He is the one that whispers dreams of power and conquest in the ears of those in positions of power (or positions to take said power). He not only motivates them, he gives them ideas and plans (which they think are their own) to conquer the city/ country/ world. He manipulates the weaker minds around him, so they will follow his designated puppet. Using their own greed and lusts, his puppets will destroy the world as it is now... turning it into one where Gathrack and his kin would thrive. And who would suspect a pet cat as the instigator of a world in chaos.
Special Equipment:
None, just his own innate telepathic and empathic powers.
Appearance:
Who would suspect a pet cat as the instigator of a world in chaos? He appears to be a fluffy white cat, regal beasts, the kind noble women keep around the castle as pets. Yes, they are mousers, but they remember their place in the Second Kingdom as Gods. Thus they are the pet of the puppet or the castle/ keep/ household mouser.
This cat form is material. It will regenerate from any wound eventually.
His real form? He is a red glowing ball of light, seldom visible except to those with astreal vision and mystic senses. He feeds of the pain, anger, and confusion of Humans.
Background:
His kind have been visiting the world since Beings have first had thoughts. They have taken many guises to facilitate their feeding. They have even been invited. The Second Kingdom summoned them to the world (defining their form), feeding them in exchange power.
Gathrack is one of the few still here from the time of the Second Kingdom. The others have been banished back to their realm (only a fraction resummoned). Gathrack is following his own agenda to create a proper feeding environment for himself and his kin. If the world achieves enough chaos, the banishing wards will fall and his kind will be able to return and feed.
Gathrack, like all his parasitic kin, never do the dirty work themselves. They let Humans do it. Once properly motivated, they are much more efficient at sowing violence and chaos than Gathrack's own. (A fact which amazes them greatly). So over the millennium or so, he has been the secret instigator of various assasination plots, minor and major wars, and much marital jelousy and violent in the Noble and Royal houses of the world.
Oh, unless being touched by a priest, Gathrack is undetectable except as a miasmus of Evil (normally explained by the presence of the Evil Doer i.e. the Puppet).
Roleplaying Notes:
This is a great character to explain sudden changes in people's personality.
Oh. Nobody ever calls the cat Gathrack. It is normally Fluffy, Snowball, Mouser, or even Cat. After all Names are such a Human thing.
Unless the campaign is using cut scenes or a villians game, the players will probably never see Gathrack. If one does see the villian, he might be see the cat being petted, fed, or it might be sleeping in a window. The cat is just another window dressing. (It is also a nice contrast to see the Evil Villian who would bring untold suffering upon people dotting upon his cat.)
GMs: Never draw notice to the Cat. The Cat will also run away long before things get 'sticky'. He has been around long enough to know when it is soon to be over (Damm those Heroes). After all a failed plan will generate lots of chaos to tide him over until his next meal.
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Links to this article 1
- Demons and Devils and Fiends, Oh my!! Alec_Shadowkin linked by MoonHunter
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Yes. I am not a 'cat person.' Yes, I can't see the attraction of these creatures, unless one is born to serve their ungrateful 'god'. Lets move beyond this fact and focus on the characters.
Oh... so many cats might be just like Gathrack. Those demonic cats might of bred. Their ancestors might still have vestiges of their demonic powers, so people have to take them as pets and treat them like gods (ah mind control). Gathrack's kin tainting their line might be the reason Cats are creatures of power AND used as mystic familiars (perhaps some are empowered by their thinning demonic blood).
Owning no fewer than three cats myself, I musr admit I do believe that cats do have a rather sinister origin, perhaps having a home somewhere in Hell. But, I also know that my kitties become quite irate when people are upset, and not paying the proper attention to them.
Cats were once worshiped as gods, all cats remember this.
Yes cats were worship as gods, but not all ower the world. I think it was only in old Egypt. Its a wery interesting character but MoonHunter i know Echo wont like this he like cats. But keep smiling :)
Hey hey... I like cats, but still think they're a bunch of selfish beasts, who, while they understand very well WHAT you are saying don't give a damn...
Cats ARE demonic... some truly evil, some just small mischiefous imps.
But still, I am a cats person... I even purr when I feel REALLY good...
*shrug*
I like cats, but they can be a bit short-tempered at times. It's a feline thing. They're still mad at us for domesticating them.
4/5.
Wait... they domesticated us. WWe build a shelter for them, bring them food and even aid them against disease and pet them when they feel like it. Who's domesticated here?
I was reading some In Nomine material the other day and thought about this demon. I never thought about an animal shell in that game before, but it would be an intersting skin suit.
In most cases demons are 'moderately' easy to remove (once you know how). Thus they need to ply their trade with subtly and guile. Only upon occasions when a quick application of muscle (or the demon is summoned for just that purpose, should they resort to direct violence.
'No, I expect you to die, Mr. Bond.' said the evil mastermind of SPECTRE, as he idly stroked his pet.
None but him realized that during the whole conversation, he'd been wondering how things came to this, when all he'd originally wanted was to be a jeweler.
I would've voted lower, but there's this cat sitting in my lap right now, and he's staring at me with his big blue (with hints of red beneath the benevolent outer layer) eyes, and I just can't help but vote higher. No idea why this is. :)
In all seriousness, Gathrack is a suitable entity in the game world, especially as a pet to the party's lawful good cleric. Or the neutral meat-shield fighter who has lots of influence over the lawful good cleric.
Not bad, its interesting that his powers are really only hinted at in the special equipment section, and the ends he has been able to achieve.