Out there, they called him a demon, evil incarnate, a possessed monster. He liked it. It made him feel in power. Like he was destined to paint the town red. 

But once he arrived at Cognizant, he found there were much MUCH larger fish in the pond.

In the earliest days, the small mouse gamed at the arcade. Biding his time Many Hypnotists thought he was easy pickings, No big stature, no real presence about him. They tried to pick on him. Only to fall upon his red gaze.

It's not that he lacked presence. It was merely that he chose not to use it until the time was right, when the bigger badder hypnotists thought they could push him around.

Captain Rockjaw had most of the Focault under lock and key. The White tigers that replaced the security force ran a tight ship. marching rank and file, ensuring there was little vandalizing and criminal element in the city. 

But you stay away from Blaed row. 

Kai's music rang out from speakers and radios and TVs, giving the rockers the party that never ends. 

But the tunes don't echo in Blaed row. 

Nymfi's Dreamwish magic fluoresced throughout the focault, granting the whims and desires of submissive and dominant alike. 

But the magic doesn't pull the strings in Blaed row. 

Dr. Bright interviewed the tenants, attempting to whittle away their loyalty. 

But her light does not dispel the fear in Blaed row. 

At the edge of the street, A message in red was left for cops and masterminds alike:

"The eyes don't waver nor shudder nor blink. They only stare and burrow. 
Penance cares not, Be you towering hulk or quivering mellow, 

His goons and thugs are mighty amassed,
yet shudder when his brow will furrow,
They'll snatch you fast, You'll gape aghast
his gaze obliterates thorough.

Beware the red, Beware the red,
You never tread in Blaed Row, 
For witness the eye, your penance is nigh,
The price for intrusion you sow."

It was a chilling threat that discouraged most tourists in for a good time. The Blaeds preferred it that way, they were told Master had no time for weaklings.

The Blaeds were a unique case among the Masterminds. Resilient, fiercely dedicated, yet it seemed to be out of fear rather than outright dedication. It was his red eyes that seemed to affect them the most. Whether they were submissive whelps or intimidating brutes, or brilliant hypnotists...

Once they stared into his eyes, everything seemed to fade away. Willpower gone, a mere morsel in the den of an insatiable beast. Penance missed his chance last year. He couldn't move as fast as Kai Tyde, lacked the resources of Rockjaw, the raw cunning of Dr. Bright, and his ability was limited compared to Nymfi's Magic. He could resist, but he couldn't spread.

So there he remained, holed up in the arcade in Blaed Row. Only the bravest, the dumbest, the most willful found their way into his den. And his Blaeds made sure that they got a taste of his gaze.

Now Penance finds himself a second chance to prove himself.  Kai Tyde offered him the opportunity to swell his gang's ranks enough to take the whole city. 

The Glimmering Eye of the Focault would be his. 

And it would be Bloodshot.

Contestant #4421. Penance. He never even cracked the top 30 last year, but when he got into your head, he had a habit of staying there. Many of his thralls are quite timid. The ego completely sucked out of them by his intense, intimidating gaze. He talks down to them like the hapless idiots they are, and they only find a deep urge to follow his words.  So long as he doesn't stare into their eyes a second time. 

Nobody fares well staring into his eyes a second time.

Darkwitt Analysis: Penance tries very hard to remain aloof, but he has a severe chip on his shoulder. He's spent most of his life either being told he's evil incarnate, yet during his time in Cognizant nobody took him seriously until he carved out a piece of the territory for himself. It's likely that when Cognizant concludes, he'll feel resentful that his likelihood of winning remained a statistical improbability. Should you decide to start up competition again for whatever reason, Kai Tyde, He'll be eager to prove himself. Just be sure to wear the countershades I left behind. 

Likes: Grunge, clamato juice, switchblades, big tits and big dicks. bullying, Mythology (particularly about demons), Football (Liverpool FC), Nymfi (records showed the two have had sex, but attempted hypnosis resulted in stalemate), Video Games (retro arcades are his favorite)
Dislikes: Whining, Short jokes, uptight authority figures, Rockjaw, Places that are too clean, Not being taken seriously Racing games (He's a terrible driver) 

FOCAULT GOAL: He wants the Focault to be his own personal playground. Running it as the primary gang, making sure he doesn't get pushed to the side ever again.

artwork By Madfox