Cato Locos
El Heroe
De La Poer's Disciples
Munchmausen of Echoes of Contempt
Teppen of the Warren of the Under-Maze
Description
Homid: ~Princely bearing is concealed behind casual if chic attire: khakis and Polo shirts. The young and average-built Hispanic boasts smooth and handsome skin, light-skinned and indeterminable in precise origins. Cato Locos wears his vibrant black hair shoulder length and usually loose. Cato boasts a charming smile and an intrepid stance, though his footwear is a touch odd. Shiny black boots peek from under his pants: riding boots. His baby-brown eyes seem focused on the distance, too, and he swaggers imperiously down that unknowable starry-eyed path. Cato seems mysteriously acclimated to the horizon far beyond and the sky far above. But where does he think he's going? Where does he even think he's been? These are questions rarely asked of Cato, once the sheath of a knife is spotted on his waistline, partly concealed under his shirt.~
OOC: Appearance 3; Infamy 9, Obligation 6, Cunning 8
Crinos: ~Cato takes on his true form now. He gains little height or weight. But he assumes an alien appearance all the same. His clothing vanishes or is replaced. His skin grows a thick coat of dun-brown fur flecked with gold. His feet become three-clawed bone-like rodent legs and his arms match. His head loses its humanity, extending into a shrewd muzzle and keen nose, bright black eyes, and twitching bucket ears. Set between those ears is a fancy black tricorne hat, complete with black and white penguin feathers. A fine black wool waistcoat serves like a vest over his muscled and dexterous rodentine girth, the buttons made of gilded gold. From behind and just below the waistcoat extends a long, ringed tail confirming Cato's Ratkin nature. It coils about him with a faint spasm of excitement. Indeed, his whole monstrous form is possessed with an eager, otherworldly energy. His pupils are like stars and the rest of his eyes the abyss in which those stars rise. His clawed hands never stray far from the pearl-handled saber sheathed at his waist. Cato Locos is your Hero, so you'd better be ready to be rescued!~
OOC: Appearance 2; Reduced Delirium; Infamy 9, Obligation 6, Cunning 8
Rodens: ~Though small, it is poor judgment to underestimate Cato in his rodentine form. Appearing to be a plump, healthy rat of average size, with an unusual sprinkling of gold to his fur, Cato's able to run (or chew through to) many places without drawing much attention. Beady little black eyes roll about unfocused. Such a confused little rattie?~
OOC: Appearance 3; Infamy 9, Obligation 6, Cunning 8
"Madness?! Madness is pure prerogative, my good sir. When the wall is closing in, chewing through the cement is what 'muchachos valientes' do!"
History
Author's Note: This history was compiled from Cato's own words. Believe this wild tale or not, but it's all true. I swear it!
A Prince is Born
Hector Oro was the King of the Golden Kingdom, a Munchmausen who eked out his realm in the heart of Antarctica. He fell head over heels in love with a beautiful woman. Her name was Artemesia and she wasn't actually a woman. She was an angel. God rewarded Hector for all his great deeds by letting her marry this fantastic beauty. And Cato was the result.
And he got to grow up in Heaven itself. It was always day or always night. The sky was pristine and Cato could always see the moon and all the stars. The land was primal and gorgeous, if a little snowy and icy, but it was a winter wonderland all the same. His parents taught him all about what it meant to be a princeling of the Munchmausen. Cato was destined to follow his father's footsteps, after all. He learned what it meant to be Ratkin, to be a child of Wyld. And Cato heeded the rules of his kind well. By the age of six, he knew what it meant to be what he was and he looked forward to it.
Sadly, both of his parents died that year, circa 1984 (anno Domini). His mother died at the hands of her demonic enemies while his father perished by a silver bullet shot straight through his heart. They were on vacation in Bermuda. Cato lingered in his spacious cabin home. There was plenty of food horded there, fortunately. With that not so much of a worry, Cato began to teach himself many other things. He played with his father's wooden practice sword and learned fencing. He read his father's books and learned history and arithmetic and royal etiquette. He rifled through his father's wardrobe and adopted a proper dress code befitting a prince such as he. Cato decided to accept the code of chivalrous ethics, basing it off the Three Musketeers, his favorite story.
But Cato could not take full credit for his self-tutelage. Not long after his parents failed to return from Bermuda when they said they would, Cato began to hear a Voice. The Voice told him his parents were dead and comforted him with gentle words. From then on, Cato was raised by this Voice. While the boy lacked the creature comfort of parents to hug and real people to talk to, he was happy. God Himself was talking to him!
Author's Note: It is believed that this "Voice" was another Munchmausen telepathically communicating with Cato. The suspected mentor was known as Guido Garcia. Ummm...there's nothing to suggest Artemesia was anything other than Cato described. However, as children are apt to define their mothers as angels or goddesses, it seems probable she was just human. And yes, Hector was a Rat King. 'Course, they're a dime a dozen among De La Poer's Disciples.
Dawn of a New Hero
When Cato turned 15, it was time to prove that he was ready to undertake his destiny. He walked out into the plains of ice. He walked and walked until he collapsed from exposure and hunger. Half conscious, he saw the ground around him swarming with rats! They raced by, brushing past him over and over. That was when the visions began...
Cato saw the hell on earth that the Apocalypse would bring. He felt the fury of the pregnant moon high above and depth of the pain of the earth. Cato swam in the mad fury and chaotic savagery of the Wyld. The snow beneath him suddenly hardened and became like ice. In that mirror-like surface, Cato looked upon his handsome features. He knew he was like a mortal incubus. He would be used by God to fight the minions of hell by charming the temptresses and slaying the demons.
When the vision faded away, he found himself staring down at a huge rat -- himself, in Crinos. Having seen his father in this true form before, he was not as startled as some might be. He rose to his hind legs and found something cold and deadly in his right claw -- a sword. And it wasn't just any sword; it was the Vinson Cutlass, a holy weapon given to him to wage this fierce battle.
And a fierce battle suddenly ensued. Out of nowhere leaped a horned man with a flaming sword and baleful black eyes. The Devil! The two clashed sword to sword. Corrupter of the earth and ultimate survivor of the earth fought in a deadly battle that ranged from fencing to clawing and even biting matches. But Cato defended himself wonderfully and ran the Devil through the heart. As he fell, Cato watched it spiral back to Hell. The Devil faded away and shot back through the air into a black spiraling world of fire and death. Then Cato saw the Devil and all his compatriots in their true forms: horrible, formless masses of writhing tentacles and gurgling, putrid mouths. This glimpse of Hell vanished quickly, however, marking Cato profoundly. He knew it was his destiny to chase all the devils back to hell!
God welcomed Cato after that vicious but insightful moment. Cato was now full Ratkin, a true Munchmausen princeling. The Voice of God instructed Cato it was time to get to work and he would have to leave Heaven and go to Earth. The Voice let him go home and get a few belongings and change of clothes. Then he was a shown a path of light that arched up into the perpetual night sky. It led straight to the moon. Cato was to become a proper rat and run up that arch. Once he got to the moon, he could sleep, and then he would journey to Earth. And that was just what Cato did.
Author's Note: the Devil was probably a Bane, and Hell was probably Malfeas. The path of light? Moon Bridge, most likely, yup.
Barrachon Buddies
Cato woke up to find himself in the paradise of South America, Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, he had never been in a city before or around so many people. He got edgy and had trouble adjusting. His manners were impeccable, but he was just too...arrogant. Consequently, he was sucked into many street fights with common jerks. Despite knowing better, Cato blasted automatically into Crinos and shredded the unfortunate humans who bothered him.
A Deceit of Barrachon Ratkin called the Rayoplaya approached the Moon Mouse. They warned Cato vehemently (i.e., beat the hell out of the princeling) about the Veil. After Cato deeply apologized and explained his origins, they soon realized they had a real Freak on their hands. A mad Moon Mouse, to be sure. They took Cato under wing as the runt of the pack. They promised to teach him practicality. And the smart cookie that Cato was, he learned well. He blended into humanity better after their advice, and he realized it was just as well. He didn't want to announce to the Devil and his friends that Cato, Vanquisher of Hell, was coming, now did he?
As the pack runt, Cato ran errands for the Rayoplaya. He bought beer, cigarettes, and porno mags for his fellow Rats. He had to help clean up bloody messes the Deceit might leave. His frightening insights earned him the nickname of "Loco", which he later adopted as an alias surname "Locos". Cato didn't mind the treatment, for by accepting this role he fit in better and was well disguised as a "commoner". Only one particular responsibility disgusted Cato more than others: he was a money mule for the Deceit. He bought drugs that the Deceit sold on the streets. And to get those drugs, he had to go out to the plains and deal with a bunch of gaucho drug dealers. They sickened him. They were pure villains, mortal slaves of the Devil. Cato barely tolerated them and kept his cool for a year or so. Usually, he visited their ranch and left the same day to avoid smelling their stink for too long.
Then one of those cowboys raised his hand to his woman. Right in front of Cato. Enough! The Moon Mouse went apeshit, shifting to Crinos, drawing his cutlass, and cutting down many of the drug dealers despite their vaunted knife-fighting skills. The ringleader, however, was not nearly the pushover the other men were. This bastard, Turi Sanchos, was nothing less than a Shadow Lord werewolf armed with a fetish blade of his own. The dramatic duel that ensued was classic, as Turi tried to take advantage of Cato's chivalrous code. And while the conniving Wolf snuck a few good licks with his blade in, Cato stuck the point of his cutlass straight through Turi's throat. So much for that drug lord.
Unfortunately, the Rayoplaya was not happy. They were quite annoyed with Cato's heroism, in fact. The Knife Skulker of the pack sat him down and lectured him for a good hour. All the while, the television was on in the background. News? Blech. Next thing Cato knew, he heard he was being banished and deported? How dare the President of Argentina banish him, a prince?! All he did was cut a cancer from El Presidente's fine country! Oh well.
Author's Note: The Barrachon banished him from Buenos Aires, that's all.
Night Prey
Cato's adventures continued when he landed in Rio de Janeiro next. It was a new millennium by this point. There Cato blended into the squalor as a bum, resolving to tread more carefully and to observe the people around him first before attacking. He didn't speak Portuguese, but Spanish was his first language and was able to get the gist of conversations. As he observed the slums of Rio, he saw at night pale people sometimes walk among the downtrodden. Closer examination caused him to realize that he was dealing with bloodsuckers, the legendary vampires. Fascinating!
Unsure of whose side the undead lay on, Cato decided to let a beautiful vampiress called Izabel Toreador seduce and feed from him. Izabel reeled back with a shriek as she tasted Cato's Ratkin blood. She spun and gagged, eyes boggling, before simply falling over dead. Cato blinked and laughed. His maniacal laughter shot through all the slums. So, that was God's Judgment of the undead, eh?
Cato went on a rampage in Rio's poor neighborhoods. Granted, this was not the sudden assault as he perpetrated on the gauchos. This was cleverly played out over the next few years. Cato became a patient predator. He seduced and slaughtered pretty Toreador and outwitted and outfenced cunning Lasombra. He racked up quite a reputation with the local Barrachon over time.
But these Ratkin had a sort of agreement with the local Kindred. Hardly a treaty, it was more of a cease-fire truce. As a neutral party, these wererats were interested in pursuing other interests that fighting vampires. Cato was making waves. Though they acknowledged his cunning and valor, he was eventually advised to move onto some other city. Deported again?!
Author's Note: ...ehh...there are no words.
Honor's Own
Without despair, Cato's travels brought him north into New Orleans. For the first year in this fine city, he got to know the locals. Again he vowed to walk cautiously to avoid stepping on any more toes. He acquainted local humans, discovering a pocket of Ratkin Kinfolk among the poorer sections of town. Cato also took this opportunity to pray to God to grant him greater powers to enforce His Holy Will. God sent angels to respond to Cato's prayers. He would have to move up in Ratkin society. To do that, he would have to seek out the nearest King and have an increase in Rank be approved. And that didn't mean becoming a King himself. He would always be a princeling until his duties were done and he could return to the Golden Kingdom as its lord.
With the advice of the Kinfolk he encountered, Cato descended into the city's sewers in search of the Ratkin. And he found them. And they almost beat the crap out of him for his snobby attitude and demands to see their King. King Chapell of the Shadow Seers didn't exactly welcome the Moon Mouse, but he permitted his Judge to test Cato's skill. Apparently, someone named Guido heralded Cato's visit, and this Guido fellow was well respected. The old Knife Skulker, Garland, agreed provided Cato accepted a three-part trial. The King demanded he get to choose one of the three tests.
First, Cato had to recite the Ratkin Litany flawlessly. Having learned it from the crib, this was child's play. Secondly, Cato had to fight Garland in a duel. The knife fight would be counted in points based on hits rather than "fight until someone surrenders". Unfortunately, Cato could not defeat Garland. Afraid his efforts to challenge were in vain, Cato thought no third trial would even be administered. But the King had not yet voiced his test. Cato was to seduce, lie with, and impregnate a Kinfolk woman to prove his virility and ability to propagate the Ratkin species. Well, then! Cato got right to work on the most beautiful Creole babe the Kinfolk stock had to offer. So what if she was married to some Warrior who was out of town at the time? In one night, he had Agatha in the sack and he made sure that one night counted.
A few days later, the King's shadowy magics discerned that Agatha was indeed pregnant. Good! But Garland proclaimed Cato's challenge a failure. He lost the duel. But Chapell overruled his Judge. He approved Cato's Rank improvement anyway. And both Cato and Garland protested. Honor demanded Cato lost and would have to retry, which the Moon Mouse fully intended to do. But the King invoked his authority, quelling their protests. Garland accepted: the King's rule was law, after all, and that was what he enforced. Cato grudgingly accepted, too.
But that didn't stop Cato from challenging Garland to a rematch anyway! And the second time, Cato won by one point. The Knife Skulker was impressed by Cato's pluck and even taught Cato another trick. Why King Chapell approved Cato's Rank despite losing the duel originally was beyond the young Moon Mouse. Perhaps it involved some sick Shadow Seer experiment?
Author's Note: it probably was some weird Freak-breeding experiment.
Big Trouble in Little Mexico
To avoid the Pain Dagger of an outraged and jealous warrior, Cato left New Orleans after his Rank was approved. He traveled on foot north. Along the way, he visited the spirit realm where angels lurked to watch over and guide his steps. He bargained his earthly energies of Gnosis for their wisdom and insight.
Meanwhile, the Munchmausen's own insights led him to Kansas City. He heard rumor from angels that trouble brewed in the heart of Little Mexico. There he would find many devils to root out and banish back to Hell. Instead of passing through to continue on a trip to the Arctic Circle (which he heard was a lot like Heaven), Cato decided to stay awhile. This hero would not be kept down or banished. He would root out the evil and corruption and give it the sound thrashing it deserved. Those villains eventually led him on a merry chase, but ah! How he valiantly pursued them, all the way back to Puebla, Old Mexico! Cato vowed on his hat and princely pride to carry out these deeds. Nothing from Hell or Earth could stop him. Only one person could stop Cato Locos: Cato Locos!
Author's Note: So, that's Cato's tale, with as little embellishment as possible. Better to hear it from my mouth than his. He'll tell you he's a Prince of Heaven sent to banish the Devil, but be misunderstood by Man, and he'll point to being deported from at least five Latin-American countries to prove it.
Fetishes
Vinson Cutlass
Level: 2
Gnosis: 5
Origin: Given to him by his mysterious Moon Mouse mentor, whom Cato believes was the Almighty Himself, this imbued weapon was crafted on the peak of the Vinson Mountain in Antartica.
Description: The Vinson Cutlass is a saber crafted of the finest steel and metal workmanship. The sheath is not part of the fetish, though currently the one used is a fine fiberglass shaped scabbard colored black. The blade itself is curved and sharp on one side, the blade wide and designed for hacking and slashing. It always seems glossy and shiny, catching reflections the way ice does. There are only tiny guards and the hilt is wondrous. It isn't paneled with pearl, it appears to be made wholly of pearl.
Effects: 1) inflict aggravated damage
Activation: To activate the fetish, the wielder must draw the weapon and whip it overhead once. An embellished "en garde!" or the like helps appease the spirit, too.
Significant Other
Theirs is a...strange relationship. Olivia knows about her Ratkin heritage and she knows Cato is Pureblooded. Though only Kin herself, she's as feisty and stubborn as any rat should be. Olivia still isn't sure she wants Cato as her man. Cato finds her to be a wonderful and fair maiden despite her behavior and attitude; maybe that's just her purebred blood speaking. Either way, he wants her more than she wants him it seems. Their interaction is usually a little brusque and violent. But they're getting along fair enough, considering her submission to his desires so far. Maybe she'll even pop out a few "litters" for him. Well, no children yet--theirs has been a long and admirable courtship, for they have yet to be married. But she's clearly tied to him, since she willingly fled the US and accompanied him to Mexico. (Nothing to do with all those police sirens he heard outside her apartment building, surely.)
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| Olivia |
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Weakness
Muncher!
So...ummm...yeah...
Likelihood of Corruption
Very low.
The Wyrm wouldn't even know where to start with this one. He's ztun cinkuf!
"Are you a MexiCAN or MexiCAN'T?"
-- Mr. Sands, Once Upon a Time in Mexico
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