READ OR DIE

THE PAPER

(Yomiko Readman)

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
10	STR	0	11-	Lift 100 kg; 2d6 HTH Damage [1]
19	DEX	27	13-	OCV:  6/DCV:  6
13	CON	6	12-
10	BODY	0	11-
13	INT	3	12-	PER Roll 12-
18	EGO	16	13-	ECV:  6
10	PRE	0	11-	PRE Attack:  2d6
18	COM	4	13-

5	PD	3		Total:  5 PD (0 rPD)
3	ED	0		Total:  3 ED (0 rED)
4	SPD	11		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
5	REC	0
26	END	0
25	STUN	3		Total Characteristic Cost:  73

Movement:	Running:	6"/12"
		Leaping:	2"/4"
		Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost	Powers & Skills
150	Paper Manipulation:  Variable Power Pool, 90 base + 60 control cost, No Skill Roll 
	Required (+1), Powers Can Be Changed As A Zero-Phase Action (+1); Limited Class Of 
	Powers Available paper effects (-1/2); all slots Requires Sufficient Quantity Of 
	Paper (-1/2), Gestures (-1/4)

5	Rolls With The Punches:  Physical Damage Reduction, 25%; Only Works Against Hand-
	To-Hand Attacks (-1/2), STUN Only (-1/2)
10	Lucky Girl:  Luck 2d6

	Perks
10	Base:  50-Point Base (Small Apartment Building [full of books])
3	Fringe Benefit:  Agent of the Section A Library Special Force

	Skills
12	+4 with Paper Manipulation
10	+2 with HTH Combat
6	+2 with Block, Dive For Cover, and Dodge

3	Acrobatics 13-
2	CK: Tokyo 11-
3	Climbing 13-
3	KS: Bookstores In Tokyo 12-
3	KS: Literature 12-
5	KS: Old Books 14-
4	Language:  English (idiomatic; literate)
0	Language:  Japanese (idiomatic; literate)
3	Power:  Paper Manipulation 12-
2	PS: Agent of the Section A Library Special Force 11-
2	PS: Substitute Teacher 11-
1	WF:  Blades
237	Total Powers & Skills Cost
310	Total Character Cost

150+	Disadvantages
10	Hunted:  Section A Library Special Force 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)
20	Normal Characteristic Maxima
10	Physical Limitation:  Nearsighted (Frequently, Slightly Impairing)
20	Psychological Limitation:  Complete Bibliophile (Common, Total)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Never Plans Her Actions (Very Common, Moderate)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Very Protective Of Her Glasses (Uncommon, Total)
15	Social Limitation:  Secret ID (Yomiko Readman, agent of the Section A Library Special 
	Force (Frequently, Major)
55	Experience
310	Total Disadvantage Points

Background/History: Yomiko Readman is a woman who leads an interesting double life. Outwardly she is simply a substitute teacher who is utter and totally enamored with books. At the same time she is also a secret agent for the Section A Library Special Force of Great Britain, where she is known by her codename, "The Paper." As The Paper, Yomiko travels worldwide fighting evil in all forms.

Personality/Motivation: To say Yomiko loves books is the understatement of the year. She doesn't just love books, she adores them, and will gladly spend her entire paycheck purchasing new and used books in such massive quantities her picture is posted in bookstores around Tokyo with the comment "Most important customer. Please say hi to her." Her apartment (Actually, it looks like she owns the entire apartment building in which she lives.) is crammed with books stacked from floor to ceiling. Yomiko does more than buy books, of course, she also reads them, and if not shopping for books, can usually be found reading one, especially if passing the time while traveling or waiting.

Yomiko adores books to such an extent she will do almost anything to get a stolen book back, often without a second thought as to what it is she's actually doing (Example: Leaping out of a plane to catch a falling book sans parachute.). She also can't stand to see a book come to harm, and tries to avoid damaging any books in her possession. If asked the question "What is more important, your life or this book?" Yomiko will have to spend a moment thinking about the answer.

As Yomiko is terribly nearsighted, she is highly protective of her glasses, and will not tolerate anyone trying to tough them. At one point she attacked Miss Deep with a razor-edged sheet of paper (imbedding it in the ceiling) when Miss Deep made a motion to touch her glasses. Fortunately, Miss Deep was able to flip out of the way just in time.

Quote: "Please give me back my book!"

Powers/Tactics: Yomiko has the ability to manipulate paper. She can bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate paper into almost anything she desires, whether it be a simple paper needle, or a giant paper airplane that seats two. A short list of the powers she has been shown using includes: Entangle (sheets of paper over the eyes, mouth, or hands), Force Wall (a wall or bubble of paper), Hand Killing Attack (paper knives and swords), Missile Deflection (using sheets of paper to stop bullets), Ranged Killing Attack (sheets of paper hurled like knives), and Stretching (using sheets of paper to form long "tentacles"). Other examples of her power include using a length of paper ribbon to grab the limb of an escaping giant insect and anchor it to the ground, using a sheet of paper to block a flaming staff strike, picking a lock with a paper needle, forming a parachute from the pages of a book, and turning a sheet of paper into a folded-up flying butterfly.

In order for Yomiko to use her powers she needs to actually be in contact with the paper first (At least, this normally seems to be the case. At least once she directed a cloud of falling paper money to attack a target, however, she was holding a bill in her hand at the same time.). She also needs sufficient paper to actually create an effect first. A single sheet of paper can be made into a knife or a lockpick for example, but not the giant paper airplane. This is why Yomiko totes around a suitcase full of paper where ever she goes.

Yomiko's paper creations can be quite strong (She has used a single sheet of paper to stop a bullet for example.), yet they are still vulnerable to fire. This latter effect is not represented in the write-up for the Variable Power Pool, as it is not an absolute power (her Force Walls have withstood explosions) and should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Her powers also require no effort, hence the Reduced Endurance Advantage on her Variable Power Pool. Game Masters may or may not want to actually use such a construct. Technically it is legal, but requires a "good reason" and/or GM's permission. If you'd rather not use such a mechanic, increase Yomiko's Base Cost to 90 points.

Although Yomiko's Paper Manipulation Power is "effortless" she still needs to actually exert herself to direct where the paper goes. For example, when throwing a cloud of paper sheets at a target, Yomiko must actually "throw" the paper. These same hand motions are used to create many other paper effects, such as forming a Force Wall with a wave of the hand, or hurling a wad of paper to create a Stretching effect. If her hands are bound, Yomiko's ability to manipulate paper is virtually nonexistent.

As a final note, the powers of "Rolls With The Punches" and "Lucky Girl" were my attempt to explain Yomiko's cinematic ability to withstand physical attacks with only minor ill-effects. Although physically quite normal (Abet quite fast if she needs, hence the 19 DEX.), Yomiko does manage to come away fairly unharmed from several dangerous encounters.

If attacked, Yomiko's first reaction is usually to produce a handful of playing-card sized sheets of paper, and then use them to defend herself as she seems fit. Normally she defends first and then attacks only if it is absolutely necessary. She will usually use Entangles first, followed by various RKA effects. In a fight Yomiko is no fool, and will quickly flee if an encounter goes bad, retreating to a better position to launch a counterattack.

Appearance: Yomiko Readman is 25 years old, and stands roughly 5'4" (maybe 5'6"). She has black hair that falls to her mid-back, blue eyes, and a nicely endowed figure. Her regular "costume" consists of black dress, white long-sleeved shirt, brown vest, dark red tie, and black shoes. Over this she wears a tan jacket and hauls around a suitcase full of paper (using a handy wheeled carrier). Yomiko is actually quite attractive (she could have a COM of 20 if she tried), but between her normal mode of dress and her glasses (which she adjusts often) this fact is easily overlooked.

Designer's Notes: Yomiko Readman comes from the anime series Read Or Die. It is a three-episode action-adventure series that is technically quite excellent, with very nice animation and computer-effects. The anime series is based on the manga of the same name, and it is quite likely I've missed many aspects of Yomiko's character. For example, scenes in the anime make it look like Yomiko can read German and might know some basic kendo moves. I managed to see Read Or Die via a bootleg version without sound, and based all of this on the subtitles and some material I found on the Read Or Die website.

The Paper is best suited for superhero games, although one could use her in a strange sort of modern fantasy setting (Paper magic, anyone?).

Some additional information on The Paper sent in by a reader:

The Paper's Hero Designer File

(The Paper created by Kurata Hideyuki, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

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