Cheetah/ Barbara Minerva

The third Cheetah is British anthropologist Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva. She had Searched out a tribe in Africa who utilized a female guardian with the powers of a cheetah. A band of marauders killed the guardian and most of what remained of her original expedition party, then Barbara, with the aid of the priest, Chuma, the caretaker of Urtzkartaga, took her place after being told that she would gain immortality.

Her powers were conferred to her by ingesting a combination of human blood and the berries or leaves of the ancient plant god, Urzkartaga. Unfortunately, as the host for the Cheetah persona was to be a virgin, which Minerva was not, her transformations were part curse and part blessing as she experienced severe pain while in her human form and blood-thirsty euphoria while in her cat form.

This version of The Cheetah came into Wonder Woman’s world when Barbara discovered that Diana possessed the Lasso of Truth. As an anthropologist Barbara came to covet the lasso in the hopes to add it to her collection of historical items. She first attempted to do so through trickery claiming that there was a matching ancient girdle of the same kind from which the lasso was fashioned.

Unfortunately, although the scheme proceeded far enough for Minerva to hold the lasso, its magical power to make people to tell the truth forced her to confess her true intentions. Diana, profoundly distraught that a fellow woman would be so treacherous, took back the lasso and returned home in tears. With the subtle approach having failed, Minerva later restored to attacking the Amazon as the Cheetah to rob her of the lasso and their initial battle ensued.

Over the years Barbara’s interest in the lasso waned and she became more interested in besting Diana in battle due to her bruised ego. The two’s rivalry has fluctuated at times though. Saving The Cheetah’s life during an adventure in the country of Muldavia, Barbara aided Wonder Woman when she became caught in the mob war between Paulie Longo and Julianna Sazia in Boston. Seeing her debt paid, The Cheetah has continued in her quest to defeat Wonder Woman at all costs which included her soul to
the demon Neron as explained during the John Byrne era of the comic.

For a brief period of time, Minerva lost her powers to the businessman Sebastian Ballesteros, who had convinced Urtzkartaga that he could be a more effective Cheetah than she was. Minerva later killed Ballesteros and regained her powers.

With help from Zoom, Minerva attained a level of super-speed that she previously had not possessed after murdering Priscilla Rich. They later joined the latest Secret Society of Super Villains, and they seemed to be engaged in a sexual relationship, even though Zoom considers himself to still be married to his former wife.

One Year Later, the witch Circe placed a spell on Minerva that allows her to change her appearance from human to Cheetah at will, even though she still remains in her Cheetah form through either guise. She possessed control of three actual Cheetahs and still processed her super-speed, which was shown in her being able to steal the golden lasso away from Donna Troy several times in battle.

Originally Posted by Kain Darkwind of the Dicefreaks forums.

On this Thread

Barbara Minerva, Cheetah
Medium monstrous humanoid (Shapechanger)
Wounds	31 WP, 261 VP (18d8+180)
Initiative	+25
Speed	330 ft.
AC	33 (+10 Dexterity, +2 natural, +11 speed) touch 31, flat footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple	+14/+40
Attack	Claw +36 melee (1d6 + 13 plus wounding /19-20)
Full Attack	2 claws +36/+31 melee (1d6 + 13 plus wounding /19-20) and bite +31 melee (2d6 + 9) and tail +31 melee (1d8 + 9)
Space/Reach	5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks	Constrict, improved grab, pounce, rend, wounding attack
Special Qualities	Damage reduction 15/slashing or piercing, sprint, super speed level 11
Saves	Fort +21, Ref +34, Will +9
Abilities	Strength 27, Dexterity 30, Constitution 31, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 17, Charisma 13
Skills	Balance +12, Bluff +11, Climb +31, Handle Animal +22, Hide +31, Intimidate +24, Jump +151, Knowledge (arcane lore) +12, Knowledge (earth and life science) +12, Listen +24, Move Silently +31, Spot +24, Survival +15, Tumble +33
Feats	Combat Reflexes, Flay, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Leap attack, lightning reflexes, Power Attack, Rapid Strike (claw)
Climate/Terrain	Boston
Organization	Solitary (unique)
Challenge Rating	28
Treasure	None
Alignment	Chaotic Evil

Constrict Cheetah deals 2d8 + 16 points of damage with a successful grapple check. In addition, anyone taking constrict damage must also make a Fortitude save (DC 27) or begin to suffocate.

Improved Grab Cheetah must hit a Medium or smaller sized creature with her tail to use this ability. If she gets a hold she can constrict.

Pounce Cheetah can make a full attack at the end of a charge.

Rend If Cheetah hits with both claw attacks in a single round, she tears the flesh, dealing 2d6 + 26 points of damage.

Wounding Attack Creatures damaged by Cheetah’s claws must make a fortitude save (DC 27) or take 1 point of vitality point damage per round. Multiple hits are cumulative. A Treat Injury (DC 15) check can reduce this to 1 point of damage per minute. A Treat Injury (DC 30) check is required to stop the bleeding completely.

Superspeed Level 11 The following benefits are provided from Superspeed level 11

• +11 speed bonus to AC, reflex saves and initiative
• +11 speed bonus to attacks
• +5 speed bonus to melee damage rolls.
• Barbara may take 11 additional swift actions per round.
• Barbara reduces the amount of time to complete an action by 2 steps, allowing her to take full round actions as move actions and move actions as immediate actions.
• Characters with less than Superspeed level 5 are considered flat-footed for the purposes of the Cheetah’s attacks. Characters with Uncanny Dodge have an effective Superspeed Level equal to their Dexterity modifier for this purpose.
• When using the run action, the Cheetah moves at x20 her normal speed.