Black Knight 12

Black Knight

Whitman first went into action as the Black Knight in order to warn the Avengers that the mutant Magneto had taken two of their member, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, captive. He was mistaken for his criminal uncle, however, and after a brief skirmish parted with the Avengers on bad terms. He next appeared to warn the Avengers about a new grouping of the Masters of Evil, which he had infiltrated, and succeeded in rescuing them from their clutches. Learning that he had inherited Garrett Castle, Whitman traveled to England with the intent to sell the property. However, while taking a tour of the place, Whitman stumbled upon the tomb of Sir Percy and was contacted by the ghost of his ancestor. Sir Percy explained to him the origins of his noble lineage and told him of the Ebony Sword. When Whitman tried to draw it from its scabbard, he succeeded where his uncle had failed. After successfully battling the demonic guardian of the sword, Whitman left the castle with the enchanted blade and soon found himself drawn into battle with Le Sabre, a modern day agent of Mordred. Defeating Le Sabre, the knight resolved not to sell his castle.

Soon after, Whitman made the acquaintance of the occult master Dr. Strange through his neighbor, Victoria Bentley, an old friend of Strange's. The Black Knight assisted Dr. Strange in his battle with the extradimensional Tiboro and the two of them joined forces with the Avengers to battle Surtur and Ymir. A short time later, the Knight helped the Avengers defeat the time master Kang and was elected to membership. He assumed reserve status, however, so he could return to his castle in England to live. He helped the Avengers battle Ares, the Olympian god of war, but later fell prey to the charms of the Asgardian Enchantress, who sought to employ him as her agent her rival, the sorceress Casiolena. To "reward" him for his services, the Enchantress turned the Black Knight's body to stone, and not even Dr. Strange could reverse the enchantment. (The Black Knight's winged steed Argorn was taken into the care of the Valkyrie.

Acquiring the Evil Eye, a mystical power object of Avalon, the realm of the Celtic gods, Dr. Strange attempted to restore the Black Knight's humanity, instead, Strange and his fellow Defenders were transported through time to the Twelfth Century where they discovered Dane Whitman in the body of his Twelfth Century ancestor, battling the Arabs in the Crusades. The spirit of Mordred had assumed a human host, and allied himself with Prince John, King Richard's ambitious brother, and Chandu, an Arabian wizard. Whitman hoped to lend his might to that of his ancestor's and combat the evil wrought by Mordred. When the Defenders learned of Whitman's wishes, they left for their own time.

For about five years (in the Twelfth Century, but for a shorter period in the Twentieth), Dane Whitman lived in his ancestor's body in the Twelfth Century while his real body remained a stone statue in the Twentieth Century. In accounts not yet disclosed, the Black Knight defeated Mordred and his allies and following the Crusades, met Amergin, High Druid of Avalon. Avalon was under attack by the Fomor, the ancestral enemies of the gods, and the Black Knight offered his aid to England's ancient deities. The forces of the Fomor were too great, however, and Amergin contacted his twentieth Centurydescendant, Dr. Anthony Druid, for assistance. Druid dispatched the Avengers back through time to Avalon. With the Avengers' aid, the Black Knight succeeded in closing off the portal between Avalon and Earth using the Evil Eye. The process, however, destroyed the body of his Twelfth Century ancestor, Eobar Garrington. Through Amergin's magic, Dane Whitman was restored to his rightful body in the Twentieth Century; the stone having been transformed back to flesh. The Knight's Ebony Sword and his new winged steed given him by Amergin, were sent to the future with him.

Readjusting to the Twentieth Century life was difficult for Whitman. After a brief adventure in which he found the amnesiac Captain Britain, he settled in at Garrett Castle, only to learn that its caretaker Victoria Bentley had purchased it when it was about to be seized by the British government for non-payment of property tax. When Whitman started acting moodily, Bentley summoned Dr. Strange. Strange learned that the Ebony Sword was cursed by the blood of the victims of its original wielder, Sir Percy, and that it was this blood-curse that compelled Whitman to remain in the Twelfth Century where it could be used for more bloodshed. After convincing the Knight of the sword's malevolence, Strange instructed him to purge the Ebony Blade of its curse by plunging it into the Brazier of Truth, the mystic receptacle which was the spirit of Sir Percy's touchstone with the Earthly plane. Whitman shattered the Brazier, purging the sword of its curse, and freeing Sir Percy's spirit from all ties with the Earthly plane. The Black Knight returned to America with Dr. Strange and renewed his membership in the Avengers.

Black Knight Concept: Modern Swordsman Power Level: 12

[34]Ability Scores: Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 14.

[12]Base Attack Bonus: +4 [12]Defense Bonus: +6

Skills: Computers +6, Disable Device +6, Knowledge (Medievil Culture/Avengers)+6, Language (French, Arabic), Medicine +6, Pilot +6, Repair +6, Science (Genetics/Physics) +8 and Survival +5.[30]

Feats: Ambidexterity, Assessment, Attack Focus (swords), Dodge, Expertise, Iron Will, Power Attack, Takedown Attack, Talented (Genetics and Physics) and Toughness.[23]

Powers:

• Amazing Save (Fort) +4 [Extra: Reflex; Source: Training; Cost: 2pp]
• Super-Skill +6 [Extra: Combat Skill (Swords); Power Stunts: Improved Critical (Swords), Quick Draw, Rapid Strike, Source: Training; Cost: 2pp][20]

Devices: [45]

• Shield of Night +4 [Extra: Energy Absorption (Energy Blast); Source: Magical; Cost: 12pp]
• Sword of Light +8 [Range: Touch; Damage: +8S/L; Extras: Deflection, Obscure (light); Power Stunts: Dual Damage; Cost: 26 pp]
• Elves Chain-mail +7 [Source: Mystical; Cost: 7pp]