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Sample file IMBALANCE OF TERROR By: Chuck Rice Additional Characters by: Jason Tondro SampleArt By: David Bednarski, Jacob Blackmon, file Storn Cook, Molly Alice Hoy, Dionysia Jones, Joe Singleton, Welcome to Imbalance of Terror. This Imbalance of Terror adventure features the hunt for a murderous vigilante named the Black Terror, but there’s a “Ah! I’m so glad you could come dear twist: a group of hired mercenaries are trying Spinster. It’s past time you and I got to kill him. The Terror’s original sidekick, acquainted.” Obsidian, approaches the heroes and asks them to save his former mentor. He thinks he The prim, proper woman sniffed and sat should go to jail and receive psychiatric care, down, “I go to great lengths to ensure no one rather than be murdered by a team of hired knows of me at all. If I weren’t so curious how thugs. The adventure is perfect for a group of you know what you know, I’d have sent you a “street level” heroes. If the heroes are cosmic letter bomb and nothing else.” defenders, this adventure will be beneath their notice, and possibly too easy for them. The older man just smiled, “Well I’m glad you Vigilante heroes, however, might see decided to have a chat with me. It would be a something of themselves in the Black Terror. shame for this single-malt to go to waste. I believe you and I have something in common. The best kind of thing in common: an enemy.” He let that sink in as he sipped the very fine whiskey poured over one cube of ice, “That operation of yours in D.C., probably a lot of planning involved. And then he comes along, spraying his poison gas everywhere. He did the same to an operation of mine in New Orleans.” The woman nodded, and poured herself a glass, no ice for her. The man smiled. He liked her style. “So, here’s my proposal, you and I each recruit some muscle, oh don’t wrinkle your nose like that, we both know that sometimes force is required. As smart and as well- equipped as this Night Terror is, he’s still just an ordinary man. He can be overwhelmed. I think 6 of the right sort could get the job done. Three for me, and three for you. And to make things interesting, we’ll make a wager. Ah! I see you like that idea. Yes, shall we say, 50 million dollars to the one whose hireling gets Samplethe job done? file 3 Prologue: Chapter 1: Black Terror under siege Unexpected Guest The adventure begins with the heroes doing Wait until the heroes are together, discussing whatever it is they do in between adventures. their next move. If the heroes don’t get They might be living together at a joint HQ, together to have this discussion, then the receiving accolades for their heroic deeds, or physical encounter described below will separated and going about their private lives. happen to only one of them. It’s of course Either way, a live news report comes through. possible that they have the discussion from Responding to what seemed like an ordinary different places, via a video conference or bank robbery, the Black Terror was ambushed something similar. by 5 supervillains. According to news reports Regardless of how the encounter the vigilante was heavily injured and barely happens, one or more of the heroes will be managed to escape. Only the arrival of a large approached by Obsidian. In classic street force of police distracted the villains and vigilante fashion he will attempt to go allowed him to get away. unnoticed until the last possible instant. When Give the heroes this basic background on he is noticed, he will introduce himself as the Black Terror: Originally he was a hero Black Terror’s first sidekick. He left when the from the golden age, active during the Terror’s methods became unacceptably depression and WWII. The identity has been brutal, but before he started outright killing passed down from hero to hero through criminals. He can give the heroes background methods unknown. About 10 years ago, on the Terror’s early days that they haven’t something changed, and the Black Terror discovered on their own, but like any good went from an old-fashioned vigilante with a vigilante, he’ll try to be secretive and sidekick, who used gadgets and knockout mysterious. He will give the heroes any gas, to a cold-blooded killer who works alone information he has to to get them involved and wipes out criminals with a deadly nerve however. He knows he can’t take care of this toxin. himself, and he thinks his mentor is going to If the Black Terror has been encountered die without help. before (from the Super Villain Handbook Use Obsidian’s description, along with hereafter SVHB), then the players will likely Black Terror’s, to provide the heroes with any not need the above introduction. If this is his additional background they need to get them first appearance, explain that previous to this involved in the adventure. his activities have been limited to the Obsidian’s stated goal is the apprehension Washington D.C. beltway area. For reasons of Black Terror. He thinks his mentor needs unknown, he has now begun operating in help, and also jail will help get the current hit whatever region the campaign takes place in. squad off his back (especially after timely intervention by the heroes). But more than Samplethat, Obsidian also recognizes file that the Terror has gone too far, and needs to pay for his crimes. 4 Chapter 3: Rumble at the docks Second engagement with .50-.50, Outlaw Iron, Night Fighter, Sterling and Death-Urge. If the PCs have done their homework, they can tear this team apart and make the fight much easier. If not, they can always just try to fight them straight up. In particular, it will be very easy to get Sterling and Night Fighter to turn on each other. Another option (though slightly more difficult) is to get Night Fighter to turn on the assassins altogether, by appealing to her honor, or (much more likely to work) promising to protect her father. This fight will be sprawling, chaotic and multi-sided. At a minimum there will be the heroes (including Obsidian), Professor Peril’s minions, the Spinster’s minions, and the Terror all acting on their own. Even if you Chapter 2: don’t normally use maps or a hex grid, it’s advisable to sketch the encounter out on a piece of paper to keep track of all the players. Investigating the hit men Obsidian isn’t totally clued in on the local crime beat, but he has a vague indication that Chapter 4: these villains shouldn’t be working together, he suggests investigating them to find out what’s up. Late Entries Allow the heroes to make use of their skills, Eventually, the heroes should be able to take and any number of them might prove useful to down the villains, especially due to their lack finding out about the assassins hunting the of coordination. They can tackle one group of Terror. The PCs can potentially learn that . assassins while another goes after the Terror. 50-.50 and Outlaw Iron were last known to be At his breaking point, the Terror is suicidal, in the service of Professor Peril. Also Night and Obsidian attempts to convince him to turn SampleFighter was thought to be a hero for a time himself in. At this point Endgamefile arrives. He’s while in Japan. Lastly, she and Sterling are learned of the competition between Peril and known to HATE each other. the Spinster and wants to prove he’s the 5 REAL mastermind. Ideally the heroes will be adventure, any could turn into a nemesis for wounded enough that Endgame can make a the heroes. Night Fighter in particular, could convincing threat by himself. If not, perhaps either be a love interest, or a recurring villain. add a villain or two to the mix to make the final Reluctant villains are some of the most encounter more of a threat. interesting foes a hero can face, as they can talk them down rather than just punching them until they fall unconscious. Epilogue: The Fate of the Terror The final fate of the Black Terror depends on the actions of the heroes and the overall tone of the campaign. It might serve as a launching pad for the Terror as an ongoing villain in the campaign, a way to introduce Obsidian as a rival hero, or an ally, or perhaps both. A hero with medical, legal, or psychiatric skills might become involved in the Terror’s fate after his arrest. Perhaps treating hm for mental illness, discovering that his madness has a medical cause (long term exposure to his knockout then death gas), or just arguing that his actions in the wake of his nephew’s death constituted treatable insanity rather than first- degree murder. Even without any of these skills, the Terror might befriend a hero that he sees as an old-school vigilante like him. The two could bond, despite being on opposite sides of the law, each with a different point of view of their duty as heroes. Remember that the Terror sees himself as a hero. He believes the heroes are misguided and naive, and will attempt to convince them he’s right. The adventure will also get the heroes on the radar of both Professor Peril and the Spinster.

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