Shrike III
(Cadre member)
Context
This article assumes you’ve read our main article about the Overmaster’s Cadre.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Cadre.
- Base Of Operations: Formerly the Overmaster’s mountain base.
- Height: 5’5” Weight: 120 lbs.
- Eyes: White Hair: Pink feathers.
- Other distinguishing features: Pointed tail growing from her spine just above her buttocks ; orange-ish skin.
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Powers and Abilities
The Shrike had wings (at least originally).
She could also emit a powerful shriek — either to inflict straight damage, or to bowl over a number of opponents like pins. Secondary sources mention that her scream could also paralyse, but that was never actually demonstrated.
Circa 1987, the Shrike no longer had wings. Yet that didn’t hamper her flight in the least.
History
Shrike has allegedly been on a lifelong spiritual quest. This apparently was an attempt to transcend severe psychiatric issues, as she reportedly has been an inmate in several asylums.
During the 1980s she was recruited and empowered to join the original Cadre. Shrike apparently considered that the Overmaster was God (or at least a god). The Overmaster left Earth without her after the JLA beat him, however.
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Losing my religion
Shrike tried to become a born-again Christian. However her neurotic, fumbling attempts at finding God ended terribly. The visibly irrational Shrike was preyed upon and sexually abused by a reverend named Flint Yuma. The dismayed Shrike started screaming when Yuma assaulted her.
Yuma was killed by her scream. When the police came the psychotic Shrike did not understand what was happening. Her frantic yells about being sorry and begging not to be shot resulted in the death of 32 state troopers before she could be taken down.
After this disaster, Shrike was transferred to the Belle Reve prison. Amanda Waller offered her the Suicide Squad deal.
Suicide Squad
Shrike agreed and was soon deployed in Ogaden (the DCU’s equivalent of Ethiopia) to recover an imprisoned nun. During an assault on a military base, she was caught in the beam of a searchlight while sonically strafing the troops. Shrike brought down by massed small arms fire. The mission was nevertheless successful.
Shrike was replaced within the Cadre by another woman with largely similar abilities and looks, called Starshrike.
Years later, Shrike was animated as a zombie by the Black Lantern power, and helped attack Belle Reve in revenge.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Shrike did not train with the other Cadre members. She seemed to spend most of her time lovingly perched on the Overmaster’s shoulder, only acting when he gave her direct orders. She actually worshipped him, and seemingly only spoke to sing his praise.
After the Overmaster left Earth, she continued her neurotic attempts to “come to grips with God”, as she put it. She would babble and rant incessantly about her psychotic take on born-again Christianity.
Shrike was thoroughly crazy and obsessive. She was so divorced from reality that she did not seem to realize the consequences of her actions, making her pretty scary. A fit of Psychological Instability was likely to result in her constantly using her sonic powers without genuine awareness of it.
Quotes
“As you wish, Overmaster. You are my god, and I live but to sing your glory.”
“Well, they took me off and put me in jail and everything, but the Lord, He’s looking out for me, and He placed me with the Squad for a chance at a new life. Praise the Lord !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Shrike
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 03 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Mercenary |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 020 |
Powers:
Flight: 11, Sonic beam: 09, Super Breath: 09
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Sonic beam can have up to an 1 AP Area of Effect.
- Superbreath is Contingent Upon Sonic Beam and is sonic in nature.
- Flight was originally Winged.
Skills:
Accuracy (Sonic powers): 06
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
Cadre I (Low).
Drawbacks:
Attack Vulnerability (-2CS OV/RV vs. Character Interaction exploiting her neurotic issues with God), Catastrophic Psychological Instability, SIA toward “Coming to grips with God”, Creepy Appearance, Serious Rage.
Hawwkaa !
During the “Peregrine” appearance (see the Starshrike profile for more), several new abilities were demonstrated or mentioned. There’s no reason to assume that Shrike and Starshrike lack similar abilities.
- Claws: 04. Shrike’s fingers and toes have been drawn as talon-like, so the Claws power is credible.
- Telescopic vision: 02 and Ultra-vision: 04. “Peregrine” mentioned having raptor eyes that could see in the dark. Given the generally avian-like body adaptations of Shrike and Starshrike, GMs are probably justified in adding those to Shrike’s stats if they feel like it.
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Shrike III — Averaged PL 6.8
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | 02 | 00 | 01 | 01 | -2 | 00 | 00 |
Powers
Flight ● 26 points ● Descriptor: Overmaster enhancements
– Flight 10 (originally had the Winged Flaw).
– Enhanced Dodge 4, Move-by Action, Improved Defense (all three share Quirk – only in flight), Favored Environment (Aerial).
Scream Array ● 67 points ● Descriptor: Overmaster enhancements, shockwave
- Ranged Line-Area Shockwave Damage 9
- Ranged Sonic Damage 9 w/Takedown
- Line-Area 3 Move Object 3 (Limited 2 – only in the direction of her scream) Linked w/ Line-Area 3 Affliction 14 (resisted by Dodge, dazed & fighting impaired/stunned & prone)
Combat Advantages
All-out Attack, Close Attack 2, Defensive Roll 2.
Other Advantages
Benefit 1 (Cadre member).
Skills
Athletics 1 (+1), Expertise (Theology) 2 (+0), Insight 1 (+1), Perception 3 (+3), Ranged combat (Scream) 7 (+8).
Offense
| Initiative +0 |
| Unarmed +3, Close, Damage 0 |
| Scream +8 (usually +10 w/Favored Environment), Ranged, Damage 9 |
| Scream +8 (usually +10 w/Favored Environment), Line Area 3, Move Object + Affliction |
Defense
| Dodge | 8*/4 | Fortitude | 6 |
| Parry | 2 | Toughness | 4*/2 |
| Will | 3 |
* While in the air. May receive further bonuses from Favoured Environment.
Complications
- Disability Shrike is severely neurotic and possibly schizophrenic.
- Vulnerability Shrike is easily manipulated if preying on her obsession about God.
- Temper Psychotic aggression, occasionally without realising that she’s attacking.
- Prejudice Shrike is visibly mutated.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack & Effect PL 11, Dodge/Toughness PL 6, Parry/Toughness PL 3, Fort & Will PL 5.
- Point total 122. Abilities 4, Defences 12, Skills 7, Powers 93, Devices 0, Advantages 6. Equiv. PL 9.
Hawwkaa !
During the “Peregrine” appearance (see the Starshrike entry for more), several new abilities were demonstrated or mentioned. There’s no reason to assume that Shrike and Starshrike lack similar abilities.
- Strength-based Slashing Damage 3. Shrike’s fingers and toes have been drawn as talon-like, so the Claws power is credible.
- Senses 3 (Extended Visual, Darkvision). “Peregrine” mentioned having raptor eyes that could see in the dark. Given the generally avian-like body adaptations of Shrike and Starshrike, GMs are probably justified in adding those to Shrike’s stats if they feel like it.
Source of Character: DC comics.
Helper(s): Roy Cowan, Darci.