Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 14:44:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Surbrook 
Subject: CHAR: Dr. Tachyon

Doctor Tachyon
(Prince Tisianne brant Ts'ara sek Halima sek Ragnar sek Omian of House Ilkazam)

Designers Notes:
Dr. Tachyon is one of the central characters from the Wild Cards shared world series. He is an alien, a native of the planet Takis, who came to earth in 1946 in a vain attempt to prevent the release of an experimental virus (aka the "wild card virus") into Earth's atmosphere by other members of his family.

He failed in the attempt, and ended up stranded on Earth, his fellow Takisians all dead and his own ship (aka Baby) captured by the US Government. Tachyon then spent the next few years trying to help wild card victims in the New York area before being brought before HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) in 1950. He was then deported as an undesirable alien.

Tachyon spent the next 10 years in an alcoholic haze, wandering about Europe. He was recruited by the KBG, who gave him food, and a bed (and most importantly, drink) in exchange for information. After John F Kennedy won the 1960 election, however, Tachyon was allowed to return to the US.

He came to New York's Jokertown, and lived in the gutter, drowning his guilt in sorrow in yet more booze. Finally, in 1963 the Turtle managed to bring him around, restoring his confidence and helping him pull his life together.

Vowing to cure the effects of the wild card virus, Tachyon founded the Blythe van Renssaeler Memorial Clinic in 1966. Here, he provided medical care for jokers and aces of all types, as well as spending time trying to devise a cure for the wild card virus.

His life remained relatively stable until 1986 when he discovered his grandson, Blaise Jeannot Andrieux, who was living in Paris aiding a terrorist cell with his powerful mind control powers. Tachyon brought the 11 year old back to New York, setting himself up as the boy's legal guardian.

The version of Tachyon presented is from right about this time. He will contract the wildcard virus from Typhoid Croyd in late 1987, and loose his right hand to Mackie Messer in 1988 at the Democratic national convention. Eventually, he will have Blaise, who has never been a stable individual, turn on him.

The end result of this falling out will have Tachyon's mind placed in the body of a young, 16 year old girl, while the girl's mind is placed in his body. Blaise will then get the new, female, Tachyon pregnant before abandoning him on Earth by stealing Tachyon's personal spaceship.

Tachyon then pursues Blaise to Takis, where Blaise manages to start a world war before being defeated by Tachyon, Tachyon's family, Captain Trips and Jay Ackroyd. After all is said and done, Tachyon has a new daughter (Illyana); he is returned to his original body; Kelly (the girl he was switched with) stays on Takis; Jay Ackroyd gets a Takisian wife, and Starshine (one of Cpt Trips 'friends') dies. For the full story, read Wild Cards Vol X "Double Solitaire".

Description:
Dr. Tachyon is a short, fine featured man with a long nose and a small pointed chin. Tachyon's hair is a metallic-red shade and falls to his shoulders, his eyes are lilac. He stands 5'3" and weighs all of 115 lbs. He is in good physical shape, and is quite strong for his size. Tachyon dresses in fancy outfits using a lot of lace, silk and velvet. The look is reminiscent of early eighteen hundreds formal wear.

Powers Notes:
Tachyon's powers are pretty straight forward. He can read, control and search for minds, as well as render opponents asleep (his Ego Attack). His shields are very powerful, rendering him immune to almost every other telepath on Earth.

He is also rather adept at penetrating another's mind shields (his Find Weakness). If faced with a life or death situation, all Takisian Psi Lords can erect a powerful mind shield called a "deathlock". Breaking this mental barrier (which can take a very long time, Tachyon took seven hours to do it at one point) is so traumatic that the individual will usually die.

Aside from his Psi Lord abilities, Tachyon is reasonably adept at self defense. He learned Takisian fencing, as well as Earth karate. He often carries a .357 magnum revolver when expecting trouble.

Disadvantages Notes:
Tachyon's disads are pretty simple. He's an alien, albeit a very human looking one. He dresses funny (a least, according to Earth standards), and tends to sprinkle his speech with Takisian oaths and curses. Since he's a prince, he acts like one.

He can be arrogant and overconfident at times, and tends to carry himself as if he was still a Psi Lord. On the other hand, he does truly care for his patients (although deep down most joker deformities disgust him) and has run his hospital for over 30 years.

His primary weakness is women, alcohol and the deep sense of guilt he has over what the virus has done to so many innocent people.

The Character:

STAT		VAL		COST
Str		12		2
Dex		20		30
Con		15		10
Body		12		4
Int		28		18
Ego		32		44
Pre		20		10
Com		14		2
PD		5		3
ED		3		0
Spd		4		10
Rec		6		2
End		40		5
Stun		26		0
Char Total			140
Power Total			484
Total Cost			624

COST	POWERS & SKILLS
50	EC: Psi Lord Powers
50	8d6 Ego Attack, 1/2 END, END 5
55	14d6 Mind Control, 0 END
50	12d6 Mind Scanning, +10 to Roll, 1/2 END, END 5
55	14d6 Telepathy, 0 END

19	Mental Defense: 25 DEF
17	Mental Defense +25, Costs END, "deathlock", END 2
20	Find Weakness with Psi EC, 13-, Costs END, END 3

	MA: Fencing, usable with swords
5	Ballestra  +2 OCV  -2 DCV  Weapon +2DC, 1/2 move required
4	Fleche  +2 OCV  -2 DCV  Weapon +v/5, Full move
5	Lunge  +1 OCV  -2 DCV  Weapon +2 DC Strike
4	Parry  +2 OCV  +2 DCV  Block, Abort
4	Prise de Fer  +1 OCV  +0 DCV 33 STR Bind
5	Thrust  +1 OCV  +3 DCV  Weapon Strike

	MA:JKarate
4	Block  +2 OCV  +2 DCV  Block, Abort
4	Disarm  -1 OCV  +1 DCV  22 STR Disarm
4	Dodge  +0 OCV  +5 DCV  Dodge vs All, Abort
3	Legsweep  +2 OCV  -1 DCV  3d6 Strike; Target falls
4	Punch/Snap Kick  +0 OCV  +2 DCV  4d6 Strike
5	Side/Spin Kick  -2 OCV  +1 DCV  6d6 Strike

11	1 1/2d6 RKA, +1 OCV, 6 Shots, OAF: .S&W Mdl 19 .357 Mag

3	LS:JVirtually immune to aging
5	Wealth
2	Perk:JWell respected doctor

3	Astrogration (Navigation) 15-
5	Combat Pilot (small starships) 14-
3	Computer Programming 15-
7	High Society 15-
3	KS:JDancing 15-
1	KS:JFencing 8-
3	KS:JFlower Arranging 15-
3	KS:JZero G Operations (DEX) 13-
3	PS:JPhysician (INT) 15-
6	PS:JPlay Violin 15-
3	PS:JSurgeon (INT) 15-
2	SC:JBiochemistry 15-
2	SC:JChemistry 15-
2	SC:JGenetics 15-
2	SC:JMathematics 13-
2	SC:JPsychology 14-
3	WF:JBlades, Pistols
11	Lang: English (4), French (4), German (4), Russian (2), Spanish
(2), 
	Takasian (native)
3	Linguist
3	Scientist
16	CSL: +2 with Combat
10	CSL: +2 with Psi Lord EC

Disadvantages
100	Base
10	DF: Alien features and mannerisms, flamboyant manner of dress
10	DNPC: Blaise Jeannot Andrieux (less pow) 11-
15	Psych: Impulsive and overconfident
15	Psych: Lecherousness, inordinately fond of women
20	Psych: Feels a sense of responsibility to wild card victims
10	Public ID: Easily recognizable, known in most parts of the world
15	SID: Tachyon was once an KGB agent
15	Rep: Dr. Tachyon (actual rep varies, see history) 14-
20	Suscept: 4d6 Body if "Deathlock" is broken (uncom/inst)
20	Suscept: 4d6 Stun if "Deathlock" is broken (uncom/inst)
374	Experience

(Dr. Tachyon created by Melinda Snodgrass, character sheet created by
Michael Surbrook)

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