Delphae
(Coda)
Context
Delphae (or rather Delphæ, I suspect) appeared in early WildCATs issues, during the early 1990s.
For context, we suggest first reading the Coda (Wildstorm Comics) organisation profile.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Coda.
- Base Of Operations: Mount Themiscrya, Greece.
- Height: 5’8” Weight: 112 lbs.
- Eyes: White Hair: Grey
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Powers and Abilities
First of all, Delphae is a Coda, with all the fighting skills that go with it.
But most of all, she is Hecate’s High Priestess. This makes her their ultimate sorceress and oracle.
History
For aeons, Delphae has been Andromache’s oracle. Though we can assume that she has been recruited in the Coda as any other member, and trained in the arts of warfare. But her superiors saw her potential as a sorceress and trained her in this way to become their Priestess of Hecate.
Hecate is the Kheran cult pagan goddess of war. Her cult is the very basis of the Coda Order. It was imported on Earth by Zealot and her fellow Coda sisters.
Delphae serves the Coda’s Majestrix, providing her with advice and visions. When the time comes, she takes charge of sending her armies to the battlefield. But she never leaves her sanctuary. This is where lies the source of her greatest powers, a ritual pond she uses to cast her more powerful spells.
Apparently, Andromache has lost interest in asking Delphae to locate Zealot. We can assume that she is tired of sending valuable troops to the slaughter. So Zealot is now a target of opportunity to Andromache’s eyes.
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1990s
Her latest task was to locate Artemis, after her betrayal. It was correctly assumed that Artemis wanted to overthrow Andromache after claiming Zealot’s head. And so she did.
Delphae then sent the Majestrix herself, leading a phalanx of her finest to confront the apostate. During the battle, Grifter forced the Majestrix back at gunpoint to save Zealot’s life. Seeing this shook the confidence of the entire Coda.
This loss of confidence led the Coda War mistresses, scattered throughout the World, to drift further away from Mount Themiscrya and Andromache’s influence.
Description
Delphae has long tangled grey hair. Her eyes are completely white. She has a small, black, five branches star tattooed above her upper right lip.
She wears a long wine-colored cloak, broadly cleft in the front.
Personality
She is dedicated to the Order. Normally, she would obey the Majestrix’s order blindingly, but Andromache’s recent cowardice may well have shaken her.
Though she would still obey her, she might not do so blindingly, making sure she follows the Coda’s precepts before. Whoever unites the Coda again would surely met Delphae’s support.
DC Universe History
See Zealot.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Delphae
| Dex: 05 | Str: 02 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 09 | Wil: 09 | Min: 10 | Occupation: Oracle |
| Inf: 10 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 13 | Resources {or Wealth}: 010 |
| Init: 026 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 05, Charisma*: 10, Martial Artist*: 05, Occultism: 11, Weaponry: 05
Advantages:
Intensive Training, Near-Immortal, Local Hero (Coda), Magic Rank (Master), Rich Friend (Coda).
Connections:
Coda (High), Coda’s Majestrix (High).
Drawbacks:
Authority Figure (Coda), CIA (Obey Majestrix’s requests), CIA (Staying in her sanctuary).
Equipment:
MAGIC POND [BODY 12, Connection: Realm of Hecate (High)].
Rituals:
- Gateway (Dimensional) [Warp: 20, Casting Time: 1 min (04 AP), Lim.: The caster must sacrifice his own blood, resulting in 1 RAP of physical damage with no LDD possible].
- Clairvoyance (Dimensional) [Remote Sensing: 25, Casting Time: 15 min (8 AP), Components: 6 AP].
- Oracle (Dimensional) [Precognition: 15, Casting Time: 15 min (8 AP)].
- Omni-Ritual: 11.
Design notes
To follow Peter Piispanen’s idea of Dimensional Magic, I made Delphae’s pond her link with Hecate, Coda’s goddess.
I gave BODY 12 to the Pond (it’s a magic pool of water), but I’m not really sure if it’s applicable.
I give her Omni-Ritual instead of Sorcery just to point that she must still cast them.
Source of Character: Images Comics (Wildstorm Universe).
Helper(s): The Angel’s Magic Sourcebook.