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Southern Knights - A Team To Cover Australia, New Zealand and Brazil The Southern Knights are an uberhuman hero team who protect the countries of Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. They were established and financed by Southern Cross International which is also based in the three countries. These heroes are drawn from the member countries and represent a variety of archetypes. Team leader is Outback. OUTBACK: Napolean Conway Click here for the Character Sheet. Concept Energy Blaster / Mentalist Nationality Australian Place of Birth Portland, Victoria, Australia Date of Birth May 23, 1974 Hair Colour Black Eye Colour Brown Height 1.92m Weight 90kg Background Napolean Conway pushed his way through the thick jungle of Borneo until he revealed the remains of the light plane which had gone done in rough weather a week before. The six members of his search party followed him, but none would dare mention the atrocity they saw. The plane itself was relatively unharmed, but the three people who were on board had been beheaded and their belongings ransacked. The scene was straight from a nightmare, and only Conway seemed determined enough to board the crashed plane, while the others remained at the fringes of the clearing. Inside the plane, Conway came face to face with Dumaguete, an uberhuman lizard-man who had begun a path of destruction down the South-East Asian archipelagos, killing indiscriminately with his newly discovered uber abilities. Conway licked his lips nervously, and stared Dumaguete in the eyes. "You're under arrest," he said, but Dumaguete could tell that Conway was inexperienced and also out of his jurisdiction. "And you're lunch," Dumaguete said and leapt towards Conway, almost instantly being deflected by a telekinetic field, and thrown into the cockpit of the crashed plane. Conway flinched at the attack, but then realised what he had to do. This wasn't just an archaeological expedition to some obscure corner of the world to look at some lost treasure. This was his new life, as a dedicated member of the Southern Knights, who were sworn to uphold the laws of several countries. He knew it didn't include Indonesia, but apparently both the Indonesian government and the Australia government had come to an arrangement. Dumaguete burst back from the cockpit and clawed at Conway, but his telekinesis deflected the attacks again, sending the frustrated lizard man into the side of the cabin. Conway could feel Dumaguete's growing fury, as well as a creeping sense of fear. He reached out his mind and made a firm connection between his and the monster's mind. Dumaguete squirmed, but Conway held fast, moving through his mind to find the weak points and then quickly shutting the man down. As Dumaguete slumped to the ground, the plane itself began to shudder. Outside there were shouts as the others in his rescue team began to run back through the forest. Conway looked down and saw the plane moving along the ground, following a shudder. Professor Quake floated into the clearing, calling up the power of the earth to entomb the plane and Conway. The former scientist was mad, and his power was unmatched in the southern hemisphere, but Conway was young and idealistic. He leapt for the opening of the plane and cleared it just as the earth reached around, trapping him at waist level, but allowing him to at least see his attacker. Professor Quake seemed amused, if anything, and continued to wrap the earth around the plane. Conway began to counter the force, using his telekinesis to undo the work of the geokinetic. Professor Quake gradually realised he was facing a man of potentially similar ability and power. His mind flashed with anger and he redoubled his force, only to be similarly countered by Conway. The battle of wills continued until Dumaguete was aroused and made his escape through a tunnel which had been secured by Professor Quake. He scampered to the top of the mound and attacked Conway from behind, using his fierce claws to rake through the weakened shields and draw blood. Conway tried to fight both, but was beaten back. Still half-entombed he succumbed to Professor Quake's powers and was summarily buried alive. He knew he wasn't dead, but it felt like it. For the next six hours he waited for reinforcements, thinking that at any time Quake could return and finish the job. When help did arrive, Conway was relieved but still didn't know why Quake had wanted the plane brought down. It had been a Southern Cross International flight, and Conway had learned that Quake's team of terrorists had been targeting Southern Cross for months. When he and the others returned to Melbourne, Conway was accepted as the newest member of the team. From a graduate student in the research department of Southern Cross, Conway had manifested his uberabilities, developed them through the Southern Cross facilities, and finally managed to get on to the action team. He had spent his whole working life with Southern Cross, and when he was promoted to team leader of the Southern Knights in his third year with the team, he accepted the position with a mixture of gratitude and fate. Outback is one of the most powerful ubers to be connected with Southern Cross International, and although he has only been active for four years and is considered a late bloomer, Outback has the potential to become one of the world's premier ubers. Personality Conway has always been curious, which is why he was drawn to archaeology in high school and then university. He has a keen interest in his Koorie culture as well as the various cultures around the world. For a time, he considered working for SAGE and was a close friend of James Running Bear, but his interest in Australian culture made him determined to remain in his own country rather than go international. He was hired by Southern Cross International after graduating university and in their care he was accidentally exposed to an experimental radiation treatment during an attack by Deep Six. His ubergene was activated and he helped to stop the facility from being inundated with sea water. From that encounter, Conway has developed a kind of love-hate relationship with Deep Six's leader, Treasure, whom he has had several dealings with - and Treasure has always escaped him, and quite often escaped with sizeable quantities of loot. Conway is a stubborn man, though, and will rarely, if ever, admit defeat. He is a strong leader and works himself harder than anyone else, resulting in some strained relationships outside of his work. He maintains a residence with his sister, Frances, who is a social worker, but has little contact with the rest of his family. Quote “Hold it right there... yes, right there.” Powers Outback is a formidable telepath/telekinetic, able to manipulate the minds and physical forces around him. He combines these abilities with an honourable nature, so he does not usually use his powers to dominate the minds of others, or intrude upon their thoughts. Appearance Conway is an Aboriginal man in his early thirties, and wears a patriotic uniform consisting of the colours of the Aboriginal Flag as Outback. Out of uniform, Conway prefers to wear formal clothing, as befits his role as the leader of the Southern Knights, and is seen in a variety of suits, or less often, shirts and trousers. When he is off duty and out of uniform, he allows himself to be more comfortable, but as he is a workaholic, these times are very rare. ESPERANCA: Elena Barros Click Here For Character Sheet Concept Brick Nationality Brazilian Place of Birth Curitiba, Brazil Date of Birth December 7, 1979 Hair Colour Blonde Eye Colour Green Height 1.88m Weight 80kg Background Elena Barros was born Eduardo Barros, but after surviving an abusive adolescence at the hands of her step-father, she escaped and fled to Rio de Janeiro. She changed her name, fulfilling a dream of becoming the real 'her', and managed to find work in a variety of places while she studied to gain entrance into university. She moved to Sao Paulo and was accepted into a forensics course, enjoying the excitement of piecing together stories from evidence. It was during her time in Sao Paulo that she became aware of her uber abilities, most notably that of being almost indestructible. She was unsure of what to dow with her new gifts, as she had never felt comfortable in the spotlight, and so she kept her powers to herself. In 1993 she returned to Rio, and was embroiled in the fateful battle between the Southern Knights and a crazed God which ended with the almost total destruction of the city and the turning of Professor Quake, who was unable to cope with the death of his team mates. Elena proved herself that day, standing against the god's minions and assisting in the recovery of bodies and the injured. In the days that followed, news of her actions reached the media and she found herself being labelled the next Brazilian super heroine. It was flattering to be considered a woman at last, although the truth would soon come out in subsequent reports. But Elena was not ready to become a super hero. She returned to her university course and only appeared in times of great need. The Southern Knights contacted her in 2000, needing her help against a resurgence of the Mad God. She agreed and used her strength and intellect to help solve the problem, but while working alongside the superheroes she found herself drawn to Nostrum. He treated her well, laughed at her displays of bravado, and returned the kiss she stole from him on the edge of a fiery precipice. She had never felt more in love, and so she followed him back to Melbourne and agreed to join the team full-time. While working with the Southern Knights, Elena was able to explore her abilities and push herself to develop more within herself. Her strength increased and she began to understand her limitations. Her relationship with Nostrum continued, although she always felt like she was living in a fairy tale that couldn't have a happy ending. She always looked for the problems, the way it was all going to end. Nostrum felt it too, and they decided to stop seeing each other. Elena saw it as a catalyst for her to discover her new self. She was no longer the shy and enclosed girl from Curitiba. She was one of the most powerful beings on the planet: beautiful, strong and able to leap tall buildings... As Esperança embraced her public self, she felt more relaxed in the role of protector. Personality Elena is outgoing and flirtatious, the opposite of her personality growing up. She knows it is a phase she is going through, exploring her exhibitionist side, but she is enjoying it. She had been withdrawn for too much of her life, and now she planned to enjoy it all. She is a traditional hero, believing that the defence of innocents and society is more important than the preservation of her own life. She will gladly put herself in harm's way. She may appear to be flippant and overconfident, but she is also intelligent and worldly-wise. Quote “Let's see those muscles in action, beefcake.” Powers Esperança possesses uberhuman strength, durability and regenerative powers. She is able to lift in excess of 100 tons thanks to the training she has received at Southern Cross International, and has the potential to increase this further. She is also able to fly at supersonic speeds, an ability she uses to travel the world independently. Appearance Elena is a tall and powerfully-built transvestite. She has a shock of blonde hair, dark eyebrows and piercing eyes. She remains in peak condition through her ubergene and a regular training schedule, and enjoys showing off her body (while also enjoying the bodies of others). As Esperança she wears a luminescent green top with dozens of white stars, white pants, arm braces and thick-soled black boots. NOSTRUM: Cadbury Jones Click Here For The Character Sheet Concept Metamorph (Healer) Nationality New Zealander Place of Birth Christchurch, New Zealand Date of Birth July 11, 1980 Hair Colour Blonde Eye Colour Green Height 1.8m Weight 78kg Background Dr Darius Esteridge slid his four iron back into the bag and frowned down the green where his white ball bounced twice upon landing and came to a rest just off the main fairway. He had scored a three under in the previous game, but news from the hospital had taken away any remaining interest he had had in the game. The sun was out and there was no threat of rain. It should have been a good day for the doctor. Hagley Park was a sprawling, 200 hectares of lush green gardens, sprinkled with sports grounds, the botanic gardens and two golf courses. To the eastern side, the direction Esteride was looking, stood the Cantebury Museum: home to one of the world's most extensive and exquisite ornithological collections. Esteridge had planned on wandering through the exhibits on his way home that night. Instead, it looked as if he would return to the hospital. "The Thompson woman is no longer dead, you say?" he asked the red-faced young man who stood on the green. "No sir." "Hmm, troubling, especially considering the husband has recently committed suicide." "Yes sir." "Shotgun, I believe," he added, mostly to himself. "Something about the will, I think..." "Yes sir." "How long was she dead for?" the doctor asked, brightening somewhat, although he had been the one to sign the death certificate. "Three days, sir." Esteridge rubbed his chin, considered pulling out another club, but gave up and turned back to the club house. "Well, I suppose I should talk to young Doctor Jones about all this resurrection business before the media gets a hold of it. The hospital has a reputation to uphold, after all, and it will simply not do if our deceased clientele suddenly become... not deceased. No, no, that will simply not do at all." The younger man shook his head in silent agreement. Jones had been sent to the staff room again. He had strict instructions to stay behind the doors and not see any more patients, at least, not until Dr Esteridge had come in from his day off. He sat on an armchair, leaning his chin on his pulled-up knees. He had been staring through his glasses at the poster of the southern Alps for nearly an hour, and no one had come in. The other interns had shunned him, the more seasoned doctors seemed to be frightened of coming too close, and the nurses looked right through him. He had been working at the central Christchurch Hospital for seven weeks as part of his internship. He had pulled all-nighters, had listened to ancient doctor's drone on about the sins of modern medicine, and he had still managed to smile at every patient he saw, and unlike the other interns, he actually bothered to use their first names when he talked with them, and took care in actively listening to what they said. His peers called him 'soft' and his mentors thought he was perhaps a little soft in the head, but Jones couldn't approach medicine in any other way. He wanted to make lives better, not make money. He wanted to cure disease, rather than study it. He wanted to stave off death... And that was what had happened. He had staved off death... several times. And this time he had actually managed to turn it back, to undo the damage of a major embolism. The door swung open and let in the controlled chaos of the emergency rooms. Jones looked up and saw the grave expression on Dr Darius Esteridge's face. He had obviously seen Mrs Thompson. There was a moment when Jones looked at Esteridge when he thought that perhaps everything was going to be okay, that this unusual gift for curing the ill would be seen as a positive, maybe even an asset for the Hospital. It was, of course, a false dream. Even as he watched, Dr Esteridge's face reddened, and the sweat seemed to materialise at his temples. "Jones..." he started. "Jones..." "There's no evidence of the embolism on any of the scans," Jones said. "Her circulatory system is better than it has been in twenty years. Her daughter said she hadn't seen her mother look so alive since 1986, for Christ's sake. You can't say this is a bad thing." Esteridge shook his head, and Jones could almost the bones of his neck grind against each other. "The woman was deceased," he said. "She is scheduled for burial tomorrow morning." "They'll refund the money," Jones said. "9.30am." "I'll talk to them," Jones continued. "You are a menace," Esteridge spat. "Five patients in five weeks, Jones. You cure ovarian cancer in your first week here, without even touching the patient. You walk into the operating room after an horrific automobile accident, and when you walk out again, the two children who were both in severe cardiac arrest, suddenly sit up and call for their mothers. An amputee suddenly grows a new arm. And now this Thompson woman. This dead woman. This perfectly acceptable corpse is now walking around out there asking for her husband who has, I might want to remind you Dr Jones, shot himself in the face with a shotgun within the last twenty-four hours because he can no longer live without his wife." "I might be able to help..." "No," Esteridge said, cutting off any protest. "You can collect your belongings and sign out, and not come back. Go back to your university, go back to your laboratories and tutorials. There is no place for you in a modern hospital. We do not offer the miracles that you seem capable of." Miracles. The word seemed to spear through Jones' heart. There was a lot of regret and shame tied up with his Catholic upbringing, and talk of miracles brought it suddenly all too close for comfort. Dr Esteridge was passing off his healing ability as a freak event, something passed on through God. Esteridge wasn't a religious man, and made no secret of it, so Jones took the comment as an acidic insult. "You're turning me away because I can cure disease?" Esteridge bit back his words. "Just go, Jones." And the door closed . Jones fumbled with his keys outside his house, although it was more a sign of stress than clumsiness. Durham Street was quiet, the streetlights sparkling up along the prestigious street and illuminating the restored buildings on both sides of the road. His own house was a square-fronted brick terrace which dated back to the 1890s, and which had found its way down his decrepit family tree from his grandmother's sister. It was ironic, really, that Jones had this incredible ability to cure the most horrific of afflictions, and yet his own family had mostly dropped off the Tree of Life many years before. His parents had died when he was a teenager, and his grandparents shortly after. He had an Aunt Stephanie, but he hadn't spoken with her since she had moved north to Wellington. He had an Uncle too, formerly attached to Aunt Stephanie, but not much had been heard of him since he was discovered wearing his wife's underwear. So Jones led a somewhat solitary life, which wasn't unusual for a medical student. Most of his friends said he was cursed, and while they laughed it off with another can of iced beer, Jones started to wonder if he'd be the last of his line. He turned the key and stepped into his home, immediately warming to the familiar smell and comfort of the old building. It was nearly 3am, but the house was there to welcome him. "I'm home," he called and dropped his knapsack against the passage wall, kicked the front door closed, and walked towards the kitchen, already thinking of some potent coffee and a Tim Tam biscuit. When he got to the kitchen he noticed that someone had already got to the fridge and was busy fossicking around for the chocolate biscuits. The man was dark, a Maori, and as he turned to look back at Jones, it was clear that although this man possessed great strength, his body was no longer as spry as it once was. There seemed to be pain in his movements. There also seemed to be a sparkle in his dark eyes, something which stopped Jones from running back down the passage and into the street. "What are you doing here?" he asked. His voice seemed strong, although his heart was beating fast. The man smiled and looked at his hand which carried the brown packet of biscuits. Jones smiled too. "You broke into my house to get a Tim Tam? Would you like a short black with that?" "You have misunderstood me," the man said. "On several accounts. Firstly, you assume that I have broken into your home. That is an inaccurate description. Secondly, you assume that I came here for a biscuit and coffee. That is also inaccurate, although you were taking your time, so I thought I would indulge in a little earthly sin while I waited. And finally, you assume that I am a dithering fool, which is far from accurate, although many adversaries have thought so, much to their eventual chagrin." The man took a small bite of the biscuit. "And the coffee?" Jones asked. "I take it that's a 'no', right?" "You are hiding your anxiety in sarcasm and avoidance. Ask me questions which will lead to illumination, not entertainment." Jones looked at the man closer. He was terribly familiar, although he had difficulty placing the timeless face. It was 3am, after all. "Who are you?" he asked. "I am the Mark," the man said. Jones made the connection. He had grown up on the adventures of this man and the other Knights. Superheroes and supervillains: clashing in the skies above Auckland; their exploits splashed across the daily papers and the evening news. "You have heard of me. Most people have. I am here to activate you, to bring you out of your mundane world where you clearly do not belong. From this mundane world, I will escort you through veils of reality and unreality, through power and powerlessness, and bring you to your destiny. You have a gift. Indeed, it is a gift balanced with a curse, but with close attention to my teachings and dedication to our cause you will slip from the shackles of your half-life and emerge into a new, enlightened and powerful world." Jones blinked. He looked to the coffee machine on the bench, and then back to the Mark. "How did you get in?" he asked. "I mean, if you didn't break in?" The Mark smiled. "Your parents invited me here. In fact, your family has been quite helpful in tracking you down." Jones felt the stainless steel bench behind him, and his fingers gripped the edge. From behind the Mark, almost like condensation in a bathroom, his parents materialised in the middle of the kitchen. Their wispy bodies seemed only partially corporeal, but their faces retained hints of colour and glimpses of personality that he had achingly missed since before graduating from high school. They never spoke, but Jones could sense pride in their ghostly expressions. Pride and love. "Will you come with me?" the Mark asked. "It is time, and there is a great need. Will you come and learn of your destiny?" He nodded. He turned his eyes from his parents to his new teacher. "Yes, I will come." Personality Jones is an easy-going man, who is often caught in a very serious and stoic society. He believes in the sanctity of human life and has the ability to protect that life, and in some cases even go in and reverse death. This ability has caused some conflict with his Catholic upbringing. Under the tutelage of the Mark and Southern Cross International, Jones has discovered that his ability to heal had a hidden cost: that before he could access his healing ability, he had first to take the lives of others. Jones had inadvertently contributed to the deaths of his parents through the generation of hostile cancers, and of his grandparents through general organ failure. Although the Mark has removed that component of his genetic gift, Jones still wonders how many lives he had ended without even knowing in his early teens. As a member of the Southern Knights, Jones is a light-hearted and chivalrous man who enjoys the public life as Nostrum, but who also guards his personal life, even from his team-mates. Jones is worried that he won't be accepted by his team-mates if they discovered he was gay, and he certainly doesn't think the public would be ready to accept it. He spends his occasional 'down-time' in Christchurch where he still lives in Durham Street and has a small, close circle of friends. Quote "Don't worry, it's only an arterial haemorrhage. Should be right in no time." Powers Jones was born with an active ubergene. When he first reached puberty his body began to produce a form of malignant radiation which attacked the immune systems of those close to him. During this time he developed several allergies, severe asthma and regular nose bleeds. His parents encouraged him to swim to help with his asthma, and by the time he reached fifteen he had overcome all of his physical disabilities. His ubergene had undergone a metamorphosis, becoming restorative instead of destructive. Everyone around him became healthier, more up beat and satisfied. Unfortunately his parents had already succumbed to cancer, so Jones was to celebrate his new gift alone. His body radiates a constant wave of positive, restorative radiation which heals on a cellular level. He is able to cure diseases, transforming diseased or cancerous cells into healthy ones. He is able to reverse the effects of heart attacks and staunch the flow of blood in haemorrhaging cases. Appearance Jones has an olive complexion, which darkens easily in even the briefest of summer days. His mother was Italian, and he inherited her Roman features His hair is a dark blonde and usually unkempt, and he keeps himself in good shape through training and the occasional triathlon. As Nostrum, he wears a white jersey with a prominent red cross, over a green t-shirt and dark green denim jeans. When he feels the need to protect his identity, Nostrum wears a small black domino mask. SOUTHERN CROSS: Emanuel Santos Click Here For The Character Sheet Concept Powered Armour Nationality Brazilian Place of Birth Santiago, Brazil Date of Birth August 4, 1983 Hair Colour Dark Brown Eye Colour Dark Brown Height 1.83m Weight 77kg Background Southern Cross International (SCI) designed a powered armour suit employing an electromagnetic field generator, an accomplishment which enabled them to create a public image for their research. Southern Cross began his career primarily as a spokesman and field agent for Southern Cross International, but with the establishment of the Southern Knights, he found a home amongst the other ubers. Emanuel Santos was a helicopter pilot in the Brazilian army, when he was approached by SCI to become the third Southern Cross. The first Southern Cross was killed in the destruction of Rio de Janeiro, and the second had been forced to retire after a drug scandal. Santos accepted the assignment and resigned from the army and moved to Melbourne. Although the newest member of the Southern Knights, Southern Cross exudes confidence and a belief that he is leadership material. The other team members accept him as an egotistical jock, although they would never consider him anything more than a 'blow in'. Personality Santos is supremely confident and impressed with his charm and good looks. He considers himself on the fast-track to further greatness and enjoys his time in the lime light. Underneath, he sometimes wonders whether he could handle the life of the superhero, especially given his reliance on the power suit. Basically he is still a military man, comfortable in the chain of command, and in control of a powerful weapon. Quote “Get behind me, and watch out for ricochets. This could get messy.” Powers The Southern Cross Power Suit utilises an electromagnetic field generator, enabling the wearer to fly and project a powerful force field. It also augments the wearer's strength and speed, provides a wide array of communication and sensor devices, and self contained breathing systems. SCI has added a gauntlet-mounted laser. Appearance The Southern Cross Power Suit is a blue suit with the southern cross emblazoned on the chest and boots. He wears a yellow helmet, wrist bands and belt. The helmet allows his lower face to be exposed, but when needed, a clear screen extends to provide complete sealed systems. WITCH HAZEL: Ebony McMahon Click Here For The Character Sheet Concept Mystic Nationality Australian Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Date of Birth March 5, 1977 Hair Colour Dark Brown Eye Colour Hazel Height 1.73m Weight 52kg Background Ebony found herself enslaved in Singapore, a part of Evol Khan's harem. She had responded to the promise of exotic work in public relations and had left Australia with dreams of working her way into the jet-setting crowd. Instead, she had her passport seized, and was kept in one of Khan's palaces where she worked as a servant. Khan noticed her after several weeks and seduced her, giving Ebony a glimpse at happinness; but that glimpse only lasted three months before she was relegated back into the household staff. The three months was enough, however, for Ebony to become pregnant and it was the knowledge that her unborn child would be brought up in Khan's world that drove her to find a way to escape. One of the other women in the palace seemed to offer Ebony a chance of escape. She was a mystic, a middle aged woman who had been bron into a family rich in the traditions of magic, although she had turned away from the legacy in search of bigger dreams, much like Ebony had. The woman agreed to help Ebony, even though she knew that escape would be pointless. The two women did manage to escape, due more to Ebony's persistence than the other woman's magical ability, but once free they managed to escape Singapore. Ebony returned to Melbourne where the woman brought her into the care of Hecate before disappearing. Ebony was safe in Hecate's sanctum, and Khan was unable to locate her although he did try. Ebony and Hecate became close friends, and at Ebony's gentle insistance, Hecate initiated her into the world of magic. Ebony proved to be a natural student and learned quickly. When her son was born, Ebony had become Hecate's apprentice and they both lived above the Hecate Club. This situation continued for years until Ebony and Hecate had a disagreement. Hecate promoted a neutral position on everything, while Ebony believed that their power shoud be used to make the world a better place. Ebony was furious at Hecate's willingness to overlook evil in the city, and in her anger Ebony was unable to see the subtle manoeuvrings of Hecate. While professing neutrality, Hecate had always been a force for good in the world. Ebony was too idealistic to see it. And so Ebony left, taking her son Sean, with her. Hecate had foreseen the departure and allowed Ebony to travel the path she had chosen. Taking on the name of Witch Hazel, Ebony began a career in superheroics, which had the unwanted effect of bringing her to the attention of Evol Khan. He dispatched a retrieval team to Melbourne and Witch Hazel was almost killed, saved only by her nascent magical abilities. After Khan realised she had grown more powerful, his interest in Ebony changed from wanting to eradicate her, to wanting her back in his 'collection'. Ebony also realised things had changed, and knew she needed support. She approached the Southern Knights and was accepted as a member, thus bringing her safety in numbers while also allowing her to continue her work opposing evil. Personality Ebony is idealistic and opinionated. She has always been outgoing, but through her recent experiences she has curbed her tongue so that she only speaks out when absolutely necessary. She is fiercely protective of her son, and her friends, and believes that people should stand up for what they believe. Her belief in what is right and wrong has become the backbone for the Southern Knights and although she is not the leader, and would never want the role, she is seen as the moral compass. Quote “If we put on the tights, we need to be serious about opposing evil.” Powers Witch Hazel is a magician, able to channel magical energies for a variety of effects, most notably for causing darkness, creating phantasmal hands, opening portals across space and dimension, controlling others and communicating telepathically. In addition to her sorcery, Witch Hazel also employs two mystical artefacts which have fallen into her possession: The Ring of Persephone, which enables her to alternately fly through the summoning of winds, or change her appearance; and the Band of the Goddess, which grants her magical sight and protection, focussed willpower and the ability to see across great distances. Appearance Witch Hazel has long unruly hair which has never been tamed not matter how hard she tried in the past. Her costume consists of black trousers and shirt, and an open, free-flowing purple jacket which has starbursts along the black hem. She always wears the Band of the Goddess, which is a thick-plated necklace, and the Ring of Persephone, which is a simple silver ring. When she is not on duty, Ebony wears New Age style clothing: long flowing dresses and shirts, lots of jewellery although she never wears makeup.

The Brothers Grimm As my own campaign will be set in Melbourne it was important to have some local uber-thugs. Here are Grievous and Harm, cousins who work for the Melbourne mafia as well as branching out into their own lives of crime when needed. GRIEVOUS: Gregorio Grimaldi Click here for the Character Sheet Concept Brick Nationality Australian Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Date of Birth June 29, 1972 Hair Colour Black Eye Colour Brown Height 2.0m Weight 120kg Background The sound of shattered glass dripped through to the basement cell of the Elizabeth Police Station. The suburb north of Adelaide was infamous for crime and neglect, and the central police station resembled a bunker. Inside, waiting transport to the Adelaide Remand Centre, was Fabrizio Pucetti who had been unceremoniously apprehended by Adelaide's finest while enjoying his weekly visit to the Countess Parlour. Pucetti had been linked to a string of murders and drug charges. It wasn't looking good. He looked out of his cell down towards the thick door which separated the holding cells from the upstairs police station and realised the sentry had vanished. The thick door seemed to vibrate. With eyebrows raised, Pucetti watched as the door flew backward down towards his cell, dropping hinges and bolts as it tumbled. In the doorway stood a gigantic silhouette, and Pucetti's face broke into a knowing grin. "Grimaldi," he said. The large man walked without speaking, his bulk shifting from side to side as he moved. Pucetti's smile wavered as the silence struck him. Grimaldi was usually a talkative man, but his eyes seemed darker than normal. Pucetti placed his hands around the bars and looked closer. "Gregorio? What's the matter, cousin? You've come to get me out of here I hope." Gregorio Grimaldi stood at the bars, his eyes staring darkly into Pucetti's. "It is over, Fabrizio," Gregorio said, wrapping his own thick fingers around Pucetti's and the bars. "You have made more mistakes than we can realistically accept, and the Don is not impressed. Personally I think this is overdue." With a hard yank of his thick arms, Gregorio Grimaldi ripped out the bars, along with Pucetti's arms. The sudden movement caught Pucetti by surprise and he stared with utter horror as Grimaldi threw the bars and his arms away. "You're dead now," Grimaldi said. And Pucetti fell down bleeding profusely. Later, Gregorio Grimaldi met with the man's father and explained the situation. Senor Pucetti nodded his head with understanding and shame, and then paid the large enforcer $50,000. Grimaldi folded the money, taking half for himself and half for the Family. Grimaldi dropped the two photographs of Fabrizio on the older man's side table. He smiled and left, and Senor Pucetti realised, with a dawning sense of dread, that Gregorio Grimaldi was rightly called Grievous: the cold blooded enforcer of the Grimaldi Family. Personality Gregorio is a proud Italian Australian, having grown up in the small goods business alongside the colourful world of organised crime. His father was a hitman and then an extortionist, so Gregorio was able to learn from him at a very young age. He believes that his family honour is the most important thing in his life, and that any attempts to discredit him or his family is enough to warrant a murderous vendetta. As one half of the Brothers Grimm, Gregorio presents a very professional air, especially when dealing with Italians; although he is rude and obnoxious in the presence of mainstream Australians and those of Asian descent. Quote “An eye for an eye, blood for blood.” Powers Gregorio has uberhuman levels of strength and durability, as well as a variety of enhanced sensory attributes. His strength enables him to lift in excess of 50 tons, and his durability is to such a degree that he never worries about facing police officers and their puny weapons. In addition to his uberhuman abilities, Gregorio has trained in direct and deadly martial arts which complement his enforcer duties. Appearance Gregorio Grimaldi is very tall and broad, and weighs 120kg which is enough to plummet him in any body of water. He has an olive complexion, slightly curly dark hair and darker eyes. As Grievous, he wears a purple and silver-grey costume which accentuates his huge arms and is familiar to those in the Melbourne underworld. HARM: Harmon Grimaldi Click here for the character sheet. Concept Brick Nationality Australian Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Date of Birth May 3, 1984 Hair Colour Blonde Eye Colour Blue Height 1.9m Weight 120kg Background The final quarter siren wailed, and Harm Grimaldi took a crashing mark at the fifty metre line. The crowd rushed to their feet and Harm could hear the regular beat of stomping boots. The score was close. Adelaide were only three points behind the Brisbane Lions, and Harm had the ball. The man on his mark spat out a curse, as usual, but Harm ignored the sledge. He lined up the goal and kicked, confident in his ability as well as the time it would take to sail through the goal posts. The kick was good and it seemed that half of Adelaide was suddenly on their feet cheering. Harm was swept into the clubrooms by his jubilant team and the hours passed in a sea of camera flashes, lightning fast interviews and the continual flood of stubbies which were pressed into his hands. Harm Grimaldi had only played three senior games but he was the toast of the town. In the quiet times he examined himself in the mirror and marvelled at the work his ubergene had wrought. No one knew he was an uber, except for his cousin, Gregorio, who shared a similar ubergene. Gregorio had come to Harm three years earlier and explained the situation as he saw it. Harm would gain incredible strength and fitness, but he'd also come into a position of responsibility. The Grimaldi family had certain requirements, certain standards that had to be held and protected. There were enemies everywhere, apparently, and as Gregorio slipped money into Harm's hands, the younger Grimaldi realised that he had been brought into the criminal underworld. It wasn't a place he felt totally comfortable, but there was some kind of thrill there. It was only ever matched on the football field, and as he grew in power and strength, Harm realised that he didn't have to give up on one of his lives. He could be a footballer as well as an enforcer. He and Gregorio moved to Melbourne in 2003, shifting the focus of the Grimaldi family from South Australia to Victoria. Harm continued to have everything his own way, and scored a trade with the Carlton Football Club. His fame has only increased and he has developed a loyal fan base as well as a swag of club awards. Personality Harm is overconfident. Since becoming virtually indestructible, he has very little to worry about, except for the time when his ubergene is discovered and his place in the AFL is jeopardised. He is more worried about being caught out with the AFL, than being caught by the authorities for illicit behaviour. Even though he is enjoying his two separate lives, Harm has not developed the interest in causing pain and death - without reason. Gregorio is the one who kills to send a message. Harm is more likely to exercise some wanton property destruction. Quote “Pick your man, Grievous. Don't let them scatter or it'll take us all night to clean it up.” Powers Harm has uberhuman levels of strength and durability, as well as the ability to literally grow stronger the more he is hit. His base level strength enables him to lift in excess of 20 tons although his potential is far greater than this, fuelled by his absorption of kinetic energy. Appearance Harm Grimaldi is a broad and handsome athlete with a wide smile and a somewhat booming voice. His height and weight are impressive and have caused some to suspect he may have an active ubergene, although Harm avoids all kinds of blood tests. He has an olive complexion, short blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. As Harm, he wears a purple and silver-grey costume which accentuates his huge arms and is familiar to those in the Melbourne underworld.

Re: Uberworld - a new Champions PBEM Universe And you're Australian. That counts for something.

Hit and Run - Argentinian Anti-Heroes The first team in the showcase will be Hit and Run. One started as a petty criminal and the other as a neonate hero, but after the police gave them both a hard time in Buenos Aires, they teamed up and became the South American version of Robin Hood, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. HIT: Horacio Barrionueve Click here for character sheet Concept Brick Nationality Argentinean Place of Birth Buenos Aires, Argentina Date of Birth November 11, 1979 Hair Colour Black Eye Colour Brown Height 1.96m Weight 98kg Background Horacio Barrionueve was always big for his age, and grew up through school as the boy you didn't dare mess with. He wasn't a bully, but he also wasn't one to mess with. If the mood struck him, he may have defended those who were being picked on, but more often he simply watched impassively. He began to suspect that he may have an active ubergene, and although he was always underestimated by his teachers and peers, Horacio was a keen learner and studied hard outside of school. Unfortunately, his family was poor and began to slide even further into poverty as Horacio neared his graduation. To help supplement his family's income, Horacio began to steal from the more affluent neighbourhoods. It wasn't long until he was confronted in the act of stealing, and Horacio made a fateful decision to strike out at the security guard. There was no contest. From that night, Horacio embarked upon a string of crimes, always taken from the rich areas, never the poor. He was dubbed the Blue Bandit and managed to appear regularly on nightly news programmes across South America. He didn't feel the need to restrict his illicit activities to Argentina, especially as there were richer, more corrupt societies to the north. Eventually Horacio met Miguel Laguardia, an idealistic uber who planned to apprehend the Blue Bandit. And Miguel did manage to do so, but after being mistreated by the police and mesmerised by the stories of the Blue Bandit, young Miguel turned the tables on the police and whisked Horacio away. The two struck up a firm friendship and after some months of training and planning, took on the monikers of Hit and Run: partners in crime. Personality Horacio doesn't scare easily, and considers the law enforcement agencies to be slightly less effective than parking meter attendants. He has no respect for authority, but does hold a small flame for his home city of Buenos Aires. He wants to make sure the people on his old neighbourhoods are looked after, while at the same time he couldn't care less about the welfare of the rich and famous. He has made a career out of stealing from the rich and doesn't feel any kind of remorse. He was dashing and risqué as the Blue Bandit, but now with the more youthful and extroverted Miguel, Horacio has become the older more responsible 'brother'. He doesn't like to think of himself as growing older, but some times he will appreciate the new role he has chosen and the perspective he brings to the partnership. And he retains most of his swashbuckling attitudes, rarely keeping quiet as he goes about his pillaging. Quote “I've never met a wall safe I didn't like." Powers Hit has an archetypal strength uberene, granting him strength and durability far beyond the scope of normal humans. He has experimented with these sometimes limited powers so that he can cause a vibrational shockwave punch which he uses to catch superheroes off guard. Hit and Run usually employ guerrilla tactics and prefer not to engage super teams for any kind of prolonged period. Appearance Hit wears a patriotic suit of aqua and white, including mask and gloves to obscure his identity. Out of uniform he is a tall and impressive man, with a crew cut and pronounced cheek bones. He wears black a lot, out of costume, and prefers to blend in during social occasions. RUN: Miguel Laguardia Click here for character sheet Concept Energy Blaster Nationality Argentinean Place of Birth Buenos Aires, Argentina Date of Birth March 19, 1982 Hair Colour Black Eye Colour Brown Height 1.82m Weight 78kg Background Miguel Laguardia looked at the phone in his hand and stared blankly at another rejection call from his agent. He had quit his job waiting tables, had cut ties with his grasping family, and had set out to conquer the world of television soaps. But even though he had a capable agent, who was also a hottie in Miguel's barely post-pubescent eyes. At twenty-one he had expected to take the world by storm, but all he had managed was a thirty second commercial in his underwear and a bit part in a Chilean documentary. It wasn't fair. Outside it began to snow. Inside the small apartment it was also snowing, but Miguel was too caught up in his recent knockback to notice. The landlady knocked on his door, barged in as she always did and quickly crossed herself before rushing away from the snow-covered room. Miguel snapped out of his reverie and looked around his white-capped room. A glass of water by his bedside was frozen. He stood up and walked to the window and stared wide-eyed at the street below which was now covered in a thin layer of snow. It was early Spring. It shouldn't have been snowing. Miguel made his way through the trials of a young actor, gradually gaining more recognition amongst the networks, but he wasn't so worried about television roles because he was living his life on the biggest screen of all - Real Life. He had decided to become a super hero, to defeat crime and defend the beautiful women of Buenos Aires. All started well, with favourable reports in the media, but Miguel got tired of petty crimes. He longed for a challenge, and decided he needed to face off against a real, larger than life super villain. It was just his luck that Horacio Barrionueve had returned to the city from a successful crime spree in Mexico, and couldn't resist a lightning strike against one of Argentina's beleaguered banks. Miguel was only blocks away from the crime scene, and made his appearance even before the police had arrived. He found Horacio, who was known as the Blue Bandit, sitting at the front of the bank sipping a coffee. There were three bags of loot at his feet, and it seemed that the Blue Bandit was a little arrogant. Miguel leapt into the fray and demanded that Horacio return the money. Horacio smiled at the younger man and offered him a seat. Miguel froze him to the seat instead. Without worrying too much, Horatio began to talk to Miguel of his adventures in Mexico. When the police arrived they manhandled Miguel out of the way, treating him like some annoying bystander, and Miguel felt resentment rise in his body, even as the temperature dropped. Within seconds, the police officers were frozen in large chunks of ice and Miguel was carrying a laughing Horacio towards the sunset. Years passed and Miguel's tandem careers of actor and anti-hero have soared, most notably in Argentina where he is considered an urban hero. He steals money, accepts mercenary assignments, but takes time to give back to the poor community. As Hit and Run, Miguel and Horacio have managed to earn the respect of their communities at the same time as the anger of the law enforcement agencies. Personality Miguel enjoys watching himself, whether it's on the evening news, an afternoon soap or in a passing mirror. He loves being the centre of attention, particularly in situations where he can indulge his obsession of checking out the opposite sex. He is an intrepid night clubber, in his secret and public identity, and often takes home multiple girls on any given night. He loves the publicity and the fact that the police can never catch him, but he is also careful to protect and build upon his positive reputation among the 'fans'. Quote “Ooh, it's getting cold in here.†Powers Miguel is a cryokinetic, able to manipulate temperature and in particular water particles in the air. He is able to create ice, reduce the temperature in a 100m radius and also create a 'cool air field' which enables him to fly as well as providing him with a rigid field for protection against most attacks. His body is constantly regulated so he is never too hot or too cold, although in the past he has shown a vulnerability to opponents utilising fire and heat-based attacks. Appearance Miguel is an olive-skinned man with well defined muscles and an attractive presence which he utilises well in his acting career. His hair is dark and curly and his eyes are brown, although they flash with flecks of green and gold when he is excited. In costume, Run wears a patriotic costume of aqua and white, including gloves and a mask to protect his identity. Out of uniform, Miguel wears fashionable and expensive clothes, usually following the latest trends.

As part of the new Uberworld universe we've had to come up with a whole host of international characters and teams. This thread will showcase fome of the characters, including character sheets and art. The art was done using the templates available for free at Hero Games (right here in the Free Stuff section) and other outlines/tenplates - with modifications of course. If you are interested, go and see the Uberworld Web Site at: http://www.thismutantlife.com/uberworld/ There are over one hundred NPC characters, organisations and world book information. And stay tuned for openings in the upcoming campaigns.

Re: Uberworld - a new Champions PBEM Universe The link to the UBERWORLD site is: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/dawnstars/index.htm We'd love to hear your thoughts on the background and characters if you can spare the time.

The Uberworld is a lot like our own, except for the presence of the ubergene which has had an impact on world affairs, most notably since the Second World War. On average one in a million people on the planet will have an active ubergene which gives them the opportunity to develop weird and wonderful powers. So how would that change the world we have today? India has a population of a little over one billion people. Using the above formula of one in a million, India has a potential uber population of over one thousand. Ubers have become the new nuclear weapon, and the development of ubers has (in some parts of the world) become the new arms race. India recognised this opportunity first and acted on it. They rallied a team of patriotic heroes including the elephant-headed god Ganesh, and invaded their neighbours. Kashmir was the first strike. The once dipsuted territory was taken over in a matter of hours. Pakistan was occupied within a fortnight: their own ubers cut down in lightning raids. Sri Lanka followed that and then Bangladesh. India's superteam, the Assembly, was feared across the region and yet the United Nations and the Commonwealth did nothing to stop the move. In a way, the actions reduced tensions in the region. There was no more nuclear stand off between India and Pakistan. The world returned to normal, although for those living in the Protectorates of India, live wasn't much to be excited about. _______________________________________________ The Assembly is one team of NPC 'heroes' which colour the Uberworld. They are led by: Fusion: a nuclear-powered military man with an ego the size of Mount Everest. and Taitaya: a hardfaced ex-Intelligence officer thrust into the role of field commander, but who still prefers to work alone. Other members include: Ganesh: the Hindu God who has returned to Earth in order to pave the way for the return of his Pantheon. Bagha: a brilliant scientist caught in the body of an Indian tiger. Bahairavi: a six armed martial artist with a reputation for fast times in the realms of love, and a sense of humour amongst the bloodiest of battles. Charm and her husband Zone: two crime fighters brought into the government team. Charm has a mixture of magic and uber powers, while Zone is able to slow the world down enough to help his team mates defeat nearly any opponent. Conscience: an alien who crashlanded into the Himalayas when he was an infant, this blue skinned humanoid grew up in a science lab. Dharma: the young, idealistic and incredibly strong uber is a symbol of hope and greatness for all Indians. The Director: a famous action film director as well as being the owner of a solid light projector. The Director 'directs' an army of solid-light ninjas. He has something of a wandering eye, but don't let his wife find out! Harvest: the slightly less than smart giant with the ability to transform his arms into weapons of great destruction and bloodshed. Simple mind, dangerous weapon against India's enemies. Kismet: orphaned and raised by Catholic nuns, Kismet is still a teenager but possessed incredible strength and the ability to heal with her touch. Naive but with the potential to be India's greatest hero. Luna: By day she is a sickly woman on the edge of death, but when the sun goes down, she becomes a super-strong woman who has spent years of her life trying to clean up the streets. Mister Honey: a British citizen who betrayed his country, earnt some money at the expense of other peoples' lives, and then received immunity from India. Mister Honey is a slippery, smarmy character. Naga: an ex-Ghurka who lost his legs only to become involved with a top secret, highly dangerous cybernetic programme in the Sudan. He had his legs replaced with a serpent's tail and became a high paid mercenary. Prerita Vashtu: Young and idealistic, and really not connected with the realities of what is going on in her home country. She is a pin up girl for India's occupation of Pakistan. Some see her as betraying Pakistan, but she just sees her chance to be a celebrity! Saraswati: When India invaded Pakistan, the CIA sent in Saraswati, an undercover agent. She has been reporting back to the US ever since, and doesn't like what Ganesh has planned. Shockwave: A Pakistani hero who was the sole survivor of an attack on his team. Shockwave was blackmailed into serving on the team that killed his friends and enslaved his nation. Umbra: an ancient mystic who once served Ganesh. When he came back Umbra found herself in his service again, although she is not impressed with the situation. The Assembly page can be found at: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/uberworld/assembly.htm The Uberworld page can be accessed at: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/dawnstars/ There are a lot of other NPC teams to look at, and feel free to adapt them for your own games if you think it'll work for you. Stay tuned for more insights into Uberworld. - Ben

Re: Superhero Images Here is a supervillain team (or parts of it) called Anarchy created for the GGU by someone a long time ago... probably Jack himself. They are mercenaries and have a major beef against the US Military. The leader is Assault, a Vietnamese American Brick. Razor is a psycho with a very sharp forcefield (which shreds any clothes he wears - not that he minds). Diablo is a pyrokinetic with a dark personality... don't they all?

Re: Superhero Images The next three (yeah, I'll do three per page because they're so small) are my PCs: a) White Rabbit: a teleporter who disappears down 'rabbit holes' who was widowed by one of the GGU's most enigmatic and destructive villains - The Blood Red King. She wasn't killed because she was out of town on the day, but was left behind with three kids. After half a decade of being a mom she has decided to come back to superheroics. Brian Cobb did the colouring for White Rabbit too. Union Jack: a guy whose father dabbled in dark sorcery-science which somehow allowed his son to become a vessel for the spirits of the Peers of Charlemagne. He joined the Dawnstars team, got a bit bored with always being attacked and nearly killed, so he retired. After a short retirement he joined Britain's superhero team, Majestic. He also picked up a special suit like the early versions of Captain Britain, which enhances his strength and gives him the ability to fly really fast. Brian coloured this red one and I did the black one (which has no attempt at shadowing so it's kind of flat.) c) Los Hermanos: a duplicator, able to create over 100 copies of himself. He's probably my longest running PBEM character, although I originally took him over from Jack Butler long long ago... He's a nice, laid-back guy with a unique perspective on life. I currently play him in two PBEM universes which shows that I really like him (although playing a duplicator is really hard - and being the GM must be kind of infuriating!)

Re: Superhero Images Here is Jungle Boy (obviously based on Disney's Tarzan) who is part of a Disney-inspired campaign. He's the son of world-famous superheroes and can talk to animals (although they don't always listen). He used to be called Kung Fu Kid, but that was way back when he was 12 or 13.

Re: Superhero Images I've had a big two weeks of marking students' exams and essays, so I was tied to a desk. The funny thing was that being tied to that desk allowed me to stumble into drawing up characters for the Global Guardians game. I've been using the Hero character outlines (found on the Free Stuff page) and adding in details. Originally I had someone else colour them but then got impatient (Thanks Brian!) and started doing them myself. Each picture only took about 15 minutes all up, so I'm not presenting masterpieces, but I think they convey a sense of the character. To get the character details you'll have to go to the Global Guardians website (http://www.globalguardians.com) and check out the NPCs page or the Characters page. The first picture is of Medusa. She started out as a hero and friend to the PCs of my Dawnstars game, but through some nasty personality shifts she became their greatest (if somewhat hidden) enemy. She is a Tunisian telekinetic (of course!). All of the pictures will be dowloaded in a 200x300 size. If you'd like to see bigger just let me know.

I've been bouncing around a variety of explanations for superpowers being a part of a new campaign, basically rehashing the common idea that heavier use of atomic energy in the 20th century caused genetic mutations. What other explanations are there in the various campaigns?

Re: Marvel Second Stringers. Help me out. Okay, I'm showing my X-Men roots here, but how about: Misty Knight or Colleen Wing or even Red Lotus from the X-Treme X-Men comic - although I think Chris Claremont stuffed him up (of course). or what about a revamped .... Shatterstar? Lose the swords, concentrate on the moves. Hey, you wanted a challenge!

Re: Marvel Second Stringers. Help me out. If you're looking for a good 'energy blaster' give Alison blaire, aka Dazzler a shot. She is a capable character in the right hands, and she REALLY needs to get away from the X-Men (and especially away from the dorky Mojoverse stuff). Kind of associated with Dazzler is another candidate: The Blue Shield. Basically a guy with a force field, but he was also the chief of security of the Pegasus Project... hmm, or maybe some other Project... I forget. But that proves he is a forgettable character with potential for your team. He should probably expand his powers, possibly by expanding his force field into a limited telekinesis?? But definitely Dazzler.

Re: Global Guardians PBEM: 3 Immediate Openings Great news for Samsonite. She makes the transition from the minor leagues to the majors. I love it when characters move from campaign to campaign. Good luck Joe, but don't forget the little people in Majestic. Ben aka Union Jack

Re: Clix mod challenge That is awesome news Hooligan! And if you took liberties then I can only assume you made improvements. Like I said, the original pic was a little dudsy. Can't wait to see the picture. I'll send a PM to you with my address, and you can let me know where to send the Cats merchandise.

Re: Clix mod challenge Oh yeah, and the US Agent 'look' is right on, except for the bulging biceps. Union Jack has less steroids and more 'natural talent'. )

Re: Clix mod challenge Hey, I'm happy to wait 'Hooligan'. I'm having a great time just looking at your handiwork, so keep posting the ones you've completed.

Re: Clix mod challenge I'd like to jump in with the requests here if the offer is still open. I've got two characters here, and I'd be more than happy to send you some Geelong Cats "stuff" in exchange for some Clix. The guy with the Union Jack flag is (funnily enough) Union Jack from a Global Guardians game (Majestic). He's kind of like a less powerful Captain Britain, and gets his flight from a specially deisgned suit (like earlier versions of Cap). The picture is crap, but should give you an idea. He has a short sleeve version as well as a complete black bodyglove version (covering arms). Either one would be great. The second character is the first character I had in the (new) Global Guardians universe: Thunderstrike from the 4Men. He was drawn by Ry Stevenson (I think! I hope!) and shows up the cool 4Men uniform. Let me know if the offer is still open and what your preference is for Cats Stuff. I'm a Geelong guy, born and bred (although I go for the Crows... don't ask why!) Thanks Ben Langdon

Re: Global Guardians PBEM: 3 Immediate Openings To subscribe to a list you just use the email address, but add '-subscribe' to it. For example: adminlist-subscribe@globalguardians.com chat-subscribe@globalguardians.com You don't need anything in the main message of the email. You will receive a message back to confirm that you want to join the list. If you don't get a reply don't send another email straight away. It can take a day or so sometimes. If you still have trouble, maybe post here again and catch Worldmaker's attention. Good luck. It's always good to see new GG players. Cheers Ben

Re: looking for an online game You'd be better off checking the Player Finder message board here at Hero Games, or else come and join the Global Guardians Universe. Go to the website: www.globalguardians.com and if you subscribe to the adminlist-subscribe@globalguardians.com Vacancies for characters appear there every week to two weeks. There should be a call for up to 8 characters soon, so sign up and get your characters ready - obviously after you've checked out the website. Feel free to email me about it if you need to. Happy to promote the Universe. It's the best fun I've had in PBeMs.

Re: Russian Superheroes - Ideas and Comment Needed for 'Russian Dawn' game openings Here are some websites: Pagan Gods: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~tales/pagan.html Some saints: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~tales/saints.html Spirits: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~tales/spirits.html and mythic birds: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/~tales/birds.html

Re: Russian Superheroes - Ideas and Comment Needed for 'Russian Dawn' game openings The idea of Rasputin is already set in motion, I think, as the team's arch enemy. As far as I can tell so far Rasputin is a crime boss who is eradicating all opposition. And you just reminded me about another character already set up as an NPC which I thought was great (although he ended up squished by a speeding train...): Khameleon: a shapeshifter. Gotta love the use of 'K' in Russian hero names. As a side question: does anyone remember the names of the Marvel Comics Russians: Soviet Super Soldiers: Vanguard, Darkstar and Ursus Major. People's Protectorate: Perun, Fantasia, Vostok (was he an evil Vision?), Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, Gremlin (maybe not...)... who else? Plus there were the Soviet mutants who appeared in X-Factor Annual #1 led by Father ... someone ... and including such favourites as Sibercat (I think that's your Siberian reference) and ... well, maybe they weren't all that memorable.

Zdravstvuite Gamers, That's hello in Russian (http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/hello/russian.html). This post is kind of linked to a current campaign opening in the Global Guardians Universe (Russian Dawn), but I wanted to send this to the wider audience. Russia. What kind of characters would you create for a game set in modern Russia? I've come up with some ideas, and was looking for comment or other ideas that you may have played in the past (or even just thought about). The one I'm going with at the moment is: Census: Yelizaveta Galkin. She is a telepath, but with the uncontrollable ability to 'collect' statistical and biographical information about a person she looks at (eye contact required). She can pick up Name, Date of Birth, Occupation, Salary, Bank Account, PIN Number, Telephone Number, Email Address, Criminal Record, Marital Status... and so on. Actually pretty good for dating, to avoid all the 'bad choices' such as married ones, deadbeat unemployed ones, or ones with a history of violent crime. Plus you don't have to ask for a phone number... Anyway, I had some other ideas, so please comment and add to the list: 1. Arctos: a scientist who worked on the border between Russia and Finland until he was caught in an explosion and turned into a 10' tall Polar Bear with a genius IQ. 2. Baba Yaga: the famous witch who lives in a house on Chicken Legs (or maybe one of her apprentices or just some lady who likes to scare little children!). 3. Rush (or the Polar Express): a speedster who consumes anything to do with the West almost as fast as he can run. He is a real American-consumer caught in the anything-goes society of modern Russia. 4. Ukulan: a water spirit from Siberia, named after the Lord of All Water from the Altai Tartars mythology. Ukulan is really just a peasant boy who has been sent to work for the government, even though he would prefer to work in his homeland and help his family and people. 5. Sub-Zero: a Russian with a body of ice who is pretty much invincible, able to regenerate any injury in seconds. Could be changed to an ice-projector. 6. Iron Curtain: A Brick. Maybe even with a hidden passion for interior decorating... ) Cheers Ben Langdon (who wants more European superheroesin the Global Guardians Universe! - and don't get me started on Australia's missing heroes...)

Re: All the superhero PCs I've ever played This thread has got me thinking back to the handful of face-to-face games I've played before being side-lined by so-called growing up and ddrifting away from other role players. Now I do the pbem thing and I have to admit pbem has turned out to be so much more rewarding, and there aren't those problems with people throwing tantrums and taking their chips and cheezos home in a huff.... anyway, off track a bit. My first Champions character was Cure - a guy who could heal other people as well as a handful of stun attacks. His schtick was that he secretly drew life-energy away from people around him. My brother was the GM and we cooked up a wicked side-story. Cure had actually killed three people in his life before realising and controlling his powers better. They became recurring guests in the game, although no one except Cure knew they were dead people. They walked around and interacted and stuff, but they were dead. I named the dead people after a T.S. Eliot poem: Gerontium. There was Gerontium, Mr Silvero and Fraulein von Kulp (?). Silvero was a psycho. I've actually started playing a revised pbem version of this character this year. Cure debuted in 1990 (or there abouts) and Nostrum, the new version, debuted last month 2005. Have I been superhero gaming that long? I think I'll try to come up with a list of all my characters over that time as well, but maybe not right away. A project for a rainy day perhaps!