Master of the Hunt
Context
The Master appeared in an early, 1993 story arc in Freex. Freex was one of the early books of the Ultraverse super-hero line launch, but it is presumably pretty obscure nowadays.
Howbeit the Master of the Hunt has an archetypal quality, drawing from Wild Hunt aesthetics. He could thus be used in quite a few settings with little or no change.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: Unrevealed.
- Group Affiliation: Bloodhounds, Biotex.
- Base Of Operations: San Francisco, California.
- Height: 190 cm Weight: 100 kg.
- Eyes: Red Hair: Grey
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Powers and Abilities
The Master of the Hunt and the Bloodhounds are product of genetic engineering. The Master can rip steel with his fingers and has superior agility and speed. He also mentioned having heightened senses, but this remained undemonstrated.
It looks like the Master has spend some time hunting ultras. He has clear experience in fighting them. He also knows other players in that competitive field, like the Dark Angel.
He said that to create his Bloodhound followers, Biotex “combined man and dog and technology […] with heightened senses and iron limbs ! Steel jaws and acid teeth !”.
History
16 years ago, a new virus was discovered. An artificial virus called Wetware. A cell-sized machine that replicated itself and transformed the infected body. These wetware cells were able to turn humans into ultras.
Nobody knew where wetware came from, but everybody wanted to control it.
Biotex Labs tried to investigate it, but an insane nurse (later called “Wetware Mary”, to reference the historical Mary Mallon ) stole the culture. She injected dozens of babies before destroying it and disappearing.
Some of the babies developed ultra-powers during adolescence, but the trauma forced them to run away to live in the streets. They eventually met, and formed Freex.
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About Biotex
Biotex Labs is an important West Coast company mostly interested in genetic research. It has several labs, protected by guards with high-tech body armor.
Biotex has had major financial problems in the recent past. Loan sharks ended up sending the Ultra merc Rush to press them for repayment by burning his San Francisco lab.
Biotex eventually came back in the black via Federal funds received to conduct a secret project.
Biotex had an interest in capturing the Freex enhanced youths. This escalated as a former Freex member, Pressure, had worked with Rush during his raid against Biotex.
The game is afoot
By the Master of the Hunt’s own account, he was once almost killed in a fire, but was saved and treated by Biotex. He now works as an enhanced enforcer for the company.
Rush and Pressure escaped the Master’s ambush thanks to the timely arrival of the Freex, who were looking for Pressure. But with the Bloodhounds tracking skills, the Master found the Freex a short while later.
In the ensuing fight the Master contented himself with capturing the empty armor where Plug “essence” has been. Freex mmeber Plug can convert himself into electronic pulses, but has to leave his body in a fluid form behind.
The Master managed to return Plug to the armor. This saved the young man from the psionic attack of the Death Angel, another Ultras hunter. Meanwhile, the Bloodhounds followed the Freex.
Riot at Ruby’s
The teens were at the house of the gentle old hippie lady Ruby when the Master of the Hunt attacked. He shot Ruby, severely wounding her. After telling the Freex about the history of wetware, made them an offer : join Biotex or die.
A fight (and a fire) started. The Master and the Bloodhounds had the upper hand over the rookie Freex, until two things happened :
- The Master accidentally caught fire.
- The last surviving Hound rebelled and attacked him, after having seen how he had used one of them as a living shield.
The Freex fled with Ruby before the police arrived.
It must be noted that one of the Bloodhounds didn’t participate in the fight, and probably fled to his Biotex masters.
Personality
The Master is a Darwinist thug. He believes this is a world of animals where the big ones eat the small ones. Therefore the only way to survive is serving the biggest, baddest ones. Being normal only makes you a prey.
He is brutal, cruel and mean.
The Master still has some traumas from his origin (a fear of fire). But he is always gloating about not fearing flames, even using them in combat.
Apparently, the Master needs meds to survive and/or deal with pains from his old burns. He always carries a bag with pills, eating them like it was candy. Probably he has some sort of addiction.
The Hounds have a rottweiler’s personality, but apparently form a pack, and feel a mutual loyalty. The Master consider them to be only tools and cannon fodder.
Quotes
Sweetface: “These people… they can make us not to be freaks, to be normal ?”
Master (sarcasticaly): “Why, of course, dear. They will make you perfectly normal. And they will make you tall and beautiful and cure your acne and put you in a palace with a handsome prince ! Normal gets you eaten, twit ! It’s a world of animals, the big ones eat the little ones !”
“I tell you I don’t like fire, but I know how to use it. That’s why I live. That’s why you die !”
“We are tools of the powers who run this world. When we are useful, we are invincible. When we are not, we are dangers.”
DC Universe History
The Master is a good villain for the Doom Patrol or the 60s/70s Titans.
Also he could appear hunting the Hybrids, who were created by the rare substance Promethium.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Master of the hunt
| Dex: 06 | Str: 07 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Ultras Hunter |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 07, Extended hearing: 03, Jumping: 00, Mind over Matter: 03, Super Hearing: 03, Ultra Vision: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
Ultra vision needs a Phase to activate.
Skills:
Acrobatics: 06, Animal handling (Riding): 04, Thief (Locks): 03, Military science (Tracking): 07, Thief (Stealth): 05, Weaponry (Firearms): 05
Advantages:
Lightning reflexes, Sharp Eye, Ambidextrous.
Connections:
Biotex Labs (High).
Drawbacks:
Distinct Appearance (Red eyes, fangs), SPR (Needs some meds every hour to survive), Partial Attack vulnerability (Fire, -1CS RV).
Equipment:
- 9mm handgun [BODY 03, Projectile weapons: 04, Ammo: 15, R#03].
- Special gun [BODY 04, Projectile weapons: 04, Ammo: 15, R#03].
- Electro-Bullet [BODY 01, Lightning (No Range): 09].
- Gas Bullet [BODY 01, Chemical attack: 06].
- He also carries a small bag full of pills, due to his SPR.
- The group uses horses to travel, which are probably genetically enhanced by Biotex. The Master mentioned they were able to outrun the speedster Rush.
Design notes
APs for the sensory Powers, and the Powers themselves, are but educated guesses.
Bloodhounds (x5)
“HRAAAARH !”
| Dex: 05 | Str: 06 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Monstrous henchman |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Monstrous henchman |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 00 |
| Init: 009 | HP: 010 |
Powers:
Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 07, Claws: 06, Acid: 05, Extended hearing: 03, Super Hearing: 03, Ultra Vision: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Claws and Acid are Combined.
- Ultra vision needs a Phase to activate.
- Claw include both claws and fangs.
- Acid is used via the fangs.
Skills:
Animal handling (Riding): 03, Thief (Stealth): 05, Weaponry (Firearms): 03
Drawbacks:
MPR (color-blind), SPR (cannot talk), Strange Appearance (dog head).
Equipment:
The Hounds use some kind of energy gun, but mostly prefer using their claws. Energy gun [BODY 04, Lightning: 04].
Source of Character: Freex #03-05.
Helper(s): Darci, Frank Murdock, Sébastien Andrivet.