Lion-O
Context
ThunderCats was one of those 1980s cartoons the younger GenX-ers (the generation, not the mutant team) grew up with. Specifically it was a USA/Japanese production that aired from 1985 to 1989.
Its about feline humanoids (the ThunderCats) and their magic sword, who flee their evil enemies by moving to another planet (“Third Earth”). However, their foes soon find them again…
Background
- Real Name: Lion-O.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Claudis (father, deceased), unnamed mother (deceased).
- Group Affiliation: Thundercats.
- Base Of Operations: Cat’s Lair on Third Earth.
- Height: 6’4″ Weight: 225 lbs.
- Eyes: Yellow (slit) Hair: Red
Advertisement
Powers and Abilities
Lion-O as leader of the Thundercats is a massively powerful warrior skilled in armed or unarmed combat. He can leap and climb well in excess of anything human. Much of his power comes from his sword, the Eye of Thundera.
History
The leader, and the hereditary ‘Lord’ of the ThunderCats. Initially he is a mere boy only 12 years old. But in making the trip to Third Earth he ages physically until he becomes an adult of 24. This is due to the suspension capsule diminishing but not altogether preventing aging.
Third Earth is populated by a four-color collection of thugs, mutants, bad guys and other malcontents. Lion-o and the ThunderCats have many adventures battling these thugs. But before long, Lion-O must face his most difficult trials: after reaching his 24th birthday, he must take the Anointment Trials to prove he is fit to become the true Lord of the ThunderCats.
Trials
In this process, he is forced to contest each of the ThunderCat nobles in separate trials across the face of Third Earth. He has to do so without the benefit of using the Sword of Omens, only the Claw Shield. Had Lion-O failed at any one trial, the ThunderCats would no longer honor him as their leader.
He is challenged by Panthro in a Trial of Strength, Cheetara in a Trial of Speed, WilyKit and WilyKat in a Trial of Cunning and Tygra in a Trial of the Mind. The last Trial however, is his toughest. He must seek out the greatest source of evil on Third Earth, and defeat it.
Advertisement
This entails traveling to the Black Pyramid and confronting Mumm-Ra, alone. During this trial, Mumm-Ra tries to defeat Lion-O with many of his previous incarnations and disguises. The baddie eventually battles the youth at the center of the Pyramid in a titanic struggle.
It is only by hurling Mumm-Ra’s sarcophagus into his cauldron that Lion-O is able to emerge victorious. In an august ceremony attended by nearly every Third Earth inhabitant, Lion-O is crowned the true “Lord of the ThunderCats”.
Description
Lion-o is a tall muscular man who has all the cosmetic markings of a lion and slit cat’s eyes. He is massively muscular and has a red mane
Personality
Lion-O, the Lord of the ThuderCats, is not as he appears. Although his body is fully developed, his mind is that of a child.
With the Sword of Omens and enchanted claw shield at his side Lion-O has powers that rival those of all the Thundercats. With Jaga’s guidance, in “spirit” form, Lion-O has learned to trust in the Sword of Omens and the Code that binds all Thunderians.
Quotes
(Drawing the sword of Omens)”Thunder ! Thunder ! Thunder ! Thundercats, ho !”
(Using the vision power of the sword of Omens) “Sword of Omens give me sight beyond sight !”
DC Universe History
Years ago, L-Ron and his shopping collective were threatening Earth (Shop or Die!). Lobo had been accidentally Boom tubed to earth by Scott Free (Mr. Miracle) and his wife (Big Barda). A team of justice leaguers pursued Lobo using perilously high settings on a Mother Box. Ironically Guy Gardner was there to intercept Lobo so their efforts were not needed.
Fire, Ice Maiden, Blue Beetle (Ted Cord), Booster Gold and Scott Free end up crash landing on the distant world Third Earth. Barda, with the Mother Box, was sent elsewhere. The planet is sparsely populated by a group of mutants and a necrotic wizard named Mumm-Ra.
The Heroes quickly become embroiled in a battle against the mutants. Although the Leaguers won the fight their crashed ship is utterly decimated. Blue Beetle accidentally comes in contact with Tygra while searching for resources that can get them home.
ThunderCats, ho!
Tygra, having just been arguing with Lion-O takes Beetle’s silliness badly and the two end up in conflict. Tygra bests Beetle but does not finish him due to the intervention of Fire. She explains to Tygra that Beetle isn’t a bad guy, just an idiot.
Unfortunately Lion-O comes to Tygra’s ‘rescue’ and engages Fire with the Eye of Thundera. Quickly both teams are embroiled in a battle of misunderstanding. Ice Maiden is injured badly in the battle.
Fire and Tygra manage to stop the battle only moments before Mumm-Ra and the mutants attack the near unattended ThunderCat base. The base is taken, but the mutants have no idea that Wiley Kat is still operating on the inside. He cannot open the base to let the ThunderCats back in. Ice Maiden will not last much longer without medical attention.
Luckily the greatest escape artist in three worlds is there to help. After the Thundercat Base is retaken and Ice Maiden is healed. Panthro and Scott Free then determine that Mumm Ra has a mechanism in his lair that is an artifact of the new gods and could be used to contact Big Barda.
Unfortunately literally hundreds of mutants have encamped around Mumm Ra’s lair after his defeat at the ThunderCats base. Between the Cats and the Leaguers they need to formulate a way into Mumm Ra’s lair past the sorcerer and the mutants, steal a device from New Genesis, and hold out long enough for help to arrive.
Luckily they are heroes for a reason.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Lion-O
| Dex: 08 | Str: 07 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Uphold the Good |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 05 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Lord of the Thundercats |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 019 | HP: 050 |
Powers:
Climbing: 02, Jumping: 02, Running: 06
Skills:
Acrobatics: 08, Charisma: 04, Martial Artist: 04, Weaponry (exotic): 06
Advantages:
Leadership, Lightning Reflexes.
Connections:
Thundercats (Panthro, Tygra, Cheetara, Wily Kit, Wily Kat, and Pumyra, Bengali, Lynx-o) (High) Robear Berbils (High), Queen Willa (??), Unicorn Guardians (High) The Wollows (Low) The Bulkans (Low) The Snowman of Mount Hook (Low), Mandora the Evil Chaser (Low), Hachiman the samurai (Low).
Drawbacks:
Enemies (Mumm-Ra, The Mutants (SSSlythe, Monkian, Jackalman, Vultureman, Ratar-O, Captain Cracker), Hammer Hand and his Berserkers, Grune the Destroyer), MIA toward proving himself in battle (early only), Minor Rage.
Genre:
Action.
Equipment:
- Sword of Omens [BODY 12 EV 08 Energy Absorption: 10; Flight: 06, Force Shield: 08, Gliding: 04, Growth: 00, Energy Blast: 06. Bonuses & Limitations:
- Growth only enables the sword to become the larger two-handed sword from its usual small sword.
- Gliding can only be used for short distances, give an extra boost, or avoid deadly falls.
- Force Shield creates a disc-like shield when Lion-O twirls the blade (as seen on TV when Lion-O used this ability to shield himself and the T-Cats from lava debris).
- Flight is only usable for the sword to fly to lion-O’s had when he calls for it].
The sword of omens has many magical powers, some of which are vaguely understood by Lion-O and the Thundercats. It may have functions not noted above.
- The Eye of Thundera [Danger Sense: 08, Flash: 15, Power Reserve [STR]: 02, Remote Sense: 12, Bonuses & Limitations:
- Flash can only be used as the Thundercat version of the ‘Bat Signal’ to send a flare up into the sky with the T-Cat emblem for all to see.
- Power reserve is usable on others.
- Power Reserve is usable on Thundercats only.
- Power Reserve contingent on the other T-Cats being able to see the T-Cat flare, and this provides them with a short burst of energy to break free from restraints, and come a running to heed Lion-O’s call.
- Remote Sense: The user (Lion-O) must look through the hilt of the Sword of Omens in order to use this ability].
Power Complication Subplot: The Thundercats powers are all linked to the sword is some unexplained way. Damage to the Eye of Thundera will diminishes the powers of all the thundercats by 2 APs.
- Claw Shield [BODY 12, Energy Absorption: 12, Claw grapple w/ 5 AP line].
The lion king
At the beginning of the series Lion-O is quite childlike in mental aspect. Over the course of years Lion-O develops into a strong leader and a wise thinker.
Lion-O as time goes by: over the three seasons and the film Lion-O develops a lot as a person. His Stats rise to the below by the end of the series.
| Int: 06 | Wil: 05 | Min: 06 |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 08 |
Source of Character: 1985 TV series Thundercats and 1985 TV movie Thundercats Ho!.
Helper(s): www.wikipedia.com, thundercats.vpga.com and IMDB ; KalEl el Vigilante; Frank Murdock; Puffnstuf.