Gugalanna (deceased)

Origin:

Gugalanna is an old deity. It is unknown just how old, but he's served as the Anunnaki's muscle at least since Anu was in charge of the clan. The Celestial Bull, this oversized divine bovine has numerous supernatural capabilities related to his unique origins.

Known Powers:

Immortality: the source of his power, Gugalanna is an ancient, divine entity. This potent ability renders him immune to death, unless he is slain by other divine beings, and even then it allows his personality to persist eternally. It also grants these related powers:

* Awe: as if his physical prowess wasn't intimidating enough, Gugalanna can expose his melammu, or divine life force, at will. This has the Amazing (50) effect of encouraging obedience in followers of the Anunnaki, or instilling fear in their many, many foes.

* Boon: despite his death, Gugalanna can nonetheless lend his considerable power those who know of his existence, doing so with Amazing (50) ability. He can grant entreaties for power at will, and may fuel chaotic, destructive entreaty spells like his favorite, Tramplede.

Growth: the Celestial Bull is huge! Gugalanna stands twice as tall as the avearge bull, measuring twelve foot high. As a result, the Celestial Bull is almost twice again as long, making him about the size of a moving van thanks to this Good (10) ranked power!

The Celestial Bull thus possess a +2 size factor. In other words, he suffers a -2 CS when targeting human-sized foes, but gains a +2 CS on any damage he inflicts upon them. Conversely, human-sized foes assaulting the mighty Gugalanna do so while inverting these modifiers.

Hard Points: in addition to his legendary horns, Gugalanna possess a rock-hard hoof on the end of each limb. He may use these to inflict +1 CS damage in melee, whether he kicks or stomps on a foe (Blunt Attack) or when brutally trampling them (Charging).

Horns: his principal weapon, Gugalanna uses his horns to deadly effect. The Celestial Bull can wield his horns in two ways, whether goring someone in melee (Edged Attack) or upgrading a Charging maneuver to inflict even greater, lethal Edged Attack damage as well.

Matter Absorption: Gugalanna can inhale vast amounts of air, and hold it in until he wishes to blast it out his nostils - with staggering force! He can do this with Amazing (50) ability, impacting everything within his current area with a like amount of Force damage.

Limitations / Enhancements:

Immaterial: being a dead god, Gugalanna now exists in a ghostly, ectoplasmic state. Within the various realms of the afterlife, such as Irkalla, Gugalanna can be interacted with in a normal fashion, the physics of these planes treating ectoplasm as actual, real matter.

Elsewhere, Gugalanna should be treated as if functionally and permanently intangible, per that power. This characteristic works at a rank equal to his Psyche score, and doesn't require him to breathe. Physically acting upon the living requires he be transubstantiated somehow.

Equipment:

(none)

Quirks:

Temper 3: a function of faith as much as an echo of biology, Gugalanna is cursed with a murderous temper. Should he be provoked, whether intentionally or accidentally, Gugalanna must pass a Psyche ACTION at -6 CS to resist lashing out at that which vexes him.

Talents:

Natural Weapons: the full extent of Gugalanna's knowledge is as of yet unknown, but the Celestial Bull can definitely utilize his inherent physical weaponry with precision and care. He may add a +1 CS to attacks attempted with either his horns or his hooves.

Contacts:

As one of the Anunnaki, one of its elders in particular, Gugalanna was held in very high regard by his divine family. Gugalanna loves his family and would do just about anything for them, should it be necessary. Except for Gilgamesh, of course. That guy can pound sand.

Costume:

Bulls don't wear clothes! Gugalanna in particular doesn't bother with such frippery, not when his height and musclature send a much more powerful message. No, the Celestial Bull parades his intimidating nudity at everyone around him - and it is most effective.

Personality:

Imagine an irate bull twice the regular size, and viciously sadistic beyond the pale. Then, imagine that being driven by a surprising intelligence and absolute loyalty to his fellow Anunnaki, and you're about there. Gugalanna's death hasn't changed these tendencies any.

Real Name: Gugalanna
Occupation: divine enforcer
Legal Status: former citizen of the extraplanar realm of Ubshukkina, now consigned to the Valley of the Dead Gods
Marital Status: married
Alias(es), if any: the Celestial Bull
Group Affiliation: the Anunnaki

Height: 12'
Hair: black
Eyes: red
Weight: 8,000 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Gugalanna is a giant bull! His glowing red eyes betray intent despite his bestial appearance, and he appears much stronger than your average bull, even assuming he was the same size as one.

Story:

The origins of Gugalanna are shrouded in mystery. He appears to be one of the more ancient of the Anunnaki, but his exact place in the pantheon is unknown. However, as the Bull of Heaven, Gugalanna is apparently only subject to the whims of Anu himself.

Gugalanna acts as an enforcer of the Anunnaki's will, continuing to heed Anu's command even after leadership of those gods was handed down to Enlil. Of course, Enlil would also make use of Gugalanna, in particular when he was vexed by the terrible appetites of Ereshkigal.

Drawn to her dark passions, Enlil began an affair with the goddess for a time, but quickly found that Ereshkigal was too much for him. Her naked, insatiable lust was draining even his divine might, and in an attempt to save himself he introduced her to the bestial Gugalanna.

While she was enamored of Gugalanna's mammoth stamina, the damage was already done. Giving birth to Enlil's son, Namtar, Enlil's incensed wife Ninlil arranged to have Ereshkigal banished into the underworld of Irkalla. Of course, Gugalanna would visit regularly.

At least, until his might was drawn upon by Ishtar. After Gilgamesh spurned her sexual advances, Ishtar threw a tantrum at Anu and Antu until the former relented. Giving Ishtar Gugalanna's proverbial leash, Anu watched as she sicced him on Gilgamesh and his kin, Enkidu.

Devastating Uruk in the ensuing battle of the gods, Gugalanna was ultimately brutally slain by Gilgamesh. Adding insult to injury, Enkidu flung Gugalanna's severed right thigh at Ishtar after the battle, slapping her right in the face with the bloody mass of muscle!

While the gods ultimately slew Enkidu for his arrogance, that didn't change the fact that Gugalanna was dead. Being one of the Anunnaki, Gugalanna's specter drifted down to the very bottom of Irkalla, to reside in the Valley of the Dead Gods for all time.

Having since become the queen of the dead, however, Ereshkigal visits Gugalanna's ghost frequently. After all, her latest husband, Nergal, regularly flees Irkalla to restore his vitality when Ereshkigal wears him down. And Ereshkigal needs to scratch that itch somehow.

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