Manslaughter
(Defenders)
Context
Manslaughter is an odd Marvel character, mostly associated with the final arcs of the Defenders vol. 1 run. He thus primarily appeared in a 1985/86 storyline.
These are old notes – so old I have no idea why we have them. Replacing them with better material would be good, but I’d prefer to work from digital so as to do the illustrations once and for all. And I’m not too confident that these odd stories will be digitally reissued anytime soon.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Dragon Circle.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 5’7” Weight: 115lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Reddish blond
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Powers and Abilities
While he has no overt superhuman powers, Manslaughter is a deadly threat to almost anyone, superpowered or not. He’s an extensively trained fighter and assassin, and is extremely skilled with traps, whether they’re intended to kill or capture.
His most frightening ability is his genius. He’s almost as smart, cunning and ruthless as the Joker in his own way. Thus, he can lead many a more powerful victim to his doom with his intelligence.
Manslaughter has limited telepathic powers enabling him to perceive the activity of the autonomic nervous systems of other people. He can use this to influence the peripheral vision and subliminal hearing (and probably sense of smell) of others, making him invisible unless looked at straight on, and virtually inaudible.
In DC Heroes RPG terms, his gives him a preternaturally high Thief (Stealth) and Military science (Tracking) skill.
History
Pretty much everything he has said about his past is probably a deluded lie. It is known, however, that he managed to track down the highly elusive Eternal called the Interloper in order to learn secret psychic disciplines. Impressed with the feat, the Interloper taught him how develop his stealth abilities. Realising how unstable Manslaughter was, he took care not to teach him too much.
However, that was enough. Manslaughter became an hired assassin, his chief motivation being the thrill of hunting down people and killing them. One of his bigger hits was commissioned by a drug lord who had been “raided” by the super-hero group known as the Defenders. Manslaughter stalked and very nearly killed the Defenders by himself. But in the end, they defeated him.
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If you can’t beat ’em…
Months later, he came back, claiming he wanted to join the Defenders since they were the only ones who could beat him. After a refusal, he trapped them all, but they escaped.
However, the Interloper and the Defenders had to enroll him in order to fight Moondragon and the powerful Dragon of the Moon. Manslaughter performed superbly against both threats, and willingly sacrificed his life along with the others in order to destroy the Dragon of the Moon.
However, those who had died to destroy the Dragon (Interloper, Andromeda, Valkyrie) were later aided by Doctor Strange. He made it possible for them to possess host bodies and return to Earth in time of need. These four, and a hapless man named Daffyd ap Iowerth, are now known as the Dragon Circle.
Description
See peekchur.
Personality
Manslaughter is a psychopath who enjoys demonstrating his superior tactics and intelligence by trapping and killing people. There is almost nothing good about him, save his respect for those who can teach him or outfight AND outsmart him.
Fortunately, he’s now used by the Dragon Circle as a force for good, but since the Circle has been seen very few times, it’s hard to tell his current status.
DC Universe History
One reason why the Dragon Circle has been so seldom seen since its formation is, perhaps, that they operate in several dimensions, including the DCU. After all, the Interloper’s knowledge is deep.
They probably can only possess one person in the DCU too. You might have some fun by stating that they possess some famous supporting cast character (Manslaughter possesses Jimmy Olsen ?), or supporting cast or even DNPCs from your campaign. Perhaps their contact in the DCU is Baron Winters…
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Manslaughter
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Psychopath |
| Int: 10 | Wil: 08 | Min: 07 | Occupation : Adventurer |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 028 | HP: 060 |
Powers:
Personality Transfer*: 08, Self-link (Spirit travel): 10
Bonuses and Limitations:
Manslaughter can only Personality Transfer in one man, named Roger Loomis ; however, during such possessions, Loomis’ original stats are completely replaced by Manslaughter’s Stats, Skills and so on.
Skills:
Gadgetry (traps)*: 10, Martial artist: 08, Military science (tracking): 14, Thief (stealth): 14, Vehicles (land): 05, Weaponry (firearm, melee, missile): 10
Bonuses and Limitations:
Manslaughter’s Stealth skill is partly telepathic in nature, and can be Neutralized or otherwise blocked down to 10 as if it were Mental Illusion: 07 (-1).
Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes.
Connections:
Dragon Circle (Low).
Drawbacks:
CIA to trapping and killing people, Minor Rage, CPI (highly emotionally unstable).
Equipment:
- Knives (x3) [BODY 07, EV 03 (05 w/STR, 09 w/Martial Artist)].
- Sword [BODY 10, EV 04 (05 w/STR, 09 w/Martial Artist)].
- Sais (x2) [BODY 08, EV 03 (05 w/STR, 09 w/Martial Artist), +1 CS for Blocking maneuvers and Take Away attempts on opponent’s weapons].
- Shuriken (x8) [BODY 04, EV 02, Darts bonus (Manslaughter can throw up to three simultaneously, and adds one to his final roll for each additional shuriken thrown after the first]).
- Lots of wicked stuff to improvise traps with.
Source of Character: Defenders comics (Marvel Universe).