[center][h2] ♖ Jack of Spades [color=black]♠[/color] Starting the Game ♖ [/h2][/center]

Strange Epics with immense power breaking into the city and going about their business here. And the High remained silent. And yet there were strange stories from across the city, incidents of the High supposedly directly interfering in affairs. With a rumble like thunder, the wheels were slowly beginning to spin. It was clear that things were going to change. The order that had existed up until now, the seemingly untouchable hierarchy, was being challenged. And if the ivory tower of the High's power crumbled, then Epic City might well crumble with it. But could there truly be other Epics out there in the world, who possessed the power to challenge the High? Were the wastelands concealing such a power?

Grinning, Nikitovich sat in his office. Just what was going on? He was dying to know. But what was for certain was that this was his chance, to make his own claim for the throne. Two great dogs were fighting, and while they were distracted, he would walk away with the bone. Steal it right from under their noses. Those who cannot win through power must win through subterfuge, through wit. And soon, this entire city would belong to him.

First, he reviewed his troops. Those normal, unpowered humans, who had chosen to accept his 'enhancements'. Some had taken the trial run and then returned to their normal lives. Some hadn't been able to resist the temptation of the power, and returned to him like an addict to a dealer. Others had taken his offer because of the money, pay they wouldn't be able to get elsewhere. Currently, they were being trained to be 'heroes'. Soldiers, really. How to use their powers, how to fight. Specialised training. Soon he would have a complete 'first wave' of super soldiers, ready to do his bidding. Originally this first wave had been intended as little more than a trial run, to test how well his 'networks' would work when inscribed onto humans. But with events spiralling so rapidly out of control, there was no doubt he would need to proceed to more serious tests. He would need to update his schedule....

As he looked through the list of names and powers, he considered the roles each of them would serve. He had made sure to evaluate them on their mental and emotional stability, as well as their determination and talent. A few had been eliminated from the lineup as being simply not skilled or stable enough to function on his team. Those that remained were showing more progress than he had hoped. The people of Epic City were more relaxed than anywhere else in the world, but Nikitovich had chosen those normals who had come from the outside. Those who knew what a life of danger was like. Once someone had had a taste of danger, once they had known weakness and peril, it became far easier to acclimate them to the life of a soldier. Soon, they would be Team Epsilon, a new faction of supers. A 'brand' for his army, an 'ideal' he could work through to influence the city. To take it over, from the inside.

[hider=Superhero List]
[b]Achilles[/b]
Real Name - Daniel Norik
Disposition - Determined to save his little brother, Falco Norik. Beginning to have heroic aspirations.
Ability - Negates impact damage from physical attacks, slightly enhanced strength/speed
Skill - Moderate hand-to-hand skill, brawler, no experience with firearms or blades. Good endurance, good willpower, follows orders. Below average charisma, low self-confidence.
Equipment - Light armour, metal 'spartan' theme. With training, a weapon may be added.
Role - Melee powerhouse, distraction.

[b]Dusk[/b]
Real Name - Pieter Moss
Disposition - Quiet and contemplative. Idealist. Wants to change the city's social structure.
Ability - Capable of manipulating ambient light levels to make areas darker or brighter. Significant precision. With focus, he is able to fire beams of concentrated light, but this uses up a lot of energy.
Skill - Good hand-to-hand skills and firearm knowledge. Former soldier. Handles himself well in a fight. Occasionally unruly. May be bad in a team situation. Good stealth.
Equipment - Nightvision goggles, moderate armour, assault rifle, silenced sidearm, combat knife.
Role - Battlefield control and ranged combat support, stealth team with Blademaster

[b]Emblem[/b]
Real Name - Junn-Si Midoka
Disposition - Friendly and active. Glory hound, enticed by the money and power. 
Ability - Flight and superhuman strength. Mildly superhuman durability. 
Skill - Clumsy and uncoordinated, but possesses significant natural strength and durability. High charisma, works well with others. No skill with firearms.
Equipment - Bright red uniform, moderate armour.
Role - Team leader and melee powerhouse

[b]Blademaster[/b]
Real Name - Maria Stint
Disposition - Quiet, but fierce. Has a problem with Freaks. Mildly bound to a vague 'code of honour'.
Ability - Superhuman spatial sense extending out for 10m. Can 'feel' anything within that area with supreme precision. Dense materials may decrease the range of sensing. Low power requirement.
Skill - Very high skill with the sword. No aptitude for firearms, but plenty of combat experience. Doesn't communicate well, and doesn't work particularly well in a team. Good stealth abilities.
Equipment - Specialised ceramic blade, light armour
Role - Melee finisher, stealth team with Blacklight.

[b]Inferno[/b]
Real Name - Misha Tray
Disposition - Hotheaded, impulsive, brave. Dangerous, but loyal and useful. Strong heroic allusions.
Ability - Capable of manipulating heat. Can control flaming gasses within 10m. Immune to her own flames.
Skill - Good aim, bad at close-quarters combat. Surprisingly quick reflexes. Respects authority, but gets over-exited. Works well socially, but may cause friction within the team.
Equipment - Moderate armour, small gas tanks.
[/hider]

But, even as he won the hearts and minds of the city, he would need to prepare for more drastic action. After all, war was brewing, and he was not so optimistic as to think he could merely sit on the sidelines. One of the two sides, at some point, would notice his preparations, and would try to either recruit or destroy him. As such, he needed to be fully prepared for either situation. His current base of operation was a fancy mansion and a 'normie' appartment building. The first as his personal home, the second as the future base of Epsilon. However, he would require an extensive power source, and more advanced equipment. While such things were technically available within Epic City, it would be quite difficult to acquire them without attracting attention. This meant an expedition to the outside, to the contacts Nikitovich still had in the nearby surviving areas. 

He would have to send Achilles and Blademaster. They weren't the best duo, but both of them had been on the outside for a while. And they wouldn't be missed much here in the city. He needed Emblem and Inferno to build up reputations, to attract attention. They were supposed to be flashy, and fancy. And while Blacklight was well suited for the task, Nikitovich simply couldn't spare him. After all, Blacklight was his most reliable way of... removing... his enemies. And there were plenty of obstacles he needed dealing with before Achilles and Blademaster were to return from their trip.

Now, the pieces had been placed. The game was about to commence...