Mothman

AX.GHW.13.03.05

Type: Cryptid, Elite

Power Package: Elite (8D)

Veil Risk: Extreme, Mothman sightings are indexed to impending disasters; media monitoring is automatic in affected regions; the BUA has a dedicated Mothman response protocol

Size: Large (6–7 feet standing, wingspan 10–12 feet)
Attributes: Body 3D · Speed 4D · Wit 2D
Talents: Athletics 2D · Notice 3D · Stealth 2D
Health: 38 (20 + 3 + 15)
Defense: 3 (1 + (4+0)÷3)
Saves: Body 5D · Speed 6D · Wit 5D

Attacks

Talons (Primary Action): Speed + Athletics vs Defense, 5 damage; target must succeed on a Speed Save (Threshold 3) or be lifted (if Large or smaller) and dropped from Far range height (additional 4 damage, prone)
Eye Glare (Primary Action): Wit + Notice vs Wit Save, target is Blinded for 1 round; on a critical (3+ successes) the blindness lasts until end of scene and includes visual hallucinations. Range: Close.
Wing Buffet (Free Action, 1×/round): Speed + Athletics vs Speed Save, target is staggered, losing their Free Action next round

Special Abilities

Prophetic Proximity: Characters who survive direct contact with the Mothman (touched, grappled, or struck) experience disjointed prophetic impressions, flashes of a future event involving death or disaster. These impressions are accurate but difficult to interpret (GM provides a cryptic image: a bridge, a number, a weather event). Mediumship practitioners receive clearer impressions (Wit + Mediumship vs Threshold 2 to interpret into actionable intelligence).
Disaster Resonance: The Mothman is drawn to locations within 2 weeks of a major disaster. It does not cause the disaster; it appears because it detects the resonance of the event propagating backward in time (or sideways through the Liminal; the mechanism is contested). Characters who track Mothman sightings with Notice + Lore (Threshold 3) can identify a coming disaster's general character (structural failure, weather event, fire) but not its exact location or time.
Electromagnetic Aura (Active): When the Mothman is agitated or actively hunting, all electronic devices within Near range fail completely. Cameras, phones, vehicle computers, firearms with electronic components, all nonfunctional. This clears 1 round after the Mothman departs the area.
Immune to Artificial Light: The Mothman's eye glare response is not triggered by artificial light. It is not blinded or impaired by flashlights, floodlights, or vehicle headlights. Low-light and darkness conditions affect attacking characters normally.

Tactics

The Mothman does not attack humans unless provoked or protecting something (GMs should determine what it is protecting or investigating in the encounter, it has a reason to be there). When it does fight, it uses aerial mobility like the Jersey Devil but with more intelligence, it targets the character who poses the most threat (ranged weapons, electronic equipment), uses Eye Glare to blind before closing, and uses Talon + lift/drop for incapacitation rather than killing. It appears to understand tactical situations in a way most cryptids do not.

Lore & Ecology

The Mothman's 1966–1967 Point Pleasant appearances and their relationship to the Silver Bridge collapse established the disaster-resonance behavior as documented (within the hidden world). Since then, credible Mothman sightings have correlated with over thirty significant disasters. The entity appears regionally (a given Mothman may be one of several, population size unknown), lingers for the approach to a disaster event, and departs after it occurs.

Network researchers are divided: some believe Mothman is warning humans (its appearances near people are purposeful communication); others believe it is simply an apex predator drawn to areas of high prey stress preceding catastrophic events. The Prophetic Proximity ability is documented regardless of intent.

Destruction/Banishment

The Mothman can be killed by sustained conventional fire if grounded or forced into close engagement, its Health and Body are high but not Champion-level. Practically, killing a Mothman before a predicted disaster creates a coverage problem and potentially removes the only advance warning of the event. Most hidden-world protocols recommend observation over destruction unless the Mothman is actively attacking.

Scene Materials

Investigation: sightings of large winged humanoid at night near critical infrastructure, device failures in a corridor, anyone who has encountered it reporting disturbing dreams. Context: a disaster is coming to this location; the Mothman's presence is the clue. Evidence management: Mothman is one of the most photographed cryptids in the world, any new documentation goes viral.