Claws of Hellcat Maggie

Description

Arcane Item; Restrictions: None; but confers extra powers to female characters.
A pair of black leather gloves sporting sharpened brass claws, these weapons are reinforced with iron knuckles and fastened to the wrist with leather straps. The leather is dark and bloodstained, but the wicked brass claws remain polished and gleaming. Colored ribbons are sewn beneath each strap, many of which are stitched with Gaelic prayers.

History

These formidable claws were owned by “Hellcat Maggie,” one of the infamous harridans of the Five Points. Born in the small Wicklow town of Tinahely two years before the Famine, young Margaret Joyce was the only member of her family to survive the journey to America. Turned out on the mean streets of New York, she was recruited into the Whyos by Gentleman Jasper. Finding a life of thievery and sneaking much less preferable to honest battle, Maggie eventually joined the Dead Rabbits. Her teeth filed to sharp points, her breasts bound by leather, and her black hair caked with lime, Hellcat Maggie became one of the gang’s most ferocious warriors, and often adorned her battle gear with body parts bitten and torn from her enemies.

Powers

Each of these brass claws requires two Action Rounds to equip, and each inflicts 1d4+STR damage. If both claws are worn, they temporarily bestow the Ambidextrous and No Mercy Edges. If the user is female, any Queen dealt as an Action Card allows her to inflict extra “raking” damage. Any damage that gets through her opponent’s Toughness causes temporary Blindness. If her Fighting roll was a Critical Success, the victim permanently loses an eye.

Sources & Notes

Hellcat Maggie is a delightful New York legend, charmingly described by Herbert Asbury in his Borges-approved masterpiece, The Gangs of New York. I am also indebted to Donna Moore’s post on Maggie for the Crimespace Blog. In Martin Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York, Hellcat Maggie is a composite character that combines the battle fury of the historical Hellcat Maggie with the penchant for ear-biting of Gallus Mag, and is played by Cara Seymour.

Image Credits
The banner uses an image of Cara Seymour as Hellcat Maggie from Gangs of New York. The image in its unaltered form may be viewed on Hotflick.net.

Author: A. Buell Ruch
Last Modified: 17 March 2019
Email: quail (at) shipwrecklibrary (dot) com
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