La Lunatica (X-Men 2099) (Marvel Comics)

La Lunatica


Context

Luna was a member of the X-Men 2099, which were part of the Marvel 2099 possible future. This cyberpunk  sci-fi setting endured from 1993 to 1998, and though it wasn’t always the best it had many interesting bits and characters.

La Lunatica in particular had interesting potential.


Background

  • Other Aliases: Luna.
  • Marital Status: Single.
  • Known Relatives: Brimstone Love (alleged father), unnamed siblings (the Norns of the Theatre of Pain speak of being her “sisters”, but this may be metaphoric rather than literal).
  • Group Affiliation: X-Men, (former) Theatre of Pain.
  • Base Of Operations: Halo City, California.
  • Height: 6’ 6” Weight: 195 lbs. Age: 20ish.
  • Eyes: Red Hair: White


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Powers and Abilities

La Lunatica is a psychic vampire. In practice, this means:

  • Causing emotional anguish with her touch.
  • Awakening their greatest pains and fears. In DC Heroes RPG terms, that’s the Phobia Power.
  • Feeding off the negative energy “vibes” these create (Spirit Vampirism).

Though she speaks of “feeding” off this energy, it is not known whether she can subsist entirely on emotional energy.

Physical assets

Luna is extremely strong and durable (“Class 5”). And once she has fed off the emotions of others, she gets even stronger and harder to hurt (Power Reserve). Her vision extends into the infrared spectrum (Thermal Vision).

Luna also has superhuman reflexes. These enable her to react with sufficient speed to outmaneuver the speedster  Meanstreak, her teammate (Enhanced Initiative, based on Meanstreak’s projected stats).


History

Lunatica first appeared when the Theatre of Pain became interested in Xi’an’s X-Men. That occured after their defeat of the Synge Casino of the Nevada Syndicate.


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Controller 13 of the Theatre sent Luna to capture the mutant Bloodhawk. She then used her psychic vampirism to make him relive his torture at the hands of a bioshop lab. These flashbacks were recorded and broadcast to the Theatre’s patrons.

Luna also captured three other X-Men – Skullfire, Krystalin, and Meanstreak. But the X-Men broke free when she used her power on Skullfire. That gave the lad conscious control over a power he had been until then fearful of using.

Vamp on the run

Luna was freed from the shock collar she wore to ensure her obedience. Destroying Controler 13’s mind with her powers, she fled the Theatre. Trackers were sent after her, so she continued to run.

Luna reappeared after Xi’an went over the edge into his dark personality. She joined up with Skullfire and Xi’an to get to Santa Fe and meet with Junkpile. She had recruited Junkpile to help her against the Theatre’s leader, Brimstone Love.

But when Brimstone Love caught up with them, he let Luna go free for a time. He was more interested in recruiting Xi’an for the Theatre.

X-Woman 2099

Luna stayed with Skullfire when he returned to the X-Men, because of the odd attraction she felt for him. She stayed a de facto member through the X-Men’s attack on the Theatre of Pain’s headquarters, the Slaughterhouse. During the assault, she helped rescue Xi’an from his dark self’s domination. She used her vampiric power to shock him free.

She remained with the group when they took over as the Protectorate of Halo City. La Lunatica provided much-needed muscle and ferocity, which the team was short on. Presumably she is still with them.

It was alleged just before the series ended that Luna is the daughter of Brimstone Love. She also was told she has a number of siblings.


Description

La Lunatica is a tall, unusually muscular woman. She sports bone-white hair and skin, and burning red eyes. She also has sharp, fanglike canine teeth.

She favors black leather outfits, but usually leaves some skin showing as her powers work on touch only.


Personality

Lunatica is a predator, and she does not apologize for it. Even after she joined the X-Men, she maintained an edgy, anti-hero feel. She is tough, no-nonsense, and pushy. Luna is unafraid of anything or anybody save Brimstone Love. Even the charismatic Xi’an failed to impress her.

The only thing she seems to care for is Tim Fitzgerald (Skullfire). Yet that doesn’t keep her from being a loyal team member. Toward the end of the series, she did come to believe in their mission to protect the weak and helpless mutants of Halo City.


Quotes

“I may not be able to feed on your pain, but I sure as shock can *cause* it !”


DC Universe History

In a possible future, Luna replaces Talia as the daughter of R’as al Ghul. She would be one of his most dedicated agents until she runs into Batman and recognizes his pain, a twin to her own. She develops an infatuation with him that only deepens as he continues to reject her, and she is determined to win his heart.

Lunatica is a psychic vampire who really does make a neat addition (especially if you have a PC you can attatch her to, like Skullfire) to a campaign. She is dangerous as a foe, almost as much when she is an ally.



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Lunatica

A 1085 Point Character

Dex: 07 Str: 08 Bod: 08 Motivation: Seeking Justice
Int: 05 Wil: 05 Min: 05 Occupation: Predator, X-Man
Inf: 06 Aur: 06 Spi: 08 Resources {or Wealth}: 004
Init: 030 HP: 045

Powers:
Phobia: 09, Spirit Drain: 09, Thermal Vision: 06, Blunting: 07, Power Reserve (STR, BODY): 05, Enhanced Initiative: 10

Bonuses and Limitations:

  • Phobia: Elemental Link to Spirit Drain (-1), both Powers can only be used together.
  • Phobia has a Range of Touch (-1).
  • Spiritual Drain: RAP’s add to Power Reserve, Can only be used on a target that has succumbed to Phobia (-2).
  • Spiritual Drain has a Range of Touch (-1).
  • Power Reserve: Fueled by Spirit Drain.
  • Power Reserve adds up to 3 to Str and 2 to Bod, split evenly between the two.

Skills:
Charisma (Intimidation): 08, Martial Artist (AV/EV)*: 07, Acrobatics: 04, Weaponry (Exotic Weapons, Firearms, Melee Weapons, Missile Weapons)*: 07

Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Southwest), Credentials (Halo City Protectorate government, Medium), Iron Nerves, Language (Spanish).

Connections:
X-Men 2099 (High), Junkpile (High).

Drawbacks:
SIF (Brimstone Love), Distinct Appearance (albino-white skin with burning red eyes), Serious Enemy (Brimstone Love), SIA toward Timothy Fitzgerald (aka Skullfire), MID (Being Touched).

By Pufnstuff.

Source of Character: Marvel 2099 Comics.