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Watchman I

Real name: Delmont "Del" Finder
Occupation: Formerly treasure hunter, now sage and adventurer by proxy
Legal status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record
Identity: Secret
Place of birth: San Francisco, California
Marital status: Single
Known relatives: None
Group affiliation: Partner of Lana Gardner
Base of operations: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
First appearance: ENIGMA COMICS #55
Origin: ENIGMA COMICS #56
History: Del Finder used to be a two-fisted treasure hunter with a reputation of always obtaining what he was hired for. He shied away from no challenge and considered himself the best "acquisitions expert" alive. He was not a killer, but also he did not go out of his way to save others either, always considering his own skin the most important thing to salvage out of any situation. Amorally, he did not consider what the things he "acquired" could be used for by his employers. Much of this changed just prior to World War II.
     In the months preceding the outbreak of World War II, rumors circulated of the discovery of a powerful magical item, the Maggophin. At least two parties are known to have obtained "acquisition experts" to secure the possession of the Maggophin as the object was believed to have the ability to alter the course of the coming war. The American government through OSS retained the services of Del Finder, while Nazi Germany hired the equally renowned treasure huntress Lana Gardner to obtain the Maggophin. Finder and Gardner had clashed previously and had estabilished an adversarial relationship towards each other. Both viewed the Maggophin as the ultimate contest between the two of them, the proof which of them would be the ultimate treasure hunter.
     Both Finder and Gardner tracked down the location of the Maggophin separately, with the two meeting up deep in the Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico, where the item was hidden. They struggled against each other in their race to obtain the Maggophin, unaware of a deadly trap set for whoever would claim the object. Finder realized the trap even as Gardner was reaching for the Maggophin, and in a moment of self-sacrifice hurled himself at the prize, knocking Gardner aside and subjecting himself to the trap instead. To all appearances, Finder as well as the Maggophin were buried underneath a vast rockslide which Gardner scarcely escaped herself.
     Gardner reported to her Nazi superiors of the destruction of both Finder and the Maggophin, after which the Nazis turned on her and attempted to eliminate her. Her life was only saved by a timely warning delivered by what appeared to be the spectre of Del Finder, allowing Gardner to escape the Nazi trap. In truth, Finder had survived the rockslide, but was trapped deep underground with the Maggophin whose magical abilities allowed him to find sustenance in the darkness. In the time since the rockslide, Finder had also learned to use the Maggophin to view the world outside the caverns, thus learning of the danger to Gardner, and to project an apparition of himself to warn her.
     Finder, trapped within the caverns, was unable to take any physical action against the Nazis himself, but through the Maggophin, he was able to view any place on Earth, and relay his information to whom he chose. In a desire to avenge himself upon the Nazis, he provided Gardner with all the information she needed to defeat her Nazi employers.
     Upon defeat of her Nazi contacts, Gardner journeyed back to Carlsbad Caverns out of gratitude towards Finder, who had now twice saved her life -- once from the rockslide trap, and again from the Nazis. She attempted to excavate Finder to freedom, but a correct route was impossible to divine. They were unable to reunite physically, and were only able to communicate through Finder's astral projections.
     Having spurned the Nazis, Gardner knew her life would continue to be at risk throughout the war as the Nazis would doubtless seek revenge against her. Finder proposed that Gardner could serve as his hands and fists in the outside world, to strike back at the Nazis before they got to her. Gardner accepted the offer, and for most of the war, she functioned as an independent anti-Nazi agent fueled by the information that Finder's all-seeing apparition could confer her. Throughout the war, Lana and Finder -- now calling himself the Watchman -- combatted many threats both Nazi and otherwise, such as the super-intelligent Know Man, the Demon Bats of Ultima Thule, the murderous assassin Yankee Hunter and the frigid minions of Nazi Baron Klaus von Kold.
     In his underground exile, Watchman considered much philosophy and abandoned much of his previously self-interested personality, becoming more interested in helping mankind now that he could no longer be a physical part of it. In a way, trapped in the caverns indefinitely it seemed, he transcended material needs and dedicated himself to higher ideals. Gardner maintained somewhat more worldly views and would often argue with Finder about which course of action she should take. Spending most of the war working closely together, they became very attached to each other despite their inability to ever be in the same physical space.
     Whether Watchman and Gardner's attachment towards each other was ever consummated, and indeed the final fate of both, is unknown at present.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Skin: Caucasian
Strength level: Del Finder possesses the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and build who engages in intensive regular exercise.
Known superhuman powers: Through the magical artifact Maggophin, Watchman is able to view any physical location as if he were present there himself. He is also able to extend other senses than merely sight to these locations, so that he can hear noises and perceive smells in locations he is viewing. Cold iron's anti-magical abilities make viewing more difficult, or in great quantities, can obscure viewing entirely.
     In addition to merely watching, Watchman can also project a ghost of himself to any location he is watching. This astral projection is intangible, and cannot be harmed or indeed touched by conventional means. The projection may be visible to all in an area, or only to select individuals, as Watchman chooses. Projecting usually requires severe mental focus on Watchman's part, though it is easier and allows for longer periods of contact with Lana Gardner, who has become sensitive to perceiving Watchman's astral self.
Abilities: Del Finder is an expert at archaeology, world cultures and mythology.
Limitations: Watchman cannot physically leave the Carlsbad Caverns.

File last modified at Sat, 14 Oct 2006 21:37:57 -0600

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Last modified:02/02/2006 @208