You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies. -Attributed to Oscar Wilde
It's been three years since the first superpowers manifested. There was no one event or root cause, it just all seemed to happen at once. Bizarre accidents, scientific breakthroughs, even rediscoveries of forgotten occult lore- suddenly people all over the world were demonstrating abilities beyond the reach of normal humans. The majority of these people simply wanted to be left alone. Others found that their new abilities were in demand from various business interests. And of course, some donned masks and began to protect the innocent and enforce the law.
There were plenty, however, who chose to walk a darker path. They used their powers at the costs of others, committing crimes or acts of terrorism. Maybe their motives were simply profit, or perhaps extremism in religion or politics, or perhaps something else altogether. On the whole, though, these people were called supervillains.
And you are one of them.
Not that anyone really keeps track of these things, but most people would agree you've done a pretty good job as a supervillain. You're known, perhaps not respected but you've built a solid reputation. And, of course, you made a persistent enemy in your local superhero. So often, when you stand on the cusp of success, along comes this same “cape” to ruin everything. Your fights always attract enormous attention, and the two of you have come to see your enmity as more than a crimefighter stopping a criminal- it's a private war, a grudge match. Something personal.
So imagine your shock when you wake up one morning and see your archenemy on the news yet again, this time being announced as a founding member of what the media has taken to calling “The Coalition”. Thirteen of the United States' premier superheroes are now setting up as a team in the city of St. Louis, Missouri (chosen for the symbolic and practical reason that it's almost exactly in the center of the country, not to mention attractive tax incentives). With some discomfort, you realize The Coalition may actually have the resources and manpower to permanently put an end to your career. Something has to be done.
And once again you are surprised to receive a first-class ticket to St. Louis, as well as careful instructions for a clandestine meeting. Someone else has recognized the threat presented by The Coalition. And who better to oppose thirteen superheroes than a group made up of thirteen of their bitterest and most personal enemies?
Welcome to Nemesis 13.
Each of you will pick one of the members of The Coalition and create a villainous character in response to them. This is your perpetual foe, someone you have been fighting for some time. That doesn't mean your abilities, skills, or personality should be perfect matches for one another- perhaps you're opposites in every way. Just as an example, Bane and the Joker are both considered to be archenemies of Batman, but they're very different characters indeed. Just remember, you've got a past with this hero. Maybe you were friends at one point, maybe you're total strangers who've only ever met when fighting one another. The point being, you and the hero you pick go back, so choose carefully!
A note, the information on each hero is just what's known to the general public and is intended more to give you an idea of who they are than be an exhaustive guide- you'll notice your character sheet is much more detailed. If you require more information that you think your character would have access to, PM me and I'll happily oblige you.
Name: Durga
City of Operation: New York City, New York
Identity: Public (Priya Chatterjee)
Powers/ Abilities: Durga is able to lift approximately two tons, can grow up to six fully functional arms, and possesses master-level skill in Indian martial arts.
Notes: Priya Chatterjee was a social worker for the city of New York who very suddenly developed powers and spontaneously gained mastery of several martial arts. She claims to have been visited in her dreams by the avatar of the Goddess Durga, who empowered her in order to fight against earthly corruption and evil. This unverified origin has been the subject of extreme controversy within the Hindu community in particular and the press in general- the theological implications alone are staggering. Nevertheless, Durga has proven to be a competent and respected hero, known for devoting as much time to community and charity work as she does to fighting criminals. She is currently the unofficial leader of The Coalition.
Name: Night Terror
City of Operation: Miami, Florida
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Night Terror possesses no superhuman abilities. However, he is an expert martial artist and uses several esoteric and high-tech weapons, most notably a gas that temporarily paralyzes those who inhale it. He he is clearly a talented strategist as well.
Notes: Night Terror is relatively new on the superhero scene, but has already garnered a solid reputation both in Miami and nationally. A hooded figure in a skull mask, he has declared a one-man war on Miami's drug trade and met substantial success- there is a standing ten million dollar bounty on his head from the local kingpins. Notably, Night Terror is one of the few superheroes who is willing to use lethal force, though only in extreme cases.
Name: Cherry Bomb
City of Operation: San Diego, California
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Cherry Bomb can generate small globes of an unknown form of energy in the palm of her hand and then project them at targets. They can hit with variable amounts of force- enough to explode with the force of a hand grenade, or simply enough to knock the wind out of a man.
Notes: Cherry Bomb has given several interviews, but never without her Goth-inspired costume or mask. Facts are scarce, but she has admitted to being a nineteen-year-old college student and acknowledges her heroics as a form of rebellion. Cherry Bomb gained national attention when she was caught on video shielding a child from gunfire with her own body, an act that has often been held up as a standard for superheroes everywhere to meet. A media darling, the press has taken to calling her “the heart of The Coalition”.
Name: The Scholar
City of Operation: Detroit, Michigan
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: The Scholar has publicly claimed to have an IQ of 300, and displays tremendous engineering skills. He usually wears a robotic exoskeleton fitted with energy weapons into combat.
Notes: Painfully shy and lacking social skills, The Scholar nevertheless displays a tremendous aptitude for engineering- vehicles, computers, directed energy weapons, robotics. Refusing numerous offers of employment from various companies, The Scholar seems quite content to use his incredible inventions solely for superheroics rather than seek patents. His special interest in the Arab-American population of the Detroit area has fueled speculation that he is among their number (his battle armor completely conceals him, making it impossible to tell his ethnicity).
Name: Damselfly
City of Operation: Chicago, Illinois
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Damselfly has a large set of insectoid wings protruding from her back, similar to her namesake. These allow her to fly at speeds of up to 250 MPH and great maneuverability, even to the point of being able to hover in place. These wings can be retracted inside her body with no harm to her.
Notes: Damselfly is the newest superhero on the team (though of course she has been operating long enough to make a serious enemy). As yet, she lacks even a real costume or weaponry, instead wearing street clothes and disguising her identity through the simple yet effective expedient of a painter's mask. Her inexperience and somewhat limited powers have been controversial- some have accused The Coalition of practicing tokenism or some kind of affirmative action by recruiting an East Asian female like Damselfly over a more powerful or more experienced superhero. Although The Coalition is as yet untested, several voices have criticized the young woman as being the weak link of the team.
Name: Professor ESP
City of Operation: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Identity: Public (Ezra Stanton Powell)
Powers/ Abilities: Professor ESP posseses the abilities of telepathy, astral projection, and a limited form of psychokinesis- he can lift or manipulate small objects, but nothing heavier than five pounds or so.
Notes: A professor of neuropsychology at the prestigious Duke University, Ezra Stanton Powell's experiments on the limits of the human brain eventually led him to develop psychic powers. Dubbed Professor ESP by the media, he used his new abilities to publicly expose political corruption and white-collar crime, which he considers more likely to do lasting good than taking on violent street-level criminals. ESP is known for his irritable personality and heavy drinking, both of which in the past have caused minor scandals.
Name: Stand-Up Guy
City of Operation: Cleveland, Ohio
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Stand-Up Guy has no superhuman abilities. However, he is a skilled detective and has a reliable network of informants, snitches, and contacts that help him in his fight against crime. Should that fail, he's also a talented boxer and makes use of a shotgun loaded with beanbag rounds in combat.
Notes: A heavily built and muscular man wearing a smiley face mask, Stand-Up Guy has become something of a blue-collar champion to the people of Cleveland. With patient detective work and building a support base, he has taken down crooked politicians, mob bosses, corrupt union officials- anyone who hurts the common people is an enemy of his. He's not terribly well-liked by the local police (he's put a few of the dirtier cops behind bars), but The Coalition are quick to laud his honesty and integrity.
Name: The Golden One
City of Operation: Seattle, Washington
Identity: Public (Max Cotto)
Powers/ Abilities: Max wears a golden suit of armor that has been magically enchanted to provide an odd mix of powers. Obviously, it protects him from harm, able to deflect bullets or cushion severe blows. While wearing it, he has the strength of three men and may also turn invisible. The suit can inspire fear in his enemies and courage in his allies. However, the enchantment comes with a caveat- should The Golden One behave in a cowardly or selfish fashion while wearing the suit, it will become inert and Max will no longer be able to wear it.
Notes: Max Cotto, the scion of a Sephardic Jewish family that made a vast fortune through real estate, was known as something of an eccentric, devoting his time to the study of the occult and traveling the world in search of magical artifacts. Finally, in the catacombs of Odessa, he found an ancient suit of armor that fit him perfectly. He returned to Seattle and began to use the armor to fight evil, partially out of a sense of justice but mostly for the fun of it. At the moment, the Cotto family fortune is one of The Coalition's main sources of funding.
Name: Mixtape
City of Operation: Nashville, Tennessee
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Mixtape has the ability to manipulate pre-existing sounds- he can control their volume, pitch, and intensity. For example, he can turn a small, simple sound like the clapping of hands into a disorienting and painful wall of sound.
Notes: Mixtape is known primarily for his flamboyant and grandstanding public persona- he's one of the few superheroes to actually wear a cape, and frequently makes hammy and long-winded speeches about justice (often amplified in volume by his powers). Opinions on him are split as a result. However, he does enjoy an excellent relationship with his city and seems to have some business savvy. There are licensed Mixtape comics and action figures, with talks of an animated series up in the air. The logos of several companies festoon his uniform as well. Somehow, despite his public exposure, Mixtape has managed to keep his identity hidden from the world.
Name: Mister Redline
City of Operation: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Identity: Public (Joaquin Torres)
Powers/ Abilities: Mister Redline has the ubiquitous ability of superhuman speed and reflexes. Able to run at speeds of up to 500 MPH and stop on a dime, he can also speed up his perception to the point that the world seems to be moving in slow motion to him.
Notes: A Formula One driver, Joaquin Torres nearly ended his career in a fiery wreck. However, not only did he walk away unscathed but he also found he now had the power to easily outrun any of the vehicles he might have driven. Cocky and confident, he began using his speed to cover the immense area of the Metroplex in regular circuits, stopping his vigil only to help those in need- or sign autographs. Mister Redline has also gone on record saying he should be in charge of The Coalition instead of Durga, but so far nothing has come of this potential power struggle.
Name: Sonja the Stupendous
City of Operation: Las Vegas, Nevada
Identity: Public (Sonja Simpson)
Powers/ Abilities: A magic user, Sonja prefers to stick to the type of tricks you might see at a particularly good magic act- pulling items from her sleeve, disappearing in a puff of smoke, catching bullets, and so on. With Sonja, it's no sleight-of-hand or trickery, though- it's real magic.
Notes: Taught to use magic by her grandmother, a practicing witch, Sonja Simpson launched an entertainment career in Las Vegas with her simple but effective demonstrations of real magic. Following pressure from her agent to do something bigger, as well as pressure from the magical community to use her skills for something more worthwhile, Sonja began the crime-fighting thing between shows at the Mirage. One of the best examples of a celebrity superhero, Sonja the Stupendous enjoys public recognition both as an entertainer and part-time crimefighter. It's rumored she's in talks to produce and star in a reality TV show about The Coalition.
Name: Joe Magarac
City of Operation: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Identity: Public (Joseph O'Dell)
Powers/ Abilities: Joe Magarac is a man of living steel. His metal body is extremely difficult to damage and grants him tremendous strength, able to lift up to fifty tons. He no longer requires food or water to function.
Notes: Joseph O'Dell was a none-too-bright common laborer in the famous Pittsburgh steel mills. Falling into a crucible of molten metal one day, his horrified coworkers assumed the worst- until Joe climbed out, his entire body somehow transformed into steel. Though the metamorphosis robbed him of the ability to speak, the strength and durability he had gained more than compensated for the loss. This simple but good-hearted man began using his immense might to help others, fighting crime and preventing disaster in and around Pittsburgh. He was named Joe Magarac after a Pittsburgh legend of a incredibly strong steelworker by that name. With his great power and sincere desire to help others, Joe was an excellent choice to join The Coalition as their muscle.
Name: Sixgun
City of Operation: Phoenix, Arizona
Identity: Secret
Powers/ Abilities: Sixgun has no powers. He instead relies on a practiced quickdraw and superb marksmanship with twin .45 revolvers, and occasionally a .45-70 lever-action rifle. His lesser weapons include a Bowie knife, lariat, and his own two fists.
Notes: A throwback to a bygone era, this modern-day cowboy doesn't talk much and keeps his identity carefully hidden behind an old-fashioned bandanna mask. He frequently clashes with the various gangs of Phoenix, taking on men with automatic weapons with only his revolvers and his wits. Some pundits are alarmed by the frequency with which his opponents end up dead, while others defend Sixgun's willingness to kill as a necessity given the dangerous people he faces off against. It remains to be seen which attitude will be prevalent in The Coalition.
Please make a note of which hero is your nemesis, just so we can keep things nice and tidy.
Please post your CS under the CS tab for review. A character sheet posted in the OOC will not be approved.
Name: What your villain goes by professionally.
Identity: Your real legal name, and whether or not this is known to the general public.
City of Operation: What city your character is based out of- this should match up with your nemesis.
Appearance: A detailed description or picture is fine. No anime, please. Also, some people were physically altered by gaining superpowers, so don't be afraid to get creative here!
Age: Your character's age.
Gender: Your gender.
Superpowers: You are not required to have superpowers- in fact, you might have more fun if you don't! If you have magical or other abilities, describe them here. Please be detailed about your abilities and their limits/ requirements. I'll accept virtually any power as long as it's internally consistent (no changing how it works just to get out of a jam) and not too OP. Use your best judgment for that last one- a superstrong character who can lift a car is totally fine, a superstrong character who can lift the moon is not. Basically, others should be able to realistically pose a challenge to you, and powers should have some kind of cost.
Skills/ Talents: What are things you know how to do? Are you an expert martial artist? A speaker of five languages? This is the space for things you have learned how to do through practice and experience.
Equipment: What does your character normally carry? Weapons, supplies, communications equipment, armor, vehicles, that sort of thing. For mystical or high-tech stuff, please refer to the superpowers rule in terms of what it can and can't do.
Weaknesses: Everyone should have a few of these, particularly if they have superpowers. It can be something that physically harms them (like kryptonite for Superman, or silver for werebeasts), or maybe a character flaw (for example, they tend to rush into things without a plan), or conditions that prevent the use of their powers. Maybe certain things cause them emotional distress, maybe they lack certain useful skills or resources.
Psyche: What makes your character tick? How do they view the world and people around them, and how does this make them react to things. No one's perfect, even heroes are capable of greed, pride, and other vices.
History: I don't need more than one or two paragraphs here, but the more detail the better.
This is an RP for mature players. There is fighting, violence, swearing, player characters can be killed or badly injured.
Respect one another, be civil with disagreements and conduct them in the OOC.
As GM, my word is law, though I am happy to discuss things with you. I wish to be fair, so please tell me if you think I am failing at that.
Please post as often as you are able to! I have no posting minimum or maximum, I only ask you try to avoid creating difficulties with one another by posting too much or too little.
@Polyphemus I was thinking of making an arms dealer type character, kind of like Tony Stark if he went to the dark side. Would that be cool or would I need to think of something else?
Sounds like an interesting concept, I can't see any flaws with it. I'm working on the OOC at the moment, so once that's up you might be able to better judge whether or not it'll work.
What kind of heros and powers could we be expecting?
Good question. Generally speaking I'm trying to keep the power level a bit lower, as I don't want things to go to ludicrous planet-destroying extremes. Powers come from a variety of sources- magic, superscience, mutation, even mythology. Several heroes on the team don't even have superpowers, just extraordinary discipline and skill.
The heroes will be pretty varied. For instance, the team is led by one of New York City's premier heroines, who has been empowered to fight evil by a Hindu goddess. Her second-in-command is a Miami-based man with no powers who instead relies on high-tech weaponry, careful strategy, and stealth to combat the drug trade in his city. Their abilities and outlooks are very different, and their enemies should differ accordingly.
I've had a few questions about whether this is a Marvel or a DC game. It is neither, this is an original universe. All the superheroes are my creation, the villains will be yours.
It's an original universe, so no prior knowledge is needed. All the superheroes are my personal creations. I only brought up DC and Marvel characters as examples.
