[UA] Archetype: The Strongman (incomplete)

[Ben-San Arizona]

Just the result of a little mental fiddling-around and
a few thoughts crashing into each other. It is
incomplete because frankly I'm terrible at coming up
with avatar channels; the ones I have are serviceable
but dull. If anyone's got more interesting ideas, I'm
very much open to them. The writing style may be kind
of rambling; I was a little sleep-deprived when I did
this up.

The Strongman

Attributes: The Strongman is not merely somebody who
is strong. The Strongman makes strength into an
identity, a career, and a way of life. As the most
fundamental representation of power, his physical
strength makes him more than human to those around
him. Lesser men may admire him or fear him, but either
way his feats of strength set him aside from and above
normal society.
The positive side of the Strongman is someone who
performs great feats and inspires at the same time
that he tirelessly does what needs to be done. The
dark side of this archetype is a brute who uses his
strength to get what he wants at the expense of
others.
The Strongman's reliance on his own strength sometimes
endears him to avatars of the Savage and the
Masterless Man. The MVP and the Strongman have a
certain amount of overlap, which can often come
through as friendship or rivalry. The Strongman and
the Flying Woman have a history of conflict,
particularly among avatars with classical educations.

Taboos: While the Strongman is not an exclusively male
archetype, it is an overwhelmingly masculine one. The
Strongman must always be manly in his public behavior.
A significant degree of latitude is possible with
this, as standards of manhood vary considerably, and
the Strongman may be a brute or a perfect gentleman as
he pleases - but if he behaves in a way that publicly
calls his masculinity into question, he is weakened.
His private life is exempt; a Strongman may freely
dress in women's clothing when he is alone if he
likes, as long as the public doesn't find out. Female
avatars of the Strongman are bound by the same
restriction to masculine behavior, although they
needn't actually pretend to be men.
The Strongman must similarly never seem unwilling to
rely on his strength. This doesn't mean that he must
brawl with anyone who looks at him funny, but it must
be clear that he avoids a fight out of chivalry, good
manners, good humor, or another reason besides a lack
of faith in his own strength. This applies to all
kinds of situations: a Strongman who needs to fell a
tree doesn't need to rip it out by its roots, but if
he uses a chainsaw instead of an axe or saw he is
taking a risk of taboo.
Nobody with a Body below 70 is likely to be able to
shoulder the Strongman's load. This is not an explicit
mystic taboo but simply a corollary of the kind of
behavior expected.

Symbols: Weights and barbells. A bare chest and/or
fully exposed arms. The skins of predatory animals,
from the Nemean Lion to leopard-print trunks. Bulls,
Clydesdales, elephants, and other beasts of burden.
The Strength card of the tarot deck. At one point a
shaved head and a waxed mustache were good symbols,
and are still recognizable though dated. Either a wild
thicket of body hair or hairless, oiled muscles are
effective.

Masks: Hercules and Atlas (Greek). Zhang Fei
(Chinese). Samson (Judeo-Christian). John Henry, Joe
Magarac, Li'l Abner, The Incredible Hulk (American).

Suspected Avatars In History: Eugen Sandow, "The
Father Of Modern Bodybuilding", was most likely an
avatar, and his followers have shaped the archetype's
modern form. Any modern "strength athlete" probably
brushes against the archetype. Many professional
wrestlers are also Strongmen. Charles Atlas was almost
certainly a powerful avatar of the Strongman, and may
credibly be the current sitting archetype.

1-50%: A Strongman may flip-flop any rolls made to
achieve a feat of strength if the result is under his
Avatar skill. Feats of strength are loosely defined.
Combat is rarely considered a feat of strength,
although a few specific maneuvers (bear hugs or sumo
shoving matches) may qualify; in such cases, the
flip-flop does not apply to rolls made to land a hit
but only rolls made to maintain pressure or exert
force.  

51-70%

71-90%: At this level, the avatar's strength is
unwavering. While he is engaged in a feat of strength,
he will not show signs of fatigue or wounds until the
feat is completed, even if they would normally suffice
to kill him. For the purpose of this channel, a feat
of strength may consist of many individual acts;
digging a well or laying a railroad track would each
count as a single feat of strength, and the avatar
will not falter or die until the well is dug or the
track laid, if he so chooses. 

91%+

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