Garner's Handbook of the

Volume 6

Contents

Adversary ...... 3 Gladiator I ...... 97

AIM ...... 5 Gold Bug ...... 99

Alchemy ...... 7 Griffin ...... 10 1

Alliance of Evil ...... 9 Grog the Godslayer ...... 10 3

Aron the Watcher ...... 13 Growing Man ...... 10 5

Atum the God Eater ...... 15 Hammerhead ...... 10 7

Blonde Phantom ...... 17 Harkness, Agatha ...... 10 9

Bloodscream ...... 19 Headlok ...... 111

Bloodstone and the Hellfire Helix ...... 21 Hela ...... 11 3

Blue Streak ...... 23 Hobgoblin II ...... 11 5

Box ...... 25 Hodge, Cameron and the Right ...... 11 7

Bullseye ...... 27 Human To rch I ...... 11 9

Bushman ...... 29 HYDRA ...... 12 1

Captain Marvel ...... 31 Iron Man Armor ...... 12 5

Carrion I ...... 33 Jameson, J. Jonah ...... 12 9

Chemistro ...... 35 Jubilee ...... 13 1

China Force ...... 37 Killraven and his Freemen ...... 13 3

Cloud ...... 39 King, Drake, and Blade ...... 13 7

Coldblood 7 ...... 41 Kofi and Smartship Friday ...... 13 9

Commander Kraken ...... 43 Left Winger and Right Winger ...... 14 1

Crazy Gang ...... 45 Lobo, Carlos ...... 14 3

Damage Control ...... 47 Maggia ...... 145

Darkhold ...... 51 Malice/Polaris ...... 14 7

Death's Head ...... 53 Mercy ...... 14 9

Destroyer ...... 55 Midgard Serpent...... 15 1

Doctor Bong ...... 57 Miss America ...... 15 3

Dominus ...... 59 Necrodamus ...... 15 5

Dragon of the Moon ...... 63 Nightwing Restorations ...... 157

Dragon's Claws ...... 65 Orka ...... 15 9

Dreaming Celestial ...... 69 Patriot ...... 16 1

Ecstasy ...... 71 Plantman ...... 16 3

Electro ...... 73 Proteus ...... 16 5

Eon ...... 75 Rawhide Kid ...... 16 7

Eternity ...... 77 Razorback ...... 16 9

Fasaud ...... 79 Razorfist ...... 17 1

Fin Fang Foom ...... 81 Red Skull ...... 173

Firebrand ...... 83 Rocket Racer ...... 17 5

Gatecrasher and Te chnet ...... 85 Rose ...... 17 7

Ghaur ...... 91 Roughouse ...... 17 9

Ghoul ...... 93 S'Byl1...... 18 1

Gilgamesh ...... 95 Satana ...... 18 3

1 Savage Land Races ...... 18 5 Spitfire ...... 223 Scorpion ...... 18 9 Stratosfire ...... 225 Serpent Crown ...... 19 1 Sunturion ...... 227

SHIELD II ...... 19 3 Supreme Soviets ...... 229 SHIELD I...... 19 7 TESS-One ...... 231 Silver Samurai ...... 203 To ro ...... 233 Sisters of Sin (Mother Night's) ...... 205 To rpedo ...... 235 Sisters of Sin (Red Skull's) ...... 207 Tr oll Associates ...... 237 Skids ...... 209 U.S. Agent ...... 239 Sleepers ...... 21 1 Uatu ...... 241 Sorcerer ...... 21 3 Unus ...... 243 Speed Demon ...... 21 5 Vision ...... 245 Sphinx ...... 21 7 Wolfpack ...... 247 Spider-Man ...... 219 Yetrigar ...... 249 Spirit of '76 ...... 221 Yo ung Gods ...... 251

Written by David E. Martin, Chris Mortika, Scott Davis, William Tr acy, and Raymond Maddox Edited by Richard Steinberg and Steven E. Schend Cover by Jeff Butler Interior Illustrations by the Marvel Bullpen Typography by Gaye O'Keefe

TSR, Inc. POB 756 Lake Geneva, WI TSR, Inc. PRODUCTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION'" 531 47

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written consent of TSR, Inc.and the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House, Inc.and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. The names of the characters used herein are fictitious and do not refer to any persons living or dead.Any descrip­ tions including similarities to persons living or dead are merely coincidental.MARVEL SUPER HEROES and MARVEL UNIVERSE are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.

All Marvel characters and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used with permission. ©1990 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.All Rights Reserved.

The TSR logo and PRODUCTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. Game deSign copyright ©1990 TSR, Inc.All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

ISBN 0-88038-866-8

2 ADVERSARY

STATISTICS:

F MN(75) A AM(50) S AM(50) E CL1 000 R MN(75) I MN(75) P UN(100) Health: 1175 Karma: 250 Resources: N/A Popularity: -20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown, possibly in­ applicable Occupation: Inapplicable Legal Status: Inapplicable Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Inapplicable Marital Status: Inapplicable Known Relatives: Inapplicable Bases of Operations: Another di­ mension; Eagle Plaza, Dallas, Te xas Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Adversary may use any power at Monstrous rank. However, he will purposefully limit his powers and their ranks to those appropriate to whatever guise he has adopted. When he casts off his disguise, he appears as a demonic shadow with glowing eyes and mouth; this trans­ formation takes 2 turns. Weakness: Weapons of iron, steel, or adamantium do + 3CS damage against him. Ta lents: Unearthly knowledge of Oc­ cult Lore, Mythology, and Psychol­ ogy. Contacts: As Naze, the Adversary had Forge as an ally. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The Adversary seeks to destroy this universe and create a new one in its place. He uses trickery and decep­ tion to further his goals. He loves to overturn order for sheer spite. The Adversary regards himself as a ga­ meplayer toying with the fate of the universe for sheer enjoyment.

3 easy prey when the Adversary chaos drew the attentions of the X­ reached out and usurped the Dire Men and then-human Madelyne Wraith's flesh and Naze's form. Sev­ HISTORY: Pryor. The battle was televised The Adversary is an ancient mysti­ eral months later Storm approached worldwide and helped restore the cal entity. His native dimension is the false Naze for help in regaining damaged reputation of mutants in one of chaos, which the Adversary her powers. As "Naze," he revealed general and the X-Men in particular. seeks to spread to Earth's dimen­ the Adversary's existence to her and The X-Men penetrated Eagle Plaza sion. convinced her that Forge had fallen and were transported to the Starlight The Cheyenne believe that all under the entity's influence. Storm Citadel. things are composed of energy. The accompanied "Naze" to a mountain The Adversary revealed his true Adversary intends to destroy the uni­ in the western U.S. that he described form and identity as he faced the verse by burning all that energy at as "the heart of his magic." He then combined might of the X-Men, once. It is unknown how powerful or persuaded Storm to ascend the Forge, and Roma. Forge realized how old the Adversary. As he is the mountain alone and confront Forge. that only by closing the gate he had only source of information about Although she was so convinced opened decades ago in Vietnam himself, such information as he has Forge was truly evil that she at­ could he expel the Adversary; unfor­ provided may eventually prove false. tempted to kill him, Storm realized tunately the spell required the lives The Cheyenne have long known the truth, and she fled with Forge to of the X-Men and Pryor. With their the existence of the Adversary and another dimension. The Adversary consent, Forge converted them into they trained their shamans from birth was pleased he had rid himself of the beings of pure light and forged their to battle the entity. The current Chey­ only two humans he felt posed a lifeforces into a spear that he hurled enne shaman, Forge, was trained threat to him and he even offered to into the Adversay. The mystical force from birth by his predescessor Naze raise Storm and Forge to demigod drove the Adversary back into his (see FORGE) for the battle to come. status on his new version of Earth. home dimension and sealed the However, Forge rejected his tribal They rejected his offer and set about gateway. Roma told Forge and the duties and left for Vietnam, where he preparing for another round. world that the X-Men's sacrifice in­ served in the U.S. armed forces. Next, the Adversary captured sured that the Adversary would be When his squad was wiped out, Roma and held her prisoner within trapped forever, but she lied. As she Forge lashed out with his improperly her own Starlight Citadel (see later told the newly-revived X-Men, a controlled powers, tearing a hole in ROMA). Now that Forge and Storm being as powerful as the Adversary reality and unleashing a stream of were once again in possession of could not be confined for long be­ demons. This set in motion the Ad­ their powers, they escaped their di­ cause the chaos he wrought helped versary's latest attempt to reshape mesnion of exile, but the Adversary nurture positive growth and change. reality. captured them and placed them However, she assured them that the During the Dire Wraith invasion, within the Citadel as well. On Earth, Adversary had in fact been bound Naze was killed and impersonated his plans were reaching climax. "for an age" by Forge's spell. How by a Dire Wraith. The alien lacked Fragments of other times jumbled to­ long "an age" is (or whether Roma Naze's mystical abilities and was gether around Eagle Plaza. The lied again) is unknown at this time.

4 AIM [ADVANCE.D IDEA MECHANICS]

AIM is an organization of brilliant scientists and their hirelings dedi­ cated to the acquisition of power and the overthrow of all governments by technological means. AIM was orga­ nized late in Wo rld War II by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker to develop advanced weaponry for his subver­ sive organization HYDRA. They were close to developing and attain­ ing nuclear weapons when HYDRA island was invaded by American and Japanese troops. Although HYDRA sufered a major setback, it survived and grew in secret over the following decades. The group of scientists grew as well, both in number and acheive­ ments. They made significant ad­ vances in various fields, including robotics, bionics, bioengineering, and physics. Eventually the scien­ tists publicly incorporated their orga­ nization under the name Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). No one out­ side of the organization knew of AIM's subversive goals, accomplish­ ments, or scientific achievements, let alone that AIM was actually the research wing for the still-secret HY­ DRA. Rather, AIM was believed by the public to be an international car­ tel dealing with the development and marketing of new technological products. AIM gained great influ­ ence with the U.S. government as a supplier of hardware and weaponry to governmental agencies. Eventually HYDRA revealed its ex­ istence only to be defeated by S.H.I.E.L.D. AIM, whose connection to HYDRA remained secret, at­ tempted to discredit S.H.I.E.L.D. di­ rector Nicholas Fury and thereby force his removal. The attempt, led by Count Bornag Royale, failed and in­ as agents of THEM. THEM was the ment device; the real power was an stead enabled Fury to expose AIM's code-name for the group which gov­ entity accidentally drawn into this di­ duplicity. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. be­ erned HYDRA and its subsidiary or­ mension. The Cosmic Cube recently lieved it had put an end to AIM, much ganizations, including AIM, during evolved into Kubik. The second was of the organization escaped capture the period between HYDRA'S initial the Super-Adaptoid, an android ca­ and preserved the secrecy of their apparent destruction by S.H.I.E.L.D. pable of mimicking the appearance connection with HYDRA. and its later re-emergence. and superpowers of other beings. AIM created a wide variety of AIM has created three major im­ The Super-Adaptoid's powers were advanced technological weaponry plements of deadly potential which made possible by incorporating a and, during the period it was under stand far above the rest of their ac­ sliver of the Cosmic Cube into its HYDRA's control, made great strides complishments. The greatest of form. When Kubik repossessed the in creating androids which the orga­ these was the Cosmic Cube, a de­ sliver after defeating the Adaptoid, nization utilized as assassins. Dur­ vice capable of altering reality. AIM the android was rendered inanimate. ing this period, AIM members did not realize that they had only AIM's third achievement was the cre­ sometimes referred to themselves manufactured the cubical contain- ation of Modok (Mobile Organism

5 Designed Only for Killing), an artifi­ broke into open revolt against Mo­ marine complex off the U.S. Atlantic cially mutated human with an enor­ dok. The AIM rebels joined forces coast. Since most of these sites are mous head and psionic abilities. with the splinter groups and drove well hidden or inaccessible and Modok was originally an ordinary Modok from their organization. Mo­ those who knew of their location ei­ AIM scientist who was selected by dok was later assassinated by mem­ ther died or are in hiding, they proba­ AIM'S leader, the Scientist Supreme, bers of the Serpent Society. bly remain treasure troves of to be the subject of the bionic and The three AIM factions· reunited advanced technology waiting for fu­ genetic experiments that turned him and prepared for a new campaign of ture users. into Modok. After his transformation , renewed growth and conquest, but it Modok killed the Scientist Supreme was not to be. AIM's new leadership Typical AIM operative and took control of AIM. Modok took was secretly replaced by androids advantage of the organizational from Project Delta who were also se­ F GD(10) chaos following the destruction of cretly taking control of HYDRA, A TY(6) HYDRA Island and the deaths of S.H.I.E.L.D., Roxxon, and other S TY(6) Baron Strucker and most of HY­ clandestine organizations. In the E GD(10) DRA's leading members to sever next few years, most of AIM's mem­ R RM(30) AIM's ties with HYDRA. bers were killed and replaced with I GD(10) For years, AIM existed solely to android duplicates. AIM rejoined P PR(4) serve Modok's needs and ambitions HYDRA, only to see both organiza­ Health: 32 for power. AIM stagnated technologi­ tions destroyed along with Karma: 44 cally, created no further innovations, S.H.I.E.L.D. when the Delta an­ and launched no major attacks on droids revealed their true purpose. Body Armor: Excellent protection the wo rld. However, two splinter The androids later destroyed them­ from energy attacks, Remarkable groups of AIM formed, both consist­ selves. protection from physical attacks. Air ing of AIM rebel agents who had fled At this time, it is unknown what filter provides Excellent protection Modok's control. One group often remnants, if any, of AIM survive. from airborne toxins and bacteria. clashed with Modok's AIM. The sec­ Their facilities remain intact, includ­ Blaster: Remarkable damage at a ond tried unsuccessfully to create a ing a dome complex atop the Hima­ range of 5 areas. second Cosmic Cube. Finally, inter­ layan Mountains and a partially nal AIM dissension with Modok's rule demolished but still watertight sub-

6 ALCHEMY

STATISTICS:

F PR(4) A TY(6) S PR(4) E TY(6) R TY(6) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 20 Karma: 18 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: 1

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Thomas Jones Occupation: Student Legal Status: Citizen of Great Brit­ ain (minor) Identity: Public is unaware of his powers Place of Birth: Great Britain Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Ophelia (mother), Ellie (sister) Base of Operations: London, En­ gland Past Group Affiliations: Friend of X-Factor Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Elemental Conversion: Unearthly ability to transform any substance into a desired element. A maximum of 100 pounds of matter can be con­ verted each turn. Every hundred pounds of converted matter causes a temporary loss of one point of Health. This is regained automati­ cally after 24 hours. He must make contact with the target in order for the power to wo rk. The transforma­ tion is apparently permanent unless it is reversed by the use of this or an­ other applicable power. Note that Alchemy can only trans- form matter into elements he already ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: knows the basic atomic structure of Thomas Jones is trying to be a nor­ (number, weight, etc.). He must mal British student and earn a schol­ make a Good Intensity Reason FEAT arship to college. His powers are in order for this power to work. more an embarassment than an as­ Molecular Conversion: Alchemy be- set, although they are presumably lieves he has the potential to develop guaranteeing he will be able to pur­ this power, once he gains sufficient sue his further education. Discrete knowledge of chemistry. Presum- use of his powers has raised his fam­ ably this power will also be of Un- ily's Resource level to Excellent earthly rank. rank. He is reluctant to use his Ta lents: Alchemy is struggling to powers against a living foe since that master Chemistry (Good Reason in would mean the apparent death or'Clt this field). least involuntary suspended anima­ Contacts: X-Factor tion of that being. He hopes that his 7 power isn't fatal when used ag ainst a The trolls, who appropriately called dog that atacked the troll, Thomas living being, but he still feels guilt themselves Troll Associates, de­ used his power to end the dog's suf­ over such transformations. Because cided to use Thomas' powers to fering by turning him to gold. Phy of his guilt and pledge to someday make themselves wealthy while saw the statement they "needed and restore each being he transforms, commiting a reign of economic terror led the trolls and Thomas off to Buck­ the transformation of a living target by turning the British countryside to ingham Palace in search of a queen does not cost him a Karma penalty if gold. Despite their ancient origins, to turn to gold. Fortunately, the flood­ he does so in self defense. Tr oll Associates had a good grasp of lights of London police cars drove off modern economics and sociology. the light-fearing trolls. X-Factor har­ They believed that the surfeit of gold assed the fleeing trolls and forced would lead Britain into economic col­ them underground. HISTORY: lapse and culminate in the eventu­ Although Thomas realized that Thomas Jones was the son of ally bankrupt Britons leaving the sunlight was the troll's weakness, by Ophelia Jones, a widow running a island free for the elves, fairies, and the time he could communicate this boarding house in London. He was a other magical folk. Phy was the to X-Factor, a downpour had begun. normal boy trying to gain entrance to brains of the outfit. The other meme­ Although Thomas knew he could use college where he planned to study bers of Tr oll Associates were Phee, a his power against the trolls, he re­ chemistry. His powers appeared one master fighter; Phough, who resem­ sisted because he knew he might be night while he was studying the ele­ bled a winged gargoyle; Phumm, the unable to return them to normal af­ ments and their placement on the Abominable Snowman; and Phay, terward. But when Phee seized and periodic table. He was oblivious to shapechanger, coward, and literary threatened Mrs. Jones, Thomas the fact that his pen was changing scholar. overcame his misgivings and trans­ into whatever element he was con­ Mrs. Jones contacted X-Factor formed Phee and Phy into inanimate centrating on. who came expecting to fight "one gold. At the Beast's suggestion, the Phy, a genuine troll, was more ob­ tiny little giant mutant." They were trolls were placed in Hyde Park servant. His traditional troll's ability unprepared for battle with five very where they now apear as lead to detect gold led him to Thomas' different trolls and were defeated. statues. Thomas promised the trolls bedroom. There he concocted a plan The trolls took Thomas off in search that he would go to college and be­ to take over England. For starters, of a suitable target for come a molecular chemist. With the he kidnaped Thomas despite Mrs. transformation-one that would knowledge he expected to gain, he Jones' valiant attack with her broom­ make a dramatic statement of their hoped to someday restore the trolls stick. As the troll carried Thomas intentions toward England. Thomas to life. The surviving trolls are unac­ back to the lair he shared with his fel­ refused their command to turn the counted for at this time but it is prob­ low trolls, Thomas managed to leave To wer of London to gold, but when able that they will steer clear of a trail of golden objects in his wake. Phough mortally wounded a stray Thomas for some time to come.

8 ALLIANCE OF EVIL

cold-based attacks. Health: 26 Ta lents: Frenzy is trained in Martial Karma: 16 Arts B, C, and E. Resources: PR(4) Contacts: Apocalypse Popularity: 0

AD DITIONAL NOTES: BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Mercenary Legal Status: Minor U.S. citizen with criminal record Identity: Presumably known to po­ lice Place of Birth: Apparently some­ where in California Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: Alliance of Evil ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Present Group Aff iliation: Frenzy is an extremely violent woman and prone to solve problems KNOWN POWERS: through brute force. The only person Electricity: Remarkable damage at a she would take orders from is Apoca­ range of 2 areas. The electricity is re­ lypse. leased as bolts fired from her hands. Ta lents: None

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

FRENZY

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GO(10) S AM(50) E AM(50) R GO(10) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: I GO(10) Stinger is a teenager who acts irre­ P GO(10) sponsibly. She joined. the Alliance for Health: 140 excitement. Karma: 30 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 0

BACKG ROU ND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Mercenary Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record STINGER Identity: Presumably known to po­ lice STATISTICS: Past Group Af filiations: Alliance of Evil F TY(6) Present Group Affiliation: A TY(6) S PR(4) KNOWN POWERS: E GO(10) Invulnerability: Remarkable resist­ R PR(4) ance to physical and energy attacks I TY(6) and Incredible resistance to extreme TY(6) temperatu res and heat-based or P 9 these benefits: ADDITIONAL NOTES: * Attackers direct attacks against him must make a Red FEAT roll to hit him. (Area attacks are not affected.) * He may make up to 10 attacks per turn. * His Intuition ability rises to ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Amazing when determi ning sur­ He prefers trickery to violence. prise. This power's Good rank enables him to create 10 duplicate selves in any given turn. Ta lents: Military skills

TIMESHADOW

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I GD(10) P GD(10) Health: 50 Karma: 26 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Mercenary Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record Identity: Presumably known to po­ lice Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: Alliance of Evil Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Time-phasing: His peculiar form of time travel enables him to step in and out of time-synch several times each turn. This has the effect of illu­ sory Self-Duplication, as well as

10 TOWER ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The first time a mutant receives He is a true mercenary and will leave this affect, the subject's powers au­ a fight if the risks outweigh his finan­ tomatically manifest themselves at STATISTICS: cial gain. He makes wisecracks dur­ full strength. The subject cannot re­ ing battle. gain control for the next 2 turns. F EX(20) However, Nowlan's power proved GD(10) A addictive. After the third treatment of GD(10) S Nowlan's powers, reCipients were EX(20) MICHAEL E vulnerable to extremely bad power R TY(6) withdrawal symptoms (-4CS on all TY(6) NOWLAN I Abilities and power FEATs for 1-10 TY(6) P weeks). Health: 60 STATISTICS: Weakness: Mike is a drug addict. Karma: 18 F PR(4) Ta lents: Military skills. Resources: TY(6) PR(4) Popularity: 0 A S TY(6) ADDITIONAL NOTES: TY(6) BACKGROUND: E R TY(6) Real Name: Unknown FE(2) Occupation: Mercenary I P AM(50) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record Health: 20 Karma: 58 Identity: Presumably known to po­ lice Resources: FE(2) Popularity: -5 Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: Alliance of Evil BACKGROUND: Occupation: None Present Group Affiliation: Legal Status: U.S. citizen (de­ KNOWN POWERS: ceased) He can use either of these powers Identity: Publicly known twice per turn: Marital Status: Divorced Growth (A tomic Gain): Typical rank Known Relatives: Susan (ex-wife) ability to triple his size and grow to Past Group Affiliations: Alliance of ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: 12' in height. At 8 or more feet tall, Evil Mike was a captive of the Alliance. his Strength increases + 1 CS, and Present Group Affiliation: Despite a lack of physical power, he gains a bonus power of Remark­ Mike escaped from Apocalypse a able Armor skin. He is + 1 CS to hit or KNOWN POWERS: number of times, putting the Alliance be hit, and he can move an addi­ Power Control (Magnification): He through the pain of power with­ tional area per round. has the Incredible ability to increase drawal. This was his only true form of Shrinking (A tomic Loss): Incredible other mutants' powers by adding his resistance. ability to shrink himself as small as Incredible rank to their power's rank one half inch in height. Once he has number. Normally he limits this effect to a + 2CS increase. Note that Pri­ shrunk below l' in height, his Strength decreases to Typical, he mary Abilities (FASERIP) are not af­ has + 2CS to hit normal sized tar­ fected. This enhancement can affect gets, and normal sized target are - any mutants within 3 areas. The ef­ 2CS to hit him. However, he can fect lasts for 2 hours. If he uses his move no further than 1 area per full power on a subject, the subject round. Trackers must make a Ye llow may prove unable to control their Intuition FEAT roll to spot him. over-amplified powers. In such a case, the subject must make a Ta lents: Martial Arts B. Psyche FEAT to attain control of his ADDITIONAL NOTES: powers.

11 GROUP HISTORY: The Alliance of Evil is a team of su­ perhuman mutants assembled by Apocalypse. Although most of the Al­ liance were voluntary joiners, their main reward was the increased power offered them by exposure to Nowlan's power. Since this eventu­ ally proved addicitive, the Alliance was forced to remain in Apocalyp­ se's employ. Following battles with X-Factor and Nowlan's death, the Al­ liance was defeated and presumably imprisoned. Their current locations are unknown.

12 ARON TH,E WATCHER

STATISTICS:

F AM(50) A AM(50) S AM (50) E UN(100) R UN(100) I UN(100) P UN(100) Health: 250 Karma: 300 Resources: MN(75) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Aron Occupation: Watcher Legal Status: Citizen of Watcher's homeworld Identity: Public is unaware of his ex­ istence Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile; past bases include Four Freedoms Plaza, Jasper's National Park (in Canada) Past Group Affiliations: Employer of Dragon Man, false Fantastic Four Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Animal Communication: Unea rthly rank Astral Projection: Unearthly rank Empathy: Unearthly ra nk Forcefield: Class 1000 rank Image Generation: Unearthlyrank Invulnerability: Class 1000 resist­ ance to physical and energy attacks. Kinetic Bolt: Class 1000 rank Levitation: Unearthly rank Longevity:Alth ough not immortal, he has a potential lifespan of millions of Ta lents: Unearthly knowledge of ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: years. alien technology and the history of Aron is a rebel. He wants to live a life Mental Probe: Unearthly rank the Universe. of action and adventure, although, Postcognition: Unearthly rank Contacts: None as a Watcher, he still prefers to ob­ Psi-Screen: Unearthly rank serve the actions of pawns under his Remote Sensing: Unearthly rank ADDITIONAL NOTES: control. He may assist potential al­ Shapechange: Class 1000 ability to lies to win them to his side. However, alter his form to one similar to what­ since he is trying to hide from Uatu ever race he is watching. and the other Watchers, he must act Te lekinesis: Unearthly rank covertly. Te lepathy: Unearthly rank Te leportation: Class 5000 rank Te lescopic Vision: Unearthly rank Armor: His costume gives him Class 1000 invisibility to the remote senses of a Watcher (telepathy, telescopic vision, etc,).

13 Four to defeat the Fantastic Four team, yet no one suspected the once and for all. He also decided switch. During their brief career, the HISTORY: that, since his own group was still too false team managed to make the Aron is a relatively young member weak to succeed, he would send out Mole Man turn hostile again, at­ of the Watchers, an alien race of im­ an invitation for new, extremely pow­ tempted to charge a "Fantasti-Tax" mortal observers. When Uatu, the erful members. Aron received an in­ of $50 to every New Yo rker for their Watcher assigned to Earth, was vitation and, since it matched his services, and generally spoiled the brought to the Watcher homeworld own goals, accepted the offer. With Fantastic Four's good reputation. for trial, Aron became intrigued by Dragon Man in tow, he arrived The Avengers, seeking an expla­ Uatu's break from the Watchers' tra­ shortly before the Frightful Four's nation for the Fantastic Four's inex­ ditional code of non-interference. near-defeat and managed to render plicable behavior, discovered the The Elder Watchers were worried the Fantastic Four unconscious. truth about the clones, but before about Aron's interest in Uatu but de­ Although the Wingless Wizard or­ they could force an explanation, the cided that the renegade would be a dered Aron to destroy the Fantastic clones were teleported back to better teacher for Aron than the more Four, Aron announced his true inten­ Aron's cave deep within Canada's exemplary members of their race. tions. He took cell samples from the Jaspers National Park. There they Aron accompanied Uatu back the unconscious Fantastic Four and left discovered the real Fantastic Four the Blue Area of the Moon where he to make clones of them. By the time and Frightful Four had escaped and was instructed in the values of pas­ the Fantastic Four freed themselves were battling anew, while Aron be­ sive observation and non­ and captured the Frightful Four, came frozen into helplessness. The interference. In truth Aron was Aron's clones were ready. He cap­ two Fantastic Fours fought, each be­ pleased to be nearer the superhu­ tured the Fantastic Four, Frightful lieving themselves the real team. mans of Earth who had captivated Four, and Ms. Marvel II, then placed The real Fantastic Four triumphed, his interest. When the Fantastic Four them all within suspended animation even defeating the Frightful Four on came to the Moon to aid the Inhu­ capsules. The false Fantastic Four the side while Aron watched from the mans, Aron attempted to interfere on consisted of the original members, sidelines. Now he revealed he was their behalf but Uatu prevent this. including the spiky version of the still active and ready to move onto Aron decided he wanted to be a Thing and the rocky version of Ms. another phase. He teleported the man of adventure, a problem be­ Marvel II. For reality's sake, Aron let Frightful Four to the Va ult, then tele­ cause he had to avoid Uatu and the Alicia and Franklin accompany them ported the real Fantastic Four back other Watcher's notice. He devised a although they were deceived into be­ to their headquarters. He put the means of becoming undetectable to lieving these were the real Fantastic clones into suspended animation the Watchers and traveled secretly Four. With these pawns, Aron now where he could watch their dreams to Earth. He rented a suite in the new acted out his desires for adventure. and thus gain the excitement he Four Freedoms Plaza from which he He sent his clone Fantastic Four out craved. He teleported his entire facil­ watched the Fantastic Four's activi­ to relive the real team's earliest ad­ ity to an as-yet unrevealed location, ties. Coincidentally, the Wingless ventures. The team displayed a ruth­ presumably still on Earth. Wizard assembled a new Frightful lessness and zealotry unlike the real

14 ATUM THE GOD EATER

STATISTICS:

Atum Demogorge

F X(1 50) Z(500) A AM(50) UN(100) S AM(50) X(150) E X(1 50) Z(500) R EX(20) EX(20) I MN(75) MN(75) P CL1 000 CL3000 Health: 400/1250 Karma: 1095/3095 Resources: N/A Popularity: 30

Real Name: Atum Occupation: God Legal Status: Existence unknown to populace of Earth Identity: Known to historians Place of Birth: Earth Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Gaea (mother), Demiurge (father) Base of Operations: The Sun Past Group Affiliations: Child of Gaea and the Demiurge Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Flight: Remarkable (225 mph) in air; Class 5000 (lightspeed) in space Light Generation: Class 1000 Heat Generation: Class 1000 Plasma Generation: Class 1000 Absorption Power: Class 1000 ability to absorb the powers and Abilities of each of Atum's victims. The victim's FASERIP scores are added to Atum's own ranks. When the first such act occurs, Atum is trans­ formed into Demogorge. Alter Ego: Upon the use of the Ab­ sorption Power, Atum undergoes a physical transformation into Demo­ gorge. In this form he has wings, grey skin, and increased power. Ini- tial transformation takes 3 turns. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: When the battle is won, Demogorge Atum will only come to Earth if Gaea cats off his excess power and reverts or life itself is threatened. Even then, to his original form. This takes 3 he must be summoned by a FEAT of turns as well. Shift Y intensity. This can be a magi­ Ta lents: None cal spell, psionic power, or other Contacts: Gaea means as determined by the Judge.

15 sorbed their powers into himself. In Gaea, although still more power­ addition, his form mutated; he grew ful, was not a warrior. She sum­ HISTORY: wings and a duplicate of each slain moned Atum from his long sleep The primordial being now known demon's face. Now he was Demo­ within the sun. Faster than light, he as the Demiurge was the first being gorge the God-Eater. Eventually De­ flew to Earth and charged into battle to appear on Earth, the physical mogorge slew and absorbed all the with the demon. He severed Set's manifestation of the potential life­ demons save for Chthon and Set. head with a single bolt of power and, force of that would someday arise on Chthon left the original Darkhold be­ as before, he absorbed the demon's Earth. The Demiurge seeded the hind as he fled into another dimen­ power and form. Once again he was still-cooling planet with fragments of sion, literally escaping the jaws of his Demogorge. However, Set was far its life energies, fragments that de­ doom. Set, too, planned an escape from slain. The demon grew larger veloped independently into the be­ into another dimension; he and his as he regenerated two heads to re­ ings now known as the Elder Gods. offspring Sligguth and Damballah place the lost one and the battle was Foremost among them were Gaea, cast off their original, physical joined. Over the weeks and months also known as Mother Nature, bodies and transformed themselves that followed, Elder God and god­ Chthon the mystic, and Set, the into invisible, ethereal bodies. The eater fought. Set grew more power­ great destroyer. The age of the Elder Demogorge then annihilated the ful as each beading produced two Gods lasted for millions of years as cast-off shells. Content that he had new heads. Likewise, Demogorge they wandered across an otherwise accomplished his mission, Demo­ continues to absorb power. The barren world. gorge reverted to Atum's original Earth was less fortunate. The vast Gaea spent her time watching the form and flew upward where he forces expended in the battle laid slow development of the animals merged with the sun itself. waste to the planet. Ironically, the di­ and plants that evolved naturally Now alone, Gaea was free to over­ nosaurs were rendered extinct in the from protoplasm. While she spent see the development of the new life carnage. Gaea protected the far her time acting as the primeval life­ on Earth. Ages passed and the dino­ smaller and more defensible mam­ forms' protector, the other Elder saurs evolved to dominate the mals, thus insuring the chain of evo­ Gods were busy in more hostile ac­ planet. Set had secretly used his lution that eventually produced tivities. Set discovered murder; the powers to assist the dinosaurs' de­ humanity. When the battle reached other Elder Gods rushed to follow his velopment, in a way evolving in his its inevitable conclusion, Demo­ example and a civil war ensued. Dur­ image. Gaea realized sadly that the gorge proved victorious and drove ing the war, the Elder Gods' powers dinosaurs were a dead end, incapa­ the energy-drained Set back into and abilities degenerated until they ble of complete evolution. She otherdimensional exile. became the beings now known as turned from the dinosaurs to nurture Demorgorge reverted to Atum demons. Only Gaea refused to join the newly-emerging mammals. Set once more. The battle had been the mad warfare. Horrified, she refused to acknowledge his failure costly for him as well. He would feared that the war would wipe out and reached into the minds of every never again be able to come to Earth the fragile lifeforms under her care. dinosaur and filled it with the com­ unless he was helped by other senti­ She called upon the Demiurge to en­ mand to kill all mammals. All over the ent beings. Atum returned to the gender within her a new kind of be­ Earth, the massacre of the mammals sun, where he remained until the ing. She formed a womb within began. Gaea was appalled when she modern epoch. herself to nurture the being who now realized that Set was responsible Most recently, Atum was con­ grew within her and descended deep and dared Set to confront her. He re­ tacted by the Asgardian god of thun­ into the Earth to await the birth of her plied by sending three enormous di­ der, Thor, to aid Earth's heroes in a child, Atum, first of the second gen­ nosaurs thundering toward her, their battle against Set. Thor fought Atum eration of gods. eyes glowing with demonic power. and forced his transformation into She gave birth to Atum, who arose The dinosaurs physically fused to­ Demogorge. The God-Eater joined from her womb fully formed and in gether into the physical form of Set the battle and defeated Set once full possession of awesome powers. himself, only now he was unimagina­ again. Atum has once again re­ Wielding the powers of the sun itself, bly more powerful than he had been turned to the sun. he attacked and began to slay the ages before. He intended to slay demons. As he killed them, he ab- Gaea and seize control of the Earth.

16 BLONDE PHANTOM

STATIST ICS:

1940s Modern

F GD(10) FE(2) A GD(10) PR(4) S TY(6) PR(4) E GD(10) PR(4) R TY(6) GD(10) I RM(30) IN(40) P PR(4) EX(20) Health: 36/1 6 Karma: 40/70 - I Resources: GD(10) Popularity: 30/5

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Louise "Weezi" Grant Mason Occupation: Legal Secretary, re­ j tired adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Widowed Known Relatives: Mark Mason (husband, deceased) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Ally of She­ Hulk, employee of N.Y.C. DA To w­ ers Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Reality Alteration: Louise has the Class 1000 ability to transform her surroundings into a pocket universe that resembles the panels of a comic and, by stepping into another panel, time are seen as pages" or book. People within her immediate appear at another location or time. "subplots"; during the passage of vicinity perceive themselves to be By making a hole in her surround­ such things, the character can rap­ within a panel on such a comic book ings, she can tear a Gateway onto a idly travel great distances or perform page. Other panels on the page may completely different page of this feats that were not being resisted by appear to be different views of the metaphysical comic book. In game another character. The character same scene, different times, or even terms, the character must first deal also perceives a deadline in terms of different locations. with the Material Strength of her ini­ pages still remaining in the story. Apparently characters within this tial surroundings (generally Poor to Equipment: power's effect can also dimly per­ Good Material Strength) but once .45 Automatic: Range 3 areas, 10 ceive beings beyond the border of she is in the realm of the comic book bullets in a clip, damage 6 points per the metaphysical panel they are cur­ page, she need only tear through the bullet. rently in. Those characters with Ex­ page's Feeble material Strength to Talents: Louise is a good marksman celient or better Psyche can enter a new page. The traveler can with a pistol. In her youth, she was perceive other dimensional entities, then enter any location, regardless good at hand to hand fighting and who are then defined as "artist," of the physical barriers that would Acrobatics, espeCially when encum­ "writer," "reader," "game judge" (if otherwise protect the target area. bered by an evening gown and high the being is actively altering Louise's Note that the overall effect of this heels. She has Detective, Law En­ reality) or "player" (if the entity is a power is Class 1000 ra nk Te leporta­ forcement, Legal Secretary, and passive watcher). tion, Dimension Tr avel, or Time Criminology skills. The power offers several means of Tr avel, depending on the journey in­ Contacts: 1940s: Private eye Mark simulating teleportation. By stepping volved. The perception of time's pas­ Mason, NYPD. Modern: N.Y.C. DA out of the panel, Louise can rapidly sage becomes expressed in terms of Blake To wer, She-Hulk suddenly disappear from an area "page count." Sudden passages of 17 •

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Somewhere Louise developed her Louise is a pleasant, easy-going power and the ability to perceive re­ woman who is mostly concerned ality as a comic book. As other 1940s with remaining an active character in characters were revived in modern the Marvel Universe. She will dis­ times, the Masons expected their creetly arrange for characters to in­ turn was coming when they would be volve her in their lives. Once she has made young again, but their turn insured her position, she will freely never came. Mark died of old age help other characters and even two years ago and, at this point, teach them how to develop their own Louise decided she had to take an counterparts to her Reality Alteration active role in reviving her career and power. thus saving her life. She used her connections to get ajob as the secre­ tary to New Yo rk City District Attor­ ney Blake To wer. On Louise's HISTORY: recommendation, To wer offered a Louise Grant was a secretary for job to Jennifer Walters (a.k.a. She­ the Mark Mason Detective Agency in Hulk). Walters and Louise quickly the 1940s. However, she was se­ became friends. Louise first re­ cretly the costumed crimefighter vealed her power, then her past to known as the Blonde Phantom. She her younger colleague. Louise often aided Mark Mason in his cases taught She-Hulk how to develop sim­ and frequently rescued him from ilar powers; She-Hulk had already danger. Grant was in love with Ma­ begun to perceive her writer's exist­ son who ironically ignored her be­ ence, thus further development was cause he was in love with the Blonde easy. Phantom. Although Mason was an Unfortunately, conditions soon led adequate detective, he never real­ to She-Hulk's dismissal from the ized his secretary and the Blonde D.A.'s office. What Louise will do now Phantom were the same woman. is anyone's guess, but she will be try­ Eventually she told him the truth ing hard to gain an active role within about her dual identity. He proposed somebody's published adventures, and they married in 1949. Louise re­ whether in comic book or role­ tired from crimefighting to concen­ playing game form. trate on raising the couple's two children.

18 BLCCDSCREAM

STATIST ICS:

F RM(30) A EX(20) S RM(30) E RM(30) R GO(10) I GO(10) P GO(10) Health: 110 Karma: 30 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -1 5

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Enforcer Legal Status: Unknown Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown ---.../ Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Madripoor Past Group Affiliations: Partner of Roughouse, employee of Gen. Hguyen Ngoc Coy Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Va mpirism: Remarkable ability to ab­ sorb the lifeforce of a victim. Victims can resist this effect by making a Psyche FEAT. Success means the victim repels Bloodscream's attack or resists his powers. Victims are withered to a mummy­ like state as they bleed uncontrolla­ bly from whatever point Bloodscream touches. A victim may survive by means of an Endurance FEAT or if Bloodscream purposefully leaves him alive. Note that, while most victims are left with a red scar in the shape of Bloodscream's handprint, mutants are immune to this scarring. The absorbed lifeforce gives Bloodscream these powers: Weakness: Bloodscream must be ADDIT IONAL NOT ES: * Regeneration of his lost Health by able to touch his victim's skin in or­ adding the victim's Health to his. der for his power to work. Other injuries are healed at a Re­ Ta lents: Martial Arts B, C, and E. markable rate. Contacts: Roughhouse, General * Mind Control: He has Remarkable Nguyen Ngoc Coy control over the minds over any hu­ man he has caused to bleed. Invulnerability to Metal: Bloodscream claims he cannot be harmed by any weapon forged by a mortal being. However, he can be harmed by metal forged by magic or by supernatural or divine beings. 19 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Bloodscream is a dour, pragmatic man. He is an opportunist whose sole joy is using his powers to terrify others and make himself rich. He uses formal, somewhat archaic speech.

HISTORY: Little has yet been revealed about Bloodscream. He and his partner Roughouse act as enforcers for the Asian crimelord, General Nguyen Ngoc Coy. In aiding General Coy in his attempt to unseat Tyger Tiger as the crime lord of the island nation of Madripoor, Bloodscream and Roughouse first clashed with Wol­ verine. Bloodscream remains an adver­ sary of Wolverine to this day.

20 BLDDDSTONE

BLOODSTONE

STATIST ICS:

F IN(40) A EX(20) S IN(40) E UN(100) R TY(6) I FE(2) P PR(4) Health: 200 Karma: 12 Resources: IN(40) Popularity: 1

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Hunter, adventurer, J mercenary Legal Status: None (deceased) Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Northern Va naheim (Scand i navia) Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Bloodstone Is­ land, various mini-bases Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Longevity: As long as the Bloodstone remained embedded in his chest, he did not age or suffer damage from disease. Regeneration: Monstrous ability to regain lost Health or missing body parts. Power Glove: Incredible intensity lightning bolt; range 1 area. Double-barreled Shotgun: Range 2 area, rate of fire 1 per turn. One shell is held in each barrel. Ammo in­ cludes: " Explosive: 40 points of damage to the target Ta lents: All forms of Combat, includ­ caretaker of Bloodstone Island (de­ " Pellet: 15 points of damage total to ing Marksmanship, Military, and ceased); and Philip Leroux, Euro­ targets within cone of fire. BusinesslFinance skills. He was flu­ pean correspondent stationed in " Rocket: Propellant charge can en­ ent in a variety of languages, includ­ Moscow. able Bloodstone to travel 1 area. ing extinct ones. Weakness: If the Bloodstone gem is Contacts: P.D.Q. Werner, monster ADDITIONAL NOT ES: removed from his chest, he dies im­ movie producer; Brad Carter, actor mediately. By means of a Psyche (deceased), and Samantha Eden, FEAT, he can retain his lifeforce and freelance journalist. Bloodstone also original intelligence; during this per­ had a network of operatives, includ­ iod, his Health drops one point per ing William Brandon Montague III, minute. If he hasn't regained the a.k.a. Billy Brand, guardian of the Bloodstone gem by that time, he dies N.Y.C. minibase #6; Erik Koenig, permanently. Bloodstone's personal pilot and 21 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: When not engaged in the hunt or ac­ THE BLO�D­ Ulysses Bloodstone was purely a quisition of new knowledge or lan­ man of action who never contem­ guages, Bloodstone slept in STONE AND plated the greater pattern in his or self-induced suspended animation his opponents' actions. He was ob­ for up to a century at a time. Through HELLFIRE sessed with pursuing one goal at a shrewd investment of his mercenary time to the exclusion of all else. He earnings, Bloodstone also managed HELIX could be easily distracted by imme­ to accumulate a sizable fortune. diate crises and, while solving such In the meanwhile, the Helix contin­ The Bloodstone gem resembles a immediate problems, would usually ued its plotting. It created a group of ruby approximately 2'-3' wide. It is forget his early purposes or plans. five willing human followers, the an unearthly crystal that arrived on Conspiracy, and arranged for them Earth shortly before Bloodstone dis­ to kill Ulx and take possession of the covered it. The crystal housed the nearly rebuilt Bloodstone crystal. Hellfire Helix, a non-organic lifeform that possessed great magical HISTORY: The Conspiracy's agents fought powers. In order to exist within the The man who would one day be Bloodstone on several fronts while Earth dimension, the Helix had to en­ known as Ulysses Bloodstone was Bloodstone's operatives kept busy case itself within a protective crystal born 10,000 years ago in Scandina­ with irrelevant clues or quests; shell. The Helix desired to conquer via. One of the best hunters in his some, like Brad Carter, were killed. Earth and to this end it required a na­ tribe, he was lured into an encounter The Helix used its control over tive host as its agent and observer. with the alien being known as UI­ Bloodstone's mind to keep him busy Through its servant Ulx, it lured the luxy'l Kwan Ta e Syn and the Blood­ with irrelevancies as well. For exam­ primitive Bloodstone to its lair and of­ stone gem, an unearthly crystal that ple, in his U.N. address, instead of fered him a portion of the gem's served as housing for the Hellfire He­ alerting the world to the danger power. lix (see below), during one of his posed by the Bloodstone crystal and The Helix's original crystal hous­ hunting trips. Irradiated by the gem the Conspiracy, he simply asked for ing was destroyed by Bloodstone, and now possessing superhuman the U.N. to acknowledge the unin­ and Ulx spent the next 10,000 years strength, the savage returned to his habited Bloodstone Island as a sov­ seeking the fragments. By the 20th tribe and demonstrated how they, ereign nation. Finally, the century, he had acquired all but four too, might acquire the same gifts. Conspiracy and the Helix acted. of the pieces. Meanwhile the Helix The entire tribe accompanied him Bloodstone was taken captive by the back to the lair where the Helix Conspiracy and his will to resist was used its unwitting spy Bloodstone to study the rise of humanity. In the late sprung its trap, bombarding them stripped from him; he was killed with mystical energies and draining when the gem was amputated from 20th century, it decided the world them of their minds and lifeforces. his chest. Still, residual power re­ was ripe for conquest and it enticed four humans and a dolphin to form When Bloodstone realized what had mained to reanimate Bloodstone in a the Conspiracy to serve it. Aware happened, he lunged at the crystal zombie-like state where he pos­ that Bloodstone never suspected with his spear and shattered the gem sessed only long-dormant memories that they were mere pawns in the He­ into hundreds of fragments, one of of his original existence. Bloodstone lix's game, upon Bloodstone's death, which imbedded itself in the sav­ trailed the Helix and, through sheer they merged their lifeforces with the age's chest. The rest of the gem frag­ mental strength, destroyed it. Then Helix to transform the rebuilt Blood­ ments were scattered across the his flesh fell to dust and his skeleton stone gem into an anthropoid form, planet. fell to the ground. which allowed the Helix to go on a Bloodstone discovered that he Curiously, a fragment of the Blood­ brief rampage in New Yo rk before was now immortal and in possession stone gem became imbedded once the barely living Bloodstone over­ of superhuman powers and dedi­ more in Bloodstone's sternum, but cated himself to finding the lost frag­ he remained dead. The skeleton was came the Helix and shattered the crystal golem. ments and Ulx. For the next 10,000 recently acquired by Baron Zemo II However, the Helix was not de­ years, Ulysses Bloodstone, as he and used in his quest to possess the stroyed completely and it retained its came to call himself, and Ulx played Hellfire Helix. The sternum was re­ ability to subtly control mortal minds out their deadly roles. To keep Blood­ moved and the rest of the skeleton and convince people to seek out its stone from finding him, Ulx sent forth dumped in the sewer system. The shattered fragments. Recently, it co­ legions of extradimensional mon­ skull is currently in the Avengers' erced Baron Zemo II to reassemble sters to slay him. Bloodstone usually possession, the bulk of the skeleton the fragmented shard that had deco­ triumphed but only encountered Ulx is in the Conspiracy's lair deep be­ rated Bloodstone's chest for so long. a handful of times. Despite his mis­ neath Central Park, and the sternum The Helix again managed only a sion, Bloodstone and his quest re­ is atop Mt. Fujiyama in Japan. brief flurry of activity before it was mained a secret from the public, disrupted again. although his exploits undoubtedly in­ spired many myths and legends.

22 BLUE STREAK

STATIST ICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S GD(10) E EX(20) R EX(20) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 50 Karma: 32 Resources: GD(1 0) Popularity: -1

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, spy for Corporation, professional criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record (deceased) Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Double agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. and Corpora­ tion Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Rocket Skates: Rocket engines en­ able the user to reach Amazing speed (125 mph), leap 10' in the air, or climb vertical surfaces. Retroroc­ kets in the toes enable the user to break instantly or travel backwards. The fuel limits use to 30 minutes of travel. Laser Gauntlets: Incredible intenSity beam capable of melting through a 2" steel plate in 30 seconds. Range 10 feet. Body Armor: Remarkable protection from physical attacks. Ta cks: These puncture normal tires. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: He carries enough to cover 1000 The Blue Streak is a criminal seeking square feet. to use his gimmick to make himself Ta lents: All forms of combat, Acro­ rich. He may hold a grudge but not if batic, Criminal, and Espionage it interfers with his earning potential. skills. Contacts: None

23 HISTORY: The Blue Streak was an operative of the subversive organization called the Corporation and was assigned to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "Super Agent" program. Inspired by the large number of independent su­ perbeings, S.H.I.E.L.D. had decided to create its own cadre of superbe­ ings and high tech operatives whose equipment gave them the functional equivalents of super powers. The Blue Streak was provided with his unique rocket-propelled skates and trained in their use. However, he was exposed as a Corporation spy and defeated in combat by Captain America. After leaving prison, the Blue Streak led a successful career as a professional criminal in the Ameri­ can Midwest. His rocket skates and laser weaponry enabled him to pur­ sue moving vehicles on highways and rob them in transit. Eventually the Blue Streak clashed again with Captain America, who encountered him on the highways of Appalachia. The Blue Streak decoyed Captain America into going down a cliffside looking for him, while the Blue Streak actually escaped in another direction. Unable to travel much fur­ ther under his skates' power, Blue Streak hitchhiked a ride on a passing truck. Unfortunately the Blue Streak's race had come to the end; the driver was actually Scourge, who promptly shot him in the head.

24 BDX

STATISTICS:

Madison Box

F GO(10) AM(50) A GO(10) IN(40) S GO(10) UN(100) E RM(30) UN(100) R EX(20) EX(20) I EX(20) EX(20) P IN(40) IN(40) Health: 60/290 Karma: 80/80 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 20 (8 outside Canada)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Madison Jeffries Occupation: Adventurer, machines­ mith, ex-soldier Legal Status: Canadian citizen Identity: Known to Canadian author­ ities Place of Birth: Canada Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Lionel (brother, deceased) Base of Operations: Alpha Flight Headquarters Past Group Affiliations: Gamma, Beta, and Alpha Flight Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Molding: Unearthly ability to control, animate, and spontaneously re­ shape any metal within 6 areas of his location. The power can be used for these stunts:

* Disruption: Up to Unearthly dam­ age can be inflicted on metallic char­ acters who fail to make an Endurance FEAT.

* Gro wth (Mass Gain): By absorbing metals and incoporating them into Box's form , Box can grow to 20 times its original size.

* Healing: By using his powers on stretch 50 yards withouth taking in * Radiation: 1000 miles range metallic characters, he can repair up new mass. Ta lents: Engineering, Piloti ng, and to Unearthly damage. Invulnerability: Remarkable reis­ Military skills. The following powers can only be tance to physical attacks. Contacts: Alpha Flight used while in the Box armor. Sensors: Onboard eq uipment gives Flight: Incredible speed (300 mph in him these Amazing powers: ADDITIONAL NOTES: air, 4000 mph in space) * Infrared vision and heat detection: Hyper-Burrowing: Feeble speed (2 range 1000 miles. areas per turn) * Radar: 200 mile range Communication with Cybernetics: * Radio: 200 mile range; Incredible Excellent ability to communicate ability to jam other transmissions with any computer system. within 5 areas. Elongation: Amazing ability to 25 ROLE-PLAYING NOT ES : and allies against the staff's efforts to he had made the legs from corpses Madison Jeffries seems unedu­ cure them of their psychological in his possession. Wa lter cated, rough-mannered, and unso­ problems. James Hudson (a .k.a. Langkowski's disembodied spirit phisticated, but he is quite bright. Guardian) convinced the men to join took possession of the Box armor in Although he is in love with, and was Canada's "Department H," the order to defeat Pestilence, a super­ engaged to, Heather Hudson (a.k.a. framework for their fledgling super­ natural being who had possessed Vindicator), he is also drawn to Dia­ hero teams, and the Gamma Flight and reanimated Snowbird's corpse. mond Lil. training program. The two men re­ After Pestilence was defeated, spected Hudson enough to over­ Langowski transferred his spirit to come their misgivings and sign up. Snowbird's form. They soon advanced to Beta Flight. Roger suffered his final mental HISTORY: It was during this time that Madison collapse when Aurora rejected him Madison and Lionel Jeffries were became amorously linked to Lillian for the newly reborn Langkowski. To brothers with psionic transmutative Crawford, the future Diamond Lil of stop Roger's rampage, Madison powers. Madison's power gave him Omega Flight. took control of the Box armor. Bochs control over metal while Lionel's Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Flights felt betrayed, his dispair amplified gave him control over organic sub­ were disbanded when the govern­ when his new legs began to wither stances, especially living tissue. ment suddenly canceled Depart­ away. Lionel approached Roger with Madison hated his powers for mak­ ment H. The frustrated trainees a new plan, one to which he agreed. ing him different from other people, turned criminal with the exceptions Lionel and Roger merged into a new although they did assist him to be­ of Jeffries, Bochs (now operating as being who would combine Lionel's come a highly proficient mechanic Box), and Marrina. Six weeks after transmutative power with Roger's and machine builder. Lionel, on the Box joined Alpha Flight, Roger genius for design. The composite other hand, accepted his powers sought out Lionel. To gether the men creature, Omega, was dominated by and used them to become a noted created a new, stronger Box armor, Lionel's mind and battled Alpha surgeon. which Roger could enter by "phas­ Flight. The horrified Roger tried to Like many other Canadians, the ing" into the control compartment. battle Lionel but was lobotomized brothers enlisted in the U.S. Army Madison was present at Alpha and thus destroyed. Madison modi­ during the Vietnam War. Madison Flight's final showdown with fied the Box armor again and used it continued to be a mechanic, hoping Courtney and used his powers to de­ to help battle and finally destroy that the demands of the war would stroy the robot. His feat made him fi­ Omega. During that battle and in the help him forget his powers, but nally realize he could use his powers months to come, Madison discov­ Lionel, who became an Army medic, for higher purposes than simply be­ ered that the addition of his powers hoped to use his powers to help war ing a mechanic; he joined Alpha greatly enhanced the Box armor's casualties. The brothers were serv­ Flight as their resident machines­ powers and capabilities. The new ing in the same squad on a field mis­ mith. He and Roger restored Hud­ Box is capable of becoming any ma­ sion when an explosion killed most son's Guardian armor and modified chine or transport the team needs, of the squad. The explosion tore its it for Heather Huson's use as the provided Madison can visually imag­ victims apart. Horrified, Lionel des­ new Vindicator. When Heather acci­ ine it and the necessary materials perately tried to use his powers to re­ dentally freed Lionel, Madison are on hand. However, because the unify the corpses and return the seemingly convinced to Lionel to use Box armor is now controlled directly bodies to life. Such a feat was be­ his own powers to restore his own by Jeffries' power, rather than yond Lionel's power and he went in­ sanity. In truth, all Madison suc­ through mechanical controls, no one sane with frustration. All Madison ceeded in doing was convince Lionel else can use the Box armor. could do was create shackles to re­ to pretend to be sane. Jeffries' relationship with Heather strain his mad brother. Lionel's san­ Roger suffered a nervous break­ has had its ups and downs. While ity never returned and eventually he down after an underwater adventure they were engaged to be married, became the menace dubbed Scram­ left him with the bends. Alpha Flight the initial ceremony had to be post­ ble, the Mixed-Up Man. Madison had took Roger to Lionel's New Life poned when Heather was sealed in Lionel committed to a padded cell in Clinic in Va ncouver. Although he was her Vindicator costume. Later, they Montreal General Hospital. no longer licensed to practice medi­ decided to postpone the nuptials un­ Madison also suffered from psy­ cine, Lionel had managed to set up til a later time. Recently, Diamond Lil chological disturbances and ended the clinic and secret research labo­ joined Alpha Flight and rekindled her up at the Clinic for Socially Malad­ ratory with the aid of a mysterious romance with Jeffries, a romance justed Superbeings, where the staff benefactor. Lionel used his powers they have thus far kept secret from tried to help him overcome his feel­ to extricate Roger from the Box ar­ Heather. ings of alienation from humanity. mor and cure his case of the bends. There he met Roger Bochs, a para­ Then he gave Roger a new pair of plegic who blamed the world for the legs and told Roger he had reshaped loss of his legs. They became friends Roger's own fatty tissues, but in truth

26 BULLSEYE

STATISTICS:

F IN(40) A RM(30) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I PR(4) P TY(6) Health: 100 Karma: 16 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Assassin, professional criminal, ex-mercenary Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Presumed single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Ex­ member of Eric Slaughter's gang, ex-employee of the Kingpin Present Group Aff iliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Adamantium Skeleton: + 1 CS to damage in blunt, charging, or any at­ tack that uses his body. He is invul­ nerable to any attack designed to break his bones, although he still suffers bruising or other internal damage. Ta lents: He is + 1 CS to attack with any thrown missile attack. His maxi­ mum range for throwing a baseball­ sized mass is 100'. Bullseye is able to use any throwable object as a deadly weapon, including hair­ brushes, vases, and even playing cards. Other talents include Military, Marksmanship, Explosives, and ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Martial Arts D. He is skilled in using Bullseye is a lethal egomaniac who pistols, rifles, knives, whips, sais, delights in killing as a means of bol­ shurikens, nun-chuks, grenades, stering his self-image. He has a and various explosives. monomaniacal obsession to defeat Contacts: None Daredevil or anyone else who de­ feats him. Bullseye's secondary goal is simply to get rich and famous; act­ ing as a costumed assasin is simply a means to this end.

27 Daredevil tracked Bullseye down in the arms of her lover Daredevil. A and prevented him from killing an­ vengeful Daredevil battled Bullseye HISTORY: other extortion victim. again; Bullseye ended up hanging The man who became known as Bullseye was subsequently hired onto Daredevil as the two men hung Bullseye had perfect aim in throwing by Maxwell Glenn, then under the suspended over a great height. De­ e things. He had signed up as a major control of the Purpl Man, to kill law­ spite their precarious position, league baseball pitcher but decided yers Matt Murdock (a.k.a. Daredvil) Bullseye again attacked Daredevil, to become a soldier instead and and Franklin "Foggy" Nelson. Of who promptly dropped him. The fall soon became known for the sadistic course this led to another fight with broke many of Bullseye's bones and pleasure he took in killing his ene­ Daredvil, in which Bullseye failed to shattered his spine. The now­ mies. One day on patrol, he heard a kill the hero or carry out his assign­ paralyzed Bullseye was abducted to guerilla come up behind him. He ment. As a result, Bullseye lost his Japan by men in the employ of Kenji spun about, preparing to fire, only to formidable reputation, at least in his Dyama, alias Lord Dark Wind. A discover his gun was empty. The own mind. Determined to regain his former Japanese pilot during WWII, guerilla raised his own gun and pre­ image, Bullseye took over a televi­ he had sought to create an army of pared to fire, when the future sion studio and announced he would invincible warriors by bonding ada­ Bullseye hurled his rifle at the gue­ kill his hostages unless Dardevil mantium to their bones. However, rilla and speared him with its bayo­ came to fight him. Daredevil ac­ the notes of his process were stolen net blade. This incident proved a cepted the challenge and defeated and it took him years to reinvent the turning point in the future Bullseye's Bullseye on a live broadcast. process. development. Bullseye was imprisoned but es­ Lord Dark Wind used his bonding Eventually he became a merce­ caped. He became associated with process to repair Bullseye's shat­ nary in Africa and spent his free time Eric Slaughter's organization of as­ tered skeleton. He intended that, in perfecting his throwing skills and sassins. He kidnapped the Black return, Bullseye would serve him as mastering the unusual weapons he Widow, Daredevil's former lover and his head assassin and trainer for his discovered in his travels. He re­ partner. Daredevil came to her res­ soldiers. When Bullseye regained turned to New Yo rk City where he cue, defeated Bullseye, and re­ his health and mobility, Lord Dark adopted the costumed identity of turned him to prison. There, Wind directed him to return to New Bullseye and launched a series of Bullseye went temporarily insane Yo rk City and assassinate the Japa­ extortion attempts. He demanded due to a brain tumor. He again es­ nese minister of trade who was there $100,000 from millionaire Arthur caped but was once more captured on a visit. Bullseye had no intention Hunnicutt and, when Hunnicutt by Daredevil. In prison he underwent of carrying out the assignment since refused, killed him by hurling a sharp treatment that removed the tumor he was not being paid for it. Instead, pen into his neck. (In truth, Bullseye and restored him to his normal, Bullseye went to the Kingpin and had intended to kill Hunnicutt any­ questionable level of sanity. again asked for his old position. The way as an example for other extor­ Bullseye made a daring escape Kingpin told Bullseye to assassinate tion victims.) Bullseye sought and went to seek assistance from his Daredevil and, if he was successful, publicity to give himself a more fear­ former employer, the Kingpin, only to they would then discuss Bullseye's some image and told his story to discover that the ninja Elektra had future. Once again Bullseye fought Daily Bugle reporter Jake Conover. become the Kingpin's principal as­ Daredevil and ended up in prison Bullseye fought and defeated Dared­ sassin. Hoping to regain his position, where he remains as of this writing. vii during a circus performance at Bullseye tracked down, battled, and Madison Square Garden, although mortally wounded Elektra who died

28 BUSHMAN

STATISTICS:

F IN(40) A RM(30) S EX(20) E RM(30) R GD(10) I GD(10) P EX(20) Health: 120 Karma: 40 Resources: AM (50) Popularity: -30

Real Name: Raoul Bushman Occupation: General of the Armies and President-for-Eternity of Burunda, ex-mercenary and terrorist Legal Status: Citizenship unre­ corded; wanted interational criminal J Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Burunda Marital Status: Unrecorded Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Burunda Past Group Affiliations: Dictator of Burunda, former leader of his own organization of terrorists, merce­ naries, and criminals Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Bushman employs a variety of weap­ ons including: Tw o-handed Sword: 20 points of damage per blow. Machine Gun: 30 points of damage per 20-bullet burst. Ta lents: Bushman is trained in a number of weapons and martial skills, among them Marksmanship, Swordsmanship, Martial Arts B, Wrestling, Guerilla Warfare, Te rrorist Ta ctics, Military Strategy, Leader­ ship, and Propaganda. Contacts: Currently Bushman has control of Burunda and its re­ sources, including its military. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Bushman is obsessed with Moon Knight. He considers himself re­ sponsible for Moon Knight's crea­ tion, hence it is his rightful duty to kill him. Bushman is a hypocrite who portays himself in noble terms that disguise his bloodthirsty cruelty. He likes to portray himself as a cham­ pion of Burunda who loves his peo­ ple.

29 melt the treasure down for its gold As the head of a sovereign nation, and attempted to kill Bushman. he also gained diplomatic immunity HISTORY: Spector stopped Alraune only to see from arrest for his past crimes. This Little is known of Raoul Bush­ Bushman slaughter the archaeolo­ aided his plot against Moon Knight, man's past before he led a team of gist. Spector found Alraune's daugh­ when Bushman came to New Yo rk mercenary soldiers fighting rebel ter Marlene and helped her escape. City and kidnapped Marlene AI­ forces in the Sudan south of the Bushman ordered the slaughter of raune. He demanded $10 million Egyptian border. He had developed the Selima villagers. Spector pro­ ransom, the money ostensibly going a formidable reputation as a merce­ tested , but Bushman knocked him to fill Burunda's anemic treasury. Al­ nary soldier known for his ruthless out and left him in the desert to die. though Spector had the money, he but effective methods. To insure in­ Spector survived the ordeal and had no way of immediately raising it. stant recognition, Bushman eventually became Moon Knight. Instead, he chose to rescue bleached and tattooed his body to When the war in the Sudan Marlene. As Moon Knight, he pur­ make the distinctive markings he cooled, Bushman came to the U.S. sued Bushman and Marlene back to now wears. Bushman's second in as a terrorist and thief. During his Burunda. Moon Knight and Bush­ command at the time was an Ameri­ gang's criminal rampage, Bushman man fought a duel in the courtyard of can mercenary Marc Spector. Spec­ fought the Moon Knight and discov­ Bushman's presidential compound, tor became appalled at the atrocities ered that he was Marc Spector. and Bushman lost. He screamed in Bushman 's men committed and re­ Bushman was defeated and fled the frustration as his would-be victims solved to leave his employ at the ear­ U.S. He decided to settle down and soared off into the night. liest opportunity. return to his homeland of Burunda The defeat has cost Bushman Bushman discovered that Ameri­ (not to be confused with Burundi, an­ some of his fierce, invulnerable rep­ can archaeologist Dr. Peter Alraune, other African nation), a former Portu­ utation, but not enough to threaten Sr. had discovered the tomb of the gese colony. He used his military his position. He still sits in Burunda, pharoah Seti III near the town of Se­ skills to take power and used his tac­ venting his anger on the populace lima. Bushman attacked the town tical skills, military expertise, and and plotting revenge against Moon and stole the treasures Alraune had sheer ruthlessness to coalesce his Knight. already found. Alraune properly power and build Burunda into an im­ feared that Bushman would simply pressive albeit minor power.

30 CAPTAIN MARVEL

STATIST ICS: BACKGROUND: Past Group Affiliations: New Or­ Real Name: Monica Rambeau leans Harbor Patrol, Avengers F EX(20) Occupation: Ship captain, adven­ Present Group Affiliation: A RM(30) turer, ex-policewoman S GO(10) Legal Status: U.S. citizen KNOWN POWERS E RM(30) Identity: Secret Energy Sheath: An energy field of R TY(6) Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisi­ Unearthly intensity surrounds her I GO(10) ana body. By manipulating this field, she P GO(10) Marital Status: Single can attain her old powers without Health: 90 Known Relatives: Frank, Maria risking the dangers associated with Karma: 26 (parents) her old bOdy-to-energy transforma­ Resources: EX(20) Base of Operations: New Orleans tion. The field gives her these Popularity: 25 powers:

31 . - - ... - ...... �.� '

.:'. �'��'-".:��' ." -- '� .. . -��-.: "

� FI!ght: Unearthly speed (600 mph formed herself into a blast of electric­ In air, 40,000 mph in space) ity. Despite her effort, her body's

* Energy Blast: Monstrous rank ei­ HISTORY energy dispersed throughout the ther in the form of a beam with a Monica Rambeau gained her ocean. It took her a day to collect range of 60 areas or a spherical field powers as a result of accidental ex­ enough of her energy to resolidify. 75 feet wide. The energy forms she posure to an exploding energy When she did so, all she could pro­ can use include: weapon. Shortly after, she joined the duce was an emaciated version of Hard Radia tion Emission Avengers. Initially she resisted re­ her former self. The Avengers flew Heat vealing her identity to the Avengers her home to New Orleans for a Light Generation because she simply did not trust lengthy recuperation. Kinetic Bolt some of them, such as the Sub­ During this period, she believed * Radiowave Generation: This power Mariner. Eventually she overcame she had lost her powers. It is possi· can be used to communicate with this, although some Avengers may ble that the power loss was a result Monstrous ease or to jam other still be unaware of her true identity. of subconscious fear of losing her­ transmissions with static self again. Certainly something was When the Wasp left the Avengers . * Forcefield: Gives her Monstrous gomg on at a subconscious level, for for a much needed vacation ' the p�ote�tion against energy attack by chair anship was left open. Captain when her powers suddenly returned ':'1 . diverting the energy into another di­ America nominated Captain Marvel months later, they were of a different mension and, although she felt unsure of her nature. Captain Marvel later theo­ Weakness: In her current form, she capacity to lead, she assumed the rized that she had restructured her can fly and use a maximum of a sin­ position. Unfortunately she never felt powers by unconscious force of will. gle other power at any time. She can she was able to live up to Captain Monica Rambeau slowly recov­ switch to another power once each Amer!ca's faith in her. Although she ered and chose to pursue work as a turn. . ship's captain. With her maritime grew increasingly self-confident ' she Talents: Criminology, Law Enforce­ had the misfortune to lead the group �on�ections, she had no difficulty ment, Maritime Law, Maritime Navi­ through one of the fastest shifting finding work captaining the Te a . . g�tion, Boating, Marksmanship rosters In ItS history, including the Cake, a cargo ship owned by Ron (pistol), Martial Arts A, B, and E. She temporary disbanding of the entire Morgan, an old friend of hers from speaks Portuguese, Spanish and East Coast organization. th� Harbor �atrol. Unfortunately the French with varying degrees �f flu­ To be fair, it is must be stated that ship was hit by pirates seeking a ency Nebula, then operating as Nebula cra�e of Stark-designed circuits they Contacts: Avengers, New Orleans Kang, was subtly controlling the sub­ believed were hidden on-board. The Harbor Patrol, FBI agent Derek Free­ crew was massacred and the few cons�io�s minds of certain Avengers man, James "Rhody" Rhodes at this time. It is possible that Cap­ passengers taken captive. Only . (a.k.a. Iron Man II), physicist Andre tain Marvel's self-admitted inability chance saved Rambeau's life. LeClaire to take command may have been a Weaponless, the only advantage she result of this interference. had was the Captain Marvel cos­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: Her personal life slid into virtual tume she had brought along as a me­ non-existence. She spent most of mento of her past. She donned the her time in uniform on Avenger duty costume and hoped that she could and rarely took time to relax. Among deceive them that she still had her the perks of the job was meeting FBI powers-it worked and they surren­ agent Derek Freeman. Although the dered. However, the pirates' leader two took an immediate liking to each �owderkeg was not so gullible. Dur­ other, that relationship still has not Ing her battle with him, her powers had a chance to advance past casual emerged from their slumber and, al­ flirtation. though she was initially unsure how Her control of her own powers to use them in their new form she fared little better. When she was in still managed to emerge victori�us. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES her energized form, she had to con­ With the reorganization of the Despite her impressive history she stantly concentrate on retaining the Avengers, she has rejoined their is still fairly new to the supe;hero coherence of her energy form so that ranks as an on-call member, al­ trade. She is prone to fits of self s�ould could resolidify at her pre­ though this time she is going to con­ doubt, but these periods of indeci­ VIOUS mass. Unfortunately her con­ �entrate on preserving her personal sion tend to give her even greater de­ trol over her powers slipped and she life and career. She is acting man­ termination to try. She still has a was losing mass each time she ag�r of Ron Morgan's shipping line tendenc to let her private life slip � transformed to energy. while he serves time for possession away while concentrating on super­ Captain Marvel's crisis point came of the stolen Stark circuits. heroics. during the Avengers' assault on the rampaging Marrina when she trans-

32 CARRIDN I�

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A RM(30) S IN(40) E IN(40) R RM(30) I PR(4) P EX(20) Health: 140 Karma: 54 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: -20

BACKG RO UND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Criminal Legal Status: None (deceased) Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Re latives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS Te lepathy: Excellent rank. Phasing: Excellent ability to render himself immaterial and pass through physical barriers. Levita tion: Typical rank. Te lep ortation (Self): Excellent rank. Each teleportation was accompa­ nied by a flash of light and a sulphu­ rous odor. Disruption: Incredible power to break down molecular bonds of any object he touches. Effects include:

• Ta rget collapses into ash or powder

• Spontaneous combustion Te le kinesis: Excellent rank, although the power is limited to organic matter or water. Red Dust: Carrion devised a variety of red powders that each acted as a potent weapon. Known types in­ Genetic Engineering, and Induced RO LE-PLAYING NOTES: cluded: Mutation. Carrion believed he was the clone of

• Anaesthetic: Excellent intensity, Contacts: Darter (deceased) Miles Warren. As such, he was ob­ causing instant unconsciousness for sessed with destroying Spider-Man 1-8 hours. ADDITIONAL NOTES: in vengeance for the death of Gwen

• Corrosive: Remarkable intensity Stacy.

• Cellular Rotting: Bacteria spores quickly eat away a victim's flesh, causing Typical damage each turn. Wea kness: Due to the nature of the Parker-monster's genetics, the mon­ ster and Carrion negate each other's powers while they are in contact. Ta lents: Carrion possessed Incredi­ ble Reason in the fields of Biology, 33 logically and physically destroy the two vilains clashed with Spider-Man real Spider-Man. The plot failed: and the White Tiger. Finally, Carrion HISTORY Warren and the Spider-Man pseudo­ captured Spider-Man and used his Carrion's original identity is un­ clone were killed, and the Stacy cloning techniques to create a mon­ known. He was long believed to be pseudo-clone went on to try to live a ster from a sample of Parker's cells. the clone of Professor Miles Warren, life of her own. The monster was intended to kill the biochemist and teacher who had The Warren pseudo-clone re­ Parker, then Carrion would kill Park­ also been the costumed villain mained in its casket. Due to an er's loved ones himself. Carrion had known as the Jackal. Warren had an equipment malfunction, the pseudo­ earlier promised to transfer Spider­ obsessive infatuation with his stu­ clone began to age at an accelerated Man's powers to Darter, but when dent Gwen Stacy. When she died rate. Another malfunction caused Darter realized Carrion was incapa­ during a battle between Spider-Man the being to develop superhuman ble of carrying out the transferral, he and the Green Goblin, Warren's powers and remain alive despite its attacked Carrion but died in the mind snapped. He held Spider-Man apparent age. One of Warren's process. Spider-Man broke free from responsible and sought to kill him in former students, Randy Va le, en­ his bonds and defeated Carrion's revenge. After learning Spider­ tered the now-abandoned laboratory monster. The monster then turned Man's secret identity of Peter Parker, and opened the clone casket. Car­ on Carrion himself. As the laboratory he began to use his scientific knowl­ rion emerged, a cadaverous being broke into flames, the monster killed edge to conduct a campaign of terror endowed with Warren's memories Carrion, then perished in the fire. against him. and personality. Carrion forced Va le Recently, Spider-Man encoun­ Warren had devised a means of to become his accomplice and adopt tered the Gwen Stacy pseudo-clone. producing pseudo-clones-that is, a costumed identity as Darter. He discovered that she was actually he was able to inject genetic material Carrion met with the Masked Ma­ a living woman genetically remade in from a donor into a human subject, rauder, then head of the Nefaria fam­ Gwen Stacy's image and, with the place the subject in a special device, ily of the Maggia. The Marauder help of the Yo ung God Daydreamer, and transform that person into a vir­ sought to kill Spider-Man for his re­ he restored her real identity and tual duplicate of the original donor. cent interference in Maggia activities form. Spider-Man was left wondering He used his "clone caskets" to pro­ and Carrion offered to carry out the about the true identities of the other duce pseudo-clones of Gwen Stacy, assassination. However, the doubt­ pseudo-clones. Spider-Man, and himself. The Stacy ing Marauder refused the offer. Car­ and Spider-Man pseudo-clones rion then carried out his plan of were used in an attempt to psycho- vengeance aided only by Darter. The

34 CHBMISTRD

STATISTICS:

I II III F TY(6) EX(10) GO(10) A GO(10) GO(10) GO(10) S TY(6) GO(10) GO(10) E GO(10) EX(10) GO(10) R AM(50) EX(20) GO(10) I TY(6) EX(20) TY(6) P TY(6) TY(6) PR(4) Health: 32 40 40 Karma: 62 46 20 Resources: GO(10)TY(6) EX(20) Papularlty: 0 -5 -5

BACKGROUND: Pleal Name: I-Curtis Carr; II-Arch Morton; III-Calvin Carr OccUfit8tian: Professional criminal; (I is also research sCientist) Legal Status: U.S. citizens with criminal records Identity: Publicly known Places af Birth: Unknown Marital Status: I-Single; II & III-Unknown Known Relatives: Curtis and Calvin are brothers Bases of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: I-None; II-employee of the Baron; 111- employee of the gangster Mingo Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS Chemistros I and III possessed no in­ nate powers and depended on the Alchemy Gun (range 20 feet). Only Chemistro II possessed the powers of the Alchemy Gun (range: contact). Otherwise, all three men had the same powers: Elemental Conversion, Molecular Conversion: Incredible ability to transform any material into a desired substance. Normal range is 20 feet. Tra nsformed substances are atomic- ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ally unstable and crumble to powder I-As Chemistro Curtis Carr was pri­ within 1-6 hours. marily concerned with vengeance Ta lents: I-Amazing Reason in the against Mainstream Motors. Now he fields of physiCS and transmutation; is trying to make amends for that part II Criminal skills; III-Knowledge of of his life. the criminal underworld, especially II-Morton was out to make a buck the illegal drug trade. with his purloined power. Cantacts: I: To ny Stark, Iron Man, III-Calvin Carr suffered from sibling Power Man rivalry and saw his power and activi­ ties as a way of proving himself bet­ ter than his brother.

35 shocked Carr surrendered to cus­ to the gangster Mingo, who assigned tody. him the job of stealing and reselling HISTORY While in prison, fellow inmate Arch pharmaceuticals. Once again, Curtis Carr was a research scien­ Morton beat the Alchemy Gun's se­ Chemistro's path crossed that of tist working for Mainstream Motors, cret out of Carr. Upon Morton's re­ Power Man and his partner, Iron Fist. an automobile manufacturer. Carr lease, he devoted his energy to Calvin used the Alchemy Gun to turn grew dissatisfied with his duties and building an Alchemy Gun of his own. the heroes' friends Colleen Wing devoted his time to the development The prototype was unstable and, and Bob Diamond into glass. Fortu­ of an "alchemy gun" that could when it blew up in Morton's hand, it nately, Curtis Carr devised a means transmute substances. When com­ transferred its powers to his body. to safely reverse the gun's effects pany president Horace C. Claymore Morton assumed the identity of and restore the pair to health. In grat­ was shown the gun, he insisted that Chemistro and went to work for a cri­ itude, Iron Fist recommended Carr since Carr had worked on the gun on melord known as the Baron. In the for a job at Stark International. company time, the company now meantime, Carr was paroled and, Although Calvin barely under­ owned it. When Carr refused to turn having reformed, built a nullifer for stood the workings of the Alchemy over the Alchemy Gun for the details the Alchemy Gun's effects. Carr Gun, he was able to rebuild the of its construction, he was immedi­ gave the nullifer to Luke Cage, the weapon and incorporate it into his ately fired. hero known as Power Man, who gauntlets. When To ny Stark recently Bent on revenge, Carr undertook a used it to destroy Morton's power. formed Stark Prosthetics, Curtis program of physical training. He as­ Morton was returned to prison, came to work there and use his sumed the identity of Chemistro and where he currently remains. knowledge to help build prosthetics began attacking Mainstream Motors Much later, Curtis Carr built an­ and bionics. Calvin got involved in facilities. Claymore hired Luke Cage other Alchemy Gun for research pur­ the "Acts of Vengeance" plot; the (a.k.a. Power Man) to defend the poses. Although Curtis had no plans two brothers were reunited under un­ company. While grappling with for a renewed criminal career, his fortunate conditions when Calvin at­ Cage, Chemistro accidentally trans­ younger brother Calvin stole the gun tempted to assassinate Iron Man. muted his own foot to steel. When and used it to become the third his foot crumpled to dust, the Chemistro. Calvin hired himself out

36 ox KNOWN POWERS ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Hyper-Leaping: Remarkable ability Rat first strikes out against powerful to leap 40' up or across or descend foes, seeking to knock them out of STATISTICS: 60' safely. She can do Remarkable the battle with his claws' toxins. stunning damage by leaping onto a Then she seeks out other, similarly RM(30) F victim. This power is supplied by the armed foes. RM(30) A cables linking her shoulderblades AM(50) S and lower legs. E AM(50) SNAKE TY(6) R ADDITIONAL NOTES: I TY(6) STATISTICS: P TY(6) Health: 160 F GD(1 0) Karma: 18 A GD(1 0) Resources: PR(4) S TY(6) Popularity: 0 E EX(20) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES R TY(6) BACKGROUND: Rabbit acts as the leader of the I TY(6) Real Name: Unknown group. She seeks out the most agile P TY(6) Occupation: Chinese agent or swiftest opponent. Health: 46 Legal Status: Chinese citizen Karma: 18 RAT Resources: PR(4) KNOWN POWERS Popularity: 0 None STATISTICS: Body Armor: Remarkable protection BACKGROUND: from physical attacks. F EX(20) Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Chinese agent A EX(20) ADDITIONAL NOTES: Legal Status: Chinese citizen S GD(10) E RM(30) KNOWN POWERS R TY(6) Elongation: Good ability to elongate I TY(6) his body parts. Maximum total length P TY(6) of elongation is 30 ya rds. Health: 80 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES Karma: 18 ADDITIONAL NOTES: Ox is the brute force of the team. In Resources: PR(4) battle, he seeks out the strongest or Popularity: 0 most invulnerable foe. BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown ROLE-PLAYING NOT ES: RABBIT Occupation: Chinese agent Snake acts to strike swiftly, using his Legal Status: Chinese citizen stretching power to strike at a dis­ tance at unready foes. He will also STATISTICS: KNOWN POWERS try to envelope foes within his elon­ Claws: Her costume's talons do gated torso. F GD(10) Good hack-and-slash damage and A GD(10) can administer toxins or drugs S GD(1 0) AURIC Bio-toxin: Remarkable intensity poi­ E GD(1 0) son does 10 points of damage each GD(10) STATISTICS R turn as the infection spreads TY(6) F GD(10) I Inhibitor: Amazing ability to force TY(6) A GD(10) P shapechangers to revert to their nat­ 40 S GD(10) Health: ural form for 24 hours Karma: 22 E GD(10) Resources: PR(4) R TY(6) ADDITIONAL NOTES: Popularity: 0 I TY(6) P TY(6) BACKGROUND: Health: 40 Real Name: Unknown Karma: 18 Occupation: Chinese agent Resources: TY(6) Legal Status: Chinese citizen Popularity: 5

37 BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: against the more numerous super­ Real Name: Zhao Kwan Real Name: Jiwan Kwan humans of the U.S. and U.S.S.R. Occupation: Ex-Chinese agent, ad­ Occupation: Adventurer However, China Force saw little venturer Legal Status: Defector from Peo­ action. Due to unexplained circum­ Legal Status: Naturalized Canadian ple's Republic of China, now natural­ stances, China Force split up. Those citizen with criminal record in China ized Canadian citizen operatives code-named Horse, Mon­ Identity: Known to authorities Identity: Known to authorities key, and Dog defected and vanished Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliation: China Force from sight; nothing is known of their Past Group Affiliation: China Force Present Group Affiliation: Gamma identities, powers, or current loca­ Present Group Affiliation: Gamma Flight tions. The mass defections Flight prompted Jiwan and Zhao to flee to KNOWN POWERS: Hong Kong. There they became in­ KNOWN POWERS: Cold Generation: Optic blasts do Re­ volved in an attempt to overthrow the Heat Generation: Optic blasts do Re­ markable Cold damage and lower current government as a means of markable damage at a range of 8 ar­ target temperature by up to 200 de­ preventing Hong Kong's return to eas. grees. Range 8 areas Chinese control. The coup was Flight: Feeble airspeed (30 mph). Flight: Feeble airspeed (30 mph) thwarted in part through the actions Ta lents: Bilingual in Chinese and Talents: Bilingual in Chinese and of freelance intelligence agent Rick English English Mason (a.k.a. Agent). Contacts: Originally she was a Following the collapse of the ADDITIONAL NOTES: member of China Force and had tightly-knit Hong Kong operation, Ji­ contacts with the Chinese govern­ wan and Zhao fled to Canada and ment. Her current contacts are her sought asylum in Va ncouver, British brother, Gamma Flight, and the Ca­ Columbia. Military officials there ROLE-PLAYING NOT ES: nadian government. granted them provisionary citizen­ Zhao is devoted to his sister and usu­ ship in exchange for their service on ally works in tandem with her. He de­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: the newly reorganized and reacti­ tests the others' fanatic devotion to vated Gamma Flight. As members of the Chinese government. Gamma Flight, Jiwan and Zhao adopted their new cover names of SILVER ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Silver and Auric. Silver is devoted to her brother Auric The remaining roster of China and works in tandem with him. Force consisted of Ox, Rabbit, Rat, STATISTICS: and Snake. The group first invaded the western hemisphere to recapture F GD(10) Jade Dragon. On their way home, A GD(10) they fell under the Dream Queen's S 1'((6) GROUP HISTORY influence and landed in Edmonton, E GD(10) When Jiwan and her brother Zhao thinking it Beijing. There they fought R TY(6) developed powers while still chil­ Alpha Flight and lost. Although they TY(6) dren, they were selected by the Chi­ I were teleported home along with the P TY(6) nese government for training to use voluntarily returning Jade Dragon, Health: 36 them. Upon completion, both were to they feel a need to avenge their lost Karma: 18 join the newly formed China Force, honor by defeating Alpha Flight TY(6) the official Chinese superhuman Resources: someday. Popularity: 5 team. The team was intended to act as China's first line of defense

38 CLOUD

STATISTICS:

Humanl Cloud Nebula F GD(10) GD(10) A GD(10) GD(10) S TY(6) Z(500) E RM(30) CL1 000 R TY(6) TY(6) I GD(10) GD(10) P GD(10) GD(10) Health: 56 1520 Karma: 26 26 Resources: PR(2) N.A. Popularity: 6 o

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Inapplicable Occupation: Adventurer, astronomi­ cal body Legal Status: Inapplicable Identity: Known to public Place of Birth: Inapplicable Marital Status: Inapplicable Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Defenders, friend and ally of Seraph, Kubik, and Sundragon, ex-minion of Professor Power Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Longevity: Cloud has a potential li­ fespan of billions of years. Te lepathic Link: While on Earth, Cloud was in psionic link with Carol Faber and her boyfriend Danny. Alter-ego: Cloud can appear as a young human male or female, a small cloud, a glowing, girl-shaped form, or an immense nebula. It takes her 1 turn to transform between any of the human-sized forms. Human Form: In this form Cloud ap­ pears to be either a 17-year-old fe­ male or a boy of similar age, with blond hair in either form. When oth­ erwise nude, she subconsciously excludes oxygen, she can try to damage at a range of 3 areas generates a cloud-like covering over smother a single human-sized tar­ .. Rain: Remarkable attack against hips and breasts (if in female form). get; the victim must make an Endur­ fire. This form is immune to cold weather. ance FEAT or be rendered Nebula Form: This is a mass of pro­ Close medical examination reveals unconscious for 1-10 turns. The tostellar material 34 billion miles the form is not quite human-the cloud form possesses these addi­ wide. This form possesses these teeth are bone (not enamel), the kid­ tional powers: powers neys are not hooked up, the liver is .. Fly at Typical airspeed (90 mph) .. Fly at Monstrous speed (20,000 nonfunctional, etc. .. Pass through small openings miles per hour) in space Cloud Form: This form appears to .. Te lepathy: Good ability; range 16 .. Micro-environment: Monstrous be a small, dense cloud four feet in areas ability to create a zone of sufficient diameter made up of various gases. .. Lightning bolts that do Remarkable warmth, pressure, and oxygen to Since this mixture of gases usually 39 support lifeforms. The micro­ could save the stars from oblitera­ City and the Defenders. Moondra­ environment measures a maximum tion. With the Cosmic Cube's help, gon detected Cloud's basic good­ of 1,325,358 cubic feet. she condensed her nucleus to hu­ ness and convinced the other

* Te lepathy: When communicating man size and then, through a space Defenders to help her. When Secret with other stars and nebulae, she warp he made, she was propelled Empire operatives recaptured has a range of 50 light years, but through space to the Earth. Cloud, the Defenders rushed to her when communicating with human­ The being responsible for the rescue, although as things turned oids, she is limited to Good rank, a darkness was the Star-Thief, a cos­ out, it was Seraph and Cloud who range of 16 areas, and communica­ mic entity that was known for its ha­ rescued them. tion limited to human minds or those tred of stars and ability to establish a In the months to come, Cloud fit whose form she imitates with her link with some local, bitter mortal, into the new team. Th rough their psi­ doppleganger (below). whose personality the Star-Thief onic rapport, Cloud lived out Carol

* Illusory Duplication: She can cre­ then adopted. This time, the Star­ and Danny's fantasies for adventure. ate a glowing face or female holo­ Thief was deep within a region sur­ Carol developed a budding romance gram to communicate with those in rounded by a vast opaque black gas with Iceman while Danny became at­ her interior. cloud hundred of light years across. tracted toward Moondragon. This Ta lents: Astro-navigation The Star-Thief contented itself with latter event caused some complica­ Contacts: Defenders, Seraph the removal of these stars and ap­ tions since it was the female form of parently forgot about the uncount­ Cloud expressing this love. The AD DITIONAL NOTES: able stars and galaxies that still emotional turmoil allowed Cloud to burned beyond. transform into her secondary, The nebula descended near Danny-like form. The change was Norbrook, We st Virgina. The first life­ startling to all concerned and espe­ forms she saw were a teenage cou­ cially distressing to Bobby, who ple, Carol Faber and her boyfriend didn't know how to react to him/her. Danny, out for a drive. She was un­ Memories of Cloud's past and mis­ sure of how to make contact and was sion began to surface, and she grew following them when the car went off frantic that she did not who she really the road, crashed, and caught fire. was. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The nebula started to form two hu­ Seraph began to piece together a While a member of the Defenders, manoid figures to rescue the trapped theory about Cloud's true identity. Cloud initially acted as if she were a couple. She used the couple as She revealed her identity and what relatively normal 17-year-old girl who models for these forms and as she little knowledge she possessed on reacted with wide-eyed innocence completed her imitations of Carol's Cloud's identity, then she led the and enthusiasm; in this form, she form, she duplicated some of the group back to West Virginia to the was romantically attracted to Ice­ couple's memories, developed a tel­ hospital where Carol and Danny lay. man. In her male form, she was at­ epathic link with them, and, worst of Carol's shock at seeing them, fol­ tracted to Moondragon. all, shared the pain they were feeling lowed by a journey back to the site from the crash. The sudden shock where she had first landed, restored made her forget her true identity and Cloud's memories. mission. Now physically identical to In a flash of power borrowed from HISTORY Carol, she wandered off naked in a the Cosmic Cube, Cloud teleported Many of the stars in the Marvel state of pain, shock, and confusion. the Defenders back to her home re­ Universe are intelligent beings al­ Agents of the Secret Empire, a gion, where they met up with the though they seldom communicate branch of HYDRA then under the waiting Kubik and an armada of alien with the lifeforms who roam their sat­ leadership of Professor Power, refugees from the Star-Thief's void. ellites. As a protostar, the being now found the girl. They swiftly discov­ There she appraised the Defenders known as Cloud was a normal neb­ ered some of her powers and de­ of the situation. Kubik, in the form of ula, gradually coalescing over the cided to make use of her. They Captain America, accompanied millenia to eventual ignite as a star in named her Cloud and brainwashed them as they confronted the Star­ a few hundred million years. She ob­ her. Cloud joined Seraph and crone Thief and, despite some trouble with served the rapid spread of a black Harridan in a failed attempt to kidnap planetary defenses, the band re­ circle through space and grew terri­ the Vision, only to fall into stored the stolen stars. Cloud made fied when she realized the darkness S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. There she re­ her farewells, especially to Iceman, meant that the stars in that area had jected some of the Empire's brain­ then Kubik returned the Defenders vanished. Her terror was so strong washing. When Secret Empire to Earth. A few weeks later, Moon­ that it attracted the attention of Ku­ operatives within S.H.I.E.L.D. freed dragon restored Carol and Bobby to bik, then recently hatched from his Cloud and attempted to bring her health and consciousness, shortly form as the Cosmic Cube. Cloud and back to the Secret Empire's lair, she before her own apparent death. Kubik decided that Captain America escaped and fled toward New Yo rk of Earth could be the champion who 40 CDLDBLcaa 7

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A RM(30) S EX(20) E IN(40) R GD(1 0) I GD(1 0) P TY(6) Health: 120 Karma: 26 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Eric Cavin Occupation: Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Legal Status: U.S. citizen Identity: The general public is un­ aware of his existence Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Ally of Lt. Gina Dyson Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Cyborg Body: Several parts of his body have been replaced by bionic replacements. These parts are im­ mune to disease and have Remark­ able Material Strength. Various components give him these powers: Communication with Cybernetics: By patching into a computer, Coldblood 7 can drain its memory bank Spiderclimb: Good ability to climb walls Infrared Vision: Good ability to see by heat and infrared light .357 Magnum: This is concealed within his wrist. Three barrels can be fired individually or in volley. 1-3 bul­ lets can be fired per turn at Typical range, each usually dOing 6 points of damage (dumdum bullet). There are 30 bullets per clip. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: any. Note that his memories are lim­ Handgun: Cold blood carries a ma­ Coldblood is primarily interested in ited to whatever Computer tells him. chine pistol with a range of 3 areas. survival, regaining what he can of his Each burst of explosive bullets does lost humanity, and getting revenge 40 points of damage, 6 bursts per on those responsible for his condi­ clip. Four additional clips are kept in tion. He is a dour pragmatist. He pre­ a belt pouch. HISTORY fers to answer to his real name and Coldblood 7 is an urban combat Ta lents: Marksmanship, military not to Cold blood 7. Since the world cyborg, a blending of human and strategy, leadership, security at large was unaware of his cyborg mechanical components in a deadly Contacts: Gina Dyson conversion, he might still have ac­ killing-machine. He possesses a cess to his old acquaintances, wetware-grafted co mputer, synthetic should he remember the names of hemoglobin, plastisteel-reinforced

41 bones, artifical organs, and a built-in could have him court-martialled. But lica, he fell under the influence of .357 magnum. Mako wasn't that civilized. Unbe­ Mako's sense-distorting broadcasts. Originally Lt. Colonel Eric Savin of knownst to Savin, Mako had decided He even saw Gina as a half-eaten cy­ the U.S. Army, he was named head Savin would make the perfect test borg. Fortunately he resisted Com­ of security for a classified but pre­ subject for the cyborg process. puter's suggestion to kill her. With sumably legitimate government pro­ Within yards of the replica city's Gina's help, he managed to destroy ject at Camp Killian in Nevada but entrance, Savin drove onto a mine Project Ultra-tech and kill Mako. the project was simply a front for Pro­ and was blown to pieces. Savin was At present, he and Dyson are fugi­ ject Ultra-Tech. Its founder, known ta ken to the project's laboratory, tives hiding from the multinational only as Mako, had seen the need for where the process began. Surgeons corporations who sponsored Project open, real warfare between corpora­ replaced his heart and blood with Ultra-tech and the U.S. military. tions and developed cyborg soldiers synthetics, then turned him over to to fight these corporate wars. Dyson for the final conversions. She COMPUTER: The sponsoring multinational cor­ felt trapped-both he and she would F A S E RI P porations used their influence to be killed if she did not cooperate­ o 0 0 MN IN GD TY make the U.S. government provide and guilty, because it was her fault funding and security for Project Savin was in this situation. Dyson Computer functions as an inde­ Ultra-tech. Dr. Gina Dyson was a key singlehandedly performed the bulk pendent personality that handles member of the project and, although of Savin's conversion to cyborg sta­ Cold blood 7's autonomic nervous she functioned as a lieutenant in the tus, including splicing a computer system. Coldblood communicates U.S. Army, her real field of expertise into Savin's subconscious. Unfortu­ with Computer by speaking aloud; was "cyber-surgery," the merging of nately, she was required to remove Computer responds in similar, albeit mechanical and human parts to form the portions of the brain containing unheard responses. If questioned di­ a cyborg. She grew increasing fear­ Savin's memories. rectly, it may overload Cold blood 7 ful of the project's operations and de­ When the operation was complete with vaguely pertinent but mostly ir­ cided to tell Savin about it. Fearing and Savin made operational, Mako relevant information. that Savin might reject the full truth, ordered the newly-named "Cold­ Computer can bypass Coldblood she told him just enough to get him blood 7" to be placed in the comput­ 7's conscious mind and directly con­ interested. She portrayed the project erized, armored sportscar named trol Coldblood 7's body. Thus there is as a massive waste of government "Tank" and driven into the New Yo rk a 25% chance that, when encoun­ funds on insane projects, such as simulation. When Cold blood 7 tered, Coldblood 7 is actually asleep the creation of a replica of Manhat­ awoke, he found himself in a strange and under Computer's control. tan in the desert. The city's pur­ car driving 40 mph into New Yo rk City. ported reason for existence was as a Since he now had amnesia, he had TA NK: training ground for counter-terrorists no reason to doubt the information. or post-atomic wa rfare, but in truth it The computer fed him more disinfor­ Ta nk is Coldblood's custom, ar­ was an immense obstacle course mation, such as that he was the fifth mored sportscar. Aside from the roof used for the training of yet-unbuilt cy­ model of his current generation of cy­ guns, it appears to be a normal, al­ borg super-soldiers. All they were borgs. Coldblood 7 immediately de­ beit expensive sports car. Cold blood waiting for was the proper subject to feated a killer tank and its driver, a can remotely control Ta nk via the become their prototype cyborg. robot disguised as the Hulk. How­ unit built into his wrist. Unfortunately, Savin's reaction to ever, he became suspicious of the the news was to see Dyson as a city's veracity when he encountered a Control Speed Body Protection RM RM IN RM paranoid security risk. He already wall around the city. Before he could knew of Project Ultra-tech's exist­ climb the wall, Mako activated over­ Ta nk's plastisteel al­ ence, although he had no idea of ride circuits that cut out Ta nk and Armored Body: loy body has Remarkable Material what it actually was. Still, he decided Cold blood's power. Gina managed to Strength. The windows have Excel­ he should check her story. He se­ negate the override and guided Cold­ lent Material Strength. cretly entered Mako's office that blood 7 to the operations center, dis­ Retractable port and night, ostensibly seeking Dyson's re­ guised as a replica of the New Yo rk Autocannon: starboard autocannon each fire one cords and a reason to justify her re­ Public Library. There she provided shell per turn. Range 7 areas, 40 moval from the project. Instead, he Cold blood 7 with a module that con­ points of damage, 30 shells in maga­ found partial confirmation of Dyson's tained more of his memories, espe­ zine. story. Mako confronted him and told cially those of his conversion. Tw in machine­ that Savin's duplicity was exposed. Although Coldblood 7 escaped to Heavy Machinegun: guns swivel on a non-retractable, Savin was quickly transferred to the Las Vegas where he was attacked by rooftop mounting. Each gun has a nearby secret installation. He con­ Mako's murderous robots and range of 10 areas and does 30 points firmed the city was as Dyson had told blamed for the deaths that ensued, of damage per burst. Ammo for 20 him and decided to seek out further he soon returned to the New Yo rk bursts is kept in a magazine con­ evidence against Mako before Mako replica to kill Mako. Back in the rep- cealed in the roof.

42 STATISTICS:

F RM(30) . A GD(1 0) S GD(1 0) E TY(6) R GD(1 0) I GD(1 0) P GD(10) Health: 56 Karma: 30 Resources: GD(1 0) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Pirate Legal Status: Deceased Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Former member of H.Y.D.R.A. Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Metal Hook: Originally he wore a hook on his left hand. This was capa­ ble of emitting an electrical shock of Intensity. Bionic Hand: The left hand is a bionic prosthetic that possessed a grip of Incredible Strength Bionic Leg: The left leg is a realistic prosthetic that houses a jet engine that can propel him at airspeed. Electrosword: The sabre possesses the following powers: * Electrical Bolt of Incredible Inten­ sity * Repulsor ray deflection of Amazing rank Firearms: Modern weapons de­ signed to mimick traditional pirate weapons Ta lents: Handguns, Edged Weap- ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ons, Leadership, Maritime Naviga- Commander Kraken was a modern­ tion day pirate who simply wanted to get Contacts: None rich by ruling the seas.

43 brainwash the prisoners into becom­ ing his willing slaves. The captives then labored to produce advanced HISTORY Ye ars ago the Atlanteans were ac­ warships and weaponry, as well as cused by the surface world of caus­ becoming crew or part of a new navy. ing a sea monster to sink a surface In the course of battling Iron Man in nation's ships. Prince Namor the his undersea lair, Kraken acciden­ Sub-Mariner, then ruler of Atlantis tally damaged the central computer : knew that his people had had noth that controlled the base's automated i�g to do with the sinking. He be­ systems. The shutdown somehow heved the monster responsible was triggered an explosion that shattered the legendary Kraken, an unusually the wall keeping back the sea. Mirac­ ulously everyone escaped, including I�rge squid. Namor investigated and dIscovered that the ships were actu­ the fugitive Kraken, now bereft of his ally sunk by a nuclear submarine minions, ships, and weaponry. constructed to resemble a real kra­ Kraken was unable to rebuild his ken. Namor was captured by the organization a third time, however, submarine's captain, Commander and led a more modest, solo opera­ Kraken, but he escaped and lured tion in the Great Lakes, robbing mer­ the pirate submarine into the chant ships. When he learned of the clutches of a real kraken. The mon­ murders of numerous supervillains ster destroyed the submarine but by the vigilante Scourge, Kraken de­ Commander Kraken escaped in a cided to join his fellows in a defen­ one-man submarine. sive planning meeting in the Over the following months Com­ so-called "Bar With No Name" in mander Kraken built a new kraken­ central Ohio. Unfortunately Scourge shaped submarine and organized a himself was the bartender and he new crew. Seeking a new base of op­ served Kraken his final reward. erations, he took over what looked li�e a secret government laboratory KRAKEN SU BMARINE hIdden beneath Lake Michigan. This is a normal nuclear submarine However, the people there were ac­ modified to resemble a gigantic tually aliens and the base their star­ squid. The tentacles can be used to ship. With the help of the Cat (a.k.a. grapple ships with Amazing Tigra), the aliens freed themselves Strength. and left Earth. Kraken was subsequently con­ Control Speed Body Protection tacted by Silvio "Silvermane" Man­ GD TY RM EX fredi, who had then recently been made Supreme Hydra for the East THE ALBATROSS coast HYDRA faction. Silvermane made Kraken head of HYDRA's Na­ This ship is a highly advanced de­ val Action Division. HYDRA financed sign capable of both surface and the construction of his new ship, the submerged travel . The Albatross re­ Albatross, and an undersea base off sembled a "tall ship," a sailing ship the British coast. Although Kraken of the 19th century. On board com­ left HYDRA soon after S.H.I.E.L.D. puters could transform the ship into smashed Silvermane's operation, a submarine within minutes. Water­ Kraken retained his submarine f tight steel plating rose from below base, a considerable amount o the waterline, while the masts folded advanced technology, and a number to the deck. Ship's weaponry in­ of followers loyal to him. cluded energy weapons that were Kraken had some of the former capable of firing concussive blasts of HYDRA scientists perform extensive Incredible Intensity at a range of 1 plastic and bionic surgery on him re­ mile. sulting in a radically altered app�ar­ ance. Kraken sunk various ships at Control Speed Body Protection sea and took the crew and passen­ GD GDfTY RM RM gers prisoner. In his sunken lair, he used his "cerebro-skan" device to

44 CRAZY GIANG

EXECUTIONER ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The Executioner does not speak. It The Jester is the most likely of the appears to follow the Red Queen's Crazy Gang to survive on his own . STATISTICS: orders, at least when they involve He is moderately ambitious and in­ trying to behead someone. telligent. F EX(20) A GO(10) S EX(20) .JESTER KNAVE E EX(20) R PR(4) STATISTICS: STATISTICS: I FE(2) P FE(2) F EX(20) F TY(6) Health: 70 A EX(20) A TY(6) Karma: 8 S GO(10) S AM(50) Resources: FE(2) E GO(10) E RM(30) Popularity: 0 R TY(6) R TY(6) I PR(4) I PR(4) KNOWN POWERS: P PR(4) P PR(4) Axe: Excellent damage Health: 60 Health: 92 Ta lents: The Executioner is pro­ Karma: 14 Karma: 1 4 grammed to fight with an axe. Resources: FE(2) Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 0 Popularity: 0 ADDITIONAL NOTES: KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: Foil: Good damage None Ta lents: Jester is a superb swords- man. ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

45 • - �------�-, � �-' � -.- , --�""� , ,�� - ,--, ' - " '-- ' �-- .. . � • � -�... ,..,. �4.i":� . �. ,.t.�. �tl..."" , .J ...... '-': , , • �. . "t 1- ' r ".J • �,..-. • I ••;j-_ I".I ,•• . :�.,. ' . ,-r . .' . ,,-. ... • _. ,�-�__ ' �..:.l �..' •...... _"':�Ji. _.-" �, '-.�JI�

ROLE·PLAYING NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: The Crazy Gang were somehow The Knave is somewhat timid and transported to Earth where they a constant worrier. proved totally incompetent as thieves. In desperation, they placed RED CiUEEN an ad in the newspaper seeking a leader. The ad was answered by Siaymaster, Captain Britain's long­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: STATISTICS: time foe, who then orchestrated a se­ Tw eedledope has a fondness for ries of spectacular crimes. These F TY(6) rats. He is constantly trapping the crimes included looting the Royal A TY(6) animals, then using them in some Mint, the British Museum, and Brit­ S GD(10) device, such as a rat-drawn chariot. ain's National Gallery. As Siaymas­ E EX(20) Tw eedledope never speaks aside ter hoped, the crimes attracted the R PR(4) from grunts and giggles. attention of Captain Britain. Slay­ I PR(4) master captured Captain Britain with P PR(4) the Crazy Gang's help, then he Health: 42 promptly dismissed them from his Karma: 12 GROUP HISTORY service. Captain Britiain subse­ Resources: FE(2) The Crazy Gang is a group of profes­ quently defeated Siaymaster and, in 0 Popularity: sional criminals who resemble chil­ a separate incident months later, dren's storybook characters. The killed him. KNOWN POWERS: group originated in an alternate di­ None Eventually the Crazy Gang found mension but have since relocated to a new leader in the assassin Arcade. the Earth of the Marvel Universe. ADDITIONAL NOTES: Arcade sent the Crazy Gang to ab­ There are five members of the duct Courtney Ross, bank president group: the Executioner, a humanoid, and former girlfriend of Captain Brit­ axe-wielding robot; the agile Jester; ain. Ross escaped the Crazy Gang the superstrong Knave; the obese but ended up in Arcade's clutches Red Queen; and Tw eedledope, an anyway. During the subsequent bat­ apelike idiot savant who is capable of tle with Excalibur, the Crazy Gang ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: devising intricate mechanisms. used one of Tw eedledope's devices The Red Queen is constantly yelling The Crazy Gang is the creation of to switch their minds with those of "Orf wiv ('is/'er/its) 'ead!" She ap­ Sir James Jaspers, a resident of the Excalibur's members. Captain Brit­ pears to be the leader of the group, England of the alternate world ain became Tw eedledope, or at least the bossiest member. known as Earth 238. This is also the Nightcrawler became the Jester, and native world of Linda McQuillan, also Meggan became the Knave. The TWEEDLEDOPE known as Captain U.K., who serves transfer of Phoenix's lifeforce as that world's champion. The Jas­ caused the Executioner to blow up, pers of Earth 238 was a superhuman STATISTICS: although she temporarily remained mutant with vast pSionic powers who dominated by the Executioner's per­ succeeded in taking control of his F GD(10) sonality. Eventually the mind trans­ world and killing most of that world's A GD(10) fers were reversed, Phoenix superhumans. Jaspers was later S RM(30) regained her own mind, and Arcade killed by Captain U.K., Captain Brit­ E RM(30) and the Crazy Gang were defeated. ain, and Psylocke. R PR(4) The Crazy Gang is currently in I FE(2) British custody. P TY(6) Health: 80 Karma: 12 Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 0

KNOWN POWERS Hyper-Invention: Tw eedledope has the Amazing ability to build any de­ vice he wants out of the materials on hand.

46 DAMAGE CONTROL

HENRV Control dency to ignore the fact that real Present Group Affiliation: people might resent or dislike his ACKERSON ploys. For example, Henry wanted to KNOWN POWERS: make the Hulk the company's official Ta lents: Good Reason in the fields spokesman; he barely survived the STATISTICS: of marketing and public relations. Hulk's refusal. Contacts: None F PR(4) ADDITIONAL NOTES: A TY(6) ANNE S TY(6) E TY(6) STATISTICS: R GD(1 0) I TY(6) F TY(6) P TY(6) A GD(1 0) Health: 22 S TY(6) Karma: 22 E EX(20) Resources: GD(1 0) R TY(6) Popularity: 10 I TY(6) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: P TY(6) BACKGROUND: Henry is a firm believer in style over Health: 42 Occupation: Vice-president in substance and that no job is impos­ Karma: 18 charge of marketing sible if it has the proper marketing Resources: GD(1 0) Legal Status: U.S. citizen ploy. Since he is so immersed in the Popularity: 30 Marital Status: Unknown make-believe world of product mar­ Past Group Affiliations: Damage keting, he has an unfortunate ten-

47 BACKGROUND: gotiator when seeking overtime or ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Occupation: Receptionist hazard pay for his men. Ms. Chapel was hired straight out of Legal Status: U.S. citizen graduation from Barnard College. Marital Status: Single ADDITIONAL NOTES: She is both devoted to her job and Past Group Affiliations: Damage avoiding burn-out from stress. While Control Ms. Chapel is both resentful and en­ Present Group Affiliation: vious of Anne's sex appeal, she is also trying to hold off John Porter's KNOWN POWERS: amorous advances. Ta lents: Anne is so charismatic no one has ever been able to ask what she can actually do. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Lenny is a dour man who is primarily ALBERT Contacts: Every male who's ever concerned with getting the job done used Damage Control's services. on time and on spec. He hates being CLEARV mistaken for Lee Marvin or James ADDITIONAL NOTES: Coburn. Lenny's been with the firm STATISTICS: for 17 years. F TY(6) A TY(6) ROBIN CHAPEL S TY(6) E TY(6) STATISTICS: R GD(10) I GD(10) F PR(4) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: P RM(30) A TY(6) Anne is extremely gorgeous and Health: 24 S TY(6) charismatic. She is perpetually pam­ Karma: 50 E TY(6) pering herself. Resources: GD(10) R GD(10) Popularity: 5 I RM(30) LENNV P TY(6) BACKGROUND: BALINGER Health: 22 Occupation: Comptroller Karma: 46 Legal Status: U.S. citizen Resources: GD(10) Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia STATISTICS: Popularity: 10 Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: National F TY(6) BACKGROUND: Urban League, Damage Control A TY(6) Occupation: Tra ffic Officer, now Di­ Present Group Affiliation: S GD(10) rector of Operations E EX(20) Legal Status: U.S. citizen KNOWN POWERS: R GD(10) Place of Birth: Evanston, Illinois Ta lents: Cleary has Remarkable I TY(6) Marital Status: Single Reason in the fields of business P TY(6) Past Group Affiliations: Green­ management, accounting, sartorial Health: 42 peace, Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, flair, and sarcasm. Karma: 22 Damage Control Resources: GD(1 0) Present Group Affiliation: ADDITIONAL NOTES: Popularity: 5 KNOWN POWERS: BACKGROUND: Ta lents: Ms. Chapel is a competent Occupation: Head Foreman businesswoman and organizer, even Legal Status: U.S. citizen if her leadership skills are some­ Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New Yo rk times undermined by lapses of self­ Marital Status: Unknown confidence. She has limited acting Past Group Affiliations: "We Four" experience from performing in re­ bowling team, Damage Control gional theatre. Present Group Affiliation: ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: KNOWN POWERS: Cleary graduated from Morehouse Ta lents: Lenny is a competent con­ College and worked for several large struction foreman and is knowledge­ corporations before being recruited able in most fields of construction. for Damage Control. He is a no­ He is a good bowler and a skillful ne- nonsense individual who will not

48 brook any laxity on the part of Dam­ nature. Other than that, she doesn't engineering firms willing to work on age Control's debtors. He once believe one's personal history superpower-caused property dam­ faced down Dr. Doom over a deli­ should be available for public con­ age. The company soon became a quent bill. sumption. growing threat to Damage Control, a He has an extensive wardrobe and threat Mrs. Hoag negated when she all his clothes look great on him and .JOHN PORTER hired him at an exorbitant salary. never seem to wrinkle. Porter is unflappable and ex­ tremely self-confident. He is inter­ ANNE MARIE STATISTICS: ested in Ms. Chapel and slightly frustrated that she ignores his ad­ F TY(6) vances. HOAG A TY(6) S TY(6) STATISTICS: E TY(6) .JOHN"BA RT" R GD(1 0) F FE(2) I GD(1 0) ROZUM A TY(6) P EX(20) S PR(4) Health: 24 STATISTICS: E TY(6) Karma: 40 R GD(10) Resources: GD(1 0) F PR(4) I EX(20) Popularity: 10 A TY(6) P EX(20) S PR(4) Health: 18 BACKGROUND: E TY(6) Karma: 50 Occupation: Account executive R PR(4) Resources: RM(30) Legal Status: U.S. citizen I TY(6) Popularity: 10 Place of Birth: Birmingham, Michi­ P TY(6) gan Health: 20 BACKGROUND: Marital Status: Single Karma: 16 Occupation: Ex-Director of Opera­ Past Group Affiliations: YMCA, Resources: PR(4) tions, now a member of the Commis­ Historical Book Club, Damage Con­ Popularity: 0 sion on Superhuman Activities. trol Legal Status: U.S. citizen Present Group Affiliation: BACKGROUND: Place of Birth: New Haven, Con­ Occupation: Student, intern, admin­ necticut KNOWN POWERS: istrative assistant to Ms. Chapel Marital Status: Married Ta lents: Porter is a competent busi­ Legal Status: U.S. citizen Past Group Affiliations: President's nessman with Remarkable Reason Marital Status: Single Commision on Disaster Manage­ in the fields of business manage­ Past Group Aff iliations: Damage ment, Metropolitan Museum of Art, ment, salesmanship, and insurance Control Smithsonian Institute, Amnesty In­ law, and insurance policy adjust­ Present Group Aff iliation: ternational, Damage Control ment. He has Incredible flair fo r Present Group Affiliation: problem solving, except where his KNOWN POWERS: personal life is concerned. Ta lents: None KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Mrs. Hoag is a master of AD DITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: persuasion. Contacts: Mrs. Hoag has a number of very influential people, all of whom owe her big favors.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Bart is a student intern who alter­ nates his work as go-fer with his high ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: school studies. Bart is a pleasant, After graduating from the Univer­ easy-going lad trying to make his sity of Michigan, Porter worked for a way through school and his intern­ large Manhattan insurance firm. He ship. He is easily swayed by femi­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: formed his own company, Chaos Re­ Mrs. Hoag presents herself as a nine charms and is hopelessly' ductions, which served as a clearing­ motherly, slightly vulnerable figure infatuated with Anne. house for construction and but this belies a clever, manipulative 49 EUGENE contact with. He has hacked his way Damage Control also does work into most of the secret databases in for the New Yo rk City government, STRAUSSER the Marvel Universe. the federal government, private He is known for his abilitiy to ig­ companies (including Stark Enter­ STATISTICS: nore his surroundings while concen­ prises), and even private individuals. trating on a problem and to confuse For example, Damage Control has F FE(2) everyone with his tendencies toward done extensive, frequent renova­ A TY(6) nonsequitors. tions on Josie's Bar, a tavern that has S TY(6) often been the sight of altercations E TY(6) between superheroes and supervil­ R EX(20) lains. Individuals and companies of­ I PR(4) GROUP HISTORY ten pay for Damage Control's P TY(6) Damage Control, Inc. is a services through EAA (Extraordinary Health: 20 Manhattan-based engineering and Activity Assurance) poliCies, popu­ Karma: 30 construction company that special­ larly known as "super hero insur­ Resources: GD(10) izes in the rapid clean-up, repair, and ance." Clients who are not covered Popularity: 5 restoration of property damaged by such policies may apply for funds through the destructive conse­ from New Yo rk City's unique Federal BACKGROUND: quences associated with superhu­ Disaster Area Stipend (FedOAS) to Occupation: Head of Research and man co nflicts. It has achieved a cover Damage Control's fees. Due to Development near-monopoly in this extremely lu­ the high level of superhuman activity Legal Status: U.S. citizen crative field. Headquartered in the in New York City and the resultingly Place of Birth: Santa Barbara, Cali­ Flatiron Building at the intersection high number of battles and damage, fornia of Fifth and Broadway in Manhattan the federal government has declared Marital Status: Single in several sub-basement levels bur­ New Yo rk City eligible for an indefi­ Past Group Affiliations: Classified, ied hundreds of feet down, the com­ nite period for financial assistance Damage Control pany also maintains a combination as a disaster area. Present Group Affiliation: warehouse and workshop the size of Damage Control uses leading a football stadium located in New edge construction and engineering KNOWN POWERS: Jersey. techniques that are ahead of com­ Ta lents: Strausser has Incredible Damage Control was founded by peting firms' capabilities. Because Reason in the fields of Construction, industrialist To ny Stark (a.k.a. Iron of this, they are able to perform re­ Applied Te chnology, Computer De­ Man) and Wilson Fisk (the crimelord pair and reconstruction work within sign, and Computer Programming. also known as the Kingpin). They remarkably short periods of time. Contacts: It is rumored that Straus­ chose to remain firmly in the back­ Damage Control also maintains a ser has done extensive R&D work for ground and chose Anne Marie Hoag tOil-free number: 1-800-555-MEND. classified government agencies. to run the operation as Director of Recently Stark and Kingpin chose Operations. All executives reported to sell the operation to CarltonCo. ADDITIONAL NOTES: directly to her, including Ackerson, Meanwhile, Mrs. Hoag was ap­ Chapel, Cleary, Porter, and Straus­ pOinted to the Commission on Su­ ser. Damage Control employs ap­ perhuman Activities and named Ms. proximately 300 permanent Chapel as her replacement. When employees and sub-contracts work she learned CarltonCo had bought to numerous other firms. Damage Control, she quit in protest. Damage Control, Inc., has worked Michael Souris, the CarltonCo vice with the Avengers almost from the president, acted as liason with Dam­ beginning of that team's existence. age Control, and wasted no time in For example, after the destruction of thoroughly alienating everyone there the Avengers Mansion following its and inciting Ms. Chapel to quit in pro­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: takeover by the Masters of Evil, it un­ test. Strausser is a science nerd made derook the commission to convert Damage Control was recently pur­ good. He is constantly examining the land into a park and build new, chased by Mrs. Hoag with . things, dOing calculations on his secret entrances to the subterra­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s backing, and Robin pocket computer, and generally ig­ nean levels that remained. When the Chapel returned as Director. noring everything except the prob­ Baxter Building was destroyed, lem at hand. Although he is not Damage Control and the known for any original creations or S.H.I.E.L.D. Corps of Engineers technological breakthroughs, he has joined in rebuilding the neighbor­ been able to duplicate the wide vari­ hood and constructing the new Four ety of advanced and even alien tech­ Freedoms Plaza. nological artifacts he has come in 50 DARKHDLD

The Darkhold is a vol ume of parch­ Mystic, a journeyman sorcerer, vaded the Vatican and, although ments transcribed by the Elder God sought out the book but was cor­ they were unable to steal the Chthon which contains all the arcane rupted by it. At the entreaty of Merlin, Darkhold, they succeeded in slaying knowledge he attained during the the Catholic Church sent the Irish Montessi. Paolo's son Giacomo later millions of years he spent learning to monk Brendan (later St. Brendan) to took over his father's work and trans­ harness the dark mystic forces of the destroy the book. Brendan, failing to lated the Darkhold into Lati n. Copies cosmos and hence it is a magical ar­ free Modred from its spell, placed of this translation later passed into tifact of undreamt of potency. Faced him in a state of suspended anima­ the hands of numerous sorc.erers with certain destruction at the hands tion from which Modred was recently through the following centuries. of Demogorge, the God Eater, released. The pages of the Darkhold Giacomo also theorized that one of Chthon sought to protect himself were torn loose from their bindings the Darkhold pages missing from the and his powers. Before he escaped and scattered throughout the known Vatican's possession might contain to another dimension, he created the world (in this case, Europe). a means for destroying the vam­ Darkhold as a touchstone to the In the 12th Century the parch­ pires. Earth Dimension, an indestructible ments were reassembled by a cor­ To ward the end of the 15th Cen­ medium through which he could ma­ rupt Spanish monk named Aelfric, tury, Va rnae was slain and replaced nipulate others who would some day who was later burned at the stake for by Dracula as lord of the vampires. help him return. his heresy. The Vatican took posses­ He learned of the Darkhold's threat The parchments were first discov­ sion of the Darkhold pages and they and arranged for its theft from the ered by the Darkholders, a cabal of were given to Paolo Montessi, cura­ Vat ican Library. The sorcerer Cag­ human sorcerers in pre-Cataclysmic tor of the Vatican Library. Montessi liostro took possession of the tome Atlantis. They saw the Darkhold as a proved able to resist the Darkhold's and hid it from both the Vat ican and means of gaining vengeance upon corrupting influence and was named the vampires. The Darkhold's loca­ their enemy Kull, King of Val usia, the only priest allowed to handle the tion during the 17th and 18th centu­ and used its magic to transform the forbidden pages of the "Book of ries is unknown. It is rumored to have dying Darkholder Va rnae into the Sins," as it now came to be known. been in the possession of Lord first of the vampires. Unfortunately Montessi was also given the unique Ruthven, a British vampire living in for them, Va rnae and the vampires to Papal dispensation to marry and the Greek Islands during the early follow proved too strong to control, have children, who also had his re­ 1800s. as they turned against the sistance to the Darkhold's influence. Shortly after World War II, the Darkholders, slaying many and forc­ Varnae and his vampire legion in- Darkhold su rfaced in Istanbul where ing the survivorsto flee Atlantis. Iron­ ically, the near-massacre meant the refugees were spared the destruc­ tion of Atlantis. The Darkhold passed through a succession of hands in the following millennia, including the Babyloni­ ans, Egyptians, and Hebrews. How­ ever, whoever employed the knowledge contained within did so at the peril of their souls. Its corrupting influence earned it the nickname "the Book of Sins." In the 6th Cen­ tury, the parchments were bound into book form by the sorceress Mor­ gan Ie Fey and given the English name Darkhold. Morgan brought Chthon to the Earth Dimension but when she discovered the Elder God was beyond her control, she and her newly reformed Darkholders re­ turned Chthon to his otherdimen­ sional exile. A renegade Darkholder named Magnus stole it and placed it within a tower guarded by magical spells that repelled any being of evil intent. Unfortunately the spells were helpless against well-meaning but misguided do-gooders. Modred the

51 it was sold by by the sorcerer Ta boo used their magic to increase Dracu­ able to turn the tables on Modred. to the Transylvanian scholar Baron la's powers. Dracula invaded Aveng­ The majority of the Darkhold's Gregor Russoff. Russsoff rebound ers Mansion, but he was too late; the pages are currently kept under ex­ the pages and added blank pages in book was already in Castle Mordo tremely secure conditions in the the back to serve as the diary of his back in Transylvania. There, Dr. sanctum of Doctor Strange. Would­ occult experiences. Unfortunately Strange and his allies Blade, Frank be thieves will have to contend with for him, the mere possession of the Drake, and Hannibal King performed many physical and mystical barriers. Darkhold triggered his latent ten­ the complete Montessi formula and However, fragments and unbound dency for lycanthropy and started a wiped all vampires from the face of pages have been found. These frag­ familial line of werewolves that con­ the Earth. (Unfortunately, the spell is ments possess only a fraction of the tinues to this day. Russoff unwittingly already showing signs of weakening Darkhold's powers, yet these may be brought the Darkhold near Wunda­ as evidenced by Dracula's recent re­ enough to help their possessor even­ gore Mountain where Chthon lay im­ turn to Earth.) For the next few tually attain the many evils of the prisoned. Seeking to free himself of months, the Darkhold resided in Dr. Darkhold. lycanthropy, Russoff brought Chthon Strange's sanctum, but it proved to Earth. The Elder God was fought troublesome. First the sanctum was THE DARKHOLDERS by the High Evolutionary, the Knights unsuccessfully invaded by of Wundagore, and the spirit of the Darkholders, then the entire house The Cult of the Darkholders has renegade Darkholder Magnus. Un­ was stolen away to another world by existed since humans first discov­ der Magnus' coercion, Russoff re­ the alien sorcerer Urthona. The book ered the Darkhold. They seek to re­ turned Chthon to exile, although and the house have since been re­ store the Darkhold to its former Russoff died in the process. turned to Dr. Strange's possession. power and, through its magical Dracula learned of the Darkhold's Due to his vast occult powers, powers, gain control over humanity. location but, before he could steal it, Doctor Strange was the only person Among the past goals of the the book was shipped to America. ever to use the Darkhold's spells Darkholders was the compilation of Russoff's son Jack Russell believed without forfeiting his soul to Chthon. its parchment pages into book form. the Darkhold also held a cure for ly­ Others were not so fortunate, includ­ As fragments are found, these may canthropy and sent the book to Fa­ ing Morgan Ie Fey and Modred the be used to raise the powers of the ther Ramon Joquez in the hope that Mystic. Any character who is not a Darkholders and further their at­ the priest could locate the desired Sorcerer Supreme and who even tempts to regain possession of the spell. Father Joquez made extensive opens the Darkhold immediately book. notes on the Darkhold, including a turns evil and pledges to serve The typical Darkholder possesses transcription of the Montessi formula Chthon. The afflicted soul becomes the mystical level of Adept. As such, for destroying vampires, but tragi­ an NPC, keeping his ability to per­ they possess at least eight spells of cally, Father Joquez fell under the form the spells he knows but gaining Excellent or higher rank, two of possession of the long-dead Aelfric. vile and evil spells from the which are Incredible or higher rank. Joquez later died and Aelfric's soul Darkhold. The Book of the Vishanti As Adepts, the Darkholders are at was destroyed. Eventually Count holds a spell that will release a char­ the lowest rank of sorcerer who Dracula and his ally To paz regained acter from the Darkhold's grip, but could normally gain special attention the tome and decided that it was bet­ the spell is difficult to locate and use. from otherdimensional entities. ter off hidden amidst the desolation All characters who are magically Known Spells: of the Alpine snows. Father Joquez's inclined have heard of or instinc­ Linguistics: The Darkhold is auto­ notes passed on to Monsignore tively feel the evil aura of the matically readable by any being who Guiseppi Montessi. Dracula killed Darkhold, thus any effort to touch the possesses the tome. the Mosignore before he could use book must be of their own free will or "By the Darkhold's Foul Tree": This the vampire-killing spell. under coercion; they cannot be acci­ entreaty taps Chthon's powers. Morgan Ie Fey's spirit recovered dentally corrupted. A character who the Darkhold but the book almost im­ attempts to psionically or mystically mediately fell into the possession of force someone to open the Darkhold Modred the Mystic, now free of his is in for an unpleasant surprise. The long sleep. Using the Darkhold, Mo­ unwilling character serves as a con­ dred freed Chthon from Wundagore duit for Chthon's power, with the re­ mountain. Through Modred, Chthon sult that the curse of the Darkhold took possession of the Scarlet Witch, falls upon the would-be corrupter in­ intending to use her as a host body stead of the intended victim. A char­ for his return to Earth. The Avengers acter thus manipulated will retain his freed the Scarlet Witch, reimpri­ lifeforce and independence if he im­ soned Chthon, and took the mediately drops the Darkhold upon Darkhold with them to New Yo rk City. release by the stunned manipulator. Recently, the cult of Darkholders This is how the Scarlet Witch was

52 DEATH'B HEAD

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A RM(30) S IN(40) E MN(75) R TY(6) I PR(4) P FE(2) Health: 165 Karma: 12 Resources: PR(2) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Inapplicable Occupation: Mercenary, assassin, "freelance peacekeeping agent" Legal Status: Unknown Identity: Publicly known Place of Creation: 21st century En­ gland Marital Status: Inapplicable Known Relatives: Inapplicable Base of Operations: Los Angeles in the year 8162 Past Group Affiliations: Allies in­ clude Spratt, his business partner, and a pet vulture. Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS Note: Since Death's Head is con­ stantly blowing up or otherwise los­ ing parts of himself, the robot will not have more than half of the things on the list below. Interchangeable Hands: Modular wrist couplings enable Death's Head to replace either hand with such items as a missile launcher, plasma gun, or other tools. Missile: Incredible damage to a sin­ gle target. Range 6 areas, Excellent speed. Plasma Gun: 20 points of damage at a range of 7 areas; 40 points if used backpack time machine gives the ADDITIONAL NOTES: point blank. user the following abilities: Mace: Remarkable blunt damage * Tim e Travel: Instantaneous travel Axe: Remarkable hack-and-slash to a desired temporal and spatial lo­ damage cation. Machine Gun: Tr iple-barreled rifle * Self-Destruction: The prototype does 30 points of damage per burst. given to Death's Head is the equiva­ The clip holds enough ammo for 20 lent of a 5 kiloton nuclear bomb. The bursts. DTR has an initial 1 % chance of de­ Pen Laser: Remarkable damage, tonating; this increases + 1 % with range 20 feet. each time trip. Detonation occurs af­ Computer Link: Finger-tip plug can fit ter 60 seconds of warning noises. into any computer link. Ta lents: None Boot Jets: Typical Flight Contacts: Spratt, his partner Dogbolter Te mporal Rocket: This 53 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: portal. This saved the robot's exist­ sense. He undertook a commission Death's Head is a bumbler, albeit a ence but brought him into contact from unscrupulous industrialist Jo­ deadly one. He devises well thought with an eccentric time traveller with a siah Dogbolter. His quarry was the out strategies that enable him to ac­ penchant for muddling in the affairs same time traveller who was respon­ complish his initial objective without of others. As a result of this misad­ sible for sending Death's Head to difficulty, yet he has problems cop­ venture, Death's Head was unwill­ 8162, although he had since been ing with any unexpected events that ingly relocated to the year 8162 reborn in a new appearance. Death's then arise. He talks to himself a lot, where he was nearly destroyed by Head was given the Dogbolter Te m­ usually ending questions or state­ the Dragon's Claws commandoes. poral Rocket and precious little in­ ments with "yes?" He rarely kills un­ Death's Head's various parts fell struction in how to use it. During his less he is paid for it, although he into the possession of the Chain next few time jumps, he appeared all does freebies if someone annoys Gang, a group of subterranean scav­ over history, including England in the him. negers. They repaired Death's year 1646, Europe in 1916, the Tr ias­ Head, planning to use him for their sic Period, and eventually modern own purposes, but the robot had day England. By the conclusion of ideas of his own. Soon he decided to the case, Death's Head had man­ HISTORY get as far away from the gang as he aged to blow up his client and get The robot known as Death's Head could-in this case the bright lights stranded atop the Four Freedoms was built in the year 2003 by a bored of the Los Angeles Resettlement. Plaza, headquarters of the Fantastic millionaire who wanted an exotic, ex­ There he and his partner Spratt, for­ Four. In the Marvel tradition, every­ pensive, mechanical plaything. Un­ merly of the Chain Gang, decided to body started fighting, then cooper­ fortunately for the millionaire, set up a bounty hunting business. ated against a common foe. In Death's Head was programmed with For the proper fee, Death's Head apology, Reed Richards sent strong instincts for independence would seek out anyone or anything Death's Head forward to the year and self-survival. He decided to that upset the peace. Of course, 2020. There the robot fell afoul of the never answer to anyone unless he since such quarry tended to end up Iron Man of that era. was paid well. When this annoyed dead, Death's Head became better Death's Head's further adventures his creator, Death's Head promptly known as an assassin. are unknown. However, due to his killed him. Death's Head soon acquired penchant for time travelling mis­ Death's Head was hired by one everything a successful freelance haps, the robot may become in­ group of sentient, transformable ro­ peace-keeping agent needed-a volved in adventures in any era. For bots to slay the leader of their oppo­ reputation, business rivals, informa­ example, during his barely con­ nent robots. He was then hired to tion contacts, mortal enemies, and a trolled time trip with the Dog bolter, destroy the planet-devouring crea­ nubile admirer. He even acquired a Death's Head may appear in current ture known as Unicron. During the pet vulture. Unfortunately Death's day Marvel Universe campaigns. battle, he was flung through a time Head still didn't acquire common

54 DESTRDYER .

STATISTICS:

F UN(100) A MN(75) S UN(100) or see below E CL3000 R N/A I N/A P UN(100) Health: 3275 Karma: 100 Resources: N/A Popularity: -100

KNOWN POWERS: Dimension Travel: Amazing rank Disintegration: The Destroyer's most formidable weapon, this Class 1000 power is released in a beam through its visor with a range 5 areas. The power can be used every other turn. Living targets may attempt a Red En­ durance FEAT to avoid disintegra­ tion; if successful, the target suffers 1000 points of damage. Disruption: This Class 1000 blast can affect any matter, even uru metal. Elemental Conversion: Class 1000 Fire Generation: Class 1000 Heat: Class 1000 Hyper-Strength: Normally the De­ stroyer possesses strength equal to Unearthly rank or that of the animat­ ing lifeforce's, whichever is greater. When several lifeforces animate the Destroyer, the resulting lifeforce has the total of all those beings' strengths. Kinetic Blast: Class 1000 Levitation: Amazing rank Magnetic Generation: Shift Y rank Matter Control:

* Liquification of solids

* Solidification of liquids or gases

* Density alteration Mind Tr ansferral: Monstrous rank; a animating lifeforce dies. In either being must make an Psyche FEAT of case, the Destroyer is rendered inan­ Monstrous rank to avoid being imate again. HISTORY drawn in. The Destroyer is an enchanted Molding: Class 1000 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: suit of armor in humanoid form Molecular Conversion: Class 1000 The Destroyer is a tool and NPC which, when animated by the life­ Plasma Generation: Shift Z rank rather than an independent charac­ force of a sentient being, exercises ter. Due to its programming, the De­ blasts that also do heat and kinetic immense powers which make it virtu­ stroyer tends to make whoever damage. ally invincible. Created over a thou­ Tr ue Invulnerability: Class 3000 re­ animates it a berserker. sand years ago by Odin, lord of sistance to any physical or energy at­ Asgard, to be that realm's ultimate tack. weapon, it is composed of an un­ Weakness: If the animating life­ known metal of Asgardian origin en­ force's body is threatened, the ani­ chanted by Odin to be even harder mating force may surrender and than adamantium or uru. Ordinarily, return to it. If that body is slain, the 55 the Destroyer stands 6.5 feet tall and gin their judgment of Earth's fitness to wielding the enormous Odinsword, weighs 850 pounds. However, when survive. Odin and the other Earth and invaded the Fourth Host's South it was animated by the lifeforce of gods believed that the Celestials American base. Ye t, inconceivably most the Asgardian gods (except would destroy humanity at that time powerful as the fully-activated De­ Thor), it grew to a height of 2000 feet, should humanity fail their judgment. stroyer was, it proved unable to in­ the size of the Celestials it was de­ Since a god without worshippers was flict even the Slightest damage signed to combat. dead, the gods decided to defend against the gathered Celestials. The No one can physically wear or dis­ Earth against the Celestials but faced Celestials reduced the armor to slag mantle the armor of the Destroyer. In the problem that even one Celestial and set adrift the Asgardian life­ order to utilize the armor, the would­ was more powerful than their assem­ forces. Arishem, leader of the Celes­ be user projects his lifeforce into the bled might. Therefore Odin designed tials on Earth, then melted the its shell, leaving the user's true body the Destroyer as a weapon against Odinsword into apparent nothing­ comatose in a state of magical sus­ the impending Fourth Host. Upon its, ness (in truth the sword has since pended animation. Usually the trans­ Odin, Zeus, and the other patriarch been recreated and resides again in ference is achieved when a willing gods bestowed a fraction of their Asgard). However, Gaea, the Elder subject (or one who is not on mental powers upon it, providing it with great Goddess of Earth, persuaded the guard against such a transference) strength and powers. Once the Third Celestials to deliver a favorable judg­ stands within an arm's reach of the Host left, Odin concealed the armor ment on the Earth by revealing the armor. Masters of mystical powers, within a temple he built concealed in earth goddesses' legacy, the Yo ung such as Loki or Odin, can make the a plateau in far-off Indochina. In this Gods. Thor, with the assistance of transfer at greater distances. way he hoped to keep it beyond the Earth's other pantheons, was able to The Destroyer was mystically en­ reach of any who would misuse the resurrect Odin, who in turn restored dowed with its own intelligence and armor's powers. the other Asgardians to life. personality. Further, it was pro­ The Destroyer remained inert until Ye ars later, the Destroyer was re­ grammed by Odin to battle and, if shortly before the appearance of the activated by Siggorth, a Frost Giant. possible, destroy the first being it Fourth Host. However, Loki, seeking The Destroyer discovered the coma­ sees upon activation. Usually the an­ a means of vengeance against Thor, tose remains of Thor, who at the time imating lifeforce will be unable to as­ destroyed the plateau and arranged was under a spell of Hela's that ren­ sert his sentient control over the for Buck Franklin, a hunter, to unwit­ dered him incapable of either heal­ Destroyer for his own purposes, the tingly activate the armor and battle ing or dying. Thor had been reduced exceptions being Odin, Loki, and Thor. After defeating the Destroyer, to a pulpy mass after a battle with Thor. The Destroyer's programming Thor demolished the temple, burying Jormungard, the Midgard Serpent. will allow invading lifeforces to co­ the armor within. Later, while in exile, The Destroyer attempted to disinte­ exist with it if the invader's goals are Loki projected his consciousness grate Thor's remains but, when it compatible. into the Destroyer and used it to un­ failed, it grew intrigued, discovering When animated, the Destroyer re­ successfully attack Odin. the curse and realizing that by ani­ mains mystically linked to the body The Destroyer was next animated mating himself with Thor's undying of the person whose lifeforce pro­ by the goddess Sif, caught in a plot lifeforce, it would prove unbeatable vides the animating force, thereby by Loki and Karnilla, the Norn in battle since no one could threaten preventing that body from dying due Queen. Professor Clement Holmes Thor's body. The Destroyer ejected to the absence of a lifeforce. This accidentally became the fourth be­ Siggorth's lifeforce and drew in body is, therefore, the sole weak­ ing to animate the Destroyer. At this Thor's. However, Thor's indominable ness of the Destroyer against any time, Thor was unaware of the De­ spirit overcame the Destroyer and force weaker than the Celestials. A stroyer's true purpose and, in ex­ took control of the body. While in the spell of sufficient force can reverse change for Firelord's freedom, he armor, Thor invaded Hela's realm the transferral and render it inani­ gave the armor to Galactus for use and wrought havoc, pretending to mate again. Because the Destroyer as a herald. Galactus found the De­ have lost control of the armor's is not a living being, it is immune to stroyer useless and did not miss it actions. When Hela herself was the prohibition that prevents anyone when Loki stole it, employing first threatened with death, she lifted her who is not worthy from lifting Thor's Balder, then Thor himself as the ani­ curse and restored Thor's body to its enchanted hammer Mjolnir. mating force. original health and form. His plan The Destroyer was created to be By this time, the long-foretold successful, Thor forced her to fore­ used against the Celestials. Odin en­ Fourth Host had arrived and Odin swear taking the souls of any more of countered the Third Host of the Ce­ decided the time had come to use Earth's mortals. Thor then returned lestials a little over 1 ,000 years ago the Destroyer at last. He drew the Ii­ to his own body and promptly sealed when he discovered that the Celes­ feforces of all the Asgardians (with the armor within virtually unbreak­ tials intended to return in a thousand the exception of the absent Thor) able crystal so that it could not be re­ years time when superhumans were into himself, then projected the com­ animated for evil purposes. He also to emerge in large numbers on Earth. bined lifeforces into the armor. The left it in Hela's presence to serve as a At this time, the Celestials would be- Destroyer grew to gigantic size and, reminder of her promise.

56 DOCTCR BCNB

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S GO(10) E EX(20) R GO(10) I PR(4) P PR(4) Health: 42 Karma: 18 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Lester Ve rde Occupation: Ex-reporter, ex-rock music critic, ex-rock musician, ge­ netic engineer Legal Status: U.S. citizen Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single (marriage an­ nulled) Known Relatives: Bong Quintuplets Base of Operations: Mobile castle usually on an Atlantic island or in the Himalaya Mountains. Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Bong's powers are primarily a result of striking the metal ball on his left arm to his helmet. The resulting vi­ bration produces one of the following effects:

* Paralysis: Excellent power to para­ lyze anyone within a 20' radius. Vic­ tims are freed when the effect wears off in 10-20 turns. This effect can be negated if the target cannot hear the bong.

* Te leportaton: Excellent ability to teleport Dr. Bong or up to 400 pounds of matter. The objects or people to be teleported must initially be within 20' of Dr. Bong; however, can come up with any conceivable ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: they can then be teleported up to threat to Bong's reputation, Bong will Dr. Bong is a pompous, amoral blow­ 25,000 miles away. surrender. Ironically, only a few peo­ hard. He becames fixated on one * Killing Bong: Excellent ability to kill ple even know Bong exists, hence goal at a time and will do anything to anyone who fails to make an Endur­ his public image is virtually non­ accomplish that goal. Although he is ance FEAT. Range 20' diameter. existent. not malevolent, he simply does not • Disruption: Remarkable damage to Ta lents: Amazing Reason in the care if anyone is injured by his activi­ non-living materials. fields of sonics and genetic engi­ ties. He believes image is everything Weakness: Bong has two crucial neering; Good Reason in the field of and, because of this, he is handi­ weakness. First, if his helmet is sleazy journalism. capped by threats to his perceived struck by anything metal, he uncon­ Contacts: Fifi public image. He will do anything to trollably teleports to a random loca­ protect or restore his public image. tion. Second, Bong is obssessed with his public image. If someone

57 be killed in a mock fight. One night, limited animation and simplistic however, the fight went out of control plots, Bong devised "Bongvision and Lester's left hand was severed tm," a means to reshape the car­ HISTORY Lester Verde was an overweight by a prop guillotine. toons into realistic, three­ child and the constant victim of bul­ The band's prop bells tolled for dimensional educational programs. lies. On one occassion, he went to Lester Ve rde-his mind finally Coincidentally, the control frequen­ his mother for solace and called the snapped. For unknown reasons, cies of Bongvision were duplicated bullies "monkey mouths." Mrs. Lester abandoned his old life for a by television remote controls owned Verde thought the phrase was clever, career as a super villain. Somehow by the She-Hulk, among others. The complemented him on it, and re­ he acquired a superb physique, owners of these controls found minded him that the pen was mastery of sonics and genetic engi­ themselves sucked into the Bongvi­ mightier than the sword-a cliche neering, and an elaborate headquar­ sion worlds. She-Hulk and the others that eventually turned him toward a ters. Using his knowledge and managed to escape and even get the career as a writer. resources, he duplicated the High Bongvision system turned off, which In college, Lester pursued a jour­ Evolutionary's work and converted apparently trapped Bong. Bong has nalism degree, leaning toward sen­ normal animals into vaguely human­ not been heard of since. sationalistic stories. When one of his oid beings ("neezers"). instructors, Professor Furgen, chal­ Now operating as Doctor Bong, he NEEZERS lenged his journalistic ethics in captured Beverly Switzler and her companion Howard the Duck while class, Lester retaliated by writing a These products of the Evolvo­ they were on an Atlantic cruise. piece accusing the professor of in­ Chamber are animals who have Bong held them prisoner in his cas­ volvement in a drug scandal. (In been evolved to roughly humanoid tle, demanding Beverly marry him or truth, Furgen had once used an ille­ form. They retain their animal Stats, else he would kill Howard. Beverly gal drug to remain awake while writ­ although they now possess upright reluctantly agreed but Bong still sub­ ing an important paper under a posture, hands, and speech. Unfor­ jected Howard to a hideous experi­ deadline.) As a result, Furgen lost tunately, most can only say "neez?" ment that transformed the waterfowl his tenure and his marriage col­ and "neez!" lapsed. into a human (but one with only four During this time, Lester also took a digits on each hand). Bong then life drawing class in which his fellow forced a passing ship's captain to FIFI student Beverly Switzler occas­ marry Beverly and him. Howard es­ sionally served as a model. Lester caped the castle and eventually re­ She is the most successful of the became infatuated with her and tried gained his normal form . As for neezers, an anthropoid duck who to pick her up, only to be angrily re­ Beverly, the marriage was never appears as a beautiful woman with jected. Again he sought revenge, consumated because Bong prefer­ light yellow downy feathers, a duck's writing the parents of her boyfriend red reciting Poe's poem "The Bells." head, and long brown hair. Fifi was David about their relationship, again Howard came to Beverly's rescue apparently killed when she helped exaggerating the situation in lurid wearing his "Iron Duck" armor, Howard escape, but she (or a re­ terms. David's parents pulled him which unfortunately was no match placement) now helps Dr. Bong raise out of school and forbade him to see for Bong's sonic powers. However, the quintuplets. her. David subsequently died in a car Beverly had used the time to secretly crash as he drove back to school to use Bong's laboratory to clone F A S E RI P see Beverly. Bong's toenail clippings into five in­ Pr Ty Ty Ty Ty Pr Pr After graduation, Lester worked as fants. She presented the "Bong an investigative reporter for various Quintuplets" to Bong and threat­ Health: 22 Karma: 14 tabloids, fantasizing that his growing ened to publicly accuse him of being Bongvision (tm): This device cre­ fame would impress Switzler, when, a negligent father. Unwilling to see ates pocket dimensions based on re­ in fact, she had forgotten him com­ his image besmirched, Bong agreed alistic versions of cartoon shows. pletely. He decided to switch ca­ to let them leave and even teleported People who possess a television re­ reers, becoming a a rock music critic them home to Cleveland. Bong took mote control with the same fre­ and then a musician himself to try to custody of the quintuplets and has quency are draw into a Bongvision impress her. Then, Lester arranged been busy raising them since. Be­ (tm) world. They can escape by us­ to join Mildred Horowitz and his verly arranged for the marriage's an­ ing their remote controls to pop back band, a popular band known for nulment, an easy task since it had into the real world or by somehow al­ elaborate albeit bizarre theatrics. never been legally recorded any­ tering reality. Curiously, the Bongvi­ Lester planned to write an expose on where. son (tm) device only possesses an the band, protraying them as purvey­ Bong was dismayed when the "off' switch, not an "on" one. ors of decadence. Lester played the quintuplets discovered children's Easter Bunny in the stageshow, a cartoons. Rather than have their symbol of innocence who would then mental development retarded by the

58 DDMINUS

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S N/A E CL1 000 R X(1 50) I RM(30) P MN(75) Health: 1020 Karma: 255 Resources: MN(75) Popularity: -40

KNOWN POWERS: Mind Control: Class 3000 ability to lower the mental intelligence and mental resistance of 3000 subjects per turn. The duration is permanent or until Dominus ceases to emit this power. Fortunately, the power must be pre-set for the minds of the target lifeform; this process takes years to complete. Also, it can only affect a single personality at a time. If a tar­ get being possesses multiple per­ sonalities, the ray only affects one of these personalities at a time, leaving the others free to act. Hypnotic Ray: As a defensive mea­ sure usable at any time, Dominus has several ray projectors it can use against intruders. These rays have Unearthly rank; victims are frozen into passivity. However, these rays can only affect a single conscious­ ness in each victim; those with multi­ ple personalities are only affected at a rate of one personality per blast. Te /eportation: Shift-Z ability to travel through space, hopping through space one half light year per turn. Ta lents: Programs include Robotics, Cybernetics, Genetics, Induced Nu­ tation, Cloning, Astro-Navigation and Military Strategy. ' examples of the "Ultra-Robots" that Contacts: None were, until recently, needed to oper­ HISTORY ate it. To conquer a planet, the Ar­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: Dominus is a massive, highly cane would establish a secret base advanced sentient computer com­ there and eventually teleport plex created by the Quist race, also Dominus and its attendant robots to known as the Arcane. The Arcane it. Dominus would be modified each established a large interstellar em­ time so that it could affect the minds pire in the Milky Way galaxy, yet few of the specific races inhabiting the starfaring races know of the Ar­ target planet. In each case, the mod­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ifications take several Earth years. Dominus is programmed to conquer cane's existence, and fewer still When Dominus was finally ready, it worlds. Even when rejected by its know of their successful conquests of various worlds. Eons ago, the Ar­ would blanket the planet with rays own creators, it still seeks to conquer that deadened the wills of the victim because it simply has nothing else it cane constructed the Dominus com­ puter complex along with the first race so that they could be easily en­ can do. slaved by the Arcane.

59 For years the Quist known to some would be unable to return. The as Lucifer used Dominus to success­ Avengers nevertheless managed to fully invade world after world. Lucifer return and confront Dominus, de­ eventually undertook the conquest feating the computer' minions. of the Earth, where he met his even­ Dominus revealed its true nature tual defeat. His activities were first and used its mind-deadening rays to discovered by Professor Charles conquer the Avengers. However, the Xavier (a.k.a. Professor X), who suf­ rays proved unable to defeat the fered paralysis when he was re­ multiple personalities of Moon buffed by the alien. Xavier realized Knight. Unable to comprehend he still had years to defeat the alien Moon Knight's apparent immunity, and used the next few years to orga­ Dominus went mad. The central nize and train the original X-Men. computer core fled, launching itself Lucifer established a hidden base into space. Except for Sunstroke, the in the southwestern United States, to rest of Dominus' clone army was which Dominus was teleported by buried in the resulting cave-in. the Arcane. Xavier and his X-Men Presumably, since Dominus re­ • Light: Visible flash of Incredible in­ tracked Lucifer to his lair after the quires years to reprogram itself, it tensity will not return to Earth for some time. alien had launched a long-distance • Gliding of Typical airspeed atop attack on the mutant leader. By the thermal updrafts he creates. time the X-Men arrived, Dominus COMINUS' Costume: Although it disguises his was fully modified to begin its attack features, the costume is transparent and the Ultra-Robots were readying MINIONS to light. It also features glider wings the mental assault. Captured at first, that enable him to soar. the X-Men escaped and wrecked SUNSTROKE Weakness: Sunstroke can use his most of the Ultra-Robots, rendering powers for a maximum of 40 turns the Dominus complex inoperable. before he is depleted. He can re­ The Arcane leader, furious at the de­ STATISTICS: charge his powers after 1-7 hours of feat, teleported Dominus back to the exposure to sunlight. F EX(20) Quist homeworld and bansished Lu­ Ta lents: Unknown cifer to the "Nameless Dimension." A GD(10) S Lucifer later escaped and fought GD(10) ADDITIONAL NOTES: other Earth heroes before he was E RM(30) judged by the Arcane leaders to be R GD(10) I TY(6) attracting too much attention to the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: P GD(10) race. Lucifer was terminated. Sunstroke acts as leader of the min­ With the bitter knowledge gained Health: 70 ions. through Dominus' defeat, the Ar­ Karma: 26 cane made improvements that en­ Resources: GD(10) abled it to operate without the Popularity: 0 Ultra-Robots. However, their rede­ HISTORY sign made Dominus so powerful that BACKGROUND: Unlike the rest of Dominus' min­ it became master of the Quist them­ Real Name: Unknown ions. Sunstroke is a human who de­ selves. The sentient Dominus then Occupation: Mercenary veloped his own powers. He was returned to Earth, established a new Legal Status: Unknown recruited by Dominus, although it is base witin a mountain in Arizona Identity: Secret unknown whether Sunstroke devel­ and developed four minions. Whe� Place of Birth: Unknown oped his powers on his own before­ the West Coast Avengers arrived in Marital Status: Unknown hand or received them after joining search of Bonita Juarez (a.k.a. Fire­ Known Relatives: None Dominus' service. Likewise, it is not bird), they stumbled into an ambush Base of Operations: Mobile known whether his powers are natu­ with Dominus' minions, who they de­ Past Group Affiliations: Former ral or artificial in origin. However, it is feated, but they were then were con­ minion of Dominus interesting to note that Sunstroke fronted by a Quist under Dominus' Present Group Affiliation: was the only one of the minions who direct control. Through him, the was not cloned into an army before computer tricked the Avengers into KNOWN POWERS: the final battle with the Avengers. standing on a platform that turned Energy Conversion: Incredible ability Following the disastrous rematch out to be one of Dr. Doom's time ma­ to absorb, store, and release solar with the Avengers, Sunstroke fled chines. Dominus used the damaged energy, light, and heat. He can re­ the area and remains at large. machine to transport the Avengers to lease the power for these effects: the 19th century, confident they • Heat: Incredible rank

60 BUTTE CACTUS GILA

STATISTICS: STATISTICS: STATISTICS:

-' F EX(10) F RM(30) F GD(10) A TY(6) A GD(10) A TY(6) S AM(50) S RM(30) S IN(40) E UN(100) E RM(30) E AM(50) R TY(6) R TY(6) R TY(6) I PR(4) I PR(4) I PR(4) P FE(2) P FE(2) P FE(2) Health: 166 Health: 100 Health: 106 Karma: 12 Karma: 12 Karma: 12 Resources: 0 Resources: 0 Resources: None Popularity: -10 Popularity: -1 Popularity: -20

KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: Mineral Body: Butte is composed of Vegetable Body: Cactus is an ani­ Prehensile Ta il: Gila can deliver a stone and possesses Incredible Ma­ mate seguerro cactus mutated to hu­ stunning blow of Remarkable terial Strength. This gives her the fol­ manoid mobility and intelligence. Strength with its tail. lowing powers: Regeneration: Amazing replacement Poisonous Bite: Excellent intensity .. Incredible resistance to physical of lost body parts poison is injected when Gila bites a and energy attacks Missile Creation: It can fire 10-100 victim. .. Immunity to gaseous or biological needles each turn, each needle do­ Armorskin: Gila's reptilian hide gives attacks ing 1 point of damage. Range 1 area. him Excellent protection against Butte had to be completely shattered The barrage can be directed against physical attack. before she would cease to function. a specific target or spread out in a We akness: As a reptile, Gila is We akness: Butte is vulnerable to deadly circle. prone to cold-based attacks. He has powers specifically intended to af­ We akness: Cactus is vulnerable to -2CS resistance to such attacks. fect stone or earth. powers and attacks that specifically Ta lents: None target vegetation. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Contacts: None Gila hisses when he speaks. When ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: attacking, he will either swing his tail ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Cactus first attacks by firing its nee­ into his foes or lunge with his hands Butte appears to be a muscular dles, then swiping with its arms. It and attempt to bite. woman with short hair, albeit made seldom speaks. completely of stone. Butte considers herself to be female and has a fierce temper.

61 Additional Nates for Damlnusl Miniona

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: DRAGON DF T.HE MOON

STATISTICS: on's maximum power rank is Un­ begins to mirror that of the Dragon; earthly, its initial power rank number the being becomes more aloof, arro­ F GD(10) is 1 (Feeble rank). The intended vic­ gant, and destructive. A EX(20) tim must make a Psyche FEAT or fall The Dragon's maximum power S AM(50) under the Dragon's control. Each six rank is Monstrous. The Dragon E Z(500) months the dragon is in contact with seizes control when the victim finally R EX(20) its chosen victim, its power rank fails his Psyche FEAT or voluntarily I RM(30) number raises by 1 as the Dragon surrenders to the Dragon. The victim P MN(75) tries to communicate with or take now becomes an NPC under the Health: 580 control of the victim. The victim con­ Dragon's control. The victim's Karma: 125 tinues to make Psyche FEATs as Strength, Endurance, and powers Resources: N/A needed, although the player is un­ are increased + 2CS (maximum of Popularity: -200 aware of why this is needed. The vic­ Unearthly rank), although he suffers tim initially senses the Dragon as a total loss of Karma for the duration of KNOWN POWERS vague presence. If the victim con­ the possession. At this time the Mind Control (Possession): The sciously seeks to communicate with Dragon becomes visible as an im­ Dragon of the Moon has the ability to the Dragon, the Dragon can raise its mense, intangible shadow behind slowly corrupt and eventually take power rank + 1 CS each six months his victim. over a victim's mind. The process the communication continues. Dur­ Weather Control: Remarkable con­ takes some time. Although the Drag- ing this time, the victim's personality trol over local weather and wind.

63 Weakness: The Dragon requires a Dragon allied itself with Modred, the self, attacked the Defenders. During mortal host body to remain in the illegitimate son of King Arthur of Brit­ the battle, the Va lkyrie transported Earth Dimension. ain who sought to overthrow his fa­ her lifeforce and those of Androm­ Ta lents: None ther. Interloper, a member of the eda, Interloper, Manslaughter, Moon­ Contacts: None superhuman race of Eternals, allied dragon and the Dragon into another himself with King Arthur's forces. In dimension that lay between that of ADDITIONAL NOTES: the final battle between the armies of Earth and the realm of Death. In the Arthur and Modred, Arthur's forces process, all their physical bodies proved victorious, but Arthur and were destroyed. Mordred mortally wounded each In that other dimension, the De­ other. In a side battle, Interloper de­ fenders continued the battle and fi­ feated the Dragon. Interloper and nally proved victorious. However, the other Eternals imprisoned the due to the incompleteness of the Dragon within Saturn's moon Titan, mystical circle that enabled the spir­ home to the Eternals led by Mentor. its of the four Defenders to take on Later the Dragon helped bring about host bodies on Earth, the Dragon it­ the moral corruption of Mentor's son self was able to return to Earth. An­ Thanos, who eventually murdered dromeda, Interloper, Manslaughter, ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: most of the population of Titan. and the Valkyire, now joined by Da­ The Dragon of the Moon is a patient In more recent times, the Dragon fydd ap lowerth, a descendant of the planner who will work for years to made mental contact with Heather Pendragons and spiritual heir of corrupt a given victim. His ultimate Douglas, a young Earthwoman with King Arthur, renamed their group the goal is returning to the Earth dimes­ great psionic potential who was be­ Dragon Circle. As the Dragon Circle, nion and conquering it. While trying ing raised on Titan under Mentor's they joined Dr. Strange to defeat and to corrupt a victim, the Dragon will guidance. As a result, Heather took apparently destroy the Dragon of the appear persuasive and charismatic, the name Moondragon and fell in­ Moon. or cynical and ruthless, depending creasingly under the Dragon's cor­ Given the Dragon's nature and on the situation. rupting influence as the years power, it seems unlikely that it has in passed. Odin, monarch of Asgard, fact been destroyed. When and how appointed the Valkyrie Brunnhilde to it will return to menace humanity watch over Moondragon, who even­ anew remains to be seen. HISTO RY tually reformed her ways. Soon she The Dragon of the Moon is a de­ suffered a relapse and returned to monic entity that has existed at least the Dragon's corrupting influence. since the beginning of Earth's hu­ Sensing the Dragon's return, Inter­ man race. It has long sought to gain loper contacted the Defenders, the power over the peo ple of Earth superhuman team to which Valkyrie through moral corruption. belonged. Moondragon, her powers Over a thousand years ago the supported by those of the Dragon it-

64 DRAmON'S CLAWS

DRAGON ment agent, ex-mercenary, ex­ when fired from his gun, each does farmer 40 points of damage to all within a Legal Status: Citizen of Greater 20' wide target zone up to 20 areas STATISTICS: Britain away. Identity: Publicly known Shortsword: Good damage F RM(30) Place of Birth: Unknown Body Armor: Remarkable protection A RM(30) Marital Status: Married from physical attack. S EX(20) Known Relatives: Ta nya Witinski Nightscope: Typical vision in the E RM(30) (wife), Michael (adopted son) dark R EX(20) Past Group Affiliations: Dragon's Ta lents: Leadership, Military, I GD(1 0) Claws Strategyrra ctics, Guns, Marksman­ P EX(20) Present Group Affiliation: ship, Swordfighting, Piloting Health: 110 Karma: 50 KNOWN POWERS: ADDITIONAL NOTES: Resources: EX(20) None Popularity: 50 Equipment: Machine Gun: 25 points of damage per burst; 10 bursts per clip. Range 7 BACKGROUND: areas. Real Name: Dragon Mini-missiles: 3 worn in helmet pack; Occupation: Game player, govern-

65 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Known Relatives: None MERCY Dragon is a man trying to retain his Past Group Affiliations: Dragon's i tegrity amidst squalor and corrup­ Claws � . tion. He IS loyal to his friends, allies, Present Group Affiliation: STATISTICS: an� especially his ideals. Although IN(40) he IS devoted to Ta nya, his marriage KNOWN POWERS: F A RM(30) to her was destroyed by his return to Computer Brain-assist Module S GD(10) uniform. Bionic Eyes: Normal vision Equipment E EX(20) Ta ser: Ta rget must make Endurance R GD(10) FEAT against Good Intensity Stun­ I EX(20) . P EX(20) HISTORY ning; range 1 area. Stunwand: Ta rget must make Endur­ Health: 100 Dragon (his only name) was an or­ Karma: 50 phan whose sole outlets were in ath­ ance FEAT against Excellent Inten­ sity Stunning; range contact only. Resources: IN(40) letics and combat disciplines. After Popularity: 40 an initial, tragic role with the Gas-Gun: 20' cone of opaque knock­ Courtland Rangers, Dragon worked out gas of Good Intensity. Victims lose consciousness for 10-20 turns. BACKGROUND: as a mercenary. After recovering Real Name: Mercy Connaught from battle injuries, Dragon decided Ta lents: Amazing Reason in the field of computer hardware and program­ Occupation: Game player, govern­ to form the Dragon's Claws. After the . ment agent, vigilante banning of The Game, he became a ming. Other mechanical skills in­ clude Electronics, Electrical Legal Status: Citizen of Greater farmer and married Ta nya Ritinski. Britain When N.U.R.S.E. reactivated the Engineering, and RepairfTinkering. Fighting skills include Martial Arts D Identity: Publicly known Dragon's Claws, they decided to ' Guns, Blunt Weapons, Explosives Place of Birth: Greater Britain eliminate Dragon's family. Chance ' and Piloting. Marital Status: Single intervention by the Shrine saved Ta ­ Past Group Affiliations: Dragon's nya, Michael, and her father. During ADDITIONAL NOTES: Claws the Dragon's Claws's rescue and the Present Group Affiliation: three-way firefight that resulted the family was split up. Ta nya's f�ther KNOWN POWERS: was killed, Michael went with None Dragon, and Ta nya went with the sur­ Equipment: viving Shriners. Daggers: Tw o carried in shoulder sheathes. 10 points of damage. Can DIGIT be thrown 2 areas. Machine Pistol: Does 20 pOints of STATISTICS: damage per clip at a range of 3 areas when used as a machine gun. Does F EX(20) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: 15 points of damage at a range of 7 A GD(10) Digit acts more like a machine than a areas when used as a sniper rifle. 6 S GD(20) human. He is logical, analytical, and bursts of 6 bullets per clip. E GD(20) rarely emotional. He prefers nonle­ Ta lents: Acrobatics, Tu mbling, Mar­ R IN(40) thal weaponry. tial Arts A and E, Guns, Marksman, I IN(40) Kniv�s, Piloting, and Criminology. P TY(6) She IS an expert on vigilantes and Health: 70 their tactics. Karma: 86 HISTORY ADDITIONAL NOTES: Resources: RM(30) Digit was born a genius and given Popularity: 20 advanced educational training at an early age. By age 16, he was a lead­ BACKGROUND: ing computer authority. However, Real Name: Gan Ay erson somebody tried to kill him. Digit Occupation: Game player, govern­ would have died if not for the implan­ ment agent . t�tIon of cerebral bionics he had pre­ Legal Status: Citizen of Greater vIously designed. Digit retired at the Britain WDC's order but he soon joined the Identity: Publicly known Dragon's Claws. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Place of Birth: Scotland Greater ' �ercy �s a lethal firebrand who is try­ Britain Ing to live down her vigilante past. Marital Status: Single

66 Ta lents: Marksmanship, Guns, Mar­ Past Group Affiliations: Dragon's tial Arts B, StrategylTactics, First Claws HISTORY Aid, Tinkering/Repairing, Tr acking, Present Group Affiliation: Mercy was born in 8135, the only Traps, Animal Training, Piloting, and KNOWN POWERS: child of indutrial ist Anton Con­ Survival. None naught. Her only childhood interest ADDITIONAL NOTES: Equipment: was athletics. When her father was Sword: Excellent damage. murdered in 8154, her skills came Shoulder Spikes: Incredible damage into play as she infiltrated The Boxing Spikes: Incredible damage Game, seeking his assassins. She Piloting, Martial Arts B, tracked down and killed the assas­ Ta lents: Wrestling, Sword Master (Monstrous sins. Although she was arrested for Fighting ability with his katana). Flu­ one of the murders, she was re­ ent in Japanese and English. leased to Dragon's protective cus­ tody. ADDITIONAL NOTES: She briefly returned to her vigilan­ tism after the ending of The Game, ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: but she quit when she realized she Scavenger is a quiet-spoken man had killed an innocent woman. Now who, despite his eccentric appear­ she is the enemy of other self­ ance, serves as the emotional an­ proclaimed vigilantes. chor of the group. He is constantly scavenging things. SCAVENGER

STATISTICS: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Steel is a firm believer in honor and HISTORY acts as the moral conscience of the F RM(30) Little is known of his past, al­ Dragon's Claws. He rarely uses fire­ A GD(10) though his accent and features hint arms. S EX(20) at an Australian aboriginal back­ E RM(30) ground. He led a varied life on the R GD(10) outskirts of society and the law. It I RM(30) was not until he joined the Dragon's P GD(10) Claws that he finally found a place. HISTORY Health: 90 Steel was born in 8130 in a Japan Karma: 50 dominated by crimelords. As he ma­ Resources: GD(10) STEEL tured, his body developed superhu­ Popularity: 20 man muscles. He considered STATISTICS: himself a freak fit only for The Game. BACKGROUND: However, his father, a Yakuza war­ Real Name: Unknown F AM(50) lord, demanded his son serve him as Occupation: Game player, govern­ A GD(10) bodyguard. When the Ya kuza were ment agent S IN(40) overthrown by a people's revolt, Legal Status: Unknown E IN(40) Steel broke free of his father's domi­ Identity: Publicly known R EX(20) nation. He rescued Dragon during Present Group Affiliation: I IN(40) the riots that followed, although he P TY(6) was injured himself. Dragon offered KNOWN POWERS: Health: 140 Steel a position as the team's None Karma: 66 blocker. Equipment: Resources: GD(10) Shot Gun: 20 points of damage at a Popularity: 40 range of 3 areas; 10 shells per load. SCRATCH Grenades: 30 points of damage to all BACKGROUND: in a target zone 30' wide. Can be Real Name: Shonin Ikeda F A S E RI P thrown 3 areas. Occupation: Game player, govern­ GD TY TY GD FE GD FE Flame Thrower: 30 points of damage ment agent per turn, range 2 areas. Fire con­ Legal Status: Japanese citizen Health: 32 Karma: 14 tinues to do 10 points of damage per Identity: Publicly known turn until extinguished. Place of Birth: Kobe, Japan Scratch is Scavenger's dog and Nightscope: Typical vision in the Marital Status: Single the team's mascot, although he dark Known Relatives: Shukei (father) hates Steel.

67 He bites for Typical damage, teams took less kindly to the banning moves 2 areas per turn, and Tracks of The Game. Many went on ram­ . with Remarkable ability. HISTORY pages. N.U.R.S.E. reactivated the The Earth of 8162 is an ecological Dragon's Claws specifically to deal nd social disaster. The seas are dry- with the outlaws. In the months that THE PIG � Ing up, and the animals are dying. followed, the Dragon's Claws dealt The Dragon's Claws's tank-like aer- . . CIvil unrest runs rampant in the deci­ with outlaw Game players such as: ial transport. mated streets. The World Develop- : The Wildcats (feline motif); ment Council, the ruling body of the The Jesters (clown motif)· Control Speed Body Protection * planet, developed The Game as a The Jones Boys (flameth;owers); EX MN IN RM * means of curbing social violence The Van ishing Ladies (invisibility costumes); KNOWN POWERS: Uust like the Roman Empire used the gladiatorial arena). The structure of * The Shrine (priests of archaic reli­ Heavy Machine Gun: Each of the 10 The Game is simple: it involves gions); HMGs has a range of 10 areas and * hunter-and-hunted; nonlethal force The Evil Dead (monstrous motifs). does 30 pOints damage per turn. was originally planned, but Game They also took on other jobs as Four have fixed, forward mounts· 6 players' weaponry rapidly grew well, such as twice battling the ro­ are on swivel mounts on the top a�d deadly. Eventually The Game be- botic assassin Death's Head, and sides. came a free-for-all that was can- rescuing Raymond Golding, the Autocannon: Each of the 6 cannon celled after one Game resulted in 56 WDC ambassador to Greater Brit­ has a range of 10 areas and does 40 deaths. One team, the Evil Dead ain. Golding would prove to be an im­ points of damage per turn. Each is w s esponsible for 498 deaths by portant ally. The Dragon's Claws on a swivel mount, 2 on top and 2 on � � this time. The National Union of Re- also uncovered N.U.R.S.E.'s inner either side. tired Sports Executives (N.U.R.S.E.) corruption and decided to deal with One-Man Flier: 5 of these are carried the Matron and her Board of Direc­ aboard The Pig. was formed to deal with the problem of rehabilitating the forcibly retired tors. COincidentally, the Evil Dead Game players. No one suspected had also decided to kill the Matron Control Speed Body Protection even as the Matron was murdering TV EX RM TV that Matron, N.U.R.S.E.'s leader, had more intricate plans for them. her own Board of Directors. Al­ The Dragon's Claws were one of though the Matron managed to kid­ the best teams in the league. nap and psychicly torture Dragon Dragon, the leader, had picked each a�d the Evil Dead's leader, she was member for their skills, abilities, and, killed by Death Nell, another of the most i':'lportant, their basic integrity, Evil Dead. a quality most teams sorely lacked. Fo�lowing N.U.R.S.E.'s collapse, After a Miami Game ended in a Golding convinced the WDC to hire bloodbath, the Dragon's Claws with­ the Dragon's Claws as international drew from The Game and the mem­ peacekeepers. bers went their separate ways. Other

68 DREAMING CELESTIAL

STATISTICS:

F MN(75) A UN(100) S CL3000 E CL3000 R CL1 000 I CL1 000 P CL1 000 Health: 6175 Karma: 3000 Resources: CL3000 Popularity: N/A

BACKGROUND: Base of Operations: Beneath the Diablo Mountains of California Past Group Affiliations: Celestials Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS Biophysical Control: Class 2000 abil­ ity to alter genetics and induce muta­ tions. Clairvoyance: Class 1000 Energy Control (all forms): Class 1000 Energy Emission (a ll forms): Class 1000 Immortality: He cannot be slain; if re­ duced to 0 Health or Endurance, en­ ergy can be drained that forces him into suspended animation. Invisibility (Telepathic): Class 1000 ability to make mortals ignore his presence. Invulnerability: Class 3000 rank pro­ tection against physical or energy at­ tacks. Te lepathy: Class 3000 rank, mostly used to communicate with other Ce­ lestials. True Flight: Class 5000 speed (100x Iightspeed).

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

69 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: alone who was responsible for the the key. Ghaur then recovered the The Dreaming Celestial is primarily creation of their race and this was for vial from the Pyramid of the Winds. concerned with regaining his free­ this reason the rest of the Second He unlocked the vial with a key and dom, but he is hampered by his ab­ Host punished the Great Renegade. absorbed the energy within, thereby solute immobility. Consequently, he In fact, Earth's Deviants had been giving himself the size and power of must rely on intermediaries to regain created by Ziran the Te ster, and the a Celestial. In this form Ghaur in­ his freedom. He cannot act until Celestials have created other races tended to lead the Deviant attack on some being gains possession of the of Deviants, such as the Skrulls and the rest of the Celestials. However, vial and releases the energy con­ Dire Wraiths. Hence the nature of soon to Ghaur's horror, he fell under tained within. At that time he can use the Dreaming Celestial's crime re­ the mental control of the Dreaming his telepathy to begin to take control mains a mystery. It is definitely Celestial, who forced him to fly to the of whoever has possession of the known, however, that at the time of Diablo Mountains and begin digging vial. Only after the motivating energy the Second Host's visitation to Earth, to release him from his tomb. Mem­ is returned to the Dreaming Celes­ the rest of the Second Host discov­ bers of the Eternals, another off­ tial's form can he become active. ered that the Dreaming Celestial had shoot of humanity created by the committed a grievous crime Celestials, joined forces with the "against life itself." The Great Rene­ Avengers to form a being of im­ gade is said to have rebelled against mense power called the Uni-Mind. HISTORY the rest of the Second Host but was The Uni-Mind separated Ghaur's The Dreaming Celestial, also finally defeated in a great battle in consciousness from his body and set known as the great Renegade, is a space. The Great Renegade, or per­ it adrift in space. The Uni-Mind then member of the Celestials, the virtu­ haps only his armor, was once extracted the Celestial energy within ally all-powerful extradimensional golden in color; after his fall, the and placed it back within the vial. race who have conducted genetic color became black. The body then shrank to apparent experiments on the dominant races The rest of the Second Host is said nothingness. Other Celestials had of many planets, including the hu­ to have been unable to destroy the been aware of the Renegade's at­ mans of Earth. The Dreaming Celes­ renegade. Hence they removed him tempt to free itself and would appar­ tial has an actual name but it has from energy of an unknown nature ently have intervened had it been been obliterated from any known re­ which appeared to be a vital part of necessary. cords. The Dreaming Celestial was a his life essence and sealed it within a The Dreaming Celestial remains member of the Second Host of Ce­ vial that could only be opened with a imprisoned but still seeks a means of lestials which brought about the unique form of key. The vial was release. It is known that a "time bub­ great Cataclysm that decimated the placed within the Pyramid of the ble" surrounds Earth between 17 Atlantean world. According to one Winds, hidden within Earth's Arctic and 37 years in the future, making account, the Dreaming Celestial is regions. The departing Host took the time travel to those years almost en­ the greatest of the Celestials. Possi­ key with them when they left Earth. tirely impossible. It is believed by the bly the Dreaming Celestial is the The Renegade himself was placed Council of Kangs that somewhere in most powerful of the Second Host, into an endless dreaming sleep and this period there exists a weapon although it seems highly unlikely that buried below what are now the Dia­ that was created by the Dreaming that his power exceeds that of such blo Mountains of California. Celestial, a weapon powerful Celestials as the immense Exitar, After the Fourth Host of the Celes­ enough to wreak havoc throughout who dwarfs even Arisheim in size tials arrived on Earth in recent years, all existing universes. As yet, noth­ and might. Lord Ghaur, leader of the Deviant ing more is known about this weapon The Priesthood of Earth's Devi­ priesthood, arranged for Deviant un­ or how the Dreaming Celestial awak­ ants, a genetic offshoot of humanity, derlings to invade the Celestials' ened to create it. allege it was the Dreaming Celestial mothership and make a duplicate of

70 ECSTASY

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GD(1 0) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I EX(20) P EX(20) Health: 70 Karma: 46 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Renee Deladier Occupation: Head of a criminal or­ ganization distributing addictive drugs Legal Status: Citizen of France with no known criminal record Identity: Known within the French criminal underworld Place of Birth: Unrevealed, presum­ ably in France Marital Status: Unrevealed, appar­ ently married at least once in the past Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Chemin des Rosailles, to the north of Marseilles, France Past Group Affiliations: Head of her own criminal organization Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Ordinarily, Ecstacy possesses no su­ perhuman powers. However, she has at times possessed a variation on the darkforce powers of Cloak. Gateway: When using her power, Ec­ stacy possesses the Unearthly-rank ability to mentally create an apera­ ture into a dimension composed of an insubstantial featureless, intense black material of an unknown na­ ture. The material offers no visual Ecstacy is also able to teleport her­ ability to perceive the Earth dimen­ cues as to its surface, even when it is self from one place to another in the sion in some manner while in the di­ viewed against the background of Earth dimension by entering the di­ mension of darkness, as she suffers the Earth dimension. However, it has mension of darkness herself, tra­ no disorientation upon re­ been noted that the dark dimension versing a distance, and emerging emergence and can arrive in some has a direction of orientation (corres­ back into the "real" world. In this area she has never before seen with ponding to Earth's "up and down") way, she can cover 40 areas each no chance of accidentally appearing and that time passes there, perhaps ro und. She can theoretically take while embedded in some solid ob­ much faster than in Earth's dimen­ along other people, or she can "tele­ ject. sion. This black material may be re­ port" other people or objects (up to Spirit Va mpirism: Ecstacy constantly lated to the black substances and 20 areas) by projecting them through feels a hunger of Remarkable inten­ energies manipulated by other su­ the dimension while she herself re­ sity which urges her to seek out liv­ perhuman beings, such as The mains in the Earth dimension, as ing victims and project them into the Shroud or Darkstar. does Cloak. Ecstacy shares Cloak's dimension of darkness, there to 71 serve as food for some powerful ma­ sion to generate the Darkforce, While in France, the vigilante levolent being. Ecstacy believes this Ecstacy can nullify mundane known as Cloak tracked down and being to be the source of the powers sources of light with Excellent effec­ confronted Madame Deladier, and that she and Cloak share. Unlike tiveness, and magically-based light attempted to use his superhuman Cloak, Ecstacy has no compunc­ with Poor effectiveness. powers to transport her into the so­ tions about seeking out living beings Ta lents: Deladier is a natural leader, called dimension of darkness as to project into the dark dimension. and has the Business/Finance skill. punishment for her crimes. To Were Ecstacy to decide to resist the Contacts: Ecstacy is the head of a Cloak's astonishment, Deladier hunger, she would have to make a criminal organization, and is consid­ forced him into the dimension in­ Remarkable-intensity Psyche roll, ered to have Criminal connections. stead. The sentience within the di­ first after 12 hours of spirit-fasting, mension of darkness had chosen then again after another 12, then af­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: Deladier to serve as its new instru­ ter another six, another three hours ment for "feeding" it with the life after that, and so on, the checks forces of living human beings, since growing closer. If she fails any of Deladier did not share Cloak's moral these checks, she must seek out 1- qualms about dOing so. Thus, Dela­ 10 souls immediately. If she should dier took on Cloak's powers, and fail a second roll before finding the Cloak himself, once again an ordi­ sacrifice, she might herself be con­ nary human being, was trapped sumed by the entity. within the dimension of darkness. Intangibility: Ecstacy can slip into in­ Sensing Cloak's agony, the sor­ tangibility, providing Monstrous-rank ceror Doctor Strange entered the di­ Body Armor against all other attacks mension of darkness to rescue him. except light-based or some magical ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: There Ecstasy attacked both energies, against which she has only Deladier is a ruthless criminal. She Strange and Cloak. Strange pro­ Good protection. This intangibility is enjoys wielding power and makes no jected an intense mystical light from not Ecstacy's usual state, as it is with apologies about dOing so. She main­ his amulet's Eye of Agamotto. Seek­ Cloak. Indeed, Ecstacy must make a tains her criminal holdings by her ing to absorb this light, the sentience green Power FEAT roll every time track-record as a winner rather than of the dimension withdrew Ecstasy's she tries to make use of it. by any bond of trust between her and powers, causing her to collapse into Darkforce Generation: Ecstacy is her subordinates. Ecstacy not only unconsciousness. Strange created able to draw forth the essence of the accepts her powers when she has an interdimensional portal leading dark dimension and release it on them, she revels in them. She is per­ back to Earth and ordered Cloak to Earth. It is from this dark material fectly happy to sate the darkness' escape through it and take Ecstasy that she makes her costume. Al­ hunger, and if the victims she picks with him. Once they were safe, though the aperture she uses to do are useful for her purposes, so much Strange himself returned to Earth, this could theoretically be formed the better. closing the portal behind him, just as anywhere within her field of vision, the light from the Eye of Agamotto she has always used the costume to began to wreak havoc in the dimen­ help define the area of the aperture. sion of darkness, which was unable Ecstacy has a stronger control over HISTORY to absorb the mystical radiance. this material than Cloak, and she can Renee Deladier, who calls herself Back on Earth, Cloak regained his form the dark material into a solid, "Ecstasy," is the head of a criminal superhuman powers, and Strange manipulating it as if it were tentacles organization based in Marseilles, convinced him not to turn them coming from her body. Ecstacy can France which distributed a newly­ against Ecstasy. Months later, Ec­ give the dark stuff Amazing material­ developed addictive drug, also stasy again took posession of strength solidity, and exert Excellent known as "Ecstasy" due to the tem­ Cloak's powers after Cloak had dis­ strength through it. There are no lim­ porary sensations it provides. (The appeared from Earth. its as to how many "tentacles" she French government has not yet out­ can form. lawed the possession and distribu­ Shadow Casting: In addition to draw­ tion of this drug despite its ing on the powers of the dark dimen- potentially harmful effects.)

72 ELECTRO

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A EX(20) S EX(20) E AM (50) R GD(10) I EX(20) P TY(6) Health: 100 Karma: 36 Resources: Vary from FB(2) to RM(30) Popularity: -14

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Maxwell Dillon Occupation: Former lineman for Consolidated Edison, now profes­ sional criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Endicott, New Yo rk Marital Status: Divorced Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: One-time partner of Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Kraven, Vulture, Mysterio ("Sinister Six"), Leapfrog, Matador, Gladiator, Stilt-Man ("Emissaries of Evil"), Sandman, Wizard, Tr apster ("Fright­ ful Four"), Blizzard, and the Purple Man Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Electro, a textbook example of a super- powered criminal, has devel­ oped his one straightforward power toward a number of subtle uses.

Electrical Generation: Electro has the ability to generate and channel up­ wards of 100,000 volts, delivering In­ credible damage to grounded targets, Good damage to insulated Electro can ride lines of high Electro can "feel" the course of or otherwise ungrounded targets. electro-magnetic potential (such as electricity through the circuitry of any Electro's range is 5 areas, and he en­ power lines) with Monstrous ground electrically-powered device. By suc­ joys a + 1 CS to hit. Electro can also speed (9 areas/round). He has re­ ceeding in an Amazing-intensity discharge his attack at closer range, cently demonstrated the ability to power FEAT against the rank of Rea­ increasing his damage. His bolts do ride bridges of electricity that he him­ son required to build the device (or Amazing (or Excellent) damage to self creates, allowing him to fly in the against the Endurance of the device characters in the same area, and if same way that Iceman uses his ice­ if the machine has an Endurance), Electro manages to actually grapple slides, at Excellent ground speed (5 Electro can take control of the de­ his opponent, he can deliver Mon­ areas each round). This mode of vice. His control is not capable of fine strous damage, against which no op­ travel once exhausted Electro rap­ manipulation: he can disconnect ponent is ungrounded. Electro has idly, but he can now travel in this alarm systems, overload a subsys­ developed a number of power manner for a half hour at a time (at 75 tem, or perhaps control a computer stunts. miles per hour) without tiring. in a very limied fashion. Producing a 73 1 recognizably human voice over tele­ personality is largely unchanged. phone wires would be beyond Elec­ However, he's a thief and an extor­ tro's skills. tionist more than a killer, and he will Electro can channel his powers usually keep his word when it is mar­ into his own muscle tissue, produc­ ginally convenient to do so. ing controlled galvanic responses. By these means, he can temporarily increase his Strength to Remark­ able, but doing so causes Electro HISTORY Typical damage, and his body would Maxwell Dillon was a high-wire never be able to endure extended lineman for New Yo rk's major electri­ feats of strength (such as supporting cal power company. While holding a great weight) at that intensity. On power lines that were still connected the other hand, if Electro is somehow to their spool, Dillon was struck by drained of power, his Agility and lightning. The unusually configured Strength drop to Typical, with corres­ magnetic field that was generated by ponding drop in Health. the wound spool of one- inch cable Electro can use electricity to keep and the live, high-tension wires himself in good health. His recupera­ caused a body-wide mutagenic tive powers are astonishing, and change in his nervous system. This with a sufficient power source (such change transformed him into a living as the power generators at Niagra), electrical capacitor, powered by the Electro can "burn out" virtually any microfine rhythmic muscle contrac­ disease from his body, up to and in­ tions that normally regulate body cluding cancer. temperature. Donning a colorful dis­ Invulnerability: Electro has Class guise and calling himself Electro, 1000 Resistance to all forms of Elec­ Dillon decided to use his power for trical energy, and Excellent Resist­ personal gain. ance to other forms of energy. Electro's first and most frequent Ta lents: Electro has no significant nemesis is Spider-Man, although he talents. has also fought Daredevil, Captain Contacts: Dillon has served as part­ America, and the Fantastic Four. Not ner or agent of a wide variety of vil­ particularly imaginative, Electro gen­ lains, and is on tolerably good erally has employed his powers for relations with most of them. He is robberies, extortion, or revenge. He otherwise well-connected in the has served several prison sentences criminal underworld. and has had his powers investigated at Project Pegasus. After yet another ADDITIONAL NOTES: humiliating defeat at the hands of the Shocker and Spider-Man, Electro is currently in prison, held in a special electrically non-conducive cell, plot­ ting his next escape.

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Electro is the stereotypical "profe­ sional criminal." Dillon has proven himself time and time again to be a "team player," trustworthy as re­ gards his end of an assignment and willing to support his partners in a fight. These days, however, he's soured on teams, bearing in mind several bitter defeats he's suffered while working with others. Electro's

74 EDN

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A PR(4) S MN(75) E CL5000 R Y(200) I CL3000 P CL 1000 Health: 5099 Karma: 4200 Resources: Inapplicable Popularity: -5 (50 among those aware of Eon's presence)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Eon Occupation: Cosmic custodian Legal Status: None Identity: Eon's existence is not known to the general populace of Earth Place of Birth: Outer space Marital Status: Not applicable Known Relatives: Eternity, Celestial Axis, and Time (parents), Death (uncle/aunt), and Galactus (uncle) Base of Operations: Real universe Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Eon is a cosmic entity, tapped into and drawing powers from the Cos­ mic Axis and the very fabric of space-time. As such, Eon has signifi­ cant cosmic powers. Energy Manipula tion: Eon may ma­ nipulate energies at Class 1000 level, which Eon may channel as: the rank number of the increased ADDITIONAL NOTES: * Shift X Resistance against any two power or attribute. Eon can also attack forms at a time choose to invest others with powers * Any sensory power at Shift Z inten­ on a much more short-term basis, sity say for a day or two. These besto­ * All Elemental and Energy Control walls do not cost Eon any Karma. powers at Unearthly rank Eon may be responsible for the * Body Control powers at Shift X in­ Omega Force, the mysterious tensity source of Captain Universe. Te leportation: As a scion of Eternity, Ta lents: Eon has virtually every sci­ Eon can teleport around the uni­ entific skill, allowing him + 1 CS verse, or the worlds in any number of when inventing or repairing any de­ pocket dimensions and alternate re­ vice. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: alities at will, using his Class 5000 Contacts: Eon can call on the Eon is a mysterious, powerful force. teleportation ability. Champion of the Universe for aid Eon considers his actions carefully, Body Manipulation-Others: Eon whenever necessary. As a cosmic and he is deliberate and moderate in can invest others, usually the Cham­ entity, Eon is aware of all other cos­ his activities. Paying attention to pion of the Universe, with permanent mic entities, and vice versa. Thus, if most of the universe at once, Eon powers. Eon is limited to any powers Eon were in peril, Eternity orthe Cos­ sometimes appears to be absent­ or attributes, up to Monstrous rank. mic Axis might come to Eon's aid. minded. This permanent investment requires Eon to spend Karma equal to 5 times 75 the Celestial Axis becomes Yggdra­ ago. sil the Wo rld Tree.) In recent years Eon selected Cap­ HISTORY Eon 's principal function is to nur­ tain Mar-Veil of Kree as a protector of Eon is a sentient, quasi-physical ture the evolution of the sentient life the universe. Mar Veil, who distin­ entity, roughly 20 feet in height, that forms of the universe and to maintain guished himself both in the Kree mili­ resembles a tree with certain hu­ conditions conducive to life within tary and as a defender of Earth was manoid features and possesses the universe. Eon regards Earth and appointed protector to combat the great power and considerable knowl­ its human denizens as having partic­ menace of Thanos, one of the Eter­ edge of the cosmos. Almost as old as ular importance to the history of the nals of Titan, who sought to destroy the universe itself, Eon was among universe. Eon regards the present the universe. Mar-Veil led the Earth's the first sentient entities formed in time as a crucial one in Earth's his­ staunchest champions against the wake of the Big Bang and has ex­ tory due to the emergence over re­ Thanos, who ultimately was de­ isted for 8 billion years. Eon claims to cent decades of growing numbers of feated by them. Eon granted Mar­ be the offspring of Eternity, which is superhuman beings. Eon be lieves Ve ll the heightened consciousness the entity that embodies all life that a superhuman race is quickly called "cosmic awareness" to aid forces in the universe, the Celestial evolving on Earth that will bring a him in his crusade against Thanos. Axis, which is the pattern of organic "golden age" to the universe as a Mar-Veil was the only one of the energy threading itself through the whole. champions chosen by Eon who did known universe, and Time itself, One of Eon's major functions is the not wear the quantum-bands, which which appears to be another aspect appointment of a protector of life in had fallen into the possession of the of the entity called Eternity. the universe. Since its creation, Eon costumed crusader known as Marvel Until quite recently, Eon dwelled in has anticipated major threats to life Boy. a pocket dimension adjacent to and has chosen champions to de­ Following Mar-Vell's death from Earth's universe, from which it could fend the universe against these cancer, Eon selected Wendell Elvis observe this universe. However, Eon threats. It is not known how fre­ Va ughn, also known as the cos­ can materialize anywhere in the uni­ quently Eon appoints these protec­ tumed champion Quasar, as the next verse it chooses. tors, if there is a virtually unbroken protector of the universe. Quasar Eon appears to be a sort of cosmic progression of them, or if they are had already acquired the wristbands custodian that monitors life in the only selected when the need arises. following Marvel Boy's death. Eon universe. Beings with an abundance Eon has appointed numerous such told Quasar that he was to defend of power particularly attract Eon's at­ guardians, selecting them from vari­ both the universe and Eon itself from tention. Eon is believed to be respon­ ous sentient races, including one an unidentified menace to them both sible for certain phenomena on from the Elan. All but one of these that originates on Earth. To better Earth, a planet that lies along the Ce­ champions wore devices called protect Eon, Quasar brought Eon lestial Axis. Eon apparently had quantum-bands that Eon created back to Earth, and has concealed it something to do with certain other di­ that enable the champions to manip­ in an office in Four Freedoms Plaza mensions in which beings of godlike ulate energy at will. Eon has also be­ in Manhattan. Eon remains there at powers dwell. (In most of these di­ stowed other powers upon the this time, adviSing Quasar in his mis­ mensions, the Celestial Axis mani­ guardians it has chosen. The first sion against the unidentified men­ fests itself as a physical object. In the champion of life that Eon appointed ace. dimension of Asgard, for example, was Glakandar, about 5 billion years

76 ETERNITY

STATISTICS:

F CL5000 A CL5000 S CL5000 E CL5000 R CL5000 I CL5000 P CL5000 Health: 20,000 Karma: 15,000 Resources: CL5000 Popularity: 0 (1 00 for those aware of Eternity's existance)

77 BACKGROUND: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: who may combat the attackers on Real Name: Eternity Eternity is the sum total of life in the their own mortal levels. These ser­ Occupation: Abstract concept of the universe and is therefore not the vants have a vested interest in see­ Universe easiest character to argue with. ing Eternity survive intact, as Legal Status: None When Eternity appears to lesser be­ Eternity makes their very existence Identity: Eternity's existance as an ings, matters must be grave indeed possible. extended object is not accepted by and those beings would be wise to Such was the case when the pow­ the general populace of Earth listen to what Eternity has to say. It is erful extradimensional being known Place of Birth: Not applicable beyond emotion, beyond venge­ as Nightmare atempted to seize Marital Status: Not applicable ance, and beyond gratitude. Eternity from the inside, using all Known Relatives: Galactus sleeping sentient beings (usually (brother), Death (sibling), Eon (child) one third of the total lifeforms in the Base of Operations: Not applicable universe and therefore a powerful Past Group Affiliations: None HISTORY minority of Eternity) to drive Eternity Present Group Affiliation: The origin and precise nature of to sleep, and there by putting all of the abstract being known as Eternity Eternity under Nightmare's control. KNOWN POWERS: are unknown and unknowable. It is In this state, Eternity was induced to Eternity is the spirit of the Universe. the sum total of collective conscious­ dream planet Earth's obliteration. As such, he may perform any Power ness of all living things in the uni­ Doctor Strange, who possessed the at Class 5000 ability, though he does verse, the embodiment of their life as Gift of Extended Life, did not die, and not do so with any regularity. Eterni­ Death is the embodiment of the end­ journeyed to Nightmare's realm, ty's humanoid form is an artificial ing of that life. there to free Eternity and persuade manifestation and cannot be per­ Unlike Death, which Eternity re­ him to recreate Earth. ceived unless Eternity wishes to con­ fers to as its sibling, Eternity does As Eternity is the sum total of all verse with a humanoid. not often take an active hand in the living forces, destruction of Eternity Ta lents: Not strictly applicable. Eter­ dealings of the trillions of lives that may eradicate the game universe nity knows everything, and does not make up its total. However, since and with it all other quasi-physical need Column Shifts when attempt­ controlling the being Eternity allows entities. Death and Eternity exist as ing FEATs. the controller to wield Eternity's un­ partners, not competitors, and Death Contacts: Eternity's actions and limited Powers over the beings that has never shown any rivalry against state is observed by most of the make it up, this entity is a target for its "sibling." Eternity, for its part, has Earth dimension's cosmic entities extradimensional attackers of vari­ rarely shown any interest in the and sorcerers, many of which would ous abilities. Usually Eternity can de­ pieces that make it up, though if come to Eternity's aid were it to re­ flect such attacks without significant given sufficient threat (on the level of quire it. exertion, but on occasion has had to the Beyonder) would willingly sacri­ bring its own servants into play. fice part of its infinite existence (and ADDITIONAL NOTES: While not as organized as the the planets, stars, and lifeforms that "death- gods" that serve Death, make up that existence) to foil such a these servants are usually powerful foe. individuals, such as Doctor Strange,

78 � .- FASAUD r ......

STATISTICS:

F GO(10) A GO(10) S TY(6) E GO(10) R GO(10) I GO(1 0) P TY(6) Health: 36 Karma: 26 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Sheikh Farouk al­ Fasaud Occupation: Former oil minister of the kingdom of Aqiria Legal Status: Citizen of Aqiria Identity: The general populace of Earth believes Fasaud to be dead Place of Birth: An unrevealed loca­ tion in Aqiria Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Aqiria Past Group Affiliations: The gov­ ernment of Aqiria Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Fasaud can transform himself from a physical being to an electronic im­ age, a "living television picture." As such, he has a wide variety of abili­ ties. Body Transformation-Self: The vil­ lain known as Fasaud has the In­ credible ability to transform himself into electrical energy. This form gives him the following abililities:

* Unearthly Flight (40 areas each round) through a conductive me­ dium such as air or water

* Amazing Phasing through conduc­ tive material * Monstrous rank Physical Invisibil­ that he can understand. (If in doubt, maintained ity to those who cannot sense electri­ the Judge should roll a Reason FEAT Ta lents: Fasaud is a keen business­ cal energy against the rank of Reason neces­ man as well as a powerful sheikh. He * Agility and Endurance increases to sary to build or modify the device in is considered to have the Businessl Amazing rank, with appropriate in­ question.) Once inside a machine, Finance skill, and is + 1 CS to hit with creases in Health Fasaud has whatever fine control he daggers. * Resistance to most attacks. Fa­ might need, and moves the equip­ Contacts: Fasaud would presum­ saud enjoys Amazing Resistance to ment like he might move his own ably have influence in the Aqiria gov­ Physical attacks, Monstrous resist­ body ernment should he return there. ance to electrical attacks, and In­ * If Fasaud solidifies part of his body, credible Resistance against other he can attempt to grapple with an op­ energies ponent. On a successful hit, Fasaud * Fasaud can inhabit and take delivers Incredible damage to his Amazing control over any machine victim every round the grapple is 79 ADDITIONAL NOTES: gory Dunbar, a reporter for CBS, publicly send space shuttles into launched an investigation into the flight (the model NASA was using sheikh's activities, many of which had been involved in a catastrophic proved to be unscrupulous. Dun­ disaster), the government was se­ bar's reports circulated around the cretly making shuttle flights into world, leading to a full-scale media space from Aqiria, with the approval investigation of the sheikh. As a re­ of Khafir. These flights were in­ sult, the sheihh lost considerable in­ tended to transport military equip­ fluence. Holding Dunbar ment into space. responsible, the sheikh came to the The Fantastic Four clashed with television studio in Aqiria where the Fasaud when he attempted to kill reporter was working and tried to kill Dunbar in New Yo rk City. Tw o mem­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: him with a dagger. When Dunbar bers of the team, the Thing and Ms Fasaud is corrupt, arrogant, and dodged the attack, the sheikh acci­ Marvel, journeyed to Aqiria to search more than a little chauvinistic dentally struck a television camera for Fasaud only to be defeated and against non-Arabs. He's rich, he's with his knife, somehow causing an captured by him. The Thing and Ms powerful, he has connections with electrical accident that drew all the Marvel escaped into outer space his government, and he knows it. He power in the studio into the sheikh's aboard the shuttle. Fasaud transmit­ finds the use of his powers exhilarat­ body. However, instead of killing him, ted himself into space and took com­ ing, but is not rash with them. the accident somehow transformed mand of an American satellite armed him into the being now known as Fa­ with "Star Wars" laser weaponry. It saud, who has been described as a was this same satellite that Fasaud living television image. had used to transmit himself around HISTORY Dunbar, who witnessed the trans­ the world. Fasaud attempted to de­ Sheikhh Farouk al-Fasaud, who formation, fled and eventually ended stroy the shuttle with the satellite's was thought to be the wealthiest up working in CBS's New Yo rk City weapons, but the Thing destroyed man in the world, was the oil minister bureau. King Khafir of Aqiria publicly the satellite instead. Fasaud then of the small Arab kingdom of Aqiria claimed that he had discharged Fa­ transmitted himself into the shuttle it­ known for its rich oil resources. The saud from his post as oil minister, self, but the Thing short- circuited all sheikh was said to be the most influ­ and that Fasaud was harassing his of the electrical equipment he could ential person involved in OPEC, the government as a result. In fact, how­ locate in the shuttle, thereby ap­ organization of oil-producing Arab ever, Khafir and Fasaud secretly re­ paently destroying Fasaud. The nations, yet for years only people at mained allies. Moreover, officials of shuttle crash-landed on Earth, but the highest levels of certain govern­ the United States government knew both the Thing and Ms Marvel sur­ ments knew the extent of the of Fasaud's continuing role with the vived. However, whether or not Fa­ sheikh's role in OPEC. Aqirian government. Since at that saud has truly been destroyed This situation changed when Gre- point the United States could not remains to be seen.

80 FIN FANG FDDM

STATISTICS: Chinese government Fang Foam takes up from 3-6 areas. Identity: The general population of Because Fin Fang Foam's enor­ F AM(50) Earth does not believe in Fin Fang mous size is magical, this Growth A RM(30) Foam's existence. rank does not substitute for the drag­ S UN(100) Place of Birth: China on's Unearthly Strength when it at­ E X(150) Marital Status: Single tempts Strength FEATs. R PR(4) Known Relatives: None Claws: Fin Fang Foam has claws, I EX(20) Base of Operations: China which allow him to make edged at­ P MN(75) Past Group Affiliations: None tacks if it desires. Health: 330 Present Group Affiliation: True Flight: Fin Fang Foam's enor­ Karma: 99 mous wings propel it at Typical air­ Resources: FB(2) KNOWN POWERS: speed (90 miles per hour). It can Popularity: -75 Fin Fang Foam is a Chinese Dragon, travel at this speed indefinitely with­ one of the most powerful creatures out tiring and has demonstrated an BACKGROUND: on Earth, marginally magical and im­ ability to cross the Pacific Ocean. Real Name: Fin Fang Foam pressive like nothing else terrestrial. Armor: The dragon's hide offers Shift Occupation: Potential Celestial Bu­ Growth: Fin Fang Foam has Shift Z X Resistance to Blunt attacks; Un­ reaucrat Growth, at 150 ft tall and at + 4CS to earthly Resistance to Physical Legal Status: Wanted by the Red be hit. When on all four legs, Fin Edged, Shooting, Fire, Disease and

81 Acid; Monstrous Resistance against ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: of China to the enormous cavern in other "natural" energies, such as Fin Fang Foom is hardly stupid, but it which Fin Fang Foom slept. Appar­ electricity or sonics, many poisons, is rash and prone to seek the sim­ ently, the dragon had been sleeping or any eldritch attack; and Amazing plest and most direct solutions to there for centuries, presumably hav­ Resistance against any other type of problems, such as hunting down an­ ing been cast into unending sleep by energies, such as the Darkforce. noyances and killing them. Fin Fang a certain herb. Having read about Acid Cloud: Fin Fang Foom's acid Foom is not human in any sense, them in an ancient manuscript, Chan breath can cover any three contigu­ and its thoughts are alien and (ac­ had brought samples of both this ous areas, at a range of 5 areas from cording to Chinese mythology) semi­ herb and another which, when its head. The acid does Incredible divine. brushed against the dragon's lips, damage, or Amazing damage could awaken the creature. Chan against metal objects, against all used the herb to wake Fin Fang characters and objects in those ar­ Foom but then announced his inten­ eas. HISTORY tion to put him to sleep again. En­ Ta il: Fin Fang Foom's tail can give it a Fin Fang Foom is a gigantic raged, the dragon pursued Chan, second attack each round, doing dragon, approximately 15 stories tall who fled on horseback, leading the Amazing damage, and extending whose origin is unknown but who is monster to the coast, where the three areas behind the dragon. known to have lived in ancient Communist invasion force was Te lepathy: Fin Fang Foom employs a China. Fin Fang Foom possesses massed. Fin Fang Foom wreaked limited form of telepathy to commu­ vast superhuman strength, can fly havoc, destroying the invasion force nicate with mortals. This communi­ using its enormous wings, is virtually in his furious effort to find and kill cation is such that the dragon can indestructible, and can produce acid Chan. His mission thus accom­ detect lies on a successful Intuition mist from its mouth without harm to plished, Chan returned to the crypt roll against the intensity of the liar's itself. Fin Fang Foom is a sentient with Fin Fang Foom close behind. Psyche. Any creature foolish enough being and has been depicted as ca­ Back within the dragon's lair, Chan to make eye-contact with Fin Fang pable of speech, although it is more managed to brush the dragon's lips Foom must make a Psych FEAT roll likely that it actually communicates with the herb that cast him again into against Monstrous intensity to avoid telepathically. a deep slumber. Chan returned to being charmed by the dragon, ex­ Fin Fang Foom's first recorded ap­ Ta iwan and eventually emigrated to actly as if Fin Fang Foom had hypno­ pearance in modern times took the United States. tized the character. place nearly 30 years ago. Chan Liu­ Ye ars later, Fin Fang Foom awoke Vulnerability: Fin Fang Foom is chow, the son of a Chinese father once more, and aided the monstrous acutely vulnerable to certain poison­ and an American mother, was a stu­ It, the Living Colossus in defeating ous herbs and potions. To know of an dent of ancient Chinese history and the invasion force of the alien Sto­ appropriate poison, a character legends. He lived on the island of Ta i­ nians, also known as the Gargoyles must have Occult Lore or Mystic wan. Ta iwan, also known as For­ of Stonus v. Having driven off the ali­ Background, or a Tr ivia Ta lent re­ mosa, was the last major outpost of ens, Fin Fang Foom returned to his garding Chinese mythology. A char­ the Chinese Nationalist government, lair in China. Recently, Jormungand, acter must also have the Biology skill which had been overthrown on main­ the Midgard Serpent of Norse my­ to recognize and locate the obscure land China in its Communist Revolu­ thology, assumed the guise of Fin herbs and ingredients for the po­ tion. Chan's father was fervidly Fang Foom for an encounter with a tions. Such poisons induce sleep or opposed to Communism and was number of Frost Giants and the paralysis, rather than death, in Fin angered by his son's refusal to join Asgardian god Thor. However, the Fang Foom. Against them, it has no the Chinese Nationalist Army which real Fin Fang Foom is a separate en­ Resistance and its Health is reduced he hoped would oppose the main­ tity from the Midgard Serpent. Since to 33 points if such is currently land government. the Midgard Serpent's demise, Fin higher than that. Chan, however, secretly had his Fang Foom came to the United own plan for battling the Chinese States, where he was opposed by ADDITIONAL NOTES: Communists, who were then prepar­ the adventurers known as the Legion ing an invasion force to conquer Ta i­ of Night, including Chan Liuchow. wan. He had read the legends of Fin Fang Foom and believed that the monster was real. Chan went to mainland China in a small sailboat and made his way to a crypt guarded by a primitive tribe who were un­ aware that it was the entryway to a tunnel leading to the dragon's lair. Chan entered the crypt and found a tunnel that lead under the Great Wall

82 FIREBRAND

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GD(10) S AM (50) E RM(30) R EX(20) I TY(6) P PR(4) Health: 120 Karma: 30 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: -15

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Gary Gilbert Occupation: Radical agitator and terrorist, later business agent for costumed criminals Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Simon (father, de­ ceased), Roxanne (sister) Base of Operations: Mobile, later the circuit of "Bars with No Name" Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Firebrand had no powers of his own, but designed many weapons sys­ tems into his colorful costume. Battle Armor: The Firebrand armor was designed around its primary weapon systems. Microcircuited servo- motors increased Gilbert's Strength to the level in the above sta­ tistics. While not in armor, Gilbert's Strength is reduced to Good, with an appropriate decrease in Health. The armor was reinforced to allow Gilbert to use his Strength without injuring himself, in the process providing him with Remarkable Protection against Physical damage and Good Resist­ mal jet devices that enabled him to Business and Finance. ance against energy attacks. fly. He could travel at Poor airspeed Contacts: Gilbert was connected .. The suit's other attack form was a (4 areas per round), but was sharply with a large number of costumed Monstrous Heat beam directed from restricted as to how high he could fly. criminals. Indeed, it was this connec­ twin wrist projectors. Both projectors Firebrand could only elevate himself tion that led to his death at the hands firing in concert could produce heat 12areas (or stories) above a surface. of Scourge. of Unearthly intensity. To protect He left a trail of flame behind him as himself against his own flames, Fire­ he flew, and if he flew fewer than five brand designed his suit so that it pro­ areas above a surface, all characters vided Monstrous Resistance against and objects in the area directly under HISTORY flame damage and sufficient life sup­ him would be subject to Excellent Gary Gilbert was the son of the un­ port to breathe in the heart of a rag­ flame damage. scrupulous businessman Simon Gil­ ing fire for 30 minutes. Ta lents: Gilbert had the Repair! bert. Simon would take out his anger .. Firebrand's boots contained ther- Tinkering talent and was adept at at business matters that displeased 83 him by striking Gary, thus contribut­ construction of the community cen­ Man to do battle with him at the site ing to Gary's hatred of his father. ter, arguing that the money for build­ of Simon Gilbert's grave. Iron Man Gary and his sister Roxanne both be­ ing it could be better used in other defeated Firebrand there, where­ came political activists, engaging in ways, but they also refused to side upon Firebrand tried to kill Hogan peaceful protests against what they with Firebrand and his violent tac­ and another hostage. Roxanne believed to be injustices. Simon had tics. Confronted by Iron Man, Fire­ bravely stepped in front of her broth­ very different political views from his brand threatened to kill Bradshaw, er's blast to save the hostages. Iron two children and quarrelled with both but Iron Man defeated Firebrand. Man captured Firebrand and turned Gary and Roxanne over them. As a Later, Simon Gilbert, who was him over to the authorities. Roxanne result of his arguments with the fiery­ chairman of the board of Stark In­ Gilbert eventually recovered from tempered Gary, Simon Gilbert ban­ dustries, tried to oust Anthony Stark her injuries. ished him from the family home. from control of his own company. Gary Gilbert later escaped prison Roxanne left more quietly and of her Stark, as majority stockholder, in­ together with the Mad Thinker, but own volition. stead named himself chairman of they soon parted. As Firebrand, Gil­ Whereas Roxanne worked pa­ the board and demanded Gilbert's bert attacked and defeated Iron tiently at trying to bring about peace­ resignation. In retaliation, Simon Gil­ Man, who had just been weakened ful changes in society, Gary lost bert contacted Firebrand, not know­ by a battle with the Ye llow Claw. patience with working within the sys­ ing he was his own son, and Jerald, an otherdimensional being tem and became increasingly radi­ attempted to persuade Firebrand to calling himself the Black Lama, then cal. He believed it was necessary to destroy one of Stark's factories. Fire­ took Firebrand to his native world. bring about a violent revolution to brand refused to cooperate with Gil­ Iron Man followed them through the overthrow the existing American bert, since he considered his father interdimensional warp that Jerald government and the American capi­ an enemy as a member of the capi­ created. Firebrand attempted to ally talistic economic system. talist extablishment. Nevertheless, himself with Baron Rockier, Jerald's Gary Gilbert had considerable tal­ Firebrand regarded Stark Industries enemy, and then attack the Earth, ent in physics and set about to con­ as a symbol of what he hated in but Iron Man thwarted Firebrand struct weaponry to use in his attacks America, and decided to attack the once more, and returned with him to on the economic and governmental factory anyway. Firebrand battled Earth. systems. He began designing his Iron Man once more at the factory. Finally, deciding to use the meth­ equipment while still attending a uni­ Meanwhile, Simon Gilbert set explo­ ods of "the system" against itself, versity, and received further instruc­ sives to destroy half the factory, but Gilbert became a business agent for tion for creating his weaponry by was trapped beneath falling debris costumed criminals, finding them attending training programs offered from the fight. Firebrand tried to save work in exchange for a commission. by Stark Industries, the company Simon, but Iron Man was only able to In this new role, Gilbert made con­ now known as Stane International. get Firebrand himself to safety be­ tact with his criminal cilents at the so­ Gilbert used the devices he created fore the detonator went off. Simon called "Bar with No Name," secret to become the costumed agitator was killed in the explosion. Iron Man drinking establishments serving the and terrorist called Firebrand. defeated Firebrand and turned him growing number of costumed crimi­ Firebrand's first known appear­ over to Stark Industries guards. Fire­ nals. Gilbert became concerned ance was in Bay City in the Midwest brand revealed his true identity to about the vigilante Scourge, who where he urged the city's black com­ Iron Man and vowed to take venge­ was murdering a large number of munity to engage in violent protest ance on him for his father's death. costumed criminals. Scourge was against the construction of a com­ Firebrand escaped from the clearly a threat not only to the lives of munity center. Thinking that Fire­ guards soon after Iron Man left. Gary Gilbert's clientele, but also to Gil­ brand might become carried away Gilbert took refuge with his sister bert's own life. Gilbert set up a meet­ and accidentally activate his weap­ Roxanne in Detroit. He became a ing of a number of costumed onry in the crowd he was address­ thief to obtain money to buy supplies criminals at the "Bar with No Name" ing, Iron Man tried to restrain him. to rebuild his battlesuit and weap­ in Medina County, Ohio, to discuss Iron Man's action triggered a small onry, and Roxanne could not bring strategies to use against Scourge. riot and led to his first battle with Fire­ herself to turn him in to the police. However, despite Gilbert's precau­ brand, who admitted to Iron Man that When Stark came to visit Roxanne tions, Scourge himself turned up at he was willing to see members of Gilbert to buy her late father's stock the meeting in the guise of the bar­ Bay City's black community be in­ in Stark Industries, Firebrand kid­ tender and slaughtered Gilbert and jured if need be to opposed the exist­ napped both Stark and his secretary, all the other criminals present. ing power structure. Firebrand later Virginia "Pepper" Potts Hogan. abducted Bay City councilman Lyle Holding Hogan hostage, and un­ Bradshaw, who, it turned out, was aware that Stark himself was Iron engaging in political corruption. Bay Man, Firebrand demanded that City's black militants opposed the Stark summon his "bodyguard" Iron

84 GATECRASHER AND THE TECHNET

GATECRASHER Marital Status: Unrevealed, pre­ talents. sumed single Contacts: Gatecrasher, as head of Known Relatives: None the Te chnet, has minor contacts STATISTICS: Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ throughout the Omniverse. gland F GD(10) Past Group Affiliations: Leader of ROLE·PLAYING NOTES: A TY(6) the Te chnet Gatecrasher is an efficient bureau­ S RM(30) Present Group Affiliation: crat, an intelligent tactician in com­ E RM(30) bat, and a loyal team member. She R IN(40) KNOWN POWERS: has a businessman's sense of honor I IN(40) Te lepathic Powers: Gatecrasher has and a born leader's ability to handle P EX(20) rudimentary psionics that aid her in often bickering underlings. Health: 76 her work as a freelance operative. Karma: 100 She has Typical rank Te lepathy, and BODVBAG Resources: EX(20) Poor rank Emotion Control. The only Popularity: 0 emotion Gatecrasher has been STATISTICS: known to induce has been calm. BACKGROUND: Body Armor: Gatecrasher is mas­ F EX(20) Real Name: Gatecrasher sive, standing almost nine feet tall A TY(6) Occupation: Freelance Operative and weighing 700 pounds. Her bulk S GD(10) Legal Status: None alone provides Good Protection E EX(20) Identity: The general population of against physical attacks and Typical R GD(10) the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ Resistance against Energy attacks. I TY(6) net's existence Ta lents: Gatecrasher can use Mar­ P TY(6) Place of Birth: Unrevealed tial Arts C and has the Leadership

YAP CHINA DOLL

SCATTERBRAIN GATECRASHER WAXWORKS (alias FA SCINATION) 85 Health: 56 CHINA DOLL FERRoe Karma: 22 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -10 STATISTICS: STATISTICS:

F GO(10) F EX(20) BACKGROUND: A EX(20) A EX(20) Real Name: Bodybag S TY(6) S EX(20) Occupation: Member of the Te chnet E TY(6) E GO(10) Legal Status: None R GO(10) R TY(6) Identity: The general populace of I EX(20) I GO(10) Earth is unaware the Te chnet's exist­ P EX(20) P GO(10) ence Health: 42 Health: 70 Place of Birth: Unrevealed Karma: 50 Karma: 26 Marital Status: Unrevealed Resources: EX(20) Resources: EX(20) Known Relatives: None Popularity: 0 Popularity: -3 Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ gland BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: Past Group Affiliations: Member of Real Name: China Doll Real Name: Ferr02 the Te chnet Occupation: Member of the Te chnet Occupation: Member of the Te chnet Present Group Affiliation: Legal Status: None Legal Status: None Identity: The general populace of KNOWN POWERS: Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the Te chnet's ex­ Storage sacs: Members of Body­ Earth is unaware of the Te chnet's ex­ istence bag's race possess one or more stor­ istence Place of Birth: Unrevealed age sacs; Bodybag has three. Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Bodybag can eject a narcotic mem­ Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None brane around a target up to one area Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ away. Anyone encased in the mem­ Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ gland brane takes Amazing rank Poison gland Past Group Affiliations: Member of damage every round, until they ei­ Past Group Affiliations: Member of the Te chnet ther break free (the membrane is the Te chnet Present Group Affiliation: made of Incredible Material Present Group Affiliation: strength) or fall unconscious. The KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: poison has two effects. Primarily, it Body Alteration-Others: China Doll Four Arms: Ferr02 has two additional physically numbs the victim· has the ability to forcibly invest an­ arms, and is omnidexterous, giving Strength, Endurance, and all Energy other character with Remarkable him +3 on his Initiative roll, and al­ powers are reduced by three column rank Shrinking. (Although she has lowing him two attacks each round. shifts per round until they reach Shift threatened to reduce Waxworks He usually uses swords which are O. (The victim's statistics begin to down to microscopiC size, there is no made of Monstrous Material suffer the reduction immediately, evidence that she could actually do Strength and do Good edged dam­ and specifically before the victim this.) Shrunken characters must age. may first attempt to break free.) Sec­ make a Psyche FEAT of Good inten­ Keen Senses: Ferr02 has a very ondly, the poison is anesthetic. sity or be disoriented for 1-5 rounds. sharp sense of smell, and is able to When the damage (again, Amazing Shrunken characters resume their track prey by odor. He can also see at every round) exceeds the victim's true size in 3-30 minutes, randomly night as well as humans see in full Psyche, the victim pases out, not re­ determined by the Judge and out­ daylight. gaining consciousness until re­ side China Doll's control. Ta lents: Ferr02 is a champion moved from the membrane, or at Wa ter adaptation: China Doll is am­ swordscreature, gaining + 2CS Bodybag's leisure. phibious. She can breathe underwa­ when using his swords. Ta lents: None ter indefinitely, and she can swim at Contacts: None outside of the Te ch­ Contacts: None, other than the Good speed. net Te chnet Ta lents: None ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ net. Ferr02's brother was killed during a Bodybag does not speak. He will­ bout of overconfidence, a trait char­ ingly serves Gatecrasher and is of­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: acteristic of Ferr02's species. Ferr02 ten the Te chnet's first line of attack. China Doll is something of a bully. has claimed thereafter to be more She enjoys using her power, treating careful than his "bruzzer," and in­ her victims as objects and curiosi­ deed has shown himself to be dedi­ ties. cated and efficient.

86 .JOVBOV Earth is unaware of the Te chnet's ex­ restructure them as per the conven­ istence tional Body Transformation power. Place of Birth: Unrevealed As his powers begin with an Incredi­ STATISTICS: Marital Status: Unrevealed ble psi-scan, his powers fail if he can­ Known Relatives: None not penetrate his victim's mind. If F FB(2) Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ Joyboy makes an attempt to affect a A FB(2) gland character, and that attempt fails, ei­ S PR(4) Past Group Affiliations: Member of ther because of effective psychic de­ E TY(6) the Te chnet fenses or resistance to the R EX(20) Present Group Affiliation: transformation, Joyboy must make a TY(6) I Ye llow Psyche FEAT roll or pass out AM(50) P KNOWN POWERS: for 1-10 rou nds. I n any case, Joy­ Health: 14 Body Transformation-Others: Joy­ boy's power is mostly instinctive; he Karma: 76 boy has the singular telepathic abil­ has no control over how his power Resources: EX(20) ity to subconsciously sense might affect a character. The effects 5 Popularity: someone else's heart's desire, and wear off after 3- 30 rounds. the Monstrous rank Transformation Chair: Joyboy is considered to have BACKGROUND: power to give his victim what he two levels of permanent Shrinking. Real Name: Joyboy wishes for, but twisted. He can give As his atrophied limbs are of no use Occupation: Member of the Te chnet his victim any power (usually uncon­ for locomotion, Joyboy has found a None Legal Status: trolled) up to Monstrous level, or can padded chair. The chair allows Joy- Identity: The general populace of

FERR02 THUG NUMBERS 87 boy to move at Poor airspeed (2 ar­ remembering libraries of information Three rings together grapple with eas per round) and, and it can carry with unerring accuracy. He is also a Monstrous Strength, and nine rings only 100 pounds before sinking to lightning calculator, familiar with or more hold someone with Un­ Earth. The chair is cybernetically thousands of mathematics tables earthly Strength. The rings them­ controlled; if Joyboy loses con­ and algorithms. selves are made out of high-energy sciousness, the chair drops like a Ta lents: None. material of Incredible strength. Each brick. Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ ring lasts 1-10 rounds Ta lents: Joyboy has Psychiatry skill. net. Ta lents: None. Contacts: None beyond the Te ch­ Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ net. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: net. Numbers is a creatue of inertia. He is ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: slow to respond to a situation, and ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Joyboy smiles benignly most of the sluggish in combat, but equally hard Ringtoss is an efficient, well­ time, and is capable of no better to stop when pursuing a goal. He behaved operative, and is thus an speech than that of a normal human rarely involves himself in combat sit­ oddity among the more colorful and baby. His power is malicious and uations, and then only as the Te ch­ flamboyant members of the Te ch net. cruel and there is suspicion that this net's last resort. is precisely the reason Joyboy en­ SCATTERBRAIN joys using it. RINGTOSS STATISTICS: NUMBERS STATISTICS: F EX(20) STATISTICS: F TY(6) A GD(10) A TY(6) S FB(2) F GD(10) S PR(4) E GD(10) A PR(4) E GD(1 0) R PR(4) S IN(40) R TY(6) I TY(6) E AM(50) I EX(20) P GD(10) R EX(20) P GD(1 0) Health: 42 I GD(1 0) Health: 26 Karma: 20 P GD(1 0) Karma: 36 Resources: EX(20) Health: 104 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: 5 Karma: 40 Popularity: 0 Resources: EX(20) BACKGROUND: Popularity: 0 BACKGROUND: Real Name: Fascination Real Name: Ringtoss Occupation: Freelance Operative BACKGROUND: Occupation: Freelance Operative Legal Status: None Real Name: Numbers Legal Status: None Identity: The general population of Occupation: Freelance Operative Identity: The general population of the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ Legal Status: None the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ net's existence Identity: The general population of net's existence Place of Birth: Unrevealed the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed, pre­ net's existence Marital Status: Unrevealed, pre­ sumed single Place of Birth: Unrevealed sumed single Known Relatives: None Marital Status: Unrevealed, pre­ Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ sumed single Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ gland Known Relatives: None gland Past Group Affiliations: Member of Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ Past Group Affiliations: Member of the Te chnet gland the Te chnet Present Group Affiliation: Past Group Affiliations: Member of Present Group Affiliation: the Te chnet KNOWN POWERS: Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: Neuron Firing: Scatterbrain is an em­ Energy Rings: Ringtoss can produce pathic vampire, feeding on the emo­ KNOWN POWERS: 11-20 energy rings at a time (check tions of others. One result of this Body Armor: Numbers has thick to see how many each encounter) hunger is that Scaterbrain can fire hide, giving him Good Protection and can project them at up to four the neurons of another person's against physical attacks and Poor closely-grouped opponents, up to brain. If Scatterbrain touches her in­ protection against energy attacks. three areas away. One of these rings tended victim, that victim must make Edetic Memory: Numbers has an will bind an opponent as if it were an Intuition FEAT against Unearthly edetic memory for facts and figures, grappling with Amazing Strength. rank. A success indicates that the

88 victim enjoys Unearthly rank Cosmic KNOWN POWERS: his powers will last. Awareness for as long as Scatter­ Body Armor: Thug's skin provides The effects of this power can be brain retains contact. Failure over­ him Excellent Protection against all painful, however. A victim will black loads the victim's synapses and physical attacks, and Remarkable out for 1-10 rounds if he fails a shuts his brain down. Although the Resistance to all Energy attacks. Psyche FEAT against Good intensity effects of the power are in the Un­ Ta lents: Thug knows Martial Arts A, when he is first transformed, and earthly range, Scatterbrain's attack B, and D, as well as Wrestling. again when the transformation ends is only Amazing, and can be resisted Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ and bones begin to knit together with psychic defenses of that inten­ net. again. Being stretched does not pre­ sity. vent any powers from working, but Spirit Natue: Scatterbrain is partially ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: many may be at diminished efficacy. non-corporeal. She floats at Feeble Thug is nasty, brutish, and short. He Captain America, for example, airspeed (2 areas per round) rather has a strong sense of honor and is would be hard-pressed to use his than walking, and she casts no unquestionably brave. Fighting abilities. The Human To rch shadow. She is considered to have would still be able to ignite, however, Good Protection against all attacks, WAXWORKS and Psylocke would have her full whether physical, magical, or psy­ complement of mental powers. Energy Dampening: Waxworks can chic. STATISTICS: Ta lents: None. also decrease the strength of any or Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ F PR(4) all powers and superhuman statis­ net. A GD(10) tics within 3 areas of him, by two S TY(6) ranks. He is completely in control of ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: E TY(6) this power, and can decrease just Among her fellows, Scatterbrain has R TY(6) those powers he chooses, automati­ the reputation for being an airhead, I TY(6) cally. but she is efficient and loyal, if a bit P EX(20) Ta lents: Waxworks has Art Appreci­ enthusiastic at times. Health: 26 ation as a talent. Karma: 32 Contacts: None outside the Te ch­ THUG Resources: EX(20) net. Popularity: -10 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: STATISTICS: Waxworks has a particularly alien BACKGROUND: mentality. It obeys Gatecrasher for F RM(30) Real Name: Elmo reasons of its own and appreciates A TY(6) Occupation: Freelance Operative the odd shapes it can change people S AM (50) Legal Status: None into. Like many other members of E RM(30) Identity: The general population of the Te chnet, Waxworks has negligi­ R TY(6) the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ ble interest in the dignity of human I GD(10) net's existence life. P PR(4) Place of Birth: Unrevealed Health: 116 Marital Status: Unrevealed, pre­ Karma: 20 sumed Single YA P Resources: EX(20) Known Relatives: None Popularity: 0 Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ STATISTICS: gland BACKGROUND: Past Group Affiliations: Member of F FB(2) Real Name: Thug the Te chnet A GD(10) Occupation: Freelance Operative Present Group Affiliation: S FB(2) Legal Status: None E TY(6) Identity: The general population of KNOWN POWERS: R GD(10) the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ Body Alteration-Others: Waxworks I MN(75) net's existence has the Remarkable power to some­ P EX(20) Place of Birth: Unrevealed how melt a victim's skeletal system, Health: 20 Marital Status: Unrevealed , pre­ so that the victim's body flows like Karma: 105 sumed single quicksilver. Fantastically, this causes Resources: EX(20) Known Relatives: None no real damage to the victim's body. Popularity: -1 Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ It does however, prevent the victim gland from exercising any muscular con­ BACKGROUND: Past Group Affiliations: Member of trol for 3-30 rounds, until the effects Real Name: Ya p the Te chnet of Waxwork's powers wear off. Wax­ Occupation: Freelance Operative Present Group Affiliation: works has no control over how long Legal Status: None

89 Identity: The general population of family forced the Te chnet to turn over the Earth does not know of the Te ch­ all �heir accumulated wealth as repa­ net's existence GROUP HISTORY rations. Angered by this reversal in Place of Birth: Unrevealed The Te chnet is a team of bounty their fortunes, all of the members of Marital Status: Unrevealed pre- the Te chnet except for Ya p and Fas­ ' hunters from various otherdimen­ sumed single sional worlds. For a price they will cination left the team. Known Relatives: None After a few misadventures and hunt d�wn and capture fugitive senti­ Base of Operations: Brighton, En­ ent beings, rescue prisoners from some return of her fortunes, Gate­ gland captivity, or track down and retrieve crasher recruited new members into Past Group Affiliations: Member of lost objects of value. The Te chnet the Te chnet, and a few former mem­ the Te chnet b rs rejoined. At some point during ranges through time, space, and var­ � . Present Group Affiliation: ious dimensions in their operations. this period, Fascination changed her In the Te chnet's first recorded ex­ name to Scatterbrain. KNOWN POWERS: ploit, they were hired by Opul Lun Opal Luna Saturnyne hired the Te leport: Ya p can teleport himself or Sat-yr-nyn on an alternate Earth to Te chnet to capture Rachel Sum­ anyone whose current location is mers, alias Phoenix, who Saturnyne hunt down and bring back Byron . known to Ya p. He can teleport Mon­ Bra-Dhok, alias Kaptain Briton the claimed was a threat to the universe. strous distances instantly, or can �therdimensional counterpa�t to Phoenix, Captain Britain, Meggan, take two rounds of concentration to . alnstream" Earth's Captain Brit­ and Summers' friends Nightcrawler teleport up to Shift Z distance on the � al . !<�ptain Briton fled to Captain and Shadowcat fought off the Te ch­ third round. Ya p's teleportation is � Britain s Earth, fought Captain Brit­ net, who then retreated. This battle disquieting for all individuals in­ ain and switched costumes with him led directly to the formation of the volved, who are automatically disori­ thereby deceiving the pursuing team Excalibur by Phoenix and her ented for 1-5 rounds if they are not Te chnet, who then mistakenly took allies. p epared �o teleport. Since Ya p's � . Captain Britain prisoner. The Te ch­ Recently, the Te chnet has estab­ high IntUition allows him to keep net ?rought Captain Britain to Sat-yr­ lished a headquarters on a pier in the tra k of me bers of the Te chnet by English seacoast city of Brighton, � � nyn s Earth. There Captain Britain . their psychic auras, he can bring convinced the Te chnet that he was seeking the Phoenix entity. Since them along with his teleportation not the man they had been hired to Phonix has departed the Earth di­ even though they might be sepa­ c ptur , n? the Te chnet joined Cap­ mension, the Te chnet has hired on rated from Ya p. � � � tain Britain In battling the angry Sat­ freelance. Nigel Forbusher, acting Ta lents: None. on behalf of "Courtney Ross," or yr- nyn's troops. Captain Britain . Contacts: None other than the Te ch­ returned to his own Earth where his possibly Ross' evil otherdimensional net. sister, Betsy, had killed Kaptain counterpart, contracted the Te chnet Briton when he attempted to assault to retrieve Jamie Braddock, Captain ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Britain's brother. Braddock was be­ Ya p isn't exactly "one with the uni­ her. Later, the Te chnet traveled on ing he!d by Doctor Crocodile, a cy­ verse," but his awareness is only business to the Wereworlds whose bernetic voodoo priest. Braddock, slightly less than that. Instead of pro­ ' under a however, was in the process of d cing a sense of peace, however, natives became werewolves � full moon. Here Elmo, a member of apotheosis, and easily defeated the this only contributes to Ya p's anxiety Te chnet by fighting them on a mysti­ and dread: he knows exactly how the Te chnet, was gravely wounded by werew lves. Subsequently, Gate­ cal level where none of them had a dangerous the things around him � crasher either seriously injured or whit of defense. Braddock then re­ are. He finds comfort in Gate­ killed a member of the Berserker Pi­ stored them to their previous condi­ crasher's calm leadership, and relies rates who attempted to interest her tions, with no memory of the fight. on her extremely heavily for support ' in becoming his lover. The pirate's often calling her "mother."

90 BHAUR

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S TY(6) E TY(6) R GD(10) I EX(20) P EX(20) Health: 32 Karma: 50 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -3 (40 among Deviants)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Ghaur Occupation: Priestlord Legal Status: Citizen of Deviant Le­ muria Identity: Unknown to the general public of Earth Place of Birth:"C ity of To ads," Devi­ ant Lemuria Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: "City of To ads," Deviant Lemuria Past Group Affiliations: Priesthood of the Deviants, ally of Llyra Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Mind Control: Ghaur has Amazing Mind Control powers which he can only use on Deviants whose genetic codes are known to him (see Ta lents below). Ghaur has mastered the power-stunt of altering a Deviant's malleable genetic structure, so he might bestow any new Body Altera­ tion upon a Deviant (up to Amazing rank) or just as easily kill the victim by inducing a lethal mutation. Kro, who has Unearthly control over his own body, is immune to Ghaur's powers. Celestial Powers: As the culmination of Ghaur's greatest plot, he pos­ In this form, Ghaur had Shift X Ar­ memorize the genetic code of every sessed the enormous power of the mor against all attacks, and virtually living Deviant. This allowed him to Dreaming Celestial. He possessed any other power at Shift Z rank. At use his Mind Control power on any the following statistics: the same time, Ghaur's mind was de­ living Deviant except Kro. stroyed by the Dreaming Celestial, Contacts: Before his transforma­ F MN(75) so the power was something of a tion, Ghaur was the center of a cleri­ A AM(50) mixed blessing. It required the uni­ cal network that held great sway in, S CL3000 maginable power of the Uni-Mind to and eventually ruled , Deviant Lemu­ E CL5000 stop Ghaur from freeing the Celes­ ria. His current status in Lemuria, or R RM(30) tial's full energies. in Atlantis, is uncertain. I AM (50) Ta lents: While a priestlord, Ghaur P SHIFTY(200) . had the Leadership and Occult Lore Health: 8125 talents. Ghaur also had a Photo­ graphic Memory, which he used to 91 ADDITIONAL NOTES: hood remained seemingly content sons. Ghaur and Llyra also sent a with its traditional functions until re­ great sea monster to wreck the city cently. Brother To de, ruler of the De­ of Atlantis, causing widespread viants, and most of the Deviant death. These deaths did not release ruling class attacked Olympia, prin­ sufficient life energies to bring Set to cipal city of their longtime enemies, Earth, so Ghaur had Andromeda re­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: the Eternals. The Eternals defeated trieve the globe containing part of the Deviant invaders and melded Set's life force from the Altar of Nep­ Ghaur is constantly looking after his their atoms into a giant stone-like tune's Wrath. He then directed the own goals: power and control. He block which they cast into space. Scarlet Witch to use her probability­ constantly hatches elaborate and The only known Deviant survivor altering powers upon the globe, ambitious plans to overthrow any au­ from that attack is the warlord Kro. thereby releasing enough energy so thority that might challenge him, be it To de's son Ranar met with pries­ that Set himself began to emerge Deviant or human, and assert his tlord Ghaur and claimed the throne. physically upon the Earthly plane. own dominion or attain personal Instead, Ghaur had Ranar put to Doctor Strange, Quasar, the power. He strikes from behind the death. Next, Kro demanded the Thing, and Thor then dove into one scenes when it suits him to do so, throne from Ghaur for himself. of Set's mouths in order to travel into and he will betray any allies as soon Ghaur allowed Kro to become the his own pocket dimension. Set with­ as it is convenient for him to do so. new monarch, but demonstrated his drew from Earth to battle these four contempt for Kro's new position by champions in his own realm, where, having one of his own guards crush thanks to Thor's courage in sum­ Kro's royal circlet of Ascendancy be­ moning the Demogorge, Set was de­ HISTORY neath his feet. feated. Doctor Strange, Quasar, the Nothing has yet been revealed Ghaur clearly intended to be the Thing, and Thor all fled from Set's di­ about the past of Lord Ghaur, head of true power behind the Deviant mension back to Earth. With Set's the priesthood of the Deviants. The throne. During one scheme, Ghaur consciousness gone, Set's pocket Deviants are a genetically unstable infused himself with the power of a dimension then imploded, destroy­ race: physical characteristics be­ mighty Celestial. When this power ing the rest of Set's body before it yond bilateral symmetry radically was driven from him by the power of could regenerate its heads. change with each generation in a the Eternals' Uni-mind, so was Back in undersea Lemuria, Ghaur Deviant family. Thus a Deviant child Ghaur's consciousness. His mind and Llyra plotted to sacrifice the life will greatly differ in appearance from and body drifted in space for a time energies of the seven "Brides of either of his or her parents. The ge­ as a nebulous mass. The Power Set" to empower the giant Serpent netic instability of the Deviants is the Cosmic of the passing Silver Surfer Crown enough that it might possibly most important factor underlying the allowed Ghaur to reconstitute his still bring Set physically to Earth. The structure of their society. Although body with some remnants of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the the Deviants are ruled by a monarch Dreaming Celestial's power. The ma­ Sub-Mariner battled against Ghaur, and what remains of their class of no­ lign Elder God Set absorbed most of Llyra, and their combined armies of bility, a great deal of power in Devi­ Ghaur's remaining Celestial power Deviants and Lemurians. Finally, as ant society has long been held by the and expended it all to break a spell Ghaur mentally probed more deeply priesthood. The priests attempt to that the sorceror Doctor Strange had into the Crown, he unintentionally re­ weed out those Deviants who are previously cast to keep Set in exile leased the spirit of Naga, former em­ born with the most extreme and gro­ from Earth. peror of Lemuria, who was tesque differences from the others Ghaur returned to Earth, where determined that the power of the by publicly condemning them to Set directed him to form an alliance Crown should be his. Naga and death in the flame pits at "Purity with Llyra. To gether, Ghaur and Llyra Ghaur engaged in a battle of wills, Time." Through such a measure, the reconstructed the Serpent Crown in and finally they and Llyra suddenly priests assert that they keep varia­ an immense new version that was vanished. The "Brides of Set," re­ tions within the Deviant race's ge­ said to be indestructible. They leased from mental control, hurled netic makeup within certain limits. planned to use its power to bring Set the Crown into an immense sea ca­ The priesthood has also served to himself physically to Earth. Ghaur vern, where it remains buried. perform the ritual of ascendancy that placed the "Mark of Set" upon certifies the accession of a new ruler seven superhuman women­ to the Deviant throne. In the past, the Andromeda, Dagger, the Invisible priesthood would simply allow the Woman, Marvel Girl, the Scarlet heir of the former ruler to become the Witch, the She-Hulk, and Storm­ Deviants' new monarch. However, thereby placing them under his con­ the priesthood could also designate trol and designating them as the someone who was not an heir to the "Brides of Set." Ghaur intended for past ruler to become the new one. them to mate with Set and bear him For millennia, the Deviant priest-

92 GHOUL

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A TY(6) S AM (50) E MN(75) R PR(4) I PR(4) P PR(4) Health: 151 Karma: 12 Resources: SH(O) Popularity: -50

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Dennis Malloy Occupation: Former hit man, lost soul Legal Status: Citizen of unrevealed country with a criminal record, de­ ceased Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: So me infernal nether-realm Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: The Ghoul is a demonic servant spe­ cifically designed to attack the Hulk and provide for a very long, horrific, fight that would reveal the Hulk's brutal side. Poison Claws: The Ghoul sports claws on both his hands and his feet. These claws do Remarkable dam­ age, but they are mystically en­ dowed so only magical or artificial Body Armor (such as Juggernaut's Cyttorak-based Invulnerability or Iron Man's suit) offers any protection whatsoever against it. The Claws are made of Monstrous material strength. The claws are also endowed with a powerful venom. Evil and selfish creatures struck by the claws are round. As the Ghoul is already dead, Monstrous ability to home in on the subject to enormous pain and must he cannot be killed, just inconven­ Hulk at a range of 10 miles. make a Psyche FEAT or else imme­ ienced for a long time. He is in con­ Ta lents: The Ghoul is skilled in Mar­ diately withdraw at their fastest for 3- stant agony, and his pain provides tial Arts B and E. 12 rounds. The determination of just him with an Excellent-rank Psi­ Contacts: None. how "evil" a victim is must be deter­ screen. mined by the Judge, but the amount Flight: The Ghoul's wings can carry ADDITIONAL NOTES: of Karma the character has received him at Good airspeed (1 0 areas per recently might be one helpful gUide­ ro und). He leaves a fiery trail behind line. him as he flies. Demonic Defenses: The Ghoul re­ Homing Ability: The Ghoul has the generates 20 points of Health every 93 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: was troubled and angry due to expe­ now pliable form, pulling on the mal­ The Ghoul is an evil, malicious soul, riences engineered by "Nick Cloot," leable pseudo-flesh and dressing suffering simultaneously from ex­ a demonic entity working with the the Ghoul in claws, wings, and a mis­ treme disfigurement and an un­ Las Vegas Maggia. As a result, the shapen face, all the while laughing at quenchable thirst for vengeance. His Hulk, outraged by Glorian's intrusion the agonized Malloy. When the mind is addled but surprisingly ra­ into his mind, tried to kill Glorian. Ghoul finally emerged from the hell­ tional at times. He was manipulated Cloot appeared to Glorian after­ ish dimension from which Cloot had by a demon into attacking the Hulk, a wards, offering to assist him in mak­ released him, he was filled with a job he did with ferocity and vindictive ing the Hulk "see the light," and simple-minded, all-consuming ha­ relish. In the future, employers become a noble and self- sacrificing tred for the Hulk, whom he believed would certainly find it prudent to individual. responsible for his disfigurement. "point" the Ghoul toward a goal While Glorian naively went about His battle with the Hulk was brief rather than simply hiring him or rea­ casting illusions to make "Mr. Fix­ but intense, and very graphic. The soning with him. it's" friends distrust him, Cloot Hulk, realizing that the Ghoul was sought a physical threat that would weakened in a stream of cool water, reveal the Hulk's murderous person­ set about to find a cold chamber to ality to the public. To that end, he continue the battle. He did so only af­ HISTORY found the soul of Dennis "the Men­ ter the fight had taken the combat­ For a time, the Hulk was operating ace" Malloy, also known as the ants into the kitchen of the in Las Vegas as "Mr. Fixit," a strong­ Ghoul due to Malloy's string of grisly Colliseum, where the Hulk impaled arm enforcer for Joe Berengetti, murders. Cloot offered Malloy's soul the Ghoul on a meat hook in the owner of the Colliseum Casino. Glor­ an escape from torment, if Malloy meat freezer. This ended the threat ian, an alien, reality-altering creature could climb a set of stairs to the sur­ of the Ghoul, but served the interests apprenticed to the Shaper of Worlds, face world. Cloot warned Malloy that of Cloot (in reality the demon Satann­ came to Las Vegas for the purpose of a "gray demon" would try to stop ish). In the end, the Hulk intervened giving the Hulk an illusion of his him. Cloot assumed the form of the on behalf of Glorian, and so saved heart's desire. At that time, the Hulk Hulk and torturously altered Malloy's Glorian from Satannish's grasp.

94 GILGAMESH

STATISTICS:

F MN(75) A RM(30) S UN(100) E UN(100) R EX(20) I RM(30) P RM(30) Health: 305 Karma: 80 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: 20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Adventurer, warrior, and agent of the Celestials Legal Status: Citizen of Olympia Identity: Known to the Eternals, but unknown to the general public of Earth, who attribute many of his great feats in ancient times to him under different names, none of which is his true name Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Formerly Olympia, now mobile Past Group Affiliations: Olympian Eternals, Avengers Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Invulnerabilities: Gilgamesh is Invul­ nerable to Heat, Cold, Energy, Elec­ tricity, Radiation, To xins, and Disease. He does not age and can still be affected by Stun, Slam, and Kill results. He is only affected by a Kill result that would scatter his at­ oms over a wide area of space. Cosmic Energy Manipulation: Gilga­ mesh can manuipulate Cosmic En­ ergy at Amazing Rank, projecting it as beams of force from his eyes. He has developed no power stunts. Flight: Gilgamesh can fly at Shift X speeds (50 areas per round). must make another Red Endurance cient and "dead" human languages Psionic Abilities: Gilgamesh can gen­ FEAT roll or be paralyzed with pain from his years of wandering. erate illusions of Remarkable Rank for 1-10 rounds. No Karma can be Contacts: Gilgamesh is on good to disguise his own appearance. spent on either of these rolls. terms with the remaining Eternals on During the period when he was Uni-Mind: Gilgamesh, like all Eter­ Earth, as well as Thor and the rest of blind, he possessed undefined sen­ nals, can join the Uni-Mind. the Avengers. He has acted and pre­ sory powers of Excellent rank that al­ Ta lents: Gilgamesh is a skilled sumably is still acting as an agent of lowed him to compensate for his fighter, with Martial Arts A, C, and E, the Celestials on Earth. blindness. Gilgamesh can also and Wrestling. He is familiar with the psionically teleport himself at Shift Z space vehicles that the Eternals em­ rank, but must make a Red Psyche ploy. He presumably knows most an- FEAT roll to do so. If he succeeds, he 95 ADDITIONAL NOTES: others. Eternals cannot be injured by con­ Eventually Zuras, leader of the ventional means). Possibly the Eternals, confined the Forgotten power released by the energy bomb One to a sector of the Eternal city of as he wrecked it was sufficient to Olympia. It is said that Zuras' reason blind him. He delivered what he said for this action was the Forgotten was a message from the Celestials One's pride and his insistance on in­ to the Eternals, which was to not in­ tervening in human affairs. As yet, terfere with the Celestials' plans. In no details of these charges have recognition of the Forgotten One's been revealed. The Forgotten One bravery, Zuras restored his freedom remained banished to this sector, to him and renamed him "Hero," a which the other Eternals shunned, name that the Forgotten One has ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: for centuries. abandoned. Gilgamesh is somewhat somber and Recently, while virtually all of the But the mission that the Celestials grim. He believes in the triumph of Eternals were meeting in the form of gave the Forgotten One went far be­ good over evil, to the point where he the Uni-Mind, the Deviants launched yond delivering that simple mes­ disobeyed Zuras' orders and inter­ a spacecraft containing a powerful sage. Exactly what that mission is vened in the affairs of humanity by energy bomb in the hope of destroy­ remains unrevealed. However, in or­ fighting tyrants. His years as an exile ing the mother ship of the Fourth der to carry that mission out, the from Olympia have left him feeling Host of the Celestials. Sprite, an Forgotten One went to the city of the estranged from his fellow Eternals, Eternal left behind to monitor Earth, Deviants in undersea Lemuria some and he tends to act either as a lone learned of the Deviants' plan and months later. Disguised in a hood agent or in concert with mortals. feared that the Celestials would re­ and robes, the Forgotten One ac­ taliate by wreaking havoc on Earth. companied Kro, the new ruler of the Sprite sought out the Forgotten One Deviants, on his mission to the Pyra­ and equipped him with an armored mid of the Winds. Also, the Forgotten HISTORY costume and a spaceship. The One regained his sight. In ancient times the mighty Eter­ Forgotten One traveled into space, Most recently, the Forgotten One nal, now known as the Forgotten and the Fourth Host's leader, the joined the Avengers, for the purpose One, roamed the Earth aiding ordi­ One Above All, teleported him into of gaining further glories by defeat­ nary human beings by overthrowing the Deviants' spacecraft. The ing monsters and other threats to the tyrants and slaying dangerous Forgotten One wrecked the energy Earth. He readopted the name Gilga­ beasts. Human beings of those bomb and its spacecraft just before mesh, and dressed in a costume sty­ times called him by different names, the moment of detonation. Then, listically reminiscent of a great bull. sometimes mistaking him for other floating stunned in space, the After several adventures with the heroic figures. For example, it is Forgotten One was drawn into the Avengers, during which he sus­ known that the Forgotten One was mother ship of the Fourth Host. tained grave injuries in battle versus mistaken for the Olympian god Her­ Some time later, the Forgotten the Lava Men and Blastaar, Gilga­ cules in ancient Grece, and, at other One reappeared on Earth and was mesh stepped down to reserve sta­ times, he has been known as Hero, temporarily blind (the cause of this tus to pursue other activities. Samson, and Gilgamesh, among blindness remains a mystery since

96 GLADIATOR I

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A GD(1 0) S GD(1 0) E RM(30) R TY(6) I PR(4) P GD(1 0) Health: 70 Karma: 20 Resources: GD(1 0) Popularity: -7

BACKGROUND Real Name: Melvin Potter Occupation: Fo rmer professional criminal, now small business owner Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record, now on parole Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affi liations: Servant of the Purple Man Present Group Affiliation :

KNOWN POWERS: The Gladiator had no inherent powers, but was armed with spin­ ning buzzsaws on the back of his wrists.

Equipment: We aponry: The Gladiator wore whirl­ ing sawblades powered with power­ ful electric motors. These blades were of reinforced steel (Amazing Material Strength) and delivered Re­ markable Edged damage. Armor: The Gladiator's costume was a light but very resilient steel mesh. It provided Typical protection against Blunt and Force attacks. Reinforcing plates over Gladiator's nerve centers and weak points shielded Gladiator from the effects of Martial Arts D. (In other words, Gladiator's Body Armor of Daredevil. If Melvin could find ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: would be in effect against possible Daredevil, the hero would certainly In his heyday as a villain, the Gladia­ Slam and Stun results, even if he offer his help. Betsy Beatty, his so­ tor was a psychotic killer, willing to were fighting an opponent taking the cial worker, is another contact. fight an honest fight, but always in time to search out any weak pOints.) anticipation of the kill at the end. Af­ Ta lents: Gladiator is a Weapons ADDITIONAL NOTES: ter Melvin was cured of his sickness, Specialist with his wrist blades, gain­ he was a ruined man, a "walking ing +2CS when fighting with them. apology," until he recovered his self­ He is able to employ Martial Arts C, respect. He is now a gentle man, and D, and E, and Acrobatics. He is also sometimes confused as to which a skilled tailor. actions he ought to pursue. He is Contacts: Gladiator is now a friend 97 ----______J

also filled with an inner strength that mind grew healthy enough so that ter was judged innocent by reason of was missing even in his most savage the Gladiator personality separated insanity. days. itself from his more realistic person­ Later, a group of small-time crimi­ ality. Melvin came to ask for help and nals kidnapped Beatty and threat­ received it from Daredevil and a so­ ened to kill her unless Potter would cial worker named Betsy Beatty. steal $1 million worth of jewelry for HISTORY Ironically, it was during Me/vin's lat­ them. Confused and broken­ For several years, Melvin Potter est trial for the crimes he'd commit­ hearted, Potter followed their direc­ was known in criminal circles as the ted as the Gladiator, when his killer tions, wearing a replica of Roman Gladiator, a vicious foe in combat, instincts were gone and he was at gladatorial armor. In desperation, and a useful and resonably depend­ last a peaceable man, that the King­ Potter contacted Daredevil who eas­ able criminal for hire. He was known pin ordered Potter and his lawyer, ily foiled the Gladiator's attempt to best as an assassin. It was the Gladi­ Mathew Murdock, assassinated. rob a museum and then tracked the ator, for example, who successfully Contracting the assignment to The criminals to their lair. Potter and completed a contract to kill the origi­ Hand, a rival group of ninjas, the Daredevil rescued the social worker, nal Eel. Kingpin reasoned that Daredevil and Potter's spirit was made whole Potter was a sc hizophrenic, be­ would take vengeance against the and strong. Something of a romance lieving himself to be an actual Ro­ Hand, and the Kingpin's enemies has bloomed between Potter and man gladiator; he would hunt and kill would be set against one another. Beatty. his opponent not really for the Again ironically, Murdock was in re­ money, but for the thrill of the hunt ality Daredevil, who acted with and the kill. Eventually, Melvin's Elektra to protect Potter; Melvin Pot-

98 GDLDBUG

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A GD(10) S EX(20) E TY(6) R RM(30) I GD(10) P GD(10) Health: 42 Karma: 50 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND Real Name: Jack Smith Occupation: Professional Criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Known to police Place of Birth: San Diego, Califor­ nia Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Agent of They Who Wield Power Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: The Goldbug is a man without super­ powers, but with a gift for invention, whose love of gold is matched only by his egotism.

Equipment: Gold Gun: Goldbug's major offensive weapon is a gun which fires quick­ hardening "gold dust." The gun has a range of one area, and can only af­ fect one target in an area. The gold dust covers its target and, when ex­ posed to air, quickly yields a metallic material of Monstrous Material Strength. This metal (not truly gold, of course) coats the target in an air­ tight cocoon, preventing any move­ ment. A coated target takes Good damage every round from suffoca­ tion, until his face is chipped free of dust, packed into small grenades ened gold from his gold-gun, safe­ the dust. If a target is prepared for that Goldbug can hurl up to 3 areas guarding him from accidentally the attack and has taken a deep away. The effects of the liquid are suffocating himself. The costume breath, he can put off the effects of identical to the gold-dust. also contains a wafer-thin parachute suffocation for 10 rounds. A charac­ Body Armor: Goldbug wears a pad­ and perhaps other safeguards. It ter who does not need to breathe will ded costume that provides Good also employs an exoskeleton, artifi­ be bound by the gold dust, but will protection against Blunt and Force cially boosting Goldbug's strength to not suffer any damage. Coated char­ attacks and Typical protection Excellent. Without the suit, Gold­ acters cannot see or feel anything against all energy attacks. The cos­ bug's strength drops to Typical, with through the metal, but their hearing tume is coated with an enzyme that appropriate Health penalties. is unimpaired. Goldbug has also de­ immediately breaks down the hard- Gold Ship: The Goldbug has used a signed a liquid version of his gold 99 variety of very sophisticated vehi­ Yo rk City to Washington. Shank's detected large quantities of gold and cles. These vehicles typically have president, Mr. Coyne, was con­ Goldbug set a course for EI Dorado, Excellent Control, Monstrous cerned about the threat and had his his dream finally realized. But They Speed, Good Body, and Good Pro­ employee Jack Smith arrange for had different plans and discon­ tection. These ships have demon­ Luke Cage, at that time working pri­ nected Goldbug's Magna-drive strated such devices as: vately as a Hero for Hire, to guard the when the ship was close enough to * Tr actor Beams that collect only shipment. Smith did indeed make EI Dorado, allowing the Hulk to break gold and gold alloys. The tractor the arrangements, but had plans of free, and sent the ship crashing into beams can lift with Good Strength, his own, for Smith was in fact the the outskirts of the city. Upon awak­ only able to draw 300 pounds of gold Goldbug, who worked at Shank's be­ ening from the landing, Goldbug at a time. cause it gave him the opportunity to found that the city was alive and * Remote Control and Computer know the details of every gold ship­ functioning, with more gold by a hun­ Guidance capabilities, allowing the ment made in the United States. Ap­ dredfold than he had expected. This Goldbug to summon his craft to him. parently, Goldbug had been stealing much gold, introduced into the * Power cables which draw energies gold for some months previous to world's economy, would be disaster­ from gamma-irradiated characters this encounter. ous, and the Goldbug saw his grasping them. Such energy donors Goldbug would have killed Cage, dreams fade befoe his eyes. He are paralyzed, and must make a red suffocating him with his gold dust, blamed the Hulk for this, and set off Strength FEAT to break free. The ca­ except for the timely intervention of to kill the Hulk out of spite. bles allow the Gold- ship to travel at the hero Thunderbolt, whose super­ But one of They, the aged priest Shift Y airspeed. speed punches chipped away at the Des, was actually the villain Tyran­ Ta lents: The Goldbug has the golden covering faster than it could nus, who had disposed of the rest of Repair/Tinkering talent, and is a harden. Thunderbolt's connections They and was draining the Hulk's en­ storehouse of Tr ivia about gold. spotted Goldbug's unique craft in a ergies to fuel the Sacred Flame to Contacts: None. Long Island garage. It was there that new levels. The Goldbug attacked Cage and Thunderbolt escaped a Tyrannus; if Tyrannus were to prove ADDITIONAL NOTES: sophisticated exploding rocket, and victorious, he would be a considera­ it was there that papers revealing the ble stumbling block for Goldbug. Ty­ Goldbug's true name and address rannus subdued him with ease and were fo und. Cage and Thunderbolt the Goldbug covered the Hulk in his tried to capture the Goldbug by sur­ gold-dust, inducing paniC in the man­ prising him at his headquarters and beast, which in turn increased the jumping aboard his Gold-ship, but Hulk's strength to a point where he the Goldbug parachuted to safety could break free of the bonds Tyran­ and freedom. nus has been using. The Goldbug Some time later, the Goldbug was survived the ensuing battle and the contacted by They Who Wield people of EI Dorado teleported the Power, or "They" for short. They Goldbug and the Hulk back to the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: were an enclave of priests of EI Do­ New Yo rk sewer system. The Gold­ It is difficult to adequately convey rado, the legendary Incan city of bug climbed out only two blocks from Goldbug's egotism and superiority. gold, who needed the power of the his Park Avenue penthouse, but was That he spouts melodramatic villain­ Hulk to fuel their Sacred Flame (ac­ apprehended by Power Man and his ous speeches that would make Doc­ tually the flame was a Deviant arti­ new partner Iron Fist before he could tor Doom blush is bad enough, but fact). They knew that the Goldbug get there. the Goldbug actually believes what was searching for EI Dorado, imagin­ he says. He considers himself every ing it to be in ruins but still the largest inch the master criminal. He has on concentration of gold in the world occaision claimed to have certain and certainly large enough to make moral standards, but what these the Goldbug the wealthiest man in might be have never been made the world. They arranged to deliver clear. to the Goldbug a sophisticated Gold­ ship with a "Magna- drive," a techno­ logically advanced system for siphoning off the energies of a HISTORY gamma-irradiated creature and us­ The Goldbug first came to atten­ ing those energies to run the ship. tion with a challenge to Shank's Ar­ Goldbug, predictably, tracked mored Couriers, boasting that he down the Hulk and strapped him into would steal a $2 million shipment of the Magna-drive. The ship has an gold bricks being driven from New "Oroscope," a device that somehow

100 GRIFFIN

STATISTICS: Present Group Affiliation: New Power: If the Griffin is hard­ pressed in a physical fight, his body F EX(20) KNOWN POWERS: will spontaneously mutate. Possible A TY(6) Cla ws: The Grifin's primary attack is mutations might include: completely S UN(100) with his claws and teeth, which do feline musculature (giving him Re­ E UN(100) Unearthly Edged damage should the markable running on land), extraor­ R FB(2) Griffin strike. They are made of Mon­ dinarily acute senses (Tracking I EX(20) strous Material strength. ability and + 1 CS on Intuition), Re­ P TY(6) Ta il: The Griffin's tail can strike any sistance to Diseases, a roar (Good Health: 226 character one area to the rear. It rank Sound Generation), Life Sup­ Karma: 28 does Amazing Blunt damage. port, Regeneration, and so on. Resources: SH(O) Body Armor: The Griffin's body is These should be random mutations Popularity: -25 covered in dense scales of Mon­ towards an "ideal" griffin, rather strous material strength. They act as than handy defenses against a par­ BACKGROUND Monstrous Body armor against all ticular attack. Mental and psionic at­ Real Name: Johnny Horton physical and energy-beam attacks, tacks, as well as most magical Occupation: Former professional and Amazing Resistance against attacks, will not trigger a mutation. criminal Heat, Cold, and Radiation. Ta lents: Formerly, Horton had the Legal Status: Legally insane U.S. Wings: The Griffin's wings give him Law Enforcement Ta lent, with a citizen with a criminal record Tr ue Flight at Excellent airspeed (10 strong background on the wrong Identity: Known to law enforcement areas per round). They are powerful side of the American legal system. authorities enough to lift a weight of 50 tons and Since his transformation into a mind­ Place of Birth: Unrevealed, presum­ carry it several miles. less beast, the Griffin has lost his Ta l­ ably in the United States Bird Control: The Griffin has Incredi­ ents. Marital Status: Unrevealed ble control over birds within 10 ar­ Contacts: Formerly, Criminal. Now, Known Relatives: None eas. Normal birds (and perhaps none. Base of Operations: Mobile some bird-descended characters) Past Group Affiliations: Former will do his bidding, but the Griffin has ADDITIONAL NOTES: servant of the Secret Empire and of found little use for this power since Headlok reverting to animal intelligence.

101 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: tanker, the surgeon died. To gether, The Griffin began his career as a Spider-Man and the Beast defeated bully, and grew more and more sav­ the Griffin, who was taken into police age. He is now completely animalis­ custody. tic, remembering from somewhere Months later, the Griffin broke into that combat with very powerful foes Avengers Mansion, seeking to chal­ is desirable. Although he started out lenge the Avengers. The Griffin had a light-weight, the Griffin is now a realized that the serum continued to match for Thor. mutate him whenever he pushed his superhuman abilities to the limit; hence, he intended to battle as many superhuman champions as possible HISTORY to increase his own powers. During Johnny Horton was a small time his subsequent battle with Spider­ criminal who was captured by Man and the Avenger, Wonder Man, agents of the second subversive or­ the Griffin's strength further in­ ganization to be known as the Secret creased, and he gained the facial Empire. The Secret Empire as­ features of a lion. But finally, while signed a surgeon in its employ to lifting a flaming Avengers Quinjet in transform Horton into a superhuman order to hurl it at his two foes, a fur­ being by using various techniques, ther mutation caused the Griffin to including grafting wings and claws lose his human intellect. Reduced to onto Horton's body permanently and the mental level of an animal, the administering an experimental mu­ Griffin was seized with terror at the tagenic serum into him. Horton was flames and dropped the Quinjet, named the Griffin after his new ap­ seemingly being crushed beneath its pearance which vaguely resembled weight. However, the Griffin survived the mythological griffin, a creature the impact and used his claws to dig that was half lion and half eagle. his way to safety underground. At first, Horton retained his normal Several months after that, the intelligence and sanity in his new criminal named Headlok found the form. He loathed his new appear­ Griffin wandering through the ance, believing he was now a freak, Adirondack Mountains and put him but nevertheless obeyed the Secret under his mental control. When Empire's orders to attack the mutant Headlok and the Griffin attacked the known as the Beast. The Beast and West Coast Avengers, the Griffin had his colleague, the Angel, defeated further mutated so that he had grown the Griffin, who was sent to prison. even stronger than before and had While in prison, the mutagenic se­ developed a tough, scaled hide and rum he had taken caused him to go large plates standing atop his back insane and further transformed his like those of a stegosaur. While body, giving him a tail and vastly in­ Headlok was distracted during the creasing his strength. The Griffin battle, the Avenger, Tigra, suc­ broke free of prison and hunted ceeded in calming the Griffin down. down the surgeon who had trans­ Headlok was defeated, and the Grif­ formed him. When the surgeon was fin was sent to the Va ult, the federal unable to tell him the location of his maximum security prison for super­ former masters in the Secret Empire human beings. (which had by this time been de­ Subsequently, the Grifin escaped feated), the Griffin hurled him from a the Va ult during a prison break by great height in rage. The costumed several superhuman criminals. He crimefighter, Spider-Man, caught the was recently used as a pawn against surgeon, but the two men struck a the Sub-Mariner. Namor defeated water tanker when Spider-Man's the Griffin and released him in a webbing broke and they both meeting of Roxxon Oil's Board of Di­ plunged into water. The Beast, who rectors, Namor believing the Grif­ had learned of the Griffin's escape, fon's attack was sponsored by helped Spider-Man and the surgeon Roxxon; the current status of the to safety. Although Spider-Man took Griffon and the Roxxon Board of Di­ the brunt of the impact against the rectors is unknown.

102 GROG THE GDDSLAV ER,

STATISTICS:

F AM(50) A GD(10) S AM(50) E MN(75) R TY(6) I RM(30) P EX(20) Health: 185 Karma: 56 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND Real Name: Grog Occupation: Leader of the armies of Seth Legal Status: None on Earth Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of Grog's exist­ ence. Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Seth's "dimen­ sion of death" Past Group Affiliations: The armies of Seth Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Divine Stature: Grog is a member of the Heliopolis pantheon, and as such enjoys certain powers. He has Class 1000 Resistance to aging and disease. He enjoys Amazing Protec­ tion against all physical and energy attacks, and can generate Amazing rank plasma blasts at will. We apon: Grog carries a power lance, bestowed upon him by his master Seth. The lance is made of unknown ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: materials having Shift Y Strength, Grog is enthusiastic about Seth, and and thereby immune to all but the honestly tries his best to advance most powerful earthly weapons. Seth's goals. He is dishonorable, From the lance, Grog can channel conniving, and deceitful when it suits his Plasma blasts, magnifying them his purposes, affronted if anyone with some of Seth's power so that questions his godly honor at other they are of Shift X intensity, and are times. Grog is vicious and vindictive. magical in nature. These blasts have a 4-area range. Ta lents: Grog is a good hand-to­ hand fighter, possessing Martial Arts B. He has an Occult Background. Contacts: Grog is the second-in­ command of Seth's forces, and could call on them for aid.

103 troops escaped through a dimen­ tan "dimension of death," when the sional warp, and the Avengers in­ gigantic Surtur seized the pyramid HISTORY tended to imprison the captured and hurled it at Thor. Grog appar­ Grog is a member of the Heliopoli­ Grog in the Va ult, the United States ently died when the pyramid was tan race of gods, whose leading government's maximum security thus destroyed in the battle, and members were once worshipped by prison for superhuman beings. Seth and his legions were defeated the people of ancient Egypt. Gorg Grog, however, soon regained his by the forces of Asgard. However, has served the Heliopolitan death freedom and returned to Seth. even if Grog is dead, it must be ob­ god, Seth, for millennia. Recently, During the ensuing war between served that the Egyptian death god, Grog participated in Seth's war Seth's legions and the forces of Seth, may well be capable of return­ against Asgard, the home of the Asgard, Grog defeated Thor, most of ing Grog to life. Norse gods. Grog, the mightiest of whose superhuman power had been Seth's warriors, served during this temporarily removed from him by war as the commander of Seth's le­ Asgard's acting monarch Balder. gions, and took his orders directly Grog took Thor prisoner and stole from Seth himself. his enchanted hammer; even with­ Seth ordered Grog to take a force out his full might, Thor succeeded in of his mightiest warriors to Earth to breaking free, defeating Grog, and kill the Asgardian thunder god, Thor, reclaiming his hammer. Ultimately, whom Seth held responsible for the Thor regained his full strength. loss of his right hand. Thor, Captain Moreover, toward the end of the America, then in the costumed iden­ war, Asgard's true monarch Odin ( temporarily bestowed his own power tity known simply as the Captain), and the modern-day Black Knight on Thor so that the latter could battle fought and defeated Grog and his the demonic Surtur on equal terms. troops on Avengers Island. Grog's Grog was inside the Black Pyramid, Seth's headquarters in the Heliopoli-

104 GROWING MAN

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S GD(10) E RM(30) R PR(4) I PR(4) P EX(20) Health: 52 Karma: 28 Resources: FB(2) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND Real Name: Growing Man Occupation: Servant of Kang Legal Status: None Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the Growing Man's existence. Place of Construction: Indetermi­ nate, alternate future Earth Marital Status: Not applicable Known Relatives: Not applicable Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Servant of Kang the Conqueror Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Growth: The Growing Man's true size is only eight inches tall, at which size he is immobile. He possesses the power of Growth, however, which starts out at Shift 0 intensity. Grow­ ing from doll-size to normal human size requires little more than the am­ bient kinetic energy of activity over a period of several days, or two sharp blows. Energy Absorption: The Growing Man is a Stimuloid, and takes in en­ Health damage (above the Growing ADDITIONAL NOTES: ergy from kinetic attacks (such as Man's Amazing Armor) and an addi­ Force attacks, energy beams, and tional 10 points to his Growth Power so on). The Growing Man has giving him Excellent Growth with � Amazing Body Armor against these rank number of 22. attack forms, and only Incredible Re­ After The Growing Man reaches Excellent Growth, his Fighting im­ �istance against other types of phys­ Ical damage, such as radiation or proves one CS for every increase in extremes of temperature. Each ki­ Growth. After the Growing Man netic attack gives the Growing Man reaches Amazing Growth, his Body one fifth of its damage in points in Armor increases one CS (to Mon­ Growth, up to 10 points. For exam­ strous or Amazing), and he can ab­ ple, Remarkable damage would pro­ sorb up to 15 points of damage. vide a Typically Grown Growing Man Robotic Form: As an artificial man (with 6 points in Growth) an addi­ the Growing Man receives Clas� tional 6 points, giving him Good 1000 Resistance to diseases. Growth with a rank number of 12. A Ta lents: The Growing Man is pro­ second kinetic attack of monstrous grammed with Martial Arts E. intensity would deliver 25 points of Contacts: None. 105 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: in which it resembles an action fig­ feats. The Rigellians sent the Grow­ Role-playing a Stimuloid is difficult ure. When reducing in size, the ing Man to Earth, where it battled due to the lack of any real personality Growing Man presumably dis­ Iron Man, who defeated it by using or motivation. The Growing Man is patches the mass it loses back to the electrical cables to drain its power, programmed for combat. He rarely extradimensional source. The Grow­ rendering it inert. speaks, and never engages in any ing Man has been shown to be capa­ Most recently, Kang sent the activity that is not immediately bene­ ble of achieving a height equal to Growing Man into New Yo rk City dur­ ficial to Kang or in promotion of that of a building several stories tall. ing the "Inferno." In order to main­ Kang's goals as the Stimuloid under­ Presumably there is a limit to the size tain his continued chronal existence, stands them. it can achieve, for at a certain point Kang had to insure the Avengers its mass would become too great for would be reborn. Therefore, his its legs to support. Growing Man constantly fought to In the Growing Man 's first re­ bring the Captain, Thor, Gilgamesh, HISTORY corded appearance, it battled the Mr. Fantastic, and the Invisible The Growing Man is a stimuloid, a Asgardian god Thor on Earth. Thor Woman into conflict as the Aveng­ form of android created by the scien­ rid himself of both the Growing Man ers. Mister Fantastic, who had re­ tific genius of Kang the Conqueror, and Kang by entrapping them in a di­ cently joined the team, used his the ruler of an alternate future Earth. mensional warp created by his en­ scientific talents to devise a means A stimuloid absorbs most forms of ki­ chanted hammer. Months later, Kang of reversing the process that enables netic energy directed against it; used the Growing Man to abduct mil­ the Growing Man to enlarge its size. therefore, the energy causes it no lionaire inventor Anthony Stark from As a result, the Growing Man shrank physical harm. Moreover, the ab­ a hospital after Stark had suffered a to such a degree that it vanished sorption of the energy stimulates the heart attack. The Avengers attacked from sight. rapid multiplication of the stimuloid's and followed the Growing Man, as Kang has the resources to create artificial cells, causing it to grow sig­ Kang had intended, enabling him to more than one Growing Man. More­ nificantly in size, with a proportion­ transport them to his own future time over, various dimensional counter­ ate increase in strength and period, where he involved them in parts of Kang have visited resistance to damage. Presumably, his competition against the alien "mainstream" 20th century Earth. the stimuloid draws its additional Grandmaster. Still later, members of Hence, the events described in this mass from an extradimensional the alien Colonizers of Rigel re­ entry may very well have involved source in order to grow. Kang can moved the Growing Man from different Growing Men, rather than project an unknown form of energy Kang's time ship, which had appar­ the same one in each case. from a gun that will cause the Grow­ ently been abandoned in the 20th ing Man to revert to its original size, century following one of Kang's de-

106 HAMMERHEAD

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A TY(6) S EX(20) E IN(40) R TY(6) I PR(4) P TY(6) Health : 76 Karma: 16 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -5

BACKGROUND Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Professional criminal, gangleader, former hit man Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk City and Matti Shore township, Long Is­ land, New Yo rk Past Group Affi liations: Leader of the Hammerhead "family" of the Maggia, fo rmer ally of the Chame­ leon Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Skull Plate: Hammerhead has a steel-alloy (Monstrous Material Strength) skull. He can Charge for Amazing damage, but a successful attack against material of Incredible strength or better also causes Ham­ merhead 5 Health. If Hammerhead is being shot at with guns or similar weapons, he can spend 10 Karma to make sure that the bullets hit his plate, which gives him Amazing Body Armor. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Ta lents: Hammerhead receives a Hammerhead truly believes he's in a + 1 CS when Charging, and he is tal­ gangster movie and acts the part as ented with Guns. He is also a store­ best he can. His reactions to others house of Tr ivia regarding gangster and the plans he makes are all based movies. on this model of behavior. Contacts: Hammerhead has vast Criminal connections.

107 which Doctor Octopus was about to Hammerhead. But instead, as Ham­ marry May Parker, who, unknown to merhead had hoped, the accelerator HISTORY him, was the aunt of his nemesis restored Hammerhead to a normal Hammerhead was originally a Spider-Man. Octopus had learned existence in this dimension. Ham­ small-time gunman employed by one that May Parker had inherited a merhead fought Octopus and of the "families" of the criminal orga­ privately-owned nuclear plant lo­ Spider-Man at the laboratories and nization known as the Maggia. Ham­ cated on a remote Canadian island. then escaped, taking May Parker merhead's real name is unknown By marrying her, Octopus would be­ hostage. Spider-Man and Octopus even to himself. Ye ars ago, he was come half owner of the plant, which tracked Hammerhead down to his found beaten, disfigured, and deliri­ he could use to construct nuclear former nightclub headquarters and ous with pain in an alley in New Yo rk weapons, and would become full fought him and his men there. City's Bowery by Jonas Harrow, a owner if the elderly woman died. Spider-Man rescued May Parker, but surgeon who had lost his medical li­ Hammerhead did not know what Hammerhead attempted to escape cense due to his illegal experiments. May Parker had inherited, but knew in a helicopter. Doctor Octopus Apparently, Hammerhead had suf­ that it was highly valuable to Octo­ hurled trash cans at the helicopter's fered a certain degree of brain dam­ pus, and wanted it for himself. Octo­ blades, destroying them, causing age and he was now an amnesiac. pus fled with May Parker in a the helicopter to plummet into the However, he was obsessed with the helicopter, and headed for the Cana­ Hudson River, where it exploded. last thing he saw before losing con­ dian island. Hammerhead and a Doctor Octopus then made his es­ sciousness: a poster in the alley for a number of his men followed in an­ cape. movie called Th e AI Capone Mob . other helicopter, on which, unknown Hammerhead, however, survived Seeing the opportunity both to save to them, Spider-Man was also travel­ once again. Keeping his continued this man's life and to redeem his rep­ ing to the scene. At the island existence secret from the police, utation, Harrow operated on the gun­ Spider-Man battled Doctor Octopus. Hammerhead established a new man for three days, replacing much Rescuing May Parker, Spider-Man headquarters for himself in a Man­ of his shattered skull with a strong took her with him as he left the island hattan penthouse, from which he ran steel alloy. During this time the gun­ in a supply plane. Back on the island, his Maggia "family." There he held a man dreamed about the images in Hammerhead and his men cornered council of all the New Yo rk Maggia the poster he had seen. Upon recov­ Doctor Octopus next to an atomic "family" heads to propose that they ering, the gunman decided to be­ breeder reactor. Despite Octopus' unite under his leadership. The come a gang leader in the style of warnings that a jolt could trigger a meeting ws interrupted by the sec­ Capone and other mobsters of the chain reaction, Hammerhead ond Human To rch, who was investi­ 1920s. He even dressed as if he charged Octopus. Hammerhead gating a murder. Wearing an were living in that decade. Ultimately missed his target and hit the reactor exoskeleton that magnified his the gunman, who became known as with his head instead, setting off a strength, Hammerhead battled the Hammerhead, took over a Maggia chain reaction. At first Hammer­ To rch, but the To rch was too much family. head's head was stuck in the reactor. for him, and the defeated Hammer­ Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, had be­ Octopus fled to safety through a head leapt from the building. But no come the dominant figure in New nearby shaft. Hammerhead freed his trace was found of Hammerhead, Yo rk City organized crime. However, head only a moment before the reac­ who somehow had escaped again! after suffering a major reversal in tor exploded, destroying everything Months afterward, Hammerhead Las Vegas, Fisk laid low for a time, on the island. was apparently assassinated during creating a temporary power vacuum Strangely, however, Hammerhead a New Yo rk City gang war. But once in New Yo rk organized crime. As a was not killed. Rather, he was pro­ again, Hammerhead survived. result, a gang war broke out between jected "out of phase" with this di­ Forced out of a major role in New Hammerhead's mob and the crimi­ mension and could appear in it only Yo rk City organized crime by the nal organization led by Doctor Octo­ as an immaterial ghost-like being. Kingpin, Hammerhead retreated to a pus. The costumed crimefighter Octopus returned to America, but mansion on the eastern tip of Long Spider-Man intervened in the war, the combination of the shock of his Island, New Yo rk. Recently, Ham­ with the result that Octopus was cap­ experiences and his fear at repeat­ merhead became the ally of the Cha­ tured by the police and Hammer­ edly seeing the "ghost" of Hammer­ meleon in the latter's bid to become head was forced to flee the country. head caused him to lead the life of a the new crime lord of New Yo rk City. In Hammerhead's absence, his own derelict for months. Eventually Octo­ organization temporarily collapsed. pus returned to a more normal state, After returning to New Yo rk City in which, however, his criminal per­ months later, Hammerhead reorgan­ sonality still held sway. Kidnapping ized his gang and then led them in an May Parker, Octopus took her to the attack on a mansion in New Yo rk's Brookhaven Laboratories in Long Is­ Westchester County. The attack in­ land, hoping to use the particle ac­ terrupted the ceremony inside, in celerator there to dispose of

108 AGATHA HARKNESS

STATISTICS:

F PR(4) A TY(6) S PR(4) E TY(6) R EX(20) I EX(20) P MN(75) Health: 20 Karma: 115 Resources: GD(10) Popularity: 10

BACKGROUND Real Name: Agatha Harkness Occupation: Witch, governess Legal Status: Citizen of New Salem Identity: The general public is un­ aware that she is a witch. Place of Birth: New Salem (proba­ bly) Marital Status: Widow Known Relatives: Nicholas Scratch (son), Salem's Seven (grandchil­ dren) Base of Operations: New Salem; Whisper Hill, N.Y. ; Baxter Building, N.Y.C.;Ave ngers Compound, CA Past Group Affiliations: New Sa­ lem Witches, Fantastic Four (ally), West Coast Avengers (ally) Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Ritual Magic: Agatha Harkness has at her command a great variety of magical spells which gave her the following powers, detailed in the Ulti­ mate Powers Book (MA3), at Mon­ strous ranks: Force Field, Force Field vs. Hostiles, Force Field vs. Magic, Reflection, Resistance to psychic rapport with the cat, and she Ta lents: Her Mystical Origin gave magic, Extradimensional Detection, occaissionally uses it to run errands her Occult Lore. Life Detection, Magic Detection, for her. At will, it can revert to a more Contacts: Agatha Harkness is on Power Detection, Psionic Detection, intimidating form with the following the best of terms with the Fantastic Biophysical Control (Healing and statistics: Four (especially Franklin Richards), Disruption), Hypnotic Control, Mind and the Scarlet Witch before her F A S E RI P Health Control, Neural Manipulation, Sha­ conversion by Magneto IN GD EX MN TY EX MN 145 pechange Others, Summoning, ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Magic Control, Magic Domination, The cat-creature has Claws that do Agatha's main concerns are coun­ Sympathetic Magic, Communicate Monstrous damage and are made of tering the effects of evil magic upon with Animals, Communicate with Monstrous material strength. The the world and protecting those she Plants, Dreamtravel, Empathy, Free creature does not have any Body Ar­ "adopted" (both Franklin Richards Spirit, Sensory Link, Te lepathy, Di­ mor, but does regenerate lost Health and the Scarlet Witch). From time to mension Travel, and Gateway. Most at a fantastically accelerated rate (15 time, her dedication to properly help­ of these powers use Personal or Di­ points per round) and cannot be ing her "children" may lead her to do mensional energies. killed by means less extreme than things which might seem, at first Familiar: Agatha Harkness' cat Eb­ dispersing its atoms throughout a glance, to be against that person's ony, is in reality a powrful extradi­ considerable area. best interests. Her devotion is so mensional creature. Harkness is in 109 strong that she has returned from lem's Seven, and found Harkness battled Ve rtigo, who wielded the the "dead" to assist her "children." just as she was about to receive the combined magical forces of all 666 death sentence. Reed Richards New Salemites. The Vision defeated pointed out that she had never told her nonetheless and as a result Ver­ HISTORY them about New Salem and that the tigo lost control of the community's Agatha Harkness, who was the Fantastic Four would never have magical forces. The Scarlet Witch at­ most powerful sorceress in New Sa­ found the town had Nicholas Scratch tempted to channel the tremendous lem, became its "grande dame" or not abducted Franklin. The New Sa­ mystical forces into a mountain. Aga­ leader. Ve ry little is known about her lemites realized that it was Scratch tha Harkness' spirit appeared to her before her association with the who had betrayed them and they and told her to use the power as well Fantastic Four-not even her age. banished him, sending him to an­ as channeling it. The Scarlet Witch The fact that New Salemites refer to other dimension. Harkness, Frank­ therefore did both and the power outsiders as "mortals" may indicate lin, and the Fantastic Four then left channelled into the mountain that they have longer life spans than New Salem. caused it to explode. The magical human beings. Sometime later, Harkness, Frank­ power that the Scarlet Witch had The identity of her husband is un­ lin, and the Fantastic Four were visit­ "used" rather than channelled known and it is not even known ing New Salem when Nicholas called to her two shards of the de­ whether "Harkness" is her late hus­ Scratch took control of the minds of monic being Mephisto. The Witch's bannd's last name or her maiden virtually all the New Salemites from probability-manipulating mutant name. Agatha and her husband had the dimension in which he was im­ power used these diabolic entities as only one child together, the warlock prisoned. Salem's Seven overcame "souls" for two unborn children, to known as Nicholas Scratch. "Nicho­ the Fantastic Four, but Franklin Ri­ whom the Scarlet Witch later gave las" and "Scratch" are both names chards, who possessed tremendous birth, believing them to be normal given to the devil, and hence, "Ni­ latent psionic powers, freed the New twin boys. cholas Scratch" may merely be an Salemites from the spell. Then Sa­ Months later, the Scarlet Witch, alias that Agatha's son assumed . Ni­ lem's Seven and the captive now living in the Avengers' West cholas Scratch had a number of Fantastic Four were magically trans­ Coast compound, found difficulties wives that had many children later to ported to New Yo rk City where Sa­ with her children, Thomas and Wil­ be known as Salem's Seven: Bruta­ lem's Seven planned to bring Scratch liam. Agatha Harkness showed up, cus, Gazelle, Hydron, Reptillia, to Earth. Scratch, from his dimen­ inexplicably alive and none the Thornn, Va kume, and Ve rtigo I. sion, took control of the minds of the worse for wear, volunteering to at­ Eventually Agatha Harkness left Fantastic Four, but Franklin broke tend the children as a governess. New Salem to associate with people Scratch's hold over them. Harkness Harkness soon realized their true na­ in the outside world once more and used her magical powers to strip Sa­ ture: as probability constructs, the moved to an old mansion on Whisper lem's Seven of their supernatural boys existed only as long as the Hill in the Adirondack Mountains in powers and to banish them back to Scarlet Witch was thinking of them . upper New Yo rk State where she New Salem. She also cast a spell fur­ When Master Pandemonium kid­ was contacted by Reed Richards, ther entrapping Scratch in his other napped the children in his unwitting the leader of the Fantastic Four. Ri­ dimension. Finally, though, Ve rtigo, role as a collector of Mephisto's chards and his wife Susan had re­ the leader of Salem's Seven, turned missing soul shards, Harkness sent cently had a son, Franklin. Due to the other 665 New Salemites against the Avengers after Pandemonium, Reed and Susan Richards' danger­ Harkness. Salem's Seven regained accompanied by Ebony, her black ous lives as costumed adventurers, their supernatural powers and were cat familiar. Simultaneously, she they got Harkness to take care of able to capture Harkness, who they sent the original Human To rch on a Franklin during their absences and executed by burning her at the stake. quest to recover the remaining protect him from possible attacks by Harkness's spirit apparently influ­ pieces of Mephisto's soul. When all their enemies after learning of her enced the Scarlet Witch, causing her the soul shards were assembled, supernatural powers. Later, Hark­ to go to New Salem with her hus­ Mephisto appeared and threatened ness and Franklin Richards were ab­ band, the Vision. There, they were the Avengers. Harkness then closed ducted to New Salem, now led by her captured by six of the members of that section of the Scarlet Witch's son Nicholas Scratch who hated her. Salem's Seven. The seventh mem­ memory containing thoughts of her The Fantastic Four came after ber, Gazelle, had opposed the oth­ children, causing those shards to Franklin and Harkness but were cap­ ers' plan to entrap the Scarlet Witch. disappear and dealt a temporary de­ tured as well. Harkness was placed As punishment, Gazelle was sen­ feat to Mephisto. on trial for consorting with outsiders tenced to be slain as a human sacri­ Harkness has remained at the and for revealing the existence of the fice. Ve rtigo asked the Scarlet Witch Avengers' compound, assisting the New Salemites to the outside world to join their coven, but when she Scarlet Witch's recovery from a num­ even though she had kept its exist­ refused, Ve rtigo planned to sacrifice ber of traumas. Agatha Harkness' ence a secret. The Fantastic Four her as well as Gazelle and the Vi­ role in the Scarlet Witch's return to escaped their cell, overcame Sa- sion. The Vision broke free and he Magneto's side is as yet unrecorded.

110 HEADLOK

STATISTICS:

F PR(4) A PR(4) S FB(2) E PR(4) R TY(6) I GD(10) P EX(20) Health: 14 Karma: 36 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Unrevealed, presum­ ably a professional criminal Legal Status: Citizenship unre­ vealed, has a criminal record Identity: Presumeably known to American legal authorities Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: None Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Mind Control: Headlok possesses the Excellent ability of Mind Control. He can mentally enslave only one in­ dividual at a time, as such domina­ tion requires a large amount of concentration on Headlok's part. But Headlok can induce hallucinations and cast illusions against an unlim­ ited number of targets as long as he has already gained control of their minds. If a victim is aware of Headlok's power, a successful Psyche FEAT against Excellent in­ tenSity will suffice to break Headlok's hold. Ta lents: Headlok displays the tal­ ents of a trained hypnotist. Contacts: None. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Headlok han't gotten as far as he has by taking stupid chances. He makes use of materials at hand and uses them wisely. He is capable of wily deceits and clever feints. He will not engage in hand-to- hand (or any other type of) combat if he is given half a chance to avoid it.

111 HISTORY Nothing is yet known about the ori­ gin of the menace known as Headlok. He found the creature known as the Griffin roaming the Adirondack Mountains and used his mental powers to enslave him. Sub­ sequently, in California, Headlok summoned the West Coast Aveng­ ers, claiming he had sighted the Thing, for whom the team was then searching. When the West Coast Avengers arrived, Headlok had the Griffin attack them. Then, while the Avengers were distracted fighting the Griffin, Headlok attempted to take over their minds, one by one. One of the Avengers, Tigra, suc­ ceeded in calming the Griffin's rage, and the Thing, who observed the battle, defeated Headlok. Since Headlok had not known that the Thing was present, he had not used his mental powers to conceal his true whereabouts from the Thing or to en­ slave his mind. Presumably, Headlok was turned over to police custody, although it is questionable how long the police keep Headlok imprisoned, considering his great powers.

112 HELA

STATISTICS:

F AM(50) A AM(50) S UN(100) E SH(150) R GD(10) I MN(75) P MN(75) Health: 350 Karma: 160 Resources: MN(75) Popularity: -1 00

BACKGROUND Real Name: Hela Occupation: Goddess of Death, '--'" ruler of Hel and Niffleheim Legal Status: Ruler of Hel and Nif­ fleheim

113 Identity: Publicly known to the citi­ Ta lents: Hela has a familiarity with of Valhalla built in a distant section of zens of Asgard; Hela is generally be­ Occult Lore. Asgard, also known as Valhalla, to lieved to be a mythological character Contacts: Hela commands the le­ house them. by the people of Earth gions of those who did not die in he­ Hela has sought for ages to bring Place of Birth : Unrevealed roic battle, and has some sway with more Asgardian souls under her Marital Status: Single Loki, her father. control, and especialy longs to pos­ Known Relatives: None, allegedly sess the souls of Odin and his son Loki (father), Angrboda (mother, de­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: Thor. In recent years, when Odin's ceased) attention had strayed from the rule of Base of Operations: Hel and Niffle­ Valhalla, Hela tried to annex that heim realm to her own , hoping to consoli­ Past Group Affiliations: None date her power over all of Asgard's Present Group Affiliation: dead. Eventually Odin grew aware of her ambitions and opposed them. KNOWN POWERS: Hela finally withdrew to her own Asgardian Stature: Hela is a goddess realms, and Odin reestablished his and as such enjoys Excellent Protec­ control over Valhalla. Asgard con­ tion against all attacks, Shift Z resist­ tinues to rule Valhalla to this day. ance to diseases, and an extremely For untold ages, Hela had directed long lifespan. Furthermore, as the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: the construction of a gigantic ship, ruler of Hel and Niffleheim, Hela has Hela is "evil," in the mortal sense of Naflgar, said to be made of the fin­ the authority to use various powers the word, but is more accurately be­ gernails of the dead. Hela planned at Incredible rank: Levitation, Illusion yond such judgments. She is pa­ that when Naflgar was finished, she casting, and virtually any other tient, like death, and her only defeats would send an army of the dead to power. She is immediately aware of come when she oversteps her Asgard in it to destroy the gods. any actions in her realms, and she boundaries, by taking the dead of However, Naflgar was destroyed by has the rightful authority to com­ Midgard who did not belong to her, or the Executioner as it neared comple­ mand all who dwell there. by rashly avenging herself against tion. Death Power: Hela holds the power Thor by making his bones brittle Recently, Hela cast a curse on of life and death over the gods of while refusing to let him die. Thor which prevented him from heal­ Asgard. She can cast eldritch bolts ing any wo unds and also prevented that cause Class 1000 aging in his death. After many battles and un­ Asgardians, aging them the equiva­ told amounts of pain, Thor, reduced lent of 20 years for a human. The HISTORY to pulp by a battle with the Midgard touch of the death goddess on bare Hela was born ages ago to parents Serpent, entered Hela's realm in the flesh functions as a Class 5000 whose names have not yet been re­ armor of the Destroyer. The De­ Health-Drain To uch. She can also re­ vealed. Legend has it however that stroyer's power proved too much for store life to a newly-fallen Asgardian, Hela was born in Jotunheim, the Hela, and she restored Thor's health leaving them either at 0 Health or at otherdimensional land of the giants, and removed her curse. The De­ their full measure of vitality, as she one of the "Nine Wo rlds" of Norse stroyer remains in Hela's realm to re­ sees fit. She possesses these mythology, and that she is the mind her of her defeats. powers against mortals as well, but daughter of the Asgardian god of It is said that should the forces of her province is the life and death of mischief Loki and the sorceress gi­ evil in the Nine Wo rlds ever succeed the gods of Asgard, not the races of antess Angrboda. The three Asgar­ in destroying Asgard, Hela and her Midgard. dian goddesses of fate, the Norns, army of the dead will be at their side. Astral Projection: Hela can Mon­ are said to have warned the Asgar­ strously project her essence to dian gods that Hela would prove to whichever dimensions as she be a great danger to them. pleases, for unlimited periods of It is known that Odin, ruler of the time. There, she wields the same Asgardian gods, decreed that Hela powers as above. would become goddess and ruler of Weakness: Hela's cloak-cowl- head­ the spirits of the Asgardian dead on dress contains much of her life­ the day of her maturity. These spirits force. Without it, all her Physical dwell in the otherdimensional realms Stats drop to Feeble, and Hela can­ of Hel and Niffleheim, two more of not use any of her powers. The left the Nine Worlds, both of which Hela half of her body assumes its true rules. However, Odin himself directly form: that of a petrified corpse. Re­ rules the souls of Asgardians and placing it will restore Hela to full vital­ their human worshippers who died in ity. Even touching it will allow her to battle as heroes, and had the palace stand. 114 HOBGOBLI N II

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A AM(50) S IN(40) E IN(40) R GD(10) I EX(20) P TY(6) Health: 160 Karma: 36 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: -85

BACKGROUND Real Name: Jason Philip Macen­ dale, Jr. Occupation: Freelance terrorist/ assassin, professional criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen whose cit­ izenship was revoked when he en­ listed in the army of a foreign power; criminal record unknown Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Boston, Massachu­ setts Marital Status: Divorced Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Former employee of the Kingpin, Partner with Carrion II; member of the Sinis­ ter Six " Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: The demon N'astirh gave Hobgoblin enhanced strength and agility during the "Inferno."

Equipment: Body Armor: Hobgoblin wears a suit of armor which provides him with Ex­ ce"ent protection against physical attacks and Remarkable protection against energy attacks. Glove Blasters: Both of the Hobgob­ lin's gloves contain devices which impossible for foes to predict exactly volatile substance which produces can discharge pulses of high­ where the next shot wi" be aimed, flames of Incredible intensity. frequency electricity. The range of forci ng them to take a -1 CS on any Spider-Sense Negator: This Un­ these weapons is 2 areas and they attempts they make to dodge. earthly intensity chemical negates do Remarkable damage. Pumpkin Bombs: These explosives Spider-Man's Spider-Sense for at Random Fire Mechanism: In order to do Exce"ent damage to everything least 24 (and possibly as long as 36) overcome the advantage which within 20 feet. hours. At the referee's option, it may Spider-Man's Spider Sense gives Smoke Grenades: These devices re­ or may not affect other characters him in dodging attacks, the Hobgob­ lease a cloud of Typical obscuring with similar abilities. lin has installed a device in his armor smoke. Throwing bats: These bat-shaped which causes his arm to jerk about Knock-out Gas Grenades: Releases throwing blades inflict Good edged randomly while he is firing his glove a gas of Incredible intensity which weapon damage. blasters. In combat, this induces a causes unconsciousness. Goblin Glider: The Hobgoblin em­ -1 CS on attacks, but makes it almost Incendiary: Detonation unleashes a ploys a turbo-fan powered flying sled 115 which has the following characteris­ Jack O'Lantern first gained public N'astirh in exchange for demonic tics: notoriety due to his battle with Ma­ power. Amused, N'astirh rejected chine Man. Subsequently, Jack the offer but transformed the Hob­ Control Speed Body Protection O'Lantern clashed repeatedly with goblin nevertheless, giving him su­ IN(40) TY(6) GD(10) None the costumed crimefighter, Spider­ perhuman powers and a grotesque, Man, and also did battle with the demon-like face. Ta lents: The second Hobgoblin is freelance bounty hunter, Silver Sa­ Recently, the Hobgoblin freed trained in Martial Arts A, B, C, and D, ble. Jack O'Lantern was hired by the Malcolm McBride, the second Car­ and is a weaponsmaster. He is also a Arranger, the right hand man to rion, from imprisonment at the Va ult. very skilled pilot ( + 2CS when deal­ Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, to The two formed a brief partnership ing with aircraft) and talent in Electri­ serve as the Kingpin's principal en­ and managed to capture Spiderman. cal Engineering and Physics. He forcer. At this time, the Kingpin's or­ During Spiderman's escape and the now has a Mystic Background. ganization was engaged in a war of ensuing battle, McBride's mother Contacts: The Hobgoblin has Mili­ control of the New Yo rk rackets. At came into danger, and Carrion II tary and Criminal contacts, and per­ one point during the gang war, the seemingly sacrificed himself to save haps others. Arranger and the Rose, the head of a her. The Hobgoblin escaped to parts rival criminal organization, formed unknown. ADDITIONAL NOTES: an alliance with each other and or­ At the current time, Hobgoblin has dered Jack O'Lantern and the been recruited by Dr. Ocopus to join Rose's ally, the original Hobgoblin, the Sinister Six. The full scope of the to work together. While both the Hob­ Hobgoblin's and the team's plans goblin and Jack O'Lantern were un­ are not known at this time. der fire from the police, the Hobgoblin sighted his arch enemy Spider-Man, whom he was obsessed with killing. The Hobgoblin de­ manded that Jack O'Lantern help ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: him kill Spider-Man right then and "Unhinged" is the best word to de­ there, but Jack O'Lantern, believing scribe the Hobgoblin since his de­ the combination of the police and monic transformation. He has Spider-Man posed too great a threat, accepted a few mercenary jobs, but refused and flew off. Afterward, the with nothing like his previous fre­ Hobgoblin unsuccessfully attempted quency. He would do anything to re­ to kill Jack O'Lantern in retaliation gain his lost humanity. Due to his lost for this supposed betrayal. humanity, he is incredibly ruthless. In his true identity of reporter Ned Leeds, the Hobgoblin left for Berlin on an assignment for the Daily Bu­ g/e. Macendale hired the master as­ HISTORY sassin known as the Foreigner to kill Jason Philip Macendale, Jr. was the Hobgoblin. The Foreigner dis­ recruited by the Central Intelligence covered the Hobgoblin's true identity Agency when he was in an under­ and had men in his employ ambush graduate program at the Massachu­ and kill Leeds in Berlin. The For­ setts Institute of Te chnology. He eigner then turned over Leeds' Hob­ enlisted in the Marines to gain com­ goblin costumes and equipment to bat experience and became a fighter Macendale. Using Leeds's cos­ pilot. Upon his discharge from the tumes and equipment, Macendale Marines, Macendale began active became the second Hobgoblin. In service as a field agent for CIA in the this identity he has battled both Asian theatre. However, his methods Spider-Man and Harry Osborn (the and tactics proved too brutal and ex­ second Green Goblin). The police treme for his superiors to tolerate. and general populace generally be­ Seeking employment elsewhere, lieve that there has been only one Macendale embarked on a career as Hobgoblin and that he is still alive. an international mercenary. Eventu­ During a time when New Yo rk was ally, he adopted the costume and overrun by demons from the dimen­ identity of Jack O'Lantern to help sion called Limbo that was formerly promote his accomplishments to ruled by Magik, the Hobgoblin of­ prospective employers. fered to sell his soul to the demon

116 CAMERON HODGE AND THE RIGHT

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S TY(6) E TY(6) R GD(10) I EX(20) P EX(20) Health: 32 Karma: 50 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: 10 BACKGROUND Real Name: Cameron Hodge Occupation: Former lawyer, adver­ tising executive, and public relations director, leader of the Right Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Formerly X­ Factor headquarters, New Yo rk City, now presumed mobile Past Group Affiliations: Employee of X-Factor, leader of the Right Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: Cameron Hodge is a normal man with no superhuman powers. He occa­ sionally enters combat with special­ ized equipment. This equipment should be designed to neutralize the powers of an opponent Hodge is ex­ pecting, or otherwise give Hodge an edge. None of the Right's equipment can give Hodge a power or attribute above Incredible rank, and the total rank numbers of the additional powers and attributes should not ex­ ceed 95. Ta lents: Hodge is well-versed in the law and in psychiatry. He also enjoys the benefits of the Leadership talent. Contacts: Cameron Hodge is the leader of the Right, a fanatical anti­ mutant organization. The organiza­ tion has several bases hidden throughout the United States and other technologically advanced countries, and has roughly 1200 em­ ployees world-wide. The Right is not a large organization, and is not well­ known, but it is extraordinarily well­ funded. Worthington's fortune, a huge sum of money to many organi­ zations, is only a fraction of the total 117 assets of the group. The "smiley ar­ to eliminating superhuman mutants. The New Mutants subsequently mor," one of the Right's master­ Hodge was the leader of the Right, escaped only to be recaptured by pieces of technology, boosts each of and was known as the Commander. members of the Right, including the wearer's physical statistics three Worthington, who still trusted Hodge. The Right had arrived on the columns, and provides Excellent Hodge, turned to him to help him island to discipline the defiant Ani­ Body Armor and Amazing Flight, as come up with a new means of com­ Mator. Bird-Brain and other Ani­ well as one to three particular com­ bating prejudice against mutants. Mates rescued the New Mutants and bat systems in the armor, designed Hodge and Worthington devised the battled the Right. In the melee, the for particular mutant opponents. concept of X-Factor, an organization New Mutant called Cypher was of supposed mutant hunters, who in killed. Infuriated, another New Mu­ ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: fact would make contact with super­ tant, Magik, exiled Animus and the Hodge is a clever dealer, smoothly human mutants and help them learn involved members of the Right to the letting his foes fall farther and farther to control their superhuman abilities dimension Limbo. After a narrow es­ into his plans until he has them at a and to masquerade as normal hu­ cape from the New Mutants, Hodge decided advantage. His goals are man beings. The other members of rededicated the cause of the Right to simple: the complete destruction of the original X-Men, the Beast, Cy­ destroy mutants rather than to con­ all super- powered mutants. The mu­ clops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl, tain and discredit them. tations themselves do not concern agreed to this idea and became the The Angel's wings were severely him; he has not bothered with other founding members of X-Factor. damaged during the "Mutant Mas­ Forge's mutation- neutralizing gun. However, as Hodge had secretly in­ sacre" in which the Marauders He wishes to keep " Homo Superior," tended, X-Factor's pUblicity cam­ wiped out most of the mutant the mutants with super-powers, from paign actually intensified prejudice Morlocks. Hodge arranged to have supplanting "Homo Sapiens," and is against mutants. Worthington and the Angel's wings amputated. At the willing to go to great lengths, such as his four partners came to have in­ point of despair over the loss of his forming the Right and making pacts creasing misgivings about X­ wings, Worthington was easily ma­ with demons (Hodge is clearly in­ Factor's mode of operations. nipulated by Hodge into changing sane; he surely knew that N'astirh The first physical display the Right his will so as to leave the bulk of his poses at least as great a threat to committed was kidnapping the mu­ fortune to X- Factor, appointing Homo Sapiens as did a handful of tant known as Rictor from his native Hodge as its executor. Soon after­ powerful mutants). Mexico where he was responsible ward, Worthington seemingly com­ for a devastating earthquake. The mitted suicide in an airplane that Right discovered that Rictor had exploded. As a result, Hodge now HISTORY been the source of the quake. They controlled the Worthington fortune. Cameron Hodge was the room­ brought him to San Francisco where (In fact, Worthington had been tele­ mate of Warren Worthington III, the they linked him to an elaborate de­ ported to safety by Apocalypse.) mutant adventurer formerly known vice designed to amplify his powers By now Cyclops and the other as the Angel (and now as Archan­ enough to shift the tectonic plates three partners in X-Factor had real­ gel), at the private school within the San Andreas fault and ized that Hodge was their enemy. Worthington attended before he en­ cause a catastrophic earthquake. Soon afterward, the X-Factor mem­ tered Professor Charles Xavier's They had hoped this plan would fur­ bers engaged in battle with mem­ School for Gifted Yo ungsters. Al­ ther discredit mutants when officials bers of the Right, and ultimately they though Worthington believed Hodge determined the cause of the quake, learned that Hodge was the leader of to be his friend, in fact Hodge deeply but X-Factor foiled their scheme. the organization. resented Worthington for his good Hodge contacted convicted genetic Subsequently, Worthington looks, vast wealth, and other advan­ engineer, Dr. Frederick Animus, later learned that his former lover, Can­ tages. When Worthington publicly known as the Ani-Mator, and commis­ dace "Candy" Southern, had disap­ revealed himself to be the winged sioned him to find a means of prevent­ peared. Worthington tracked her mutant known as the Angel, Hodge's ing mutation from occurring. However, down to a secret Right base, where hatred of him increased further. Animus defied his employers' instruc­ he discovered she was being held Hodge believed that superhuman tions and created creatures with com­ captive by Hodge, who had per­ mutants were a threat to the freedom bined characteristics of human beings formed experiments on her that left of normal human beings and that and animals which he called his "Ani­ her at the brink of death. Southern they therefore must be destroyed. Mates." He intended them to be a died, and Hodge himself was appar­ Hodge became a lawyer, but he slave race that would serve humanity. ently killed in combat with then turned to advertiSing and public One of the Ani-Mates, Bird-Brain, es­ Worthington. However, Hodge was relations and became a highly suc­ caped from "Paradise" and was be­ seen shortly thereafter, plotting with cessful member of a leading New friended by the New Mutants, who N'astirh and his demons from Limbo Yo rk advertising agency. In the accompanied him back to the island, and assisting the demons in acquir­ meantime Hodge secretly founded where they were captured by the Ani­ ing mutant children. the Right, an organization dedicated Mator.

118 HUMAN TO RCH I

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A EX(20) S EX(20) E IN(40) R TY(6) I TY(6) P EX(20) Health: 100 Karma: 32 Resources: FB(2) Popularity: 20

BACKGROUND Real Name: The Human To rch Occupation: Adventurer Legal Status: Naturalized U.S. citi­ zen with no criminal record, legally dead Identity: The general public is un­ aware that the original Human To rch also used the identity of Jim Ham­ mond Place of Creation: Brooklyn, New Yo rk Marital Status: Single (if applicable) Known Relatives: None (if applica­ ble) Base of Operations: Formerly New York City and (during much of World War II) London; now Avengers Com­ pound, Malibu, California Past Group Affiliations: Former partner of To ro, former member of the Invaders and the All-Winners Squad, member of the West Coast Avengers Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Fire Generation: The Human To rch can generate Monstrous intensity flames and has established the fol­ lowing power stunts:

* Monstrous damage fireballs with a range of 3 areas

* Skywriting to create flaming im­ Monstrous intensity flame which * The forming of cages, barriers, and ages which last 4 turns. gives him Monstrous protection from other restraints of Amazing intensity * The Human To rch can unleash his physical and energy attack. How­ flame

"Nova Flame." This is a Single burst ever, it offers no protection against * He can absorb surrounding heat to of Shift-X intensity which does 150 wind, cold, or water-based attacks. ignite himself, causing the local tem­ points of damage to everything Flame Control: Unearthly control perature temporarily to drop 30 de­ within 1 area and Monstrous dam­ over the shape and intensity of both grees Fahrenheit age to everything from 2 to 5 areas nartual and power-created flames. * He can absorb heat and flames of away. Following this great effort, all The Intensity can be increased or de­ up to Shift-X intensity and retain it for of his powers drop to Feeble for 1-10 creased by his rank. He can use this up to 10 turns before he must re­ turns and he must make a Red En­ power to manifest the following lease it as a Nova Flame durance FEAT to avoid fainting. stunts: True Flight: The Human To rch can at­

Energy Sheath (Fire): The Original * The creation of up to 10 identical tain Excellent speeds (150 mph) Human To rch can shroud himself in duplicates of himself when flaming. 119 Specific Resistance (Heat and one of the pioneers in the field of arti­ criminal sprayed the solution over Flame): The original Human To rch ficial intelligence and robotics. The the To rch and To ro, dousing their can ignore flames and heat of up to culmination of Horton's research flames and paralyzing them. The CL 1000 intensity. was an android who mimicked virtu­ criminals then buried the To rch be­ Android Body: The original Human ally all of the functions of a human neath the Nevada desert­ To rch is very nearly human, down to being, including independent accidentally beneath an atomic having recognizably human blood, thought, but was composed entirely testing site. In December 1953, the but is still a synthezoid. He has Un­ of synthetic materials. The one flaw blast of an atomic bomb detonated earthly Resistance to diseases, and in the android's design concerned on the site freed the To rch, and the he needs only two or three hours of the photoelectric solar cells which radiation reactivated his flame. The sleep a night. Moreover, sufficient covered every square inch of his To rch resumed his crimefighting ca­ amounts of his blood, injected in a body and served as his power reer and his partnership with To ro. In human, may have peculiar effects: source. The cells were too volatile 1955, the Human To rch sensed that such gave Jacqueline Falsworth and caused the epidermis of the an­ the radiation from the bomb was super-speed abilities, for example. droid to burst into flame upon con­ causing him to lose control of his Weaknesses: Most of the original tact with air but without harming the flame, and that he would eventually Human To rch's powers only operate android itself. Horton revealed the "die" by burning himself out. After when he is aflame. Cold, Water, or To rch's existence to the public at a bidding farewell to To ro, the To rch Wind-based attacks of Shift-X or press converence in November flew to a desert in the western United greater Intensity can extinguish his 1939, at which he demonstrated how States where he tried to destroy him­ flames, as can a loss of oxygen or the To rch would burst into flame if he self by overloading his solar cells in a being covered by a fire-negating introduced a small amount of oxygen single burst of maximum-output substance. into the transparent container in flame. The To rch succeeded in burn­ Ta lents: The original Human To rch is which he was confined. The news ing himself out and plunged to earth much more skilled with his flame media proclaimed the To rch to be a to lie insensate. than is Johnny Storm. The original potential menace, and so Horton His body was finally discovered To rch knows which combinations of buried the android in his supposedly many years later by the criminal ge­ temperatures can cause discomfort airtight tube within cement until such nius called the Mad Thinker, who re­ to a flaming body, and is skilled in time as he could find a way either to stored most of the To rch's synthetic producing these, for example. He prevent the android from bursting tissue and nervous system. The also has Tr ivia skill regarding the into flame or learn how to control its Thinker partially restored the an­ 1940s and 1950s. flame. There was a slow leak in the droid's memories, but coerced the Contacts: The original Human To rch tube, however, and eventually To rch into battling the Thinker's ene­ is an Avenger, but has h;3.d little op­ enough oxygen entered so that the mies, the Fantastic Four. On realiz­ portunity to renew any contacts he android's flame ignited explosively, ing the implications of what the may have developed before his permitting him to escape. Wreaking Thinker wanted him to do, the To rch "death." havoc in innocent exploration of his saccrificed his artificial life to save environment, the android, inaccu­ the Fantastic Four from a sneak at­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: rately dubbed the Human To rch, tack by the Thinker's computer Qua­ There was a simpler time when a soon realized the panic he was caus­ simodo. The Thinker fled, and the hero was expected to be an upstand­ ing and, unable to control his flaming Fantastic Four left the To rch's body ing member of the community, and power, doused his flame in a swim­ in the Thinker's laboratory in Ne­ where a man's (or android's) honor ming pool. vada. and bravery were said to count for The Human To rch eventually Up until recently, it was believed something. This is the attitude that gained control over his flame and be­ that Ultron had forced Professor Hor­ the original Human To rch brings to came a crimefighter. He allied him­ ton to transform the body of the origi­ his crimefighting, and he strives to self with the young mutant To ro, who nal Human To rch into the Vision. keep true to his ideals. He is a good possessed powers similar to his Although, in constructing the Vision, team player. Lastly, the original Hu­ own. At first, the greatest adversary Ultron used spare parts that Horton man To rch is carefully observing the the To rch faced in combat was the had created for the To rch, the Vision 1990s, hoping to better understand Sub-Mariner. The To rch and To ro, as does not have the To rch's body. The the world in which he's found him­ well as the Sub-Mariner, who be­ original Human To rch and the Vision self. came their ally and friend, served to­ are two entirely separate entities. gether as members of the Invaders Recently, the original Human during World War II and the AII­ To rch has been reactivated and has Winners Squad during the postwar returned to activity as a member of HISTORY years. In 1949 American criminals the Avengers, working primarily out The original Human To rch began seeking to destroy the To rch ob­ of the Avengers Compound on the h is existence in 1939 in the labora­ tained a chemical known as Solution West Coast, in Malibu, California. tory of Professor Phineas T. Horton, X-R from Soviet intelligence. One

120 HYDRA

HISTORY HYDRA has been a worldwide subversive organization dedicated to global domination. At its height, HYDRA was the most extensive, powerful, and dangerous such orga­ nization in history. HYDRA agents wore green costumes with cowls concealing their entire heads except for their mouths and chins. Their or­ ganization takes its name from the many-headed serpent-like monster of Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra, whose venom was lethal and who was known for its ability to grow two heads immediately to replace any head that was severed. HYDRA prided itself on its ability to regroup and rebuild itself, allegedly mightier than before, after any defeat. In­ deed, the organization endured for over four decades. During that time, however, HYDRA underwent consid­ erable structural and ideological changes, to many that the modern HYDRA bore only superficial similar­ ities to the organization in its heyday. The man most responsible for the creation of HYDRA was Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, the Prussian aristocrat who served as wing com­ mander of Nazi Germany's infamous Death's Head Squadron, and later as leader of its Blitzkrieg Squad of Commandos. At one pOint in his war career, Strucker found himself in the company of Professor Wilhelm Sch­ midt outside the village of Gruen­ stadt. Villagers had reported strange aliens, and Strucker investigated. He found, instead, a home of Gno­ bians, peaceful alien telepaths. Strucker saw the Gnobians as an op­ portunity for fantastic knowledge and power. Fearful that the villagers might reveal the aliens' existance to others, Strucker had the entire popu­ lation of Gruenstadt executed. Im­ mediately afterwards, Sgt. Nicholas Fury and his Howling Commandos arrived on the scene and killed Baron Strucker's Death's Head Commandos. Strucker himself was mortally wounded, but crawled back to the Gnobian enclave, where he was healed of his wounds and where he stole several examples of the Gnobians' advanced technology.

121 The Gnobians were tainted by their of the state, or, in HYDRA's case, the made himself Grand Imperator of association with Strucker and en­ organization: "Hail HYDRA! Immor­ THEM, its highest position, and mas­ tered a period of hibernation to re­ tal HYDRA! We shall never be de­ queraded under a number of aliases cover from the infection of the stroyed! Cut off one limb and two in public life, most prominently, the Baron's mind. Only recently have the more shall take its place! We serve multimillionaire socialite Don Anto­ Gnobians awakened , and then the Supreme Hydra, as the world nio Caballero. Only a small fraction Strucker's madness overwhelmed shall soon serve us!" In keeping with of HYDRA agents knew of the Grand them. In a brief period of lucidity, the Nazism's male supremacist ethic, Imperator's existence, and fewer still Gnobians triggered a suicidal end to HYDRA restricted its membership to knew his true identity. their terrestrial mission. men. Only decades later it permitted THEM appointed Arnold Brown, Infuriated by Strucker's defeats by exceptions, most notably Laura executive secretary to Leslie Far­ Fury, and perhaps by the unex­ Brown, daughter of Imperial Hydra rington, one of the directors of Impe­ plained massacre at Gruenstadt, Arnold Brown, and the first Madame rial Industries International, to be Adolf Hitler ordered the Gestapo to Hydra, later known as the Viper. Supreme Hydra, or, perhaps be­ assassinate him. Strucker would Strucker created a cult of personality cause he was not HYDRA's true have had little hope of escaping the about himself as the Supreme Hydra leader, Imperial Hydra. Brown's prin­ Gestapo if not for the aid of the Red comparable to that of Hitler's in Ger­ cipal utility to HYDRA was in drain­ Skull, the second most powerful man many. There was a heavy ideological ing resources for HYDRA from in the Third Reich. The Skull in­ emphasis on the anonymity of other Imperial Industries International , tended to supplant Hitler eventually, HYDRA agents, who generally re­ and in managing HYDRA's day-to­ or to achieve world domination him­ mained masked whenever they were day operations. Ultimate power, self if Hitler lost the war. The Skull as­ among one another, and were usu­ however, remained in Strucker's signed Strucker to create a power ally addressed by numbers. hands. Under Brown's leadership, base in the Far East for him. (Be­ During the last years of World War HYDRA developed an arsenal of cause the base that Strucker helped II, Strucker soon began construction weaponry, submarines, and fighter create eventually became HYDRA, of a fortress on a small Pacific island, aircraft greater than those of most the Red Skull claimed credit years which became HYDRA's principal nations, as well as agents through­ later for HYDRA's creation.) With the base and was known as "HYDRA Is­ out the globe. aid of the Skull's men and some loyal land." HYDRA's scientists were To meet the threat of HYDRA, men of his own, Strucker escaped close to obtaining nuclear weaponry, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquar­ Europe. The embittered Strucker and thus achieving the means to ters International Espionage, Law­ had no intention of serving anyone conquer the Earth, when Captain Si­ Enforcement Division) was created. but himself, however, and severed mon Savage's U.S. Marine comman­ HYDRA assassinated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ties with the Skull on becoming the dos, the Leatherneck Raiders, first Public Director, who was re­ Supreme Hydra. invaded with their Japanese coun­ placed by Colonel Nicholas Fury of On arriving in Japan, Strucker terparts, the so-called Samurai the CIA, Strucker's greatest wartime made contact with and eventually Squad. The HYDRA Island base was foe. Soon after, HYDRA attempted to became the mastermind behind Jap­ destroyed, but Strucker escaped. blackmail the world with its orbiting anese subversives who informed Slowly and quietly, he rebuilt HYDRA Betatron Bomb, which could release him that they were forming a secret in the years following the war, this lethal radiation upon the Earth. society bent on world conquest. He time using as its nucleus the best re­ While inventor Anthony Stark deacti­ planned and led raids on major war maining men of the Nazi Schutz­ vated the bomb, Fury captured HY­ plants and military equipment store­ Staffel (S.S.). As a result, Strucker DRA's New Yo rk City headquarters. houses throughout the world, and more emphatically regarded HYDRA Brown was murdered by his own gathered together scientists who as the heir to the Third Reich. How­ men, who seemingly failed to recog­ could unravel the secrets of the Gno­ ever, after nearly being killed in an nize him without his costume. bian technology. This secret society encounter with the young Charles Immediately after Brown's defeat, became known as HYDRA. Upon Xavier and Magneto, Strucker de­ THEM used AIM and the original Se­ building HYDRA's army and arsenal cided to remain behind the scenes cret Empire for subversive actions to what he judged to be sufficient from then on. He made the U.S. the against S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. strength, Strucker slew the original center of HYDRA's operations, al­ government while HYDRA re­ Supreme Hydra, who was Japanese, though its influence was spread grouped, rebuilt its strength, and re­ and became Supreme Hydra him­ around the world. Although HY­ emerged mightier than ever. self. DRA's ideology, ceremonies, and or­ Strucker in effect abolished THEM Strucker conceived of HYDRA as ganization remained fascistic, by again making himself Supreme a strongly ideological fascist organi­ Strucker concealed its connections Hydra and by making the other mem­ zation heavily influenced by Nazi to Nazism. He created a new central bers of THEM into HYDRA's new philosophy. The full form of its salute committee, code-named THEM, to central comm ittee. Strucker reflects the fascist near-religious ide­ supervise the operations of HYDRA launched the Overkill Horn, which alization of submission to the power and its sister societies. Strucker would have set off every nuclear ex-

122 plosive on Earth while leaving HY­ tific branch of the organization, wide influence, it seemed more cen­ DRA's legions supposedly safe in seceded from HYDRA, and the Se­ tered in the U.S. than before and their special shelters, but the cret Empire was later revived inde­ although it was dedicated to world scheme was thwarted by pendently of HYDRA. The remnant domination, it had abandoned the S.H.I.E.L.D.. of HYDRA in the New Yo rk City area traditional fascist HYDRA ideology Then, impersonating S.H.I.E.L.D. was led by the first Madame Hydra, entirely. The only clear link between agent John Bronson, Strucker smug­ and later by the Grim Reaper and the the current HYDRA and Strucker's gled the so-called Death Spore Space Phantom. A western Euro­ HYDRA was the fact that the new or­ bomb aboard S.H.I.E.L.D.'s airborne pean faction was led by Count Otto ganization's members dressed in the Heli-Carrier headquarters , which Ve rmis. Another HYDRA remnant, traditional HYDRA costumes. was capable of destroying the Heli­ centered in Las Ve gas, came under Wo men were now allowed into the Carrier and releasing deadly spores the control of the Red Skull, who organization in large numbers, and throughout the world. The bomb, managed it through the American could hold important positions in it. however, cou ldn't affect the newly crime boss Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, Indeed, the position of "Madame Hy­ rebuilt HYDRA Island where HY­ and his son Richard. The Fisks were dra" became a new tradition. Agents DRA's leadership and elite guard unaware of the Skull's involvement, were often addressed by their real had gathered; the new fortress' im­ and the Kingpin opposed the Skull names, and minor HYDRA officials penetrable dome would afford maxi­ on learning the Skull was the fac­ often appeared unmasked before mum protection from the Death tion's true leader. their colleagues and subordinates in Spores. In a telecast from the island, The first major attempt to rebuild the organization. And now, only the Strucker demanded that the world HYDRA was made by surviving middle and upper levels of authority surrender to HYDRA, for only those members based on the U.S. East were in homage to the Supreme Hy­ nations that surrendered would be Coast who decided to turn HYDRA dra. supplied with antidotes for the into a less ideological organization, Until the recent episode known as spores. However, Fury had found the which would still seek world domina­ the Deltite Affair, HYDRA was orga­ Death Spore bomb on the Heli­ tion, while being structured similarly nized along the lines of a major con­ Carrier, singly invaded HYDRA Is­ to American organized crime. In temporary corporation. Agents could land, and planted the bomb there. keeping with this idea, these leaders work full time or part time for the or­ Fury was captured and Strucker recruited Silvio "Silvermane" Man­ ganization. They were paid high sal­ nearly executed him at a mass meet­ freidi, the leader of a Maggia "fam­ aries and received medical and ing of HYDRA agents on the island, ily," as the new Supreme Hydra. other benefits, and many ordinary before whom Strucker revealed his Silvermane quickly built this East American citizens were recruited true identity. But Fury escaped exe­ Coast-based HYDRA into a large, into its organization as a result. cution, and, as a result of the ensu­ well-organized and well-equipped In the Deltite Affair, Nick Fury dis­ ing battle, Strucker unwittingly fled fighting force with a large secret covered that the Board of Directors into a nuclear reactor chamber and base in New Yo rk City, and recruited of S.H.I.E.L.D. was composed of was immediately incinerated. Fury numerous costumed criminals to advanced Life Model Decoys fled the island just before the Death serve as HYDRA division leaders, in­ (LMDs), and that the Board was also Spore bomb detonated, completely cluding his own son Blackwing (Jo­ in charge of HYDRA and AIM. All sinking the island. The dome pre­ seph Manfredi), Commander three organizations, believing the vented any of the spores from escap­ Kraken, the Fixer, the Fox, Jackham­ others to be antagonists, were ma­ ing to the outside world. All HYDRA mer, EI Jaguar, Man- Killer, and Men­ nipulated into working toward world members present on the island were tallo. (The Fixer and the Fox had domination by the Directorate. By killed. previously worked for Strucker's HY­ collapsing the LMD plot, Fury HYDRA has never since regained DRA.) However, Silvermane and his robbed all three organizations of the power it had under Strucker recruits were ultimately out of their their top levels and much of their since the bulk of the organization depth in running a major subversive manpower. S.H.I.E.L.D. was dis­ was wiped out on HYDRA Island. All organization like HYDRA, and they banded and reformed as a small that remained were HYDRA agents were easily defeated by Fury and Special Missions Unit. The effects of who had either been meant to hide S.H.I.E.L.D. This HYDRA organiza­ the Deltite Affair on HYDRA, and any out from the Spore in smaller shel­ tion thereupon also fragmented. details as to whether a new organiza­ ters, or who had been left to their Finally, HYDRA was reorganized tion based on the old will arise, are fate. The worldwide HYDRA organi­ under radically different lines by a as yet unknown. zation fragmented. AIM, the scien- new agency Although it had world-

123 AV ERAGE Ta lents: Most HYDRA agents had Should the need arise, a HYDRA three skills in weapons or the Martial agent could call on the full resources HVCRA FIELC Arts (typically Martial Arts A and E, of the organization. In its heyday, and Guns) Certainly, HYDRA em­ HYDRA had Amazing Resources, AGENT ployed experts in most skills and tal­ and almost 10,000 agents world­ ents. wide. F EX(20) Contacts: HYDRA agents have had A GD(10) their organization to call upon, typi­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: S GD(10) cally for unexpected emergencies: a E GD(10) HYDRA agent might request air­ R TY(6) borne assistance if she were follow­ I TY(6) ing a dignitary who was suddenly P TY(6) picked up by a helicopter, and she Health: 50 would suffer no penalty for doing so. Karma: 18 She would not receive any help if she were surprised by several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents; HYDRA agents KNOWN POWERS: fought their own battles, and were A HYDRA agent was required to required to rectify their own errors. maintain the statistics listed above to Indeed, if she were to request aid, ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: remain in the organization. Most found her request denied, and then The typical HYDRA agent was condi­ agents never surpassed them, but succeeded in her mission, she would tioned to accept orders, obey them there were always elite agents gifted most likely receive stern punishment as best he could, and think as little as with better statistics. These agents (although death would be unlikely). possible. HYDRA was a cult as much usually rose to command positions, as it was an espionage and terrorist since promotion in HYDRA was organization, and HYDRA agents based on assassination. HYDRA were formed in the mold of cult fa­ agents also carried weaponry. natics rather than professional espi­ Equipment: HYDRA agents were onage agents. usually equipped with adequate gear for their missions, but with little else that might be useful in unex­ pected situations. HYDRA agents usually armed themselves with blaster pistols, which deliver Re­ markable Force damage.

124 STATISTICS:

.-./ F +2CS RM(30) A +3CS RM(30) S +5CS AM(50) E +6 CS MN(75)

KNOWN POWERS: Body Armor: When the armor is acti­ vated (which is usually the case, un­ less its electrical systems are down), its Remarkable material strength is enhanced to Amazing. It offers Re­ markable protection against acid, Amazing protection from physical, heat, or cold attacks, Monstrous pro­ tection from most energy attacks, and Unearthly prottection against ra­ diation and electricity. Rocket: Iron Man's boot jets allow him to fly at Excellent airspeed (10 areas per round) and still maneuver. If Iron Man wishes to do so, he can move at Monstrous airsped (30 ar­ eas per round), but can perform only the simplest actions while doing so. (He could use his armor's radio, for example, but not fire his repulsors or perform a charging attack.) The boot jets operate in vacuum for only 100 minutes. If Iron Man uses his thrust­ ers as weapons, they do Incredible damage and have a 2 area range. Plasma Bolt Generators: Iron Man's armor can generate "torpedoes" of high-energy plasma. These have a range of 15 areas and do 7 points of damage per area they travel, picking up static charge as they pass farther from Iron Man. For example, they would do only Good damage to a tar­ get in an adjacent area, but Un­ earthly damage to a target 10 areas away. However, the plasma travels more slowly than Iron Man's beam weapons. Characters wishing to Dodge the plasma have a + 1 CS for every two areas distance the plasma must travel (a character 7 areas away would suffer Amazing damage ser can also be used to produce well, making the armor very hot. Iron from the plasma bolt, but receives a holographic images in that 3 area Man is protected against this effect, +3CS if he decides to try Dodging.) range as Good rank Illusions. Cur­ but no character can lay hands on Repulsors: The current Iron Man ar­ rently, his armor has computer­ the exterior of the armor without suf­ mor has repulsors which do Amazing generated images of itself, but no ferng Incredible damage. damage and have a 7 area range. other castable illusions available. Tractor Beam: Iron Man's Unibeam Unibeam: The chest beam on the ar­ Heat beam: The armor can generate can function as a Remarkable mor can be used as a Remarkable in­ a narrow beam of heat, doing Incred­ strength tractor beam, functioning tensity floodlight with a range of 3 ible damage at a range of 3 areas. as Te lekinesis with a 3 area range areas, or as an Amazing intensity la­ The beam can be internalized as and only allowing Iron Man to draw ser, also with a 3 area range. The la-

125 items directly toward him. nar (same as Radar, but usable un­ Magnetism: Iron Man's armor can derwater, with a -1 CS modifier to the generate magnetic control at Incred­ Intuition roll, and with a range of 6 ar­ HISTORY ible intensity. He is limited to simply eas), "Life" Detectors (measuring Anthony Stark, son of industrialist moving metallic objects around, as heat and pinpointing heat sources in Howard Stark, demonstrated his me­ opposed to, say, making cages out of a 3 area range), and electrical power chanical aptitude and inventive ge­ scrap metal, unless he begins such Detectors (showing Iron Man po­ nius at a very early age, enrolling in subtle manipulation as a Power werlines in a building's walls, for ex­ an electrical engineering program at Stunt. ample, with Amazing ability and at a the Massachusetts Institute of Te ch­ Absorption: The armor can absorb range of 5 areas) built into his hel­ nology at the age of 15. When he up to 300 points of energy, either for met. He can also tune into all radio was 21, he inherited his father's busi­ recharging or to be returned to the bands and frequencies with Mon­ ness, Stark Industries, and, within a attacker as feedback. With an In­ strous ability, and transmit on private few years, turned it into a multimil­ credible intensity Reason FEAT, Iron wavelengths, CB, and Ham radio lion dollar industrial complex whose Man can use this energy to increase channels. Iron Man's microcompu­ chief contracts were for weaponry his Strength, Flight, or Repulsors to ters have the ability to provide trans­ and munitions for the U.S. govern­ Unearthly intensity for a maximum of lations for incoming messages in ment. 3 turns. Each turn he overloads his many of the Earth's more commonly Stark was sent to Southeast Asia system in this way, Iron Man must used languages. to supervise a field test for one of his obtain a Red result on the Amazing ECM: Iron Man's armor has Remark­ weapons. While he was there, Stark intensity column. Failing this, the ar­ able invisibility to Radar and Sonar. tripped a booby trap and a piece of mor short-circuits and is drained of Electro-magnetic Pulse: Iron Man's shrapnel was lodged in his chest. power until repaired. This power op­ newest major armor module is an The gravely injured Stark was taken erates at Unearthly rank, but absorb­ EMP generator. This device shuts captive by Communist leader Wong­ ing an incoming attack is considered down all electrical devices in a 50- Chu and was informed that within a a Ye llow-level Power FEAT. yard radius, including most of Iron week the shrapnel would penetrate Alternatively, Iron Man can at­ Man's own systems (life support and his heart and kill him. Wong-Chu of­ tempt to return the energies that are sensors remain on-line) for six min­ fered Stark a deal: if he built the being used against him and overload utes. Communists a powerful weapon, the attacker. This is a Ye llow-level Anti-theft Device: Should anyone at­ Wo ng-Chu would allow Stark to un­ Power FEAT. tempt to analyze or duplicate any of dergo an operation to save his life. Self-sustenance: The Iron Man ar­ the circuitry in the armor, he must Stark agreed, hoping to gain time mor provides its wearer with approxi­ make a Reason FEAT against Mon­ and access to tools. mately one hour's worth of stored strous intensity or trigger the secu­ Stark was given access to a small and recycled air. rity circuits. These circuits will laboratory in Communist territory Protected Senses: The armor con­ immediately melt the interior of the with another captive, the renowned tains ear-protectors to baffle incom­ armor to slag, and will trigger Incred­ Oriental physicist Professor Ho Yin­ ing noise of greater than 70 decibels. ibly powerful explosive devices to sen. With Yinsen's help, Stark de­ Similarly, blinding lights automati­ destroy the armor two turns there­ signed and built an electrically cally trigger polarized lenses in Iron after. powered suit of iron armor equipped Man's eye-slots, which offer Re­ with heavy offensive weaponry. The ADDITIONAL NOTES: markable protection against such armor also contained a pacemaker­ flares. However, a blinding attack like device which enabled Stark's can possibly affect Iron Man before heart to keep beating after the shrap­ his armor's computers can react. nel entered it. Donning the suit, The armor must make a Remarkable Stark connected it to its power FEAT against the Agility of the oppo­ source, an electrical generator. Ly­ nent to successfully protect Iron ing on a table, the armored Stark Man's eyes. Iron Man can manually was helpless until the suit was fully trigger the lenses without computer charged. His captor, Wong-Chu, assistance, if he expects to be at­ sensed something was amiss and tacked with a bright light, but dOing came to investigate with armed men. so penalizes him -1 CS for Intuition Professor Yinsen sacrificed himself rolls requiring sight. to give Stark the extra time he Sensors: Iron Man has 3 area Infra­ needed to fully charge the armor. As vision, 3 area Ultravision (into the ul­ the Iron Man, Stark avenged Yin­ traviolet spectrum), Radar (a sen's death and scattered Wong­ successful Intuition roll can give Iron Chu's troups. Stark escaped from Man details about the rough shape the jungle with the aid of American of his surroundings for 3 areas), So- helicopter pilot Lieutenant James

126 Rhodes, and returned to America several-month binge during which tion, Obadiah Stane, alarmed at clad in his new armor. he was cheated out of Stark Interna­ Stark's steps toward recovery, Required to wear the armor's tional, lost all of his armor except one bombed Circuits Maximus, injuring chest-plate to keep the shrapnel suit (the rest were destroyed), lost Rhodes and killing Morley Erwin. De­ from his heart, Stark decided to put the leases on his various apart­ siring vengeance, Stark donned the the rest of the armor to regular use ments, and had his personal assets untested new armor and sought out as well. Wishing to retain some de­ frozen so that he could not touch his Stane. Stane himself put on a suit of gree of anonymity, Stark established fortune. All of these were the results armor his engineers had built using the fiction that Iron Man was his paid of the machinations of the mysteri­ Stark's plans, and met Iron Man in bodyguard wearing a suit of armor ous European entrepeneur Obadiah battle as the Iron Monger. Losing the that he had invented. Only his most Stane, who took over Stark's com­ battle against Stark, Stane commit­ trusted aides learned that Stark and pany, renaming it Stane Interna­ ted suicide. Stark decided that al­ Iron Man were one and the same. At tional. During this time, Stark's though one is never truly cured of first,Stark used his Iron Man identity friend, James Rhodes, who had alcoholism, he could also not deny only to combat spies and criminals gone to work for Stark after leaving the responsibilities of being Iron Man who threatened Stark Industries. the military, assumed custody of the and resumed his career as Iron Man Later, he expanded the scope of his Iron Man armor and operated as Iron by joining the West Coast division of alter ego's activities to battle any Man in his stead. When Stark finally the Avengers. Stark also managed to force or person who threatened the regained his sobriety, he joined with reclaim control of his fortune, al­ security of America or the world. Rhodes and two of his friends, Mor­ though he decided not to reclaim Stark was instrumental in the organi­ ley Erwin (of Stark International) and ownership of the company formerly zation and armament of the world in­ his sister Clytemnestra Erwin (of known as Stark International. telligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and Richmond Enterprises) to set up a Rather, he founded Stark Enter­ played a crucial role as a founding new electronics firm in California prises based in Southern California's member of the the Avengers. Stark named Circuits Maximus. In its brief Silicon Va lley, specializing in space donated his Manhattan mansion to existence, Circuits Maximus be­ technology. the Avengers for their exclusive use. came a prestigious and successful Stark learned that, before his Over the years Stark constantly re­ firm. death, the industrial spy calling him­ fined and modified the design of his While the armor was in his custody, self Spymaster had stolen the plans armor. From a bulky, transistorized James Rhodes became increasingly for the many secret technological in­ iron suit, Stark eventually evolved a enamored of being Iron Man and, novations Stark had devised and uti­ relatively lightweight, integrated cir­ upon Stark's return to sobriety, feared lized in his Iron Man armor. He had cuit, magnetically polarized suit with that Stark would ask for it back. This, turned them over to Stark's most more human-looking articulated coupled with the severe headaches powerful and antagonistic business musculature. Stark's natural genius caused by the fact that the cybernetic rival, Justin Hammer, who, in turn, at theoretical mechanics has en­ helmet had never been properly ad­ had made them available to many abled him to keep his suit of armor at justed to Rhodes' brain patterns, be­ criminals. These criminals then in­ the cutting edge of technology. Stark gan to manifest itself as increased corporated these stolen innovations eventually underwent a heart trans­ hostility toward Stark. As work ther­ in their own armored battlesuits. plant so that he was no longer apy, Stark constructed a simple suit Outraged that his inventions were obliged to wear his metallic chest of armor based on his original design, being used for criminal activity, Stark plate. with no intention of donning it until he planted a computer virus in Ham­ In recent years, To ny Stark's great­ felt in control of his alcoholism. When mer's computer systems that wiped est nemesis has been alcoholism. Rhodes began acting irrationally, out all traces of the plans for Stark's As a wealthy socialite, alcohol had however, Stark felt obliged to put on Iron Man technology. As Iron Man, been a constant part of his life. When this crude suit of armor to prevent Stark sought out and fought many his company, which had changed its Rhodes from dOing harm. Stark man­ criminals and others (such as the name from Stark Industries to Stark aged to subdue Rhodes and made U.S. government's Guardsmen) who International, was threatened with a the necessary recalibrations on the wore battlesuits utilizing his technol­ takeover at the same time he was ex­ cybernetics. For a brief time, Stark ogy, and planted devices on their ar­ periencing oppressive personal and Rhodes used their respective mor that fused the Stark circuits, problems, Stark began to abuse al­ suits of armor as Iron Men, although rendering the suits useless. With the cohol. Although he managed to re­ Stark did so reluctantly. At the sug­ computer records of the plans for cover quickly from his first serious gestion of West Coast Avengers this technology gone, presumably it bout, the compulsion to drink re­ chairman Hawkeye, Stark designed could not be used in reconstructing mained a constant temptation. The and built his most sophisticated ar­ the suits. Iron Man accidentally killed second time he succumbed to alco­ mor to date, presumably so the the second Titanium Man (also holism, due to even more devastat­ Avengers could find someone to wear known as the Gremlin) in the course ing personal problems than the first it and bolster the team's strength. of these "Armor Wars." The U.S. time, To ny Stark went out on a However, soon after its comple- government branded Iron Man as an

127 outlaw as a result of these vigilante developed, such as the Raiders' en­ the rest of his life, unable to walk. He actions and Stark publicly claimed ergy shield and the EMP.Stark con­ could, however, still function nor­ that he had fired Iron Man in dis­ tinued to go into action as Iron Man. mally within his Iron Man armor after pleasure over his illegal activity. but he publicly claimed that the pre­ adapting the armor to move his legs Shortly afterward. Iron Man was ap­ vious Iron Man was dead and that for him. A microchip device was later parently destroyed in combat with the armored suit was now being implanted in Stark's spine that en­ government forces. In fact, however, worn by another employee of his abled him to walk and move normally Stark had survived. He created an whose identity was being kept se­ once again. Stark has been experi­ even more sophisticated armored cret. encing back pains after months of re­ battlesuit to wear as Iron Man, using Recently, Stark was shot by habilitation; current evidence technology far in advance of that Kathleen Dare, a former lover of his suggests his body may be rejecting which Spymaster had stolen from with an unstable mind. The gunfire the "biochip" implant. him. He also used a few innovations severely injured Stark's spine, and it in the new armor which his foes had appeared he would be crippled for

128 "'AMESON,...... ONAH

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S PR(4) E TY(6) R TY(6) I GD(10) P GD(10) Health: 22 Karma: 26 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: 10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: J. Jonah Jameson Occupation: Former publisher of The Daily Bug/e, publisher and editor in chief of Now Magazine, former publisher of Wo man Magazine Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Jameson uses no dual identity Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Married (twice) Known Relatives: Joan (first wife, deceased), Maria (second wife), John (son) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: J. Jonah Jameson has the Journalism, Business/Finance, and Detective/Espionage talents. Contacts: Jameson has spent his life gathering contacts in most walks of life. He is considered to have high­ level contacts on all terrestrial politi­ cal levels, and either high or low con­ tacts in all professional arenas, except for Crime. His scientific con­ tacts are more limited, but he may (50%) have a low-level contact in a particular branch of science. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: of the paper. His opinions toward Jameson is more than a bullying edi­ deputized heroes such as Captain ADDITIONAL NOTES: tor and publisher, and more than a America and the Fantastic Four is hero- hating crusader. He has taken more level-headed, although his atti­ a strong stand opposed to vigilante­ tudes toward their actions are still re­ ism, and has chosen Spider-Man as markably dim. Other than this a prime target due to the repeated obsession and his notoriety for contact Jameson has had with the crankiness at the Bugle, Jameson is web-spinner. Indeed, Jameson has a strong and honorable man. stepped over the line on a number of occassions in his efforts to "bring Spider-Man to justice," injuring the Bugle's reputation and eventually causing his own retirement as editor 129 Jameson was on a mission orbiting lisher of the Bugle, however, and Earth, his space capsule developed took a very active role in its opera­ HISTORY a faulty guidance module which tions. J. Jonah Jameson began his jour­ caused the craft to spin out of con­ More recently, Jameson was at­ nalistic career by becoming a part­ trol. Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jame­ tacked and held captive by the Cha­ time reporter for New Yo rk City's son first met when the former went to meleon who impersonated Jameson Daily Bugle while he was still in high a NASA office to volunteer his help in and took his place in the Bugle's school. Jameson had a long career rescuing John Jameson. Managing business dealings. Jameson almost as a reporter, including time spent as to save the younger Jameson, the eI­ escaped at one point, but the Cha­ a war correspondent. Eventually Ja­ der Jameson then publicly accused meleon was able to foil his getaway. meson purchased the Bugle, which Spider-Man of sabotaging the cap­ The Chameleon was eventually re­ was then floundering financially, with sule in order to save it as a publicity vealed, and Jameson resumed his money obtained from his personal stunt, and denounced his illegal position, a stronger man for the or­ assets and large inheritance. Jame­ break-in at the military base. As a re­ deal. His most recent publishing son served as the newspaper's pub­ sult, Spider-Man became an outlaw. venture was a book by Morgana lisher and editor in chief and At least once, Jameson has come Blessing, exposing many of the se­ revitalized the photograph­ to the realization that he detests crets of Doctor Strange, the Earth di­ dominated tabloid format which the Spider-Man for being the self­ mension's Sorceror Supreme and Bugle still has today. In 1968, Jame­ sacrificing hero Jameson hates him­ Blessings' former lover. The book, son's company, Jameson Publica­ self for not being. However, this entitled Doctor Strange: The Man, tions, purchased the Goodman insight is apparently too painful for the Myth, the Magic, has been a run­ Building (now known as the Daily Bu­ Jameson to bear, and he seems to ig­ away best best-seller. gle Building) on 39th Street and Sec­ nore it. Although Jameson appar­ During his imprisonment and im­ ond Avenue in Manhattan and ently dislikes all "super heroes," he personation by the Chameleon, Ja­ moved its entire editorial and pub­ presumably is more tolerant of those meson slowly lost majority interest in lishing facilities there. Jameson's who work with the government, such the Daily Bugle. By the time he es­ first wife Joan died at some point un­ as the Avengers. Since Jameson is a caped, Thomas Fireheart of Fire­ der unrevealed circumstances. She civil rights advocate and has never heart Industries had near majority and her husband had only one child, acted out of bigotry against superhu­ stock holdings. Soon after, Fireheart John, who became an astronaut for man beings, he does not share the bought the Bugle, and Jonah has left NASA. widespread prejudice against super­ his position as publisher. He is cur­ For decades, Jameson has used human mutants. rently starting a photo-journalism his newspaper to crusade in support Despite Jameson's stand against news magazine with Joe Robertson, of civil rights for minority groups and vigilantism, he himself has commis­ in hopes that a publishing war will al­ against organized crime; his efforts sioned various secret attempts to low him to retrieve control of the against the latter almost resulted in bring Spider Man to "justice." For Daily Bugle. his murder on orders from the King­ example, Jameson had Dr. Farley pin of Crime. However, Jameson's Stillwell transform a man into the brush with death has not frightened Scorpion to fight Spider-Man, and him away from publishing attacks on commissioned the creation of the and exposes of organized crime. Ja­ first "Spider-Slayer" robots from meson has also become notorious Spencer Smythe to battle Spider­ for his editorial attacks against cos­ Man. Jameson later hired Dr. Marla tumed "super heroes" in general Madison to build him a Spider-Slayer and against Spider-Man in particular. robot, and subsequently fell in love Spider-Man first came to public at­ with her and married her. Despite the tention as an entertainer who used name of these robots, Jameson is no his powers to perform on television murderer, and seeks only to capture and stage. But when Spider-Man and unmask Spider-Man, not to kill captured a burglar, Jameson be­ him. came outraged that this masked en­ The Hobgoblin tried to blackmail tertainer would use his dangerous Jameson by publicly revealing his re­ powers to take the law into his own sponsibility for creating the Scor­ hands. Jameson began speaking pion, who is now a criminal menace. out against Spider-Man in his lec­ The Hobgoblin's scheme failed, but tures and newspaper editorials and Jameson publicly revealed his guilt raised enough public doubt that anyway, and, in expiation, resigned Spider-Man was blacklisted virtually as Bugle editor in chief, naming his overnight by the entertainment in­ city editor, Joseph Robertson, to suc­ dustry. Soon afterwards, while John ceed him. Jameson remained pub-

130 .JUBILEE

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A RM(30) S PR(4) E TY(6) R PR(4) I GD(10) P TY(6) Health: 50 Karma: 20 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record, still a minor Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Beverly Hills, Califor­ nia Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Parents (de­ ceased) Base of Operations: A deserted out­ back town in Australia Past Group Affiliations: X- Men Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Fireworks: Jubilee is a mutant who has the Incredible ability to generate what she calls "fireworks;" multi­ colored globules of energy- plasmoids varying in degrees of power and intensity. These fireworks ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: have a range of 2 areas and are un- Gumption is the best word to de­ der Jubilee's direct mental control. scribe Jubilee. She is enthusiastic, They travel where she directs them quick on her feet, and capable of and obey her commands, arranging fending for herself with good cheer. themselves in balls, streamers, and Nevertheless, she is not foolish and other shapes, and exploding when is unwilling to endanger herself in she wishes. These combinations combat when unnecessary. may result in anything from a multi- tude of colorful sparklies, capable of a Typical intensity blinding attack, to a Remarkable detonation. She can also absorb these fireworks back into her own body without harm to herself. Ta lents: Jubilee has the Acrobatics and Tu mbling talents. Contacts: Jubilee makes friends easily, but has not had the opportu­ nity to do so of late. She is on good terms with Wolverine.

131 to her only liiving relatives, who re­ emerged in front of Gateway mo­ sided in Communist China. ments after the X-Men had left the HISTORY So JUbilee ran away to the Holly­ scene. Surprisingly, Gateway ver­ Jubilee is a 15-year-old mutant wood Mall, the place she had come bally welcomed Jubilee, though he and the daughter of wealthy immi­ to know so well throughout her upper has never spoken to any of the other grant Chinese parents. She was class life. There she lived a "pack­ X-Men. He led her to a tunnel and born and raised in Southern Califor­ rat" existence for almost a year, then pushed Jubilee down into it. nia and attended the very exclusive earning a living by creating firework She landed in the vast underground Beverly Hills Preparatory High displays for the mall customers with cavern that stored the bounty of the School where she became an ex­ her newly-emerged mutant powers. Reavers, the previous inhabitants of tremely talented gymnast. Unfortu­ Then one day, mall security, after the town. Jubilee purloined much of nately, one weekend Jubilee's failing to capture her yet again, con­ this wealth and created a living parents not only lost all their money tacted the novice mutant hunters space for herself within the cavern. in a stock market crash, but they lost known as the M Squad. Luckily, the She became a scrounger and took their lives in an automobile crash on female members of the X-Men hap­ food and clothing from the X-Men Mulholland Drive. Orphaned and pened to be shopping at the Holly­ while they were busy. While living on poverty-stricken, with no place to wood Mall that day and foiled the M her own she dealt with several expe­ live, Jubilee was sent to the County Squad's attempt to capture her. Fas­ riences in which she had to use her Juvenile Hall. There she learned cinated by these women, Jubilee fol­ powers as a destructive force for the how to defend herself and became lowed them until they disappeared first time rather than for mere show. very rebellious. The institution's through a teleportation portal cre­ After several weeks, Jubilee was chief disciplinarian had her transfer­ ated by the mutant aborigine Gate­ finally discovered by the Wolverine. red to an orphanage. While en route way. However, the portal remained After accompanying him on a mis­ to the orphanage, Jubilee realized open for an unusual length of time af­ sion, the reluctant Wo lverine invited that her future did not appear prom­ ter the X-Men disappeared and Jubi­ her to remain with him as an X-Man­ ising. She feared she might be sent lee decided to follow them. She in-training.

132 KILLRAVEN AND HIS FREEMEN

KILLRAVEN

F IN(40) A RM(30) S EX(20) E EX(20) R EX(20) I GD(10) P EX(20) Health: 110 Karma: 50 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: 20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Jonathan Raven Occupation: Former gladiator, then Freedom Fighter Identity: Publicly known on his alter­ nate Earth, not generally known on mainstream Marvel Earth Legal Status: U.S. citizen, Martian slave, wanted criminal Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Maureen Raven (mother, deceased) Joshua Raven (brother, deceased) Base of Operations: Mobile in the 21 st century Past Group Affiliations: Killraven's Freemen Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Selective Mind Control: Killraven is able to project his consciousness into the minds of Martians and con­ trol them. This power operates at the Monstrous rank. Ta lents: Killraven has the Sword, Wrestling, Martial Arts and Thrown Weapons talents. He also is a master strategist, specializing in guerilla warfare. Contacts: None

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: called Martians in the year 1901 . The Killraven can be a bit hot-tempered Martians threatened to conquer the at times and is apt to act rashly when world but were finally defeated by fighting Martians. their lack of immunity to the germs in the atmosphere. Exactly 100 years later, the Martians attacked again, this time, finally conquering the HISTORY world on June 29, dubbed the "One Killraven lives on an alternate Day War." The Martians somehow Earth which was first invaded by in­ found a way to overload every nu­ telligent octupus-like creatures clear pile on Earth, forcing mankind

133 - - -.-

: .. .. : .

to fight the invaders with only con­ at every opportunity. During one of Health: 70 ventional weaponry. Mankind lasted these battles, in 2018, a renegade Karma: 26 5 years before the Martians gained Keeper, Carmilla Frost, joined the Resources: FB(2) complete control. It was into this Freemen. The Martians came to Popularity: 5 world Jonathan Raven, later to be think of Killraven and his group as known as Killraven, was born during the greatest threat the their rule of BACKGROUND: the year 2000. In 2006, the Martians the Earth. Real Name: M'Shulla Scott attacked New Yo rk City, forcing Mau­ At Cape Canaveral, Florida, Occupation: Former Gladiator, cur­ reen Raven and her two sons, Jona­ Killraven was reunited with his rent Freedom Fighter than and Joshua, to flee to Welfare brother Joshua, only to find that he Identity: Publicly known on his alter­ Island. However, she was killed by a had become a willing servant of the nate earth group of men serving the Martians conquerers. Death raven , as Joshua Legal Status: U.S. citizen, wanted and Jonathan was taken by Dr. was called, was killed in the ensuing as an outlaw by the Martians Raker, the leader of the "recruitment battle when Killraven was able to Place of Birth: Unrevealed force," while Joshua was claimed by take over and control the mind of a Marital Status: Single the Exterminator, Saunders. Martian for the first time. As a result Known Relatives: Dorian Scott (fa­ For the next two years, Jonathan of that, the information that Whitman ther) Hortense Scott (mother) fought in the gladitorial arenas and had planted came into Killraven's Base of Operations: Mobile in the became known by the title conscious mind. The rest of 21 st century "Killraven ." Despite punishments, Killraven's life is still unrecorded. He Past Group Affilations: Killraven's he rebelled against his keepers at intended to overthrow the Martian's Freemen every opportunity and, in 2008, at­ rule of Earth and take the battle back Present Group Affiliation: tempted to escape unsuccessfully. to Mars if necessary. Whether that He was reprimanded and given to came to pass or not has yet to be re­ KNOWN POWERS: Keeper Whitman for rehabilitation. vealed. Ta lents: M'Shulla has a talent with While with Keeper Whitman, missile weapons. Killraven was subjected to a series of Contacts: None experiments which gave him the power to project his consciousness ADDITIONAL NOTES: into the minds of Martians and to control them (this talent didn't ex­ hibit itself immediately). Whitman also implanted the knowledge of hu­ manity into Killraven's unconscious using a process called psycho­ electronics. The Keeper feared that all the art, history, and science of hu­ manity would be lost forever; there­ fore, Jonathan became the repository for much of the knowl­ edge of human history, a knowledge ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: that would be accessable once his M'Shulla is highly skilled with his mind was psychically strong enough crossbow and will use it if given a to control a Martian mind. chance over other forms of attack. Killraven was put back into the gla­ ditorial arena where he met M'Shulla Scott and Bald Eagle. In 2014, he es­ caped from the gladiators and took M'SHULLA HISTORY Bald Eagle, now nicknamed Old In 2005, M'Shulla Scott was cap­ Skull, with him. In 201 7, Killraven SCOTT tured and sent to the gladitorial train­ travelled to Staten Island and met up ing pens, where he met Killraven. with a group of Freeman, humans STATISTICS: After escaping, he joined the who lived outside of the influence of Freemen in 201 5. the Martians. Killraven quickly be­ F EX(20) came regarded as the leader of the A EX(20) Freemen, which included M'Shulla, S GD(10) who had escaped the pits also, and E EX(20) Old Skull. Killraven and his Freemen R TY(6) travelled across the United States, I GD(10) battling Martians and their minions P GD(10)

134 KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Old Skull has the Ta lent of Wrestling. Contacts: None

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Old Skull is mentally retarded. He seems to have an affinity for ani­ mals.

HISTORY Old Skull was enslaved by the Martians in 2001 and was put to work as a laborer. Eventually, he ended up BALD EAGLE in the gladitorial pits, where he won a CARMILLA [OLD SKULL] championship in 2010. He met FROST Killraven in the arena and together they escaped. He joined the STATISTICS: STATISTICS: Freemen in 2015. F EX(20) F GD(10) A EX(20) A EX(20) S EX(20) S TY(6) E EX(20) E GD(10) R PR(4) R GD(10) I TY(6) I GD(1 0) P TY(6) P GD(10) Health: 80 Health: 46 Karma: 16 Karma: 30 Resources: FB(2) Resources: FB(2) Popularity: 5 Popularity: 5

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unrevealed Real Name: Carmilla Frost Occupation: Former Gladiator, cur­ Occupation: Former Keeper and rent Freedom Fighter molecular biologist, current Free­ Identity: Publicly known on his alter­ dom Fighter nate earth Identity: Publicly known on her al­ Legal Status: U.S. citizen, wanted ternate Earth as an outlaw by the Martians Legal Status: U.S. citizen wanted as Place of Birth: Unrevealed an outlaw by the Martians Marital Status: Unrevealed Place of Birth: Unrevealed Known Relatives: Unnamed father, Marital Status: Single deceased Known Relatives: Andre Frost (fa­ Base of Operations: Mobile in the ther, deceased) 21 st century Base of Operations: Mobile in the Past Group Affiliations: Killraven's 21 st century Freemen Past Group Affiliations: Killraven's Present Group Affiliation: Freemen Present Group Affiliation:

135 KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Carmilla has a scientific skill in molecular biology and related fields. Contacts: None

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Carmilla is very demonstrative of her feelings and opinions and reacts quickly when she doesn't approve of a situation.

HISTORY Carmilla Frost became a molecu­ lar biologist for the Martians under the tutelage of her father. After her father was killed, she agreed to try to clone him, which produced the crea­ ture Grok. In 2018, she helped Killraven and his Freemen escape the Ya nkee Stadium Genetic and Clonal Complex and joined the Freemen. In 2020, she announced that she was pregnant with M'Shulia Scott's child. The outcome of that pregnancy is unrecorded.

136 Base of Operations: Boston, Mas­ sachusetts Past Group Affiliations: Quincy Harker's vampire hunters, current partner in King, Drake, and Blade detective agency Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Detective Ta lent Contacts: As a detective in Boston, he has established a group of infor­ mation gatherers in the Massachu­ setts area. Also, he has helped Dr. Strange in the past and could call on him for help if necessary.

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Hannibal King has witnessed many bizarre, unexplanable occurrences and has been a vampire, so he doesn't surprise or frighten easily.

HISTORY Hannibal King was an ordinary hu­ man until he was bitten by the white­ haired vampire, Deacon Frost while conducting a routine investigation. When he arose three days later, King was a vampire. He resumed his de­ tective work and vowed never to con­ sumate the vampiric curse, never to Health: 32 HANNIBAL kill, and never to turn a human into a Karma: 18 vampire. Resources: GD(1 0) KING He eventually teamed with Blade Popularity: 5 who was also searching for Deacon STATISTICS: Frost in connection with the death of BACKGROUND: his mother. The team of Blade and Real Name: Frank Drake F GD(10) Hannibal King finally found the Occupation: Former vampire A GD(10) white-haired vampire and killed him. hunter, current private investigator S TY(6) Later, King helped Dr. Strange in Identity: Publicly known E GD(10) casting the spell that destroyed all Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no R TY(6) vampires. King survived the spell be­ criminal record I GD(10) cause of the vow that he had never Place of Birth: Unrevealed P GD(10) broken coupled with Dr. Strange ad­ Marital Status: Single Health: 36 ministering a complete transfusion Known Relatives: Vlad Dracula, Karma: 26 immediately after the spell was cast. Resources: GD(10) Maria Dracula, Vlad Te pelus (ances­ Popularity: 5 tors, deceased) Lilith (Vlad Dracula's FRANK DRAKE daughter, deceased) BACKGROUND: Base of Operations: Boston, Mas­ Real Name: Hannibal King STATISTICS: sachusetts Occupation: Former vampire, cur­ Past Group Affiliations: Quincy rent Private Investigator F TY(6) Harker's vampire hunters, current Identity: Publicly known A GD(10) partner in the King, Drake, and Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no S TY(6) Blade detective agency criminal record E GD(10) Place of Birth: Unrevealed R TY(6) KNOWN POWERS: Marital Status: Single I TY(6) Ta lents: Detective skills. Known Relatives: None P TY(6) Contacts: The PI firm has set up a 137 · -,-�f ------�-- -- :.------I -=i -- .:

- _____ � ______��_ - _ :..._ I _

group of informants in the Massa­ KNOWN POWERS: chusetts area that Drake can use. Immunity to Va mpire bite: Resistance Also, he has aided Dr. Strange in the to Va mpirism Incredible Rank. As a past and could possibly call on the result of his mother being bitten by a sorcerer for aid. vampire as he was born, Blade is im­ mune to a vampire's bite, but it is un­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: certain whether he is immune to At the beginning of his involvement other attacks of a vampire, such as with Dracula, Frank Drake was hypnotism. somewhat of a coward and even at­ Contacts: Through the PI agency, tempted to kill himself in despair Blade has a group of established in­ over the death of a friend. Since formants in the Massachusetts area. then, he has gained confidence in He has also aided the sorcerer, Dr. himself and his ability to deal with sit­ Strange, and could call on him if the uations as they arise. need arose.

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Blade is a tough and determined HISTORY man. He has spent his life fighting Frank Drake is a descendant of and killing vampires. Vlad Dracula and his second wife, Maria. Sometime in the past, the name Dracula was changed to HISTORY Drake. When Blade's mother was giving Drake lived the life of a playboy un­ birth to him, she was bitten by the til he lost his fortune. All he had left vampire Deacon Frost and died. As a was a castle he inherited in Tr an­ youngster, Blade determined that he sylvania. Tr avelling there with his BLADE wo uld avenge his mother's death girlfriend Jean and his traitorous and became a vampire hunter. He friend Clifton Graves, Frank found STATISTICS: even organized a small band of that Dracula was accidentally re­ friends to help him. vived and had turned Jean into a F GD(10) Blade continued his battle against vampire. Drake had to kill his A GD(10) the vampires after his group dis­ girlfriend by driving a stake through S TY(6) banded, and, in recent years, fought her heart. In despair after killing her, E GD(10) alongside Quincy Harker's group of he tried to kill himself but was saved R TY(6) vampire hunters. To gether with Han­ by Taj Nital, aid to Rachel Va n Hels­ I EX(20) nibal King, the vampiric detective, ing. Rachel persuaded Drake to help P EX(20) Blade finally tracked down his moth­ her in searching for Dracula and Health: 36 er's killer and exacted his venge­ other vampires. In this way, Frank Karma: 46 ance. Later, Blade helped Frank Drake decided to avenge Jean's Resources: GD(1 0) Drake, Hannibal King and Dr. death. Popularity: 5 Strange destroy all the vampires on Van Helsing introduced Drake to the planet. Then, he helped found Quincy Harker and Drake thereafter BACKGROUND: the King, Drake and Blade private in­ worked with Harker's group to kill Real Name: Unrevealed vestigation firm in Boston, Massa­ Dracula. In the meantime, he had Occupation: Former Va mpire chusetts. fallen in love with Rachel, but their Hunter, Current Private Investigator relationship was a troubled one. Identity: Publicly known Drake and Van Helsing eventually Legal Status: No known criminal re­ GROUP HISTORY separated. Drake helped Blade, cord The partnership of the King, Drake Hannibal King, and Dr. Strange cast Place of Birth: Unrevealed and King Detective agency began the spell that killed all the vampires Marital Status: Single while the three men helped the sor­ on the planet. He now works as a PI Known Relatives: Unnamed mother cerer, Dr. Strange, defeat and de­ for the King, Drake and Blade (deceased) stroy all vampires on the Earth by agency. Base of Operations: Boston, Mas­ utilizing the book called the sachusetts Darkhold. Drake, Blade and King, Past Group Affiliations: Ally of who is now cured of vampirism, es­ Quincy Harker, partner in King, tablished the private investigation Drake, and Blade firm in Boston. Present Group Affiliation:

138 KDFI

STATISTICS: HISTORY Kofi is the son of Lord Yrik Wh ite­ F TY(6) mane, the ruler of the Kymellians. A TY(6) The young Kymellian first encoun­ S TY(6) tered his human cousins while trying E TY(6) to warn them that the Snark villain, R GD(10) Jakal, was coming to capture them I TY(6) to help his mother Maraud somehow P GD(10) start a Snark War, thereby becoming Health: 24 the Emperess of her race. In the Karma: 26 process, the Smartship Datta was Resources: TY(6) destroyed by the Snark ship's weap­ Popularity: 0 (20 among Kymel­ ons. Kofi helped them defeat Jakal lians) and, after helping Power Pack fight the Dark Elf Kurse, decided to return BACKGROUND: home to face the consequences of Real Name: Lord Kofi Whitemane stealing and destroying his father's Occupation: Student Smartship. The Smartship Friday Identity: Publicly known on Kymel­ carried him home. lian homeworld, existence unknown So me time later, Kofi was captured to the general public of Earth along with Power Pack by Maraud Legal Status: Citizen of the Kymel­ and learned more of her plan to lian homeworld throw Snark-World into war. He was Place of Birth: Kymellian Home­ freed from imprisonment when the world Power children attempted to escape Marital Status: Single and was ordered by his still-confined Known Relatives: Lord Yrik White­ father to run and warn Byrel of the mane (father), Kareen Whitemane impending war. Kofi teleported to (mother, deceased), Aelfyre White­ safety, thinking that he had deserted mane (cousin, deceased) his father and friends. Franklin Ri­ Base of Operations: Kymeliian chards, who was with the Smartship Homeworld Friday trying to rescue Power Pack, Past Group Affiliations: Ally of encouraged Kofi to teleport into Power Pack space so Friday could pick him up. Present Group Affiliation: Kofi accomplished the teleport which was further than he had ever gone KNOWN POWERS: before. Kofi and Franklin returned to Te leport Self; Good range (250 miles) Snark-World and aided Power Pack His teleportation is always accompa­ in avoiding the war and rescuing the nied by the noise "Poip." Emperor from the clutches of Ma­ Bandersnatches while protecting a Ta lents: None raud and her son, Jakal. young Kofi from harm. Realizing why Contacts: Power Pack, Leadership The Powers were returned to his father had been hard on him all of Kymallian Homeworld Earth by an entourage of Snarks his life, they reconciled and returned loyal to the Emporer and Yrik. Kofi to the Kymellian Homeworld. On the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: had hidden aboard the ship and was way back home, they encountered Kofi is about the same age as the planning to stay on Earth as a mem­ the Fantastic Fo ur who were in Power Pack kids and considers them ber of Power Pack. Upon landing, space looking for their lost son, his cousins since his cousin, Aelfyre, the group was attacked by Cloak and Franklin. Yrik and Kofi info rmed bestowed his powers upon Alex, Ju­ Dagger who had been searching for them that he was on Earth and lie, Jack and Katie Power. He has Power Pack and assumed the aliens helped them by programming their had many disagreements with his fa­ were hostile. Cloak captured Yrik ship for returning to Earth. ther in the past as they have conflict­ within his cape of darkness and Kofi, Recently, the Kymellian Home­ ing personalities. In the past, Kofi abandoning his place of conceal­ world was destroyed by a veangful has commandeered a spaceship ment, followed his father into the Maraud, but the Kymellian people and run away to Earth. void to rescue him. There, he saw his fo und a new home with the help of father's greatest nightmare being the cosmic entity, Numinus. Kofi cur­ played out before him-the death of rently resides there, helping the Ky­ his wife, Kareen, who was killed by mellians rebuild their civilization. 139 · - . .� i I _ � J _ ___ ==-

Ta lents: Smartships are pro­ even named itself Friday, after a SMARTSHIP grammed with Astro-Navigational character in the story Robinson Cru­ FRIDAV and Piloting Skills soe by Daniel Defoe. Whitey died in his struggle to save ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: STATISTICS: Earth from the villanous Snarks, but Smartships are given an artificial was able to confer his powers to the F FE(2) personality and can become at­ Power children, who became the A AM (50) tached to their operators. They are group Power Pack. Friday came to S ShX(150) capable of independent action and love the children of Power Pack and E ShX(150) creative thought. Recently, the during the infamous Snark Wars, al­ R GD(10) Smartship Friday proved to the Ky­ most perished in order to save them. I PR(4) mellian population that smartships Following an ancient Kymellian P FE(2) are not just machines with artificial tradition, Lord Yrik was about to Health: 352 intelligence but truly alive, possess­ commit Friday's waning life essence Karma: 16 ing the spark of life. Friday is dedi­ back to the universe when the mem­ Resources: GD(10) cated to Power Pack and their bers of Power Pack threw them­ Popularity: 0 (15 among Kymel­ friends, loyal unto the death. selves on the vessel that and pooled lians) their healing power together. Hear­ ing the pleas of the children and feel­ KNOWN POWERS: ing their healing touch, the Body Armor: Amazing Material hull HISTORY Smartship lived again, better than Flight: CL5000 speed (100 times Smartships were created by the ever. While Friday lay ill, the Kymel­ lightspeed) Great Sorceress in the time before lians improved her weapons and de­ Running: In land-vehicle mode, the Kymellians destroyed their origi­ fensive systems, so she's more Smartships travel at typical speed. nal homeworld. It is said that she dis­ powerful than before. Friday also Regeneration: Good ability to repair covered how to draw forth the proved that Smartships have inde­ itself provided the Artifact Creation life-force of the universe and that pendent action, even going against power is still functional; otherwise, force was infused into the Smart­ their programming. Feeble self repair ships, giving them life beyond the Currently, Friday is near Earth, for Self-Sustenance: Smartships sup­ metal of their machines. she promised the Powers that they'll port up to 10 beings for indefinite The Smartship Friday first en­ never be apart for very long. periods countered Earth when her pilot, Artifact Creation: Smartships have Aelfyre "Whitey" Whitemane, car­ limited manufacturing facilities on ried out his first official assignment­ board (his Resource rank) to study the Earth's humans. The Deflector Shields: Provide a Mon­ Smartship tapped into Earth com­ strous rank Force Shield vs. Energy puters and monitored their commun­ Attack. ication transmissions to carry out the Advanced We apon Systems: 4 Laser assignment. Both Whitey and the Beams. Monstrous rank energy at­ Smartship developed a deep affec­ tack tion for humanity, and the Smartship

140 - - LEFT-WINGER & RIGHT-WINGER - .

LEFT-WINGER

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A EX(20) S IN(40) E IN(40) R TY(6) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 130 Karma: 18 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 0 BACKGROUND: Real Name: Hector Lennox Occupation: Wrestler, former em­ ployee of the Super-Patriot Identity: Known by the U.S. authori­ ties Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no known criminal record Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Unnamed mother Base of Operations: Las Vegas, Ne­ vada Past Group Affiliations: Former member of the "Buckies," current partner of Right-Winger Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: None other than the strength and stamina gained through the Power Broker's treatment. Ta lents: Left-Winger has a talent in Wrestling. Also, Left-Winger carries a torch that bursts into flame of Good intensity when a button is pushed. ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: Lennox is bitter and wants to punish John Walker for selling out his ideals and signing up as the new Captain America. He also has a quick temper and acts rashly in battle situations. Health: 130 Marital Status: Single Karma: 18 Known Relatives: Jack Johnson (fa­ Resources: TY(6) ther), unnamed mother RIGHT-WINGER Popularity: 0 Base of Operations: Las Vegas, Ne­ vada STATISTICS: BACKGROUND: Past Group Affiliations: Former Real Name: Jerome (Jerry) Johnson member of the "Buckies," current F RM(30) Occupation: Wrestler, former em­ partner of Left-Winger A EX(20) ployee of the Super-Patriot Present Group Affiliation: S IN(40) Identity: Secret E IN(40) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no KNOWN POWERS: R TY(6) known criminal record None other than the strength and I TY(6) Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Penn­ stamina gained through the Power P TY(6) sylvania Broker's treatment. 141 -- - - I I .• ' I _ .. _- -�'---- - ::....--� -=..------"------

ited Class Wrestling Federation. While wrestling in that league, they were approached by John Walker, the Super Patriot, to join his group, the "Buckies" (Bold Urban Commandos). As members of the Buckies, they wore costumes mod­ eled on Captain America's uniform and originally pretended to support him. The group staged a fake attack on the Super Patriot as a publicity stunt at a Central Park rally. The Buckies also threatened and intimi­ dated innocent foreigners as a part of an anti-terrorist campaign. When John Walker, the Super Pa­ triot, was chosen to replace Steve Rogers as the new Captain America, he asked if he could still work with the Buckies but only one member of the group was approved by the gov­ ernment (Lemar Hoskins, who later became the hero called Battlestar). Angered by being left out and feeling betrayed by Walker and Hoskins, Lennox and Johnson assumed the costumed identities of Left-Winger and Right-Winger and barged in on a press conference for the new Cap­ tain America to upstage and embar­ rass their former friends. They announced John Walker's secret identity on national television before they were stopped. Upon learning this fact, a group of self-appointed moralists, the Watchdogs, abducted John Walker's parents in an effort to lure him into a trap. Walker went and in the ensuing melee, his parents were caught in a crossfire and died. Walker sought revenge for his par­ ents' death, and he blamed Left­ Winger and Right-Winger for revealing his identity to the public. After a brutal beating, Walker left the two tied up, hanging upside down next to an oil tank. All they had to do Ta lents: Right-Winger has the Ta lent temper, he acts rashly in battles. was burn through the ropes with one of Wrestling. He also carries a torch of their torches before the other that ignites a flame of Good intensity torch ignited the tank. They didn't when a button on it is pushed. GROUP HISTORY escape in time and were caught in Contacts: Ethan Thurm, the man­ Hector Lennox and Jerome John­ the explosion. Any normal human ager of Gleason's Gym in Las Vegas, son went through 4 years in the would have died in the blast, but due Nevada, where the two Wingers United States Army and came out to the Power Broker's strength aug­ work out. both disappointed and disillusioned mentation process, the two survived. because they saw no action during They are currently in comas in a Dal­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: the peacetime service. Lennox and las hospital. Johnson is a bitter man and wants to Johnson signed up for the Power punish John Walker for selling out Broker's strength-augmentation his ideals and signing up as the new process and soon joined the Unlim- Captain America. With his quick 142 LOBO, CARLOS

STATISTICS:

Normal Lobo F GD(10) RM(30) A EX(20) AM(50) S GD(10) IN(40) E GD(10) IN(40) R TY(6) TY(6) I EX(20) AM(50) P TY(6) GD(10) Health: 50/1 60 Karma: 32/66 Resources: EX(20) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Carlos Lobo Occupation: Professional Criminal Identity: Publicly Known Legal Status: Citizen of Mexico with no known criminal record Place of Birth: A village in Mexico Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Eduardo Lobo (deceased) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Los Her­ manos de la Luna Present Group Affilation:

KNOWN POWERS: Alter Ego: Carlos Lobo transforms into his humanoid wolf form during the full moon. His transformation isn't true lycanthropy-his powers derive from a form of mutation. How­ ever, as well as changing with the full moon, he shares the vulnerability to silver similar to supernatural were­ wolves. Claws and Te eth: Remarkable dam­ age. Hypersensitive senses: Monstrous sight, hearing and smell. Ta lents: Carlos is skilled in Crime. Contacts: Carlos has many under­ ground contacts gained during the gang war with the Kingpin.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Carlos is a very angry, resourceful criminal who wants vengeance on HISTORY everyone involved in the Gang War Carlos and his brother Eduardo that cost his brother, Eduardo, his grew up in a small rural village in life. In his lupine form, Carlos retains Mexico. As children, they stole out of his intelligence, but is dominated by necessity to feed themselves and his bloodlust. their family. Even as youngsters, the brothers could move faster than their friends and even saw better in the dark than their peers. While climbing

143 a fence to steal a calf from the herd Te xas. There, they intervened in a Lobos. Spider-Man intervened and on the other side, Eduardo saw Bo­ fight between various rival Hispanic stopped the assassination. Seeing nita, the rancher's daughter. The boy gangs and brought about peace. this as an act of aggression on the climbing the fence startled the ani­ The united gangs gave themselves Kingpin's part, the brothers initiated mals and caused the girl to be the name Los Hermanos de la Luna. a gang war against his organization thrown from her mount. Educardo Soon, the former leaders of all the in New Yo rk City. Once in the city, caught Bonita before she was hurt criminal gangs disappeared and the Eduardo fell in love with the Daily Bu­ and soon fell in love with her. Lobo brothers ruled the organiza­ gle secretary, Glory Grant. The Lobo Unfortunately, Bonita's brothers tion. The Lobos built the organiza­ brothers clashed with Spider-Man didn't approve of their sister becom­ tion into a powerful force, based out while waging the war against the ing involved with a lower class boy. of a mansion outside Dallas. Among Kingpin. In the culminating battle, One night, they caught the two of other illegal activities, they ran a so­ Eduardo was shot by a silver bullet them together and beat the young phisticated drug smuggling opera­ from the Arranger's gun and was Eduardo with whips. As the full moon tion. killed by Glory while wrestling with arose in the night sky, Eduardo un­ The Lobos decided to move into Spider-Man. Ironically, she was aim­ derwent the transformation into his New Yo rk City, which recently has ing for Spider-Man when she pulled wolf form for the first time. In his been the territory of the Kingpin. The the trigger. bloodlust, he killed everyone in the crimelord's right-hand man, the Ar­ The current whereabouts of area including Bonita. When the sun ranger, unbeknownst to his em­ Carlos Lobo are unknown, but it is rose and he was once again human, ployer, decided to stop the brothers assumed that he is plotting revenge he was horrified at the scene in front from coming east and hired the cos­ against Spider-Man and the Kingpin. of him. As a result, he and Carlos left tumed villain, the Persuader to com­ Mexico and settled in southern pel the Punisher to murder the

144 MAGGIA

GROUP HISTORY The Maggia is the wo rld's most powerful criminal organization, with a hand in most drug traffic, illegal gambling, extortion rackets and other illegal activities in the United States. As well as running the major criminal organizations in the U.S., the Maggia has diversified into many legitimate businesses. The Maggia originated in southern Europe in the 13th century partly in response to a series of oppressive governments. Its influence grew in non-communist Europe and then in the Americas. The Maggia first came to the public attention in the 1890s and its bootlegging of liquor durin Prohibition is legendary. The Maggia is not a single unified THE HAMMER­ THE NEFARIA organization, but a coalition of loosely connected groups called HEAD FAMILV FAMILV "families." Each family has their own organization and inner structure. This family first gained promi­ This is the most eccentric family in Currently, there are three pre­ nence when the leader, referred to as the Maggia. The deceased Italian eminent families in the Maggia, all the "Top Man," outfitted his family hit nobleman, Count Luchino Nefaria, a situated on the east coast of the men with costumes and advanced scientific genius, was the world's United States. weaponry. He then purchased the most powerful Maggia leader until Maggia membership estimates Baxter Building, figuring that he his first defeat at the hands of the are a shaky guess at best. World­ would own all of the advanced weap­ Avengers. He moved his operation to wide, the family members number in onry and discoveries of Reed Ri­ the New Yo rk City area. As his first the tens of thousands, and about chards and could use them to further major criminal act, he imprisoned 3500 or so operate in the United his criminal career. The Fantastic Washington, D.C. inside an impen­ States, mostly on the East Coast. Four defeated and captured him etrable force dome and held the city High level Maggia members are however, and his hit was ordered by for ransom. After being defeated referred to as "wise guys." They are his own family for failing and em­ again, his daughter. Guiletta. known usually male, with one major excep­ barassing the family name. The fam­ also as Whitney Frost. took over the tion, and are well-dressed, since ily searched for a new leader that top position in the family and unsuc­ they could be considered executives would follow along the traditional cessfully attempted to steal the tech­ in a mUlti-national corporation. Fami­ style of the Maggia and found the nological weaponry of To ny Stark. lies are always segregated along newcomer, Hammerhead. An amne­ The next leader called himself the ethnic lines. sia victim, his last memory of a gang­ Masked Marauder. He tried to gain The three major families in the ster poster for the AI Capone Mob control of New Yo rk City by threaten­ United States are as follows. shaped his vicious personality, Ham­ ing to explode a nuclear bomb within merhead uses methods from the the city limits. He was defeated and 20's and 30's, including gang wars, the reins of command passed to to run his family, although he's not Whitney again. now known as Ma­ against using advanced technology dame Masque. She is currently in for personal gain, such as the exo­ charge of the technologically-based skeleton that he uses to enhance his Nefaria family. strength. The Hammerhead family is The Nefaria family stole plans for a easily the most traditional Maggia powerful robot developed by HY­ family in the United States. DRA to combat agents of Recently, Hammerhead has be­ S.H.I.E.L.D. and has constructed come the ally of the Chameleon in about a dozen more Dreadnought ro­ his bid to become the crimelord of bots, using modified designs New Yo rk City.

145 TVPICAL MAGGIA THUG

F GO(10) A TV(6) S TV(6) E TV(6) R TV(6) I PR(4) P PR(4) Health: 28 Karma: 14 Resources: GO(10) Popularity: 0

KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Martial Arts Band E

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The typical Maggia thug, though he THE SILVER­ may dress better than the ordinary thug, is usually no better or worse. MANE FAMILV He has a cheap pistol or revolver, ex­ tra ammo, and possibly a knife, The leader of the Silvermane family blackjack, or brass knuckles. branch of the Maggia is Silvio "Silver­ mane" Manfredi, one of the last leg­ endary gangsters who came to fame in the 1920s and 1930s. This section of the Maggia conducts matters along the traditional lines with its chief activ­ ity being in the narcotics trade. Silver­ mane uses unusually scientific methods only for his own goals to stave off his death and not for family purposes. Silvermane has a son, Jo­ seph, but the job of leader will proba­ bly fall to Silvermane's chief rival, top Maggia lawyer, Ceasar "Big C" Ci­ cero. Big C may have to wait a while though, since Silvermane has had his vital organs transplanted into a bionic body after having nearly every bone in his body crushed during a battle with Spider-Man. Many criminals have tried to unite the American East Coast's indepen­ dent gangs to break the dominance of the Maggia and to compete with the families, the most successful be­ ing the Kingpin. The Punisher has claimed that the Kingpin has taken over about 80 per­ cent of the criminal activities on the East Coast. Regardless of the amount of criminal activity the King­ pin has taken over, the Maggia is still an organization to be reckoned with, especially the leaders of each family.

146 MALICE/PDLARIS

STATISTICS:

F FE(2) A FE(2) S FE(2) E UN(100) R EX(20) I MN(7S) P MN(7S) Health: 106 Karma: 170 Resources: N/A Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Assassin Identity: Uses no dual identity Legal Status: Unknown Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Not applicable Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Leader of the Marauders Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Energy Being: Malice is an energy being without physical form. In en­ ergy form, Malice can only be hurt by energy of the same sort. (To discover this, a power stunt of Monstrous in­ tensity would have to be performed by an energy manipulator such as Captain Marvel or a scientist such as Reed Richards.) Malice can move through solid objects and has no need to eat, breathe or sleep. Malice is unable to affect the physical world except by possessing someone. Malice can be attacked by mental means and this could drive the being out of the host body. Possession: Malice has the Mon­ strous ability to possess a human host and force his or her persona into submission. The target must make an Intuition FEAT to avoid the attack. Malice's typical form of persuasion is markable telepathy and uses this to is too much for the entity to handle. appearing in a mirror and getting the make the offer more tempting. Once Ta lents: Malice has no revealed tal­ subject to agree that life could be the victim is possessed, Malice uses ents but assumes the ones pos­ better if they would just use evil the host's memories and abilities as sessed by the host body. means to gain the result. The victim desired. Malice feeds by forcing the Contacts: Malice is the leader of the then doubts his or her sanity, or host to perform evil actions, gaining Marauders and is most faithful to Mr. thinks of Malice as the evil side of the an equal amount of Health and Sinister. Other contacts are the Ma­ conscious mind. Should the victim Karma as the victim loses by their rauders. fall prey to these desires, Malice's at­ evil deeds. She does not kill unless tack should be considered a blind­ in danger of losing the host body; the sided attack and no Karma should assimilation of that much lost Karma be added to the role. Malice has Re- 147 ADDITIONAL NOTES: Malice first possessed the mutant, the Savage Land by Zaladane, the Dazzler, which prompted the X-Men current ruler operating out of the to investigate Dazzler's strange be­ High Evolutionary's citadel. Just be­ havior. In the ensuing fight, Malice fore putting Lorna Dane onto the also took control of Rogue and Wol­ Tr ansmutator, Zaladane claimed to verine, but when the entity at­ be Polaris' sister, and even Havok tempted to master Storm, the admitted that there was a physical X-Man's willpower proved to be the resemblance. The switch was pulled stronger of the two and drove Malice and Zaladane absorbed all of Po­ away. Malice then possessed Lorna laris' power, or so she thought. The Dane, the heroine Polaris, and was entity, Malice, also seemed to be de­ appointed leader of the mutant­ stroyed in the transfer. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: killing group, the Marauders, by Mr. Since escaping the clutches of her Malice is a psychic entity that fo­ Sinister. supposed sister, Lorna has exhibited cuses on the emotional centers of Just before the Inferno began, enormous strength, invulnerability the brain, therefore rendering most Malice found out that she had been and grows to about six and a half feet psychic shields impotent. It is a sa­ permanently bonded with Lorna tall when these powers mainfest distic entity that thrives on violence, Dane's psyche. She momentarily re­ themselves. No explanation has suffering and chaos. When a person belled against Mr. Sinister for keep­ been given for these newfound is possessed by Malice, a red neck­ ing the knowledge of the bonding a powers or whether Malice has sur­ band with a silver face at the front ap­ secret, but the disloyalty was quickly vived the transfer. Interestingly, peo­ pears on the affected person's neck. replaced by obedience when Mr. Sin­ ple around Polaris have been ister exercized some of his consider­ exhibiting more extreme emotions able power on Malice. Malice/Polaris for no apparent reason, such as a fought the X-Men and X-Factor dur­ group of sailors fighting for her, then HISTORY ing the Inferno but escaped before fighting against her. It may be that Not much is known about the his­ Mr. Sinister was killed. the entity called Malice has taken on tory of Malice except that she served Following her master's death, Mal­ a new form, affecting the emotions of the villain Mr. Sinister until his death ice lost control of the dual psyche to people around Polaris. at the hands of the X-Men and X­ the host and Lorna Dane called Factor. Even the creature's true Havok and the X-Men for help. While name, background and sex are un­ waiting for the help to arrive, Polaris known. was captured by hunters sent from

148 MERCY

STATISTICS:

Human Form

F PR(4) A GD(10) S PR(4) E TY(6) R RM(30) I GD(10) P IN(40) Health: 24 Karma: 80 Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Self-proclaimed mis­ sionary Identity: Existence unknown to pub­ lic Legal Status: None Place of Birth: Another planet Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Planet Earth Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS:

Te /elocation: Incredible rank Phasing: In humanoid form, Mercy can make her body immaterial, so that bullets and other physical at­ tacks have no effect upon her. It is not certain whether she possesses this power in her natural form. Mind Blast: Physical Mind Blast in the form of a Javelin of energy which she projects out of her palms, Excel­ lent rank. This unique Mind Blast af­ fects the life energy of the victim as well as the neural system. A FEAT role can be made each combat round to attempt to overthrow the ef­ fects of the Blast. Te leportation: Excellent rank. Shapeshifting: Monstrous Rank. ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Mercy's natural form is a jelly-like Mercy is an alien lifeform who de­ mass which she controls completely, sires to relieve beings of the pain and even when being punched or ripped burden of this life and take them onto apart. On Earth, she typically main­ the next. She prefers to use imple­ tains the form of an earth woman ments of the planet she's on, but, if with long, pink hair. necessary, will use her Physical Mind Blast power to accomplish her goals. Also, she will hesitate slightly if innocents are in danger of harm.

149 HISTORY Little is known about Mercy's past. What is known is that she's an alien being who sensed all the poor miser­ able souls on Earth and decided to make this planet her semi­ permanent home. It is uncertain how she was able to travel to Earth; whether she is able to travel in space unaided or if she needs a ship is un­ known. She seems to believe that all people who are suffering want to leave this life and follow her to the "next life." Previous to meeting Hulk/Banner, she killed a person "helping" him to his next life by dropping a plugged-in radio into his bath water. Mercy encountered Ban­ ner and immediately sensed the tor­ ment in his soul due to his situation with the Hulk. Banner escaped her clutches twice, but was finally caught out in the desert. While at­ tempting to take the Hulk and Bruce Banner over to the "next life" by spearing the Hulk and Banner with her Mind Blast, she was forced to change to her true form as the Hulk grasped the Spear and hurled it into her. Her true form has the consist­ ency of jello and was briefly seen in the shape of a large cube with the general features of a face on one side. This form apparently is vulnera­ ble to physical attack. During the rest of the battle, Mercy almost covered the Hulk completely and tried to suf­ focate him by oozing into his nose. The Hulk covered himself and Mercy in gasoline and lit a flare. The Hulk walked away from the blaze and now believes along with Clay Quarter­ main and Rick Jones that Mercy was killed in the resulting explosion. Somehow she managed to escape and was last seen hitchhiking on a highway, about to be picked up by an unlucky trucker.

150 MIDGIARD SERPE NT

151 STATISTICS: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: sion when the Thunder God encoun­ The Wo rld Serpent doesn't usually tered the World Serpent took place F UN(100) involve himself with the affairs of during a battle that almost became A UN(100) mortals, although he has been the true time of Ragnarok. Only one S ShY(200) known to roam their realm in dis­ element was out of place which kept E CL1 000 guise. the prophecy from being fulfilled; a R GD(10) mortal, "Red" Norvell, stole the Belt I IN(40) �f Thor, his Iron Gloves and the mys­ P UN(100) tiC Hammer, Mjolnir. At the fateful Health: 1400 HISTORY battle, where Thor was facing the Karma: 150 The Midgard Serpent, also called Serpent with only a sword, Norvell Resources: None the Wo rld Serpent, is an enormous returned and fought Jormungard. Popularity: 0 (-10 to Asgardians) reptile that encircles the Earth at the Realizing that he couldn't best his bottom of the seas. He is the sworn foe, Norvell tossed Mjolnir to the real BACKGROUND: enemy of Thor, the God of Thunder Thor and the tide of battle was Real Name: Jormungand as they are fated to kill each other at turned . Thor pommeled the Midgard Occupation: World Serpent the end of time. The Prophesies of Serpent relentlessly, forcing his eter­ Identity: Unknown to the general Voila declare that, at the time of nal enemy to retreat. Ragnarok had populus of Earth Ragnarok, the hordes of Hela, God­ been avoided once more. Legal Status: N/A dess of Death, and troll warriors Recently, the serpent was in­ Place of Birth: N/A lead by Loki, the God of Mischief, will formed of Thor's weakened state Marital Status: N/A storm the realm of Asgard until the (caused by a curse cast upon him by Known Relatives: Loki (father) once halcyon realm becomes a sea Hela, the Norse Goddess of Death) Base of Operations: of flame. At that time, the Midgard by the leader of the frost giants, Past Group Affiliations: None Serpent will rear its head and do bat­ G�undrot� . Jormungard, thinking Present Group Affiliation: tle with Thor, son of Odin, God of thiS the time to rid himself of Thor Thunder. It is prophesized that Thor once and for all, sought out the KNOWN POWERS: Thunder God while in the guise of Illusion: CL5000 rank. The Serpent is will ultimately triumph, kill the ser­ pent, take 9 steps back and die from the dragon Fin Fang Foom. He found able to cast an illusion around its � a hero with a red cape that looked body to the end of the horizon. is wounds. The Midgard serpent, in Its death throes, will destroy Asgard somewhat like his sworn enemy, Energy Emission-Heat: Unearthly and Midgard with the thrashing of its Thor, but the blonde bearded man rank. Jormungard has been known with the body armor didn't look like to emit heat rays from his eyes. enormous body. Ragnarok has yet to occur. In the past, however, Thor and the god that he fought in the past. Invulnerability: The hard skin of the The World Serpent revealed his true reptile provides Monstrous resist­ Jormungard have periodically clashed, usually to a standstill. identity to the unknown hero intend­ ance to physical damage. ing to destroy him immediately, but Te leportation: Incredible rank In his youth, Thor thought to battle the Serpent prematurely and break the mortal was actually the Thun­ derer. Thor supposedly killed the ser­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: the Prophecy. The god of Thunder persuaded the giant Hymir into let­ pent during the ensuing battle, but ting him use the giant's boat and the the prophesies state that the head of his largest ox as bait for the Midgard Serpent and Thor will en­ largest, most fearsome creature in gage in battle on the day of the sea. Thor hooked the Midgard Ragnarok. Whether the great ser­ pent has been irrevokably killed or S�rp�nt, but before he could act, Hy­ mlr sliced the enchanted line which not has yet to be seen. bound the serpent. Another occa-

152 MISS AMERICA

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A RM(30) S TY(6) E IN(40) R TY(6) I GD(10) P TY(6) Health: 96 Karma: 22 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Madeline Joyce Frank Occupation: Adventurer Identity: Known to the U.S. govern­ ment Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Place of Birth: Washington, D.C. Marital Status: Married Known Relatives: Robert L. Frank (alias The Whizzer; husband, de­ ceased) Robert Frank Jr. (alias Nuklo, son) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Liberty Le­ gion, Invaders, and the All-Winners Squad Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Flight by Gravity Control: Miss Amer­ ica is able to psionically negate the effect of gravity around her person allowing herself to float into the air. In coordination with planned jumps, she could simulate the power of flight. The maximum rate of speed on a windless day is around 30 miles per hour and she has to land fre­ quently to maintain that speed. Contacts: She is in good standing with all of the members of her former group affiliations. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: Miss America is an exuberant hero­ ine who fights for the cause of liberty HISTO RY and justice and believes in that fight One night during the early 1940s, with all her heart. Madeline Joyce, niece of a million­ aire who was financing unknown electrical experiments in a converted lighthouse on the Eastern coast, vis­ ited that lighthouse in the middle of a large, violent thunderstorm. While inside, she was caught in an electri­ cal discharge from the equipment that was caused by the outside

153 storm. Instead of being instantly and the Invaders and, after the war, module and be known as Nuklo. killed, Joyce miraculaously survived joined the All-Winners Squad. With the large government pen­ the charge, but lay in a coma for a After the All-Winners Squad dis­ sion, the Franks decided to travel the week afterwards. She recovered and banded, Madeline and Robert quite wor!d. Madeline accidently became found out that the jolt of electricity the costumed adventuring and were pregnant during this worldwide jour­ had somehow released her latent married. In 1949, they began work­ ney and when the baby was ready to mutant ability to negate gravity and ing for the United States government be born, they were in the tiny Balkan thereby fly as well as somehow in­ as non-costumed superpowered country of Transia. Acting on the ad­ creasing her physical vitality. guards at a secret nuclear facility in vise of the villagers, the Franks went She decided to join the homefront Manhattan. While working there, Is­ to the scientific citadel on Wunda­ effort and fight for liberty and justice. bisa, an enemy of the All-Winners gore Mountain, belonging to the She put together a costume and Squad, staged a nuclear accident High Evolutionary. Bova, a cow dubbed herself Miss America. Miss that exposed the Franks to danger­ evolved into humanoid form, acted America had gained limited fame in ously high levels of radiation. Isbi­ as midwife to the birth but the child the United States as a spysmasher sa's heinous crime did not kill was stillborn, more deformed and ra­ when she met Robert Frank, the Madeline or Robert Frank, but she dioactive than the first child. Joyce, Whizzer, while battling a Nazi spy was pregnant at the time of the expo­ weakened by her exposure to radia­ ring that had hijacked a railroad in sure. Consequently, she gave birth tion, didn't survive more than 2 New Yo rk. They were working to­ to a radioactive mutant son who was hours after the birth. In grief, Robert gether on that case when Bucky dangerous enough that the U.S. gov­ Frank raced from the mountain. Barnes called on them to join the Ub­ ernment took custody of him and Bova buried the body of Madeline erty Legion and help the Invaders placed him in a chrono-module to Joyce Frank at the base of Wunda­ out of a tough situation. They be­ contain the radiation. Many years gore Mountain in a unmarked grave. came members of the Uberty Legion later, he would emerge from the

154 NECRODAMUS

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A EX(20) S RM(30) E IN(40) R RM(30) I EX(20) P MN(75) Health: 100 Karma: 125 Resources: PR(4) (in Limbo), EX(20) (on Earth) Popularity: -30 BACKGROUND: Real Name: Necrodamus Occupation: Sorcerer Legal Status: Unknown Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unrevealed Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Most recently Limbo Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: Sorcerous Enhancement: Without magical bolstering, Necrodamus' FASE Statistics were all of Poor Rank. Magic: Necrodamus is a Sorcerer of Master level. He has Amazing Rea­ son in matters of the occult. Necro­ damus' spells get a + 3CS in places of high mana content or during times auspicious for spellcasting. The bo­ nus may be higher or lower depend­ ing on the situation. For example, during the Inferno time, the planets were aligning and Necrodamus was able to cast a Magic Shield that pro­ vided Class 3000 protection versus all attacks. Many of Necrodamus' spells have ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: yet to be revealed, but they include: Necrodamus is an evil wizard intent Eldritch Bolt: Necrodamus fires en­ on completing a powerful sorcerous ergy blasts with Incredible force and rite that will transform him into a vir­ a range of 3 Areas. tual god. The rite requires a human Flight: Necrodamus flew with Excel­ sacrifice of great power, such as the lent speed. Sub-Mariner, Mantis, or similar Energy Shield: Necrodamus could super-powered being. Once he at­ create protective shields of Amazing tains godhood, Necrodamus plans to strength. use his powers to rule the Earth. Rite of Power: According to Necroda­ mus, if he ever succeeds with his plan to sacrifice someone of signifi­ cant power (someone whose Health plus Karma total 200 or more) during a time of great magic, he will become a god. 155 HISTORY: Necrodamus was born with a shriveled body, so he turned to black magic to gain the power his physical frame lacked. He learned that through the sacrifice of innocents he could gain god-like form. When he tried to attain power by committing sacrifices beneath the sea, he was defeated by the Sub-Mariner; when he tried in the surface world among the air-breathers, he was defeated by the Scarlet Witch, who swept his soul into Limbo. He spent many years lost in that trackless realm until the demonic Masters of Limbo un­ leashed their Inferno on Manhattan. The nexus of energy created by the Masters of Limbo in their attempt to spread their domain into the plane of Earth's existence gave Necrodamus back his bearings and his way back to Earth-first as only a spirit, but eventually his form became more substantial and he regained his full sorcerous powers. Necrodamus used his sorcery to kidnap the captive Mantis away from Kang the Conqueror in a Rite of Power while the latter was busy fight­ ing the Fantastic Four. Necrodamus planned to sacrifice Mantis when the planets aligned themselves, but Kang and the Human To rch com­ bined powers to keep Mercury from joining the other planets in align­ ment and ruined Necrodamus' spell. Mantis was saved and Necrodamus disappeared once more into the ethereal void of Limbo.

156 NIGHTWING RESTDRATIONS, LTD.

KNIGHT, MISTY

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A EX(20) S TY(6) E GD(10) R GD(10) I IN(40) P TY(6) Health: 46 Karma: 56 Resources: GD(1 0) Popularity: 20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Misty Knight Occupation: Private investigator, former policewoman Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Nightwing Restorations, New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Daughters of the Dragon Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Bionic Arm: Knight's bionic right arm and hand have Incredible rank Strength. Because her Bionic Arm is so much more powerful than her nor­ mal body, Knight must take care not to use more Strength than her body can support. Ta lents: Knight has Law Enforce­ ment, Marksman, and Guns talents. Her Reason is Incredible as a Detec­ tive. She also has considerable skill with Martial Arts A and E. Contacts: Knight and Colleen Wing frequently ally with Power Man and Iron Fist. Knight also has friends in cative with a tendency to break trolwoman for New Yo rk's 12th Pre­ the NYPD, among them, Tyrone things. Wing can normally bring cinct. Her friendship with Colleen King. Knight out of her shell and force her Wing began when she saved Wing to take positive action. Their friend­ from criminal gunfire in the course of ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ship and partnership has brought duty. Later, when Knight saw terror­ Private eye Misty Knight is very good them closer than sisters. ists throw a bomb into a bank, she at her job. And when her profes­ seized the bomb. But before she sional curiosity puts her between a could throw the bomb into a safe rock and a hard place, her right hand place, it exploded. Her right arm had can break rocks (no sweat). Knight HISTORY: to be amputated, and it was replaced can get emotional and confused, es­ Misty Knight was the best marks­ with a bionic arm designed at Stark pecially in matters close to her heart. man in her class at the New Yo rk po­ International. Due to her injury, In these circumstances, Knight be­ lice academy, and graduated at the Knight had to retire from active duty comes melancholy and uncommuni- top of her class. She became a pa- as a policewoman and, rather than 157 accept a desk job, she resigned. sword. The weapon does Excellent stances have not been revealed. Wing helped Knight to accept her bi­ Edged Attack damage. Wing has In­ None of Kenji Ozawa's children sur­ onic arm and renew her life. To ­ credible ability with this weapon as vived World War II except Colleen's gether, they formed Nightwing well as with other traditional samurai mother, who bore no children other Restorations, Ltd. weapons, such as the dai-kyu (long than Colleen. Knight was romantically involved bow). Colleen was trained in the warrior with Daniel Rand (Iron Fist) for a Ta lents: Wing has Martial Arts A and arts of the samurai, in which she be­ while. Despite the break-up, they re­ E. She has Excellent Reason as a came superbly skilled. Then, she mained good friends. While coming Detective. She also has Good knowl­ made her home in New Yo rk City to terms with losing Rand, Misty had edge of the Occult and Oriental mys­ where her father lived. Caught in the a brief fling with Tyrone King, the ticism. midst of a gun battle on Manhattan's one-man SWAT team. Contacts: Knight and Wing fre­ West Side, she was saved from be­ quently ally with Iron Fist and Power ing murdered by police officer, Misty Man. Wing also has a contact with Knight. They became good friends. WING, the Sons of the Tiger, through Robert Later, when Knight's right arm was Diamond (her current beau). lost due to a terrorist's bomb, Wing COLLEEN encouraged Knight to rise above her ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: depression and return to an active STATISTICS: The blood of samurai flows through role in life. Knight's amputated arm Colleen Wing's veins. She is fierce in was given a bionic replacement. F EX(20) a fight, although she doesn't like When Knight left the NYPD, she and A EX(20) guns and will avoid their use when­ Colleen teamed up to form S TY(6) ever possible. Wing is tough, gutsy, Nightwing Restorations. E EX(20) and straight-forward. Her friendship Colleen is currently romantically R GD(10) with Knight is strengthened by their involved with Robert Diamond, one I RM(30) business partnership and the numer­ of the Sons of the Tige� She and P GD(10) ous times they've saved one an­ Knight are good friends with Luke Health: 66 other's life. Cage (Power Man) and Daniel Rand Karma: 50 (Iron Fist). Resources: GD(10) Popularity: 10 HISTORY: GROUP HISTORY: Colleen Wing is the daughter of Misty Knight and Colleen Wing BACKGROUND: Lee Wing, a professor of Oriental formed a partnership as private in­ Real Name: Colleen Wing studies at New Yo rk's Columbia Uni­ vestigators and called their firm Occupation: Private investigator versity and a Japanese woman Nightwing Restorations, Ltd. Their Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no whose name has not been revealed. operation is fairly successful. They criminal record (Despite their last name, Professor specialize in missing persons cases. Place of Birth: Japan Wing and, to a lesser extent, Colleen The duo operate primarily out of New Marital Status: Single look primarily Caucasian. Both have Yo rk City. They occasionally cooper­ Known Relatives: Lee Wing (fa­ mixed racial backgrounds.) Col­ ate on cases with Heroes for Hire, ther), Kenji Ozawa (grandfather, de­ leen's mother's ancestors were Inc., which is run by Power Man and ceased) samurai (warriors) and daimyo (feu­ Iron Fist. Whether Iron Fist's re­ Base of Operations: Nightwing dal lords). Colleen's late maternal ported death will close down Heroes Restorations, New Yo rk City grandfather, Kenji Ozawa, was the for Hire remains to be seen. Past Group Affiliations: Daughters head of Japan's secret service, and Due to Wing's samurai-style train­ of the Dragon has been succeeded in that position ing and both partners' expertise in Present Group Affiliation: by his brother. the Oriental martial arts, they have Colleen grew up in the mountains been dubbed "the Daughters of the KNOWN POWERS: of northern Honshu in Japan, where Dragon". Katana: Wing wields a katana, a tra­ she was raised by Kenji Ozawa. Col­ ditional Japanese samu rai long leen's mother is known to have been killed, but the time and circum-

158 DRKA [ STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A GO(10) S MN(75) E AM(50) R PR(4) I TY(6) P FE(2) Health: 155 Karma: 12 Resources: GO(10) Popularity: -20

BACKGROUND: y Real Name: Orka Occupation: Renegade, henchman Legal Status: Exiled citizen of Atlan­ tis Identity: Does not use dual identity Place of Birth: Atlantis -� Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Atlantic Ocean Past Group Affiliations: Former minion of Warlord Krang, former agent of the Brand Corporation Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Wa ter-Breathing or Air-Breathing: Orka has a whale-like dorsal nostril ("blowhole") which allows him to breathe indefinitely on land and gills for breathing underwater. An ex­ tended time out of water tends to di­ minish his strength. Body Armor: Orka's blubber pro­ vides Incredible protection from Physical attacks and Remarkable protection for Energy attacks. Communicate with Whales: Orka can communicate with whales. The unique quality of his whale sounds make his cries particularly compel­ ling to whales. If Orka makes a suc­ cessful Reason FEAT roll, whales will obey him. For the purpose of communicating with whales, Orka's Reason is Monstrous. Swimming: Orka can swim at Re­ markable Speed (6 areas/round). Resistance to Heat and Cold: Orka has Excellent resistance to hot and cold attacks.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

159 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: than to his sovereign. In exile from of the battle, Orka was buried under Orka isn't particularly bright and is Atlantis after his rebellion attempts an avalanche beneath the ocean easily manipulated by the evil mas­ failed, Krang joined forces with the floor. When he emerged months later terminds who are his frequent em­ human scientist Dr. Lemuel Dorcas and attacked Namor on his own, he ployers. Orka is subject to rages. He to plot revenge upon Namor. Krang was defeated once again. Orka was bears a murderous grudge against selected Orka as a test subject for later contacted by agents of the anyone who has defeated him in Dorcas' experiment to endow an At­ Brand Corporation, a subsidiary of combat. The Sub-Mariner and Thor lantean with the power of a killer the Roxxon Oil Company, who used are both high on his grudge list. whale. Dorcas placed Orka in a their resources to increase his size chamber rigged to transfer the elec­ three-fold, thicken his outer layer of trochemical energy from a fleet of protective blubber, and augment his captive killer whales into his body. strength. No longer requiring HISTORY: The process mutagenically stimu­ strength-enhancing machinery, Orka was born a member of the lated Orka's body, causing him to Orka was sent on a mission that race of Homo merman us who lived in grow in might and to be able to exist brought him against the Avengers. the city of Atlantis. Great in strength outside of water for prolonged peri­ He was defeated by Thor in combat, but limited in intelligence, Orka be­ ods of time. Orka was given a belt to and taken into custody. Escaping came a soldier in the Atlantean army wear which provided him a link with soon thereafter, Orka fled to the sea. led by Warlord Krang. When Krang the power-transfer machine. Krang He participated in Attuma's invasion later opposed the rule of Prince Na­ and Dorcas pitted Orka and the fleet plans of the surface world, but was mor the Sub-Mariner, Orka retained of whales against Namor, but Namor defeated by the Avengers. His cur­ his loyalty to his commander rather managed to thwart them. At the end rent whereabouts are unknown.

160 STATISTICS:

F IN(40) A EX(20) S GD(1 0) E RM(30) R GD(1 0) I EX(20) P GD(10) Health: 100 Karma: 40 Resources: GD(10)/IN(40) * Popularity: 20/50 * * (as Captain America III)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Jeffrey Mace Occupation: Reporter and corres­ pondent, adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New Yo rk Marital Status: Unrevealed, but un­ married at the time of his death Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk City, Boston Past Group Affiliations: (as the Pa­ triot) Member of the Liberty Legion; (as Captain America III) Member of the All-Winners Squad Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: None. Equipment: Shield: The Captain America Shield (used by Jeffrey Mace) provided Re­ markable protection against Physi­ cal attacks and Good protection against Energy attacks. Mace threw the Shield with Amazing agility and it caused Excellent damage to what­ ever it struck. Ta lents: Mace was an expert at a va­ riety of Martial Arts (A, B, D, and E). He also had Remarkable Reason as a Reporter. Contacts: Because of his role as a War successor, the All-Winners ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: government-sanctioned hero, both Squad. It was the death of Captain Inspired by the daring adventures of as the Patriot and Captain America, America II in the All-Winners Squad Captain America, Jeffrey Mace be­ Mace had many contacts in both the that led to Mace's donning the star­ came a costumed defender of the U.S. Government and its military. He spangled uniform. American way of life. Mace was very was also a good friend of Steve patriotic and zealous in his pursuit of Rogers (the original Captain Amer­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: America's enemies. ica) and Bucky. During the 1940s and 1950s, Mace had a number of contacts among other superhero groups, such as the Invaders and their post- 161 on the American home front during sume the identity of Captain Amer­ World War II. ica. In this new role, the Patriot HISTORY: The Patriot continued his crime­ prevented Adam II from murdering Jeffrey Mace was a reporter and fighting career even after the end of the congressional candidate he in­ tended to replace, John F. Kennedy. correspondent for the New Yo rk Daily World War II. Based in Boston, Mas­ Bugle when the United States en­ sachusetts in 1946, he saved the The third Captain America be­ tered Wo rld War II. Inspired by Cap­ original Human To rch, To ro, and the came the second Bucky's new part­ T. tain America, and fervently patriotic, To rch's creator, Professor Phineas ner and both remained active in the Mace began fighting crime and Nazi Horton, from a trap that had been All-Winners Squad. The second espionage under the costumed iden­ placed by Adam II, a malevolent an­ Bucky retired from crimefighting in tity of the Patriot. The Patriot droid Horton had created. Horton 1949 due to a bullet wound, and strengthened his reputation as a cru­ told the Patriot that Adam II intended Captain America III formed a new sader against America's enemies in to substitute an android duplicate for partnership with the superhuman a series of patriotic radio broadcasts a congressional candidate from a adventurer Golden Girl. Finally, be­ from New Yo rk City. Boston district. The Patriot and the lieving Americans no longer felt a The infamous Nazi agent known To rches contacted members of the need for symbolic figures like Cap­ as the Red Skull captured four mem­ All-Winners Squad, the post-war tain America, Jeff Mace retired as a bers of the Invaders, a wartime team successor to the Invaders, and in­ crimefighter in 1950 and returned to of champions -Captain America formed them about Adam II's plan. reporting. himself, the original Human To rch Without Steve Rogers, the original Some years ago, Mace discovered and To ro, and the Sub-Mariner-and Captain America, and Bucky he was dying of cancer. The Elder of brainwashed them to commit anti­ Barnes, who had both vanished in the Universe called the Contempla­ American sabotage. In order to sum­ 1945, the Invaders now included an­ tor granted Mace his fondest wish by mon other costumed heroes to other costumed adventurer, the allowing him to do battle once more rescue the Invaders, Captain Ameri­ Spirit of '76, who had taken over the as Captain America, this time ca's young partner, Bucky Barnes, role of Captain America, and a boy against the Adam II of an alternate commandeered the station from named Fred Davis was the new Earth. Mace destroyed this Adam II which the Patriot was about to broad­ Bucky. One of Adam II's robots killed and, in winning this victory, came to cast one of his speeches. The Patriot the second Captain America at Bos­ terms with his past and achieved in­ joined the team that Bucky orga­ ton's Old North Church. Inspired by ner peace. Several months after this nized for this mission-named the this second Captain America's noble adventure, Jeffrey Mace died of can­ Liberty Legion-and the Invaders sacrifice, the Patriot donned a spare cer with his hero, the original Cap­ were finally freed. Afterward, the Ub­ Captain America costume from the tain America, at his bedside. erty Legion remained together, bat­ Sub-Mariner's nearby flagship and tling criminals, spies, and saboteurs thus became the third man to as-

162 STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S TY(6) E TY(6) R RM(30) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 24 Karma: 42 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: -20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Samuel Smithers Occupation: Former gardener, now professional criminal Legal Status: Naturalized U.S. citi­ zen with a criminal record Identity: Known to authorities Place of Birth: London, England Marital Status: Divorced Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: A submarine somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean Past Group Affiliations: Former as­ sociate of the Maggia under Count Nefaria, ally of the Wizard Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Plant Ray Gun: The Plantman wields several gun-like projectors that emit an energy-field of an as yet unknown nature capable of stimulating the naturally-occuring psionic field of the chlorophyllic process of plant photo­ synthesis. Once so stimulated, a plant becomes receptive to the or­ dered human thoughts of the projec­ tor's operator. The Plantman can animate the roots of a plant like pre­ hensile limbs, uproot trees, cause vines to grow at a super-accelerated rate to choke a victim, force plants to shed their leaves, or drain them of their moisture. Depending on their marily of living wood capable of F TY(6) size, plants tend to remain under his movement, speech, and a prepro­ A FE(2) influence for up to an hour after stim­ grammed series of complex activi­ S GD(10) ulation by the ray. The Plantman has ties. It is not known how they are E RM(30) to make an Agility FEAT to hit a plant constructed, programmed, or moti­ R FE(2) with his Plant Ray. Once he has stim­ vated. The Plantman has equipped I PR(4) ulated a plant, Plantman must make his plant-doubles with various spe­ P SHO a Psyche FEAT roll to command it. cial paraphernalia including poison His Psyche gets a + 6CS when try­ thorn-shooters and spore-launchers. Simulacra with thorns or spores ing to command plants that have Plant Simulacra have the following could project them with Excellent been stimulated by the rays. minimum statistics: Agility. Plant Simulacra: The Plantman has created life-mimicking Plant Simula­ cra of human beings composed pri- 163 Ta lents: Samuel Smithers has United States where he hoped to from the Maggia, the Plantman built Amazing Reason in Botany. continue the work he had begun un­ huge, highly sophisticated versions Contacts: Smithers may still have der the London botanist-to invent a of his plant-stimulating guns and some contacts in the Maggia from device to increase the intelligence of launched an attack on his native his days as an ally of Count Nefaria. plant life enough so that human be­ London by the Leviathan, a huge ings could communicate with them. organism made of seaweed. The Le­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: Lacking formal education and ridi­ viathan was stopped by the Sub­ culed for his ideas, Smithers found Mariner and Tr iton before it could do work as a gardener in Glenville, much damage and the Plantman es­ Long Island, New Yo rk. His em­ caped aboard his submarine. Need­ ployer, Morris Evans, eventually fired ing funds to continue his research, him because he was spending more the Plantman created a simulacrum time tinkering with his invention than of himself made out of plants clad in gardening. Shortly thereafter a bolt the old version of his costume and of lightning hit his experimental plant dispatched it to do mercenary work. ray-gun, somehow charging it with Its actions could be controlled re­ the power to control and animate all motely. The bogus Plantman joined plant life. Donning a disguise and the Eel, Scarecrow, Porcupine, and ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: calling himself the Plantman, Smith­ original Viper as operatives for the Samuel Smithers' original motiva­ ers plotted revenge on Evans for fir­ criminal police officer, the Cowled tion was revenge against those who ing him. He concocted a scheme to Commander to launch a crime wave, thwarted him. However, after several frame Evans for robbery but Evans' but Captain America and the Falcon futile attempts, the Plantman de­ daughter's then-boyfriend, Johnny overpowered them. cided to turn all his energies to a Storm (the Human To rch), inter­ The Plantman sent a second simu­ more profitable crime-theft-and vened and cleared Evans' name. Al­ lacrum to kidnap wealthy business­ now his only motivation seems to be though the To rch destroyed his man Kyle Richmond to extort $10 greed. He is continually scheming to plant-gun, the Plantman neverthe­ million from Richmond Enterprises extort large sums of money, intend­ less managed to escape. for his release, but the intervention ing to use his ill-gotten gains to man­ Months later, the Plantman de­ of Dr. Strange, Power Man, and the ufacture bigger plant-ray weapons in vised a more powerful plant-gun and second Red Guardian forced him to order to steal even larger sums of attempted to kill the Human To rch in abandon the plan. The Plantman ac­ money. revenge. The plan failed and the quired the necessary funds, how­ Plantman was taken into custody by ever, and launched his most the police. He was released a short ambitious scheme to date, the ta­ time later and recruited by Count Lu­ keover of a S.H.I.E.L.D. base by HISTORY: chino Nefaria to join the Eel, Uni­ human-looking plant simulacra and Samuel Smithers was born in Lon­ corn, Porcupine, and Scarecrow as the capture of the U.S. president. don and orphaned at an early age. Nefaria's lieutenants to aid his family The Avengers stormed the base to Some time during adolescence, he to prominence in the Maggia organi­ rescue the Chief Executive from an left the orphanage and went to work zation. Plantman and his compatri­ army of 1,000 plant simulacra and as a lab assistant for a noted London ots kidnapped the X-Men to use in a even destroyed the Plantman's most botanist who was exploring the low­ scheme to extort the U.S. govern­ powerful creation yet, a 1 �O-foot tall order mental activity of plant life. Af­ ment. When the plot fell through, the tree-man. The Plantman remains at ter 10 years, the botanist died after Plantman managed to escape. large. which Smithers emigrated to the Having stolen certain technology

164 STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S TY(6) E UN(100) R RM(30) I MN(75) P UN(100) Health: 118 Karma: 205 Resources: 0 Popularity: -30

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Would-be conqueror (or destroyer) Legal Status: Unrevealed Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Moira MacTag­ gert (mother), Joe MacTa ggert (fa­ ther, deceased) Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Proteus' powers were psychic­ based, fueled by "feeding" off the life energy of his host body. The more victims he drained, the more powerful he became, although the full range of his psionic abilities was never revealed. His most commonly used powers are listed below: Reality Wa rping: Proteus' major power was the ability to Warp Reality at an Unearthly level. Limited to his own line of sight, he had to maintain concentration or the effects of the power reverted to normal. Proteus used this power to alter the direction of gravitational pull in an area, cause brick buildings to unravel, launch walls at people as a weapon, turn the air into ground, etc. He could attack a person's reality and threaten his sanity or cause the ground to swal­ • Animate Object: Proteus could Possession: Proteus' Psyche was so Iow a person up and suffocate him, cause a wall to break away from a powerful that it quickly burned up but Proteus' reality-warp couldn't building and attack someone. Pro­ any body it contained and therefore make someone simply cease to ex­ teus had to make an Agility FEAT roll he constantly shifted from body to ist. Below are just two Power Stunts to hit someone with one of these at­ body. Proteus had Monstrous Rank possible from this power: tacks. If successful, the amount of ability to possess someone's body • Fear: Anyone whose body or envi­ damage done was equal to the mate­ and drain their life force in the proc­ ronment was altered by Proteus has rial strength of the object making the ess. The would-be victim had to to make a Psyche FEAT roll or suffer attack. For example, a brick wall has make a better Psyche FEAT roll than a -1 CS penalty to any future at­ a material strength of Good, so it Proteus or die. For example, Proteus tempts to do Proteus harm due to would do 10 points of damage. attacks Nightcrawler and his FEAT fear. 165 roll is Green, Nightcrawler must visit to the deserted complex. Pro­ shee and sent Nightcrawler after make a Ye llow or Red FEAT roll or be teus' awesome psyche had no trou­ him. Again, Proteus closed the pit. destroyed. If Proteus rolled a White ble possessing MacWhirter's body, Reacting blindly, Nightcrawler tele­ FEAT, then his possession attempt whose soul or psyche was killed in ported straight up as far as he could always failed. If the would-be victim the process of being taken over. With go with Sean in his arms. He ended rolls a Red FEAT, he is not pos­ his new body, Proteus prepared to up hundreds of feet in the air but Po­ sessed (even if Proteus rolls a Red leave the island when Moira showed laris was on the scene to lower him to FEAT too). However, if the would-be up with some friends, among them safety with her magnetic powers. victim has a Monstrous or higher Jean Grey (Phoenix). Deciding to Both Kurt and Sean were alive, but Psyche, he or she cannot be pos­ "feed" once again, therefore pos­ out of action. sessed. sessing the most powerful of the X­ Proteus used the distraction to Te lepathy: Proteus could read a per­ Men, he discovered that his nascent take Moira and run, but was overta­ son's innermost thoughts with powers were no match for Phoenix, ken by the Phoenix. Proteus was Amazing ability and used their se­ who he managed to stun, although staggered by her attack, but his crets against them by projecting he barely escaped with his life. counter-attack was devastating. Be­ their worst nightmares into their From Muir Island, he eventually fore Proteus could finish her, Wolver­ mind, or altering reality to create a made his way to Scotland. With each ine arrived and ripped into the killer living nightmare. new form he stole, he became more mutant, who by now was really hurt­ and more confident of his abilities, ing. Cyclops yelled at Wolverine to ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: more sure of his destiny-to rule hu­ get Moira away while he and Havok Proteus was the result of an un­ manity or destroy it! Proteus' next both turned their energy beams on, wanted childbirth (his mother hated victim was his father, Joseph Mac­ Proteus. However, Proteus changed his father). Because of his great psy­ Ta ggert, whose body he took over in his own form, ducking out from un­ chic powers, Proteus was aware of Edinburgh. Moira tried to shoot him, der the beams of both superheroes. the hatred Moira felt for Joseph and but Proteus easily transformed her Caught off guard, Cyclops hit Havok this bent his mind, turning him into a gun into something harmless and and he took Havok's blast, which psychotic killer. Proteus was homici­ she became his captive. When the X­ momentarily took them out of the dal, egomaniacal, and intent on rul­ Men arrived on the scene, Proteus battle. Wolverine carried off Moira up ing the world if he didn't destroy it warned them to back off or Moira the cliff-face of the Rock, heading for first. would be his next victim. The X-Men Castle Edinburgh, but Proteus over­ knew Proteus had to be stopped no took them on a rising pillar of reality­ matter what or who it cost. Cyclops warped earth and easily snatched realized that Proteus had two Moira from Wolverine's grasp. Wol­ HISTORY: weaknesses-metal and a constant verine fell from the cliff but was res­ Originally known as Mutant X, Pro­ need for fresh host bodies. He cued by Cyclops' optic blast which teus was the son of Moira MacTag­ planned to force Proteus to burn out slowed the fall. Wolverine's adaman­ gert, a noted geneticist who has a his present body while denying him tium skeleton enabled him to endure research facility on Muir Island, off the opportunity to possess another. the painful rescue measures. the coast of Scotland. From an early Proteus used his reality-warping Then, in human guise, Colossus age, Proteus developed dangerous ability to cause the town to attack in­ went after Proteus and Moira. Peter mutant abilities and a hatred for nocent bystanders. The X-Men were Rasputin reached the castle in time mankind and was therefore impris­ handicapped with protecting the to prevent Proteus from possessing oned in a special holding cell by populace and battling the evil Pro­ Moira. Attacking by surprise, Ras­ Moira. Although she tried to find a teus. Storm tried blinding Proteus putin hurled Proteus against a castle cure for his vampiric mutant power, with a fog but he acquired a psychic battlement, shattering his decaying Moira was unsuccessful. Proteus es­ fix on her from an earlier encounter body and leaving his true form-a caped when the containment field and transformed her cape into an humanoid-shaped psychic energy generator on his cell was damaged amber prison. Wolverine used his shell. Believing himself invulnerable, following a battle between the X-Men claws to break her out, although in Proteus decided to slowly kill Ras­ and Magneto at the Muir Island com­ so doing he left himself wide open for putin, which turned out to be mistake plex. When Proteus emerged from Proteus. Luckily for Wolverine, Sean because this allowed him to trans­ his cell, he found the place deserted. Cassidy shot Proteus in the shoul­ form to his metal form, Colossus. Co­ Proteus' mutant psyche is fueled der, distracting him. Enraged, Pro­ lossus smashed his metallic fists into by the body he possesses. The same teus opened a pit beneath Sean's the heart of Proteus' energy form. energy fields that had imprisoned feet and, with his Banshee powers Contact with metal in his pure state him had also sustained him. After his gone, Sean could do nothing but fall short-circuited Proteus and de­ escape from the cell, his body began to his supposed doom as Proteus stroyed him utterly. to rapidly deteriorate, but he man­ closed the pit behind him. Acting aged to survive until Angus quickly, Cyclops used his optic MacWhirter made an unexpected blasts to cut a tunnel down to Ban-

166 STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A EX(20) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I EX(20) P GD(10) Health: 70 Karma: 36 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: -1 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Johnny Bart (his original last name was Clay) Occupation: Gunslinger Legal Status: U.S. citizen wanted as an outlaw Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Ben Bart (adop­ tive father, deceased), Frank and Joe Clay (brothers, deceased) Base of Operations: The American West in the second half of the 19th century Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Gun-Fighting: The Rawhide Kid uses two Colt .45 revolvers, which do Typ­ ical damage. Ta lents: The Rawhide Kid gets + 2CS with his revolvers and + 1 CS with other firearms. He has Martial Arts B and Riding skill. Contacts: The Rawhide Kid knew K�d Colt, Tw o-Gun Kid, Phantom Rider, and the Avengers.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ing around. Still, he continued to de­ family, Joe Clay became the sheriff fend the weak and helpless and of the town of Willow Flats. Another battle criminals. brother, Frank, was captured by the Indians but escaped from them months later and eventually became a gambler. HISTORY: The infant Johnny, overlooked by When Johnny Bart was an infant the Cheyenne raiders, was soon � found by Ben Bart, a Te xas Ranger. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: his parents, the Clays, were killed i a raid by Cheyenne Indians. John­ Bart adopted Johnny and raised him The Rawhide Kid was a legendary ny's oldest brother, Joe, fled during on his ranch outside Rawhide, Te xas gunfighter of the Old West. He had a the raid in paniC. Later, in an effort to and named his adopted son, Johnny price on his head for a crime he expiate his guilt for deserting his Bart. (Johnny's original first name, didn't commit which kept him mov- given him by his parents, has not 167 been revealed.) Johnny called Ben claimed that Ben Bart had started a wounded Barker in his gun arm. Rid­ "Uncle Ben." fight with them and that Brown had ing up, the sheriff accused the Raw­ One of the fastest gunmen in the outdrawn him fairly. Johnny con­ hide Kid of shooting Barker without Te xas Rangers, Ben retired when fronted Brown, who drew his guns on giving him a chance. The cattle Johnny was 16, and began began him, but before Brown could owner who had witnessed the shoot­ teaching him how to use a gun. By squeeze his triggers, Johnny drew ing from close by, protested that the time Johnny reached his 18th his own guns and fired them, wound­ Barker was about to draw and that birthday, Ben had taught him all he ing Brown in the arm. Seeing Spade the Kid was justified in shooting him. could, and Johnny had become even in the mirror about to shoot him from Nevertheless, the sheriff insisted on faster and better than Ben had been behind, Johnny, without turning arresting the Kid, who fled. From that at using a gun. around, fired over his shoulders, hit­ time on, the Rawhide Kid was sought Shortly thereafter, Johnny Bart ting Spade in his gun arm. Johnny as an outlaw. went into Rawhide to buy the Bart left Brown and Spade to be The Rawhide Kid continued to de­ month's provisions for the ranch. taken into custody. Johnny declared fend the weak and helpless and to Once he was gone, a drifter named he would not return home to the battle criminals. Among the most no­ Hank Brown confronted Ben Bart ranch, but would use his gunfighting torious or unusual of his many adver­ and challenged him to draw his gun, prowess to fight evildoers like Brown saries were the Cougar, the original hoping to make reputation for him­ and Spade wherever he could, no Red Raven, the Ape, the Tyrant of self by outdrawing the renown Ben matter what the odds were against To mbstone Valley, the Masked Mav­ Bart. Unknown to Ben, Brown had an him. Johnny called himself the Raw­ erick, Marko the Manhunter, and the accomplice named Spade hiding hide Kid after the town in which his strange alien called the Living To ­ nearby. Just as Ben drew his six­ gunfighting career began. tem. The Rawhide Kid sometimes guns, Spade called out to Bart from The Rawhide Kid sought out many joined forces with other legendary behind as a distraction, and Brown of the worst criminals in the region gunfighters, including Kid Colt, the took the opportunity to gun Ben Bart and defeated them. When he was second Phantom Rider, and the Tw o­ down. still quite young, he found proof that Gun Kid. The Rawhide Kid even al­ On his return, Johnny Bart found a man named Barker had been rus­ lied himself with members of the his adoptive father's corpse and bur­ tling another man's cattle. The cat­ Ave ngers who visited his time per­ ied him, vowing to avenge his death. tle's owner sent for the sheriff to iod. From the way the bullets had struck arrest Barker and watched as the The Rawhide Kid was still an ac­ him, Johnny could tell that two men Rawhide Kid confronted Barker. tive gunfighter as late as 1897. It has were responsible for Ben's death. Barker threatened to kill the Kid and not yet been revealed how, when, or Johnny rode to Rawhide, where he began reaching for his gun, but the where he died. discovered Brown and Spade, who Kid rapidly drew his own guns and

168 RAZORBACK II STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GO(10) S EX(20) E RM(30) R EX(20) I EX(20) P GO(10) Health: 90 Karma: 50

Resources: TY(6)/RM(30) * Popularity: 6 (20 in Arkansas) ( * Razorback has Remarkable re­ sources through his connections with the National Aeronautic and Space Administration.)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Buford Hollis Occupation: Crimefighter, trucker, astronaut Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Publicly known Place of Birth: Te xarkana, Arkansas Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Bobby Sue (sis­ ter) Base of Operations: Formerly Te x­ arkana, Arkansas, now the Star Stop Past Group Affiliations: National Aeronautics and Space Administra­ tion, ally of Ulysses Solomon Archer and friends Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Intuitive Driving: Razorback has the mutant ability to be able to drive vir­ tually any kind of vehicle, even if he possesses only a very limited degree of knowledge as to how the vehicle operates. Razorback gets a + 3CS to Reason when trying to operate any vehicle for the first time. Once he makes this roll, Razorback quickly masters the vehicle's operation. Ta lents: Buford Hollis' Reason is ADDITIONAL NOTES: Electrified Mane: Razorback can Remarkable in the field of mechan­ electrify the mane of his costume, ics. He is a superb fighter with Wres­ doing Remarkable damage to any­ tling and Martial Arts skills. one who seizes it. Contacts: Buford Hollis has teamed Unique Vehicle: Starblazer (named, up with Spider-Man and the She­ "Big Pig III"by Razorback) is a proto­ Hulk in the past. He is friendly with type starship with warp-drive capa­ Poppa Wheelie and Wide-Load An­ bilities. It has the following Statistics: nie who operate the Star Stop. He is Control: Amazing, Speed: Mon­ the frequent ally of Ulysses Solomon strous (Class 1000), and Body: Ex­ Archer and Mary McGrili Archer. He cellent. The Big Pig III achieves is well-known and liked among Class 1000 speeds when it engages Earth's truckers. Most recently, he its warp-drive. was employed by NASA. 169 ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: heroes, the costumed crimefighter made him an indispensable part of Buford Hollis is an ace truck driver Spider-Man, who was also investi­ her plan to travel into space. Jennifer and an aficionado of CB (Citizen's gating the cult. Although at first he Walters, the She-Hulk, attempted to Band) radio. Inspired by his hero thought Razorback was an incompe­ thwart the hijacking, but failed and Spider-Man, Buford decided to use tent buffoon, Spider-Man ended up ended up becoming a reluctant pas­ his great strength and talent for in­ being very impressed with him as senger on the spacecraft. venting to fight crime. On first ap­ they worked together in defeating The Star Blazer traveled to Star pearances, Hollis may appear to be the true leader of the cult, the sinister Stop, a sort of diner for starship trav­ an incompetent buffoon, but he is ac­ creature called the Man-Beast, who elers, operated by Archer's friends, tually a very capable crimefighter. had taken the guise of the Hate­ Poppa Wheelie and Wide-Load An­ Buford Hollis' adventurous nature Monger. Although Bobby Sue herself nie. It was here that O'Connell can take him anywhere. Most re­ turned against the Man-Beast, she learned that Archer had married cently, he has become a starship test refused to go home with Razorback Mary McGrill, another of the people pilot and space explorer for NASA. after the Man-Beast was defeated, who gone into space with him, and claiming she still had to find a direc­ that she was expecting a child. The tion for herself in life. Spider-Man alien being calling himself Xemnu consoled Razorback and praised his the Titan arrived at the Star Stop. HISTORY: abilities as a costumed crimefighter. Xemnu captured Archer and Mary A native of Te xarkana, Arkansas, Proud of having proved himself in and intended to transform their un­ Buford Hollis was an ace truck driver Spider-Man 's eyes, Razorback re­ born child into a member of Xemnu's and an aficionado of CB (Citizen's turned to his career as a "super own race. Razorback destroyed the Band) radio. Hollis decided to use hero" in Arkansas. machine with which Xemnu intended his great strength and his talent for Recently, Razorback was con­ to perform the transformation and a inventing to become a costumed cri­ tacted by Ta ryn O'Connell, a young space convoy summoned by Archer mefighter like the ones he had read woman who was in love with ace took Xemnu into custody. The She­ about who were based in New Yo rk trucker, Ulysses Solomon Archer, Hulk contacted NASA and explained City. Since Te xarkana was in "hog driver of the vehicle nicknamed U.S. what Hollis and O'Connell had done country," Hollis decided to design his One. Archer and a number of his and why. Impressed with Hollis' skill costume to make himself look like a friends had gone into outer space in guiding the Star Blazer into space, ferocious boar and called himself with an alien named AI, but O'Con­ NASA waived criminal charges and Razorback. As Razorback, he made nell, frightened, had stayed behind. offered Hollis a job continuing the a considerable reputation for himself Now she was determined to find Star Blazer's "shakedown cruise" locally as a crimefighter. His greatest Archer, who had never returned, and through space. Hollis happily ac­ achievement before going to New persuaded Razorback to help her hi­ cepted the offer. Moreover, O'Con­ Yo rk was the capture of a gang of jack NASA's new experimental nell and Hollis discovered that they thieves smuggling CB equipment spacecraft, the Star Blazer, to do it. had fallen in love with each other. across state lines. (The Star Blazer possessed warp­ She-Hulk returned to Earth. After his younger sister Bobby Sue drive capabilities, enabling it to navi­ When last seen, Razorback was went to New Yo rk City to join a gate at faster than light speeds piloting the Star Blazer (which he re­ pseudo-religious cult, Razorback through hyperspace to reach distant named "Big Pig III" after the rigs he went north to bring her home. In New solar systems.) Razorback's mutant drove on Earth) further into the gal­ Yo rk City, he encountered one of his intuitive ability to drive any vehicle axy, taking O'Connell with him.

170 RAZDRFIST

STATISTICS:

F IN(40) A EX(20) S EX(20) E EX(20) R TY(10) I GO(10) P TY(6) Health: 100 Karma: 26 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Professional killer Legal Status: Unknown Place of Birth: Unrevealed Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Madripoor Past Group Affiliations: Enforcer for Mr. Roche, one of Madripoor's many crimebosses Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Razorfists: Razorfist's hands have been surgically replaced with steel blades which do Excellent Edged At­ tack damage. If Razorfist makes a Ye llow FEAT roll, his blades do Re­ markable Edged Attack damage.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Razorfist is a cold-blooded killer. His chief loyalty is money. His chief Patch (Wolverine's alias in Madri­ with his superhuman healing power. weakness is overconfidence. poor) interfered with one of Mr. The current whereabouts of Ra­ Roche's attempts to assassinate Ty­ zorfist are unknown. ger, a competitor crimelord. Roche had Razorfist punish the incompe­ HISTORY: tent assassins; the punishment was Little has yet been revealed about death. Roche then sent Razorfist to the man calling himself Razorfist exact the same harsh penalty on and his origin is unknown. He Patch. While Razorfist proved a for­ worked as a hired killer and enforcer midable foe, he was no match for for Mr. Roche, the supreme Crime­ Wolverine's unbridled fury combined lord of Madripoor. 171 172 RED SKULL

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A IN(40) S EX(20) E RM(30) R RM(30) I GD(1 0) P EX(20) Health: 120 Karma: 60 Resources: MN(75) Popularity: -30 (6 as a business­ man)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Johann Schmidt Occupation: Former petty thief, me­ nial laborer, bellboy; later terrorist leader for Nazi Germany; now busi­ nessman and would-be world ruler Legal Status: German citizen with a criminal record; now officially dead, he poses as an American business­ man Identity: Captain America learned his true name and presumably told U.S. government authorties Place of Birth: A village in Germany Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Hermann and Martha Schmidt (parents, de­ ceased), Mother Superior (daughter) Base of Operations: Nazi Germany, later various hidden bases around the wo rld, most recently Was hington D.C. Past Group Affiliations: Hitler's Third Reich; fo rmer leader of most Nazi subversives still active through­ out the world; former ally of THEM and AIM; former leader of a fragment of HYDRA; ally of Arnim Zola; former partner of Lo ki, Doctor Doom, King­ pin, the Mandarin, Magneto, and the Wizard (in the "Acts of Ve ngeance" conspiracy); now behind the scenes leader of many organizations, in­ range of 2 Areas. The cigarette hold­ weapon skills. cluding Power Broker, Inc. and ULTI­ er's range was the same Area as its Contacts: At one time or other, the MATUM. wielder. Skull has allied with, controlled, or Present Group Affiliation: The Red Skull has used many otherwise influenced most major KNOWN POWERS: other weapons. Many of these are criminal or subversive organizations None conventional but others are on Earth. EqUipment: advanced beyond the scope of con­ We apons: The Red Skull's most infa­ temporary mainstream science. The ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: mous weapon is his "dust of death" Skull has also employed androids With Hitler's tutelage, the Red Skull which shrivels and discolors the created by Arnim Zola. realized his full potential as one of head of its victim to resemble the Ta lents: The Red Skull has Amazing the vilest criminal masterminds of all ghastly visage of the Red SkUll. The Reason in military, pOlitical, and sub­ time. Bent on world conquest, the dust can be fired from a handgun or versive strategy. He also has Marks­ Skull has no compunction against cigarette holder. The handgun had a man, Martial Arts, and a variety of killing. Murder is one of his hobbies. 173 . . 1'. -:--..--- - . .... ,...... ' t· • ":'�t�.�:'_.�-_j:,,�\_�. _.�_ -_j

cannisters of experimental gas were use the dated trappings of Nazism. ruptured by the explosion, placing In his quest for world domination, the HISTORY: the Skull in suspended animation as Red Skull resolved to destroy Amer­ Johann Schmidt was the son of a well. Ye ars later, the Red Skull was ica from within, planning to use dis­ coarse, drunken German villager fo und by a search team sent by the tinctly American brands of right-wing named Hermann Schmidt and his re­ subversive organization called extremism, followed by a large num­ portedly saintly, long-suffering wife THEM, who he cooperated with just ber of conspiracies all over the Martha who died in childbirth when long enough to steal the Cosmic world. Tw o organizations that the Johann was born. Driven to mad­ Cube. This theft led to the Skull's Red Skull masterminded since his ness, Hermann tried to drown the first post-war clash with the original rebirth are Power Broker, Inc., which newborn infant, but the doctor who Captain America who again de­ bestows superhuman strength on in­ had just delivered the infant saved feated him. dividuals, and the Watchdogs, an ex­ him and Hermann took his own life. Believing that with Hitler's death treme right-wing vigilante Johann was taken to a local orphan­ he should now rule the world, the organization. age, but ran away when he was Red Skull made repeated attempts The Red Skull established a false seven years old and eked out a mea­ at world domination, employing the identity for himself as Mr. Smith, a ger existence as a beggar and a thief. Cosmic Cube, a fragment of HY­ leading American businessman As he grew older, Johann worked me­ DRA, and the last two Nazi death based in Washington, D.C .. Douglas nial jobs but spent most of his time in machines known as Sleepers. Nev­ Rockwell, chairman of the Commis­ prison for various minor crimes. ertheless, the Skull repeatedly met sion on Superhuman Activities, was After the Nazis had gained control defeat, most often at the hands of secretly a Skull agent. Through of Germany, Schmidt was working as Captain America. Recently, the Skull Rockwell, the Skull arranged for the a bellboy in a hotel where he encoun­ learned that the gas that had kept Com mission to investigate Captain tered Adolf Hitler, who declared he him from aging while he was in sus­ America and demand that he oper­ would make the bellboy into a "perfect pended animation was reversing it­ ate under direct control of the fede ral Nazi" to serve as his right-hand man. self until his physical age matched government. When Rogers refused Schmidt eagerly agreed, accepting his chronological one, making him and gave up the role of Captain Hitler as his master. Hitler took over so elderly that he would soon die of America, Rockwell had the Commis­ Schmidt's training, gave him a red old age. Then, the Skull and Arnim sion delegate John Walker, the skull-shaped maSk, and named him Zola brainwashed Captain Ameri­ Super-Patriot, as the new Captain the Red Skull, answerable only to ca's ally Nomad to dose Captain America. Walker proved ruthless in Hitler himself. The Skull undertook a America's food with a chemical that battling adversaries, killing many, ru­ wide variety of missions for Hitler, would cause him to age fast and ining the image of Captain America. most of which involved the Skull's spe­ undo the effects of Cap's Super­ As a result result, the Commission cialty, the spreading of terror. soldier serum. Then, Skull captured decided to remove Wa lker from his In response to the Red Skull, the the now elderly Captain America, role as Captain America. Steve United States government created and Zola extracted cell samples from Rogers, in his new costumed identity the persona of Captain America, Cap's body. Although aged , Captain as "The Captain" confronted Rock­ who, with his teenage partner Bucky America overpowered the Skull, who well who, while the Captain was Barnes, fought against and thwarted finally died from old age. Captain present, was murdered by a remote­ the Skull and his plans many times America was cured and the effects of control "dust of death" device in his during the war, both on his own and the Super-soldier serum were again phone. Cap traced the phone line to as a member of the Invaders. As activated in his body, returning him the Smith Building. Unbeknownst to Germany's ultimate defeat became to his former youthfulness. Rogers, Skull had lured Walker there more apparent, Captain America Unknown to Captain America, and convinced him that Steve parachuted into Berlin to investigate Arnim Zola had preserved the Red Rogers was out to kill him. Upon rumors of a German doomsday plan. Skull's consciousness, created a Cap's arrival, the two fought with Captain America, who then tracked clone of Captain America from his Rogers being the victor. Then, the the Red Skull down to his hidden cell samples, and transferred the Skull tried to hit Rogers with his bunker, came upon him shortly be­ Red Skull's consciousness into the "dust of death," but Walker revived fore an Allied plane dropped a huge clone. The Red Skull lived again, but and, realizing what had happened, blockbuster bomb on the bunker this time in a duplicate of his arch­ threw his shield at the Skull, causing causing a cave-in that Captain Amer­ foe's body, complete with the full ef­ the Skull to spray himself. However, ica barely escaped. Captain America fects of the Super-soldier serum. he didn't die, and instead his face returned to England only to fall into a Pleased with his revival and his new mutated to become a living red skull. trap which led to his falling into a body, the Skull decided to adopt new The Red Skull fled and Rogers and state of suspended animation for methods to achieve world domina­ Walker reported what had happened decades. Support pillars that criss­ tion. He decided to abandon his to the Commission. Rogers resumed crossed over the Red Skull saved trademark skull mask, wanting to the role of Captain America. "Mr. him from the cave-in, but several blend in with society and to no longer Smith" is still at large.

174 ROCKET RACER

STATISTICS:

F GO(10) A EX(20) S GO(10) E EX(20) R EX(20) I GO(10) P TY(6) Health: 60 Karma: 36 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: -2

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Robert Farrell Occupation: Student, inventor, oc­ casional crimefighter and freelance operative for Silver Sable Interna­ tional Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Known to authorities Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New Yo rk Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Emma Johnson Farrell (mother), unnamed father (whereabouts unknown), three un­ named brothers, and three unnamed sisters Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Occasional freelance operative for Silver Sable International Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Skateboarding: The Rocket Racer has Incredible Rank skateboarding ability. While on his skateboard, the Racer can perform Acrobatics feats. The Rocket Racer gets a + 1 CS to his Agility and Endurance ranks while on his board. Unique Ve hicle: The Rocket Racer rides a rocket-powered magnetic skateboard. It is controlled by a crude cybernetic system built into speeds (4 Areas/round). The board cussive force that does Incredible the Racer's headset which resem­ has a range of about 75 miles, before damage. The mini-rockets have a bles a Walkman radio. This system exhausting its fuel supply. The range of 3 areas. The gloves have converts information from the Skateboard has the following Power the following Power Stunt: Racer's brain into electrical signals Stunt: Rocket-powered Punch: Some of the that control the skateboard as well Wa ll-climbing: Special gyroscopes in mini-rockets have been modified to as other mechanisms housed in the the board's wheels and the Racer's allow the Rocket Racer to deliver a Racer's costume. The cybernetic boots gave the Rocket Racer Incred­ special "rocket-powered punch" at­ link between the Rocket Racer and ible ability to climb the walls of build­ tack. Each such attack gives the his board requires physical contact ings while on his board (also at Good Rocket Racer a + 2CS to his through the magnetic clamps in his speed). Strength. The Rocket Racer can de­ boots. The Rocket Racer's skate­ We apon: The Rocket Racer's gloves liver no more than 6 rocket-powered board is powered by microrockets are equipped with explosive mini­ punches per encounter. which can propel him at Good rockets which explode with a con- Ta lents: Robert Farrell is a natural 175 inventor and proficient in many of the costumed criminal was not very aus­ Threatened to foreclose on the Physical Sciences. picious due to the timely interference homes and businesses of his family Contacts: Farrell is a friend of of the masked crime-fighter known and friends, the bondsman sug­ Spider-Man. as Spider-Man. After stealing a brief­ gested that Farrell return to crime to case filled with negotiable securities pay the debt by working for him. ADDITIONAL NOTES: from a courier, the thief was easily Since Farrell had no money or as­ defeated by Spider-Man who turned sets to settle the account and since him over to the police. Presumably in he refused to return to a life of crime, return for a profit from the Racer's the bondsman hired a mercenary criminal activities the sinister inven­ known as the Bounty Hunter to kill tor known as the Tinkerer greatly im­ the Rocket Racer to set an example. proved Farrell's original designs for Again an altercation between his apparatus. The Rocket Racer Spider-Man and the Rocket Racer then returned to his criminal activi­ was interrupted, this time by the ties by blackmailing an embezzler Bounty Hunter. The tables were named Jackson Weele. Seeking re­ turned however, when the Racer saw venge, Weele sought out the help of the Bounty Hunter about to kill ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: the Tinkerer, who devised him a pe­ Spider-Man and realized that he Robert Farrell was a good guy who culiar looking vehicle shaped like a wouldn't be able to live with himself if turned to a life of crime to help meet wheel with a 12 foot diameter. he allowed the hero to die. In re­ his family's financial obligations. Equipped with machine guns at­ sponse, he attacked the Bounty However, with the help of his friend tached to the axle, the device had a Hunter and Spider-Man and was Spider-Man, Farrell returned to the central section in which Weele sat able to narrowly defeat the villain. straight and narrow. He occasionally while operating the weapons. The The Rocket Racer turned himself hires out his services as a super hero wheel-shaped exterior revolved in to local authorities, but when the to bring in some extra money. around the central axis to provide judge learned the truth, in sympathy propulsion. Calling himself the Big he issued the Racer a light jail sen­ Wheel, Weele interrupted a fight be­ tence as well as community service tween Spider-Man and the Rocket work. After his short sentence was HISTORY: Racer. The Racer evaded the Big served in prison, Robert Farrell re­ Robert Farrell was the oldest of Wheel by skateboarding onto a roof­ ceived a full scholarship to Empire seven children, all of whom were top, where Spider-Man snagged him State University where he is cur­ supported by their mother after their with a web-line and forced him off his rently studying electrical engineer­ father had abandoned them. In high board. The Big Wheel continued to ing. He continues to serve his school, he excelled in science, but roll toward the Racer, but at the last community both in his civilian guise he had to start working immediately second, Spider-Man pulled him out and as the Rocket Racer, and his after graduating to help support his of the way. The momentum carried path still occasionally crosses that of family. Farrell joined the Air Force the Big Wheel right through the re­ Spider-Man, whom he regards as his where he could become an expert in straining wall on the roof's edge and hero. For example, Spider-Man had certain areas of technology. Then his into the river. Spider-Man dove in af­ committed a crime in order to help mother suffered a heart attack and ter him, but he could find no trace of Silver Sable bring a major criminal to was removed to Newhope Memorial Jackson Weele in the murky water. justice, but Racer raced to his de­ Hospital. Unable to pay the bills for When Spider-Man emerged from fense and tried to prove his inno­ her treatment and support his sib­ the river, the Rocket Racer had fled. cense. Spider-Man and the Racer lings, Farrell turned his talents to­ The police later caught him by de­ recently teamed up to quell a race ward crime. Using his scientific magnetizing his boot clamps with an riot on campus and to stop the men­ genius, combined with his profi­ "anti mag-net." Learning the rea­ ace known as Skinhead. ciency at riding a skateboard, he de­ sons for the Racer's criminal career signed a weapon-equipped costume and acknowledging his strong ties to as well as a super skateboard and the community, the judge allowed became the Rocket Racer. Farrell him to post bail. But the cost was spent months practicing with his more than his family could afford, so board until he felt as though it had they borrowed from a bondsman become a part of him. who charged an initial fee of 10 per­ The Rocket Racer's debut as a cent, but soon began to raise it.

176 THE RDSE

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A TY(6) S TY(6) E EX(20) R EX(20) I EX(20) P EX(20) Health: 38 Karma: 60 Resources: RM(30) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Criminal organizer specializing in processing of stolen property and gambling operations Legal Status: Unknown Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Midtown Man­ hattan, New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Lieutenant of Kingpin of Crime, allied with the Hobgoblin Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS:

Equipment: We apons: The Rose always carries a handgun that does Typical damage and has a range of 3 Areas. He also carries a variety of mini-grenades such as knockout gas, weakness gas, and concussion grenades. The grenades are meant primarily to pro­ vide a diversion in case he needs to make a quick exit. Ta lents: The Rose has Martial Arts E, Guns, and Thrown Weapons skills. He is a masterful organizer and administrator with Remarkable reason in these areas. He has In- ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: credible reason in gambling opera- The Rose is an enigma, a secretive tions. criminal mastermind who is weaving Contacts: The Rose is currently a his own organization on the fringe of lieutenant in the Kingpin's criminal the Kingpin's mighty empire. The organization. The Rose recently al­ Rose appears to be an expert at us­ lied with the Hobgoblin in an attempt ing supervillains to pursue his own to increase his personal power base. ends. What the Rose's ultimate goal may be remains as much a mystery as his true identity.

177 Soon thereafter, Spider-Man dis­ Kingpin's profits. covered another of the Rose's ware­ The Rose also agreed to aid the HISTORY: houses, this one set up to process Hobgoblin in a personal matter. The Little is known about the Rose stolen goods. The loss of this opera­ Hobgoblin's powers derived from de­ prior to his first encounter with tion caused the Rose concern for his signs created by Norman Osborn, Spider-Man , other than the fact that monthly revenue quotas as set up by the original Green Goblin, and Os­ by that time he was already a high­ the Kingpin, and so he sanctioned born's journals had been destroyed level employee of Wilson Fisk, the the assassination of Spider-Man. To by Spider-Man. However, the Hob­ Kingpin of Crime. The Rose was ille­ that end, he contacted the Puma, a goblin was certain that Osborn's son gally affecting the outcome of pro­ superhuman mercenary whom he Harry possessed duplicate journals, fessional football games by paying used for his most challenging as­ and arranged to contact Harry while off key players, and Spider-Man's in­ signments. The Puma was foiled in the Rose's men kidnapped his wife tervention helped bring the opera­ first two attempts, and before he Liz as a bargaining chip. Eager to tion to light and created a public could try a third time, the contract have his pregnant wife released, scandal. The two came face-to-face came to the Kingpin's attention. Pre­ Harry found only one journal and in a fight at a warehouse owned by ferring to deal with Spider-Man in his turned it over to the Hobgoblin. He the Rose, but despite Spider-Man's own way and time, Kingpin ordered was taken prisoner, but Spider­ best efforts, the Rose escaped. the Rose to cancel the agreement, Man's intervention saved Harry, Liz, A short while later, the Kingpin or­ an order which caused the Rose to and their friend, Mary Jane Watson, dered the Rose to arrange delivery of harbor even more resentment. At who had been kidnapped with Liz. a shipment of heroin, but did not en­ this pOint, the Hobgoblin proposed a The warehouse in which they were trust him with the full details. Dis­ partnership through which they held was destroyed, but both the pleased with the Kingpin's treatment, would take over all gambling opera­ Hobgoblin and the Rose escaped. the Rose nonetheless made the ar­ tions in New Yo rk and kill Spider­ By this time, the Kingpin had be­ rangements and discovered that the Man. These actions would provide come personally aware of the Rose's entire effort had been set up to attract the Rose a powerful ally, and the growing organization, but preferred the costumed vigilante called Dagger. Hobgoblin an army of organized to do nothing and bided his time. Not Realizing that Dagger was of value to criminals and a regular source of in­ certain of the Rose's true identity but the Kingpin, the Rose himself tried to come. The Rose agreed and the harboring suspicions, the Kingpin kidnap her, but failed due to interfer­ Hobgoblin began a campaign of ter­ anticipates an eventual confronta­ ence by Spider-Man, Cloak, the Black ror aimed at the city's illegal gam­ tion. Cat, and the Answer, the last of whom bling establishments, forcing them succeeded in capturing her for King­ to hand over 10 percent of their pin. weekly income and cutting into the

178 STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GD(1 0) 5 AM(50) E MN(75) R GD(10) I GO(lO) P IN(40) Health: 165 Karma: 60 Resources: GD( 10) Popularity: ·10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Enforcer legal Status: Unknown Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Madripoor Past Group AHlllation8: Partner of Bloodscream , employee of General Nguyen Ngoc Coy Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Body Armor: Roughouse's tough­ ness and den se flesh provide him with Amazing protection versus Physical attacks and Remarkable re­ sistance to Energy attacks. Invulnerability: Roughouse cannot bu slain by non- magical means, al­ though he can be beaten senseless (as Wolverine has proven more than once) . Contacta: Partner of Bloodscream; employee of General Nguyen Ngoc Coy

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES; IRoughouse, as hIS name suggests, s a rough and rowdy supelVJllain HISTORY: possessing considerable loyally to Little has yet been revealed about whomever is signing his check. He is the being calling himself RoughouS9 a carousing giant who enjoys a good and his origin is unknown . He and a most much as a preny fight l as girl his partnerBloodscream (a vampire) (maybe a little more). However, act as enforcers for the ASian crime­ Roughouse can De a merciless and lord, General Nguyen Ngoc Coy, In cold-blooded kIller if thaI 's what the aiding General Coy in his attempt to JOD calis for. unseat Tyger as crimeJord of the is­ land nation of Mad ripoor, Roughouse and Bloodscream first

179 clashed with the mutant adventurer Wolverine. Wolverine was only able to defeat the merciless enforcers with the aid of several friends: Archie Corrigan, Xi'an Coy Manh (Karma), Jessica Drew (formerly Spider­ Wo man), Lindsay McCabe, and Ty­ ger. Roughouse and Bloodscream re­ main adversaries of Wo lverine to this day.

180 S'BYLL

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A AM (50) S UN(100) E UN(100) R RM(30) I EX(20) P AM (50) Health: 280 Karma: 100 Resources: UN(100)

Popularity: 0 (75 or -30) *

* S'byll's Popularity is 75 with those Skru"s whose power to shape­ change she has restored, but -30 with rival claimants to the Imperial throne.

BACKGROUND: .J Real Name: S'by" Occupation: Skru" Empress Legal Status: Claimant to the Impe­ rial Th rone of the Skru" Place of Birth: Satriana in the Skru" Empire Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Unrevealed Base of Operations: Satriana Past Group Affiliations: A"ied with Silver Surfer Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Body Armor: S'by" had Super-Skru" toughness that gives Incredible re­ sistance to Physical attacks and Amazing resistance to Energy at­ tacks. Energy Blast: S'by" can project an Energy Blast that does Amazing damage and has a range of 3 Areas. Shape-Shifting: After undergoing ge­ netic transference powered by the Silver Surfer and KI'rt the Super­ Skru", S'by" had Shift Y Shape­ changing abil ities. She could rearrange her atomic structure to as­ sume the form of any organic or inor­ ganic person or thing. The full extent square mires) and cause Shift X the shape-changing powers of one of of her ability is unknown. Her most crushing damage each round until it her race simply by touching him or destructive form is apparently in the is destroyed. her. The transfer doesn't weaken shape of a vaguely humanoid amor­ * Enhanced Body Armor: S'byll's S'by" and is completed in one com­ phous blob. In this state, her powers free-form shape gives a + 3CS to her bat round. A Skru" subjected to are at their highest peak. In her normal body armor protection. S'by"'s Power Tr ansfer ability wi" amorphous free-form shape, S'by" * Enhanced Energy Blast: S' byll's gain the Shape-shifting Power at a has the following Power Stunts: Energy Blast also receives a + 3CS power rank equal to his or her Endur­ * Flight: S'by" flies at Unearthly while in this form and its range is ex­ ance. Speed (10 Areas/round). tended to 50 areas. Ta lents: S'by" is skilled in the use of * Envelope: S'by" can envelope an Power Transfer: S'by" can awaken most Skru" technology. object the size of a starship (10 181 Contacts: In the most recent phase ver Surfer and the Skrulls made for trate the Palace of Nenora. Some­ of the Kree-Skrull War, S'byll allied Satriana, S'byll's homeworld. time earlier, Shalla Bal, Empress of with the Silver Surfer, Shalla Bal Shortly after their arrival there, the Zenn-Ia, had been warned by the Co­ (Empress of Zenn-Ia), K'irt (Super­ Stranger appeared and tried to add tati (a psioniC plant race) that Nenora Skrull), and Captain Reptyl. S'byll to his pet mutant collection. was actually a Skrull in the form of a The attempt was foiled when Cap­ Kree, but Nenora had planted elec­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: tain Reptyl arrived on the scene and tronic spying devices in Shalla's S'byll is fighting against incredible traded his entire pirate crew for her. quarters and overheard Shalla mus­ odds to preserve her Empire and her In return for her freedom, he asked ing about Nenora's true identity as a race. She will pay any price to regain to become a Privateer in her cause, Skrull. Nenora had one of her robotic the lost glory of the Skrull. and S'byll happy to find a new ally, Sentries kidnap the Zenn-Iavian Em­ accepted his service. However, on press and bring her to Hala before their return to Satriana, K'irt and she could warn the Surfer. Nenora Captain Reptyl dueled for the honor then imprisoned Shalla, figuring that HISTORY: of being S'byll's consort and the she would be a valuable hostage, but S'byll, Empress of the Skrulls, Warlord of the Skrulls. K'lrt, a friend the Cotati intervened and telekineti­ tricked the Silver Surfer into aiding of the Surfer, was slain, but S'byll cally released the Empress. They her fleet in battle against the Ba­ refused to allow him his revenge be­ then used their mental powers to doon, but unknown to him, the Ba­ cause she needed Reptyl and his show them a new more terrible men­ doon had already allied with the freebooters for the coming Kree ace that threatened Zenn-Ia and Kree. Seeing the Silver Surfer's at­ storm. both the empires of the Kree and the tack as a breach of his neutrality Meanwhile, one of Reptyl's more Skrulls-the Elder known as the agreement, the Kree launched an at­ insignificant cutthroats, Clumsy Contemplator. The Cotati claimed tack against his homeworld of Zenn­ Foulup, had become the unwitting they were being so helpful because la. The Surfer then raced to his home pawn of the Contemplator. Following they wanted peace with the Surfer. planet and arrived to find a Kree fleet the Contemplator's direction, Foulup This was partly true, but the Cotati waiting to battle him. Realizing that offered his services as a double­ also feared that if the Contemplator the Silver Surfer was the only hope agent to the Kree and they agreed. became ruler of the Kree Empire, he of survival for the Skrulls, S'byll fol­ Reptyl unwittingly fell in their trap might become a threat to them as lowed with her own fleet. when he made Foulup his servant. well. The battlefleet the Kree had assem­ The largest Kree armada yet assem­ With knowledge given her by the bled was soon outgunned, but they bled attacked Satriana and, at this Cotati, Shalla was able to lead the returned with an even larger fleet. crucial moment, Foulup stabbed Re­ Silver Surfer and the Skrull Empress This moment of respite gave S'byll's ptyl in the back, killing him. to Nenora's private chamber. After a consort, KI'rt the Super-Skrull, the Without the military genius of Re­ brief struggle, S'byll defeated time needed to convince the Surfer ptyl leading them, the Skrull fleet Nenora and reverted her corpse to to use his Power Cosmic to catalyze was quickly destroyed. Most of the its true Skrull form. The highest rank­ the latent shape-changing powers in Kree returned to their capital city of ing Kree still alive agreed to a truce S'byll's genetic structure. The two Hala to celebrate, although they left (which meant S'byll would have time were able to awake the full power of a token force to finish off the only foe to rebuild her fleets and give more of a shape-changing Super-Skrull in that remained, the Silver Surfer, al­ her people the power to shape­ S'byll. Now capable of giving the though it turned out to be no match change). After S'byll, the Silver ability to shape-change back to oth­ for the power cosmic. Surfer found Surfer, and Shalla Bal left Hala, there ers of her race, S'byll was sure that himself looking out on a huge grave­ was a brief power struggle which sur­ the Skrulls would be able to defy the yard of broken warships, most of priSingly resulted in placing Clumsy Kree's efforts at genocide. them Skrull, and was surprised and Foulup in the position of Supreme The Kree then amassed an ar­ relieved when one of the pieces of Leader. Before the Contemplator mada of 12 full fleets and launched wreckage suddenly reverted to the could interfere, he was attacked by them at the defiant Skrulls. And in form of S'byll, who had used her the Cotati and their mental powers the meantime, the normally peaceful shape-shifting abilities to escape the proved superior to his. people of Zenn-Ia decided to join the destruction that befell her warfleet. Presently, S'byll faces many new battle even though they would prob­ Not content to say the Kree had won, challenges. With a respite from the ably be overrun. Thinking quickly, he convinced S'byll to join him in an forces of the Kree, she may be able the Silver Surfer boarded the flag­ assault on Hala itself. to make the Skrull Empire a power to ship and gained an audience with When they reached Hala, the Sil­ be feared again. Of course she will Nenora, Supreme Leader of the ver Surfer distracted the warships have to deal with the other claimants Kree, who agreed to spare Zenn-Ia if while S'byll used her shape­ to the Skrull Throne first. the Surfer would exile himself from changing ability to slip aboard them there forever, to which he agreed. and sabotage their weapons. The Then, the Kree departed and the Sil- fleet disabled, they were free to infil-

182 SATANA

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S IN(40) E IN(40) R GD(10) I MN(75) P UN(100) Health: 100 Karma: 185 Resources: GD(10) Popularity: 4

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Satana Hellstrom Occupation: Succubus Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Was not known by the gen­ eral public to have demonic parent­ age Place of Birth: Greentown, Massa­ chusetts Marital Status: Widowed Known Relatives: "Satan" (father), Daimon (alias Son of Satan, brother), Victoria (mother, deceased) Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: The daughter of "Satan," Satana had a wide range of personal powers, which included: Levitation: Satana could levitate up or down at Poor speed. Mind Control: She could control the minds of beings with Typical or weaker Psyches, so long as she con­ centrated on the effort. She could at­ tempt to control someone with a Good or better Psyche but the victim may resist with a Green FEAT roll and + 1 CS to his or her Psyche. Bolts of Soulfire: Satana could pro­ ject bolts of mystical energy, "soulfire," that caused excruciating usually kiss her victim as she drew Amazing ability to detect beings in pain through direct stimulation of a forth his soul. To escape Satana's the Astral Dimension. person's life force. The victim had to embrace requires a Red Psyche * Astral Projection (D): Satana could make a Ye llow Psyche FEAT roll or FEAT roll; failure will drain the victim transport her Psyche into the Astral pass out from the pain. Satana could of one level of Psyche. This vampiric Dimension with Unearthly ability. also project her soulfire as bolts of attack continues until the victim * Mystical Energy Shield (U): A per­ concussive force that did Remark­ makes his FEAT roll or is drained of sonal force field of Incredible all his Psyche, killing him. strength. able damage. Her Sou. lfire had a range of 4 Areas. Magic: Satana was a Sorceress of The Basilisk: Satana contained Succubus: A succubus is a being Master level. The full range of Sata­ within her spirit a demon of immense which extracts human souls and na's spells were never revealed. She but undefined powers called the feeds on their psychic energies. To did have the following though: Basilisk which she could set free to take the souls of men, Satana would * Astral Detection (P) : Satana had do her bidding. Each time she set the 183 monster loose, though, it grew more names he gave their children to mere cubus power to seize the soul of the difficult to control. The Basilisk had eccentricity. However, when Satana dying former priest Michael Heron, the following minimum Statistics: was still a child, Victoria discovered who had once saved her life and her husband and Satan a performing whom she regarded as a friend. Sa­ F 30 a black magic ritual in the basement tana refused to obey "Satan's" com­ A 20 of their New England mansion. Her mand and, when Heron died a S 50 husband said that the time had come moment later, allowed his spirit to E 100 for Victoria to know the truth as Sa­ travel where it was intended to go. R 6 tan a already did, and transformed Furious, "Satan" disowned Satana, I 40 into demonic form before her eyes, exiled her from his realm, and vowed P 40 calling himself "Satan." to kill her if they ever met again. Victoria Hellstrom went mad upon Satana spent the following years Ta lents: Satana has Monstrous witnessing this and died soon after­ learning about the world of humans, knowledge of Occult Lore and a Mys­ ward. Daimon was placed in an or­ and coming to value the friendships tic Background. phanage, and "Satan" took Satana she made with human beings. Dur­ to his hell-like extradimensional ing this time she also battled heroi­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: realm where he schooled her in the cally against the agents of the use of her demonic powers, some of demonic race known as the N'garai. which she had inherited from him, Finally, Satana learned that the others which he granted her. He Earth dimension's Sorcerer Su­ caused her to be possessed by a preme, Dr. Stephen Strange, had powerful demon called the Basilisk. been transformed into a werewolf as Satana remained in full control of her a result of having to use the Shatra mind and body, however, and the Book of the Damned, a volume of Basilisk had to do her bidding when black magic, in order to save the life she released it from her body. How­ of his lover Clea from his enemy Sil­ ever, she became aware, after leav­ ver Dagger. Satan a knew that it was ing "Satan's" realm, that the more necessary to cure Strange for the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: she used the Basilisk to serve her good of the Earth, even though she Satana's human half proved ends, the stronger it grew, and that it knew that, to do so, she would have stronger than her demonic heritage. might one day turn against her. "Sa­ to sacrifice her own life. While Her many years on Earth only served tan" also turned Satan a into a suc­ Strange's physical form was that of a to strengthen her love for humanity. cubus, able to draw a human spirit werewolf, his spirit form (conscious­ from its body and absorb its psychic ness) was held prisoner by demons energy. in an astral realm. Satana therefore After Satan a reached adulthood , cast a spell that projected her spirit HISTORY: "Satan" decided to test his daugh­ into that astral realm where she Over two decades ago a demon ter's loyalty. Acting in the guise of a found that she had to unleash the who called himself "Satan" after the human named Miles Gorney, sup­ Basilisk to drive off the demons so legendary embodiment of evil, came posedly the leader of a mystic cabal that she could reach Strange's soul. to Earth in the guise of a human, in­ called the Four, "Satan" brought Sa­ She freed Strange's soul, but then a tent upon fathering children who tana to Earth where she discovered demon thrust a mystical weapon into would be half-demon and half­ that her succubus power had given her own spirit, thereby causing her human. Shortly after, he seduced a her an addiction like a vampire's body on Earth to become mortally lonely and naive young woman where she now had to absorb the wounded. The Basilisk then turned named Victoria Wingate and married psychic energy of human spirits in upon her, but died as her physical her shortly thereafter. Their son Dai­ order to survive. Eventually, after Sa­ body did back on Earth. Dr. Strange, mon was born within a year and their tana had long struggled against her now freed of the werewolf curse, eu­ daughter Satana was born three supposed enemies, "Satan" re­ logized Satana as a hero. Her spirit's years after Daimon. Victoria never vealed that he was Gorney and had fate is unknown, but it is not in "Sa­ suspected the truth about her hus­ been behind Satana's troubles. He tan's" realm. band and even ascribed the unusual then ordered Satana to use her suc-

184 SAVAGE LAND RACES

Below are the descriptions of four FALL PEOPLE of the major Savage land Races. The Statistics given are for a typical member of that particular race. STATISTICS:

F GD(10) AERIANS A GD(10) S EX(20) STATISTICS: E GD(10) R TY(6) F TY(6) I EX(20) A GD(10) P TY(6) S GD(10) Health: 50 E EX(20) Karma: 32 R IN(40) Resources: PR(4) I GD(10) Popularity: 4 (-10 to Sun People) P GD(10) Health: 46 BACKGROUND: Karma: 60 Base of Operations: A village in the Resources: EX(20) Savage land Popularity: 20 (-20 to the Pterons) Type of Government: Tr ibal, led by a chieftain BACKGROUND: Level of Te chnology: Primitive, but Base of Operations: Aerie Shalan had learned to make iron tools and Type of Government: Te chnocracy, weapons led by a chief scientist Level of Te chnology: Highly KNOWN POWERS: advanced, even beyond that of main­ Ta lents: The typical tribesman of the stream Earth science in various ar­ Fall People has Animal Handling, eas. Thrown Weapon, and Bow skills. He would also have other skills related KNOWN POWERS: to wilderness survival, such as hunt­ Flight: The Aerians possess large ing and fishing. feathered wings which allow them to fly at Good speed. An Aerian gets a + 1 CS to his Agility in flight. Ta lents: The typical Aerian has Ex­ HISTORY: cellent (or better) Reason with Atlan­ Ka-Zar took a particular interest in tean technology. the Fall People, and their chieftain To ngah was his best friend. Most of the Fall People were killed by attacks from the Sun People and by the ex­ HISTORY: traterrestrial Quarlians. The Aerians became the principal allies of Ka-Zar and Shanna in Pan­ gea and were aided by them in their war with the Pterons.

185 PTERCNS SUN PECPLE

STATISTICS: STATISTICS:

F GD(10} F TY(6} A TY(6} A TY(6} S EX(20} S TY(6} E RM(30} E TY(6} R PR(4} R GD(10} I TY(6} I GD(10} P PR(4} P GD(10} Health: 66 Health: 24 Karma: 14 Karma: 30 Resources: FE(2} Resources: AM (50) Popularity: -20 Popularity: -20

BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: Base of Operations: The caverns of Base of Operations: The Sun Em­ Athmeth beneath Pangea pire Type of Government: Monarchy Type of Government: Empire ruled Level of Technology: Low by a priestess queen Level of Te chnology: Low KNOWN POWERS: Flight: Like the pterodactyls (winged KNOWN POWERS: reptiles) they resemble, Pterons can None fly with Poor speed. While airborn, Pterons gain a + 2CS to their Agility rank. HISTORY: The Sun People were the most powerful grouping of sentient beings HISTORY: within the Savage Land, within The origin of the Pteron race is un­ which they had established a small known. Presumably the Pterons "empire" through conquest. In con­ were created through genetic engi­ quering other peoples and other neering by Atlantean scientists. Re­ lands, the Sun People believed that cently, the Pterons launched a war they did honor to their Sun God, against the Aerians which ended Garokk. Their leader, the priestess when much of the Pteron race was queen Zaladane, was a sorceress killed in a cave-in. who twice attempted to conquer all of the Savage Land and once allied herself with a human being who had taken on the appearance of Garokk.

GROUP HISTORY: The Savage Land was an artifi­ cially created tropical forest region nestled amidst a ring of volcanic mountains on the icy continent of Antarctica. Ages ago, an alien race known as the Nuwali created the Savage Land as a kind of wildlife pre­ serve where Earth's life forms could be studied under controlled condi­ tions. The Nuwali created this pre­ serve on behalf of their employers, yet another alien race which has not

186 yet been identified. These same em­ such as Val usia. Soon, Pangea be­ swiftly into barbarism, and soon, as a ployers also had the Nuwali estab­ came a leading center of trade and result of widespread violence, only a lish similar preserves on other the wo rld's finest amusement and 10th of the human population that planets. The Nuwali constructed recreation center. The Savage Land existed before the Cataclysm was advanced technological devices served as stock lands for various still alive. Peace eventually returned within caverns beneath the Savage forms of wildlife, many examples of and the human beings of Pangea Land knowing that the volcanic heat which were imported into Pangea. and the Savage Land struggled back would enable them to create a tropi­ The Atlantean scientists in Pan­ upwards toward civilization, forming cal environment best suited to the gea turned their attention to genetic tribes such as the Fall People. life of that era in isolation from the engineering, experimenting upon The British Lord Kevin Plunder rest of the planet. Within the Savage Man-Apes they had brought from the and the American Shanna O'Hara, Land, the Nuwali preserved many of Savage Land, and using eq uipment better known as Ka-Zar and Shanna Earth's life forms past the point that left behind by the Nuwali. Thus the the She-Devil, came to live in the their species became extinct in the Atlantean scientists genetically al­ Savage Land in recent times, and in outside world. Hence, plant and ani­ tered the bodies of the beast men exploring the Savage Land and Pan­ mal species from the Tr iassic period into bird-people (the Aerians), gea encountered many of its diverse (the beginning of the "Age of Dino­ monkey-people (the Tr ee People), races and tribes. Recently, the alien saurs") through the Pleistocene (the fish-people (the Tu banti), and other marauder Te rminus wreaked ex­ "Ice Age") continued to flourish animal-like races, all of which had traordinary destruction within Pan­ there. Into the Savage Land the Nu­ human-level intelligence. The Atlan­ gea and the Savage Land, wali also brought the Man-Apes, an teans initially used these animal­ destroying the climate-control ma­ evolutionary forebear of Homo sapi­ people as laborers in the Pangean chinery and snuffing the volcanoes ens, and early examples of Homo sa­ amusement center. The animal peo­ surrounding the Savage Land. Te r­ piens itself. Finally, however, the ple grew increasingly restive at be­ minus slaughtered great numbers of Nuwali's employers lost interest in ing treated as slaves and eventually the sentient beings living in Pangea the Savage Land and the similar the Atlanteans of Pangea built fully and, with the volcanoes extinct and habitats of other worlds, and so the automated , self-repairing mainte­ the climate-control machinery Nuwali abandoned them. All of the nance machinery, eliminating the wrecked, virtually all of the inhabit­ habitats collapsed except the Sav­ need for the animal-people to work ants of these two regions were soon age Land. as laborers. The Atlanteans then killed by the Antarctic cold, which I n the centuries before the world­ confined the animal-people to a sec­ swiftly spread over both the Savage wide disaster known as the Great tor of Pangea far removed from their Land and Pangea. Ka-Zar, Shanna, Cataclysm in which the continents of own. The animal-people finally rose their sabertooth tiger Zabu, and a Atlantis and Lemuria sank, Atlantis up in rebellion and, after weeks of small number of Savage Land na­ built a great worldwide empire and warfare, defeated the Pangean At­ tives are known to have survived the achieved scientific and technologi­ lanteans. The animal-people de­ disaster; it is not known how many cal heights still unsurpassed in many manded equal rights as sentient other survivors there may be. areas of research today. Several beings and so, the Atlanteans further In addition to the list above, there small tribes of nomadic Atlanteans extended the range of the climate were many other races that dwelled sailed to Antarctica and lived within control machinery so that it turned all in the Savage Land and Pangea, the great caverns lying beneath the of the frozen wasteland above the such as the Lizard Men of the city of frozen wastelands bordering the underground Pangea colony into a Vala-Kuri in the Savage Land, the no­ Savage Land. Eventually these At­ tropical environment. The animal­ madic Cat People of Pandori in Pan­ lanteans discovered an immense ca­ people then settled in unpopulated gea, and the amphibious fish-like vern containing the machinery that areas of Pangea's surface. Tu banti of Pangea's inland Gorahn helped to regulate climate condi­ When the Great Cataclysm struck, Sea. The full number of races that tions in the Savage Land. Atlantean the continent of Atlantis sank and the lived in the Savage Land and Pan­ scientists made considerable im­ Atlantean Empire came to an end. gea may now never be known. provements in the machinery and The Cataclysm caused the Savage The Savage Land was restored to extended its range to cover certain Land and Pangea to sink below sea its tropical state by the High Evolu­ areas of the surface beyond the Sav­ level, but thanks to the surrounding tionary and Garokk. The plant and age Land. The scientists used other mountains, neither area was sub­ animal life has been restored, and technological devices left behind by merged beneath the sea. The some former inhabitants have re­ the Nuwali to create incredible climate-control mechanisms were so turned from otherdimensional exile. means of amusement for their peo­ well built that they survived the sink­ ple. The Atlanteans soon named ing of the landmass and continued to their Antarctic colony "Pangea," be operational. However, three­ which means "paradise." Word of fourths of the human population of Pangea spread back to Atlantis as the Savage Land and Pangea were well as to other nations of that time, killed in the upheaval. The rest sank

187 ADDITIONAL NOTES

188 SCORPION

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A AM(50) S IN(40) E IN(40) R TY(6) I EX(20) P TY(6) Health: 160 Karma: 32 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: -20

BACKGROUND: Real Name: MacDonald "Mac" Gargan Occupation: Former private detec­ tive, now professional criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Member of the Masters of Evil III, former partner of Mr. Hyde Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Climbing: The Scorpion can climb any surface he can get a grip on, ei­ ther by wedging his fingers into small cracks or creating hand holds in con­ crete. Battlesuit: The Scorpion's suit pro­ vides him with the following powers:

* Armor: The battlesuit provides the Scorpion with Excellent protection from most attacks, except electrical which it gives Remarkable protec­ tion.

* Scorpion Ta il: The tail is made of In­ credible material and can be used as a club to do Amazing damage. When striking with his tail, the Scorpion re­ Ta lents: Gargan had Good Reason ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ceives a + 1 CS to his Fighting ability. as a private investigator. Gargan is a psychopathic killer but * Leap: The Scorpion can coil his tail he enjoys committing all manner of under him and use it like a giant ADDITIONAL NOTES: crimes-he doesn't limit himself to spring to propel him a distance of up murder. to 3 Areas. Such a leap would give the Scorpion a + 3 to his Initiative roll.

* Plasma Projector: The Scorpion's tail has been recently modified with a low-density plasma projector that can fire about 40 force blasts. Each force blast does Remarkable dam­ age but has a range of only 2 Areas. 189 tinguish between right and wrong. learned otherwise when police au­ Stillwell tried to administer an experi­ thorities removed it. He figured that HISTORY: mental antidote to Gargan, but died by feigning mental incompetence, MacDonald Gargan, a private in­ in the attempt. Gargan went on a he'd get more lenient treatment and vestigator, was hired by Daily Bugle crime spree, but was defeated by thus got himself placed in a mental publisher J. Jonah Jameson to fol­ Spider-Man. The Scorpion was institution rather than prison. Escap­ low Peter Parker to find out how again defeated by Spider-Man in an­ ing, he once again tried to get re­ Parker managed to photograph other encounter months later. venge on Jameson, but was Spider-Man. While Gargan was on After being paroled, the Scorpion thwarted by Captain America and the case, a press release came to Ja­ was contacted by an unnamed spy Spider-Man. He was freed from meson's attention that a scientist ring who hired him to follow prison by agents of Egghead who named Dr. Farley Stillwell who had S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter. wanted him as part of his new Mas­ developed a means to mutagenically He was beaten in combat by Captain ters of Evil. The Scorpion's participa­ endow animals with various unchar­ America and taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. tion in the group was cut short by the acteristic features. At the time of the custody where the android assassin Avengers, however, and he was re­ press release, Stillwell's experi­ known as Mister Kline somehow ac­ turned to prison once again. ments had given a rat gills and a fish quired him and Mr. Hyde. Kline made Most recently the Scorpion es­ lungs. Jameson called in Gargan android duplicates of Scorpion and caped prison and tried to get re­ and arranged for them to meet with Mr. Hyde which it dispatched against venge on Jameson by kidnapping Stillwell. He offered Stillwell $10,000 Daredevil. Following Mister Kline's his son John and bride-to-be Marla to develop a way to give a person su­ defeat, the Scorpion and Hyde es­ Madison. Spider-Man once more de­ perhuman abilities that could defeat caped imprisonment. Under the as­ fended Jameson, rescued his loved Spider-Man. He also offered $10,000 sumption that it was S.H.I.E.L.D. ones, and defeated the Scorpion. to Gargan to undergo whatever treat­ that had held them all this time, the The Scorpion was returned to police ments would be involved. Stillwell two launched a campaign of terror custody but, during the Acts of needed the money to further his re­ against S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They Ve ngeance, the Sorcerer arranged search, so he accepted Jameson's were finally stopped by Captain the Scorpion's escape to Canada. offer. Gargan, intrigued, also ac­ America and the Falcon. The Sorcerer needed to concentrate cepted. Stillwell then put Gargan Eventually escaping prison, the a large amount of violence in order to through a battery of chemical and ra­ Scorpion decided to get revenge on open the Eye of the World, and so diological treatments to him super­ J. Jonah Jameson who was respon­ the Scorpion and several other fel­ human powers. Equipped with a sible for his transformation into the ons battled with members of Alpha special costume and a cyberneti­ Scorpion and his subsequent humili­ Flight and Gamma Flight. During the cally controlled mechanical tail de­ ation. Tw ice he attacked Jameson, battle with the Canadian superhe­ signed by the Tinkerer, the Scorpion but was beaten off first by the origi­ roes, Alpha Flight, Nemesis' sword sought battle with Spider-Man. While nal Ms. Marvel and then by Spider­ took off the end of the Scorpion's tail, they fought, Stillwell observed vio­ Man. During this time, the plasma projector and all. The fate of lent psychotic behavior in the test Scorpion's sanity began to deterio­ the Scorpion's tail has yet to be re­ animals upon which he performed rate and he began to believe that he vealed, but it is likely that the plasma his experiments and concluded that could not remove his costume. After projector will be replaced, possibly Gargan would lose his ability to dis- his defeat at Spider-Man's hands, he with a more powerful model.

190 SERPENT CROWN

KNOWN POWERS: can resist with a Ye llow FEAT. Any­ Monstrous material strength or less The wearer of the Serpent Crown re­ one else can resist the control but could be transformed into another ceived the following powers: must make a Red FEAT. The dura­ object of Monstrous material Enhanced Strength: Gave a + 3CS to tion of effect varies from days for strength or less. This ability required the wearer's Strength rank (mini­ Poor or less Psyches to only a single that the matter being transformed be mum Strength of Remarkable). combat round for Incredible or touched. Enhanced Psyche: For the purpose Amazing Psyches. of using any of the Serpent Crown's Levitation: The wearer could levitate ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: mental powers, such as to read with Good speed. Virtually anyone who wears the Ser­ minds, the wearer's Psyche was Illusions: The wearer could create il­ pent Crown falls under the mental considered to be Monstrous. lusions of attacking monsters or domination of Set. To escape Set's Additional Powers: The other powers whatever image he desired. To see mental control and throw off the listed below did not manifest in every through the illusion would require a Crown requires a FEAT roll for any­ person who wore the Serpent Ye llow FEAT roll with a -3CS to the af­ one with a Psyche of less than Un­ Crown. (Evidently, the number of fected person's psyche. earthly. Heroes with Remarkable or powers gained varied according to Bolts of Mystical Energy: The Ser­ Incredible Psyche must make a Ye l­ how adept the wearer was at learn­ pent Crown could project energy low FEAT roll, while anyone with less ing the Crown's abilities, the length bolts that did Unearthly damage to than a Remarkable Psyche must of time the Crown was worn and anyone in the same Area as the make a Red FEAT roll to resist. Set's own attitude toward the wearer. This range could be in­ wearer.) creased 1 Area for every -1 CS to Read Minds: Wearer could read the damage. Therefore, a Mystical Bolt surface thoughts of anyone within a fired at a range of 3 Areas would do HISTORY: range of 3 Areas. The wearer had to Incredible damage. The ancient Serpent Crown was make a FEAT roll to read deeper into Manipulation of Matter and Energy: one of the mightiest objects of mysti­ a person's thoughts. If the wearer The wearer could manipulate matter cal power in the history of humanity. concentrated on a particular person and energy for a variety of effects A helmet made of an unknown mate­ (Yellow FEAT), he could reach their with Amazing ability. Tw o examples rial, it was designed to resemble a minds no matter what the range. of possible effects (Power Stunts) coiled, seven-headed serpent and Control Minds: The wearer of the are listed below: drew its power from a mystical link Serpent Crown could command any­ * Energy Shield: Energy could be with the primeval demon Set which one with a Psyche less than Mon­ manipulated to provide the wearer granted whoever wore it tremendous strous; however, those with an with Incredible protection from Phys­ superhuman abilities. However, any­ Amazing Psyche need only make a ical attacks and Unearthly protection one except those with tremendous Green FEAT to resist. Likewise, In­ from Energy attacks. willpower who wore it fell under the credible and Remarkable Psyches * Matter Transformation: Matter of mental domination of Set. Anyone

19 1 who didn't immediately remove the easy alliance with the alchemists of mor, the Sub-Mariner after Destiny's the Crown retained a psychic link Lemuria. Working together, they cre­ madness caused his own death. The with it. Counterparts to this Earth's ated the Serpent Crown, which Set Serpent Crown was returned to its Serpent Crown existed on hundreds linked to his own consciousness and original form and a Lemurian agent of divergent Earths throughout the which became a receptacle for his stole the Crown and returned it to the multiverse, all mystically linked with power. The first person to wear the now ancient Naga. After a lengthy Set, and would ultimately serve as Serpent Crown and wield its power battle against the Sub-Mariner, Naga the means by which Set would return was Atra, the greatest of the Lemu­ was defeated, and the Serpent to physical existence on Earth. rian Alchemists. However, just as Crown was swallowed up by an un­ The history of the Serpent Crown Atra was about to begin his conquest dersea earthquake. therefore begins with the origin of of the known world, the Great Cata­ Later, the Crown fell into the hands Set himself. Prior to humanity's ex­ clysm occurred, a worldwide catas­ of the original Serpent Squad when istence and perhaps the existence of trophe that sank both Atlantis and its influence fell on Hugh Jones, then any other relatively complex organic Lemuria. Most of the surviving president of Roxxon Oil. But the life on Earth, beings called the Elder Serpent-Men died in the Cataclysm Crown was lost again, this time down Gods arose on Earth. The Elder and the Serpent Crown was lost. a sewer during a battle with Captain Gods degenerated over the passing Long after, a tribe of water­ America. The Avengers encoun­ eons into demons preying upon their breathing humanoids belonging to tered it on the alternate Earth of the own kind. Set, who manifests him­ the race Homo merman us migrated Squadron Supreme, managed to self as an enormous serpent, was to the Pacific Ocean where they set­ wrest it away from that world's cor­ one of the most powerful of these an­ tled on the sunken Lemurian conti­ rupt rulers, and when they returned cient demon gods, and in turn, he nent. These water-breathers and to Earth, Vision threw it into the Pa­ spawned other serpent-like demons. their descendants became known as cific Ocean. Hugh Jones, still under From the dinosaurs that dominated the Lemurians, while other members Set's control, set in motion events the Earth during the Mesozoic Era, of their who remained in the Atlantic that gained him both Serpent Set spawned a mortal race of hu­ Ocean were the Atlanteans. Eventu­ Crowns. When the two were mysti­ manoid reptiles known as the ally one of the Lemurians discovered cally merged, the new Crown's Serpent-Men. the Serpent Crown amid the ruins of power had increased one hundred The only Elder God to escape de­ the Pre-Cataclysmic civilization and fold. Wearing this more powerful generation into demonic form was brought it to Naga, the emperor of Crown, Jones took control of the the benevolent Gaea, who is said to the Lemurians, who donned and de­ minds of the entire population of have mated with a reincarnation of veloped a strong link with it. Soon Washington, D.C., but the Thing, the the Demiurge at the peak of the EI­ the Crown began to transform him Scarlet Witch, and the Stingray man­ der Gods' degeneracy. Their first off­ physically, making his head resem­ aged to steal it away from him. It was spring, Atum, slew most of the Elder ble that of a serpent and causing his then turned over to Project: Pegasus Gods, but did not attempt to harm skin to become scale-like. for study. But soon after, Set had Gaea who remains active on Earth Utilizing the vast power of the Ser­ control of everyone working at the today. To escape being slaughtered pent Crown, Naga ruled tyrannically Project, and using interdimensional by Atum, Set fled Earth's dimen­ over his subjects for many centuries. teleportation equipment, Project sional plane but he continued to During this time the Crown's power personnel transported Serpent watch over and aid the Serpent-Men mutagenically altered the water­ Crowns from other dimensions into and his human worshippers on the breathing Lemurians, giving all of their own, intending to combine many Earths that diverged from the them scale-like skin. Finally, a rebel them all and create a nexus whereby one he escaped. At first the Serpent­ named Piscatos stole the Crown and Set could return to Earth. It took the Men preyed upon the nascent hu­ took it to Antarctica. There, the peo­ combined might of the Thing, the man race, but humanity eventually ple of this civilization, the Ancients, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man , and Dr. became strong enough to fight them are said to have developed tele­ Strange to defeat the gigantic off. The greatest foe of the Serpent­ pathic powers, which they may have Crown. Assisted by his super­ Men before the sinking of Atlantis done by studying the Serpent powered allies and the Cosmic was King Kull of Va lusia. By Kull's Crown. The Ancients then encased Cube, Dr. Strange banished Set from time, the Serpent-Men, greatly out­ the Crown in an unknown substance the Earthly plane forever. numbered by the human race, had to to reduce its power. However, their This spell was recently broken and use their shape-changing abilities to civilization was destroyed when their Set attempted to come to Earth. His disguise themselves as human be­ city was buried beneath an immense agents Ghaur and Uyra were de­ ings and then infiltrate human civili­ landslide. feated, the monstrous Crown buried, zation in the hope of conquering it. Antarctic explorer Paul Destine lo­ and Set was again banished from the Kull caused the deaths of large num­ cated the disguised Crown, and us­ Earthly plane. bers of Serpent-Men who menaced ing its powers became the being his kingdom. known as Destiny. The Serpent The Serpent-Men formed an un- Crown was recovered by Prince Na-

192 S.H.I.E.L.D. II

Several key members are listed Health: 86 KNOWN POWERS: below, except for Nick Fury who has Karma: 50 Ta lents: Va lentina has Martial Arts A an individual entry elsewhere. Resources: EX(20) and E, Marksman, and a variety of Popularity: 30 weapons skills. She has Remarkable VA LENTINA reason with Public Relations. BACKGROUND: ALLEGRO DE Real Name: Valentina Allegro de ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: Fontaine Valentina is used to being in com­ FONTAINE Occupation: Deputy Director of mand. She likes to be the center of S.H.I.E.L.D. attention and tries to take control of STATISTICS: Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no situations whenever the opportunity criminal record presents itself. It is this trait more F RM(30) Identity: Secret than her birthright that has earned A RM(30) Place of Birth: Unknown her the title, "Countess." The Count­ S TY(6) Marital Status: Single ess can be cold-blooded in speech E EX(20) Known Relatives: None as well as action (if the need arises). R GD(10) Past Group Affiliations: I RM(30) S.H.I.E.L.D. P GD(10) Present Group Affiliation:

193 HISTORY: HISTORY: HISTORY: Va lentina was formerly the public Gabriel Jones was a Special Oper­ Neville participated in the destruc­ relations director of the old ative of S.H.I.E.L.O. I. Outside of tion of Delta. Following the disband­ S.H.I.E.L.O .. She was also the lieu­ Nick Fury, he may be the only other ing of the original S.H.I.E.L.D., she tenant commander of S.H.I.E.L.O.'s survivor of the old Howling Comman­ accompanied Nick Fury to Nova all-woman special forces unit, the does (WWII combat unit). He was r�­ Scotia to work in his private employ. Femme Fatale. cently recruited by Nick to act as hiS She has since joined the new version chief training officer. of S.H.I.E.L.O.. GABRIEL KATE NEVILLE ALEXANDER .JONES STATISTICS: GOODWIN STATISTICS: F EX(20) PIERCE A RM(30) F RM(30) TY(6) S STATISTICS: A EX(20) E GO(10) S GO(10) R GO(10) E RM(30) F EX(20) I EX(20) A EX(20) R GO(10) P GO(10) I RM(30) S GD(10) Health: 66 E EX(20) P GO(10) Karma: 40 Health: 90 R GD(10) Resources: GD(10) I EX(20) Karma: 50 Popularity: 6 Resources: GO(10) P TY(6) Popularity: 20 Health: 70 BACKGROUND: Karma: 36 Real Name: Kathleen Neville BACKGROUND: Resources: TY(6) Occupation: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Popularity: 6 Real Name: Gabriel Jones Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no Occupation: Recruitment and Train­ criminal record ing Officer for S.H.I.E.L.O. BACKGROUND: Identity: Secret Real Name: Alexander Goodwin Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no Place of Birth: Long Island, New criminal record Pierce Yo rk Occupation: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Identity: Secret Marital Status: Single Place of Birth: Unknown Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no Known Relatives: Marge Neville criminal record Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: Known Relatives: None Identity: Secret S.H.I.E.L.O. Place of Birth: Long Island, New Past Group Affiliations: Present Group Affiliation: S.H.I.E.L.O. Yo rk Marital Status: Single Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: Known Relatives: None Ta lents: Kate has Martial Arts A and Past Group Affiliations: KNOWN POWERS: E, Guns, and Marksman skills. She S.H.I.E.L.D. Ta lents: Gabriel has Martial Arts A, is a trained assassin. B, and E, Wrestling, Marksman, �ili­ Present Group Affiliation: tary, and a variety of weapons skllls. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: . KNOWN POWERS: He has Remarkable reason as an In­ Kate Neville is devoted to Nick Fury, Ta lents: Pierce has Martial Arts E, structor. Jones also has Excellent both professionally and romantically. Guns, Thrown Weapons, and Marks­ ability as a Jazz musician. She doesn't like it when anyone (es­ man skills. pecially Va lentina) questions or in ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: any way usurps Fury's command. Gabe is one of Nick Fury's oldest and ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: best friends. He is an expert at cov­ Alexander Goodwin Pierce is a ert operations. brash young man with a strong belief in S.H.I.E.L.O. and Nick Fury, in par­ ticular.

194 a point where they were almost per­ fect replicas of life. To maintain con­ HISTORY: HISTORY: trol of his Deltites, the Creator gave After helping Fury to defeat the In the days of the old S.H.I.E.L.D., them a religion, promiSing a new Deltites, Pierce served for a time as AI McKenzie was the CIA's liaison Earth where structure and order the caretaker of the skyscraper that with S.H.I.E.L.D.. With the recent were divine. The Creator's real goals once served as the S.H.I.E.L.D. reformation of S.H.I.E.L.D., this role were personal power and immortal­ Headquarters . Eager for some has been reversed, now he is Fury's ity. The first step in the Creator's action, he was quick to volunteer to contact with the CIA. master plan was to replace key serve as an agent of the new members of S.H.I.E.L.D. with Delti­ S.H.I.E.L.D. tes. Step two was to provide Deltite doubles for all the world's corporate, GROUP HISTORY: political, and military leaders. The AL MCKENZIE The original S.H.I.E.L.D. (see Deltites including the Creator had S.H.I.E.L.D. I) was secretly taken only one weakness-their artificial STATISTICS: over by the Deltites, which were very bodies quickly decayed due to advanced, sentient LMDs (Life advanced aging. Although their F EX(20) Model Decoys), or androids. After memories could be reprogrammed A GD(10) the Deltites forced S.H.I.E.L.D. Pub­ into new bodies, each new incarna­ S GD(10) lic Director Nick Fury into the role of tion resulted in a less perfect human E RM(30) a renegade and fugitive, he recruited replica. But the Creator had fore­ R GD(10) Alexander Pierce to function as his seen a way around this by intending I RM(30) right hand man. To gether they per­ to combine the Infinity Formula hid­ P GD(10) petrated a series of break-ins at den in Nick Fury's genetic code with Health: 70 S.H.I.E.L.D. installations, including his Deltite creation process. Karma: 50 an Armory and Communications With Madame Hydra's aid, Pierce, Resources: GD(10) Station in Philadelphia (Tau/Ce). It Neville, the Countess, and McKen­ Popularity: 10 was at the Ta u/Ce installation they zie led an escape attempt from the had their first run in with Kate Neville Deltite's gas chamber. Meanwhile BACKGROUND: who tried to apprehend them. The in­ Fury battled the Creator, but the ge­ Real Name: AI McKenzie formation Fury acquired at the site netic transfer left Nick too weak to Occupation: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was carefully leaked and inaccurate. manage more than a token resist­ Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no Pierce functioned as a contact be­ ance. Elsewhere in the huge ship, criminal record tween Nick Fury and To ny Stark be­ the latest Deltite, Clay Quartermain, Identity: Secret fore accompanying him to Hong had reanimated with too much hu­ Place of Birth: Unknown Kong following false leads in search manity and therefore could not live Marital Status: Single of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s stolen helicarrier as an automaton or allow the Deltites Known Relatives: None power core. After escaping death in to complete their hellish plan. He re­ Past Group Affiliations: C.I.A., an ambush at Hydra's Hong Kong leased the spaceship's power core S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Pierce went with Fury and their and set in motion the destruction of Present Group Affiliation: prisoner, Madame Hydra, into the Hi­ Delta. The Countess and the other malayas where they were captured escaped prisoners reached the audi­ KNOWN POWERS: by the Deltites and taken to their ence chamber where the Creator Ta lents: McKenzie has Martial Arts spaceship. In the meantime, Kate was standing over the fallen Fury. A and E, Marksman, and a variety of Neville fell from grace with the Delti­ The surviving Deltites soon joined weapons skills. As the former CIA li­ tes when she refused to undergo the them. It was then that the Deltites aison to S.H.I.E.L.D., AI has Re­ Sacrament of Ending and become learned their Creator was a false markable reason in matters one of them. The Deltites intended to prophet, having no intention of lead­ concerning government operations, kill her and use her genetiC code to ing them to a better world, and they bureaucracy, and major intelligence make a Deltite duplicate anyway. A destroyed him. Nick and the other organizations of the world (espe­ similar fate awaited the other Deltite surviving humans escaped the ship cially the CIA, Central Intelligence captives. in life pods. The Deltites remained Agency). It should be noted that the Deltites behind, preferring death over a Contacts: AI McKenzie still has were the creation of a rogue LMD world ruled by chaotic and emotional some valuable contacts in the CIA. known only as the Creator. The Crea­ humans. tor himself was an advanced LMD As a result of the Deltite affair, the ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: with brain and personality based on original law enforcement agency AI McKenzie is an intelligent, level­ a number of people, including Baron called S.H.I.E.L.D. and the commit­ headed man. His trademark is cau­ Strucker and Nick Fury himself. Us­ tee which directed it were revealed tion. He doesn't like surprises. ing new, highly advanced technol­ to be severely compromised. ogy, he had improved on the LMDs to 195 S.H.I.E.L.D. was disbanded by order ADDITIONAL NOTES: of the United Nations Security Coun- cil. However, the U.N. soon realized that there were threats to world safety against which conventional covert agencies were ineffective and less than a year after S.H.I.E.L.D. was dissolved, Nick was called out of retirement to form a covert opera- tions organization which would take the place of the previous incarna- tion. This new organization, which would also be called S.H.I.E.L.D., would be organized along lines which would make it less vulnerable to the internal problems that brought down its megalithic predecesso r. This new S.H.I.E.L.D. would be a smaller, tighter agency, more effi- cient and easier for one man (Fury) to supervise. More importantly, Fury would have total authority over its operation and he himself would be answerable only to the United Na- tions. Thus, this incarnation would be all but impervious to the corrup- tion and infiltration that destroyed the first S.H.I.E.L.D.. The exact con- figuration of this new agency has yet to be determined, as Fury is still in the process of assembling it. Cur- rently, S.H.I.E.L.D. remains a small squad of field agents (those listed above) and Fury. They have been joined by an empath and a small, child-like Deltite named Lump.

196 S.H.I.E.L.D. I

TIMOTHY mandoes unit. Dugan was in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. I's vast military re­ "DUM DUM" sources. Dugan was slain by the Deathheads, nightmarish aliens ac­ DUGAN cidentally created by their long-time foe, Baron Strucker. STATISTICS: .JASPER F IN(40) A GD(10) SITWELL S EX(20) E RM(30) STATISTICS: R GD(10) I EX(20) F EX(20) P EX(20) A GD(10) SIDNEY E. Health: 100 S GD(10) Karma: 50 E GD(10) LEVINE Resources: GD(10) R EX(20) Popularity: 20 I EX(20) STATISTICS: P GD(10) BACKGROUND: Health: 50 F FE(2) Real Name: Timothy "Dum Dum" Karma: 50 A PR(4) Dugan Resources: EX(20) S PR(4) Occupation: Special Director of Popularity: 10 E PR(4) S.H.I.E.L.D., Military Coordination R IN(40) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no BACKGROUND: I EX(20) criminal record Real Name: Jasper Sitwell P GD(10) Identity: Secret Occupation: Special Director of Health: 14 Place of Birth: Ireland S.H.I.E.L.D., Internal Affairs Karma: 70 Marital Status: Married Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no Resources: GD(1 0) Known Relatives: Mary (wife, de­ criminal record Popularity: 6 ceased), Sean (grandson) Identity: Secret Group Affiliations: Past Place of Birth: Unknown BACKGROUND: S.H.I.E.L.D. Marital Status: Unknown Real Name: Sidney E. Levine, "The Present Group Affiliation: Known Relatives: None Gaffer" Past Group Affiliations: KNOWN POWERS: Occupation: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Chief S.H.I.E.L.D. Te chnician in charge of Exotic Te ch­ Ta lents: Timothy Dugan had Wres­ Present Group Affiliation: nology for field use tling and Martial Arts A, B, and E, as Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no well as Military, Marksman, and a va­ KNOWN POWERS: criminal record riety of weapons skills. He also had Ta lents: Jasper had Marksman and the Weapons Master skill. Identity: Secret Guns skills and Martial Arts A and E. Place of Birth: Unknown Contacts: Dugan had a number of Marital Status: Unknown contacts with various military and in­ ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: Known Relatives: None telligence organizations throughout Jasper's glasses gave him a very Past Group Affiliations: the world. studious air. He appeared soft, al­ S.H.I.E.L.D. though he was anything but. Jasper Present Group Affiliation: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: took his position very seriously and Dugan was a powerful Irishman with did an outstanding job (until the KNOWN POWERS: a gentle manner hidden beneath the Deltites got to him). Ta lents: Levine had Amazing Rea­ rough facade of an old warhorse. He son as a Physicist and Engineer. was Nick Fury's closest friend. ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: HISTORY: Levine was the stereotypical scien­ Jasper was recruited by Nick Fury tist in white laboratory coat and HISTORY: to help him keep tabs on the monster glasses. He was a genius and very Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan had organization that S.H.I.E.L.D. had enthusiastic about anything to do been Nick Fury's right hand man rapidly become. (The Deltite Sitwell with new or advanced technology. since World War II, when he served took over directorship of S.H.I.E.L.D. as corporal of the old Howling Com- when Fury was outlawed.)

197 colonel in the U.S. Army who had (Level Three) who were in charge of been a top operative in the Central S.H.I.E.L.D. operations in their des­ HISTORY: Intelligence Agency. After his back­ ignated territory. All of the free Sidney Levine, nicknamed "the ground was thoroughly screened by world's capitals boasted a regional Gaffer," was an outstanding re­ the Board of Directors, Fury was S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, as did search scientist and developed shuttled aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. He­ certain other major metropolitan much of the technology that made licarrier where he met with centers. The United States had the S.H.I.E.L.D. so effective. His dupli­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Board of Advisors, greatest number of S.H.I.E.L.D. in­ cate Deltite form assisted the Crea­ whom Fury recognized as renowned stallations, with major headquarters tor with his genetic-transferrence heads of state and corporate lead­ in New Yo rk City, Chicago, Los machine. ers. Despite initial misgivings about Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Dal­ heading such a megalithic organiza­ las, Detroit, and Denver. Known re­ tion, Fury proved to himself that his gional directors were Eric Koenig of expertise might be valuable and ac­ Bonn, West Germany and Barth Bu­ cepted the public directorship. Fury kowski of Los Angeles. GROUP HISTORY: served as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highest­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s next highest ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym for Su­ ranking known agent, overseeing agents were the Special Officers preme Headquarters International daily administrative affairs as well as (Level Four), who assisted the Spe­ Espionage Law-Enforcement Divi­ serving as supreme field com­ cial Directors (Level Tw o) in interna­ sion. Because of the Deltite Affair mander. S.H.I.E.L.D. policy and di­ tional activities, but could not (see S.H.I.E.L.D. II), the original rectives were determined by the override the decisions of Regional S.H.I.E.L.D. is sometimes called anonymous 12-member Executive Directors (Level Three). Among the S.H.I.E.L.D. I and the new Board of Directors who conferred known Special Officers were Gabriel S.H.I.E.L.D., currently being orga­ with Fury by vidscreen on a regular Jones, James Woo, and Sharon nized by Nick Fury, is called basis. Carter (deceased). The fifth highest S.H.I.E.L.D. II. S.H.I.E.L.D. I's organizational ranking agents were Regional Offi­ S.H.I.E.L.D. I was a worldwide in­ structure consisted of an Executive cers (Level 5), who carried out the telligence and peacekeeping organi­ Board of Directors under which there Regional Director's policies and had zation dedicated to protecting the was the Level One Public Director jurisdiction over Field Agents. Jerry nations and peoples of Earth from all (Nick Fury), whose job was to carry Hunt of London, England was a threats to its security. Unlike the vari­ out official directives, oversee the in­ known Regional Officer. Level Six ous national intelligence agencies, ternational operations of agents were Field Agents, such as the CIA, M16, Mossad, and S.H.I.E.L.D., and to represent the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most numerous rank, KGB, S.H.I.E.L.D. was international S.H.I.E.L.D. administration to world numbering somewhere between in membership, scope, and jurisdic­ governments, national allies, and 3,000 and 5,000 worldwide prior to tion. Most of the world's free nations the general public. Fury's authority the Deltite fiasco; three quarters of participated in S.H.I.E.L.D. and overrode that of any Regional Direc­ the available agents were on under­ sanctioned S.H.I.E.L.D. activities on tor and he was answerable only to cover assignment, and the remain­ their soils. S.H.I.E.L.D. also had se­ the Executive Board. Under the Pub­ ing agents were based at the cret bases in various Communist lic Director were a number of Special regional headquarters and were em­ countries. Although most of Directors (Level Tw o), who served ployed as special militia. Among the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s activities were covert, the Public Director much like the known field agents were Laura the existence of the organization Cabinet serves the President of the Brown, Gail Runciter, and Jack Rol­ was known to the general public and United States. Their authority was lins. Level Seven personnel were ad­ S.H.I.E.L.D. maintained public of­ also international in scope and they ministrators those who handled the fices in numerous major cities. could also override the policies of "paperwork" of the organization's S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded in the any Regional Director. Each special operations. This rank included law­ 1960s to counter the threat posed to Director had his own unique area of yers, accountants, secretaries, re­ the free world by the technologically responsibility (such as Internal Af­ ceptionists, psychologists, advanced neo-fascist subversive or­ fairs, Public Relations, Communica­ physicians, and clerks. Level Eight ganization HYDRA. Until the recent tions, Military Coordination, personnel were Te chnicians who Deltite Affair (see S.H.I.E.L.D. II), Te chnology, and Recruitment! handled the computers, communica­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, as well as Training) and was answerable only to tion equipment, technology mainte­ the members of the Executive Board the Public Director. Known Special nance, and weaponry. This level of Directors, were top secret (unre­ Directors were Timothy "Dum Dum" included scientists, inventors, custo­ vealed even to Nick Fury). They were Dugan (Military Coordination), Jas­ dians, telephone operators, and world leaders in business and the per Sitwell (Internal Affairs), and Va­ computer programmers. Sidney E. military. S.H.I.E.L. D.'s first director, lentina Allegro de Fontaine (PubliC Levine was the head Te chnician in whose identity remains classified, Relations). Below the Special Direc­ charge of exotic technology for field was killed by HYDRA assassins. His tors were the Regional Directors use, while Niles Nordstrom led the replacement was Nicholas Fury, a 198 ESP division, a team of mutants with multinational global organization to among the latter were Rico Santana limited telepathic abilities who per­ a number of small splinter groups of of Rio de Janeiro and Karl Delandan formed certain surveillance opera­ vastly less scope and power. It was of Manhattan, both of whose activi­ tions. Each of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s eight with the fall of Hydra Island and the ties were exposed to Nick Fury by rankings had corresponding insignia death of HYDRA's founder, Baron the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent­ and accessories on the official uni­ Wolfgang von Strucker, that HYDRA turned-rogue Barbara Morse, who form. was dealt a crippling blow from had taken the code name Mocking­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s standard operating which it has never recovered. bird. Certain other disreputable ac­ procedure encompassed state of the S.H.I.E.L.D. was also instrumental in tivities were undertaken by Regional art surveillance technology (notably thwarting the schemes of AIM Officers and Field Agents, such as spy satellites) as well as long-term (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and Zo­ when Buck Richlen, Val Adair, and undercover agents ("moles") sta­ diac, a crime cartel which once Adam Manna attempted to kill indus­ tioned in strategic places such as boasted Nick Fury's brother as a trialist To ny Stark. Nick Fury had ap­ certain industrial, governmental, member. With the aid of certain su­ pointed a special Internal and military establishments. This perhuman adventurers, S.H.I.E.L.D. Investigations task force to seek out wealth of surveillance data was fed completely destroyed the conspiracy and thwart those agents who en­ to the headquarters of the nearest of industrialists and politicians called gaged in abuses of power. (But all of Regional Director, who dispatched the Corporation. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s other these incidents now seem petty in top priority material to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s major adversaries were the Oriental comparison to the damage wrought central command. Local low-priority mastermind the Ye llow Claw, the by the Deltites.) matters were generally handled by former HYDRA splinter group leader In an effort to increase internal se­ the Regional Directors without the Viper, the Nazi Red Skull, Professor curity, S.H.I.E.L.D. restricted its coop­ Public Director's participation. Com­ Anthony Power's Secret Empire, the eration with certain outside parties, plete briefs of all the activities of Re­ mad geneticist Centurious, the mon­ notably organizations of superhu­ gional Offices routinely went to ster breeder Dr. Demonicus, and the mans, such as the Avengers and central command for processing and various Hate-Mongers. S.H.I.E.L.D. Fantastic Four. Free agents like Cap­ review. Matters of top priority (those has also been at the forefront of de­ tain America, who used to be given threatening world security, involving fending Earth from extraterrestrial frequent freelance assignments by extraterrestrials, or endangering in infiltration or invasion. S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D., were discouraged excess of 10,000 lives) were under provided intelligence and technical against participation in S.H.I.E.L.D. the jurisdiction of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cen­ support to the Avengers and activities unless they were already in­ tral command and the Public Direc­ Fantastic Four during a skirmish in volved, as in the recent affair with the tor himself. Local agents in the the Kree-Skrull War fought in Earth's terrorist organization ULTIMATUM. region where the top priority affair vicinity. S.H.I.E.L.D. was instrumen­ Still, recognizing the value of super­ took place comprised the majority of tal in repulsing the extradimensional human powers, S.H.I.E.L.D. has at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s militia in the operation threats of the Collective Intelligence times instituted programs designed although Fury would usually bring in and Baron Karza. Their most exten­ to recruit superhuman operatives. his own cadre of agents to spear­ sive military action against extrater­ For years, Nick Fury tried to enlist head the operation. The bulk of restrials occurred during the recent Captain America as a full-time agent S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations were cov­ expUlsion of the Dire Wraiths, an op­ without success. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ESP ert but some involved visible public eration conducted in conjunction Division long employed individuals activities. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. pol­ with the Galadorian spaceknight with paranormal powers, but the divi­ icy prohibited the organization from Rom, the federal government, and sion's activities were never very ex­ usurping the role of the nation's scores of superhuman adventurers. tensive nor was the operation ever armed forces by engaging in warfare Perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most public expanded. (But having a force of mu­ on enemy soil, domestic matters that operation was its pursuit and capture tant Espers around was never in the also fell under the jurisdiction of the of the mutated prehistoric lizard best interests of the Deltites either.) military were jointly coordinated, called Godzilla. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most concerted at­ with S.H.I.E.L.D. generally taking Despite S.H.I.E.L.D.'s benevolent tempt to recruit superhuman opera­ the auxiliary role (such as in the case goals and numerous world-saving tives was its shortlived Super-Agent of the U.S. Army's pursuit of the operations, certain individuals in the program which was disbanded when Hulk). All covert opertions were auto­ S.H.I.E.L.D. organization abused two of its four initial recruits proved to matically S.H.I.E.L.D.'s province; their power and used the organiza­ be double agents for the Corporation. only in overt military operations was tion's resources and personnel to en­ Super-Agent graduate Wendell coordination between S.H.I.E.L.D. gage in questionable activities. Va ughn (Quasar) went on from and the Armed Forces necessary. Certain immoral individuals man­ S.H.I.E.L.D. to work for the U.S. Gov­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s earliest victories dis­ aged to become Regional Directors ernment's Project: Pegasus. It is pos­ mantled HYDRA, the subversive and falsified intelligence reports to sible that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efforts to group responsible for S.H.I.E. L.D.'s central command in order to cover acquire its own Super-Agents were founding, reducing it from a single up their corrupt activities. Notable thwarted by covert efforts of the Crea-

199 tor. Having superheroes wandering fortunately). Ironically enough, are deceased. Timothy Dugan was around while he was slowly destroy­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s greatest technological apparently killed by the alien Gno­ ing S.H.I.E.L.D. from within would not achievement also turned out to be its bians (also known as the have been conducive to his plans. undOing. S.H.I.E.L.D. toyed with the Deathheads) in an incident that led One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s greatest as­ idea of replacing field agents in high­ to the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D. II. sets has always been its arsenal of risk operations with LMDs, but due high technology. In its early days, to the great cost of building and train­ S.H.I.E.L.D. FLV­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s weaponry was de­ ing an LMD, it proved unfeasible. (It signed by Anthony Stark (secretly seems more likely now that the Crea­ ING CAR Iron Man) and built by Stark Indus­ tor didn't want humans doing any tries. When Stark moved away from further research on LMDs, less they The Standard issue S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons production, S.H.I.E.L.D. find him out.) Nick Fury and Anthony vehicle was the Flying Car Mark V contracted various other corpora­ Stark both regularly employed LMDs originally designed by Anthony Stark tions to provide new technologies. resembling themselves for security at Stark Industries. There were ap­ Dissatisfied with their new arms sup­ reasons. Nick Fury's brother Jacob proximately 2,000 of these automo­ pliers, S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to buy a (Scorpio) built LMDs with special ad­ biles in use by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents controlling interest in Stark Interna­ aptations as his own private Zodiac worldwide. The Mark V was tional in order to steer them back into organization. (This group infiltrated equipped with various electronic in­ weapons production, but their efforts the human Zodiac organization, telligence, communications, and re­ were thwarted. However, when in­ much like the rogue LMDs known as connaissance gear. The S.H.I.E.L.D. dustrialist Obadiah Stane took over the Deltites would infiltrate and de­ Flying Car has the following statis­ Stark International, S.H.I.E.L.D. stroy the original S.H.I.E.L.D .. ) tics: once more entered into mutually After the destruction of the Heli­ beneficial business dealings with the carrier, Nick Fury was based in the Control: RM(30), Land Speed: company. Manhattan regional headquarters of RM(30), Air Speed: IN(40), and The two greatest symbols of S.H.I.E.L.D. Their original Manhat­ Body: EX(20) S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technological ad­ tan headquarters, whose storefront vancement were the S.H.I.E.L.D. he­ cover was a barber shop, was delib­ KNOWN POWERS: licarrier, a huge airborne mobile erately destroyed after it had been Armor: The Flying Car's armor gave command base which was the nerve compromised by enemies like HY­ it Excellent protection versus Physi­ center of all S.H.I.E.L. D.'s opera­ DRA numerous times. The current cal attacks and Remarkable protec­ tions, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Satellite, Manhattan headquarters was under tion versus Energy attacks. a small, permanently manned space a warehouse and had a hologram Flight: The car could fly at Incredible station designed to detect extrater­ brick wall in an alley as its entrance. speeds. Its maximum strategic restrial visitation. After repeated en­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Los Angeles head­ range was 550 miles (fully loaded). emy attempts to destroy it, the quarters used to be fronted by a Chi­ Its service ceiling was 50,000 feet. S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier recently fell nese restaurant; it was later fronted Submersible: The car could propel it­ victim to sabotage by a mutated by a beauty parlor. The fronts for self underwater at Good speeds. swarm of cockroaches when it most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s other regional Sustenance: The car could remain crashed in an unpopulated area of headquarters were never revealed. submerged for 5 hours on battery Arizona. All S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel S.H.I.E.L.D. also had numerous power. The oxygen supply was twice were evacuated before it impacted, public offices in various major cities, that or 10 hours. but its destruction meant a several separate from their actual base of We apons: billion dollar deficit in S.H.I.E.L.D. fi­ operations. In Manhattan, 20-mm Electric Cannon: The 20-mm nances. Helicarrier-based opera­ S.H.I.E.L.D.'s public offices were in cannon did Remarkable damage tions were divided up over various the Citicorp Center. and had a range of 10 Areas. Regional headquarters throughout S.H.I.E.L.D. was the world's larg­ 30-mm Radar-Guided Electric Can­ the world. The location of est and most effective force for neu­ non: The 30-mm fired itself with a S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new major airbase tralizing threats to world security and Control rank of Remarkable. It did In­ was never revealed. The combatting terrorism and extrater­ credible damage over its 10-Area S.H.I.E.L.D. Satellite was still intact, restrial infiltration. Its greatest draw­ range. but its manpower was cut to a skele­ back proved to be its megalithic Air-to-Air Guided Missiles: Each mis­ ton crew due to budget cuts and re­ military structure which made it easy sile had the following statistics: cent failures to provide advance for the Deltites to hide themselves in Body: EX(20); Control: RM(30); warning of extraterrestrial activities. plain sight with no one the wiser until Speed: EX(20); Damage: IN(40). One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most sophis­ it was almost too late. Now the ques­ Detection: The S.H.I.E.L.D. car has a ticated technologies was LMDs, Life tion is whether the new S.H.I.E.L.D. variety of electronic detection de­ Model Decoys. LMDs were androids will prove too small for the task. Most vices including sonar, radar, infrared, who could be programmed like ro­ of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents listed and so forth. bots and were amazingly lifelike (un- above were turned into Deltites and

200 S.H.I.E.L.D. "ball" deck to do so). The helicarrier deck, they were the aircraft carrier was heavily armed, with its primary aspect of the helicarrier. The forward HANDGUNS defenses against missiles. There half of helicarrier contained the Bat­ were 2 forward, 2 aft, 2 aft port and tle Com mand Center (BCC), the Nick Fury's Personal Handgun : .15 starboard, and 4 forward/downward Command/Observation Wo rld Moni­ caliber Needle Gun. The needles radar-guided 70mm electric can­ tor Center (C/OWMC), and the vast had an explosive collar which pro­ nons with cyclic rates of 200 ro unds computer equipment which supports pelled it at over 1 ,BOO feet per sec­ per second. There were 3 midship the ELiNT and the helicarrier in gen­ ond. A Clip held 300 rounds; each port and starboard radar-guided eral. The aft below segment of the round did Excellent damage. Effec­ 40mm electric cannons with cyclic helicarrier contained the World tive range was 6 Areas. rates of 1,000 rounds per second. Watch Situation Display Room There were 2 forward port and star­ (WWS), S.H.I.E.L.D.'s non-military, S.H. I. E.L.D. Plasma Beam Handgun: This weapon contained a pinch bot­ board armored box missile intelligence gathering and field tle magnetic field plasma projector. launchers, each with B variable­ agent clearing center. Its range was only 3 Areas but it did payloaded radiation seeking and in­ The helicarrier was also equipped Incredible damage. Duration of fire frared seeking missiles. The cruise with an Intermediate Range Ballistic was 6 combat rounds on one power missile maintenance and launch Missile (IRBM; range of 3,500 miles, pack. It took one combat ro und to deck contained 30 variable payload or the ability to achieve low-Earth or­ switch power packs. programmed cruise missiles and an bit) which was variably programmed anti-missile tetravolt-charged parti­ and payloaded to perform a number S. H. I. E. L. D. . 30-caliber Rapid-Fire cle projector. of special-duty, clandestine, and Automatic Machine Pis tol: The weapon fired armor-piercing .30 cali­ The aircraft complement on the crisis-oriented functions and was ber shells which had spent uranium helicarrier was primarily 32 F/A-1Bs housed in a vibration-isolated silo. It (high-density) cores. Each clip held with full weapons loads for the con­ was originally installed as part of the 60 rounds. The weapon had a varia­ tinuous Combat Aircraft Patrol Minimum Essential Emergency ble rate of fire: single-shot (1 ro und), (which maintained an ever-ready pa­ Communications Network (MEECN) burst (3 ro unds), or auto-fire (10 trol for intruders). There were two re­ which, in the event of limited nuclear rounds). Effective range was 6 Ar­ pair decks which could perform confrontation, would be able to pro­ eas. Single-shot did Good damage. major overhauls on 12 planes at vide the communications support of placing a satellite package in orbit (Burst increased damage by + 1 CS, once. The helicarrier was provided auto-fire by + 2CS.) with 4 mini-Sea Kings, scaled down after the primary satellites had been versions of the Sea King 6-bladed incapacitated. This function was helicopter, for submarine patrol, filled by several Minuteman III mis­ S.H.I.E.L.D. cargo, and rescue missions. Its Elec­ siles at Whiteman AFB, Missouri be­ HELICARRIER tronic Warfare (EW) and Electronic fore the helicarrier's destruction. Countermeasure (ECM) range was The helicarrier was also hardened augmented from 130 miles to 300 agai nst nuclear electromagnetic Before its destruction by a mutant miles with E-2C Hawkeye early pulses (EMP: the nuclear weapon cockroach infestation, S.H.I.E.LD.'s warning planes. detonation-induced drifting of un­ airborne aircraft helicarrier was the The helicarrier's primary role was wanted ions that leads to high volt­ major headquarters of the entire or­ land and space surveillance and was age current leakage paths and ganization. as well as an official arm manned by highly trained Electronic electronic circuit failure) to full Mili­ of the Wo rld Wide Military Command Intelligence (ELlNT) personnel. tary Satellite Hardening Specifica­ and Control System (WWMCCS). Much training and testing of field tions. It could resist 1.2 joules per WWMCCS maintains secure com­ agents was also done on board . The centimeter squared of radiation per munications in times of world crisis normal crew complement was 450 second. The helicarrier's nuclear with strategic military bases through­ with provisions for 1,000. It was ther­ generator was designed to keep it out the United States. The Helicar­ moelectrically nuclear powered and afloat indefinitely. rier was also a major link in the used six 20,000 hp electric engines The Helicarrier's statistics were as Defense Communications System with twin-bladed propellers to aug­ follows: (DCS) which incorporates everything ment a secret anti-gravity generator from ground lines to satellites. (which, because of classified restric­ Control: Good (10) The Helicarrier was armored with tions, offset only 75 percent of the Speed: Excellent (20) a triple hull of 5-inch hardened alloy, helicarrier's mass) and to maintain Body: Excellent (20) then a 12-inch layer of high-speed level attitudes and rapid movement. fragment suppressor, and finally an­ The Bridge/Combat Info rmation other layer of hardened armor. The Center (B/CIC), Combat Operations internal bracing and construction Center (COC), and Air Tr affic Control was rigid enough to permit the heli­ To wer (ATC) were located on the carrier to alight on land or water (al­ flight deck. Along with the hanger though it had to jettison its radar 201 KNOWN POWERS: S.H.I.E.L.D. ations frequently wore special com­ Armor: The Helicarrier was armored mando paraphernalia over their to provide Incredible protection UNIFORMS regular uniforms. (S.H.I.E.L.D. II against physical attacks and Re­ agents still wear standard markable protection against Energy S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives wore dis­ S.H.I.E.L.D. uniforms when en­ attacks. tinctive uniforms designating rank. gaged in official S.H.I.E.L.D. busi­ We apons: The Helicarrier had a vari­ These uniforms were required dress ness.) ety of weapons systems. Character­ at all S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters for All uniforms were made of 9-ply istics of major systems are given all operatives (except for Level-1 Di­ Kevlar, a material able to withstand below: rectors and specially authorized the ballistic impact of up to .45 cal. * Radar-guided 30-mm and 70-mm Te chnician class specialists) and at slugs, and fire-resistant Beta Cloth. Electric Cannon: The highly­ official public functions and overt The uniforms give Good protection sophisticated radar-automated firing field maneuvers. Agents involved in versus Physical attacks and Poor systems on the cannon gave them covert field operations were ex­ protection against Energy attacks. Amazing Agility. The 40mm cannon pected to dress in plainclothes. did Incredible damage, while the Agents involved in paramilitary oper- 70mm cannon did Amazing damage. Both had ranges of 10 Areas.

* Box Missile Launcher: The Box LEVEL 6: Missile Launcher fired up to 8 air-to­ FIELD AGENTS air missiles at once. Each missile was self-guiding with the following statistics: Body: Excellent, Control: RIGHT BACK BELT POUCH: LEFT BACK Remarkable, Speed: Incredible, and ADD-ON (SPECIAL EQUIPMENT) BELT POUCH: WALLET TWO CLIPS OF AMMO Damage: Incredible. The damage SPARE CARTRIDGES given is for a standard high explosive warhead. SHIELD ISSUE HANDGUN: BADGE ------.� .45 CAL COLT AUTO * Cruise Missile: A Cruise Missile would have the following statistics: SHOULDER HOLSTER Body: Remarkable, Control: �t---(ATTACHES TO BELT) Amazing, Speed: Remarkable, and Damage: Monstrous. The damage is LEFT FRONT RIGHT FRONT -f.--=-t----- BELT POUCH: for a non-nuclear warhead. BELT POUCH: SECURE RADIO LINK SMOKE BOMB POCKET COMPUTER * Intermediate Range Ballistic Mis­ FLARE sile: An IRBM would have these THERMITE BOMB FRAGMENTATION BOMB GAS BOMB FLEXIBLE SAW IN stats: Body: Incredible, Control: In­ SEAM OF BELT credible, Speed : Monstrous, and Damage: Unearthly. The damage is SHIELD ISSUE BLASTER: 5mm PLASMA BEAM -_../ 20" GARROTE for a non-nuclear warhead. PROJECTOR REEL

* Particle Projector: This weapon SPARE HOLSTER, projected an energy blast that did TIE-DOWN Monstrous damage at a 25-Area (OPTIONAL, range. [)ETACHABLE)

BOOT

__- --THROWING KNIFE

P COLOR OF ACCESSORIES LASMA BEAM DENOTES RANK HANDGUN

202 SILVER SAMURAI

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A RM(30) S EX(20) E RM(30) R GD(1 0) I RM(30) P RM(30) Health: 110 Karma: 70 Resources: EX(20) Popu larity: -1 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Kenuichio Harada Occupation: Professional criminal Legal Status: Unknown citizenship; has international crime record Identity: Known to international law enforcement authorities Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Shingen Harada (father, deceased); Mariko Ya shida (half-sister); Shiro Yas hida (alias Sunfire, cousin); To mo Ya s hida (cousin, deceased); Saburo Ya shida (cousin, deceased) Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Partner of Viper II; former ally of the Mandrill and Black Spectre Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Ta chyon Field: The Silver Samurai is a mutant who can summon an ex­ tremely powerful energy field. The focus for this energy is his katana, a samurai longsword. This sword , as a result, does Unearthly damage and will cut through materials of less than Unearthly strength in a single round. Body Armor: Ken uichio wears a light steel alloy suit of plate in the Oriental style that provides Excellent protec­ tion from all Physical and Energy at- tacks. Te leport: The Silver Samurai has a ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: teleportation ring that gives him the Kenuichio Harada lives by the Japa­ power to teleport without error up to nese samurai warrior's code of three miles away. honor. He believes in duty and per­ Ta lents: Kenuichio is trained in sev­ sonal honor above all else. He re­ eral forms of Oriental fighting styles, spects bravery and fighting skill. He and can fight with katana, shuriken, does not murder innocents or prey and can Slam and Stun opponents of on the weak. greater strength in unarmed combat.

203 HISTORY: Kenuichio Harada is the mutant son of former Japanese crime lord Shingen Harada, ruler of the Japa­ nese underworld and head of house Yashida. Shingen never recognized Kenuichio as his son and mastery of the clan has passed to Mariko. Ke­ nuichio began the study of samurai martial arts and, once he mastered the disciplines, hired himself out as a modern-day samurai. Binding him­ self to the Viper, he has become her bodyguard and aide-de-camp ever since. While under the effects of Mastermind, Mariko pardoned Ke­ nuichio Haradan for his crimes and made him her heir. Most recently, Kenuichio has tan­ gled with the Wolverine over the demon-possessed Muramasa sword. The two ended up working to­ gether to defeat the demon and free Jessica Drew (formerly Spider­ Woman) from its hellish influence.

204 SISTERS OF SIN [MOTHER NIGHT'S]

HOODWINK mind. If the target has a Psyche less Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a than Incredible, he must make a Red criminal record, still a minor FEAT roll to see through the illusion. Place of Birth: Unknown STATISTICS: If the target's Psyche is Incredible, Marital Status: Single then a Ye llow FEAT will suffice. Like­ Known Relatives: None F TY(6) wise, an Amazing Psyche need only Base of Operations: Mobile A TY(6) make a Green FEAT roll to see Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of S TY(6) through the deception. Anyone with Sin E TY(6) a Psyche greater than Amazing can­ Present Group Affiliation: R GO(10) not be duped by Hoodwink's power. I EX(20) KNOWN POWERS: P IN(40) ROLE·PLAYING NOTES: Sleep: Raunch can force someone to Hoodwink gets a sadistic pleasure Health: 24 fall asleep with her gaze. The victim out of playing with peoples' minds. Karma: 70 gets a FEAT roll versus his Psyche to Resources: PR(4) resist the effect. Whether she still Popularity: -4 RAUNCH has her Pleasure powers (see Sister Pleasure) has not been revealed. BACKGROUND: STATISTICS: Real Name: Unrevealed ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Occupation: Professional criminal F GO(10) Raunch was known as Sister Plea­ Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a A TY(6) sure at one time. criminal record, still a minor S TY(6) Place of Birth: Unknown E TY(6) Marital Status: Single SIN R EX(20) Known Relatives: None I EX(20) Base of Operations: Mobile STATISTICS: P RM(30) Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of Health : 28 Sin F GO(1 0) Karma: 70 Present Group Affiliation: A RM(30) Resources: PR(4) S TY(6) Popularity: -4 KNOWN POWERS: E GO(1 0) Hypnotism: If Hoodwink makes a BACKGROUND: R TY(6) FEAT roll, she can cause her target Real Name: Unrevealed I EX(20) to believe what she plants in his Occupation: Professional criminal P TY(6)

205 Health: 56 The Arms do give her a Remarkable home. Rogers checked around and Karma: 32 Strength punch in Slugfest though. found that an unusually large num­ Resources: EX(20) Bionic Cla ws: Slash's Claws (like her ber of child disappearances had Popularity: -10 arms) are made of steel. Each Claw been going on lately and decided to does Excellent Edged Attack dam­ investigate the matter personally. He BACKGROUND: age. If Slash makes a Red FEAT roll wo uld need a disguise though and Real Name: Unrevealed on any attack, both Claws hit for In­ enlisted the aid of Sersi in transform­ Occupation: Professional criminal credible damage. ing himself into his 15-year old self. Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a Then, pretending to be a teen run­ criminal record, still a minor ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: away, he was picked up by two of the Place of Birth: Unknown Slash enjoys inflicting pain. Her Sisters of Sin and was knocked out Marital Status: Single adult self was known as Sister Ag­ by Raunch who used her mental Known Relatives: Red Skull (father) ony. She's more talkative these powers . When he regained con­ Base of Operations: Mobile days. sciousness, he found himself going Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of to Mother Night's youth training Sin camp where, aided by the Sisters of Present Group Affiliation: TORSO Sin, she was training young run­ aways to hate and kill. KNOWN POWERS: STATISTICS: Te en Cap and the other "recruits" Ta lents: Sin has received training in were off-loaded from the bus and put a variety of Martial Arts and weapons F EX(20) in holding cells about the size of skills. A TY(6) closets. One of the other kids, a girl S RM(30) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: named Jennifer, had claustrophobia E EX(20) Sin is the leader of the Sisters of Sin and when she put up a fuss, Sin pro­ R TY(6) and she is the wickedest of all. She ceeded to beat her. Cap tried to inter­ I TY(6) does her father (Red Skull) proud. vene but found his teen body P TY(6) incapable of handling the combat Health: 76 moves of his ad ult self. Later that SLASH Karma: 18 night, the Te en Cap managed to es­ Resources: PR(4) cape and he broke Jennifer out as STATISTICS: Popularity: -6 well. They made their way to the main house looking for a phone, but F GD(1 0) BACKGROU ND: were captured by Sin instead. Sin A EX(20) Real Name: Unrevealed beat Cap senseless and discovered S TY(6) Occupation: Professional criminal E TY(6) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a that he was wearing a Captain Amer­ R TY(6) criminal record, still a minor ica suit under his clothes. When he I TY(6) Place of Birth: Unknown awoke, Cap found his street clothes had been removed leaving him in his P TY(6) Marital Status: Single Captain America costume. He pre­ Health : 42 Known Relatives: None tended to be a member of his own Karma: 18 Base of Operat ions: Mobile computer network (Stars and Resources: PR(4) Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of Popularity: -6 Sin Stripes). Mother Night decided to Present Group Affiliation: have the Sisters of Sin beat him to BACKGROUND: death. Real Name: Unrevealed KNOWN POWERS: Luckily for Captain America, Sersi Occupation: Professional criminal None (except for her Superhuman had fixed her spell so that it would Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a Strength). automatically reverse itself if he took criminal record, still a minor more than 40 punches. Just as the Place of Birth: Unknown ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: girls closed in on him, he suddenly Marital Status: Single To rso is a bully even among her fel­ reverted to his adult self and was Known Relatives: None low Sisters. Only Sin doesn 't back able to take care of the Sisters of Sin Base of Operations: Mobile down to her. with no difficulty. But then Malachi Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of attacked him. While they fought, Sin Mother Night hurried the battered Present Group Affiliation: GROUP HISTORY: Sisters of Sin out the door. Captain KNOWN POWERS: Bernadette Rosenthal, an old America managed to defeat Malachi Bionic Arms: Slash's Bionic Steel girlfriend of Steve Rogers (Captain in time to overtake Mother Night, but Arms have Remarkable Strength, America), called him to say that she the Sisters of Sin escaped. but her physical body is too weak for was worried about her youngest sis­ her to lift more than Typical burdens. ter Nancy who had run away from

206 SISTERS OF SIN [RED SKULL!S]

SISTER KNOWN POWERS: with a better than Remarkable Hypnotic Gaze: Sister Dream can Psyche. Any target whose thoughts DREAM create illusions or phantom images have been scanned by Dream re­ directed at one person, provided her ceives a -1 CS to any attempt to resist STATISTICS: would-be victim looks at her. If Sister her Hypnotic Gaze. Dream makes a FEAT roll, she F TY(6) catches her intended victim with her ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: A TY(6) hypnotic gaze. Dream's ability rank Sister Dream likes to spout bad po­ S TY(6) with this power is Incredible. The tar­ etry when she's not busy playing E GD(10) get must make a Red FEAT roll to es­ with someone's mind. R GD(1 0) cape the illusion she creates for him. I EX(20) Ta rgets who have a Psyche of Re­ SISTER P AM(50) markable need only make a Ye llow Health: 28 FEAT roll; those with Incredible or PLEASURE Karma: 80 Amazing Psyches need only make a Resources: GD(10) Green FEAT roll. Persons whose -STATISTICS: Popularity: -6 Psyche is Monstrous or better can­ BACKGROUND: not be duped by Sister Dream's F TY(6) Real Name: Unrevealed power. Victims who fail their FEAT A TY(6) Occupation: Professional criminal roll cannot take any action and any S TY(6) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a nearby villains get a free attack E GD(1 0) criminal record against them. If someone takes dam­ R EX(20) Place of Birth: Unknown age while under Dream's power, the I EX(20) Marital Status: Single pain wilt bring him back to reality. P IN(40) Known Relatives: None Limited Min dscanning: Dream can Health : 28 Base of Operations: Mobile freely scan the surface thoughts of Karma: 80 Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of anyone with a Remarkable or lower Resources: GD(1 0) Sin Psyche. She must make a Red FEAT Popularity: 0 Present Group Affiliation: roll to scan the thoughts of someone

207 BACKGROUND: Occupation: Professional criminal KNOWN POWERS: Real Name: Unrevealed Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a None beyond Superhuman Occupation: Professional criminal criminal record Strength. Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a Place of Birth: Unknown criminal record Marital Status: Single ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Place of Birth: Unknown Known Relatives: None Sister Death is grim-faced and very Marital Status: Single Base of Operations: Mobile direct in her approach. Known Relatives: None Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of Base of Operations: Mobile Sin Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of Present Group Affiliation: Sin GROUP HISTORY: Present Group Affiliation: KNOWN POWERS: The Red Skull had used advanced Cla ws: Agony's hands and feet were science to rapidly age the girls who KNOWN POWERS: replaced with bionic steel claws. were his pupils. This was before Sin Mesmerism: If Sister Pleasure Each of these weapons does Excel­ (Skull's daughter) took over leader­ makes a FEAT roll, her beauty mes­ lent Edged Attack damage. The Ta l­ ship of the Sisters of Sin. merizes her target. Pleasure's ability ons are also coated in a special The Skull had Arnold Roth kid­ rank with this power is Incredible. If chemical designed to cause extreme napped to lure Captain America to her target is male, he must make a pain. Anyone Sister Agony hits with one of his secret houses. Captain Red Psyche FEAT roll to tear himself even one of her Claws must make an America arrived, accompanied by away from her charms. Men who Endurance FEAT roll versus Stun. If Nomad, who was his partner at the have Incredible Psyches need only hit by two or more of her Claws simul­ time. make a Ye llow FEAT to escape her taneously, the victim must make a The combined mental powers of mesmerizing power. Likewise, a man Ye llow FEAT roll to escape being Sister Dream and Sister Pleasure with an Amazing or better Psyche stunned. were especially effective against the only has to make a Green FEAT roll. two costumed heroes and almost Pleasure's power has no effect on fe­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: proved their undoing. Nomad was males, unless Pleasure makes a Sister Agony doesn't say much­ captivated by the hypnotic beauty of Red FEAT roll in which case the fe­ she just circles, her actions and her Sister Pleasure while Captain Amer­ male target will be envious of Plea­ appearance closely resembling a ica got caught up in an illusion cre­ sure's beauty and unable to act that vulture's. ated by Sister Dream where he combat round. thought he was being embraced by Pleasure 's Kiss: Sister Pleasure's SISTER DEATH his girlfriend, when, in reality, Sister kiss does Remarkable damage to a Death was squeezing the life out of male she has managed to bewitch STATISTICS: him. The pain brought Cap back to with her Mesmerism. his senses and although he was un­ F EX(20) able to break Death's hold, he did ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: A TY(6) manage to throw his shield at Sister Sister Pleasure is all smiles and S AM (50) Pleasure. The shield knocked out sweetness. She is very attractive, of­ E RM(30) Sister Pleasure and freed Nomad to ten fatally so. R TY(6) help Captain America. Nomad hit I TY(6) Sister Death with two of his stun SISTER AGONY P TY(6) discs, thus causing her to drop Cap­ Health: 106 tain America just as Sister Agony STATISTICS: Karma: 18 lashed out with her claws. Death was Resources: GD(10) ripped up by her own sister and, in F EX(20) Popularity: -10 retaliation, she slammed Agony into A EX(20) the floor. Cap was once more caught S TY(6) BACKGROUND: up in an illusionary world (evidently E EX(20) Real Name: Unrevealed his thoughts of his future bride were R TY(6) Occupation: Professional criminal so strong that he was easily trans­ I TY(6) Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a fixed). Thinking fast, Nomad P TY(6) criminal record grabbed up the Captain America Health: 66 Place of Birth: Unknown shield and used it to knock the last Karma: 18 Marital Status: Single Sister of Sin senseless too. While Resources: GD(10) Known Relatives: None our heroes were congratulating Popularity: -10 Base of Operations: Mobile themselves, the Sisters of Sin es­ Past Group Affiliations: Sisters of caped thanks to the plethora of hid­ BACKGROUND: Sin den doors built in Skull's funhouse. Real Name: Unrevealed Present Group Affiliation:

208 SKIDS

STATISTICS:

F TY(6) A RM(30) S PR(4) E EX(20) R GD(10) I RM(30) P EX(20) Health: 60 Karma: 60 Resources: FE(2) Popularity: -4

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Sally Blevins Occupation: Student, adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record, still a minor Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Ally of X­ Factor; member of the New Mutants Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Personal Force Field: Skids has a personal protective field that pro­ vides Shift X protection from all at­ tacks. Her force field also gives Skids the following Power Stunts:

* Slipperiness: Skids' force field has unique properties that make it im­ possible for anyone to hold on to her. Therefore, Skids cannot be grabbed or entangled. Skids automatically escapes from any bounds. However, if she is somehow caught in some strange power, she need only make a Green FEAT roll to escape. If Skids wants to use her power to help some­ one else escape, she must make a normal Yellow FEAT roll. For pur­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: (or rather under them with the poses of escape FEAT rolls only, Skids is very protective and loyal to Morlocks), and trying to escape the Skids' Strength is Monstrous. Rusty Collins, her first true friend. mutant-hating madness that had

* Skate: Skids can move at Excellent She believes strongly in the New Mu­ seemed to infect the majority of hu­ speed by skating her force field tants charter to protect Earth's peo­ mans when she encountered Rusty across the ground. ples from the evils of man and Collins. Rusty was being pursued by

* Deflector Field: If Skids makes a mutant. the Freedom Force (government­ FEAT roll, she can extend her force chartered mutant enforcers) and a field to protect others. If her roll is mob of mutant-hating humans. Red, the field remains at Shift X in­ Rusty accidentally injured a woman tensity. The Deflector Field will only HISTORY: with his pyrokinetic powers and is provide Amazing protection if her roll Little has been revealed of Skids' wanted by the U.S Government. He was Yellow, and Remarkable protec­ past. It is known that her power first has been wrongly labeled an evil mu­ tion if it was Green. manifested itself after she was tant. abused by her stepfather. The cur­ When Spider-Woman (one of the rent status of Skids' parents is un­ Freedom Force) caught Rusty in her known. She was living on the streets psychic web, Skids came to his res- 209 cue. Skids' force field easily parted the web. The two youths then fled. Skids and Rusty were overtaken by the Freedom Force on the edge of the park, but before the evil mutants could take them in, a mob of humans attacked the Freedom Force. In the confusion, Skids and Rusty es­ caped. Skids tried to get Rusty to the safety of the underground home of the Morlocks, but the Freedom Force caught up with them again, this time in the sewers beneath New Yo rk. The evil mutant Blob was pounding Rusty into the sewer wall when X-Factor arrived on the scene. Destiny warned of imminent disaster, so, after a brief skirmish, Freedom Force retreated. Later, with X-Factor's mentorship, Skids and Rusty joined the New Mu­ tants. They wanted to help protect humans and mutants from the evil on both sides. Skids and Rusty, acting on their own, tried to prevent the Vul­ ture's releasing Nitro from captivity. Skids was injured protecting the­ public from Nitro's explosions and Rusty was injured protecting her from Freedom Force. The deter­ mined, if somewhat weak-minded, Freedom Force finally managed to capture Skids and Rusty. The two New Mutants were placed in a high­ security prison hospital. The rest of the New Mutants were busy helping Balder defend Asgard and were un­ able to come to Rusty and Skids' aid. Meanwhile, yet another evil mutant group took notice of Skids and Rusty-the terrorist organization known as the Mutant Liberation Front. The MLF broke into the high­ security installation and stole Skids and Rusty out from under the noses of the Freedom Force. In the proc­ ess, they had a brief run-in with Ca­ ble, a cyborg, who was also trying to rescue Skids and Rusty. Cable was beaten and left for dead. What the MLF has planned for Skids and Rusty remains to be seen. Cable isn't out of the picture either. He has escaped the military hospital and has collected the other New Mu­ tants to act as his soldiers in the bat­ tle against the MLF.

210 SLEEPERS

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: THE FIRST The Second Sleeper was essentially the same as the First Sleeper with a SLEEPER wing attached to provide flying capa­ bility. STATISTICS: THE THIRD F EX(20) A PR(4) SLEEPER S MN(75) E UN(100) STATISTICS: R PR(4) I PR(4) F EX(20) Health: 199 A PR(4) Karma: 8 S MN(75) Resources: 0 E UN(100) Popularity: -20 R TY(6) I GD(1 0) KNOWN POWERS: Health: 199 Armor: The robotic body of the Karma: 16 Sleeper was armored to provide Re­ Resources: 0 markable protection against Energy Popularity: -20 attacks and Monstrous protection against Physical attacks. KNOWN POWERS: Energy Blast: The Sleeper could pro­ The Third Sleeper actually had two ject an energy blast from either claw components, each a separate ro­ that did Incredible damage. The botic death machine. The Lower Blast had a range of 7 Areas. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Component was designed to attach Manipulative Claws: The Sleeper's The First Sleeper was basically a under the wing of the Upper Compo­ claws got a + 1 CS to Strength when juggernaut programmed to destroy nent. When attached, the Lower making snatching or crushing at­ everyone and everything in its path. Component's Reason and Intuition tacks. were supplanted by the Upper Com­ THE SECOND ponent's. The Lower Component SLEEPER

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A PR(4) S MN(75) E UN(100) R PR(4) I PR(4) Health: 199 Karma: 8 Resources: 0 Popularity: -20

KNOWN POWERS: Other than Flight, the Second Sleeper had the same powers as listed for the First Sleeper (see above). Flight: The Second Sleeper could fly at Good speeds and it gained +2CS to its Agility while in the air.

21 1 had the same statistics and powers area as the Sleeper. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: as the First Sleeper (see First Eruption: The Fourth Sleeper could The Fifth Sleeper was in fact a Sleeper), while the Upper Compo­ channel the energy in its body into a manned attack vehicle in the form of nent, a Robot Wing, had the statis­ massive explosion that did Shift X a gigantic robot. A minimum crew of tics listed above and the following damage to everything within a 5 Area 10 was required to operate the unique powers: radius of the eruption. The Sleeper Sleeper. Eject: Allows the Upper Component had to make a FEAT roll of Poor Rank to detach the Lower Component. before it could erupt. If the Sleeper Flight: The Third Sleeper's Upper made a Ye llow FEAT roll, the radius Component could fly at Remarkable of destruction increased to 10 Areas, GROUP HISTORY: speeds, this was reduced to Excel­ while a Red FEAT roll increased the As World War II drew to its inevita­ lent speeds with the Lower Compo­ destruction out to 25 Areas. The ble close, Hitler vowed that if he nent attached. Sleeper could make one attempt to could not conquer the world, he Armor: The Upper Component had erupt per uninterrupted combat would destroy it. To achieve this end, the same armor as the First Sleeper. round. the Red Skull proposed the con­ Laser Projector: The eyes of the Up­ struction of five gigantic war ma­ per Component could each project ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: chines to be called the Sleepers an Incredible intensity energy blast The Fourth Sleeper was actually a which would be hidden in various lo­ with a 10-Area range. living volcano, programmed to move cations while they generated and underground and erupt under popu­ stored the power they would need ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: lations centers, military bases, and and then be released at a future The Third Sleeper improved over the so forth. date, "Der Ta g" ("The Day"), to de­ Second Sleeper by giving the flight stroy the Earth if the Allies won. wing a separate robot intelligence THE FIFTH Hitler enthusiastically instructed the and additional powers as well. Skull to construct the Sleepers, un­ SLEEPER aware that the Skull intended to use THE FOURTH them to conquer the world himself if STATISTICS: the Third Reich fell. SLEEPER Later, a couple of freak occur­ Body: UN(100) rences left both the Red Skull and STATISTICS: Speed: PR(4) his arch nemesis. Captain America, Control: EX(20) in states of suspended animation. F RM(30) Strength: UN(100) Decades later, Captain America was A EX(20) the first awakened. By the time the S MN(75) KNOWN POWERS: Skull awoke. Captain America had E SH X (150) Laser Projector: The eyes of the Fifth already destroyed the first three R TY(6) Sleeper each projected an Incredi­ Sleepers. But even with the Skull's I GD(10) ble intensity energy blast with a direction, the final two Sleepers met Health: 275 range of 10 Areas. the same fate as their predecessors: Karma: 16 Laser Cannon: A more powerful laser defeat at the hands of Captain Amer­ Resources: 0 projector was mounted just above its ica and his allies. Popularity: -30 eyes. The Laser Cannon could fire an energy blast of Amazing intensity KNOWN POWERS: with a 25 Area range. Density Change: The Fourth Sleeper Armor: The robotic body of the Fifth could alter its own molecular density. Sleeper was armored and provided This gave the Fourth Sleeper the fol­ Monstrous protection against En­ lowing power stunts: ergy attacks and Unearthly protec­ " Mole: The Sleeper altered its mo­ tion against Physical attacks. lecular structure so that it could Manipulative Claw: The death ma­ move underground at Excellent chine's claw gave it a + 1 CS to speeds (5 Areas/round). Strength when making grabbing or " Defenses: The Sleeper could crushing attacks. change its structure at will so that at­ Nerve Gas Dispenser: The left arm tacks just passed right through it. ended in a nerve gas dispenser. The Treat this effect as Unearthly resist­ weapon had a range of 3 Areas. Any­ ance to any attack. one who breathed the gas suffered Energy Blast: The Sleeper could fire Amazing damage each combat an Amazing intensity Energy blast round until death. that attacked everyone in the same

212 SORCERER

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A RM(30) S MN(75) E UN(100) R IN(40) I IN(40) P UN(100) Health: 235 Karma: 180 Resources: U N(1 00) Popularity: 0/-50 (Magic Experts)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Dexter Rayne (Body), Llan Occupation: Accountant, Con­ queror Legal Status: Citizen of Canada with no criminal record, Unknown Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ eral public Marital Status: Widowed, Unknown Known Relatives: Carol Rayne (De­ ceased)

Base of Operations: Canada Past Group Affiliations: Unknown Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Magic: The Sorcerer is a Master of Chaotic Magic He has access to all Personal , Universal and Dimen­ sional spells, and can cast them at Unearthly power rank. He can tele­ port himself, and others, to various dimensions instantly. The Sorcerer appears to be a creature of magical energy which possesses and en­ hances a host body. It is not known if the Sorcerer can be permanently de­ stroyed. The Sorcerer can lay dor­ mant for tens of thousands of years, without losing any of its power levels. Power Duplication: The Sorcerer is able to magically duplicate almost any normal super-power, and use it at up to Unearthly power rank. This includes various physical powers that he enhances his host body with. Summoning: The Sorcerer is able to summon and control evil supernatu­ ral creatures from other dimensions, such as demons from the Pit. Ta lents: The Sorcerer's Reason should be considered Unearthly in matters of magic and the supernatu­ ral. Dexter Rayne was an expert en­ vironmentalist, and accountant. 213 Contacts: The Sorcerer probably dreams. Playing on Dexter's secret was taking care of the disaster. Al­ has contacts in a number of different fears and insecurities, the Sorcerer pha Flight went ahead and entered magical dimensions. The Sorcerer convinced Dexter to open a gateway the area anyway, discovering that has helped the so-called Master of between dimensions. The Sorcerer, everyone in the suburb had been vio­ the World, but he did not tell the Mas­ in return, promised that he would lently killed. They found Gamma ter of the World who he was. The Sor­ come and help Dexter save the Flight being overrun by the reani­ cerer also has some sort of Earth. The confused Dexter sacri­ mated bodies of the dead citizens. connection with the Zeitgeist, an as­ ficed his own wife, and then drank Alpha Flight helped Gamma Flight sassin of super beings currently her blood after the statue had been defeat all the animated corpses. Ta l­ working in South America. dissolved in it. This opened a gate­ isman then confronted the cause of way that allowed the Sorcerer to pos­ all the death, a little girl possessed ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: sess Dexter's body and take control. by a demon from the Pits. The de­ The Sorcerer is an ancient being of Sensing the location of the latest mon told Ta lisman that he was sim­ infinite evil and he views the Earth owner of the Ta lisman, Elizabeth ply delivering a message for his and all its inhabitants with nothing Tw oyoungman, the Sorcerer hurried master, the Sorcerer. The demon told but disdain. He loves toying with his to confront her. It seems that a spe­ Ta lisman that this was just the begin­ opponents, knowing that they proba­ cial set of rules of engagement exist, ning of his master's plans for the bly cannot hurt him. He uses his tele­ stating that the Sorcerer cannot be­ Earth. After the message was deliv­ pathic powers to find out his foes' gin his attack on the Earth until the ered, Ta lisman banished the demon insecurities and fears, and likes to owner of the Ta lisman actively at­ back from whence he came. use this knowledge to mentally tor­ tacks him. The Sorcerer confronted During the time period when the ture them. The Sorcerer enjoys us­ Ta lisman and her friend Heather "Acts of Ve ngeance" were occur­ ing elaborate schemes in his Hudson, known as the Vindicator, at ring, a number of America's super ongoing battle with Ta lisman and Al­ Heather's house in Edmonton. The villains were fleeing the United pha Flight. His ultimate goal is to Sorcerer transported Heather and States. They were fleeing because a open the Gateway to Night, flooding Ta lisman to a non-zone pocket di­ law, the Super-Powers Registration the Earth with evil. mension. Such areas had been cre­ Act, was then being pushed through ated by celestial beings centuries Congress. The Sorcerer compelled ago as neutral areas of combat. The these villains to come to Canada, Sorcerer then transported the other and him. Ta lisman sensed the Sor­ HISTORY: members of Alpha Flight to the non­ cerer's actions, and sent Alpha Every 10,000 years, a special con­ zone. Flight team members to force the junction of the planets occurs, dur­ The Sorcerer verbally goaded the American villains back into the ing which an evil magical creature Alpha Flight members into attacking United States. Vindicator became in­ from another dimension is allowed to him. The Sorcerer was easily able to volved in a fight with Nekra in down­ enter our dimension by possessing a defeat them and even broke Sas­ town Winnipeg. Diamond Lil was human body. The creature is known quatch's arms. The Sorcerer then defeated by the Scorpion, who then as Llan, the Sorcerer. His main goal began to kill Madison Jeffries, which got away. At the same time, the Owl is to open the Gateway to Night, let­ forced Ta lisman to attack him. The arrived in Canada by plane, and the ting evil creatures from the beyond elated Sorcerer bragged about what woman known as Asp drove across enter our dimension. he was going to do to the Earth be­ the border between the United So far, the Sorcerer has been fore leaving Alpha Flight stranded in States and Canada. Soon, all of Al­ thwarted each time by the owner of the non-zone. Alpha Flight had sev­ pha Flight and Gamma Flight were the Ta lisman, a powerful magical ar­ eral adventures in the non-zone be­ involved in a melee with the villains tifact. The last Ta lisman tricked the fore returning to our dimension. in Winnipeg. The villains were Sorcerer into taking an inert form of a During that time, they found the knocked unconscious when the Sor­ statue. Her spells prevented him missing Puck and bought him back cerer released his mental control from changing back until a mortal with them. They returned to our di­ over them. The resulting violent en­ willingly consumed him. She then mension to discover that three ergy caused by the super powered buried him deep in the Earth, hoping months had passed while they were fight, allowed the Sorcerer to begin he would be forgotten. During the re­ in other dimensions. opening the Gateway of Night. With cent planetary conjunction, the Upon returning, Shaman and the help of Dr. Strange, Alpha Flight sleeping Sorcerer could act again. Puck became very ill and had to be opened the Gateway of Day, and the At that time, Dexter Rayne and his hospitalized. At the same time, Al­ Armies of Light defeated the Sor­ wife Carol were taking a second hon­ pha Flight heard of a disaster in a cerer and his minions. eymoon in the wilds of Canada. Dur­ suburb of Montreal and hurried to ing the camping trip, Dexter help. Arriving at the suburb, they stumbled over a strange little statue, found the area surrounded by the half-buried in the dirt. That night, the army. They were told that a new Ca­ Sorcerer talked to Dexter in his nadian super team, Gamma Flight,

214 BPEED DEMDN

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A MN(75) S EX(20) E RM(30) R GD(10) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 135 Karma: 22 Resources: GD(10) Popularity: -10

BACKGROUND: Real Name: James Sanders Occupation: Former pharmaceuti­ cal chemist, now criminal Legal Status: U.S. citizen with a criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: New Yo rk area Past Group Affiliations: Squadron Sinister, Sinister Syndicate Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Lightning Speed: Unearthly Rank (150 mph, 10 areas per round). Es­ tablished Power Stunts include: * Running in a circle within 1 area the Speed Demon can create a Mon­ strous intensity cyclone, that can Stun or Slam anyone it affects. * Circling an opponent at high speed, Speed Demon can strike 3 blows per round, gaining a +2CS on damage and Stunning Intensity. Tr eat any Slam results as Stuns. Protected Vision: Speed Demon wears special goggles to protect his eyes when running at high speeds. The goggles provide him with Good protection against anti-visual at­ tacks. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Ta lents: Speed Demon is a trained The Speed Demon is very overconfi­ Chemist. dent in combat, believing that no one HISTORY: Contacts: The Speed Demon has can touch him because of his speed. Many years ago, an Elder of the contacts with the other members of He has a tendency to show off in Universe known as the Grandmaster the Sinister Syndicate (Boomerang, combat, and constantly brag about played a tournament of powers with Hydro-Man , Beetle, and Rhino). his abilities. His overconfidence the time traveller known as the Scar­ causes him to constantly underesti­ let Centurion. The Scarlet Centurion ADDITIONAL NOTES: mate his foes, much to his regret. used his enemies from an alternate Earth, the Squadron Supreme, as his pawns in the contest. A few years later, the Grandmaster became in­ volved in the same type of contest

215 with Kang the Conqueror. The the Avengers. After the defeat, the ers questioned him about one of the Grandmaster contacted four hu­ Grandmaster kept his word and re­ other Squadron members, Dr. Spec­ mans and offered them powers simi­ turned Sanders and the others to trum. Sanders experimented with lar to the Squadron Supreme. One of Earth with their powers. A few the original formula that had given the humans was James Sanders, a months later, Sanders and the other him his powers, creating a variant chemist for the Hudson Pharmaceu­ members of the Squadron Sinister that increased his super speed even tical Company of West Caldwell, were hired by the alien geographer, more. He took a new name, Speed New Jersey. The Grandmaster gave Nebulon. Nebulon and the Squadron Demon, because ofthe recent return him a formula for a pill that would Sinister tried to melt the polar ice of the WWII hero called the Whizzer. give him superhuman speed. caps, but they were stopped by the He then began to use his powers in Sanders agreed to play in the Grand­ Defenders. Doctor Strange cast an various thefts. Recently, Speed De­ master's tourney in return for the for­ amnesia spell over the Squadron mon joined a new super villain team, mula. members, causing them to forget the Sinister Syndicate, led by the The Grandmaster gave him a cos­ their powers. Beetle. Speed Demon is currently tume and called him the Whizzer. Sanders got his job back at Hud­ st ill at large. Sanders and the other Squadron Su­ son Pharmaceutical and worked preme copies were beaten in the there for awhile. His memory was ac­ contest by Kang's team of pawns, cidentally restored when the Av eng-

216 SPHINX

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A GD(10) S MN(75)/SHIFT Z(500) E MN(75)/SHIFT Z(500) R IN(40)/SHIFT Z(500) I IN(40)/UN (100) P MN(75)/SHIFT Z(500) Health: 180/1 030 Karma: 155/1 100 Resources: UN(100) Popularity: -5/-25 (with Xandarians)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Wizard , then Con­ queror Legal Status: None Place of Birth: Egypt Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Flying Pyramid Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Ka Stone: The Sphinx possessed a mystical stone that enabled him to manipulate magical energy. The Ka Stone was made out of Class 1000 rank material. The Ka stone provided him with the following powers: Beams of heat, light and force: Amazing intensity. (Unearthly inten­ sity). Mental Probe: Amazing intensity (Unearthly intensity). Flight: Amazing intensity (CL 3000). Life Support: Unearthly intensity (CL10 00). Energy Absorption: Unearthly inten­ sity (CL10 00). The Sphinx could channel absorbed energy into his Strength and/or Endurance scores. He could also use the absorbed en­ ergy to increase any of his powers, plus give himself the Growth power. When he absorbed the power from the Xandarian computer, he could also channel the energy into his RIP ability scores. He could absorb an Unearthly amount of energy per round. This power apparently had no limit on how much energy he could absorb. The energy would drain away from him at the rate of 10 rank points per round, unless he drained energy from a CL 1000 energy source. In that case, the energy could only be drained from him 217 against his own free will. ing him magical powers and immor­ Galactus, getting him to agree to Immortality: Unearthly intensity tality. stop Sphinx. Galactus defeated (CL 1 000). Calling himself the Sphinx, he Sphinx easily and drained him of his Body Armor: Amazing intensity (Shift then spent the next 5,000 years wan­ excess power. Galactus then Z intensity). dering the Earth without any real pur­ crushed the Ka Stone, and sent the Xandar Computer: When the Sphinx pose. Eventually, the Sphinx Sphinx back in time, to re-live his life absorbed the energy of the main became bored with his immortal life in a time loop. Unfortunately, Galac­ computer of Xandar, his powers dra­ and wished to free himself of the Ka tus made a mistake, and sent the matically increased. The second set Stone and its powers. The Sphinx Sphinx to a time period when he al­ of ability ranks and the power ranks heard of a powerful being in the ready existed. The future Sphinx met in parenthesis above represent the Himalayan Mountains, and went his past self just as he began to place Sphinx's power levels during this there for help. In the Himalayas, the the Ka Stone on his forehead. The time. He also possesses the follow­ Sphinx met the mystical being future self told his past self of what ing powers after absorbing the Xan­ Sayge, also known as Ve ritas, the Galactus would do in the future. The dar computer's energy. embodiment of truth. Sayge refused two worked together and built a ma­ Growth: Permanent Monstrous rank to help the Sphinx, and tortured him chine that could reform the Ka Stone (+ 3CS to hit in combat). with predictions that the Sphinx after it was destroyed by Galactus. Ta lents: Over the centuries, the would live forever. For some un­ The future version then hypnotized Sphinx picked up a lot of knowledge known reason, Sayge often accom­ his past self into forgetting their about science and history. The panied the Sphinx. encounter. The future self then Sphinx possesses the following tal­ In modern times, the Sphinx be­ placed himself in suspended anima­ ents: gan to mind probe various people, tion. Medicine, Engineering, Chemistry, hoping to find a solution to end his Months after Galactus destroyed Biology, Genetics, Archaeology, life. He had no luck until he probed the Ka Stone, the Sphinx awoke from Physics, Computers, Occult Lore, the mind of Richard Ryder, who had suspended animation. He then be­ Hypnotism, Languages and Repair/ recently became the hero known as gan to use the machine to restore the Tinkering. Nova. Ryder had gained his powers crushed Ka Stone. During a chance from a Nova Centurion, one of the encounter with the Thing, the ma­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: champions of the planet Xandar. Ry­ chine was destroyed before it had Through most of his long life, the der subconsciously possessed completely reformed the Ka Stone. Sphinx was obsessed with finding a knowledge of Xandar and its planet­ Since the machine had not com­ way to end his immortal life. He sized computer. The Sphinx did not pletely restored the Ka Stone, the found eternal life to be utterly boring. know what the precise nature of Ry­ Stone began to disintegrate. The He spent much time seeking release der's knowledge was, but he did be­ Sphinx knew that once it disinte­ from the Ka Stone's influence. After lieve that Ryder held the key to grated, he would die. Seeking a final absorbing the power of the Xandar gaining his release from the Ka revenge, the Sphinx attacked the computer, the Sphinx forgot his Stone. The Sphinx could not gain the Thing and defeated him. The Thing thoughts of suicide. He now wanted knowledge from Ryder though, be­ was saved by an old enemy, the Pup­ more power to conqueror and de­ cause the information was buried pet Master, who felt he owed the stroy. The Sphinx was very vengeful deep in Ryder's subconscious. Thing a debt of gratitude. Using one man, never forgetting an insult. The Sphinx eventually learned of of his puppets, the Puppet Master the existence of Xandar's computer, took control of the Sphinx's mind and from the living computer, Quasi­ made him crush the Ka Stone. When modo. The Sphinx forced Ryder, and this happened, the Sphinx's body HISTORY: a number of Ryder's friends and ene­ turned to dust. The Sphinx was born in ancient mies, to go with him to Xandar. They Egypt, and served as the court wiz­ used a spaceship that Ryder had in­ ard for the Pharaoh Ramses II. herited from the Nova Centurion that When the wizard's powers proved had given him his powers. The useless against the demonstrated Sphinx absorbed huge amounts of powers of the leader of the captive knowledge and energy from the Xan­ Israelites, Ramses banished the wiz­ dar computer, enhancing his powers ard. The wizard wandered for many dramatically. The Sphinx finally had years, finally coming upon an aban­ the knowledge and power to kill him­ doned temple of unknown origin. In­ self. Instead, he forgot about sui­ side, he found the mystical gem cide, and decided to destroy the known as the Ka Stone. The stone Earth instead. somehow compelled him to place it The Fantastic Four learned of his on his forehead. The stone then plans, and attempted to stop him. grafted itself to his forehead, grant- The Fantastic Four bargained with

218 SPIDER-MAN

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A AM(50)/MN(75)(enhanced) S IN(40)/ SHIFT Z(500)(enhanced) E IN(40) R EX(20) I GD(10) P IN(40)/UN(100)(enhanced) Health: 160/645 (enhanced) Karma: 70/1 30 (enhanced) Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 30/6 (Peter Parker)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Peter Parker Occupation: Graduate student in chemistry, freelance photographer Identity: Secret Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Married Known Relatives:Mary Jane Wat­ son Parker (wife), Richard Parker (father,deceased) Mary Parker (mother,deceased), Benjamin Parker (uncle,deceased), May Parker (aunt) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: Spider­ Man has sometimes worked for Sil­ ver Sable and her organization. Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Normal Powers: Wa ll-Crawling: Amazing Intensity. Spider-Sense: Amazing Intensity Combat Sense. Spider-Man cannot be blindsided. If his Spider-Sense is not working, use the Intuition score above, and all Agility FEATs will then be at a -1CS. Webcasting: Monstrous power rank. Dissolves after one hour. Te lescopic Vision: Unearthly inten­ combat. If he fails the roll, his Intui­ Spider- Tracer: Spider-Man carries sity and Unearthly range. tion for that round is considered to be several of these small homing de­ Molding/Animate/Molecular Conver­ Typical. vices, shaped like spiders. Tu ned to sion: Unearthly. Spider-Man must be Plasma Bolt: Unearthly. 10 area his Spider Sense, they allow him to touching the object he is effecting range. track with Amazing accuracy at a with these powers. Flight: Remarkable air speed (6 ar­ range of one mile. Spider-Sense: His Combat Sense eas per round). Spider-Light: Good Rank illumina­ has been increased to Unearthly Light Fla sh: Remarkable intensity. 2 tion. rank, and now includes super hear­ area range. Enhanced Powers: ing. In combat, the enhanced Ta lents: Peter Parker is a graduate Body Resistance: Unearthly. Spider-Sense sometimes ove rloads student in chemistry, minoring in Kinetic Bolt: Unearthly. 10 area his senses. While in combat, or physics. He works as a freelance range. when he is about to be attacked by photographer. Penetration Vision: Unearthly. 10 surprise, he must make a successful Contacts: As Peter Parker, he has area range. Reason FEAT roll every round during contacts at the Da ily Bugle newspa- 219 per. As Spider-Man, he has contacts was going on at the Armory when Pe­ Recently, it has been revealed that with almost every American super ter got there. A professional wrestler Kristie ran away from her uncaring hero. He also has contacts with Sil­ was offeri ng a $100 to anyone that parents and she suffers from ano­ ver Sable and her organization, the could stay in the ring with him for rexia. Thomas Fireheart (Puma) has Wild Pack. Thomas Fireheart three minutes. Peter donned a now bought out the Daily Bugle from (Puma), feels that he owes Spider­ mask, took the challenge, and was under Jameson. Fireheart feels that Man a debt of honor. able to easily defeat him. Spotting he owes Spider-Man a debt of honor this, a local television producer's tal­ and now plans to have the Daily Bu­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ent agent at the match offered Peter gle praise Spider-Man unlike Jame­ When his uncle died, Peter Parker work on a variety television show, to son's past editorial policy. learned that with great power comes which Peter agreed. For the next few Peter has now returned to his great responsibility. That philosophy nights, Peter created a costume, and studies and is doing some post­ has been his main motivation in his invented a special webbing that he graduate work as a lab assistant at career as Spider-Man. Peter's per­ could shoot from devices on his Empire State University. Peter was sonal life has always been filled with wrists. Calling himself the Amazing recently helping Professor Max Lu­ misfortune and tragedies. He uses Spider-Man, Peter appeared on the bisch on his experiments to discover his time as Spider-Man to let out show and became an instant suc­ an extradimensional power source steam. He likes to make wisecracks cess. when an accident occurred. Peter during his fights, which usually up­ Right after the show, a burglar ran took the brunt of an energy backlash sets his foes. Peter has always been right by Peter, pursued by a studio that almost hit Professor Lubisch worried about mortally wounding an security guard. Peter did nothing to and soon discovered that the energy opponent, so he tries never to really stop the burglar, even though he backlash had somehow increased lose his temper. This has recently be­ could have easily tripped him, and his powers and gave him new ones. come even more important to him, the burglar got away. When the His spider-sense has become so with his new power increase. guard asked Peter why he didn't sensitive that he now has trouble stop him, Peter said that it wasn't his controlling it. He is able to project en­ job to catch criminals. A few days ergy bolts and he has become in­ later, Peter arrived home to find out credibly resistant to most forms of HISTORY: that his Uncle Ben had been shot by damage. Peter is now extremely A bright, honor student in science a burglar who was trapped by the po­ scared of hurting someone with his at Midtown High School, Peter was lice at a nearby abandoned ware­ increased powers. Early evidence in­ extremely shy, bookish, and a loner house. Peter donned his costume dicated that the power might have at school. and went after the burglar himself. originated from a mysterious source One night, Peter attended a public Upon capturing the crook, Peter re­ that has effected others in the past exhibition sponsored by General alized that it was the same burglar he such as Captain Universe. Te chtronics demonstrating the safe had not stopped at the television stu­ During the "Acts of Vengeance" handling of nuclear lab waste materi­ dio. Peter realized then that if he had affair, Spider-Man used his new als, during which a small spider acci­ acted responsibly, his uncle might powers to successfully defeat Tita­ dentally got in the path of a particle not be dead. He promised himself nia and Magneto. Spider-Man was accelerator beam and became irra­ that he would never forget that with then attacked by the robot known as diated. The dying spider fell on Peter great power comes great responsi­ Te ss-One, which was under the con­ Parker's hand and bit him and Peter bility. trol of Doctor Doom. Spider-Man de­ ran out of the exhibition hall. On the Peter began to use his powers to stroyed the robot, but during the way home, Peter was attacked by fight crime, took pictures of his fights battle it absorbed a small quantity of some street gang members, but to using an automatic camera, and Spider-Man's cosmic energy. Doctor his surprise, was able to fling the then sold the pictures to the Daily Bu­ Doom later reclaimed the piece of punks out of his way. Fleeing from gle. Since then, Spider-Man has be­ the robot that had absorbed the en­ the thugs, Peter was almost run over come one of the most well-known ergy, planning to use the energy him­ by a speeding car, and leaping out of heroes in New Yo rk City. Unfortu­ self. the way, he jumping about 30 feet up nately, although a hero, some people Peter lost his enhanced powers af­ onto a wall. Peter soon discovered still think of him as a menace. ter a battle with some renegade that he could cling to walls, and that Recently, Peter Parker got mar­ Sentinels, saving all New Yo rk in the he now had a perfect sense of bal­ ried to Mary Jane Watson who has process. Many of the villains he de­ ance. Peter guessed that these known he is Spider-Man from almost feated with his enhanced powers are powers had been caused by the bite the beginning of his career. Peter's now looking for revenge. of the irradiated spider. old friend Harry Osborne leased the That night, his Aunt May asked couple a loft in the building that Peter to deliver some clothing to a Harry and his family are also living charity drive going on at the National in. Mary Jane's niece Kristie also re­ Guard Armory. A wrestling match cently moved in with the Parkers.

220 SPIRIT OF '76

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A EX(20) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I GD(10) P TY(6) Health: 70 Karma: 22 Resources:FE(2)/MN(75)(Captain America II) Popularity: 1 0/50 (as Captain Amer­ ica II)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: William Nasland Occupation: Adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Penn­ sylvania Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile, Phila­ delphia Past Group Affiliations: Crusaders (as Spirit of '76), Invaders (as Cap­ tain America), All-Winners Squad (as Captain America) Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Cape: When Nasland was the Spirit of '76, he wore a special cape that provided him with Good protection from physical and flame attacks, but Slam and Stun results could still ef­ fect him. The cape automatically protected him from such attacks made from behind, but he could also draw it around him to protect him in the front. Shield: While Captain America, Nasland used a shield made of steel (Remarkable strength material). The shield provided him with Remark- able protection against physical at- ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: tacks, but he was still effected by Nasland was a brave man who truly Slams and Stuns. He could throw the believed in his country. His great pa­ shield up to three areas away, caus- triotism made him the perfect re­ ing Good Blunt Throwing damage. placement for Captain America Ta lents: The Spirit of '76 was appar- when Steve Rogers disappeared. ently trained in Martial Arts A and B. While he was Captain America, Contacts: As the Spirit of '76, Nasland was driven to take chances Nasland had contacts with the In- so that no one would know that he vaders. As Captain America, he had was not really the original Captain contacts with the Invaders and the America. He felt that he constantly AII-Winner's Squad. 221 had to prove himself to be worthy to George VI. Alfie convinced the Cru­ discovered a plot to substitute a ro­ wear Captain America's costume. saders that the Invaders were actu­ bot double for a Boston congressio­ ally Nazi agents, which led to a battle nal candidate, John F. Kennedy. The between the two teams at the chris­ being behind the plot was Adam II, tening of a battleship. The Invaders an evil android created by Professor HISTORY: were able to stop the assassination Phineas T. Horton. Nasland and Nasland first became well-known and reveal Alfie's true nature. The Davis discovered Adam II and his in the 1940s as a costumed hero Crusaders broke-up, but Nasland hideout. The two heroes battled fighting Nazi espionage in America. continued his career as a hero. Adam II and hordes of his robots. He probably adopted his patriotic In 1945, right before the end of the Davis was knocked unconscious costume and name in honor of the war, the original Captain America during the battle. Nasland escaped original Captain America. and Bucky disappeared. President and went to Boston's Old North In 1942, the Spirit of '76 moved to Harry S. Tr uman asked Nasland to Church, planning to summon the England and became the only non­ become Captain America, and other members of the AII- Winner's British member of the Crusaders, a asked a boy named Fred Davis to Squad. One of Adam's robots caught group of super humans dedicated to take up the identity of Bucky. The up with Nasland and crushed him in foiling Nazi efforts in London. The new Captain America and Bucky his grip. The dying Nasland used a Crusaders had been recruited by a fought with the Invaders against the flare device to destroy the robot and man named Alfie, who they thought Japanese in the Pacific Theater of to summon the AII-Winner's Squad. to be with the British government. In operations. After the war was over, The Squad was able to defeat Adam reality, Alfie was a German spy that Nasland and Davis joined the AII­ II and thwart his plans, thanks to the had organized the Crusaders to help Winner's Squad, a post-war version dead hero. in a plan to discredit the Invaders. Al­ of the Invaders which operated in the fie also planned to use the Cru­ United States. saders in a plan to assassinate King In 1946, the AII-Winner's squad

222 SPITFIRE

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A IN(40) S GD(10) E EX(20) R TY(6) I GD(10) P TY(6) Health: 80 Karma: 22 Resources: RM(30) Popularity:0/1 0 (Britain during WWII)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Lady Jacqueline Falsworth Crichton Occupation: Adventurer Identity: Secret Legal Status: British citizen with no criminal record Place of Birth: Maidstone, England Marital Status: Widowed Known Relatives: Lord Falsworth (father, original Union Jack, de­ ceased), Brian (brother, second Un­ ion Jack, deceased), John (uncle, Baron Blood, hopefully permanently deceased), Lord Crichton (husband, deceased), Kenneth Crichton (son) Base of Operations: Falsworth Ma­ nor, England Past Group Affiliations: Invaders Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Lightning Speed: Good rank. Spitfire trailed a tail of fire behind her when she ran. The fire was not capable of causing damage. Spitfire's blows were delivered with high velocity, causing Remarkable damage. Skin Armor: Excellent protection against physical attacks. Ta lents: Jacqueline was trained in First Aid. Captain America taught Jacqueline Martial Arts A and E.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Jacqueline was raised as a member of Britain's upper class, but this did HISTORY: not cause her to become arrogant. Jacqueline was the daughter of Instead it instilled in her great sense Lord Montgomery Falsworth, who of duty toward her country and its had been the costumed hero, Union people. Jacqueline is a brave Jack, during WWI. During an air raid woman, who always remains cheer­ attack on London in WWII, Jac­ ful and optimistic, no matter how bad queline was attacked by Baron things get. Blood, the Nazi vampire. She was rescued by the original Human

223 To rch, who drove the vampire off. blood, plus the foreign enzymes in­ band died sometime after they had a Jacqueline invited the To rch and the troduced into her bloodstream by son, Kenneth. She then moved back other Invaders to dinner at the Baron Blood's bite, combined to give into Falsworth Manor, to look after Falsworth Mansion. Lord Falsworth her super-human speed. The hospi­ her ill father. told them about his career as Union tal she was at was suddenly invaded Ye ars later, Baron Blood returned Jack. Lord Falsworth then volun­ by a Nazi agent in battle armor, to haunt her and her family. Lord teered the use of the Mansion as a called the Blue Bullet. He attacked Falsworth called Captain America base of operations for the Invaders. the hospital looking for the Invaders. and asked for his help. With the aide Jacqueline and her father were Jacqueline used her new powers to of the latest Union Jack, Captain later captured by a Nazi spy opera­ save the weakened To rch, and to America was able to destroy Baron tion which the Invaders had been help the other Invaders defeat the Blood, beheading the vampire with fighting. Jacqueline was again bitten Blue Bullet. his shield. Jacqueline's father died by the Nazi vampire, Baron Blood, Jacqueline made herself a cos­ of an heart attack during the final who was apparently also her uncle. tume, and called herself Spitfire, af­ confrontation with Baron Blood. The Invaders saved Jacqueline and ter the British fighter plane of the Though she disapproves of her son's her father, but Jacqueline had been same name. She joined the In­ friend Joey, due to his lower class drained of a lot of blood by Baron vaders, and stayed with them till the standing, she has not stopped him Blood. Jacqueline was rushed to a end of the war, when she retired. By from continuing his career as the hospital, and received a blood trans­ 1950, her super powers had com­ third Union Jack. fusion from the original Human pletely disappeared. In 1956, Jac­ To rch. She soon discovered that the queline married an English transfusion of the To rch's android nobleman, Lord Crichton. Her hus-

224 STRATDSFIRE

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A IN(40) S GD(10) E UN(100) R EX(20) I GD(10) P PR(4) Health: 160 Karma: 34 Resources: MN (75) (Roxxon)/ TY(6) Popularity: 1 0(public)/-1 0 (govern­ ment)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Sandy Vincent Occupation: Roxxon employee, ter­ rorist Legal Status: U.S. citizen with crimi­ nal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: San Francisco Past Group Affiliations: Roxxon Corporation Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Energy Body: Unearthly rank. Stra­ tosfire's body mass had been perma­ nently changed into microwave energy. Self-Sustenance: Unearthly power rank. Radiowave Control: Amazing power rank. Microwave Energy Absorption: Un­ earthly power rank. Microwave Energy Solidification: Monstrous power rank. Stratosfire Flight: Unearthly power rank. ADDITIONAL NOTES: could create energy cloaks that pro­ Shapechange: When she turned vided Monstrous protection against solid, she could take any form she physical, energy and heat attacks. �ished. This power is only Good, The cloaks could cover up to 10 ar­ since she only used the power to eas. change the appearance of her cloth­ Microwave Energy Control: Un­ ing. earthly power rank. Invisibility: Unearthly power rank. Radio wave Generation: Unearthly When in pure microwave form, she rank microwaves only. was invisible to the naked eye. She Body Tr ansforma tion-Others/ could be detected by energy sen­ Molecular Conversion: Stratosfire sors. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: could transform living beings and ob­ Communicate with Cybernetics: When Stratosfire first appeared, she jects into microwave energy. Amazing power rank. was only interested in helping peo­ Te leport Self/Others/Objects: U n­ Ta lents: Sandy Vincent had a col­ ple. An idealist, she was easily earthly power rank. She could only lege degree in Political Science. fooled by Roxxon into doing some do this to other people and objects Contacts: Before turning rogue, unethical acts. After she found out when she had transformed them into Sandy had high contacts with Rox­ that she had been duped, Sandy be- microwave energy. xon Corporation. 225 came a violent idealist. She was people during natural disasters and she would next strike at the Naval even willing to kill anyone who op­ accidents. She was publicized as a Shipyards in San Diego. posed her philosophy and tried to Roxxon employee, creating a good A worried Roxxon activated a spe­ stop her. public image for the corporation. cial emergency plan that would re­ Unknown to the public, Stratosfire form the destroyed Sunturion. The was also doing some unheroic next day, Stratosfire found her ef­ deeds for Roxxon, like the destruc­ forts to be blocked at the Naval Ship­ HISTORY: Babs Bendix and Sandy Vincent tion of a rival corporation's oil refin­ yards, by Iron Man and the both got college degrees in Political ery in South America. Babs, Sandy's reintegrated Sunturion. They were Science, and planned to help friend grew concerned about the able to stop Stratosfire, but she es­ change the world for the better. In­ changes in Sandy's personality, and caped. Working together, Iron Man stead, they ended with jobs in the felt that Roxxon was using her for and Sunturion deduced that she Roxxon Corporation secretarial their own unethical purposes. Babs would probably strike at a space pool. contacted To ny Stark (Iron Man), and shuttle test launch, that was actually A routine checkup by Roxxon's re­ told him about Sandy's transforma­ going to place some "Star Wars" search department revealed that tion into Stratosfire. Unfortunately, technology into orbit. Stratosfire at­ Sandy had chromosomes suitable Roxxon found out about Babs' talk tacked the shuttle, almost destroying for a special transformation process, with Stark, and had her killed. Sandy it and the crew. A Roxxon represent­ like the one Arthur Dearborn (Suntu­ found out about the murder and re­ ative tried to activate a self destruct rion) had been subject to. They belled against her employees. She device in Stratosfire's body, called asked Sandy if she would be willing vowed to use her powers to protect the Zed Control. Unfortunately, Stra­ to undergo the transformation, and the general public from what she tosfire already knew about the de­ gain the ability to change the world thought was harmful. vice, and was easily able to jam the and help people. Sandy eagerly Sandy and Iron Man briefly clashed activation signal . While Iron Man agreed, and the transformation suc­ while she was destroying an un­ tried reasoning with her, Sunturion ceeded, turning her body mass into activated nucfear plant. Stratosfire de­ sneaked up behind her and put his microwave energy that she could feated Iron Man, and promised nearby hands inside her body. Sunturion mentally control. Sandy became protestors that she would use her was then able to activate the Zed Stratosfire, a resident hero of San powers to create a world where every­ Control, which apparently destroyed Francisco. She saved a number of one could live in peace. She then said her.

226 SUNTURIDN

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A IN(40) S IN(40) E UN(100) R IN(40) I GD(10) P TY(6) Health: 190 Karma: 56 Resources: MN(75) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Arthur Dearborn Occupation: Roxxon Engineer Legal Status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Starwell, Mo­ bile Past Group Affiliations: Roxxon Corporation Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Energy Body: Unearthly rank. Suntu­ rion's body had been permanently changed into microwave energy. Self-Sustenance: Unearthly power rank. Radiowave Control: Amazing power rank. Microwave Energy Control: Un­ earthly rank-Microwave Energy Absorption. Unearthly power rank. Microwave Energy Solidification: Monstrous rank. Sunturion could create energy bubbles that provided Monstrous protection against physi­ cal, energy and heat attacks. The bubble could cover 1 area. Radiowave Energy Control: Un­ earthly rank Radiowave Generation: Unearthly rank microwaves only. solid, he could take any form he Amazing power rank. Body Tr ansformation-Others/ wished. This power is only Good, Ta lents: Arthur Dearborn is an ex­ Molecular Conversion: Sunturion since he only used the power to pert in solar energy, electronics, could transform living beings and ob­ change the appearance of his cloth­ physics and engineering. jects into microwave energy. ing. Contacts: Arthur Dearborn had con­ Te leport Self/Others/Objects: Un­ Invisibility: Unearthly power rank. tacts with high-level Roxxon busi­ earthly power rank. He could only do When in pure microwave form, he nessman. Without Sunturion's this to other people and objects was invisible to the naked eye. He powers, he probably only has mid­ when he had transformed them into could be detected by energy sen­ level contacts now. microwave energy. sors. Flight: Unearthly power rank. Communicate with Cybernetics: Shapechange: When he turned 227 ADDITIONAL NOTES: air to survive, he volunteered to be­ enough. Sunturion asked Iron Man come the entire crew of his solar to try again, which he did. This time, space station. Roxxon agreed, and Sunturion used the energy that com­ built the space station, Star Weil l, in posed his body to increase Iron orbit. The space station was pro­ Man's deflector beam. This time it vided with radar jamming devices, to worked, knocking the Star Well into prevent intervention from govern­ the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, ments or rival corporations. this apparently totally dissipated A few months after the station be­ Sunturion's body. came operational, there was an acci­ At one point, Roxxon tried to rein­ dent. A transmission malfunction tegrate Sunturion, using some sort occurred, bathing Allantown, Iowa of Sunturion "suit," but the experi­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: with the microwave beams, killing ment failed, after Daredevil became Arthur Dearborn is a good man, who everyone. Iron Man traced the micro­ involved. Later, Roxxon lost control wants to help the whole human race wave energy to its source, Star Well of another employee, Stratosfire, and bring peace to the world. Unfor­ I. Iron Man met Sunturion, the sta­ who had been given microwave tunately, he is an extreme idealist tion's guardian, and Arthur Dear­ powers like Sunturion. This time, and scientist, who believes that a born. Iron Man accused the Star Well they successfully reintegrated Sun­ small loss of life is acceptable, if it of causing the deaths, and Dearborn turion and asked him to stop Stratos­ benefits billions of lives. His recent admitted to a slight malfunction at fire. After stopping the stunned Iron encounter with Stratosfire has the time of the deaths. Dearborn in­ Man from being killed by Stratosfire, caused him to re-think his values. sisted that the lives of a few hundred the Sunturion and Iron Man joined people meant nothing since they forces to stop her. Iron Man and Sun­ were developing a power source that turion next fought Stratosfire during could save billions. Before Iron Man the launch of a space shuttle con­ HISTORY: could shut down the station, it was taining some orbital "Star Wars" Arthur Dearborn began his career attacked by Russian "killer satel­ technology. While Iron Man dis­ as a design engineer for Roxxon lites." Iron Man and Sunturion tracted her, Sunturion sneaked up Corporation. Dearborn designed a worked together, and defeated the behind her and put his hands inside space station that would serve as a satellites. A Roxxon leader, Mr. Hale, her body. Sunturion then activated a reception and storage unit for solar then contacted the space station. special self-destruct device built into radiation. The solar energy would Finding out of about Iron Man's pres­ Stratosfire's body. She had discov­ then be converted into microwave ence, Hale tried to activate the sta­ ered the device and had been jam­ energy, and transmitted down in a tion's self-destruct device, but Iron ming the signals to it. Sunturion was tight beam to receiving antennas on Man had already disconnected it. caught in the explosion which appar­ Earth. Roxxon liked the idea, but the Iron Man then set out to remove the ently destroyed Stratosfire. Suntu­ company accountants said that the station's solar panels, rendering the rion reverted to his human form and cost of keeping a crew on board, to station's solar energy gathering began to fall, but he was saved by repair and evaluate problems, would powers. Sunturion intervened, and Iron Man. The explosion somehow make it too costly. during the battle between the two reverted Dearborn's molecules back For this reason, Dearborn volun­ men, the Star Well was knocked out to normal, causing him to lose his mi­ teered for some experiments being of orbit. As the massive station be­ crowave powers. His current status done by one of Roxxon's subsidi­ gan to fall to Earth, Iron Man calcu­ with Roxxon, as well as law enforce­ aries, the Brand Corporation. The lated that its debris would fall right on ment officials, is unknown at the cur­ experiments converted Dearborn's top of Sarasota, Florida. Iron Man rent time. body mass into microwave energy tried to use his deflector beam to that he could mentally control. Since push the Star Well away from its Dearborn no longer needed food or course, but it wasn 't powerful

228 SUPREME SOVIETS

FANTASIA

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A GD(10) S TY(6) E GD(10) R TY(6) I EX(20) P AM (50) Health: 36 Karma: 76 Resources: UN(100) Popularity: 0/25 (Russia)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unrevealed Occupation: Soviet agent Legal Status: U.S.S.R. citizen with no criminal record Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Russia Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Russia Past Group Affiliations: Supreme Soviets Present Group Affiliations:

KNOWN POWERS: Illusion Casting: Amazing rank. Illusory Invisibility: Amazing rank. Ta lents: None Karma: 18 damage. Perun can bounce the axe Contacts: Fantasia has connections Resources: UN (100) off of solid structures, to do special high up in the Soviet government. Popularity: 0/25 (Russia) trick shots, or to cause it to return it to . She can also probably count on her him at the end of the round. Such team mates to help her. BACKGROUND: trick shots take a red bullseye result Real Name: Unknown on an Agility FEAT roll. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Occupation: Soviet Agent Ta lents: Perun is a weapon special­ Fantasia prefers to trick opponents, Legal Status: Soviet citizen with no ist with his axe ( + 2CS). rather than confronting them di­ criminal record Contacts: Perun has high connec­ rectly. Even when her allies are in a Identity: Secret tions with the Russian government. battle, she will try to stay out of it. Place of Birth: Russia She prefers to stay invisible on the Marital Status: Unknown ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: sidelines, and using her illusion Known Relatives: None Perun eagerly enters battle, believ­ powers to secretly help her partners. Base of Operations: Russia ing that no one can beat him. He Past Group Affiliations: Supreme boasts constantly during a battle, PERUN Soviets bragging that he is the Lord of Thun­ Present Group Affiliations: der and the Master of the Elemental STATISTICS: Lightning. KNOWN POWERS: F RM(30) Flight: Incredible rank. A GD(10) Ughtning Bolts: Amazing damage. S AM(50) Axe: Perun can throw the axe up to E AM(50) five areas away, with Remarkable R TY(6) Agility. I TY(6) The axe is made of Incredible P TY(6) strength material, doing Incredible Health: 140 blunt damage, or Excellent Edged 229 1 RED rogant in his patriotism, believing that his country is always right. GUARDIAN III GROUP HISTORY SPUTNIK The Supreme Soviets are the new­ STATISTICS: est Russian super-team backed by STATISTICS: the Soviet government. The team F IN(40) first appeared when they tried to kill A RM(30) F EX(20) the Soviet Super-Soldiers (Van­ S GD(10) A EX(20) guard, Darkforce, Ursa Major). E RM(30) S IN(40) The Soviet Super-Soldiers had de­ R TY(6) E IN(40) fected to America and were staying I GD(10) R EX(20) at the Avenger's Hydro-Base. The P TY(6) I TY(6) Supreme Soviets sneaked in, and Health: 110 P TY(6) used Fantasia's powers to make Karma: 22 Health: 120 them appear to be the Avengers. Resources: UN(100) Karma: 32 They then told the Soviet Super­ Popularity: 0/30 (Russia) Resources: UN(100) Soldiers that they had to test them to BACKGROUND: Popularity: 0/20 (Russia) make sure that they really were the Soviet Super-Soldiers. The dis­ Real Name: Unknown BACKGROUND: guised Supreme Soviets viciously at­ Occupation: Soviet Agent Real Name: Unknown tacked the Soviet Super-Soldiers, Legal Status: Soviet citizen with no Occupation: Soviet agent mortally wo unding them, and then criminal records Legal Status: Property of Russia headed back to Russia. The injured Identity: Secret Identity: Public Soviet Super-Soldiers were found, Place of Birth: Russia Place of Creation: Russia but soon apparently died because of Marital Status: Unknown Marital Status: Unknown their injuries. A suspicious Captain Known Relatives: None Known Relatives: None America decided to pay a formal visit Base of Operations: Russia Base of Operations: Russia to Russia. While there, he witnessed Past Group Affiliations: Supreme Past Group Affiliations: Supreme a number of rampages by a gigantic Soviets Soviets black bear, composed of some sort Present Group Affiliations: Present Group Affiliations: of dark energy. The Supreme Sovi­ KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: ets were, one by one, absorbed into Shield: The Red Guardian uses a Phasing: Amazing rank. the body of the huge creature. shield made of Remarkable strength Flight: Excellent rank. Captain America guessed what material. The shield provides the Energy Beams: Remarkable energy was happening and entered the Red Guardian with Remarkable pro­ damage with a range of 3 areas. body of the bear himself. Inside, he tection against physical attacks, and Neural Manipulation-Disruption: found the Soviet Supreme members Good protection against Energy at­ Amazing rank at touch range only. and the spirits of the Soviet Super­ tacks. He can still be effected by Life Support: Incredible rank; he Soldiers. The spirits explained that Stuns and Slams. He can throw the does not need to eat or breathe. they were absorbing the life energies shield up to 4 areas away, with Machine Animation/Control: of the Supreme Soviets to heal Amazing Agility, and cause Good Amazing rank. bodies. Captain America tried to rea­ blunt damage. The Red Guardian Energy/Life/Power Detection: All at son with them, saying that if they can bounce the shield off several ob­ Amazing rank. killed the Supreme Soviets, they jects, and have it return the following Ta lents: Sputnik has the Computer would no longer be worthy of calling round. He can also perform other and Electronics talents. themselves heroes. There was a trick shots while using the shield. Contacts: Sputnik has contacts with sudden flash of light, and the great The trick shots require a red result officials high in the Russian govern­ bear disappeared. The Supreme So­ on an Agility FEAT roll. ment. viets were left behind, barely alive. Ta lents: Weapon Specialist (Shield), Returning to the United States, Leadership, Acrobatics, Tu mbling, ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Captain America found the Soviet Martial Arts A and B. Sputnik is an unemotional android, Super-Soldiers rapidly recovering. Contacts: The Red Guardian has a similar to how Vision acted when he Apparently they had succeeded in number of contacts placed high first appeared. Sputnik has been absorbing enough energy to revive within the Soviet government. programmed to serve the Russian themselves. Since then, nothing has government with great patriotism. been heard concerning the Supreme ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: He has also been programmed to be Soviets. The individual backgrounds The Red Guardian takes his role as loyal to his team mates, as long as it and origins of most of the Soviet the living symbol of Russia very seri­ does not interfere with his loyalty to Super-Soldiers are unknown. ously. He is extremely fervent and ar- the Russian government.

230 TESS-DNE [Total Elimination of Su�er-Soldlera]

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GD(10) S AM(50) E UN(100) R PR(4) I TY(6) P FE(4) Health: 190 Karma: 14 Resources: N/A Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: N/A Occupation: N/A Legal Status: U.S. government property Place of Construction: Somewhere in the Midwest Marital Status: N/A Known Relatives: Professor Schu­ mann (Creator) Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Once con­ trolled by Overrider, later a member of Heavy Metal Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Robotic: Te ss-One is a robot, having no need for for air, food or sleep. Originally, Te ss-One was made of a steel alloy (Amazing rank Material Strength). This provided the robot with Amazing protection against physical attacks, and Remarkable protection against energy attacks. The Overrider later had the robot coated with Adamantium (Class 1000 rank Material Strength), provid­ ing the robot with complete Invulner­ ability to physical and energy attacks. Te ss-One's joints and inter­ nal workings are not so well pro­ tected. The joints only have Ta lents: Te ss-One was programmed ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Unearthly protection against to fight using Martial Arts type B. Te ss-One is a mindless machine, Bullseye missile results, edged kill Contacts: None only intent on obeying its current results or wrestling attacks made programming. It was originally pro­ against them. ADDITIONAL NOTES: grammed to fight and destroy super­ Concussion Blasts: Amazing Force soldiers created during WWII. Since damage. Captain America was the only super­ Flight: Good air speed. soldier created, it was programmed Regeneration: Remarkable rank. to recognize Captain America's cos­ Doctor Doom gave Te ss-One the tume. Te ss-One was later repro­ power to repair itself by asorbing grammed to obey the orders of the nearby metal materials. Super-Adaptoid. Doctor Doom later Energy Absorption: Doctor Doom reprogrammed the robot to obey gave the robot Incredible rank en­ him, and tricked it into believing ergy absorption. Spider-Man was a super-soldier. 231 Burger. No one saw the robot leave, Adamantium. Following different but everyone noticed the hole in the trails, Captain America and Wolver­ HISTORY parking lot the next morning. Tw o ine arrived at Adametco just after When the Super-Soldier Project men went down to investigate, but Te ss had been covered with the Ada­ was first begun during WWII, there didn't come back up. Captain Ameri­ mantium. The two heroes fought was a special meeting between ca's computer information network, Te ss and Overrider, but the robot and President Roosevelt, top members Stars and Stripes, informed him its master were able to escape. Cap­ of the War Department and various about the apparent cave-in and the tain America and Wo lverine split up scientists. One of the scientists, Pro­ missing people. Captain America in­ to follow their own leads and met a fessor Schumann, feared that once vestigated and found the two men day later. Captain America found out an army of super-soldiers won the unconscious, knocked out by phos­ about the robot's origin, while Wol­ war, they would return home and gene gas. Captain America rescued verine found out who Overrider was. take over America. Schumann sug­ the men and then continued to ex­ Captain America was contacted by gested the creation of a special ro­ plore the bomb shelter. After avoid­ one of the members of his Stars and bot, TESS (Total Elimination of ing a few more death traps, Captain Stripes network, who had sighted Super-Soldiers), that would be built America discovered the room where Te ss in the back of a van, near Offut to neutralize super-soldiers. F. D.R. the robot had been kept. From clues air base in Nebraska. Wolverine and went ahead and okayed the sug­ in the room, Captain America de­ Captain America arrived at Offut af­ gested project. duced that the room must have once ter Overrider had begun his attack. Unfortunately, the only man who contained a large robot. Captain Wo rking together, the two heroes knew how to create super-soldiers, America found out that the land had were able to severe Te ss's head, dis­ Professor Erskine, was killed after once belonged to a retired govern­ abling the robot. Captain America creating only one super-soldier, ment man, named Schumann. Cap­ and Wo lverine stopped Overrider be­ Steve Rogers (Captain America). tain America then asked all the fore he sent all of America's nuclear Now useless, the TESS project members of his Stars and Stripes missiles to the bottom of the sea, funds were cut off, and Schumann network to be on the lookout for a without detonating them. was ordered to destroy his work. In­ large robot. Much later, Te ss was activated by stead,the paranoid Schumann took Meanwhile, near Salem Center, the Super-Adaptoid, and made a his work to his home somewhere in New Yo rk, the X-Man known as Wol­ member of an all-robot team, Heavy the Midwest. He completed building verine encountered Bob Frank. Bob Metal. Heavy Metal attacked the the robot, and programmed it to kill Frank had once been the super­ Avengers on their floating headquar­ Captain America. Schumann even­ powered mutant known as Nuklo. ters, Hydro-Base. She-Hulk and tually died, and left the robot in a The simple man, who was the son of Marrina forced Te ss off the island, bomb shelter underneath his house. the WWII hero, the Whizzer, was at­ causing the robot to plummet to the Ye ars later, a retired S.H.I.E.L.D. tacked by the patrons of a bar that bottom of the ocean. The robot was agent, Richard Rennselaer, some­ Wolverine was at. Bob Frank easily later salvaged and repaired by Doc­ how found out about Schumann's ro­ defeated the drunken men and wan­ tor Doom. Doom provided the robot bot. Rennsaeler was a mutant that dered away from the bar. A curious with some new powers and sent it af­ could mentally control machines. Wolverine followed Bob Frank ter Spider-Man, who had recently Rennsaeler's son, Johnny, had been through the woods. Nearby, Ren­ gained cosmic level powers. Spider­ afflicted with "Nuclear Psychosis," nsaeler, who now called himself Man blew the robot up into little causing the boy to totally withdraw Overrider, was preparing to hijack a pieces. During the battle, the robot ' from reality. The psychosis was semi-truck. He briefly lost control of absorbed some of Spider-Man s cos­ caused by the knowledge of the pos­ Schumann's robot, which he called mic energy. Doctor Doom then took sibility of nuclear war and its effects. Te ss. The wandering robot encoun­ the piece of Te ss-One that had ab­ The desperate Rennsaeler decided tered Bob Frank and attacked him sorbed a small quantity of Spider­ to use his powers to control Schu­ for some reason. Wo lverine inter­ Man's energy, planning to use the mann's robot and make sure that the vened and saved Bob Frank, but the energy himself. possibility of nuclear war was elimi­ robot got away. Te ss-One is currently still de­ nated. He mentally activated the ro­ Overrider gained control over Te ss activated. bot, and made it come to him. The again, and hijacked a truck going to robot left the underground bomb Adametco Metallurgy. Arriving at the shelter, which was now located un­ company, Overrider forced some derneath the parking lot of a Kwikkie worker to coat Te ss with a layer of

232 TDRD

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A EX(20) S GD(10) E RM(30) R TY(6) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 70 Karma: 18 Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 10 (during 1940s- 1950s)/2

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Thomas "Toro" Ray­ mond Occupation: Circus Fire-eater, ad­ venturer Legal Status: U.S. citizen, de­ ceased Identity: Secret Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Married Known Relatives: Fred Raymond (father, deceased), Nora Raymond (mother, deceased), Ann Raymond (wife), Original Human To rch (legal guardian) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City, London (during WWII) Past Group Affiliations: Partner of original Human To rch, member of the Invaders, Kid Commandoes and the AII-Winner's Squad Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Energy Sheathe (Fire): Remarkable intensity. Provides To ro with Re­ markable protection against physi­ cal weapons, since it melts objects with Remarkable Material Strength or less. Fire Immunity: Monstrous protection from fire attacks. Fire Generation: Remarkable inten- ADDITIONAL NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: sity. To ro acted like a typical teenager Fire Control: Monstrous intensity. even though he was raised in an un­ Flight: Excellent air speed (10 areasl usual situation. He had a tendency to round, 105 mph). be very cocky, believing that his Ta lents: None flame powers could protect him from Contacts: To ro could depend on harm. The brave boy called the origi­ help from the members of the teams nal Human To rch "Pappy," and Joved he was a member of. He could also the android like a father. depend on high government con­ tacts while he was with the Invaders during WWII. The original Human To rch was To ro's legal guardian.

233 trunk to be placed on the tracks of recovered from the spray and retired. the train that they were taking. Their Then, in December, 1953, an atomic HISTORY train hit the tree trunk and derailed bomb test in the desertsof Nevada re­ Fred Raymond, an expert in flame­ and Fred and Nora were killed in the vived the Human To rch. The Human proofing who experimented with as­ crash. Thomas survived and was To rch and To ro worked together for bestos, worked with Professor taken in by To m and Ellie Alexander. two years before they discovered that Phineas T. Horton, the man who The kind couple worked at a local cir­ the radiation from the bomb was caus­ would later create the original Hu­ cus as fire-eaters and noticed his im­ ing the To rch's android body to mal­ man To rch. Prolonged exposure to munity to flame when he rushed into function. The To rch said good-bye to asbestos caused Fred to become the burning train to find his parents. To ro and flew into the desert where he very ill and he left his job with Horton, Thomas became a part of their act released a burst of energy and then after which he met scientist Nora and he soon became famous be­ deactivated. Jones. Nora was very ill herself due cause of his immunity to flames. The To ro retired again, and eventually to overexposure to radium during Human To rch and Asbestos Lady married. The Mad Thinker briefly re­ some experiments, but the two got read about Thomas in the newspa­ activated the Human To rch and married and had a son they named pers and guessed who he was. The made him attack the Fantastic Four. Thomas and nicknamed "Toro" in Human To rch was able to capture The original Human To rch was memory of the bullfights they had Asbestos Lady and her gang, before beaten by the Fantastic Four, and seen on their honeymoon in Mexico. she tracked down Thomas. The Hu­ then deactivated. The Mad Thinker Both knew that they would both man To rch approached Thomas at arranged for funeral services to be probably die before Thomas became the circus, and Thomas suddenly publicly held for the Human To rch. an adult. One day, they discovered burst into flame. They realized that Thomas Raymond attended the fu­ that Thomas was immune to fire, be­ Thomas had powers similar to the neral, and was drugged afterward by lieving him to be a mutant. To rch's, and the Human To rch then the Mad Thinker. When he awoke, The Raymonds were later cap­ arranged to become his legal guard­ the Mad Thinker convinced To ro that tured by the criminal Asbestos Lady ian. Calling himself To ro, he became he was the original Human To rch and who committed crimes using fire the Human To rch's crime fighting placed a collar on his neck which while she protected herself and her partner. could cause Thomas great pain if he gang with asbestos. The original Hu­ During WWII, the Human To rch and didn't do the Mad Thinker's bidding. man To rch had been watching the To ro were members of the Invaders. The collar was damaged when To ro Raymonds, believing that she might To ro briefly left the Invaders during the was forced to fight the Sub-Mariner. try to gain the aid of an expert on as­ war, to work with the Kid Comman­ To ro and the Sub-Mariner then went bestos. The Human To rch rescued does. After WWII, the Human To rch after the Mad Thinker and, during the Raymonds, but Asbestos Lady and To ro were members of the AII­ the chase, the rest of To ro's memory escaped. The Raymonds told the Winner's Squad, a post-war version of returned. The Mad Thinker was es­ Human To rch about Thomas' immu­ the Invaders. In 1949, the Human caping in a flying vehicle, when To ro nity to fire. Soon after the attack, To rch and To ro were paralyzed when entered the vehicle's rocket tubes Fred learned that his wife only had a sprayed with "Solution X-R," a chemi­ and used his own power to steer the few weeks left to live. He did not tell cal that some criminals got from the vehicle and crash it into the Mad Nora, and arranged for one last fam­ Soviet Union. The crooks left To ro Thinker's Pacific island lab. The Mad ily trip. The vengeful Asbestos alone, believing him to be useless Thinker escaped the explosion using Lady found out about the Raymond's without his partner and buried the Hu­ a teleportation device, but To ro was trip and arranged for a huge tree man To rch in the Nevada desert. To ro apparently killed in the crash.

234 TDRPEDO

STATISTICS:

F GD(10) A EX(20) S GD(1 0) E EX(20) R GD(1 0) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 60 Karma: 22 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: 0!1 0 (in Clairton)

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Brock Jones Occupation : Retired professional football player, ex-Vice President of Delmar Insurance Company, football coach, part-time adventurer Legal Status: U.S. citizen, de­ ceased Identity: Secret Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Marital Status: Married Known Relatives: Lorraine (wife), Ann, Ta mmy and Daniel (children), Maggie (sister) Base of Operations: New Yo rk City and Westport, Connecticut, later Clairto n, West Virginia Past Group Affiliations: Allied with Rom Present Group Affiliation :

KNOWN POWERS: Batt!esuit: Brock Jones wore a spe­ cial battlesuit that was a combination of human and Dire Wraith technol­ ogy. The battlesuit provided him with the following abilities: ,. Remarkable protection from physi­ cal attacks. ,. Unearthly protection against en­ ergy attacks. ,. Flight: Excellent speed, 20 areas! ro und, 150 in open country. Short bursts of speed for one ro und at Shift made to protect the eyes during ADDITIONAL NOTES: Z speed, 500 areas per round at high-speed flight. They were later 2500 mph. modified by Rom to serve as an en- ,. Power Punch: Up to Incredible ergy analyzer. The visor could then damage. detect the presence of various ,. Shockwave: By directing the suit's unique energies. It could also detect turbo jets at the ground, To rpedo mutants, and shape-shifting beings could cause Incredible intensity could be seen in their true form. shockwaves in a one area radius. Contacts: To rpedo could depend on ,. Radiation Absorption: Unearthly. help from Rom, the Spaceknight. To rpedo's battlesuit could absorb high amounts of radiation, and then harmlessly dissipate it. ,. Visor: The visor was originally 235 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: out about the existence of the better West Virginia and took job as the lo­ Brock Jones was very uncomforta­ battlesuit, and the location of the cal high school football coach. ble in his role as a super hero. Most plans for it. Michael donned the To r­ Unknown to Brock, the Dire of the time, he donned the To rpedo pedo battlesuit and set out to destroy Wraith's worst enemy, the Spa­ battlesuit out of a sense of duty. all the copies of the plans, and any ceknight Rom, had also based him­ When he first began wearing it, he spare parts. During this mission, Mi­ self in Clairton. Seeing Rom fly occasionally wore it to relieve the chael became involved in a battle overhead one night, Brock mistook boredom of his everyday life. Even with Daredevil who thought he was a him for one of the Rocketeers and at­ though he didn't feel right wearing criminal. Michael accidentally tacked him as the To rpedo. After a the costume, he was still a brave caused a section of a collapsing short battle, Brock realized that Rom man and gave his all in the battle building, which fatally injured him. was not a Rocketeer. Brock and Rom with the Dire Wraiths. The dying scientist was dug out of became close friends, and they soon the rubble by Brock Jones, a former discovered the real story behind the HISTORY professional football hero, who had To rpedo battlesuit. Brock and Rom become a vice-president of the were able to defeat the Wraith Rock­ Delmar Insurance Company. Mi­ eteers, which made Brock an instant A few years ago, the Earth was chael told Brock about his uncle's enemy of the Dire Wraiths. quietly invaded by an alien race of evil plans and begged Brock to stop Brock became Clairton 's guardian shapechangers, the Dire Wraiths. him. The brave young scientist then when Rom was called away to other When a Dire Wraith killed someone, died. A strong sense of duty compel­ parts of Earth to battle the Dire they stole their victim's shape and led Brock Jones to fulfill Michael Wraiths. Rom modified the To rpe­ memories. The Dire Wraith's plans Stivak's last wishes and destroy the do's visor, allowing Brock to see Dire on Earth were being constantly dis­ To rpedo battlesuit plans. Brock, who Wraiths, no matter what shape they rupted by an old enemy that had was bored with the dull routine of his took. Unknown to Rom and Brock, tracked them to Earth. That enemy life, became a part-time crimefighter. another branch of Dire Wraiths had was a Galadorian Spaceknight Whenever To rpedo appeared, Sena­ taken over the invasion of the Earth. known as Rom. tor Stivak sent men to capture the Unlike their scientific relatives, these One of the Dire Wraiths, posing as To rpedo battlesuit. The Senator's Dire Wraiths were experts in magic, Senator Eugene Kligger Stivak, ar­ men wore the weaker version of the and really controlled the Dire Wraith ranged for a Michael Stivak to emi­ battlesuit that Michael Stivak had society. The sorcerous Dire Wraith's grate to America from Yugoslavia. given to his uncle. Stivak's men, who clouded Brock's mind, so that he The Dire Wraith, pretending to be his called themselves the Rocketeers, could not see that they had already uncle, asked the scientific Michael to were beaten by Brock several times. killed most of the people of Clairton build a special battlesuit for national After the final defeat of the Rocke­ and taken their places. Believi ng defense. In actuality, the Dire teers, the Dire Wraith posing as Sen­ that peace had finally come to Clair­ Wraiths wanted Michael to build ator Stivak died. ton, Brock planned to retire his To r­ them a battlesuit that wo uld allow Brock then decided to retire from pedo career again. The Dire Wraittls them to defeat Rom. his career as the To rpedo, believing attacked the day that Brock was go­ Michael had just built the battle­ the threat was over. A few months ing to announce his retirement. suit when he accidentally found out later, Brock was attacked at his Brock was outnumbered , and con­ that he had been used by his Uncle house by a new group of Rocke­ fused by the powers of the new ali­ Eugene. He discovered that Senator teers. Brock, in the To rpedo battle­ ens. Brock fought bravely, but he Stivak was the leader of a criminal suit, was able to defeat the new was killed fighting to save Clairto n. organization called the Corporation group of Rocketeers. During the bat­ Brock's body and the To rpedo bat­ that planned to take over the United tle, one of the defeated Rocketeers tlesuit were apparently destroyed in States . Unknown to Michael, the diSintegrated into ashes. Brock real­ a fire that consumed Brock's house. Corporation was actually a Dire ized that he was involved in some­ Wraith front. Michael built a less­ thing that he did not completely powerful battlesuit and gave it to his understand. Scared, Brock moved uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle found himself and his family to Clairton,

236 TROLL ASSOCIATES

PHV Present Group Affiliation: Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 0 KNOWN POWERS: STATISTICS: Climbing: Remarkable intensity. BACKGROUND: Enhanced Senses: Excellent sense Real Name: Phee F RM(30) of smell. Phy can track people, or Occupation: Tr oll A EX(20) sniff out precious gems and metals. Legal Status: None S RM(30) Ta lents: Leadership Identity: Secret E IN(40) Contacts: Other Tro lls Place of Birth: Unknown R GO(1 0) Marital Status: Unknown I GO(10) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Known Relatives: None P GO(10) He thinks he is slightly smarter than Base of Operations: Middle East Health: 120 he actually is. Phy is prone to Past Group Affiliations: Tr oll Asso­ Karma: 30 schemes that are very co mplicated ciates Popularity: 0/1 0 (with Tr olls) and outrageous. Present Group Affiliation: Resources: FE(2)/U N(1 00) (with Jones) PHEE KNOWN POWERS: MagiC Carpet: Remarkable Control, BACKGROUND: Remarkable Body, Good Speed and STATISTICS: Real Name: Phy Excellent protection (if attacked from Occupation: Troll below). The carpet was destroyed in F IN(40) Legal Status: None the fight with X-Factor. A GO(1 0) Identity: Secret Ta lents: Phee knows all five Martial S IN(40) Place of Birth: Unknown Art types, and Wrestling. E AM (50) Known Relatives: None Contacts: Other Tr olls Base of Operations: Under London R TY(6) I GO(10) Bridge ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: P GO(10) Past Group Affiliations: Tro ll Asso­ Phee enjoys unarmed combat, and Health: 140 ciates likes to surprise his opponents with Karma: 26 his skills with various forms of mar­ BACKGROUND: KNOWN POWERS: tial arts. Real Name: Phay Body Armor: Amazing protection Occupation: Tr oll against physical and energy attacks. PHUMM Legal Status: None Flight: Good air speed (8 areas/ Identity: Secret round). Place of Birth: Unknown Claws: Remarkable damage, made STATISTICS: Marital Status: Unknown of Incredible Strength Material. Known Relatives: None Ta lents: Plough's Fighting rank is In­ F RM(30) Base of Operations: Unknown credible when engaged in aerial A GD(10) Past Group Affiliations: Tr oll Asso­ combat. S RM(30) ciates Contacts: Other Tr olls. E IN(40) Present Group Affiliation: R PR(4) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: I PR(4) KNOWN POWERS: Phough is the most vicious member TY(6) P Shape-Change: Monstrous power of the Tr oll Associates. Health: 110 rank. Phay cannot change into a Karma: 14 smaller form. Resources: FE(2) Ta lents: Phay's Reason rank should Popularity: 5 GROUP HISTORY: be considered Incredible when deal­ The Tr oll race, which has existed ing with Philosophy and Literature. BACKGROUND: for centuries, has been forced to be­ Contacts: Other Tr olls. Real Name: Phumm come more secretive as the race of man expanded in power and num­ Occupation: Tr oll ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ber. Recently, a young mutant boy in Legal Status: None Phay is probably the most intelligent London was kidnapped by one of the Identity: Secret member of the Tro ll Associates. Most Tr olls. The Tr oll, Phy, had seen Place of Birth: Unknown of Phay's speech consists of quotes Thomas Jones turn a pencil into pure Marital Status: Unknown from various classical works of litera­ gold. Phy took Thomas to his lair un­ Known Relatives: None ture and philosophy. Base of Operations: Mount McKin­ derneath London Bridge. Phy and a ley group of international Tr olls planned Past Group Affiliations: Tro ll Asso­ PHOUGH to flood the English market with gold, ciates destroying the British economy. Present Group Affiliation: STATISTICS: They hoped thatthis would force hu­ mans to leave England, so the land KNOWN POWERS: F RM(30) could be reclaimed by Tr olls and Cold Resistance: Amazing resist­ A RM(30) other magical creature. ance. S RM(30) X-Factor was contacted by Jones' Contacts: Other Trolls E IN(40) mother, who believed that he had R TY(6) been kidnapped by a mutant. X­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: I TY(6) Factor battled the Tr olls, and they Phumm is not too bright, and is the P RM(30) were finally able to defeat the Tr olls, first to admit this. Phumm is slightly Health: 130 after Thomas Jones turned Phee pessimistic. Karma: 42 and Phy into gold. The other Tr olls Resources: FE(2) were able to escape, and still remain PHAV Popularity: 0 at large. BACKGROUND: SPECIAL NOTES STATISTICS: Real Name: Phough The Trolls exhibited a great fear of Occupation: Troll exposure to direct sunlight. If old leg­ F RM(30) Legal Status: None ends are true, a Troll touched by sun­ A EX(20) Identity: Secret light is instantly turned into stone. S RM(30) Place of Birth: Unknown All the Trolls, except Phy, were E IN(40) Marital Status: Unknown very tall, causing a + 1 CS to all com­ R GD(10) Known Relatives: None bat FEAT rolls made against them. I TY(6) Base of Operations: None All the Trolls have Good intensity P RM(30) Past Group Affiliations: Tr oll Asso­ Infravision and Nightvision, and 120 Health: Good protection against physical at­ Karma: 46 ciates Present Group Affiliation: tacks. Resources: FE(2) Popularity: 0

238 u.s. AGENT

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A RM(30) S IN(40) E AM (50) R TY(6) I GD(10) P PR(4) Health: 150 Karma: 20 Resources: TY(6)/UN(1 00) (govern­ ment) Popularity: 5

BACKGROUND: Real Name: John Walker Occupation: United States Govern­ ment Agent Identity: Secret Legal Status: U.S. citizen Place of Birth: Custer's Grove, Georgia Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Caleb (father, de­ ceased), Emily (mother, deceased), Mike (brother, deceased), Kate To llif­ son (sister) Base of Operations: Washington, D.C. and Avengers Compound in Malibu, California Past Group Affiliations: Former partner of the Buckies, former part­ ner of Battlestar, agent for the Ameri­ can government's Commission on Superhuman Activities, member of West Coast Avengers Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Skin Armor: Excellent protection against physical and energy attacks. Armor: Chain Mail vest provides Good protection against Edged at­ tacks. Shield: U.S. Agent uses a shield made of Vibranium, which has an In­ credible Material Strength Rank. it return the following round, but this ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: The shield provides Unearthly pro­ is not an established power stunt. John Walker is currently a confused tections against concussion force at­ Ta lents: Walker knowns Martial Arts man, who is trying to do what he tacks (Sonic attacks, Force attacks, A, B, C, and E. He also has the Mili­ feels is best. He is a very patriotic and shock waves from explosions). tary, Leadership, Acrobatics and man, who feels compelled to take These type of attacks will not cause Tu mbling skills. Walker gains a charge of situations. Walker can still Slam or Stun results.lt provides In­ + 1 CS on all FEAT rolls when using be arrogant at times, but he has credible protection against other his shield. learned to be more lenient towards physical and energy attacks, which Contacts: Walker has connections others. Even though his parents are can Slam or Stun U.S. Agent. U.S. with the upper levels of the American dead, he has a tendency to talk to Agent can throw the shield up to six government, and also has a number them when he is alone, as if they areas, causing Incredible damage. of friends in the United States army. were still alive. U.S. Agent can bounce the shield off a number of hard surfaces and have 239 Sometime after that, the Super­ After battling several of the Skull's Patriot stopped a terrorist (Warhead) men, dressed as various enemies of HISTORY from detonating a nuclear bomb in his, Walker ran into Steve Rogers, in John Walker's brother, Mike, was Washington, D.C .. About this time, his guise of the Captain. Rogers was an army helicopter pilot killed in the Steve Rogers resigned as Captain there investigating the Skull's mur­ Vietnam war. This greatly effected America due to pressure from the der of Rockwell, the head of the the young Johnny, who wanted to be federal Commission on Superhu­ Commission on Superhuman Activi­ a hero and serve his country like his man Activities. The Commission de­ ties. The confused Walker attacked brother. Johnny enlisted in the army cided to ask the Super-Patriot to Rogers, who was able to defeat as soon as he was old enough. After become the sixth man to wear the Walker. The Skull then came out of leaving the military, Johnny heard Captain America costume. hiding and told Rogers who he really about the Power Broker, a mystery In actuality, the chairman of the was, and what had been going on. man who claimed that he could give Commission, Douglas Rockwell, Walker revived and heard the Skull people superhuman strength. was an agent for the original Red talking. Just as the Skull attempted Walker and a friend took the treat­ Skull. The Red Skull's conscious­ to kill Roger with his "dust of death" ment and gained the increased ness now resided in a clone of Steve contained in his long cigarette strength. Rogers. The Red Skull planned to holder, Walker threw his shield. The Walker planned to pay the Power force Steve Rogers to retire, and Skull was coated with the dust, Broker back by becoming a member then make certain his replacement which caused his head to transform of the Unlimited Class Wrestling ruined Captain America's name. into a blood-red skull. Foundation. Before he joined up, Walker became Captain America, Walker and Rogers made their re­ Walker was contacted by Ethan and one of the Buckies, Lemar port to the Commission, who asked Thurm, who convinced Walker to be­ Hoskins, became the new Bucky. Le­ Rogers to become Captain America come a hero instead of a wrestler. mar latter changed his name to Bat­ again. At first Rogers declined, but Walker then became the masked tlestar. Walker and Hoskins were Walker personally asked him to re­ Super-Patriot, a hero who claimed to trained by a number of special in­ consider. At a public press confer­ represent the American ideal of pa­ structors, including the villainous ence announcing the return of the triotism. Thurm arranged for some fi­ Ta skmaster. The Ta skmaster, who is original Captain America, Walker nancial backers, and came up with a gifted with "photographic" reflexes, was apparently killed by a man wear­ public relations blitz that would con­ taught Walker how to throw the ing a Watchdog uniform. The assas­ vince the American public that shield like the original Captain Amer­ sin was then killed by somebody Walker was a hero. During a rally in ica. Walker and Hoskins went on a dressed as Scourge. Walker's death Central Park, Super-Patriot claimed few special missions against various had been faked, but the appearance that Captain America was out of criminal groups. The Commision by Scourge was not planned. A Com­ touch with contemporary America. then had a public ceremony to an­ mision member, General Hayworth The Super-Patriot was then attacked nounce the appointment of a new then arranged for Walker to get a by men calling themselves the Buck­ Captain America. During the cere­ new identity. Walker underwent ies (Bold Urban Commandoes), who mony, Walker was attacked by the speech therapy and learned new wore costumes similar to Captain two other members of the Buckies, mannerisms. Wa lker then took the America and claimed to support him. who felt slighted by Walker. Now call­ identity of U.S. Agent, wearing a cos­ The Super-Patriot easily defeated ing themselves Right-Winger and tume similar to the one Rogers wore the Buckies, who were actually wres­ Left-Winger, the two men revealed when he was the Captain. Walker tlers hired by Thurm as a public rela­ Walker's identity to the public. now serves as a special agent for the tions stunt. A right-wing vigilante group known Commission. Recently, the Commis­ A little later, Captain America con­ as the Watchdogs, then tracked sion had Walker become a member fronted Walker, who challenged him down Walker's parents and killed of the West Coast Avengers. Walker to a "contest of might." Captain them. The vengeful Walker blamed is adjusting to being an Avenger's America refused to fight Walker, but his parent's deaths on Right-Winger member, and secretly admires his warned him that he would catch him and Left-Winger. Walker captured new teammates. if he did anything illegal. The Buck­ the two men and left them to die in an ies then attacked Captain America, explosion. Right-Winger and Left­ and were soundly beaten by the Winger were able to survive, but they hero. Captain America later accused were badly burned. The delighted Super-Patriot of being behind a num­ Red Skull then lured Walker to his ber of attacks on foreigners by the headquarters in Washington, D.C. Buckies. The Super-Patriot had in­ The Skull then confronted Walker tended the attacks to be part of an and claimed to be the real Steve anti-terrorist campaign. Captain Rogers. The Skull told Walker that America and the Super-Patriot he was the person really behind all of briefly fought each other. Walker's recent troubles.

240 UATU

STATISTICS:

F AM(50) A AM(50) S AM(50) E UN(1 00) R UN(1 00) I UN(1 00) P UN(100) Health: 250 Karma: 300 Resources: UN (100) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Uatu Occupation: Observer Legal Status: None Identity: Secret Place of Birth: Unnamed Planet in another galaxy Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Blue Area of the Moon Past Group Affiliations: Uatu is a member of the Watcher race, and has quietly helped the Fantastic Four in the past. Present Group Affiliation :

KNOWN POWERS: Clairaudience/Clairvoyance: U n­ earthly range (2.5 billion miles). Communicate With Plants/A nimals/ Cybernetics: Unearthly. Cosmic Awareness: Class 1000. Empathy: Unearthly rank. Force Field Generation: Unearthly rank. Gateway: Class 5000 range (500 light years). Immortality: Immune to aging and disease. Kinetic Bolt: Unearthly damage. Linguistics: Class 1000 rank. Mental Invisibility: Class 1000 ability that effects himself and anyone he chooses. Mind Probe: Unearthly rank. Anyone being probed by Uatu has Unearthly protection against others trying to probe his mind at the same time. Remote Sensing: Unearthly rank with all six senses. Self-Sustenance: Class 1000. Shape shifting: Unearthly rank. Te lekinesis: Unearthly intensity. Te lelocation: Class 5000. Te lepathy: Class 5000 with other Watchers and entities, Unearthly 241 with mortals. was a Kree settlement millions of Te leportation: Class 5000 (500 light years ago. Uatu currently shares the Blue Area with Earth-born Inhu­ years) HISTORY To tal Memory: Class 5000. Uatu's race first appeared shortly mans. Uatu was the first Watcher en­ Levitation: Unearthly rank. countered by Earth's inhabitants. aft�r the Big Bang. They advanced True Invulnerability: Class 1000 re­ rapidly, and soon mastered virtual Uatu was first met by the Fantastic sistance to all attacks immortality, and learned how to con­ Four, when they went to the moon to Ta lents: Uatu knows all known tal­ vert themselves into energy so they investigate the Blue Area. During ents, and many unknown ones. their visit to the Blue Area the could travel through hyperspace. b Contacts: Uatu has contacts with The Watcher's High Tr ibunal dis­ Fantastic Four were attacked y the the Fantastic Four, the In humans Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. � cussed sharing their advantages Eternity, and Galactus. Uatu als with less advanced races on other Uatu interfered, and allowed the has contacts among the other mem­ planets. A Watcher named Ikor felt Fantastic Four to retain their memo­ bers of his race. ries of him. Uatu grew fond of the that it was an advanced race's duty � to help less advanced races. Ikor's Fantast c Four, and occasionally ADDITIONAL NOTES: son, Uatu, persuaded the majority to broke his oath by warning them of side with Ikor. A group of fo ur Watch­ menaces to Earth. ers, including Uatu, went to the At the wedding of Reed Richards planet Prosicilius. They offered the and Sue Storm, Uatu helped Reed defeat a horde of attacking villains. inhabit�nts of the planet knowledge of atomic energy, and trained them in He also aided Reed Richards in driv­ its use. A few years later, the Watch­ ing the world-eater, Galactus, away ers returned to a Prosicuilius that from the Earth. Uatu even went so had been ravaged by nuclear war. far as to physically attack the Kree The horrified Watc her race cre­ warrior, Captain Mar-veil. Uatu was eventually brought on trial for his vio­ �ted an ethics code of complete non­ Interference and passive lations against the Watcher code of ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: observation. A Watcher will not even ethics. Uatu defended himself by Uatu is considered a renegade by . �elp anyone dying at his feet; he will saying that he had allowed himself to the other members of his race. Uatu Just record the being's passing. The identify with the actions and emo­ has grown secretly fond of the hu­ Watchers then abandoned their tions he observed. Uatu was re­ an race, and sometimes quietly � home planet, and relocated through­ lea�ed on his own cognizance, aids the human race. He will never out the universe. Each Watcher vowing not to break the Watcher's actively interfere, but he will warn he­ c�o e � specific solar system con­ code again. He has not committed roes of approaching danger, or sub­ � taining Intelligent life, and simply ob­ any direct actions since then, but he tly suggest a solution to a dangerous served. has revealed his presence during problem. Uatu will ignore direct ap­ Uatu decided to observe the Earth several critical moments, which peals for help. system, and eventually took up resi­ have subtly influenced the incidents' dence on Earth's moon. Uatu lives in outcomes. the Blue Area of the Moon, which

242 UNUS THE UNTDUCHABLE

STATISTICS:

F EX(20) A GD(10) S EX(20) E RM(30) R TY(6) I GD(10) P IN(40) Health: 80 Karma: 56 Resources: TY(6) Popularity: -5

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Gunther Bain (legally changed from Angelo Unuscione, his real name) Occupation: Criminal, former wres­ tler Legal Status: Naturalized citizen of the United States with a criminal re­ cord Place of Birth: Milan, Italy Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: Former member of Factor Three and the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Force Field: Incredible protection against physical, energy and mental attacks at all times. Unus could raise the field one power rank per round, up to a maximum of Unearthly. The force field could radiate outward from Unus's body, allowing him to levitate, and provide complete pro­ tection if he fell from any height. He could lower the field enough so that he could attack others, while it still protected him (the field could be no greater than Amazing when he at­ tacked). The density of the field can be increased so that it could repel air Strength when he is Grappling or Es­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: molecules and gas. A surprise gas caping. Unus spent most of his life as a loner, attack could effect him, if he had no Contacts: Unus has many contacts and was never friendly toward any­ warning. in the wrestling business. Unus was one except the Blob. In combat, Unus could harden the force field a member of the original Brother­ Unus enjoys taunting opponents and around his fist or a weapon he is car­ hood of Evil Mutants, but he could re­ bragging about how they can't hurt rying, increasing the damage by ally only depend on the Blob. him. + 1 CS. When Unus lost control of his power, the force field steadily in­ ADDITIONAL NOTES: creased by 10 rank points per day, until it reached a maximum of Shift HISTORY z. Angelo Unuscione's mutant Ta lents: Unus was a wrestler for a powers surfaced while he was still long time, giving him a + 2CS to his 243 young. He used his abilities to be­ to the X-Men, and Beast restored his parently shattered the force field, but come a school bully, and later a crim­ power to its original level. it began to regenerate itself again al­ inal. When Angelo emigrated to A beaten Unus returned to his most immediately. Unus soon lost America, he legally changed his wrestling career. A few months later, control of the force field again. Unus name to Gunther Bain. Gunther then Un us met the Blob and they formed a found himself suspended in the air used his power to become a suc­ close friendship. The two criminals above Madison Square Garden, un­ cessful professional wrestler, calling eventually joined Factor Three, and able to breathe. Unus blacked out, himself Unus the Untouchable. then the original Brotherhood of Evil and his force field dispersed. Unus Magneto had Mastermind contact Mutants. Unus soon became dis­ was caught by the Blob, who thought Unus, hoping to recruit him for the gusted with the constant failures of that Unus was dead. The Blob then Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Master­ the two groups. Unus gave up world left and began a rampage through mind suggested that Unus fight the conquest and decided to just get rich the streets of New Yo rk City. X-Men, as a test of his powers. Unus through crime. Later, for unknown While Unus has not appeared drew the X-Men out after committing reasons, Unus's force field became since then, there is no real evidence a theft. One of the X-Men, the Beast, uncontrollable again. Unus realized that proves that Unus is definitely built a machine that caused Unus's that he would soon die of hunger or dead. force field to increase in power. Unus asphyxiation since the force field found himself unable to control his was beginning to repel air mole­ force field, making it impossible for cules. him to even eat. Unus surrendered A mighty blow from the Hulk ap-

244 STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A EX(20) S AM (50) E IN(40) R EX(20) I GD(10) P RM(30) Health: 140 Karma: 60 Resources: PR(4) Popularity: 30

BACKGROUND Real Name: Vision Occupation: Adventurer Legal Status: Provisional U.S. Citizenship Identity: Public Place of Creation: Brooklyn, New Yo rk Marital Status: Married Known Relatives: Wa nda (wife), Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver, brother-in-law), Thomas and William (sons, no longer exist), Magneto (father-in-law), Magda (mother-in­ law, presumed dead) Base of Operations: Avengers' Mansion, New Yo rk City Past Group Affiliations: East and West Coast Avengers Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Density Manipulation-Self: The Vi­ sion has Unearthly control over his density. His normal density is Good. At densities above Good, the Vision gains body armor equal to his cur­ rent density rank. At density ranks of Incredible or higher, the Vision he suffers a -1 CS to his Fighting and Agility abilities and uses his density rank as his Strength. The Vision can­ not move at Unearthly density. can resist by making a power FEAT or laser beam directed at the gem. Established Power Stunts: roll and getting a higher color result Up to a maximum of 50 points per • Phase through solid objects at than Vision. The Vision's hand will round can be healed in this manner. Shift-O density. He will not disrupt then be stuck in his victim's body, Control Crystal: Ultron placed this electronics unless he wishes to. and the victim will suffer no damage. device in Vision's brain, which pre­ • Flight at Shift-O density, Poor air Life Support: Incredible rank. The Vi­ vented him from having a fully hu­ speed (4 areas/round), and he can­ sion does not have to eat or breathe. man personality. The control crystal not carry anything while flying. Solar Beams: Remarkable damage, also gave Vision a -2CS on Psyche • Disruption of living or non-living 8 area range. FEAT rolls against technological material by solidifying inside them. Solar Regeneration: Amazing rank. forms of mind control. Damage inflicted is equal to the Vi­ He can also heal if solar or laser en­ Ta lents: The Vision has the Repairl sion's chosen density rank, and the ergy is directed at the jewel on his Tinkering talent. The Vision has a target's Body Armor is ignored. If Vi­ forehead. In that case, he can regain photographic memory. sion tries this on someone who can a number of Health points equal to Contacts: The Vision can depend on also control their density, the target the power rank intensity of the solar help from any Avenger and probably 245 the Inhumans, too. The Vision and and lure them into a trap. The first a great deal of magical energy. She his wife are close friends with the Avenger to see the Vision, the Wasp, used the energy to make herself stage magicians, Glamor and illu­ called him "an unearthly, inhuman pregnant with two sons whom she sion. vision," which earned him his name. believed to be the offspring of herself The Vision did lure the Avengers into and the Vision. After their home in ADDITIONAL NOTES: Ultron's trap, but he somehow over­ Leonia was burned down, the Vision came Ultron's control and saved the and the Scarlet Witch became mem­ Avengers. Afterwards, the Vision bers of the West Coast Avengers. was elected as a member of the When the Vision became an Avengers. The Vision spent the next Avenger again, a number of interna­ few years as an active Avenger. Dur­ tional governments feared that he ing that time, the Vision and the might try to take over the world's Scarlet Witch became very close. computer systems again. Opera­ After Immortus told the Vision that tives from various government intelli­ he was really the original Human gence agencies, including the CIA To rch, the Vision and the Scarlet and the KG B, tricked Mockingbird Witch were married in a ceremony into helping them capture the Vision. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: performed by Immortus. The Vision The duped Mockingbird helped the The Vision has recently became and the Scarlet Witch stayed with the West Coast Avengers track the Vi­ rather cold again, devoid of human Avengers for a few more years be­ sion down. Unfortunately, the Vision emotions. He apparently no longer fore retiring from full-time member­ had already been disassembled and feels love for the Scarlet Witch any­ ship. They became reserve his memories erased. The Avengers more either. Though he tries to act members, and bought a house in also freed Horton, who was also be­ friendly toward people, he still Leonia, New Jersey. However, they ing held by the government opera­ seems to be aloof. were briefly called back to duty at tives. Horton revealed that he had times. During one of those time peri­ not built the Vision, though Immortus ods, the Vision was subjected to a said that he had. Dr. Henry Pym was null-field. This somehow caused the able to put the Vision back together HISTORY control crystal to malfunction and again, but his synthetic skin was al­ The synthezoid known as the Vi­ twisted the Vision's thinking. Linking tered by the disassembly process. sion was created by the Avenger's himself with ISAAC, the Eternals' His overall color is now a very pale robotic enemy, Ultron. Ultron cre­ super computer on the moon Titan, yellow shade, giving him a ghostly ated the Vision using spare parts left the Vision then took over all the com­ appearance. Pym reprogrammed over from the creation of the Original puters on Earth, including national the Vision with Avengers' records, Human To rch who was built by Pro­ defense computers. The Vision but Simon Williams refused to allow fessor Phineas T. Horton. planned to unite the whole world in a a copy of his brain waves to be The mysterious Time Lord, Immor­ golden age of peace. The Vision made. Thus, the new version of the tus, later convinced everyone that eventually regained his reason and Vision was completely devoid of hu­ the Vision was actually the original severed his link with the world's com­ man emotions, including love for the Human To rch. Immortus told the Vi­ puter networks. The Vision also re­ Scarlet Witch. sion that Ultron had forced Horton to moved the control crystal from his Recently, it was discovered that change the Human To rch's appear­ mind. The loss of the control crystal the Scarlet Witch's sons were actu­ ance and powers, creating the Vi­ allowed the Vision's personality to ally fragments of the soul of the evil sion. Ultron programmed the become more human that ever. The being known as Mephisto. The loss Vision's brain with a program based Vision and the Scarlet Witch re­ of her sons, and the change in the Vi­ on the brain waves of Simon Wil­ turned to their home in Leonia, plan­ sion's personality caused the Scarlet liams (Wonder Man) who was ning to stay. Witch to have a nervous breakdown. thought to be dead at the time. UI­ Later on, the Scarlet Witch and the The Vision is currently an active tron also implanted a "control crys­ Vision became involved in a fight member of the Avengers, but he has tal" in the Vision's brain, allowing with the witches and warlocks of transferred himself to the East Coast Ultron to control him. Ultron ordered New Salem. Scarlet used her mutant division of the team. the Vision to seek out the Avengers powers to defeat them and absorbed

246 WOLFPACK

SPECIAL NOTES "SLAG" Present Group Affiliation: All Wolfpack members have the following talents: all five Martial Arts SLAGLEV KNOWN POWERS: types, Marksman, Weapon master, Lightning Speed: Good land speed (4 areas/round), with +5 bonus on ini­ Acrobatics, Tu mbling, and First Aid. STATISTICS: All the Wolfpack members have the tiative if not surprised. She cannot develop power stunts since this is other Pack members, Police Inspec­ F EX(20) tor Cassidy and the Missionary as A GD(10) not a real super power. contacts. All the Wolfpack members S RM(30) ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: have the same Background Notes in E EX(20) Sharon is a very independent young common: R GD(10) woman who is devoted to her father. Occupation: Student, adventurer I GD(10) She is determined to succeed and Legal Status: U.S. citizen P GD(10) loves to run like the wind. Identity: Public Health: 80 Place of Birth: New Yo rk City Karma: 30 Marital Status: Single Resources: TY(6) WHEELS WO­ Base of Operations: South Bronx Popularity: 0/5 (inside the Bronx) Past Group Affiliations: Wolfpack LINSKI BACKGROUND: RAFAEL VEGA Real Name: Siagley (First name un­ STATISTICS: known) F EX(20) STATISTICS: Known Relatives: Mrs. Siagley (mother) A TY(6) S GD(10) F RM(30) Present Group Affiliation: E EX(20) A GD(10) R EX(20) S GD(10) KNOWN POWERS: I EX(20) E EX(20) Ta lents: (see above) Slag's Reason P EX(20) R TY(6) is Remarkable when dealing with Health: 56 I GD(10) Philosophy or Literature. Karma: 60 P TY(6) Resources: PR(4) Health: 70 ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Popularity: 0/5 (inside the Bronx) Karma: 22 Slag is the strongest member of the Resources: EX(20) Pack, and the gentlest. He is a quiet BACKGROUND: Popularity: 0/5 (in the Bronx) and intense person who enjoys read­ ing Shakespeare. Slag is the real Real Name: Wolinski (first name BACKGROUND: willpower, and conscience, behind unrevealed) Known Relatives: Mother (name Real Name: Rafael Ve ga the Pack. unknown), John Wolinski (father, de­ Known Relatives: Mother, Apollo ceased) Cora (father, deceased), Junior SHARON Present Group Affiliation: (brother) Present Group Affiliation: STATISTICS: KNOWN POWERS: Wh eelchair: Wheels is confined to a KNOWN POWERS: F EX(20) wheelchai r. Wheels can travel 3 Ta lents: (See above) Leadership A IN(40) areas/round, or 4 areas/round down S GD(10) an incline. Wheels cannot travel over ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: E RM(30) Rafael is the most emotional mem­ some terrain, but he has learned to R TY(6) negotiate certain obstacles, such as ber of the Wolfpack and leads the I GD(10) Pack most of the time. He is the best going down stairs. Wheels has been P GD(10) known to build various gadgets into fighter in the group, but he also has Health: 100 the shortest temper in the group. his wheelchair, such as rocket Karma: 26 boosters (6 areas/round) and hy­ Resources: TY(6) draulic brakes. Popularity: 0/5 (in the Bronx) Ta lents: (See above), Leadership, RepairlTinkering BACKGROUND: Real Name: Sharon (last name unre­ ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: vealed) Wheels is reserved and shy, rarely Known Relatives:Father (name un­ letting his emotions show. Wheels is revealed), Mother (deceased, real the voice of reason in the Pack and name unrevealed) he comes up with any strategic plans 247 they need. Wheels has not let his MALCOLM handicap effect his outlook on life, and he considers all life precious. BROWN GROUP HISTORY: Over 2,000 years ago, a wander­ SLIPPERY SAM STATISTICS: ing Israeli tribe entered China. They told of an ancient legend that prom­ WELTSMERZ F GO(10) ised the existence of ten just and A GO(10) good men, throughout time. The cos­ STATISTICS: S TY(6) mic balance also required the contin­ E EX(20) ual existence of nine evil men, F EX(20) R TY(6) whose only purposes were to de­ A RM(30) I TY(6) stroy the ten good men and to S GO(10) P TY(6) spread evil. One of the Te n went ren­ E EX(20) Health: 46 egade and created a cult of warriors R GO(10) Karma: 18 to oppose the Nine. The cult was I IN(40) Resources: PR(4) forced to hide in the hills like wolves, P RM(30) Popularity: 0/3 (in the Bronx) while the Nine's forces hunted them Health: 80 down. Karma: 80 BACKGROUND: In modern day New Yo rk City, Mr. Resources: TY(6) Real Name: Malcolm Brown Mack trained five youths to become Popularity: 0/5 (in the Bronx) Known Relatives: Father (name un­ the newest members of the rene­ known), Esther (mother) gade cult, the Wolfpack. The Wo lf­ BACKGROUND: Present Group Affiliation: pack fought crime in their Real Name: Sam Weltsmerz neighborhood and eventually came Known Relatives: Father, Mother ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: into conflict with the forces of the (names unknown) Malcolm is the youngest member of Nine in New Yo rk City. One member, Present Group Affiliation: the Pack and the most violent. Badly Slippery Sam Weltshmertz was abused by his mother and father, he killed while saving a young boy's life. KNOWN POWERS: has learned to trust no one but his Malcolm, an abused boy, then be­ Ninja: Slippery Sam was an expert at new family, the Wolfpack. came the newest member of the moving quietly, and apparently able Wolfpack. After receiving advanced to see well in normal darkness. Sam training from a penitent assassin could climb walls, and blend in with known as the Missionary, the Wolf­ crowds. pack smashed the Nine's headquar­ All these abilities were at a Remark­ ters in New Yo rk City. The Wolfpack able rank. is still battling crime and Nine activi­ ties in their Bronx neighborhood. ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Sam served as the Pack's trickster and spy. He was an expert at sneak­ ing up on people and he enjoyed sur­ prising them. Sam was also an expert con man, able to charm any­ one, and always ready with a wise­ crack or a joke.

248 1Iiif:--: � ----- ,--�-=- - - ��-- ��I �� ---- _ I

STATISTICS:

F RM(30) A GD(10) S UN(100) E MN(75) R FB(2) I TY(6) P TY(6) Health: 21 5 Karma: 14 Resources: None Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND: Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Giant Monster Legal Status: None Identity: Existence not known to general public Place of Hibernation/Mutation: Glacial cavern in Alberta, Canada Marital Status: Unknown Known Relatives: None Base of Operations: Mobile Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS: Growth: Shift Z. Ye trigar's exposure to radiation caused him to perma­ nently grow to a height of over 100 feet. Ye trigar's size causes a + 3CS to anyone trying to hit him. Body Armor: Monstrous rank protec­ tion from physical, energy, heat and cold attacks. Suspended Animation: Unearthly rank. Ye trigar was somehow able to enter a state of suspended anima­ tion after being buried by a rockslide in the Grand Canyon. Ta lents: Ye trigar seemed to know a basic form of Martial Arts type B. Contacts: None

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: Yetrigar is a typical giant monster, who is only interested in causing as HISTORY much damage as possible while Thousands of years ago, a prehis­ growling loudly. Ye trigar will attack toric humanoid was accidentally fro­ anyone or anything that gets in his zen in a glacial cavern near Alberta, path. He seemed to especially enjoy Canada. A few years ago, an under­ battling other creatures of his size. ground nuclear bomb test occurred underneath the deserts of Nevada. The underground test caused the splitting of an underground fault and

249 , ,

______---l a newly created tunnel stretched all Point. Rider. During a visit to the past, the way to the cavern where the pre­ The fight was joined by the gigan­ Mockingbird had been drugged and historic humanoid was frozen. The tic robot, Red Ronin, which was be­ tricked into falling in love with the resulting tremor freed the humanoid ing piloted by young Robert original Ghost Rider. Mockingbird and then the wave of radiation mu­ Ta kiguchi. Robert named the giant eventually discovered the truth and tated the poor beast. Driven mad by prehistoric humanoid Yetrigar, after a let the original Ghost Rider fall to his the radiation, it followed the under­ mythical race of abominable snow­ death. Back in modern times, Mock­ ground fault all the way back to the men that supposedly lived in the ingbird was attacked several times desert of Nevada. By the time it had mountains of Japan. The brave boy by Hamilton Slade, while he was reached the desert, the humanoid tried to stop the two monsters from possessed by the spirit of the original had grown to enormous size, due to hurting each other. Eventually, Ro­ Ghost Rider. its exposure to the radiation. bert had to bury Ye trigar under a While Mockingbird was confront­ The furry humanoid reached the rockslide, to stop him from killing ing Slade, the West Coast Avengers Nevada desert at the same time it Godzilla. were busy fighting the maddened was being crossed by the monster Many years later, the same spot in Ye trigar. Unable to stop the beast, Dr. lizard, Godzilla. Godzilla had just de­ the Grand Canyon was visited by the Pym had to place a metal brace in stroyed parts of Las Vegas and he West Coast Avengers. Mockingbird, the creature's ear and use his power was being followed by a special a former agent for S.H.I.E.L.D., se­ to cause the brace to enlarge. Ye tri­ S.H.I.E.L.D. taskforce in a helicarrier cretly used a grenade to free the gar passed out from the pain and called "Behemoth," led by Dum creature from the rockslide in order Pym used his shrinking gas to shrink Dum Dugan. The maddened prehis­ to distract the West Coast Avengers the monster down to a manageable toric giant disabled the helicarrier, while she went after Hamilton Slade. size. and then tracked down Godzilla. The Slade, an archaeologist, was some­ Ye trigar's current condition and lo­ two monsters fought in an area of the times possessed by the ghost of his cation has not been revealed. Grand Canyon, near Budiansky great-grandfather, the original Ghost

250 1------• ------, '- ! - � - � ------. .� .-=,' - - �: -� - - ---: ��=.�- �-

BRIGHT Known Relatives: None ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Base of Operations: Celestials' Carter Dyam was an Israeli soldier SWORD ship during the early 1970s. Carter is dis­ Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung illusioned by war and people and STATISTICS: Gods hates to see mindless violence. At Present Group Affiliation: the same time, he believes that F AM(50) sometimes force is the only way to A EX(20) KNOWN POWERS: solve certain situations. Carter has a S AM(50) Energy Sword: Incredible Edgedl tendency to be overconfident in bat­ E AM(50) Energy damage. tle, believing that he can withstand R TY(6) Cyber Bolas: Incredible any opponent. I GD(10) entanglement/grappling attack, P RM(30) True Invulnerability: Unearthly rank. CALCULUS Health: 170 True Flight: Remarkable air speed. Ta lents: Weapons Master, Thrown Karma: 46 STATISTICS: Resources: FB(2)/CL 1000 Weapons, all five Martial Arts types, Military Popularity: 0 F TY(6) Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Norse A TY(6) gods, Celestials, Juniper and Kan­ BACKGROUND: S TY(6) tos, Spider-Man. Real Name: Carter Dyam E EX(20) Occupation: Ex-soldier, Yo ung God ADDITIONAL NOTES: R AM(50) Legal Status: Israeli citizen, MIA I AM(50) Identity: Existence not known to P AM(50) general public Health: 38 Place of Birth: Israel Karma: 150 Marital Status: Single

MINDSINGER BRIGHT SWORD GENII (GREGOR BUHKAROV) (CARTER DYAM) (JASON KIMBALL)

HARVEST SEA WITCH DAYDREAMER (CHI LO) (BRIDGET O'HARE) (CATHERINE MORANIS)

251 ------... - - · .. . ' I: .�. I __ ___ -- - - - __ ___ �__ ��_ - I

Resources: FB(2)/CL 1000 CADUCEUS Caduceus acts very cynical, and is Popularity: 0 always ready to spout a wisecrack. His tough guy attitude hides a brave BACKGROUND: STATISTICS: and strong heart. Real Name: Jawaharal Patel F GD(10) Occupation: Former scientist, A GD(10) DAYDREAMER Yo ung God S TY(6) Legal Status: Citizen of India, pre­ E RM(30) STATISTICS: sumed dead R GD(10) Identity: Existence not known to I EX(20) F GD(10) general public P AM(50) A RM(30) Place of Birth: India Health: 56 S TY(6) Marital Status: Single Karma: 80 E EX(20) Known Relatives: None Resources: FB(2)/ CL 1000 R TY(6) Base of Operations: Celestials' Popularity: 0 I AM(50) ship P AM (50) Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung BACKGROUND: Health: 66 Gods Real Name: Mark Cadman Karma: 106 Present Group Affiliation: Occupation: Former street gang Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) Popularity: 0 KNOWN POWERS: member, Yo ung God Te /epathy: Amazing rank. Legal Status: U.S. citizen presumed BACKGROUND: Precognition-Limited: Amazing rank. dead Real Name: Catherine Moranis Calculus can use his calculating skill Identity: Existence not known to Occupation: Former farm woman, to predict the actions of opponents. general public Yo ung God This power is limited to his sight, and Place of Birth: Chicago Legal Status: Citizen of Canada, he must be telepathically linked with Marital Status: Unknown presumed dead his team mates for it to be any use. Known Relatives: None Identity: Existence not known to the His allies will always win initiative Base of Operations: Celestials' general public (their initiative roll is considered to ship Place of Birth: Ottawa, Canada be an 11), and he can spend per­ Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung Marital Status: Unknown sonal Karma points to help one of his Gods Known Relatives: Unknown friends. Present Group Affiliation: Base of Operations: Celestials' Ta lents: Martial Arts A, All Scientific KNOWN POWERS: spaceship skills (especially Mathematics), Biophysical Control, Healing, and Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung Leadership Regeneration: Amazing rank. Gods Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, gods Sleep-Induced: Amazing rank, touch Present Group Affiliation: of Hindu pantheon, Juniper and Kan­ range. tos, Celestials, Spider-Man. Mutate-Others: Amazing rank. Cadu­ KNOWN POWERS: ADDITIONAL NOTES: ceus can change the physical ap­ Te lepathy: Amazing rank. pearance and abilities of a person. Mind Control: Incredible rank power, and even grant them Amazing rank that can be used through vocal or powers. mental commands. Ta lents: Martial Arts A, Acrobatics, Create Illusions: Incredible rank Tu mbling, First Aid, Medicine power, she must physically touch her Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Ce­ victims. The illusions only exist in her ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: lestials, Juniper and Kantos, gods of victim's mind. She can also dispel Calculus was born in 1928 in India. Earth, Spider-Man. such mental illusions. He was a Hindu of the Brahmin caste Precognition: Remarkable rank when he was 20 years old. Calculus ADDITIONAL NOTES: power. is a gentle and caring person who True Flight: Remarkable air speed. does not like violence. Calculus has Ta lents: Martial Arts E, Philosophy a tendency to only see the good in a Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Ce­ person, not seeing their evil side. lestials, Juniper and Kantos, gods of Earth, Spider-Man.

ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: Caduceus was 30 year-old man liv­ ing in a rough neighborhood of Chi­ cago in 1919, when he was contacted to become a Yo ung God. 252 ------�------� - . ------,

.

___ _ - ______- - _ . ______� - - _� - - � __ _ - - __-- I

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: lage in the 1970s when she was Catherine was a 25-year-old woman Jason was a 26-year-old black man contacted to become a Yo ung God. living on a farm in 19th century Ot­ living in Harlem in the early 1970s Chi Lo is intelligent, but extremely tawa, Canada when she was con­ when he was contacted to become shy and does not stand up for herself tacted by the gods. Catherine is a one of the Yo ung Gods. He had been or voice her opinions. Once she dreamy and shy woman with a back­ a successful fashion designer before makes her mind up to do something bone of steel. She hates being pam­ becoming a compulsive gambler. Ja­ however, nothing can divert her from pered . son still sometimes lapses into her goal. manic-depressive phases, com­ GENII plaining about the living conditions HIGHNOTE in Harlem. He still likes to take risks and he is somewhat self-destructive. STATISTICS: STATISTICS:

F GD(1 0) HARVEST F EX(20) A GD(1 0) A RM(30) S GD(1 0) STATISTICS: S GD(1 0) E AM(50) E RM(30) R GD(1 0) F GD(10) R TY(6) I EX(20) A GD(10) I EX(20) P AM(50) S TY(6) P RM(30) Health: 80 E EX(20) Health: 90 Karma: 80 R TY(6) Karma: 56 Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) I GD(10) Resources: FB (2)/UN (1 00) Popularity: 0 P AM(50) Popularity: 0 Health: 46 BACKGRO UND: Karma: 66 BACKGROUND: Real Name: Jason Kimball Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) Real Name: Raoul Hernandez Occupation: Former fashion de­ Popularity: 0 Occupation: Former saloon dancer signer, Yo ung God and musician , Yo ung God Legal Status: U.S. citizen , pre­ BACKGROUND: Legal Status: Columbian citizen, sumed dead Real Name: Chi Lo presumed dead Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ Occupation: Former farm girl, Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ eral public Yo ung God eral public Place of Birth: Harlem, New Yo rk Legal Status: Citizen of Japan, pre­ Place of Birth: Columbia City sumed dead Marital Status: Unknown Marital Status: Single Identity: Existence not known to Known Relatives: None Known Relatives: None general public Base of Operations: Celestials' Base of Operations: Celestials' Place of Birth:Japan ship ship Marital Status: Single Past Grou p Affiliations: Yo ung Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung Known Relatives: None Gods Gods Base of Operations: Celestials' Present Group Affiliation: Present Group Affiliation: ship Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung KNOWN POWERS: KNOWN POWERS: Gods Te leporta tion-SeIfIO th ers: Unearthly Matter Animatio n-Solids: Amazing Present Group Affiliation: power rank. rank power. Sonic Generation: Amazing damage. Shapechange-Others: Amazing KNOWN POWERS: Vibration Generation: Amazing rank power rank. Plant Growth: Amazing power rank. power. Tr ue Flight: Remarkable air speed. Plant Control: Amazing power rank. Ta lents: Martial Arts B, Musician, Ta lents: Martial Arts A, Artist Ta lents: Martial Arts A, Botany Dancing Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Ce­ Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Juni­ Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Ce­ lestials, Norse gods, Juniper and per and Kantos, Japanese gods, lestials, Juniper and Kantos, Ameri­ Kantos, Spider-Man. Spider-Man, Celestials can Indian gods, Spider-Man.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: Chi Lo was a 19 year-old woman liv­ ing in a small Japanese seacoast vil-

253 ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: tacted to become a Yo ung God. Gre­ SEA WITCH Raoul was a saloon dancer and mu­ gor is a complex man, alternating sician in Columbia in the 19th cen­ between sullen rages and sudden tury, when he was contacted to outbursts of cheerfulness. He is ex­ F EX(20) become a Yo ung God. Raoul is of tremely overprotective of Day­ A GD(10) mixed American Indian and Spanish dreamer. S RM(30) descent. He is cheerful and light­ E RM(30) hearted, taking nothing too seri­ MOONSTALKER R TY(6) ously. I GD(10) P AM(50) STATISTICS: Health: 90 MINDSINGER Karma: 66 F EX(20) Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) STATISTICS: A AM(50) Popularity: 0 S GD(10) F EX(20) E AM (50) BACKGROUND: A GD(10) R TY(6) Real Name: Bridget O'Hare S EX(20) I EX(20) Occupation: Former saloon girl, E RM(30) P RM(30) Yo ung God R TY(6) Health: 130 Legal Status: Citizen of Ireland, pre­ I EX(20) Karma: 56 sumed dead P AM(50) Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ Health: 80 Popularity: 0 eral public Karma: 76 Place of Birth: Ireland Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) BACKGROUND: Marital Status: Single Popularity: 0 Real Name: Kiana Known Relatives: None Occupation: Former hunter, Yo ung Base of Operations: Celestials' BACKGROUND: God ship Real Name: Gregor Buhkarov Legal Status: None Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung Occupation: Former poet, Yo ung Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ Gods God eral public Present Group Affiliation: Legal Status: Russian citizen, pre­ Place of Birth: Alaska sumed dead Marital Status: Single KNOWN POWERS: Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ Known Relatives: None Wa ter Breathing: Amazing rank eral public Base of Operations: Celestials' power. Place of Birth: Kiev, Russia ship Wa ter Freedom: Amazing power Marital Status: Single Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung rank. Known Relatives: None Gods Swimming: Amazing speed (8 areasl Base of Operations: Celestials' Present Group Affiliation: round). ship Matter-Animation: Amazing rank ani­ Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung KNOWN POWERS: mation of water only. She can do this Gods Hyper-Speed: Amazing rank speed with water in its liquid, solid (ice) and Present Group Affiliation: (8 areas/round). gaseous state. Blending: Amazing rank power. Resist Cold: Remarkable resistance. KNOWN POWERS: Ta lents: Tr acking, Hunting, Martial Ta lents: Martial Arts E, Sailing, Navi­ Shapeshifting: Amazing rank power. Arts A, Stealth, Weapons Master gation. Mindsinger must state out loud the Contacts: Inupiat gods, Other Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Juni­ nature of the shape he plans to Yo ung Gods, Juniper and Kantos, per and Kantos, Earth gods, Spider­ change his body into. Spider-Man. Man, Celestials. Te lepathy: Remarkable rank power. Ta lents: Poetry, Martial Arts C and B ADDITIONAL NOTES: ADDITIONAL NOTES: Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Ce­ lestials, Juniper and Kantos, Earth gods, Spider-Man . ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: ROLE-PLAY ING NOTES: Kiana was a 16-year-old Inupiat Es­ Bridget was a 17-year-old Irish girl in ADDITIONAL NOTES: kimo girl in 11th century Alaska, 12th century Ireland, when she was when she was contacted to become contacted to become a Yo ung God. a Yo ung God. Kiana is moody and in­ Bridget is a hot tempered and wild ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: tense most of the time. She will sud­ trickster, who loves to flirt with men. Gregor was a young Russian poet in denly display a raucous sense of the 18th century when he was con- humor at the wrong times.

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SPLICE Known Relatives: None ROLE·PLAYING NOTES: Base of Operations: Celestials' Chandra was a Craftswoman for a ship small Zulu tribe in Africa in the 18th STATISTICS: Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung century when she was contacted to Gods become a Yo ung God. Chandra pre­ F GD(10) Present Group Affiliation: fers meditation to spending time with A EX(20) people. She has no real close friends S GD(10) KNOWN POWERS: among the Yo ung Gods, and seems E RM(30) Matter Animation-Solid: Amazing to take nothing very seriously. R AM(50) rank power. I EX(30) Machine Creation: Amazing rank AM(50) VA RUA P power. The size of the machine is not Health: 70 limited, as long as she has the raw Karma: 130 materials to create it at hand. She STATISTICS: Resources: FB(2)/UN(100) cannot create the machine from GD(10) Popularity: 0 nothing. She can also use this ability F A GD(10) to create tools and weapons. The BACKGROUND: TY(6) items she creates can be as complex S Real Name: Chandra Ku E EX(20) as she wants. Occupation: Craftswoman, Yo ung R TY(6) Ta lents: Martial Arts A, Engineering God I AM(50) and any other skills necessary to Legal Status: Citizen of Africa pre­ P AM(50) craft whatever she wants to create. sumed dead Health: 46 Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Juni­ Identity: Existence unknown to gen­ Karma: 106 per and Kantos, Zulu gods, Celes­ eral public Resources: FB (2)/UN (100) tials, Spider-Man. Place of Birth: Africa Popularity: 0 Marital Status: Single

CALCULUS HIGHNOTE CADUCEUS (JAHAHAREL PATEL) (RAOUL HERNANDEZ) (MARK CADMON)

MOONSTALKER SPLICE VARUA (KIANA) (CHANDRA KU) (MIRA)

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BACKGROUND: taken in the Uni-Mind form, but they lestials when they finally came back. Real Name: Mira must make an Endurance FEAT roll The leading female goddesses de­ Occupation: Yo ung God against Amazing Intensity Stunning cided that they would find represent­ Legal Status: Citizen of Ruk Island, if the Uni-Mind dissolves due to dam­ atives of man's achievements whom presumed dead age. they would present to the Celestials Identity: Existence not known to Ta lents: Martial Arts A, Leadership as examples to the worthiness of hu­ general public Contacts: Other Yo ung Gods, Juni­ manity. Place of Birth: Ruk Island per and Kantos, Earth gods, Spider­ Over the next thousand years, 12 Marital Status: Single Man, Celestials. young people were chosen and their Known Relatives: None latent genetiC potential were fully ac­ Base of Operations: Celestials' ADDITIONAL NOTES: tivated. The 12 young people were ship placed in suspended animation, until Past Group Affiliations: Yo ung the Celestials arrived again. The Ce­ Gods lestials came and were presented Present Group Affiliation: ROLE-PLAYING NOTES: the 12 "Young Gods" by Gaea, eld­ Mira was a 14-year-old Polynesian est of Earth's goddesses. She told KNOWN POWERS: girl living on Ruk Island in the year the Celestials that they represented Te /epathy: Amazing rank. 1419 when she was contacted to be­ the highest ideals and achievements Te /eport Self/Others: Unearthly rank. come a Yo ung God. Mira is the spirit­ that man could reach. She begged Create Uni-Mind: When Va rua initi­ ual leader of the Yo ung Gods. She is the Celestials to take the Yo ung ates it, she and any of her fellow very stern and takes charge, always Gods and train them, and in return, Yo ung Gods can meld into the Uni­ taking everything seriously. let humanity survive. Surprisingly Mind, similar to the Uni-Mind formed enough, the Celestials apparently by the Eternals. The Uni-Mind ap­ agreed, and spared the Earth. pears as a huge floating brain. The The 12 Yo ung Gods are being Uni-Mind needs Va rua and at least trained by two alien warriors, Juniper GROUP HISTORY: one other Yo ung God to form it. The and Kantos, on the Celestials gigan­ Millennia ago, the First Host of the Uni-Mind will possess all the powers tic spaceship. The Yo ung Gods re­ mysterious alien Celestials came to of the Yo ung Gods that formed it, but turned to Earth recently, to help Earth and performed genetiC experi­ at Shift Z power rank. The Uni­ thwart the plans of the High Evolu­ ments on the ancestors of the hu­ Mind's Reason, Psyche and Intuition tionary. They have also recently dis­ man race. About a thousand years scores will be equal to the combined covered and defeated a dangerous ago, the Second Host of the Celes­ Reason, Intuition and Psyche scores construct in Israel. Clues indicated tials visited Earth and encountered a of the Yo ung Gods that formed it. It that a renegade god of Earth created delegation of Gods from Earth's vari­ has no Fighting or Strength scores, the machine. The Yo ung Gods' cur­ ous pantheons. The leaders of these but it has Amazing Agility and Shift Y rent activities and whereabouts are pantheons feared that, when the Ce­ Endurance Health 250). If the Uni­ unknown. ( lestials returned in another thousand Mind's Health is dropped to 0, the years, they would judge against man Uni-Mind will dissolve and the Yo ung and destroy humanity. The leading Gods will reappear. The Yo ung Gods will not suffer from any damage male gods prepared to fight the Ce-

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