Proudstar
James Proudstar
Context
James Proudstar was originally a bit player, appearing in 1984 as the brother of a dead X-Men who’d soon seek revenge against the mutant team.
Over the decades he was developed into a super-hero, primarily active with the team X-Force and going through various evolutions.
We’re far from a complete coverage. What we have for now is :
- The Thunderbird II profile which focuses on James’ early years.
- This profile, which is chiefly about his 1990s X-Force career and stops before the “death” of Peter Wisdom (thus no Vibranium bowie knives).
Advertisement
Background
- Real Name: James Proudstar.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Neal Proudstar (father, deceased), Maria Proudstar (mother, deceased), John Proudstar (Thunderbird I, brother, deceased), Grandmother (deceased).
- Group Affiliation: X-Force, (former) Hellions.
- Base Of Operations: San Francisco, (former) Camp Verde, Arizona, (former) Apache Reservation at Camp Verde, Arizona; Massachusetts Academy, Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts; Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Salem Center, Westchester County, New York State; X-Force headquarters, Adirondack Mountains, upstate New York (Bolivar Trask’s former Sentinels base).
- Height: 7’2” Weight: 350lbs. Age: 19
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
- Other distinguishing features: Thunderbird tattoo on his back.
Powers and Abilities
Warpath is a mutant who possesses superhuman strength (in DC Heroes RPG terms, STR), speed, (Superspeed) stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. Now has the ability to fly (Flight, duh).
He has also proven able to take a hell of a hit, though not completely resistant to firearms (Damage Capacity).
Advertisement
History
James Proudstar lost his brother, the original Thunderbird, in the second mission with the new X-Men. This was a source of bitterness and resentment towards Professor Xavier, whom James blamed for the death of his brother. So angered was he that he joined with the White Queen’s Hellions.
After coming to his senses about the White Queen and the Hellions, James went back to the reservation where his family lived. He had given up on the idea of being a costumed adventurer, good or evil, until Cable approached him to join the new team he was building, called X-Force.
James declined at first but when he returned home to the reservation, he discovered that it had been completely wiped out.
After the Camp Verde massacre
With nowhere to turn, James accepted Cable’s offer. He adopted the name Warpath, rather than going by his brother’s codename, Thunderbird, as he had while with the Hellions. In this way, he hoped that he could bury the past.
Warpath has proven himself to be an invaluable member of X-Force, supplying a great deal of raw power and speed. His resolve as a hero has only been eclipsed by one problem : unrequited passion for his teammate, Siryn.
He recently underwent a surge of self-confidence, during which he left the team briefly and traveled with a young woman named Risque. Risque had teased and tormented Warpath for weeks, finally luring him into a fight so she could kiss him.
She eventually saved his life when Warpath was soundly clobbered by Selene, the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club and renegade External. But Risque eventually betrayed Warpath by drugging him and delivering him to a mutant called Sledge, who in turn was working for Onslaught.
After Risque
Sledge later informed Proudstar that a member of his tribe, Michael Whitecloud, had not died in the massacre. Sledge offered to give him to Proudstar for a fee. Proudstar accepted since Whitecloud is the only member of the tribe to know the truth about the carnage.
Vanisher, who was a business associate of Sledge, had been taken captive, while teleporting, by some cute little bunnies or somesuch. These had sharp teeth and carnivorous tendencies, and forced Vanisher to read stories to them. Sledge sent James into their dimension to rescue him.
Michael Whitecloud died at the hands of a scientist who had been working for Stryfe. Jimmy also “died” at the hands of the scientist and took a trip to hell where he found Stryfe. Soon X-Force was sent there to rescue Jimmy and he was yet again alive due to Siryn calling for him and X-Force defeating Stryfe.
After Warpath
Feeling he no longer needs to be known as Warpath due to coming to terms with his reservations massacre, James now goes by Proudstar.
Due to training under Pete Wisdom, Proudstar has developed in ways he never dreamed possible : he has discovered so far that he has the ability to fly by unknown means. Whether he has more untapped abilities is yet to be seen.
Proudstar forms the backbone of the new X-Force team.
Personality
James Proudstar is a rock. He is steady, stable, unwavering in his determination and resolve. He always seems to know where he is going and how to get there. Once having decided on a goal, he lets nothing and no one stand in his way.
Except with women.
He has spent months now tearing his heart out over Siryn. When Risque showed up , has spent months agonizing over which one he should choose to be with. If he ever decides to fall for Meltdown, he’ll be in *real* trouble.
DC Universe History
The original New Mutants are so interconnected with the history of the X-Men and Xavier’s school that unless you have included these, it would be hard to insert them into the DCU.
However, the new version of the team, more concerned with the conspiracy against mutants, could be placed whole cloth into a DC campaign with little trouble, as long as you ignore a lot of the background as excess baggage.
I see them as being in a way connected with the “Secret Era”, but with a modern twist. They are a deep undercover group that maintains watch on possible plots against mutant kind, and stomps on the sparks as they erupt.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Proudstar
A 780 Point Character
| Dex: 07 | Str: 13 | Bod: 10 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 07 | Occupation: Adventurer, Activist |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 07 | Resources {or Wealth}: 003 |
| Init: 026 | HP: 045 |
Powers:
Superspeed*: 07, Super Hearing: 08, Telescopic Vision: 05, Danger Sense: 08, Flight: 07, Damage Capacity: 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Danger Sense can only alert him to dangers that can be detected by the physical senses (-1).
- Superspeed does not reduce the time of tasks (-1).
Skills:
Martial Artist*: 07, Military Science: 05, (Tracking): 06, Thief (Security Systems, Stealth): 06, Vehicles (Air Vehicles, Land Vehicles): 05, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee Weapons, Missile Weapons): 07
Advantages:
Leadership, Sharp Eye.
Connections:
X-teams (High), Risque (High).
Drawbacks:
Attack Vulnerability (-1CS to Penetrating Attacks), Guilt [Feels Responsible for the Massacre at Camp Verde], MIA (Siryn), MIA (Risque), Mistrust [Mutant], Secret Identity.
Previous Statistics
Originally after he joined X-Force, James was 6’ 6”, and about 250 lb, and his only power was his STR, then about a 9. Ever since he has been increasing in mass and STR. Even Cable commented on how “The kid just keeps getting stronger”.
Eventually, if he does reach some theoretical max, Proudstar will be among the strongest heroes in the Marvel Universe.
Before he found those truly responsible for the Camp Verde Massacre, James suffered from a SIA to finding and punishing those responsible, whom he initially thought to be the Hellfire Club.
Helper(s): Gareth Lewis, Roy Cowan, Paul ’Z‘ Ewande, Sébastien Andrivet, Chaplain Chris.
Source of Character: X-Force comics (Marvel Universe).