Niles Cartouchian

Niles Cartouchian (closeup). Full size version.

Niles Cartouchian is the world's leading gem detective, and the secret identity of The Sigil.

By day, Cartouchian is a trusted and prosperous detective specializing in gem-related crimes.

By night, Cartouchian becomes The Sigil -- a symbol of menace to criminals, a sign of hope to citizens.

He is a bitter rival of gem detective and arms dealer Egon Rhodomunde, and has accused Rhodomunde of collaborating with crime lord Baron Zersetzung in a centuries-long enterprise which secretly provides human victims to demons in exchange for life-extension gems.

The family name Cartouchian derives from the word cartouche, a carved tablet or drawing representing a scroll with rolled-up ends, used ornamentally or bearing an inscription.

His father Virgil Cartouchian has been widely praised as the world's greatest Sigil Engineer.

In the News

Niles Cartouchian accuses arms dealer and rival gem detective Egon Rhodomunde of signing deal with alleged crime boss Baron Zersetzung, feeding human victims to demons in exchange for life-extending time crystals (nonfiction).
Niles Cartouchiain blames widespread use of illegal life-extending time crystals (nonfiction) on blood pact between Egon Rhodomunde, Baron Zersetzung, and one or more unnamed demons.
Niles Cartouchian captures, interrogates supervillain Fugitive Rubies.
Publication of Niles Cartouchian and Anton Rhodomunde Confront Gnotilus blamed for wave of copycat gem crimes.
Cartouchian personally tracks, captures supervillain Fugitive Rubies. Fellow gem detectives call it "The case of a lifetime."
Supervillain Fugitive Rubies involuntarily luminesces under green laser interrogation, re-emits red light.
New sigil is perfect for The Sigil, expresses "spirit of Set theory", says Cartouchian.
Alice Beta thinks of her friend Cartouchian "while there is still time in this world."