The Demon Cat of Washington DC

[soultaker666212]

Legend has it amongst the government buildings of Washington DC, primarily the White House and Capitol Building, a ghostly cat is said to lurk amongst the tunnels and halls of the US capitol. It dates back to the mid 1800s when cats were brought into to the Capitol Building to kill rats and mice. However, it seems this cat never did leave and instead stayed within the tunnels even after death. Apparently, it seems the cat has taken residence within the Presidental crypt of the Capitol Building, originally intended for George Washington.

The cat varies in appearance, some who have supposedly seen the cat has reported it to be either a tabby or black cat the same size as an average house cat. However, many have claimed the cat can swell to the size of a tiger or even an elephant and said to be 10 feet by 10 feet when alerted. When alerted it would apparently explode or pounce at the victim, disappearing before it would even catch its victim. The cat has been reported to have been sighted at presidential elections and at tragedies in Washington DC such as the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Its last sighting was reported to have been sighted during the final days or aftermath of the Second World War. In the 1890s, the cat was said to have mysteriously vanished after some Capitol Hill guards shot at it, but supposedly a guardsman died of a heart attack after seeing it. 

I found this little anomaly interesting and feel like this could work within the whoniverse a lot, walking through the underground and tunnels of Washington DC going on a ghostly cat hunt only to find out the legend is true and well there may be more to it than it seems...

[Catsmate]

'

Nov 7, 2022 23:00:54 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Legend has it amongst the government buildings of Washington DC, primarily the White House and Capitol Building, a ghostly cat is said to lurk amongst the tunnels and halls of the US capitol. It dates back to the mid 1800s when cats were brought into to the Capitol Building to kill rats and mice. However, it seems this cat never did leave and instead stayed within the tunnels even after death. Apparently, it seems the cat has taken residence within the Presidental crypt of the Capitol Building, originally intended for George Washington.

The cat varies in appearance, some who have supposedly seen the cat has reported it to be either a tabby or black cat the same size as an average house cat. However, many have claimed the cat can swell to the size of a tiger or even an elephant and said to be 10 feet by 10 feet when alerted. When alerted it would apparently explode or pounce at the victim, disappearing before it would even catch its victim. The cat has been reported to have been sighted at presidential elections and at tragedies in Washington DC such as the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Its last sighting was reported to have been sighted during the final days or aftermath of the Second World War. In the 1890s, the cat was said to have mysteriously vanished after some Capitol Hill guards shot at it, but supposedly a guardsman died of a heart attack after seeing it. 

I found this little anomaly interesting and feel like this could work within the whoniverse a lot, walking through the underground and tunnels of Washington DC going on a ghostly cat hunt only to find out the legend is true and well there may be more to it than it seems...

I like it! I remember the story from my time working in DC.
While supernatural canines seem to be more common in folklore, at least since the drop in witchcraft stories, there are a few odd cat stories out there. From my notes there is the 'demon cat' that plagued Albert Shinsky in Ringtown in Pennsylvania back in 1934 and (he claimed) caused him to murder the (alleged) witch Susan Mummey.

Over here we had the 'Green Cat of Balbriggan' back in '96, a glowing green feline that was seen around that town.

[soultaker666212]

Nov 8, 2022 9:43:36 GMT Catsmate said:

'

Nov 7, 2022 23:00:54 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Legend has it amongst the government buildings of Washington DC, primarily the White House and Capitol Building, a ghostly cat is said to lurk amongst the tunnels and halls of the US capitol. It dates back to the mid 1800s when cats were brought into to the Capitol Building to kill rats and mice. However, it seems this cat never did leave and instead stayed within the tunnels even after death. Apparently, it seems the cat has taken residence within the Presidental crypt of the Capitol Building, originally intended for George Washington.

The cat varies in appearance, some who have supposedly seen the cat has reported it to be either a tabby or black cat the same size as an average house cat. However, many have claimed the cat can swell to the size of a tiger or even an elephant and said to be 10 feet by 10 feet when alerted. When alerted it would apparently explode or pounce at the victim, disappearing before it would even catch its victim. The cat has been reported to have been sighted at presidential elections and at tragedies in Washington DC such as the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Its last sighting was reported to have been sighted during the final days or aftermath of the Second World War. In the 1890s, the cat was said to have mysteriously vanished after some Capitol Hill guards shot at it, but supposedly a guardsman died of a heart attack after seeing it. 

I found this little anomaly interesting and feel like this could work within the whoniverse a lot, walking through the underground and tunnels of Washington DC going on a ghostly cat hunt only to find out the legend is true and well there may be more to it than it seems...

I like it! I remember the story from my time working in DC.
While supernatural canines seem to be more common in folklore, at least since the drop in witchcraft stories, there are a few odd cat stories out there. From my notes there is the 'demon cat' that plagued Albert Shinsky in Ringtown in Pennsylvania back in 1934 and (he claimed) caused him to murder the (alleged) witch Susan Mummey.

Over here we had the 'Green Cat of Balbriggan' back in '96, a glowing green feline that was seen around that town.

Over here in the UK as well we have the black cat phenomenon over here in the UK as well such as the beasts of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor down in the Southeast which would be an interesting campaign to do. Perhaps a lot of these black cat sightings are related across the world, a species of cats lurking and prowling in the woods and forests of the Earth. 

Perhaps tie this idea with witches' familiars and argue the reason for a black cat being associated with witchcraft and the paranormal and supernatural is because some are aliens who enhance the abilities of say psychics due to the cats being psychic themselves. Perhaps these cats come from Rexel 4, home planet of the Carrionites, which gives its witch association from those as well. 

[grinch]

Maybe the Demon Cat of Washington DC is some scout or envoy from another dimension which is searching for something?

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 11:23:58 GMT grinch said:

Maybe the Demon Cat of Washington DC is some scout or envoy from another dimension which is searching for something?

I wonder about the Kitlings? Might they be responsible for some of the "demonic" cat sightings? They can teleport, travel through time and have psychic abilities as well.

In fact I think there could be an interesting scenario, or campaign, involving people using (or being used by....) Kitlings to travel in space and time.

That stray cat your neighbour adopted might be more that it seems. Now I wonder about Smoke....

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 9:53:19 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Nov 8, 2022 9:43:36 GMT Catsmate said:

'
I like it! I remember the story from my time working in DC.
While supernatural canines seem to be more common in folklore, at least since the drop in witchcraft stories, there are a few odd cat stories out there. From my notes there is the 'demon cat' that plagued Albert Shinsky in Ringtown in Pennsylvania back in 1934 and (he claimed) caused him to murder the (alleged) witch Susan Mummey.

Over here we had the 'Green Cat of Balbriggan' back in '96, a glowing green feline that was seen around that town.

Over here in the UK as well we have the black cat phenomenon over here in the UK as well such as the beasts of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor down in the Southeast which would be an interesting campaign to do. Perhaps a lot of these black cat sightings are related across the world, a species of cats lurking and prowling in the woods and forests of the Earth. 

Perhaps tie this idea with witches' familiars and argue the reason for a black cat being associated with witchcraft and the paranormal and supernatural is because some are aliens who enhance the abilities of say psychics due to the cats being psychic themselves. Perhaps these cats come from Rexel 4, home planet of the Carrionites, which gives its witch association from those as well. 

The more I think about it the more I wonder about the Kitlings.

Maybe a medieval 'witch' is someone displaced from the present day (or future, or reasonably recent past) with some anachronistic knowledge and a few tools, by a time-travelling cat?

While the description states that..

The Kitlings were created by the original inhabitants of the feral planet to find prey for the Cheetah People. They can teleport themselves across space to seek out prey that might interest the Cheetah People.

When they find it they bring a Cheetah Person to where it can begin the hunt. Like the Cheetah People, they can only come home when they have found something worth hunting. Usually the Cheetah Person then transports the prey home
to the feral planet. The Kitlings feed on whatever parts of the prey the Cheetah People leave.

..cats are notoriously independent minded and some may have struck out on their own, adopting (or using) humans.

Some Kitlings may have developed more significant psychic powers, and may teach 'their' humans some things (or they may 'rub off' on bonded humans after a while)

Of course, as with humans becoming Cheetah People, other traits of the Kitlings might be acquired by their human companions; Impulsive, Feel the Turn of the Universe, Quick Reflexes, Keen Senses, Alien Senses, Empathic, seem reasonable. Or possible more 'witch-like' psychic abilities.

Now, another thing, is there a Tharil connection? Other than the feline nature. Could the Cheetah People be some form of degenerated Tharils, or a deliberate (or accidental) creation of theirs? Might Tharil meddling with reality be the cause of the 'feral planet' on which the Cheetah People live.

Well we've strayed off the topic, but this is interesting.

[soultaker666212]

Nov 8, 2022 11:50:19 GMT Catsmate said:

Nov 8, 2022 9:53:19 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Over here in the UK as well we have the black cat phenomenon over here in the UK as well such as the beasts of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor down in the Southeast which would be an interesting campaign to do. Perhaps a lot of these black cat sightings are related across the world, a species of cats lurking and prowling in the woods and forests of the Earth. 

Perhaps tie this idea with witches' familiars and argue the reason for a black cat being associated with witchcraft and the paranormal and supernatural is because some are aliens who enhance the abilities of say psychics due to the cats being psychic themselves. Perhaps these cats come from Rexel 4, home planet of the Carrionites, which gives its witch association from those as well. 

The more I think about it the more I wonder about the Kitlings.

Maybe a medieval 'witch' is someone displaced from the present day (or future, or reasonably recent past) with some anachronistic knowledge and a few tools, by a time-travelling cat?

While the description states that..

The Kitlings were created by the original inhabitants of the feral planet to find prey for the Cheetah People. They can teleport themselves across space to seek out prey that might interest the Cheetah People.

When they find it they bring a Cheetah Person to where it can begin the hunt. Like the Cheetah People, they can only come home when they have found something worth hunting. Usually the Cheetah Person then transports the prey home
to the feral planet. The Kitlings feed on whatever parts of the prey the Cheetah People leave.

..cats are notoriously independent minded and some may have struck out on their own, adopting (or using) humans.

Some Kitlings may have developed more significant psychic powers, and may teach 'their' humans some things (or they may 'rub off' on bonded humans after a while)

Of course, as with humans becoming Cheetah People, other traits of the Kitlings might be acquired by their human companions; Impulsive, Feel the Turn of the Universe, Quick Reflexes, Keen Senses, Alien Senses, Empathic, seem reasonable. Or possible more 'witch-like' psychic abilities.

Now, another thing, is there a Tharil connection? Other than the feline nature. Could the Cheetah People be some form of degenerated Tharils, or a deliberate (or accidental) creation of theirs? Might Tharil meddling with reality be the cause of the 'feral planet' on which the Cheetah People live.

Well we've strayed off the topic, but this is interesting.

To tie it back into topic a bit, perhaps a Kitling is hiding amongst the tunnels of Washington DC, perhaps becoming temporarily displaced within the mid 1800s and has foreknowledge of the events surrounding the US such as both presidential assassinations. Could even argue there is a greater plan to kidnap officials in the US government and take them back to the Cheetah Planet and turn them into Cheetah People as part of an invasion attempt, the Kitling being a scout for the invasion plan. 

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 11:56:13 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Nov 8, 2022 11:50:19 GMT Catsmate said:

The more I think about it the more I wonder about the Kitlings.

Maybe a medieval 'witch' is someone displaced from the present day (or future, or reasonably recent past) with some anachronistic knowledge and a few tools, by a time-travelling cat?

While the description states that..

..cats are notoriously independent minded and some may have struck out on their own, adopting (or using) humans.

Some Kitlings may have developed more significant psychic powers, and may teach 'their' humans some things (or they may 'rub off' on bonded humans after a while)

Of course, as with humans becoming Cheetah People, other traits of the Kitlings might be acquired by their human companions; Impulsive, Feel the Turn of the Universe, Quick Reflexes, Keen Senses, Alien Senses, Empathic, seem reasonable. Or possible more 'witch-like' psychic abilities.

Now, another thing, is there a Tharil connection? Other than the feline nature. Could the Cheetah People be some form of degenerated Tharils, or a deliberate (or accidental) creation of theirs? Might Tharil meddling with reality be the cause of the 'feral planet' on which the Cheetah People live.

Well we've strayed off the topic, but this is interesting.

To tie it back into topic a bit, perhaps a Kitling is hiding amongst the tunnels of Washington DC, perhaps becoming temporarily displaced within the mid 1800s and has foreknowledge of the events surrounding the US such as both presidential assassinations. Could even argue there is a greater plan to kidnap officials in the US government and take them back to the Cheetah Planet and turn them into Cheetah People as part of an invasion attempt, the Kitling being a scout for the invasion plan. 

Good idea, the Kitling may have visited DC in various time periods and read the minds of the inhabitants. Or the invasion plan may have been abandoned but it continues grabbing people and transferring them 'home'.

[soultaker666212]

Nov 8, 2022 12:02:21 GMT Catsmate said:

Nov 8, 2022 11:56:13 GMT soultaker666212 said:

To tie it back into topic a bit, perhaps a Kitling is hiding amongst the tunnels of Washington DC, perhaps becoming temporarily displaced within the mid 1800s and has foreknowledge of the events surrounding the US such as both presidential assassinations. Could even argue there is a greater plan to kidnap officials in the US government and take them back to the Cheetah Planet and turn them into Cheetah People as part of an invasion attempt, the Kitling being a scout for the invasion plan. 

Good idea, the Kitling may have visited DC in various time periods and read the minds of the inhabitants. Or the invasion plan may have been abandoned but it continues grabbing people and transferring them 'home'.

Could be that the invasion is more of a long-term plan as well, waiting for the right moments such as well major events in US history to arrive at or in presidential elections, perhaps feeding off the psychic energy created around these events or using it as a fuel to hop from their planet to ours. The kitlings would scout the tunnels and finds unfortunate workers to be captured either as prey or for conversion to a Cheetah folks. 

[grinch]

It’s entirely possible that the Kitlings merely have started using the tunnels as a breeding ground. That, or someone has chosen the location for them and are trying to domesticate them.

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 12:05:36 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Nov 8, 2022 12:02:21 GMT Catsmate said:

Good idea, the Kitling may have visited DC in various time periods and read the minds of the inhabitants. Or the invasion plan may have been abandoned but it continues grabbing people and transferring them 'home'.

Could be that the invasion is more of a long-term plan as well, waiting for the right moments such as well major events in US history to arrive at or in presidential elections, perhaps feeding off the psychic energy created around these events or using it as a fuel to hop from their planet to ours. The kitlings would scout the tunnels and finds unfortunate workers to be captured either as prey or for conversion to a Cheetah folks. 

And what else might be hiding down in the tunnels (there are of lot of tunnels under DC)? Secret bases for long defunct agencies? Hidden aliens? Collections of mysterious artefacts?

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 12:35:30 GMT grinch said:

It’s entirely possible that the Kitlings merely have started using the tunnels as a breeding ground. That, or someone has chosen the location for them and are trying to domesticate them.

That has possibilities....

[soultaker666212]

Nov 8, 2022 13:00:41 GMT Catsmate said:

Nov 8, 2022 12:05:36 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Could be that the invasion is more of a long-term plan as well, waiting for the right moments such as well major events in US history to arrive at or in presidential elections, perhaps feeding off the psychic energy created around these events or using it as a fuel to hop from their planet to ours. The kitlings would scout the tunnels and finds unfortunate workers to be captured either as prey or for conversion to a Cheetah folks. 

And what else might be hiding down in the tunnels (there are of lot of tunnels under DC)? Secret bases for long defunct agencies? Hidden aliens? Collections of mysterious artefacts?

Does mention in the Black Archive Sourcebook that there is a Black Archive under the Washington Monument, perhaps this Black Archive is monitoring the Kitling population or even doing their best to investigate the Demon Cat sightings and even anything else under DC. Id imagine this Black Archive can be accessed via Secret Service tunnels.

[grinch]

Nov 8, 2022 13:21:48 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Nov 8, 2022 13:00:41 GMT Catsmate said:

And what else might be hiding down in the tunnels (there are of lot of tunnels under DC)? Secret bases for long defunct agencies? Hidden aliens? Collections of mysterious artefacts?

Does mention in the Black Archive Sourcebook that there is a Black Archive under the Washington Monument, perhaps this Black Archive is monitoring the Kitling population or even doing their best to investigate the Demon Cat sightings and even anything else under DC. Id imagine this Black Archive can be accessed via Secret Service tunnels.

Maybe the tunnels were used as a Kitling breeding ground but were abandoned by whoever set it up and then rediscovered by the American branch of UNIT years later?

[soultaker666212]

Nov 8, 2022 14:16:08 GMT grinch said:

Nov 8, 2022 13:21:48 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Does mention in the Black Archive Sourcebook that there is a Black Archive under the Washington Monument, perhaps this Black Archive is monitoring the Kitling population or even doing their best to investigate the Demon Cat sightings and even anything else under DC. Id imagine this Black Archive can be accessed via Secret Service tunnels.

Maybe the tunnels were used as a Kitling breeding ground but were abandoned by whoever set it up and then rediscovered by the American branch of UNIT years later?

That can certainly work as well! 

[grinch]

Nov 8, 2022 14:21:29 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Nov 8, 2022 14:16:08 GMT grinch said:

Maybe the tunnels were used as a Kitling breeding ground but were abandoned by whoever set it up and then rediscovered by the American branch of UNIT years later?

That can certainly work as well! 

Having a hidden Kitling population may also count for a large number of disappearances in the capital. That may be when UNIT begin investigating and discover the secret of the tunnels.

[Catsmate]

Nov 8, 2022 14:54:45 GMT grinch said:

Nov 8, 2022 14:21:29 GMT soultaker666212 said:

That can certainly work as well! 

Having a hidden Kitling population may also count for a large number of disappearances in the capital. That may be when UNIT begin investigating and discover the secret of the tunnels.

That works well for me. Of course UNIT/NA will need someone to manage relations with the Kitling colony. Gives cat herding a new meaning....

Two related ideas that have struck me:
1. The London Underground does not appear to have a notable feral cat colony, just cats and mosquitoes. This probably just means the Kitlings are more discreet....
2. Regarding Washington, the odd story of the District of Columbia boundary stones (BBC, Wiki, web) really needs to be blended in to the story somehow.

[grinch]

Nov 8, 2022 19:27:29 GMT Catsmate said:

Nov 8, 2022 14:54:45 GMT grinch said:

Having a hidden Kitling population may also count for a large number of disappearances in the capital. That may be when UNIT begin investigating and discover the secret of the tunnels.

That works well for me. Of course UNIT/NA will need someone to manage relations with the Kitling colony. Gives cat herding a new meaning....

Two related ideas that have struck me:
1. The London Underground does not appear to have a notable feral cat colony, just cats and mosquitoes. This probably just means the Kitlings are more discreet....
2. Regarding Washington, the odd story of the District of Columbia boundary stones (BBC, Wiki, web) really needs to be blended in to the story somehow.

Considering their ability to teleport, I could see Kitlings (especially those who are about to give birth to a litter) trying to find quiet, subterranean areas to produce their young. The tunnels underneath Washington DC, the London Underground as you say.

I could even see a few of them wandering around some undiscovered Silurian hibernation chamber. Cue your PCs getting confused when they try to figure out how a supposedly ordinary housecat managed to find its way miles underground. 

Personally, to solve the issue I could see a lot of the Kitlings being sent over to the Arbour. They’re less likely to start teleporting people away there. But of course, that depends on whether the American branch of UNIT are aware of the location’s existence.