Lady Illaria, Mistress of the Night, Queen of Cats
Legend has it that the cats were at one time the servants of humanity. One of the first cats, Tybalt, was mistreated by his master and horribly beaten. His escaped only to find himself unable to survive the onslaught of the powers alone. He called out to any force that may help him and one god answered. Lady Illaria, as far as can be told has no physical form, or at least never appears to humans. She speaks in whispers by the light of the moon and is associated with cunning, instinct and the night, which in turn leads to a connection to theives and assassins. She granted these gifts to Tybalt and all his descendents, as well as immunity to the powers, in return for fealty, which she uses to her own enigmatic purpose. It is believed that all modern cats are descended from this line and that they all serve the same god.
The barge is dark and beautiful. The inner walls are draped with sumptuous black satin and the eerie skylights create a sense of permenant night to anyone who dare enter. The goddess is waited upon by cats who were loyal to her in life and these are for the most part pure black, being her favourites. She does not take kindly to human trespassers, however, and if any ever made their way onto the barge they would most likely be found clawed to a grisly death.
Avatars:
The huntress: Depending on how you view her she is either human or feline in nature. Her human form is a dark and sultry woman clothed either in deep blue or black. No one has ever gotten close enough to see her features clearly but her silouette is from time to time spotted stalking silently along the rooftops. For those who see her it is best simply to look away as she is a deadly assassin. It is not impossible to hire her for a task, if you can track her down, but one must have a good reason why her lady would show an interest in this. She is vemently angered by those who mistreat her lady’s subjects.
Tybalt: Stories in the city of traitors suggest that this cat may still live. He is black, in fact so black that the stories tell his coat reflects no light. His wit has kept him alive longer than any human and supposedly he is the secret ruler of cats. He can read human movements and expressions and this makes him unusually perceptive. He is a patron to those who survive against unusual odds (generally relating to the forces of nature)