Barbarus
(Savage Land mutate)
Context
One problem with super-heroes RPGs is that you always need good villain teams, because the players are a team. Yet many villains the Avengers or the JLA face are a tad too powerful for even experienced heroes. But the Savage Land Mutates are a good, balanced team, and being drawn by Jim Lee in X-Men #274-275 has made them much less camp than before.
However, our notes about these guys are a tad old (hence referencing a 1991 issue in the previous paragraph. It was mostly a stab at stats, based on TSR Marvel Super-Heroes numbers. They’d need to be re-researched.
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Background
- Real Name: Barbarus.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Base Of Operations: Savage Land.
- Group Affiliation: Savage Land Mutates.
- Height: 6’2” Weight: 235lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown
Powers and Abilities
Barbarus is just a big, four-armed, superhumanly strong (“Class 50”) barbarian.
History
Barbarus was part of the few Swamp People of the Savage Land that were mutated by Magneto. This force was to serve as soldiers against Ka-Zar and the X-Men. After the X-Men defeated the Master of Magnetism, the mutates spontaneously devolved and went their own way.
Somehow, they later recovered their forms with slightly increased powers. The bunch took three scientists hostage so that they would turn more Savage Land inhabitants into superhumans. But the Avengers beat them and entrusted them to the Chilean authorities.
However the mutates managed to escape, and made it back to the Savage Land. There they joined forces with Zaladane, the high priestess of the cult of Garrok the Petrified Man.
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During some memorable adventures, they fought Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Ka-Zar and Angel (Warren Worthington III), and then Ka-Zar and the X-Men. Ka-Zar finally used a machine built by the mutate Brainchild, who had become the leader of the mutates since their escape from Chile, to devolve them back to a powerless state.
But like before, they regained their enhanced forms and powers. That helped them survive the destruction of the Savage Land by Terminus.
They became pawns of Zaladane in various attempts at conquest against the reborn Savage Land. They were beaten first by the X-Men, and then by Magneto, Rogue and a special unit from S.H.I.E.L.D..
Description
A big, Cimmerian-like barbarian with four arms and long black hair.
The first illustration is the modern interpretation, the second is older.
Personality
Barbarus is straight out of a Conan comic. He’s the best fighter among his fellow mutates, and takes pride in being the main physical asset of his band.
He’s a simple man, who is used to using brute force to solve every conceivable problem.
Some details indicate that he may have a relationship with another Mutate, Whiteout. The care with which he protected Whiteout when she was wounded indicates that Barbarus may have strong emotions besides his simple love for brawls.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Barbarus
| Dex: 06 | Str: 12 | Bod: 08 | Motivation: Responsibility |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Warrior |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 003 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Extra limbs (x2): 12
Skills:
Martial artist: 07, Weaponry (melee): 07
Advantages:
Familiarity (Jungle survival).
Connections:
Savage Land Mutates (High).
Drawbacks:
Dependent (Whiteout, 0 pts).
Equipment:
Few materials in the Savage Land are tough enough to be used as weapons by Barbarus without breaking. He carries one or two Hardwood Clubs [BODY 04, EV 03, R#02 — chiefly used as a thrown weapons. As projectiles, Barbarus can use them with an AV of 04, an EV of 06 and a Range of 04].
Source of Character: X-Men comics
Helper(s): Second illustration detoured at rapsheet.co.uk .