CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE Authors Steven S. Long and Darren Watts Dedication Editing and Development Although there are two authors listed Steven S. Long on the cover of this book, the Cham- pions Universe has developed organi- Layout and Graphic Design cally over the course of three decades Fred Hicks as the product of dozens of creative Cover Art minds. So we’d like to dedicate this book Brian & Brendon Fraim to Steve Peterson, George MacDonald, Interior Art Ray Greer, Bruce Harlick, Scott Bennie, Brett Barkley, Storn Cook, Keith Curtis, Kevin Dinapoli, Scott Heine, Steve Perrin, Brian & Brendon Fraim, John Grigni, Sam Kennedy, James Nguyen, Andrew Robinson, Dean Shomshak, Klaus Scherwinski, and Jason Williford Glenn Thain, Allen Thomas, Allen Varney, And From Cryptic Studios Mark Williams, the creative team at Aléjandro Garza, Joshua Guglielmo, Cryptic Studios, and everyone else who’s Chris Legaspi, and Imario Susilo contributed to the creation of this rich, Cartography fascinating setting. Keith Curtis HERO System™® is DOJ, Inc.’s trademark for its roleplaying system. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form HERO System Copyright © 1984, 1989, 2002, 2009 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, reserved. recording, or computerization, or by any information storage and Champions, DarkSample Champions, and all associated characters © 1981-2009 Cryptic Studios, Inc. All retrieval system, without permission infile writing from the Publisher: rights reserved. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. DOJ, Inc., 226 E. 54th Street, #605, New York, NY 10022-48541. “Champions” and “Dark Champions” are used under license from Cryptic Studios, Inc. Printed in the USA. First printing May 2010. Fantasy Hero Copyright © 2003 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Produced and distributed by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. Pulp Hero Copyright © 2005 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Stock Number: DOJHERO1102 Star Hero, Justice Inc., Danger International, and Western Hero Copyright © 2002 by DOJ, Inc. ISBN Number: 978-1-58366-127-7 d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. http://www.herogames.com/ TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................... 5 CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER ONE WORLDS UPON WORLDS: WHO’S WHO GIANTS WALK AMONG US: THE MULTIVERSE OF IN THE CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE A HISTORY OF SUPERHUMANITY THE CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE SIGNIFICANT SUPERHUMAN THREATS ............. 110 SUPERHUMANS AROUND THE WORLD ............... 70 Dark Seraph And The Crowns Of Krim ........... 110 A HISTORY OF SUPERHEROES .............................. 8 THE UNITED STATES ......................................... 70 Doctor Destroyer .......................................... 111 THE EARLY COSTUMED ADVENTURERS ................ 8 American Heroes ........................................... 70 Firewing ...................................................... 111 THE MODERN AGE OF SUPERHEROES BEGINS ... 10 Villainous Agencies ........................................ 73 Gravitar ....................................................... 112 The Defenders Of Justice ............................... 11 CANADA........................................................... 74 Grond ......................................................... 112 Istvatha V’han .............................................. 113 World War II .................................................. 11 MEXICO............................................................ 75 Kinematik .................................................... 113 THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES .................................. 13 SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE THE SEVENTIES ................................................ 14 King Cobra .................................................. 113 CARIBBEAN ...................................................... 76 ................................................... 114 THE EIGHTIES ................................................... 15 Mechanon EUROPE ........................................................... 77 Menton ....................................................... 114 THE NINETIES ................................................... 15 The British Isles ............................................. 78 The Slug ..................................................... 115 THE MODERN DAY ............................................ 16 France .......................................................... 79 Sunburst ..................................................... 115 CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE TIMELINE ...................... 18 Germany ....................................................... 79 Takofanes, The Undying Lord ....................... 115 Russia ........................................................... 79 Teleios ........................................................ 116 CHAPTER TWO AFRICA ............................................................ 80 The Warlord ................................................ 117 BEING SUPERHUMAN: WESTERN ASIA ................................................. 81 Dr. Yin Wu ................................................... 117 India ............................................................. 82 OTHER MAJOR THREATS ................................. 117 SUPERHUMANITY IN THE EASTERN ASIA .................................................. 82 ORGANIZATIONS: THE GOOD GUYS .................. 122 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA ................................. 83 L’INSTITUT THOTH .......................................... 122 DEFINING “SUPERHUMAN” ................................ 32 MILLENNIUM CITY .............................................. 84 THE STAR*GUARD ........................................... 123 THE EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF SUPERPOWERS 33 VIBORA BAY ....................................................... 90 THE TRISMEGISTUS COUNCIL .......................... 124 SOURCES OF SUPERPOWERS ............................ 33 HIDDEN LANDS AND ANCIENT SECRETS ............ 93 UNTIL ............................................................. 125 SUPERHUMAN DEMOGRAPHICS ........................ 34 ATLANTIS ......................................................... 93 ORGANIZATIONS: THE BAD GUYS .................... 127 THE SUPERHUMAN WORLD ............................... 38 ARCADIA AND THE EMPYREANS ........................ 97 ARGENT ......................................................... 127 BURNING SANDS, NEW MEXICO ...................... 100 THE CIRCLE OF THE SCARLET MOON .............. 128 CHAPTER THREE THE CITY OF THAAR ........................................ 100 DEMON .......................................................... 128 POWERS LEMURIA ........................................................ 101 EUROSTAR ..................................................... 129 AND SUPERPOWERS: MONSTER ISLAND .......................................... 103 THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN ADVANCEMENT .... 130 SUPERHUMANS AND SOCIETY BEYOND EARTH: OUTER SPACE AND ALIEN LIFE 104 PSI ................................................................. 130 THE SOLAR SYSTEM ....................................... 104 VIPER ............................................................. 131 SUPERHUMANS AND GOVERNMENT .................. 40 BEYOND SOL: ALIEN LIFE ............................... 104 THE UNITED STATES ......................................... 40 REALMS BEYOND: OTHER DIMENSIONS .......... 107 CHAPTER SIX The Department Of Superhuman And Paranormal Affairs ........................................................... 41 GAMING The Department Of Defense ........................... 42 IN THE CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE The Department Of Justice ............................. 45 CHAMPIONS UNIVERSE CAMPAIGNING............. 134 ............................................................ 48 NASA CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS ....... 134 OTHER GOVERNMENTS ..................................... 48 CAMPAIGN OPTIONS ....................................... 134 SUPERHUMANS AND THE LAW .......................... 50 THE GAMEMASTER’S VAULT ............................. 137 SUPERHUMANS AND THE MEDIA ....................... 54 CHAPTER ONE ................................................ 137 BROADCAST MEDIA .......................................... 54 CHAPTER TWO ............................................... 137 PRINT MEDIA .................................................... 54 CHAPTER THREE ............................................. 138 ENTERTAINMENT .............................................. 55 CHAPTER FOUR .............................................. 142 THE INTERNET .................................................. 56 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................ 152 SUPERHUMANS AND TECHNOLOGY ................... 57 APPENDIX......................................................... 162 SUPERHUMANS AND SUBCULTURES .................. 60 THE CHAMPIONS ............................................ 162 THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL WORLD ............. 60 Defender .................................................. 162 THE ESPIONAGE WORLD ................................... 61 Ironclad.................................................... 165 THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORLD ..................... 61 Kinetik ..................................................... 167 THE MARTIAL WORLD ....................................... 62 Sapphire .................................................