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From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

Operative Rostov was originally just a bit part in the story The Arbiter Initiative I: Smoke and Mirrors; when the announcement came down that the Villain Epic Archetypes were going to be Soldiers of Arachnos, I decided to revisit the character in-game. The revised character leans heavily on a "disgruntled soldier" concept, with a bit of old-school science fiction flavor thrown in.

Operative Rostov
30 Natural Crab Spider Soldier
Crab Spider Soldier/Crab Spider Training
Arachnos Soldier, Operative Rostov
Player: @Coreth [1]
Activity Level: Irregular (Villainside)
Real Name:	Konstantin Rostov
a/k/a:	None
Physical Identifiers
Species:	Human
Sub-Type:	Unknown
Gender:	Male
Apparent Age:	38
Height:	5'9"
Weight:	170 lbs
Build:	Athletic
Complexion:	Unknown
Eye Color:	Brown
Hair Color:	Brown
Distinguishing Features
Eyepatch covering the right eye-socket
Biographical Data
Birthdate:	Confidential
Birthplace:	Confidential
Nationality:	Citizen of Russia
Residence:	Rogue Islands
Occupation:	Former soldier in the Russian Ground Forces
Marital Status:	Single
Legal Status:	Operative Rostov has an international criminal record
Relatives & Associates
Confidential
Known Powers
None
Skills & Abilities
Familiarity with military ordnance; specialized Arachnos military training
Equipment
Arachnos Crab Spider battle armor and backpack

[edit] Personality

Rostov is a good soldier. He follows orders, and can give them when needed. He knows his place in the chain of command, and hopes to improve it. He isn't too interested in morality these days; that had been ground out of him by his training in the Ground Forces of Russia, and in the Wolf Spider program of Arachnos.

Rostov does possess a special dislike for the Arbiters, and while he will never outright defy them, he will certainly work covertly to undermine them at any opportunity.

[edit] Powers

Operative Rostov's powers derive directly from his training as a Soldier of Arachnos, and the equipment he has been issued by that organization.

[edit] Crab Spider Soldier

The weapon system that gives the Crab Spiders their name is the primary tool of Operative Rostov. The arms of the Crab Spider backpack have an assortment of weaponry, from high-caliber, high-velocity kinetic ammunition, to toxic grenades, to high-energy plama launchers.

[edit] Crab Spider Training

Rostov wears a custom suit of Crab Spider combat armor, which affords him significant protection from physical harm. This armor is rated to handle attacks from super strength impacts to directed high-energy attack. Rostov's training has made him a canny opponent, as a crack shot with an assault rifle and as a tactician who minimizes the vulnerability of himself and those who work with him.

[edit] Additional Powers

Arachnos has supplied Rostov with some other custom equipment, not generally seen by the rank-and-file soldiers.

[edit] Flight

Anti-gravity generators within Rostov's armor allow him to defy gravity. He has been quick to exploit both the maneuverability flight gives him and the pepetual high ground in any conflict.

[edit] Fitness

Rostov's training, in addition to the Revitalizing Ray treatments, has succeeded in keeping the soldier in exceptional physical condition.

[edit] Abilities

Rostov had been an infantry soldier in the Russian Ground Forces; as such a soldier, he is well versed in most military personal hardware (grenades, bombs, firearms, etc). Since joining Arachnos, he has expanded this knowledge to that organization's weapons as well.

[edit] Weaknesses and Limitations

Outside of his armor, Rostov is as vulnerable to harm as any other human being.

On a monthly basis, Rostov must endure a revitalizing ray treatment, which locks rejuvenates his cellular structure. Without this constant treatment, he would rapidly age to his true age in a very short period of time.

Rostov is missing an eye, due to a close encounter with a Mamba Blade shortly after being reassigned to Mercy Island.

[edit] Equipment

In a secret location, Rostov has concealed the only known prototype of a revitalizing ray which is capable of retarding the aging process; this ray will only work on individuals with certain genetic markers-others who attempt to use it give themselves multiple aggressive strains of cancer.

[edit] Character History

Kontantin Rostov was a soldier in the Russian Ground Forces, and served with little distinction. Rostov served a stint in Afghanistan, after which he officially "retired" from service. Rostov would not reveal why he would leave at the age of 38. The military didn't see anything wrong with it at the time.

Their opinions likely changed when he defected from Moscow to the Rogue Islands-with a set of schematics he had found and kept to himself; the schematics were for a "Revitalizing Ray", which could stop the aging process near indefinitely. Those schematics bought him into the Arachnos organization, and their scientists were able to build the ray; under the terms of the deal, Rostov was the first to benefit from its treatments. (It is also probable that the scientists were more than happy to let someone else suffer any unexpected consequences)

Rostov was lucky-it turned out that his genetic map was compatible with the ray. Those who were incompatible died messy deaths. Still, even a few would prove to be helpful to Arachnos.

For many years, Operative Rostov-assigned to the Wolf Spider program-commanded a small base on Sharkhead Island. He was disgusted as the Arbiters rose in power, as untouchable; if Arachnos was about survival of the fittest, why shouldn't the Arbiters continue to prove their worth? But arguing with Lord Recluse is seen-rightly so-as a very easy way to shorten your career. And your life.

Early in 2008, Arbiter Sands asked Rostov to orchestrate a scenario where Arachnos would appear to be arming a faction in the Council at Paragon City. While this work was successful for a time, it was never meant to truly succeed. Eventually, the scheme was uncovered by the Old Ranger, who learned that it was only ever meant to serve as a distraction.

Arbiter Sands was furious upon learning of Rostov's failure, and he was busted down the ranks back to Mercy Island. It would be there that Rostov would have the opportunity to rebuild his career, and become far deadlier than he had ever been in the past. In spite of the Arbiter's expectations, Rostov proved himself equal to all of the potential "Destined Ones", and was able to finally transfer out of the Wolf Spider program and into the Crab Spider program.

By late 2008, Rostov had set up a Black Ops organization for Arachnos on the behalf of the Arbiters, designed to give Arachnos strike capability with plausible deniability. The Arbiters remained no friends of Rostov, however, severely underfunding the organization's operations center. The organization-and Rostov personally-took a hit in prestige when a covert action by heroes of Paragon City in combination with treachery by one of his lieutenants caused a spectacular failure in an operation entrusted to him by Recluse's inner circle. At the present time, he is rebuilding his core structure in his organization and is seeking the true identities of the heroes who have brought about his latest misfortune.

[edit] Affiliations

[edit] Trivia