Previous Post Unfortunately, I am extraordinarily pressed for time and can't comment properly on UT #357 either. Thanks for bringing back Beth as a properly arch science villain; Baroness #71 ended with an unauthorized HH retcon to reconcile the two story lines. I look forward to seeing how the HH will guide that motley group of egocentrics to participate in the rescue of the Parodyverse (or not). I need to apologize to Jason for treading on Lara Night's elemental turf. Cathode wasn't supposed to mimic Lara that closely, and I'd outlined some limitations that would have distinguished her. But, again, time was insufficient and you needed to go ahead. I'll work on adapting the character consistent with your story line but differentiated from Lara (which might have been done by February). As it happens, in your telling the normalizing wave hasn't reached the far side of the PVB, so Cathode's abilities haven't been impaired yet. After they are, but before the resolution of your story arc, I'll write a tie-in to the effect that her powers have been involuntarily/mystically/tech-glitched/something modified as a result of the hiatus. For now, continue with her as you have been. I had considered a plot line where Beth fights her way back from penury and failure, but there is no way I'll be able to write it for some months. I suggest that we treat her and most of her fortune as restored thanks to her trips through the Portal, save for the castle itself. She surely would have stashed caches of equipment and money as backstops. Please accept the thanks of all of us for once again providing all this holiday cheer. Best wishes.

I too think there could be fun possibilities in a budget-strapped Baroness, but then I'm not the one writing the stories and I would enjoy things either way.

I also wouldn't sweat any similarities with Cathode and Lara. The devil (and the fun) are in the details (Hallie has used electricity as her main offensive weapon before as well, but she has different limitations to what she can do with it and especially where she gets it from), and really there is always room for similar power sets in the same universe when they're on differing sides of the moral aisle.

But once again, go with whatever inspires you the most, be it changes or keeping to your original thoughts. I like what I've seen of the character so far.