Grünstraum

Grünstraum is a demonic entity created by and initially published on Facebook OSC (11 January 2023). Originally a Nazi supervillain infected by the Lodisi pathogen, Grünstraum was one of Major Triumph's most formidable opponents. Following his death in 1945, The Book Master claimed Grünstraum's soul and assigned him to guard the portal to Victory Girl's pocket reality. When The National Spirits managed to free Victoria Hamilton from Purgatory, Uncle Sam dealt Grünstraum a devastating blow with the Sword of Liberty after a prolonged struggle.

While The Book Master was furious over losing his most prized captive, he nonetheless re-energized Grünstraum and returned him to Earth, ordering the green monstrosity to drag Victory back to The Beyond at any cost. Still seething over his humiliating defeat, Grünstraum swore to destroy anyone and anything that stood in his way.

1940s Origin
At the outbreak of World War II, Lieutenant Kurt Wiedler was a Gestapo officer assisting in the torture of a German resistance fighter. However, when his commanding officer's whipping had no effect, Wiedler mocked his "weakling methods" of torture and took command of the interrogation himself. He then ordered his men to tie the spy to the treads of a nearby tank with the threat of slowing crushing him beneath it, a concept his fellow Gestapo members found "too cold-blooded" even for them (although these objections did not stop him from carrying out the deed).

Arrested for his early insubordination, Wiedler was brought before Der Führer himself. However, instead of being punished, Wiedler was promoted to Captain. Shortly afterwards, he killed the officer who had arrested him and attempted to pass it off as an attack by foreign spies. However, it turned out that Hitler had ordered men to follow Wiedler to report on his treachery. Enraged by Hitler's trick, Wiedler fought off a squad of German Military police (killing at least five men in the process).

At this point, Hitler revealed that he had simply been testing Kurt to see if he was worthy of taking up the Mantle as champion of the Aryan cause. Codenamed The Hun and granted an ancient shield said to have been once belonged to the legendary Attila, Wiedler was sent to sabotage the Allied War Effort, immediately coming into conflict with Major Triumph on his first mission. The two were so evenly matched that neither could gain the upper hand during this early confrontation.

Landmark Universe
Over the next four years, The Hun's plans were constantly foiled by Triumph and his star-spangled niece, Victory Girl, driving the "Butcher of Berlin" to the brink of insanity. Desperate to win at any cost, Wieldler made a pact with the dark forces, summoning a Shambling White Stanger and a Malevolent Trickster to Castle Vemork. With time running out, The Hun traded his soul for increased physical power (the so-called Lodisi Pathogen) and plans for a prototype nuclear weapon. These "gifts" were, of course, a double-edged sword: the Pathogen mutated Wieldler into a grotesque green monster and the radioactive elements infected his immune system. Realizing he would never live to see the end of the war, Grünstraum devised a plan to destroy all of Europe with a fleet of Glocken aircraft armed with fission warheads.

Grünstraum's plans were ruined by Alliance 1, led by the indomitable American General. The strike force (which included Major Triumph, Victory Girl, American Valkyrie, Independent and American Shield) managed to fight their way past Vemork's defensive perimeters, but were halted in the tracks by Tiwaz the Terrible, Wotan and The Krimson Kaiser. With her comrades otherwise engaged, Victory Girl slipped through to the heavy water plant, determined to halt the countdown.

Realizing the cause was lost, Grünstraum detonated the bomb, hoping to wipe out the entire Patriot Brigade in a single stroke. The plan backfired due to the complex being located underground; a massive nuclear explosion ensued, vaporizing everything within the Power Plant and setting off several earthquakes across the region. Wotan, Tiwaz and the Kaiser were finally subdued, but the Patriots feared they've lost their most cherished member.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the immortal Valkyrie searched through the irradiated fortress, but found no trace of either Victory Girl or Grünstraum. Realizing they must have been vaporized in the blast, Val returns to inform Major Triumph] that his niece did not survive. At this grim news, the remaining members of the Patriot Brigade stood to attention and saluted the passing of 16 year-old Victoria Hamilton..."The Greatest of Us All."

The Purge
During The Purge story line, Grünstraum launched a surprise attack on Chamberlain Tower, tearing Tachyon in half and savagely beating Major Triumph to near-unconsciousness. However, when he attempted to abduct Victory, he was immediately confronted by The Good Captain and Ms. Miracle, who had responded to Tachyon's last-minute distress call. Realizing he was no match for their combined might, Grünstraum fled the Tower without his prize. The Miracles pursued him across the city, driving the creature towards a fork of the Challahasee River. Unable to cross open water due to eldritch demonic law, he turned to face them, invoking his Germanic war-gods for assistance. The midnight sky exploded with thunder and lightning as the World's Mightiest Mortals went full throttle against The Green Terror. Finally bringing him down in Chamberlain Park, Captain Miracle now invoked his deities to force the truth out of their monstrous foe. Discovering that Grünstraum was the spearhead of an invasion force, the Miracles decided they'd need reinforcements. Rendering the brute insensate with a single blow, The Captain dragged Wieldler to Mount Eternity to be bound in everlasting darkness. Trapped in a seemingly inescapable prison, Grünstraum again swore vengeance against his enemies, shrieking out to his Master for release.