The Fates were a mythical group of three Greek deities who once wove fate to their liking. Their reality-manipulating power was diminished when Clotho betrayed her sisters, destroying their Loom of Fate and scattering it across the multiverse before running away.
After the Crisis, various Earths were unified into Earth-Prime and the Loom with it, restoring the Fates' powers. Clotho, now known as Charlie, remained opposed to her sisters, aiding the Legends, as they sought to reclaim the Loom and take control of destiny once more. Ultimately, the Loom and Atropos were destroyed, leaving Charlie and Lachesis regular mortals to go their separate ways.
History
The Fates in Ancient Greece.
Deciding fate
The Fates used the Loom of Fate to weave the fates of people in ancient times. Clotho caused birth, Lachesis controlled life, and Atropos brought death. However, Clotho betrayed her sisters and scattered the Loom across the multiverse when she decided people’s fate shouldn’t be manipulated, and everyone should live freely as they wish.[1][2]
Atropos and Lachesis in Hell.
Once numerous Earths were unified during the Crisis, godlike power returned to the Fates, except Clotho (now known as Charlie) who had been stripped of most of her power by John Constantine. Lachesis and Atropos plotted to track down the various fragments of the Loom, with Lachesis manipulating the power-hungry entrepreneur from Hell, Astra Logue, and Atropos hunting down Charlie herself. However, Atropos was defeated by Charlie and Sara Lance, who proved to be immune to witnessing a Fate's true form.[3]
The Fates on the Waverider.
After Lachesis and Atropos stole Astra's soul coins and sent encores to search for Atropos' ring, they were confronted. Lachesis revealed to Astra their true identities and offered her to take Clotho's place as the third Fate, which she seemed eager to accept.[4]
Loomworld
The Greek god Dionysus knew the Fates and feared that if they obtained a working Loom of Fate, they would suppress free will; however, Clotho was able to convince him that she would not allow that to happen. Meanwhile, though, Lachesis was convincing Astra that the latter was groomed to be the new third Fate and that she should help the one who raised her.[5] Astra complied and the three had all of the rings. Atropos did not like Astra and refused to work with her. Ultimately, Atropos killed Astra, just as Clotho had the rings and found herself having to work with her sisters for the lives of the Legends.[6]
The Fates compromised that the Legends could live in the new reality they created, but they must be viewed as television characters, not as realistic people, so Clotho created Clotho Productions to be shown on Fate+ with shows that were compatible to the desires and lifestyle choices of her teammates. Atropos hated rebellion so she had an organization created to erase rebellions from history. Lachesis loved conformity; there was but one outfit and one main form of nutrition. Due to the machinations of Mona Wu and Gary Green, the Legends rebelled and were reunited.[7]
Atropos is killed by Sara.
The Legends decided to destroy the Loom as that was the source of the Fates' godly power. Sara Lance, with help from Zari and Behrad Tarazi, were successful in killing Atropos and destroying the Loom but many of the Legends had to time-jump into the future to save their own lives from the resulting explosion.
For four months, Lachesis blamed Clotho for the death of their sister, causing Clotho to fall into a depression and to believe that free will was detrimental to all who demonstrated it. Clotho stayed in a museum on display as the worst offender in history. Lachesis created the Fatewatch and turned Gideon into the new Loom; though the computer programming could not grant Lachesis magical power, it gave her power over how humanity ran its daily life.
Meanwhile, Astra, who was aboard the Waverider, wondered if she was betraying her destiny; she no longer wanted to resurrect her mother and she was disloyal to the being who raised her to be a Fate. The Legends retrieved Clotho and talked to her, trying to get her back from her brainwashing, while Astra confronted Lachesis about her upbringing. Lachesis revealed that she was more interested in having a third Fate and regaining her powers than actually having a daughter. This cut the last tie the hurt Astra had with the Fates and she officially joined the Legends. Clotho was convinced by Lita, who would not have existed without her father's act of free will, that freedom was good and Clotho decided that Lachesis was wrong.
During the ensuing battle of Lachesis and the Encores versus the Legends, Zari freed Gideon, ending Loomworld. Clotho confronted Lachesis and told her irate sister that now, since they were mortals without the original Loom, her punishment for everything she did was to be forgiven and to live the rest of her life, knowing she was once a god.
Clotho, changing her name to Charlie, decided to enjoy the rest of her life as a member of the band called The Smell.[8]
Known members
Former members
Potential members
Appearances
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Season 3
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
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Supergirl
Season 6
- "The Last Gauntlet" (statue)
Comics
EARTH-PRIME
- "The (Ex) Legends of Tomorrow" (flashbacks)
Trivia
- Of the three, Clotho is the youngest fate, as Atropos calls Clotho her "little sister,"[3] and Clotho states that Lachesis is her older sister.[4]
- As other deities didn't try to stop them when they created Loomworld, the Fates are most likely the most powerful of dieties when the have the Loom of Fate.
- Fittingly, each of the Fates' roles seem to reflect their personality:
- Atropos controlled death and was a vicious killer.
- Lachesis controlled life and was a manipulator.
- Clotho controlled birth and loved the potential unknowns individuals could bring.
Behind the scenes
- In Greek mythology, the Moirae, better known as the Fates, were the incarnations of destiny. Their members were Clotho the spinner (birth), Lachesis the alotter (life), and Atropos the unturnable (death).
- Albeit originating in Greek mythology, the Fates, as most deities from Greek pantheon, have a major role also in the comics continuity, especially considering their relation to Wonder Woman.
- Despite being commonly portrayed as elderly women, the Fates are seen here as relatively young women (perhaps due to their shapeshifting powers; additionally, it is notable that Charlie is genderqueer), although their "true form" is impossible to behold, due to their immense power.