Hector Hall and Doctor Fate are two different personas.
When he is not wearing the helm, Hector's humanity shows through much more — such as his love for people — but so does the ever-growing insanity he suffers from being Doctor Fate. He has a tendency to be erratic in his behaviour, often mumbling, even on a 'good day'. His real passion (aside from helping people) is knowledge, history, recovering that which has been lost.
As Doctor Fate, he tends to focus more on the 'big picture' and displays a level of confidence bordering on arrogance. Fate is very much a 'needs of the many' kind of person, and sometimes it will not be 'Hector Hall/Doctor Fate' at all that people experience when meeting him… it will be Nabu himself.
Sorcery |
Even without the Helmet of Fate, Hall is a talented sorcerer, thanks to both the wisdom shared with him by Nabu, and his own studies of the arcane. With the Helmet on (not to mention the Cloak and Amulet too), Hall becomes one of the greatest sorcerers in the world. The range of magical purviews and spells available to him is vast, and includes things such as:
Eldritch Blasts, Banishments, Transformations, Transmutations, Conjurations, Magical Constructs, Phasing, Invisibility, Illusion, Auramancy (spirit magic), Telepathy, Telekinesis, Healing, Dimensional Travel, Time Travel, Clairvoyance… and so on. He can do just about anything that 'magic' can accomplish, providing he has knowledge of the spell, time to prepare, and his gods are feeling favourable toward him. Some spells require Words, others gestures (or both), or rituals… it varies. Some spells are effects from wearing the Helmet, Cloak and Amulet.
Hector (sans helmet): Benchmark 4. On his own, Hector draws power primarily from Personal Magic; the strain lies mainly upon himself. Universal Magic is possible (more potent), but hard to do without help.
Doctor Fate: Benchmark 8. Fate draws much of his power from Dimensional Magic (invoking his gods, etc). This is not without risk, especially when Nabu takes control, but also in that it taxes the wielder — just like Personal Magic does. |
Archaeology |
This is more of a hobby Hector has maintained across his previous lives. He holds no doctorate in the field, but has significant knowledge in it (partially due to the library available to him in his Tower). He specialises in ancient Egypt. |
Aviation |
Hall can pilot small planes, and flight-capable power suits with decent skill. He is not licensed or trained for anything else. |
Microbiology |
Science has always been a passion of Hall's, and he earned a doctorate in this field in particular, during one of his other incarnations. |
Gadgetry |
In a former life, Hector personally designed and built powered armour using alien minerals (i.e. Nth metal, for the Silver Scarab suit). He is more than capable of doing so again, although he lacks the finesse and brilliance of numerous other inventors — also, Nth metal does not grow on trees. |
Occultism |
Some of this knowledge comes directly from Nabu when Hector dons the helmet, but he has also spent his current life studying the Occult on his own. The library of the Tower of Fate is very comprehensive. |
Fighting |
Hector Hall has been a crime-fighter in multiple incarnations; combat comes with the territory. Some of his techniques are ancient, taken more from Nabu's knowledge. Generally, he fights like a skilled, amateur 'brawler'. He has little or no experience with conventional firearms. |
Linguistics |
Hector is fluent in many languages, learned across multiple lives. These include: English, Egyptian, Arabic, Latin, Thanagarian, Interlac, Mandarin, Gaelic, Greek… |
Longevity |
As Doctor Fate, Hector will live indefinitely. He does not need to eat or drink — and sleeping is mainly used to accelerate healing, or Dreamwalk. He can use magic to heal most wounds — particularly if he is wearing the Helmet of Fate. He still needs to breathe, and can be slain in battle. Alas, being Doctor Fate will drive him mad, so death might be a welcome release. |
Nabu |
Nabu is an ancient wizard from another world, who now resides in the Helmet of Nabu. He is responsible for creating the Helm, the Amulet and the Cloak, for training and guiding each Doctor Fate…
Hector cannot always call on Nabu (well, he can *call*, but that doesn't mean that Nabu will answer), and there are plenty of times when Nabu *wants* to talk, but Hector does not. Frankly he does not trust Nabu, and tries to ignore him. Still, the guidance is usually there when it is most needed. |
Cloak Of Destiny |
One of the three relics given to Hector by Nabu, the cloak imbues the wearer with Levitation and Flight (20mph or so), increased Invulnerability and strength (he could get into a brawl with an Amazon and hold his own — or stronger, wearing all of Nabu's gifts). These effects can all be increased via magic — particularly when Hector is wearing 'the full set', such as using telekinesis to fly faster, and hit harder. |
Helmet Of Nabu |
First and foremost, the helm holds the consciousness of Nabu — who guides the wearer in his task of protecting the world from magical threats. Nabu also has an agenda of his own, which is NOT to be taken for granted. In addition to this, the helm is chiefly responsible for the majority of Doctor Fate's powers, making him into the incredible sorcerer that he is. These include:
Telekinesis (also used to boost his flying speed), Super-Strength, Invulnerability, Invisibility, Illusion, Phasing, Mystical Energy Bolts, Astral Projection…
Without the helm, Hector's own magical powers are reduced to that of a gifted 'amateur sorcerer'. He could, in theory, perform many of the aforementioned feats (here and under 'Sorcery'), but in a diminished capacity.
Hector often wears the helmet, using Illusion to appear 'normal'. |
Amulet Of Anubis |
The amulet holds a pocket dimension (to and from which Fate can travel, even bring people along) that is said to house the souls of all those who have held the mantle of Doctor Fate in the Past. It is also said to help shield the wearer from being detected via magic, and can fire a powerful beam of eldritch energy. If Hector is not wearing the cloak or the helm (particularly the helm) he may still be wearing the amulet. |
Tower Of Fate |
The Tower of Fate exists in a pocket dimension (different from the dimension within the Amulet of Anubis) and serves as a sanctuary for he or she who wears the mantle of Doctor Fate. The dimension can be reached by those who know where it is, but the tower itself is practically impregnable, and Fate's power there is significantly increased. When there is no 'Doctor Fate' to wear the helm, the tower serves as a vault to guard it, the amulet and the cloak.
Fate can access the Tower from anywhere in the cosmos. It contains a massive library of magical knowledge, as well as entire rooms devoted to different schools of the arcane, or even specific spells (such as the Scrying Room). To those who don't know how to navigate the Tower, it appears to have stairs and corridors that go in all directions…and none. |
Past Lives |
Hector has not had as many lives as his parents, but there have been plenty already. He can draw upon those memories and those skills as he needs them. |
Insanity |
Donning the Helmet of Nabu once is enough to drive anyone insane. For the Chosen of Nabu, the process is slower… but inevitable. It is worse in the moments just after taking the helmet off, and there is no telling how long the insanity will last each time — it could be minutes or hours…or longer. It will grow worse over time, until it claims the wearer completely. The truth is: the heroes who become Doctor Fate sacrifice their minds for the sake of saving others. |
Nabu |
Nabu is a very, very old wizard from another world — part of a sect known as the Lords of Order, in eternal conflict with the Lords of Chaos. True, Nabu is responsible for creating the Helm, the Amulet and the Cape, for training and guiding each Doctor Fate… but he also has an agenda of his own. Nabu… is not to be trusted.
There is also the additional problems of 'knowledge gaps' (i.e. just because Nabu knows the spell, does not mean Hector does, even when he is wearing the helmet. Finding the 'right spell' may cause hesitation), and 'a clash of wills' (i.e. when Nabu recommends one thing, while Hector disagrees — either one may be right or wrong). |
Lords Of Chaos |
The agents of these beings are everywhere, and will target whomever holds the Helm of Nabu, and his loved ones, for simply being an agent of Balance. Even the Lords of Order can be a threat — such as Nabu himself. Hector will never truly rest, until his tenure as Doctor Fate is done. |
Reincarnation |
Like his original parents, Carter and Shiera Hall, Hector is doomed to the same cycle of reincarnation. He has no soul. When he dies, he will be born again in another family, in another life…a cycle without rest. |
Fate Served Cold |
As mentioned in his Personality, when Hector Hall dons the Helmet of Fate, his entire persona changes. Hector is a down-to-earth, quietly-noble man who cares deeply about others; Doctor Fate, on the other hand, is about as warm as an ice-field in the dead of Winter. Fate's priorities are different, in that he cares more about the so-called 'big picture', often at the expense of the 'needs of the one'. Fate is not known for his mercy, which creates a sore point between 'him' and Hall. |
Age |
Why Hector was reincarnated as a man just into his 60s is a question left for the gods to ponder. While he is fit and healthy — a scrappy old man — he is still an old man. The benefits of wearing the Helmet of Fate only apply when he is actually wearing it. Without it (or the Amulet of Anubis or the Cloak of Destiny) he is just an old man, however 'scrappy'. |
Magic |
Dabblers, Masters, Practitioners, Hopefuls, Fans… even magical creatures, and those aware yet distrustful of magic, all share something in common with Fate. He monitors a lot, but far from all, of magical activity. |
Order or Chaos |
One does not need to be affiliated with magic to maintain Order or create Chaos; these two forces have many agents, and Fate has ties to both sides. |
SHIELD |
Hector Hall is a member of WAND, the division of SHIELD that monitors magical phenomena around the world. |
History |
Hector has a very personal connection to history, and enjoys the company of others who appreciate history as well, also archaeology, mythology. |
Science |
Contradictory as it might seem, Hector is a scientist, and can 'speak the lingo' with others who share the same passion. His particular field is microbiology. |
Crime-Fighting |
Hector been the vigilante or freelance crime-fighter in the Past. He has something in common with those who fight crime in the Present. |
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