Praxiteles the Golem's page

Str: 0 Dex: 10 Con: 0 Int: 16 Wis: 16 Cha: 10

Tough 13 Fort: - Ref: 3 Will: 9

Atk: +0 Def: 10 Grapple: -

Init: +0

Bluff, +4 Concentration +12, Craft – Artistic +14, Kn: History +12, Kn: Behavior +9, Kn: Art +11, Language (Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Mandarin), Notice +11, Profession-Teacher +9, Search +7, Sense Motive +10

Eidetic Memory
Luck (2 ranks)
Beginner’s Luck

Ghost Powers
Insubstantial: 4 ranks, Innate, Continous, Permanent, Vuln to Magic non material attacks (no magic fire etc, but magic missles, spells etc)

Concealment: 10 ranks, all senses but tactile, Permanent, Innate, Continuous, Close Range

Immunity: Fortitude Saves, Critical Hits, Aging, Sleep

Protection: 13 ranks

Flight: (Rank 2 25 mph)

Possession (Rank 1, Affects Objects (only), Flaw Touch Range, Limited Animated Objects Only, Extra - Move Action)

Astral Construction Array
Array: (Rank 11, PF Trigger when fails a save vs. dying switch to Regen)

Default - Regeneration +9 Recovery, Resurrection (1 week), True Resurrection, Persistent, Regrowth, Ability Damage (5 min)

Create Object: Rank 9, Continous, Range – Touch, Full Round Action, Affects Corporeal, Precise, Subtle, Innate

Animate Objects: Rank 10, 150 pt Construct, Affects Corporeal, Flaw Range – Touch, Flaw - Limited 1 active/only on Created Objects

Blast: Rank 9, Explosion, Penetrating, Range-Touch, Side Effect – Requires and Destorys a Created Object

Healing: Affects Corporeal, Rank 4, + 4 Ranks to heal objects.

Astral Access: Swim 250 mph (Rank 7), Increase Fly (Rank 7) (5000 mph)

This form represents a commonly used form of a metal statue he might create for his heroic identity in freedom city. The statue is around 5’1” Tall weighing around 500 lbs

Str: 20/32 Dex: 10 Con: 0 Int: 0 Wis: 12 Cha: 10

Tough 4 (13) Fort: - Ref: 6 Will: -

Atk: +4 (+7) Def: +5 Grapple: +29
Damage: 11 (Unarmed)

Init: +0

Climb +13, Drive +2, Intimidate +12

All out Attack, Power Attack, Evasion (2), Melee Attack +4, Blindfight, Improved Grab, Improved Grapple, Improved Pin, Interpose, Chokehold

Density Increase 6 ranks, Permanent, Innate, +12 Str, +3 toughness (impervious), Immovable 2, Superstrength +2.

Superstrength Rank 7, Power Feats Shockwave, Groundstomp, Thunderclap

Leaping 7 ranks, (Base 20/10/4, x100 for 2000 ft jump, 1000 ft standing jump or 500 ft high jump)

Immunity Fortitude Saves, Critical Hits

Protection 6 ranks (9 total) Impervious 4 (7 total)

Regeneration +9 Recovery, Injured/Disabled 1/round, no rest. Ability Damage/20 min, PF: Persistent, Regrowth

This form represents his normal ‘flesh’ body. He stands just over 5’ tall and weighs about 100 lbs.

[spoiler=Stats:]
Str: 20/28 Dex: 10 Con: 0 Int: 0 Wis: 12 Cha: 10

Tough 4 (9) Fort: - Ref: 6 Will: -

Atk: +4 (+9) Def: +6 (+3 Dodge) Grapple: +27
Damage: 9 (Unarmed)

Init: +0

Climb +15, Disguise +14, Drive +2, Intimidate +6, Stealth +2, Swim + 15

[Spoiler=Powers:]

Superstrength Rank 7, Power Feats Shockwave, Groundstomp, Thunderclap

Leaping 3 ranks, (Base 28/14/7, x100 for 2000 ft jump, 1000 ft standing jump or 500 ft high jump)

Immunity Fortitude Saves, Critical Hits

Protection 5 ranks, Impervious 4

Regeneration +9 Recovery, Injured/Disabled 1/round, no rest. Ability Damage/20 min, PF: Persistent, Regrowth

Praxiteles was a Greek sculptor in Athens prior to Alexander conquering of Greece. His work was famous through his era, but he always felt that the materials he had to work with were too limited. His imagination, he once told a philosopher by the name of Plato, was much more vivid than any object of marble or wood his hands could create. Despite his grand success in Athens, Praxiteles was constantly trying to find a better medium to work with, but for most of his life it eluded him.

During his work he was approached by Sephina, a slave owned by Garcinon, a Patron of Plato and given an invitation to dinner at his villa. Praxiteles was taken with Sephina and after some discussion, purchased her from Garcinon as a model and muse, in return for a statue of the Patron himself . Sephina however, turned out to be much more. She was from a line of witches and herbalists who had uncovered many powerful herbs for healing the body and waking the mind and she provided these to Praxiteles, expanded his imagination. The herbs, and the magic behind them, unlocked something in his mind and soon he became able to bring his imagination to reality, creating intricate objects of exquisite detail.

These were never seen. Praxiteles was scared of what happened to him and asked Sephina to explain what happened. She took him to an ancient witch, Agamede, a descendant of the famous witch in Lesbos, who was also Sephina’s grandmother. She explained that he had tapped into another world and could draw material from that plane into this one, in whatever shape or material he desired. There was a price however, for every time he drew this material pieces of him were drawn back into the other realm. Praxiteles stormed out, not wishing to here such a foul curse or to believe in it.

The curse however was real, and soon he found himself getting weaker, lighter and unable to work as much. He could not stop creating and eventually he was found dead, for unknown reasons, in the grounds of his small estate, several pieces of work unfinished, the few pieces he had created from his imagination however, vanished and none other than Sephina or Agamade knew of their existence.

His death however, was not the end. His spirit entered this new plane from which he could still see reality, but not interact with it. He spent years observing the world before discovering that his ability to create objects of art had not disappeared but in fact was strengthened by his presence in the ether. He also found that objects he created could be animated and controlled by him, given him a quasi physical body he could “ride”. Over the next century he mastered his ability allowing him to create a golem, a living statue. Over the next 2 millennia he lived and died many times, his adventures as both an artist and teacher have been lost to history. Only in the most recent years has he taken a more active role, realizing the emergence of superhumans has given him brothers and sisters he never new existed. Now he has created a golem of flesh named Tom Praxis, professor of Art History by Day, and Golem, the Unliving Defender of Freedom City.

A battle! It’s like being in the Coliseum once again!

Golem never wanted to be a hero. He was always an artist and a teacher, warrior was never his goal. Since his death at the hands of Black Paladin and later discovering that he had been defeated, he returned to preferred professions.

Five years ago circumstances changed and Golem was forced into a different role. Five years the Black Paladin reemerged and began a new campaign of terror and destruction. Thomas Praxis, Art Historian at the Smithsonian requested a sabbatical to Europe for a research trip and traveled to the site of Black Paladin’s rampage. Using what he knew of him from the past but afraid of confronting him, Golem spent the next year interfering with the Black Paladin’s efforts from the shadows. Over the next year plan after plan of Black Paladin’s was thwarted, never by one group and sometimes by sheer happenstance but in every case, luck, fate or coincidence would turn against him.

Using his magic he tried to determine what or who was working against but his magics only revealed a few clues. The name of a figure he killed in the time of King Arthur, Greek statues and a fleeting glimpse of a phantom in a mirror. He spent the next year researching what he could but little could be found, for Golem was not nor had been active since his first death.

Thomas Praxis returned home a year later, but he spent his free time and vacations working against the Black Paladin, never revealing himself to the powerful villain. Two years ago Black Paladin decided to deal with his accursed foe in the best way he knew how, stage a massacre and force his opponent to show himself or reveal himself to be a coward, rinse and repeat as necessary. Using the Greek connection he arranged a powerful spell to trap himself, a journalist he kidnapped and the entire crowd in a London museum, debuting a collection of ancient Greek art and modern interpretations of the work. He allowed the journalist to broadcast everything with the promise that she would be killed last. Unless his enemy showed up then she would have the story of her career. The spell prevented anyone from coming in, except for his unknown enemy.

Fortunately, having observed Black Paladin secretly, Golem had learned of his plan. He secretly replaced many of the statues in the exhibit with his own creations, ones he could possess in a moment if needed. Then while the Black Paladin was threatening the first hostage in front of the journalist and the whole world, the nearby statue animated and slammed him across the room. Over the next hour, Golem slowly beat down the villain, as Black Paladin destroyed one statue after another until finally succumbing to the weight of attacks that never seemed to cease. Black Paladin was defeated, as was Golem’s anonymity. Forced into the open, Golem tried to figure out what to do next, his life as he knew it was now gone.

Of the people who saw the video, only one actually knew who Golem was. A fellow Grecian out of his own time, Daedalus of the Freedom League knew exactly who Golem was and how useful his skills could be. He tracked down the Art Historian, explaining later that to one who knew his origin Praxis was a bit of an obvious last name, and presented him with an invitation. Come to Freedom City, help protect it from the many dangers that the new world had created. Help him try to recreate a real democracy, like a modern Athens.

His time in Freedom City has been a major change for the Greek Sculptor from the past. He teaches now at the University and his nights are devoted to protecting the people of his new home. Only one incident mars his otherwise successful record. Fifty years ago, while teaching at a college in New York, a man approached regarding certain pieces of art that were being displayed. He wanted to know certain aspects of their history. In each case the items were connected to several deaths and murders of their owners. Intrigued the gentleman asked Praxis if he could more closely examine the relics in question. Unsure of the interest but unsuspecting anything amiss, he revealed the artifacts. As soon as he did, the man’s appearance melted away to reveal a golden masked mage by the name of Malador.

Malador had been interested in channeling the necromantic energy gather by these mystical items but his presence activated the items and caused Golem in his hidden identity to revert to his spirit form and the flesh golem he inhabited to disintegrate. Collecting the artifacts he then spent the next 6 months trying to find this spirit that was able to create such bodies out of nothing. He knew that such power could be manipulated. For six months Praxiteles ran, and hid and used all of his abilities and contacts to hide himself from the magic of Malador. It cost him a lot of favors and friends but he managed to lose the Mystic’s trail.

His appearance in Freedom City was noticed by Malador who quickly made the connection between the Art Professor whose spirit that could create golems of flesh and the hero in Freedom City named Golem. He tracked down the hero and used his magic to trap his spirit in a magic crystal. The crystal allowed Malador to channel his magic through Golem’s spirit to create an army of constructs. Soon Freedom City’s heroes were battling magically animated monsters of metal and stone. Daedalus recognized the similarity between these constructs and those created by Golem and tracked down the trapped hero and freed him from his Crystal. Connected to each construct and no longer bound by the Crystal, Golem was able to sent the remaining constructs after Malador who was forced to flee.

Since then Golem has tried to find a way to prevent Malador or other evil wizards from using his powers in such a manner but the solution has eluded him. He however, still feels guilty about the damage caused and he works hard to make up for his involvement in that crisis.

Identity Golem has not one but two secret identities he protects. The first is Dr. Tom Praxis, Artist and Art Historian at the University. Here he makes art in a variety of styles combining ancient greek ideas of form with current media and materials. Among his current favorites are metals, only recent technology and techniques have provided the level of detail he prefers. However, Golem is also a man out of time, born centuries before Christ and known as Praxiteles, an ancient and famous Greek sculptor. In many ways his reluctance to discuss this Identity comes from a sense of remorse that he had not been more of a hero in the past, and now that he has taken up that role is occasionally beset by doubt about past decisions.

Obsession Golem is obsessed with art. This obsession was what led him to his need to create materials out of his imagination, leading to his death and rebirth as a spirit. He has spent the last two millennia creating Art under different identities going so far as to live the lives of young children to create an identity in which he can produce new and exciting artistic pieces. In fact, history has sometimes confused the creator of masterpieces because he did not do enough to distinguish his work at the time. This makes him both easily distracted and extremely protective of works of art, especially his own, his battle shapes the only exception, though it should be noted that the extra time they need to create is because of his need to add fine detail and get the body just right .

Rivalry This obsession leads to a rivalry with other Artists in his profession, often referring to modern artists as amateurs, children and lacking his extensive experience. This also extends to Supervillains whose powers duplicate or create ‘art-like’ effects. For example a Sonic based villain who ‘sings’ may find themselves criticized for their lack of harmony or choice of chord. This can be somewhat ameliorated if the artist in question professes to have used on of his past identities as an inspiration, at which point he will consider them a successful student rather than a competitor.

Enemy Golem has created an enemy out of the Black Paladin. The two met 500 years prior in one of the few times Praxiteles took on a heroic role, as a knight of the Round Table. In that identity he was killed by the Black Paladin, whose magical weapons could pierce even his immortal spirit. Although he recovered, Golem was always concerned that he could one day rise again. This antagonism was rekindled upon Black Paladin’s resurrection and continues to this day. Black Paladin however, does not know the extent of Golem’s abilities especially that he was around during the time of Arthur.

Fear More recent enemies have shown that Golem’s abilities could be abused by others. He fears that this might happen again and has tried to find ways to prevent it. In some cases he might have difficulty remaining in a fight where such a situation might occur again. Although the controlling mechanism Malador used was destroyed and may not be able to be recreated, the concern that he may again be manipulated has not been forgotten.

Aside from Daedalus and Black Paladin as two major figures in his background I am going to include a couple of NPCs that he would interact with on a regular basis.

Tessa Jules Tom Praxis's graduate student and occasional dinner partner the two share a platonic relationship of mutual respect. Tessa is an aspiring sculptor in her own right but works towards her PhD and as student adviser in the History department at the University. Tom doesn't show much interest in expanding the relationship and gives her odd queues, so she isn't sure what is going on, she does not know his identity but will cover for him when needed, she just thinks its for flings on the side rather than helping fight crime.

Gregor Validovich A Russian sculptor who has set up shop in the city and has several exhibits in nearby galleries. Considered to be the up and comer in modern art he is famous for combining disparate materials to form incredibly complex pieces of art. He and Tom Praxis occupy many of the same circles where Tom considers his art, a step above a child's crafting class and Gregor refers to Tom's updating of ancient techniques as behind the times and better to have died 2000 years ago.