Coven (New Titans enemy) (DC Comics)

Coven


Power Level:
Game system: DC Heroes Role-Playing Game

Context

Coven and Slagg are two generic villains from one of the aimless eras of Teen Titans continuity. As such, they can be used in practically any campaign without any preparation.

They appeared in 1994 and were seen but a few times. The stats thus include noticeable guesswork, but on the other hand… they’re generic.


Background

  • Real Name: Melissa (last name unrevealed).
  • Marital Status: Married.
  • Known Relatives: Natalie (sister, deceased), Slagg (husband).
  • Group Affiliation: Partner of Slagg ; former employee of the Crimelord ; former member of the Force-Troop (along with Deadzone, Powerhouse, Bolt, Mammoth and Sudden Death).
  • Base Of Operations: Unrevealed.
  • Height: 5’6” Weight: 123 lbs.
  • Eyes: Blue Hair: Black


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Powers and Abilities

Coven is a superior martial artist and acrobat. She wears an armoured jumpsuit.

Her main weapons are the armoured modules that cover the back of her hands, wrists and forearms. Each of these includes :

  • A long retractile serrated knife blade (In DC Heroes RPG terms, EV).
  • A firearm similar to Deadshot’s wrist magnums (Projectile Weapons).
  • And perhaps other weapons. Specifically, some of her attacks seemed to be energy blasts, though their effects were indistinguishable from the listed Powers.

Coven and Slagg incognito

The bracers can shoot explosive charges. Our game stats assumes that those are her grenades propelled by her wrist magnums’s bullets. Coven also carries some throwing weapons.

Coven said that she had been trained by the Shei-Ling, a kind of Chinese ninja-ish assassins. She’s particularly proud of her speed and attendant evasive abilities. The clan also trained her as a contortionist and escape artist.


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History

Coven works with her husband Slagg. The mercenary couple worked for the vast criminal organisation of the Crimelord in the mid-1990s, during the general time of the war between the Crimelord and the alien Syndicate.

Though they generally operated as a duo of enforcers, they also were a part of the superhuman squad of the Crimelord, called the Force-Troopers. As such, they were deployed during the large battle involving the Crimelord, the Syndicate, Checkmate, Deathstroke the Terminator, the Titans and the Darkstars.

Neither Coven nor Slagg have been seen since this battle, though all Force-Troopers safely retreated via teleporter.

Coven throws gas capsules

Coven had a sister called Natalie (no code name mentioned). Natalie sported a similar costume and presumably had roughly similar — through probably a bit weaker — abilities. Natalie was also a mercenary working for the Crimelord.

However, she and her fireteam were killed during a terrorist operation in San Francisco. After they were defeated by local heroes Thunder and Lightning, the Trigon-possessed Raven came to the scene. She incinerated Natalie and her crew just because she could.


Description

See illustration.


Personality

Coven is aggressive, bold and cold-hearted. She is the one who does the talking and takes most of the initiatives.

Slagg checks on Coven

While she behaves like a pitiless enforcer, she seems to genuinely love her husband and they are protective of each other.

Slagg and Coven serve the Crimelord in part because betraying him would result in the death of their relatives.


Quotes

(To a pair of prisoners) “My darling here is going to set your warehouse on fire while one of you stays inside. Your charred remains will serve as minor payback for the triad’s betrayal. The unlucky one of you who lives will inform your master of Crimelord’s displeasure.”

“A Shei-Ling master cannot be harmed !”



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Coven

Dex: 07 Str: 03 Bod: 04 Motivation: Mercenary
Int: 04 Wil: 04 Min: 04 Occupation: Mercenary
Inf: 04 Aur: 04 Spi: 04 Resources {or Wealth}: 004
Init: 019 HP: 030

Powers:
Fluid form (Only to Squeeze Through): 01

Bonuses and Limitations:
Fluid form is a Skilled Power.

Skills:
Acrobatics: 06, Martial artist*: 07, Thief (Escape artist): 08

Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes, possibly Language (unspecified Chinese language).

Connections:
Underworld (Low).

Drawbacks:
Dependent (Slagg, 0 pts).

Equipment:

  • COSTUME [/BODY/ 05, Blunting: 05, Radio communications: 05]. This costume appears to be lightly armoured, and I’ve assumed that it actually had good protective properties. It includes a radio headset, mostly hidden under Coven’s hair.
  • GAUNTLETS [BODY 09, EV 03 (08 w/Martial Artist), Projectile weapons: 05, Note: Projectile Weapons can be Combined with one her Grenades below, conferring it its Range – but the Dart Bonus is unavailable in this configuration].
  • Grenades (x8) [BODY 02, EV (Area of effect 1 AP) 07, Grenade Drawback, Dart Bonus]. Explosive metallic canisters.
  • Shuriken (x8) [BODY 02, EV 03, Grenade Drawback, Dart Bonus]. These throwing stars are usually only useful as decoration for her costume since her other weapons are more powerful, but can come handy in a pinch.


Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Coven — Averaged PL 8

STR STA AGL DEX FGT INT AWE PRE
02 02 04 03 07 01 01 01

Powers

Contortionist ● 5 points (Sustained)
– Feature 1 (+6 Circumstances Bonus to escape holds and grabs)
– Second Chance (vs. Grab attacks)
– Sleight of hand 16 (+19) (Limited 2 – Contorting application only)
– Sleight of hand 8 (+11) (Limited 2 – Escaping application only)

Devices

Costume ● 4 points (Noticeable, Removable)
– Lightly armoured — Protection 2
– Tactical radio headset — Communication 2

Explosive canisters ● 9 points (Noticeable, Removable)
Burst-Area Explosive Damage 6

Bracers Array ● 8 points (Noticeable, Removable)

  • Blades — Strength-based Slashing Damage 2.
  • Guns — Ranged Ballistic Damage 4.
  • Rifle grenade mode — Feature 1 (Can propel one of her grenades at range 4).

Combat Advantages

Close Attack 4, Defensive attack, Defensive roll 2, Enhanced Initiative, Evasion 1, Improved trip, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 8, Second Chance (vs. Grab attacks).

Other Advantages

Equipment 1, Instant Up, Language 1 (possibly an unspecified Chinese).

Skills

Acrobatics 6 (+10), Athletics 6 (+8), Deception 1 (+2), Insight 2 (+3), Intimidation 2 (+3), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 1 (+2), Stealth 2 (+6)

Equipment

Shuriken ● 3 points

Offense

Initiative +8
Unarmed +11, Close, Damage 2
Wrist blades +11, Close, Damage 4 Slashing, Piercing
Wrist guns +11, Range, Damage 4 Ballistic
Grenades +11, Burst, Damage 6 Explosive

Defense

Dodge 12 Fortitude 5
Parry 10 Toughness 6**/4/2*
Will 4

* Without Defensive Roll
** With costume and Defensive Roll Bonus

Complications

  • Motivation Mercenary.
  • Relationship With Slagg.
  • Relationship Serves the Crimelord under threat of death to her relatives.

Power levels

  • Trade-off areas Attack & Effect PL 9, Dodge/Toughness PL 9, Parry/Toughness PL 8, Fort & Will PL 5.
  • Point total 121. Abilities 42, Defences 18, Skills 12, Powers 5, Devices 21, Advantages 23. Equiv. PL 9.

Notes

Coven is technically PL9 since one of her Skills has an application with a +19 Bonus.

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: DC Universe.

Writeup completed on the 3rd of April, 2011.