His cybernetics were made of iron and silver. His onboard computer referenced thousands of volumes of ancient lore….”
I love
Astro City, and especially love the multi-issue story
Confessions. Although I could (and maybe one day will) do a series of Astro City write-ups, I have found what I like the absolute most are the smaller characters who show up and have a unique design which make me think I’d like to see more of that story. If Horror Heroes were the concept, I thought I’d like to feature a few that were conceptually very cool….and chief among them is Mordecai Chalk.
I dig the Marvel 1970s horror books, and always liked Bloodstone and Deathlok…so to see all three in a character was pretty cool. Although doomed in his confrontation with the Shadow Hill Slasher, Chalk was at one time (and in a few books of Astro City set in the 1970s) a figure to be feared among the occult circles. I figured I’d cover Mordecai mainly out of wanting to use him in a home-game, and as I said, he just looked cool.
Mordecai Chalk
Mordecai Chalk
F: Rm (30)
A: Ex (20)
S: Rm (30)
E: In (40)
R: Gd (10)
I: Rm (30)
P: In (40)
Health: 120
Karma: 80
Resources: Rm (30)
Popularity: 20)
Talents:
Mordecai Chalk is considered one of the greatest monster and occult hunters in the world, and has amassed many talents (speculated). These talents probably include:
Hunting/Tracking
Occult Lore
Knowledge: Rare Occult Beastiary
Knowledge: Occult Figures
Knowledge: Cults and Cult Operations
First Aid
Forensics
Law-Enforcement*
Firearms
Marksman
Martial Arts A, C, E
Sharp Weapons
Blunt Weapons
Performer: Radio Host
Powers:
World’s Leading Monster Hunter
Prior to the events of the Shadow Hill Slasher, Mordecai Chalk was considered the best monster hunter in the world having a reputation that spanned over 25+ years. Chalk’s experience was not without sacrifice, as he was mauled on more than one occasion and had to have a majority of his limbs, internal organs, and sensory organs replaced by cutting-edged magi-tech.
Mordecai’s abilities would allow him the following powers:
- Cybernetic Construction: Mordecai’s limbs, skeletal structure, and associated tissue were rebuilt to include subdermal armor and arms which were both constructed with cold iron and blessed silver. Chalk’s limbs and parts were constructed with In (40) re-enforced material, suffusing the normal materials with enhanced versions. Mordecai is considered to have Rm (30) protection vs. Physical, Energy, and magic due to the countermagical alloys and runes which were used at the time. In addition, Mordecai is stronger than an exceptional normal human with greater reaction times (Hence the increased FASE).
- Sensory upgrades: Mordecai’s sense of sight has been upgrade through magitech electronics, allowing him to scan an area, see in total darkness, perceive those things on the Astral Plane, see mystical lines of force, and perceive the undead who normally cannot be tracked by electronic means. Mordecai can do this with Rm (30) ability.
- Onboard mystical library: Mordecai Chalk has a coded, protected cybernetic link which is connected to a vast occult library in which he can access ‘Rare Tomes of Arcane Knowledge’ and occult information in seconds. The link is assumed to be well-protected due to the nature of what Chalk deals with and such, providing a Rm (30) Resist: Cybernetic Override. The library is limited to books which are not mystical empowered (spellbooks), sentient (books like the Necronomicon or Darkhold), or one of a kind tomes which are considered ‘lost’. The reference library is quick and be referenced in a single round of action.
- Specialized Weaponry: Chalk utilizes several specialized weaponry, depending on the nature of the creature he’s fighting. Most notable of the weapons is a specialized heavy bore shotgun/elephant gun which can fire multiple forms of ammunition and converted to fire wolvesbane, wooden stakes, silver shrapnel, holy water infused shells, or whatever Chalk may need. The gun has a range of two areas and does Rm (30) damage normally, with damage being increased depending on the type of ammunition and the type of monster he is fighting (IE Silver rounds will do an additional 10 points, halving damage and beginning the dying process for Werewolves if Chalk hits with a yellow, etc).
Contacts:
Mordecai Chalk had many contacts throughout the world, throughout media, and in the different levels of heroes in the Astro City universe. Chalk was well-regarded as an expert on the occult, having many contacts throughout the occult circles. In addition, Chalk maintained his contacts in the media as well.
Limitations:
Unlucky: While Chalk remained a successful monster hunter, the toll taken on his body, soul, and mind told a very different story. Chalk often finds his luck running out , which means a Judge will during the course of an adventure have Chalk make a Psyche FEAT. Should Chalk fail the FEAT, the very next FEAT will result in Chalk’s numbers being reversed, IE a result of 82 will now be a 28. In addition, should Chalk roll an ‘01’, he will find himself in a position where he will lose a limb or worse. From what was revealed about Chalk’s history, it was riddled with moments like that.
Public Identity:Chalk’s identity is well-known and is never concealed. Partially due to his reputation and partially due to his cybernetic rebuild, Chalk cannot or does not both to hide who he is.
Enemy: It is probably that Chalk had many enemies amid the supernatural community up until his defeat at the hands of the Shadow Hill Killer.
Notes:
There is a lot of guesswork on my part, based on the notes of Astro City, the four or six appearances of Chalk, and generally looking at the source material. I didn’t follow the pure meshing of Bloodstone and Deathlok as it was suggested, I just never got the feel Chalk was at that level, but I liked the idea of Chalk quite a bit and I think against ‘normal’ monsters (certainly not the mind-bending Lovecraftian Shadow Hill Killer), Chalk would be able to hold his own.