SHADOW Over Freedom

After the fall of the Third Reich, Wilhelm Kantor, the Nazi SS officer and reincarnation of the Egyptian sorcerer Tan-Aktor, disappeared along with a cache of gold, occult artifacts, and genetic secrets the Nazis learned from Kal-Zed, der Übermensch. With these resources, Kantor intended to achieve what Hitler failed to accomplish: conquer the world with the combined powers of science and sorcery.

Although he was a high-ranking Nazi, Kantor cared little for Aryan dogma. His awareness of previous incarnations (many of which were not Aryan) gave him a broader perspective. He was interested in power, not ideology. So his new organization would be based solely on power and control. Racial or cultural superiority would be second to his superiority over all humanity.

Kantor adopted the identity of the Overshadow, the mysterious master of the Secret Hierarchy of Agents for Domination Over the World, or SHADOW. Working in secret, he began recruiting lieutenants to make up the Penumbra, SHADOW's "ruling" body, answerable entirely to him. He also used the secrets plundered from Nazi laboratories to ensure the loyalty of his organization. Kantor set up hidden laboratories in South America where he cloned himself numerous times.

His plan was twofold: first, he created a new, physically ideal version of himself and used secret arcane rites to transfer his consciousness into this new body. He also kept clones in reserve, hidden in facilities around the world. Now he was in control of his cycle of "reincarnation," and would never face capture or death. The Overshadow also produced legions of clones lacking his personality, will, or drive, programmed instead as the perfect loyal soldiers of his new empire. With Overshadow at the summit and his utterly loyal clones at the base of SHADOW's pyramid of power, the Penumbra could not lead a revolt against their leader.

By the early 1960s, SHADOW began its operations. It faced opposition from the newly-founded AEGIS, the Freedom League, and Overshadow's ancient foe, Heru-Ra, reincarnated as the superhero known as the Scarab. Plots by individual members of the Penumbra were uncovered and foiled. Overshadow himself was occasionally killed in the spectacular destruction of SHADOW facilities, but he always returned, apparently unharmed. Tan-Aktor had secured himself a new sort of immortality.

SHADOW Agent

Power Level: 5

Minion Rank: 3

Abilities: Str 12, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10

Skills: Knowledge (tactics) 5 (+5), Notice 5 (+5), Profession (soldier) 5 (+5), Sense Motive 5 (+5)

Feats: Equipment 3

Equipment: blaster (+5 damage), armor (+4 Toughness), commlink

Combat: Attack +5, Damage +1 (unarmed), +5 (blaster), Defense +5, Initiative +1

Saving Throws: Toughness +5, Fortitude +3, Reflex +2, Will +1

Abilities 6 + Skills 5 (20 ranks) + Feats 3 + Powers 0 + Combat 20 + Saves 4 = Total 38

Overshadow

Real Name: Wilhelm Kantor, Tan-Aktor
Identity: Secret, the general public isn't aware Wilhelm Kantor is still alive
Occupation: Criminal mastermind
Base of Operations: Nifelheim, in the Antarctic
Affiliation: Leader of SHADOW
Height: 6'
Weight: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond

Wilhelm Kantor was born in Germany in the early 1900s. A dashing, athletic, and intellectual young man, he found his way into certain esoteric circles around the same time the National Socialist Party was gaining prominence in his homeland. Eventually, Kantor was initiated into the Thule Society, a secretive lodge of mystics who embraced the ideal of an Aryan past, and wielded ancient Teutonic magic.

Kantor's experiences in the Thule Society awakened him to numerous past lives, in particular a previous incarnation in ancient Egypt when he was the sorcerer Tan-Aktor, who betrayed and attempted to overthrow the Prince Heru-Ra. He learned that his soul, his ka, and that of Heru-Ra had reincarnated throughout history to carry out their age-old conflict.

The awakening of his ka made Kantor a formidable magician, quickly exceeding his mentors and rising to prominence within the Society. Coupled with her perfect Aryan looks and cold ambition, Kantor earned the favor of the Nazis and the Füehrer himself. He became a key occult advisor to Hitler and was placed in charge of various secret Nazi programs to create übersoldaten: super-soldiers for the Fatherland. Kantor used the opportunity to ensure many of these Nazi super-agents were loyal to him, foreseeing the day when he would topple Hitler and claim the Third Reich for himself.

During the Second World War, Kantor was a shadowy mastermind behind numerous Nazi schemes. His rituals granted Nacht-Krieger and others their powers, and he maintained something of a rivalry with Übermensch, Hitler's favored champion, as they both plotted to eliminate the Füehrer for their own reasons. Kantor knew Übermensch was a rogue Ultiman, but was never able to use the information to his advantage, although he did manage to acquire many technological secrets of the Ultima.

When the Third Reich collapsed in defeat, Kantor fled Germany, along with a cache of gold and occult artifacts. For years, he schemed to regain the power he'd lost. Eventually, he used a combination of occult lore and Ultima and Preserver technology to clone himself; replacing his aging body is a young, healthy, physically perfect form. He also created clones in his own image as ideal followers: programmed for loyalty and obedience. From this grew the organization known as SHADOW, with Kantor as its supreme leader, the Overshadow.

Since then, the Overshadow has largely abandoned pretenses of Aryan superiority and focuses solely on his superiority. He wants nothing less than complete world domination and he's come close to getting it on a number of occasions. His old foe Heru-Ra returned for a number of years as the Scarab to oppose him, but he has been removed from the picture for the time being. Likewise, the champions of Light have not found a successor, while Kantor has reclaimed the services of Nacht-Krieger. The time is growing ripe for the rise of SHADOW and for the Overshadow to lord over the world!