Diadem

Diadem is a mystic Fae hero and a founding member of the Sentinels.

## Biography

About 60,000 years ago, Takofanes the Undying was the mage-king of much of what we now call the Western Hemisphere. But his reign did not go undisputed: rival sorcerers constantly schemed to topple his throne. In case they succeeded, the spiteful and slightly mad Takofanes spent a great deal of time creating cursed treasures and seeding them across his kingdoms. Diadem was one such treasure, a bejeweled circlet that promised great power to anyone foolish enough to place her on their brow.

But Diadem, resting comfortably for eons in a forgotten treasure trove alone with her thoughts, eventually realized she didn't care for her creator's evil ways. When she was finally discovered in the year 1815 AD by a witch searching for power, she tried to convince her new bearer that they use their combined powers for good. But the witch, a senior member of the Crimson Circle, intended to use Diadem to pursue a murderous ritual and tried to psychically overpower the circlet's will. A mental struggle ensued, but Diadem was literally built for such contests. The witch was defeated, her mind wiped clean, and Diadem now found herself in possession of a host body for the first time.

Diadem immediately left her vault behind to travel the globe. She spent her days confronting evil spellcasters, searching for Turakian artifacts, and conducting research to understand the nature of her own construction. Years later she uncovered the evil magical experiments of the Nazis, and teamed up with Black Rose and the original Amazing Man to put an end to their sinister research. The trio worked so well together that they immediately decided to form a permanent team dedicated to fighting black magic in all its forms, and the Sentinels were born.

Diadem continues to lead the Sentinels along with Black Rose and is the team's primary magical authority. At her urging, the Sentinels have expanded their mission to combat evil magical threats of all types and also pitch in with fighting 'normal' metahuman criminals as well. Diadem greatly enjoys her work and looks forward to continuing her fight against evil for the next 60,000 years or so.

## Personality

Diadem is kind, quirky, upbeat and inquisitive. This girlish personality belongs solely to the enchanted bauble; Diadem's human host has no influence on her mind whatsoever.

Diadem knows of human needs and desires but doesn't really relate to them. She eats bland, nutritious food for efficiency, drinks nothing but mineral water, exercises sixty minutes a day and sleeps precisely enough to maintain her body's integrity; she doesn't understand why all humans don't live in this optimal way. She enjoys working with her team but has no actual need for companionship and has thoroughly rebuffed the few romantic advances she's received from open-minded wizards over the centuries.

## Powers

Diadem is a potent spellcaster specializing in the dark magic of a forgotten age. She prefers lingering curses and transformations but is more than capable of straightforward combat spells when appropriate. Her repertoire of arcane knowledge is vast, a combination of her creator's ancient lore and modern witchcraft.

Diadem's most powerful spell allows the summoning of wisps, a few of which circle her at all times in combat. These creatures, looking like tiny shooting stars, are in fact destructive Fae beings once bound to Takofanes and still beholden to his servants. These wisps seek to earn their freedom by intercepting incoming attacks, blasting into a nearby enemy with explosive force, or burning themselves up to enhance Diadem's spells. They can also cast a variety of minor magic of their own accord and may help in many different applications.

## Weaknesses

As a fusion of cursed Fae jewelry and human host, Diadem is technically a possessed being. Any form of exorcism causes her intense pain and disorientation. Mind Control abilities tend to fail against her, as her human host's brain is already utterly enslaved to her will, but such attacks also cause Diadem's control to weaken and render her sluggish and dull-witted if they pierce her mental defense.

Diadem is hunted by the cultish minions of Takofanes the Undying, who seek to somehow resurrect their master through his creation. Diadem herself doesn't believe this is even remotely possible, but that doesn't stop them from constantly scheming to capture her. She is also hunted by the sinister Crimson Circle, who recall the many defeats she has handed them over the decades and thirst for revenge.