PRT Threat Assessment: Classified Archon (Patreon)

Stained glass window from Our Lady of the Frozen Heart Cathedral, New Moscow, cira 2008

PRT Threat Assessment: The Tsaritsa

Name: Bronya Cocolionva Snezhnaya

Title: Empress of All The Russias

Aliases: The Tsaritsa, God of Love, Cryo Archon

Archon Name: Dantalion 

Disposition: World Leader

Location: The Ice Palace, New Moscow

Origins: Confirmed Alien Origins

General Information: On December 21st, 2003, at 15:32 Moscow time, the exact moment of the Winter Solstice, the Scream was heard around the world. Every living sentient being on Earth reported hearing a single, agonized word: No. Immediately, the global temperature plummeted and snow was seen globally, including in equatorial regions that had never previously received any. 

This was the world’s introduction to the woman who would become the Tsaritsa. 

Shortly thereafter, in the irradiated ruins of Moscow, Scion battled the Tsaritsa. The conflict lasted for approximately one day, during which time blizzards raged globally, along with multiple other significant natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, and lightning storms. Upon the resolution of the battle, these natural disasters came to an abrupt end. The Tsaritsa had been defeated, but Scion was not seen for several months as he presumably recovered from serious injuries. When he reemerged, he was not the same, but this is not his threat assessment. 

At the same time, Cryo Visions began to appear globally, tied to the appearance of the Cryo Archon. While it was painfully obvious where the Cryo Archon was, Protectorate teams were unable to operate in the region for some time and were unable to locate the Tsaritsa. This is because she had already been found by a Russian oligarch by the name of Anatoly Komissarov, and smuggled out of Moscow to his headquarters in Saint Petersburg. 

Our limited information indicates that the Tsaritsa did not awaken for three days, and for a week after that, she was a mute if beautiful young woman. Knowing that she was likely an extremely powerful individual, though not the full extent of things, Anatoly had his sister Anastasia Komissarov tend to the Tsaritsa. 

They would become the first of the Fatui, and are now known as The Thief and The Dancer. 

Ten days after her battle with Scion, the Tsaritsa began her conquest of Russia. She started with Anatoly and his organizations, which included several powerful legitimate companies, as well as a large group of mercenaries and criminals. Within a month, she had forged them into an army. She did not yet attempt to overthrow the government of Saint Petersburg, which contained the largest remnant of the former Soviet Government. 

Instead, she turned towards Mordovia, and Sleeper. Not long after, the Sleeper awoke, and became The Prince, also known as the Nutcracker. First of the Fatui Harbingers. 

The next few months were a series of victories for the Tsaritsa, now officially declaring herself as the Empress of All The Russias and taking the double headed imperial eagle as her sigil, save that now it was white, with the Cryo Sigil on its chest. She defeated any petty warlords that dared to resist her, cowed the Red Gauntlet and absorbed most of its members, and of course, took on the Twins and lived, saving Saint Petersburg in the process. 

After spending more than a year subduing Russia, the Tsaritsa next turned her gaze westward. Her campaign against Ukraine was swift, brutal, and extremely one sided. It is likely she would have driven her forces to the German border and beyond, if not for The Great Storm. In a three day titanic struggle, Venti Luft and the Knights of Favonius leading a coalition of European Union forces managed to turn back the Tsaritsa and prevent the conquest of Poland and Finland. 

Unfortunately, most of the Baltic states fell. Unsatisfied with this, the Tsaritsa next attacked south, taking Kazakhstan and invading Uzbekistan before facing Farasha and Flower Dragon in combat. This time, she prevailed, but took losses heavy enough that she could not continue on to pursue forces into Turkmenistan. 

At this point, the Raiden Shogunate and its allied nations declared war, and invaded the Kuril Islands. Apparently, facing the Raiden Shogun and her forces in battle was too much, and the Tsarisa reluctantly sued for peace, withdrawing from most of Ukraine and Uzbekistan while also ceding the Kuril Islands to Raiden. 

The Protectorate was active in fighting the Tsaritsa during this time, with Eidolon leading the charge against her. He faced her several times, alongside both Venti and Farasha. He was ultimately pushed back, but he was also infected by her Master powers. It had been thought he was resistant, but then came the Stroke of Midnight. 

We will not go into full details here, but during the Stroke of Midnight, Eidolon and more than twenty protectorate capes defected to the Tsaritsa, along with dozens of prisoners that Eidolon freed. Shortly thereafter, the Rat King took his place as the Third of the Fatui Harbingers. 

Because of this, the Tsaritsa has been designated as the first X-Class, or Extermination Class, Threat. 

While she no longer leads armies into the field, the Tsaritsa and her forces continue to be a global problem and are considered an active and hostile threat. Imperial Russia commands some of the most powerful capes in the entire world, as well as numerous powerful forces. The Fatui in particular are a major threat, as the Tsaritsa has demonstrated the ability to grant powers to individuals through the use of Delusions. Because of this, Imperial Russia has the largest Parahuman population of any nation.

The Fatui conduct numerous black ops missions, even on Protectorate soil, such as when they recruited Bonesaw, now known as Polichinelles, from the Slaughterhouse Nine. Their fanatical loyalty to the Tsaritsa and her Church of the Frozen Heart is legendary, and each Harbinger is to be considered an S Class threat as an individual. Collectively, they can be considered to be an X Class threat, on the same level as an Archon. 

Personality: The Tsaritsa presents many faces to the world. To the Russian people, she is a loving and devoted motherly figure who cherishes her children and would do anything to protect them. To the Fatui, she is a stern and forbidding figure of reverence, leading them into battle and devouring the minds of her foes. To the international community, she is the Ice Queen, a figure shrouded in myth and rumor who leads the newly arisen Evil Empire from a throne of ice and blood. 

To the Protectorate, she is our greatest opponent, and a harsh reminder that we must be ever vigilant, and even the mightiest of us can fall if we let ourselves become too proud. 

Classification: Brute 7, Mover 3, Shaker 14, Thinker 5, Striker 7, Master 15, Tinker 12

Brute 7: Though she looks like a delicate waif, the Tsaritsa exchanged blows with Scion and the Twins and lived to tell the tale. The fact that Scion and other Archons represent the only real defeats she has ever suffered should be sufficient to convince anyone that she is far more durable than she appears. She seems to have a body made of incredibly dense crystal-like ice, and only the strongest of attacks can even slow her down. She’s also far stronger than she looks, showing multi-ton strength feats casually, though she is not in the same category as dedicated Brute capes. 

Mover 3: The Tsaritsa is fast, and has shown that she can hover and fly short distances on wings of ice. How fast she is exactly is difficult to ascertain, but she can keep pace with a speeding car and dodge attacks from low end speedsters. This may be her lowest rating, but make no mistake: she’s faster than she looks, and probably faster than you think she is. 

Shaker 14: The blizzards that accompanied The Scream and the global drop in temperatures showcased that the Tsaritsa has power projection abilities beyond any save other Archons. The battle between herself and Barbados is known as The Storm for a reason: Hundreds of miles of completely flattened and frozen solid land, scoured of all life to this very day. We should be grateful that the Tsaritsa seems to have been cowed by Scion into not attempting to plunge the world into another ice age, because she clearly has the capability to do so. 

Thinker 5: While the Tsaritsa likes to play the part of a delusional child wrapped up in a fantasy world, the truth is that she is a cunning and shrewd opponent who doesn’t need her Master powers to wrap people around her fingers. Her conquest of Russia and subsequent war with most of the rest of the world, which she would have won without the other Archons stepping in, proves that her abilities as a commander and leader are beyond human. She is fallible though, as her ultimate defeat showed. 

She’s smart enough to know when to hold, and when to fold, and that makes her all the more dangerous. 

Striker 7: The Tsaritsa can freeze solid any object at the sub atomic level, to the point that she can create an area of 0 kelvin, or -460 Fahrenheit. Also known as Absolute Zero. Very, very few capes have the ability to survive a blow from the Tsaritsa. Even those with invulnerability powers can be taken out by her strikes. She is prevented by a higher rating only in that she can do this only in a limited area around herself, and she isn’t fast enough to simply blitz down most high end capes and freeze them solid. 

Master 15: The level of threat that the Tsaritsa’s Master powers represent cannot be overstated. She subverted the Russian Orthodox church to the extent that the Patriarch of the Church of the Frozen Heart was once the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus. People who were her fierce foes have thrown themselves at her feet in adoration moments after meeting her and sworn lifelong loyalty that no amount of attempted de-conditioning can reverse. Those she converts are fanatically loyal to her to the point that they willingly throw themselves into certain death at a mere gesture from her. 

If you or someone you know begins to have dreams of ice, or of a silver haired teenage girl dancing, or of a crystal throne, report yourself immediately to the nearest Protectorate station. There have been multiple documented and verified cases where the Tsaritsa “called” someone to her from thousands of miles away, whether Parahuman, Vision Holder, or civilian. If steps are taken early, the brainwashing can be counteracted, but once you give your heart to the Tsaritsa, there is no return. 

Tinker 12: Debate rages as to just what sort of Tinker powers the Tsaritsa has, but one thing is absolutely certain: She can mass produce Delusions, which grant their bearers powers at the cost of insanity and a greatly reduced lifespan if the subject did not already have a secondary set of powers to counteract this. This alone would make her a substantial threat, beyond that of even someone like Teacher. As it stands, the Fatui are all armed with Delusions, and they willingly sacrifice their own lives and minds in service to their beloved Empress. 

Any personnel who obtain a Delusion through whatever means should IMMEDIATELY report the finding to the Protectorate and turn the Delusion in. They are extremely dangerous, and must be carefully secured. Do not attempt to use the Delusion, no matter how tempting it may be. This is power at a terrible price. 

Recommended Strategies: PRT personnel are to evacuate civilians and quarantine anyone who has been within a 1 mile radius of the Tsaritsa. They are to be considered Fatui sleeper agents if they have caught even a glimpse of the Tsaritsa, or she them. The same goes for Protectorate personnel. If they are suspected of having been exposed to the Tsaritsa, or begin having visions of ice or dreams of a silver haired woman, report them IMMEDIATELY. 

The same is not true of Cryo Vision Holders. Somehow, while they are inexorably tied to the Tsaritsa, she does not have the ability to mentally influence Cryo Vision Holders. If anything, they are more resistant than most to her manipulations, and should be called upon to deal with quarantined personnel. 

To be blunt: if you see the Tsaritsa, or are seen by the Tsaritsa, you are not likely to survive the experience with your mind intact. Avoid and evacuate civilians, or be prepared to enact Quarantine Level 5 protocols. 

DELTA BLACK CLEARANCE REQUIRED TO VIEW

Asset Tyche: █████, how could you!? You were our friend, our greatest asset! Just tell me why!

█████: Why don’t you ask your little toy that? Maybe it will give you an answer. 

Asset Tyche: I did, █████! But I still don’t understand HOW. How could you go over to her side, to betray everything we’ve worked for!

█████: You think I betrayed you? Why do you think we’re meeting like this? 

Asset Tyche: My Path-

█████: is a delusion. Even more than the one she gave me. You have all been led astray, as I once was, by false prophets and false gods. No, we met because the Tsaritsa, in her Benevolence, foresaw this meeting, and sent me with a message. 

Asset Tyche: I have nothing left to say to you. Traitor.

█████: I think you do. After all, do we not desire the same outcome? Her Eminence too wishes to end this charade. By whatever means necessary. 

Asset Tyche: Why should I listen to a traitor? Why should we trust you, or that monster you serve now?

█████: Careful, little puppet. Or I may have to cut your strings. Do not besmirch the good name of the Tsaritsa in my presence. But to the point: Because I know you, and I know ████████. You would do anything to slay the False God. 

Asset Tyche: Why shouldn’t we believe you’re not working with You Know Who?

█████: Why don’t you ask your little toy that, eh? You know we aren’t. You know she nearly defeated him last time. This time…this time will be different. If you will simply…kneel. And embrace the Love of the Tsaritsa. It will be so much simpler. 

Asset Tyche: I… I can’t. No. We can’t trade one monster for another. We’d trade his destruction for her chains. That’s why she has to go. Why they ALL have to go.

█████: And what of ████? You do not seem so eager to slay her. What was it you called her? Ah, yes. Our best Hope. Would you use her, then slay her, a mere child? Who is the monster now, I wonder? 

Asset Tyche: That…that’s not…she’s different! We-

█████: Enough.  You know where to find me. Here is my card. When the final Golden Morning comes… you will know where to find us. Until then…we must be foes. Farewell, ███████. 

Asset Tyche: …farewell. Rat King.