Claim the Sky
Once a simple worker on a coffee plantation in Peru, Manco de la Vega was changed when he found one of seven stones sacred to the Incan god Inti. Touching it unlocked latent mutant powers, transforming him into someone stronger, faster, and smarter than before. Eyes burning like tiny suns, his greatest gift was the ability to absorb energy of any sort. Effectively immune to harm, when he is powered up, he can fly, perform incredible feats of strength, and unleash searing sun bolts.
Now calling himself Lord Ash, Manco maintains a secret base within Sabancaya Volcano in Peru. An ever-changing roster of villains keeps him company. Lord Ash likes the volcano because he can wade out into a nearby magma tube and become so flush with energy that his entire body burns as bright as the sun.
Lord Ash believes there are six other Inti statues lost in the world. He hopes to gather them all and thus unlock all the powers of Inti that he claims run in his bloodline, then usher in a new era on Earth.
Motive: Accumulate wealth, find other sacred stones of Inti
Environment: Often in his volcano base
Health: 40
Damage Inflicted: Major wound (10 points) (see Combat)
Armor: 3
Movement: Short; flies a long distance each round if powered up
Modifications: Can operate as level 12 if powered up by energy
Combat: Even when not powered up, Lord Ash is impressive.
However, if subject to effects or attacks that would normally inflict damage, such as the kinetic energy of a punch or the electrical energy of a lightning blast, Lord Ash instead absorbs it. He gains one additional effective level for each 10 points of damage he absorbs, up to a maximum level of 12. (Lord Ash is equally able to absorb psychic energy; his one vulnerability seems to be poison.)
Lord Ash can make a number of attacks on his turn equal to his total level divided by 3 (round down). These are either brute force punches that inflict damage equal to his effective level + 4, or longrange sun bolts that inflict the same amount of damage.
He can stay powered up for about an hour, or for about a minute if using his abilities normally in combat, assuming no one else attacks him or he doesn't otherwise recharge himself. Lord Ash can always choose to release all his stored power at once as a directed solar flare at a single target within very long range, easing the attack by three steps and inflicting double normal damage.
Interaction: Lord Ash believes he is an avatar of a god and treats others accordingly. Those who convince him that they take him seriously are at least accorded an audience.
Use: A handful of villains targeted a museum hosting archeological displays from around the world. They work for Lord Ash.
GM Intrusion: The energy behind the character's melee attack against Lord Ash is drained out so suddenly that the character stumbles, dazed until the end of their next turn.