Gone ... But Not Forgotten

Ironically, perhaps the most famous and powerful superhero in the Freedom City campaign setting can't be found in Freedom City any longer. The Centurion, Freedom's protector and champion since the late 1930s, died saving the world from Omega's Terminus Invasion in the 1990s. Their epic final battle is shown on the cover of Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition, in fact.

Unlike most comic book characters, Centurion also stayed dead, although the future of Freedom City's greatest hero (if any) is left entirely in the hands of the Gamemaster. Will the Centurion return? Will someone else take up the mantle and responsibility of Freedom City's most famed and beloved superhero? Whatever the case, the Centurion remains an example and inspiration to all the heroes of Freedom City who knew or came after him.

The Centurion

Real Name: Mark Leeds
Identity: Secret
Occupation: History professor
Base of Operations: Freedom City
Affiliation: Freedom League
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond

Although some masked "mystery men" appeared before him, the Centurion was Freedom City's first true superhero and remains one of its greatest to this day. He was born on a parallel Earth where the Roman Empire never fell; this Earth also held a far more advanced technological civilization than any on twentieth century Earth.

Invading forces from the Terminus, led by Omega were on the verge of conquering that Earth when one of its leading scientists placed his infant son in an experimental trans-dimensional capsule and sent it across dimensions to another habitable world: our own Earth. In so doing, he inadvertently exposed Freedom City to a cascade of interdimensional energies and made Omega aware of its existence. Exposure to the cosmic energies also changed the infant, giving him the potential for tremendous powers.

A "shooting star" seen above Freedom City streaked westward and came quietly to rest in Wharton Forest. Tom Leeds found the capsule, and the baby boy inside. Concealing the life-pod, Leeds and his wife Mabel turned the child over to the Danvers Orphanage in Freedom City and adopted him soon thereafter, naming him Mark.

The Leeds raised Mark and, as his powers matured, taught him to use his gifts responsibly. Young Mark Leeds later learned the truth about his origins, the existence of the Terminus, and the world from which he came from a recording device in his life-pod. Fashioning a Romanesque costume to conceal his true identity, he adopted the sobriquet "Centurion" and used his powers to fight crime and injustice. In his secret identity, Leeds worked as a professor of history at Freedom City University (specializing in the Roman Empire).

The Centurion was a founding member of both the Liberty League and the Freedom League. It wasn't until his time with the Freedom League that it became clear the Centurion's powers included a greatly extended lifespan; although over forty years old by the founding of the Freedom League, he still looked like a man in his late twenties.

Mark Leeds married Laurie Lamont in the 1950s. They were never able to have children, most likely because of the cosmic energies that altered Mark's physiology. Mrs. Leeds passed away in the late 1980s while Mark remained young and vital (using makeup to make it appear Mark Leeds was aging normally). Leeds disappeared into "retirement" after that, and Centurion spent most of his time in his costumed identity. He was invited on several occasions to live with the Ultima but felt he couldn't abandon his responsibilities to the world.

Throughout much of his career, one of the Centurion's greatest foes was Omega, who destroyed his home world. Centurion swore the same fate would not befall his adopted home. He finally gave his life in battle against the Lord of the Terminus to save the world, and every nation on Earth mourned his loss. Freedom City commissioned and dedicated the Sentry Statue in his honor, and the legacy of the Centurion continues to inspire a new generation of heroes.

Although there has been at least one imposter posing as the Centurion returned to life, as yet no new hero has adopted the Centurion's distinctive name or costume, and wisely so; both are considered sacred in the superhero community.

Centurion      Power Level: 16

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
+20	+1	+20	+1	+2	+2
50	13	50	13	14	15

Toughness	Fortitude	Reflex	Will
+20	+20	+6	+10

Skills: Concentration 8 (+10), Diplomacy 6 (+8), Intimidate 8 (+10), Knowledge (art) 2 (+3), Knowledge (civics) 4 (+5), Knowledge (history) 9 (+10), Knowledge (technology) 8 (+9), Knowledge (theology and philosophy) 4 (+5), Language 1 (Latin), Notice 8 (+10), Profession (teacher) 6 (+8), Sense Motive 12 (+14)

Feats: All-out Attack, Attack Focus (melee) 2, Improved Initiative, Inspire, Power Attack, Second Chance (Will saves against Mind Control), Ultimate Effort (Strength checks)

Powers: Flight 8 (2,500 MPH), Immunity 8 (aging, cold, disease, heat, poison, radiation, pressure, starvation), Impervious Toughness 10, Speed 4 (100 mph), Super-Senses 4 (extended vision 2, low-light vision, ultra-hearing), Super-Strength 12 (50,000 tons)

Combat: Attack +10 (+12 melee), Grapple +42, Damage +20 (unarmed), Defense +10, Knockback –15, Initiative +5

Note: These traits do not take into account any points Centurion had allocated to his equipment, such as his Sanctum or anything found in it. In the early years of his career, Centurion had ranks in Leaping rather than Flight.

Abilities 95 + Skills 19 (76 ranks) + Feats 8 + Powers 66 + Combat 40 + Saves 13 = Total 241