The October Eight competition

[Burrito Boy]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Ok, I've had a sudden inspiration which I think would be cool. I created a character for the "Create a Villain Theme Team," and the more I think about it the more I like it.

 

The Printer's Devil entry is here. He's basically a classic, goofy, silver age theme villain obsessed with typewriters. Then he gets Iron Aged into a death dealing psychopath. In fact, some sort of before & after shot could work well.

 

His basic outfit is nice clothes, white shirt and tie. Over this he wears a heavy leather smock, and dark sleeve protectors over his forearms to keep his shirt clean. Something like this:

 

Add in a visor and a classic domino mask. He's heavily ink stained, especially the iron age version.

 

I'll have to work on a write-up now

 

I like it.

 

"Daredevil, She-devil, Printer's devil, Evil"

 

Edit: Is that Burgess Meredith?

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I like it.

 

"Daredevil, She-devil, Printer's devil, Evil"

 

Edit: Is that Burgess Meredith?

Indeed it is, from a rare Twilight Zone episode titled, appropriately enough, Printer's Devil.

[Burrito Boy]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Thank's for the link. I love Burgess Meredith. Or should I say I love Henry Bemis. "The best thing, the very best thing is there's time now." Never seen Printer's Devil. Can't wait.

[Spidey88]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

You might want to check out an obscure Spider-Man villain called "Typeface" for some inspiration - he had some similar schtick elements to Printer's Devil, though he was most definitely not "dark".

[Kraven Kor]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

OK, were I to get a portrait, right now, it would be of "Miss E" - the enigmatic leader of the Grant School and the current NPC driving the players forward in the plot.

 

She is ancient, a shapeshifter of sorts, a powerful sorcerer, and has access to Angelic technology (Angels and Demons are both from another dimension, having destroyed their own reality and now some have wound up on earth where they continue their feud - she has an outcast Angel as her bodyguard and confidant.) Yes, 2000-ish points, but that is mostly from a guesstimate at her bases, vehicles, followers, contacts, etc - I didn't fully flesh all that out just kind of assumed "A Metric Arseload."

[kickback]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Wow, this is very generous of you. I peeked at your Deviant Art account and your stuff is way cool. Gotta pick a character to submit...

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

You might want to check out an obscure Spider-Man villain called "Typeface" for some inspiration - he had some similar schtick elements to Printer's Devil' date=' though he was most definitely not "dark".[/quote']

Hmmm, never heard of him. Thanks, I'll check him out.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I did a little research to get some ideas for The Printer's Devil and came up with a few things.

 

1. I think the ribbon would be his primary weapon, used garrote style.
   
2. The aforementioned impact arms are called Type Bars, and while he won't use the as claws, he will use a series of oversized ones as hammer type weapons.
   
3. The smaller type bars can be used as lockpicks.
   
4. Another blunt weapon is the roller, or platen.
   
5. He's a piano player. Check out this early patent pic [link]
   
6. His real name is Percy Dvorak.
   
7. Linotype machines are much cooler than I suspected
   

I'm still trying to come up with silver age style crimes (besides stealing antique typewriters and printing equipment).

[Susano]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I did a little research to get some ideas for The Printer's Devil and came up with a few things.

 

1. I think the ribbon would be his primary weapon, used garrote style.
   
2. The aforementioned impact arms are called Type Bars, and while he won't use the as claws, he will use a series of oversized ones as hammer type weapons.
   
3. The smaller type bars can be used as lockpicks.
   
4. Another blunt weapon is the roller, or platen.
   
5. He's a piano player. Check out this early patent pic [link]
   
6. His real name is Percy Dvorak.
   
7. Linotype machines are much cooler than I suspected
   

I'm still trying to come up with silver age style crimes (besides stealing antique typewriters and printing equipment).

 

I like it.

 

Obviously, he'll steal early printed works as well. Books and the like. You could expand his printing theme into anything to do with the printed word and/or type. So, he might try to sabotage a paper's presses in order to print something with a mind control ink (now the city will do as I say!); he could swipe printing plates (I'll make my own money!); edit deeds so the city belongs to him; rearrange text to change the meaning of a document, things like that.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I like it.

 

Obviously, he'll steal early printed works as well. Books and the like. You could expand his printing theme into anything to do with the printed word and/or type. So, he might try to sabotage a paper's presses in order to print something with a mind control ink (now the city will do as I say!); he could swipe printing plates (I'll make my own money!); edit deeds so the city belongs to him; rearrange text to change the meaning of a document, things like that.

That works! Great ideas... oh, and I can't believe I didn't think of counterfeiting!

[Burrito Boy]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

How about holding the entire print run of a book or magazine hostage, threatening to pulp it before it can even hit the shelves?

[BobGreenwade]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

How about holding the entire print run of a book or magazine hostage' date=' threatening to pulp it before it can even hit the shelves?[/quote']Talk about pulp fiction....

[Spidey88]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Wow' date=' this is very generous of you. I peeked at your Deviant Art account and your stuff is way cool.[/quote']

 

I second that sentiment - this is a most generous offer you've put on the table for us.

[Susano]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Third!

[kickback]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

OK, I'm throwing in my guy Edison Palmer, aka Avatar. He's an urban fantasy-inspired character in a Dark Champions game. Palmer is a reformed con man (or is he?) gifted with some psychic abilities and a talent for magic. Imagine a cross between John Constantine and Tom Ripley (with a little Raven and Stanton Carlisle for good measure.)

 

I'll allow him to introduce himself....

 

 

Here’s my advice for all you nine-to-fivers: Just enjoy your weekends and your reality television and your Applebees. Don’t start wishing that something interesting would happen. The universe takes those thoughts as a sign to kick you in the ass. Believe me. My butt has the boot prints to prove it.

 

I was at the country club, nursing a drink at the bar, and feeling sorry for myself. Down in the depths on the ninetieth floor, you know? I thought being here was what I wanted. When I decided to put roots down in Hudson and live like people, I didn’t intend to be a nobody. Now here I was with a legit invitation, no fake names or plus ones, hobnobbing with the bluebloods.

 

It was boring. It’s not like I hadn’t mixed with the elite before. Been there, done that, stole the T shirt.

 

Which was a pretty perverse feeling, because lately my life was just a little too interesting. After getting tired of the squalid little scandals and secrets of Hudson City’s glitterati, I’d taken a job as a goddamn superhero. I knew it was a bad idea, but I hadn’t known how damn scary my employers really were. I was afraid to stay and afraid to quit.

 

I was making progress in my occult studies, and that was also ulcer-inducing. Magic is a dangerous business, and my only teacher was a dead man’s journal. Yes, Virginia, there really are things man was not meant to know, and I had gotten a little too close to some of them. No wonder the nightmares were back.

 

But like a glutton for punishment, there I sat – Edison Palmer, the man who always knows better - wallowing in my restlessness and dissatisfaction. Naturally, the universe got its boots on.

 

She moved through the room like a barracuda through a school of minnows. She was sleek and dangerous, a predator in a little black dress and fuck-me pumps. She wasn’t exactly beautiful, but you couldn’t take your eyes off her.

 

At least, I couldn’t. No one else in the room seemed to notice her. They all looked right through her, even as they moved out of her way. Miss Czolgosz is full of tricks. You wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley. I speak from experience.

 

I have a few tricks of my own, but the night she snuck up on me she swatted me down like I was nothing. The memory still rankled. And she was just the hired help. She worked for a man called The Broker. He was supposed to be a big shot in the world of magic. He was supposed to be a lot of things, and the rumors stretched back over a hundred years. Urban legends want to be The Broker when they grow up.

 

I’d struck a deal with The Broker in that alley: Knowledge for service. He gave me the mystical tomes that I struggled with every night. And I owed him three favors.

I was pretty sure that whatever The Broker called on me to do would be unpleasant at best, probably very dangerous, and quite possibly fatal. It was not a well-considered trade. Seeing a pattern here? I really should take up sudoku when I get bored.

 

But the deal was struck, and there would be no weaseling out. Not if I wanted to keep all my limbs. If a tenth of the rumors were true, The Broker had an Old Testament kind of attitude towards people who broke faith. So when Miss Czolgosz turned to look at me and nod, I didn’t waste a moment in downing my drink and following her.

 

She led me through the ballroom, where casino night was in full swing, and headed for the terrace. The crowd parted for her as she walked, but not for me. By the time I'd sidestepped a dozen suckers and slipped through the French doors, I’d almost lost her. In the faint light of the crescent moon she was a dim shadow slipping across the lawn towards the golf course.

 

I sped after her, welcoming the exertion in the cool March air. She waited for me at the very edge of the lawn, statue still, looking down the steep incline to the ninth hole of the golf course.

 

“Miss Czolgosz,” I said in my best nonchalant tones, “I didn’t know you were a member.”

 

She remained perfectly still for a moment. Then she turned to face me. Her mouth worked but no sound came out. She had far too many teeth. Her face narrowed and stretched. Her shoulders hunched and swelled, and her arms seemed longer. Her fingers grew claws.

 

I wish I could say that it all happened too quickly for me to react. The truth is I just stood there and gaped as the creature revealed itself. It watched me with what I swear was amusement. Then with brutal speed it raked its wicked claws across my face.

 

I stumbled back. The magical charm around my neck pulsed. I touched my face with numb amazement and found no blood. The creature cocked its head and sniffed. Then it growled and leaped at me.

 

I ducked left, managing to just dodge the assault. But the thing was frighteningly fast. As it sailed past me its foot kicked out a powerful blow. I went down the hill, ass over elbow, and landed in a heap on the green. I scrambled to my feet and cast my eyes about wildly.

 

he thing was framed on the hilltop, sitting on its haunches. It regarded me like a cat deciding whether it was hungry or wanted to play a while longer. It still wore the little black dress and one black pump. I shuddered. It looked almost human, and that was more unsettling than a stranger shape. It growled again, and launched itself through the air, an owl descending on a mouse. But I was ready for it. Like I said, I’ve got tricks of my own, and one of them is pretty damn good.

 

A part of my mind left my body and rushed towards the thing. The creature huffed as it met a shadow strong as steel. My avatar bore the thing high into the sky. The creature scratched and clawed and slavered, but to no avail. My avatar is a projection of the mind, and nothing physical can harm it.

 

I sent my avatar as high as I could, until the bond between us felt stretched and weak. Then I changed directions and brought it down at full speed, slamming the creature into the earth. It twitched a moment, and went still. I took a cautious step towards it and froze as I heard something hit the ground behind me.

 

I spun around to find the stuff of nightmares. There were two more Miss Czolgoszes striding across the green. They wore identical black dresses and their faces and limbs were going through the same metamorphosis as the first one.

 

My instincts screamed at me to get back inside, back to the safety of light and people. But there was no knowing I’d be safe there. What if these things attacked the guests? It would be a slaughter, and it would be my fault.

 

I looked around quickly, making sure there were no more of the things coming. My avatar had sunk into the ground, unfazed by the impact that broke the first creature. Now I sent it through the earth towards the things loping towards me. The avatar arced up out of the ground at full speed, taking them by surprise, and hit one of the things square in the chest. It went down, and my other self began methodically punching it in the head.

 

The second creature kept coming. I looked around again. I was out of ideas, and there aren’t a lot of weapons lying around a golf course. I turned and ran, cutting towards the eighth hole. There was a cluster of trees between the eighth and seventh holes. Maybe I could grab a branch to hit the horrible thing with.

 

I’d forgotten how fast they were. I didn’t even get halfway there before it took me down in a flying tackle. I tasted sod and blood as my face hit the dirt. I lashed out ineffectually in panic, and didn’t hit it once. It flipped me over, sat on me, and raked its claws across my chest.

 

I cried out in fear, but not in pain. My amulet was throbbing again. The creature looked at me in puzzlement. I got in a good right hook that actually snapped its head back. It growled and wrapped its powerful hands around my throat and squeezed. My hands flailed at its face, seeking its eyes. The thing stank. My right thumb found an eye socket and jabbed. The thing howled and its grip loosened. I jabbed again and heaved, rolling us over so I was on top and drove my knee into its crotch.

I heaved myself up, kicked the writhing creature in the shin, and stumbled backwards.

 

“Know who taught me that?” I taunted. “Fucking Soldier Boy taught me that.” It was childish, but it made me feel good. Not as good as what was about to happen.

 

The thing sprang up, blood and gore trailing from its ruined eye, and paced towards me. It growled, but the noise was cut off as my avatar slammed into it from behind. It hit the dirt at my feet, the wind knocked out of it, and I spent a satisfying minute kicking its face until it wasn’t a face.

 

Adrift in the night sky, my avatar spied something stalking towards me. I wheeled, fists ready.

 

“Don’t do something stupid, Palmer,” a cool voice called. I peered into the gloom and swore. Another Czolgosz was coming across the green. But this one talked. And it was wearing a gray pantsuit instead of a little black dress. Come on Ed, put it together.

 

“Are you all right?” Miss Czolgosz asked. She actually sounded a little concerned.

I must have looked a sight. I was soaked in sweat, and the musk of the creatures clung to me. Blood trickled from my mouth and nose. My clothes had been neatly slashed in many places by those terrible claws. I ran my hands over the exposed skin and found no wounds.

 

“Your amulet protected you?” Czolgosz sniffed. “I didn’t know it could do that.” She sounded grumpy about not knowing.

 

“Neither did I,” I admitted.

 

Something moved in the corner of my eye. “Oh, come on,” I panted. Two more of the creatures stood at the edge of the green watching us.

 

“Are they wearing my face?” Czolgosz sniffed again. “I don’t like that.” She held up her left hand and her fingers danced in the air. She frowned, and then smiled coldly.

“I know what they are,” she said. “Oh, that’s very good. Only Redgreave uses that filth. You’re already doing a good job, Mr. Palmer.”

 

Her hand was still raised. She flicked it in the direction of the creatures, as if swatting a fly. And just like that, they burst into flames. The grass around them was not touched, but the hateful things melted and bubbled into foul goo.

 

The smell was appalling. It was a good long while before I managed to croak, “What the hell is going on?”

 

She looked at me and arched an eyebrow. “I’m here to collect one of the favors you owe The Broker,” she replied calmly. “Those things didn’t want you to take the job, I should think.”

 

“My deal isn’t with you,” I said carefully. “Why didn’t The Broker come himself?

 

“He’s been kidnapped. You’re going to rescue him, hero.” Without another glance in my direction she set off towards the trees. I sighed and gingerly rubbed my left flank. I was going to have a hell of a bruise tomorrow. This was all, quite literally, a pain in the ass.

 

I don’t know why life keeps kicking me in the ass. All I know is, someday I’m going to kick back.

 

I shook my head wearily and trudged after Miss Czolgosz.

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Palmer is tall, broad shouldered and in decent shape. He has short, dark blond/light brown hair and blue eyes. He's attractive, though his strong facial features are more striking than handsome. I picture him as Aaron Eckhart or Mark Valley. He usually wears a suit, but it would be cool to see him in a bona fide costume.

 

full history and profile

 

character sheet (needs some tweaking)

 

my own attempt at a portrait

 

Thanks for considering me, Doctor D.

[DrDestiny]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I have disqualified myself as I pay formy commissions and many of you have seen what I have asked and paid for.

 

No need to disqualify yourself. It's an open call!

 

I wasn't sure how corny you wanted him to be. (I mean' date=' he's an iron age typewriter-themed villain.) Will he be all Leifield? With lots of pouches and stuff?[/quote']

 

No Liefield here!

 

Wow' date=' this is very generous of you. I peeked at your Deviant Art account and your stuff is way cool. Gotta pick a character to submit...[/quote']

 

I second that sentiment - this is a most generous offer you've put on the table for us.

 

Ta, but it's tradition now

 

 

This year I'll be colouring in Photoshop, rather than the fancy-dan paint program I usually use -- here's a wee sample of the slyle:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37024[/ATTACH]

[The Arc]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

Great use of lighting. So glad this years thread finally caught on.

[Deadborder]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

If I may, I'd like to throw my own character Skadi into the pot. She was created for CO, but has since been moved to a 6E Tabletop game. Bio and images attached...

 

History

 

Jill Vader’s life was, for the most part, none to extraordinary. A bit of an achiever, during high school she served as a member of several of the school’s sports teams when she wasn’t studying. However, it was her studies that were her principle focus. She excelled in science, specifically chemistry and biology. Intending to pursue a career in the field, she enrolled in university, aiming at a degree.

 

As a part of her studies, she managed to land a job as a lab assistant at Origins Chemicals, a leading chemical research and manufacturing firm. While fully aware of her junior position, she regardless was glad to be working in such a well-known and large company and gladly took whatever duties were offered – even if they did mean sitting in the lab overnight while experimental chemicals mixed and processed.

 

Unfortunately, it was during one of these late shifts that an accident occurred. An incorrectly mixed formula quietly bubbled away, reaching a critical mass under her nose – and blowing up in her face. The lab was wrecked but, strangely, Jill was unharmed save for a few small cuts and some bruises. Even though she was cleared by the doctors, she was given a week off work just in case there were any unexpected side effects.

There were, but not ones she had expected. Over the course of the next month, Jill began to dramatically grow, gaining over a foot in height while her mass increased considerably. She began to carefully monitor and document these changes, making sure to properly document the changes as well as any other side effects. The first that she noticed that was her eyesight had improved; she no longer needed glasses to read.

 

However, she also discovered that there were other changes. Her strength had increased dramatically, and had continued to grow to superhuman levels when she began accidentally destroying household objects. After being nearly hit by a car – she stopped it with her hands, crushing its front end in the process – she reached the conclusion that she had developed superhuman strength and endurance. She continued to carefully document these changes, using her spare time to go to scrapyards and see just how much she could lift.

After about a month, she found that her growth had stopped; she was now more then a foot taller then she had been, while her mass had increased dramatically to far more then it should have been given her tone and physique. Based on that, she reached the conclusion that her bones and musculature had become far denser then her proportional growth would suggest. Similarly, she found that her strength had stopped increasing.

Not outstandingly unusual (living in a city known as a centre for superhuman activities), Jill realised what she wanted to do. She had been given these powers, and, as such, it was her responsibility to use them to help others. At the same time, she felt rather growingly confident in herself and her abilities, and almost looked forward to the idea of using them.

 

Taking the name Skadi (form the Norse goddess of the hunt), she began spending her spare time prowling the streets of Millennium City, looking for a chance to use her powers. While her first few battles were low-key fights against muggers and other common criminals, it wasn’t long before she had her first battle against a true supervillain – sort of. She ambushed Droch, a supervillain Brick, and flattened him with a single punch, knocking him out in seven seconds. The battle (such as it was) was caught on-camera, and quickly spread across the media and the internet, both giving the anonymous superhero some degree of publicity while helping to bury Droch.

 

Powers/Abilities

 

The chemical accident that altered Jill gave her superhuman strength and endurance. Her upper limits are unknown, but she knows she can lift –and throw – at least fifty tons, and isn’t afraid to try something heavier. (When she thinks nobody is looking, Jill will go to junkyards and industrial wastelands to find things to lift and throw to see what she can do). This has two other net side effects; Jill can hit hard; her blows hurt like hell and are enough to smash through metal or concrete. She can also leap long distances, simply due to how strong her legs are.

Besides just hitting things, Skadi has developed a number of “tricks” that she can perfume with her strength. She has become rather adept at creating shockwaves with her hits, the concussive force of her blows being enough to stun or incapacitate normal humans. She also rather enjoys picking up objects and throwing them at opponents as weapons; to her mind, the bigger an object is, the better a weapon it makes. She’s particularly fond of throwing trucks or other huge, unwieldy objects that can flatten several opponents at once.

 

Similarly, Jill is quite ridiculously tough, able to take hits that would flatten a normal person. While far from indestructible (Something she has found out the hard way), she is very resilient and hard to hurt. The end result is that she can be hit hard, and rarely suffer any serious injury as a result. Certainly getting thrown through walls, falling of buildings and hit with heavy objects will hurt like hell, but don’t seem to slow her down much. Exactly how much punishment she can take, much like the limits of her strength, is unclear; understandably, she’s been a lot less willing to experiment.

 

The chemical accident that altered her had one side effect; due to the chemicals now floating around her system, Jill is rather vulnerable to chemical poisons and toxins. They tend to have a greater effect on her through unbalancing her system. As yet, she is unaware of any way to treat this.

 

Aside from her superhuman abilities, Jill does have an extensive knowledge of chemistry, specifically chemical engineering and biochemical alteration. While not immediately useful in a pitched battle, Jill has been known to use these skills to develop counter-agents to weapons and abilities that her enemies may employ. These skills have been useful, aiding in the defeat of several of her enemies.

 

Personality

 

Jill is bold, outgoing and somewhat reckless. She likes to think that she is, indeed, the strongest woman – nay person – in the world, and wants to prove it to anyone who will listen. Certainly she seems driven by some desire to prove herself. This, in turn, combined with her resilience, has given her a somewhat reckless edge; she seems to have very little regard for her own safety, instead being somewhat confident in her ability to take whatever hit is coming her way. This is yet to get her seriously hurt, but it could just be a matter of time.

 

Her super-strength has made her rather confident in her abilities; she prefers to fight stronger opponents and test her strength against those she faces. Secretly, she’d like to be known as the strongest person in the world, and actively seeks fights with other “bricks” to test her strength. She likes to stand up and be noticed, and could be borderline obnoxious in some cases. Simple fact is that she does seem to like attention; while she’s not the sort of person who demands to be the centre of everything, she likes to be in the loop and know what’s going on. And, every now and then, read a good book.

 

Jill’s powers are somewhat innate; they can’t be switched on or off; in essence, she’s always big, strong and tough. She’s lead her life being used to them being always there; she couldn’t dream of being without them. In fact, she’s somewhat afraid of what would happen if they were somehow removed; the thought of being “normal” is quietly terrifying. Her powers do have a few drawbacks; there’s the ever present concern of losing control and accidentally breaking something – or someone – from just casually handling them.

 

Above all else, she’s a fundamentally good person. While yes she wants to prove herself, she also figures that she can use the abilities she has been granted to help others. And probably get into a fight along the way.

 

Appearance

 

The first thing anyone would notice about Skadi is just how freakishly tall she is. Just over two meters tall, she has a solid, muscular build. Her body is clearly toned and athletic, and would suggest a high level of fitness and strength even for someone who wasn’t superhuman. Despite this, she is still attractive. She has a nice face with long red hair, and blue eyes. Similarly, she still has something of a figure – which can be a problem, as that puts her not inconsiderable chest at eye level to most people.

Normally, Jill wears what are politely called “big mens” fashions, simply because of how hard it is to get anything in her size. She prefers slacks or jeans and button-up shirts, sometimes with a jacket if the weather demands. When in her civilian identity, she usually wears her hair tied back and also sports small glasses – they’re purely cosmetic. (She wore glasses before her accident, and keeps them as a form of disguise)

 

Her “uniform” as such consists of a form-fitting bodysuit that serves to enhance her figure and physique. Mostly shiny black, the costume sports vibrant purple designs. She does not wear a mask. People tend not to look at her face.

 

http://primusdatabase.com/index.php?title=Skadi <- Longer and sillier bio. Also pics attached, including costume variaton.

 

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[teh bunneh]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I'm going to resubmit a character concept I had for last year's November Nine, just in case it tweaks Jonathan's fancy this year... General William James Boddy is an American Civil War Undead Confederate General, with an army of the dead at his beck and call...

 

 

Background/History: William James Boddy was born to a well-to-do family in Tennessee. He attended The US Military Academy at West Point and graduated with honors. However, many of his professors were concerned with his lack of ethics – he believed in victory over all, no matter what it cost or how it was achieved. When the Civil War broke out, he was made a General over the forces of Tennessee. Despite his tactical brilliance, his army did not do well in its earliest battles. Desperate, General Boddy turned to the works of ancient generals, trying to learn their secrets. He found an ancient book of black sorcery and learning all he could from it, he set about to change the course of the war.

From that point on, Boddy's fortunes changed. He won battle after battle, driving the forces of the Union before him on his march northward. He cut through Kentucky (enraging the previously-neutral state and prompting them to side with the Union), then moved north into Indiana, burning towns and crops as he went. He raided Indianapolis and set the capital building afire before turning eastwards, towards Ohio. He put fear into the hearts of his enemies, who spread tales of the dead marching; of soldiers who could not be killed by bullets, of torture, rape; and unholy human sacrifice.

Personality/Motivation: Boddy is cold, cruel, and calculating. He is a shrewd tactician, always trying to plan one step ahead of his opponents. He believes that the best defense is a strong offense, so he keeps his troops moving and attacking almost constantly. He doesn't mind hardships – in fact, he thrives on them – and he expects the same of his troops. He does not put up with grumbling in the ranks, and punishment is swift and harsh for those who displease him.

Unlike many officers of his time, Boddy is not a gentleman. He cares nothing for honor or the rules of war – he cares only for victory at any cost. Boddy doesn't know anything about the Keepers, despite the fact that his power flows from them. He is not a man given to philosophy, and he does not care about the battle between good and evil. He is an unwitting servant of darkness, willing to do what it takes to increase his power but unaware of the price he pays for it.

Quote: "Ah've fought mah way through two states and a half-dozen armies, and y'all think y'all got it in you to stop me?"

Powers/Tactics: General Boddy is a brilliant tactician and never goes into a battle unless he has the upper hand. Though he is a brave soldier, Boddy also knows that the General's job is not to stand on the front line; he is happy to use his troops (including his undead followers) to fight all his battles for him, as he stands behind and directs them. If forced to fight, he will use his cavalry saber and his pistol to great effect.

Boddy is famed for his cruelty and ruthlessness. He is not beloved by his troops, but he keeps them in line through harsh discipline and fear. He has no qualms about sending his troops through a meat grinder if he believes it will achieve for him some victory. He knows that he can bring back any soldier killed in battle, so he views his troops as renewable resources, ready to be reused again and again and again.

Campaign Use: Through the Civil War, General Boddy was one of the most feared of the Southern generals – not because of his brilliant tactical mind, but because of his inhumanity to friend and foe alike. He cut a swath of destruction from Kentucky to Indiana to Ohio, burning farms and villages and executing civilians for imagined "crimes." His troops – which by the end of the campaign were composed mostly of the walking dead – were just as ruthless as he was, murdering, torturing, and raping anyone they could get their hands on.

If your campaign takes place after the end of the Civil War, Boddy could just be a legend and a boogeyman meant to scare the children of the Northern states, or he could be in hiding somewhere in the vastness of the West, biding his time and waiting for the proper moment to re-emerge at the head of an army of the walking dead. After all, when one has mastery over death like Boddy does, why should his own mortality be an impediment to his plans?

Appearance: General Boddy is hideous to look upon. His wrinkled, leathery skin is pulled tight over his bones. His silver hair hangs in clumps from his head. His bloodshot eyes bulge slightly from their sockets. Most disturbingly, he smells faintly of rotting meat. The more Chaos infects his soul, the more he resembles a walking corpse. Despite that, he still seems to take great pride in his appearance because his Confederate Gray uniform is always spotlessly clean and smartly pressed. He wears a cavalry saber and a six-shooter at his hip, and a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of his eyes.

General Boddy Plot Seeds

 

March to the Sea: It is 1862. The Civil War rages unchecked. Indianapolis is burning. General Boddy has sworn to march his troops across the nation all the way to the sea, cutting a path of destruction the likes of which has never been seen. Each battle only makes him stronger as those killed – both Blue and Gray – rise in an unholy parody of life to serve, to fight, and to kill for their master. The PCs must find a way to stop Boddy's army before it blankets the entire nation in its evil.

Go West, Dead Man: It is 1870, the Civil War is over and the great westward expansion has begun. Wagon trains are setting out from St. Louis, carrying settlers and their big dreams westward. But stories begin drifting back east – stories of wagon train massacres, of settlements wiped out, of every living person disappearing without a trace. Even worse, rumors are growing of an army of the dead moving through the unsettled territories, led by a man dressed in Confederate Gray. Could General Boddy have returned from the grave, seeking to wreak vengeance on the world?

[Remjin]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

neat. I'm curious to see what is chosen and all that. =)

[DrDestiny]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

General Bones

 

Once upon a time, Richard Bones was an actual brigadier general in the United States Army. A scandal just before the Civil War kept him out of action.

 

This scandal centered around his alleged involvement in a satanic cult. Though he denied the charges, they were quite true.

 

Besides being a military leader, General Bones was a master necromancer, taking the phrase "army of the undead" quite literally. His magic was so powerful that, in the end, he was able to animate his own corpse and become what has since been termed a lich.

 

On the whole, he looks like an animated skeleton, still with a few bits of flesh hanging on, with glowing red eyes, wearing a military uniform with four general's stars and copious decorations (he always was prone to hubris). He periodically updates his outfit to match the military style of the day; he last did this in the mid-1980s.

 

Nor does he rely entirely on magic; part of his operation is through gun-running, and he keeps a sizeable share of the hardware he moves, including the Desert Eagle he keeps by his side.

 

I'm going to resubmit a character concept I had for last year's November Nine, just in case it tweaks Jonathan's fancy this year... General William James Boddy is an American Civil War Undead Confederate General, with an army of the dead at his beck and call...

 

 

Background/History: William James Boddy was born to a well-to-do family in Tennessee. He attended The US Military Academy at West Point and graduated with honors. However, many of his professors were concerned with his lack of ethics – he believed in victory over all, no matter what it cost or how it was achieved. When the Civil War broke out, he was made a General over the forces of Tennessee. Despite his tactical brilliance, his army did not do well in its earliest battles. Desperate, General Boddy turned to the works of ancient generals, trying to learn their secrets. He found an ancient book of black sorcery and learning all he could from it, he set about to change the course of the war.

 

From that point on, Boddy's fortunes changed. He won battle after battle, driving the forces of the Union before him on his march northward. He cut through Kentucky (enraging the previously-neutral state and prompting them to side with the Union), then moved north into Indiana, burning towns and crops as he went. He raided Indianapolis and set the capital building afire before turning eastwards, towards Ohio. He put fear into the hearts of his enemies, who spread tales of the dead marching; of soldiers who could not be killed by bullets, of torture, rape; and unholy human sacrifice.

 

Quote: "Ah've fought mah way through two states and a half-dozen armies, and y'all think y'all got it in you to stop me?"

 

Appearance: General Boddy is hideous to look upon. His wrinkled, leathery skin is pulled tight over his bones. His silver hair hangs in clumps from his head. His bloodshot eyes bulge slightly from their sockets. Most disturbingly, he smells faintly of rotting meat. The more Chaos infects his soul, the more he resembles a walking corpse. Despite that, he still seems to take great pride in his appearance because his Confederate Gray uniform is always spotlessly clean and smartly pressed. He wears a cavalry saber and a six-shooter at his hip, and a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of his eyes.

 

I'm posting this to get Bob and Bill's opinions. I never post stuff at this stage - it's my roughest sketch of the idea, well before it gets any polish, so please view it as such, but I thought it may be fun to combine both of your characters in on one big ol' fight scene. Let me know if you're violently opposed to the idea - or indeen if you have any other thoughts!

 

ROUGH!

 

[BobGreenwade]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

It does look cool, and is especially fitting since Bones would have fought on the Union side had he stayed in.

 

However, I'd been hoping to have an illo of General Bones to use with a character sheet when I go to present him in Haymaker.

 

So I'm of two minds.

[csyphrett]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I think it's way cool. I don't know much about art, Bob, but couldn't you crop what you need from the finished picture?

CES

[BobGreenwade]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

I think it's way cool. I don't know much about art, Bob, but couldn't you crop what you need from the finished picture?

CES

Possibly, depending on how Doc draws it. Maybe if there was a little less physical overlap between them.

 

Doc: Is Gen. Bones the guy on the right? (I'm guessing that from his choice of weapon -- submachine gun versus saber.)

[DrDestiny]

Re: The October Eight competition

 

It does look cool, and is especially fitting since Bones would have fought on the Union side had he stayed in.

 

However, I'd been hoping to have an illo of General Bones to use with a character sheet when I go to present him in Haymaker.

 

So I'm of two minds.

 

 

No problem - I'll do something else, it was just a thought