The Talons - Earth 98

The Talons, deadly assassins and enforcers of the Court of Owls, strike fear into the hearts of Gotham City's criminals and heroes alike. These highly skilled and relentless killers are the result of a dark and twisted experiment, conducted by the secret society known as the Court of Owls.

Each Talon is meticulously chosen from the ranks of Gotham's desperate and destitute, taken from the shadows and transformed into a weapon of the Court. Through a combination of the Kane family's brutal training, arcane rituals and science spearheaded by the Arkhams, and a chilling regimen of physical and psychological conditioning, they are honed into the finest instruments of death.

Physically, the Talons are formidable opponents. Enhanced strength, agility, and endurance make them fearsome adversaries, capable of outmatching even the most skilled fighters. Their bodies are infused with a mysterious substance known as Electrum, which grants them accelerated healing and enhances their reflexes, making them virtually indestructible.

However, it is their unwavering loyalty and dedication to the Court that truly sets them apart. Each Talon serves as an agent of the Court's will, carrying out assassinations and eliminating threats to the organization's power. They operate with ruthless efficiency, following orders without question, and will stop at nothing to fulfill their deadly assignments.

The Talons' appearance is haunting and distinctive. Clad in dark, bird-like armor, they are shrouded in mystery, their faces concealed behind ornate masks resembling owl skulls. Their weapons of choice include razor-sharp claws, daggers, and an assortment of lethal gadgets, all designed to bring death with chilling precision.

Although individual Talons may come and go, their legacy endures, as new recruits are trained to replace their fallen brethren. Their existence remains a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few in Gotham's underworld and those who have encountered them firsthand. The Talons represent the shadows within the city, an ever-present threat waiting to strike with deadly talons, enforcing the will of the enigmatic Court of Owls.

Following a shortage of living volunteers and recruits, the Court were forced to look to more unsavoury means to amass their army. Combining Electrum and Dionisium (the tainted chemical runoff The Lazarus Pits), the Arkhams were able to create a process that could resurrect the dead, turning them into rabid killing animals with no free-will. Procuring bodies both from morgues and deceased servicemen in Kane's employ, they soon had enough to guard every Nest and safehouse in the city.

Members:

* - William Cobb
* - Mei Ling-Hex: The former wife of Jonah Hex, who she married to keep a close eye on, Mei Ling was a Talon working for the Court of Owls. She turned on her husband when he began to interfere with her employers plans, leading to an all out fight that he walked away from.
* - Alexander Staunton, aka Talon: 1850s
* - Alton Carver, aka Talon: 20...
* - Saiko, aka Raymond
* Felix Harmon, aka the Butcher of Gotham:
* Brandon O'Malley, aka Talon: Personal guard of The Grandmaster (Benjamin Orchard)
* James O'Malley, aka Talon: Personal guard of The Grandmaster (Benjamin Orchard)
* Nathaniel O'Malley, aka Talon: Personal guard of The Grandmaster (Benjamin Orchard)
* Roger Black
* Uriah Boone
* Xiao Loong
* Dawn
* Dementor
* Dusk
* Efrem
* Ephraim Newhouse
* Henry Ballard
* Strix
* Screech Owl
* Talon (1780),
* Mary Turner

Ranks:

* The Gray Sons
* The Hunters
* The Talon Clade
* The Gladiators
* The Talons (Living)
* The Talons (Resurrected)