Tiamat
Art by Liiga
When the Olympians overthrew the Titans, they proceeded to build an empire using the same techniques that they had seen the Titans using in running
their empire, assuming that their precursors had been motivated by the same needs -- such as the desire to have offspring who would continue in their footsteps -- as those who came after them. The few Titans who collaborated with their conquerors could have explained that these assumptions were mistaken, but they either actively (though quietly) wished the Olympians ill or simply did not care enough to clarify. (Or, just possibly, they recognized that their practices had been part of the reason for their downfall, and were curious to see if the practices that had won the war could also win the peace.)
The Titans did not have families. Their offspring were inevitably abandoned in the moment of their birth and left to fend for themselves until early maturity, at which point they
might be accepted into Titanic society. Because of that, said society tended to be much more violent than any human (or human-adjacent) society ever was. The degree to which blood was considered thicker than water varies from society to society, but in Titanic society there was no such attitude.
So when Tiamat, to use the name she had been given and has since adopted of her own, recognized Nike as her offspring, it must be understood that this did not mean that she had discovered any affection for her. She approached Nike because she believed that Dyaus had gotten the child on her as a way to bind her to Earth. Tiamat hoped that she might learn, through association with Nike, how to end that binding, but was prepared to kill the child if that was what it took to free herself. She found herself disconcerted by the way that Nike, shaped to be more like an Olympian than a Titan, came to regard her as a maternal figure.
She was also disconcerted by the way that she came to grow feelings for Nike. The Titans did not have families, and it was also rare for them to feel what might be called friendship for each other. But that did happen from time to time, and it was not long before Tiamat could not say that she was truly indifferent to the notion of destroying Nike for the sake of her freedom. However, that might also have been influenced by her growing suspicion that she would not gain what she wanted by this method.
Before Tiamat could decide what to do about these realizations, the Calamity occurred. Caught up in it, Tiamat found herself confronted by a shadow of Ananke, the being who had granted her much of the power that had raised her up to be the mightiest of the Titans. Offered a different sort of power, and with it the freedom she craved, Tiamat hesitated for a moment before agreeing, and was raised up as the Hierarch of the Sphere of Matter. When reality stabilized once more, she paused only long enough to offer a brief, utterly unapologetic farewell to Nike, before launching herself into space with a shriek of release.
Since then, Tiamat has played among the stars, once again rampaging as it suits her. Starships and void-born life are now her prey. She will reluctantly take part in the discussions of the other Hierarchs, and looks forward to one day testing her might against Abraxas. Where he feels diminished by his new state, she is exalted, testing the limits of her new abilities as far as they can go. She suspects that she might be able to wield enough might in this new form to shatter planets, if she was willing to damage her form so that it took centuries or even millennia to restore itself. So far, she has not found anything that would make her consider this an acceptable sacrifice.
In the course of her voyages, Tiamat has encountered Prometheus, and brought him under her sway through the old ways -- threats of terrible violence that he knows she can back up, and against which his foresight would not protect him. She has promised him that they will resume the war against the Olympians, but only at a time that she decides. First, the other Titans must be freed and convinced to join them. And then, perhaps, they should be persuaded of the benefits of this thing called "family" ... not an easy task, but she has all the time in the world to accomplish it.
Tiamat -- PL 16
Abilities:
STR 18/4 |
STA 19/5 |
AGL 2 |
DEX 0 |
FGT 11 |
INT 1 |
AWE 4 |
PRE 0
Powers:
Ascendant: Immortality 5 (one day), Only When On Home Plane; Immunity 1 (aging); Movement 1 (dimensional travel to home plane), Reaction (death); Movement 2 (dimensional travel to mystical dimensions), Standard Action - 10 points
Destructive Powers: Array (48 points)
- Fiery Breath: Cone Area 2 Damage 13 - 1 point
- Pure Force: Perception Range Damage 16 - 48 points
Dragon Bite: Strength-based Damage 3, Quirk (only at maximum size) - 2 points
Dragon Claws: Strength-based Damage 1 - 1 point
Dragon Wings: Enhanced Defenses 14 (Dodge 7, Parry 7)*; Flight 15 (64,000 MPH), Wings; Movement 3 (space travel 3) - 35 points
Gargantuan Size: Growth 14 (90 feet; Strength +14, Stamina +14, Dodge -7, Parry -7, Intimidation +7, Stealth -14, Speed +2); Enhanced Strength 7, Limited to Lifting (800 kilotons), Quirk (1 rank per 2 ranks of Growth active) - 51 points
Human Form: Morph 1 (human-like form) - 5 points
Multiple Heads: Continuous Heroic Summon 13, Controlled, Horde, Multiple Minions 2 [4 minions], Feedback, Mental Link, Quirk (only at maximum size) - 130 points
Senses: Senses 9 (accurate extended hearing, accurate acute scent, hyper-extended vision, ultrahearing) - 9 points
Telepathy: Mental Communication 3 (regional), Subtle; Impervious Will 8 - 27 points
Titanic Endurance: Immunity 10 (life support); Impervious Toughness 14* - 24 points
* Her Enhanced Defenses and Impervious Toughness ranks are limited to the number of Growth ranks she has active; she only ever activates even numbers of Growth.
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Daze (Intimidation), Equipment 4, Evasion, Fearless 2, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Startle.
Equipment:
Home Plane: Size Colossal;
Toughness 20;
Features Concealed, Grounds, Isolated, Trophy Room - 16 points
Skills:
Close Attack: Claws 2 (+13), Expertise: Galactic 10 (+11), Expertise: Survival 10 (+11), Insight 10 (+14), Intimidation 6 (+13/+6), Perception 8 (+12).
Offense:
Initiative +6
Unarmed +11 (Close Damage 18/4)
Bite +11 (Close Damage 21)
Claws +13 (Close Damage 19/5)
Fiery Breath -- (Burst Area Damage 13)
Pure Force -- (Perception Range Damage 16)
Defense:
Dodge 11, Parry 13, Fortitude 19/5, Toughness 19/5, Will 11
Total:
Abilities 54 + Powers 347 + Advantages 8 + Skills 23 + Defenses 18 = 450 points
Offensive PL: 16
Defensive PL: 16
Resistance PL: 15
Skill PL: 7
Complications:
Freedom--Motivation. Neither Regard Nor Hatred For Any Life. Vague and Uncomfortable Bond (Nike.)
Heads - PL 13/MR 13
Abilities:
STR 11 |
STA 11 |
AGL 2 |
DEX 0 |
FGT 9 |
INT 0 |
AWE 4 |
PRE 0
Powers:
Bite Attack: Strength-based Damage 3 - 3 points
Fiery Breath: Cone Area 2 Damage 13 - 39 points
Huge Size: Permanent Growth 10 (45 feet; Strength +10, Stamina +10, Dodge -5, Parry -5, Intimidation +5, Stealth -10, Speed +1); Immunity 10 (life support); Protection 4, Impervious 10 - 54 points
Mindless: Immunity 30 (Will) - 30 points
Senses: Senses 8 (communication link with main body; visual counters all concealment and illusion) - 8 points
Advantages:
All-out Attack, Close Attack 2, Improved Grab, Improved Hold, Power Attack, Teamwork
Skills:
None.
Offense:
Initiative +2
Unarmed +11 (Close Damage 11)
Bite +11 (Close Damage 14)
Fiery Breath -- (Cone Area Damage 13)
Defense:
Dodge 9, Parry 11, Fortitude 12, Toughness 15, Will Immune
Offensive PL: 13
Defensive PL: 13
Resistance PL: 12
Skill PL: -
Totals:
Abilities 34 + Powers 134 + Advantages 8 + Defenses 19 = 195 points
Complications:
Permanently Immobile (cannot move independently of Tiamat.)
"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm not sorry I love you."