Langston Albright

Langston Albright’s father was a minister, and he grew up with both strong moral values and conviction there was such a thing as evil in the world. He believed it was the duty of good men and women to do something about that evil. Langston worked on a trawler off the coast of Freedom City in 1945. One night, an unexpected storm hit and the ship could barely stay afloat. A wave swept Langston overboard into the dark, roiling water. He sank into the darkness, and he could feel things moving around him, circling him. Suddenly, he saw a light rise up out of the dark depths to surround and fill him. He burst from the water, aglow with this new power, and helped to tow the ship back to port. He adopted the masked identity of Beacon, the master of light, and became a member of the post-war Liberty League.
From his own studies and work with the Scarab, Beacon learned his power is part of a prophecy about a “champion of light” who combats the forces of darkness in the world. A part of that darkness was the Cult of the Serpent People and the unspeakable god they worshipped. Another was Wilhelm Kantor, Nacht-Krieger, and SHADOW. Even after his public career as Beacon ended in the 1950s, Albright continued the fight against the forces of eldritch evil behind the scenes.
He achieved some measure of wealth and fame writing about his heroic exploits and making public appearances, but his primary focus was his work as a protector of humanity. He founded the The Albright Institute to increase understanding about superhumans, gather potentially useful information, and find a suitable successor. Although remarkably fit for a man his age, Albright is no longer able to carry on the fight. He’s also concerned that the forces of evil are gathering and preparing to take advantage of his weakness, so the time must be soon.
Langston Albright is a dignified African-American man approaching ninety years old. He’s tall and only slightly bent by the weight of his years. His short hair has gone entirely white, but his dark eyes retain their keen intellect and insight. He dresses in dark suits in all but the most casual circumstances. Albright lives in Kingston and spends much of his time at the Institute’s offices in Hanover.