Straw-Man
Real Name Samuel Hain/Gwydion fab Dôn
Created and Copyright Barry Reese

ADVANTAGES: Acute Sense of Direction -2D, Contact (Dark Society) -6D, Courage -2D, Intimidating Grin -2D, Obscure Knowledge -2D
DISADVANTAGES: Dependent (Sam’s grandfather) +2D, Enemy (Forces of Heaven and Hell) +6D, Enemy (Dark Society rogues gallery) +6D, Enemy (Rhiannon) +3D, Fanatic (dislikes organized groups) +3D, Secret Identity +3D, Unattractive Appearance (as Straw-Man only) +2D

POWERS: All powers have the Super Hero Form limitation (-3D). Wizardry 5D, Longevity 4D, Healing (self) 3D, Psychic Manifestation (Sickle) 7D, Speak with Plants 4D, Natural Armor 2D, Natural Weapons (The Straw-Man can grow pumpkin vines out of his back) 5D

BACKGROUND: The Straw-Man is made up of two very different entities: a young man named Samuel Hain and the spirit of Gwydion fab Dôn, a magician, hero, and trickster whose exploits had been highly fictionalized in Welsh mythology. Gwydion was apprentice and lover to a powerful witch during the middle ages… she taught him nature magic but when her lust for power grew to fightening levels, they parted on bad terms. Eventually she tracked him down and cursed him, destroying his physical form and binding his spirit to a set of tattered rags. Those rags survived through the centuries, eventually ending up atop a scarecrow that came to rest in Grove’s Folly, a sleepy little town located just outside Sovereign City.

The duo bonded after Gwydion’s former lover attempted to kill Sam — since then they have battled the forces of Heaven, Hell, and everything in-between. Gwydion has a habit of adding to his own legend by falsely claiming to have inspired the likes of Loki and Anansi but he’s certainly done many things that are verifiably amazing. Despite the fact that he is now spiritually bonded to a teenager, he is making the most of his new existence – as the Straw-Man, he was briefly involved with Logan Jenkins (Catalyst) and he has formed partnerships with several other heroes such as the new American Crusader and the International Hero Corps. Grove’s Folly has become his adopted home and he protects it from all threats.

Several years after their merger, Sam and Gwydion’s situation altered somewhat — rather than swapping places with one another, their personalities and minds were intermingled, meaning that they are now one and the same, with aspects of their two lives crossing over. They continue to protect Grove’s Folly.