Hermit

YOU ARE WELCOME, MORTAL... I mean, np.

I'm a better idea man than I am at delivery, imo, but thanks. I've got some good players, and by good I don't just mean they have literary flare, I mean they've been quite patient with me. Still, that flare part does arrive. Take Randy, geeky "athletic supporter" who wants so badly to be a jock. The player's character goes to every game, and is like a good luck charm for the sports team. They like him, but they don't respect him.Well, he just had his origin not so long ago. I put it in spoilers, with my stuff in quotes to show you what he did.

Dream Queen - Minerva Dickens seems to sleep all the time, and that's not unusual for a woman her age. Meanwhile, criminals in the area are having a hard time getting any sleep at all as their bedeviled in their dreams by images of a beautiful young woman who seems to know all their secrets. Depending on the severity of their crimes, she can send just warnings, or plunge them into nightmares that feel so real they wake up screaming and eager to go to jail. This woman calls herself the Dream Queen, and of course, she is Minerva's psychic self still going strong. But while the mind is strong, the flesh is failing. Minerva is wrestling with the idea of trying to take over another body and 'move there'. Maybe it would be okay if the person REALLY deserved it? But she also realizes that once she makes that excuse once... (I think that's the five so) NEW CONCEPT/CHALLENGE: The Nar Neo-Knights! "Nar Cola! It's Super!" That has been the marketing cry of Nar Cola for over a decade now, and it has paid off well for them. Actors dressed up in superhero costumes soon gave way to actual superhumans giving endorsements for the soda brand (Perhaps to pay for upkeep on the base or a new super cycle). Nar Classic, Diet Nar, Nar Clear, and, of course, Nar EXXXXTREEEME! have all been big hits.But with the new "Super Nar" rolling forward, the marketeers have hit on a brand new plan. Nar Cola has announced its OWN full time super team, the "Nar Neo-Knights!" Fully insured, the Nar Neo-Knights have colorful names and costumes and yes, real superpowers. While marketing has created their images and fabricated an 'origin story' for each, their true backgrounds and reasons for doing this are unknown by most (And for you to concoct). Their duties are simple, they're to fight bad guys, save citizens, and promote Nar Cola! (Not necessarily in that order) (4 members)

Kid Comet- When Howard Franklin first gained his powers as a 12 year old from the odd alien artifact, he found he could turn into an adult bodied superhero in his late thirties. By saying "Comet time!" (Actually just one alien word that sounds like that) he gained the powers of super strength, flight, and nigh invulnerability plus the fabulous "Comet Corona" but only for an hour. He had a long hero career indeed. He didn't notice at first that with every decade that passed for his hero form got younger and younger. Now, when the 90 year old man changes into a superhuman, his alter ego appears to be 8 years old! It's embarrassing, but he's still a powerhouse.

Looks like we stay one short. Darn.

Dr Faust - His peers consider him a "glorified car salesman" but Dr. Faust has immense occult knowledge thanks to the many bargains he's made. Having learned the lesson the original Faust never grasped, he never sold his soul to the infernal (Though his deeds have blackened it). Rather, he learned how to bargain other human beings out of THEIR souls, and then traded said invaluables as commodities to various demons and devil for his own gain. In short, he acted as a 'middleman' using demonic resources that weren't his to begin with to give people what they wanted; then traded souls that weren't originally his for demonic influence, power, and knowledge. Infused with learning rather than having 'worked' for it, the silver tongued Faust nevertheless is now an expert on demonology, spiritualism, and the occult in general. Part of his peers snide commentary maybe inspired by envy. Faust has all the perks the material world can bring: Wealth (When you ask for ten percent of a lottery/bet that you use demonic influence to help others win over and over again, it adds up), fame (In his secret ID he's a noted Occult specialist),and beautiful women (Mostly lovely succubi now riding in human hosts) and he has all the time in the world to enjoy himself. ( I borrowed a lot from certain aspects of Felix Faust, but it IS what I thought of when I read the name)

I think the county has a Navy base in the real world, so I can build on that. As for intruding, feel free to suggest what you like. The campaign has started... They found a painting of the heroes, well, most of them. One character found an old film projector Another PC found an old newspaper AND a Cleanatron! and evidence that one of the heroes was a real hit with the ladies.

There is an unnamed third school that is no more, that Dan Quayle replaced when it was closed down. There was a big transition, and I'm sure the city used it as an excuse to 'deal with the deadwood'. I know there is a small tech/trade school in the area, but it is not yet named. It is typically not even thought about, unfair as that might be. As for the other ends of the education spectrum, there are elementary schools and middle schools, of course. And yes, the PCs have siblings. There is a community college, but most end up hoping for the bigger colleges in other parts of Indiana. Coincidentally, in game, the pcs have found a mildewed group painting of what appears to be a very old superhero team. One of the supers in the photo, a big brick looking fellow, appears to be wearing Blue and White. The use of the school colors was not lost on one of the PCs, even though they themselves commented that the painting was no likely older than the High School.

Well Cancer, Quayle is the older school, but it did get a major shot in the arm. It's possible Kennedy is not IN the city but nearby enough to be a rival, more of a city vs County thing, with, ironically, the city school avoiding stereotypes and performing better academically. I was thinking of a car company so the Japanese automaker idea certainly has its merit.

Thanks, Assault. I haven't quite decided what the principal and vice principal will be like yet. I had not considered a son or daughter of an administrator or teacher being among the student body, but I suppose it's highly likely that there would be at least one. I HAVE decided Doug McGinty (School Bully) is the son of a police captain, who is not above looking out for his boy even as he fails to truly reign him in.

Some NPC blurbs: Molli Banks An eternal ray of sunshine, Molli may get on some folks nerves for perkiness, but she defies the idea some have that all cheerleaders are evil or stuck up. Lately though, some have been talking how she's been spending less and less time with her usual crowd and going.. well who knows where to do who knows what. Molli just changes the subject if asked. "You look down, everything okay? I know some blonde jokes, want to hear one?" Vance Carlton While some might envy him, it's hard to hate Vance Carlton. He's an anti stereotype, a nice jock who has moved to defend weaker students in the past. He's no genius, but he tries to keep his studies up and thanks guys like Randy who help him get over the hump. Mostly he wants everyone to have a good time doing whatever they love doing. His mixed heritage (His mother is Filipino) has produced what most of the girls consider to be a true hunk. After a bad break up over the summer, he's free again and rumor has it he's looking for a girl who's 'different'. "Hey, push him around again you'll have to go through me, got it?" Richard "Rick the Shadow" De'Angelo Richard De'Angelo is pretty harmless. He's not big on the violence, and while not a wimp, he's not a fighter. However, this young artist has a flare for darker material. He draws demons, paints death scenes, and so on. Because of this, more than one teacher has made a note of him. Some of his peers think he's cool, others think he's a freak. "No Mrs Plank, things are fine at home. No, that's not a teacher the demon is eating in the drawing, I promise." Uncle Bill William Epstein isn't really Kristine's Uncle by blood, but the Harley expert and mechanic is certainly one by spirit. While his alternative lifestyle is known by some, it doesn't seem to hurt his repair business much. He gets by at his shop "Hawg Wild". He's good at fixing things. Some say even people. ""Hang in there. Bikes run out of gas, but people? They can keep going until they give up. You got an edge." Chelsea King : Chelsea came into her freshman year stacked early and willing to settle for nothing less than grand queen B of the school. She was part of the popular crowd fast, and tormented many. By the start of her Junior year though, folks had had enough and her star was falling. Then came the car wreck, and her spine was broken leaving her a paraplegic. Suddenly "Chelsea the Bitch" was "Poor Chelsea" and the school rallied around her. She claimed to have become more 'spiritual' (She's got a customized tarot set). But, rather than become a better person, this has just given Chelsea new lease to manipulate people. It's worked on 90% of the school. Her ONLY failure since the accident was that Vance (Who had felt maybe she changed and found otherwise) dumped her! Nobody dumps Chelsea King, nobody! "Gosh, I'm SO sorry. I didn't mean to roll over your decade old shoes." Doug McGinty Some call him "Douche" but only out of earshot. Not that he really needs an excuse to kick your ass. Doug McGinty doesn't bully because he's insecure. He just enjoys the hell out of it. He's one of those guys that started as a bully as a child and never grew out of it. He's not as dumb as he looks (How could he be?) so he knows to pick a fight with a weaker student when they're alone and isolated. "You say something to me? I think you did. I think someone needs an education, and I ain't talking school." Ms. Lavender Mullens One of the newest teachers at the school, Ms Mullens seems oblivious to the effect she has on the majority of the male student bodies. She's nothing if not professional, but that doesn't stop some in her class from day dreaming whole rock videos about her. "Why are you gentlemen having so much trouble focusing on the material?" Helga Ollens Considered by some to be the Nerd Queen of the school, Helga Ollens is probably THE smartest student in Dan Quayle High. While rather pretty, she was plagued for acne for the last few years and tormented about it, so her guard is up. She is a math and science wizard, likely to be valedictorian. And she doesn't like leaving mysteries be. "I don't know how that happened, but someone owes the laws of science dinner and a show." Mr. Pershing No student seems to know what Mr. Pershing's first name. "El Diablo" Pershing is one guess, because the guy does not cut slackers slack, and his courses are never easy. He expects you to know the material. Be ye smug jock or coasting nerd; he's not impressed. He demands effort, not excuses. He is in short, that dying breed, a competent teacher. And he just might care more than he dares let on. "Yes, Young Lady. I know there was some sort of super powered activity at Charles and Woodward last night. What of it? Are you suggesting a mutant ate your homework?" Mrs. Donna Plank Unofficially voted most useless member of the school, Mrs. Donna Plank is the school guidance counselor. She's all big smiles and trite pop culture psychology sound bites. Mrs Plank is treated by most students like a walking after school special, but with worse acting. "I think you need to ENVISION yourself as a better you, self actualize your future and denegatize your present." Misty Sullivan The new sophomore in school who just moved to the state this year, Misty Sullivan is a shy quiet girl who seems totally lost half the time and has a vaguely haunted look. "Thank you for the help, as much as anyone can help me I mean. I..I gotta go." Coach Thaddeus Thudpucker The only High school coach with a swagger stick, Coach Thaddeus Thudpucker teaches some classes, but it's football that's his real calling. He sends his young men onto the field like a general sending forth his troops. Some parents are convinced he's insane, but the team is doing well so they're afraid to put him on meds and ruin a shot at state. "Men, Football is war.... God, I love it so!" Mr. Veradino Mr Kelly Veradino isn't a total jerk, and for your average PE teacher, that's saying a lot. He actually gives decent advice to the wimpier kids on how to improve their condition. However, once his mind is made up, he doesn't take much lip. The older guy also has an almost comical (To modern students) distrust of modern technology. "Lift with your legs or you'll hurt yourself and I don't need the guilt or the paperwork"

No, but I'm thinking of making them young cultists in training who hope to sing their dark masters to this Earth

I keep getting error messages so I best hold for a bit

Some facts about Dan Quayle High! Location: 1812 Martin Luther King Road (Previously Dick Cox Street) Founded: 1983 (Named after then Senator Quayle as a political kiss up) Student Population: 2100 Average Teacher to Student Ratio: 1 teacher for every 25 students School Colors: Blue and White School Mascot: Quigly the Quail Dress Code: Fairly casual but with limits on pants drop, amount of thigh or cleavage showing Academic Performance: Dan Quayle High has its problems, but the school actually ranks high against other Public High Schools in Indiana. It's been safely in the top 20% for the last decade. Graduation rates as well as grade are above average. Many local politicians are eager to claim their support as part of the cause. Quayle high students offer a differing opinion: All the idiots went to Kennedy. Sports teams: Quails: the football team is decent, the Basketball team has a losing streak that's the shame of Indiana. Track & Field has made good showing, but isn't as popular. There is a boy's wrestling team, and a girl's volleyball team has started up. The cheerleading team has brought home some trophies itself. School Newspaper: The Call! School Theatre and music scene: A thriving one, thanks in part to a grant from an anonymous donor. Guys and Dolls is up on the slate next for a play, and the big band is hoping to go all state! One of their students is regionally famous School Rival: Kennedy High School and their teams, the Kennedy High Cobras! (Beware the Purple and Black) Security: A small group of security guards have been hired but they're more of a visual deterrent at this point. There has been talk of upgrading measures as last year a drug dealer was discovered trying to slip into the school to find customers. Community Projects: The school has encouraged its students to take on community related activities. Aiding Senior Citizens is always in demand, as is helping military families.

I'm just going to put some notes up for a campaign here. It's a border line teen/regular champs game. Concept: A group of High School students, mostly Juniors and Seniors, stumble onto "The Box" a cube like super base with a mysterious past. While exploring, they end up being granted powers! Hopefully they'll do some good with it. Setting: The fictional town of Aloysius, Indiana, located in the South western part of the state. Though it will go much further than that. There's a lot of debate whether it deserves the title city or not. Sized Roughly 50,000 to 60,000. One of the main subsettings will be the High school they attend. Dan Quayle High "Go Quails!"

On a completely other note: Charter sucks. We lost our internet last night, and it stayed down most o the day. Even when they got it 'back up' , it was timing out three times out of 4 with Google of all things, rendering it useless. It finally seems to be usable again, but I'm not expecting a day's worth of service taken off the bill

I didn't enjoy Demon Knights, but I REALLY liked Dial H. So that's going to clear a spot on my pull list whether I like it or not. I was enjoying Threshold, but was worried it wouldn't last. Damn, but DC's Young Justice Line is in dire straits.

Good additions

I'd like to think the Oracle is better than that, but who knows?

Test

Ok. Lots of changes to the game. Big Evil in Little China went well enough, at least I'd like to think so. Then we had a massive slow down as RL hit everyone. It postponed a storyline I had involving a Qualaar space monster and gadroon troopers. Add to that HC going down for period, and it seemed the game was gone for good. But we've managed to kick it up again. One player went with a new character, while another new guy is on board. The former player of Renegade 2 has that character hitting the streets to deal with a crimelord off panel. His new character is Pathfinder aka John Wraithe. A son who was born in the aether, raised by monks, and is very confused why much of the multiverse doesn't seem to know the name of Eric Wraithe, aka the Warlock. Silver Bullet was a college guy who went missing into a pocket dimension called 'the Zeta Zone', and came out of it a year later with the power to shrink and move at super speeds thanks to an odd silvery coating on his body. He was actually invited onto the team in time to take a look at the marketing plans. Pathfinder crashed that party, much to the annoyance of the Protector's marketing agent Rebecca (Who is Starwatch's sister, though she doesn't yet know of his superheroing lifestyle). . Things were straightened out a bit when news came in of a new problem. There was a fight between superteams at the golden gate park. One team was well known, the Ultimates. The other had never been heard of. Their description though, was as follows: A bare chested Australian who used a katana, throwing stars, and nunchucks. A radioactive african american woman in blue and yellow. An alien humanoid wearing a circlet on his head and having skin made seemingly of obsidian. A were cat of some sort. And a fellow in powered armor themed in the colors of red,white and blue. Binder had encased another of their members in an opague bubble of goo, but when they broke her out, she was wearing a mix of humble cape and cowl, and less modest highboots. Around her flew a little sparkling gem like thing. The players were tickled or delighted. The characters just knew that the armor guys armor, color scheme aside, reminded them a bit of Defender in MC. Turns out he actually called himself Victor, because until they had to run, he'd never lost a fight, or so he claimed. Long story short, two teams beat the SNOT out of the Ultimates, introductions got under way. Obsidian and the others explained that they had been driven from their Earth by the forces of Istvatha V'han. They'd escaped here. It all seemed well, when Pathfinder got paranoid, and decided the group must actually be a vanguard force for the Empress. Spies and scouts who'd sold out and been sent on her behalf. For a moment, it looked like there might be another fight, but when some of the Ultimates tried to get away during the stand off, the two teams put that aside for the moment and made sure they stayed captured. Starwatch suggested both teams head to the Citadel (and had it cleared of civilian personnel secretly) to talk. Victor agreed but only to discuss matters. His team was too shy about them now to just turn themselves in as if they were criminals, or so he claimed. Quantum was angry still, and seemingly flew off in a huff. Pathfinder decided to follow her. I'll put the rest in Spoilers so I don't ruin it for any of my players

It sounds a lot like Disney land

I love that song

My idea for a mentalist, I suggest we steal from Deuce of Psi, Charles Xavier of the X-Men, and Sleepwalker (I think that was his name) kind of. Have an image of a rather modest looking woman in a wheel chair, hair kept sensible, glasses, baggy sweater. "Hollywood Ugly" some would say, but in truth she's just modest. But she's fallen asleep, and peeling out of her body is her otherself, the classic vivacious comic book beauty with glowing eyes and a smirk on her face. Her hair would be longer, unrestrained, and since this is an idealized 'her' that no one would recognize, she doesn't need a mask, let alone glasses. I myself am picturing a raven haried beauty in something like a Zatanna outfit but that outfit being in red (Since we aren't having a redheaded mentalist, making red her costume color would honor that ) This other form is quite tangible. A solid being of mental energy. She has the standard mentalist array of powers, but also has the ability to come back from the dead (Regeneration with resurrection option self only) and the only way to truly 'Kill' her would be to kill the 'real' body of her secret Identity. Of course, if you're getting storn to draw that, it might not work as you may end up paying for two characters instead of one.

Yeah, I think someone is in fantasy land. Ironic, really Oh, the runes are glowing. Mmm