4 min read


Sequence

For the context, history, etc. you should first read the character profile for Flambé, the field leader of the Hell’s Belles.

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Background

  • Real Name: Marilyn Maycroft. Though she may now have a new name after going through the witness protection program.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: Formerly Hell’s Belles.
  • Base Of Operations: Unrevealed.
  • Height: 5’5” (1.65m). Weight: 120 lbs. (54 Kg).
  • Eyes: Solid yellow (Brown as a human). Hair: Brown.

Powers and Abilities

Little was seen of Shrew’s abilities (except her leaping, and even that is unclear). But she seems to have “rat powers”.

These could reasonably include :

  • Ultraviolet vision (and excellent night vision) though quite near-sighted.
  • Ability to fit through small holes. Albeit a rat’s skeleton doesn’t actually has such special properties, despite traditional depictions.
  • Powerful jumping, climbing and sprinting ability.
  • Pointy teeth.
  • Superior healing ability and hardiness.
  • Acrobatic talent.
  • Developed sense of smell (though it’s chiefly used for chemmingCommunication using chemical compounds, such as pheromones., which is probably useless for Shrew).

Shrew’s abilities might be a bit more powerful. But the Belles in general had a modest power level, and Shrew seemed to assume she couldn’t beat Briquette or Tremolo.

One would assume that she chiefly spends her Hero PointsDC Heroes RPG concept expressing narrative importance/immunity. when she’s cornered and instincts kick in.

Shrew (X-Factor character) (Marvel Comics)

Description

A White woman with brown hair, who can turn into a grey-furred rat-like person.

Personality

Apparently, the Belles were a dysfunctional, edgy, aggressive, cruel, out-of-control wild bunch. That was presumably in part thanks to Cyber.

It is also possible that they were kept on a leash via narcotics addiction.

Shrew considered that being on the group was insane and that the Belles were mad dogs.

Shrew acted in a snide, unpleasant way. But it is impossible to say whether that is telling about her personality, since she was fearing for her life.

Shrew (X-Factor character) (Marvel Comics) rodent face closeup

DC Heroes RPG

Shrew

Dex: 05 Str: 04 Bod: 05
Int: 04 Wil: 04 Min: 04
Inf: 03 Aur: 03 Spi: 03
Init: 012 HP: 020

Powers:

Analytical smell/Tracking scent: 04, Claws (Bite): 05, Cold immunity: 01, Fluid Form: 01, Jumping: 02, Regeneration: 03, Recall: 05, Running: 05, Sealed systems: 02, Super Hearing: 04, Swimming: 01, Systemic antidote: 01, Ultra vision: 02

Bonuses and Limitations:

  • Analytical smell/Tracking scent is Discerning when it comes to rodents’s chemical communication.
  • Super hearing only extends upward (ultrasonic range).
  • Jumping is not diminished for vertical distances.
  • Fluid Form is Only To Squeeze Through.
  • Recall only for olfactory data.
  • Sealed Systems only to extend the time during which she can hold her breath.

Skills:

Acrobatics: 06

Advantages:

Alter-Ego (human form).

Connections:

Previously Hell’s Belles (Low), Underworld (Low).

Drawbacks:

Distinct Appearance, MPR (Quite nearsighted).

Motivation:

Mercenary.

Occupation:

Enforcer.

Wealth:

004


Design notes

Shrew is the Belle who least demonstrates her super-powers. So I’ve went with a “generic rat powers” approach.

Yes, I know shrews are not rats, but that seemed to be the intention. And the House of Ideas never was too good at zoology.

I went for a fairly detailed list of abilities since a/ that was the occasion to complete and unify our rat stats and b/ a lot of role-players seem to like rats. But this additional attention makes her look a lot more versatile than the other Belles.


Shrew (X-Factor character) (Marvel Comics) in human form

DC Adventures RPG

Shrew — Averaged PL 6.6

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

Powers:

So, we’re assuming rat powers ● 37 points (Noticeable) ● Descriptor: Mutant
– Enhanced Strength 1, Enhanced Stamina 1, Enhanced Agility 2, Enhanced Fighting 2.
– Enhanced Fortitude 4, Enhanced Skills (4 Ranks in both Athletics and Acrobatics).
– Pointy teeth — Strength-based piercing Damage 2, Improved Critical 1.
– Like a cornered rat — Enhanced Advantages (All-Out Attack, Extraordinary Effort) both Limited (only when her back is to the wall)
– Rat senses — Senses 4 (Acute Tracking Scent, Low-light Vision, Ultra-Hearing), Feature (can memorise hundreds of scents).
– Rat fur — Immunity (Environmental cold and underwater suffocation, all limited to half).
– Rat physiology — Regeneration 1, Swimming 1, Feature (can fit into spaces twice as small as you’d expect).
– Darting rat — Speed 3, Leaping 2.

Combat Advantages:

All-Out Attack (Limited), Close Attack 1, Defensive Roll 2.

Other Advantages:

Extraordinary Effort (Limited).

Skills:

Acrobatics 1 (+9), Athletics 3 (+9), Close combat (Unarmed) 3 (+7), Expertise (Narcotics enforcer) 4 (+5), Insight 2 (+3), Perception 3 (+4).

Offence:

Initiative +4
Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 2
Pointy teeth +7, Close, Damage 4, Crit. 19-20

Defence:

Dodge 08
Fortitude 10
Parry 08
Toughness 03*/05
Will 03

* Without Defensive Roll.

Complications:

  • Ex-sicaria Shrew used to work as a murderous enforcer for ruthless drug cartels. Now she’s on the run, and has to deal with the US gov’t..
  • Power Loss No Powers when she’s in her human-looking form.
  • Most rodents are near-sighted And Shrew presumably is very near-sighted in superhuman form.
  • Rodent form Shrew’s rat-like form will seem scary to many people.

Powers Levels:

  • Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 6, Dodge/Toughness PL 7, Parry/Toughness PL 7, Fort/Will PL 7.
  • Points total 84. Abilities 20, Defences 14, Skills 8, Powers 37, Devices 0, Advantages 5. Equiv. PL 6.


Writeups.org writer avatar Sébastien Andrivet

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Marvel Universe (X-Factor books in the Summer of 1992).