This villain's much more of a nuisance that an existential threat, but could show up as an uninvited ally alongside almost any other villain. He could also be re-skinned easily to fit other themes. This version has a fey Unseelie court vibe to it, but could be a nasty "imaginary frenemy" type, a cruel alien prankster of some kind, or a more overtly diabolic imp of the kind Die Hexenkonigin might conjure up as an ally.
Gadfly
This entity is an other-dimensional intruder who appears to be fixated on tormenting mortals, particularly heroic ones. "Gadfly" may be a title in the fey court rather than a name, and even if it isn't it's probably an alias given how careful many supernatural entities are about their true names. The creature lives up to his name regardless, being a cruel trickster spirit. Thankfully his powers are modest by superheroic standards and defeating Gadfly will hurl it back to its native otherworld, no doubt to face punishment for embarrassing his kinfolk by being so pathetic as to lose to mere mortals.
The imp is clever enough to work with allies whenever possible, whether they want the help or not. Expect him to turn up uninvited in fights with unrelated villains, flitting about the fringes of a battle harrying the heroes - and possibly the villains, if the mood takes him. Once he draws real attention to himself he'll likely hide or flee, as he's almost as cowardly as he is malicious.
Description: A scrawny, spindle-shanked imp, dressed in a dark red suit cut in the style of 1900s. Looks sort of like an anorexic color-swapped leprechaun, right down to the green "hair" and blood red eyes. He's naturally one foot tall but can shrink to the size of a housefly or grow to about the height of tween child. His voice is high and piping and boy, does he know a lot of archaic insults. Expect to be called a fopdoodle, a saddle-goose, or a zounderkite among other things. He gets increasingly angry with people who don't understand when he's insulting them.
Gender: Male? Age: Seventy Seventy Sevens Height: One Foot Tall Eyes: Amber
Hair: Evergreen Pine Needles Skin: Faintly Green Build: Gangly
Approach: Underpowered Archetype: Inhibitor
Health: 20 + (5 x H)
Powers: Illusions d8, Animal Control d6, Flight d6, Size-Changing d6
Qualities: Otherworldly Mythos d10, Magical Lore d8, Malicious Imp d8, Banter d6
Status: (# of heroes with penalties) 0 - d6 / 1-2 - d8 / 3+ - d10
Abilities:
Confusing Phantasms (A) Hinder using Illusions. This penalty is persistent and exclusive. As long as this penalty is in play, reduce damage dealt to you by one and whenever you are dealt damage, the target of this penalty takes one irreducible damage.
Eldritch Powers (A) Boost using Otherworldly Mythos. Use your Max die. Hinder using your Mid die. Attack using your Min die.
Fleeting Image (R) When Attacked, Defend yourself by rolling your single Illusions die. If this reduces damage to exactly zero, Recover Health equal to the amount of damage reduced. Use that value to Hinder the Attacker and Boost yourself.
Luck Eater (A) Select a nearby target. Either turn all bonuses on that target into equivalent penalties, or move a penalty from that target to another target you can see.
Twist of Fate (I) Whenever you would be reduced to zero or fewer Health, prevent that damage and reduce all of your power dice by one die size. If this reduces any die below d4 you are knocked out.
Upgrades & Masteries (optional):
Calming Aura (I) +10 Health. The heroes act as being in the Green zone for status die, ability access, and all abilities. Heroes may remove this ability with three Overcome successes. If a hero takes a minor twist while attempting these Overcomes, you may use a reaction to Hinder them by rolling your single Illusions die.
Master of the Unfathomable (I) If you are in a situation involving eldritch forces, automatically succeed at an Overcome to do the bidding of eldritch entities beyond human concerns.
Tactics
Gadfly is malicious but not murderous, preferring to torment victims rather than kill them and end the fun. He spreads lasting penalties around as many targets as possible with Confusing Phantasms, and happily uses it on NPCs so they'll be harmed if the heroes Attack him. He'll then toy with victims by using Luck Eater to invert bonuses and shift penalties around while protecting himself with Fleeting Images. If really angered he'll use his Eldritch Powers to inflict actual injury as well as insult while also Boosting himself or an ally. Twist of Fate makes him a bit harder to finish off, but he'll usually try to flee before he has to rely on it.
His upgrade makes him seem far more harmless than he really is, and his mastery reflects him furthering the schemes of his otherworldly overlord.
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