Characters du Jour: Captain Triumph

“Captain Triumph of Earth-15, I’d like you to meet Captain Triumph of Earth-74. I’m sure you two will get along just fine.”
“You’re…… a dinosaur.”
“So are you. Well, you’re old. Older than me.”
“Got that right. Want a beer?”

Earth-15, 11th April 1961 and Captain Ulysses Triumph is lauded around the world as the first man in space. Due to inadequate shielding though he returns to Earth a changed man. Far stronger and smarter than before, Captain Triumph is hailed as a national superhero. Armed only with a blaster pistol, his survival knives and Bessie (his much loved through unreliable spaceship), he battles evil Titanians on Pluto’s moon, combats Russian Mekbots in Cuba and more, all in the name of truth, justice and the American way of life.

There’s only one enemy he couldn’t beat: old age. 50 years on and Captain Triumph is every bit as strong and smart, but he’s seen good friends die and learned many cynical lessons along the way. He spends his time chugging beer and remembering simpler times. When he was invited to join the Forgotten Heroes on the Singular Citadel, he accepted simply because he had no place else to go. He loves tinkering with the machinery in the space station, though still can’t get his darned blasters on Bessie to work reliably. Well into his 80s, Captain Triumph is the old man who brings a lifetime of experience to the team but who knows that each battle might well be his last.

Earth-74, a realm where the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs missed, and Saurians evolved as the dominant race on the planet. Despite this, history proceeded much in line with our own – 2,000 years ago a dinosaur was nailed to a tree for suggesting we all be nice to each other, slavery of Red Saurians was abolished and in 2009 the United Saurian States saw it’s first Red Saurian President. One of his early acts was to re-instate the manned space program to Mars, and Captain Ulysses Triumph was selected to head the mission. Perhaps it was sabotage or faulty shielding, but the crew barely made it back alive, and Captain Triumph was a changed man. Far stronger and smarter than before, Captain Triumph is hailed as a national superhero. Armed only with a blaster pistol, his survival knives and Bessie (his much loved through unreliable spaceship), he battles evil Titanians on Pluto’s moon, combats Russian Mekbots in Cuba and more, all in the name of truth, justice and the American way of life.

Still a young Saurian, Captain Triumph has been invited to the Singular Citadel to meet his counterpart from Earth-15, and perhaps join the team. It’s expected they’ll get along pretty well.

Notes: “Captain Triumph SAVES THE UNIVERSE!” So says the announcer at the beginning of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Show on Earth-15 (broadcast live from Tooniverse-17, dontchya know). Captain Triumph is my tribute to them all; he’s 2 parts Flash Gordon, 1 part Reed Richards and 1 part Buzz Lightyear. Earth-15’s variant is closer in attitude to Brit (one of my all-time favourite heroes). Imagine if Flash Gordon was 80 and had a hard life, and you’re there. Meantime, the Saurian Captain Triumph of Earth-74 is still young, naive and likeable. Unlike the old man, he’s a vegetarian non-drinker.

Dirty little secret: The mission to Mars on Earth-74 was sabotaged – by Captain Triumph of Earth-99!

Captain Ulysses Triumph, PL 10, 160pp
Str 26, Dex 16, Con 26, Int 26, Wis 14, Cha 16
Tough +8/+10, Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +9
Attack +8, Defense +8, Init +3

Computers +9, Craft:Electronic +9, Craft:Mechanical +9, Disable Device +9, Drive +5, Investigate +9, KS:Life Sciences +9, KS:Physical Sciences +9, KS:Technology +9, Medicine +6, Pilot +9, Stealth +7, Survival +6

All-out Attack, Ambidexterity, Attack Specialization 1 (Knife), Benefit 1 (Military Rank), Defensive Roll 2, Endurance 1, Fearless, Improved Critical 1 (Blaster Pistol), Improved Grapple, Improved Pin, Improvised Tools, Inspire 1, Inventor, Leadership, Master Plan, Power Attack, Seize Initiative, Skill Mastery (Craft), Teamwork 1, Equipment 11 + 10 points base contribution and sundry equipment (commlink, flash contacts, etc)

Blaster Pistol, +8 DC 20, Crit 19-20, Range 50′
Knives, +10 DC 24, Range 10′

“Bessie”: Space Fighter, STR 50, Tough +11, Defense -4, Size:Gargantuan, Flight 12 (50000mph), Blast 10 (+8 DC 25, Flaw:Unreliable, Improved Range 500′ inc.)