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#129 T-BANE (Norway) T-BANE Kjell Knarbakk Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Kjell Knarbakk worked for twenty years on the railway, and for what? When cutbacks were announced and retrenchments showered down upon the drivers and rail engineers of Norway Knarbakk found himself alone in his mid-forties with no family, no job and no prospects. He moved south into Europe searching for work and found itinerant jobs driving heavy machinery, but only ever for a short time. He was too old. There were always cut backs. There were other reasons too, but after several months Knarbakk stopped listening. He received every knockback with the same expressionless grunt and nod of his large head. One night, as luck would have it, he took a job driving a train in eastern Poland which was attacked by Oktober: a terrorist group of uberhumans determined to return Russia to its communist past and expand its territories. The team's witch, Baba Natasha, had been possessed by a powerful demon called Sitkesh which had temporarily commandeered the team. Sitkesh's plan was to hunt down and destroy the progeny of the Witch King of Estonia, specifically Porguneitsi. Knarbakk found himself driving a train right into the middle of a battle between the powered-up Baba Natasha and the supremely angry Witch King. In the midst of the battle, Baba Natasha shattered one of the Witch King's staffs which exploded and then immediately imploded causing a major rift in the dimensions. The Witch King was vanquished and the demonic Sitkesh was also drawn out of the young Russian witch. Oktober fled after Baba Natasha realised she had been played by a demon, and the train wreckage was abandoned. The only evidence of the clash between the two waging creatures was a single shard of the Witch King's staff - which had imbedded itself in the chest of the astonished Kjell Knarbakk. Once he realised he wasn't dead, and in fact had actually grown in stature and strength, Knarbakk took a relatively short time to become accustomed to his new powers and his new life as an enforcer. The money was easy and he was able to vent his years of frustration with unmatched power. No one could stop him. Not even the police. Personality Knarbakk is big and loud, with little formal education and a heck of a lot of anger towards the world. Since becoming T-Bane, or Subway, he has cast off any pretence of patience and is liable to fly off the handle at anything. His strength is formidable and he has yet to find an opponent who can match him, although Armstrong of the Brotherhood has come close. T-Bane works for anyone with the right kind of money. Through some kind of loyalty to his homeland, T-Bane has established himself in Oslo and works mostly throughout Scandinavia. Quote "I have twisted the head off bulls, dreng. And sometimes I play the songs of AC/DC with the leg of a bull. Are you scared, no?" Powers Imbued with magic from a broken staff once possessed by the powerful Witch King of Estonia, T-Bane has exhibited immense raw strength and durability which has him within the realms of the strongest uberhumans in Europe. He is highly resistant to conventional, as well as magical, attacks and is capable of immense property damage. He has shown a tendency to run through walls and buildings, often collapsing entire blocks to hide his trail or to block pursuit. One particular perk of his new occupation has been the purchase of state of the art body armour. Appearance In his costume, Knarbakk is intimidating. He is very large and incredibly heavy, which makes him difficult to move if he wills it. His arms and legs are particularly thick giving him the impression of a barrel. His armour is metallic and dense with semi-translucent shoulder guards. The costume is dark grey with red bands. Out of his costume Knarbakk is recognisable as having a broken nose and small, mean blue eyes. His face is creased with wrinkles and he often wears a moustache or goatee beard. Since being stabbed by the magical shard, Knarbakk often feels he is getting younger. He is certainly a lot more powerful than he ever was in his younger days, and it is quite possible his aging process has been retarded. Notes T-Bane is my first attempt at using the Fabrica de Herois blog. His villain name means subway in Norwegian, btw.

#129 HUGINN and MUNINN (Norway) HUGINN and MUNNIN Erik and Lief von Bruim Character Sheet (Click Here) Created by Noah Thorp Background Erik and Lief von Bruim are the great grandsons of Otto von Bruim, who was once known as the German super-villain known as the German Eagle during World War II. Otto was a member of the Ubermensch. Near the end of the war a few of the Ubermensch became disillusioned with Nazi Germany, or awoke to the horrors of Nazi Germany. In the end the Ubermensch turned upon one another. In one of the most cataclysmic battles of the war several of the Ubermensch were killed and most were severely wounded. German Eagle was one of the wounded. In a fight with Max Uber, Otto’s wings were ripped from his back. Normally this would probably kill Otto, but Otto was given his wings in a mystical rite, and in effect the removing of his wings freed him from the magic. After the war, Otto retreated into Norway, eventually making his way to Spitsbergen probably one of the most remote places in the world. Otto did his best to hide from the world; his shame for his participation with the Ubermensch making him into a recluse. However, as the years pasted the horrors of the war were put behind him, and Otto married a Norwegian woman and they had many children. When Otto was called by his oldest son, his son sounded really worried. His twin sons, Lief and Erik who had just reached puberty were sprouting wings from their backs. Otto had never told his children about his dark past as a member of the Ubermensch. Otto was beside himself, and out of desperation contacted his form Ubermensch teammate, Max Uber. Max gladly came to Spitsbergen to meet with Otto whom he hadn’t seen since the war. The famous German super-hero talked with Otto’s son, and as briefly as possible explained that his sons were Uberhumans and that they needed to use their gifts to help protect the world like he and the other members of Uber-Force were doing. The boys father wasn’t too pleased with what Max told him but there was little he could do about it. When Lief and Erik were old enough to go to university in Oslo they left with two gifts from their great grandfather, twin sets of costumes and goggles. Otto knew that his great grand children would make up for the dark legacy that he had created during the war. Like the twin ravens of Odin, Lief and Erik would debut to the world as Huginn and Munnin. Personality Lief and Erik have been close to one another since birth. The twins seems to even have developed a sort of ‘twin speak’, which keeps them in constant contact. There is nothing the other wouldn’t do to protect his twin. The twins are dreamers, dreaming about how one day they’ll become the greatest super-heroes in the world. They’re a little naive spending more time dreaming about becoming great than doing something about it. Fortunately there isn’t much Uberhuman crime in Norway for the twins to fight. However, they’ve tangled with Blitzkrieg and the Kinder der Zukunft on a number of occasions. Quote "We see far, no villain can hide from Huginn and Munnin." Powers Lief and Erik both have a set of fully functional wings growing from their backs. The twins can fly at great speeds and have even created a coordinated attack where they fly around a foe really fast. This attack sucks all the air from between them by causing a compression wave. However, the twins aren’t always successful with this attack. The twins also wear a suit of reinforced clothe that protects them from most damage. To protect their eyes, the twins were goggles that also protects them from flash attacks. Lief and Erik’s eye sight is greater than a normal person, and they can pick out a target from a long distance. Each twin has also trained themselves in how to fight with their wings. Many a foe has gotten a wing in the face. Appearance As Huginn and Munnin, Lief and Erik wear a reinforced costume similar to the flag of Norway. Their costumes are hooded and cover their upper faces. Growing from their backs are a pair of fully articulated wings which are covered with black feathers. When attending university, the twins usually wear clothing typical of university students. The twins make no effort to hid their uniqueness from others, even though their super hero costumes hides their upper face. Notes Noah created these guys just before I dropped out of cyber-existence and I totally forgot about them. So I guess for this entry you, faithful readers, get a two-for-one deal. Enjoy!

#127 THUNDER (Nigeria) THUNDER Ahmed Abubakar Character Sheet (Click Here) Background In the early hours of the morning, truck driver Ahmed Abubakar collided with another container truck on a remote highway. The resulting fireball could be seen for miles and when emergency services eventually arrived on the scene they expected to find nothing but carnage. However, Abubakar was alive. He had been thrown from the inferno and he lay unconscious on the road. All around him, the road was shattered, as if it had been pummelled by a sledgehammer. He was taken to a hospital in Abuja where he slowly made a recovery, despite frequent relapses brought on by equipment failure. Doctors couldn't immediately explain why his room would be collapse around him. The bed would creak and break; the IV tubes would dissolve; the walls would collapse. Eventually a visiting scientist suggested he be tested for an active ubergene. The scientist was an expert in the field, as well as being an intelligent chimpanzee: Professor Pan. Abubakar was diagnosed as an uberhuman. Pan took him into care where he could provide effective monitoring equipment as well as dampeners to limit the man's destructive abilities. Pan was assembling a team of super heroes and saw the potential in Abubakar. His powers were incredibly destructive, perhaps uncontrollable; but they were also unbelievably powerful. Pan was hungry to harness the man's power and decided that the potential damage to the environment was worth the risk. Abubakar was the last member of the team to join, and he was given the name Thunder to balance Lightning, another Muslim uber who had befriended Abubakar. Together Lightning and Thunder have helped each other through their emerging powers, as well as their meteoric rise to celebrity status. Neither Abubakar nor Lightning had ever had much money or influence; so with the almost limitless amount of money at their fingertips Abubakar has had quite a lot of adjusting to do. Abubakar's powers were documented by the government from his hospital visit, and news reports quickly sprung up about his destructive nature. Pan managed to deflect much of the criticism but subsequent Next Gen adventures have shown Abubakar's powers are perhaps even more destructive than initial reports. He is embarrassed by his potential for mass destruction, but he is also bound to Next Gen and realises that the only reason he was hired was because of the destructive power at his disposal. Personality Abubakar is very aware of how much he can destroy the environment. Since his days in the hospital he has given up any desire for personal belongings. He has rightly learned that nothing lasts forever in his vicinity. He has given up much in his transformation from lonely truck driver to public hero for hire. He has embraced his Muslim faith as a way to explain the turn of events, and has become more comfortable with himself, especially without any of the trappings of his previous life. He has developed a patience borne from the fact he can destroy the world around him if he loses his temper. He is very hesitant to use his powers and will not be bullied into doing so. He only unleashes them when he can see that there is little option, and never if it would involve hurting innocents. Quote "When they call me in, you know it is over." Powers Thunder is able to generate extremely powerful waves of disruptive energy which breaks down the atomic structure of inorganic material in a 40 metre radius. This alone is cause for mass destruction but he is also able to follow up this wave with a concussive force blast which literally obliterates inorganic matter. Used in combination there is so far nothing which can resist him. Through concentration he is able to focus his disruptive energy into a beam rather than affecting a whole area. He has also learned to choose the objects which will be affected by the waves of energy: a trick he has developed in consultation with Pan in a way to avoid mass property damage. He is also able to control his breathing to such an extent that he no longer requires air to survive, as long as he remains conscious. His hearing is also enhanced into the ultrasonic region. Appearance Ahmed Abubakar is a man in his early thirties, with dark skin and a powerful build. He is very quiet and seems to be judging the world around him with soulful eyes. He keeps his hair shaved on his head and maintains immaculate personal hygiene, particularly with a very close shave every day. As a member of Next Gen he wears the team costume which is made from an armoured material with a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 LIGHTNING (Nigeria) LIGHTNING Farouk Nafada Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Farouk Nafada led an ordinary existence for the first twenty-eight years of his life. He was married but not blessed with any children. He worked hard with the three heads of cattle his father had left him, and managed to live from one day to the next. One day, however, his life was ripped out of its mundane trajectory. While tending his cows, Farouk was struck down by a freak lightning bolt which had formed from dark clouds overhead. It was unseasonal weather and no one expected any such disaster to befall one of their neighbours, but Farouk was laid out on the plains, seemingly dead. On closer inspection it was discovered that Farouk was not dead. He sported a wicked-looking lightning scar on his chest and his skin was charred, but he could move and soon he could talk. The staff he had held to keep the cattle in line was transformed, as if by magic, into a powerful spear. Some of the elders believed they had seen such a weapon in the distant past, but whatever its origins, Farouk soon found that it had bonded to him and when he held it, strange powers were unleashed and his body was transformed. Lightning crackled through his body and demanded to be released. It was certainly too much for the simple-minded Farouk and he found himself shunned from his family and neighbours. He was forced to leave and began to walk aimlessly, trying to forget about the look of fear in his wife's eyes. His own eyes were crackling with electricity. For a while he tried to control his powers. He learned to fly and enjoyed the sensation, although he was never fully comfortable in the air. He came across Africa Force and joined them for a shot time before coming into conflict with the thief known as Scarab. Farouk's spear was of great interest to the thief and while Scarab escaped capture, the powerful spear did not escape Scarab's attention. Farouk was convinced to return to his wife by Africa Force and he did so with relief; but when he arrived he found that Scarab had already sought him out to acquire the spear. He threatened Farouk's wife and without a moment's thought Farouk dropped the spear. His powers vanished and Scarab took up the powerful weapon, seemingly stealing away Farouk's new life even before it had really begun. The spear had no effect in Scarab's hands and the thief was furious. In his rage he killed Farouk's wife with the spear: an accident, for sure, but Scarab never stopped to contemplate his actions. In a rage Farouk found that the spear had returned to his hands, as if by magic. Lightning flared throughout the house, blowing its walls down and chasing the thief out of the village. Farouk followed and battled Scarab for nearly an hour before subduing him. The battered Scarab pleaded for his life and Farouk stepped away. While Farouk could easily have ended the man's life he decided against it: for no other reason than the children of the village had gathered to stare. He warned Scarab to keep away from him or he would kill him the next time, and then he passed the thief into the custody of authorities. Finally he attended his wife and saw that she had a decent burial. The act severed all ties with the village and Farouk felt himself drawn to the capital, although he had no idea of what lay there for him. As it turned out Professor Pan was assembling a team of Nigerian superheroes and Farouk wandered in to the city at an opportune moment. He was snatched up by Pan and given more money that he had ever seen before. Farouk accepted the position and has since tried to establish a new life for himself in the capital, although he has had great difficulty in adjusting to his new circumstances. Personality Lightning possesses great power but looks out at life through simple eyes. He is still most comfortable by himself on the land, but with the advent of his powers he has had very little time to be so withdrawn. Pan encourages the team to be public faces, but Farouk refuses to reveal his identity to the world, partly because he is afraid that more tragedy may befall his village, but also because he wants to hold on to something of his self. Quote "The stick is a part of me, as I am a part of the stick." Powers Lightning gains his powers from the magically transformed spear. It seems to hold immense power but the power can only be released through Farouk's touch. Pan has reasoned that the spear is tied to Farouk's life force and if Farouk dies the spear will either lose its power or be released from the bond and be able to be used by another. Pan's interest in any succession plan is obvious to many on the team but Farouk doesn't seem to notice or care that Pan is planning on what to do in the event of Farouk's death. The spear is able to generate a powerful lightning bolt which can strike at range, or be combined with the fierce spear head for a deadly attack. It enables him to fly through the air, produce an electric-field which can protect large areas or be used to encircle enemies. He has enhanced physical attributes when wielding the spear, particularly speed and durability. He also gains increased mental resistance and an iron will, which has shown to be powerful enough to stop mentalists from dominating his mind. The bond between Farouk and the spear is very powerful. He is able to summon the spear to his hands from great distances. However, without the spear in his hands, Farouk possesses no powers and should be considered a regular human. Appearance Farouk Nafada is a farmer from a village near Makurdi. He is mostly unremarkable in appearance apart from a prominent scar on his chest which he received from the initial lightning strike. The scar is, as you would expect, in the shape of a lightning bolt. When he touches the spear his body is infused with energy, and this can be seen most clearly in his eyes. When he is in possession of the spear lightning shoots across his eyes like a storm across the prairie. As a member of Next Gen he wears an armoured costume which has a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 RICOCHET (Nigeria) RICOCHET Pepper Adu Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Pepper Adu is the son of a wealthy banker, Richard Adu, and was spoiled rotten in his early childhood when both of his parents left him in the care of a nurse and spent most of their time jet setting around Africa. As a result, Pepper became a computer aficionado with a desperate need for human contact. His nurse was old and well past the usual retirement age, and his school friends were equally self-centred and distant. When he began to socialise on the internet Pepper found that he was no longer alone. Within months he had established a wide range of cyber-friends from all corners of the globe, but it was his friendship with one which ultimately brought him undone. Her name was Pru and she seemed to be everything Pepper wanted in a friend, particularly in a friend who also happened to be a 'girl'. As a fifteen year old he was smitten with her, which was exactly what the real mind behind 'Pru' wanted. The Pru persona was created by a computer criminal dubbed Computa who had begun using her prodigious gifts with computers to organise scams across the internet. She was an uber, a technopath, and she was soon responsible for numerous 'Nigerian Scams' which flooded the inboxes of millions of people across the world. She soon learned everything there was to know about Pepper and his father, and while the boy was good with computers he was an easy touch when it came to scams. He was quickly hooked by Pru and gave her enough information to bankrupt his father as well as the bank he worked for. When Pepper discovered what his information had led to, he was devastated. Unfortunately he never had the opportunity to find out who she was, because the police quickly arrested him and brought him to trial in one of Nigeria's most infamous trials. Because he was a minor, his name was suppressed, but the story was sensationalised. It turned out that Pru had committed a series of high profile crimes and Pepper was intrinsically linked to her. In fact, Computa had made sure that Pepper was seen to be the boy behind the Pru persona. He was blamed for everything. Pepper spent a year in juvenile detention. His father disowned him and he was left to flounder in a dangerous new world. Pepper doesn't really talk about what happened behind bars but it is clear that it still haunts him today. When he was released he was sent to a state-run foster home because his family refused to allow him back into their house. While the government attempted to coerce his father to take him back, Computa took her opportunity to silence Pepper once and for all. She dispatched two hit men to kill him in the foster home, but they killed the wrong boy and when they realised their mistake, Pepper had made a run for it, clambering over the roof of the home and onto an adjacent building. The hit men chased him and during the course of the chase Pepper was wounded and fell through a skylight in one of the buildings, plunging head-long into a vat of chemicals which lay below. He quickly surfaced and pulled himself out, only to be confronted by the hit men. They fired at him, but the bullets simply bounced away. When the hit men recovered from their shock (after quickly ducking in case the bullets struck them) they realised Pepper was gone. He had been slammed backwards by the force of the bullets and careened far across the neighbourhood, landing safely in a park several blocks away. He realised he was now an uberhuman and he decided there and then that he wouldn't let anyone else manipulate him into anything he didn't want to do. He refused to return to his father's home, even after the courts ordered Mr Adu to do so, and struck out on his own, earning some money as a computer technician as well as working nights as a super hero. After trying to hunt down Computa and failing miserably, he settled into his new role as Ricochet; so when he was approached by Professor Pan to join his superhero team, Next Gen, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Plus there was the incentive of regular pay cheques and the resources to perhaps capture Computa once and for all. Personality Rico, as he likes to be called, is a bright-faced overly talkative kid. He is a keen computer technician, bordering on obsessive, and extremely overconfident about the quality of his work (something which got him into trouble with Computa years ago). He also likes submerging himself in spy thrillers, especially conspiracy theory stories like the Da Vinci Code, and dreams that one day he will be the subject of a similar title. He considers himself a hero, without any hesitation. His upbringing has made him selfish but dense about his poor interactions with other people. He doesn't realise he is annoying and pretentious, nor does he seem to care if others act that way. With that in mind he gets on well with everyone, until they get tired of his antics. Beneath his effervescent precociousness is a dark brooding boy who has experienced some horrible things in the youth detention centre. It is quite probable that he will need counselling very soon, and may even change his personality once he begins to deal with the issues which still haunt his dreams. Quote "Ooooh nnoooo! Nottagain!" Powers Ricochet is able to withstand nearly any level of assault, whether it be a bullet or a cruise missile. His body generates an absorbent/reflective field which absorbs great levels of energy while also shunting away any excess. This shields him from nearly everything but has the sometimes awkward side effect of shoving him backward with great force. He has become the human soccer ball, able to be kicked great distances without any harm coming to him. His team mate, Crash, has begun using Ricochet as a weapon in combat by slamming into his field and sending him flying into enemy lines. While Ricochet was initially hesitant about such tactics he has since found that being Crash's bowling ball has its benefits: the gregarious Crash now considers Ricochet more of a friend, and that's something Rico is always on the look out for. Appearance Pepper is a scrawny kid of eighteen, although he looks to be much younger than that. He has grown up without much guidance and has the look of an outsider about him, perhaps in the way his eyes constantly dart from side to side. He talks all the time, ALL the time, and this combines with his nervous appearance in a way that quickly annoys those around him. As Ricochet, he wears green goggles to protect his identity as well as the armoured costume of Next Gen, which has a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants. Notes A Speedball homage (of course!).

#127 HUNTRESS (Nigeria) HUNTRESS Dina Okigbo Character Sheet (Click Here) Background The Milan catwalks were sent into chaos in the Fall of 2007 when up and coming Nigerian star, Dina Okigbo, exploded out of her Pierre Cardin dress. While it may have been brushed off as a 'wardrobe malfunction' the assembled media witnessed a transformed Dina leap into the crowd and tackle an African man wearing dark shades and an overcoat. Within seconds, the man was identified as a hit man for the warlord Witch Doctor who had come to Italy to assassinate the French Foreign Minister who was in attendance. Dina had apparently seen the man's gun and reacted instinctively. It was revealed much later that she had been involved in a gun battle as a child when fighting groups had stumbled into her house in Porto-Novo where her mother ran a clothing business. However it wasn't Dina's bravery which was immediately photographed and sent across the world: it was her naked form, or near-naked form, which impressed everyone present. In the heat of the moment Dina's ubergene had manifested itself and she had transformed into a hybrid feline form. Her body was covered in luxurious leopard print and her eyes had switched to those of a predator. As she was rushed away from the hungry eyes of the media, Dina managed to calm down enough to reverse the metamorphosis. For several weeks after the incident she was able to switch back and forth between her two forms, but eventually she found herself unable to shed the fur. Destined to look like a catwoman for the rest of her life, Dina made the bold decision to carry on modelling. At first the fashion houses were hesitant, but they soon showered her with opportunities as uberhumans were heralded in as the new face of fashion. While she is no longer solidly booked for the entire year, Dina manages to keep busy for at least half of the year. She has also joined the Next Gen superhero team based in Nigeria. Her reasons for joining were to make the world a better place, particularly for young Nigerian women. She doesn't need the money which is handed out to her by the corporation, and donates it to local charities. Of all the members of Next Gen, Dina is the only one who maintains her hero status purely for the benefit of mankind. Since joining Next Gen, Huntress has attracted much attention, including from adversaries such as The Hunter, who has promised that he will capture her one day. His obsession amuses her, but she knows that to be captured by him would possibly be worse than death. Personality Dina is the consummate professional with several years experience as a top fashion model assisting her keep her poise and incredible presence. She is rarely surprised and carries herself with a superiority which is evident to everyone she meets. Her beauty has become more exotic but is no less commanding, and she is one of Africa's most identifiable women, particularly in Europe. Her cool presence is somewhat shattered when she enters a combat situation, however, and she has often found herself surrendering to her base animal instincts. She keeps her passions to herself, of course, but there is an undeniable thrill in drawing the blood of others. Quote "Have you considered a different line of work, Hunter? Such frequent failures would certainly put a dampener on my spirits." Powers Huntress has become a leopard-human hybrid, with enhanced senses and physical attributes. She is able to bench press in excess of 1600kg and easily competes against Olympic gymnasts, despite having had no training. She has retractable claws in her hands and feet as well as fangs which are stored in her jaw but can be released in battle. She is a very fast runner and is able to accelerate to top speeds within seconds: an ability which has ended many chases and one which fleeing adversaries are very aware of, and yet are unable to prevent. Appearance Huntress maintains a humanoid appearance but has retractable claws in her hands and feet, as well as retractable fangs where her canine teeth would be. Her body is covered in fine leopard fur and her ears are more like that of a cat. Her eyes are entrancing and have been widely photographed. They are golden with a slit pupil and can seem warm or deathly cool depending on her mood. She also has whiskers which are very fine and often overlooked, and a playful tail which is another of her trademark looks. As a member of Next Gen she wears an armoured costume which has a dark green band across the top covering her shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of her torso, and dark green trunks and pants. She is one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. With that in mind it really doesn't matter what she wears: she always draws a crowd of admiring bystanders. Notes Huntress if the current field leader of Next Gen, and probably the only one with any kind of leadership potential. Picture supplied by Storn.

#127 CRASH (Nigeria) CRASH Alhaji Obey Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Alhaji Obey found a way out of poverty through music and rose quickly up the echelons of the new Afrobeat music scene, going on to appear in world music festivals in Nigeria and even as far as South Africa. His parents had died when he was fifteen and he had the job of raising his two younger brothers, so when he began to gather some popularity as a musician he thought he had found a way to succeed. The constant threat of orphanages was now gone. But Alhaji's dream run came at a cost. At a festival in Ghana he was arrested for possession of narcotics which had been planted on him by an agent of the Sunset Cartel which was using the festival to launder money as well as distribute drugs. He was thrown into prison and would have to wait months, if not years, for a trial. While he languished behind bars his brothers would be taken from him. In his desperation Alhaji lost control. He slammed himself against the walls of his prison, screaming at the injustice of his life. As he slammed he began to make dents in the walls and bars, until finally they snapped and he found himself surprised, but free. While he hesitated at the prison, wondering what fate had in store for him if he fled the authorities, he also knew that he had to make sure his brothers were safe. He ran. The police pursued him and Alhaji found himself quickly disoriented in the city and was forced into a stand-off with the heavily armed police. Africa Force One arrived and brokered a truce. Alhaji agreed to return to prison while Africa Force investigated the possibility of a frame-up. Luckily for Alhaji the team did uncover the Sunset Cartel's involvement and soon he was released, although he would never return to Ghana. When he arrived home he found himself without much chance of a new festival appearance. His embarrassing moment in Ghana had been televised across most of Africa and no one was returning his phone calls. All seemed lost until he received a visit from a chimpanzee called Pan. News of Alhaji's powers had made the rounds as well and Pan encouraged him to join their new superhero team, Next Gen. There would be a regular and bountiful pay check and all he had to do was live the life of a super hero. Taking the code name Crash, Alhaji has fully embraced the idea of becoming a corporate super hero. He loves the money and the fact he gets to be a super hero and smash things. Even when he smashes the wrong things, Pan or Pandora always clean up the bureaucratic mess. He is having a dream run. Personality Crash is an airhead who rarely thinks about the consequences of actions, and is probably a result of him running through one too many brick walls. He is a very pleasant and charming kid with a ready smile and an adventurous spirit, but he doesn't have much else going for him, unless you consider his music career. He has joined Next Gen because it has finally put an end to his concerns about how to support his brothers. Everything seems to be perfect now, and Alhaji has enough money and free time to pursue the life he always wanted. And while he is a great hero, he tends to look at the financial and popularity aspects of his career rather than any altruistic notions of looking after people or the world at large. With that in mind he makes a perfect addition to the corporate Next Gen team. Quote "It's ... Crash Time!" Powers Alhaji Obey has always had a very hard head, but since his ubergene activated he has developed the ability to simply run through anything. He has smashed his way through buildings, through the sides of mountains and even through a battalion of Iron Heart armours (although admittedly he was later pinned and squeezed by those Iron Hearts and had to be rescued by his team mates). As well as uberhuman strength (able to lift in excess of 50 tons) and durability, Crash also possessing enhanced ground speeds which he uses to simply run through obstacles. Appearance Alhaji is an attractive man on the cusp of his twenties. He is a fervent dancer and has a very athletic and lithe body. As Crash he wears the team costume which is made from an armoured material with a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 PANDORA (Nigeria) PANDORA Character Sheet (Click Here) Background When Infinite Man first battled the New Men in Africa, he generated a mutagenic plague which was intended to destroy Dr Saul Numen, and while the attack failed, the plague was not entirely cleaned up in the aftermath. A family of chimpanzees contracted the mutagenic disease and suffered terribly. When Balthasar Numen discovered that the plague had shifted to the primates he alerted his family who quickly swung into action and created an antidote. However, many of the chimpanzees had perished. Those who remained were taken to the capital Abuja where Saul Numen hastily set up a clinic to treat them. Twelve months later and only two chimpanzees remained alive: Pan and Pandora. A side effect of the mutagen was that both chimpanzees developed higher functioning brains and long after Dr Saul Numen turned his attention away from these creatures they decided to take matters into their own highly dextrous hands. They realised that humans would never be able to save the chimpanzees' dwindling population because they were so easily distracted. Pan and Pandora realised it would fall to them to take the salvation of their species on to the world stage. They began to track the activities of Dr Numen and realised that he had great respect across the globe as well as great wealth. Added to these were his ubergenic powers and close-knit super family. Pan decided to emulate Numen, but to use the influence such things brought in a way which benefited the primate world. He discharged himself from the clinic and together with Pandora set out to visit Gorilla City which had always been a kind of myth. He was greeted cordially by the cautious King and spent many months in the vast libraries and halls of knowledge. During her stay in the primate city, Pandora began to train with the security forces. She knew that Pan's dream would require a firm hand and while he excelled in the field of the intellect he was quite inept in the field of physical combat. Even before their family was killed Pan was something of a runt. Pan and Pandora left Gorilla City with enough knowledge to establish their own 'New Men', although with obvious differences. They returned to Nigeria where they ventured into the dwindling forests. Pan called together a modest number of chimpanzees and spent hours talking to them about the coming dawn. None of the chimpanzees seemed particularly worried about their lot in life, and in fact, many of them showed fear when faced with Pan's unusual behaviour. It was Pandora who drew Pan back to the city. She counselled him that the way to salvation lay in the humans' world. If they were serious about saving their species they would have to engage in human affairs. She liked his idea of forming a super hero team, but suggested he employ humans. Pan was initially disgusted, but then saw the benefits. Humans were, after all, easier to manipulate than other primates. They were drawn to the power of money and luxury and fame. So Pan began to scour the countryside of Nigeria for likely candidates, and while the country had a very large population he only found a handful of uberhumans, and of that group he could only persuade two to join his team. Nonetheless, he and Pandora trained them in the use of their powers and covertly set up their organisation. They were very cautious about releasing information too early. It was at this time that Pandora discovered she was now infertile. The discovery sent her into a depression and she withdrew from Pan and his project for several months. With the advent of Africa Force, Pan thought that their plans would have been thwarted, but once again Pandora counselled him. She came out of her self-imposed exile and took a more active role in their plans. Africa Force was an international peace keeping force, dedicated to helping mankind with no thought of financial reward. Their team, however, would service those people or organisations which had the finances to pay for their help. And she said that there would always be those who had more money than sense. Again, Pan agreed. In 2005, Pan addressed the people of Nigeria via a television broadcast. he had already become a public figure through his strategic 'humanitarian work' at the local hospitals and clinics, and now he used that image to propel his super hero team onto the international stage. He unveiled the 'Next Gen' super heroes while Pandora simultaneously launched their organisation on the internet and across the world with offices in London, New York and Johannesburg. The Next Gen were immediately hired by the government of Nigeria to assist with security around their oil production: something which Pan had predicted months earlier. The team swept into action and quickly eradicated the loosely organised groups of saboteurs. They were then swamped with work from small scale rescues of family members who had gone missing in London and Abuja, to security work protecting valuable museum exhibits in Spain. As the work increased, the money continued to flow in, and Pandora even began to branch out into sponsorship deals. Soon Next Gen was a household name across most of the world, and their bank accounts were overflowing. Pan had set up the membership of the team with clear employment contracts, so while the company earned a lot of money, individual members only saw a fraction of the plunder. Still, they didn't seem to mind. Personality Pandora is more sedate than her ambitious brother, although she too believes that the only way to prevent her species from extinction is to actively engage in the human world - and to take as much money and assets from them as possible. It was Pandora's plan to use the profits from Next Gen's activities to purchase land from the Nigerian government, and so far she has established several wildlife corridors with many more on the horizon. Pandora's influence can be seen in the everyday activities of Next Gen. She has paid the closest attention to the team members and acts as their surrogate mother. She is also more aware of potential problems than her brother and has frequently counselled him against certain rash actions. But she is also quite blinded by her infertility. When she and Pan survived the mutagenic plague she was relieved and felt blessed, but since learning of her inability to reproduce she has come to see her survival as more of a curse. She is driven to find a cure for her barrenness and has taken the members of Next Gen as her children until she or Pan can find a more suitable solution. Quote "In time they will come to view us as more than escaped circus animals, brother." Powers Possessing the physical attributes of a powerful chimpanzee, Pandora has trained extensively with what she calls Chimpan-Fu: a martial art she has developed in association with the security forces of Gorilla City as well as what she had learned as a young chimp with her family. She is a ferocious fighter, although she has a soft and gentle heart and will never intentionally maim an opponent. In addition to these fighting skills she possesses a keen intellect and is skilled in many areas. Although she often acts as Pan's assistant, Pandora is just as capable as her older and more intelligent brother. Appearance Pandora is a chimpanzee the size of a human child, but her eyes which have seen so much suffering, convey a very wise soul. While she prefers her natural appearance, she does realise that humans prefer to do business with clothed beings, so she has long since adopted the habit of wearing tailored clothing and simple dresses. When she joins the Next Gen team in the field she wears an armoured costume which has a dark green band across the top covering her shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of her torso, and dark green trunks and pants.

#127 PROFESSOR PAN (Nigeria) PROFESSOR PAN Pan Character Sheet (Click Here) Background When Infinite Man first battled the New Men in Africa, he generated a mutagenic plague which was intended to destroy Dr Saul Numen, and while the attack failed, the plague was not entirely cleaned up in the aftermath. A family of chimpanzees contracted the mutagenic disease and suffered terribly. When Balthasar Numen discovered that the plague had shifted to the primates he alerted his family who quickly swung into action and created an antidote. However, many of the chimpanzees had perished. Those who remained were taken to the capital Abuja where Saul Numen hastily set up a clinic to treat them. Twelve months later and only two chimpanzees remained alive: Pan and Pandora. A side effect of the mutagen was that both chimpanzees developed higher functioning brains and long after Dr Saul Numen turned his attention away from these creatures they decided to take matters into their own highly dextrous hands. They realised that humans would never be able to save the chimpanzees' dwindling population because they were so easily distracted. Pan and Pandora realised it would fall to them to take the salvation of their species on to the world stage. They began to track the activities of Dr Numen and realised that he had great respect across the globe as well as great wealth. Added to these were his uber powers and close-knit super family. Pan decided to emulate Numen, but to use the influence such things brought in a way which benefited the primate world. He discharged himself from the clinic and together with Pandora set out to visit Gorilla City which had always been a kind of myth. He was greeted cordially by the cautious King and spent many months in the vast libraries and halls of knowledge. During his stay he met again with an older Balthasar Numen who was in the City to work with a British spy, Agent Ape. Balthasar remembered Pan and spent some time with him. The boy was friendly, but didn't seem to grasp the enormity of the chimps' situation. He was too brash, too comforted by the wealth and power of his family. Pan and Pandora left Gorilla City with enough knowledge to establish their own 'New Men', although with obvious differences. They returned to Nigeria where they ventured into the dwindling forests. Pan called together a modest number of chimpanzees and spent hours talking to them about the coming dawn. None of the chimpanzees seemed particularly worried about their lot in life, and in fact, many of them showed fear when faced with Pan's unusual behaviour. It was Pandora who drew Pan back to the city. She counselled him that the way to salvation lay in the humans' world. If they were serious about saving their species they would have to engage in human affairs. She liked his idea of forming a super hero team, but suggested he employ humans. Pan was initially disgusted, but then saw the benefits. Humans were, after all, easier to manipulate than other primates. They were drawn to the power of money and luxury and fame. So Pan began to scour the countryside of Nigeria for likely candidates, and while the country had a very large population he only found a handful of uberhumans, and of that group he could only persuade two to join his team. Nonetheless, he and Pandora trained them in the use of their powers and covertly set up their organisation. They were very cautious about releasing information too early. With the advent of Africa Force, Pan thought that their plans would have been thwarted, but once again Pandora counselled him. Africa Force was an international peace keeping force, dedicated to helping mankind with no thought of financial reward. Their team, however, would service those people or organisations which had the finances to pay for their help. And she said that there would always be those who had more money than sense. Again, Pan agreed. In 2005, Pan addressed the people of Nigeria via a television broadcast. he had already become a public figure through his strategic 'humanitarian work' at the local hospitals and clinics, and now he used that image to propel his super hero team onto the international stage. He unveiled the 'Next Gen' super heroes while Pandora simultaneously launched their organisation on the internet and across the world with offices in London, New York and Johannesburg. The Next Gen were immediately hired by the government of Nigeria to assist with security around their oil production: something which Pan had predicted months earlier. The team swept into action and quickly eradicated the loosely organised groups of saboteurs. They were then swamped with work from small scale rescues of family members who had gone missing in London and Abuja, to security work protecting valuable museum exhibits in Spain. As the work increased, the money continued to flow in, and Pandora even began to branch out into sponsorship deals. Soon Next Gen was a household name across most of the world, and their bank accounts were overflowing. Pan had set up the membership of the team with clear employment contracts, so while the company earned a lot of money, individual members only saw a fraction of the plunder. Still, they didn't seem to mind. Personality Pan has big dreams but has to deal with humans in order to see any of them come to fruition, and that really frustrates him. He was initially hopeful of employing young chimpanzees in his quest to secure a better future for his species, but soon realised they lacked the world perspective or power to assist him, so he regretfully turned to humans. Apart from momentarily bouts of blatant prejudice against humans, Pan is a friendly and intelligence being. He enjoys conversation and fine wine, and is fast becoming a world celebrity. He and Pandora have been through some very trying times together, including the eradication of their family. The siblings have a very close relationship which will never be broken, especially by the humans. Sometimes Pan believes that he would never have come so far without Pandora, and he is right. Despite their best efforts, they have yet to have children. The disease which swept through their family has made them infertile. As the years progress and the Next Gen company makes more and more money, Pan is looking into ways that he can reverse this condition and produce a worthy heir for his nascent empire. Quote "I always say, if you can't get a good chimpanzee to help you out, there are always the humans." Powers Since being exposed to the mutagenic plague released by the mad man Infinity, Pan and his sister Pandora have developed incredibly astute brains, putting them at a genius level intellect. They are shrewd business-primates as well as imaginative problem solvers, and they use these abilities to fine tune their super hero team as well as their growing international organisation. Appearance Pan is a chimpanzee standing at a little under one metre, but looks taller when he dresses in human clothing. While he prefers his natural appearance, he does realise that humans prefer to do business with clothed beings, so both he and Pandora have long since adopted the habit of wearing tailored clothing. When he joins the Next Gen team as Professor Pan he wears an armoured costume which has a dark green band across the top covering his shoulders and upper chest, with a white band covering the rest of his torso, and dark green trunks and pants. Notes I did have a picture for Pan somewhere. It was pencilled but not inked. I'm sure it's around somewhere and as soon as I find it I'll get it coloured and on the web.

#127 NEXT GEN (Nigeria) NEXT GEN Team Sheet (Click Here) Background Professor Pan was adamant that the only way to help protect his species and stop the mass extinction being wrought against non-human species across Africa was to enter the human's world and make a lot of money. Only money would grant him power to halt the destruction of forests. After only a short period of brainstorming the best approach, Pan decided to create a super hero team which would protect Africa but at a price. His sister, Pan, established the international reputation of the corporation as well as its internet presence. Within an hour of launching the team, the government of Nigeria enlisted their help. While they have proven to be a little rough around the edges, Next Gen have delivered on their contracts again and again (and the extra insurance taken out on members Crash and Thunder has been well and truly worth it). The team has an unofficial rivalry with the various Africa Forces and Pan believes that this is born of jealousy, whereas those in Africa Force tend to see Pan and his heroes for hire as something of a nuisance at best, and a menace at worst. Area of Operations Next Gen is based in Nigeria but operates across Africa and even internationally when the need (and money) arises. Pan has targeted Africa Force accord nations such as Nigeria in a bid to turn them away from requesting Africa Force's help and to see that Next Gen offers much more immediate assistance. Pan and Pandora have decided against extensive work within the countries that are deemed under the control of the enigmatic Sons of Set such as Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Eritrea. Goals Pan and Pandora want to earn as much money as they can so they can buy back land which is essential for the continued survival of their species. Pan has turned his attention to other benefits of mass wealth and is slowly building an impressive empire which no longer has the interests of primates at heart (at least not primarily). The individual members of Next Gen are motivated by the income they receive. All of them, except Huntress, rely on the money to provide for them the life they have quickly become accustomed to. Huntress has joined the team because she can genuinely see the benefit such a team presents to the people of Africa. Reputation To the other heroes of Africa (and many of the villains), Next Gen is seen as a band of colourful amateurs, but those who have faced them cannot deny there are some very powerful individuals in the team, and under the direction of Pan they can be quite formidable. Africa Force has cautioned the accord countries not to employ the Next Gen, but when a disaster strikes and Africa Force cannot respond, the countries have unilaterally turned to Next Gen.

#125 BENEFICIAR (Nicaragua) Here is Glen Murie's powerful villain.

#126 MANIA (Niger) MANIA Dr Francoise Manie Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Dr Francoise Manie was once a respected, and somewhat unassuming member of the St. Augustine's Reformatory on the outskirts of the old part of Niamey. While the city grew beyond its original city limits, the Reformatory stood apart like a relic from a bygone era. Manie worked with the criminals but was neither enthused by her work or particularly helpful when it came to reforming them. At thirty-seven she had long since lost her jeu d'sprit. However, when an anonymous man was ushered through to her care after a bizarre thunder storm, Manie found herself face to face with the criminally insane Shade. While he appeared as a nondescript European man, the Shade chose to disclose his true appearance to Manie. He trapped her mind in his nightmarish dimension where she was ruthlessly stripped of her sanity. When he allowed her mind to re-settle in its rightful place Manie was a different woman. The Shade sent her on her way but kept in mental contact with her as she went about her usual routine. To amuse himself, the Shade chose to command Manie in a variety of ways, slowly at first but gradually building to a cacophany of mayhem. At first she was compelled to mishandle medications which resulted in several inmates falling into violent convulsions. This was followed by surgical murders of her neighbours and finally by releasing the inmates of St Augustine's Reformatory. During the break-out, Manie attempted to flee with the Shade but he simply vanished, leaving her a broken woman. Manie disappeared that night too, but later surfaced in the capital where she led an attempt to blow up all of Niger's television relay stations. The purpose of such a move was never explained, and although she escaped capture, she continued to turn up across the country and neighbouring countries in an effort to cause destruction. Later still she took her strange attacks to Europe where she nearly blew up the Eiffel Tower, but was stopped by the Brotherhood. During this attack she declared that she was attempting to contact the Shade, and in retrospect her manic attacks across Niger could also be interpreted as attempts to make contact with the enigmatic master villain. It is not know whether she has, in fact, made contact with the Shade since becoming the criminal dubbed Mania, but he actions have taken on a more systematic approach since Paris. She has hired mercenaries to assist her with her plots, as well as hiring out her own services to others. However, one constant remains and that is that Mania is certainly not one to be trusted. She is just as likely to kill her own security detail as she is to oppose heroes. The only thing she values apart from being reunited with her 'master', is her own liberty and she will ensure she retains this in any manner possible. Personality It is difficult to understand Francoise Manie's motivation. Since being subverted by The Shade she has become increasingly unstable and has shown unpredictability in all areas of her life. She has cast off her career and family and now roams around the globe seeking a reunion with The Shade. Her methods for doing this vary but almost always involve mass destruction and ultimate mayhem. Quote "The secret to success is to be unpredictable. And not predictably unpredictable like some madmen. You need to deliver your chaos with a sense of style. Like me." Powers Mania is criminally insane and her actions can not be predicted. While she has no uberhuman abilities she has a ruthlessness and abandon which put many villains to shame. She employs a simple but deadly handgun and wears protective goggles. She has also employed mercenaries or thugs to either do her dirty work or at least slow down any opposition. Perhaps her greatest threat is her ability to create dangerous devices capable of mass destruction. The nature and purpose of these machines varies from one incident to the next but all are the work of a criminal mind. Appearance There is something strange about Francoise's eyes: a mania which gives her her name. She was once an average looking woman but since losing her mind she has blossomed into a crazy-beauty. She has cast off inhibitions and low self-esteem, and now runs around the world as Mania. She generally wears her pink bubble-like goggles and has her dreadlocked black hair done up in two piggytails. She changes her costume regularly but has been known to dress in black leathers, tailored business suits and exotic bodysuits. Notes Okay, so I hadn't actually posted her here on the Forum Boards. Well, she's here now!

Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week It's been a while, eh? I've had three months of 'real life' developments including separating from my wife and a complete hard drive meltdown. Things are looking up and I'm back in the project, although it'll take a week or so to catch up with the pictures I 'owe'. I've started with Mania. Her entry has been edited, but here she is again. Consider her a type of Harley Quinn.

Re: The Zodiac Group I Created, it's a 300k pdf Repworthy but I have to spread it around! Nice feel to the product Glen.

Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week Thanks Glen (gmurie) for the Nepalese team. If you're up for another challenge let me know, and I'll try and get some pictures for the characters soon.

#124 TANIWHA (New Zealand) TANIWHA Zac Te Huna Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Sixteen year old Zac Te Huna was on a post-season rugby trip to the Bay of Plenty when he and his fellow team mates were swamped by a freak wave. The team was quickly plucked to safety except for Zac who was lost, presumed drowned. The following day his body was recovered and taken to a hospital where fate intervened in the guise of a young doctor, Cadbury Jones. Jones was actually an uberhuman with uncontrollable powers of regeneration, and while he assisted with the autopsy, his powers rejuvenated Zac before any major surgical work was initiated. Zac was pronounced a miracle and after several weeks of observation was sent back to his family in Auckland. Only days after returning home, Zac began to experience strange waking dreams where he was communing with a spirit, a taniwha. The spirit told him that he had been sent back to the living world to guard the Maori. Soon after these strange visions Zac found that the water in his immediate vicinity would act... strangely. While in the shower the water would spiral around his body as if playing in the air. Even a small amount of water would be enough to trigger his powers. While walking through puddles he accidentally triggered a flash flood and had water gushing down the street. While it caused only minor damage, it was enough to frighten Zac into staying indoors. Cadbury Jones discovered what had happened and made his way to visit the young rugby player. Cadbury was also experiencing strange uber powers and the two young men were able to support each other while they came to terms with the strange new abilities at their fingertips. Cadbury soon mastered his powers and went on to become Nostrum of the Southern Knights, but Zac was younger and forced himself back to school, even though hero work appealed to him. He finished his school and won a scholarship based on his grades and skill on the rugby field. At university he studied architecture, but as the months passed, he found that his powers as an uberhuman were often called upon. Nostrum spent most of his time in Australia so New Zealand was frequently without a guardian. Zac took on the guise of Taniwha and began a career as a public hero. At first he often made mistakes but he quickly found his 'feet' and was received with wide acclaim by the people of New Zealand. With the help of Nostrum he has established himself as New Zealand's resident hero and most recently he has become more vocal in the public arena in areas of politics and race relations, much to the chagrin of the government. Personality At first Zac was a wildly enthusiastic and adventurous youth, but since finishing university he has decided that his career as a public super hero requires more level-headedness. He avoids politics and bureaucracy but cannot help commenting on government actions or, in his eyes, inactions. He is a very patient young man and is rarely goaded into fights, whether it be against super villains or political opponents. This patience has earned him support in the general population and he is regarded as a friendly hero who really does look out for the people. Zac has become more politically minded recently and has had a tattoo (moko) painted on his face which caused something of a stir. He remembers the early visions he experienced soon after he was brought back from the dead, and he realises that he was brought back to protect the interests of the Maori people first, and the people of New Zealand second. So far this has not caused conflict, but he knows that somewhere in the future a decision will have to be made. That is what the life of heroes is all about, after all: hard decisions. Quote "There really are things out there in the world that we can't explain. Sometimes it's best to not even give it a thought. If something happened, it happened. Deal with it or it will deal with you." Powers Taniwha seems to have been imbued with a spiritual magic since being brought back from the dead by Nostrum. He has mentioned voices in his head which may indicate he has a guardian spirit. His tattoos provide him with protection from all forms of harm, and while the artist was not magical, it has been suggested that the ink was found in an underwater cave once guarded by a powerful taniwha, or water spirit. Zac is able to fly as well, which does not appear to be related to his uberhuman abilities to control water, and they could, therefore, be another manifestation of his spirit magic. Zac's uberhuman abilities focus on water control, or Aquakinesis. He is able to manipulate existing water to such an extent that he is able to create larger quantities of it from a small source. He can use the water to create powerful blasts, watery shields which can also grapple opponents, and he can even create fog. As could be expected of someone with Zac's powers, he can also breathe underwater. Appearance Zac Te Huna comes from the Ngai Tahu tribe of the North Island. He is a well built young man who has been a superb rugby player for most of his life. His uberhuman gene has also boosted his physical condition so he is now very tall and muscled. When he first appeared as a superhero, Zac favoured a red and black costume which covered his entire body except for his head. Now that he has become more political he has discarded much of that costume and now only wears a black loin cloth, over shorts, and a red cape fastened by two circular jade reliefs. His face has been tattooed with a protective pattern and has become Zac's calling card.

#123 SLEDGEHAMMER (Netherlands) SLEDGEHAMMER (DE MOKER) Leona Kuijpers Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Leona Kuijpers discovered her 'sledgehammer fists' during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and became a costumed hero during the 1940s, even joining other Allie ubers against the seemingly insurmountable forces of the Ubermensch. She was outclassed by the likes of Max Uber and his peers, but she did manage to cause trouble at a local level and assisted the resistance movements in her country and the surrounding Low Countries. After the war she retired from public view, although she was a part of the United Nations' investigation into the uberhuman phenomenon. She returned to Haarlem and worked in her father's post office, taking over its operation when he became ill and later died. During the late 1940s she began writing a comic book based on a character called De Moker (Sledgehammer) which allowed her to live out her superhero life through fiction. She dreadfully missed the times she donned her brightly coloured costume, but realised her time was past. During the late 1960s she realised that she wasn't getting any older and she underwent a kind of metamorphosis. She began to live her life more recklessly, pursuing extreme activities such as hot air ballooning and alpine skiing. During the 1970s she reprised her role as De Moker and fought against crime in and around the Netherlands. This adventurous lifestyle lasted until late 1978 when she became tired of the super hero routine and again retired to her post office in Haarlem. Leona only recently came out of retirement again, in 2003, when she aided The Brotherhood at The Hague against the sinister VENOM. She and Steppenwolf began dating after the adventure and Leona felt that her chances for a normal life were within her grasp. However, it soon became apparent to Leona and Steppenwolf that they were not meant to be together. They parted but have remained friends. Personality Leona has lived a long time, but hasn't really done much with her life (at least in her eyes). She is hungry for some kind of legacy but doesn't feel like the world of superheroes is really for her. She longs for some kind of real relationship but her longevity and independent personality seem to frighten potential boyfriends. She lives quietly in Haarlem and works at her post office. While most people have accepted that their local post mistress is nearly one hundred years old, but looks to be in her thirties, there are some who avoid her. Others even seek her out for ridicule or to test their strength. Leona treats these as moderately interesting diversions from her long life and has occasionally stepped out as De Moker to put thugs in their place. Quote "I have been around for a long time. Some days are good. Others are a little dull. Actually if I think about it now, I would say that the past two decades have been quite slow." Powers De Moker has the ability to make herself more dense. Her fists become like sledgehammers and can deliver resounding blows. She is resistant to most physical attacks, although she has some vulnerability to firearms and other 'killing' attacks. Appearance Leona Kuijpers is nearly one hundred years old, but looks like a regular woman in her early thirties. She has dull blonde hair and green eyes. Her fashion sense tends to be several decades out of date and she makes little attempt to stay with the times. She is a thick set woman but when her mind is in the right place she can be remarkably charming and full of sprightly enthusiasm. As De Moker she originally wore a green and yellow dress with a red mask. Since reprising her role in recent times she has forsaken a costume. She doesn't need to hide her identity and considers those heroes who prance about in costumes as alternatively immature and exciting. She acknowledges that she no longer has the tenacity to pull it off but admires those who can. Notes Sledgehammer is a homage to the original De Moker which was published in 1948. I found it using Google, but I don't know much more than the title, its English equivalent, and that it was a superhero comic. But thanks anyway.

Nepal The Nepalese super villain team is being written up as we speak... er, type. Glen Murie is doing the honours and he's got some great ideas so stay tuned. In the meantime I'll jump ahead to the Netherlands.

Re: Champions and the IRS Good Thread. I missed it the first time it came up, so I'm *bumping* it. Does anyone else have ideas about this, or experience from actual games?

Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week You're thinking Scooby Doo, right? Nice touch. And if you're not thinking about the Scoobster, then - still, nice touch. Repped.

#121 SEA WITCH (Nauru) SEA WITCH Real Name Unrevealed Character Sheet (Click Here) Background The true origins of the Sea Witch are shrouded in mystery and rumour. Stories of a 'sea witch' been around for hundreds of years around the Malaca Straits near Malaysia, although the creature calling herself by that name in the present day may or may not be the same creature who has appeared previously. What is known is that she preys on marine vessels travelling through the Straits and other shipping lanes in South-East Asia. Her attacks are aimed at disabling the vessels and then plundering their cargo and passengers. She has shown a shrewd interest in the illicit people smuggling operations and has often swept down on leaky boats to murder the handlers and take the 'human cargo' for her own ends. Sometimes she sells the people but other times they simply vanish. Her activities are opposed around Indonesia by the Bidadari Angels, although their capacity to intervene is limited. There are only three Angels and a very large number of islands to patrol. In Australian territories, the Southern Knights have successfully dealt with the Sea Witch several times, although they have never managed to apprehend her. In contrast, the crime lord Evol Khan has entertained the Sea Witch in his elaborate hotels and has even extended assistance to her piracy activities. It is rumoured that she keeps a sanctum hidden in Singapore under the direct protection of Khan himself. Personality The Sea Witch is apparently immortal and if she was ever truly human, she has lost both the appearance and any admirable human traits she may have once possessed. She considers humans to be toys and will collect and discard them at will. She is cruel and wild and thoroughly unpredictable, seemingly able to change moods like the tides of the oceans she haunts. Quote "Your life in exchange for these pretty souls..." Powers A creature of magic, the Sea Witch is able to draw upon magical energies for a variety of effects most notably teleportation and the generation of a green energy. This energy can be used to create concave shields, powerful blasts and can be used to transform matter. She is also able to dominate minds as well as communicate with them. In addition to these dynamic powers, the Sea Witch is immortal and cannot be harmed in any permanent manner. Appearance With green skin, matted black hair and wild black, pupil-less eyes, the Sea Witch is a frightening figure to encounter in the oceans. She has cultivated a reputation for murder and deeds most foul. She has a lean and dangerous frame but also appears somewhat ethereal, with wisps of sea mist dancing around her. She refuses to wear anything except a torn black dress which doesn't seem to worry her as she is immune to the adverse weather conditions she may encounter. Notes The Sea Witch isn't actually associated with Nauru, but the people she prays on may end up in the detention centre on Nauru, so if a superhero group were to investigate the Sea Witch they might be able to garner information from detainees on the island.

#120 SEEKER (Namibia) SEEKER Jacob Ngatjizeko Character Sheet (Click Here) Background Young Jacob Ngatjizeko never lost anything when he was young. Even as a baby he would always know where his mother was: whether she was in the fields or retrieving water. He was always calm for he knew exactly where his loved ones were and what they were doing. As he grew older he used his gifts to locate missing animals or even wayward children, whether they wanted to be found or not. He began having visions as a teenager and these were sometimes debilitating in their starkness and horror. He would walk in a semi-trance for hours after stumbling across a site which had once witnessed a massacre or a beating or some natural disaster. His parents, who had always loved him for his talents, were concerned. Many others in their village stayed away from him during these trances and Jacob became a young pariah. Jacob spent much of his time away from his home, preferring the solitude of the wilderness; but on returning from one such journey he discovered that his two sisters had been kidnapped. The entire village was distraught. There was talk of slavers or military raids, but Jacob knew immediately where his sisters were being kept. He walked directly to a neighbour's home and pushed the owner aside. Locked away in a small room at the back of the man's home were Jacob's sisters. Without accusing the man, Jacob freed his sisters and returned to the wilderness. His father came to see him and the two men sat on a ridge overlooking the sunset. His father told him that his gifts were from God and that without them his sisters would have been terribly hurt. Jacob nodded, knowing it to be true. His father told him that although everyone was grateful back in the village that Jacob was no longer a part of the society, that he did not fit in with the simple life they led. Again, Jacob understood this. His father suggested he use his gifts to help others, like in the old stories. Jacob was a hero, his father said. Jacob simply nodded, stood up and walk away from his father and his village. He travelled to the Kalahari Desert where he tried to lose himself in the land. What he found instead was an affinity for the land, and a connection to the animals who moved through its barren landscape. He used his gifts to search out the animals and spent many months following them, using their instincts to find water and sustenance, while watching them and even at times protecting them. Jacob returned to society sometime later, although he was never sure how long he had been absent. He moved to the nation's capital, Windhoek, where he found himself drawn to manual work. He could not read or write and had limited opportunities even in the big city. One day he overheard a co-worker talking about a big murder case where a man had been captured who had been responsible for the deaths of seven women. Jacob was intrigued and went to the courthouse with the other workers, just to see what this man looked like. When he arrived there was a flurry of excitement for the accused had declared that the last girl, a sixteen year old from Rehoboth, was still alive and that if he was kept in custody she would die of starvation. The man was kept in custody, but Jacob saw this as an opportunity to do some good in the world. He approached the newspaper men and asked them for details on the missing girl. That night he left the city and travelled to Rehoboth where he met with the girl's parents. Surprisingly they allowed him inside and talked about their daughter long into the night. As they talked, Jacob imagined the girl and began to search for her. His mind wandered. He had never had to search so far for someone or some animal before, but he was determined to save this girl. The next morning he had located her, and half-delirious from lack of sleep he stumbled out of the town and headed back towards the capital. The police caught up with him and offered him a ride to Windhoek. They had investigated him and discovered that he had a reputation for being able to find 'things'. They took him around the city and Jacob pinpointed the girl's location. The police sheltered him from the massive uprising in publicity the rescue ignited. He was dubbed 'Seeker' but no one knew who he was, although there were rumours which circulated like the wind. The police asked him for help in other cases and before Jacob could fully grasp the situation his name and reputation had spread across Namibia and even into other countries. The superhero team Africa Force Five requested his assistance in locating missing member, Neo. Jacob helped them find the young man in a Sons of Set compound and although he never participated in the rescue mission, he was present when Neo was returned to his family's compound. Jacob was invited to stay with the Tsholofelo family and he accepted, keen to experience the super hero life, even if for only a short time. He and Sethunya Tsholofelo became friends as they both shared a reticence that the others seemed to lack. Sethunya and Jacob spent time away from the public, hiking through the wilderness, and soon they developed a tentative relationship. Sethunya was shy and pushed him away shortly after they began courting, but Jacob proved to be a patient man. He returned to Namibia and continued working with the police there and in South Africa. During one case at Pretoria University, Jacob was reunited with Sethunya who was a student there, and although they are not officially in a relationship they enjoy each other's company and are moving towards more commitment. Since then Jacob has been called in to assist the various Africa Force teams many times. Personality Jacob is a quiet man who favours listening over talking. He is confident in his abilities when it comes to tracking and survival in the wilderness, but has a sincere insecurity when it comes to areas of formal education. He cannot read or write and believes this is a sign of his innate hopelessness. His family's abandonment is still painful although he can understand their sense of helplessness. He knows they had no way of coping with such an unusual son. Sethunya has begun teaching Jacob how to read and write, and the two of them have proven to be supportive and good for each other. Jacob has shown Sethunya that she is beautiful despite her poor self-image, and Sethunya has shown Jacob that even without knowing how to read properly, he has intelligence and wisdom beyond that of the people around him. Jacob is a very sensitive and caring man who will never easily give up on a person or dream. He believes in the best outcomes and has no anger towards those who do harm. He doesn't display the aggression of other superheroes and will not go out of his way to hunt down criminals. He is always more concerned with the victims. The criminals must always be given a chance to redeem themselves. Quote "If he be still on this planet, ma'am, then I will surely find him." Powers Seeker is able to project his consciousness into the wider world which allows him to mentally search for any mind in a very large area: human or animal. He is able to locate minds, the ability which has led to his national and international reputation; but he is also able to see into the past, particularly if the area he is in has experienced some kind of major emotional stress such as a murder or crime. He is also able to see areas through his 'psychic eye' although this ability is more restrained than his mental probes and are generally limited to 1km. Jacob is also an excellent tracker, even without his powers. He is comfortable in the wild and has excellent survival skills, including advanced first aid. He has developed a martial arts style which is effective, but something he only uses in defence. He is not a conventional superhero and does not seek to punish criminals. Another point of difference between Jacob and other heroes is the fact he wears no armour and can not really be considered a combatant, despite invitations from Africa Force for him to join their team. Appearance Jacob is a solemn looking man in his late twenties who is very accepting of everything and asks of nothing in return. He wears simple clothing and doesn't draw attention to himself. When he travels in the wilderness, particularly in the Kalahari Desert, he wears hardy clothing. Notes And finally, a 'Seeker' returns to the Champions Universe, by way of the Uberworld, of course.

#119 NELSON GOUVEIA (Mozambique) NELSON GOUVEIA Character Sheet (Click Here) Background After their parents died in a fire, the three Gouveia teenagers were sent to live with their enigmatic uncle in the northern city of Lichinga, to the east of Lake Nyasa. They began their life there as virtual slaves and rarely even had the opportunity to see their uncle. Nelson, Custodio and Helen were unaware that their uncle was a devotee of the demonic Black Skull and was attempting to find a way for the elder demon to cross over into the Earth dimension. After some time, Nelson was asked to perform assistant duties for his uncle which became more and more dangerous. At first Nelson was only allowed to clean up his uncle's experiments, but soon he had become the central component of them and his uncle attempted to have Nelson possessed by the Black Skull. Custodio and Helen were Nelson's only confidantes and together they decided to run away. On the night of their plan, however, Nelson went missing and the two other siblings went to find him, somehow knowing that he would be found in their uncle's underground laboratory. When they arrived, Nelson was floating in the centre of the room, his eyes glowing red. There was no sign of their uncle. At his siblings' appearance, Nelson seemed disoriented and floated back to the ground, passing out as the spirit of the Black Skull left him. During his fitful sleep, Nelson dreamed that his uncle had been shunted into wherever the Black Skull was to be found and that Nelson, Custodio and Helen were now alone... again. When he awoke Custodio confirmed his uncle's absence. Rather than alert the authorities, the three teenagers decided to remain in Lichinga. No one ever visited and their uncle had already been considered a recluse. Nelson was drawn to his uncle's studies, but Helen warned against delving too far into them. Her warnings weren't heeded, of course, and Nelson soon found himself accidentally opening a doorway to a demonic realm. Three demons escaped and sought to take over the bodies of the Gouveias. They would have succeeded, too, if not for the timely intervention of Fata Morgana and her eclectic band of Protezoni. Fata Morgana took the teenagers to Europe and they spent some time in Venice learning about the Black Skull and the Protezoni's mission to oppose his return. Nelson and the others agreed to assist wherever they could and Fata Morgana accepted their offer and sent them home. She told them that one day in the future they would be needed, and that Nelson's sacrifice would be needed to stop the invasion. Once back in Mozambique, Nelson decided to become more active rather than waiting. He began investigating any kind of occult rumour around their town. The three were soon drawn into solving mysteries using their uncle's library and their own keen instincts. Nelson has recently suffered from a growing number of frightening dreams. The Black Skull seems to be restless. Personality Nelson Gouveia has been given a glimpse of his future and considering he needs to sacrifice his own life to save the world sometime down the track, he is a little upset about it. Despite Fata Morgana's conviction, Nelson believes there will always be a chance to exert control over his own future - he doesn't believe in fate. He has become an adept student of the occult and leads his brother and sister against any supernatural threats they come across, although so far they have only managed to secure a handful of 'jobs'. Quote "The three of us against a horde of locust-demons? Shouldn't take more than an hour or two, tops." Powers Nelson has been possessed by a fragment of the Black Skull. While he has no supernatural abilities he has developed a sensitivity to such powers in others as well as the tendency to experience dreams, some of which appear to be prophetic. Appearance At nineteen, Nelson is the oldest of the Gouveia family. He is handsome and outgoing, with dark eyes and short black hair. When he was possessed by the Black Skull his eyes were a fiery red colour and this sometimes returns when he is under intense pressure or has had a bad dream. Otherwise Nelson is an average young man. Notes It's probably obvious, but Nelson here would make an excellent plot hook for any demonic-styled adventures. He could be possessed or be a protagonist. And since his fate is tied up with saving the world by sacrificing himself, he could be drawn into any major conflict. I've got some ideas for Uberworld, but will hold off on them at the moment. The Black Skull is indeed on the move in Uberworld but he has a few jobs to finish before he starts to tie up loose ends like the Gouveia siblings.

#119 HELEN GOUVEIA (Mozambique) HELEN GOUVEIA Character Sheet (Click Here) Background After their parents died in a fire, the three Gouveia teenagers were sent to live with their enigmatic uncle in the northern city of Lichinga, to the east of Lake Nyasa. They began their life there as virtual slaves and rarely even had the opportunity to see their uncle. Nelson, Custodio and Helen were unaware that their uncle was a devotee of the demonic Black Skull and was attempting to find a way for the elder demon to cross over into the Earth dimension. After some time, Nelson was asked to perform assistant duties for his uncle which became more and more dangerous. At first Nelson was only allowed to clean up his uncle's experiments, but soon he had become the central component of them and his uncle attempted to have Nelson possessed by the Black Skull. Meanwhile, Helen and Custodio maintained the large house and grounds. Helen was also expected to work at a neghbours house, which had apparently been part of a deal struck between her uncle and this new man. Helen only ever called him 'Master' which was originally spoken as a servant to an employer, but rapidly became more of a student to a teacher. The Master required Helen to clean his house and prepare meals, but he also ordered her to undergo martial arts training. At first it was simply a matter of self defence training, but soon became more expert. The Master was aware of her uncle's activities and wanted to prepare her, at least, to avoid the grisly fate he expected for them. Meanwhile, Nelson was being drawn further into their uncle's plans. Custodio and Helen were Nelson's only confidantes and together they decided to run away. On the night of their plan, however, Nelson went missing and the two other siblings went to find him, somehow knowing that he would be found in their uncle's underground laboratory. When they arrived, Nelson was floating in the centre of the room, his eyes glowing red. There was no sign of their uncle. At his siblings' appearance, Nelson seemed disoriented and floated back to the ground, passing out as the spirit of the Black Skull left him. During his fitful sleep, Nelson dreamed that his uncle had been shunted into wherever the Black Skull was to be found and that Nelson, Custodio and Helen were now alone... again. When he awoke Custodio confirmed his uncle's absence. After finding her brother levitating, Helen rushed to see the Master but he was gone as well. There was no sign of a struggle. He had simply vanished. Rather than alert the authorities, the three teenagers decided to remain in Lichinga. No one ever visited and their uncle had already been considered a recluse. Nelson was drawn to his uncle's studies, but Helen warned against delving too far into them. Her warnings weren't heeded, of course, and Nelson soon found himself accidentally opening a doorway to a demonic realm. Three demons escaped and sought to take over the bodies of the Gouveias. They would have succeeded, too, if not for the timely intervention of Fata Morgana and her eclectic band of Protezoni. Fata Morgana took the teenagers to Europe and they spent some time in Venice learning about the Black Skull and the Protezoni's mission to oppose his return. Nelson and the others agreed to assist wherever they could and Fata Morgana accepted their offer and sent them home. She told them that one day in the future they would be needed, and that Nelson's sacrifice would be needed to stop the invasion. Once back in Mozambique, Nelson decided to become more active rather than waiting. He began investigating any kind of occult rumour around their town. The three were soon drawn into solving mysteries using their uncle's library and their own keen instincts. Helen reluctantly agreed to help, and her fighting prowess has come handy more than once. Personality Helen is the middle Gouveia child and has taken on the role of de facto mother to her brothers (something she secretly hates). She worries about them getting into trouble, particularly since they have started to poke around further into areas they simply shouldn't - such as demonic dimensions. Helen looks back at her time with the Master with some suspicion. She now believes that he knew her future and was preparing her to help her brother, Nelson. She has attempted to question Fata Morgana on this, but the silver-haired Italian remains elusive. Quote "There is something wrong about the three of us poking around in here. It is not normal. We should be watching television, not looking in caverns for ghosts." Powers Helen has no unusual powers or abilities, although she has been trained in martial arts. The style seems to be similar to karate, but there are many differences. It is most likely that the Master was using a range of arts. Nonetheless, Helen has shown herself tough enough to stand against the odd demon now and then. Appearance Helen is seventeen years old, with wide eyes which seem more docile than she actually is. She has curly dark brown hair and is quietly attractive, which is probably more to do with her innate grace and balance than conventional beauty.

#119 CUSTODIO GOUVEIA (Mozambique) CUSTODIO GOUVEIA Character Sheet (Click Here) Background After their parents died in a fire, the three Gouveia teenagers were sent to live with their enigmatic uncle in the northern city of Lichinga, to the east of Lake Nyasa. They began their life there as virtual slaves and rarely even had the opportunity to see their uncle. Nelson, Custodio and Helen were unaware that their uncle was a devotee of the demonic Black Skull and was attempting to find a way for the elder demon to cross over into the Earth dimension. After some time, Nelson was asked to perform assistant duties for his uncle which became more and more dangerous. At first Nelson was only allowed to clean up his uncle's experiments, but soon he had become the central component of them and his uncle attempted to have Nelson possessed by the Black Skull. Meanwhile, Helen and Custodio maintained the large house and grounds. Custodio and Helen were Nelson's only confidantes and together they decided to run away. On the night of their plan, however, Nelson went missing and the two other siblings went to find him, somehow knowing that he would be found in their uncle's underground laboratory. When they arrived, Nelson was floating in the centre of the room, his eyes glowing red. There was no sign of their uncle. At his siblings' appearance, Nelson seemed disoriented and floated back to the ground, passing out as the spirit of the Black Skull left him. During his fitful sleep, Nelson dreamed that his uncle had been shunted into wherever the Black Skull was to be found and that Nelson, Custodio and Helen were now alone... again. When he awoke Custodio confirmed his uncle's absence. Rather than alert the authorities, the three teenagers decided to remain in Lichinga. No one ever visited and their uncle had already been considered a recluse. Nelson was drawn to his uncle's studies, but Helen warned against delving too far into them. Her warnings weren't heeded, of course, and Nelson soon found himself accidentally opening a doorway to a demonic realm. Three demons escaped and sought to take over the bodies of the Gouveias. They would have succeeded, too, if not for the timely intervention of Fata Morgana and her eclectic band of Protezoni. Fata Morgana took the teenagers to Europe and they spent some time in Venice learning about the Black Skull and the Protezoni's mission to oppose his return. Nelson and the others agreed to assist wherever they could and Fata Morgana accepted their offer and sent them home. She told them that one day in the future they would be needed, and that Nelson's sacrifice would be needed to stop the invasion. Once back in Mozambique, Nelson decided to become more active rather than waiting. He began investigating any kind of occult rumour around their town. The three were soon drawn into solving mysteries using their uncle's library and their own keen instincts. Helen reluctantly agreed to help, and her fighting prowess has come handy more than once. Custodio went along for the ride and has become more and more excited about their new lives. As the youngest brother he is still babied, somewhat, by his older siblings but he has begun to show more maturity as the months pass. Personality Custodio is the youngest of the three Gouveia children and has a hard time listening to his brother and sister. He knows they are only trying to help, but they aren't his parents. Custodio wants to do what he wants, when he wants. Luckily, his brother is too caught up in the thick books and Helen is too worried about everything to worry too much about him, unless he does something majorly bad. Custodio has become a clever and stealthy thief under the noses of his brother and sister. Quote "Ah, so the demons have yellow blood... that is kind of cool, no?" Powers His siblings think he is a regular kid, but Custodio has developed some fairly accomplished thieving skills which he actively uses in his adventurous life right under Helen and Nelson's noses. Appearance Custodio is fourteen and has been in the care of his brother and sister for three years. During that time he has grown into a teenager who is gangly but full of energy and enthusiasm. He is always smiling and always moving.