Altermind had grown up in Portland. He'd lived there all his life. The Portland he saw now was not anything like the Portland of his childhood. Epics ruled and fought everywhere, fires burned, and people were afraid.
Altermind had always been a smart kid. He had aced all of his tests throughout all of school and always kept straight A's. He had loved superheroes and comics. Batman was his favorite hero because he had relied not on powers, but gadgets to save people. Milton, as he used to be called, wanted to grow up to be like Batman. He never had been popular or handsome, though. He was a nerdy kid with scrawny arms and an ugly birthmark on his neck.
One day, Calamity answered his prayers. Milton woke up one morning and realized he thought differently. He could change what people saw, or felt, or heard, or even smelled. He could even carry objects with his mind, as long as they were close. But being an Epic took it's toll on Milton's mind as well. He slowly became less loving and more selfish. He cared for his well-being and wished to rule. He no longer used the name Milton Towren. He cast off that mantle of the past and took on the mantle of Altermind; the mental Epic of Portland.
Other Epics came and others left. Killscream, Gazerbeam, Earthmover. Not many had been in Portland their entire lives. Not many who came later survived. Altermind was one of the first Epics in Portland and one of the few who had lasted this long.
Altermind had a small zone he ruled in northwest Portland. Thoughttown, he called it. Only those of sufficent mental capacity were allowed to stay there. Altermind created a test to root out the imbeciles of the town and keep the useful ones. The ones allowed to stay were put to work in factories to produce weapons and energy that Altermind would need. He worked with a minor Epic, Scorch, to maintain peace. Scorch was a fire Epic. He could create small fireballs with nothing but his mind and hands. Scorch had just barely passed Altermind's test, but Altermind kept him because of how useful his power was.
Leftinch, can you submit a character profile in the "Question" thread so we know more about your character?
And, if anyone wants to write as Scorch, let me know. I think it'd be fun.