Editing Contessa (section)

===Vulnerabilities===
Contessa still needs food, rest, and sleep, or she would have to lean on her power for more minute details, making it harder for her to run background processes and long simulations.<ref>She needed food, rest, sleep, showers, or she'd have to lean on her power for more minute details, and doing that made it harder to run background processes, and long simulations." - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref> More specifically, if she did not take care of herself and became physically weaker, her power would break things down into a series of derivative steps to be more precise about minute details that contribute to a specific end result.<ref>"It's not instant?" Sveta asked. "We studied her and we were sure it was instant."<br><br>"It's instant but it's ''harder''," Five told her. "If she didn't take care of herself and became weaker, then the power would break things down into a series of derivative steps."<br><br>"Hypothetically, if she was fighting someone like Alexandria," I said, "And she had the flu, hadn't slept... she'd drop a few percentage points in execution, but she'd have a fifty step process instead of a fifteen step process?"<br><br>"She wouldn't drop by any percentage points," Sveta said. "If she's fighting, she's at one hundred percent. She would beat Alexandria."<br><br>"But there would be fifty steps, or a hundred," Five said. "To be more precise about foot placement, breathing, and every other detail that contributed to a specific end result. More so with simulations." - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref> When fatigued, Contessa needs to devote more resources to staying on task;<ref>The early part of the fight was supposed to be the crucial part, where we did as much damage as possible. I could liken it to how Contessa got fatigued and needed to devote more resources to staying on task, but again, ''always'', this Endbringer that wasn't brutish and noisy, not feral and animal-like, but graceful. - [[Last 20.1]]</ref> [[Cauldron]] collected people from multiple worlds instead of one world to draw less notice and reduce the labor for her.<ref>"Not in a statistically significant way. Cauldron kept it up even after the numbers came in. It drew less notice to take five people from a thousand worlds than to take them all from one world. If we're talking about Contessa... it reduced the labor for her. - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref>

Contessa's power does not protect her against [[Wikipedia:Human error|human error]] as it is theoretically possible to trick her into asking the wrong question.<ref name="Que"/> However, given time, she asks questions beforehand about deception, mind control, area of effect, and other obstacles her power wouldn't effectively fight against; this significantly reduces the likelihood of being tricked.<ref name="Que"/> She also asks questions to protect her against [[Stranger]]s, [[Master]]s, [[Thinker]]s, and attacks against all corners.<ref>"She has to ask questions to guard against strangers, masters, thinkers, and attacks against all corners. - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref> That said, if Contessa does not take care of herself and gets worn down enough, there is a risk that she forgets to ask these questions or falls ill.<ref>"She has to ask questions to guard against strangers, masters, thinkers, and attacks against all corners. If she gets worn down, there is also a risk she forgets, or she gets ill."<br><br>"Did that happen?" Sveta asked.<br><br>"Early on." - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref> She could also ask the wrong questions or hear the wrong things, where 'wrong' is something that takes her off of the course she was on and is a relative wrong, not a moral wrong.<ref>"What's the worst case scenario? Why is this a weak point?" I asked.<br><br>"That she asks the wrong questions, or hears the wrong things," Five said.<br><br>"Define wrong," Sveta said.<br><br>"Something that takes her off of the course she was on. Relative wrong, not moral wrong," Five said, looking at her. "Sending one of my brothers to contact Citrine and the Number Man, not anticipating that her friend might be killed as a consequence, when there would have been other ways to distract Teacher."<br><br>Sveta nodded. - [[Infrared 19.8]]</ref>

[[Jack Slash#Vulnerabilities|Without outside interference]], [[Jack Slash#Shard|Jack Slash's secondary power]] prevents her from killing him.<ref>Jack beats Citrine, Siberian, Grey Boy (until interfered with by outside sources), Number Man and arguably Contessa. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32xu26/list_of_capes/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref><ref name=Tie>'''Torrieltar:''' Has Contessa ever fought combat precogs before (strong ones, more along the lines of atium than the Force)? If so, what was the result?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Limited examples in story. I have stated in word of god that she's trumped/matched by Jack Slash, but that's a unique case and not really combat precog so much as shard-one-upmanship. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/whowouldwin/comments/5jmo6d/featured_character_contessa/dbnr64k/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref><ref>If you take away his top-levelpass vs. capes then that ''breaks'' verisimilitude; there's no other way someone hasn't come up with giving Number Man or someone like Number Man a sniper rifle, or summoning minions, or siccing Contessa on him. If it came down to luck he wouldn't still be around.<br><br>Jack serves the story by conveying that there ''have'' to be greater forces moving and limiting the pieces because he really has no right to keep existing without something else playing its part. He's a lead-in to the introduction of those forces. The fact he's not compelling as an individual is a big part of his character, and the reveal of how the broader Broadcast power works exposes this.<br><br>Was he handled perfectly? No, it was my first full-length story and with that in mind, it wasn't only both a marathon and a sprint at the same time but it was a marathon and a sprint at the same time by someone who'd never done either of those things. I really wish people would relax a bit. - Wildbow on Reddit</ref><!--https://redd.it/lrflao-->

====Blind Spots====
Just before [[Eden]]'s ultimate defeat, she restricted Contessa's power to prevent it from showing Contessa the [[Entities]]' deepest secrets.<ref name="II18.z eCrash">And the forward-looking eye, so generously given to the pair, was dropped in the rush, dropped in a stumble and crashing fall. Instructions were given in the parting. "Don't go too far, little Eye. You may see everything, but close yourself before you show them where we're weak. Don't show them our deepest secrets!"<br><br>It was picked up by a primitive, who looked through it and saw the pair. It approached the pair, a blade in hand, and the eye closed tight.<br><br>But another primitive saw, and another hand guided the knife home.<br><br>A betrayal, mechanical and undeniable. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/12/21/interlude-18-z-radiation/ Excerpt] from [[Radiation 18.z]]</ref> Thus, Contessa has blind spots that she cannot directly use her power on: the Entities themselves,<ref>The being raised its head. She could see its eyes open in recognition.<br><br>''It's teaching itself how to act like we act. Even this.''<br><br>She raised her arm, knife held with the point down.<br><br>And the gray fog descended on her mind, blinding her. A barrier, a blind spot, a future she could no longer see. Had it set the limitation more firmly in place?<br><br>The godling smiled. It ''knew'', because the power she was using was the same power it had used to glimpse the future, to find that ''particular'' future where it had the world divided, drowned in conflict.<br><br>As far as the godling was concerned, she was blind, as helpless as anyone else. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/10/12 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 29]]</ref><ref>"There is one more of these things somewhere out there."<br><br>Yet she could reach out with her power to try to look for it, and all she could see was the fog. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/10/12 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 29]]</ref> the [[Endbringers]],<ref name="24.2 eNotConfused"/> [[Eidolon]],<ref>He'd come to see her as a fixture. Harder, now. She couldn't give him the answer he wanted. For better or worse, he was another of her blind spots. - [[Interlude 27.x]]</ref><ref>She hadn't said a word, but she usually didn't. It had taken him some time to understand why.<br><br>Had the Doctor chosen, Contessa could have handled the entire discussion. She would have won the argument. Had she so chosen, she could well have framed it so that he walked away happy, content with the situation.<br><br>Yes, he was a blind spot for her, but she knew him well enough to construct a sufficiently 'David-like' model in her head, to come up with the right answers for every question and statement. But he would have known. He knew what she did and how she operated, and it would have colored everything.<br><br>With the blind spot surrounding him, she couldn't refine her path to victory enough that she could make him walk away happy and content with the situation, to the point that he ''stayed'' happy, stayed oblivious to what she'd done.<br><br>So he would come to resent her. - [[Interlude 27.x]]</ref> and [[shardspace]].<ref>There were a few capes who she couldn't get past, and some were explicit, ones that were officially on the record, like how Teacher's doorway to the source of powers had blocked her vision. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/10/29/sundown-17-9/ Excerpt] from [[Sundown 17.9]]</ref><ref>"If you ask ''here''-" Tattletale said.<br>[...]<br>"I think if you ask and find out specific answers, you'll screw up Contessa's odds and spoil things. Don't ask for..." Tattletale trailed off.<br><br>''For the particulars about the option we took?'' - [[From Within 16.12]]</ref> [[Trigger event]]s are also a blind spot;<ref>The Doctor spoke, "I should have listened to her sooner, but there are too many blind spots around this situation. The Endbringers, the End of the World, the formulas. Things she can't see. I held on, told myself I wouldn't cut you off until we had another Simurgh attack, to ensure you could minimize the damage, that you'd be able to recuperate and adjust for at least a few months before she showed up again." - [[Interlude 27.x]]</ref><ref>"It's not worth the risk. We'd be risking another Manton situation."<br><br>"With Contessa's ability, though?"<br><br>"It didn't allow us to know about or prevent the Siberian from coming into existence. It's a blind spot. If we ''must'' take risks, then we need to be smart about it, ensure we limit it to the risks we ''need'' to take. Gambling on creating deviances, outside cases or others." - [[Interlude 27.x]]</ref> she cannot predict their outcomes.<ref>Fortuna started to step forward to help, but her power told her it was too late.<br><br>Couldn't see the outcomes, couldn't counteract the outcomes. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/10/12 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 29]]</ref>

As of the [[Attack on Teacher]], she also has [[Teacher]], [[Valkyrie]], and two [[broken trigger]]s as blind spots.<ref name="II15.7 eExplain"/> Note that Contessa directly pathed Teacher<ref>"A problem?" the wizard asked.<br><br>''Path: identifying strangers and deception.''<br><br>Her eye moved to the man in the horned helmet, then, after a pause, to the wizard.<br><br>"I'm not entirely sure. Teacher, is it?"<br><br>The wizard nodded. "The Protectorate is just on the other side of the portal, collecting Satyr's teammates, Nix and Spur. If you could be discreet, it would be appreciated." - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/10/12 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 29]]</ref> and Glaistig Uaine<ref>Cauldron permitted Gray Boy because he was the closest thing to a weapon they had against Scion since Eidolon. When the S9 started picking up and more parahumans started getting removed from the fiend than Gray Boy was theoretically worth, they moved in. Manuevering Glaistig Uaine into taking him over, so the power would still be in play. - Comment by Wildbow on Spacebattles</ref><!--https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/13172170--> in the past. At some point, they presumably turned into blind spots when their behind-the-scenes network in [[shardspace]] became sufficiently complex.<ref>Other cases of the network being in play include Teacher setting up his own temporary networks of a narrow niche of shard (thinker/tinker shards), or Glaistig Uaine co-opting other networks and making them subordinate (ripping out the entire package and making it a ghost she can load/unload). - Wildbow on Reddit</ref><!--https://redd.it/nt15eg--> For example, Teacher was no longer a blind spot after [[Victoria Dallon]] reset his thrall network in shardspace.<ref>"She's got Teacher, so he's out of the picture?"<br><br>"You dealt the knockout blow. Reset his thrall network, took away the addictive impulses of being under his sway. His thralls took him hostage and kept him while fending off inquiries from Cheit government. Custodian and Ingenue are still in the wind, one of them literally"<br><br>''One off the mental checklist.'' - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/10/29/sundown-17-9/ Excerpt] from [[Sundown 17.9]]</ref>

She can still somewhat predict the actions of blind spots by considering a hypothetical situation.<ref>"I wasn't the only person who was blind at that point in time," Contessa said. "Right now? To answer your question, I'm unable to see Teacher, but I know enough to simulate him. I can't see the full cost or casualties of his endgame, but I can simulate those too."<br><br>"Simulate," Precipice said.<br><br>"Determine the outcome based on all known information and outside context."<br><br>"So you could be wrong."<br><br>"It is very rare, and even more rare that it matters enough to throw things into disarray. For right now, I have to tell you I can't do as you ask." - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/07/27 Excerpt] from [[Dying 15.7]]</ref><ref name="29.x"/><ref name="I27">[[Interlude 27.x|27.x (Interlude, Eidolon)‏‎]]</ref>

[[Shard]]-derived sensory powers cannot perceive [[Mantellum]] (i.e., he blinds shards);<ref>Mantellum	'''Case 53. Blocks out sensory aspects of powers progressively more with proximity.'''	Irregulars - Parahuman List, bolded edit by Wildbow</ref><!--https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pgn9rgYutpBqJg1lSBP3NHnq9WK4ToLq9K4ys_I4cRc/edit--><ref>'''ReekRhymesWithWeak: ''' Edit: Can we also have clarification on whether Mantellum could beat Cherish or not?<br><br>'''Wildbow: ''' Mantellum operates in a different way than Hatchet Face, blocking all power use into or out of his radius. It becomes a contest of strength. Make your decision accordingly. - Conversation with Wildbow on Reddit</ref><!--https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32y8lk/comment/cqfwj5i/--><ref name="Reddit eBlindShards">'''Torrieltar:''' How do you nullify a power in Wormverse? Would any old power nullifier from another universe work, or does it need to be done in a specific way? Similarly, what would it take to duplicate a Wormverse power?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Depends, really. Mantellum was a power nullifier who basically blinded shards. He arguably wouldn't have any effect on a sensory power that wasn't a Worm power. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/whowouldwin/comments/5jmo6d/featured_character_contessa/dbnr64k/ Conversation] with Wildbow on Reddit</ref> he and anyone in his radius are a blind spot.<ref>Fog approached. A wall of it, moving down the corridor. She could see normally, but the effect on her powers was absolute. It was impossible to make out any steps that moved within the fog.<br>[...]<br>She ducked. "-have a perception blocker, beware."<br>[...]<br>"Cornered. They've got a thinker, I think, they planned this ahead of time, knowing I wouldn't pick up on their presence."<br>[...]<br>This 'Mantellum' had been close enough that he should have been able to block her power. He hadn't.<br><br>Because he'd been on the other side of the portal. The power didn't cross dimensional boundaries.<br><br>She'd been lucky. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/10/12 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 29]]</ref> Contessa herself is also a blind spot to her power.<ref name="II17.y eOwnBlindSpot"/><ref name="II19.5 eOwnBlindSpot"/>

Contessa's power does not range well beyond [[Earth]], so flying into [[space]] and bombarding the planet would do fine against her.<ref>'''Torrieltar:''' Path to Victory can predict things from alternate dimensions as well, right? How about pocket dimensions? Places outside the universe? Other layers of reality?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Powers don't generally range well beyond Earth's atmosphere - a conceit of setting. So flying into the empty darkness of space and bombarding the planet would do fine vs. PtV. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/whowouldwin/comments/5jmo6d/featured_character_contessa/dbnr64k/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref> Her power is probably unable to account for metaphysical stuff outside of the [[Contessa#Shard|shard]]'s realm of expertise.<ref>'''Jakkubus:''' First, thanks for an interesting and in-depth write-up.<br><br>Second, you got me curious about fate and probability manipulators. How could she beat someone who can bend probability in their favour or even rewrite causality/fate? Also can PtV account for metaphysical and conceptual stuff?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Probably can't account for metaphysical stuff outside of the shard's realm of expertise. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/whowouldwin/comments/5jmo6d/featured_character_contessa/dbnr64k/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>