American Avenger

Origin:

Though he is the American Avenger, Don Caldwell is but a normal human - physically speaking. He has no mystic knowledge, genetic aberrations, or even immortal beings stalking his family tree - but nonetheless has an itch to defend freedom everywhere!

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Lariat: aside from his fists of fury, Don only wields this weapon in battle. He can use it to grapple targets, as per a standard grappling attack, within one area (44 yards) of himself. It is a rope of Good (10) material strength.

Quirks:

(none)

Talents:

Languages / English and Spanish: having lived in Argentina for several years, it is assumed that Don has picked up the language, and can both speak and read / write in it fluently - this in addition to his native, English tongue.

Martial Arts B: Don is described as being competent with fisticuffs, and as such, he makes unarmed melee attacks with a +1 CS to his Fighting rank. He's so confident of his brawling ability that he does not carry any damaging weapons with him on 'patrol'.

Riding / Horse: Don is a skilled horseman, and is usually more comfortable on horseback while fighting against the forces of tyranny. He receives no bonuses to FEAT rolls made while on a horse, but at the same time can make attacks while riding one with no penalty.

Weapon / Lariat: Caldwell can also use the lariat with some competence. He has the ability to make grappling attacks with such weapons (and in a pinch, regular ropes if necessary) as if his Strength was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Contacts:

Don Caldwell never interacted with other heroes from the 1940s - according to his one published account, at any rate. However, most folks can see that he is a hero of freedom, and should be willing to help him out if he should need aid in his battles.

Costume:

While acting in his role as the American Avenger, Don wears red boots, loose-fitting blue pants, a white, loose-fitting shirt, a long and thick red scarf around his neck, and a sort of black half-mask (covers his hair and eyes, but not anything else).

Personality:

Don Caldwell, the American Avenger, is quite a heroic guy. At the mere prompting of an old man, he dons a costume and uses it to fight crime. He truly cherishes freedom and liberty, and that probably shines through everything he says and does.

Real Name: Don Caldwell
Occupation: adventurer
Legal Status: American, and possibly also an Argentinian citizen with no criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: El Gaucho
Group Affiliation: none

Height: unknown
Hair: black
Eyes: blue
Weight: unknown
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Caldwell wears a pencil-thin moustache.

Story:

In his youth, American student Don Caldwell traveled to Buenos Aires as an exchange student. Upon his arrival, he embraced the culture of his new, temporary home, learning all he can about the locals, their traditions, and of course their many sports and mysterious legends.

During this time, he learns how to ride horses, to wield a lariat with impressive skill, and tends to unload his problems by talking to the local statue of El Gaucho, a hero of the nation from times past. As with all good things, however, Don's time in Argentina grew to a close.

As he prepared to leave, Don said goodbye to the statue of El Gaucho, at which point he is approached by a mysterious old man, one who claims that his grandfather fought with El Gaucho himself. Claiming to have the hero's actual costume, he then offers to show it to Don.

Once Don is in the old man's home, he is presented the ancient hero's costume, and told it was perfectly okay to try it on. Admiring him in the suit once Don puts it on, the oldster then proclaims that yes, Don Caldwell can be no other than the physical reincarnation of El Gaucho himself!

Thinking it would be an honor to save the nation he'd come to love, Don accepts this strange mantle, and indeed declares himself to be El Gaucho! Soon after, the statue to his predecessor disappears mysteriously in the night, and people begin to talk about the return of their hero.

This is about the time the actual sightings begin, starting when Don encounters a mad beast terrorizing several locals. Reining it in and saving its would be victims, Don discovers that the beast was no mere beast, but a man in a beast costume! And worse yet, he's some sort of German infiltrator!

Interrogating his captive, Don realizes that Baron Girbel is behind this strangeness, and goes to face him. Little did he know, however, that the man in the beast suit had an accomplice, one who witnessed his battle. He fled before Don and warned the Baron of El Gaucho's imminent arrival.

Trading blows with the Baron's men, Don finds that the leader of this little enterprise had fled, ultimately to a ship he kept at the ready. Thinking he should head to America, since these fiends threaten both his homeland and adopted nation, Dan gets a ticket on a ship headed to the States.

Baron Girbel attacked said ship under the cover of night in his own, his men quickly overtaking the surprised Americans. Before they could commandeer the ship, Don changed into El Gaucho again, and turned the tide of the fight. Of course, he then fled before the captain could ask any questions.

With Girbel and his cronies apprehended, Don then left the ship upon its arrival in New York City, and felt reinvigorated with the spirit of Liberty!

Extra Goodies: