Warmonger

Warmonger is an American artificial superhero sanctioned by PRIMUS.

## Biography

Paul Dietrich was decorated four times for his heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan. In one evaluation, his CO commented that "Lt. Dietrich is a man wholly without fear." No matter the objective, Paul was the first in and the last out, always volunteering for even the most dangerous assignment.

What Paul never told anyone, and what the psych people never guessed, was that he wasn't just brave. Paul *loved* war, and even the hint of mortal danger would send him into ecstasy. He trained constantly, always preparing for his next mission, and when it came he would throw himself in with gusto, lingering in the operation area as long as he could possibly justify to extend his pleasure.

Only after several tours did the desert begin to bore him. Paul eventually began to despair as he ran out of new ways to risk his life and new enemies to threaten him. But he had heard a rumor that the army was recruiting elite soldiers for a dangerous experiment designed to turn normal men into superheroes. Relishing the danger and the chance to fight supervillains, Paul bribed and cajoled his way up the rumor chain until finally he got his wish: he was entered into the mysterious Perseus Project as a test subject.

Paul did indeed gain superhuman abilities from the injection, but there were severe side effects. To his horror, he realized that some switch had flipped in his brain, and the part of him that once derived great pleasure from battle now only filled him with unquenchable rage. His temper became wild and erratic, and only his great self-control allowed him to keep any kind of lid on his emotions. Still, the Perseus scientists realized that something was off with Paul, and he was given tentative duty as a PRIMUS operative while they observed him closely.

PRIMUS, never the most scrupulous organization, was happy to take Paul on despite his new violent mannerisms. They sent him to work all over the country and beyond, carrying out missions of destruction, assassination, and terrorism. Under the codename 'Warmonger,' he continues to act outside the law, carrying out any mission his handlers desire. He no longer feels the joy of battle, and the bitterness of this loss consumes him, but he takes a grim satisfaction in quenching his unyielding rage on the unfortunate targets PRIMUS puts in his sights.

## Personality

Warmonger boils with barely-contained violence at all times. Despite this he is a reliable operative and keeps a tight rein on his temper. Only in open battle does he let his rage take over.

Warmonger tends to keep silent for the simple reason that he finds it hard to resist venting his anger by berating, accusing, and insulting those around him. He has a particularly deep loathing for the All-American and takes his very existence as an insult.

## Powers

Warmonger is the archetypical super soldier, his natural abilities enhanced to superhuman levels by the Perseus serum. Although not as powerful as many superhumans, he is still stronger and faster a human has any right to be. His senses, reflexes, and aim have all been enhanced, and his ability to feel pain has been reduced to almost nothing. He has all the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out any mission of espionage, sabotage, or assassination that his nation might ask of him. His constantly repressed rage also gives him a remarkable resistance to mental attack.

Warmonger has a practical knowledge of martial arts, though he prefers to rely on his firearm, a custom .45 magnum designed to fire a variety of specialty ammunition. For especially hardened targets, he carries small C6 shaped explosives designed to pierce through several inches of reinforced plate armor. He also has a combat knife and a bandolier of grenades to round out his kit.

Warmonger's armor is surprisingly heavy, though an onlooker wouldn't guess that from the way he races around a battlefield with ease. His helmet provides him with integrated night vision and infrared cameras, along with a small encrypted radio package.

## Weaknesses

Warmonger's rage makes him an effective but unreliable agent. He often goes beyond his mission parameters to engage in wanton brutality, and only PRIMUS' indulgence allows him to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. He has earned a terrible reputation among the wider public and superheroic community and most villains know how susceptible he is to provocation.

Warmonger's enhanced Perseus serum left him with the side effect of vulnerability to chemical attack, and acid in particular delivers a severe shock to his nervous system.