The Crimster
First Post
Vendetta is a campaign set in the Hero Games world of Champions. In case you are not familiar with it, Champions is a super-hero RPG set in the present day - but one in which 'meta-humans' can lift cars with their mind and fly through the air. The system has been around quite some time (not as long as D&D, of course), and most fans of it are quite loyal (our loyalty will soon be rewarded, true believers! 5th Edition is at the printers!) If you're at all familiar with comic books or movies based on comic books (who isn't?) then I think you'll understand the world quite well.
*** Note to experienced Champions players: The world of Vendetta is the basic world of Champions - but populated with my own NPC's and with a few twists in the world history. I am also heavily influenced by the world of the Wild Cards books - so I like to inject sort of a 'realistic' look into this genre. My meta-humans will not only deal with cackling madmen in power suits, they also will from time to time have to battle their own, darker issues. Don't be surprised if you see that some of my heroes have to deal with alcoholism, politics, and spouses that don't care if you saved the world tonight - you're late for dinner. It is usually from these types of things that real good and meaty gaming can come from, believe it or not (you can fire bolts of hot plasma - but that doesn't help you with your rebellious son or parole officer).
Background
In the United States, there are quite a number of meta-human groups. Most are government or corporate sponsored, and while many have excellent reputations, there are a few that openly question where their ultimate loyalties may lie. Some groups are private, financed by unknown parties with unknown goals. Standing above all of them is the meta-human group known as Power Force. A group founded in the early 90's, Power Force has been there to fight against any threat - be it meta-human criminals, super-powered Mafia cartels, or even the occasional power-mad world conquerors. Their membership has changed over the years (although there have always been the mainstays, such as Skull and Blacksmith) but their goals never have. They added Power Force 2 (Los Angeles) and Power Force 3 (Chicago) over the years, and each has gone on to help make this world a better place. Recently, Power Force 2 has lost a couple of their members (Vanguard retired, and Crimson passed away) and has begun to accept applications for meta-humans to apply. Working for Power Force is a prestigious job - members are as widely recognized as movie stars, and the media usually treats them as such (the salary is reportedly six-figures as well). So the call has gone out - for those with the power, experience, and a simple desire to *help*. And a very lucky few will be accepted into the ranks of Power Force.
This is not their story.
This is the story of those who failed the battery of psychological tests; this is the story of those who have too questionable a background for Power Force to employ. Whatever the reason, the board of directors for Power Force have rejected these heroes. But all is not lost - a member of that very board has recently resigned, and contacted those who Power Force did not accept. His name is Nathan Jones, and he means to have his own team of meta-humans. Whatever the cost.
Welcome to my Story Hour for my Champions campaign called 'Vendetta'. I have read many Story Hours in the past couple of years, and while I *do* have a long-running D&D game, I thought I'd make my SH debut with Champions. The above is the basic background of the campaign, somewhat simplified. I have written quite a bit of the world (which I'll parcel out occasionally, so as to not annoy those with slow connections). I will be detailing each adventure (I call them 'issues', after the genre) through the perception of Hacker, an NPC who will shortly be accompanying the PC's. I will also put in GM notes and such when the situation warrants. Mind you, Hacker is a young kid, basically - and all of this will be from his point of view. =)
Here are two of the most important NPC's, and then a description of the PC's. Issue #1 will follow shortly, most likely tomorrow.
Nathan Jones (NPC)
Two words come to mind when meeting Nathan Jones for the first time: old money. To say he is wealthy is somewhat of an understatement. The Jones family businesses go back a hundred years, and they always seem to be on top of every technological innovation. Nathan Jones has continued that tradition and he is always seems to be somewhere in any 'Top 100 Wealthiest' polls. He is also known for donating heavily to various charities, and was up until recently on the board of directors for Power Force 2. He vacated this position when he decided to form his own meta-human group, primarily dedicated to resolving local issues that are too small for PF2 to handle. His other motivation for the group is a little more selfish - to find his long-missing daughter. Though exact details on what happened two years ago is somewhat sketchy, it is the single goal that drives Nathan to get up in the morning. He knows his daughter is alive, and one day - he will find her. And now, he is one step closer with the formation of a meta-human team under his employment.
Known Abilities: None.
"Hacker" (NPC)
Real Name: Unknown
Hacker is a youngish (approximately 19 years of age) man that seems to exist solely in Nathan Jones rather advanced computer system. When they were installed and powered on in late 1999, Hacker made his presence known to Nathan rather quickly (and rather rudely, but they don't talk much about their first meeting). He has no memory of his past before he 'woke up' in Nathan's computer. He does state that he vaguely remembers 'living' and of 'parents' - and does not think that he is any type of Artificial Intelligence. Nathan has purchased a couple of rather expensive projectors that allow Hacker to physically appear, but it is nothing more than a semi-transparent hologram, and he can only appear near the computer itself. Though his history is unclear, Hacker has already shown himself to be a great help to the team.
Known Abilities: Interacts with computers and computers connected to the internet at the speed of thought
"Edge"
Real Name: Daniel Tradis
As a youth, Daniel practiced self-defense with a local sensei. At the behest of his master, Daniel signed up for a research project that would measure his reaction time, physical stats, etc. What Daniel didn't know was that the project was actually funded by a scientific branch of the US military. As with many things, the US military wanted a piece of the meta-human pie. They have tried time and gain to create their own meta-humans with various and usually unpredictable results. The research project was just that - but organized by various unethical elements that sometimes find positions of authority in the military. During one examination, Daniel was injected with a complex serum ("Nothing more than a vitamin shot, son.") and was surprised to see that his reaction time, strength, and running speed all increased to beyond human levels. The military brass were pleased, and further testing was done. A few others saw the same types of increases, but never as much as Daniel (later, it was determined that Daniel most likely is a latent low-level mutant, and his powers were in some way activated by the serum). Daniel spent some time working for the military but quickly learned that the structure life was not for him. He purposefully began to fail certain tests, and within a number of months he was passed on by the brass as a 'failure'. Within a year of leaving, Daniel opened up his own dojo. Recently, he has began to have some financial problems, and so decided he might use his knowledge of martial arts and mutant abilities to better use. For whatever reason, Edge was not accepted by Power Force. But when the call came from Nathan Jones, he had two words to say: "Hell yes."
Known Abilities: Increased reflexes, speed, toughness; limited ability to detect anything/anyone that may wish him harm.
"Poltergeist"
Real Name: Jane Doe (real name unknown)
A young and attractive woman with a fascinating past, Poltergeist is what most metaphisiologists would call a 'telekinetic'. She can lift an object that weighs hundreds of pounds with her mind alone - including her own body (she has been clocked flying at over 60 mph). Her life (or better put, her memories) begin at the age of 10 - and no matter what type of hypnosis or alternative means of recovering memories is used, she can never recall anything before she was found in an alley deep in East Los Angeles. She went from foster home to foster home, until finally finding parents that were more interested in the child then in the money that came with them. Over the years, Jane realized that things *happen* when she got angry or upset. At first she thought it was a spirit, ghost or poltergeist. But eventually she realized it was her that was doing it. Knowing this, she began to practice, and eventually could use the ability at will. She told her parents, who became a source of strength and support for her (and they have remained that way to this day, although her mom constantly complains that her uniform is 'too tight'). When she reached the age of 15, she joined a short-lived teenage meta-human group known as Young Justice. They received an initial wave of positive press, but it died down rather quickly. They had some successes, but eventually the teenagers grew into adults, and as such things happen - they all moved on. Jane herself became a writer, and focused on the one thing that she is truly interested in - the Occult. Despite her some-of-the-time day job, Jane felt the need to use her abilities for a greater good than just to get cans of tomato sauce from a top shelf. She applied to Power Force, but due to the unpredictable nature of her power, she was rejected. When Nathan Jones made his offer, Jane thought about it for a few days and finally accepted.
Known Abilities:Telekinetic - can lift objects including herself with pure willpower; can project powerful blasts of telekinetic force; can hamper a foes movement by telekinetically solidifying the air around them.
"BioLogic"
Real Name: Dr. Lucian Alexander Darwin
Lucian was an exceptionally gifted child, and received his first degree in microbiology from MIT at the age of 18. He continued to educate himself, and at one point was considered one of the top three biochemical scientists in the US. He became obsessed with the theories of evolution (he himself is a distant relation to the first scientist to posit the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin). Things began to sour for him in his mid-twenties when he began to develop a reputation for unethical behavior - a few animal rights activists had even acquired some proof of wrong-doing in his labs (though nothing ever came of this). Dr. Darwin ignored all of this, but when he was 30, tragedy struck. An enhanced animal escaped from confinement and killed 3 of his co-workers - including a woman that Lucian had recently become engaged to. Despondent, Dr. Darwin turned himself in to the authorities. The trial and subsequent justice were speedy - he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He served his time and left prison a changed man. He once more turned to science, but instead experimented on himself. He succeeded - beyond his wildest dreams. He engineered some type of organism that bonded to him, and seemed to actually alter his DNA while he was in contact with it. It seemed to give him abilities far beyond a normal man - abilities that seemed to almost be *meta-human*. Though he is an older man, Dr. Darwin decided he would try to join Power Force to not only test out his abilities, but also to please his seemingly ever-present parole officer. He was of course rejected for 'undisclosed reasons' - but when Nathan Jones made his offer, Dr. Darwin accepted with glee.
Known Abilities: Greatly increased strength and durability; symbiotic suit allows for Dr. Darwin to 'stretch' his appendages.
"Steel Scorpion"
Real Name: Jackson 'Jack' Thomas
Jackson Thomas is the youngest son of Wendle Thomas and Emily Thomas. The Thomas' came from old money and great things were expected of the new generation of Thomas lads. For Abraham Thomas, Jack's older brother, great things were almost common place. Abe graduated High School and University with honors and was class valedictorian. He joined the air force and quickly moved up the ranks to become a test pilot. Abe was also recruited by NASA and, to date, has the record for the most time spent on space walks for any astronaut. "And then there's Jack..." This last particular sentence is probably the most used line to describe Jack, by his parents at least. Jack was always the average son. He was good in sports (but not great) and he got good grades in school (but not great). There was one class however where Jack excelled. Science opened Jack to a universe of possibilities. Truth to tell science (and comic books) were the real reason Jack did not excel in his other classes. His distraction and daydreaming swept him far away from "Straight A Abe" and his family. At UCLA, Jack was consumed with radical ideas in the field of robotics and human augmentation. His teachers believed he was a little too consumed and a little too radical. Jack dropped out of school in his second year. This was a crushing blow to Wendle Thomas. No Thomas had ever failed or, worse yet, quit! At seeing his fathers disappointment Jack asked to become part of the research group at one of his fathers West coast robotics companies. Wendle agreed, basically writing his son off. No bother though, there was always Abe. But Jackson was not interested in simply surfing his life away and running to California to run away from his problems. Jack had found his true destiny in a TV commercial. PF2 was looking for new members. He could be a hero. A super hero. Abe wasn't a super hero. It may be an immature reason, but what would his family say if they knew he was a part of PF2? All he needed was to create a power suit like that clown Blacksmith. Heck, if Blacksmith got that kind of attention just imagine when "The Steel Scorpion" burst on to the scene. Jack did create his suit in record time, with a lot of help from his assistant, Sylvia Hunter. And although not as powerful as he had first imagined it worked remarkably well. The only real problem that the board at Power Force 2 had was with the bitter, brash young man in the fabulous suit. They thanked Jack cordially and politely (just the same way his brother always gave him consolation) and asked him to come back next time. but with or without PF2 Jack is determined to be a super hero. Nathan Jones sees his potential, and Jack won't let him down.
Known Abilities: Fairly strong, durable; can climb walls with suits' claws; can project beams of coherent light from tail cannon.
"Steel Scorpion" by Dan Burton
Arsenal
Real Name: AA-03
It could be said that Arsenal is a big man, but that would be somewhat incorrect. Over 65% of his body has been replaced with the next gen of cybernetics - by whom and for what purpose is as yet unknown. He carries a rather unique gun that uses a variety of exotic ammunition. This gun is also in someway linked directly to his brain, giving him frightening accuracy. *** History and further information currently redacted - waiting on player to send it to me! ***
The Crimster
*** Note to experienced Champions players: The world of Vendetta is the basic world of Champions - but populated with my own NPC's and with a few twists in the world history. I am also heavily influenced by the world of the Wild Cards books - so I like to inject sort of a 'realistic' look into this genre. My meta-humans will not only deal with cackling madmen in power suits, they also will from time to time have to battle their own, darker issues. Don't be surprised if you see that some of my heroes have to deal with alcoholism, politics, and spouses that don't care if you saved the world tonight - you're late for dinner. It is usually from these types of things that real good and meaty gaming can come from, believe it or not (you can fire bolts of hot plasma - but that doesn't help you with your rebellious son or parole officer).
Background
In the United States, there are quite a number of meta-human groups. Most are government or corporate sponsored, and while many have excellent reputations, there are a few that openly question where their ultimate loyalties may lie. Some groups are private, financed by unknown parties with unknown goals. Standing above all of them is the meta-human group known as Power Force. A group founded in the early 90's, Power Force has been there to fight against any threat - be it meta-human criminals, super-powered Mafia cartels, or even the occasional power-mad world conquerors. Their membership has changed over the years (although there have always been the mainstays, such as Skull and Blacksmith) but their goals never have. They added Power Force 2 (Los Angeles) and Power Force 3 (Chicago) over the years, and each has gone on to help make this world a better place. Recently, Power Force 2 has lost a couple of their members (Vanguard retired, and Crimson passed away) and has begun to accept applications for meta-humans to apply. Working for Power Force is a prestigious job - members are as widely recognized as movie stars, and the media usually treats them as such (the salary is reportedly six-figures as well). So the call has gone out - for those with the power, experience, and a simple desire to *help*. And a very lucky few will be accepted into the ranks of Power Force.
This is not their story.
This is the story of those who failed the battery of psychological tests; this is the story of those who have too questionable a background for Power Force to employ. Whatever the reason, the board of directors for Power Force have rejected these heroes. But all is not lost - a member of that very board has recently resigned, and contacted those who Power Force did not accept. His name is Nathan Jones, and he means to have his own team of meta-humans. Whatever the cost.
Welcome to my Story Hour for my Champions campaign called 'Vendetta'. I have read many Story Hours in the past couple of years, and while I *do* have a long-running D&D game, I thought I'd make my SH debut with Champions. The above is the basic background of the campaign, somewhat simplified. I have written quite a bit of the world (which I'll parcel out occasionally, so as to not annoy those with slow connections). I will be detailing each adventure (I call them 'issues', after the genre) through the perception of Hacker, an NPC who will shortly be accompanying the PC's. I will also put in GM notes and such when the situation warrants. Mind you, Hacker is a young kid, basically - and all of this will be from his point of view. =)
Here are two of the most important NPC's, and then a description of the PC's. Issue #1 will follow shortly, most likely tomorrow.
Nathan Jones (NPC)
Two words come to mind when meeting Nathan Jones for the first time: old money. To say he is wealthy is somewhat of an understatement. The Jones family businesses go back a hundred years, and they always seem to be on top of every technological innovation. Nathan Jones has continued that tradition and he is always seems to be somewhere in any 'Top 100 Wealthiest' polls. He is also known for donating heavily to various charities, and was up until recently on the board of directors for Power Force 2. He vacated this position when he decided to form his own meta-human group, primarily dedicated to resolving local issues that are too small for PF2 to handle. His other motivation for the group is a little more selfish - to find his long-missing daughter. Though exact details on what happened two years ago is somewhat sketchy, it is the single goal that drives Nathan to get up in the morning. He knows his daughter is alive, and one day - he will find her. And now, he is one step closer with the formation of a meta-human team under his employment.
Known Abilities: None.
"Hacker" (NPC)
Real Name: Unknown
Hacker is a youngish (approximately 19 years of age) man that seems to exist solely in Nathan Jones rather advanced computer system. When they were installed and powered on in late 1999, Hacker made his presence known to Nathan rather quickly (and rather rudely, but they don't talk much about their first meeting). He has no memory of his past before he 'woke up' in Nathan's computer. He does state that he vaguely remembers 'living' and of 'parents' - and does not think that he is any type of Artificial Intelligence. Nathan has purchased a couple of rather expensive projectors that allow Hacker to physically appear, but it is nothing more than a semi-transparent hologram, and he can only appear near the computer itself. Though his history is unclear, Hacker has already shown himself to be a great help to the team.
Known Abilities: Interacts with computers and computers connected to the internet at the speed of thought
"Edge"
Real Name: Daniel Tradis
As a youth, Daniel practiced self-defense with a local sensei. At the behest of his master, Daniel signed up for a research project that would measure his reaction time, physical stats, etc. What Daniel didn't know was that the project was actually funded by a scientific branch of the US military. As with many things, the US military wanted a piece of the meta-human pie. They have tried time and gain to create their own meta-humans with various and usually unpredictable results. The research project was just that - but organized by various unethical elements that sometimes find positions of authority in the military. During one examination, Daniel was injected with a complex serum ("Nothing more than a vitamin shot, son.") and was surprised to see that his reaction time, strength, and running speed all increased to beyond human levels. The military brass were pleased, and further testing was done. A few others saw the same types of increases, but never as much as Daniel (later, it was determined that Daniel most likely is a latent low-level mutant, and his powers were in some way activated by the serum). Daniel spent some time working for the military but quickly learned that the structure life was not for him. He purposefully began to fail certain tests, and within a number of months he was passed on by the brass as a 'failure'. Within a year of leaving, Daniel opened up his own dojo. Recently, he has began to have some financial problems, and so decided he might use his knowledge of martial arts and mutant abilities to better use. For whatever reason, Edge was not accepted by Power Force. But when the call came from Nathan Jones, he had two words to say: "Hell yes."
Known Abilities: Increased reflexes, speed, toughness; limited ability to detect anything/anyone that may wish him harm.
"Poltergeist"
Real Name: Jane Doe (real name unknown)
A young and attractive woman with a fascinating past, Poltergeist is what most metaphisiologists would call a 'telekinetic'. She can lift an object that weighs hundreds of pounds with her mind alone - including her own body (she has been clocked flying at over 60 mph). Her life (or better put, her memories) begin at the age of 10 - and no matter what type of hypnosis or alternative means of recovering memories is used, she can never recall anything before she was found in an alley deep in East Los Angeles. She went from foster home to foster home, until finally finding parents that were more interested in the child then in the money that came with them. Over the years, Jane realized that things *happen* when she got angry or upset. At first she thought it was a spirit, ghost or poltergeist. But eventually she realized it was her that was doing it. Knowing this, she began to practice, and eventually could use the ability at will. She told her parents, who became a source of strength and support for her (and they have remained that way to this day, although her mom constantly complains that her uniform is 'too tight'). When she reached the age of 15, she joined a short-lived teenage meta-human group known as Young Justice. They received an initial wave of positive press, but it died down rather quickly. They had some successes, but eventually the teenagers grew into adults, and as such things happen - they all moved on. Jane herself became a writer, and focused on the one thing that she is truly interested in - the Occult. Despite her some-of-the-time day job, Jane felt the need to use her abilities for a greater good than just to get cans of tomato sauce from a top shelf. She applied to Power Force, but due to the unpredictable nature of her power, she was rejected. When Nathan Jones made his offer, Jane thought about it for a few days and finally accepted.
Known Abilities:Telekinetic - can lift objects including herself with pure willpower; can project powerful blasts of telekinetic force; can hamper a foes movement by telekinetically solidifying the air around them.
"BioLogic"
Real Name: Dr. Lucian Alexander Darwin
Lucian was an exceptionally gifted child, and received his first degree in microbiology from MIT at the age of 18. He continued to educate himself, and at one point was considered one of the top three biochemical scientists in the US. He became obsessed with the theories of evolution (he himself is a distant relation to the first scientist to posit the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin). Things began to sour for him in his mid-twenties when he began to develop a reputation for unethical behavior - a few animal rights activists had even acquired some proof of wrong-doing in his labs (though nothing ever came of this). Dr. Darwin ignored all of this, but when he was 30, tragedy struck. An enhanced animal escaped from confinement and killed 3 of his co-workers - including a woman that Lucian had recently become engaged to. Despondent, Dr. Darwin turned himself in to the authorities. The trial and subsequent justice were speedy - he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He served his time and left prison a changed man. He once more turned to science, but instead experimented on himself. He succeeded - beyond his wildest dreams. He engineered some type of organism that bonded to him, and seemed to actually alter his DNA while he was in contact with it. It seemed to give him abilities far beyond a normal man - abilities that seemed to almost be *meta-human*. Though he is an older man, Dr. Darwin decided he would try to join Power Force to not only test out his abilities, but also to please his seemingly ever-present parole officer. He was of course rejected for 'undisclosed reasons' - but when Nathan Jones made his offer, Dr. Darwin accepted with glee.
Known Abilities: Greatly increased strength and durability; symbiotic suit allows for Dr. Darwin to 'stretch' his appendages.
"Steel Scorpion"
Real Name: Jackson 'Jack' Thomas
Jackson Thomas is the youngest son of Wendle Thomas and Emily Thomas. The Thomas' came from old money and great things were expected of the new generation of Thomas lads. For Abraham Thomas, Jack's older brother, great things were almost common place. Abe graduated High School and University with honors and was class valedictorian. He joined the air force and quickly moved up the ranks to become a test pilot. Abe was also recruited by NASA and, to date, has the record for the most time spent on space walks for any astronaut. "And then there's Jack..." This last particular sentence is probably the most used line to describe Jack, by his parents at least. Jack was always the average son. He was good in sports (but not great) and he got good grades in school (but not great). There was one class however where Jack excelled. Science opened Jack to a universe of possibilities. Truth to tell science (and comic books) were the real reason Jack did not excel in his other classes. His distraction and daydreaming swept him far away from "Straight A Abe" and his family. At UCLA, Jack was consumed with radical ideas in the field of robotics and human augmentation. His teachers believed he was a little too consumed and a little too radical. Jack dropped out of school in his second year. This was a crushing blow to Wendle Thomas. No Thomas had ever failed or, worse yet, quit! At seeing his fathers disappointment Jack asked to become part of the research group at one of his fathers West coast robotics companies. Wendle agreed, basically writing his son off. No bother though, there was always Abe. But Jackson was not interested in simply surfing his life away and running to California to run away from his problems. Jack had found his true destiny in a TV commercial. PF2 was looking for new members. He could be a hero. A super hero. Abe wasn't a super hero. It may be an immature reason, but what would his family say if they knew he was a part of PF2? All he needed was to create a power suit like that clown Blacksmith. Heck, if Blacksmith got that kind of attention just imagine when "The Steel Scorpion" burst on to the scene. Jack did create his suit in record time, with a lot of help from his assistant, Sylvia Hunter. And although not as powerful as he had first imagined it worked remarkably well. The only real problem that the board at Power Force 2 had was with the bitter, brash young man in the fabulous suit. They thanked Jack cordially and politely (just the same way his brother always gave him consolation) and asked him to come back next time. but with or without PF2 Jack is determined to be a super hero. Nathan Jones sees his potential, and Jack won't let him down.
Known Abilities: Fairly strong, durable; can climb walls with suits' claws; can project beams of coherent light from tail cannon.
"Steel Scorpion" by Dan Burton
Arsenal
Real Name: AA-03
It could be said that Arsenal is a big man, but that would be somewhat incorrect. Over 65% of his body has been replaced with the next gen of cybernetics - by whom and for what purpose is as yet unknown. He carries a rather unique gun that uses a variety of exotic ammunition. This gun is also in someway linked directly to his brain, giving him frightening accuracy. *** History and further information currently redacted - waiting on player to send it to me! ***
The Crimster
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) "BioLogic" seems like a good Doc Sampson type with ongoing ethical issues as well as being an ex-con, easy to see why PF turned him down. I wonder is the symbiote is HIO or a focus. "Steel Scorpion" was excellent, classic four color background that brought out the anger and other personal issues that would keep him out of PF. Not really sure about "Edge", never got a feel for Daniel-san at all, no real reason why he'd be taken into a military program, have millions spent on him, then just be cut loose and no apparent reason why he'd even want to be a superhero beyond "Show me the money."
