CHERNIY OOTUG (BLACK IRON)
From the League of Champions game.
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CHERNIY OOTUG (BLACK IRON)From the League of Champions game. |
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In late 19th Century Russia, anti-Semitism and unrest against Jews was rife. In Moscow, Vasiliy Kaganovich, an Ashkenazi rabbi, qabbalist and inventor worked on something that would help to protect his people.
He knew of the old legends of the golem, the man built from clay to serve and protect the Jewish people, but he hoped to go one better, using what he knew of the modern world. Over the years he constructed a golem, but not one of clay. One built out of the best technology available to him at the time. A golem of iron, steel, bronze and hydraulics. With a brain formed from a miniature Babbage engine and a qabbalistic perpetual motion engine to drive it. With cameras for eyes, microphones for ears, and a speaker for a mouth. And by the early 1900s he had succeeded. His golem, that he named Adam, lived. His life derived, as far as Adam knows, from the Tetragrammaton, the power of God Himself (YHWH).
Unfortunately, by this time the situation in Russia, in particular the pogroms there, had become so bad that few Jews were left to protect. And, worse, the creation of Adam had come to the attention of the 'mad monk' Rasputin. Rasputin visited rabbi Kaganovich and attempted to persuade him to hand Adam over to him 'for the good of Russia'. Kaganovich refused to do so, despite escalating threats and intimidation.
Eventually Kaganovich decided to leave Russia and travel to the USA, where he could perhaps work and do good freely. He packed and sent most of his belongings to America by ship. Before he could leave himself Rasputin had a final confrontation with him, and left in a rage from Kaganovich's continuing refusal to co-operate. Before long Kaganovich was murdered by forces unknown, and his home torn apart by searchers. How much Rasputin learned about Adam in all of this is unknown...
But it was too late. Adam, inactive, was on a ship to the American city of Old Portsburg, the SS Eagle.
Unfortunately, before the SS Eagle could arrive at Old Portsburg it collided with another ship in fog, and went down with great loss of life. The crate containing Adam was lost at the bottom of the sea.
Only recently was the resting place of the SS Eagle found by divers from what is now Millennia City, and artefacts from it brought to the surface for restoration and display in the Millennia City Museum of Art. Adam was initially thought to be an abstract sculpture, though one in amazingly good condition - completely un-corroded.
Adam remained inactive, and might have done for many years more, until a gang sent by the notorious criminal art collector known as Dr Leonardo attempted to rob the Millennia City Museum of Art of various interesting and unique pieces, including Adam itself. With criminals and hostages present, blood splattered across Adam's lenses, and with his in-built drives to protect and serve activating, he reactivated himself, saved the hostages and stopped the gang.
Since then Adam has lived secretly in the museum, helped by Rachael Leonidovitch Snegirovna and Arnold Katz, two of the restoration staff who it saved from the gang. While they teach it English and help it learn about the modern world and fight crime in Millennia City, in return Adam allows them to learn what they can about it. During this time Adam has met the time traveller Captain Ludd, who seems to wish to destroy Adam for the alleged good of the future.
Because of its appearance and heroic deeds, the press have nicknamed in Black Iron, which it has translated into Russian and uses as its 'nom de geurre'. Another nickname, 'Steampunk', has faded into the background.
In its inactive form, Adam is a two by one by one metre block of apparently Victorian-era machinery weighing nearly thirteen tons, built of black iron, steel, bronze and shining hydraulics, with visible eye lenses glowing with a faint white fire, microphones and a speaker grille. All of its parts are inscribed with Hebrew symbols. In particular it has the Hebrew word Emet (Truth) inscribed on a part of itself that is always visible. In theory if the first letter of this word was erased, turning it into Meit (Death), then Adam would be deactivated.
When active, this block of machinery can reshape itself to extend limbs, guns, cutters, tools (spanners, drills, lock-picks and so on) and wheels.
Adam moves slowly (reflexes-wise; it can go quite fast on its wheels), but with a sense of inexorability, and also with some hissing and clanking of machinery. Its machinery is never cold, but instead is maintained at a pleasant warm temperature.
It speaks fluent, accent-less Yiddish and Russian, and has learnt accented English since arriving in Millennia City. Its voice hisses and crackles like an old audio recording, and is made up of samples of the voice of its creator, Vasiliy Kaganovich, so that its voice is the same as his.
Adam has an in-built drive to serve and protect, the Jewish people in particular, but humans in general too. As such it will not kill unless it can absolutely not be avoided. This in-built drive is what has turned it into a crime-fighter.
It is somewhat naive, and prone to follow orders that are given to it, though it may reconsider once it has had a chance to think about them. Because dirt and dust in its exposed workings is uncomfortable to it, and might eventually cause it to jam, Adam keeps itself clean and polished, in a perhaps slightly fastidious manner.
It is quite religious, and considers itself to be a Jew. As such it observes Jewish religious practises, such as the sabbath (from Friday to Saturday night) and Jewish holidays such as Passover. Of course, it is pragmatic enough to ignore these holidays if there is some threat to be opposed, as that is a more important thing. It attends synagogue when it can (though given its appearance and mass this may be a problem). It also has a copy of and reads the Torah.
Black Iron was generated using the first edition Mutants and Masterminds rules, along with a number of House Rules.
CHERNIY OOTUG (BLACK IRON)
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Alternate Identity : Adam (Secret)
Group Affiliation : Whatever we're called...
Base of Operations : Millennia City
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Height : 6'6"
Weight : 25600 pounds (12.8 tons)
Sex : N/A
Age : 100 or so; subjective age much less
Eyes : Crystal lenses glowing with a faint white fire
Hair : None
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Power Level : 9
Max Power Rank : 9
Size : Medium
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ATTRIBUTES
Strength : 20
+ 14 ( + 5 Ability + 9 Power + 0 Misc )
Dexterity : 13
+ 1 ( + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Constitution: 20
+ 5 ( + 5 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Intelligence: 12
+ 1 ( + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Wisdom : 12
+ 1 ( + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Charisma : 16
+ 3 ( + 3 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Points = 10+3+10+2+2+6 = 33
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SAVES
Damage : + 7 ( + 5 Ability + 0 Power + 2 Misc )
Fortitude : + 7 ( + 5 Ability + 0 Power + 2 Misc )
Reflex : + 1 ( + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Will : + 1 ( + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
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ATTACKS
Base Attack Bonus : + 4
Melee Attack Bonus : + 9 ( 4 BAB + 5 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Ranged Attack Bonus : + 5 ( 4 BAB + 1 Ability + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Points = 8
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Defense : 11 ( 10 + 0 Defense + 1 Dex + 0 Size + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Flat Footed Defense : 10 ( 10 + 0 Defense + 0 Size + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Initiative : + 1 ( + 1 Dex + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Hero Points : 5
Speed : 30 feet
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Light Load : 68096 pounds (34 tons)
Medium Load : 136192 pounds (68 tons)
Heavy Load : 204800 pounds (102 tons)
Lift Over Head : 204800 pounds (102 tons)
Lift Off Ground : 409600 pounds (204 tons)
Push or Drag : 1024000 pounds (512 tons)
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WEAKNESSES
Disabled - No Sense of Smell or Taste; can be rendered inactive by removing
first letter of 'Emet' from body; weighs tons
Disturbing
Quirk - Must Serve And Protect
Vulnerable - Magnetism
Points = 10+10+10+10 = 40
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SKILLS
Bluff : - 2 ( 0 Ranks + 3 Cha + 0 Power + -5 Misc )
[-5 from Disturbing]
Diplomacy : - 2 ( 0 Ranks + 3 Cha + 0 Power + -5 Misc )
[-5 from Disturbing]
Disable Device* : + 4 ( 3 Ranks + 1 Int + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Escape Artist : + 7 ( 4 Ranks + 1 Dex + 2 Power + 0 Misc )
Intimidate : + 7 ( 4 Ranks + 3 Cha + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Knowledge ( Jewish Culture ) : + 5 ( 4 Ranks + 1 Int + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Language ( Russian ) - Yiddish is native
Language ( English )
Language ( Hebrew )
Medicine* : + 10 ( 9 Ranks + 1 Wis + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Open Lock* : + 8 ( 7 Ranks + 1 Dex + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Read lips* : + 2 ( 1 Ranks + 1 Int + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
Repair* : + 10 ( 9 Ranks + 1 Int + 0 Power + 0 Misc )
* Denotes a trained only skill.
Points = 0+0+0.75+1+1+1+0.75+2.25+1.75+0.25+2.25 = 11
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FEATS
Ambidexterity ( 2 ) All arms are as good as one another
Connected ( Free ) In a limited form
Endurance ( 1 ) It's a machine
Fame ( Free )
Great Fortitude ( 2 ) It's a machine
Headquarters ( Free )
Improved Grapple ( 1 ) Very strong and flexible mechanical limbs
Improved Pin ( 1 ) Very strong and flexible mechanical limbs make it hard to
escape if Adam grabs you
Rapid Healing ( 2 )
Startle ( 2 ) Adam can be alarming to look at
Toughness ( 2 ) It's a machine
Points = 2+0+1+0+2+0+1+1+2+2+2 = 13
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SUPER FEATS
All Round Sight ( 2 ) Adam has eye lenses all around its body
Durability ( 2 ) Adam is a machine
Extra Limb x 8 ( 4 ) Adam can extend or retract up to ten limbs from the mass
of machinery that is its body
Immunity (Aging 1, Criticals 2, Disease 2, Energy [Cold] 2,
Energy [Heat/Fire] 2, Energy [Hard Radiation] 2, Exhaustion 1,
Poison 2, Pressure 1, Starvation 1, Suffocation 2) ( 18 )
Adam is a magical machine
Radio Broadcast ( Free, Device )
Radio Hearing ( Free, Device )
Points = 2+2+4+18+0+0 = 26
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POWERS
Density Control, Rank 6
Cost Per Rank: 6 power points
Cost: 36 Power Points
Action: Free
Range: Personal
Duration: Permanent
Extras: Innate, Continuous
Flaws: Density Increase Only, Permanent
Source: Mystical; It's a large and heavy machine
Page: 65
Elasticity, rank 2
Cost Per Rank: 4 power points
Cost: 8 Power Points
Action: Half
Range: Personal
Duration: Sustained
Source: Mystical; the machinery that makes up Adam can rearrange itself to
some extent to extend and retract, though it always looks fundamentally
the same
Page: 68
Gadgets, rank 7
Damage Bonus: By Power
Cost Per Rank: 2 power points
Cost: 14 Power Points
Action: Full
Range: By Power
Duration: By Power
Extras: Not Via Devices, Does Not Take A Hero Point To Change Powers
Flaws: Slow (takes a full action to change)
Source: Mystical; Adam's machinery 'rotates' in and comes out again in the form of
the equipment he requires
Page: 72
[Appropriate powers include Clinging, Deflection, Immovability, Microscopic Vision,
Natural Weapon, Protection, Regeneration, Running, Sensory Protection, Snare,
Spinning, Strike, Super-Charisma, Telescopic Sense, Tunnelling; all via
appropriately Victorian-era special effects]
Growth, rank 3
Cost Per Rank: 7 power points
Cost: 21 Power Points
Action: Free
Range: Personal
Duration: Permanent
Extras: Innate, Continuous
Flaws: Permanent
Source: Mystical; It's a large and heavy machine
Page: 72
Regeneration, rank 1
Cost Per Rank: 3 power points
Cost: 3 Power Points
Action: None
Range: Personal
Duration: Permanent
Extras: Regrowth
Source: Mystical; damaged parts of Adam's machinery slowly 'rotate' into the main
mass of him, even if he is unconscious, and come out fully repaired
Page: 79
Density Control and Growth together give 9 ranks of Immovability, Protection and
Super-Strength.
Power Stunt: Can do Lethal or Stun Damage with Super-Strength ( 2 ) He can strike
with blunt or edged instruments of many kinds.
Points = 36+8+14+21+3+2 = 84
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Total Points = 33+8-40+11+13+26+84 = 135
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COMPLICATIONS
Enemy : Anti-Semtitic groups.
Enemy : Rasputin? (This would be Rasputin in the style of Hellboy.)
Enemy : Dr Leonardo, mad art collector who wants to add Adam to her collection.
Enemy : Captain Ludd, time traveller who wishes to destroy Adam for the alleged good of the future.
Enemies : Qabbalists, who want to find out how he works.
Enemies : Satanist mages, who object to the idea of his deriving his power
from the Tetragrammatron.
Prejudice : Non-human, and Jewish.
Problem : The World is not built for his size, strength and so on.
Prejudice : Some consider him to be a machine, not a person.
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Dr Leonardo is an eclectic collector of art and beauty of all kinds, and is known across America for it. She is also known because she does not collect in the conventional manner, but simply steals what she wants or finds interesting, because, so it seems, in her mind she is 'saving' it from the damage and debasement that Great Art suffers when exposed to the gaze of the 'loutish public'. It is suspected, though without any proof, that she is also behind the disappearances of a number of models and other individuals of great beauty.
All that is known of her has been gained from the interrogation of those of her minions who have been captured; given that she reveals very little to these minions information on her is sketchy, to say the least. It is unclear whether she actually has super-powers or not. She certainly has a secret base somewhere. Beyond that she appears to be a graceful very upper-class old lady, clearly once beautiful, who wears a long black coat over a floor-length black dress, along with black gloves and a black domino mask. Her long silver hair is tied up in an elegant bun and kept so with long silver hairpins.
She is arrogant and condescending, especially towards those she considers to be of the lower classes, and has absolute contempt for those who do not appreciate Art (Philistines, as she refers to them). [In terms of personality, I see her as being rather like the character 'Vixen' from Captain Britain, though with much more style, class and dress sense.]
She carries a silver-topped ebony cane, not because she needs it to walk, being as spry as someone half her apparent age, but because it appears to be some kind of super-tech device. Certainly it can shoot blasts of electricity which she uses both to defend herself (though she much prefers to let her minions handle any violence that is required), and to discipline those of her minions who are disrespectful of the art she so treasures. It also seems to be able to open most types of lock, and disable most security systems, with nothing but a tap. It is unknown what other devices, if any, she may carry about her person. She travels by means of a super-tech-enhanced chauffer-driven silver 1930s Rolls Royce; her minions follow in a similarly-enhanced 1930s truck. If it is small enough stolen art is carried by Dr Leonardo herself, in her Rolls; otherwise it is carried in the truck.
It was Dr Leonardo who caused Adam (Cherniy Ootug) to reactivate when she and her minions attempted to steal it for her collection. Although foiled at the time, so far as it is known she has not given up on this intention...
The symbol of Dr Leonardo and her minions is the Vitruvian Man of Leonardo da Vinci. She wears a broach with this design, while her minions wear it woven into their clothing.
In the future, or so Captain Ludd [from Luddite] claims, Black Iron has grown larger and larger, to the point that it threatens the entire world. This is because it wishes to put everyone under its (benevolent) control, and they can live _within_ its by-then-vast structure. Obviously not everyone wants this, and so Captain Ludd has been sent back in time from that future to destroy Black Iron now, when it is at its weakest, and so nip this problem in the bud.
Captain Ludd has various powers derived from the armour he wears, a sleek, very high-tech-seeming set of armour in an urban camouflage pattern. These mainly consist of a variety of time travel and time control abilities, as well as life support, protection from damage, enhanced senses, a pool of gadgets, and a modicum of flight ability. He seems to be tough, self-reliant, have military training, and considers himself to be a hero. What he looks like under his armour is unknown, including whether he is even a he...
Although the version of Adam described here originated in Russia, a similar Golem (or indeed one of the more traditional kind) could originate anywhere Jews are being persecuted and are in need of protection. For example in Nazi Germany, the Middle East both before or after the formation of Israel, during the Russian Civil War, or in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in the Far East of Russia.
The inspiration for Adam was the Demon Form of Castalia, a Chaosite NPC from campaign segment 4 of my Amber game 'Now These Her Princes Are Come Home Again'.