[M&M] Blood of Emeralds

[Avner]

Game Name Blood of Emeralds

Game System Mutants and Masterminds

Theme 3e M&M, Modified Emerald City Setting

Flavour Dark Superhero Setting, Big Heroes, Twisted Villains

Plot Summary Game style New players are welcome. This is a story focused game that expects players who are willing to contribute to a group narrative. There will be a pace of 1-2 DM posts a week depending on life which should give everyone the opportunity to provide high quality posts each week. Crushed in Emerald Goodbye Yellow Brick Road The only light left on the strip was that of muted streetlights that seemed to struggle to permeate through the darkness around them. The echo of hard steps on the yellow bricks seemed not to have the same trouble as the announced the dark figure slowly approaching down a small alley behind one of the shops. "Dear, dear, dear.... now what are you so afraid of?" the man said as he approached a weeping girl hidden behind a dumpster. She wore a bright outfit of blue and rd spandex. It probably had some stars somewhere the man assumed as he approached. These supposed heroes did love their stars almost as much as he loved their nightmares. They were so succulent to the palette. The things they had seen seemed to let their imaginations go wild. It was delicious. "I’m not going to hurt you my dear. I am merely a spectator, just like so many at my shows before. This time however we can watch together. My assistant will help you... just open your mind." A dark shadow with large teeth seemed to float out from behind the well dressed man. It floated over to her wrapping itself around constructing her tightly as the man closed the final distance. "Now let’s see... what is you’re greatest fear?" he asked as he touched her temple with his wand. Immediately a pack of flying monkeys materialized above them screaming and screeching as they approached. "Really? That’s the best you have...? Why would you even live here? That is so tired..." he said as he looked up at the shadow creatures. "Come Midnight, let them have her... she isn’t worth the effort." he said as he turned and walked away with the shadow creature in toe. The screams of the fallen hero known as Americagram’s screams echoed through the darkness. When they found her the next morning she looked as if she had been attacked by a wild animal. The detective on the seen noticed however that her face was contorted in fear not pain hinting to the true cause of her death. What happened to their parents? What happened to their parents? Inherent powers, magical objects, experiments, immense training, they all can give someone something that makes them more, more than human. Their parents died, their planet blew up, their planet blew up and then their new parents died... it is a vicious and cruel cycle. There is no such thing as a happy origin story. It is only through some prolific tragedy that a hero is born, a profound call for justice, a wrong to be righted or a grievous moment of clarity, It is At that moment they take on their responsibility to influence change and make things better, it is at hat moment of great loss and reflection, that a hero is born. There are those however that tread the other path… those who succumb to their primal desires. Yes, there could be a profound tragedy in their life that puts them down a path of vengeance. There could be some great wrong that was done to them that they wish to enact on the world, but they also could just thirst for something. A desire for more... more power, more influence, more money, an unquenchable thirst for whatever they don't have. Perhaps they have some other profane base instinct that stirs them on, but all it takes is a little push. The heroes are quickly realizing their outnumbered and if they are going to save the city it will be too much to act alone. Take back the Night You are one such hero, so things aren’t looking so good for your parents, in fact they are probably dead. Something has recently happened to call you out of your ambiguity and to bring you into the fight. It is a fight that recently has gotten more intense as a group of villains seems to be picking off heroes one by one. No one knows how or why or even if it is a diversion to turn your eyes away from something bigger. What they do know is that people are dying and someone needs to do something about it. Emerald City   The City Emerald City is located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States near the Atlas Mountain range, a quiet, humble neighbor of Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland. Founded on Malory Bay, it’s been best-known to fishermen (by trade and by hobby) and lumberjacks through most of its history. The anglers and all others who venture there find a cosmopolitan place, befitting a gateway to the Far East, including a large, old, and influential Asian population who sought refuge from other, increasingly exclusionary, areas of the Pacific Northwest during the late 1800s. A century later, Emerald City is still graced by a large Eastern District and a “Jadetown” area sizable enough to rival San Francisco’s Chinatown. Today, first-time visitors are greeted by twin giants: one a monument of God’s creation, and the other of man’s. The dormant volcanic peak of Mount Stanley has framed the city skyline from the start, and in 1968 was joined by the Emerald Tower, looming impressively towards the heavens In the last two decades, Emerald City has grown almost exponentially, becoming a true boomtown. The city proper is quite large, surrounded by a number of expanding suburbs and bedroom communities. Driving this growth was industries fueled by the tech boom including the establishment of MarsTech, Inc. (MSTI on the New York Stock Exchange) by the flamboyant plutocrat and techno-wizard Maximilian Mars. As MarsTech and other high-tech companies flourished, so did Emerald City, transforming the once-sleepy burgh into a leading center for the computer industry and other high-technology businesses.   The Moore Act A ban passed by the national government in Freedom City called for the ban of all costumed superheros. This lead to a period where the only heroes willing to take to the streets were those willing to bend the rules of law to enact justice. Anti-heroes and Vigilantes swelled in numbers and to match their ferocity the Villains became more and more violent. The Moore Act was quickly repealed but has left a scar that was felt over the entire nation. It is often used as evidence that a vigilantes and those operating outside of the law could escalate crime if they don't follow a code. The Tech Boom For years, things in Emerald City were stable, dependable. Sure, times were tough when the lumber and paper industries took a hit, and again when fishing and farming suffered, but they got better when the tech boom arrived, and companies like MarsTech, USNet, and Brande Management brought new jobs and new opportunities. The Increased economy began to bring in more and more people and the city once again began to thrive. Then the Silver Storm hit. The Silver Storm The “Silver Storm” explosion tears Emerald City’s facade of normalcy and unleashes a flood of dangerous super-criminals and monsters. This one incident upsets the delicate balance and changes everything. What was once a beautiful city has now become a warzone for those who choose to use their powers for their own whim, and those who choose to use them for the greater good. MarsTech Emerald City came out of its late-’80s and early-’90s economic slump by successfully transitioning to a high-technology center. Spurring this growth was the establishment of MarsTech, Inc. (MSTI on the New York Stock Exchange) by the flamboyant plutocrat and techno-wizard Maximillian Mars. After MarsTech set up shop in Emerald and flourished, other high-tech companies followed it there, transforming the once-sleepy burgh into a leading center for information technology and other cutting edge businesses. MarsTech specializes in computers, computer software, and various kinds of mobile and Internet technologies. What sets the company apart in a crowded field is how quickly its tech gadgets “learn” and adapt to its users’ needs. Customers have to come to rely on MarsTech products lasting through several upgrades, remaining state of the art for modest cost. Typically, a MarsTech device remains technologically viable three times longer than its competitors, and the company has built up a tremendous customer brand loyalty because of it. Since the Silver Storm Marstech has been selling implants to superpowered civilians to help them surpress their powers and keep things under control. For many this voluntary control device has been a blessing and currently there is no political push to have them become manatatory or for supers to get registered. The previous result of the Moore Act prevents anyone to want to politically tie themselves to such a thing.. Most have blindly trusted Marstech without question but it is clear that they are highly interested in the Silver Storm and have also begun some activity at Mt. Stanley and the Elysian mountains that has been kept very secretive. Their press releases and conferences on the matter have been quite vague as well, but the city generally gives them wide birth.   Known Villains at Large Nightmare Tom and Touch of Midnight The villain known as Nightmare Tom is one of the most infamous in Emerald City. Once a stage magician who had failed tremendously and actually entertaining a crowd he took to studying the occult. It is said he maid some sort of pact with an occult creature that granted him the power to feed off of others nightmres, The Keeper Once known as scientist Garret Greene the former employee of The Armstrong Institute for Geological Research has been transformed into a natural creature of destruction. It is believed he was performing a Marstech funded research project in the Elysian Firest when the storm hit causing him to somehow bind with an ancient forest spirit with an inate hatred for the industrial world. The monster seems to drain the life from its victims and cause match destruction with its large limbs, Frozenheart Johnny once was a normal midwestern patriot who served in the US military faithfully for many years. He had a wife and family and was considered the ideal citizen until an acident left him trapped in the artic. Having his body plummeted to subzero temperatures he was quickly put in stasis and brought to a Marstech facility for an experimental procedure. They were able to sace his life using some subterran technology but there were some serious side effects. Johnny not only gained the ability to control moisture and create a sheen of ice around his body but he also lost all connection with his emotional psyche. Unable to think of anything more than logically he abandoned his family and lost all value for the life of others. The military tried to put him under survaillence but he escaped and has since disregarded all law enforcement and succomb to a life of villany. Nighthawk Mason was a Beta Meta and pilot in the Aerial Navy consiting of many of the various airships that had been build to compensate for the Atlanteans crippling their navy and making them unusable. During one of his missions he was captured by a SHADOW agent known as the alchemist who experimented on Beshkno and nearly killed him. He was brought back to the states where some of the best scientist and doctors were brought to work on him. Seeing him as a desperate case he was offered a clinical trial where they would use some of the newly discovered dark matter to graft a cybernetic alloy to his body to help keep him alive. Because it was a military operation they alloy was grafted into a flight suit for use in combat. The procedure not only saved Beshkno but it gave him enhanced abilities. He had full control over the flight suit and seemed to have the enhanced strength required to maintain it, but it came with a cost. The darkmatter used was actually a Thullan agent that seemed to takeover his conscious turning him into the darkest version of himelf. Now he operates under the alias Nighthawk working for the highest bidder on the black market. Scarz Sarz is perhaps one of the most mundane of the criminals at large, but no one knows if that is more or less terrifying. He has no known superpowers but his highly trained in combat and expecially skilled with a blade. He gets his name from his appearance because he gives himself a scar each time he takes a life. Far from sane Scarz is a notable threat in Emerald City. Lady Astrid Lady Astrid is believed to have ties to some sort of demi-plane of gods where she recieved her natural 'goddess-like' abilities. There are not many who can stand up against here as she is a trained warrior and has demi-god strength and prowess. She takes what she wants and expects those beneath her to worship her, which to her is everyone. She gets a particular thrill at 'watching the ants squirm'. Aspect Not much is known about the Villain known as Aspect other than he is the former member of a highly secretive Council of Magi in Europe that excommunicated them from their order due to something he had done. Aspect uses ancient artifacts and weapons that he crafted combining magic with machinary and is one of the most dangerous, and expensive, bountyhunters in the world. Stormers Stormers is a common name used to reference anyone who got their powers in the Silver Storm, specifically those who are unexpected metahumans who act in an immature or rookie way. Not all the powers gained from the Silver Storm would good and some of them ripped the recepient out of their lives or even killed them. Some though made healers, heroes, and activists showing that there are two sides to every coin. Your Character You can use the 3e Mutants and Masterminds official books or the SRD. Name: This is your characters given name Alias: Every good superhero has a cool name Description: Please provide and image of your hero along with a brief description of them and let me know their signature stye, mannurisms, what makes them look like them. Age: How old are they Personality: Give me a feel of your character' personality quirks Greatest Fear: This is fore role playing purposes down the line. Origin: How did you get your powers? There is most likely a tragic orgin story with your character of why they became a hero, but that may or may not be the same as how you got your powers. Did they come from space, a lab experiment, the Silver Storm? There are plenty of options so make it cool. Powers: We will be starting at PL10 and advancing from there as the game moves forward. No Time travel or mind reading powers and any variable powers must be clearly defined. If you have questions please ask. Background: Now this is your origin story. What happened to yoru character to lead them to this moment? How did they decide to become a hero? Please keep in mind that I keep saying the word HERO for a reason. You are not a killer, vengeance demon, or some other former of moraly corrupt character. It is expected that your character has a heroic code and understands that ultimate violence will only escalate things as happened during the implementation of the Moore act. Writing Sample: You hero is somehoe connected to one of the Villains mentioned at large and it did not go well. Please write a small few paragraph post about how it all went down. I am looking to see how you will roleplay your character in the game in this sample. They do not need to be fighting the villain, they can be dealing with the aftermath, someone who works for them, or anything else you can think of, be creative. Deadline for Applications is Valentines day 2/14!

[Avner]

Character Applications

Name	Character	Concept	Villain Connection	Final Review
GleefulNihilism	Countdown	Pre-cognitive Seizure Detective	Black Tom	Complete
Brian	Stutter Step	Speed/Probability Leech Speedster	Scarz	Complete
Hiruma Kohaku	Agent Specter	Limbo Summoner Investigator	Black Tom	Complete
XQbito	Hellion	Holy Warrior with interdimensional arsenal	Lady Astrid/ Firebreath	Complete
Drachenspirit	Raveness	Legacy Psi-Angel vigilante	Aspect	Complete
Hound	Heavy Hitter	Good hearted cereal loving Goth Paragon Half-Alien	Lady Astrid	Complete
Solid Snek	Carnevale Fantasma	Medici Magician	Aspect	Complete
Attitude	Hard Core	Duplocating Powerhouse	Lady Astrid	Complete
Ihinka	The Highlander	Fallen goddess of Love	Scarz	Complete
Sir Swindle	Mr. Universe	A regular guy with Universe of heroes living within	Scarz	Complete
Nightshade	Alpha Centuria	Cosmic Paragon with questionable genetics	TBD	Withdrawn
Phettberg	Shrapnel	Mousey Living metal Terminator	The Keeper	Complete
Tahril	Cathode	MarsTech Scientist turned Cyborg	Nighthawk	Complete
Acathala	The Arachnid	Genious scientist web-slinger spider hybrid	Frozenheart	Complete
Draidden	Landshark	Human Were-Bulette earth based hero	The Keeper	Complete
PalladiaMors	Living Dead Girl	Former Mystic hereo turned Undead Vigilante	Black Tom	Complete

Applications are now closed and under review for final selections.

[Nightshade]

Dare I say it? Super-interested!

I just need to finish up another app and I will get started on this one.

[MrKinister]

Avner, you are running? From what I remember, you liked darker, more gritty characters.

I shall certainly be reading along.

[Avner]

Hi McKinster! You might recognize the villain in the intro he was inspired by one of my previous characters in your game. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what people come up with. It I do tend to lean to characters with some texture to them.

[Nightshade]

After rereading the game background I really like the darker feeling you have going Avner and that the players are the prey Heroes.

[GleefulNihilism]

Interested, just sent Anver a question about a possible character idea.

[GleefulNihilism]

Okay, might be a wee bit excited.

The Man of the Hour Name: Ben Kelly, formerly Lance Corporal Benjamin Kelly then Special Agent Benjamin Kelly. Alias: Countdown Description: If a movie were made about this he'd probably be played by David Boreanaz, but not fresh and young. He's clearly seen some horrible things in his day and seems to border on PTSD. He looks like he's trying to keep his hair short and he's trying to keep cleanshaven but he often forgets. Due to the nature of his power he doesn't have much of a costume. Mostly just jeans, work boots, and a flak jacket over a t-shirt. But then he hits what he's nicknamed his Hour of Power and everything changes. Not so much in his clothing, but his bearing and posture. Gone is the man whose life is falling apart, in his place is a man who carries with him a terrifying set of skills and who is determined to use them to complete the mission. During his Hour of Power, he has Purpose again and it feels good. Age: Early 30's. Personality: Ex-Military and Ex-FBI, the self-discipline shows but it's clear that he's seen too much. Sometimes he gets that faraway look like he's lost inside his own memories and trying to process the things he's seen. He's not completely helpless, but he's just lost his job and now he's got this weird power that traumatizes him a bit every time it happens. But then it happens. Then he hits his Hour of Power and his personality completely changes. Laser focus, invincible confidence, the certainty of someone who has no doubt that they're doing the right thing. Something is happening out there, a horror and a tragedy with lives on the line and someone has to stand up or people are going to die - and to that he only has one thing to say. Start the Clock. Greatest Fear: Fear and Ben Kelly are old buddies and he has experience overcoming Fear. That said, he fears that this is all in his head, that he's just losing his mind somewhere and there's nothing he can do about it. He's also afraid that no matter what he does nothing will make up for the things he's done in his Special Ops days. Origin: Unknown. While in training exercises with the FBI Ben disappeared mysteriously from the training center for 24 hours, then was found comatose. He woke up two weeks later with no memory of any of the events involved. There is a new scar on the back of his head of unexplained origins but suggestive of the idea that during those 24 hours he was missing someone operated on his brain. A sufficiently advanced medical scanner may discover that there's *something* lodged in his brain, whatever it is if it's technology its centuries more advanced then anything else out there and *might* be alien in origin. Powers: Ben Kelly does have a power now, he didn't pick it, he isn't sure he particularly wants it, and he has absolutely no control over it. Ben Kelly will, usually about once a day, have a violent seizure with little to no warning. During this seizure he will receive visions, sometimes just still images and sometimes events playing out like memories. He has discovered the hard way that the visions he sees are actually Precognitive Flashes of events that will occur *exactly* 1 Hour in the future after he regains consciousness if not prevented. No more, no less. It's at the point where he bought a watch with a countdown timer on it, always for exactly 1 Hour. The hour between a precognitive seizure and the actual event in question he's taken to calling his Hour of Power. The rest of his "powers" are simply training and experience. The thing is that Ben Kelly was a Marine, did some morally questionable Special Forces work, and when discharged became an FBI agent. As such the training and experience he has are rather extensive, and in many ways rather impressive. Or terrifying, depending on the skill and if you're on the receiving end. Background: When Ben Kelly was a kid he was the class bully, until his father found out. The old man was a cop, not a child psychologist, so he did the best he could do to break his son of that. Mostly watching a bunch of old westerns together and talking about it, but whatever it was it worked. In High School, Ben Kelly wasn't the most academic of his peers but by then he had a finely tuned hatred of bullies. After graduating, Ben joined the Marines. Did good too, probably would have gone further if he'd been willing to play ball but he didn't like bullies even if they were on his own side. Some bits of his Military career are classified, Special Ops but he was honorably discharged a Lance Corporal which he used to apply for the FBI. Then Special Agent Ben Kelly became one of his own cases. While at a Training Seminar Ben Kelly vanished mysteriously. Found exactly 24 hours later in a nearby hotel room comatose, he finally woke up a few weeks later describing a dream where an Arizona state senator was assassinated. One was, in fact - one hour *after* he woke up. Ever since then Ben Kelly has been officially diagnosed as an Epileptic, and as such he's been put on Administrative Leave. Nothing personal, the FBI just isn't in the habit of putting epileptics out in the field especially if the medication doesn't seem to help. Ben Kelly now has a seizure almost every day - and during which he gets Precognitive visions, of events of horror and tragedy with exactly 1 hour to prevent them. It's the official opinion of the US government that Ben Kelly is slowly losing his mind, but in some hallways sometimes you hear whispers of something else... Start the Clock Goodbye Yellow Brick Road The only light left on the strip was that of muted streetlights that seemed to struggle to permeate through the darkness around them. The echo of hard steps on the yellow bricks seemed not to have the same trouble as the announced the dark figure slowly approaching down a small alley behind one of the shops. "Dear, dear, dear.... now what are you so afraid of?" the man said as he approached a weeping girl hidden behind a dumpster. She wore a bright outfit of blue and rd spandex. It probably had some stars somewhere the man assumed as he approached. These supposed heroes did love their stars almost as much as he loved their nightmares. They were so succulent to the palette. The things they had seen seemed to let their imaginations go wild. It was delicious. "I’m not going to hurt you my dear. I am merely a spectator, just like so many at my shows before. This time however we can watch together. My assistant will help you... just open your mind." A dark shadow with large teeth seemed to float out from behind the well dressed man. It floated over to her wrapping itself around constructing her tightly as the man closed the final distance. "Now let’s see... what is you’re greatest fear?" he asked as he touched her temple with his wand. Immediately a pack of flying monkeys materialized above them screaming and screeching as they approached. "Really? That’s the best you have...? Why would you even live here? That is so tired..." he said as he looked up at the shadow creatures. "Come Midnight, let them have her... she isn’t worth the effort." he said as he turned and walked away with the shadow creature in toe. The screams of the fallen hero known as Americagram’s screams echoed through the darkness. Ben Kelly woke up on the floor of that liquor store, and until that moment had thought about becoming an alcoholic. Had to be more fun then it looked from the outside, right? Otherwise why would so many people choose that path. Not to mention the pills didn't work, maybe booze would have better luck. But then it came, and he came too on the floor of that shop. Out of instinct he rushedly pushes a button on his watch. Start the Clock. "Buddy? You alright?" A fair question, Ben's seen it in his eyes when he's caught his reflection. They look different. Like he has a purpose. Time is ticking, whoever that kid was they die screaming in an hour. "I will be. Thanks." "You sure, I could call an Ambulance if you need it." Take a breath, and think. Yellow Brick Row. Alright, so he has a rough idea of the place. Problem was that just the main stretch was 8 blocks and it wound around. That meant, what - 16 square blocks to cover? Might be doable if he got lucky but he'd need a way to narrow it down. The killer he recognized, that Nightmare Tom character. The girl he didn't. Not going to be much help there either. 56 Minutes. "I'm fine, it happens." Ben grunts, pulling a bluetooth out of a pocket and putting it in his ear. Yeah, it happens. He steps outside, turns toward his apartment and some proper gear. Shouldn't take long, he picked this liquor store because it was only a 10 minute walk from his place. He starts to run as he presses a button. 55 Minutes. "Dial Lee." "Hey, Ben. How's it going? Are you - oh, ****." "Clock is Ticking, Lee. I need some intel. New Super, Teenage Girl. Red and Blue Costume. Very new." "You know I can get in trouble for just talking to you." "Nightmare Tom kills her in 53 Minutes, Lee." "...Crap. Look, officially there's nobody, but -" "52 Minutes." "There is a Teenage Metahuman whose Instagramming entry-level low-risk Superhero activity. Nothing illegal. Flight and Energy Blasts. Calls herself Americagram." "Any recent activity on the account?" he grunts, getting into the parking for his place and heading straight for the car. Some gear in the back seat as he starts it up. "Let me check - None, but previous posts suggest she'll be active tonight." "Watch the account and try to get in contact. Yellow Brick Row, I'm en route." It's not a great plan, traffic in Emerald City isn't good this time of day. Still, he can start going around the outside. It's taking to long though, the Traffic too think. He'll have to go on foot. "No luck on contact, but I got activity on the account. A picture, she's eating chinese food from a rooftop." 14 minutes. "How many of those on Yellow Brick Row?" "Let me check. I got 3. They're spread pretty far apart." "Address of the first." He burns 3 minutes getting there, seeing the dumpster is enough to rule it out. Looks nothing like the one in his vision, overflowing with food from the Chinese place and a few other restaurants as well. Wait - the Dumpster in the vision, it was mostly empty... "Next one." "3 blocks south, other side of the street." "What's next to it? Any other restaurants?" "What? Ah - yeah a Cheesecake Factory and a Movie Theater-" "Stop, the third one. Address. And what's next to it." "Um, next to number 3 - looks like a curioso shop on one side and an electronics store on the other." Perfect. He starts running. It's on the other side of the Yellow Brick Row, hell of a gamble but it all fits. Just need to catch one little break, come on. 2 Minutes left. No time to go around, he starts barging through the restaurant and leaps the counter. He can hear the Nightmare bastard through the door - so close - "Really? That’s the best you have...? Why would you even live here? That is so tired..." No time to think, just explode out that back door - pull his piece from the shoulder holster and tries to put two in the center of mass. For the record, he didn't think it would actually put down Nightmare Tom. But it might slow him down, piss him off, make him sloppy. He didn't have to win the fight, just had to last long enough for the kid to get away. Nightmare Tom vs Ben Kelly in the last minute of his Hour of Power? "How about you Try to Scare someone who isn't in Diapers, *****tain." "Excuse you, do you know who -" Ben didn't give him the chance to finish that sentence, it was probably going to be pretentious garbage anyway. Instead he just raised the piece and tried to put two more shots in Nightmare Tom's head to match the two that should be lodged in his torso. He doesn't know the story behind why it's not working, in the moment he tries not to care. Instead he just pulls a survival knife and charges... Zero. What happens next just seems to come in flashes and starts. Ben's not sure if he genuinely doesn't remember it or if he just doesn't want to. He just knows that it's never taken that much courage to peep open one of his eyes before. Hospital Room. The lights are out, but Agent Leandra "Lee" Welch was sitting in the seat next to his hospital bed anyway. Ben didn't know for sure but he'd be willing to bet money there were a couple more agents outside the door. "I got kids. You know that fake sleeping doesn't work on me." "Lee. How's the desk treating you?" he grunts, starting to get up to leave of course. "Ben - you need to lie down." "The hell I do." "Ben, the Kid didn't make it." He stops, like a punch in the gut. She keeps talking. "Far as the EMTs could tell Nightmare Tom scared her so bad her heart gave out. We're pretty sure he got to you too, only reason you're alive is Backup got to you before Nightmare Tom got done." "All the more reason to get out there. I put four bullets in him, I know I did." "Ben - shut up and lay down. You were almost literally scared-to-death. You need time to heal. Word is coming up from on-high. They're now thinking they'll move you to a desk, but they really want to keep you on." "Oh, what a load of -" "BEN, you SAW the FUTURE. We didn't get Nightmare Tom but we got Scans, we got Video - rumor has it they might have even got a Blood Sample. DNA, Ben. You *Got* him, just a matter of time and manpower now." "That's not how it works, Lee. I tried just telling people what's going to happen, it doesn't work even if they do believe. Maybe it's a Time thing, I don't know. I just know that if something is going to change I have to be out there. I have to set the events in motion myself or it doesn't work." "Jesus, Ben." "Lee - Thanks. For everything." he gets up and starts to head out toward the door to his room. Starts, but then he feels another seizure coming on so he lays back down and puts his hand over his watch, getting ready to Start The Clock.

 

A Lost Memory "I have to thank you, Lieutenant Colonel. The girl, her fears so boring and she broke so easily. You - at least your fears are interesting. You're lasting longer too, long enough that I can savor this for once." a voice said in the dark. Might be all in Ben's head, he doesn't know that part. "If the plan is to talk me to death, it's working." he grunts, trying to act like he's not afraid out of sheer spite. He doubted it was working, but Spite is a powerful motivator. "Oh, am I boring you? Then how about something to mix things up a bit. Everyone you've ever killed and at least suspected didn't deserve it. You can try to justify it with 'it was War' or something like that, but we'll know better. Won't we?" Silence, as the shadowy ooze that's hardened into a straight-jacket gets tighter - but then something unexpected starts happening. Ben Kelly - starts laughing. Blood drips from his lips from the previous torture but the smile is unmistakable as his lungs try to give up the noise. "What? Why are you laughing?" "You really want to know Tom? All this time you spend figuring out people's fears - you really thought nobody would figure out yours?" "This should be interesting. Go ahead then, what am I afraid of?" "What did you tell her? That's you're a Spectator? That's pretty close to the truth, isn't it? You're a Voyeur. Not some sort of Archivist or Researcher or Explorer or whatever the f#$% you consider yourself. You're afraid that as much as you build yourself in your head that you're really just some Peeping Tom Pervert who does this to Get Off. You're too afraid to admit it - but we'll know better. Won't we?" "Shut Up. You have no idea." Black Tom growls, slapping Ben across the face. Which of course makes him laugh harder. "Come on, from over here it's so obvious. You've got tentacles allover a teenage girl *right now*. And you're afraid that when someone finally does get around to putting you down you'll be remembered like Gacy in his Clown Suit if you're lucky." "SHUT UP!" Ben Kelly paid for those with what came next, but some small part of him only thought two words. Worth It.

[DoubleL1987]

Colour me interested as well

[MrKinister]

Originally Posted by Avner

Hi McKinster! You might recognize the villain in the intro he was inspired by one of my previous characters in your game. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what people come up with. It I do tend to lean to characters with some texture to them.

Yes, the image looks familiar. I don't remember your character's name, but I do remember him showing up at a firefight in a Hawaiian shirt once. We all had a good chuckle.

[GleefulNihilism]

Oh, comments and critique welcome.

[Brian]

I'm interested, reading the source material now.

[XQbitor]

Color me interested as well. Time to dust off the old heroes.

@GleefulNihilism: I've always loved your heroic character concepts and this one is no exception

[Avner]

Nice to see you XQibtor looking forward to seeing what you come up with as well.

Welcome to the site Brian! Nice to see someone willing to jump in. Please feel free to ask questions if you have them. The M&M community here is very supportive of each other.

[Anael]

It’s been awhile for an M&M game for me. Let me see what I can come
up with.