Ikselam/Katerina
Katerina, Asp-Tongued Virgin
Also known as the Nexus Termagant, the Green-Eyed Vixen, the Shrew, or "that bitch," Katerina is a patron goddess to strong-willed, independent women. She is associated with spinsters, tomboys, and virtually every type of feminine behavior which men find confusing or annoying. Oddly, she doesn't seem to have any particular affinity for lesbians.
Katerina typically appears as a tall, red-haired woman with mocking green eyes and rather vulpine features. She usually wears men's clothing, but is not averse to dressing up in more gender-appropriate finery for formal occasions. Katerina almost always holds a fan in front of her mouth while speaking, in order to hide her forked tongue.
Wily, sharp-tongued, conniving and mercurial, Katerina is quite a trial to deal with, even for her fellow gods. While males of all sorts suffer the most from her superlative cattiness, she also enjoys tormenting women who don't measure up to her in wits or willpower. Most other gods avoid her, and those mortals who worship her often adhere to elaborate rituals designed to ensure that she doesn't take a personal interest in them. However, if someone succeeds in proving herself (or much more rarely, himself) worthy in Katerina's eyes, she will treat her as an equal in all respects. In many cases, she transforms such people into spirits so that they may have the potential to be her equal in reality.
Katerina frequently takes on human form in order to keep track of (and contribute to) the latest gossip. She particularly delights in exposing the foibles of the proud and arrogant; she even gets away with the occasional oblique attack on the Council of Entities. By contrast, anyone who starts unflattering rumors about Katerina herself can expect to be swiftly tracked down and challenged to a duel by the tempestuous goddess, whose moonsilver fencing saber is every bit as sharp and venomous as her snake's tongue.
While the Asp-Tongued Virgin ruthlessly mocks and dismisses any would-be suitors (of either sex), her title is not completely accurate; fifteen years ago, she was successfully seduced by Tybalt, Prince of Cats. Since then, she has ceaselessly pursued the dashing Cat-god. Whether this pursuit is motivated by love, vengeance, or both remains unclear. Katerina tends to explode into ranting tirades when the name of Tybalt is even mentioned in her presence, and the Prince of Cats offers naught but mysterious smiles and elusive nonanswers to any inquiries regarding the matter.
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