The Court of Owls - Earth 98

The Court of Owls, a clandestine and powerful secret society made up of Gotham's founding fathers, The Arkhams, the Cobblepots, the Elliots and the Kanes, weaves a web of intrigue and control behind Gotham City's shadows. Operating with ancient rituals, vast resources, and a network of loyal agents, they are a force that few are aware of and even fewer dare to challenge.

Legend tells of the Court's existence dating back centuries, rooted in the very foundations of Gotham. With roots that reach into the highest echelons of society, their influence extends far beyond the city's criminal underworld. They operate as puppeteers, pulling the strings from the shadows, and manipulating Gotham's fate to suit their mysterious agenda. Building a mythology of intimidation and control, they operate from the shadows, growing in influence and strength as they seek for the second part of their goal; the secret of immortality and the "fountain of youth" that would be their salvation.

The Court's power lies in its enigmatic leaders, known as the "Voice of the Court", "The Grandmaster," and The Council of Owls. These figures, hidden behind owl-like masks and cloaked in secrecy, embody the timeless wisdom and merciless determination of their namesake. They oversee the Court's operations, making decisions that shape Gotham's destiny, often with a chilling disregard for human life.

The Court's most feared weapon is their army of Talons, deadly assassins who strike with precision and brutality. These enhanced killers are subjected to a grueling process of selection, indoctrination, and physical augmentation, transforming them into unstoppable forces of destruction. The Talons carry out the Court's will, eliminating anyone who poses a threat to their power.

Fueling the Court's authority are its vast wealth and resources. Hidden fortunes, secret facilities, and a sprawling network of informants and agents all serve their machinations. Through manipulation and coercion, the Court exerts control over key institutions, ensuring that their influence permeates every aspect of Gotham's society.

However, the Court's existence is not without opposition. Their secretive nature has drawn the attention of Gotham's vigilant protector, Batman, who has dedicated himself to exposing and dismantling their sinister operation. With each confrontation, the Dark Knight peels back the layers of the Court's intricate web, seeking to expose their true identities and bring their reign of terror to an end.

But the Court of Owls is a formidable adversary, shrouded in darkness and mystery. Their centuries-old legacy and unwavering determination make them an enduring threat to Gotham City and its heroes, as they continue to manipulate the city's fate from the hidden depths of their ancient lair. The Court of Owls remains an enigma, a symbol of power and control that casts a chilling shadow over the heart of Gotham.

#### Members:

The Arkhams: The Arkham Family, one of the founding families of Gotham City, has made an indelible mark on the city's history through their transition from pharmaceuticals to mental health, becoming influential figures in the Court of Owls and establishing a pivotal pharmaceutical company and the renowned Arkham Hospital, intertwining their innovative medical treatments with the Court's operations and wielding significant power and influence in Gotham's clandestine world.

* Ezekiel Arkham: Patriarch of the Arkham Family, Ezekiel Arkham was one of the founding members of the Court of Owls.
* Amadeus Arkham: Founder of the Arkham Hospital, a facility used by the Court to break the minds of their enemies and torture them into compliance. He would also perfect the elctrum/dionesium procedure that would resurrect Talons.

The Kanes: Making their name in military industrialism, the Kanes used their knowledge of strategy and warfare to aid the Court of Owls. Directly responsible for the deployment of Talons, they used the undead soldiers as their own personal army, bolstering their power and influence.

* Catherine Kane
* Jacob Kane

The Elliots: One of the founding members of the Court of Owls, the Elliot Family controlled the news outlets, first through the creation of the Gotham Herald and then later through telephone networks & television. With this, they could influence the populace and control what information was made public knowledge.

The Cobblepots: Earning their wealth as steel barons, The Cobblepots made a name for themselves in politics, industrial materials, and construction.

1. Theodore Cobblepot: The longest serving Mayor of Gotham City, Theodore Cobblepot's campaign was backed by The Court of Owls, securing him the position and eliminating all those who opposed him.

1. Thomas Wayne Jr, aka Lincoln March, aka Owlman: The youngest son of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Thomas Wayne Jr was begrudgingly placed into the custody of the Willowood Orphanage after Martha was involved in a car accident - orchestrated by the Court - that saw them both injured. Using the alias Lincoln March to hide his real name, and prevent the news of his survival reaching the Court, who Thomas was investigating because of their ties to shady dealings being performed by Wayne Enterprises, they had hoped to come back for him when he had fully recovered and could not be used as a pawn in their game; since Bruce was being protected by Alfred Pennyworth. However, before they could, uncover the secret society, both Thomas and Martha were gunned down by Joe Chill; the Court's second and successful attempt on the lives of their enemies. Groomed by agents of the Court, he grew to resent his brother for living a life of wealth and luxury when he and the other inhabitants at the orphanage were living in fear and squalor. While there he also made friends with Edward Nygma, who would develop his own reasons to hate Wayne.
2. Cressida Clarke
3. Dr. Olivia Otus
4. Benjamin Orchard, aka The Grandmaster: The current leader of the Court of Owls following the murder of Jacob Kane and several other prominent figures in the Council.
5. Noctua Sotomayor
6. James Gordon Jr.:
7. John Wycliffe
8. Sebastian Clark
9. Maria Powers
10. Joseph Powers
11. R.H. Orchard,
12. Raymond McCreary,
13. "Headmaster"
14. "Lieutenant"
15. Samantha Vanaver
16. Kathryn Monroe
17. Rebecca March
18. Brody March
19. Eunice Harmon
20. Hamilton Hill
21. Constance Cobblepot
22. Tyton
23. Crownfeather
24. Aquila
25. Shriek
26. Piers Moody: Unlike the other members of the Court, he has little care for the internal politics of the cabal, instead using his position to help inspire and entertain the youth of the city with the arts.
27. Erastus Clark: Believing the Court had lost their way, he tried to write a report with a list of improvements. Branded as a traitor, he was stalked, driven mad and, after his wife and family left, taken to the Labyrinth to suffer an end of torment and suffering.
28. Gloria Clark: The wife of Erastus Clark, Gloria supported her husband as a member of the Court of Owls. However, as he descended into insomnia and eventual madness, she took her three children and left Gotham, fearing for their safety; not from the Court but from her own husband.

Ranks:

* The Grandmaster: Following the death of the most recent Voice of the Court, Colonel Jacob Kane, the Court scrambled to find some semblance of order. Requiring a leader, the role of leadership fell to The Grandmaster, whose will is law.
* The Voice of The Court: The leader of the Court of Owls, the Voice of the Court was an elected head of the Council of Owls and controlled their vast Gotham enterprise.
* The Herald: Often speaking for the Voice when they are not available, the Herald was the second in command of the Court of Owls until the Grandmaster position was created.
* The Council of Owls: While the Voice (later Grandmaster) is the unquestioned figurehead, the Council is the true power behind the throne. Made of 24 members, actions perpetrated by the Court are not carried out with a majority.

Allies:

* The Parliament of Owls

* The Tribe of Judas

* The Cult of Barbatos

1. Thomas Wayne, aka Dr Simon Hurt

* The Talons: Deadly assassins and enforcers of the Court of Owls, who strike fear into the hearts of Gotham City's criminals and heroes alike.

* The Owlets: Made up of the children of current Court of Owls members who wish to one day follow in their parents footsteps.

* The Owls: Taking their loyalty to the Court to the extreme, the Owls eagerly signed up for Dr Abel Cuvier's pioneering research into genetic modification and animal-human splicing. They have permanently altered their bodies into owl-human hybrids.

* The Wycliffes: Gotham's premier real estate magnates, the Wycliffes made a name for themself running the ferry service, controlling the shipping lanes and ensuring the Court had control over what came in and out of the city.

* The Moodys: Making their name in the oil trade, as well as the late Thurston being the pioneer behind the Gotham City Sewer System, the Moodys' interests moved into culture and the arts, funding theatres, galleries, and museums, shaping the impressionable minds of Gotham to the will of the Court.

* The Clarkes

* The Vanavers

* Haly's Circus

1. C.C. Haly

* Dr. Isabella Haas
* Doctor Leviticus

Former Allies:

Thurston Moody: An expendable pawn of the Court. Used his connections to abduct children to build both the Gotham Sewer system and later their various sanctums and kill rooms. Killed by Talons upon the projects completion. (late 1800s)

Knute Ruud: The original architect of the Court of Owl's Labyrinth, his plans were used by Thurston Moody and his trafficked work force to help build the project. He was silenced by the Court after his part was done, ensuring that any chance of sharing the secrets of the Labyrinth died with him.

The Clarks: Raised to prominence by the championing of the Cobblepots, the Clarks are talented artists. Chief among them is Barclay Clark whose artwork has toured Asia and Europe. Furthermore the iconography of the Court created by the Clarks is proudly displayed across the city. The whole family were deemed enemies of the Court after Erastus Clark wrote a tell all book about them; The Historia Strigidae. Though the book was destroyed before it could get published, and everyone involved executed by the Talons, the Court wanted the family eliminated. So far only Erastus is confirmed dead.

### Hideouts and Key Court Locations

Court of Owls Nests: Dubbed "Nests", the Court of Owls have a number of safehouses, headquarters and weapon drops installed throughout the city, which give them eyes and ears of their prey. Each Nest has at least one dormant Talon acting as security, programmed to activate should any unauthorised intruder enter. Many of these Nests are located in either Gotham's tallest and most prolific buildings or those buildings that had been commissioned and paid for by The Alan Wayne Trust and the Gotham Renewal Corporation.

The Labyrinth: A highly sophisticated and cruel method of destroying enemies, developed by the architect Knute Rudd in the 1800s, The Labyrinth was used to break both mind and spirit with its ever changing walls. Left to stumble around the seemingly never ending hallways, victims were forced to endure their darkest fears, thanks to the cannisters of Scarecrow's fear gas that they stole from the costumed supervillain. Deprived of food and water, they were left to starve and die from dehydration, or else be executed by Gladiators in the central coliseum for the entertainment of the spectating Court. Few survive the The Labyrinth.

The Rat Trap: One of the Court's most brutal punishments, The Rat Trap is a barbaric murder machine located deep breath the Power's Club. Fitted with spinning blades, flamethrowers, meatgrinders on the wall and a conveyer belt, those "vermin" who trifled with the Court were diced, ground, incinerated, immolated and left to die. There bodies were dumped in the nearby cave system, were they were left to decompose. Should anyone miraculously survive certain death from blades and fire, they were finished off by the Talons, ensuring no secret about the Owls and their operation left the Powers Club.

Enemies:

* Jonah Hex: Inadvertently disrupted their plans for Gotham in the 1890s.
* Batman Incorpoareted
* Bat Family
* Gotham Knights
* Mystery Incorporated: While on a field trip to Gotham City, Mystery Incorporated stumbled on the myth of the Court of Owls.
* Bruce Wayne: Believing Wayne to have no respect for Gotham, the Court view him as a constant thorn in their side that needs to be removed.
* Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin: Considered to be a liability to the Court and their operation, Oswald Cobblepot was disowned by his family. For his part in aiding the Bat Family with their investigation into the Court, he is deemed an enemy and a viable target.
* Jeremiah Arkham: Despite being a descendent of the notorious Arkham Family, Jeremiah Arkham's moonlighting as the costumed criminal Black Mask resulted in him being branded a traitor to the Court.
* Talon, aka Calvin Rose: A former assassin of the Court who was unable to complete his contract and kill an innocent family. Deemed a failure he fled before they could decommission him. He has dedicated himself to hunting down and destroying their order ever since, brining them kicking and screaming into the light.
* The League of Assassins
* Ra's al Ghul
* Talia al Ghul
* Bane
* Oracle
* Catwoman
* Green Arrow
* The GCPD
* Commissioner James Gordon
* Red Hood
* Nightwing
* Robin
* Signal
* Spoiler
* Robin
* The Religion of Crime
* Lucius Bennet
* Lucius Fox
* Mister Freeze
* Red Robin
* Batboy, aka Turner Hayes
* We Are Robin
* The Sensei
* The Falcone Crime Family

The Clark Family

- Zachary Clark: The grandson of Erastus Clark, he destroyed and scattered his grandfathers notes - The Historia Strigidae - around Gotham City before he fled, terrified that the Talons would hunt him down and enact the Court's vengeance for Erastus' "crimes." He has a hatred for the Court, as well as his grandfather whose legacy has forced the whole family to move every few years, and hoped that someone would eliminate the Court once and for all.

The Wayne Family

Although they are one of Gotham's founding fathers, the Waynes never associated with the other four, alienating themselves from the cabal. This made the Waynes regular targets for the Court of Owls snipping, disapproving off the family's desire to help people over making profit.

After Thomas Wayne began noticing discrepancies in the company records, he began investigating corruption in the board of Wayne Enterprises. Fearing discovery and already irritated by the Waynes for their constant disruption, the Court orchestrated two attempts to take out their enemies. The first injured Martha and their youngest son Thomas, leading to him being placed in Gotham Orphanage for his own protection, the other hiring Joe Chill to kill them in what would appear to be a burglary. This only came back to haunt them when Bruce Wayne grew up to become Batman, who made it his mission to hunt them down. While brother, groomed to become their own champion Owlman, fought brother, Wayne hoped one day to end the Court and reconcile with his lost kin.