Regan Wyngarde is a second generation illusionist/telepath. Her father, the infamous Jason Wyngarde also known as Mastermind, was a member of the Hellfire Club. His own dangerous ambitions and aspirations carried on to his daughter with time. The truth is, Regan rarely saw her father and never knew her mother, being raised in Europe by a live-in private tutor and caretaker. Sure, he spared no expense for her growing up, giving her the best educations in the finest European schools, the best tutors and the best gifts but it didn't teach Regan anything about growing up to be a good woman. What it did teach her, however, is that her father was cutthroat and relentless - and secretive. She'd over hear his conversations when she was a young teenager and realized that he was not a good man. He was evil. And that? That was acceptable to Regan. She poured herself into learning and into martial arts - after all, it's a way to know one's body and to learn how to remain centered and focused.
Something clicked as her education continued, she started emulating her often absent father as she perceived him to be. She started to lie and manipulate others by the time she was fourteen. As her talents began to improve, she realized that she was doing more than simply manipulating. Her mutant gene had manifested and she was able to quite literally read other's surface thoughts and emotions and then project perceptions of reality into their minds in any manner that she could imagine. She was instantly drunk on the power this gave her. Not long after she began to experiment with her illusionary powers, her father came to visit her. He revealed his own powers were much the same and he began to teach her how to properly use her abilities to get the most efficient responses to her illusions from her targets. By the time Regan completed finishing school, she was a seasoned and deadly illusionist but her father had disappeared and she received word that he had died. Likely not of natural causes. But there was reason to be happy as well - she had just inherited a sizeable fortune as well as homes and properties around the globe. How could a 19 year old girl not be happy with all of that? Thanks daddy!
Realizing that her illusionary skills were at their best, Regan proceeded to focus on her physical prowess. Driven to be even better than her father, she decided to all but disappear from the world's radar. Traveling to Africa under an assumed name, Regan used her illusionary powers to convince the leader of a mercenary group to take her on and train her. Some had other ideas but were soon reduced, quite mysteriously, into catatonically drooling shells of their former selves before they could lay hands on her. She learned and she absorbed the training. Taking as well the cold heartless attitude that reminded her so much of her father - it's not personal, it's just business. After fighting in skirmishes and under cover operations from one government against another in the central African region of unread over the course of the next six years, she had developed into a very formidable soldier - but without the loyalty indoctrination of an official military. She was loyal to herself and to her pay. The highest bidder would win out. Such as when she was hired to kill her group's leader by a rival mercenary force. She did it, took the money and decided to leave Africa.
Now a year later she has made her way back to London and begun operating out of the Wyngarde mansion.
Let's Talk About Me
Regan was largely left to her own devices, raised by a private tutor/mistress. Her father, rarely as he showed up, saw that she lacked for nothing. The result was a young girl that turned into a teenager with a massive sense of self-entitlement, a lust for attention, and a desire to lie, cheat, steal and manipulate to get whatever it is she wants, or wants to take away from someone else.
What's In It For Me
Lady Mastermind isn't a cheap ally. She learned in Africa that supply creates demand. If you have skills no one else can easily replicate, then you can command a fee and a signing bonus commensurate to the appropriate level. Money talks Regan's language. And the more money there is the more she's inclined to listen.
Jaded
Regan didn't have a stable life growing up. She saw her father only rarely, and only slightly more so once her mutant powers manifested. She realized he was just trying to use her as a tool by training her, but he was the best source of knowledge so she applied herself. Now on her own, she realizes that everyone is out for themselves. She's seen - and participated in - some of the worst atrocities exactly in Central Africa and yet, when she goes to bed at night, she still sleeps soundly. It takes a person with a moral compass that is beyond broken to achieve that.
Scheming
Regan loves to meddle in the affairs of others. She loves manipulating and pitting one against another to watch the chaos. But unless she's bored, there is always an angle. Something in it that brings an advantage to her or helps her get ahead. Her illusionary abilities and the fact most cannot avoid her telepathic dabbling to see how her illusions are working make this a very difficult pass-time for her to avoid.
Fashionista
Regan understands the importance of looking good. When she isn't working on a mission or assignment, she can be found wearing nothing but designer labels, looking her best so she can catch others off guard. For men - looking good keeps them from paying attention to what she's doing. For women, maybe the same, but otherwise it usually results in jealousy or envy. And if they're worried more about how she looks compared to them, they're still leaving themselves open to manipulation.
ILLUSION: Lady Mastermind, like her father, can project vivid, life-like illusions into the minds of others. Based on a form of hypnotism only the strongest mentally could begin to resist the projections and implanted suggestions. Because of the hypnotic effect, victims of her illusions do not think twice about incongruous events or sudden changes in location they experience. They typically accept what is going on as if it were proper and normal in every way making her illusions a very valuable brainwashing technique. A powerful mentalist or telepath could begin to notice the changes and might be able to eventually break free. The time for this would depend upon the power level and strenght of the victim.
These illusions are also able to kill. If Lady Mastermind causes a victim to believe they are drowning, even if they are on dry land, they will begin to suffer the effects of drowning and will die unless she changes the illusion. Even gunshot wounds begin to bleed out. Though no flesh has been penetrated, the blood begins to leak through the pores where the wound is perceived to be. In addition, her illusions very effective in combating even powerful telepaths (including Omega Level) by "injecting" static or noise into their minds and preventing them from being able to focus or process thoughts and defenses effectively. Her illusions will also remain active even after she's been rendered unconscious, making it very very difficult for her handiwork to be combated. Further, were a telepath to enter her own mind, they would find that they'd stepped through the proverbial rabbit hole with no recognizable form of navigation. It wouldn't be impossible, but neither would it be a walk in the park even for the strongest of telepaths.
Her effective range is line of sight up to the size of a modern arena or stadium, or around 150-200yards in diameter. If she can be seen in that range the person is subject to her illusions. Those who may be, using the stadium example, within her range but cannot see her (such as under the stands getting concessions or using the restroom) cannot be affected. Because it is hypnotic in its basis, an illusion against a large audience would make them all experience the same illusion. Only when there are less than 5 in a room with her can she focus enough to project unique illusions for each individual. When an illusion is established and it is with 5 or less targets, Lady Mastermind can also maintain a mild telepathic link that allows her to observe surface thoughts and emotions. It allows her to tailor the illusion for the victim. When it is over 5 targets, she cannot keep track of that many individual minds and instead she gets something like an "average" sense of thoughts and emotions, a blending of all the minds she is reading into - a barometer indicating receptiveness or resistance to her illusions.
FIREARMS: Regan learned how to use all common military and private sector weapons while in Africa. From pistols to shotguns to rifles and assault rifles. Even the occasional rocket propelled grenade. She is well trained in the upkeep and maintenance of firearms. She is a skilled shot, able to hit the center circle of a target with a pistol at 30 yards at least 9 out of 10 times. With a rifle or assault rifle, she can do almost as well, hitting a target center at 100 yards (without scope) 7 out of 10 times, or 9 out of 10 with one. Her preferred weapons are a set of customized pistols.
TACTICS: Regan trained in squad and multi-squad level tactics when fighting with mercenaries. She understands how to deploy teams for proper cover and support and how to position units to outflank enemies. She is no battlefield general but given 8-12 mercs, she can lead effectively — or operate as a lone gun(wo)man and outsmart her enemies.
ASSASSIN: Regan is a skilled assassin. It's a combination of her mercenary training and her illusionary powers. She can get into position using stealth (or illusions), and is capable of killing with guns, blades, or literally with her mind using her mutant powers.
MARTIAL-ARTS: Regan trained from childhood in martial arts as a form of meditation and self-knowing. She has a black belt in Jujistu, Tae Kwan Do and Pentjak Silat. She also understands the use of street fighting moves for when things just turn down and dirty.
CULTURE: Regan was raised to understand proper culture and etiquette to European standards. She can blend into to any formal function as if she were a member of royalty. She understands customs of most European countries from the northern coasts of France and Denmark to the southern tip of Italy and the palatial casinos of Monaco.
PSYCHOLOGY: Regan does not have a degree in psychology but she's had enough courses and experience in reading other's minds and meddling within their thoughts that she understands how to find other's motivations and desires. Something of an amateur, her methods are effective if less academically informed. Someone like Dr. Karla Sofen would be amused at some of her terminology and concepts. This would also probably anger Regan for not being taken seriously.
MANIPULATION: Regan is a master manipulator. She learned how to user her illusionary powers to full advantage from her father, a man also skilled in manipulation. She knows how to coerce others to do what she wants, and how to work in her illusionary and telepathic abilities to further force her will on others to get what she wants.
HYPNOSIS: Regan's illusionary ability is something like a form of hypnotism. It is very real and very compelling. She has studied modern hypnotists' techniques and methods to try and further her illusionary powers.
INTERROGATION: Regan's form of interrogation isn't necessarily that of law enforcement or military organizations. Usually it involves prying through her target's memories and altering their thoughts forcefully with illusions until she finds what she's looking for. Regardless, she is very good at it.
ATHLETE: Regan is very active and fit. She is able to operate in full combat gear: armor, weapons, ammunition and equipment without tiring for up to four hours without a few minutes to rest. She is an accomplished swimmer, runner and climber. She could compete well in a marathon or ironman type competition and come in well within the top quarter of the field.
COMPUTERS: Regan is not Sage. She isn't a living computer. But just the same she knows how to bypass typical internet security by looking for common exploits, knows how to do basic programming and general computer operation with common operating systems.
SCUBA: Regan is certified in scuba diving down to 300ft. She can use multi-tank systems and underwater 'tugs' and other equipment common to diving. She is trained in proper ascent procedures to avoid the Bends.
DIVING: Regan is a seasoned sky diver. Why not? It's an adrenaline rush. And sometimes one needs to know how to get to a target from above. She favors the use of ram-air parachutes for control and precision in landing.
MONEY: Regan Wyngarde inherited a cool 50 million from her father at the time of his death as well as a yearly profit of 500,000. She has diversified with her own funds from her time in Africa, with the acquisition of many diamonds and gemstones worth 5 million. She's earned another 2 million in the last year taking jobs around the world.
PROPERTY: Regan inherited a number of properties that were her father's as well: A large expansive manor and grounds in England, just outside of London, a remote mountain cottage in the Andorran Pyrenees mountains, a working Indonesian sugar plantation (it brings in a yearly income noted in the money resource), and a tropical home in the islands of Fiji she bought herself. Hey; a girl needs a place to get away and relax!
IDENTITIES: Regan has a number of false identities set up for her assassin work around the world so she can move about without hassle. In total she has 4 aliases:
Alexandra Chase - Sugar plantation owner. British descent, living in Indonesia with dual citizenship - Britain and Indonesia.
Caroline DuBois - An amateur mountain climber from Andorra.
Rachel Simons - A Canadian programmer who owns her own consulting firm.
Meryl Brown - An Australian Psychologist living in Fiji.
EQUIPMENT: Regan has her own personal arsenal of weapons: knives, pistols, (assault/sniper) rifles, etc. She keeps a number of weapons at each of her safe houses around the globe. Additionally she has access to climbing and rappelling, scuba diving, sky diving equipment.
CONTACTS: Regan has maintained contacts within the mercenary world. After all, why should she cut herself off from such a lucrative market? As well she has a number of world wide contacts that she has manipulated into helping her with forgery, data retrieval and intelligence data. All for a price of course, but nothing she can't afford.
OVERCONFIDENT: Regan knows she is a powerful mutant. She knows what she can do to anyone who so much as looks at her. It gives her a very inflated since of near invulnerability against other mutants and utter superiority and impunity against mundanes.
MORALLY-FLEXIBLE: Lady Mastermind has very little in the way of moral obligation. She'll turn on supposed allies, possibly even friends or family. About the only individuals she won't betray are Dead Presidents and their likenesses on currency.
EMOTIONALLY-DISTANT: When one spends most of their live manipulating and victimizing others (or just killing them outright) it is no surprise they are very difficult to truly get to know or befriend. Regan has no true friends in all likelihood and she may well never have any.
IMPULSIVE: Lady Mastermind's overconfidence can result in brash and dangerous actions on her part or even walking into acknowledged traps simply because she believes she can get out of them using her powers or skills.
