V&V From the Files of Sir Roderick Hagdon part 1: the Necromancer

I know that I still owe everyone more New Salem stuff, but the depressing nature of it is kicking my ass at the moment given everything else in life. So instead I'm turning my V&V attentions to my transforming some works of Charles Ashton Smith into a pulp super hero setting. The general idea is looking at his Weird Tales and seeing where concepts can overlap with heroes of the likes of Doc Savage, The Shadow, the Spider, etc. who aren't quite super heroes but do fight crime with colorful identities. I'm torn how much I want to have exploration be a big part of this because much as I love the super-explorer genre, it might work better for something else. 

Spoilers for Smith stories below the jump

Anyway, Weird Tales, set in the between the wars period of the 20th century, when science was making huge discoveries and anything seemed possible, while the unsettled nature of world politics was bubbling up into spiritualism, and crime in the US was running rampant. It's an incredibly fertile period for stories. Including Smith's "The Necromantic Tale", written in June 1930. In it Sir Roderick Hagdon has, due to a series of family deaths, moved from Australia to the UK to inherit the family's title and estates. He there finds evidence of an ancestor who shared his name but was wiped from the family history. Creepiness ensues, until the spirt of his ancestor, who had been lured into necromancy by his totally twisted but beautiful bride, escapes burning at the stake by sending his soul forward in time to lodge in the body of the current Sir Roderick, who now bears the burn scars on his feet from the fire. 

This is my starting point: I've always been a sucker for the two souled super hero, from Brother Voodoo to Firestorm, and this plays right into that. Plus early Sir Roderick is a magic user on a redemption quest while current Sir Roderick is a former soldier. It's a great paring for a two fisted pulp hero. Now add in that he has a manor house and independent living and he's the natural for pulling together our team of heroes.

The Necromancer (Sir Roderick Hagdon)

Experience level: 1

Affect/Gimmick: The body of a contemporary Australian soldier who became accidental English nobility, he carries within it the soul of his magic wielding ancestor... a soul that needs to redeem itself before it passes on again.

Status: He's an English Baron who can call on the aristocratic bearing of his ghost-uncle and the funds of his family, so he commands respect from the authorities as long as he doesn't spout on about magic. Assume a security clearance of 19 in the UK. 

Powers: 3

1. Psionics - Dual Souled: Inside his body are the souls of both the 20th and 17th century Sir Roderick This gives him the following powers:
1. Intelligence +12 and Charisma +11 when merged (Splitting temporarily costs them 5 HP and 14 Power)
2. Astral Projection as the power as the 17th C Sir Roderick, save that the 20th C Sir Roderick can also act. This has a PR of 12 for the hour of separation, charged 1 every 5 minutes. 
2. Heightened Expertise: the 20th C Sir Robert served in the 2nd division of the Australian Army at Gallipoli and was a highly skilled soldier. +4 to hit with unarmed and "Modern" military weapons. He carries Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifle Mk III (+4 to hit, 1d10 damage, 120" range), an M1917 bayonet (+3 to hit, +1d4 damage on rifle, +1/+1d2 detached) and a Lancaster M1816 (+4/1d8/72")
3. Magic Spells: the 17th C Sir Robert is a skilled magician with the following spells
1. Supernatural Entity Control: as per Animal/Plant control, but only for supernatural entities
2. Transformation: spell components into supernatural entity that acts under its own initiative (literally!) PR 8
3. Telemapathic Powers: as Weakness Detect but gives +9 on reactions; language translation; lie detection

Weight: 175                Basic Hits: 4    Agi Mod: +0

S: 13          E: 15        HP: 10

A: 12          I:  28        Pow:  58

C: 22 (11)                   Move: 41

Accuracy: +1, +5 with modern military weapons

Damage Mod: +4 or +1

Reactions Mod: 4 or 0

Carrying Cap: 279    HTH: 1d6

Inventions: He has invented two new spells when play begins, so his current inventing points is 0.8 

Background/Origin: (Australian) Agriculture, Inheritor, Mysticism. The 17th C Roderick Hagdon was drawn into necromancy by his wife, Lady Elinor, and was eventually burned at the stake. He vanished in the fire, jaunting forward to find redemption in the body of his descendent.