I'll be uploading the full profiles in a few days, after this contest ends:

1) OC Powers Contest may be found here: [link]
- Contest run by





It's not an uncommon sight to see Joshua Dsiorpov beaten to a bloody pulp. He is a decent Grim Artist, no doubt, but despite his prestigious Lineage, his score card has a win-loss ratio that does not favor him at all. Maybe it's because he generalized too much with his abilities, spreading his training too thin between many Aesthetics. Maybe it's because something is holding him back. Or maybe it's because he just doesn't have what it takes. Regardless, there comes a time when he runs out of options; a time when his skills, circumstances, or even his more taboo Techniques are simply not enough. If there are no immediate allies nearby, Josh's next move is to call upon them from afar.

This is where certain Portal Contracts come in handy. But these are not meant for him to travel. These precious Grim Products, Crafted for Josh by the Tenmache Guild, have the ability to contact one of The Triumvirate's allies and bring them to where he is, if circumstance allows it. The Portal Contracts themselves were fashioned to resemble playing cards that one might use to play Poker. They require a Cost to activate, but don't need a continuous expense to stay activated, since that is supplied by the summoned Artist upon arrival.

An incident of such Products being employed was when Josh challenged an Artist he thought for sure was a Dilettante, just like him. The two of them had been hunting for ingredients at the Sxalotl Cavern Ponds and chanced upon a rare anchovy that both of them wanted, but would not yield to the other. Hence, a duel to decide who would take it. At first, the fight was even, but after insults and cheap shots were lobbed by both sides, tempers quickly soured. The scuffle soon went from something casual to something very, very personal. It was only after Josh's opponent 'graciously allowed' him to unveil a full Triple Wing Domination, before proceeding to crush him at his strongest, did the Triumvirate realize that he was dealing with a High-Rank Virtuoso. One that had been sufficiently ticked off to kill him in cold blood, despite his attempts to admit defeat and leave in peace.

What Josh's opponent didn't know was that, as much of a loner as he was, Josh was nowhere near friendless. And with the last vestiges of his strength, Josh swiftly called five powerful comrades to his side. He was not able to see how the rest of the battle went, since he passed out almost right away, waking up bandaged and sore two days later with an extremely valuable anchovy happily swimming in a bowl beside him; the little fish was oblivious to the notion that it would soon be dinner.

The Grim Artists summoned by the Portal Contracts were:

- Bastet 'Red Mirror' Weston: Her Portal Contract appears as the Ace of Hearts. A shooter from the Lineage in the Grim Renaissance with the monopoly on all guns, save for a few heirlooms that other Guilds, Lineages, Institutions or Agencies may have hoarded safely before the current Weston head took over, who just so happens to be Bastet's grandmother. The Red Mirror takes the art of firearms far outside the box; she even taught Azrael Domination, one of the Winged Dominants who rule Joshua as part of a Triumvirate, a few of her tricks. While Joshua himself has never handled a firearm in his life, Azrael has taken a scary liking to Bastet's tutelage, and he shows no sign of slowing down in terms of what he learns from her.

- Marc 'Sir Bruiser' Sulweiss: His Portal Contract appears as the Jack of Spades. This guy has been a buddy of Josh ever since High School, now having gone to further his training at a well-known Cooking Institute. This adept young man combines the role of Chef, Blacksmith and Brawler into something quite difficult to face against. While Josh is a capable Chef, Marc never fails to send him running for his money with an array of concoctions that benefit their consumer in more ways than one. Whether is role is front-line or out-of-combat support, Marc has constantly proven himself to be indispensable, sometimes and accidentally, even to the opposing team. Of course, if that ever happens, Marc can employ a few potent Gaming Techniques to even the odds.

- Xuraios 'Phantomantis' Vakurion: His Portal Contract appears as the Joker Card. Joshua isn't really on good terms with this particular Artist. In fact, Xuraios has made an attempt on his life on more than one occasion. However, it is not out of his own volition, if it's even right to call Xuraios a 'he' and not an 'it'. Whoever controls Xuraios at the moment is not an ally of Josh, but it just so happened that the Tenmache Guild were able to secure a contract with the Phantomantis. When summoned by a Portal Contract, Josh controls Xuraios until he is returned to his unknown, enigmatic master. Even if no direct order is issued, Xuraios will lend his employer aid, heaping carnage on enemies with a flurry of devastating Techniques spanning multiple Aesthetics.

- Amelia 'Velvet Kraken' de Auroche: Her Portal Contract appears as the Queen of Clubs. A Seamstress by profession, but an excellent Fighter at heart, Amelia is not the typical Fashion Artist. She knows how to make clothes that augment her allies, but she also knows how to send foes scurrying like roaches before a flashlight. And even without people to wear her Grim Products, her creations are quite happy to fight on her behalf; many believe that without a body to slow them down, or provide more mass thereby making them a bigger target to hit, Amelia's clothes can defend their mistress with greater ease. Still, she prefers to fight on a team, and those with the Velvet Kraken on their side have yet to complain about her support.

- Kay 'The Earl of Morbidity' Zaphkiel-Smith: His Portal Contract appears as the King of Diamonds. His first name isn't really Kay; he is simply using the first letter of his true name. He used to be one of Josh's closest friends. There was a year or so when they were practically brothers. They have since gone their separate ways but remain on very good terms with each other, which is unusual, since they're almost polar opposites. While Josh prefers to fight at a distance, Kay is a close-quarters elite. While the Triumvirate's personality is plagued by chaos and strife, there is an order and harmony between Kay's physical, emotional and spiritual selves, honed by intense Combat training and an equally-intense quest for self-perfection.

It goes without saying that these five, along with a few others, have saved Josh many times before, and the best part is they they do so without considering it a favor to hold against a friend in need.