Harry Leland
Context
Harry Leland was a 1980-1986 minor enemy of the X-Men. He was a member of the Hellfire Club elitist conspiracy, and thus a part of some classic Chris Claremont storylines.
Background
- Real Name: Harold “Harry” Leland.
- Other Aliases: Black Bishop.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Hellfire Club.
- Base Of Operations: NYC.
- Height: 6’0″ Weight: 295 lbs.
- Eyes: Black Hair: Red
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Powers and Abilities
Harold Leland is a skilled corporate lawyer. As such is an excellent speaker and knows the law well. He’s also, secretly, a mutant with the power to mentally increase mass geometrically (ironically enough since he himself is obese).
This power, which makes objects or people around him weigh more and more until they reach a mass of several tons and are crushed against the surface, has a relatively short range.
Leland also has little experience in using his powers, despite telling the contrary, and has trouble attacking several targets at once.
He’s unskilled in physical combat also and will occasionally, for intimidating purposes, lash out with his walking cane before engaging with his powers. Like many other mutants, he evidences an increased resistance towards physical damage. His main weaknesses, however, are his inexperience and his own health troubles, like a weak heart, obesity, etc..
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History
Harold Leland was born in Boston and studied to become a lawyer. He managed a successful corporate law firm in New York City. At some point he became a member of the hugely socially influential organization named the Hellfire Club. Secretly being a mutant, he managed to become a member of the ruling Inner Circle as their Black Bishop.
He befriended the Black King, possibly before becoming a member, and is loyal to him.
During the first major battle between the X-Men and the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle, Leland was nearly killed by Wolverine in their second battle. That was their second encounter. The first had ended when Leland had used his powers and Wolverine had crashed through the floors all the way down to the sewer systems.
In this rematch Wolverine attacked Leland from above with extended claws. Leland foolishly used his mass-increasing powers on Wolverine. When the X-Men won in the end, Leland was in a critical condition and was rushed to emergency surgery. He apparently survived.
Leland recuperated and continued with his businesses. When the Hellfire Club was attacked by the android Nimrod, Leland came out, masked, to fight him. Although the Club survived the assault Leland himself suffered a major heart attack as a consequence of his straining himself and seemingly died in Shaw’s arms. He has not been seen since.
Description
Harold Leland is an obese man in his 50s with coiffured, red hair and a thick red beard complete with sideburns.
As a member of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club he wore very distinguished clothing; blue leather shoes, high white socks, blue skin-tight trousers, a white shirt with a tight-fitting connoisseur’s vest covering it, with a tie beneath. Over it all he wore a dark blue smoking or long coat.
Leland’s features were based on those of Orson Welles.
Personality
Leland speaks with an upper class style and accent, which is perfect for his profession of corporate lawyer, where nice words have large impacts. He tends to belittle his enemies (using his walking cane to gesture) and often fails to realize when he’s overpowered, believing that he will win because of his powers.
Although not a coward, Leland prefers to use his powers only in self-defense, or to further the causes of the Hellfire Club. He was not an experienced combatant and could easily be tricked into doing something foolish in battle (like using his powers on a target directly overhead).
He remained loyal and somewhat subordinate to Sebastian Shaw during all his Hellfire Club days. Like the rest of the inner circle he liked to stand grinning at helpless, captured enemies. Leland also is a very willful man who hasn’t let his poor health problems get the better out of him (or puns thereabout from his enemies), but instead has focused all his energy into his legal businesses and the Hellfire Club.
Quotes
“Dear boy, you X-men are not the only mutants in the world skilled in the use of their special, unique abilities. My own talent involves mass. Simply by concentrating, I can increase the mass of objects and people around me.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Harry Leland
| Dex: 02 | Str: 03 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Power Lust |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 05 | Min: 07 | Occupation: Corporate Lawyer, Mutant |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 010 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Gravity Increase: 12
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Gravity Increase has several Limitations (see below).
- STR is physically Fatiguing, inflicting Killing Combat on Harold.
Skills:
Charisma: 06, Detective (Law, Police Procedure): 07, Weaponry (Melee): 02
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (New York City), Connoisseur, Scholar (Business), Scholar (Law).
Connections:
Hellfire Club (High), Law Administrations (High), Leland Law Inc. (High), Sebastian Shaw (High).
Drawbacks:
Dark Secret (Mutant), SPR (Obesity, Cardiac troubles).
Equipment:
Walking Cane [BODY 05, EV 02 (03 w/STR)].
Leland’s cardiac troubles
Leland’s heart condition makes him vulnerable to excessive exertion. When he willingly tests his physical stamina, or rolls a double 1s on a strength, gravity increase or endurance action, he suffers the equivalent of a 10 APs Cell Rot attack (Last Ditch Defense applies).
Furthermore, if Leland fails at Pushing a Physical action or his powers, which also are Fatiguing, inflicting Killing Combat on him, he will also be subject to the same attack. Result can range from chest pains and shortness of breath forcing him to sit down to immediate hospitalization in a critical state.
Leland’s weight powers’ Limitations
Leland can geometrically increase the weight of objects or people, temporarily making them heavier than usual. There are, however, a number of limitations on the uses for this power:
- Gravity Increase has a build-up time delay, which means that only 6 APs of the power can be used against the opponent(s), then building up to 9 APs the next round and finally reaching 12 APs the third and consecutive rounds.
- When making multi-attacks of any kind Leland increases the opponent number by 4, making him virtually unable to attack multiple opponents ; multi-attacking two opponents thus is managed as if he were to attack a total of 6 opponents that same phase etc. etc..
- The full Range of the power is only 5 APs in distance and can only be used on visible opponents within Range.
- Gravity Increase is physically Fatiguing, inflicting Killing Combat on Harold.
- Not really a limitation, but rather a fact ; any victim of the power will go crashing down through the floor when Leland reaches APs higher than the BODY of the floor. This will inflict Falling Damage on the victim, which is increased by the APs of Leland’s power in use.
Source of Character: X-Men comics, Marvel.
Helper(s): Roy Cowan, Paul ’Z‘ Ewande, Puffnstuff, Ethan Roe.