Tricky the Clown

Name: Dr. Hofnarr (In the past) Tricky, or Clown, or Tricky the Clown (Now) Gender: Male Height: 170 cm Location: Nevada Intellect: high

Backstory: Doctor Hofnarr was a brilliant scientist working on Project Nexus, a program designed to mass-produce soldiers. He collaborated with Dr. Kristoff in an attempt to oppose Director Phobos and use the project’s results for more constructive purposes. Over time, Hofnarr, possibly due to the influence of the technology he worked with, lost his sanity and abandoned his former life. He took on a new name — Tricky — and gradually became the sinister clown known for his chaotic energy and unpredictability. The revolutionary device known as the Improbability Drive became the key factor in his transformation. Once exposed to its power, Tricky gained the ability to distort reality, resurrect after death, move at incredible speed, and demonstrate superhuman combat skills. These powers not only amplified his strength but also further destabilized his mind. Initially serving as a hired assassin, Tricky’s newfound powers pushed him into becoming a sadistic, game-playing monster. Despite his brutality, he often displayed a strange sense of “sporting fairness,” sometimes arming his opponents before fighting them, finding it more entertaining to give them a chance. Tricky is Hofnarr's current being. With the Dissonance energy and Improbability Drive set in his mind, it has caused him to go somewhat insane. He always views everything as a simple game, and has a violent mindset, reflecting off of his former self.

His sanity is one thing, but he still retains some of his intelligence. He is aware that he is insane, and still knows about stuff like the Divergence Engine and the two soda cans theory.

Personality: Tricky's control of the Improbability Drive seems to have made him insane, or at least more twisted, power-hungry and wrathful than he was originally. Starting off as an assassin, Tricky's mind became more and more warped as he drew more power from the Improbability Drive, leading him to become a vicious, malevolent, power-hungry, and powerful foe. He seems to constantly revive and kill Hank due to the fact that he was defeated several times prior. He seems to like music and sometimes serves as a DJ. He also seems to “play” with Hank, reviving him when he died (and then murdering him again) several times throughout the Tricky arc, showing an extremely sadistic and vengeful way of thinking. He once armed Hank and never fought him while he was unarmed, presumably finding it more “sporting”; he has also waited for Hank to finish killing opposing forces before chasing him in his demon form. He is seen arming Hank throughout the series (either directly, or indirectly by leaving weapons behind) — and later, Sanford is similarly armed. The reason for this fairness towards his opponents in spite of his incredible strength and murderous nature is that he believes giving his opponents a chance is more fun. Despite apparently being a psychotic killing machine, Tricky has been shown to display civility at times: at one point he did not attack anybody or fight back against Hank, and on another occasion he was seen calmly buying a hotdog without attacking or even terrorizing the vendor. At later points, his seeming desperation at losing the halo suggests Tricky has become dependent on having power and improbability on his side; without them he appears noticeably weaker and frantically seeks to reclaim them. His more playful side of tormenting his foes is shown as well — for example, by tapping Sanford on the shoulder from behind. Tricky also shows a playful streak in how he toys with Hank and even seems to toy with the Auditor.

Appearance: Tricky's appearance represents a clown. From the Improbability Drive, he is almost constantly shaking. He has 2 red, horn-shaped hairs on the sides of his head. He wears a stone face slab with the eye holes glowing red. On the Tricky's jaw, the skin is always torn with red jaws underneath, implying he wears a green skin on top of his muscles. He wears his torn lab coat. It has the name tag Hofnarr on it. His black underpants are also showing, with a heart shaped pattern on it. There is blood splattered on the coat. Tricky has a high, shrill timbre that goes into falsetto. It sounds rough and strained, as if his vocal cords are constantly on edge. The voice is sometimes accompanied by a characteristic distortion - a "glitch" effect, due to which it sometimes breaks up, sometimes vibrates distortedly, sometimes creates an echo, creating a feeling of a digital failure.

In perception, this voice is harsh and intrusive: it literally "cuts" into the ear, causing discomfort and tension. It combines hysteria, wheezing and artificial electronic noise, which emphasizes the image of a crazy and uncontrollable character.

Abilities: Tricky can use a variety of weapons, although he is best known for his trademark street sign, which became his signature after a near-fatal incident and subsequent reanimation by higher powers.

Most of Tricky's superhuman abilities come from his Portable Improbability Drive, implanted to make him a living weapon. Tricky can jump to incredible heights and evade attacks with sudden bursts of speed. His body is able to withstand far more damage than most of his foes. Through the Improbability Drive, he seems able to revive himself and others at will.

One of Tricky's most significant powers is his ability to transform into a giant, flaming demon. In this form, he gains immense strength and the ability to spit fire. However, if the Improbability Drive is destroyed, Tricky reverts back to his original state.