Selene Erato
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| The Masked Erinys/Selene Erato | |
| Selene Erato | |
| Player: @Jadedinsc | |
| Origin: | Natural (Originally Magic) |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Stalker |
| Security Level: | Confidential |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Selene Erato |
| Known Aliases: | The Masked Erinys |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 28 |
| Height: | 5'6" |
| Weight: | 165 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Green |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Unknown |
| Occupation: | Dancer, Singer |
| Place of Birth: | Shadow (Aria dimension) |
| Base of Operations: | Unknown |
| Marital Status: | Single (Polyamorous) Known paramours: Ballari Seif, Ninjaweazel |
| Known Relatives: | Unknown |
| Known Powers | |
| Claws/Ninjitsu | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Knives, Daggers, Small Swords | |
| Equipment | |
| Confidential | |
| Initially believed to have died in Shivan attack in Galaxy City. Surfaced three months later in Cap Au Diable. | |
Contents |
Origin
Born Under a Bad Sign
The large city-island of Shadow is known as The Land of Eternal Night. For centuries the land, located in the world called Aria, has existed in perpetual darkness, caused by an ancient evil rumored to be imprisoned beneath the island's surface. Dark magic taints the inhabitants of Shadow, especially those unfortunate enough to be born there like Selene. In addition to granting minor magical abilities, the magic is also said to corrupt, which is why Shadow is essentially ruled and run by violent crime bosses and the city is broken up into territories of various sizes. Rare is the person who survives to adulthood without blood on his or her hands in Shadow.
Little is known about her history prior to her arrival in Paragon City, and Selene herself is reticent to speak about her past in more than vague details. It's clear she received training in wielding small swords and knives, and it's also pretty obvious she honed her talents in stealth, seduction, and manipulation in the path of an assassin.
Through the Looking Glass
"I don't know how I got here! I don't even know where 'here' is. The last thing I remember is falling, like, I was in a dream. When I woke up, I was in the middle of some bizarre city." - Excerpt from an FBSA prisoner interrogation, June 2010
In June of 2010, FBSA was called in to assist Paragon City police in the apprehension of a violent woman. What had started out as a routine arrest for (what was presumed to be) public intoxication or a person possibly in the midst of a psychotic break, had quickly turned ugly. Confused, disoriented, and unable to speak any language recognized on Earth, Selene fought back after being cornered in an alley in Atlas Park. Two officers were killed and three more severely injured before Selene managed to escape deeper into the city. FBSA managed to subdue Selene and took her in to be evaluated by FBSA officials.
Further investigation showed a small dimensional tear had occurred shortly before Selene's appearance in Prometheus Park and, after implanting a language translator so she could communicate with agents, it was decided she had somehow stumbled upon a dimensional portal connecting her world with Paragon City. Despite an exhaustive search, no further dimensional tears were discovered in the area, thus it was impossible for Selene to return home. There was also the not-so-insignificant matter of her double homicide and multiple charges of assault and battery.
Though FBSA agents understood why Selene reacted violently to the threat of arrest, they were not entirely convinced she had entered their world by accident. Genetic testing determined she was human with very minor cellular differences, differences which were attributed to magical mutation. Four weeks of testing later, FBSA officials finally concluded Selene was not part of some vast inter-dimensional invasion conspiracy, but psychological evaluation determined she had sociopathic tendencies and showed no remorse for the lives she'd taken. Not working in her favor was her repeated affirmation that she'd "kill any m----- f------ who threaened [her] without hesitation." Ultimately, Selene was sent to Zigursky Penitentiary both as punishment for her crimes and so FBSA and Paragon City police could keep an eye on her.
It's hard to believe no one ever thought she'd escape.
Old Habits Die Hard
"When in doubt, stick to what you know. What I know mostly revolves around having a good time, dancing, and killing, sometimes all of them at once." - Selene
In September of 2010, a prison riot erupted in the Zig. In the chaos, Selene, along with several other prisoners, managed to escape to Mercy Island. The Rogue Isles were a lot like home for Selene and she quickly set about identifying who really ran the city. In a manner of months she scored several promising contacts by working a number of small time jobs and proving she wasn't afraid of getting her hands bloody. Literally.
No one is entirely sure who funded Selene's activities. Part of why she became so popular was her gift for anonymity to say nothing of her ability to do a job well. Whoever was paying for her paid very well, and it wasn't long before Selene had managed to score passage into Paragon City to start playing both sides. She made it clear she didn't care for Arachnos or any of the so-called heroes. Being a "destined one" didn't interest someone who liked being in charge of her own fate. Then again, the trouble with fate is that no one can control it.
Death ...Or Something Like It
"Look, I'm tellin' ya' that body was ice cold when we pulled it out. Nobody survives that kind of massive trauma, but I'm not gonna argue with someone payin' me a fistfull of cash to look the other way. If he wanted that body, he could have it. It was just one less body bag I had to worry about keepin' track of, okay?" - Galaxy City EMT speaking on the condition of anonymity.
On the day of the Shivan attack, Selene was in Galaxy City at behest of her mysterious benefactor. In the wake of a massive explosion nearby, the building Selene was in collapsed trapping her under the resulting rubble. Over twenty-four hours passed before her body was recovered and sent to her benefactor.
Details are still sketchy and Selene's memory is returning in bits and pieces, but the gist is that her benefactor employed the use of his not-so-inconsiderable fortune and occult sources to perform a ritual to bring Selene back to life. Upon waking two things became immediately apparent: One, she was in a hell of a lot of pain, and two, her magic was mostly gone.
Over the next several weeks, Selene underwent physical rehabilitation and therapy, retraining her body and learning new fighting and stealth techniques to compensate for the loss of her magical abilities. Without her magic, or at least, with the majority of her magic evaporated (the sacrifice her soul apparently agreed to in order to return to life), Selene's noticed a marked change in her desires and behavior. She's still got her killer instinct, but she's started taking fewer contract jobs, focusing instead on high profile robberies and thefts along with a little espionage. Though she still flirts rather indiscriminately, she's cut down on her casual contacts and seems to be pursuing a more serious relationship with her girlfriend Ballari Seif with their occasional third partner, Ninjaweazel.
The Masked Erinys
"I died. The least I should get to do is reinvent myself, right?" - Selene
During her recuperation, Selene studied a bit of various Earth mythologies. After reading up a little on the Greek Erinyes, she had an idea to become the embodiment of vengeance. While she was killing less, she still saw nothing wrong with ending a life if the person's misdeeds were, in her estimation, worthy of death.
Certainly not a hero and still a little too concerned with money to be a vigilante, The Masked Erinys strikes from the shadows, taking the lives of those who deserve it...if the people they've wronged can afford Selene's rates. She's not sure how long she'll keep up this particular schtick, but for now she likes the fun of dressing up in a mask and taking on a different persona.
Personality
"At the end of the day, I just want to have a good time, and I'm always up for a second round, if you catch my drift." - Selene
When not on a job or prowling around the streets of Rogue Isles and Paragon City while wearing a mask, Selene loves to dance. In her home world, she made her living as a professional dancer--well, her official living at any rate. Give her a DJ who knows his way around a turntable and a wide dancefloor, and she'll spend several hours in her own personal heaven. Whether alone or with a partner, she knows her moves. When not dancing, she's at the bar flirting with the bartender and drinking water to keep hydrated (dancing makes for a good workout). She's not entirely unapproachable, but she gives the impression you might have to work to get her talking. If you catch her eye, she'll give you a little half-grin and maybe a wink. There's an air of mischief about her, a hint that she's no stranger to adventure.
Friends
