the Puritan (formerly the Crusader)

F - Am
A - Rm
S - Am
E - Am
R - Ty
I - Pr
P - Gd

Health: 180

Divine Radiance: Puritan is capable of calling down solar energy into his gauntlets or sword (the clouds actually open if present to let a beam of light cascade down) and redirecting it from there in bolts that strike with Am (50) force.

Levitation: Puritan has also demonstrated limited powers of levitation at Pr rank.

Armour of Faith: Puritan's armour is a phyiscal manifestation of his faith and has no actual existence. It is considered to be of Unearthly material strength, and provides rank level protection vs. edged, shooting, and magic damage, Am. protection vs. energy damage, and In protection vs. blunt or crushing attacks.

Shield of Faith: like Puritan's armour this shield has no actual existence but can be considered Unearthly material strength. It can be used to Block, using the material strength of the shield rather than the Puritan's.

Sword of Faith: Puritan's sword is also a manifestation of his faith, and can thus be considered to be made of Unearthly material Strength. He can strike with this for Am damage on the Edged Column.

Power of Faith: Puritan's powers are entirely fueled by his own hubris and singleminded conviction that he alone ("and maybe, hopefully, a few others") is privy to the Ultimate Truth and Goodness. When this faith is brought into question, Puritan must make a Psyche Feat roll vs. the Intensity of the challenge (which may vary with experience and subsequent rationalizations) or his FASE and Power ranks begin to fall at a rate of -1CS per turn. This continues until his FASE drop to their original levels (F - Ty, A - Ty, S - Gd, E - Ty) and his Powers effectively cease to be.

Influence of Mephisto: Puritan's other source of power is Mephisto, who shapes the energy of his misguided faith and enables the zealot to tap into it in ways palatable to his mortal thinking and his self-concept. If his faith is brought into question, Blackwood's critique of himself offers an oppurtunity, however slight, for him to not only see through his own line of BS (which might only lead to the formulation of another line of BS!), but also to perceive the influence of Mephisto and break the Devil's hold on him. Unfortunately, Blackwood's basic personality type and degree of mental discipline make this exceedingly difficult, requiring a Karma-free 00 Red Psyche Feat, ie. Psyche Feat vs. Incredible Intensity. It also prevents him from seeking the help of those best able to, eg. Dr.Strange-types, Thor-types, Professor X-types, Joe/Jane Wiseman-types, or anyone really who he would be willing to Combine his Psyche with, in a "counselling" type situation, in order to improve his chance at making the Feat roll.

Recent History

Following his battle with Thor (Issue #330), Arthur Blackwood (aka Crusader) drifted northward to the seclusion of the Canadian north. In time he came to the realization that the reason Thor did not die from the wound he inflicted on him, the reason why Thor was able to shattered his sword, was not because of the might of the "False-God" but because of his own eagerness to spill blood with so dire and heathen a weapon as a sword (a taboo amongst preChristian Teutonic priests incidently) and the disapproval of the Savior with that. Afterall, was it not the ancient worshippers of Thor and his "devilish ilk" that prayed to swords, that took oaths on swords, that worshipped a "devil" called Saxnote or Seaxneat, meaning the Companion of the Sword? Too eager was he to cut and spill blood with the heathen instrument, and such was his ruin. So he vowed never to use it again save in the most dire circumstances, lest goodness falter. This new belief was soon fortified in a vision Blackwood received, in which he was further guided back to civilization and into association with various religious fundamentalists groups active in Canada.

In time it came to pass the Blackwood caught wind of GenTech and its work via his associations. He had a vision in which a great voice from on high commanded him to go forth to GenTech HQ and use the might of God's Divine Radiance to reign down his vengeance upon that Temple of Blasphemey and leave it a pile of rubble. So, under the name the Puritan, Blackwood set off on yet another crusade.

Little does Arthur Blackwood realize that the spirits and visions he has hithero thought were his Catholic ancestors and sent by virtue of Christ have actaully been sent by Mephisto. The arch-fiend is well aware of the patronizing arrogance and contempt many so-called Christian harbour toward their fellow man -- like they themselves are something more than the glorified primate that is man -- and that these "virtues" exist in spades in Blackwood. Thus, the Fiend has periodically used them all, but especially Blackwood and his ilk, to serve his will in sowing division and strife and disbelief throughout the world.

In the words of Mephisto, "The greatest trick the Devil ever ochastrated was NOT to teach man that the Devil does not exist. Rather, the greatest trick the Devil ever orchastrated was to teach man that that the Devil was actually a god. And not merely a god, but the One and Only True God and source of Goodness!!" (close up panel of Mephisto, his sneering grin, a twinkle in his cruel eyes).