Lotan (PL10) -TheAbsurdist

[TheAbsurdist]

Player Name: The Absurdist

Character Name: Lotan

Power Level: 10 150/150pp

Trade-Offs: -5 Attack / +5 Damage, -5 Defense / +5 Toughness

Unspent Power Points: 0

Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30

In Brief: Prodigal Champion of a Silent Goddess.

Alternate Identity: Otto Grimaldi

Identity: Largely known to the public as Lotan. Otto Grimaldi

Birthplace: Mesopotamia/Genoa, Italy.

Occupation: Hero, Champion of Tiamat.

Affiliations: None currently

Family: Mother- Tiamat.

Description:

Age: Unknown

Apparent Age: 30s. (D.O.B 1632)

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: Indeterminable.

Height: 6'6

Weight: 271

Eyes: Bright hazel

Hair: Pitch Black

The first thing one notices about Lotan is generally that he looks... off. His build is wrong. Shoulders just a little too broad, torso and arms a little too long. It is like he was made with pieces from people of differing heights. A strong aquiline nose, and black shoulder length hair and a close cropped beard that were a little wild, and strangely non-reflective though always seeming a little damp. His skin was pale, but the pale of not having seen a the sun recently, though the underlying complexion was dusky. Lotan is well muscled, in the fashion of someone who swam or worked a lot, rather than someone who gained their body in a gym. A strange thing to note is that Lotan appears to have no navel.

He normally adopts a casual attire. His costume is generally street clothes, that favors practicality above all else. Once he is aware of costumes that could last what he can endure, he'd likely seek out something a bit more heroic, as he understands the need to be iconic.

Power Descriptions:

When his powers are used there are noticeable changes to his physiology. As he absorbs energy there is shudders and twitches in his musculature, somewhat unsettling to look at it. As are the lines that appear under his skin, streaking away from the point of impact or absorption and towards his chest, their coloring is a darker, redder shade of his skin, as if they were arteries. All the changes become more pronounced when the more that is absorbed. When energy is expelled, the lines/vein structures surface again, converging on the point where it is released. When underwater the gill slits on his neck open up, a membrane covers his eyes as the pupils enlarge to adjust to the lack of light. As well as webbing between his fingers and toes growing. Leaving water makes the changes go away. As such there is a transitional period that happens, that while it is over in a matter of moments reflexively, it is painful.

His powers are largely derived from Tiamat's grace, altering and adding to his already latent abilities that made him a suitable candidate.

History:

Lotan is the Son of the Sumerian Goddess of the sea and creation. Lotan is Otto Grimaldi. Lotan remembers a lot of things, he remembers the villages, the rites. He remembers wars and battles. The screams of enemies. Oaths of vengeance. And cries of joy.

He does not remember being Otto Grimaldi. The Genoese sailor, known for a love of drink and being vicious with the knife. In most respects he was nothing special in his life. Certainly he had ambitions, dreams, all of that which makes a man. Not so different than the rest, except for his penchant for never starting fights, but then never avoiding ones that were thrust upon him. Had fortune not intervened then perhaps he would have faded into obscurity.

The storm had come suddenly, and Otto and the rest had to work hard to prevent the ship from sinking. They were even managing to hold out respectably against the elements. Then the roar came from the depths, followed by coils of scaled flesh that looped the ship like a noose, and easily broke the spine of the vessel. The sailors were pulled under by the monstrosity. Uncertain of where he was, but aware that most of his fellows dead, or soon to be Otto did the only thing he could think of, which was to dive under the water, after the beast. Determined, at least, to choose his end.

When he awoke Otto Grimaldi was gone, except a ghost of name. In his place were memories of things that seemed as real as any other. Unable to question what had happened, and remembering And Lotan was born, or made. Believing himself to the be the son of the ancient Sumerian goddess Tiamat, that's what the memories told him, that's what he believed, what he felt was right. And time passed as it does.

There were battles, and things and people, but the memories blurred. He stalked the beasts that Tiamat had unleashed ages ago. In sea or on land. Not all of them wore forms that were so readily monstrous. And he was not alone. Sorcerers and fell-things inhabited the world, and he those he fought as well, when the circumstances deemed it as such. Though he had an admitted soft spot for ship-wrecked sailors, and if he came across a sinking ship he would try to save the men as best as possible. Which led to conflict between him and Atlanteans who were more aggressive and warlike.

During this time his attitude steady changed to match the outlook of a Sumerian hero out of place in time, as well as being informed by how his powers where. Finding himself nigh-invulnerable meant he started to take more and more risks with himself, and through this he learned the limits of his power. Or rather, he realized that he would rarely be challenged in overt physical combat, and as such worked towards maintaining that. Blades and cannons could not hurt him. He was a dragon as he saw it, and took the name of an ancient dragon of the sea, Lotan.

Eventually his involvement started to trickle to a stop, and remained that way for over a century, avoiding involvement in anything but small skirmishes until World War 1, and he saw firsthand what the endeavors of man wrought, and with more people with powers cropping up, or him just encountering more of them, he knew he couldn't just sit aside. Not while claiming to be a champion. Of course in the context of that war, it was hard for there to be a 'good' side, and he just tried to protect civilians where he could, or stop some of the more maniacal powered foes he encountered. This did not engender him a lot of well wishers amongst the various governments.

In the closing hours of the Great War, he once more settled underground, or this case, underwater. Surfacing again again when the German U-boats started to attack commercial and passenger ships, he managed to stop a few such attacks off the south of France, before he was captured, after a fashion. He had been summoned by the a magical working of the Thule Society, who were seeking one of the old Sumerian demons that might still be out in the world. Unwilling to deal with them the Nazi sorcerers simply shackled his free will, and turned him into a living tool of the Reich. He was used against the Liberty League and other heroes, along with other Supers under the sway or working for the Reich. Though in the process of enslaving his mind, during which he was aware of what he was doing, he largely became a drone, and while he could use his enhanced strength and absorption to hold the heroes to a standstill, he effectively had to be continually given orders and then new orders. Of course the propaganda machine touted their new unstoppable superman, who was totally loyal to the cause. Footage of him shrugging off tank and mortar fire, as well as some of the strongest blows thrown by Allied heroes was used to great effect.

Eventually during the course of one particular long and savage fight at a Balkan mining installations he was able to throw off the mind control, and wheeled on those who would enslave him. But at that point the propaganda and his attacks on the Heros meant that they were unaware of what was happened and still presumed him a threat. Knowing that a direct assault useless against them, they decided to drop a mountain on him. In the hopes of containing the threat he was. When he did not manage to crawl out of the rubble at the end of the day, it was assumed that he had expired under the rubble. Efforts were made to observe the former mine, to make sure nothing strange came from it.

Flash forward to modern nights, and a Serbian mining concern deciding to reopen a previously abandoned mine. During exploratory digging they found a mummified corpse beneath the rubble. Contacting a team from Freedom City University, they dug out the body and transported it back by ship to Liberty City for study. Imagine their surprise when they opened the crate, to see a reconstituted Lotan, looking at them, asking them for something to eat.

Working it out with officials, including a barrage of questioning, though there had been some file fragments remaining that verified his story that he had been enslaved by the Nazis, he was allowed to go free, with an emphasis that his actions would be watched. So in a new city, in a country he had never been before, in a new time, Lotan had to adapt, as well as adopt the mantle of Hero once again. Though the authorities would have conditions, that have yet arise, of him having relatively free reign, as was to be expected.

Personality & Motivation:

Lotan is in a state of uncertainty. His extended imprisonment and multiple deaths seemed to fracture his certainty in who he was, as well as dredge up some memories of his prior life as Otto Grimaldi. So he is a man in search of a definition. Though outwardly he continues to project himself as the Hero. He feels like he needs to prove it to himself as he isn't he isn't sure what he is, and what thread of his past is the truth. Still, he doesn't shy away from danger or scary situations, rather he rushes towards them, still aware of his strength and unquestioning of the underlying principle that strength is merely a tool, it's how it is used that matters. While he may feel self-doubt, he would still rush into a dangerous situation to save someone without a moment's thought. That said, his outlook is still flavored by the Sumerian memories, and his psyche repairing and working itself out, so he can come off as odd, almost bi-polar. Snapping between loud and boisterous hero, to quiet brooding outsider. As he is having a hard time adjusting to a lot of different things at once, integrating the modern world and his own uncertainty into his psyche.

He is also looking for a weapon of suitable strength for himself to wield. It would befit the champion of a god, and he has yet to find one. For his preference it would be something readily wielded underwater. But it would have to be able to endure his strength when he is at full power.

Powers & Tactics:

Lotan adopts a simple strategy, 'let them hit me.' Against weaker foes he will settle in trying to scare them off as they fail to actually harm him, if they are too weak, then he wont actively strike them down. Against actual threats, he will lead off by testing them with strikes to feel them out then go for a 'swing for the fences mentality,' relying on his ability to absorb punishment rather than actively defending. Having no urge to wantonly harm people, though a little less than concerned over property damage that may crop up. He also uses some underhanded tactics, particularly if the battlefield is level, or he is actually at a disadvantage, while he wont seek to cripple an opponent, he has no qualms about about striking about the eyes, stomping on someone's foot, throwing dirt into someone's face, and the like, to gain the upperhand.

Complications:

Reputation: While not by choice, he did fight for the Nazis, and was used in their propaganda. And enough people remember as to make him have to deal with the reprocussions.

Phobia/Temper: Being buried alive. While not full blown claustrophobia, as he is generally fine in an enclosed space, being under ground or a restrained tends to send him into a rage.

Hatred: Hates Nazis. REALLY hates Nazis. And it is entirely personal. He also has an issue with most kinds human slavery, as well as any mental or magical influence that subverts will. He tends to be most irrational about them, and while he wont kill those people, he will seek them out first, at tactical expense. This also means he dislikes telepathy being used on him.

Weirdness Magnet: Not unlucky, but definitely seems to attract odd events, things.

Perhaps it is a divine mandate that he happens upon such.

Power Weakness: He is unable to use Drain Energy on cold, cold effects, cold generation, or anything of that sort. There is no energy for him to Drain. Further there has to be ambient energy in the environment for him to utilize Regeneration.

Abilities: 10 + 4 + 10 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 26PP

STR 40/20 (+15/+5)

DEX 14 (+2)

CON 20 (+5)

INT 10 (+0)

WIS 12 (+1)

CHA 10 (+0)

Combat: 10 + 6 = 16PP

Initiative: +6

Attack: +5

Grapple: +10/+25

Defense: +5 (+3 Base, +2 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed

Knockback: -2/-12

Saving Throws: 3 + 3 + 4 = 10PP

Toughness: +15 (+5 Con, +10 [Protection])

Fortitude: +8 (+5 Con, +3)

Reflex: +5 (+2 Dex, +3)

Will: +5 (+1 Wis, +4)

Skills: 64R = 16PP

Intimidate 12 (+12)

Knowledge (History) 4 (+4)

Notice 11 (+12)

Languages 4 (Italian {Native}, Sumerian, German, French, English)

Profession (Sailing) 4 (+5)

Sense Motive 4 (+5)

Survival 10 (+11)

Swim 15 (+30/+20)

Feats: 11PP

Accurate Attack

All Out Attack

Distract (Intimidate)

Dodge Focus 2

Environmental Adaptation (Underwater)

Fearless

Improved Initiative

Interpose

Startle

Ultimate Effort (Toughness Save)

Powers: 1 + 5 + 3 + 35 + 3 + 20 = 69 pp

Absorption Array [32+3=35 pp] (Divine Mutation, Absorption)

• Main Power: Blast 13 (PFs: Precise, Variable Descriptor 1 [absorbed]
  AP: Damage 10 (Extras: Area [burst], Selective) (PFs: Progression on Area, Variable Descriptor 1 [absorbed])
  AP: Drain Energy 13 (Flaw: Action [Full]) (PFs: Slow Fade 2 [5 minutes])
  AP: Enhanced STR 20 and Super-Strength 5 (Heavy Load: 96 tons) (PF: Groundstrike)

Immunity 3 (aging, environmental heat, radiation) [3 pp] (Divine, Absorption)

Immunity 3 (environmental cold, high pressure, suffocation [underwater]) [3 pp] (Mutation, Aquatic Adaption)

Protection 10 (Extra: Impervious) [20 pp] (Divine Mutation, Absorption) 'each blow only makes him stronger...'

Regeneration 1 (Resurrection 1, 1/Week; True Resurrection) [1 pp] (Divine Mutation, Absorption)

Super Senses 2 (Darkvision) [2 pp] (Mutation, Aquatic Adaption)

Swimming 5 (62.5mph) [5PP] (Mutation, Aquatic Adaption)

DC Block:

    ATTACK      RANGE     SAVE                         EFFECT

    Unarmed     Touch     DC20/DC30 Toughness(Staged)  Damage(Physical)

    Blast       Ranged    DC30 Toughness (Staged)      Damage(Variable)

    Damage      Burst     DC25 Toughness (Staged)      Damage(Variable)

    Drain       Touch     DC30 Fortitude               Drain Energy

Abilities (26) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (14/56) + Feats 11) + Powers (69) - Drawbacks (-0) = 150/150 Power Points

[TheAbsurdist]

Edit:

Added a flaw to Drain Energy. Lotan cannot use it against Cold. Cold generation does not generate energy for him to take. I dunno how this works on mixed descriptors.

[Ecalsneerg]

Fix up your formatting, and sorry, but that Flaw about cold is maybe only a Complication a 1pp Power Loss, it's not a Flaw by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, you should have the title just be "Lotan", you don't need to include "Tiamat's son"

[TheAbsurdist]

Fixed title, and removed the flaw. I hadn't counted it into the points, as I just wanted it in the decidedly mechanical side.

Edit: I hope I got all the formatting issues.

[TheAbsurdist]

Fixed some more spelling and a little touch of grammar. Altered some fluff bits.

[Ecalsneerg]

It should be noted that while he claims and believes that his powers come from divine heritage, they are derived by mutation. Though it is hard to determine if he was born this way, or if someone or something did this to him.

Major question... why? Why is Tiamat's son not actually divinely empowered when that'd make much more sense than him having a mutation.

Unless of course he isn't actually Tiamat's son, in which case I don't care if the PC doesn't know, we need to know, make it less vague on the sheet even if it's vague in-character.

Combat: 10 + 10 = 20PP

Initiative: +6

Attack: +5

Grapple: +15/+25

Defense: +5 (+5 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed

Knockback: -20/-30

+5 Attack seems very low for someone 400 years old, even if you are scuppered by having a high Strength and PL10 caps.

His grapple modifier is +10/+25.

His Defence just wastes pp, buy Defence +4 and Dodge Focus 1 for the exact same result.

I have literally no idea where his Knockback is coming from. It should be -10 from his Impervious Toughness, and -2 from half of his non-Impervious Toughness. So, -2/-12.

Skills: 56R = 14PP

Intimidate 12 (+12)

Knowledge (Ancient History) 4 (+4)

Notice 11 (+12)

Languages 4 (Italian {Native}, Sumerian, German, French, English)

Sense Motive 2 (+3)

Survival 8 (+9)

Swim 15 (+30/+20)

Ancient history isn't a skill, Knowledge (History) would cover it. Swim +30... is probably a bit excessive seeing how little it comes up. When you take into account he actually has the Swimming power too, he's just squandered a load of pp on a near-worthless skill, as he doesn't have to make most Swim checks.

[TheAbsurdist]

1. Essentially Tiamat turned on his mutation and augmented it. I've altered the descriptors, but I guess the closest thing is he is a Divine Mutate. The logic being that Tiamat's is dormant, and direct involvement is a no-no, so grabbing a mortal who would be the best fit for her purposes and making him better. Like infusing him with Divine blood.

2. Attack was addressed in chat, and he uses Accurate and All Out attack to compensate. Thematically he is something of a monster hunter, so for the huge beasties that are easy hit, he needs to bring the pain. And while he is 400 years old, he's learned to fight on the fly, and has relied heavily on his powers. Adjusted his defense score, and filled out some more skills. The knockback was totally my stupid misread of the book.

3. Fixed history. Left swim the same, because as I read it in the base 2E M&M book the power Swimming only lets me take 10 on swim checks and part of the character design and intent is that he is completely comfortable in the water.

[angrydurf]

Direct involvement meaning Gods taking personal action on the mortal plane is forbidden. They are supposed to instead empower champions to forward their interests, or otherwise meddle dependent on the gods preference. If a mortal is infused with divine blood or whatever the source of thier power is still that divinity. The point is really mechanicaly if he gets shut down by a genesplicer villain who can turn off mutant genetics or a Mage with a spell to ward off godly powers. Of course it could be both as well in which case either could shut him down.

[TheAbsurdist]

Ahhhh well I am fine with the character falling under both descriptors for his powers, and I altered it to follow that line of logic. His underwater powers are just mutation. The Absorption based powers are Divine and Mutation. So I'll roll with the weaknesses inherent there.

[Ecalsneerg]

Alright, since any issues were less "we don't want this" and more "are you sure you're aware of this", I'll go with

:approved:

As with all divine-based PCs, I'd advise you to read about the Pact in Books of Magic, and possibly the main setting book (I'm not sure if it's in there, to be honest), but if you don't have BoM, someone in Chat will happily fill you in.

[Avenger Assembled]

How does the math work on his Drain power?

[TheAbsurdist]

Offhand, I don't know. I borrowed it from one of your builds. If you are referring the point cost. If you are referring to the DCs, I took it from the book

An aside, I am having some reservations on the character (the character character), not necessarily the build. I've been fiddling some writings on the side, and in my head he is like Gilgamesh from Marvel Comics, and that leans a little too Iron Agey for what you guys want in the setting.

Edit: Ah, crud, the Drain Energy doesn't work in the Math at all.

[TheAbsurdist]

Might as well Delete this thread, I am likely not revisiting the character.