[Pulp] Green Lama write-up

[SKJAM!]

Time for another pulp character, this one originally appearing in the April 1940 issue of Double Detective.

 

 

GREEN LAMA

Created by Richard Foster

 

Val Char Cost

23 STR 16

17 DEX 21

17 CON 14

13 BODY 6

18 INT 8

18 EGO 16

15 PRE 5

10 COM 0

10 PD 7

6 ED 3

4 SPD 13

10 REC 4

34 END 0

34 STUN 0

 

Cost Powers END

20 "Electropressure" 3d6 Major Transform: Human (-1/2) to Handicapped 6

Human (variable, +1/4), heals per hour -1, IIF radioactive salt -1/4

29 "Kata" 6d6 EB, NND vs. no need to breathe or solid neck protection +1, 4

1/2 END +1/4, No Range -1/2, OAF scarf -1 *plus* 1" Stretching, weapon

only -1/2, OAF scarf -1

30 "Ju-jitsu"

Block (Martial Block)

Stunning Chop (Nerve Strike)

Disarm (Martial Disarm)

Escape (Martial Escape)

Joint Lock (Martial Grab)

Sacrifice Throw (Sacrifice Throw)

Flying Mare (Martial Throw)

Strike (Martial Strike)

1 "Slow breathing" Life Support: Extended Breathing I

2 "Himalayan mountain training" Life Support: Safe Environment: Intense Cold

1 "The effects of radioactive salt protect me from harmful rays." Life Support:

Safe Environment: High Radiation, IIF Radioactive salt -1/4

9 "Unbelievably developed senses" +3 to all PER Rolls

10 "Unbelievably developed senses" Discriminatory for Smell/Taste Sense Group

3 Flashlight as on 5th Edition page 122

15 "Magga" 3d6 Luck

Skills

3 Scientist

3 Scholar

3 Linguist

3 Sci: Anatomy 15-

4 KS: Tibetan Buddhism 14-

5 Disguise 14-

5 Concealment 14-

5 Stealth 13-

3 Cryptography 13-

3 Sci: Radiology 13-

3 Sci: Chemistry 13-

3 Paramedic 13-

3 Mimicry 13-

3 Deduction 13-

2 KS: Oriental religions 12-

3 Climbing 12-

3 Contortionist 12-

2 KS: Buddhist sutras 12-

3 Combat Pilot 12-

2 Sci: Western Medicine 12-

2 Sci: "Oriental" Medicine 12-

3 Breakfall 12-

2 KS: Ju-jitsu 12-

2 PS: Corporate Management 11-

13 Languages: Accented French, Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan (English native)

2 TF: Small Motorized Ground Vehicles, Small Planes

Perks

3 Well-Connected

1 Contact: Richard Foster, writer, 12- (civilian identity only)

2 Contact: Reting Rimpoche, King Regent of Tibet, 8- (Very useful...in Tibet.)

4 Contact: NYPD Lieutenant John Caraway 11-, (very useful skills, access to major

institution, good relationship, civilian identity only)

3 Reputation, "Effective crime fighter", +3 to everyone in New York City 11-

5 Money: Well-off V

3 Deep Cover: Dr. James Pali, Buddhist priest (multiple driver's licenses)

2 Fringe Benefits: Right to Marry, Right to Shelter

5 Base: Penthouse Lab (25 pts)

5 Follower: Tsarong (manservant, 25 pt base)

10 Follower: Gary Brown (henchman, 50 pt base)

 

75+ Disadvantages

5 Distinctive Features: Radioactive (detectable by touch or Geiger counter)

5 Watched by Underworld 14- (Less Pow)

20 Code vs. Killing

15 Secret ID (Jethro Dumont, reclusive millionaire)

249 Bonus of the Mysterious East

 

OCV 6 DCV 6 ECV 6 Phases 3,6,9,12

 

Background: Jethro Dumont was a brilliant young man, son of a corporate giant. Thanks to his indulgent father, Jethro was able to pursue a number of interesting hobbies before getting his PhD in Oriental religions at Harvard. While Jethro was adequate at managing the companies he inherited, the corporate world bored him, and the young man took an extended tour of Asia. While there, he took an intense interest in Tibetan Buddhism, eventually qualifying as a lama. Wanting to spread the message of peace, Jethro wound through India, and from there set sail for America.

 

But as he landed in New York, events took a tragic turn. Moments after disembarking, Jethro witnessed a gangland shooting, a drive-by that also killed innocent children. Despite Mr. Dumont's extremely detailed description of the killers, the police were "unable" to find them. Some time later, Jethro was visiting police headquarters, and was shocked to see one of the killers friendly with the police commissioner. Shortly thereafter, realizing that corruption in the police department prevented the cops from being fully effective against criminals, Jethro took on the identity of the Green Lama, sworn enemy of the underworld.

 

Personality: Mr. Dumont is a peaceable man by nature, who wishes to spread the Buddhist message of peace and good will. Unfortunately, the world is a violent and corrupt place, which requires strong correction. When possible, the Green Lama encourages others to follow the path of righteousness, though he understands that humans are prone to moral frailty. He has few friends, but is extremely loyal to them.

 

Quote: "Om! Ma-ni pad-me hum!" (The jewel is in the lotus)

 

Powers/Tactics: Jethro Dumont is a "Renaissance man", skilled in many areas. He studied disguise and mimicry in France, contortionism with a professional escape artist, the use of the garotte with an Indian thugee, and ju-jitsu from an unknown teacher. He is adept in both "Western" and "Oriental" sciences and of course is fully versed in Buddhist theology. And he has "wiry muscles that could perform feats far more astounding than any of those of professional strong men."

 

The Green Lama's most astounding power is a combination of modern scientific wizardry and ancient Asian healing skills. By ingesting radioactive table salt, the Green Lama makes himself radioactive, able to discharge small doses of electricity from his body at will. Combining this with his expert knowledge of the human nervous system, the Green Lama can temporarily cause a victim to lose various body functions. (Effects seen include limb paralysis, blindness, loss of balance and inability to speak coherently.) He often uses this as an aid to interrogation. [Gamespeak: I treat the radioactive salt as a "Focus" as each charge only lasts an unspecified number of hours, and if you take away the salt, Green Lama can't recharge. But while charged, he can use the power as often as he wants barring fatigue.]

 

When not charged, the Green Lama's primary weapon is a red silk scarf called a "kata" with weighted ends he uses as a garrote.

 

The Green Lama prefers to operate under cover of night, using stealth and careful investigation to avoid unnecessary violence. His preferred method of attack, once violence becomes necessary, is from behind, avoiding guns and knives. If facing an armed opponent, Green Lama always acts to disarm them first. With his disproportionate strength, it's easy for him to pin most opponents and render them unconscious.

 

Appearance: Jethro Dumont is probably in his late thirties, but looks younger. He has a tanned, ascetic face with blue-gray eyes that have a piercing look. Around the house, he wears the yellow robes of a Buddhist lama; but outside blends in by wearing dark business suits.

 

As Dr. James Pali, he has a fuller, ruddy face, a touch of gray hair at the temples (Jethro has been released from the need to shave his head), and arched eyebrows. He wears clerical gard similar to a Anglican priest's, but in shades of green, and with the symbol of "Om" embroidered on the clerical collar.

 

To become the Green Lama, he adds a dark green hooded robe with a yellow lining, a red "kata" scarf, and a ring woven from hair of the six sacred colors. While the hood and darkness obscure his face, the Green Lama knows that he may be recognized as Dr. Pali. Since Dr. Pali is not a real person (despite having driver's licenses for all forty-eight states), he's not too worried about this. When "charged", the Green Lama is radioactive, setting off Geiger counters, and being slightly "staticy" to the touch.

 

Important People:

 

"Magga": A Pali word meaning "the way", or "the path", it is probably not this mystery woman's real name. She also refers to herself as "the Lady from Lhasa", but speaks American English flawlessly. Even the Green Lama knows nothing of her origins; she just popped up and started helping him out one day. Magga is a mistress of disguise able to fool even the Green Lama himself, an expert driver, and has an uncanny ability to know what Green Lama and his allies are up to. But she is capable of being rendered unconscious, and does not engage in physical combat. [Gamespeak: I've defined Magga as Luck; whenever the Green Lama is at a dead-end cluewise, or in a fix he can't get out of alone, Magga will somehow interfere to move things along.]

 

Richard Foster: An old college chum of Abner's, he uses the Green Lama's case files to write the stories. He suspects that Abner and the Green Lama are one and the same, despite denials.

 

Reting Rimpoche: A real historical figure, King Regent of Tibet. A year or two after the story was set, he had to resign due to an inability to fulfill the celibacy requirement. After that...well, look it up for yourself.

 

Lieutenant John Caraway: One of the most honest and skilled police officers in New York City. He met Abner Dumont when the millionaire was attempting to track down the dockside killers. While Caraway chafes under the corruption of his superiors, he doesn't fully trust the Green Lama, either.

 

Tsarong: Abner Dumont's manservant, a short Tibetan. In addition to the usual services, Tsarong keeps a filing system of useful newspaper clippings, and dispenses wise Buddhist proverbs.

 

Gary Brown: Little is known of Gary's past, except that he graduated college (course of study not specified), then fell among evil company, eventually becoming a numbers runner for notorious gangster Harlem Joe. He objected to some odious task that Harlem Joe assigned, and was about to be "rubbed out" when the Green Lama saved him. In gratitude, Gary became the Lama's henchman. Gary is a well-built young Caucasian male (this was back when white gangsters could still operate in Harlem) with a great shock of black hair. His handsome face is marred by a broken nose, earned in a fight. Gary does not have Code vs. Killing, and carrys a pistol, but will not shoot to kill if the Green Lama is present.

 

 

Campaign Use: The Green Lama is a high-end pulp hero, easily able to mop the floor with ordinary thugs. He'd be a good "go-to" man for mysteries involving Tibet, Buddhism, or radioactivity.

 

He would not, however, be able to hang with full-fledged superheroes, as he lacks ranged attacks, movement powers and most especially resistant defenses. If you want to have Green Lama in a Golden Age supers campaign, heighten his electrical abilities to cover these deficiencies, perhaps giving him a Dependence on radioactive salt, and an appropriate Vulnerability.

 

With his uncanny abilities, Green Lama could easily still be alive even in the Twenty-First Century, although somewhat aged. Or you could revise his background entirely, and make the Lama a valiant defender of the cause of Tibetan independence.

 

 

 

Comments, questions?

 

SKJAM!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/skjam

[Kevin Scrivner]

"The Green Lama strikes ... for justice!"

 

I'm delighted to see your write-up. I am acquainted with the Green Lama only through occasional Internet mentions but didn't have enough info to do one myself. You can listen to a couple episodes of the Green Lama radio show here:

 

http://www.radiolovers.com/pages/greenlama.htm

 

In the radio show, he had a young Tibetan acolyte/sidekick who helpfully explained that green is the Buddhist color symbolizing purity.

 

Forties' comic book covers show the Lama even flying.

[SKJAM!]

Flying, huh?

 

Of course, the version I did had only the skills and powers he showed in the first novella (recently reprinted by High Adventure). I'm sure he became more powerful as time went on.

 

Thanks,

SKJAM!

[Kevin Scrivner]

I don't know if he actually flew in the story but the scene of the Green Lama swooping past an Axis fighter plane in full regalia made a great cover.

 

It's interesting to compare his presentation in the book and in the radio show. Your write-up indicates that he was a mystery man type, battling evil in secret. In the radio show, he was a celebrity crime-fighter. Everyone knew Dumont was the amazing Green Lama and came clamoring to him for help.

 

Dumont must have been in the same graduating class at Tibetan U. as Frank Chandler (aka Chandu the Magician) whose radio adventures are also at the radio show web site. I wanted to do a Chandu write-up but ran into a problem similar to that I encountered with Doc Savage: Chandu could do pretty much anything the plot required. Sure, 90 percent of the time he fuctioned as your typical 75-point pulp secret agent. But when he pulled out his magic he was awesomely powerful, able to teleport himself or someone else halfway around the planet, get more info from his crystal than even CNN could provide, freeze a poisonous snake planted by an assassin in its tracks. And he didn't have to chant an incantation or anything, he just did it.