The Pendragon of the Era |
Name: | Dane Whitman |
Gender: | Male |
Place of Birth: | Gloucester, MA |
Age: | 35 |
Aliases: | Black Knight, Pendragon |
Origin: | Mystic |
Present Location: | Metropolis |
Occupation: | Physicist and Mystic Knight |
Team: | None Yet |
Alignment: | Driven to Good |
Significant Other(s): | None |
Powers and Abilities: | Magical Sword, Armor, Flying Horse, Shield |
Portrayed by: | Sir Laurence Olivier (younger) |
You carry Excalibur. You're worthy. I'll knight you now, if you want. But even better, be a knight at that one great moment, because you know you're worthy.
Beginnings
Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1979, Dane was gifted with the life of an upper-middle class family. A good education, the freedom to be himself, an only child given the drive to succeed, he went to a private school, made it to a good college, not quite Ivy league but known enough by their football team and its regular good seasons. Not all wins, but enough to make regular bowl games in the college circuit, he received a good education, earning his undergrad by 1999, his masters by 2001 and in a few more years, his Ph.D. in Physics.
All this time, his uncle Nathan, in England, the soul inheritor of the Garrett family home and estates, along with the mantle 'Black Knight', had taken to a rise as a scientist himself. Picking up family legends of self-proclaimed Black Knights in the Garrett family histories, he decide to be one himself. The only difference in that while historically these Black Knights were heroes and protectors, Nathan Garrett took to a life of crime. Maybe a thrill seeker, maybe to prove he was a genius. By the time Dane Whitman was working on his doctorate and formulating his thesis, Nathan was gaining a name for himself as a 'powered' villain. However, he encountered some mundane (because of the Spectre's Curse) crime fighters that landed him in jail.
Entitlements and Honors
Left in prison, by 2005, Nathan had time to rethink his life and how much he dishonored the family name. Finding his sole surviving nephew doing well for himself at a New England university as an associate professor in physics with a growing list of publications, Nathan asked that Dane come to visit him. In a confession in prison, Nathan explained everything about him reading the histories, using science to further the name, turning bad. He also asks for Dane to help, knowing he'll never live to finish his sentence, even in the English system, he bequests that Dane restore honor to the name. Informing him where his secret lab is back at Castle Garrett then proceeding to work legally to leave the family inheritance, legacy, estates, etc. to his nephew.
Not sure where to begin, Dane first returns stateside to finish the school year and fulfil his yearly contract, but meanwhile looking for work at an English university teaching physics just the same. His reputation as a young gifted scientist prevails, as does membership on international committees and he lands a job, moving to Castle Garrett. Even while focusing on his career, he works with his uncle through his dying years to discover the lab his uncle has at Castle Garrett and learn his uncle's science, genetic engineering. Being intelligent, Dane picks up genetic engineering as well to the point he is capable of genetically engineering animals into something better. Something his uncle had done, with a flying horse, Dane learning enough to duplicate the feet with successful outcomes.
Making Good or Not
Thus by 2008, using gadgets made by his uncle and the genetically engineered flying horse, he did some attempts at crime fighting. Not enough to make better on the name Black Knight, but enough that come 2010, the family 'curse' is revealed. Having been dormant sense the Spectre judgment came, Nathan didn't know how real the family legacy was. There was an armor room with weapons and swords, and the day the curse lifted, that nice silver, if not plain, sword over the mantle in the gallery room suddenly turned black and polished. Picking up this sword, the true Legacy of the Black Knight came down on Dane. Having trained with a sword before, being competent by now, driven to succeed, he drove himself further into the Black Knight, more away from work finally.
Having enough inheritance to sustain himself decently with the estate, he could drop down to part-time faculty lecturer at the university and pick up the name Black Knight more full time. Equipped now with the restored Ebony Blade, he was more capable of living up to that name. Though early after the curse of Spectre was lifted, the Curse of the Blade was upon him, having drawn blood, he was taken by the desire to draw more. Not just seeking to stop criminals, and wrong doers, but seeking to hurt them.
Darkness Into Light
At the onset of his blood quest and madness, Dane is still riding Aragorn the genetically engineered horse and using the Ebony Blade without abandon. Similarly as the Curse of Spectre is lifted, the rifts in the mystical realms let in magical enemies of England and Dane began a quest then to rid England of the evil gnomes that were coming to claim the lands as well. This lasted a good long year, starting in 2012, ending in 2013. In closing the gateway to this infestation, Dane was able to free himself of the Ebony Blade, leaving it in another dimension, but alas, as well Aragorn his steed was slain by trolls. This work to stop England's enemies, though, earned him access to the mystical sites of England itself and he chanced up on the Lady of the Lake. More led to her waters by her mystical powers, upon losing his family sword and his personally engineered steed. Thus, she rose from the Lake to proclaim Dane the Pendragon of the Era, subjecting him to all that it entitled.
Beginning Revisited
Not just magical armor, sword, and shield, but also summons by the Knights of Pendragon in times when England is in peril and, as with all prior persons thus granted the title, was tasked with facing a dangerous coming peril to the realms. While this, as of yet, remains unnamed for him to face with his Knights, the Sword of Light and Shield of Night. Allowing him to refocus for a time on doing good, he is worried that the curse of madness from is still to fresh in his mind while he stays in England. As much as he knows he shall have to face a great peril to England and the realms (of Earth), he decides to get away from the island, for his own sake and the safety of others, returning to the states.
Honor
Of his personality, this is the foremost noticeable in that his word is his bound. Whether he says he'll figure out some physics riddle as a scientist, a genetics puzzle with his uncles body of research, save a life, stop a menace, he is bound to his word. His honor includes a noble since of right and wrong. This goes beyond good as well, even under the curse of the Ebony Blade, he would be honor bound to his word to kill someone if he said it, doing all in his power to live up to the honor of his word. Seeing this as the ultimate sign of trust, him being believed and accepted at face value, he will do anything to keep his word. Not only a man of honor, he finds himself honor bound. Not merely to restore the family name to Castle Garrett and the legend of the Black Knight, but his obligation to the care of the people around him. This is stronger regarding England as he has taken an oath and is bound to the Lady of the Lake as the Pendragon of this Era. He is truly morally obliged to help the innocent, those less fortunate than himself and protect the civilly minded ideas that seek to help or provide benefit to the greater good of the populace.
Inquisitive
Being a scientist first a foremost, and a good one at that. Dane generally approaches the world around him with a more analytical mind. Despite knowing the mystic is real and being a part of that world himself, he still tends towards logic and science when approaching something new. The skeptical investigator, from the mystical standpoint, he doesn't just accept the mystical as real unless proven otherwise. This gives him an advantage in the realm of illusions as he doesn't always believe at first, this would also many anything relying on empathic magic to help him would be at a natural hindrance on him.
Lone
Dane isn't opposed to working with others. He is not a maverick by choice, he does get along with others. Though, he will tend to be skeptical at cooperation more for the fact of his curse and the mystical world unfolding around him. His honor to protect those around him means he is more likely to simply want to do something alone to protect others. This is made worse by his curse and knowing he could become blood hungry should he fall victim to the call of the Ebony Blade. This means while he takes others at face value, he finds it harder to let them into his personal life, his true emotions; again to protect them from anything he might do or anything that might come for him at the Black Knight or the Pendragon.
Motivation
His first motivation is the desire to restore honor to the family name, he made a promise to his dying uncle and being so bound he intends to keep that promise. Inheritor of the true mantle Black Knight, along with the Ebony Sword, he is motivated to live up to the name as well, learning more of the history of the name with the lifting of the Spectre's curse by the ghosts of past Black Knights. Thirdly, while currently away from England, he is motivated to live up to the mantle of Pendragon placed on him by the Lady of the Lake.
Goals
His primary goal is to serve as Black Knight and Pendragon to restore honor to the family name. Also, he is focused on learning more about the curse of the Ebony Blade. Knowing now that in all the history of the curse of the Black Knight, that himself and Sir Percy are the only ones to break the curse. Sir Percy continued to use the Ebony Blade while breaking its curse, he hopes to recreate this feat believing it will make him a better Black Knight. Lastly, while still having the magic weapons bestowed on him by the Lady of the Lake, he is still looking the idea of creating them non-magically just the same. Already working on a photon sword, he hopes to develop this light construct technology through his physics expertise and knowledge of mechanical engineering such that should the mystical energies disappear again, he can continue to uphold his oaths.
None
Dane is a normal human with no powers; meta, mystical, altered or otherwise.
Sword of Light
This is a mystical forged sword, an artifact kept by the Lady of the Lake as part of the Avalonian equipment and given to her chosen champion in times when new perils arise to threaten the realms of Avalon. It is supernatural durable and can cut through almost any substance, including steel and titanium; not the materials classified in comics beyond this. Unlike the Ebony Blade, it cannot cut through mystical barriers. It is forged to work in unison with the Shield of Night and release any energy absorbed via the shield as a ranged energy attack, going where ever Dane would aim the tip of the sword. This energy is released in the same manner it is drawn in, thus fire absorbed by the shield can be returned like a flame thrower from the sword, a direct energy attack would come out in the same manner it was received, a physical punch would simply add impact like force to the swing of the blade (and translate to blunt of cutting depending on how the blade is swung when released).
Shield of Night
A second important piece of the Avalonian equipment bestowed by the Lady of the Lake, the Shield of Night can protect Dane from most attacks and, as a secondary, absorb some of this. While it is capable of blocking more, the amount of energy it can store and release via the sword is more limited. The maximum force it can absorb and release via the sword is about 50 tons. He can take punches from the likes of Spidey, and redirect it into the force of his blade. He can also absorb and redirect blasts from the Eel and similar other such attacks, including the likes of Espirita, Sersi’s cosmic energy blast, the Executioner’s Axe, Marvel Boy’s Gravimetric Blast and Metler’s MK III melting ray, just not the MK IV or higher. With energy attacks, the shield still blocks them, it just doesn’t absorb or redirect excess. In the form of physical force, anything above 50 tons is dangerous for the Black Knight, this is direct damage to him, some may be absorbed by his armor in turn, but if he got into the realm of Colossus (75 tons) or beyond, he would be pulped rather quickly.
Armor of Avalon
This armor is a mix of partial plate, scale and chain, including helmet, grieves, and boots. It is light weight and offers more durable protection than regular armor. While nearly indestructible this is not as protective as the Shield of Night. It would certainly protect him rather easily against mundane swords and weapons, including bullets, but anyone powered beyond Olympic level strength would probably be able to hurt him under the protection even if the armor was undamaged.
Strider
Strider is a mystical horse granted to the Pendragon by the Lady of the Lake. This horse is extremely fast, capable of flying fast enough to break the sound barrier as well as being resilient to extreme/harsh environments. From the bottom of the ocean to, hypothetically, the vacuum of space. This mystical ability of Stride includes granting its rider the ability to survive in these environments but only while mounted on the horse. The horse can travel between Earth and Avalon, but further astral/mystical travel is not prohibited. Dane can summon the horse anywhere on Earth and similarly mentally will the animal back to the pastures of Avalon.
Science Reputation and Body of Research
Dane Whitman is an advanced physicist with exceptional intelligence. Currently focusing his ideas and theories on the construction of light constructs. He is not the first, but one of the few capable of this. He is working on making a sword and shield equivalent to the equipment he has as the Black Knight. He is working on a photonic sword as strong as the Ebony Blade which he could then translate to a shield that would be as durable as the blade and capable of blocking stronger blows and energy attacks than the Shield of Night. He is well published and should he have further need of expertise in the scientific realm he has a long list of colleagues he could call on should the need arise. He also has the body of work from his uncle Nathan, including unique notes on genetic mutation and has learned the science necessary to make these mutations successful; such as those used to make the winged horse Aragorn.
Castle Garrett
Castle Garrett is a wonderful countryside estate owned as part of the Garrett inheritance, it has a few members on staff to maintain the old two story stone castle/home and the several acres of land surrounding it. It is simply a very nice home, certainly a nice getaway for the wealthy and a good place to live should Dane need it again. It houses the Ebony Blade, in the meteor it was forged from, similar to the sword in the stone. There is plenty of value in the other items, from suits of armor to old artwork, throughout the house, all part of the family estate.
Inheritance
Dane is the sole inheritor of the Garrett estate including a sizable amount of money. No billionaire to be certain, he has enough to take care of himself and if managed properly could literally live off the resources earned as interest on the finances. Most of this interest, however, goes to maintaining Castle Garrett and was lost by Nathan during his run as a criminal. Should he need to liquidate, he would have some hefty amounts of cash, but can’t touch this on his quest to restore honor to the family name.
Swordsman
Dane is proficient with a sword, beyond Olympic level fencing medalist, he trains regularly with a sword and is devoted to being its master. While certainly unproven as far as actual mettle goes, he is one of, if not the, best in the world and perhaps beyond even. He is capable enough to deflect incoming high speed attacks with the flat of his blade, such as arrows and energy attacks, assuming the sword is strong enough to withstand the impact. His ability to deflect is so fine attuned he can, in some instance, deflect energy attacks directed at him to specific targets in order to make use of those attacks. With normal swings against other items, such as armor, he is in such control that he can break armor, moorings, fasteners and the like without killing or maiming the person he is attacking.
Melee
He is trained and skilled with numerous other melee weapons simply in his drive to be a good night. Certainly not as good as a sword, he can pick up numerous weapons and wield them expertly and effectively if needed at least. Master in other weapons could definitely school him in their use, and best him easily in combat, but on the field of melee between armies, he would stand out as a competent warrior without his weapon of choice.
Horsemen
An excellent horsemen, shy of master level training, Dane could certain compete in any equestrian competition and show that he is skilled with riding a horse. From simple commands using legs versus hands and reigns, to riding bareback at a run while making jumps, Dane goes beyond what normal horsemen are capable of as few actually train for combat from horseback in the modern era. All his skills are pliable from the back of the horse with a few extra tricks thrown in only capable of being done form horseback. Strider takes him high master level simply because of the link shared between the horse and the Pendragon chosen by the Lady of the Lake.
Physicist
Dane Whitman is a world renowned physicist ahead of his time, including the awareness of light and plasma fields to the effect he can make light constructs and hard plasma fields. At the forefront of those able to make plasma shields capable of stopping lasers, he’s pushing the bounds of this technology and is at the forefront of light construct physics. Not at the level of objects such as the rings of the Lantern corps, he is pushing Earth science towards this realm of understanding.
Genetic Engineering
While not traditionally trained in genetic engineering, the body of knowledge gained from his uncle alone could make him one of the top experts in the world on this topic. Which his uncles knowledge and pushing himself to learn it, he was able to engineer the flying horse Aragorn.
Mechanical Engineering
Again thanks to his uncles work and knowledge, he is a good mechanical engineer. His physics work also helps bolster his mechanical engineering students, not only capable of being able to run and maintain his own lab equipment, he has designed some of his own objects where the real world has not yet seen the technology, such as with plasma shield and light constructs and the development of his photonic sword. This also includes knowledge of the gadgets and gizmos his uncle made from the various lance weapons that fire photon type bullets to grappling devices up to the working plans of a mechanical flying horse as well. His uncle may have had such flying horse that did not survive and Dane could recreate one if necessary.
Oath Bound
Dane is committed to his own word. Once given he cannot take it back, a promise is a promise to him. This includes fulfilling promises that could otherwise jeopardize a mission. Part of what contributes to him trying to work alone perhaps. These oaths could limit him effectively if he thought giving his word offered others an advantage, such as agreeing to stay out of a fight, or going away from the adventure for a certain time, once his word is given his is bound to it to the best of his abilities.
Curses
With the lift of Spectre’s Curse, he is bound to be the Black Knight and do all he can to fulfil his family’s Honor. Worse is the Curse of the Ebony Blade, bound to the Black Knight, he is called to its use and once he draws blood, the curse worsens as he spirals into madness. Even away from the blade he is compelled to go to it and use it, to deepen the curse and draw more blood.
Mystical Bounds
He is bound to being the Black Knight and must fight evil as he knows it. Further still he is the Pendgraon of the Era and any need the Lady of the Lake has, he must beckon to her call. Likewise should the Green Knight choose any Knights of Pendragon for need in defending England and the Realms, he is subject to their call should they need him as well.
Science First
Despite being so bound to the mystical realm by his gifts and abilities and call to arms, Dane always proceeds to think scientifically at first. While this helps slightly with things such as illusions, it is also a hindrance to accept something as being magical in nature. This could certainly prove deadly, say in the case of lycanthropy and needing mistletoe to prevent spread and harm to others and him wanting a medical explanation.
Enemies
As a hero he has made enemies but his uncle has made enemies as a villain as well. Despite his growing reputation for good, it is possible for older crime fighters during the curse to view the Black Knight as a villain.
IC Events
Black Knight's Logs |
(2014-11-26) Planning Session (2014-11-25) PAIN Ruins a Holiday Event (2014-11-10) Collaborative Analysis (2014-11-07) Late Charges May Apply (2014-11-04) Wreckers Wrecked (2014-10-31) London Calling (2014-10-31) Ivar the Boneless? (2014-10-29) The Four Headless Horsemen (2014-10-23) Finding an Expert (Switcheroo) (2014-10-17) Enter the Black Knight (2014-10-16) Magilla Not for Sale (2012-11-14) Silly Cultists Never Learn |
News articles about Dane Whitman Flag:
They Came to Life |
Overview: | Control Freak is unleashed upon Gotham! |
OOC Contact: | Jubilee or Black Knight. |
11/7/14 -
An odd story relating to a video rental store in the Westend relates how a man came in, brought items to life in the store because his favorite movie trilogy (Space Wars, I, II, and III) was not on the stores top ten list of all time for best movies ever. From TV's coming to life with menacing faces, to cardboard persons sprining to life, they clerk would of been in trouble if not for the arrival of two heros. One identifed as an Asian-American girl/young woman, the other as the Black Knight. Other than the destruction of some TVs and the animated cardboard cutouts, no one was harmed.
Arise
Odd Explosion |
Overview: | Strange storm and explosion over NYC |
OOC Contact: | Black Knight or Scarlet Witch |
10-31-14
Today over New York, a curious explosion, amidst an odd storm. Some report it as blue fire rain and lightning, others as a red energy of unkown origin. Some figures noted, two or three flying on horses, one horse with wings, another, a female all in red. As the blue fire rained down, it seems to scorch some metal and concrete, buildings are being investigated for strucutral integrity in the vicnity of Midtown. The storm and fire seemed to end in a massive explosion, audible to some on the street itself. All figures left the scene.
Weird Storm
Ride of the Four Horsemen |
Overview: | Four mysterious headless horsemen arrive mysterious and are dealt with by heroes |
OOC Contact: | Black Knight. Bombshell, or Hawkeye |
10-29-2014
Following curious sightings of odd colored clouds and supposed tornadoes in NYC, internet footage of misty headless horsemen appear. The photos and videos are cloudy themselves with digital devices not capable of capturing that quickly. But misty clouds move with headles horsemen. The paper reports on the phenomenon of four supposed headless horsement that arrive in the boroughs, converging on midtown.
Several heroes responded, including the Black Knight who stayed for questioning by police. He does not give the name of the other heroes, the Bugle suspects to protect identities of otherwise criminals. After giving enough information, the Black Knight mounted a winged horse and flew away from the scene.
Four Horsemen
Gorilla Infestation |
Overview: | Two gigantic gorillas rampage at Central Park Zoo - the situations is eased by Red Sonja and Black Knight |
OOC Contact: | Black Knight. |
10-16-14 An article talking about the problem with Gorilla's in the city, comparing them to sewer gators, is released today following an episode at Central Park Zoo. Two gorillas were somehow affected such that they grew to some 10-12' in height and rampaged at the zoo. Two figures came quickly to the zoo before anyone could be hurt. One a bikini-clad red-haired warrioress that has been showing up in various internet clips slinging a sword to great affect. The other is a man recently arrived from England going by the mantle Black Knight, also slinging a sword during the confrontation with the monsterous beasts. As the red-haired warrior stayed to confront one large gorilla, she left when the beasts were soothed - one by her, the other by repeated injection from elephant tranquilizers. She left the scene as Marvel Girl arrived to help lifted the Gorillas to a medical holding facility at the NYU medical campus, Black Knight joined her atop a flying horse to escort the gorillas for treatment. The gorillas are undergoing treatment for radiation sickness that is somehow connected with their sudden growth.
OOC: Black Knight
Gorillas in Midst
Storylines and Plots
1920s-40s - Octavius Garrett, aged 25 in 1923, is the first of the family to come to America from England and the brother to the inheritor of the line and familial estates. He less Progressive movement and more into the underground movement during depression and prohibition; being a socialite, and prone to alcoholism. New to the Mantle of Black Knight at the time of his moving to American, he has just acquired the Ebony blade. He is just starting to fall to its lure in the 1920s.
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