The American Crusader v2.0

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Czernobog
Posts: 1315
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Location: Holy Terra

The American Crusader v2.0

Post by Czernobog »

Just decided to post this here, after putting it up in Character Concepts some time ago.

The American Crusader

Real Name: Alexander Anderson.

Origins:

Alexander Anderson rushed toward the Japanese defences, firing his rifle. More Japanese were coming out of the jungle, dozens at a time. Their machine-gun emplacements were holding, but the nearby airfield had to be taken, the Japanese couldn't be allowed to hold it. America had to win this day, even if he died to achieve it. He charged a machine-gun, without heed for his own life. Then, the machine-gun moved towards him and fired, and a moment of blinding whiteness overtook him...

The American Crusader has his origins in the brutal fighting around the island of Guadalcanal in early 1942. But there have been others with powers similar to him, one a generation - Lady Liberty in 1861, the American Defender in 1776, and the Doughboy in World War 1. Indeed, there seems to be a phantom, a spirit of some description as old as America itself, that seems to merge spiritually with a person, granting them great power from their sheer patriotism. Whether this hypothesis is true is unknown, there is no particular evidence for or against it. This particular incarnation was born Alexander Anderson on 4th July 1920, 21 years prior to the United State's entry into World War 2.

He lived a relatively normal life for his time as a member of an upper middle-class family, and joined the U.S Marines in 1939. Then, came Guadalcanal. The brutal amphibious operations on that island changed him forever, his first experience of the brutality of war. It was when he charged a Japanese machine-gun, loving his nation so much he was gladly willing to die for it, that the shock and the whiteness came. Perhaps some manner of spirit did notice him, and merged with his soul. Perhaps, it was merely the manifestation of latent metatalents. Either seems possible.

What happened next is truly inexplicable. The bullets bounced off him, and he charged toward the machine-gun, as he put it himself: 'without fear, without uncertainty, merely calm'. The gunner fled in terror, and he threw the gun away with sheer superhuman strength. The battle ended shortly afterwards, the Japanese sent packing into the jungle.

He was then part of D-Day, where he destroyed Nazi bunkers and pillboxes with blasts of concussive force and blows of superhuman strength, battling with Feurengel mechanoids and Austerlitz's dread Teutonic Knights, ripping through Maus and Ratte Landkreuzers with all the might of the American military. He was promoted several times in the bloody fighting through France and Belgium that followed, eventually reaching the rank of Colonel by the end of the war.

But that was not the end of the American Crusader. He fought in Korea, where the North Koreans and Chinese dreaded the very rumour of his arrival on the battlefield. By then, he had progressed to full-on flight rather than mere hovering, and his concussive blasts alone could tear apart tanks. He fought in Vietnam, where he became a 'terror of the jungle' to the Viet Cong, who lacked many metahumans of their own. After those two wars, he became a crime-fighter, a warrior on crime in his native city of Crowtalon. The Nixon and Reaganite years damaged his patriotism, but he still helped those that needed help, fought crime - criminal, corporate, government - wherever and whenever it became apparent.

Now, he still fights the good fight, but his focus has shifted to the whole world instead of America. He's faced metacriminals all over the planet, and although Archwind overshadows him now, he's still content simply to fight for what he believes is right.

Powers and Abilities:

The American Crusader 's main abilities are superhuman strength and durability. His punches can flatten skyscrapers, and he can withstand a Hiroshima-level explosion, albeit with injuries. More than that, he can project blasts of concussive force at things, badly damaging them. He can control the strength of these blasts, and at maximum power they can devastate a city block and reach out for a mile. Keeping this level of power up is draining through, and against the most powerful meta-foes they won't do much. He can also fly, and can move faster than normal humans (though not by much, he's no speedster).

Also, his powers have seemed to massively retard his ageing - only a few grey hairs show his 90 years.

Weaknesses:

The American Crusader's powers are dependent on his patriotism - if that declines, so do his powers. He also is somewhat foolhardy and thus can be easily drawn into traps. Also, he doesn't keep a secret identity, enabling villains to attack his family and friends should they so desire.

Status: Alive.

Appearance and Personality:

The American Crusader has black hair and is physically in his prime, being averagely tall. His costume is dark blue with the US flag on his chest, without a cape. Personality-wise, he is idealistic and prefers not to kill, but is pragmatic toward foes too dangerous to keep alive.
You have ruled this galaxy for ten thousand years.
You have little of account to show for your efforts.
Order. Unity. Obedience.
We taught the galaxy these things.

And we shall do so again.
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Heretic
Posts: 1750
Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: IN AMERICA

Re: The American Crusader v2.0

Post by Heretic »

What type of patriotism, man? There are various types of things people believe that makes America awesome (by default, it is). I recall a conversation in the character concept thread about this. What does The American Crusader fight for? Capitalism? Communism? Social Justice? Individualism? Gun Rights? Healthcare? Does "Kill em all" patriotism suit him, or "Question Authority"? What spectrum is he on, and even if he is a general all-over American, what doesn't he support?

Other than that, I'm content with this dude. He and CapCap could have a Budweiser together.
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.
-Joseph Campbell
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