The Knight
His steed
Some legacies, however heroic, are tainted. For a time, Dane Whitman, the latest and likely last bearer of the Ebony Blade, believed that he had banished the darkness that clung to his heritage and could bear the name "Black Knight" as a badge of honor. And to a degree, he still believes that. But it is a sadder and much diminished world than the one his blade was forged to protect, and he remains mindful of that.
Long ago in a distant land, the first Black Knight, Sir Percy of Scandia, was given the Ebony Blade by Merlin to act as a secret champion of King Arthur's court. The Blade, fashioned from meteoric iron, was enchanted so that nothing could claim the life of the one who wielded it save for a weapon of the same material. Sadly, despite his valor, Sir Percy was unable to prevent the flaws in Camelot from resulting in its downfall, and was slain in the aftermath of the Wicked Day, supposedly by Mordred. (Though as other chronicles claim that Mordred died in battle with Arthur, this account is suspicious.)
At some point in the centuries afterward, Sir Percy's descendants escaped from the otherworld where Camelot existed and came to the real world's Britain, around the same time, perhaps not coincidentally, that the stories of King Arthur began to flourish there. (Some have said that Sir Thomas Malory himself was a descendant of this line.) They brought the Ebony Blade with them, and many of them sought to use it to uphold the virtues of Camelot on this new world. Unfortunately, they remained prey to both the vices of that world and of this one as well, and many of them would use the Blade for fell purposes.
Dane Whitman only learned of all of this twenty-six years ago, when he was summoned to the bedside of his dying uncle, who had been a supervillain without using the Ebony Blade. With some hesitation, Dane took up the sword and tried to use it to redeem his family heritage, ultimately succeeding in doing so -- for a time. He viewed himself as an unlikely hero, the only scientist in the world with a magic sword (though he would later learn that there were others, which was not much of a comfort, really.) Yet he served bravely and well alongside the Avengers through some of the darkest days that the group ever faced.
And then, Götterdämmerung. The struggle was a personal one for Dane, fighting alongside the legends of Camelot and trying to save even one more life from the incineration that enveloped all the mystical and mythical realms. In the end, he was thought to have fallen in battle, and was mourned by his friends and teammates. But then word came of a knight with his banner all bravely unfurled still fighting with a black blade in what remained of the ruins of Faerie, and those same friends dared to hope.
Ironically, when he was finally returned to Earth two years ago by the Justice League, they were hoping to rescue Sir Justin, the
Shining Knight, now believed to have truly perished. Nevertheless, Dane sought to repay his rescuers by fighting alongside them for a time, while planning to return to the Avengers. But he has since found himself uncertain about what the Sentinel of Liberty has become since he stopped championing the American Dream and
become it, and what the years since have done to others among his allies increases his discomfort. For now, he has chosen remain with the Justice League.
Of course, Dane realizes that he has changed as much if not more. Countless battles have left their mark, and he now speaks little and lets his actions communicate for him. While still a scientist at heart, he has grown used to a life without most modern conveniences, and often goes without them. He has also learned far more about magic than he ever did before, and while the ritual that he uses most often is one to reunite him with the Blade when it goes missing, he can and does use other sorts when needed.
While he will bring up details about foes that he faced when they are pertinent, he doesn't usually talk about what he experienced on his journeys through the wreckage of the imaginary nations. Once only, when asked about the enchantment on his sword, he said this: "The blade is enchanted so that I cannot die by any means save a weapon of the same make. I can be harmed, maimed, but so long as the blade's hilt remains clasped in my hand, even if that hand no longer connects to my body, I shall not die.
"No matter how much I might have at times wished it."
The Black Knight -- PL 12
Abilities:
STR 3 |
STA 4 |
AGL 3 |
DEX 3 |
FGT 11 |
INT 7 |
AWE 4 |
PRE 3
Powers:
Enchanted Armor: Immunity 3 (aging, disease, poison); Impervious Protection 6; Impervious Will 8; Removable (-4 points) - 19 points
The Ebony Blade: Easily Removable (-28 points)
*
The Bane: Nullify Magic 10, Broad (Magic), Close - 20 points
*
The Blade: Strength-based Damage 5, Improved Critical 2, Penetrating 4 - 11 points
*
The Blessing: Immortality 20 (1 round), Quirk (not if killed by a weapon of similar material) - 39 points
Unfazeable: Immunity 5 (emotion effects) - 5 points
Advantages:
Accurate Attack, Assessment, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll, Favored Foe (demons), Great Endurance, Improved Defense, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative, Jack-of-all-trades, Power Attack, Precise Attack (close/concealment), Ritualist, Sidekick 16, Startle, Takedown, Tracking, Weapon Bind.
Skills:
Athletics 8 (+11), Close Combat: Sword 3 (+14), Expertise: Magic 10 (+13), Expertise: Science 5 (+12), Insight 8 (+12), Intimidation 10 (+13), Perception 6 (+10), Persuasion 8 (+11).
Offense:
Initiative +7
Unarmed +11 (Close Damage 3)
Blade of the Ebony Blade +14 (Close Damage 8)
Bane of the Ebony Blade +14 (Close Nullify Magic 10)
Defense:
Dodge 10, Parry 12, Fortitude 6, Toughness 12/10/6/4, Will 12
Totals:
Abilities 76 + Powers 66 + Advantages 33 + Skills 29 + Defenses 17 = 221 points
Offensive PL: 12
Defensive PL: 12
Resistance PL: 9
Skill PL: 8
Complications:
Duty--Motivation. Stoic and Reserved. Unfamiliar With Modern Technology.
Earendil -- PL 9
Abilities:
STR 6 |
STA 8 |
AGL 3 |
DEX 0 |
FGT 6 |
INT -2 |
AWE 3 |
PRE 0
Powers:
Barding: Impervious Protection 4; Removable (-1 point) - 7 points
Hooves: Strength-based Damage 2 - 2 points
Horsesense: Senses 3 (extended vision 2, low-light vision) - 3 points
Large Size: Permanent Growth 4 (Strength +4, Stamina +4, Intimidation +2, Dodge -2, Parry -2, Stealth -4), Innate - 13 points
Wings: Flight 6 (120 MPH), Winged - 11 points
Advantages:
Agile Feint, Great Endurance, Improved Initiative.
Skills:
Intimidation 2 (+4), Perception 2 (+5).
Offense:
Initiative +7
Bite +6 (Close Damage 6)
Hooves +6 (Close Damage 8)
Defense:
Dodge 4, Parry 6, Fortitude 10, Toughness 12/8, Will 6.
Totals:
Abilities 32 + Powers 31 + Advantages 3 + Skills 2 + Defenses 10 = 78 points
Offensive PL: 7
Defensive PL: 9
Resistance PL: 8
Skill PL: 0
Complications:
Duty--Motivation. He's A Horse, Of Course.
"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm not sorry I love you."