New Bedlam Asylum™ Version 1.0 By Chris Avellone

Editor/Developer: Matthew D. Grau Illustrations: Derek Stevens Cartography: Chris Cox Fuzion Conversions: Bruce Harlick Pagemaking & Layout: Matthew D. Grau Original Hero Plus Layout: Karl Wu Managing Editor: Bruce Harlick Sample file

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0 PRELUDEZ ...... 1 Second Floor ...... 35 How to Use This Book ...... 1 Third Floor ...... 35 Asylum Dreams ...... 1 Fourth Floor ...... 36 Shreiver ...... 1 Basement ...... 36 Sally...... 3 Dr. Masters ...... 36 Sally Anne Robinson ...... 3 Reclassified ...... 36 1 ASYLUM GROUNDS ...... 9 Western Division...... 39 The True Path ...... 9 Map: The Western Division...... 39 Introduction ...... 9 History ...... 39 Appointments ...... 9 Description ...... 39 In Case of Emergency (Sidebar) ...... 10 First Floor ...... 40 Map: Fell’s Point Peninsula...... 10 Second Floor ...... 40 Peculiarities ...... 10 Third Floor ...... 40 Canto One: The Dark Wood of Error ...... 11 Fourth Floor ...... 40 Sally...... 12 Basement ...... 40 Distraction ...... 13 Sally...... 13 2 STAFF ...... 41 The Poet ...... 16 Morning Conference ...... 41 Canto Two: The Descent ...... 16 The Hierarchy ...... 44 At the Wall ...... 17 Asylum Staff ...... 44 The Front Gate ...... 18 Physicians ...... 45 Past the Wall...... 18 Specific Physicians/Administrators...... 46 The Grounds ...... 18 Dr. Masters ...... 46 Fringes ...... 18 Nurses ...... 47 Sites ...... 19 Orderlies ...... 48 The Hill ...... 19 Domestic Staff ...... 50 The Farm...... 19 Benjamin Brown ...... 50 The Pier ...... 20Sample12 Hours file From Midnight ...... 51 The Asylum ...... 20 Escape ...... 54 Map: Asylum Grounds ...... 20 Inside the Ward ...... 54 Terror Incognita ...... 21 Outside the Ward ...... 54 Note on Maps within Text (Sidebar) ...... 21 Doctor Shreiver ...... 55 Main Buildings ...... 22 Central Administration Building ...... 22 3 PATIENTZ ...... 59 Steward Building...... 23 Routine Admission ...... 59 Bourne House ...... 24 Introduction ...... 67 Ross House ...... 25 Patient Presentation ...... 67 Power Plant/Laundry/Utilities ...... 25 Male Patientz ...... 67 Service Building ...... 26 Female Patientz ...... 79 Admissions Building E...... 27 Heathen ...... 90 Canto Three: The Vestibule ...... 27 First Floor ...... 28 4 TIMELINE ...... 94 Sharon Ferry ...... 29 Introduction ...... 94 Upper Floors ...... 31 Eldritch Era: 1600-1900 ...... 94 Basement ...... 31 The Mount Colony ...... 94 Ward One ...... 31 The Fell Point Asylum ...... 95 Canto Four: The First Ward ...... 31 The Fell’s Point Asylum ...... 95 Sally...... 32 The Founder ...... 95 Map: The Eastern Division ...... 33 The Fell’s Point Asylum ...... 95 Eastern Division ...... 33 Asylum Structure ...... 96 i Description ...... 33 Map: Eldritch Era Asylum ...... 97 First Floor ...... 34 The First Decade ...... 97 Pulp Era: 1900-1945 ...... 99 Canto Twenty-Nine: Ward Eight: Subdivision Ten Asylum Structure: Pulp Era ...... 99 [8Ji] ...... 137 Map: Pulp Era Asylum ...... 99 Canto Thirty: Ward Eight: Subdivision Ten [8Jii, Special Cases ...... 100 iii, iv] ...... 138 Census and Admissions ...... 100 The Pulp Era Timeline ...... 101 6 HERESIES ...... 139 World War I...... 102 Canto Thirty-One: The Giants...... 139 Studies ...... 106 Map: The Cocytus ...... 140 World War II ...... 106 Canto Thirty-Two: The Cocytus [9A-9D] ..... 141 Modern Era: 1945-1970 ...... 107 The First Division: Caina [9A] ...... 142 The Modern Era Timeline ...... 108 Canto Thirty-Three: The Second Division The Fire of 1969 ...... 115 [9B] ...... 143 The Third Division [9C] ...... 143 5 WARDS ...... 116 Canto Thirty-Four: The Fourth Division Introduction ...... 117 [9D] ...... 143 Map: Sample Wards ...... 117 The Ninth Ward ...... 144 Ward Building Blocks ...... 117 Reality ...... 144 Seclusion Rooms ...... 118 Surreality...... 144 Ward Two ...... 119 The Wall ...... 145 Canto Five ...... 119 The Escape ...... 146 Ward Three...... 120 Descension ...... 146 Canto Six...... 120 Dr. Adolph Gans ...... 147 Ward Four ...... 121 The Heretic ...... 151 Canto Seven ...... 121 Truths ...... 153 Ward Five...... 121 Perspectives from the Inside Out ...... 154 Canto Eight: The Great Tower ...... 122 Schizophrenic Psychics ...... 155 Ward Six ...... 125 Mental Perception ...... 155 Cantos Nine and Ten ...... 125 Powers ...... 156 Canto Eleven ...... 127 Power Limitations ...... 157 Ward Seven and its Wings ...... 128 Disadvantages ...... 157 Canto Twelve ...... 128 Conclusion ...... 157 The First Wing [7A] ...... 128 Psyciks ...... 157 Canto Thirteen: The Second Wing [7B] ...... 129 The Hallucination ...... 159 Canto Fourteen & Fifteen: The Third Wing Mental Powers ...... 160 [7C] ...... Sample130 fileTimelines: Libations ...... 161 Canto Sixteen and Seventeen: The Third Wing Eldritch Era ...... 163 Elevator [7C] ...... 131 Pulp Era ...... 163 Ward Eight ...... 131 Modern Era ...... 164 Canto Eighteen...... 131 Asylum Finale: Grounded ...... 170 The Eighth Ward ...... 131 Sally ...... 171 Map: Ward Eight ...... 132 Ward Eight: Subdivision One [8A] ...... 133 APPENDICES ...... 172 Ward Eight: Subdivision Two [8B] ...... 133 Appendix 0: Psychotech ...... 172 Canto Nineteen: Ward Eight: Subdivision Three Appendix 1: Playgrounz of the Mind ...... 175 [8C] ...... 133 Appendix 2: Other Genres ...... 194 Canto Twenty: Ward Eight: Subdivision Four Appendix 3: Other Inmates ...... 199 [8D] ...... 134 Cantos Twenty-One and Twenty-Two: Ward HANDOUTS...... 203 Eight: Subdivision Five [8E] ...... 134 Handout #1: Asylum Exam Record ...... 203 Canto Twenty-Three: Ward Eight: Subdivision Six Handout #2: Word Association Test ...... 204 [8F]...... 135 Handout #3: M-M Sentence Completion Cantos Twenty-Four and Twenty-Five: Ward Test ...... 205 Eight: Subdivision Seven [8G] ...... 136 Handout #4: Staff Rules ...... 211 Cantos Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven: Ward Handout #5: Character Cards ...... 212 Eight:Subdivision Eight [8H] ...... 136 FUZION INFORMATION ...... 236 Canto Twenty-Eight: Ward Eight: Subdivision ii Nine [8I]...... 137 Foreward Steve Long took a break from writing the next hun- A Word of Warning dred Hero books to provide the research material for New Bedlam Asylum deals with mature themes, “Insanity and the Law,” editing suggestions, and held and GMs should be aware that using such subject competency hearings on most of the characters in this matter in role-playing games requires a certain level book and in Underworld Enemies. You may not have of maturity and caution. Some players may find the seen these things in the text, but they’ll be coming along subjects contained herein uncomfortable, and GMs in some form soon. should take this into consideration. Sensitive readers, however, should also keep in Amy Crittenden: Nurse, author, superheroine... in ad- mind that New Bedlam Asylum is a work of fiction. dition to her help with the Psychotech appendix, the Neither the author nor Hero Games condones any of Staff chapter, and general editing, Amy also made a the activities mentioned in this book... except, of concise “quick sheet” for the Horror Hero Shock and course, compassionate care for the mentally ill, mak- Stress rules that helped me actually understand the ing sure the criminally insane are properly confined Hero Insanity Rules. and treated, and spreading the knowledge of what con- stitutes mental illness so that others may learn from it. Mark Arsenault provided Asylum security, editing, and laid down the law throughout the text. Author’s Note: There has been a tendency on the part of the media and Hollywood to portray mental insti- tutions in a negative light; nevertheless, while mental Thuy Dang just because he’s cool. health care still has a long way to go, it has improved vastly since the days of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s The Fell’s Point Jerky Boys: To the players who plunged Nest.” The Asylum in these pages is an unconventional into Fell’s Point after the Fall: Glenn “Tertius Krieg” institution and should not be seen as a realistic depic- Andrews, Dale “St. Jude” Glasier, John “Buddha” Davis, tion of a modern-day mental hospital. Art “Annihilation” Lathrop.

The AOL Crew: Many people on AOL took the time Dedication to suggest material, references and provide criticism. First of all, this book is dedicated to everybody Rob Barnes, Steve Barr, J. Crocker, James Davis, Mike who has driven me crazy over the years. You know whoSampleDean, Al Dickerson file (thanks with interest), Sean “Mas- you are. Rest assured that I will find you and destroy ter of My Domain” Fannon, Fernando Vigil, Joe “I *am* you. The Average Man!” Genero, Sonia Handforth-Kome, Bruce Harlick, Greg “Bonehead” Lloyd, Bob Second of all, this book is dedicated to the fol- (Disinformer in Russian is...) O’Neal, Bruce Neidlinger, lowing people, without whom this book would have Robert Neumann, Marty ‘Starjammer’ Nix (Science lacked something special. For their time and help, I god of the Hero System, Inspiration, and True Friend, am grateful. Thanks. without whom I never could have done this, and would have had to give up my writing career, such as it is), Brad Reed provided the personalities of Dr. Masters Steve Peterson, KC Ryan, Mark “Spence” Spencer, Bruce (Hegemon), Jimmy the Kidney-Eating Killer, and doz- Tong, and David Utter. Thanks for the input, all. I ap- ens more clever, creative and amusing patients who preciate it. did not have a chance to appear in these pages (stay tuned). He is also responsible for naming some of the APA Central: Thanks to the following Hero APA au- sections of Fell’s Point and for fleshing out various in- thors for specific suggestions and criticisms: EROICA: habitants of the peninsula. He is talented and gifted. Andy Mathews, Tim “Presence Defense is a bad, bad Ask him... he will tell you so. power” Binford, Greg Smith, Scott Jamison, Gary Mitchel, Martin Maenza, and David Utter. Rogue’s George and Kristine: George “Albert E. Jones” Gallery: Will Geiger, Scott Heine, Steve Perrin, Nonie Sedgwick and Kristine “Lion” Evans provided me a ton Rider, and Scott Bennie. Clobberin’ Times: Brian of research material that came to comprise a majority Curley, Kaye Dunham, Joel Levy, Troy Hickman, KC of the raw data for chapter three. On top of that, they’re Ryan, and Charles Brown. Thanks, all. great friends and really nice people. iii Thanks also to Mitch Michaelson whose review of Underworld Enemies in Morningstar Rising helped con- Abbreviations vince me that a story format could work within a Hero Throughout the book, some supplements and book. campaign books are referred to extensively. For the sake of convenience, and to allow more new material to be Last, but not least, thanks also goes to my good friend presented, the title of the books have been reduced to Lisa Reneé Butler, who always reminds me that I’m the following abbreviations: going to hell for writing books like this. A=New Bedlam Asylum (self-referential) DC = I4I = An Eye for an Eye JNL = Justice Not Law MR = Murderer’s Row SS = Shadow Syndicates UE = Underworld Enemies UM = The Ultimate Mentalist UMA = The Ultimate Martial Artist

These references, whenever possible, include a page number for convenience.

Note: All references to the “Champions Rulebook” in the text refer to the Champions Fourth Edition Rulebook.

Sample file

iv Chapter Zero: Preludez How To Use This Asylum Dreams Book Shreiver The heading of this section is something of a misnomer, for any GM or player reading New Bedlam Diary of Dr. Shreiver Asylum will know how to use this book far better than April, 1995 the author will. Although a summary of what this book was intended to provide follows, GMs should I still dream of the Asylum. take what they wish from New Bedlam Asylum, tailor Not as it is, but as it was... in its infancy it to their campaign, and disregard the rest. with Gans, the shadows cast by the flickering candlelight unable to hide the despair etched (A) New Bedlam Asylum provides details of a sample into his face. The silence of the dining room, mental institution, complete with staff, patients, and the two of us sitting in the hard wooden chairs, encounters that can easily be removed and placed in separated by more than distance... I remem- the GM’s campaign. While there is a connection be- ber how the wine had distorted his reflection, tween the Asylum’s characters and encounters for the the ripples from every movement of the glass sake of story and campaign purposes, they can easily sending new lines of worry across his features. be separated and inserted into a preexisting campaign. This had been our ritual, the way we [1] Samplemarked the file passage of days at the Asylum. The evening came, darkness fell, and the gates were (B) New Bedlam Asylum tells a story about the char- closed fast. We assumed our wooden thrones acters and locales in the text, primarily for flavor and in the dining room, and as the silence and the entertainment value. As a result, some of the factual shadow stretched between us, I watched Gans information herein is presented in narrative form. Any die. details omitted from descriptions or backgrounds can It was inevitable. It seemed that Gans’s be filled in by the GM or the players. [2] body had always betrayed him, denying him just enough strength to realize what his fe- vered mind desired. And so he dwelled among (C) Sections of New Bedlam Asylum were written to supplement the material introduced in Horror Hero, 1: As scripted, New Bedlam Asylum is set in the fictional city of notably the random notes and events contained in the Fell’s Point, a Dark Champions city south of Hudson City. Do not Asylum and the Asylum timeline. While it is written be alarmed. “Fell’s Point” could just as well read Hudson City, New York, San Francisco, or the GM’s own campaign city. For the sake in a Dark Champions “format,” the Asylum could ex- of story (and to try to appeal to as many genres as possible), “Fell’s ist in Dark Champions, Horror Hero, and/or Champi- Point” is assumed to exist simultaneously in Dark Champions, ons. Champions, and Horror Hero. 2: The Asylum, Dr. Shreiver, and Sally Anne Robinson, Crusader’s lover, were introduced in Underworld Enemies. The events in the (D) New Bedlam Asylum employs many rules and New Bedlam Asylum take place after the events in Underworld En- clarifications provided in the Ultimate Mentalist, and emies have run their course; Crusader (Sam Saunders) is dead and can be used as a potential setting for GMs running his murderer either punished or running free in the depths of the psychic campaigns. Underworld. Although New Bedlam Asylum is the second in a series that elabo- rates on events and characters established in Underworld Enemies, 1 As a final note, the Asylum itself does not have GMs and players do not need Underworld Enemies to use this a proper name; this is done for a reason. If the lack of book. New Bedlam Asylum stands on its own, providing a cam- a specific name disturbs either the GM or players, give paign setting, foes and adventures for Champions, Dark Champi- it one. ons, and/or Horror Hero.