Layla
(L.E.G.I.O.N.)
Context
In 1993, the DC Annuals (almost) all followed the “Bloodlines” theme and storyline. This means that they each introduced a new character. The implication was that some of these characters would become big names.
That didn’t quite turn out that (except perhaps for Hitman, for a few years). The Bloodlines event seems to have been considered a somewhat silly failure.
But… one of the characters was Layla. We didn’t see much of her, but she seemed cool.
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Background
- Real Name: Presumably Layla. Occasionally named Layla Giganticus, which *might* come from a trading card – I can’t verify that.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: L.E.G.I.O.N. officer.
- Base Of Operations: Outer space.
- Height: 5’8” Weight: Apparently 136 lbs.
- Eyes: Orange Hair: Unrevealed – usually dyed a bright, warm colour such as purple or pink.
Powers and Abilities
Layla enjoys an undefined degree of superhuman strength and toughness. She can exist unprotected in hard vacuum.
She’s a competent law enforcement and paramilitary officer from the L.E.G.I.O.N.. Layla was placed on the fast track to become an elite operative and leader.
From what little has been seen, Layla is not just strong. She’s agile, fast and a redoubtable fighter. Her speed may have been enhanced along with her brawn.
The strength and durability levels given in our game stats are conservative. She might be even stronger, but there’s no way to tell.
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History
Layla was part of the original L.E.G.I.O.N., the mercenary outer space law enforcement agency built by Vril Dox during the 1990s.
Dox considered her to be one of the best young operatives recruited by L.E.G.I.O.N.. As a result, he started assigning her to special missions to test her mettle. He even considered moving her to the core team along with such operatives as Strata, Phase, Lobo, Stealth, Garv, etc.
Space parasites
One such special mission was to investigate a strange rift, and the object that had emerged from it. Dox added Lobo to her team to see if she could handle him, and sent them off. While officer Layla could indeed handle Lobo (though she had to knee him in the testicles within seconds of meeting him to stop his inappropriate advances), the mission was a disaster.
The L.E.G.I.O.N. operatives ran into powerful alien parasites. Almost everybody was killed by the monsters. Only the sheer power of Lobo saved Layla, and even Lobo had to flee.
In the fray, Layla was hit by the feeding appendage of one of the parasites. She had some of her spinal fluid drained. As happens in 1% of cases, contact with the organism of one of the parasite gave her super-powers. However, this also left her an amnesiac.
Can’t keep a good girl down
Nevertheless, L.E.G.I.O.N. immediately redeployed her. Along with the core team and a support section, she was to investigate the origin of the parasites. Layla didn’t seem hampered by her amnesia and appeared to retained all of her skills, such as piloting starships or L.E.G.I.O.N. procedures. Presumably L.E.G.I.O.N. doctors quickly fixed the worst of her condition.
The L.E.G.I.O.N. sealed off the universe from which the parasites were coming, though a handful managed to reach Earth. As to Layla, she continued to work as a L.E.G.I.ON. officer, but did not join the core team.
Since her performance had been good in the face of overwhelming odds, one imagines that it was tied to her amnesia. Perhaps she needed to be re-trained and to re-familiarise herself with her life.
Fall of the L.E.G.I.O.N.
A few months later, Lyrl — the one-year-old son of Vril Dox and Stealth — took over L.E.G.I.O.N. using his mind control powers. L.E.G.I.O.N. became a tool of oppression, and Layla left to become a bounty hunter.
She briefly met Lobo again when she took down terrorists-for-hire Dick and Jane Kominski at a beauty pageant. Layla had entered as a contestant for expediency’s sake.
Layla was next seen serving Lyrl Dox’s evil L.E.G.I.O.N.. A mind control wave had been sweeping several systems, and she likely was caught in it and forced to rejoin. But this did not last long. Vril Dox and his allies soon broke Lyrl Dox’s reign.
Layla has not been seen since to our knowledge.
Description
Even as a junior officer, Layla was obviously immune to uniform regulations.
In much of the art she seemed to be a very young woman – perhaps 19 or 20.
Personality
Tough, fearless, direct, smart paramilitary leader and bounty hunter.
Layla has textbook iron nerves. Thus, she’s largely unflappable, doesn’t scare, and considers opponents and setbacks exactly as they are, without any psychological impact on her assessment. Even Lobo did not impress her much since she knew that he wouldn’t go against Dox’s orders and thus wasn’t, from a factual point of view, a threat.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Layla of the L.E.G.I.O.N.
| Dex: 07 | Str: 12 | Bod: 10 | Motivation: Mercenary/Uphold Good |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Bounty hunter, L.E.G.I.O.N. officer |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Sealed systems: 10
Skills:
Acrobatics: 05, Vehicles: 05, Weaponry*: 07
Advantages:
Credentials (L.E.G.I.O.N., Low), Iron Nerves, Life support (No need to breathe).
Connections:
L.E.G.I.O.N. (Low, from Credentials).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Equipment:
- Before gaining super-strength, Layla carried a pulse laser handgun and a sai-like knife.
- Pendant [BODY 04, Hypnotism: 12, Limitation: Hypnosis is limited to one simple, immediate suggestion]. This… artefact ? was only seen once.
- Throwing spikes (x2) [BODY 12, EV 04 (08 w/STR)]. These large spikes can pass as decoration given Layla’s usual choices of wardrobe. She can throw them with great strength and accuracy when she needs to hit something at a range.
Design Notes
Layla has few appearances, leaving most stats on the speculative side of the mohawk. Like with other poorly-documented New Blood characters, stock stats are plugged in whenever there’s not enough material to assess.
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Layla — Averaged PL 11
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 (12) | 02 (05) | 04 | 04 | 04 (05) | 02 | 01 | 01 |
Powers
Super-Strength ● 59 points ● Descriptor: New Blood
– Enhanced Strength 11, Enhanced Stamina 3, Enhanced Fighting 1.
– Impervious Protection 4, Impervious Enhanced Fortitude 4.
– Immunity 7 (Environmental conditions and suffocation).
– Superhumanly powerful throwing arm — Throwing mastery 6.
Devices
Layla once used her pendant to hypnotise Lobo and keep him mesmerised. What happened is unclear and it was never used or mentioned again.
Combat Advantages
All-out Attack, Chokehold, Close attack 2, Defensive roll 2, Evasion, Instant Up, Ranged Attack 4.
Other Advantages
Contacts, Equipment 1, Fearless.
Skills
Acrobatics 3 (+7), Athletics 1 (+13), Close combat(Unarmed) 4 (+11), Close combat (Knives) 4 (+11), Deception 1 (+2), Expertise (Police) 4 (+6), Expertise (Bounty hunter) 6 (+8), Insight 3 (+4), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 1 (+2), Ranged combat (Firearms) 3 (+11), Ranged combat (Thrown blades) 3 (+11), Vehicles 4 (+8).
Equipment
Throwing spikes — Piercing Damage 1
Offense
| Initiative +4 |
| Unarmed +11, Close, Damage 12 |
| Spikes +11, Ranged, Damage 7 |
Defense
| Dodge | 11 | Fortitude | 12 |
| Parry | 11 | Toughness | 11/9* |
| Will | 8 |
* Without Defensive Roll
Complications
- Appearance Layla insists on sporting her preferred hairstyle and ornaments in all circumstances.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack & Effect PL 12, Dodge/Toughness PL 11, Parry/Toughness PL 11, Fort & Will PL 10.
- Point total 154. Abilities 38, Defences 22, Skills 20, Powers 59, Devices 00, Advantages 15. Equiv. PL 11.
Notes
Layla used to have Benefit 1 (L.E.G.I.O.N. officer) and a few more points in Equipment back when she was with that organisation.
Source of Character: DC Universe.
Helper(s): Ethan Roe.
Writeup completed on the 1st of June, 2011.