Δικαδώρα (Dikadora; "Gift of Justice") Kelly
"Goddess [Nemesis], for whom the women spit on their bosoms."
--Callimachus, Fragment 687 (trans. Trypanis) [N.B. It was a custom to exorcize the goddess to avert jealousy.]
In the shadows of the world stalk many monsters, including a wide range of beasts that can choose their form, either animal or human or some combination thereof. Amongst these are the werecats, sensual and mysterious and oh-so-haughty.
There is a breed of werecat, often called the Ceilican, who were once enslaved by the great lords of Faerie. Dikedora's grandmother, however, seems not to have cared overmuch about the ancient grudge born therefrom. She quested through all the weird realms to find herself a sidhe lover. Cluracan Kelly was the result of their union, mixing fey blood with felianthrope blood. The combination, like some strange gravity, pulled his life uncomfortably close unhappily often to the world of masks and capes. He often used the name Puss in Boots on these adventures and capers.
"Hymn to Nemesis. Thee, Nemesis, I call, almighty queen, by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen: eternal, much revered, of boundless sight, alone rejoicing in the just and right : changing the counsels of the human breast for ever various, rolling without rest. To every mortal is thy influence known, and men beneath thy righteous bondage groan; for every thought within the mind concealed is to thy sight perspicuously revealed. The soul unwilling reason to obey, by lawless passion ruled, thine eyes survey. All to see, hear, and rule, O power divine, whose nature equity contains, is thine. Come, blessed, holy Goddess, hear my prayer, and make thy mystics' life thy constant care: give aid benignant in the needful hour, and strength abundant to the reasoning power; and far avert the dire, unfriendly race of counsels impious, arrogant, and base."
--Orphic Hymn 61 to Nemesis (trans. Taylor)
It was during one of those times, when the struggles of superpowered vigilantes consumed the life of a simple-if-feytouched werecat, that Cluracan met the ancient Titan Νεμεσις (Nemesis). She was exploring the possibilities of a return to an overt practice of her mission, pursuing villains who gained undeserved reward. Cluracan was a born swashbuckler, filled with the dazzle of the fey and the dexterity of the cat. His flashing smile and preening ways attracted the Inescapable Lady.
Some time later, Ολυμπος (Olympus) found that its population had grown by one. Δικαδώρα Kelly split her childhood between that sacred mountain's feasting heights and the obscure corners of the world where her father's people made their dens. She only ever visited her grandfather's people a handful of times during her youth. It was the last such when she learned of the strange effects of her blended heritage. Her mother's work was within her, twisted towards the fairy's ways. No direct strike for Dikadora against those undeserving of their luck; instead, she would bring them down by appearing to help them in their end-runs around the Μοιραι's (Fates') decisions.
"Unnoticed she walks at your feet, snaps your haughty neck, and always holds sway over your sustenance with her forearm."
--Suidas
Finally, a young Dikadora was present during one of the times Puss in Boots was needed. Though her father tried to keep her safe and to the side, not wanting his teenaged child to become a target, Dikadora saw a moment where a seeming betrayal of her father and his allies could allow her powers to turn the tide of the battle. The experience was invigorating in a way that she suspected only her mother would understand.
The ongoing and very real arguments Dikadora and Cluracan had about her desire to join the ranks of the heroes only helped to establish the veracity of her seeming turn to evil. She proceeded to serve a series of villains as their minion, taking the name Catspaw and trusting her powers to bring the justice her mother raised her to seek.
"Would that I were not among the men of the fifth age, but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest from labour (kamatos) and sorrow (oizys) by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them. But, notwithstanding, even these shall have some good mingled with their evils. And Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men also when they come to have grey hair on the temples at their birth. The father will not agree with his children, nor the children with their father, nor guest with his host, nor comrade with comrade; nor will brother be dear to brother as aforetime. Men will dishonour their parents as they grow quickly old, and will carp at them, chiding them with bitter words, hard-hearted they, not knowing the fear of the gods. They will not repay their aged parents the cost their nurture, for might shall be their right: and one man will sack another's city. There will be no favour (kharis) for the man who keeps his oath or for the just (dikaios) or for the good (agathos); but rather men will praise the evil-doer (kakos) and his violent dealing (hybris). Strength will be right (dike) and reverence (aidos) will cease to be; and the wicked will hurt the worthy man, speaking false words against him, and will swear an oath upon them. Envy (zelos), foul-mouthed, delighting in evil, with scowling face, will go along with wretched men one and all.
And then Aidos (Aedos, Shame) and Nemesis (Indignation), with their sweet forms wrapped in white robes, will go from the wide-pathed earth and forsake mankind to join the company of the deathless gods: and bitter sorrows (lugra algea) will be left for mortal men, and there will be no help against evil."
--Hesiod, Works and Days (trans. Evelyn-White)
Timeline:
1961 ~ Cluracan Kelly first takes on the mantle and identity of Puss in Boots.
1970 ~ Cluracan Kelly meets and has a fling with Nemesis, which results in the birth of Dikadora Kelly.
1986 ~ Dikadora Kelly first begins operating as the undercover superhero known as Catspaw.
"Neither this nor any other ancient statue of Nemesis has wings, for not even the holiest wooden images of the Smyraneans have them, but later artists, convinced that the goddess manifests herself most as a consequence of love, give wings to Nemesis as they do to Eros (Love). "
--Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 33. 4 (trans. Jones)
Gender: Soft butch cisfemale
Sexuality: Pansexual dominant
Romantic Identity: Polyfidelitous
"What god joined Fortuna (Fortune) [Tykhe (Tyche)] and Invidia (Envy) [Nemesis] in truceless kinship? Who bade the cruel goddesses engage in unending war? Will the one set her mark upon no house, but the other must straightway fix it with her grim glance, and with savage hand make havoc of its gladness? Happy and prosperous was this abode, no shock assailed it, no thought of sorrow; what cause was there to have fear of Fortuna, treacherous and fickle though she be, while Caesar was favourable? Yet the jealous Fata (Fate) [Moira] found a way, and barbarous violence entered that blameless home."
--Statius, Silvae 5. 1.
Recurrent Foes:
- Greyhound: For most of his life, Gamal Chases-Socks thought he was a typical greyhound, doped up and abused by an underground track in Las Vegas. One race, his handlers pumped him too full of too many strenge chemicals. As his heart began to give out, his werewolf heritage revealed itself. No human left the raceyard that day. Now he follows his rage, always seeking the dominance he wishes would balm the inferiority he feels chasing him constantly.
- Notable Powers: (PL 11) Lycanthrope from Supernatural Handbook. Run on Water, Run Up Walls, Running Jump, Running Speed, Fast Healing, Raging Strength, Terrifying Bark (Roar), Protective Hide, Animal Senses (acute olfactory, ultra-hearing) from Power Profiles. Big-Ass Claws (Strength-based Damage), All-Out Attack, Close Attack, Diehard, Extraordinary Effort, Fearless, Improved Smash, Leadership, Power Attack, Takedown, Teamwork, Tracking, Ultimate Effort, Weapon Break, Movement (sure-footed), Senses (analytical hearing, analytical smell, direction sense, infravision, low-light vision, tracking 2)
- The Patriarch: A committed misogynist, Bobby Lirdenham
has delved deep into both fringe science and the occult in his quest to
eliminate feminism and build the world of the free sexual use of
women. Catspaw's first time fighting him led to a bit of a conundrum
afterwards, as a small number of his liberated victims asked her to give
them access to his pills and tech, claiming that they found liberation
in its effects and oppression only in doing so under the Patriarch's
thumb.
- Notable Powers: (PL 11) Pink pills (array: Enhanced Trait 2: Attractive with Affects Others and Reduced Trait 3: Awareness or Enhanced Trait 3: Presence with Affects Others, Quirk: Increases Libido, and Reduced Trait 3: Intellect), bimbo-maker raygun (Weaken: Intellect with Quirk: Increases Libido), pheromone spray (Emotion Control from Power Profiles with Area and Limited to Horniness). Artificer, Inventor, Ritualist, Very Attractive, Fascinate, Daze. Bitter Lash of Bal'Hemoth and the Enchantment of Ios and Mists of the Modrossus and Shatachna's Seal of Silence and Somnambulent Silence of Sirrion from Power Profiles
- New Covenant Revelator: Gabriella St. Ives was a preacher's daughter, but she was always too consumed with studies of science and engineering to rebel. She believed that God designed the world as an act of beauty, and that witnessing that beauty by understanding how it works brings one closer to God. Her father's church dwindled and she barely noticed, until finally he had to close up shop. He didn't have to turn to the bottle to find the comfort he might once have hoped to find in God, but he did. Finally noticing something outside her workshop, Gabriella spent a decade designing and building the suit she now wears as a way to bring followers to her father's new church. She is a devout Christian, but anything can be justified to keep her father sober.
- Notable Powers: (PL 10) Battlesuit. Inspire, Contacts, Connected, Leadership, Luck. Startle, Trance, Defensive Attack, Evasion, Improved Aim, Improved Defense, Improved Disarm, Move-By Attack, Power Attack, Precise Attack, Takedown, Uncanny Dodge, Weapon Bind, Fearless, Interpose, Second Chance, Inventor, Create (Limited to Food), Healing. Feature (flashlight, personal spotlight, light show, data-storage drive, remote), Blinding Aura, Dazzling Burst, Laser Weapon, Light Absorption, Photonic Shield, Lightflight, Healing Light, Illuminate, Solar Sustenance, Vision Enhancement, Strength Enhancement, Life Support System, Mind Shield, Sensory Shield, Communication System from Power Profiles.
- Paraclete: Nemesis isn't the only Titan to have given birth to a mixed-race child in the modern world. Her "better half" Τυχη (Tyche) gave birth to the fruit of a one-night stand with a נפיל (nefil; a half-angel) around the same time Dikadora was born. They were raised together. Now, Eugene Pope goes around rewarding those he thinks are deserving with good fortune, often without regard for the complexity of the situation or the effects of such luck. Too frequent or too excessive happiness is a dangerous thing.
- Notable Powers: (PL 10) Every Fortune Advantage and maxed out Luck. Luck Control and basically every Luck power from Power Profiles. Olympian and angel archetypes from Book of Magic.
- Trademark: There was never any question for Pierce Draper what he would do with the powers his mutated genome gave him in and over genes: he'd make lots of money. The advertising and marketing industry proved unduly excited about the level of brand penetration he offered. Making money hand over fist as the freelance contractor Trademark, he has been engaged in the creation and manipulation of cool ever since.
- Notable Powers: (PL 9) Benefit (wealth), Connected, Inspire, Trance. Features (Fast Sleeper, Light Sleeper, Lucid Dreamer), Sleepless, Dream Mastery, and Psychic Vampirism (Asleep as third degree) from Power Profiles.
- Colonel Cadmus: "I will sow dragon's teeth in the desert, and raise soldiers like the world has never seen." Colonel Dana Cadmus first came to Las Vegas in charge of an effort to use the tech and alien DNA in Area 51 to build super-soldiers. Given a broad and independent mandate to act, she has continued to recruit test subjects for a variety of "new soldier" initiatives.
- Notable Powers: (PL 8) Super-normal. A large collection of combat-related advantages, Connected, Contacts, Equipment, Fearless, Inspire, Leadership, Minion, Sidekick, Teamwork, Extraordinary Effort, Ultimate Effort, Benefit (Government Backing), Well-Informed, Great Endurance. Fearsome Presence, Striking Power, Tough, Unfazeable, At A Glance, Brilliant Deduction, Light Sleeper, and Situational Awareness from Power Profiles.
- Emberwight: Donald Ebberman came to Vegas desperate in 1980. His daughter's condition was getting worse, the treatment more expensive, and he'd just lost his job. He needed his meager savings to be significantly more than meager, and gambling was the only option he could think of. Sadly, the casino caught fire that night. Less sadly, the life insurance policy just barely covered his daughter's treatment. Now he haunts the city, possessing people (like Catspaw) and watching out for his husband and daughter.
- Notable Powers: (PL 8) Skin-rider from Supernatural Handbook. Death Stare, Death Touch, Death's Gate, Death Sight, Death Vision, Speak With the Dead, Feature (deathly aura, tiny flame, cooking from the inside, flaming Presence bonus), Fireball (Soulfire), Fiery Breath (Soulfire), Fire Blast (Soulfire), Flame Aura (Soulfire), Immolate (Soulfire), Heatstroke, Melt, Smoke Cloud (Linked to Suffocation with Area), Fire Shield, Heat Absorption, Immunity to Heat, Infravision, Pyrokinesis, Warm from Powers Profile.
- Characters from Greek myth: Because of her mother, Catspaw often finds herself running into Αρτεμις (Artemis), Αθηνη (Athena), Ναρκισσος (Narcissus), Νικαιη (Nicaea), her grandmother Νυξ (Nyx, "Night"), her grandfather Ερεβος (Erebus, "Darkness"), her half-sister Helen of Troy, her half-brothers the Τελχινες (Telkhines), Αιδως (Aedos, "Shame"), the Ερινυες (Erinyes, "Furies"), Θεμις (Themis, "Divine Law"), her uncle Μορος (Moros; "Doom"), her aunts the Κηρες (Keres; "Violent Death"), her uncle Θανατος (Thanatos; "Death"), her uncle Ὑπνος (Hypnos; "Sleep"), her uncles the Ονειροι (Oneiroi; "Dreams"), her uncle Μωμος (Momos; "Blame"), her aunt Οιζυς (Oizys; "Misery"), her aunts the Ἑσπεριδες (Hesperides; "Of the Evening"), her aunts the Μοιραι (Moirai; "Fates"), her aunt Απατη (Apate; "Deceit"), her aunt Φιλοτης (Philotes; "Friendship"), her aunt Γηρας (Geras; "Old Age"), her aunt Ερις (Eris; "Strife"), her aunt Σοφροσυνη (Sophrosyne; "Moderation"), her uncle Επιφρων (Epiphron; "Prudence"), Porphyrion, Epaphus, her aunt Ὑβρις (Hubris; "Wantonness"), her aunt Ευφροσυνη (Euphrosyne; "Good Cheer"), her aunt Ελεος (Eleos; "Compassion"), her aunt Στυξ (Styx; "Hatred"), her uncle Αιθηρ (Aether; "Upper Air"), her aunt Ἡμερα (Hemera; "Day"), her uncle Δολος (Dolos; "Guile"), her uncle Δειμος (Deimos; "Fear"), her uncle Πονος (Ponos; "Toil"), and her aunt Pertinacia ("Obstinacy")
- Several mind-controllers: As you can imagine, mind-controlling villains are prime targets for Catspaw's particular brand of vengeance, and so she has built up a rogue's gallery full of novel ways to control minds.
"Artemis betook herself to Nemesis, and found her on the heights of Tauros (Taurus) in the clouds, where beside neighbouring Kydnos (Cydnus) she had ended the proudnecked boasting of Typhon's (Typhoeus') threats. A wheel turned itself round before the queen's feet, signifying that she rolls all the proud from on high to the ground with the avenging wheel of justice, she the allvanquishing deity who turns the path of life. Round her throne flew a bird of vengeance, a Gryps (Griffin) flying with wings, or balancing himself on four feet, to go unbidden before the flying goddess and show that she herself traverses the four separate quarters of the world: highcrested men she bridles with her bit which none can shake off, such is the meaning of the image, and she rolls a haughty fellow about as it were with the whip of misery, like a self-rolling wheel."
--Nonnus, Dionysiaca 48.
"Straightway she [Pallas Athene] sought the filthy slimy shack where Invidia (Envy) [the Roman name for Nemesis] dwelt deep in a dreary dale, a gruesome sunless hovel, filled with frost, heart-numbing frost, its stagnant air unstirred by any breeze, for ever lacking warmth of cheerful fire, for ever wrapped in gloom. Reaching the place the virgin queen of war paused by the threshold, since she might not pass beneath that roof, and struck upon the door with her spear's point. The door flew wide and there she saw foul Invidia (Envy) eating viper's flesh, fit food for spite, and turned her eyes away. Slowly the creature rose, leaving the snakes half-eaten, and approached with dragging steps, and when she saw the goddess' face so fair and gleaming mail, she scowled and groaned in grief. Her cheeks are sallow, her whole body shrunk, her eyes askew and squinting; black decay befouls her teeth, her bosom's green with bile, and venom coats her tongue. She never smiles save when she relishes the sight of woe; sleep never soothes her, night by night awake with worry, as she sees against her will successes won and sickens at the sight. She wounds, is wounded, she herself her own torture. . . . With sidelong glance the creature saw her fly and muttered briefly, grieving to foresee Minerva's triumph; then she took her staff, entwined with thorns, and, wrapped in a black cloud, went forth and in her progress trampled down the flowery meads, withered the grass, and slashed the tree-tops, and with filthy breath defiled peoples and towns and homes, until at last, brilliant and blessed with arts and wealth and peace, Athens in happy festival appears--and tears she sheds to see no cause for tears."
--Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. (trans. Melville)
Catspaw (PL 10)
STR 0* AGI 2 FGT 2 AWE -1
STA 0 DEX 3 INT 1 PRE 2
* -2 when shrunk
Powers
Demi-Titan: Feature 1 (temporal inertia), Immunity 1 (aging), Morph 4 (any form, increased action 1: move, quirk: always has cat-eyes), Movement 3 (dimensional travel 3) • 23 points
Fairy Sight: Illusion 5 (visual, Insight DC 15, 30 cu. ft.), Senses 11 (dimensional, low-light vision, mental divine awareness, tracking scent 2, vision counters all concealment, vision counters illusion) • 32 points
Nemesis-born: Luck Control 5 (insidious, limited to those using me, subtle 2, uncontrolled), Weaken Abilities 1 (Will DC 11; broad, extended range 7, increased range, indirect 4, insidious, limited to those who use me, progressive, simultaneous, subtle 2, uncontrolled)* • 26 points
Werecat: Claws (Strength-based Damage 2; Toughness DC 17), Leaping 3 (60 feet), Shrinking 8 (3 pounds, 1/16 cubic foot, quirk: maximum rank only), Tail (Extra Limb 1) • 21 points
* This is heavily modified, so I thought I'd repost this here with all the changes:
Action: Standard • Range: Ranged (short 3200 feet, medium 1.25 miles, long 2.5 miles)
Duration: Instant • Cost: 4 point per rank + 14 flat
You can temporarily lower all of a target’s abilities. You must touch the target, making a normal ranged attack check, originating from any point and point in any direction. Neither the activation nor the effect of this power are noticeable until circumstances reveal the effect.
WEAKEN RESISTANCE CHECK
Will vs. DC 11
Success: No effect.
Failure: The target loses power points from all of their abilities equal to the difference between the check result and the DC, up to a maximum of 1, each round until the target successfully resists. Make a new Will save for the target at the end of each turn; failure weakens their abilities further, while success stops the Progressive Weaken, but the target must still recover ranks already lost. Lost points return at a rate of 1 per round at the end of each of the target’s turns.
Advantages
Agile Feint; Assessment; Attractive; Daze (Deception); Diehard; Evasion; Fascinate (Deception); Favored Foe (people using me); Improved Grab (free with Extra Limb); Redirect; Taunt
Skills
Acrobatics 9 (+11); Close Combat: Claws 2, Deception 8 (+10; +12 to deceive, seduce, or change attitude of those attracted to me; +12 or +14 v. those who use me); Expertise: Arcane Lore 6 (+7); Expertise: Art 2 (+3); Expertise: Theology & Philosophy) 2 (+3); Intimidation 0 (+2; +4 v. those who use me; -2 or 0 when shrunk); Insight 6 (+5; +7 v. those who use me); Perception 0 (-1; +1 v. those who use me); Stealth 5 (+7; +15 when shrunk)
Offense
Initiative +2
Claws +4: Close, Damage 2 (0 when shrunk)
Grab +2 (+3 with all three limbs): Close, Strength/Dodge DC 10 (8 when shrunk)
Weaken +3: Ranged, Will DC 11
Unarmed +2: Close, Damage 0 (-2 when shrunk)
Defense
Dodge 2 (4 to avoid area effects; 6 or 8 when shrunk)
Fortitude 0
Parry 2 (6 when shrunk)
Toughness 0
Will -1
Ground speed rank 0 (-1 when shrunk)
Complications
Motivation ~ Doing Good
Power Loss: Like those of many on their father's side, Catspaw's illusions can be dispelled with the touch of cold iron. If Catspaw themself touches cold iron, all of their illusions are immediately dispelled; they would thus be unable to create new illusions until they were no longer in contact with the cold iron.
Reputation: Though fighting on the side of the heroes, Catspaw appears on the surface to be a minion traded around by a bunch of villains.
Power Point Totals: Abilities 18 + Powers 102 + Advantages 10 + Skills 20 = 150
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