Jack O' Lantern's MSH Blog

For those not familiar with the Fleshless Ones, they are a race of skeletal-like beings that had a memorable story in the old Fawcett horror comics of the 1950s, Prior to the Wertham controversy. As a younger gourd, I was able to get a collection of the comics, and was always struck by the interconectivity of the Fawcett horror 'universe', and how they had worked out a lot of concepts that were later seen in comics regarding crossovers, canon, and specifically, impact. Horror characters in the Fawcett books weren't just book hosts: They had specific roles and foils within the microcosim of comics, and obeyed the same rules and/or limitations from book to book.

I had forgotten the Fleshless ones, until I was doing research for a new campaign based around public domain heroes and using the Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki for some additional background and came across the entry. I remembered the story, and knew I wanted to include the Fleshless Ones this year. I think that TFOs make a great adversarial horror group, and definitely adds another aspect to the 'who do you trust' sort of paranoia by adding another sort of 'shapeshifter' race.




Fleshless Ones
F: Gd (10)
A: Gd (10)
S: Typ (06)
E: Ex (20)
R: Typ (06)
I: Gd (10)
P: Gd (10)

Health: 46
Karma: 26
Resources: Gd (10) to Ex (20) depending on the cabal
Popularity: -10 to the occult world

Talents:
Mystic Origin*
Sharp Weapons
Underworld Knowledge
Military
Medicine*
Engineering
Knowledge: Fleshless One Culture

Powers:
Fleshless Existence: The Fleshless Ones are a race of humanoid skeletons, that are pseudo-undead, possessing none of the restrictions of the living. Dedicated to overthrowing and destroying humanity, Fleshless ones were driven into the underworld in ancient days. Fleshless One are immune to toxins, disease, and/or aging. Fleshless ones do not require food, rest, or sleep, and cannot easily be affected by attacks that are illusionary and/or hallucinatory (+2cs to resist). Fleshless Ones can still operate and move until they reach Shift 0 Endurance, and do not make Endurance FEATS for any effect that would affect standard biology (such as biophysical control). Fleshless Ones possess a Gd (10) material strength, and can be destroyed if 70% of their body is destroyed.
Disguises: Fleshless Ones utilize hollowed skins of victims and former sacrifices (Who are usually Fleshless Ones themselves), used through a pseudo-scientific process. The disguises are indistinguishable from normal humans, only an Intuition FEAT against an Gd (10) intensity can spot a fleshless one. Fleshless Ones keep their disguises on hand, often exchanging them between themselves as necessary.

Contacts:
Each Fleshless One cabal has contacts with other cabals, and presumably, the Fleshless Ones use the contacts they have through their assumed identities.

Limitations:

• Inhuman: Fleshless Ones are inhuman, and as such, suffer a -1cs in reaction bonuses when confronted with human culture or experience. When revealed, the Fleshless Ones suffer a -2cs reaction bonus.
• Obsession: Destroy Humanity: Fleshless Ones have an obsession in destroying humanity, and will stop at nothing to achieve this. As such, Fleshless Ones may overlook well-thought out plans or ally with those they believe capable of helping carry out their plans.

The Big Red Cheese, The World’s Mightiest Mortal, SHAZAM!

William Joseph "Billy" Batson
Billy Marvel
Fighting: Poor (4) Mn (75)
Agility: Typ (6) Mn (75)
Strength: Typ (6) Un (100)
Endurance: Typ (6) Un (100)
Reason: Typ (6) Rm (30)
Intuition: Gd (10) Am (50)
Psyche: Gd (10) Am (50)

Health: 22 350
Karma: 26 130
Popularity: 5 50
Resources: Typ (6) Rm (30)

Talents:
Billy has developed several talents during his tenure as Captain Marvel, as well as being a media personality:
Media
Reporter*
Knowledge: Superheroes and Villains
Knowledge: Mystical Threats
Knowledge: Marvel Family and enemies
Aerial Combat
Student*: Although Billy has already developed several talents, he still is in school and continues to benefit from such.
Resist: Domination*

Powers:
The Power of SHAZAM: Billy is empowered by the wizard SHAZAM, and granted great abilities based upon the gods of the ancient world. These Powers include:
S- The Power of Solomon: Granted the wisdom and far reaching sight and awareness of Solomon, Billy can perform the following abilities:
- Total Memory: Un (100)
- Linguistics: Un (100)
- Clairvoyance: Un (100)
- Combat Sense: Am (50)
- Hypnotic Voice: Ex (20) ability to calm or convince people to see the error of their ways.
- Leadership: Marvel can assume leadership when transformed, but often defers to other, more experienced heroes.
H- The Power of Hercules: Billy is granted the great strength of Hercules, and as such has the higher strength score when transformed. Captain Marvel is on league with Superman when it comes to raw strength, and additionally, Marvel only needs to make a Yellow FEAT to push his strength past the normal levels. In addition, Captain Marvel has been shown to have the following:
- Hyper Intake/Expulsion: Mn (75) ability for ‘super breath’
A- The Power of Atlas: Billy has been granted the exceptional endurance of the titan Atlas, and as such has the higher Endurance rate. In addition, the power of Atlas has granted Billy the following:
- Self-Sustenance: Captain Marvel does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe.
- Hyper Endurance: Billy can push his Endurance past the normal rank if the situation calls for by +2cs simply by making a yellow Endurance FEAT.
- Indefinite survival in deep space: Captain Marvel can survive in deep space unaided for an unknown length of time.
Z- The Power of Zeus: Billy has the power of Zeus while transformed, able to call down the mystical bolt of lightning that transform him into Captain Marvel. In addition, the bolts of lightning have other powers and abilities:
- Transformation: When Billy yells ‘Shazam’, he is transformed by mystical lightning into the adult Captain Marvel. The power is considered Alter-Ego, although there is no transformation of consciousness.
- Mystical Lightning: Each bolt called down by SHAZAM is considered to be UN (100) mystical lightning. Marvel has in the past ‘dodged’ the bolt, allowing an individual to be hit with Mn (75) mystical damage.
- Resist: Magic: Billy is resistant to mystical attacks up to Am (50) damage.
A- The Power of Achilles: Billy summons the battle prowess and indestructibility of the mighty warrior Achilles, which grants Billy his increased fighting abilities as well as the following:
- True Invulnerability*: Mn (75): Billy is immune to all physical damage to Mn (75) ability, and is capable of ignoring most other effects.
- Resist: Fear: Billy is unafraid and cannot be attacked by fear based attacks with ability under Am (50) ability.
- Indomitable Will: Billy’s will is considered unbreakable, and his spirit is considered one of the few things of purity in the DCU. As example, when Neron tried to barter his soul, Hell froze from the purity of it. GM’s are suggested to adjust the rank as they see fit. In Kingdom Come it took Lex Luthor a decade to wear Billy down in his human guise to make him his servant, as an FYI.
M- The Power of Mercury: Mercury has granted Captain Marvel several abilities, which include:
- True Flight: Un (100) in Atmosphere, possibly as high as Cl1000 in space.
- Hyper Speed: Mn (75) Hyper-Speed
- Heighted Agility: As seen in stats
- Initiative bonus: Marvel gets an additional +5 in initiative bonus due to his fast thinking and reaction.

Contacts:
Justice League of America
Justice Society of America
Bullet Man
Spy Smasher
Mary Marvel
Captain Marvel Jr.
Uncle Marvel
Tawky Tawny
Superman
The Wizard Shazam

Limitations:
SHAZAM: Billy must say SHAZAM in order to transform into Captain Marvel. If Billy is unable to say the mystical word, he is powerless

Enemies: Billy has a fair number of enemies in his rogues gallery, and a number of them know that Captain Marvel is really young Billy Batson.

Responsibility of power: Billy is very aware of his responsibility, and will do nothing to jeopardize or abuse his power.

Code Vs. Killing: Billy would never take a life, no matter the circumstances.

Awe: Billy is a teen, and as such, is in awe other heroes, often deferring to them or simply unwilling to face them. As such, situations where Billy may know better will occasionally conflict with the chosen course of action.