In Wakanda, for generations the Panther tribe has ruled. And the greatest of the Panther tribe is granted the mystical strength of the great Panther himself. Rightful heir to this legacy, T'Challa was raised to take up the throne when his father was too old to rule and no longer worthy of Panther's strength. His education was the finest available. He studied both the mystical rights of his ancestors and the high-tech super science of Wakandan engineering. A true son of the Panther his body and mind were almost more than mortal. But his father and King was usurped.
With help from outsiders the exiled barbarian ManApe killed his father T'Chaka in ritual combat, not caring that winning by cheating made his rule illegitimate. T'challa fled Wakanda to search for allies rather than fight his own people while regaining the throne.
With the help of the Avengers, Manape and his HYDRA backers were defeated. Now the Black Panther repays his debt to the team as well as forcing Wakanda to pay attention to the outside world by watching their King live in it.
T'Challa is a very serious, dedicated man well aware of his responsibility for his people and his nation. He feels "the old ways" have made his people too willing to look inward and to the past, ignoring the larger world. His first act as King was to turn power over to an elected counsil of elders. His second act was to join the Avengers and go out into the world. T'challa feels his the only way forward is to make Wakanda part of the world community and less reliant on it's King for guidance.
In his role as an Avenger he is content to sit back and let others lead the way, advising as needed and appearing from nowhere to take advantage of openings created by his teammates.
We can no longer hide ourselves away, waiting for our enemies to come to us. What happens in Wakanda affects the world. So I will go out into the world.
The title "Black Panther" is a rank of office, chieftain of the Wakandan Panther Clan as well as king of Wakanda. The Wakandan Panther god grants Black Panther enhanced senses, speed, strength, agility, and endurance. Combined with the martial training of the Panther Clan and the high-tech vibranium enhanced costume he wears Black Panther has been described as a "Cat Ninja" by the Wasp. He was able to sneak into Avenger's Mansion undetected and is able to hold his own in close combat with Captain America.
His most surprising and perhaps most useful skill is his knowledge of Wakandan Science. Unburdened by the prejudices of the west, Wakandan science has a much deeper understanding of unusual energy sources, strange alloys, and dimensional gateways. This knowledge has often allowed Black Panther to understand phenomena Iron Man dismisses as "fantasy".
Designer's Notes:
- Like many skill-based characters with all-around good stats Black Panther ends up being a lot more expensive in 6th edition than he might have been in previous versions of the game.
- The Panther's costume is described as being constructed of high-tech polymers and laced with vibranium, giving him a number of abilities. Although this sounds like a classic Foci Panther is never once inconvenienced by the lack of a costume throughout the series. As such he has a -0 limit on these powers.
T'Challa is a tall, lean, strongly muscled central African man in his late 20s. In his role as King of Wakanda he dresses in tribal accessories appropriate to his rank.
As the black Panther he wears a simple black bodysuit with a mask and claws.
Inflict 3d6+1 when including Martial Arts elements
Inflict 3d6+1 when including Martial Arts elements