girl: A straight example with Aurora, who ended up with Olem and perhaps Margarita, who is falling towards Taniel. It's sad; the guy tries his best but he always falls short. In the end, his crush on Aurora fades, but when he discovers that Margarita is a supervillain who assisted the Redeemer, he is shocked and upset. The story ends before he find out how he intends to deal with this revelation. (But considering that Margarita wanted to defect, it is likely they'll eventually overcome this.)
• Dogged Nice Guy: Always falls behind others by putting himself first and losing any girl he's interested in. It also means he puts others first most of the time, and loses out on anything he wants. Yet Herb still does it every time.
• Genetic Memory: A key aspect of his ability. At this time, Herbert absorbs every ability he touches. However, once he's absorbed the ability it starts to fade away, like a memory. After that it gets pushed to the back and becomes almost impossible to access unless he touches the holder again. This is inverted for powers where he holds an emotional connection to the user; such as love, or extreme guilt. For example, he holds his parents powers permanently because of that parents/son empathetic connection. He also held Chris' power too, because of guilt from her death. Since she got better, it fades like any other. Usual time for a power to fade is a week or less.
• I Believe I Can Fly: Has many dreams about it and even calls out Canagold's superhuman strength by thinking of it. Tries to get Nathan to teach him to fly, but already has flight stored in his 'memory bank' from his uncle, 'The Eagle', who can fly past Mach 2. As such Herbert sees it as the key to bringing out his powers. Almost right as after he tries to test it he starts to improve dramatically. It also quickly becomes his favourite ability.
• Nice Guys Finish Last: An almost comical example.
• Dreaming of Things to Come: He absorbed the ability to see the future in dreams from his mother. It comes in handy, as he immediately sees through the Redeemer. It does, however, nearly get him killed when he acts on that instinct a bit too stronger.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: At the start, Herbert is wisecracking and quick, to suit his original Super-Speed. (This was because Herbert was originally intended to just be a speedster, before quickly changing into an empath.) He later takes on his more empathic and considerate personality.
• Future Badass: The future stories, written by the other posters, have Herbert near the top of his game, having controlled his ability and mixing powers he's absorbed to create devastating effects. Known as the heavy hitter of all the remaining Supers. Nearly enough, by the end of the story Herbert actually becomes this, and defeats the Redeemer fairly handily. In all, Herbert is recognised as the most powerful of all the superhumans.
• How Do I Shot Web?: Herbert's arc is revolved around this even as the Redeemer approaches with an intent to destroy Olympus. He eventually learns, and gets help from the Vortex Energy in the final battle.
• Jumped at the Call: He even jumped off a building to get at it!
• Mind Rape: The Redeemer inflicts one on Herbert after he comes looking for answers as to how Chris died. He sends Herbert on a dystopian journey before using his powers to age Herbert so he loses his memory bank of abilities and can't fight. Then he mocks him for his failure.
• Mistaken for Gay: By Aurora for a while. She's wrong.
• Nice Guy: Herbert to a T! He is sensitive, looks out for others, and empathises with them.
• Personality Powers: His power comes from his ability to emphasise with people.
• Physical God: At the end fuelled by the Vertex Energies, Herbert very much becomes this. He even grows back a lost arm!
• Power Copying: More specifically, a Power Sponge, where copying abilities was his default power; Herbert just has to remember how that hero made him feel.
• Punch Catch: Herbert, after channelling Canagold's strength for a moment in his first fight with the Redeemer. The Redeemer only becomes more vicious to finish off Herbert. In their final battle, Herbert does it again, but this time the Redeemer forces him down to the ground and overpowers him, before throwing Herbert into a wall.
• Shock and Awe: He gained the ability to control electricity from his father. He uses it as one of his regular powers and often charges his fists with electricity.
• Superpower Lottery: Herbert can, eventually, access to all the powers of any other super he's ever met, making him take the most powerful card in the future. Currently, he can barely control his powers so this is somewhat inverted. [[spoiler: When the Vertex Energy takes effect, this is realised, and Herbert can literally do pretty much anything. It's how he defeats the Redeemer before the energy wears off, returning him from Physical God status.)
• Super-Speed: As a result of the Vertex Energies, and a delayed reaction to his being exposed to his parents powers, Herbert temporarily gains super speed. When it wears off he is left powerless. Or so he believes until Nathan corrects him and teaches him how to access his actual ability: Mimicry.
• Super-Strength: He gained this from Canary and has already used it on a few occasions without meaning to do so. In the end, he purposes takes it to combat the Redeemer.
• The Empath: And not in a lame way! Though it may appear like this at first, Herbert's abilities have the potential to be immense and all because he can connect with people like no-one else. So well in fact, he gains their powers!
• Too Powerful to Live: One day this is what he aspires to. As of now, it is unlikely because his power is so hard to access. He just gets lucky with what he plucks out. As noted, very much subverted in the end and also in the Future Stories (which are non-canon but accurate representations of the heroes powers in the future.
• Took a Level in Badass: Once he actually starts learning his powers, he's going to be one powerful guy! Eventually learns them throughout the story and takes that level!
• Training from Hell: Nathan is currently trying to impose it on Herbert. It takes time, but he succeeds in teaching Herbert about his powers.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Herbert has a strained relationship with his father, a famous Olympian superhero, because he hadn't manifested powers in his youth (or so they thought). His father, Gilbert Flynn, tries to hide it, but it's obvious that he's upset that Herbert never demonstrated any sign that he would follow in his footsteps. (At least, at the beginning.) Nathan calls Gilbert out on it near the end.
• What Kindof Lame Power Is Heart Anyway?: Originally how he views his powers when he believes them to consist of reading people's emotions only. Quite the comedown from Super-Speed.
• Wide-Eyed Idealist: Herbert certainly has this attitude.
• Unskilled, but Strong: Herbert has a multitude of powers and no idea how to use them or how to fight effectively. This is eventually subverted, although he is never as skilled a fighter as the Redeemer.

Aurora Ross

Aurora Ross

Lets get... dangerous

Ability: Injury Transferal, Enhanced Durability.

Aurora is a third year student who gains her powers in the aftermath of the explosion. She attempts to use them for good things, to help those around her, and to redeem her fellow students but comes up against opposition to the idea. Although Aurora preaches high ideals, she had trouble sticking to them, and runs the risk of Fallen Hero syndrome! She eventually abandons her high ideals and becomes a vigilante, but remains steadfastly on the side of good.

Associated Tropes:

• Action Girl: Very much how Aurora operates; right in the thick of the action.
• Affectionate Nickname: 'Rora', used by Olem. It means quite a lot to her oddly enough.
• Angst: Aurora suffers from a bit of it as she manages her powers and how she wants to use them.
• Anti-Hero: Aurora is an odd example for sure, and not completely straight. She wants to be good person but due to Olem's presence in her life, she's actually becoming more ruthless. Yet she wants to be The Hero. So, odd one right! Eventually, she accepts this status, and mirrors her superheroine persona on it.
• Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Her and Olem on occasion.
• Bullying the Dragon: Aurora is quite defiant towards the Redeemer. But then, she just doesn't want to join him, and makes that known. Luckily for her, it only results in a beating them the Redeeemer loses it, but at least she sticks to her principles. Later on, the fact that she drew Olem from his side vexs the Redeemer to no end, and he actively considers how satisfying it will be to kill her.
• Empathic Healer: Aurora's power allows her to take wounds and other injuries into herself, which she can keep at a reduced level, or pass on. At first she uses it to help others positively, but eventually she also begins to use it aggressively.
• Extremity Extremist: Aurora uses her legs and not much else when fighting.
• Gaydar: Waaaaay off with Herbert; Aurora spends a good chunk of time convinced that Herbert is gay. As it turns out, he isn't.
• Hypocrite: Aurora is pretty nice, but this doesn't stop her from falling below the wayside when she actually indulges in one vigilante work. Violent, vigilante work.
• Kick Chick: When fighting Aurora is acknowledged to be a fairly awful puncher, and so she relies on serious kicks to get the damage done. Could be to show off her legs, but primarily because she doesn't have the upper body strength of Olem (for example.)
• Make an Example of Them: Aurora is on the receiving end of this, when Thomas White is sent by the Redeemer to convey a message. That message involves a collapsed lung, which is going to kill her within 10 minutes unless she passes it on. Therefore proving that our morals are fake and Olem is a bad influence on her. Ouch. Aurora decides to Take a Third Option.
• Mistaken for Gay: She thinks this about Herbert for a while.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: In the Trafalgar Square battle, Aurora kind of snaps, and decides to start fighting properly. Also when she moves beyond just trying to heal people with her powers.
• Love Redeems: Aurora manages to redeem Olem by turning him against the Redeemer, by revealing her growing feelings for him. So played straight, even if the aftermath is a bit
• Personality Powers: Aurora wants to help others, but can be vindictive. Hence she can transfer injuries!
• Super-Toughness: One of Aurora's secondary powers, which allows her to tank the injuries she takes on. It also makes her really tough; so tough, that she survives an attack by Thomas when he collapses her lung.
• Take a Third Option: Subverted. After Thomas attacks her, (see above), Aurora decides not to compromise her morals, even if it kills her. Luckily for her, it doesn't, and her Super-Toughness keeps her alive long enough to get medical treatment. There was no magic plan C though.
• Team Mom: The glue of the group for sure. She tries to draw them together and keeps the peace.
• The Heart: Aurora really does glue the group together and try and get them to stay good. Aurora is always encouraging them to do better really.
• The Hero: What Aurora aspires to be, before she accepts her dual identity as healer and vigilante, as reflected in her final super costume, which matches both her light and dark sides, so to say.
• Took a Level in Badass: Olem's training with Aurora allows her to become a formidable fighter. It shows, after her passive display in the heroes first ever battle, to the point where she is hunting down criminals with Olem.
• Training the Peaceful Villagers: Aurora is the villager. Olem is the teacher. Redeemer is the army. Good luck with that.
• Vigilante Man: Becoming more and more so, due to her own uncompromising attitude and Olem's influence. It becomes apparent when she goes out with Olem and kills several (admittedly very dodgy) people.
• What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?: How Aurora views her powers at first; they are after all, her just making herself injured, or hurting others who probably don't deserve it.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Aurora pretty much carries the banner for this, and tries to believe the best in everyone. Especially for Olem. This is pretty much one of Aurora's crucial skills in life. She doesn't ever quite get Olem to become good, but she keeps him from being evil.

Chris Savage/ Reaper

Chris Savage

Bombshell!

Ability: Energy Manipulation.

Chris Savage is a carefree character who turns up on Campus, and more than any other character enjoys her powers. But then she runs into the Redeemer, and things change... Now she's carrying a pretty dark secret.

Associated Tropes:

• Action Girl: The principle example in the cast! Chris is fierce, and a terrific fighter. Her powers only enhance her natural abilities. Chris is a very formidable foe, and one of the most powerful heroes in the cast. Demonstrated to full effect when she and Herbert go to fight crime.
• Alternate Identity Amnesia: As Reaper Chris forgets what happens in her split personality and is largely oblivious to it. However, this has changed dramatically after Chris became too hard to handle and the Redeemer dissipated her. Then he returned!
• Character Tics: Her signature wink.
• Enigmatic Minion: As Reaper, she obeys the Redeemer, but is otherwise fairly neutral and not specifically evil.
• Death Is Cheap: It doesn't seem this way for a long time, but eventually, it transpires that the big explosion that nearly killed the Redeemer didn't actually kill Chris! The Redeemer created her again out of pure energy.
• Heroic Sacrifice: When Chris realises that she can't actually beat the Redeemer and Olem she decides she has to overload herself to destroy the Redeemer. It doesn't work but points for trying!
• Light Is Not Good: Chris is light and has energy powers, which are defined as 'light powers' by most people but is actually Reaper.
• Ms. Fanservice: Chris is sexy and she knows it! But seeing as it is a forum, there isn't really too much actual fanservice!
• My Master, Right or Wrong: As Reaper, she is utterly devoted to the Redeemer, regardless of Chris' opinion of him.
• Pure Energy: Chris' power in a nutshell.
• Reforged into a Minion: Chris identity as Reaper. She was turned into this by the Redeemer.
• Split Personality: For some time, Chris and Reaper are one and the same. Then Chris manages to escape and regain her body, removing this trope. Chris is pretty pleased to wave it goodbye.
• Strong as They Need to Be: Chris is pretty damn powerful and her power varies as she continues to hone it. Reaper is somewhat similar come to think of it.
• Superpowered Evil Side: Reaper is definitely this, drawing out more power than Chris can normally control.
• Superpower Lottery: Chris' control of energy allows her to fly and makes her very powerful.
• The Killer in Me: Reaper was this for Chris, in spades.
• The Reveal: Chris telling Herbert that she is in fact Reaper.

Lucio 'Bella' Bellatore

Lucio Bellatore

Butterflies!

Ability: Rapid Cell Regeneration, Immortality, Healing Hands.

Associated Tropes:

• Agent Peacock: Lucio likes flower crowns, cute animals and is a championship-level dancer. He is also one of two people in the University group to have any military service and is a trained martial artist.
• Berserk Button: It has yet to be pushed, but he doesn't take kindly to fascists or supporters of fascism, due to familial links that suffered greatly under the Fascist Tellasite government. To a lesser extent, being called Italian, although he mainly plays that for laughs.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Lucio is very slow to anger and is willing to help and forgive anyone. He is also immortal, so if you do piss him off, then you're in trouble.
• Bilingual Bonus: Lucio's last name, Bellatore, is a slightly modified form of the Latin word for warrior, bellator . His nickname that derives from it, Bella, is a double pun in itself: in Latin it is the plural of war and in Italian it means beautiful. His divine patron even acknowledges this, calling him "Warrior" whenever they talk.
• Conlang: His native language, Tellasite, is in fact Interlingua.
• Dancing Is Serious Business: Lucio has been dancing since a very early age, and comes from a culture where it is held in high regard. Thus he took mild offence when Aurora joking tried to buy a dance off him with a drink: his dancing cannot be bought by any one person, for it is for all to enjoy. Dancing is one of the few things that Lucio will commit himself to in an entirely serious manner.
• Eye Color Change: Lucio's normally green eyes change to match his divine patron's purple at times. So far, it has only been noticed when he is being resurrected.
• Gold and White Are Divine: Lucio's superhero costume is primarily gold and white, and he claims to be a divinely-appointed champion. In turn, his patron is always seen in a simple white dress and gold laurel wreath.
• Hope Bringer: As the physical embodiment of Hope, this goes without saying. Lucio fully intends to live up to this trope as an Olympus superhero, even choosing his name on that basis: Espereus is the old Tellasite word of Hope.
• Immortal Life Is Cheap: How he now views himself. He is more than willing to sacrifice himself to save people, as he can return unharmed. In his own words: 'Someone has got to be an idiot, and it is best if that someone can come back from the dead, no?'
• Let's Get Dangerous!: Unlike many other superheroes who focus on fighting injustice, Lucio cares more about healing and helping people. Forcing him to fight results in this, as his opponent who only saw a softie healer or incompetent Mediterranean fool gets their arse handed to them.
• Light Is Good: Lucio wears bright colours and his healing powers create a soft golden glow. He is also a very friendly and optimistic person who is very firmly on the side of good. Lucio bleeds this trope.
• Living Forever Is Awesome: Despite pledging himself to helping everyone he can, Lucio is also ecstatic about living forever, as it means that he literally has all the time in the world to do whatever he wants in the meantime. His highly optimistic nature is crucial in powering this mindset.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: Lucio can speak four languages and is intelligent enough to get on a scholarship to a very good university, but he's content to let people think he's a bumbling, over-enthusiastic and well-meaning idiot. This is mainly due to laziness, as people are less likely to ask him to work if they doubt his intelligence.
• Resurrective Immortality: Upon dying, Lucio's soul travels to a small clearing in a wood, akin to Limbo, where he is offered the chance to 'pass on' to the afterlife or return to the world of the living, in the same body with the same powers. He has sworn to return until he is not needed. When his soul returns to his body, or what's left of it, it will rapidly and somewhat explosively regenerate to how it was before he was killed.
• Raised by Grandparents: His parents died when the military helicopter they were piloting crashed in Lucio's infancy. His paternal grandparents, Giovanni and Rosa, took him on as their own and raised him, along with help from his paternal grandfather Mario.
• Rousseau Was Right: His outlook on humanity is that all people are inherently good and are capable of redemption.
• Signature Scent: No matter what, Lucio always smells of fresh flowers. The more he uses his powers, the stronger the smell becomes, and it intertwines with the scent of wine and sex. Most of the time, though, Lucio smells like he's been rolled down a mountain pasture in the middle of Spring.
• Thou Shalt Not Kill: Do to his views on redeeming people, he believes that all his opponents are worthy of another chance. Thus, he is strongly against killing anyone, no matter how severe the crime.

Olem Tapas

Olem Tapas

Mr Disease!

Ability: Can create the symptoms of diseases in others.

An ex-soldier who used to hunt superhumans. And this was before he had powers! Now he's dark, conflicted and trying to run from his past.

Associated Tropes:

• Anti-Hero: Olem is grumpy and sour. Heck, it's genuinely uncertain if he actually is a hero... Leading to...
• Anti-Villain: If he isn't a hero, he's a villain. The line is so blurry they basically overlap with Olem.
• Bad Powers, Good People: Olem's powers are evil. Plain and simple, they hurt people. But Olem himself wants to be more than that, so this is an accurate reflection.
• Being Evil Sucks: This is what Olem realised once he started falling in love with Aurora.
• Heel–Face Brainwashing: To the Redeemer, back to Aurora, and back again... Maybe? Subverted and diverted and every kind of 'verted.
• Heel–Face Turn: This occurs when when Olem turns against the Redeemer, who until then, was his closest ally.
• Horrible Judge of Character: Olem does join the Redeemer after all.
• Good is Not Nice: Olem in a nutshell, if he's good. He's sarcastic, rude and doesn't take anything from anyone. It's amazing he has friends!* Reformed, but Not Tamed: Olem is just as much of a d—k as he was before.
• * Poisonous Person: Olem's power allows him to control illness.
• The Corrupter: Olem has this effect on Aurora, to such an extent that the Redeemer is now using it as a way of getting back at him for his earlier betrayal and defection from the Redeemer's cause.

Nathan Cloud

Nathan Cloud

The real life Harry Potter invisibility cloak.

"I think you're f—ked in the head, Herbert. We're ten hours from the f—kin' powers and you wanna bail out. Well, I'll tell ya something. This is no longer training. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun and you're gonna have fun. We're all gonna have so much f—kin' fun we'll need plastic surgery to remove our god-damn smiles. You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your assholes! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Ability: Absorption of colours, energy and other intangible things.

A old student studying for a History of Art degree who even admits that it's a joke, and he's really here for the student loan. Luckily, he knows a lot about Herbert's ability and actually can be quite helpful. Nathan has ties to Olympus, and knows a lot more than he really lets on.

Associated Tropes

• Anti-Hero: Only because he's not exactly a hero. He used to be an Olympian though.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: Nathan has done this once when the Olympus sub-plot was taking ages to actually finish.
• Deadpan Snarker: Nathan loves a snark!
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Nathan is, well, a moron, but he's also actually quite insightful at times, he owes a Bruce Wayne-esque business (except he's actually only a consultant, and oh yeah, he used to be a well-regarded Olympian. But he's still an idiot most of the time.
• Cloudcuckoolander: Nathan spies on people and breaks the law. He thinks this is normal and is charmingly happy about the whole affair. Just take that in for a second. He also wanders around with baguettes and pretends to be a homeless man rather than the super billionaire that he really is because... well, this trope.
• Invisibility: His signature ability without a doubt. By manipulating colours around him, Nathan can create a chameleon effect, and so render himself invisible.
• Just Ignore It: This was Nathan's original solution to the Redeemer back when he was an Olympian. Suffice to say, it didn't work.
• The Obi-Wan: Nathan is fulfilling this role towards Herbert, but given his drunken, sarcastic attitude, he's not actually the best role model. Won't stop him trying though.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: To an extent; as noted above, Nathan is genuinely a bit of an ditz but he's also more insightful than he lets on.
• Odd Friendship: Nathan is quite different from Herbert, yet they get along well.
• Oh, Crap!: Nathan when trapped in the burning building with an injured Herbert, after Margarita burns it and makes the roof collapse. It's a fairly measure reaction in the circumstances.
• Plucky Comic Relief: Nathan and his role in the story. before its revealed that he's actually an ex-Olympian.
• Popcultural Osmosis: This is basically how Nathan lives his life, immersed in references to pop-culture (seeing the above paraphrasing of National Lampoon as one example!)
• Pop-Cultural Osmosis Failure: What frequently happens to others when he speaks.
• The Nicknamer: And he has many. Scooby Doo for Ed is a highlight.
• The Reason You Suck: Nathan delivers one to Gilbert Flynn, Herbert's father, when he meets him in Olympus.

Edwina 'Ed' Malone

Edwina Malone

Adorable Beast

Ability: Transformed into a huge dog; Enhanced Senses, Bite Force and Increased Speed.

Associated Tropes :

• Amazing Technicolor Population: Subverted; it's a very normal dark black-ish colour.
• Animorphism: Well, she has become a giant dog essentially.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Ed is a nice person and really more of a detective than a fighter, but still, don't piss her off.
• Deadpan Snarker: Ed has been known to on occasion.
• Expy: Of Beast from X-Men powers wise, but very different from there.
• Healing Factor: It's suspected, seeing as Ed hasn't actually been in any major fights just yet.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: At one point she was verging into this with Herbert, being one of the few people to support him. Not so much now at this point in the story.
• Lightning Bruiser: Not only is Ed strong, but she's also incredibly fast and agile.
• Monster Modesty: Ed pretty wears normal clothes around the place, but is just covered in fur as well!
• Natural Weapon: Her teeth are weapons, as are her paws and new agility.
• Pointy Ears: Well, Ed is quite like a large dog, with the ears to match!
• Put on a Bus: Ed joins Olympus and then plays no further part in the story, presumably engaged in training.
• Stripperiffic: Is less likely to wear clothes than the rest of the heroes.

Signe Vestergaard/ Guardian Angel

Signe Vestergaard

Ability: [[Shapeshifting Shapeshifting]].

Associated Tropes:

• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: The whole Guardian Angel plot line is... unusual and disappears as suddenly as it began.
• Bizarro Episode: Signe becoming Guardian Angel. All the authors on the forum acknowledge its weird as hell, and it results in Guardian Angel stalking Aurora. It... doesn't make much sense. It ends soon enough.
• Dropped a Bird on Her: A perfect example. She was flying as a bird, then just decided to drop from the sky and died, despite the attempts of other to save her. Goodbye Signe.
• But Not Too Foreign: Even though Signe is not a native of England, or the UK, she isn't overly different from her peers or obviously foreign.
• Loners Are Freaks: Certainly how Signe comes across. She is pretty depressed about it, and it does not help her branch out.
• Personality Powers: Signe can change her appearance, which reflects her desire to fit in with others.
• Shapeshifting: Signe's power, which allows her to transform into pretty much anything, but does not improve her strength or other physical attributes most of the time (but she can fly as a bird!)
• The Quiet One: Signe was always very quiet and shy among the group, which was especially obvious when up against quite brash characters.
• Voluntary Shapeshifting: Signe has the ability to change her shape and form at will, kind of. To be fair, it's a bit less voluntary than you might hope.

Alex Stone

Alex Stone (aka, Zero)

Ability: Gravity Manipulation.

A student whose entire life has been dogged by Olympus screwing up. He's lost his family, and he's a bitter anti-hero at it's best. But not a villain; the line is fine but it's still solid.

• Anti-Hero: He and Olem encompass this for the group.
• Black-and-White Morality: Alex definitely encompasses this ideal, and he is fairly uncompromising.
• Byronic Hero: Zero hops the line in this regard, but he is dark, cynical, an outsider among the students. His attitude contrasts quite sharply against Herbert's All-Loving Hero attitude which leads to friction between them early on.
• Combat Pragmatist: Zero will fight dirty if he needs to win. And he won't care.
• Freudian Excuse: Alex's messed up childhood has directly influenced his attitude to crime and how to be a superhero.
• Good Old Fisticuffs: This is his style of fighting, seeing as he was never given any proper training so he just kind of beats his opponents into submission using strength and resourcefulness.
• Gravity Master: His entire power. It makes him surprisingly powerful and he is quite versatile in its use.
• Hero with an F in Good: Zero is not actually Captain Omega, and although he hasn't had a chance to do all that much yet, his methods are going to shock the rest of the students.
• Le Parkour: Alex was born on the streets, so he's already a bit of an accomplished parkour. But he can use his powers to manipulate gravity in order to enable him to turn his parkour into something superhuman.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: Zero plans to match evil for evil.
• Put on a Bus: Alex kisses Freya, his long time crush and them just disappears. He is never seen or heard from again, and despite his hard stance on crime, one can't help but feel that he gives up heroics to live with Freya.
• Übermensch: Zero lives by his own code, having watched the justice system repeatedly fail. He has little regard for conventional rules and when it comes down to it, it's going to be a thin line holding him back from killing someone.

The Villains

The Redeemer of Men

The Redeemer of Men

Kind of like an angry Hayden Christen.

"'One day, [Olympus] will collapse. All their lies will catch up with them, and as the building collapses around them, as the posters get ripped from the walls, and when they finally look to the people for help, begging for salvation, I'll be there and I'll bury them."

Ability: Space Time Manipulation and Energy Harnessing.

The main villain of the piece, shrouded in mystery with a tragic backstory which drives him to destroy Olympus, and will stop at nothing to end it's reign. This is not all that of bad thing considering Olympus is fairly decadent and imprisons any supers who use their powers, regardless of whether they were saving or hurting someone.

Associated Tropes

• Affably Evil: This comes across with how he treats the students, and he tries to convert before he kills.
• Alas, Poor Villain: In the end, it's hard not to feel sorry for all the crap he's been through, especially with his backstory, Pet the Dog moments, and final speech.
• Anti-Villain: He is clearly evil and fanatic, but at the same time he is not all bad.
• Arch-Enemy: Primarily Herbert Flynn. They fought once, with the Redeemer winning hands down, but ever since he's found out that he's alive, he has sent Reaper to watch Herbert and eventually kill him. (Using a rock as a handy analogy for crushing Herbert's head.)
  • To a lesser, but growing extent, Olem, after he betrayed the Redeemer. He gave him a brutal beatdown in retaliation and was only stopped by the intervention of Aurora. He nearly attacked Olem when he saw him at Trafalgar Square during the huge battle over the Olympian kidnap by the Redeemer and his allies.
• Big Bad: He's the main villain for the story and a constant presence. It's all gearing up towards his master plans to destroy Olympus, and any in his way.
• Breakout Character: Originally a one shot villain, he was so popular in his first appearances that he's become the Big Bad.
• Break Them by Talking: The Redeemer attempts this on Herbert and nearly succeeds, when the young hero confronts him in the woods over Chris' death.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Any hero, or student, or Olympian (read: anyone!) is on the receiving end of one of these if they fight him. Of particular note are his fights (read: beatdowns) of Herbert, and then Olem and Aurora at the same time. Even Chris had to blow herself up to escape him.
• Death Seeker: The Redeemer doesn't really care about anything but his goal. He doesn't want to die, per say, but it just won't make him stop as a threat.
• Disney Death: In the end, [[spoiler: after realising the effect of his actions, and their futility, the Redeemer agrees to let Herbert take his power to right the wrongs he committed. He also acknowledges that he's done too much to ever help Herbert. The Redeemer lets himself fall off the building they were fighting on, to his death, overcome by exhaustion and his revelation. When Herbert goes back to the original timeline, the Redeemer is still alive. It's heavily implied that the Redeemer is redeemed, and lives, even if he doesn't get to go free.
• The Dreaded: To the other students and his reputation is only growing. It becomes such that the heroes actively avoid fighting him if they can. Except Herbert, who may be Too Dumb to Live, or crazy powerful.
• Evil Overlord: Yep, he aspires to be this.
• Fallen Hero: Oh so much. Poor guy tried to be a hero, and was an Olympian, but after saving a woman as one of his first heroic acts, his family was killed and he was locked away for years until he could escape as a result. He is still reluctant to kill superhumans but he has veered too far off the morally grey, into the black.
• Hero Killer: Ominously, this is true. And he isn't about to retire.
• Heel–Face Turn: In the end, after Herbert explains how controlling time can't just fix all his problems, the Redeemer agrees and gives Herbert his power, so that he can correct the world. He then drops off the side of the building.
• Jerkass Has a Point: He's a fanatic, but he is right about Olympus sometimes. He even sends Ed out to prove him right, using her own natural curiosity. Olympus have been trying to get rid of him for a while as a result.
• Manipulative Bastard: The Redeemer manipulates a lot of the characters effortlessly, but it's all to further his goal of bringing down Olympus.
• No Place for Me There: After the Redeemer's redemption, he says as much to Herbert about the old (soon to be new) timeline.
• Noble Demon: The Redeemer tries to hold to his deals, gives people and chance, and really tries to stick to a code of honour. However, he is a villain. If someone annoys him, he is ruthless and will kill them without a second thought. Goodbye Lucio. Why did you spit on his face?
• Pet the Dog: When the Redeemer saves Aurora it really makes her, and the forum, think twice about him. It doesn't stop his plan though.
• Powered Armor: The Redeemer wears a black version with glowing purple parts and a distinctive humming sound.
• Punch Catch: The Redeemer catches the Sculptor's punch, quickly showing Lucio that actually, if the destroyed helicopter hasn't made it clear, he's very dangerous.
• Redemption Equals Death: The Redeemer seems to think so. He jumps off a building before Herbert goes back to the present, killing himself in that timeline at least.
• Redemption Equals Life: In the end, Herbert redeems him, and puts his older self's memories into his younger self, so he will realise the futility of his actions without needing to die. The Redeemer hints that this is what he should do before falling off the building.
• Space Master: Officially, he controls a part of the space time continuum and draws energy to power his abilities from it.
• Super-Strength: For sure. He throws characters around easily, and catches the Sculptor's punch, then throws him into a tree effortlessly. In context, the Sculptor is an extremely powerful Olympian who is basically a ragdoll against the Redeemer.
• Teleporters and Transporters: Another of his powers and a pretty key one for his appearance anywhere.
• The Atoner: Ultimately, this is what the Redeemer ends up becoming, in the new and old timeline.
• The Corrupter: It's kinda his primary purpose for being on the campus; to mould new superhumans to his cause. He largely succeeds, but in the end they were a means to an end, and he abandons them to achieve his final goal.
• Time Master: The Redeemer's signature ability. He can control time entirely, but oddly, he cannot stop it. Still, this does not effect him speeding up, slowing and even reversing time to heal wounds! It also means that whilst he controls this power, there is pretty much no way of beating him. It is implied that this power developed through practice, and it was not one he immediately had access to when he first gained his powers. Notably, he cannot travel through time, which is why he needs the Vortex Machine to enhance his powers, so he can kill Captain Omega and stop Olympus from ever existing.
• Time Travel: What the Redeemer secretly hopes to develop one day.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Ever since Olem betrayed him the Redeemer is becoming harder in his attitude and moulding towards a more traditional, extreme villain. Ultimately, Herbert brings him Back from the Brink.
• Villain's Dying Grace: The Redeemer redeems himself somewhat before his death.
• Villains Never Lie: The Redeemer states this explicitly. And it rings true until the very end, when he admits he's going to kill all the superhumans in the Shard, even after he kills Gilbert, rendering the latters Heroic Sacrifice meaningless.
  • Well, I lied, didn't I?
• Villainous Breakdown: When Olem betrays him he goes nuts and nearly beats Olem and Aurora to death. He also suffers one when Herbert foils his final plan.
• Visionary Villain: His plans to overthrow and replace Olympus really couldn't be anything else!
• We Can Rule Together: If it suits his needs, he can offer this to his allies. It's not really true, but mainly because the Redeemer has no desire to lead.
• Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: What with the death of his family for saving someone, then imprisoned by Olympus for hurting said murderers, he's had it tough.

Reaper

The Reaper

Ability: Manipulates Dark Universe Energy, similar to the Redeemer.

Reaper appears in the story after Chris' death. He acts as the Redeemer's minion and right hand man. He is utterly loyal to the Redeemer but his origins are mysterious. It turns out that he was created out of Chris' energy, and is in fact the Literal Split Personality of Chris Savage. As such, see Chris' folder for tropes.

Thomas White

Thomas White

Sylar. Most definitely Sylar.

He watched them, waiting for his moment to strike.

Ability: Can steal the skills and powers of others, killing them in the process.

A psychopath with a talent for hiding his true nature. He is obsessed with stealing powers and joins the Redeemer in order to become more powerful. Thomas often flies off the rails and becomes difficult to control, but is largely held in check by the Redeemer. Seems he's set up as the next Big Bad if the story had continued past the Redeemer Arc.

Associated Tropes:

• All Your Powers Combined/Combo Platter Powers/Power Parasite: Thomas defines these terms for sure. His power is basically these tropes.
• The Dreaded: To everyone else, as he begins to gain more and more power. It's a just a matter of time before he has to be stopped.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: Before he was 'nerfed' he could fully absorb powers in 10 seconds. Now he can only absorb them for minutes to day at a time, unless he holds onto someone for a full minute, and can only hold 4 at a time, as opposed to an unlimited number.
• Eviler than Thou: Seems to be vying for this position with the Redeemer. Just his powers make everyone feel on edge!
• Faux Affably Evil: He's polite and charming but he's a total psychopath deep inside.
• Intangibility: One of the powers he absorbs, which he uses to escape the Redeemer at one point.
• It's All About Me: Power, power, power! A brief look inside his mind.
• Jerkass: Deep inside, yep. Outside, he seems nice until he can get your power.
• Jerkass Has a Point: When Thomas confronts Aurora with the Redeemer's message, and points out how much Olem is corrupting her, he actually has a good point.
• Manipulative Bastard: Thomas can be charming and polite, like a real psychopath, but is basically playing everyone all the time.
• Physical God: Thanks to effective power stealing, Thomas could potentially be this one day. Check out the list of Physical God traits and bet on how long it'll take for him to get all of them! He has Immunity as a power now just to begin with!
• The Sociopath: So, so much. He just wants power, and has no time for anything else.
• The Stoic: Most of the time; he only gets internally excited but is pretty dry otherwise.
• Too Powerful to Live: Not currently, but if he steals enough powers he really will be invincible.
• Superpower Lottery: He can steal the skills (and powers importantly) of anyone. It's effectiveness depends on how long he holds them for, with a minute being total conversion and death. He still steals skills if he holds on for less (one example being the beer pong ability of someone he held onto.) Plus, unlike Herbert, once he has a power he automatically has perfect control over it.
• Tempting Fate: It seems like he's on a collision course with the heroes; either he kills them, or they kill him. And, being a forum, and he a villain, it seems like he might just bite off more than he can chew...

Margarita Dimitrova

Margarita Dimitrova

Ability: Fire Manipulation.

Margarita is a pretty new student on campus who appears about half way through the story. She's an odd cookie to be sure; she quickly joins the Redeemer's forces, but then meets Herbert. From there she struggles with her identity as a villain, and the part of her which wants to be a hero.

Associated Tropes:

• Anti-Hero: Margarita straddles the line better than Olem! She really is undecided, and whilst she does the evil things, it never corrupts her. It's just kind of a fact of life for her really. And Herbert being around changes matters.
• Anti-Villain: Margarita joins the Redeemer and carries out his orders, yet, doesn't quite seem, well villainous. She's like the Token Good Teammate who is just kind of hanging around, yet believes in the cause.
• Dating Catwoman: Margarita is the Catwoman to Herbert's Batman. Although nothing actually happens, there is plenty of Ship Tease between the two of them. After Herbert discovers that she's on the Redeemer's side, it complicates things a bit.
• Deadpan Snarker: Margarita displays a sharp wit on occasion.
• Elemental Powers: She controls fire so this is a given.
• Nice Girl: Margarita is fiery, but also very kind. She puts up with Taniel's distaste for his own actions remarkably well.
• Personality Powers: She has anger issues and is expressly described as having a chaotic personality. Margarita couldn't be more like fire if she wanted.
• Playing with Fire: Margarita has an extremely good control of fire, and can manipulate it to do various things. It also makes her very dangerous and reflects her personality of course (see above).
• Token Good Teammate: Margarita is the Nice Girl on the team. Doesn't stop her from carrying out the Redeemer's orders and battling Herbert and Chris at one point.