Rustam
(Dr. Raza Kattuah)
Context
Rustam is an interesting antagonist who appeared in the most influential run of Suicide Squad.
He was there by the very first issue, in 1987.
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Background
- Real Name: Dr. Raza Kattuah.
- Known Relatives: Njara Kattuah (Rustam II, son, deceased), Rustam III (father).
- Group Affiliation: Jihad.
- Base Of Operations: Jottunheim, Qurac.
- Height: 6’2” (1.88m). Weight: 210 lbs. (95 Kg.).
- Eyes: Brown. Hair: Black.
Powers and Abilities
A skilled combatant, Rustam’s primary weapon is his psi-scimitar.
This is a semi-sapientCapable of intelligent reasoning. weapon from another dimensionOther realms of existence that are not our universe.. The handle may be activated by one with “a warrior’s soul”. This creates a flaming scimitar blade, which doesn’t harm the wielder.
It may be thrown short distances. Since he can recreate it in the wielder’s hand as soon as it disappears, the handle itself probably isn’t thrown. It likely vanishes when the scimitar is called, and reappears in hand after the scimitar is dismissed.
When Rustam’s life was in danger, the scimitar showed him how to rip a hole allowing him to travel to SkartarisA pulp fantasy world in the DC Comics Multiverse.. Had he survived much longer he could have learned how to do so without problem.
The travelling is only designed to take the wielder. Extra passengers will cause the scimitar’s powers to become intermittent for a while.
Other assets
He’s also a knowledgeable archaeologist, skilled at deciphering Skartarisian hieroglyphics.
History
A secular Iranian archaeologist, Dr. Raza Kattuah disagreed with many of his post-revolutionary government’s policies and actions.
He eventually became an agent for the Americans, whom he disliked almost as much, using the codename Rustam .
When one of his colleagues was imprisoned for political reasons, he accompanied American agent Rick Flag Jr. in rescuing him.
On an investigation of some ruins, Rustam recovered a sword handle. He would eventually learn that it was from Skartaris.
When his family was killed by an American drone, the enraged Kattuah found the pommel transformed into a flaming scimitar in his hand. It had responded to the change inside him.
Jihad
Becoming an enemy of America, he ended up leading the Jihad. This was a for-hire metahuman terrorist squad covertly funded and organized by President Marlo of Qurac. The Jihad was based in the Jottunheim fortress.
After a dress rehearsal of an attack on an American airport, the team were preparing to go for real. However, their HQ was attacked at night by the American Suicide Squad.
Dr. Kattuah again encountered Flag, and they fought. Flag gained the upper hand. But Rustam was able to escape alive, more than some of his team did, and killed Squad member Mindboggler (Leah Wasserman).
Counterstrike
With most of Jihad dead, or exposed as spies, their activities were set back.
Nevertheless, Rustam led a new Jihad group in an attack on New York City. He personally shot the anchor of a local news show. Dr. Kattuah then broadcast a demand that those responsible for the attack in Qurac be handed over.
He again clashed with Flag when the Suicide Squad turned up. The pair fought on a bridge whose cable Rustam was trying to cut. He was captured.
Skartaris
Somehow free not long after, he returned to Jottunheim. This is when Flag arrived on a suicide mission to detonate a nuclear bomb hidden within the fortress.
The pair fought near the bomb. Shortly before the detonation, the psi-scimitar responded to the threat by opening a rift to Skartaris, through which the pair fell.
Recognising the danger of his surroundings, Rustam took the logical step of calling a truce with Flag. He saw working together as his best hope of survival.
They did so, eventually finding a ruin. There Rustam learned some of his weapon’s origin, as well as how to use it to travel between dimensions.
No longer needing Flag, Rustam ended their truce, and they fought. Rustam lost, dying at Flag’s hands.
Flag used the scimitar to return to Earth, ending up back in Qurac.
Njara
Raza’s son Njara inherited the psi-scimitar. It had ended up back in Quraci hands after Flag returned to Earth. Then he took his father’s codename.
That he wielded the blade seems to have been interpreted as an inherited metahuman ability at the time. But the explanation above, due to later revelations, fits fairly easily.
Njara originally led the surviving Jihad members following the destruction of Qurac. Later assembling his own group, he attacked a new version of the Squad, killing some of its command crew. The new Rustam even took Amanda Waller captive.
But before he could take his revenge, he was killed by Deadshot.
My father will avenge me
The weapon was next wielded by Raza’s father, also taking the name Rustam. He became a security consultant for the corporation Haake-Bruton, when they promised to help him meet his son’s killer.
He got his chance when the Squad attacked the corporation’s Dubai HQ, and he fought Flag. Flag won, but let him live, taking the psi-scimitar.
Personality
Devoted to punishing America for its crimes, Rustam approaches it in a coldly practical manner. Thus, he will work with anyone to meet his goals.
He’s careful, bordering on paranoid. For instance, Rustam never sleeps in the same place twice, and always changes his routine so he can’t be predicted.
Quotes
Dr. Raza Kattuah: “You Americans are such cowboys. You trample things as you pass — cultures, people — while proclaiming your virtue. You say ‘all men are equal.’ But that stops at your borders. You take more than your due, and then wonder why so many people in the worlds hate you.”
Rick Flag Jr.: “If that’s how you feel, why are you helping us ?”
Dr. Raza Kattuah: “Because those people down there are worse.”
“America. Your wars have come home. We are Jihad. Each of our members represents a people whose homeland has been turned into a battleground, thanks in part to the support of your government. Tonight, you will taste the fear and destruction our homelands have known.”
Misc. Universe History
In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the Jihad were part of the international force which attacked America in retaliation for the Ultimates’ aggressive imperialist actions.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Rustam
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 06 |
| Init: 019 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Martial Artist: 06, Military Science: 04, Thief (Stealth): 05, Vehicles (Land): 03, Weaponry (Scimitar): 07
Advantages:
Special Credentials (Jihad project, High), Familiarity (Skartarisian hieroglyphics), Financial Backing (Filthy Rich – President Marlo of Qurac), Language (Arabic, Persian), Scholar (Archaeology).
Connections:
Jihad (High), Middle East Underworld (Low).
Drawbacks:
MIH (America).
Motivation:
Seeking Revenge.
Occupation:
Terrorist.
Wealth:
006
Equipment:
- Psi-Scimitar [BODY 04, Dimensional Travel (Only between Skartaris and Earth, R#07 for a day if taking more than one passenger): 07, Flame Project (No Range, but may be thrown) (Mystic-Linked): 08, R#02, Drawback: Power Loss (All Powers if not wielded by someone with a warrior’s soul)].
- Knife [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 01 (Cap is 06), Descriptor: Piercing, Slashing].
Design Notes
Language (Arabic) is speculative. It is based on him interacting with Quraci soldiers, where Arabic is presumed to be the primary language.
Vehicles is also undemonstrated. But its absence would be odd.
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Rustam — Averaged PL7.6
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 02 | 02 | 01 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 06 | 02 | 01 | 02 |
Devices:
Psi-scimitar ● 16 points ● Descriptor: Magic, Skartaris, sword, fire
– Cleave dimensions — Movement 1 (Dimension travel 1 (Skartaris), Increased Mass 1, Quirk (if Increased Mass is used the Device becomes Unreliable for a day)).
– Feature — Can only be wielded by a person with “a warrior’s soul”.
– Attacks (Array):
- Melee attack — Strength-based flame Damage 6, Improved Critical 1.
- Thrown attack — Ranged flame Damage 7, Diminished Ranged 2.
Combat Advantages:
All-out Attack, Chokehold, Close attack 2, Defensive Roll 2, Power attack, Quick Draw, Ranged attack 2, Takedown.
Other Advantages:
Connected, Contacts, Benefit 3 (President Marlo’s support, higher-up with the Jihad), Equipment 1, Language 2 (Arabic, Persian, at least one kind of Sakartaris hieroglyphics).
Skills:
Athletics 2 (+4), Close combat (Unarmed) 1 (+9), Close combat (Sword) 3 (+11), Deception 3 (+5), Expertise (Archaeology) 8 (+10), Expertise (Soldier) 4 (+6), Insight 4 (+5), Perception 5 (+6), Persuasion 3 (+5), Ranged combat (Thrown sword) 7 (+10), Stealth 5 (+7).
Equipment:
Knife Strength-based piercing Damage 1, Improved Critical 1 ● 2 points
Offence:
| Initiative +2 |
| Unarmed +9, Close, Damage 2 |
| Scimitar (wielded) +11, Close, Damage 8, Critical 19-20 |
| Scimitar (thrown) +10, Ranged, Damage 7 |
| Knife +8, Close, Damage 3 |
Defence:
| Dodge | 08 |
| Fortitude | 06 |
| Parry | 09 |
| Toughness | 02*/04 |
| Will | 07 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Seeking Revenge Rustam is out to avenge the massacre of his family.
- This is not a love song Rustam hates America for what it has done to his country and loved ones.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 10, Dodge/Toughness PL 6, Parry/Toughness PL 7, Fort/Will PL 7.
- Points total 113. Abilities 36, Defences 19, Skills 23, Powers 00, Devices 16, Advantages 19. Equiv. PL 8.
Source of Character: Suicide Squad (DCU).
Helper(s): Roger, Sébastien Andrivet, Chris Cottingham.
Writeup completed on the 8th of December, 2011.