Monastery Outreach Projects

After another long hiatus, I return with some more notes from the neverending development of the Powercycles universe:

The Genetics of Super Powers
If I assume that there is some "genetic marker" that makes super powers possible, I need to also create an "activator" or "catalyst" that causes the potential abilities to express themselves.

Actually, to keep it complicated enough that it has not yet been discovered, it needs to be a combination of several different genetic markers in different chromosomes, each one responsive to a different catalyst. In this way, different combinations of markers and catalysts can produce different kinds and levels of abilities. This also gives a reason for children of metahumans to not necessarily have the same powers as their parents.

On The Cycles
I need to somehow "re-flow" the external histories to fit in a series of "cycles" during which beings of uncommon ability/power are active in the world. Of course, in any but the most recent cycle, those who show their powers would be considered magicians, god-favored (or -cursed) or perhaps legendary heroes. In fact, pretty much any legend or tall-tale could have a grain of truth to it.

If the last known cycle started in the 1930s and ended in the early 1970s, and a new cycle is starting in the early 2000s, that gives a full cycle of about 70 years. The duty cycle probably varies, but will be roughly 50%. This gives us a set of power cycles (these are the "up" cycles):

-0660 - -0625 0040 - 0075 0740 - 0775 1440 - 1475
-0590 - -0555 0110 - 0145 0810 - 0845 1510 - 1545
-0520 - -0485 0180 - 0215 0880 - 0915 1580 - 1615
-0450 - -0415 0250 - 0285 0950 - 0985 1650 - 1685
-0380 - -0345 0320 - 0355 1020 - 1055 1720 - 1755
-0310 - -0275 0390 - 0425 1090 - 1125 1790 - 1825
-0240 - -0205 0460 - 0495 1160 - 1195 1860 - 1895
-0170 - -0135 0530 - 0565 1230 - 1265 1930 - 1965
-0100 - -0065 0600 - 0635 1300 - 1335 2000 - 2035
-0030 - -0005 0670 - 0705 1370 - 1405 2070

To maintain some of the feel, I may also need to find a way for some of the characters (esp. those who are immortal, very long-lived or obviously more than human) to be "removed from the world" during the downcycles.

Powercycles Glossary
Definitions specifically relevant to the powercycles universe.

Upcycle
The part of the cycle when super powers are working/available. Also used to describe the rising part of the cycle.

Downcycle
The part of the cycle when super powers are not working/suppressed. Also used to describe the falling part of the cycle.

Important Groups / People

The Old Ones:
Extra-dimensional entities that may have been instrumental in the initiation of life on Earth (although not deliberately), but whose subsequent interest is only to destroy and enslave. Held at bay by hyper-technological devices of the Ancients (well hidden from humanity). These beings are the source of the stories about the Cthulhu mythos. The truth, of course, is far worse than the stories could possibly relate.
They will not appear in this campaign, but deluded cultists claiming to serve them might.

The Ancients:
Race of enlightened, powerful extraterrestrial beings that developed (i.e. experimented with) the life on Earth, and seeded modified versions of proto-humanity (and other species) throughout the galaxy. Their interest in the life forms present here caused them to drive the Old Ones from the dimensional neighborhood, and set up the means to keep them out. There has been no sign of them in or near the known universe in many centuries, but the effects of their manipulations are still felt.
The PCs will not encounter any of the Ancients. If they encounter any of their artifacts/equipment, it will be a major campaign event.
A Giant Monster attack might lead the PCs to (eventually) discover the location of the malfunctioning Ancients Bioweapon facility. Of course, knowing the location does not mean that they have the ability to do anything about it.

The Nine Unknown:
Nine extraordinarily powerful metahumans, results of genetic manipulation programs of the Ancients, founders of Atlantis, destroyers of Atlantis, and (currently) enemies of each other. If any two of them meet face-to-face, there will be a fight. The power level of these beings is such that this fight will cause enough collateral damage to level whole cities. They are effectively immortal, yet each one remains hidden, choosing to manipulate events from behind-the-scenes, out of fear that direct conflict between them will once again destroy civilization. In ancient times, they were called gods, and perhaps were the source of the stories of Greek and Roman gods walking the Earth and interacting with mortals. Today, their machinations are likely the source of rumors and stories about the "Illuminati" -- the "Secret Masters" of the world. They have been through enough cycles to know when to act and when to wait (and when to act with mundane agents), even if they do not understand the cause/reason for the cycles.
The PCs will never encounter one of them in person, or know of anyone who has. There are no entries in the OSI databases about them, nor have any known Supers reported direct contact with any of them. There might be rumors about lost artifacts of Atlantis that hold great power, which the Nine will send agents (or agents of agents {of agents of agents...}) to attempt to control.

Hugo Danner:
The only survivor of an Ancient-created artificial planet, seeded with specimens of modified proto-Humanity. The source of several heroic myths through the years, including the costumed hero called "Superman" (especially since he licensed his stories to a comic book publisher when he needed money). He is long-lived and near-invulnerable, but not immortal. Because of blood transfusions from him during WWI, several families/bloodlines of metahumans are expressed.
It is possible that the PCs could encounter him, but they would probably not know it -- Hugo tries to live a quiet life these days, not realizing yet that his powers are returning. It will become apparent in time, but he has become comfortable in his life and does not wish to change that. He currently resides in a small town in [REDACTED], living off the licensing of the Superman character (which could be considerable, given the recent resurgence on TV and movies).
What might bring Hugo out of retirement? Good Question. Certainly the return of his powers is not enough, in and of itself. It would have to be a situation that he would feel personally responsible for, or that was already targeting him (and causing a lot of collateral damage). And it will not happen until later in the campaign -- don't want him overshadowing the PCs.

The Office of Scientific Investigation (OSI)
Officially created at the beginning of WWII as the government liaison to metahuman soldiers/agents, this organization became the administrators of the McCarthy-era superhuman registration laws. In truth, the OSI operated as an unofficial organization answerable to the President since the mid-1930s. During WWII they were seen as an agency tasked with helping metahumans work with the government (i.e. the military), and they tried to keep an image as "working with" supers rather than "keeping tabs on" them even in the later years. Not all supers bought it, though. This organization maintains an extensive database of super heroes and villains and the variety of powers displayed by them (although this database is now at least 30 years out-of-date). In the downcycle, they have maintained their offices, and relied more on normal agents to investigate odd incidents. They were merged into the Secret Service during the 1980s, and many of their agents have slowly migrated to more mundane Secret Service jobs. In recent years, the Secret Service (and thus also the OSI) has come under the control of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has largely ignored the forgotten agency.
The PCs will definitely come in contact with this agency. What form and tone that contact takes depends on them.


Portions of the above adapted from the "Alternate Wold Newton Universe Superhero Timeline" created by Robert Dorf (OddHat), and from the Hero message board posting Crude Combined Marvel/DC timeline to use as backstory to a Supers campaign by forum member Shaft.