The Bad Guys

by James Thomson
Copyright 2004© James Thomson

Some artwork by Tony Perna, taken from Superhero Image Portfolios 1.3 and 1.5. copyright © Louis Porter, Jr. Design
www.lpjdesign.com/DevilsWorkshop/ImagePortfolio

Some artwork by Jason Watson, taken from Fantasy Image Portfolio 1.4 copyright © Louis Porter, Jr. Design www.lpjdesign.com/DevilsWorkshop/ImagePortfolio

Some artwork copyright © 2003, V. Shane

Some artwork copyright © Christopher Shy taken from World of Ronin Arts: Character Portfolio Three. Used with permission. Visit the artist’s website at
www.studio.com and the publisher’s site at
www.roninarts.com.

Some artwork copyright © Samuel Araya taken from World of Ronin Arts: Character Portfolio Four. Used with permission. Visit the artist’s website at
www.paintagram.com or http://samael.epilogue.net and the publisher’s site at
www.roninarts.com.

Some artwork taken from Character Portraits: Fantasy Heroes ©2003 Mongoose Publishing.

Some artwork © 2004 Brian Eggleston

Special thanks to Paul and Johnny Davis, for all their invaluable assistance.

Requires the Mutants & Masterminds RPG by Green Ronin Publishing For Use. Villain Points are Product Identity of Green Ronin Publishing and are used with permission.
Mutants & Masterminds, M&M Superlink, the M&M Superlink logo, and Green Ronin are also trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing and are also used with permission.
 Table of Contents
Introduction---------------------------4 Vernichtung 5--------------------------------62 Executive Solution F--------------------------141
Using This Book-------------------------4 Der Totenkopf-----------------------------------65 Executive Solution Y--------------------------144
The Moebius Man-------------------------------67 Jim Flint, Agent 12----------------------------147
The Campaign World----------------4 Blitzenhammer----------------------------------69 Zelma Zimmer---------------------------------150
New Feats and Powers----------------5 Zyclon B------------------------------------------72 Mr Smith----------------------------------------151
Chapter 1: Minor Threats------6 Der Shreik----------------------------------------74 Jim Flint’s Bodyguards----------------------152
Sicko the Clown-----------------------------------6 Mother Moebius---------------------------------76 Appendix A: Villains by PL-----------------------153
Big John--------------------------------------------9 The Corpus Christi Good-Time Boys--78 Index-----------------------------------------------154
Doctor Shock-------------------------------------11 Johnny Black------------------------------------81
Mano del Muerte--------------------------------13 Cimarron Starr--------------------------------84
Chapter 2: Moderate Threats-15 Grease Monkey---------------------------------85
Broken Arrow-----------------------------------15 Doctor Destructor------------------------------ 88
U-Go-Grrrl---------------------------------------18 The Texas Twister------------------------------89
The Unicorn--------------------------------------19 Mr. Fist------------------------------------------- 91
Vampire Girl-------------------------------------21 The Lone Star Lady----------------------------93
Wolf-Dog------------------------------------------24 Jim Dandy----------------------------------------95
God-------------------------------------------------27 Boy Howdy-------------------------------------- 96
Helen Damnation--------------------------------30 The Four Deuces----------------------------97
Chapter 3: Major Threats-----33 Double Deuce---------------------------------- 101
Ace of Wounds---------------------------------104
The Snow Queen--------------------------------33
Lady Deuce-------------------------------------107
Black Thunder-----------------------------------36
Diamond Deuce--------------------------------111
The Death Angel--------------------------------40
The Steel Deuce--------------------------------113
Doctor Moloch, Phd----------------------------43
Bones---------------------------------------------117
Azeraphel, the Screaming Angel-------------45
The Hammer of Doom-------------------------47 Executive Solutions----------------------121
Captain Valiant----------------------------------50 Executive Solution D--------------------------124
Executive Solution M-------------------------128
Chapter 4: Teams-------------------------53 Executive Solution Z--------------------------130
The Nowhere Men--------------------------53 Executive Solution X--------------------------132
Woodchuck Man--------------------------------56 Executive Solution R--------------------------135
The Ratcatcher----------------------------------58 Executive Solution Q-------------------------139
Grim Diddle--------------------------------------60
 Introduction
A compendium of every sort of crime and combat, and a brief sample adventure or two. of character descriptions don’t specify exactly how
wickedness, this book contains more than fifty of the A word on using heavy villains. When it comes much lethal force the NPC should use in combat. It
most gloriously evil (or tragically misunderstood) to Power Levels, M&M is more like the D20 system talks a lot about whether or not a given villain might
supervillains in history. From cackling arch-fiends to than it is like most of the point-based superhero take hostages, endanger innocents, use torture and so
sneering street thugs, if you want scum in capes— games you may be used to. In a lot of superhero forth, but tends not to say much about whether they
we’ve got ‘em! This volume holds enough goons, games, a group of medium level PCs can take down would kill an opponent in combat, because that
creeps, crooks, monsters, madmen and maniacs to a single high-level villain without all that much should be up to the GM. And it should depend on
trouble your players for months on end. A veritable difficulty. In these games, an NPC opponent usually the kind of game they want to run.
smorgasbord of crime, where the sneeze-guards of needs to be between twice and four times as If you are running a game that is relatively light
evil are always clean and the bacon bits of powerful as the heroes in order to really give them a in tone, then even characters with bloody pasts like
wickedness never run out! Includes more than one run for their money. M&M doesn’t work that way. Lady Deuce or the Hammer of Doom don’t have to
hundred separate adventure seeds that will let you Here the differences between Power Levels really try to kill the Player Characters. Being stone killers
start using these villains straight out of the box. matter. A PL 12 villain is significantly stronger than may be part of their back-story, but it doesn’t mean
Serving all your needs for crime at pennies on the a PL 10 hero, a PL 15 villain is a real challenge, and they have to kill somebody in this particular
dollar, no batteries are required (unless you’re a PL 20 villain really is a world-smashing menace. adventure. Lady Deuce is capable of throwing a
reading this on a laptop), and neither is any specific Throw a team of PL 10 Player Characters up against baby off the end of a pier, but that doesn’t mean she
campaign world—these super-scoundrels fit right in the boys from Executive Solutions en masse, and the has to spot a stroller down by the docks in every
anywhere! It’s time to don the bicycle helmet of opposition will decimate them. scenario. I want this material to be as useful to you
villainy and head-butt the smirking face of justice! To avoid getting chased down and pummeled by as possible, so I don’t want to restrict some NPCs to
your frustrated players, try and be aware of how “gritty” settings and others to “four-color”
tough campaigns. My own style is probably more
Using This Book the opposition is, and give the PCs tactical
advantages if you think they’ll need them. Your
influenced by Warren Ellis, Frank Miller and Grant
Morrison than it is by Kurt Busiek or Chris
The villains in this book are arranged by Power players are sure to appreciate it. There are few Claremont. I’m more of a pretentious oaf who
Level, rather than in alphabetic order. We start out gaming experiences more thrilling than spotting an thinks he’s Alan Moore than I am a pretentious oaf
with the least powerful villains and build our way up enemy that you know can beat the stuffing out of who thinks he’s Jack Kirby. But if you’re a four-
to the toughest ones. There’s an index in the back, in you, and then realizing that this time you have the color fanatic then I want you to be able to use this
case you need to look someone up alphabetically. drop on them. material too. If you think the Four Deuces are cool
After the individual villains, we have five A word about lethality might also be in order but you’re running a campaign modeled on the
supervillain teams for you, which are also organized here. A few of these villains (the Ratcatcher, the Powerpuff Girls, then keep their bloodiest deeds
in order of the level of challenge they provide, from Unicorn and Sicko the Clown, for example) try offstage.
the lowly Nowhere Men (intended for low-level scrupulously not to kill people. They won’t even use
teams and groups that like investigating mysteries) lethal force on the heroes who are trying to beat
up to the nation-toppling, hero-crushing mercenary them up. A few (like the poor insane Mano del
group called “Executive Solutions.” Each team Muerte) kill all the time—being homicidal is part of
comes with notes on how to get the most effective their character concept. But the remaining majority
use out of them, the kinds of tactics they use in
 concerns superheroes). Make no mistake, I love that appetite for crime, whatever unsavory form it might
The Campaign archetype—I’ve seen all the same James Bond
movies you have and I loved them just as much. But
take.

you really only need one or two of them for a

World campaign and you probably already have yours
picked out. I thought it would be better to give you
New Feats and Powers
We barely have any of these, either. In fact we
There isn’t one. I wrote these characters with the
intention of making them as easy as possible to drop something more useful. only have one.
into whatever campaign you want. The only There are a few places where for the sake of The lunatic celebrity supervillainess called U-Go-
common assumptions here are that superheroes exist atmosphere I have used the name of a secret British Grrl has a new feat called “Limited Immunity to
and that the campaign is set in the present day. Even military project that tried to build combat cyborgs Prosecution” which gives her a +3 bonus on any
then, most of the villains in this book can be adapted (Project Abbadon) or a US government contractor rolls made to evade getting arrested, arraigned,
to previous epochs with only a little work. I have that made some disastrous attempts to create super- served with a summons, convicted of a crime or in
included no secret history of the world, no single soldiers in the 1990s (the IF Foundation) but these any other way inconvenienced by the legal system. It
explanation of what superheroes are, when they names are just placeholders. Use them only if you also applies to any rolls a lawyer or other legal
appeared, or where they come from. We won’t learn don’t already have a secret project that builds representative might make on her behalf. This is a
who the gods are, what alien races rule our corner of cyborgs and supermen. purely defensive feat—it doesn’t make it easier for
the cosmos or what Secret Masters (if any) have There are also a few spots where one character’s her to sue people or have them arrested, just to keep
been manipulating mankind’s history from the back-story makes reference to another character, her from having to face the legal consequences of
beginning. Because the more I tell you about these particularly in the adventure seeds. Here too it’s just her actions.
things and the more tightly I tie these characters into for flavor and to make the characters seem more The reason I didn’t pack the book with new feats,
them, the more it will distort the shape of your vividly alive. Ignore these links or plug different skills and powers is roughly the same as my
campaign, shifting its focus away from your vision characters into them just as you like. You are under rationale for not building a campaign world. I’m
and toward my own. It’s better just to give you stuff no obligation to incorporate all of these villains into lazy as hell. By which I mean to say (ahem!) that I
that I know you can use. your campaign and I tried to set things up so that if want to make the GM’s life easier.
Because I chose this approach, you will see you’d like to just adopt a few, it wouldn’t disrupt I personally find it unpleasant when players come
relatively few world-conquering arch villains in this things. So, if for example the text says that Double up to me with new feats and powers that they’ve
book. Make no mistake, there are plenty of Deuce has hired the Snow Queen as muscle on a job, picked up from some supplement I haven’t read
powerful, dangerous high-level antagonists toward but you don’t like the Snow Queen, or some part of (always just before game time, when I can’t properly
the end—opponents who could give almost any her origin story conflicts with something in your study them) and I’d like to spare you the extra effort
superhero team a run for its money. But guys with campaign world, just substitute another high-level and annoyance. In addition, point-based superhero
names like “Doctor Apocalypse” or “Baron Von super-criminal with a reputation for games are notoriously prone to rules-creep and I
Annihilation”, (who always seem to be brooding in professionalism. It doesn’t even have to be someone want to contribute as little as possible to the growing
their powered armor with wine glasses held with ice powers. clutter.
thoughtfully aloft in one hand and a Brahms I’ll be producing another book of supervillains It’s so important to U-Go-Grrrl’s character
concerto playing on the phonograph) tend to really soon, so if you can find the time, let me know conception to have this extra feat that I didn’t see a
seriously change the shape of the campaign, shifting how well this approach works for you and I’ll bear it way around including it. Fortunately, it’s simple,
much of its focus toward the threat posed by their in mind while I’m putting “More Bad Guys” it’s low-powered and it’s OGL. Go ahead and use it
own huge vainglorious plans. They also tend to be together. Would you like characters who are even however you like in your own work. You paid for it.
tightly wired into the back-story, since you would more separate from one another? Would you feel
expect them to have a big effect on the course of more comfortable with a broader sense of
your world’s history (or at least the part that background? Don’t be shy--I’m here to serve your
 Chapter 1: Minor Threats
Unlucky (Something horrible will happen to him at
Sicko the Clown Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 18 (+4)
least once per adventure).

Int: 16 (+3) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 14 (+1) “Hey kids, it’s yer old pal Sicko th’
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): Clown! With all kinds of kooky, zany,
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +12 nutty, messed-up, painful, ghastly,
Defense: +23/+18 Speed: 35 horrid, wacky fun for all of you! Ha ha
Damage Save: +12 Fortitude Save: +4 heh heh hee hee ho hoo hoo ha!”
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +1
A wretched, drunken, self-loathing, glue-sniffing
Skills: Craft (Weird Clown Gizmos) +5, Hide +5, misfit clown. He’s an alienated, unhappy deviate
Intimidate +5, Performance +5 who steals women’s underwear, wallowing in his
Feats: All-Out Attack, Dodge, Improved Trip, perversity with frantic glee. He commits weird,
Power Attack, Rapid Healing, Startle, Stunning kinky and outrageous crimes for the sheer twisted
Attack, Surprise Attack, Takedown Attack, hell of it, and to get attention. He loves attention,
Toughness especially the negative kind.
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +8, Gadgets Sicko adores being a villain, a weirdo pervert
+8, Running +1 (Cost 2pts) freak, and plays it up at every opportunity. Yet he’s
much too self-conscious and theatrical to ever let his
Equipment: (Weapon, +8 Stunning Damage act get totally out of control. He won’t hit
Cost: 1pt), Dubious Clown Van (Vehicle; Size: superheroes with lethal force, and if he beats one he
Large; Movement: 6; Hardness: 6; Armor Bonus: 3; will always come up with an excuse to put them in
Features: Radio Reception), Revolting Pies (Energy some ridiculous, humiliating but easily escaped
Blast +8 Stunning Damage; Flaw: Device; Cost: death-trap rather than execute them on the spot.
1pt), Stanky Bombs, (Obscure +8; Flaw: Device; Even when drunk he would never willingly let an
Cost: 1pt) innocent come to harm. He is deeply ashamed of this
Weaknesses: Quirk: Loathsome drunken fact and tries hard to conceal it.
Real Name: Wendell "Butch" degenerate. For while he’s great at playing the role of a
Quirk: Crazed Clown Code (Can't knowingly do sinister perverted clown, under his makeup he’s kind
Blutarski anyone Lethal damage or allow an innocent to come of a fraud. He gets no kick from hurting people—he
PL: 8 to harm) just likes shocking them. The thrill he gets from
stealing panties is chiefly that it’s filthy and wrong. circumstances, as he feels that would be too scary for illegal transmitter from the back of his skanky clown
He gets hardly any joy out of wearing them, unless them. van. He shows vile cartoons and revolting puppet
of course someone catches him in the act. He’s not Unfortunately, Sicko’s drunkenness and drug shows and mocks everything good and decent.
even a real pedophile, despite sometimes making abuse make him dangerous to be around—not Just how obscene the leering clown gets on his
leering remarks to that effect (Note to the GM: try because he might lash out and do something savage, show is up to the GM. If your PCs would be
to keep this last affectation low-key enough so that it but because being wasted makes him sloppy and uncomfortable with a lot of swearing, then avoid it.
won’t get too disgusting for your players to handle. incompetent. He’s almost sure to kill an innocent Otherwise, feel free to make his show an utterly
Sicko shouldn’t hang around school playgrounds in a sooner or later through some drunken mistake. This outrageous torrent of filth.
raincoat—that would probably freak the PCs out too will no doubt drive him deeper into self-loathing It’s going to be tough to catch Sicko, since he
badly. But if he’s surrendering to a superhero he wretchedness, and make him even more prone to stays on the move while he’s broadcasting.
might say something like “I can never say no to misbehave. Unfortunately, one of the stations he’s interfering
anyone in a Boy Scout uniform!”) with has an owner with Mob connections, and he
If confronted with the fact that he isn’t nearly as Adventures With Sicko the Clown: doesn’t exactly dig the idea of some clown cutting in
evil as he pretends to be, Sicko will rave and protest on his action. The cops are also prone to overreact,
and make outrageous claims about what a revolting since a whole lot of them are also parents and have
degenerate he is (“No! No! I eat three kittens before 1) Another Triumph for Moral Decency caught their kids watching the show on the sly.
breakfast! I invented th’ Teletubbies! I had intimate Sicko the Clown attends a meeting of the Crusade Sicko may be in real danger soon.
carnal relations with Walt Disney’s pickled brain!”). for Moral Decency—after all, who could be more in To make matters worse, a supervillain from
need of moral decency than Sicko the Clown? He Texas named Cimarron Starr is in town, and she
will sneak backstage and put rude slides in the doesn’t like the way Sicko is interfering with her
Using Sicko the Clown in your speaker’s carousel, rewire the PA system to make soap operas. His unpatriotic tone also offends her,
campaign: As an opponent he is flashy and even ruder sounds and then finally, as the meeting as does the way he mocks televangelists. She is
distracting, constantly hurling sick jokes and comes close to dissolving in panicked chaos he’ll going to teach this clown to show more respect for
exploding pies full of panty hose and bondage attack whoever is speaking at the podium, pelting decent folks, and has no objection to killing him in
magazines, pausing to scribble rude graffiti on a wall them with sticky pies and foul insults until they run the process.
or to sniff some glue. But he’s a better tactician than for cover. He will then hold the audience hostage "Now sing along kids: 'Who's a twisted pervert
he pretends to be. He won’t interrupt a fight to do while he delivers a crazy, rambling, drunken lecture and who wears all your panties? S-I-C, K-Y-T, H-E-
something silly and vile unless he actually has a free on the topic of family values, mocking and C-L-O...' Ah th' heck with it, I gotta huff some more
moment. Otherwise he would get caught too fast and mutilating everything they hold dear, pausing only to glue..."
the show would end too soon. He’s always got an show more grody and ridiculous slides or to do more
escape plan or two, even though he doesn’t much drugs. Can no one stop this crazed clown of crime? 3) A Very Special Sicko the Clown Christmas
care whether he wins or loses the fight. He might Actually, the audience is going to do its best to Sicko the Clown is beginning to feel the
take a hostage, but if he does he’ll utter some try. After only a little of Sicko’s raving they are mad Christmas spirit upon him. He has taken to hanging
ridiculous threat like: “Stay back, or I’ll paint enough to rip him limb from limb, and by the time out at Santa Claus themed leather bars, with names
moustaches on the pictures of all this guy’s kids!” or the PCs arrive they may find that they have to save like “The North Pole” and “Kris Kringle’s Hidey
“Back off or I’ll tell Mrs. Happy Homemaker here Sicko from the Crusade for Moral Decency, rather Hole”—places where big dudes dressed like Santa
that Betty Crocker doesn’t really exist!” than the other way around. whip guys dressed up as reindeer and bellow “now
He may even attempt to take himself or his sock dash away, dash away, dash away all!” Joints
puppet hostage, just for laughs (“Back off or th’ where you can get a tattoo of a burning tannenbaum
clown gets it! No one will miss him, what’s one less 2) Hey Kids, It’s th’ Sicko the Clown Show! on your face at the bar, and the jukebox always
crummy clown in the world?”) Sicko the Clown gets his own Saturday morning seems to be playing “It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas.”
He’ll never take small children hostage under any TV show, by breaking into the carrier wave with an
 But then one sodden Christmas Eve, a guy that On Adolph, on Pukeface, on Pervert and Witless!
everyone calls “Jolly Old Saint Nick” gets busted by On Vomit, on Rat-Fink! On Stanky and Twisted!
the fuzz for selling crank and doing indecent things Hey wait a minute—it’s July! What the %$#@*!??
to a clothing store mannequin, just as he was about
to deliver a whole load of toys to a program across
town that the Hell’s Angels run for the orphaned
kids of outlaw bikers.
Sicko is seized with a sudden surge of drunken X-
mas spirit, and decides to save Christmas. Alas, his
sleazy clown van doesn’t run at the moment and his
tires are all in hock. But there’s a marvy-looking
sleigh hanging from the bar’s ceiling which might
actually be functional, and after Sicko delivers a
rousing drug-crazed rant about what a bastard Santa
Claus must be (“Poor kids izz often naughty, in
Santa’s book, but rich kids izz always nice. Izz juss
like my old clown Mama always used to say ‘Sicko’
she’d say, ‘get me my @#$%&*! Marlboros ya little
creep!’, which always reminds me of th’ spirit a th’
seezun…”) there are plenty of “reindeer” ready to
pull the sleigh across town.
He asks the red-nosed little alcoholic who dresses
up like Hitler: “Adolph, wit yer nose so bright, won’t
you guide my sleigh tonight?” And off they go, with
Adolph the red-nosed Hitler in the lead!
Of course, Sicko is a wanted criminal, and any
superhero who sees him riding in a sleigh covered
with obscene X-mas related graffiti drawn by eight
half-naked weirdoes in leather harnesses with fake
antlers on their heads will surely assume that clown
is up to something dreadful. I mean, wouldn’t you?
His motives are actually noble, for once, but his
pathology will never let him admit it to the PCs.
To complicate matters, a bigger, meaner
supervillain who Sicko has annoyed may show up
and try to spoil Christmas for everyone. Said villain
will somehow know all about Sicko’s secret good
intentions and will mock him loudly for them. This
should let the PCs know what’s really going on, and
not a moment too soon! Is there still time to save
Christmas?
 Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 20 (+5) leaving a trail of blood and destruction behind him.
Big John Int: 10 Wis: 8 (-1) Cha: 14 (+2)
Bumbling around without purpose or point, he hopes
to do as much damage as possible to the people he
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): hates before being gunned down by the cops or the
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 Army. Above all, he wants to draw attention to
himself and to his cause.
Defense: +16/+14 Speed: 30 He's a bully and a killer, aggressive and sadistic.
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +6 He loves to hit helpless people. He loves to
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +2 browbeat and intimidate his victims before crushing
them. He constantly wears a cruel, knowing smirk.
Skills: Intimidate +9, Spot +6, Taunt +5 Big John truly believes that the world is run by a
Feats: Chokehold, Great Fortitude, Heroic Surge, secret cabal of Jews and Freemasons, and he thinks
Improved Grapple, Iron Will you know it too. He's willing to engage in long,
scary conversations with people about his ideas,
Powers: Growth +9 (Extras: Shockwave, toying with them, letting them think he might not kill
Thunderclap; Power Stunt: Lethal Damage; Flaw: them if they can say the right thing.
Permanent; Cost: 7pts) In combat, he’s a ruthless and surprisingly
Weaknesses: Quirk: Murderous Bigot (Big cunning opponent. He takes hostages as often as he
John is incapable of working with members of other can, and tries to put himself in positions where
ethnic backgrounds and will attack them in shooting at him will cause a lot of collateral damage.
preference to all other targets, even if doing so puts He likes to use school busses for cover, he likes to
him at a tactical disadvantage) place himself in front of oil storage tanks or strip
malls crowded with shoppers. Kids aren’t safe from
him, old people aren’t safe from him, even his fellow
“What do I want? I want a white white people aren’t safe from him. While he tries to
America. You give me that, right now, focus his anger on minorities, gay people and
and I’ll surrender. What’s that? You everyone else he hates, Big John can always seem to
find an excuse to kill just about anybody.
say you can’t? Well then I guess I’ve As you might expect, he doesn't really fear death
just got to crush another hostage. You or expect to live much longer--guys who go on
better watch carefully this time, or I’m cross-country killing sprees seldom live to a ripe old
age (particularly if they're thirty feet tall and can't
gonna make it hurt a lot worse… Now hide anywhere). Yet he does fear both pain and
look at that--you see what you made me humiliation, and can be threatened with either.
do to that poor girl? You’re John was always big. He weighed 14 pounds at
birth, and was five feet tall by the time he was four
Real Name: John Wayne Stimple responsible for it, you know. You did years old. He towered over his teachers in school
PL: 9 this to her. Now let’s take it from the and his mother at home, which made them afraid of
top. Ask me what I want again.” him. So they beat him and terrorized him as much as
they could.
A crazed white supremacist giant on a rampage, By the time he was twelve John was seven feet
tall and a lot stronger than an ox. His mother pulled covers a much wider swath of territory. Big John
him out of school, banished him to the cellar and has been smashing his way across the upper Midwest
told him to stay out of the sight of decent people. Using Big John in your campaign: Big (or some other part of the country, far distant from
Instead of staying out of sight, he started hanging John has no intention of being taken alive, and is where the PCs live) for about a month now. He
around by the Mini Mart. He could easily pass for an probably a one-shot villain, who appears, goes on a seems to be able to suddenly vanish when
adult, so nobody questioned why he was there in the rampage, and then dies. However, if the PCs superheroes get too close. A Player Character gets
middle of the day. manage to capture him, he can become a recurrent called out of town to visit a frail and elderly relative
He found out about nazism from the public menace. He’ll escape custody if he gets a chance (or better yet, the frail and elderly relative of their
library and TV, although his mom had already told and start his bloody rampage all over again. While love interest). They have stopped at a diner or a rest
him that black people were evil. Throughout his he is vengeful and vindictive, his resources aren’t area near some train tracks, and the Player Character
adolescence he hung out with other kids who were really great enough for him to effectively hunt most finds themselves momentarily alone, outside. A
into the same stuff. His incredible size, strength and superheroes down (anyway he’s much too busy freight train rumbles past, and Big John bursts out of
cruelty made him a natural leader. The group of trying to smash stuff and go out in a blaze of glory) one of the cars, landing on the far side of the tracks
them set dogs on fire and put the eyes out of but if he encounters them again he will be pleased from the PC. As the train rumbles between them, the
squirrels and wished they could get their hands on a and will single them out for special punishment. giant marauder sees the PC, smiles sadistically and
black kid. They were known troublemakers, despised gestures to indicate that they should keep silent.
by decent folks and constantly hassled by the sheriff. Adventures With Big John: 1) Zero Day Perhaps he makes a threatening gesture in the
It always tickled John to think that while every adult One Saturday morning a maniac named Wilbur direction of the diner, or the PC’s love interest.
he had ever met felt the same way he did about Munce runs amok and starts shooting people in the Then John lumbers off to cause havoc somewhere
blacks and Jews, the fact that he wore a swastika on parking lot of a synagogue. He has a lot of hostages close by. How does the PC go after Big John
his shirt made them hate and fear him. and the cops are desperate enough to call the PCs in without blowing their secret identity? What will
By the time he was fifteen, John was twelve feet to stop him. Overcoming Munce is easy for a team they do about their obligations? How can they get in
tall and could no longer pass for a normal human. of superheroes, but when the cops look at his touch with the rest of the team and what cover story
Most of his friends were in juvie by then anyway. apartment they find his connection to the Purifiers’ will they use? Can the team even get here in time to
He retreated to his Mom’s basement and spent a lot web site. It is painfully clear that this group of white keep Big John from doing something awful? And
of time watching TV and surfing the web. supremacist psychopaths has at least one actual will the huge thug really take some kind of twisted
When he was twenty, he began exchanging e- parahuman in its ranks, and that he is about to go on revenge against the PC’s loved ones?
mail with an online hate group called the Purifiers. a rampage. Can our heroes stop Big John in time?
They were a kind of suicide club, constantly egging And come to think of it, why does he call himself
one another on to run amok in public, kill a bunch of “Big John”?
minorities and get gunned down by the cops. John is The PCs will arrive in John’s home town just
the third one to actually do it. slightly too late—he has already caved in his house
At the GM’s discretion, the other Purifiers may and walked off into the night. Now the PCs will
be a shabby collection of lunatics and halfwits, or have to fight a running cross-country battle, tracking
they may actually be a group of paranoid white John by the incidents he creates, to stop him before
supremacist superhumans, ready to tip over like a he does something horrendous. There is a small and
chain of firecrackers and wreak havoc all across the predominantly African-American grade school
country. John killed his mother and collapsed their directly in his path, about forty miles away.
house before he set out on his rampage, but his
computer’s hard drive is still salvageable, and who 2) Fast Train to Nowhere
knows what evidence it might contain? This scenario assumes that Big John’s rampage
 Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) watches his victims from a distance, then invades
Doctor Shock Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 6 (-2)
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee):
their homes while they sleep, leaving threatening
mash notes for them.
He mostly bothers deaf girls and can't understand
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +10 why they reject him. All deaf women must want
him--who else would have them? They're freaks,
Defense: +11/+9 Speed: 30 defectives, cruel accidents of nature, unlovable by
Damage Save: +5 Fortitude Save: +4 anyone. Surely they crave him and his hot electric
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +3 love!
After spying on and harassing a victim for a
Skills: Balance +8, Craft (Electronics) +8, Hide while, he'll sneak into her room while she sleeps and
+9, Jump +6, Move Silently +10, Open lock, +8, shock her awake with his electric caresses. Then
Profession (to be determined) +5, Read Lips +8 he'll go away, and come back to do it again the next
Feats: All-Out Attack, Dodge, Improved night. Someitmes it's hard for his victims to get
Initiative, Surprise Attack, Toughness anyone to believe what is happening, which adds
greatly to his relish. It also makes them more likely
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +3 (Extras: to turn to unconventional sources for help (the Player
Willpower, Reflexes: Cost: 3pts) Characters, for example).
Equipment: Armor +9 (Extra: Damage Field Doctor Shock has yet to kill or sexually assault
[electric], Paralysis [No Range]; Cost: 2pts), anyone (at least in the conventional sense) but who
Darkvision (Flaw: Device; Cost: 1pt), Detect knows what he might become capable of as he
Movement (Flaw: Device; Cost: 1pt), Immunity to explores his vice more deeply. He prefers not to get
Suffocation (Flaw: Device; Cost: 1pt) into direct confrontations with the authorities, but
Weaknesses: Disabled: Deaf (-4 Penalty to unlike the usual stereotype of a peeping Tom he is
Initiative, Cannot make Listen skill checks) no coward and although he has never fought a
superhero hand to hand he would find the prospect
Quirk: Depraved Complusive Deviate (can't stop thrilling. If the battle is going well, he may linger
harassing his victims even if it's obviously going to too long at the scene, unable to control his glee. He
get him into trouble). doesn't feel a lot of moral compunctions and
certainly wouldn't mind taking a hostage if it either
helps his chances of getting away or makes the
“All women crave the burning shock of situation more exciting.
my tender electric caresses. And soon Doctor Shock never speaks, but does leave copies
they’ll all know my touch.” of his "Electric Love Manifesto" lying around to
explain his motives. He is of course deaf himself.
Real Name: To be determined (see
A creepy little peeping Tom who complusively
description) harasses women. He likes electricity in deeply Using Doctor Shock in your
PL: 9 unhealthy ways and has built himself a "shock-suit" campaign: Dr. Shock probably won’t stand up to
to help satisfy his peculiar appetites. His Shock Suit an assault by a team of superheroes for long, so the
is designed to give out both massive jolts of key to using him right is to keep him offstage for as
electricity to others and exciting jolts to himself. He long as possible, letting the tension build and build
as the PCs match wits with him at a distance. He’s talk to the Player Character about this, but if they
really meant for creepy, atmospheric mysteries press her she tells them the whole story and shows
rather than for street brawls. We’ve left his identity them the evidence. And just in the nick of time! For
undetermined so that you can make this part of the Doctor Shock is about to move things up to the next
mystery—perhaps he turns out to be someone his stage.
victim (or the Player Characters) already knows, or
even someone who is helping them with the 2) School of Shock
investigation. Dr. Shock terrorizes the women’s dormitory in a
He could well be a one-shot villain who dies or large school for the deaf. He is already on his third
gets sent to prison forever after his rampage, but if victim by the time the Player Characters get called
he ever gets out again he’s going to build himself in.
another shock suit and go right back to doing what The first victim transferred out of the school
he loves. Or perhaps he’ll start stalking a PC’s loved when she found that no one would believe her stories
ones. about an electric marauder who abused her in the
dead of night, in her room, with her roommate asleep
Adventures With Doctor Shock: 1) on the next bed. When he started to harass a second
The Unfortunate Van Valkenburg Matter victim the school started treating it seriously, but
Doctor Shock torments a young deaf woman before they had a chance to involve the police the
named Miranda Van Valkenburg until she commits second girl feel down the stairs (perhaps by accident,
suicide. A friend of hers is the deaf cousin, sister, perhaps not) and wound up in the hospital,
girlfriend or other close female acquaintance of a unconscious. He has now transferred his affections
Player Character. She hadn’t seen Miranda in some to another student, although by the time the Player
time, and regrets it bitterly. While going through Characters learn about these events he hasn’t done
some of Miranda’s things, she finds her diary. There more than leave her threatening messages and a copy
are only a few entries from after Doctor Shock of his unsavory “Electric Love Manifesto.”
started terrorizing her—she was too upset to write It is possible that the Player Characters have been
very much. It seems clear from what little she did brought in as consultants, to resolve this matter
write that no one believed her, everyone thought she discreetly, but it’s almost more interesting if one of
was crazy or desperate for attention, so she decided them has instead been drawn in through their secret
to kill herself. identity—perhaps as a staff member, counselor,
In addition the diary, the PC’s friend finds a copy teacher or even a student at the school.
of the Electric Love Manifesto. She does not know We have left Doctor Shock’s identity unspecified
that Doctor Shock is watching her through the because that can be one of the most intriguing parts
window as she reads it, or that she is about to of the mystery. He is deaf, and he is somehow able
become his next victim. to open any locked door in the building. Is he the
The Doctor starts harassing her slowly and creepy janitor? A male student? A teacher? The
cruelly—letting her glimpse him outside her school psychologist? The headmaster? Some weird
window, leaving threatening notes. She doesn’t guy who lives across the street and has nothing to do
know what to do, no one will believe her, just like with the school? Do whatever would be most
they didn’t believe Miranda. She isn’t even sure that dramatic and scary.
she believes it herself. Initially she won’t want to
 Blast +9 (Extras: Damage Field, Subtle; Power thinks that people are asking him to sacrifice them to
Mano del Muerte Stunts: Pentetrating Attack x4; Cost: 4pts), Obscure
+5 (Flaw: Partial; Cost 1pt), Protection +9 (Cost:
the God of Blood, so that America can stay strong,
immune to foreign influences. He will go to some
2pts), Running +1 (Cost: 2pts) random location and ask the people he finds there if
Weaknesses: Disturbing (looks like a they want to be sacrificed for the Blood God's
mutilated ruin of a man, makes all Diplomacy and greater glory, that America might shine pure. They
Bluff checks at a -5) always answer yes, to his continual surprise (or at
Quirk: Paranoid schizophrenic (the Mano del least that's what he thinks they're saying) and
Muerte is dangerously out of touch with reality, although he hates to kill people, what choice does he
which leads him to make grave errors and do terrible have? Just think what would happen if he didn't kill
things) them! America overrun by foreigners, corrupted and
made to serve as a festering breeding pool for their
foreign influences, contaminating the rest of the
"America! Cruel goddess! I raise world with their foreingness! Before he kills them,
monuments of blood to slake your he asks the sacrifices where he should go next and
they always give him another address (or at least he
appetites, though it wounds my mind thinks they do).
and damns my soul." Mano del Muerte is sentimental about children
and cute things and cries a lot over his victims, both
A crazy, murderous, rampaging lunatic with before and after he kills them. He would never, ever
superhuman powers. He has somehow been cursed hurt a child or an animal and could be dissuaded
with the ability to kill with a touch or a glance, from taking a sacrifice if he thought a child might
Real Name: Ramon Ochoa rupturing blood vessels, melting flesh, causing see him do it. He has five kids of his own, back
PL: 9 spasms and convulsions. home in Bolivia, and he misses them terribly.
We don't know much about how he gained his Sometimes he gets one of them confused with some
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 18 (+4) powers or went mad. He served in the US Army, in child here in the states and will leave gifts for them
Int: 9 (-1) Wis: 6 (-2) Cha: 2 (–4) hopes of distinguishing himself enough to gain outside their window, or follow them down the street
citizenship, and may have been considered for some at night to make sure they're safe. Sometimes he
Initiative: +3 Attack Bonus (Melee): sort of superhuman combat unit. Some of his misunderstands a stranger's intentions toward "his"
+11 (+9L Damage Field) Attack Bonus records are classified, but it at least seems clear that child and kills them.
(Ranged): +12 Defense: +23/+19 Speed: he was discharged for psychological instability and
35 that he had some kind of trouble with his resident Using Mano del Muerte in your
alien status after that. Did he volunteer for some kind
Damage Save: +4/+6 (Evasion) Fortitude of dangerous experimental treatment, in hopes of campaign: Adventures with the Mano del
Save: +3 Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower becoming a citizen? Did it give him psychic powers? Muerte should always take place at night and the
Did it exacerbate his mental instability? Did they atmosphere should always be as creepy as possible.
Save: +-2 While he does have some unexpected tricks up his
sense that he might be dangerous and try to have him
Skills: Hide +9, Listen +9, Move Silently +9 kicked out of the country? We will probably never sleeve, he won’t provide much challenge in a knock-
Feats: Darkvision, Dodge, Durability, Evasion know. His own ideas on the topic are uselessly down, drag-out fight. Therefore the PCs should only
deranged. get solid chance to come to grips with him right at
Powers: Super-Wisdom +9 (Flaw: only counts the end of the scenario. Most of the adventure will
toward resisting mental attacks; Cost: 1pt), Energy Completely insane, hopelessly delusional, he
usually involve trying to figure out his motives and
then intercepting him wherever he is about to strike crimes and hear testimony from eyewitnesses, the he had sworn to do them both grievous harm There
next, before any more innocent people die. nature of his motivations slowly starts to emerge. It was already a restraining order out against him, but
He’s as pitiable as he is scary, but he’s also becomes clear that he’s actually choosing addresses she knew it wouldn’t do any good and fully excepted
exactly the kind of villain who tempts the PCs to use at random, but because he thinks that each victim is that he would kill them sooner or later.
lethal force. If he survives his first encounter with telling him where to go to find the next one, it might In fact Ingnacio Ruiz accosted his stepson on the
the Player Characters, they could dedicate be possible to figure out his next destination from steps and while the two of them struggled, Mano del
themselves to trying to cure his condition or they something a witness overhears him saying to a Muerte happened by the scene. He mistook little
could just have him locked away forever. He’s not a victim. After they have explained this to their Hector for one of his own sons, and swiftly moved to
competent escape artist, but if you feel that the PCs contact, they get a lucky break. The very next time protect him, killing Ruiz dead on the spot. He slunk
would enjoy fighting him again then he could get they are out on patrol, tracking down another back into the shadows to watch over “his” boy from
loose in some kind of accident or mass prison break. potential sighting, their contact gets in touch. A new a distance, but some of the neighbors had heard the
However you decide to use him, he should not eyewitness has just come forward, and she heard altercation and called the police. A squad car
become the kind of villain who shows up every Mano del Murte say something that clearly indicates happened to be right in the vicinity, and when the
week, since that would make him less frightening. the major city landmark right next to where he will police officer inside got out to talk to Hector, Mano
take his next victim. Actually it’s a little ambiguous del Muerte misunderstood his intentions and killed
Adventures With Mano del Muerte: (just enough to put a little doubt into your players’ him too.
minds) but it certainly seems to indicate where he’s Hector wandered off in shock, but there are
going. witnesses who have seen him, and seen the weird
1) Hand of Death, Clutch of Fear A squad of police officers moves in to confront and horrible figure that follows him. Various people
The city is gripped with fear as the mad killer the killer, but the PCs are closer and they get there attempt to talk to or help Hector, and Mano del
called the Mano del Muerte stalks its streets by first. A terrible downpour opens up over the city just Muerte kills them. And just as the PCs start to catch
night. No one has yet been able to catch the fiend in as the PCs arrive at the scene. Somewhere out there up, the boy and his shadowy protector wander into a
the act of his grisly crimes and no one knows where in the dark and rain lurks the Mano del Muerte, carnival.
he might strike next. poised to strike.
The state and municipal authorities have formed a
joint task force to apprehend Mano del Muerte and
one member of the task force asks the Player 2) Carnival of Sorrows
Characters to informally participate. The contact Mano del Muerte stalks the city by night,
should ideally be someone the PCs think of as honest spreading carnage and woe. The Player Characters
but whom they don’t know very well on a personal are hunting him on their own, without any support
level. Of course you should use your own best from the authorities. By talking to witnesses and
judgment here. If some other character would work studying the pattern of his crimes they are just
best for your PC group, use them instead. starting to get a sense of why he’s killing people and
It is unclear whether or not City Hall has tacitly how to figure out where he intends to strike next,
approved the PCs involvement. The city authorities when a stage incident is brought to their attention. A
seem unusually willing to cooperate with or at least criminal named Ignacio Ruiz is found murdered on
turn a blind eye to the PCs’ activities, but tat the his ex-wife’s doorstep. A policeman lies dead
same time their contact really does seem to be beside him. Both men were killed by the Mano del
making an effort to keep at least some members of Muerte. Ruiz’ ex-wife tearfully notes that her little
the task force from knowing that the PCs are boy, Hector, is missing.
involved. Ignacio was stalking his ex-wife and stepson and
As the PCs read reports on Mano del Muerte’s
 Chapter 2: Moderate Threats
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 14 (+2) was never all that bright.”
Broken Arrow Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 14 (+2)
Initiative: +8 Attack Bonus (Melee): A bitter, misunderstood Native American
vigilante from the Ogalala Sioux reservation. He's
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +13 generally thought of as a crazy Indian separatist who
Defense: +20/+12 Speed: 30 uses terror and violence to intimidate anyone who
Damage Save: +2/+9 (Evasion) Fortitude disagrees with his lunatic ideology. The truth is far
different. Broken Arrow fights corruption,
Save: +2 Reflexes Save: +10 Willpower organized crime and the shadowy power of the
Save: +4 mining interests on reservation land (all of which are
deeply intertwined).
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Balance +6, Diplomacy +5, His stepfather was a tribal policeman, who tried
Gather Information +5, Hide +5, Knowledge (Indian his best to help people, but wasn’t able to
Reservations) +5, Listen +9, Move Silently +10, accomplish very much. The grind of police work
Search +5, Sense Motive +5, Spot +9, Survival +5 wore him down, made him drink, made him beat his
Feats: Attack Focus (Bow), Connected, Dodge, wife and kids. He was so busy trying to be a good
Evasion, Expertise, Far Shot (Bow), Infamy, Instant man at work that he became a monster at home. To
Stand, Lightning Reflexes, Point-Blank Shot, Precise avoid his stepfather’s erratic wrath, John took to
Shot, Tracking spending as much of his time as possible outdoors.
He hunted, fished, taught himself to navigate by the
stars and sometimes didn’t come home for days.
Powers: Super-Dexterity +4 (Extra: Super- His grandmother understood him, and he spent a
Senses; Cost 4pts) lot of time at her place, too. Although she didn’t
Equipment: Bow (+5 Lethal; Extra: Explosive have much education, she was an activist and an
Effect [Exploding Arrow], Power Stunts: Obscure outspoken woman, and she taught him a lot about his
[Smoke-Screen Arrow]; Cost: 2pts), Armor +4 people’s tragic history.
(Cost: 1pt) John left the reservation at age 18, and joined the
Weaknesses: Disabled: Missing one arm below Army. They noticed his skills as a marksman pretty
the elbow, can't use his prosthetic hand to do quickly, and signed him up for sniper training.
anything but hold objects Before long he was reassigned to the Rangers, then
Real Name: John Wolf to the Delta Force, and then to a super-secret elite
unit called “Team Seven.” An extremely competent
PL: 10 “All any man can ask the world to give sniper, and an all around superb soldier, he was
him is justice--but most guys are too nearly the equal of the team’s legendary squad leader
smart to ask. So I guess you can see I Silvio Strozzi (who later became the supervillain
known as the Ace of Wounds).
 John lost his right arm below the elbow on a It was around the time his Grandma died that he well.
mission during the first Gulf War, so he took his went a little insane, took his bow, put on a mask and Broken Arrow is a controversial figure even on
pension and went home. That missing arm has saved started to fight back. For the past ten years he’s the reservation. He does have connections with the
his life many times since—everyone assumes that he battled corruption and organized crime, first on the most extreme wing of the native separatist
couldn’t possibly be Broken Arrow when he has no Ogalala reservation and then as his reputation grew, underground, but he doesn’t believe in their credo.
right hand (in fact he just uses his prosthetic hand to on other reservations across the West. These days He regards overthrowing the US government as an
hold the bow, and aims with his left). he often feels it took him much too long to take up unrealistic goal. However, they hate the existing
It was the first time he had been home in years, his knife. power structure as much as he does, so they make
and it was a troubled period on the reservation. An unhappy man, he tells lots of bitter jokes and good part-time allies. He’s out to make things better
There was unrest and repression. A lot of people drinks too much. He has lost a great deal and seen for the ordinary reservation Indian, and the
were fed up with the tribal government and the many terrible things, both on Team Seven and seperatists are useful tools to help him achieve that
amount of influence the big mining companies had afterwards. When asked about the subject of goal.
over it. There were underground groups who revenge, he always replies with some version of the While his grandmother taught him a few of the
resisted the status quo with bombs and there were following rant: “Now here’s a funny thing about old tribal religious rituals, he practices them more to
vicious reprisals against them. revenge. There’s no such thing. The scale never honor her memory than anything else. Personally,
John was a quiet, cautious guy by nature, but he balances. Why? Because there’s no scale. I take he believes in no gods at all—but he does believe in
couldn’t stay clear of the struggle for long. His three guys, I knock one eye out of each of ‘em, and his grandma. English is his first language and he
grandma was still alive and still an activist, his little what are you gonna to do to me? I only got two actually can’t speak Sioux as well as he would like.
brother Fred was involved in the underground—if eyes, and anyway losing both your eyes is more than He really doesn’t have a secret identity anymore, and
nothing else, John he had to get involved to protect twice as bad as losing one of them. If my life is spends nearly all his time underground, in costume.
them. worthless (which it is) and I kill a guy whose life was Sometimes he sleeps in his body armor. It amuses
During this same period he got back together with valuable, how you gonna make the scales balance? him in a twisted way that he is called a terrorist and a
his old high-school girlfriend, a gorgeous young Forget it. There’s no scale. So don’t trick yourself supervillain, but it doesn't surprise him.
woman named Eudora Leaps-Tall, who was trying about why we do what we do.”
her best to get enough money together to go to It is hard to say whether or not he would resort to Using Broken Arrow in your
Wyoming State University and become a nurse. She killing an enemy. The matter hasn't yet come up, but
wasn’t political, but after hanging out with John for a it's bound to eventually. He most certainly would campaign: Instead of dragging the PCs out to
while she began to take an interest herself. They got not take hostages, but he might terrorize or threaten the wilderness, it’s almost better to have Broken
married almost on impulse. an enemy to get information out of them, and in an Arrow come menace them on their home ground.
Alas, these were bad days to start taking an emergency might resort to actually torturing them See the adventure seeds below for some examples of
interest in politics. People who spoke out against the (although he would feel terrible about doing it). how to do this. He isn’t tough enough to take on a
mining consortiums and the shady deals that certain He is a canny, cagey opponent who knows how to whole gang of PL 10 heroes by himself, but then
parties on the tribal council had cut with them had a use the ground to his advantage. In combat with again he usually isn’t the real villain of the scenario,
way of dying sudden violent deaths. First Fred other superbeings, he will always try to hit them either. Typically he’ll appear, hunting some other
turned up decapitated in a ditch, then Eudora from a distance and to take them by surprise. He villain or criminal, the PCs will misinterpret his
vanished on her way home from her night job (she wears a lot of body armor but he knows that his motives, attack him, defeat him, and only then find
was never found, although John has his suspicions defenses won’t hold up against guys who can put out that they have misunderstood things and that
about where her body may be buried) and then holes in the sides of tanks. A straightforward sniper something bad is about to happen if they don’t team
someone marched Grandma out into the woods and without a lot of money to spend on an arsenal, he up with Broken Arrow to stop it. Of course this
shot her in the head. John couldn’t protect a single uses a minimal range of special “trick” arrows and approach only works once with any given PC group,
one of them, and he was losing other friends, too. mostly just concentrates on hitting the target really so after their first encounter he can become a helpful
but seldom-seen ally, or a source of adventure leads.
 Broken Arrow operates in a completely different 2) A Standing Dog and a Lying Hound
part of the country from the Mafia supervillain A prominent Native American leader named Ron
known as the Ace of Wounds, so the odds of them Washi has come to town to drum up investors for a
running into each other is low. If they did, they new Indian casino. He’s going to throw a big party
would both immediately recognize each other from at a hotel and schmooze the business community for
Team Seven. It would no doubt occur to each of some cash. However, the word is out that radical
them the other one knows their secret identity, but Native American separatists may attempt to disrupt
they’re both reasonable men and they would the party, or even kill Ron Washi. They say that
probably be able to work something out that doesn’t Broken Arrow himself may be coming.
involve killing each other. And indeed Broken Arrow is on his way—but not
to kill Ron. In fact a ruthless business rival named
Adventures With Broken Arrow: Norville Standing Dog wants to build his own
casino, with the backing of organized crime, and
1) Tiny Lester’s Great Big Problem Ron Washi’s proposal is getting in the way.
A terrified biker named “Tiny” Lester Scruggs Standing Dog has arranged to have Mr. Washi killed
comes to the Player Characters and tells them that he at his party.
knows Broken Arrow’s secret identity. They’ve got Ron is something of a crusader—he wants to
to hide him, to get him into federal witness build a casino that will bring money to the
protection or something—the guy is crazy and he’s reservation. Norville Standing Dog wants a casino
coming to kill Tiny Lester. that will funnel most of its revenue into the coffers
All of this is a lie, except for the part about of the mob.
Broken Arrow coming for him. In fact Broken Broken Arrow favors Mr. Washi’s proposal.
Arrow is after Lester Scruggs because he supplied Furthermore, a public execution like this will make it
crank to a gang on the Navajo reservation, shot that much harder for indian casinos to find investors
people with casual abandon whenever it suited him, who aren’t tied in to organized crime. Even though
and may have sparked a major gang war between the he regards Ron as a sellout and a greedy fat cat,
Insane Young Vipers and the Navajo chapter of the Broken Arrow is here to protect the man.
Crips. If the GM wants to complicate things, perhaps
Broken Arrow intends to turn him over to one of Norville Standing Dog has hired a supervillain to
the rival gang factions as a peace offering, in hopes carry out the hit—someone too big for Broken
of ending the war. But the Insane Young Vipers Arrow to handle by himself, like the Snow Queen or
have already sent a hit squad after Lester, which may the Diamond Deuce. Either way, it’s going to be one
arrive at any moment. The PCs may be surprised to hell of a party!
see that despite being reservation kids they dress in
hip-hop clothes and speak the same gangsta dialect
as an inner city gang, with a few Navajo words
mixed in.
Meanwhile Lester has been trying to get some of
his outlaw biker friends to join the party, just to
make things really interesting.
 Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 9 (-1) Cha: 18 (+4) fidgets at superhuman speed. She has no attention
U-Go-Grrrl Initiative: +14 Attack Bonus (Melee): span and gets bored in a flash. When she gets bored,
she breaks things, and is forever trashing hotel
+7 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +9 rooms and causing trouble in public. Violent, nuts,
Defense: +30/+16 Speed: 80 (Super-Speed) leering and inappropriate, she flirts broadly, badly
and often. She also has a way of developing
Damage Save: +1/+14 (Evasion) Fortitude unhealthy obsessive crushes on male player
Save: +1 Reflexes Save: +14 Willpower characters. She's much too crazy and socially
Save: +-1 maladroit to express her feelings in any kind of
reasonable way, and will try to get their attention by
Skills: Balance +10, Bluff +5, Diplomacy+5, playing dangerous high-speed pranks on them. The
Intimidate +8, Taunt +10 more the player ignores or rejects her, the more she
Feats: Connected, Dodge, Fame, Evasion, Legal will escalate her tactics, getting wilder and more
Immunity (New Feat, grants a +3 to any rolls made outrageous. This is going to get somebody killed if
to escape legal prosecution), Minions (business it isn't stopped.
managers and enterouge, 15 PL 1 characters and 1 Unfortunately, stopping it is going to be tough.
PL 2), Move-By Attack, Rapid Strike Her powers make her hard to catch and her status as
Powers: Super-Speed +10 (Power Stunts: Wall a celebrity shields her to a large degree from arrest.
Some very powerful people have made a lot of
Run, Water Run; Cost: 6pts)
money from the public's interest in U-Go-Grrrl and
Weaknesses: Quirk: Develops obsessive, they aren't about to let her go to prison if they can
irrational, self-destructive crushes and does all kinds help it. She also has a kind of limited immunity
of stupid and dangerous things to get the attention of from prosecution, a holdover from her days as a
her prospective paramour. superhero. Whether this would hold up in court now
that she isn't fighting crime or saving the world is
“Now there’s a rack of abs that even debatable, but her lawyers and business managers
makes my heart beat faster! Wooo- will try to use it anyway.
hooo!Heyyougottagirlfriendmisterhuhu Using U-Go-Grrrl in your campaign:
huhuh?” U-Go-Grrrl can be played as a comic annoyance or a
serious, scary menace, depending on how the GM
Perhaps the fastest woman alive, able to run at twice wants to present her. She should meet one of the
the speed of sound. She's a bit of a media darling, male PCs in some kind of public social setting, act
mostly because of her loud, brassy personality and obnoxious (perhaps get abusive with a waiter or
her controversial behavior. Until recently part of a some hapless service person) appall them and leave.
large and celebrated superhero group, U-Go-Grrrl Make sure that she doesn’t actually do anything
caused so much havoc on the team that they expelled illegal, but that she’s so awful that the PC would
Real Name: Courtney Amber Lopez her. She's still a celebrity despite her expulsion and never even consider getting involved with her. Only
PL: 10 makes a lot of public appearances. People love U- later, perhaps between some other adventures, will
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 19 (+4) Con: 12 (+1) Go-Grrrl, or love to hate her. she start playing pranks on them and trying to get
In person she is twitchy, manic and constantly their attention. It all goes downhill from there.
 Reflexes Save: +8 Willpower Save: +6 Unicorn will do it on crowded city streets at rush
hour, tying up traffic and bringing out the SWAT
The Unicorn Skills: Bluff +8, Diplomacy +11, Handle Animal
+10, Intimidate +12, Innuendo +10
teams.
She has a very vivid inner fantasy life and is a
Feats: Detect Negative Thoughts, Psychic spectacular telepathic combatant, projecting huge
Awareness, See Invisibility, Startle, Trance, True halos, coronas and streams of butterflies everywhere
Seeing around her, making her voice seem to thunder from
Powers: Amazing Reflexes Save +7 (Extra: Also the clouds. She will avoid causing anyone physical
pain, and will rely on the strength of her telepathy to
Applies to Willpower Saves; Cost: 2pts), Obscure
force them into submission. Her powers are strong
+10 (Flaw: Partial, Cost: 1pt), Telepathy +10
enough to affect lots of people at once and so battles
(Extras: Illusions [Creatures Only], Mind Control,
that involve the Unicorn usually have large numbers
Cost 4pts)
of innocent bystanders clogging up the field and
Weaknesses: Quirk: Irrational fear and hatred getting in the way.
of "Bad Thoughts." Compulsively tries to stamp It may also give some heroes pause to beat the
them out with Mind Control, regardless of the living daylights out of a fragile, wide-eyed young
consaquences to herself or others. woman who genuinely doesn't want to hurt anyone.
Then again, if they don't drag her off to jail a police
“Please, you have to stop hating one tactical unit is likely to put a bullet in her poor
another before I do something awful!” addled brain.
Her background is unremarkable. Both her
parents are moderately successful real estate brokers.
A tormented psychic who has great difficulty They are both charming and weak, easily influenced
shutting out the thoughts of others. Negative by other people and painfully afraid of disapproval.
thoughts cause her terrible pain and unhappiness and Her father has an unconscious, low-level psychic
this has made her irrationally obsessed with ability to make people buy houses, but it’s nothing
stamping them out. The Unicorn wants everyone to on the same scale as the Unicorn. She grew up
be nice, to treat one another decently, to be happy skinny and lonely, an only child, and has been
and above all to think no bad thoughts. She's a reading people’s thoughts for as long as she can
powerful enough telepath to force them if they remember. Always desperate to please but achingly
refuse. Not blessed with any sense of restraint or shy, she was an unpopular kid until high school,
Real Name: April Pfeffner practicality, she causes havoc in public, projecting when her fragile, waif-like beauty became apparent.
PL: 10 images of butterflies, winged horses and dolphins She could read minds better and better as her brain
flying through space into the minds of everyone matured, and she didn’t like what she saw there.
Str: 8 (-1) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) Int: around her, screaming that the new age of joy and Nonetheless, it was a good way to help get along.
14 (+2) Wis: 8 (-1) Cha: 20 (+5) splendor is at hand. She doesn't want to hurt Now she’s in her first year of college, and a bad
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +4 anybody, just to make them hold hands, sing songs LSD experience has magnified her powers
about love and rainbows and forsake the cruel world enormously. She can control minds as well as read
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +6/+9 (Mental that oppresses them. If she wanted to do this in them, and she can’t shut out the torrent of negative
Attacks) Defense: +18/+17 Speed: 30 private, or on a commune off somewhere in the feelings that people radiate. The world is in agony,
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2 woods, it would be merely unwholesome, but the and it must stop hurting before it drives her insane.
Using the Unicorn in your campaign: her for their own nefarious ends. Perhaps the best narration. The only sound on the tape is the noise of
The PCs will first encounter the Unicorn shortly solution to the Unicorn’s problems is to find her a the helicopter’s whirling blades.
after her psychic breakthrough. She is disoriented powerful psychic teacher who can help her use and When the PCs arrive at the landmark, the Unicorn
and afraid, trying desperately to make the voices in control her gifts, in which case she may turn into a is holding a giant crowd rapt as she begs them to
her head stop screaming and she has no idea how to different kind of character altogether—perhaps even stop hating one another and to believe in the power
do this, apart from grabbing every mind within her a superheroine. A Buddhist monastery might also of rainbows and butterflies. Huge illusory images
reach and forcing it to think nice thoughts. provide her with a safe haven, particularly if it’s seem to blaze above her in the sky. Swarms of
Depending on how the encounter goes, she could be geographically isolated. Getting them to accept a butterflies and winged unicorns flying under
a one-shot tragic villain who appears, wreaks havoc woman as a monk may prove difficult, however rainbows and dolphins swimming through the void
and dies before the PCs can save her, or a recurring (depending on the tradition they follow) and it may of outer space and even sillier things. Some people
threat who comes back a little different each time even start to cause the kind of psychic disruptions in are still yelling at her to let them get home to their
she faces our heroes. their community that could trigger another one of her families and their dinner, and she is trying her best to
If they can convince her to just leave and find mental collapses. answer them. She looks frightened and
somewhere less populated to live, she will try to do overwhelmed. Then she senses the PCs’ presence
it, but after a few months in the wilderness she will and looks right at them.
Adventures With the Unicorn: How to deal with this situation? The SWAT
find to her horror that she can still faintly hear the Be Happy or Else
cities crying out to her in pain, and that their voices teams are on their way and the national guard is
An utterly mysterious disaster has gripped the next. As the PCs try to reason with the Unicorn, one
are getting louder all the time. She will return to downtown area. Just as the evening rush hour
heal their pain the only way she knows how—by of them gets a text message (or some other such
began, some kind of traffic disturbance appeared in thing) from the Mayor’s office. It says “Keep her
forcing them. front of a major local landmark (use whatever
If the PCs convince her to get therapy and take distracted while we get the sharpshooters into
landmarks would be appropriate to your campaign position.”
some kind of medication that will suppress her city), traffic is now gridlocked for miles in all
superhuman abilities, she will try to comply with the directions, and yet no one seems to know exactly
program, but then find to her shock that she feels what is causing it. In fact they’re not exactly sure
dead inside without her powers. To someone who where the source of the problem is—it can be tough
has been able to read thoughts and feelings all her to tell with traffic patterns and the landmark is really
life, this is like being struck deaf or blind. She will just where things are clogged up worst. The police
lapse into a deep depression, stop taking her drugs who went to the scene twenty minutes ago haven’t
and go publicly berserk once again. come back or checked in, and the authorities are
If she is confined to an institution, she gets starting to get seriously worried.
abused there and eventually escapes. Now she’s A traffic helicopter arrived about five minutes
angry and will no longer trust the PCs or any other later and then suddenly dropped out of contact.
authority figures. They told her she would be safe They’re still going through the tape of the broadcast
and people would take care of her in the hospital. when the PCs are summoned to look into the matter.
Instead they hurt her! If the Player Characters stick around to see what the
Once the Unicorn has resurfaced a couple of last part of the tape shows, it doesn’t reveal much. A
times, she develops a disorganized cult-like lot of cars aren’t moving, a lot of people have left
following who will try to protect her and get in the their vehicles and are standing on the street, it’s hard
PCs’ way. Unscrupulous psychic villains (like the to be sure, but most of them seem to be looking at
man who calls himself “God”—see his description something off-camera. Oddly, no one in the news
on page --) may find out about her and try to exploit chopper is providing any kind of voice-over
 things) +5, Move Silently +8 without a care in the world or a plan beyond the
Vampire Girl Feats: Darkvision, Durability, Immunity (Aging,
Disease, Poison, Suffocation)
present moment. Vampire Girl's motives are simple.
She likes to dance in clubs, lurk in darkness, get
attention and suck the life force out of good-looking
Powers: Drain +10 (Flaw: Only Drains young men and women. A constant and compulsive
Constitution; Cost 1pt), Incorporeal +9 (Extra: Float; liar, she feels no shame about it—or about anything
Flaw: Only Works at Night; Cost: 2pts), else for that matter. Mercy and honor are equally
Regeneration +8 (Flaw: Only Works at Night, Cost: foreign to her, but then again so are malice and
1pt), Telepathy +10 (Extra: Mental Protection; Cost revenge.
3pts), Teleport +7 (Flaw: Only Works at Night; She cares nothing for danger and is totally
Cost: 1pt) indiscreet about feeding. Only her penchant for
Weaknesses: Quirk: Compulsive Liar, must playing it mysterious has kept from making some
make a Willpower Save vs. DC 20 to tell anyone the kind of grievous error and drawing the authorities
truth about anything. down on her. She has yet to actually kill anyone by
Quirk: Delusion (Thinks she is Susceptible to draining off too much of their life force, but it's not
sunlight) because she's being careful--she just feeds often
enough that she isn't all that hungry. If she were in
desperate need of sustenance, who knows what she
“Life is a ghastly nightmare carnival of might do?
shadows. That’s what I like about it.”
Using Vampire Girl in your
She only appears at night, she can float in midair,
vanish into nothing and she drains the lifeforce of campaign: The GM can play Vampire Girl any
the living. Is she the thing the vampire legends of a number of different ways. She can be a source
speak of? That is difficult to say. In fact nobody of (unreliable) information about the occult
knows who or what she is at all, which suits her fine. underworld, a shadowy foe for the players to pursue,
She loves to tell outrageous, contradictory stories or even a potential love-interest. She may work best
Real Name: Unknown (isn't sure about herself. She loves to suddenly appear, make if the Player Characters are amused or enthralled by
strange pronouncements and then vanish into the her at first, and slowly come to realize how
herself) irresponsible and dangerous she is as they see more
shadows. One night she'll make up imaginary cabals
PL: 10 of vampire lords who rule the world in secret, the of her.
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 20 (+5) next night she will claim that Judas Iscariot was a Not particularly bloodthirsty, she has no taste for
woman, and was punished for loving Christ by physical combat and if the PCs attempt to hunt her
Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 18 (+4) down she will try to avoid coming to grips with
wandering the world as a vampire queen. Perhaps
Initiative: +3 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 the next night she'll tell you that the Department of them, using hit and run tactics to pick them off one
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 Defense: Defense used psychedelic drugs to create a test at a time as the opportunity presents itself. She is no
group of psi-vampires in the fifties at Area 51. None strategist, however, and may very well attack a
+13/+10 Speed: 30/35 (Teleport)/45 (Float) superior force or try to hold her ground against
of her stories are consistent, none of them are true
Damage Save: +5 Fortitude Save: +5 (or are they?) impossible odds, just on a whim.
Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower Save: +0 While she enjoys acting mysterious, ancient and Who and what she really is we leave up to GM,
wise she is in fact silly, fun-loving and irresponsible, although perhaps it is best if the PCs never learn the
Skills: Bluff +10, Hide +8, Knowledge (weird answer at all.
 it, they’ve seen Vampire Girl a bunch of times for themselves.
Adventures With Vampire Girl: before—she was dancing next to them for a good Then she tells them where, and it turns out to be
chunk of the night. Or was she? the exact location of the villain they are looking for.
Vampire Girl seems amused, the girl with her The rest of her story is complete and utter rubbish,
1) Vampire Girl and the Case of the Discount sighs happily and a very odd conversation begins. and the villain they are chasing knows nothing about
Waterbed She will tell them that she knew they were coming, shadow dimensions or Vampire Girl.
Rumors reach the PCs of a creature who calls herself that the forces that rule this city sent them, whether The next time some major occult peril menaces
Vampire Girl. She haunts some new underground they know it or not. This is the night Count Zoltan the city, Vampire Girl appears to the Player
club, so hip the PCs didn’t even yet know it existed. rises from his grave to taste the blood of the world Characters on a lonely church rooftop after midnight
The place is too cool to have a name, and instead is and see if the vintage has yet matured. If the PCs and tells them exactly what is going on. She uses the
usually called “Discount Waterbed”—the sign in the want to stop him, they must go to the city’s oldest same loopy, pretentious style as before, but this time
window across the street from its unmarked graveyard and find the mausoleum whose name has she is telling the absolute, honest truth.
entrance. Club kids from Discount Waterbed pretend been eroded away. They must go quickly, for the Then, some weeks later, a club kid turns up in the
not to be impressed by her vampire shtick, but from Nine Blood Lords are already on their way to pay hospital, drained of life so badly that he’s near death.
the way they talk about her anyone can tell that she Count Zoltan their dark homage. Vampire Girl, if confronted, swears that it wasn’t
haunts their dreams. And a lot of them are turning No matter what the PCs say to Vampire Girl, she her, that some other peril walks the night, stealing all
up with bite marks. replies with more of her strange monologue. If the prettiest kids for itself and leaving her with the
PCs who choose to investigate will have two attacked, she vanishes into thin air. She disappears dregs from the rave scene. Is she telling the truth
problems. First, how to infiltrate a place this at the end of her speech in any case. this time? That we leave in the hands of the GM.
exclusive, without accidentally saying or wearing Wanda Nyzinski, her victim, doesn’t really know
something that gives them away (hint: the key is to much about Vampire Girl, who she only sees at the 2) Vampire Girl and the Case of the Runaway
look cool, but at the same time not like you’re not club or out back in the alley. There is no Count Robot
consciously creating some kind of a “look”). Zoltan, there is no mausoleum, there are no Blood The PCs have either bored or annoyed Vampire
Second, how to tell which of the pale young Lords ready to pay anyone attendance. Girl, who decides to make their lives more
goddesses writhing away on the dance floor is The PCs don’t see Vampire Girl at Discount interesting. The next time they see her, she tells
Vampire Girl. Waterbed again. But one night while they’re on an them that she’s leaving—that this city isn’t safe for
The PCs first trip to Discount Waterbed is unrelated case (preferably while looking for the lair the dead any more. The shades desert their haunts,
frustrating and reveals nothing (if they even get in). of some other villain) she suddenly appears in an as something darker moves in the darkness. It’s
The second time, they meet a mysterious young alley behind them and tries to tell them that there are coming closer, she can feel it—it’s already at (she
woman dressed in a tight black leather dress with a weak places in the world where the Vulgroids push names the intersection of two streets) and now it’s
1920s bobbed haircut who acts really enigmatic through, sucking all the light down with them into moving fast! She vanishes.
when asked about Vampire Girl. She’s too cool to the Seven Shadow Dimensions. That’s the only If the PCs go to the location she mentioned, they
ever actually dance, whoever she is. The moment reason the real world exists—they built it to provide will indeed find something there, but it’s not some
the PCs try to press her on the subject of Vampire them with sustenance and entertainment. The whole eldritch monstrosity that preys on the dead. In fact
Girl, she disappears, melting into the crowd. world is only about five hundred years old. And she it’s a giant killer robot from Texas, who calls himself
If they try to find her they glimpse her just once, should know, for a thousand years ago she was a “Doctor Destructor.” See his individual description
near the back door. The alley outside is deserted, princess in Samorkand, and was drawn into the on page 88.
although they can hear the club’s dance beat seventh shadow-realm to be a handmaiden to its He seems delighted to see the heroes and says
throbbing through the walls. And all of a sudden terrible Vulgroid queen. There is a big confluence of that “she” said they could tell him about his origins,
they spot the young woman with the 1920s hair, the forces tonight at one weak point, and who knows that they know who built him and what the dreams
lying slumped in a doorway, smiling blissfully. what might happen there. They should go and see he’s been having mean. When they protest that this
Standing over her is Vampire Girl. Come to think of
isn’t true his mood darkens and he points out that
“She said you’d say that, if you were the False
Dionyn. Then I suppose that we had better fight, if
that is in fact the only way to make a False Dionyn
speak the truth.”
Doctor Destructor is an implacable combatant,
and will chase them all across town. He’s convinced
that the physical form the PCs wear isn’t real, and
that it conceals the three-headed Dionyn Dogs from
the Other-Realm called the Hounding, who are
impervious to mere physical harm. Or some such
gibberish. He will be unfailingly polite while he
pounds the crap out of the PCs, but he doesn’t think
their injuries are real and can't be persuaded to stop
hitting them. “What is my real name?” he keeps
asking.
The next time the PCs see Vampire Girl, they
may want to ask her why she did that to them. For
the very first time she gives them a straight answer:
“I wanted to see what would happen. I’m terrible
that way.”
They will probably try to attack her, but just at
that moment, the troubled young supervillain called
Wolf-Dog suddenly appears, and demands that they
tell him the way home. She said they knew the way
home, but that they wouldn’t tell him out of
meanness. Well he will have an answer from them—
show him the way home! Vampire Girl slips away,
leaving them to deal with this situation.
 Skills: Balance +9, Hide +9, Jump +5, Move To support himself and his quest he steals, and
Wolf-Dog Silently +9, Survival +9 this will soon get him into worse trouble. He loves
beer and pot and is constantly tempted to waste his
Feats: Dodge, Durability, Great Fortitude, money on them instead of saving it up for a bus
Identity Change, Improved Initiative, Lightning ticket, so he has to go steal more. He hasn’t killed
Reflexes, Power Attack, Rapid Healing, Scent, anyone yet, but he could at any time.
Takedown Attack, Tracking, Ultra-Hearing Wolf-Dog is wild and enthusiastic, outrageous
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +3, Super- and manic. An incorrigible delinquent, he commits
Strength +6 (Extras: Leaping, Super-Constitution, acts of vandalism and property destruction for no
Super-Senses; Cost: 7pts), Regeneration +9 (Cost: reason, sometimes in the middle of committing other
2pts), Running +1 (Cost: 2pts) crimes. He loves fighting, and brags and howls and
Weaknesses: Disturbing (looks like a shows off in combat. His soliloquies often make no
werewolf, -5 penalty to all Bluff and Diplomacy sense, but they’re usually fun to listen to even
checks) though his constant boasting and habit of referring to
Quirk: Foolishly loyal, even when it's severely himself in the third person (“dey call him Wolf-
contrary to his advantage. Dog!”) gets on some people’s nerves. Although he
Vulnerable (to Dazzle attacks). wants people to think he’s hip, Wolf-Dog knows
little about city life and it shows.
He acts like a dog even when he’s in human form,
“Wolf-Dog he the dog-dog! He steams and has all kinds of odd/gross doglike mannerisms.
you like iron! He hang you like Like any dog he’s distractible and loves attention.
laundry! He conquer the world and He’s quick to challenge a potential foe, but when he
loses he doesn’t hold a grudge. If a superhero beats
ask for more jam! ‘Cause dey call him him up but doesn’t injure him too badly, he’ll
Wolf-Dog!” become fawningly eager to impress them, like a wolf
who has been humbled by another member of the
A crazy little werewolf with a bad haircut, Wolf- pack.
Dog is a bit of a redneck, a bit of a stoner and a bit of If however they use excessive force on him, break
a punk. He’s from somewhere in far northern his bones, put him in the hospital, or savagely
Quebec or maybe Labrador (he says it's Quebec but humiliate him with fear attacks or mind-control, he
Real Name: Lionel Fenric his native language is English, which makes that may turn vicious and start killing people casually. If
PL: 10 seem unlikely). Wherever he’s from, it’s somewhere this happens he won’t bother hunting the hero who
cold, distant and isolated, where people still think his wounded him, but he will react with brutal lethality
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 18 (+4) hairdo looks tough instead of stupid. if he happens to encounter that hero again.
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 8 (-1) Somehow he’s been stranded in Texas, a place he How he came to find himself in Texas remains a
Initiative: +7 Attack Bonus (Melee): doesn’t like or understand at all, and he’s desperate mystery. He isn’t very articulate, but if questioned
to go home to his hairy werewolf family in the patiently he can explain that he was running in the
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +12 frozen North. Alas, he’s too ignorant to find Texas woods, that someone shot him with a tranquilizer
Defense: +23/+19 Speed: 35 or Labrador on a map, and he doesn’t have the skills dart, that he woke up once on what he thinks was a
Damage Save: +13 Fortitude Save: +12 to earn the money for a trip home, even if he knew plane and again in the back of a truck. He smashed
where home was. his way out of the truck and found himself stumbling
Reflexes Save: +5 Willpower Save: +0
down a freeway in the middle of Houston. away, he’ll follow them at a distance and try to yet capable of understanding that they could actually
prove his good intentions. The next time they get in betray him. They’re his pack, after all.
Using Wolf-Dog in your campaign: a fight with a supervillain and things start to go If the PCs take him in, they’ll find that he’s a
What kind of villain Wolf-Dog evolves into badly for them, Wolf-Dog pops up out of nowhere, good deal meaner but still just as playful as when
depends largely on how the PCs treat him. He could springs to their rescue, beats their opponent at the they first encountered him. He’s become prone to
stay a happy-go-lucky loudmouth or become a last second but gets gravely wounded himself. using excessive force and is much easier to provoke
homicidal menace. Whenever they break down and decide to help into a fight.
It’s easy to recruit Wolf-Dog for a team. Just him, the PCs find that Wolf-Dog’s description of his If they turn him in again, he breaks out while
beat him in combat and give him some positive home isn’t really all that helpful. He has no sense of being transported for trial. This time he’s even
attention, and he’ll react with slavish doglike loyalty geography and he’s way too hung up on little details meaner (he's PL 11 now), and he fully understands
(until he sees you get beaten in a fight or he finds a like where the general store is located and where his that the PCs betrayed him (10 points went to buying
way home). He trusts easily and naively and if he is grandma’s cabin can be found. Yet there are off his "Foolishly Loyal" weakness).
betrayed he will react with bewilderment rather than tantalizing hints. He’s from the northernmost part of He’s pretty upset with them, for betrayal is the
rage—at least the first time it happens. North America, probably somewhere in northern worst crime he can conceive of. This might be a
The PCs don’t have to encounter Wolf-Dog in Canada, rather than Alaska. He speaks English, good time to stock up on silver bullets.
Texas, his quest to go home could lead him in any rather than French, but he knows some obscene
direction and he could get tangled up in just about French-Canadian slang. 2) Bad Dog!
anything along the way. After he has helped them out with more than one Wolf-Dog falls in with the wrong crowd. He is
fight and the PCs are really starting to accept him, robbing a waffle hut in Corpus Christi when he
the state police show up and demand that the PCs encounters a local supervillain called the Lone Star
Adventures With Wolf-Dog: turn Wolf-Dog over. He’s wanted for sticking up a Lady. He hits it off pretty well with this morose and
pancake house in another city, not long before he murderous parahuman, who introduces him to her
1) Wolf on th’ Lam appeared in the PC’s town. They also suspect that team—the Corpus Christi Good-Time Boys. See the
Wolf-Dog gets off a bus in the PC’s home town. he may have broken into a fast food restaurant and entry on them later on in this book to get a sense of
It doesn’t take long for him to hear about the Player eaten some of their beef patties. what a dysfunctional mess poor naïve Wolf-Dog is
Characters, and that they help people, for free. He Wolf-Dog really did these things, and he looks getting himself into.
finds them as fast as he can, and if they don’t attack ashamed if the PCs confront him, but he’s too Before long, the Lone Star Lady has an affair
him on sight, he explains the nature of his problem— embarrassed to confess. with Wolf-Dog, mostly to get the attention of her
he wants to get home, but he doesn’t know quite If the PCs convince him to turn himself in, things former boyfriend, Johnny Black (who is presently
where it is. Also, he doesn’t have enough money. go really badly for him. He tests positive for involved with the team’s leader, the atomic
If the PCs take pity on him and try to help him marijuana use in lockup, which in the PCs state superwoman who calls herself Cimarron Starr).
out, he will follow them around, singing their means he can’t be released into their custody or let This works entirely too well—Johnny becomes
praises, full of snuffling wolflike devotion. He may out on bail. Awaiting his arraignment in jail, he is insanely jealous. This annoys Cimarron Starr, who
try to provoke a playful fight with one of the PCs, savagely assaulted by a gang and hurts one of them determines to teach the Lone Star Lady a lesson and
but that’s just so that they can beat him and establish really badly. Now he’s going down for a felony, and has a fling with Wolf-Dog herself.
his place in their pack. He is loud, goofy and a little may not breathe free air for a long time. And then Johnny is beside himself with rage, the Lone Star
annoying, but he’ll fight as hard as he can on their he escapes. Lady is furious, her own manic-depressive
behalf. Perhaps a little too hard, in fact. He’s eager He runs to the Player Characters for protection, boyfriend, the Texas Twister, is close to throwing
to prove himself to his new friends and is apt to hurl certain that they’ll help him. He’ll do this even if one of his homicidal tantrums, and Wolf-Dog
himself into the teeth of danger at a moment’s they turned him over to the law, because while he himself does nothing to make the situation easier.
notice. feels hurt and confused by their behavior, he’s not He mistakenly assumes that because both ladies
If on the other hand the PCs drive Wolf-Dog
were willing to be his mate, he must therefore be the
pack’s leader, and he begins strutting around,
boastfully giving orders.
Then all four of them try to kill him, and he flees
in bewilderment and terror. Now he’s holed up in
the PCs’ town, waiting for the Corpus Christi Good
Time Boys to find him. On a sudden impulse, he
goes to the PCs for help. People say they help folks-
-why not Wolf-Dog?
 Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) loneliness, no more regrets. I am the
God Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 20 (+5) Cha: 14 (+2) all-merciful, the all-forgiving and the
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +5 font of pure sweet light. Now go over
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +6/+9 Defense: there, my lamb, and shoot that
+18/+17 Speed: 30 gentleman in the head—and then
Damage Save: +2/+8 (Evasion) Fortitude yourself.”
Save: +2 Reflexes Save: +6 Willpower They call him God. He’s the lord of hosts, the
Save: +11 living incarnation of the universe’s ultimate power—
Skills: Bluff +8, Concentration +10, Listen +10, or so say his followers.
Sense Motive +11, Spot +10 In fact he is a potent psychic, with the ability to
dominate and control the minds of those around him.
Feats: Evasion, Headquarters (a fortified He is worshipped by a small but fanatical cult who
compound in the woods upstate, equipped with a call themselves the Circle of the Seventh Throne.
Garage, a landing strip with small Hanger adjacent, There is a group of ten or so of his worshippers
improvised Holding Cells, an Independent Power crammed into an apartment in the PCs home city,
System [A gasoline-powered generator], Living and some enclaves of similar size in other major
Space for God and all his Minions, a Reinforced urban areas. He also has a large, isolated farm
Structure, Staff [15 of whom are PL 1, with one PL upstate where about sixty of his acolytes, wives and
2 Staff Member], six Vehicles [three vans, a children reside. God has ten wives and is always
battered-up old 4-wheel drive SUV, a tractor and a looking for more.
bulldozer] and a Workshop), Inspire, Leadership, Rumor has it that he’s stalked the Earth for a
Minions (Loyalty Level 20 [PL 12+Charisma century, but the truth is that his powers are inherited,
Bonus+Displays Special and his father and grandfather exploited them in
Powers+Headquarters+Inspire+Leadership]) exactly the same way that he has.
Powers: Amazing Reflexes Save +6 (Extra: Also He grew up in the Circle, was groomed to be its
Applies to Willpower Saves; Cost: 2pts), ESP +10 new Deity, but by the age of 15 he couldn’t stand to
(Cost: 2 pts), Telepathy (Extras: Illusions, Memory wait to be God any longer and slew his father in a
Alteration, Mental Blast, Mind Control; Cost: 6pts) psychic duel that killed more than half of their flock.
Equipment: Really cool sunglasses. It has taken him ten years to build the Circle back up
to its present strength.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Has no self-control, is The actual tenets of the Circle are a kind of
tempted to indulge himself and do foolhardy things militant fundamentalist Christianity, with a lot of
to gain momentary gratification, will not hold his colorful occult craziness ladled on top. His vision of
ground in combat once he has taken any Lethal the universe is vivid, if shallow, full of burning
damage unless he spends a Villain Point crowns and three-eyed angels with wings of bronze
and secret words of power. A lot of it resembles
Real Name: Jesus Pilgrim Josephson “Hush my child, still your tears, for heavy metal album cover art.
PL: 12 you are finally home. No more If the PCs somehow manage to speak to him in a
neutral setting, they’ll find that God is eager for their (even his wives and kids) at anyone who attacks him. no one in the van).
approval, and desperate to show them that he’s a God desperately wants to think of himself as a good They smiling men won’t take no for an answer.
cynical man of the world like them—that he doesn’t man, but as he gets more desperate and hemmed in, They remain calm, and try to persuade the PC while
really take being God so seriously as all that. He is his basically chickenhearted nature will get the better they are struggling to get the woman into the van
not, however, willing to ever come out and directly of him, and he’ll discover that he’s actually capable that she’s better off back at the community
admit that he isn’t really God. Characters who try to of doing just about anything, no matter how low, surrounded by friends who can look after her than
press him on this point make him Wrathful. vicious and despicable, if it saves his sacred hide. she is on a psycho-ward. Has the PC ever seen what
If the PCs manage to break up his cult, but he the conditions are like in a mental hospital, they ask?
Using God in your campaign: Not all gets away in the confusion, he will become If the PC wants, they can come visit the
that much of a megalomaniac, at least for somebody incredibly vengeful, as much for what the PCs taught community and see how they live for themselves. In
who calls himself “God”, Reverend Josephson only him about himself as for destroying the sect he spent fact the three men are eager to give the PC their
half believes his rhetoric. He has no plans to take so much of his life to build. He’ll even become address. The community is always looking to make
over the world, destroy the world, expand the Circle capable of striking at their loved ones and family new friends.
into a huge national organization, or indeed do much members to get back at them, although he’ll be If the PC manages to keep the woman with them,
of anything else except to dominate his flock and sickened by his own cruelty. she is grateful, but insane and difficult to look after.
acquire more wives. Yet he could easily be tempted Her memories are a tangle, but do seem to include
into getting into more serious trouble. For someone Adventures With God: 1) God Steps Out being one of God’s many wives, living on a farm
who dominates other minds so easily, he doesn’t to Radio Shack and then in a cramped apartment here in the city.
have much command of his own. Under his A young woman runs up to one of the PCs in One night she runs away while the PC looking after
dignified, saintly facade he’s foolhardy and weak, their secret identity, screaming and sobbing. She her is asleep or out.
completely unable to resist his impulses. It would be pleads for help, saying that God is chasing her, that If the PC refused to take the community’s
very easy for an unscrupulous fellow supervillain to God put something in her brain that makes her crazy, address, it’s easy enough to find. Any Player
lead him into participating in a serious crime. This that He watches, He’s everywhere and He sees all— Character who is looking for the community
is in fact the way the PCs are likeliest to encounter they have to help her! A quick scan of her mind will suddenly spots one of the three men who took the
him. reveal that she is psychotic, but that she believes woman away. He’s handing out religious pamphlets
Unfortunately, he’s an undependable ally and an herself to be telling the truth. She has memories of in a public park and he’s happy to tell anyone who
inexperienced criminal, and is likely to make some meeting God, memories that seem oddly vivid and asks him how to find the community.
kind of serious mistake. If he finds himself in a specific for hallucinations. The community is a large but cramped garden
desperate position, he’ll retreat to his farm, announce Before the PC has time to react, three large, apartment well outside the city, in a suburban
that the end of the world is at hand and get ready for concerned-looking gentlemen in identical black subdivision without any sidewalks, out where it
a Waco-style siege. This situation can rapidly turn polyester suits and ties emerge from a van and try to would be really difficult to get to anything without a
into a hideous mess, with local police, the FBI, the take the woman away. They explain if asked that car. About ten of God’s followers live here, seven of
press, demented cultists and perhaps even an enraged she’s a member of their “community” and that she’s them women. All of the women are pretty—He
supervillain or two whom God has let down all been having psychological problems. She’ll be seems to have a thing for skinny blondes.
mixing it up together. Preventing a tragedy is going better off with her friends back at the farm—they God is absent when the PCs arrive. The woman
to be tough. There is plenty of evidence of the know how to take care of her. who ran up to them on the street (her name is
bloodbath from ten years ago buried on the farm, and They gently try to coax the woman into the van, Margaret Ford) is present, calm and exhausted.
this fact will make God even more desperate not to but she gets very agitated and starts screaming that Margaret seems sane, and tells the PCs that she’s
give his refuge up. God is in the van, that he’s everywhere but right now feeling much better now. She thanks them for their
Something of a coward when it comes to physical he’s in the van and she won’t go in there so God can help and explains that her mind is once more whole
combat, God won’t hesitate throw his followers make her crazy again. ( if the PC has a look, there is now that she is a bride of God again. If the PCs ask
where God is, one of the women says “Radio Shack” of your game. Ideally, it should be someone the The two of them could rip the buyer off really easily,
but the others assure the PC that God is present—in Players already know is dirty. Whoever he is in using God’s power over the minds of men.
fact He’s everywhere. If the PCs insist on waiting your game, he’s up for re-election and things don’t It’s just about the perfect crime—neither nor the
for God, He doesn’t show up. After a little while, look good for him. His opponent is a real fire- buyer nor the seller can go to the police and they’re
the members of the community tell the PC to come breathing reformer with a groundswell of populist just a bunch of hippies selling to a bunch of college
back some other time. support behind him. Things look so bad that the students—they’re not wired into organized crime or
Meanwhile, God has sensed that a powerful incumbent is desperate enough to turn to the likes of anything like that. Maybe God could even get into
parahuman (or whatever the PC is) has invaded his God. He will pay God an enormous amount of the buyers’ brains and make them get off drugs.
sanctum and is talking to his wives. This agitates money to cripple his opponent’s campaign. The plan That would be like doing them a favor, almost. They
Him (He’s a jealous god) and brings Him into is simple. God will appear at a public event where could keep the grass themselves or sell it though the
conflict with the PCs. If they won’t leave his the incumbent’s foe is speaking, take over his mind, Six Dollar Man’s contacts, whatever God wills.
apartment, he hits them with a long-range psychic and force him to say ridiculous, outrageous things The Six Dollar Man is lying on at least two
attack, warning them off. Otherwise, he just that will cost him the election. crucial points. That’s why he communicates with
instructs his followers not to talk to the PCs. If the But things do not go as planned. The stress of God only by phone—he doesn’t want Him reading
PC doesn’t want to leave, and the GM doesn’t want having his mind taken over sends the victim into a his mind.
the conflict to heat up just yet, an unrelated super- psychotic break and he goes into a crazed, foaming But even before the Six Dollar Man’s treachery
crisis suddenly comes up and they have to go solve religious rapture right there at the podium. This comes out, things start to go awry. For the Six
it. Then, some time later, the sister, girlfriend or attracts way too much of the wrong kind of media Dollar Man’s long-suffering girlfriend Dottie has
other close female contact of a Player Character attention. Worse, at least a dozen witnesses saw God finally decided to rat him out. She doesn’t dare run
suddenly joins God’s community and becomes one at the scene, and two of them took pictures. God to the cops. Her boyfriend is actually planning to
of his brides. tries to track them all down and selectively erase sell the stolen drugs to some crooked police
Once He figures out how close his new bride is to their memories, but this causes too many of them to detectives, so talking to the cops might very well get
a local superhero, God panics, pulls out of the city go insane and have religious meltdowns of their her killed. Instead she goes to the PCs and tells them
and retreats to his farm. He may or may not send a own. At least one of them develops psychic powers everything she knows. She has never seen God in
brainwashed assassin or two after the PCs. You can and goes on a brief rampage. person and she doesn’t know his name, but she does
also have him play cat and mouse with the PCs for a Soon the crooked politico who hired God starts know that the Six Dollar Man has invited another
while before fleeing, if that would be more fun. He playing on his paranoia, and talks him into making supervillain in on the deal, and that he’s planning to
will always try to hit them at a distance and always the rest of the witnesses kill themselves and/or one screw him over.
avoid letting them see him directly, in the flesh. another. The PCs are confronted with a baffling web Which brings us to the things he has lied about to
Once he has fled, it will be very easy to interest in of madness, death and bad religion. A little God. It’s not pot that’s up for sale, it’s crack. And
the authorities in God’s activities and not at all hard investigation shows that all the victims’ paths the parties involved are not harmless hippies and
to track him down. This will however precipitate the crossed at the political rally where the first victim clueless college students, they’re bikers and Mafiosi.
standoff described above in the notes on Campaign went crazy on TV. What did they witness there? Are And then the Player Characters burst onto the
Use. there other potential victims whom the PCs could scene. When God sees everything go nuts, he panics
2) Vote God still save? Does one of them have photos of God? badly and starts making people kill one another.
A crooked politician gets in touch with God. Then He tries to get back to His lair upstate, where
We’ll leave his name, party and position blank, so 3) God Falls in With the Wrong Crowd he may or may not decide that the end of the world
that you can work him into your campaign more The Six Dollar Man somehow finds God’s phone has come and start preparing for a siege by the feds,
easily. This could be anyone from a County number and gives Him a call. He tempts God with depending on whether or not the PCs follow him.
Commissioner or a City Alderman up to a Senator or news of a major marijuana buy that he knows will Even if they don’t there are a lot of angry gangsters
possibly even the President, depending on the needs take place out at a junkyard on the edge of the city. who now have a bone to pick with God.
 Damage Save: +6 Fortitude Save: +6 across the violent plains of the Old West, her real
Helen Damnation Reflexes Save: +10 Willpower Save: +5
name and her origins are unknown. She claimed to
have given birth to herself on a bed of barbed wire
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +10, Bluff +10, and broken whisky bottles.
Diplomacy +11, Drive +13, Handle Animal +6, Hide A lot of people felt that her skills with a rifle
+10, Intimidate +10, Knowledge (Yakuza) +5, were too good to be natural and that she must have
Listen +8, Move Silently +10, Repair +5, Search sold her sold to Lucifer to get them. She
+10, Spot +8, Taunt +10 enthusiastically agreed, but said the Devil didn't
Feats: Accurate Attack, Assessment, Attack want her soul once he got a look at its condition, so
she had to beat his secrets out of him instead.
Finesse, Chokehold, Dodge, Evasion, Far Shot,
The truth lies somewhere in between. She didn't
Great Fortitude, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack,
mention, for example, that she also bargained with
Precise Shot, Quck-Draw, Talented (Listen and
the forces of darkness for eternal life. Eternal life,
Spot), Toughness
eternal youth, eternal violence and chaos as well as a
Powers: Powers: Reincarnate +10, Super- limitless capacity for vice. There was a catch, but
Dexterity +5 (Extras: Super-Senses, Super-Strength, she thought little of it. As the embodiment of the
Super-Wisdom; Flaw: Super-Strength only applies West's reckless, savage spirit, she could only survive
toward skill checks; Cost: 6pts) where the open plains spread lawless and untamed.
Equipment: Wrist-Mounted Pistol (+5 Lethal), For decades she sang and drank and killed and
Sword (+5 Lethal), Vehicle (Psycho--Cycle; Move: spread glorious havoc hither and yon. Then the
8, Hardness: 8, Armor Bonus: 0; Cost: 9pts) West began to evaporate beneath her. Barbed wire
and the railroad strangled the world she loved,
driving her deeper and deeper into the Northwest.
Weaknesses: Berzerker Actual uninhabited wilderness would not do, for she
Quirk: Crazy, irrational and unpredictably violent. found it intolerably dull-she liked the fringes of
Does foolhardy things, has no impulse control. civilization where there were bets to win and whisky
Quirk: Enraged by any display of physical affection. to drink and people to kill. Those fringes had worn
Will immediately attack anyone kissing, holding very thin by the 1890s.
hands, cuddling, etc., even if doing so puts her at a By the turn of the 20th century she had taken up
tactical disadvantage. residence in Alaska, her legend and powers fading as
civilization relentlessly marched North. In 1910 she
"The Devil plumb throwed me outta went down to the city of Chicago, hoping to die
Real Name: Seiko "Psycho" Suzuki when she set foot on its streets. Instead she
PL: 12 Hell on account of I raised so much accidentally discovered that there were whole huge
Str: 16 (+4) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 18 (+4) ruckus down there. So now I reckon I’m areas of the urban landscape where she was as strong
yore problem, scout." as she had ever been, for they knew no law but the
Int: 13 (+1) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 12 (+1) gun.
Initiative: +10 Attack Bonus (Melee): And then the legend of the West began to grow,
Queen of the pistol, the knife and the lariat, exerting more and more power over the minds of
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +11 sharpshooter extraordinaire, hell-raiser deluxe, Helen Mankind. As it grew, so did the strength of her own
Defense: +22/+12 Speed: 30 Damnation was Perdition's own daughter. A legend legend and so did her power. Killers passed her
secret tales to one another and made strange person, or even such a folktale. Yet here she is. her doing, and Yokoyama is willing to believe him
offerings to her on makeshift altars in tenement If asked about Morris Hipplewaite Helen just (or anything else that will allow him to watch old
basements and deserted rail yards. shrugs, giggles and says "He daid." samurai movies and play dominoes undisturbed).
Yet as the cities grew better organized (largely After she has killed enough of their soldiers, both
due to organized crime, at first) her territory once Using Helen Damnation in your Oyabuns finally have no choice but to declare war—
more began to shrink. A disastrous trip to Peoria in on Helen Damnation!
1935 extinguished her corporeal form entirely, and campaign: If the Player Characters kill Seiko, In the course of chasing her around Little Tokyo,
since then she has had to manifest herself in the Helen may or may not be back. If she does reappear it becomes clear that she’s more than they can
bodies of others. Every ten or twenty years some in someone else's body, she'll remember them but handle, so they call in the Player Characters. Both
luckless killer conjures up the soul of Helen unless the PCs gave her a really exciting fight she Oyabuns would like to make a deal. If the PCs can
Damnation and is consumed by her. She burns up won't go out of her way to mix it up with them. stop Helen Damnation from slaughtering any more
bodies like fuel, causing so much trouble and chaos While she doesn't give a damn for honor or of their nephews and grandsons, they will both turn
that despite the blessing of eternal youth her host fairness, she also doesn't hold grudges and won't themselves in to the authorities. Clever players may
soon gets killed. She generally dies laughing. particularly resent an opponent who beats her. suspect a trick, but in fact both men are completely
Helen will only inhabit the bodies of women, and Indeed, she doesn't seem to much care whether she sincere. Yokoyama was looking for a way to retire
only if they are to her tastes. She presently walks in wins or loses a fight-she just finds the noise and anyway and Hojo figures he can still run things from
the form of Seiko "Psycho" Suzuki, a part-time drug motion stimulating. behind bars.
dealer and full time lunatic assassin for one of the Unfortunately, neither one wants to risk losing
lesser-known Yakuza families in Honolulu. Seiko Adventures With Helen Damnation: more men, so the PCs will have to face Helen
was wild, crazy and dangerous enough before Helen 1) A Fistfull of Damnation Damnation on their own. She shouldn’t be hard to
Damnation came a-calling. The Osamu Yakuza and the Matsumoto Yakuza find. Just go down to Little Tokyo and follow the
In person Helen is quite a handful. She doesn't are at war. Their invisible empires stretch all around trail of carnage.
completely subsume the host personality, so there's the world, and their soldiers clash in secret from
still a lot of Psycho Suzuki left in her. She talks fast Sydney to Osaka to Berlin. But their distant branches 2) An Evening with Helen Damnation
and often incoherently, in a kind of childish 19th in the Player Characters’ home city have no desire to Helen Damnation is on the loose and on the town.
century slang that seems to be partly derived from fight each other. Boss Hojo is too reasonable and Over the next hours she will raise random havoc
pulp adventure novels. Constantly loud, constantly Boss Yokoyama is too old (and in any case far too until she is stopped.
breaking things out of spite, largely driven by cowardly). The two clans have made only the most Just after midnight she turns up at an illegal dice
impulse, she has a savage mean streak and her crazy tentative jabs at each other, and that purely for the game in a parking garage. She bets with a lot of
antics always culminate in violence. It's not a good sake of form. bravado, but she loses. This makes her mad, so she
evening if no one gets killed. She is oddly asexual, Enter Psycho Suzuki, AKA Helen Damnation. shoots the place up, wounding three people.
and doesn't hold with what she calls "mush stuff." She’s determined to provoke a conflict and will kill Then she drives her motorcycle the wrong way
Any display of physical affection is enough to set as many people on both sides as are required to through traffic and shows up at a karaoke bar at
her off and provoke a potentially fatal reaction. provoke a war. about 1:30. She doesn’t like the music, hassles
One odd final note. In 1965 a historian named She hits Yokoyama’s nephew at a karaoke bar, whoever is at the microphone, and when they throw
Morris Hipplewaite proved conclusively that Helen she hits Hojo’s wife’s brother while he’s getting a her out of the bar she shoots out all the windows.
Damnation never existed and that she was in fact the massage, but unfortunately both men were hated and She’s driving the wrong way down another busy
creation of two different pulp authors, Hubert Stickle feared by their bosses, who are actually relieved to street when she shoots the spotlight off a police car
and Leonard Creech, who both independently have them dead. She kills more people, but the more at 2:00 and leads them on a brief chase.
thought the character up in 1868, apparently without havoc she wreaks the more the two men resist doing At 2:30 she crashes her bike into a video arcade
any knowledge of eachother. There never was such a what she wants. It’s obvious to Hojo that this is all and continues on foot.
 At 2:50 she spies a young Asian couple holding
hands in a park and is infuriated by this display of
“mush stuff.” She chases them down and beats them
both savagely, putting the boy in the hospital when
she finds that he won’t kiss dog excrement even with
a gun to his head.
At 3:10 she steals a bike from a Japanese cycle
gang and leads them on a chase through traffic the
wrong way. By 3:40 she has lost them, but the cops
spot her and she leads them on a second, longer
chase.
At 4:15 she enters an illegal motorcycle race that
a different gang is sponsoring out on the freeway by
the edge of town. She wins the race, by cheating
viciously. When she gets disqualified she steals the
prize, and roars off into the night, pursued by the
cycle gang, then the cops as well, and then the other
gang she stole the bike from.
By 5:00 in the morning she’s leading a huge
chase through town as the sun starts to peek over the
horizon. If the Player Characters haven’t caught up
to her already, they should encounter her here.
While the PCs can stumble across Helen
Damnation at any point in her rampage, the scenario
often works better if they hear reports of her bad
behavior at the dice game or the karaoke bar and
pursue her across town, trying to catch up as she
spreads more chaos.
 Chapter 3: Major Threats But while she may just be going through the
Fortitude Save: +6 Reflexes Save: +8
The Snow Queen, Willpower Save: +7
motions, she still does it awfully well. The Snow
Queen deals coke, primarily, but she can be hired on
aka Cold Marla, aka the Skills: Bluff +7, Diplomacy +9, Sense Motive +8,
Spot +7, Taunt +8
a short-term basis for just about any criminal
enterprise, from assassination to bank robbery.
White Lady Feats: Accurate Attack, Attack Focus (Energy Highly sought after, she has a reputation as a
complete pro—steady under fire, fearless and
Blast), Connected, Dodge, Expertise, Immune to
responsible. She takes orders without complaint, she
Cold, Infamy, Iron Will, Minions (Up to 35 PL1
always shows up on time and she never shows up
thugs, 3 PL2 thugs, 1 PL3 thug and 1 PL4 thug)
stoned.
Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Power Immunity,
Marla keeps moving when she isn’t in prison.
Precise Shot
She’ll blow into town with a big pile of coke, cut
Powers: Amazing Save (Fortitude) +4 (Extras: some unpopular local dealer out of his action, leave
Reflexes, Willpower; Cost: 2pts), Energy Control his frozen, shattered corpse as a reminder for his
(Cold) +15 (Extras: Energy Field, Energy Shapes, friends and relations not to trifle with her, make
Force Field; Power Stunts: Energy Blast; Cost 5pts), enough money to buy more coke, and move on the
Slick +5 (Cost: 2pts), Teleport +10 (Extras: moment things start to get too hot.
Extended Teleport; Flaws: Can Only Teleport By She likes warm weather. Despite her powers, she
stepping into a mass of snow or ice, and can only despises cold climates—not because it causes her
Teleport out of another mass of snow or ice on the discomfort, but because it reminds her of her
far end; Cost 2pts) childhood in Duluth. She hates the sight of people
staggering through snowy streets, wrapped up in
“I have 56 flavors of agony on special heavy coats with their noses leaking snot into their
today. Which one would you like? mufflers.
Although the Snow Queen likes sultry
Oooh, a triple-decker! That’s a temperatures, she knows that her immunity to cold
Real Name: Marla Frost popular order.” puts her at an advantage, so her lair will usually be
PL: 15 inside a refrigerator truck, industrial meat locker or
She’s cold. Marla Frost hasn’t felt anything some other big refrigerated place. Her henchmen
Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 14 (+2) about anything for a long, long time. By now she’s and other criminal associates will stand there
Int: 16 (+3) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 16 (+3) been a criminal for so long, seen and done so many shivering and passing out from the cold, while she
awful things that it all blurs together, all feels like it calmly discusses business, clearly unconcerned with
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 their discomfort. This helps inspire fear.
happened to somebody else. She can’t remember
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 Defense: everyone she’s killed, maimed or ruined. Long past Sometimes she uses paid henchmen and
+18/15 Speed: 30 guilt, long past going into emotional shock, long past sometimes she doesn’t, depending on the nature of
being surprised at what she’s capable of doing. the job. If she does hire thugs then she tries to keep
Damage Save: +2/+15 (Force-Field) them afraid of her, but unlike some supervillains she
Even her cruelty feels muffled to her.
doesn’t kill or cripple them for making trivial the hospital, much too far away for his kids to reach secret, only using them when her back was to the
mistakes. It’s too much effort to hire new people, him on foot. The family had been fighting eviction wall. This was a sound policy. She was actually
particularly if you give yourself a reputation for for a month, and with both parents out of action, thrown in prison and used her powers to escape
butchering the help. there was nothing to prevent it now. Marla and her twice without anyone finding out that she was a
Superbly gifted at the art of intimidation, she little brother wound up living in the woods at the end parahuman. She was able to lie low for long enough
makes threats and talks trash with the best of them. of the block. to take a lot of community college courses, study
She also knows that fear is a better intimidation tool Their Dad went into a coma and their nearest elocution and nearly get a Master’s Degree in
than actual violence. You can’t kill someone twice, relatives were in Ohio—and hated their branch of the Psychology.
dead men don’t pay their debts and people with family in any case. It was a bleak November for the Once the cat was out of the bag she used her
nothing left to lose make bad enemies. She will Frost kids. status as a supervillain to her advantage, playing the
certainly threaten a prospective enemy’s loved ones And then a cold snap hit, sudden and savage as role as well as she could, making people fear her and
(if she knows who they are), she may kidnap one and lightning. One night it was forty degrees, the next landing big jobs with organized crime when she
leave another one dead and frozen on their doorstep night it was fifteen and Marla and her brother were wasn’t in school or prison.
as a warning, but she’ll try hard not to take away in immanent danger of death. By the time they She supposes her parents are probably both still
everything a mark has—unless of course that’s the realized that they weren’t going to survive the night alive out there, somewhere, but she's never bothered
assignment. outside, both kids were already suffering from to check.
Her fighting style varies according to the kind of hypothermia.
combat she finds herself involved in. If she’s up Little Tom was overcome first, so his sister Using the Snow Queen in your
against a powerful opponent, or if she’s here to kill a carried him. When she could carry him no further,
particular person and get away clean then she’ll hit she left him in the snow and wandered on alone. She campaign: A versatile adversary, the Snow
and run as fast as possible, using the element of collapsed herself a few hundred yards away. Queen can be used as a kind of low-level master
surprise if she can. If on the other hand she’s there It was Thanksgiving, she suddenly remembered. villain, complete with henchmen, a secret base and a
to beat somebody up and terrorize them, she’s What a strange time to die. minor Master Plan (usually something like: steal a
showy, dramatic and cruel, fond of taunting the And as the snow covered her up, the spirits of the big diamond, trade it for lots of coke, sell the blow at
victim and of tricks like freezing and shattering their cold North Wind came to her. They were intrigued, a massive profit, kill everyone who knows about her
fingers, ears, or lips. they explained, by the way she had left her little and get out of town). Or she can be a mercenary
In person she seems distant, distracted, forbidding brother to die, just to have a few more minutes of life villain, a temporary member of a team or even a
and sadistic. She often looks as though her mind is herself. They respected that kind of thinking, and personal arch-nemesis. She’s done it all. And none
somewhere else, but she still has a wicked sense of they were prepared to offer her a deal. She could of it really satisfied.
humor. Only seldom does she bother to raise her have her life and have their power, if she agreed to
voice. walk away and never tell anyone that little Tommy Adventures With The Snow Queen:
While she speaks standard English, and has only was dying there in the snow. This sounded
the very faintest trace of a Minnesota accent, her reasonable to her. 1) Death, With Sprinkles on Top
background is a white-trash chamber of horrors. Her A few days later, she managed to hook up with a A drug dealer named Jimmy Mack Alcazar comes
family lived in a run-down trailer somewhere outside coke dealer that mom knew, who liked girls Marla's to the Player Characters for help. He swore to look
of Duluth. She had one little brother, now deceased. age. She moved in with him for just long enough to after his brother’s kids while he’s in prison, and now
Her parents screamed at each other and wasted their learn his whole client list, then froze him to death one of them is dead and one of them is missing and
money on crank, while her schoolmates taunted her with her new powers and took his stash. he’s so upset he can’t think straight and he doesn’t
for her ragged Salvation Army clothes. She liquidated as much product as she could and know what to do.
When Marla was 12 her Mom stabbed her Dad headed south, looking for somewhere warm. It’s the Snow Queen. She rolled into town just a
and got taken away by the cops. Dad wound up in For a long time Marla tried to keep her powers few days ago, somehow figured out that he knew
about a major coke deal that will be taking place know and trust one another, and neither one is that backed them, if she has time. They will all die.
tomorrow, left his 16 year old nephew frozen and bringing a lot of bodyguards. And then the tinkling Horribly.
shattered on his doorstep and took his 8 year old sound of ice cream trucks is heard in the distance… She’s saving the chief surgeon for last, for she
niece away. wants him to know that she is coming. She hasn’t
Then she called Jimmy Mack on his cell phone 2) A Dish Served Cold decided whether or not to kill herself afterwards, for
and told him that she would appreciate his assistance The Snow Queen always assumed that her useless selling the coke that eventually found its way up his
with her plan to rip off the coke. She didn’t let him parents were still alive out there somewhere. In fact nose and into his brain, shorting out his judgment
speak to his niece or anything, he doesn’t know if her mom died years ago in a prison brawl, and her and killing her Dad.
the little girl is alive or dead, but he gave it all up father, who never fully recovered from his injuries,
anyway, told her everything he knew. She never died from a botched surgery just last spring.
gave his niece back and anyway everyone is going to Due to an administrative foul-up they actually
know that Jimmy Mack tipped off the Snow Queen performed the wrong surgical procedure on her
so he’s dead anyway and they’ll probably kill his father. Ordinarily, the doctors performing the
niece too. The PCs have just gotta help him, he says. surgery would have noticed that something was
He’ll do anything. wrong, but the chief surgeon was blasted out of his
And the strange thing is, he’s telling the truth. mind on coke (ironically enough) and none of the
The Snow Queen is up to her usual tricks. She other staff wanted to question his judgment.
appeared in town last week, scoped out the drug The Snow Queen was shocked by how badly the
scene, froze some fingers and ears off people until news of her parents’ death has affected her. She
she found someone who could tell her something thought she was long past caring about anything like
useful, and is now getting ready to steal a big this, and yet it has made her a weeping wreck.
shipment of cocaine. At first she considered pursuing litigation against
To help out with the heist and with distributing the people responsible for her father’s death, but the
the blow afterwards, she has recruited a gang of state where her father lived in the last years of his
thugs, dressed them up in ice cream man uniforms life has a law that limits medical malpractice suits to
and christened them the “Waffle Cone Gang.” With a ridiculous pittance. After talking some more with
their scars, tattoos and gold teeth they don’t really lawyers and doing a little independent research of
look like the kind of guys you’d want to buy ice her own, she has noticed that there was a startling
cream from, but they do look like the right kind of rise in the number of malpractice-related deaths in
guys to sell you coke. They drive around in ice that state, once the law went into effect.
cream trucks and they turn the music on when She takes a certain grim satisfaction in the
they’re about to do a drive-by shooting. knowledge that a lot of other people are suffering the
The Snow Queen’s current lair is a meat locker in way she is. Nevertheless, it’s not enough. Everyone
a warehouse out by the airport. She doesn’t keep must die. The assisting doctors who should have
Jimmy Mack’s niece there. In fact the little girl rides corrected the chief surgeon, the filing clerk who
around in the back of one of the ice cream trucks and made the error, the hospital administrators who
has been having a pretty good time eating ice cream overworked the staff until they started making lethal
all day and playing with the thugs. mistakes, the lobbyists who got the law passed, the
The coke deal is going to take place in the legislators who voted for it, the governor who signed
parking lot of a used tire depot, under a huge it, the head of the medical association that pushed for
grinning fiberglass statue of a gorilla. Both parties it, and maybe the board of the insurance company
 Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +6 (Cost: 1pt), indicate that he’s still out there somewhere, plotting
Black Thunder Deflection +6 (Cost: 2pts), Running +2 (Cost: 2pts),
Strike +10 (Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +5 (Extras:
the downfall of America.
Capturing Black Thunder has been a high priority
Amazing Save [Damage], Protection; Cost: 6pts) for the American Intelligence community for the
past three decades, but despite a few close brushes
Weaknesses: Quirk: Won't harm innocent they haven’t caught up with him yet. If the Player
bystanders or allow them to come to harm. Characters ever manage it, perhaps they’ll find out
the truth. He’s eager to talk about what really
“Stop trying to kill me for a minute and happened, and he’ll gladly tell anyone who listens.
As you may have guessed, most of the official
I’ll tell you what really happened at story on Black Thunder is a lie, but some of it is just
Muy Trahn.” an oversimplification.
He made a lot of mistakes, he freely admits.
One of the most wanted criminals in American Powers Cage was a happy-go-lucky, carefree
history, he’s been running from the law for thirty teenager from Georgia. He’s older and wiser now,
years and hasn’t been caught yet. He’s a traitor, a but in 1968 he was a wild and thoughtless kid. The
killer, a selfish monster and one of America’s most restrictions black folks had to endure in rural
dedicated enemies. Georgia didn’t sit well with him and his family was
Real Name: Powers Cage A front-line superhero in Vietnam, he was always sure that he would mouth off in front of the wrong
PL: 16 dangerously unstable, prone to anti-American tirades people and get lynched, sooner or later. They
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 20 (+5) and disobeying orders. The Army put up with his encouraged him to join the Army, and he did.
bad attitude and Communist leanings perhaps more Somehow he didn’t grasp that this would mean
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 14 (+2) than it should have, since he was tremendously getting sent to Vietnam.
Initiative: +7 Attack Bonus (Melee): effective on the battlefield—but then again no one The Army detected his latent superhuman powers
+17 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +18 could have known what he was eventually going to in Basic Training, and had him sent to a special six-
do. week program at Fort Dix. After a course of
Defense: +19/+15 Speed: 40 During the defense of Muy Tranh Village he stimulant injections and Rage Therapy, his abilities
Damage Save: +16 Fortitude Save: +5 fought bravely against impossible odds, almost manifested and he was ready to be transferred to Fort
Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower Save: +4 single-handedly fending off a massive Viet Cong Meade in Maryland for advanced parahuman
assault. He felt he deserved the Medal of Honor for training. It never happened. Superhumans were
Skills: Hide +10, Knowledge (Southeast Asian that, and when he received a Silver Star instead, he desperately needed on the front lines, so they
Criminal Underworld) +5, Languages (Chinese, deserted and joined the other side. shipped him off to Da Nang without anything more
Indonesian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese), Listen +9, At first no one wanted to admit that this could than the most basic instruction in how to use his
Medical +5, Move Silently +10, Spot +8, Survival have happened, that any American serviceman could powers. He was issued a costume and assigned to an
+9 be selfish enough to drag shame down on his infantry platoon as a combat specialist. He hadn’t
Feats: All-Out Attack, Chokehold, Dodge, country, fighting his own comrades and staining the had time to go to Officer Training School, so they
Durability, Expertise, Improved Critical (“Strike” honor of the Armed Forces. Yet it was so. For the made him a Private, First Class.
attack), Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, next twenty years he turned up all across the Far His unit was deep in the back country of Da Nang
Improved Trip, Infamy, Power Attack, Rapid East, fighting America’s allies, getting entangled in Province, a heavily contested zone. They had
Takedown, Surprise Strike, Stunning Attack, the international drug trade. After that he seemed to encounters with the enemy every week out there.
Takedown Attack, Track slow down, perhaps feeling his age, but all the signs It didn’t take him long to realize how useless his
superhuman powers were in jungle warfare. He was four years earlier. A lot of black servicemen felt loyal to the wrong side, and they were here to teach
really strong, and he could project energy out of his conflicted about the war. it a lesson.
fists, drastically enhancing the power of his blows. The enemy knew this, and would periodically The four American soldiers returned fire, which
If he concentrated really hard he could throw a bolt distribute leaflets aimed at undermining their will to surprised and alarmed the attacking VC, who
of energy out of his hands, and fry a man in his boots fight. Crudely made and badly translated into suddenly weren’t sure how heavily defended the
up to a few yards away. None of which made any English, they were a hoot to read and sometimes a village might be. Darkness fell, the four Americans
difference at all, except in close combat, which never group of black soldiers would gather around to were effectively pinned down, and the fighting
seemed to happen. chuckle over a particularly silly one. Black Thunder dissolved into confusion as a heavy evening
His energy blasts didn’t have the range of a rifle, got caught doing this (by the same officer who thunderstorm settled over the village.
and they made a lot more noise. He could actually caught him doing the Dap), and this time he was Some time around nine o clock the VC decided to
form a kind of energy shield that would block nearly sent up on charges for reading commie take the hamlet, and moved in among the huts
incoming bullets, but only if he knew what direction literature. despite the pouring rain and the terrible visibility.
they were coming from—something you never knew All of these things weighed heavily on him, but This was the moment Black Thunder and his abilities
out in the bush. What did it matter that he could lift he was too busy trying to stay alive to let it get him had been made for.
a jeep over his head? When was that ever going to down. And stay alive he did, one way or another, He crept between the houses, keeping low and
come up in a war like this one? until he was finally getting close to the midway point killing any VC he found, the sound of the storm
Worse, his costume made him a walking target of his term, and his first extended leave. masking the sound of his powers in action. He’s not
for snipers. They always killed the guy with powers He had his heart set on going to Bangkok, where sure now, but he must have killed between fifteen
first. The other grunts in his platoon didn’t even the other guys said that the food was cheap, the and twenty men that night. The rest panicked, the
want to stand near him on patrol. After he figured women were extremely friendly, and nobody cared VC pulled out, unsure of the enemy’s strength, and
this out he tried to wear his super-duds as little as that you were black. Black Thunder began to wonder if they would give
possible, even though the officers got on his case Then along came the incident that would make him the Silver Star instead of a Court Martial. It was
about it. him into first a hero and then a fugitive. not to be.
Like a lot of guys, he took drugs to dull the There were two ways of handling a patrol. You Wounded in the fighting, he was sent to a field
constant stress and tension. This got him written up could go from point Alpha, to Point Bravo, to Point hospital, where he spent the rest of his time before
on suspicion a couple of times, which he Charlie, to Point Delta, like you were supposed to. they put him on the plane to Bangkok. To his
compounded by getting involved in the “Dap” Or if you knew the guys in your patrol, you didn’t amazement, nobody back at headquarters seemed to
controversy. like getting shot at and you all agreed not to snitch, know or care that his patrol hadn’t been where they
The “Dap” was a special, super-complicated you could just go off somewhere else and make sure should have been on the night in question. They
handshake that black servicemen gave eachother to to turn up at point Delta on time. were eager to have superhuman heroes, and bent
show their solidarity with one another. It could go As his hours in the bush grew short, Black over backwards to give him his Silver Star.
on for minutes, if you let it. In 1969 the Armed Thunder grew jealous of his life and started ditching But they take a soldier’s entire service record into
Forces cracked down on the Dap, on the grounds that his patrols more and more. He liked to spend time in account when deciding what decorations to award,
it was a symbol of “Black Power” subversion. the nearby village when he could. A country boy and they denied the other three men their medals, on
Nobody told Black Thunder this until he was caught himself, it always interested him to see how the the grounds that all three of them had at one point or
doing the Dap by a new lieutenant (who was himself farmers lived, how different their lives were from his another been seen giving the “Dap” handshake and
black) and disciplined for it. own. reading commie pamphlets. This galled Black
It was tough being a black man in the Army, One evening, he and the guys had ditched their Thunder badly.
fighting for a country that oppressed you at home. patrol, and were wandering through the village of On the transport plane, headed for Bangkok, he
Lynching was still a fact of life in the South, black Muy Tranh, when they unexpectedly came under could hear anti-aircraft fire and he began to wonder
people had only gained the universal right to vote fire. The Viet Cong had marked this hamlet as being if he was going to be one of those unlucky souls who
got blown up on their way to take leave. Everything to settle down for a while in Bali, a place he has be more focused on getting away than on taking
he hated about the Army seemed to come crashing in come to dearly love. He lives quietly there and keeps them down—although he might teach a cocky young
on him at once. a very low profile. hero a brutal lesson to keep them off his trail.
When they arrived, he found Bangkok to be as The CIA hasn’t come close to him in years. In If you’d rather bring Black Thunder to your
great as everybody said it was. It was a fascinating fact they may not be trying very hard any more. Player Characters, rather then send them halfway
city, the people were nice, and for the first time in However, Jim Flint of the mercenary super-team around the world to chase him, there are only two
his life, no one seemed to care that he was black. Executive Solutions hates Black Thunder in a way things that might tempt him back onto American
Soon he hooked up with a young lady who was far that isn’t entirely sane, and continues to hunt for him soil. The possibility of amnesty, or a threat to his
too pretty to have ever gone out with him back in a low-key kind of way. Whenever the PCs get a surviving family members. Whenever he surfaces or
home, and he began to seriously consider deserting. lead on Black Thunder’s whereabouts, Flint will too, wherever the PCs hunt him down, rest assured that
A lot of guys went AWOL in Bangkok. The MPs and he’ll send an assassination squad. the boys from Executive Solutions are just one jump
always found them after they burned through their Black Thunder has regularly tried to send cash behind him.
money and their girlfriends kicked them out the home to his family, but they regard him as a
door. But it seemed to him that there had to be a lot shameful disgrace and will have nothing to do with Adventures With Black Thunder:
of places like this all across Southeast Asia, and that the money he sends. He can’t blame them. They
if he went far enough, they wouldn’t catch him. endured a lot of grief from the FBI on his behalf.
He’s been running ever since. In person, he is thoughtful, calm and reasonably 1) Echoes of Distant Thunder
Black Thunder had no idea that his powers would articulate. He’s grown up a lot since his days as a The Player Characters suddenly get the first fresh
make him such a target. In fact his desertion made young hothead and he no longer has anything to lead in years on one of America’s most wanted
headlines nationwide. It was a grave prove. It’s difficult but not impossible to get him criminals—Black Thunder himself. We’ll
embarrassment to the Nixon Administration, and riled. While he has a lot of regrets, he is basically tentatively say he’s in Indonesia, but that’s really
their inability to catch him made it worse. The cheerful by nature and tries not to burden other just one way to run the scenario. In fact you could
armed forces and the intelligence community have a people with them. Aware that he hasn’t had a have the PCs find Black Thunder anywhere in the
serious grudge against the man, more for what he chance to get much education, he is interested in the Far East but Japan.
symbolized than for what he actually did, and many world around him and always enjoys learning new Perhaps the right thing to do would be to notify
within their ranks still hate him with an irrational things. the federal authorities of his whereabouts, but few
fury. He has had to kill more people than he likes, and PC groups will ever take that route. Most Player
Life on the run was not as easy as he had hoped. tries hard not to do it if he doesn’t have to, but he is Characters will instead want to personally confront
He tried hiding in Laos, then Malaysia, then still capable of murder if he’s pushed too far or his him.
Indonesia, then the Philippines. back is to the wall. The sad truth is, he enjoys killing But someone else has also found the lead, and
He was able to rent his powers out to various a lot more than he cares to admit to himself. sent the lads from Executive Solutions after the same
armed factions in Laos and to the occasional bandit target. Executive Solution M (the former superhero
gang. He never felt good about doing this, but he once known as Major Maximum) hates Black
Using Black Thunder in your Thunder with a mad passion, despite having never
had to eat. He liked bodyguard work best, because it
was easy and he usually didn’t have to hurt anybody. campaign: This is the guy your Players will all met the man, and will jump at the chance to kill him.
More than one secret CIA strike force came after want to fight eventually—the legendary supervillain The PCs catch up with Black Thunder first, and
him, and a couple of superhero teams got close. He who no one ever caught. The PCs should hear about find that he’s willing to talk to them, either before or
always tried to do them as little damage as he could Black Thunder long before they ever get even the after they capture him. The old fugitive has just
while making his escape, but some guys got killed faintest lead on where to find him. finished telling his story when the goons from
anyway. He is a tough combatant, not so much because of Executive Solutions break down the door. Even if
By the early 1980s he had saved enough money his raw power as because of his experience and the PCs have already captured and bound the man
skill. However, if the PCs fight him he’ll probably they will attack, clearly intent on killing him. If the
PCs look tough and already have Black Thunder
prisoner, the team from Executive Solutions will
demand that the PCs hand him over for an “on-site
field execution.”
How the PCs deal with this situation and whether
or not they’re willing to fight beside one of
America’s most hated enemies is up to them.

2) My Brother is the Thunder

Black Thunder’s younger brother, Quentin Cage,
has made a real success of his life. He’s a tax lawyer
by trade, and lives in the suburbs of the PCs’ home
city. A retiring man with little interest in public life,
Quentin has the same superpowers as Black
Thunder, but he tries to conceal them. One night he
gets pushed too far—perhaps his daughter gets
murdered or dies of a drug overdose, and he kills the
person responsible. The coroner can see that the
dead criminal has been killed by Black Thunder
(nobody else’s powers leave marks like that). Can
the country’s most wanted supervillain actually be
back on American soil?
To complicate things, the real Black Thunder
catches wind of this in the press, knows instantly
who must have committed the crime and comes back
to America to take the rap for his little brother. But
first he intends to lead the authorities on a merry
chase, just for old time’s sake. And then just as the
PCs figure out what’s really going on, the team from
Executive Solutions breaks down the door…
The Death Angel Effect, Extended Teleport; Power Stunts: Fullisade
[Note: the Death Angel cannot use his energy blast
was a bad idea. But back in the 1980s, when he was
fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, it didn’t seem
attack in the same round as he makes a Fullisade like such a poor concept to back a superhuman
attack], Power Immunity, Turnabout; Flaws: Energy Muslim Fundamentalist with a lust to kill infidels.
Blast has no range and cannot be aimed at anyone We weren’t the infidels he had in mind. At least not
yet. Alas, in recent years this has changed and now
specific--it just radiates out of the Death Angel's the Angel is coming for us all.
position in an explosive blast, Energy Blast only Ibrahim bin Ismail was an upper-middle class
detonates when the Death Angel teleports out of a Omani, educated in America, seemingly destined to
location; Cost: 3pts) be a corporate lawyer like his father. He affected a
Equipment: Pair of Big Scary Knives (+5 kind of angry, radical Islamic posture at Yale, since
Lethal Damage; Cost: 1pt) it impressed girls and gave him some bad-boy
swagger. He was one of many rich young tough
Weaknesses: Quirk: Fanatically loyal to his guys, fond of vintage scotch, cashmere sweaters,
Real Name: Ibrahim bin Ismail comrades (albeit not to Islam) would never rat any of new model Mercedes and vicious anti-Semitism.
his fellow terrorists out or give up any information Like most of his associates he felt that Reagan
PL: 16 that would interfere with their plans, even if this puts was the only hope for America, that poor people had
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 14 (+2) him at a disadvantage. better shut up and stop whining, that Salman
Quirk: Bigot (Cannot work effectively with Jews, Rushdie had to die and that sorority girls were
Int: 13 (+1) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 16 (+3) women of loose virtue or anyone he suspects of implicitly asking for it if they willingly entered your
Initiative: +7 Attack Bonus (Melee): being homosexual; he will attack these targets in frat house. And of course that Allah was the One
+17 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +18 preference to anyone else, even if this puts him at a True God and Muhammad was his prophet.
tactical disadvantage) Always eager to outdo one another and prove that
Defense: +19/+15 Speed: 30/ 80 (Teleport)
they were hard, many of them went to fight the
Damage Save: +14 Fortitude Save: +4 “Three hundred years ago there was no Soviets in Afghanistan, at least for a little while. As
Reflexes Save: +5 Willpower Save: +5 crime, no drugs, no homosexuality, no the muhadjjadin rebels advanced on Kabul, a
Skills: Diplomacy +6, Hide +8, Intimidate +8, surprising number of them wore designer sunglasses
women’s liberation. Because people and really expensive shoes. An even more
Knowledge (Terrorist Underground) +5, Knowledge
(European Nightclub Scene) +5, Languages
still are fearing God. You must surprising number of them stayed on to join the
(English, French, Turkish), Listen +6, Move Silently understand that these things are all a Taliban once the Soviets were driven out.
We don’t know exactly when Ibrahim’s powers
+8, Survival +6 Western invention--the West fears first manifested themselves. We do know that he
Feats: Ambidexterity, Attack Finesse, Connected, Islam and will sink to any depth to first went to Afghanistan in 1982, while taking a
Dodge, Expertise, Great Fortitude, Improved semester off from Yale, and that he was almost
Initiative, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Infamy,
destroy it. Even homosexuality is not
immediately using his superhuman abilities to wreak
Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Penetrating Attack beyond them. But now the fist of God is bloody havoc on the Russians. He made a number
(Big Scary Knives) x2, Surprise Attack, Toughness, here to drive it down their throats. And of trips over the next two years, and was growing
Two-Weapon Fighting wildly in popularity with the rank and file
I am he.”
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +10, muhadjjadin when the CIA contacted him.
Teleportation +16 (Extras: Energy Blast, Explosive The Company felt that a muhadjjadin superhero
Everyone can now see that the Angel of Death
was an irresistible asset. They gave him some Rolex watches and is incapable of seeing his own Paris Metro, press some code word into the keypad
training, plus a course of operations at a semi-legal hypocrisy. Despite his rhetoric, his faith is weak and and then go wait behind the metal detectors at
clinic in Switzerland to enhance his powers yet chiefly serves as an excuse to hurt people. The real Charles de Gaulle airport (or go through something
further, and began to funnel a lot of money and god he worships in his heart is war. equally elaborate).
equipment to his ever-growing band of followers. If the PCs are working stiffs who can’t afford
They named him The Angel of Death. Using The Death Angel in your plane fare out of state, they should leave a message
He did a spectacular job, and in so doing met the and five hundred dollars in a particular locker at the
one great love of his life—war. Ever since he was a campaign: One of the big threats lurking in the bus station, and call a certain cell phone number, so
child he had a taste for hurting things, but he found background, make sure your PCs have heard all that the Death Angel’s cousin Ali knows to come
that in combat it blossomed into a bottomless, never- kinds of awful stories about the Death Angel before pick the money up and tell Ibrahim that somebody
ending hunger. they meet him in person. They can encounter him in wants to see him (or something equally simple).
While he met some of the other rebel leaders, any part of the Islamic world, although he may also The snitch’s CIA handlers give him a cover story
Abdul Haq and Muhammed Omar and Osama bin perform the odd assassination in Europe or even the on how he got the information, but it’s rushed,
Laden, he always stayed somewhat aloof from them. US itself. He always works for Islamic groups and flimsy and easy to dismantle with a little detective
Nor did he ever bother to do much actual leadership, he always seeks out combat. He’s much more work. Shortly after giving the PCs the contact
even though men gathered around him constantly. comfortable fighting in an actual bush war than in information, the snitch turns up dead.
He was always a bit of a lone wolf and it was always some kind of urban insurgency, but these days he CIA Case Officers Hawley and Geffen introduce
the fighting itself that most interested him. isn't picky and can turn up anywhere that Islam's themselves to the PCs soon after the snitch dies, and
When the Soviets finally left, he could easily enemies need to be killed. explain that they would like to help them trap the
have played a role in the new government but he Death Angel. The Death Angel’s people must have
wanted to go where people were still killing Adventures With The Death Angel: killed the snitch, they explain. Hawley and Geffen
eachother. Over the course of the 90s, he has fought were tracking him, thinking he had information on
for the militant factions of the PLO, for the Chechen 1) Look Homeward Angel Ibrahim, which is how they found the PCs.
rebels, for the Taliban and for the Muslim Sudanese The Death Angel’s old CIA handlers want to Austin Hawley is a plump, distinguished looking
in their unending war against the non-Islamic tribes draw him into a trap, but don’t want to draw older gentleman with a huge swoop of white hair and
in the south of the country. He has even worked in attention to the fact that they used to be associated expensive taste in suits. Glenora Geffen is a tiny
Lebanon for Hezbollah, despite the fact that they are with the man. So they leak his contact information, dark woman with short hair and a thick southern
a Shiite organization (he himself is proudly Sunni in secret code-phrases, countersigns and so forth, to an drawl. Both are accomplished liars and both are
his beliefs). He has never been an active member of underworld snitch who has connections to willing to kill to achieve the mission objective, but
Al Quaida, allthough they have his phone number. superheroes. neither one is particularly athletic or an especially
In person he is utterly ferocious, as well as being This particular snitch knows the Player good shot. They kill people by writing memos. Let
something of a pompous jerk. He loves to hold forth Characters, and runs straight to them with the the help do the manual labor.
about the decadent West with its crime and drugs information. The PCs are now in a position to set a They agree to assist the PCs set the trap and they
and homosexuality etc, ad nauseum. A spoiled brat trap for one of the most wanted men on earth. even provide the services of a sniper, on loan from a
for the first half of his life, it has never left him, We’re not going to be very specific here about security contractor in North Carolina, who can watch
entirely. While he claims to conduct himself how you would actually contact the Death Angel, or the target area in case things get dicey. They will
honorably in combat, and that he won’t strike a man what the snitch is like, so as to make this easier to also be willing to give the PCs as many weird spy
in the back, take hostages or kill innocent people, as work into your campaign. If the PCs are at a point in gadgets as they might care to request. They’re not
soon as the fight starts to go against him he will their adventures where they could just drop allowed to carry out operations on American soil, so
forget all this and do whatever he thinks will work. everything and travel halfway around the world, then this will officially be the PCs’ operation, and they
He still likes nightclubs and good whisky and have them go to a non-working payphone in the won’t officially be involved.
 Hawley and Geffen are as good as their word, but could still damage the hotel and cause a lot of
something really doesn’t seem right about them. collateral damage in the process. And what sinister
They are horribly condescending and fake, treating plan does he have in store for tomorrow?
the Player Characters like children, explaining things If the GM is feeling mischievous, then the Death
too slowly and repeating them too often. If the PCs Angel has no sinister plan at all—he’s just here to
reject their help they will have them tailed, and a watch the big game!
sniper will be waiting at the scene regardless of what
they do or where they set up the meeting.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, when the
Death Angel appears, his first words are: “What
could the CIA possibly want from me this time? It’s
been more than ten years since we’ve been in touch.
Could I still owe you any favors, Mister Hawley?”
Case Officer Hawley will frantically signal the
sniper, who will attempt to kill the Death Angel and
the PCs. A three cornered fight is likely to erupt,
and the Death Angel is likely to get away.

2) An Angel in the Outfield

The day before a major sporting event, a Player
Character spots the Death Angel scouting out the
venue. It seems incredible, but there he is, one of the
most hunted men in the world, standing there on a
crowded public place in broad daylight.
This scenario works best if the PC is in their
secret identity, with friends who don’t know their
secret. Their friends haven’t noticed the Death
Angel, and if they do, they’re convinced that it
couldn’t really be him. Not here on the street in the
middle of the day.
Whether the PC is with their friends or not, the
Death Angel is standing in the middle of a big crowd
of people—if he teleports away he might kill dozens
of them.
How is the PC to deal with this situation?. If they
try to trail him, he may very well spot them and a
fight will erupt right there on the spot. If they
succeed in trailing him discreetly, he goes to a mid-
price hotel downtown, where he is staying in the
room of another guest—a businessman from Saudi
Arabia. It may be safer to fight him there, but he
 Sufocation) perversities make him roll his eyes—he’s seen it all
Doctor Moloch, Powers: Super-Strength +13 (Extras: Protection,
Thunderclap; Cost 6pts)
before. Any idiot can slaughter children over a bowl
as far as he’s concerned.
In person he is pleasant, congenial, and a good
PhD Weaknesses: Vulnerability: Holy objects.
And not just Christian ones. The object must be
host (although he does often have a tired and rueful
air about him). He will greet the players cordially if
genuinely revered by someone—you can’t just hold he’s met them before, ask about the health of mutual
two sticks up like a cross to fend him off, but any acquaintances and how things are going in their own
such object will do (unless of course it’s revered by lives before he gets down to the business of killing
satanists). them.
Despite his weary contempt for human evil, it is
“Why Captain Eldritch! How good it his job and he knows a lot about it. In any
is to see you again! And how is Liberty conversation with Doctor Moloch, he’s likely to utter
at least one hideously accurate insight into the nature
Lass these days? Recovering well from of the universe, but he does it distractedly, as though
our last encounter, I hope? I hate to he can barely be bothered to pay attention. When he
have to say it, but I’m afraid my makes a point, he likes to use examples from
Seinfeld (you’d think that as the embodiment of all
current master wants me to kill you in that is foul and wrong he’d be more into Friends
some truly disgusting ways—he seems than Seinfeld, but in fact he’s fond of George
to think I should be terribly impressed Costanza). He does have his dignity and he doesn’t
like to be taunted, but he’s more likely to look hurt
by his boring depravities, as though than enraged if someone insults him. Sarcastic is
these uninspired mutilations of the flesh about as aggressive as he gets, at least in
weren’t something I already see every conversation.
Real Name: Dr. Moloch, Phd. In combat, on the other hand, he goes right for the
PL: 16 day in Hell. But I don’t mean to waste throat. A swift and efficient fighter, he wants the
your time with my difficulties. Shall we brawl to be over as quickly as possible so he tries to
Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 18 (+4) incapacitate or kill his opponent as fast as he can,
just get down to it then?”
Int: 18 (+4) Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 16 (+3) preferably by hitting them in a weak spot with
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): Filth-Lord of the Third Infernal Legion, Plangent everything he has. It is true that he may sometimes
handicap himself against really puny opponents,
+20 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +19 Wreaker of Obscenities on the Heads of the Lost and
the Damned, and Professor Emeritus of Depraved reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle with one
Defense: +29/+25 Speed: 30 Studies at the Burning College of the 34th Hell; for hand while he fights them with the other. But he
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 the living incarnation of absolute evil he’s not really doesn’t do this to show off—he does it because he’s
such a bad guy. Certainly he intends to wreak bored.
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +4 It’s really quite unusual to encounter demons this
wondrous and unthinkable abominations upon
Skills: Diplomacy +8, Knowledge (Blasphemous Mankind, but it’s really just a job to him. The truth powerful outside of Hell itself. Someone at his level
Secrets and Forbidden Lore)+14, Listen +7, Spot +6 is that he’s deeply bored with Evil. He is of the Infernal Hierarchy shouldn’t be running
Feats: Darkvision, Durability, Immunity (Aging, unimpressed with bloody sacrifices and demented around the Material Plane kicking in bank vaults and
Cold, Heat, Pressure, Radiation, Starvation, acts of worshipful carnage. Unspeakable battling superheroes hand-to-hand, he should be
attending Planning Committee sessions and teaching to wait. Crime, and that’s that.
advanced seminars in Evil. Be warned, whenever Doctor Moloch appears in The first Crown of Crime is supposed to be
Alas, three years ago the late sorcerer Hubert person on the Earth, the Forces of Light send located in a secret chamber underneath the Museum
Shackley found Moloch’s true name and published it Azeraphel the Screaming Angel to stop him, and of Natural History. Inwardly rolling his eyes, Dr.
on the Internet. How someone like Shackley she's a lot less pleasant than he is. See her individual Moloch smashes his way into the Museum at
managed to get his hands on such an incredibly entry to learn all the frightening details. midnight. He breaks open a secret chamber under
potent secret remains unknown, but it hardly matters. the basement and does in fact find a lost forbidden
Now any cheapjack magician with a web-browser Using Doctor Moloch, Phd. in your book of blasphemous secrets from beyond time and
and a set of black candles can yank poor Dr. Moloch space (the dreaded Gerflugelmacht Codex of
up out of Hell and force him to run their shabby campaign: While he can turn into a one-joke Manfred the Unbelievably Insane), but of course no
errands. character if you’re not too careful, Dr. Moloch can Crown of Crime.
He is forever having to miss Planning Committee actually get funnier and funnier each time the PCs Alas, Melvin is not satisfied with the book and
sessions and interrupt seminars to come up here and encounter him, as they come to understand his plight declares that Doctor Moloch has failed him. The
waste his time kicking in bank vaults and fighting better and he gets to know them and enjoy their next crown must be in a safety deposit box kept by
superheroes hand to hand. He’s not really sure what company. an ancient European family in one of the city’s most
to do about it, although he supposes that human His plot hook, while it’s really specific, is exclusive private banks. Of course Dr, Moloch
civilization will fall eventually. actually flexible enough that you can use him for a doesn't find it there, although he does find some
If the players manage to destroy his physical form bunch of different types of crimes. Because he’s swell diamonds—one of them as big as a sparrow’s
he can still be summoned at some later date, in forever getting sent on petty, trivial errands by idiots, egg. But Melvin didn't want diamonds, he wanted a
which case he won’t hold a grudge. he could participate in amazingly minor or Crown of Crime. And so it goes.
If they get access to his true name (which he is amazingly major capers—whatever works for your The PCs find out at some point in Dr. Moloch's
compelled by the laws of Darkness not to tell them campaign. Even so, use him sparingly to keep the pointless crime spree that someome is breaking into
himself) then he will be only too grateful to obey joke from getting stale. creepy, ominous locations and stealing who-knows-
commands like “return to Hell, ye devil-spawn” or what kind of arcane artifacts for some terrible
“never again shalt thou trouble Mankynde” and he Adventures With Doctor Moloch, Phd.: unknown purpose. All the signs point to a demon of
will thank them for it. However, only an actual incredible power—the kind of entity who almost
sorcerer can use his name effectively, and then only Seven Crowns of Stupid and a Diamond or Two never gets summoned to the earth in the flesh. What
if they are willing to go through a lengthy, disgusting Doctor Moloch, PhD, gets dragged up out of Hell frightful scheme is afoot? How to stop it?
and morally dubious ritual. The GM should by a twenty year old Svengali named Melvin To complicate matters, one of Melvin’s acolytes
improvise the details, but it should be the kind of Dumbrowski, who wants to impress his pack of has started reading the Gerflugelmacht Codex for
thing that you can’t do in the middle of combat and giggling teenage girlfriends. Melvin orders him to herself. And then Azeraphel the Screaming Angel
that you wouldn’t want to go through again if you retrieve the Seven Crowns of Crime—lost artifacts shows up…
could avoid it. of the Black Atlantean Age, now scattered and
Dr. Moloch is a loyal ally--as a summoned and vanished. Whosoever possesses them will know the
bound entity he frankly doesn't have any other ultimate embrace of shadows and become the Lord
choice. He will frequently make wry observations of Night, master of darkness and blood.
about what an idiot his current boss is, but he’s not Doctor Moloch patiently explains that he can’t
willing to betray them or to reveal anything about retrieve the Seven Crowns of Crime because there’s
them that a superhero could use to their advantage. no such thing—in fact Melvin just made them up
He already has a few choice plans for his current now. But Melvin and his pimply handmaidens
master once they reach his domain, and he’s willing won’t listen. They will have Seven Crowns of
 Feats: Detect Evil, Durability, Immunity (Aging, law. Inevitably they commit the heinous sin of
Azeraphel, the Cold, Heat, Exhaustion, Pressure, Radiation,
Suffocation), See Invisibility, True Seeing
attacking her and must be punished quite severely.
She does not bother to explain herself to the heroes
she finds herself fighting. If you attack her, you’re
Screaming Angel Powers: Flight +10 (Cost: 2pts), Super-Senses +9
(Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +12 (Extra: Protection;
Cost 5pts), Telepathy +10 (Cost: 2pts)
clearly damned in any case, so what would be the
point of trying to talk with you?
As you might expect, her tendency to get
Equipment: Flaming Sword +15 (Lethal sidetracked by minor evils hampers her effectiveness
Damage) at blocking Doctor Moloch’s activities.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Crazy fanatic, will In person she is tiresome, dangerous company.
attempt to punish bystanders for trivial crimes even Incapable of relaxing or being anyone’s friend, prone
if it distracts her from her mission or puts her at a to screechy rants about the power of light, she does
tactical disadvantage. not care about anything but her mission.
Quirk: Incapable of lying. It’s rare to see angels of her rank down here in the
sordid, itchy realm of physical reality, and she is
keenly aware of the fact that it’s beneath her (see the
“Stop struggling! This is going to hurt entry on Doctor Moloch to find out why two such
a lot worse if you keep wriggling unreasonably powerful supernatural entities keep
around that that! Disgusting little getting summoned to the Material Plane). She hates
it here, and considers it a huge indignity to have to
mortals, why will none of you sit still descend into the grubby imperfection of mere reality.
for your rightful punishment?!” Heroes who try to ask her about big philosophical
questions or cosmic truths will get some arrogant
A tedious angel, sent here to oppose the evil Doctor response about people with impure hearts not being
Moloch. For the living embodiment of all that is capable of understanding the answers. She may
good, she’s a royal pain to deal with. even consider these questions to be impertinent or
Real Name: Azeraphel She has no idea how human society works and no prideful, and try to punish the questioner.
desire to learn, so she is forever making grievous A supernatural hero who knows what she is can
PL: 16 errors and wreaking havoc whenever she appears in probably talk her into an alliance, provided that they
Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 18 (+4) the mortal world. Intolerant and humorless, if she are willing to help her hunt Doctor Moloch and don’t
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 16 (+3) sees someone commit a sin, no matter how trivial, mind submitting to her leadership. She will
she will attempt to punish them for it (usually by probably want to punish them for Pride, especially if
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): inflicting pain on them with her mental abilities— they wear a costume, but once she has done this she
+20 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +19 only the very worst sins merit maiming or death). will regard the matter as settled and won’t pester
Defense: +29/+25 Speed: 30/50 (Flight) Time and again, she will detect someone committing them about it again. It’s tough to be her ally, since
some minor act of wickedness like eating when they she won’t be questioned and demands such
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 aren’t really hungry or wishing they didn’t have to impossibly high standards of behavior.
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +2 go to work, scream “Gluttony!” or “Sloth!” and Not a subtle combatant, she considers any form of
administer discipline on the spot. stealth or subterfuge to be dishonorable and won’t
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Intimidate+10, Knowledge This often brings down the wrath of superheroes tolerate it in her allies. She announces her presence
(Punishments), Listen +8, Spot +12
who don’t understand that she is above mere human loudly and demands that opponents face her head on.
Honorable to a fault, she won’t hit an opponent from Doctor Moloch themselves, but could any mere
behind or strike them while they’re preoccupied with mortals be up to the task? Then it turns out that he’s
some other combatant. actually been summoned by some pointless pimple-
If she encounters Doctor Moloch she will refuse faced adolescent Satanist to go rob a bank, or
to do anything but attack him until either he or she is something equally banal.
dead.

Using Azeraphel, the Screaming

Angel in your campaign: The Screaming
Angel is a great way to lead the player characters
onto some scheme that Doctor Moloch has been
dragged into. She only appears if her nemesis has
been summoned to the earth once more, (although
now that his true name has gotten out on the Internet
this happens far more than she would like). Unless
she gets completely sidetracked any adventure which
involves her is likely to lead to a confrontation with
her enemy. In fact, that’s about the only place it can
lead.
If the Screaming Angel actually gets destroyed,
she can come back in a later scenario anyway, just
like Doctor Moloch.

Adventures With Azeraphel, the

Screaming Angel: Typically, a Screaming
Angel scenario goes something like this. Azeraphel
appears in the middle of an urban area, beats up a
bunch of luckless civilians for crimes like coveting a
flashy car or touching themselves improperly at
night, draws down the wrath of the Player Characters
and gets incapacitated by them.
After knocking her out of action, the players learn
that she was sent here by the Forces of Light to
oppose some unbelievably powerful Force of
Darkness. Something so huge and terrible that it’s
almost unheard of in the secret occult history of the
world—Doctor Moloch (Phd) himself! And now
they’ve just clobbered the only thing that could stop
him! Ulp!
It looks like the PCs will have to face the evil
 Feats: Connected, Immunity (Cold, Heat, in Khalid’s family were still laughing over this funny
The Hammer of Suffocation, Pressure), Indomitable Will, Infamy,
Iron Will
little episode decades later.
To this day he says that was the last time he ever
killed in anger, for he had learned a crucial lesson
Doom Powers: Amazing Save (Damage, Will) +5 (Cost:
2pts) Energy Control (Light) +17 (Extras: Explosive
Effect, Flight, Force Field; Power Stunts: Energy
from it—if you kill in anger, you make mistakes and
people laugh at you. He killed a few more times
over the course of his childhood, and once had to
Blast, Power Immunity; Cost: 5pts), Sensory execute one of his little brothers on his father’s
Protection +5 (Cost: 1pt) instructions, but he never did it out of anger.
By the time he was twelve he had grown into a
“You continue to defy me. I think you seasoned hood, and helped his father out with every
must have a sick and crazy appetite for aspect of the business. Then one day a superhero
fell from the sky over Brooklyn. Badly hurt and
your own self destruction. I admire unable to speak, the caped man lay bleeding on the
that, I respect it, but don’t think this curb and gestured desperately for help. People
will save you. You see I am the sort of didn’t know what to do about it, so they called
Khalid’s dad, who was an important man and would
fellow who feels only two things— surely have some idea. And he did. Draining off
contempt for the weak and disgust for some of the caped man’s blood and spinal fluid, he
the crude. I haven’t yet decided which injected it into three of his sons, to see if it would
give them superpowers.
to kill you for, but I shall.” Two died, but Khalid did not. Reasoning that
Khalid had survived because he was the oldest,
Something of a legend in law-enforcement Father injected himself. He guessed wrong, and
circles, Khalid al Warhadi is one of the most perished in agony, leaving Khalid to carry on the
dangerous men alive. He’s committed spectacular
Real Name: Khalid al Warhadi acts of theft from India, to Pakistan, to Malaysia, to
family business.
The boy had bigger ambitions than being a mid-
PL: 17 New York City, and has never spent a night in jail. level drug dealer, and there was no way for an Arab
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 14 (+2) People are often surprised to find out that he’s a to move beyond that level in New York—the
New Yorker by birth, and that English is his first Sicilians had things locked up tight. So he liquidated
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 14 (+2) language. as much product as he could, turned most of the
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): He was always a criminal. His father was a business over to his uncles and started hiring out his
+18 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +19 Syrian drug dealer on the streets of Brooklyn, and newly acquired superhuman talents to the
Khalid and his brothers grew up to follow in his underworld at large.
Defense: +19/+15 Speed: 30/85 (Flight) footsteps. He put himself through prep school and was
Damage Save: +7 Fortitude Save: +2 When he was six, some bigger kids overpowered halfway through college by the time he participated
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +10 Khalid at an alley game of soccer, and sent him in an infamous drug-house massacre (the so-called
home bruised and crying. His father beat him worse “SoHo Bloodbath” that the New York Post gleefully
Skills: Bluff +5, Diplomacy+6, Forgery +5, and told him to go out there and get revenge. To made into a household name) and had to leave the
Languages (Arabic, French, Parsi, Pashtun), everyone’s surprise, he grabbed a kitchen knife, ran country. He was 17.
Profession (Businessman) +5, Spot +7 back out into the alley and stabbed a big kid in the Going to the Middle East was the best thing he
throat. Alas, it wasn’t one of the right kids. People
had ever done. Things were wide open over there just silly toys made of meat to him. September 11th badly disrupted Khalid’s life and
and a man could rise as far as his talents might take Calm and professional, Khalid doesn’t bother career. He couldn’t give a damn for Islam, but
him, provided he was willing to get his hands a little with grudges or losing his temper. He also doesn’t because he’s an Arab supervillain everyone assumes
dirty. By the time he was 20 Khalid was an leave witnesses. Tidy and methodical about cleaning he’s a fanatical Muslim terrorist and no one wants to
internationally famous supervillain and his wealth up after a job, he has no qualms about killing work with him. In fact there are American gangsters
and fame have kept growing ever since. someone who only might have seen too much. that he’s known for years who would now kill him
A professional super-criminal with no ambitions He’ll take hostages if he has to, and he’ll kill on sight. His jobs are drying up and his contacts
beyond getting rich and staying alive, Khalid has no them if it makes sense to, but on the whole he tries to won’t talk to him. For the first time in his life, he’s
desire to rule the world, blow it up, or turn it into an avoid messy situations like that. Better not to get not sure what to do.
Islamic paradise. Instead he wants to gamble, buy yourself into the kind of jam where you’d have to
expensive cars, date pretty girls and drink really take a hostage in the first place. Using The Hammer of Doom in your
good wine. Not that he appreciates really good wine, While Khalid does sometimes rent himself out as
but he feels that it’s the kind of thing a successful muscle or for bodyguard duties, he’s much happier if campaign: The Big Bad Villain from overseas—
man ought to drink. you hire him to plan and execute a major act of theft. the Player Characters should hear about the Hammer
Despite his humble origins he has trained himself He prefers to steal from other criminals, since they of Doom long before they ever meet him. Build up a
to speak knowledgably about things like wine and can’t go to the police and he prefers to hit locations confrontation with the man before it happens. Let
gourmet food. He sometimes tries too hard to show without any bystanders (it’s a lot harder to hunt them know they’re in trouble.
off his new-found sense of taste, and he still often down and kill potential witnesses when there are While he makes a tough opponent for a team,
gets things wrong, to the amusement of the fifty of them). He might knock over a semi-truck your players may be relieved to find that he’s
aristocratic master villains he imitates. He’s trying to full of smuggled cocaine out on the freeway, or nab unlikely to become the personal nemesis of any
learn how to appreciate art, but his total lack of a shipment of AK-47s on the docks at midnight, but individual PC. He would hunt someone down if he
feeling hampers him here. He may want to ask a he most certainly would not walk into a crowded thought their survival might pose a threat to him, but
captured superhero about art, if they look suave and bank at noon and demand that they give him all their he wouldn’t do it just because they beat him in a
“classy”, discussing the subject stiffly and money. fight, or anything stupid like that.
uninsightfully until he gets frustrated and has them It is not safe to be his partner for any length of
killed. time. People who team up with him eventually learn Adventures With The Hammer of
He has no regular contact with his family too much about him and that can’t be allowed to Doom: 1) Seventeen Ghost Swords and a
anymore. If anyone were to track them down they happen. Dead men tell no tales, he often says, and Hammer of Doom
would find a gang of quarrelsome, murderous shrugs. The Hammer of Doom allies himself with the 17
drunks, stabbing their cousins over ancient grudges It’s almost a shame that he doesn’t do more Ghost Sword Triad in Hong Kong. Unsure what to
and a few grubby yards of Brooklyn street. Only mercenary work—he’s highly sought after and do with this powerful but dangerous new resource,
one of his brothers is still alive, and Khalid hasn’t respected in that world (or at least he was until the Ghost Swords send him to the US, to destroy
seen him in years. Khalid claims to feel vaguely September 11, 2001). their competition in a number of big cities.
sentimental about his surviving niece and nephew, He’s a genuine rarity in the criminal underworld, He annihilates the White Lotus Society in San
but if someone were to hold them hostage he would a true professional. A good hireling, he takes orders Francisco, lays waste to the Long Fang Tong in
let them die and get even with the kidnapper later. without complaint and stays absolutely loyal (until Chicago, decimates the 39 Crazy Fist Gang in
Quiet and guarded, he seldom gets mad, and real the moment his personal security is threatened). He Cleveland, and he may be on his way to your town
hatred is as foreign to him as mercy or compassion. doesn’t show up late, he never drinks on the job, he right now.
Above all else, he is reasonable. doesn’t pick fights with the other guys and he Once it becomes clear that Khalid is back on
Khalid won’t hesitate to torture or kill if it’s doesn’t try to grab more than his fair share. That’s American soil, every superhero in the country is
expedient, but he takes little relish in it—people are nothing short of a miracle. going to want to fight him, as will quite a number of
villains and organized crime families. The challenge 2) The Hammer Drops over the intercom and says “sorry—I lied.” The
is in predicting where he’ll next appear. Give the The Hammer of Doom decides that the Player reactor’s cooling tanks rupture, the lower level
Player Characters a chance to figure out the pattern Characters have meddled in his affairs for the last floods with boiling radioactive water, the Hammer of
to his attacks before any of the other hunters kill or time, and conceives a fiendish plan to be rid of them Doom starts calmly walking toward the secret escape
imprison him. Once the PCs realize that he’s for once and for all. It will take some effort and hatch, and everybody else dies.
eliminating the enemies of the 17 Ghost Sword expense, but his cost-benefit analysis shows that it Like most of Khalid’s schemes, this one is
Triad, it will be easy to figure out from the last will be worth it in the long term. incredibly risky and unbelievably ruthless. To
attack where the next target is going to be. He’s To make this work, he will first need a secret lair. murder the PCs, he is also prepared to kill everybody
hitting them as efficiently as he can, always moving In order to save funds and time, he appropriates the connected with this enterprise. The hired
to the closest possible target by the most direct route. deserted headquarters of a superhero team he wiped mercenaries, the technicians, the kidnapped scouts,
The nearest enemies of the Ghost Swords are… out in the late ‘90s. Then he gets some disgraced thousands of innocent bystanders—they’re all going
well in fact we’re going to leave the specific name nuclear technicians from a former Soviet Republic in to die.
and location open, so as to make this easier to work Central Asia to build a crude atomic pile to power It will be very hard to beat him. The Hammer of
into the campaign. The target could be in the PCs the base. An unscrupulous security firm in Denmark Doom is on the far side of the complex from the
home city, but it could also require them to make a provides him with security staff—mostly former overheating nuclear reactor. The PCs can rescue the
trip to some distant metropolis, depending on the members of elite European military units, selling girl scouts, try to contain the impending atomic
resources available to them. their expertise to whoever can pay. His headquarters disaster, or go catch the Hammer of Doom. At most,
Unfortunately, at least one supervillain figures the is crude, improvised and uncomfortable, using only a they should be able to accomplish two of these
pattern out too, and shows up at the last second to fraction of the leaky old base, but it will serve for the objectives. Even if they divide their forces enough
attack Khalid themselves, complicating the fight and purpose at hand. so that they can have some heroes working on the
(probably) letting the Hammer of Doom escape. He kidnaps a troop of girl scouts, locks them up reactor controls while others get the scouts to safety
Once this happens, the 17 Ghost Swords realize near the reactor, and then alerts all the major news and still another group goes after the Hammer of
that someone in the US must be on to them, and they outlets, mailing them all videotapes that explain his Doom, they’re unlikely to have enough manpower to
drop Khalid like a hot skillet. He is now stranded demands (none of them are willing to play any of actually take him down without risking the other two
deep inside the country, with no support and these tapes on the air, but they’re all happy enough objectives.
nowhere to hide. He’s going to have to fight his way to report on the contents) As an added twist, perhaps after he gets out, the
out and it isn’t going to be pretty. Neither is what’s He wants a hundred million dollars in ransom. Hammer of Doom thinks for a moment about how
going to happen when he gets back to Hong Kong. That’s not as much as it sounds like—the operation pointless and unsatisfying everything turns out to be
The Hammer of Doom is going to come down on the itself cost sixty million. If the city doesn’t pay, he’ll in this dull gray world, changes his mind, and walks
17 Ghost Swords Triad like a… well, like a Hammer send the atomic pile into a meltdown, killing the back into the complex to die.
of Doom. hostages and rendering a lot of the surrounding
When the PCs next catch up with him, he will territory uninhabitable. He says that he wants the
offer them an interesting deal. Why not help him PCs to come handlethe negotiations. If anyone else
escape? It would prevent a lot of additional havoc sets foot on the premises, he’ll set off the chain
and he’s on his way to punish the people responsible reaction.
for all this chaos right now. If they stop him now, This is all a trap. The moment the Player
they’ll be letting the Ghost Swords slip through the Characters enter the complex, the guards start firing
net, and they’re the real criminals here—or so on them and a voice starts counting down from ten
Khalid says. minutes. When the PCs smash their way down to
the bottom level, or when five minutes are left, the
countdown suddenly stops, Khalid’s voice comes on
 Feats: Attractive, Connected, Durability, Fame, Fortitude Save; Cost: 2pts), Flight +19 (Power Stunt:
Captain Valiant Headquarters (the Valiant Retreat--a palatial estate in
Maui where he goes for solitude. His closest
Super-Flight; Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +19
(Extras: Protection, Thunderclap; Cost: 7pts)
neighbors are George Hamilton and Charo, isolated
on their own fortified estates. The Valiant Retreat is “Look at this. It’s the medal President
equipped with a state-of-the art Communications Ford gave me. See, it says ‘a grateful
Center, a Dock for private boats, an automatic Fire
Prevention System, a giant Garage that can nation thanks you’. You got one of
accomodate the vehicles of whoever might come to these? Because when you do, then
visit him, an Olympic-quality Gymnasium that has you’ll have earned the right to question
been specially equipped to meet the special needs of
the superhumanly strong, a Hanger and landing strip me.”
for any private aircraft a guest might bring with
them, a fully stocked Infirmary, an Isolated He’s not the world’s mightiest man, or America’s
Location, the Captain's famous Crime Library, most popular superhero. In fact there may be as
Living Space for up to 19 guests, a giant heated many as two or three superheroes who are better
indoor Pool, its own independant Power System, the known and have more personal power than Captain
best Security System that Honeywell can design, a Valiant.
dedicated household Staff [consisting of of 40 PL 1 He’s fought America’s enemies around the globe
servants and maintenance personnel, 4 PL 2 Security since the 1960s and has battled some of the most
Consultants, 2 PL3 Mechanics, a PL 4 shiatsu terrible monsters ever to walk the earth. He’s stood
massage therapist and on the surface of the moon and visited other
dimensions. Three different presidents have pinned
a PL5 physician], and a seldom-used Workshop; it medals on his chest. He may even have saved the
also has PL4 assigned to "Gadgets" [super heroic world.
Real Name: Rex Skinner, Capt USAF visitors are always leaving one or another gadget None of which makes him a very nice guy. As a
lying around and the Trophy Room is full of weird superhero, he has few equals. As a human being, he
PL: 19 has grave flaws.
stuff captured from various master villains] which
Str: 19 (+4) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 18 (+4) Captain Valiant may be able to use to suprise Captain Valiant is as much an industry as a
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 13 (+1) Cha: 12 (+1) unwelcome guests), Immunity (to Cold, Heat, individual now, and his publicists and business
Poison, Disease, Pressure, Suffocation), Minions managers keep his public image wholesome
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +9 (although lately he’s been toying with the idea of
(the Valiant Scouts [a worldwide group of 110 PL1
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +6 Defense: junior detectives dedicated to emulating the life and trying more of a “bad boy” thing) but in person he is
+15/+14 Speed: 30/95 (Flight) legend of Captain Valiant, most of them juvenile all but unbearably obnoxious. Vengeful, quick to
delinquents who joined the Scouts under court order take offense, callous to his wife and distant to his
Damage Save: +14 Fortitude Save: +14 children, he is so aggressive and competitive that he
as an alternative to jail], plus 11 PL 2 hangers on
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +1 [various assorted members of his enterogue and compulsively dominates any social situation that he
finds himself in. He will hit on your girlfriend right
Skills: Bluff +7, Intimidate +10, Knowledge personal staff], 6 PL 3 lawyers, 3 PL 4 publicists, 2
in front of you. He will take food off your plate,
(Law) +6, Knowledge (Super-Criminals) +6, Listen PL 5 business managers and 1 PL 6 bodyguard),
Penetration Vision, Ultra-Hearing taste it and insist that the waiter bring you something
+8, Profession (Astronaut) +5, Spot +8 else whether you were enjoying it or not. He will
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +10 (Extras:
not be questioned. had to use his authority to kill a supervillain and it must stop harassing her (in fact the Captain just
Captain Valiant has never been a government- has caused some controversy. When television walked in, saw her sitting by herself and had the
sanctioned hero, but most law enforcement agencies reporters ask him why he did it, he tells them “This manager invite her over to sit with him). The lady
willingly cooperate with him and he has become was a parnormal criminal, which makes that my call. will insist that she’s all right and the manager will
something of a law unto himself. He has long Life and death, it’s my choice to make and it’s not reluctantly depart.
enjoyed limited immunity from prosecution, and open to question. Criminals should be aware of that. Even though there are other tables available, the
after the September 11 attacks he was granted the It sends an important message.” staff will seat the PC and his date right beside
legal authority to execute super-criminals on the spot When the reporters press him further, he says that Captain Valiant’s party, who are loud and smoke
if there is no other recourse and they pose a grave they don’t understand the paranormal threat, and cigars and can’t be persuaded to stop.
threat. He’s never had to use it, yet. tells a disgusting anecdote about some foul atrocity a At a certain point, the PC will catch Captain
super-criminal committed twenty years ago, as Valiant staring at him, puffing on a cigar. Then he
Using Captain Valiant in your though it were somehow relevant. To the PC’s shakes his head with contempt and looks away.
surprise, the assembled reporters treat this as though Dinner conversation may become strained.
campaign: A change of pace from super-thieves it were a real answer and seem favorably impressed. Whenever the PC and his date leave, a seedy looking
and world-conquering arch-villains, Captain Valiant This is the last the PCs ever hear of the incident. It member of Captain Valiant’s entourage walks after
is meant as a personal rival/nemesis for an individual abruptly vanishes from the news the next night. them, hands the young woman a card and whispers
Player Character. Not a criminal per se, he is still a Several adventures later, one of the male Player something in her ear. He goes back to the table after
bad enemy to have. Powerful, popular, well- Characters with a secret identity gets a chance to giving the PC a long cold look.
connected and immune to most forms of prosecution, have dinner at a really hip, expensive restaurant with When the PC asks his date what that was about,
he makes an implacable and dangerous foe. Of his girlfriend. If he doesn’t have a regular girlfriend she says shamefacedly “He said ‘once that guy
course, this is also a more subtle kind of emnity than then make it a woman he’s romantically interested drops you off, call this number and we’ll come pick
having someone kick in the roof of your secret in--maybe she is a beautiful co-worker who has you up.”
headquarters and challenge you to fight. The theme always scorned him in his secret identity while Things remain awkward for the rest of the
has to be introduced with some care. Try the yearning for his superhero self. In either case it evening. When the PC drops her off, she doesn’t
adventure below for some ideas. should be someone he doesn’t live with and who want him to come up, explaining that she’s really
doesn’t know his secret identity. tired and kind of wierded-out from the evening’s
Adventures With Captain Valiant: Some sort of minor crisis comes up (make it a events.
mugging if there’s nothing going on his personal life If he stays to watch, she does indeed go upstairs.
Forever Valiant that you can use) and the PC arrives late. To his If he decides to stand guard in a jealous fury, some
Try introducing Captain Valiant to your players surprise, Captain Valiant and his entourage have urgent crisis suddenly comes up across town.
the following way. In an unrelated adventure, the picked tonight to visit this particular restaurant, and If by this point you have the player worked up
PCs hear on the news that Captain Valiant has killed the PC’s girlfriend is sitting with them. into a such a paranoid frenzy that he actually
a villain that they have fought themselves. This The Player could attempt to deal with this in a neglects his duty and keeps standing there, Captain
should be a supervillain that the PCs know isn’t bunch of different ways. Whatever he does, things Valiant averts the crisis and saves the day, winning
really dangerous. Don’t go so far as to make it go badly wrong. himself yet more glory.
someone as sympathetic as, say, the Unicorn or If he tries to sit down at the table with Captain No matter what happens, the PC’s girlfriend (or
Broken Arrow. A pitiful crazy villain like Grim Valiant, the headwaiter and the manager intervene date) stops answering her phone for two weeks.
Diddle would be just about ideal, as would an and try to prevent him. If he asks his date to come Then Captain Valiant leaves town, and she suddenly
honorable villain like Mr. Fist or some poor lost soul sit with him, she agrees and looks embarrassed. becomes available again.
like Woodchuck Man. The manager will present himself and tell the PC If pressured, she says that yes she did hang out
This is the first time Captain Valiant has actually that the lady is Captain Valiant’s guest and that he with Captain Valiant and his entourage a little over
the past two weeks It was fun. He was a real impersonating him and fouling up his reputation for
gentleman. If the PC is ignoble enough to ask her if some time, he claims. Or maybe it was mind-
anything happened, she giggles and says “We just control--things like this happen to him a lot and he
talked. He’s a really nice guy.” can't bother to keep them straight anymore. Anyway
If the PC pouts or complains that he was treated his actions are above question, his record speaks for
unfairly, she scowls and points out that nobody got itself and he doesn't know what kind of person
physical with him. Not everybody who has a run in would be unpatriotic enough to suggest that he's
with a celebrity gets off that easy. The rap singer RZ actually guilty of the crime.
Dawg Killah’s bodyguards beat a guy to death in the The PCs probably won't buy this and will attack
same kind of situation just last year. They got away him. After the PCs beat him, or when both sides are
with it too. The PC was lucky that Captain Valiant is exhausted from fighting, an evil robot duplicate of
such a nice guy. She won’t discuss the matter Captain Valiant bursts onto the scene and attacks
further. everyone. But does that mean that he was telling the
Whether the PC wants to continue seeing her is his truth? Could he have had the robot built himself and
affair. told it to kill his wife? It’s salvaged memory banks
The next time the PCs encounter Captain Valiant, will seem to show that he did, but is that a trick?
he swoops down unexpectedly out of the sky and And here’s an added detail; the robot has only
defeats the villain they were fighting. What happens been active for a few weeks. It was really Captain
next depends on how the PCs react. Valiant himself who killed that harmless supervillain
Some players will no doubt want to attack him and ruined the PCs date. Even if he is innocent, he’s
right there, bewildering their teammates and not a nice guy. Nor will he ever forgive the PCs for
bringing down the ire of the authorities. Most will attacking him.
be angry with the Captain and make insulting If someone has a chance to ask him candidly why
remarks about his conduct as a hero. he killed that supervillain, he'll grin and say that it
He will take offense, boast about his was an experiment--he's been thinking about trying
accomplishments (see the quote at the top of this for a tougher, "bad-boy" kind of image and he
section) and fly off in a huff. He won’t try to take wanted to see if it would work. Did they like it?
credit for the villain the players just took down, but If asked about breaking up the PC's big night out,
the papers will give it to him anyway. The PC who he doesn't remember it that well, and keeps getting it
insulted or questioned him has just made a confused with a similar incedent that happened a few
dedicated, lifelong enemy. weeks earlier in Pittsburgh. He does however point
For one last twist of the knife, a little while later out that: "You know a lot of guys are proud when I
the nation is stunned as Captain Valiant stands do their woman. Sometimes they even ask me to. I
accused of murdering his wife. The player guess that just shows the limits of your patriotism."
characters have to track him down (or they get a
good lead on his whereabouts, perhaps through the
wronged PC’s former girlfriend).
When they find him, he claims that an evil robot
duplicate committed the deed and that he’s tracking
the machine back to whichever of his old enemies
built it. This robot has been running around
 Chapter 4: Teams
he isn't precisely evil--just muddled and insane. can speak articulately. When the Ratcatcher found
The Nowhere Men The one called the Ratcatcher is a sort of urban
shaman who lives in communion with the city and
them Woodchuck Man was already trying to care for
Grim Diddle on his own. For the GM's convenience
can feel disturbances in the flow of its systems. we're going to leave it undetermined. Perhaps they
Membership: Woodchuck Man (A scrofulous, Some time last year he detected a pair of strange both broke out of the same bio-warfare lab or
lice-ridden and unsavory human woodchuck, who presences, lost and hungry, wandering through the perhaps Woodchuck Man just found Grim Diddle
prowls the city’s alleys late at night, looking for tunnels beneath the streets. He was curious about lying in an alley somewhere and decided that he
food), The Ratcatcher (arch-wino and urban shaman, these strangers, and had the city lead them to his lair. needed help.
he communes with the pavement and knows all the They were a weird but friendly woodchuck-man and
secrets of the rat, the pigeon and the roach),Grim an insane old derelict whose skin glowed blue in the Threat Level: Scary though they can seem, the
Diddle (a hapless, insane old derelict who moans dark. The three of them banded together for mutual Nowhere Men aren’t much of a threat to anything.
instead of speaking, and who has been cursed with support and they have been looking after one another They want to be left alone, and to keep any more
the ability to drain the life force out of others). ever since. bums from getting set on fire. This seems to be the
Once they started getting in fights with gang-kids, limit of their ambition. They aren’t even particularly
They say that something haunts skid row. Even the Ratcatcher came up with the idea of painting interested in hurting the gangs—they just don’t want
the gang kids won’t go there after dark in groups of their name on their turf, to show that certain them to set anyone else on fire. Grim Diddle can be a
less than ten. Bums whisper to one another of locations were under their protection. That way they menace if left to his own devices, but they try to
something that has claimed the territory for its own, wouldn’t have to get in fights all the time—the kids keep that from happening as much as possible. Still,
and although none of them will say the name, they would know to avoid certain areas and leave the there are occasions when Woodchuck Man is off
all know where to find the freshly scribbled graffiti bums there alone. This policy has worked, although scavenging for food and the Ratcatcher is too drunk
that reads “The Nowhere Men.” Now the tabloids it has also led to rumors and urban legends about the to keep Grim Diddle from floating off on his own,
are starting to take an interest, which might prove to “Nowhere Men” and may lead superheroes to come moaning and muttering and spreading fear as he
be unwise… investigate them. The city's homeless population goes.
The Nowhere Men are a collection of misfits and doesn't know much about them, apart from the name,
outcasts who live in the tunnels underneath the PCs' although they are certainly aware that someone has
city. They steal food to survive and occasionally
Base of Operations: The Nowhere Men live
been keeping the gangs off their case. Most of the
come to blows with the youth-gangs who prey on in the service tunnels under the city where the Player
city's homeless would be willing to aid and shelter
Characters operate. They change their lair on a
homeless people. Setting derelicts on fire used to be the Nowhere Men in a crisis, particularly the
a popular way for the city’s youth to spend their regular basis, sometimes taking up residence in a
Ratcatcher, who has long been a semi-mythical folk
evenings, but it isn’t any more. storm sewer, sometimes in a service shaft off a
hero to the wretches on Skid Row. subway tunnel (if the PC's city has subways) or in
Out of the three Nowhere Men, only the one We don't know quite where Grim Diddle and
called Grim Diddle is actually dangerous, and even some other warm dry spot. They don't need much
Woodchuck Man came from--neither one of them space, just enough for the three of them to lie down.
The Ratcatcher is inhumanly gifted at finding them threatening message, and then once everyone is information when he’s sober, and could make an
one good niche or other in which to hide. already freaked out Woodchuck Man and/or Grim excellent part-time ally.
Wherever they have set up their lair, it looks Diddle will suddenly pop up and look scary. This is
much the same--a pile of flattened out boxes with the only strategy they have. It has always worked, Adventures With The Nowhere Men:
old clothes heaped on top of them to provide a every time they use it, the kids all run away. The
sleeping space, with empty bottles of inexpensive Nowhere Men have no idea what they would do next
wine scattered all around. if they tired it and the kids didn’t run—they’d Guardians of Nowhere
The PCs are drawn to Skid Row by the reports of
Woodchuck Man will probably have set up a web probably get scared and flee the scene themselves.
mysterious happenings there. Or perhaps they have
of threads nearby, which will ring a tiny bell next to In any actual brawl they will all fight as individuals,
a midnight encounter with Woodchuck Man, stealing
his ear and wake him up if anyone approaches them with no coordination whatever, but they’re much
some edibles from a shuttered fast-food restaurant,
while they sleep. The Ratcatcher can detect more likely to panic and try to get out of there.
and the strange creature flees to Skid Row, where the
intruders with his powers, but he’s often too drunk to
PCs suddenly remember that weird things have been
do it. Using The Nowhere Men in your happening.
Organization: The Nowhere Men can barely campaign: The Nowhere Men are a small, low- The homeless folks who inhabit the area after
powered team, intended as a challenge for heroes dark aren’t willing to say much about the Nowhere
be said to have any organization at all. They don't Men, but they are willing to direct the PCs to the
who are just starting out. They are a mystery to be
exactly have a leader, since each of them has graffiti which the Ratcatcher leaves to mark their
solved as much as an enemy to fight. Even though
personal limitations that prevent them from playing turf. As soon as they see the graffiti, the Nowhere
they aren’t that tough, the GM can make them plenty
that role. Grim Diddle is too crazy, the Ratcatcher is Men notice them and strange stuff starts to happen.
scary by keeping them mysterious. Adventures that
too drunk and Woodchuck Man can't speak. In any Rats and crows seem to watch them as though
involve the Nowhere Men should have lots of dark,
case they don't really seem to need a leader. They spying on them. Swarms of roaches cross their path.
dingy alleys, hissing steam grates, figures glimpsed
just share their meager resources and give one for an instant on rooftops, roaches and rats scuttling Perhaps they catch a brief glimpse of Woodchuck
another support. The Ratcatcher watches over Grim Man watching them from a rooftop, or hear Grim
around in a weird and unnatural way (the Ratcatcher
Diddle while Woodchuck Man is off stealing food Diddle moaning and muttering in the storm sewers
loves to scare people off by having his little friends
and Woodchuck Man watches over them both when beneath them.
spell out words like “Stay Away” or “The Nowhere
the Ratcatcher is too drunk to be of much use. Men”). Everything should happen at night. Then, while they are out patrolling for signs of
They like one another and they get along very the Nowhere Men, the PCs instead come across a
Once the Players have solved the mystery of who
well--even Grim Diddle seems somehow comforted and what the Nowhere Men are, they will then have bunch of cruel rich teenagers (under a bridge or in a
by the presence of the other two. vacant lot or possibly even in the tunnels under the
to resolve the more difficult question of what to do
about them. They really don't mean anyone any street, if the PCs have gone there), who are
Tactics: If they are trying to fend off a group of harm, yet they have to steal to stay alive. It's not nervously trying to work themselves up to doing
young toughs who are intent on setting winos on fire, going to be possible to reintegrate somebody like the something—the PCs can’t quite see what it is. They
the Nowhere Men will try to be as scary as possible Woodchuck Man into normal human society, are whispering about the Nowhere Men, and why
when they attack, while at the same time roughing especially if sinister forces are ready to drag him off nobody does “this” anymore, but it’s all too unclear
the kids up as little as they can. The Ratcatcher’s to some secret lab the moment he resurfaces. Grim to make out. There’s a lot of nervous giggling.
ability to control rats, roaches and pigeons works Diddle's chances look almost as bleak, and Then a swarm of roaches erupts across a facing
well here, as does Woodchuck’s Man’s foul smell Woodchuck Man won’t let anyone take him away. wall, the rustle of pigeon wings is heard from
and fearsome appearance. If the PCs decide to let the Nowhere Men continue everywhere and rats begin to scuttle across the edges
If they are about to scare off some kids, then the their shadowy existence, they won’t hold a grudge of the scene. Before everyone’s horrified eyes, the
Ratcatcher will summon up a swarm of roaches, rats even if the PCs beat them up. swarming roaches form the words “Get Out!” and
or pigeons, make them spell out some kind of The Ratcatcher is a wonderful source of the rats all squeak at once. Then, Woodchuck Man
leaps out into plain view, waving his arms and
chittering freakishly, while Grim Diddle appears on
the other side, glowing and moaning and floating
through the air. The teenagers scream and run.
If the PCs choose this moment to intervene the
Nowhere Men panic and run for it too, except for
poor Grim Diddle, who they are going to have to
come back and rescue.
As soon as the PCs enter the fray, they can see
that the teenagers were about to set an unconscious
bag lady on fire. How they deal with this situation is
up to them.
 Skills: Hide +9, Move Silently +9, Listen +9, Spot will be to drop everything and run away. He'll fight
Woodchuck Man +9, Survival +8
Feats: Dodge, Durability, Evasion, Fast Healing,
if cornered, or if he has some item he's unwilling to
drop.
Not a particularly sophisticated tactician, he will
Great Fortitude, Improved Grapple, Surprise Strike, always be more interested in getting away than in
Tracking, Ultra-Hearing hurting anybody. He won’t attack non-combatants
Powers: Combat Sense +3 (Cost: 1pt), Natural and he certainly won’t take hostages.
Weapons +6 (Cost: 2pts), Running +2 (Cost: 2pts), Woodchuck Man may present something of a
Super-Senses +4 (Cost: 2pts) moral dilemma for heroes who capture him. He’s a
Weaknesses: Disabled (can't speak to either lawbreaker, but he’s not malign. Prison clearly isn’t
human beings or woodchucks) the right place for him and removing him from the
Disturbing (Looks like a hairy great woodchuck, urban environment isn’t really a viable way to help
suffers a -5 penalty on Bluff and Diplomacy checks, him. He knows nothing but the city and the sewers.
can't function in normal human or groundhog If some well-meaning superhero released him into
society) the wild he would be terrified and all but incapable
Vulnerable (to Dazzle attacks). of coping. Integrating him into human society is
going to be a slow and difficult process. Perhaps the
best option is actually to leave him alone, but supply
“Squeak! Chee-chee!” (gestures him with enough food so that he doesn’t have to
inquisitively at a PC’s wristwatch) steal.
"Eep-squeak?” Woodchuck man bears the scars of many surgical
procedures under his fur, but although he’s clearly
A scabby, filthy, lice-ridden woodchuck-man, who escaped from some kind of illegal lab somewhere, he
roams the city at night, looking for things to eat. His can’t really explain how or where.
hygiene is appalling, his habits are gross and The GM should feel free to use him to lead the
uncivilized, he knows nothing of humanity's laws. PCs to whichever mad scientist or secret gene-
Real Name: Unknown (may not even Yet he is also friendly and cheerful, happy and good warfare lab seems appropriate to the campaign. This
have one) natured. He can't speak and only understands a few will help to link adventures together, and to move
words of English, but if approached the right way the Player Characters from the Nowhere Men to
PL: 8 more powerful opponents.
he's more likely to offer the PCs some of his meager
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 20 (+5) food than he is to attack them.
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 8 (-1) The Woodchuck is extremely loyal to the other Adventures With Woodchuck Man:
Nowhere Men, particularly Grim Diddle, who he Somebody Stop That Woodchuck!
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): senses is unwell and needs care. He's better equipped One night at around 2:00 AM, Woodchuck Man
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +9 to scavenge for food than they are and spends more finds a woman lying on a street corner. She is dying
Defense: +20/+20 Speed: 40 time away from their lair. He is likely to be the first from the injuries her fiancé gave her while
team member the PCs encounter, as he is the one explaining his concerns about the state of their
Damage Save: +5/+7 (Evasion) Fortitude who commits the most crimes (theft, breaking and relationship.
Save: +7 Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower entering, skulking around looking like a giant Woodchuck Man can tell that she is unwell, so he
Save: +2 woodchuck, etc.) brings her to a place where he can see lots of other
If confronted while stealing food his first impulse humans (a hip outdoor café) and leaves her there.
She has a wonderful shiny thing around her neck,
which he keeps, unaware that it’s a diamond
necklace. He also doesn’t realize that at least twenty
people saw him stooped over her form, and that one
of them took his picture.
Soon the city is in an uproar, panic is in the air
and everyone is talking about the monster. His
victim languishes in a coma, unable to tell the story
of the attack, but her injuries speak for themselves.
Her fiancé, Chad Armitage, is distraught and
wracked with remorse at having lost the necklace. It
belonged to his grandmother and it’s supposed to be
given to the woman who will become his wife—it’s
a family tradition. He’s desperate to have it back.
By an odd coincidence he was one of the rich
young bravos who used to set bums on fire down on
Skid Row. He has actually seen the Nowhere Men
once before, and has some idea where to find them.
He also has some bored, violent young friends from
his old gang who would be willing to help him hunt
for the necklace, and maybe do the Nowhere Men
some harm just for old time’s sake. Meanwhile he
and his influential family pester the authorities and
the press about having the monster caught and the
necklace recovered.
The Player Characters should enter this situation
unsure of what is really going on. Then, as Chad, the
police and perhaps an angry mob are about to get
into a confrontation with poor puzzled Woodchuck
Man, the victim wakes up and tells everyone what
really happened. But is there still time to prevent a
lethal conflict?
 +18/+17 Speed: 30 heart and knows its secret ways. He can speak the
The Ratcatcher Damage Save: +8/+10 (Evasion) Fortitude
language of the pavement and learn who walks or
drives upon her. He is friend to the pigeon, the rat
Save: +10 Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower and the roach. He knows their secret tongues and
Save: +9 can see through their eyes.
He doesn’t much care for violence, but he will
Skills: Craft (Chef) +2, Hide +5, Move Silently reluctantly protect his two comrades if he must,
+4, Knowledge (His City) +10 smiling and uttering strange drunken/wise
Feats: Detect (danger to his city), Dodge, pronouncements about the city all the while. He’s
Evasion, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative not a sadistic man, and would never take hostages or
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +5 (Extra: endanger innocents. While he can call upon swarms
of vermin to protect himself and his comrades, the
Fortitude, Willpower; Flaw: Only works inside the
Ratcatcher only does this as a last resort--he's afraid
limits of his city; Cost: 2pts), ESP +6 (Flaw: Only
of getting his little friends hurt.
works inside his city; Cost 1pt), Obscure (cloud of
While the Ratcatcher is usually drunk and often
bugs and pidgeons) +7 (Flaw: Only works inside the
incoherent, he knows an enormous amount about the
limits of his city; Cost: 1pt), Telepathy +7 (Extra:
city and will gladly share his knowledge with anyone
Mind Control; Flaws: Only works within the city
who cares to ask. He's almost always happy and has
limits, only works on vermin [rats, pidgeons,
a kind of jovial Zen-like calm, having found
cockroaches, etc] or on native-born lifelong residents
Enlightenment in the bottom of a wine bottle. Rats
of his home city; Cost: 1pt)
and roaches crawl across him constantly and he
Weaknesses: Quirk: Hopeless drunk (spends treats them like his children.
much of the time in a useless inebriated stupor) Is he the living incarnation of the city's spirit?
That's hard to say--he didn't just appear out of
“Well sit yerself down young feller. nowhere, he has a birth certificate and parents and a
Have a taste of hobo stew. The city former life. If he is some kind of living urban deity
then he became one, rather than being born that way.
told me you’d come—whispered it to If the Player Characters approach the Ratcatcher
me on her reeking asphalt breath. I as a friend rather than an enemy, they’ll find him to
know you’re here to kill me, but yer be an incredibly useful source of information, when
he’s coherent enough to talk. He can also be a
still a guest until you do, so pull up one difficult and tenacious foe, if the PCs have done him
a them cushions an’ let's us talk a some lasting harm. He might seek revenge against
Real Name: Jacob "Jake" Bukowski while.” an opponent who kills one or both of his friends, but
he’ll maintain his jovial demeanor the whole time.
PL: 7 Befriending him is easy. Helping him get off the
A grinning, filth-smeared wino who wears a motley
Str: 8 (-1) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 16 (+3) Int: assortment of mismatched clothing. He looks a bit
streets is difficult. He prefers to live in the tunnels
16 (+3) Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 14 (+2) and he wants to remain a drunk. In fact his powers
like a clown with his comical assemblage of clothes,
and his role as an urban shaman are both dependant
Initiative: +5 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 and his five-o-clock shadow and his constant smile
on his being a kind of arch-derelict and he doesn’t
reinforce this effect.
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 Defense: The Ratcatcher communes with the city's living
want to neglect his duties as the city’s secret
confessor. If he isn't there to listen to the city's (from alcohol poisoning). No arch-derelict will rise
awful hidden agonies, who will be? to replace him and the city’s screams will go
unheard, unsoothed by drink.
Adventures With The Ratcatcher: The Sisterhood conducts its rites on top of a
Lord of Winos, Prophet of Doom bizarre-looking art deco skyscraper that their founder
The Ratcatcher sees something coming— designed shortly before killing himself. It looks like
something that will reduce his beloved city to rubble. the work of a madman, but it’s one of the most
Unable to cope with this terrible vision, he has exclusive addresses in the city.
lapsed into an alcoholic stupor, and then delirium The strange, non-Euclidian designs on the roof
tremens. As he suffers and sweats through the serve as a focusing lens for unwholesome energies,
sickness and hallucinations, the city begins to and the building has been the site of a surprising
convulse. Power systems flicker erratically, in number of bizarre deaths and weird disappearances.
disturbing patterns. Vermin come scuttling up from In fact anyone who lives there for any length of time
the sewers, spelling out frantic, incomprehensible starts to develop odd compulsions and neurotic
messages. Street psychotics chant ominous scraps of habits, which they practice in secret. None of the
Shakespeare and Baudelaire. PCs have ever been inside.
After the Player Characters have seen a few of All five of the ranking members of the Sisterhood
these weird signs and portents, a deformed pigeon are wealthy society doyens in their eighties or
comes to them. Fluttering crrokedly with its nineties. Four of them are confined to wheelchairs.
malformed wings, it tries to lead the PCs to the There are about twelve younger members, ranging in
Ratcatcher’s sickbed. The PCs must overcome age from seventy to sixteen—all of them morbid,
Woodchuck Man’s suspicions, help keep Grim shy women from the city’s best families.
Diddle from getting loose, and interpret the critical When the ritual reaches its climax, all seventeen
clues that the Ratcatcher gives them in his raving cultists will jump off the top of the building, trusted
delirium. nurses shoving the older members’ wheelchairs over
Meanwhile, on a rooftop high above the city, a the side. None of them will ever hit the ground, or
group of cultists nears the completion of their work. ever be seen again.
It has taken the Sisterhood of the Screaming Stars Breaking up the ritual or preventing the mass
fifty years to create this moment, and now within a suicide will permanently foil the Sisterhood’s
day they will draw down destruction on the efforts, and gain the players their enmity. A lot of
metropolis. For the stars have aligned and the rituals these ladies have the money and power required to
have been performed and the coming of the do the Player Characters some serious damage. But
Unthinkable One is at hand! a wave of depression and suicide decimates their
The Unthinkable One kills cities, but it doesn’t ranks not long after the PCs stop them, limiting their
just munch them up like Godzilla—it rots them from ability to strike back.
within, kills their soul, invisibly wrecks their The Ratcatcher recovers, and the city lumbers on
economy and fragments their populace. Over the its unhappy way.
next few years the city will fall to wrack and ruin,
with the invisible miasma of the Unthinkable One
hanging over it all.
It will begin with the death of the Ratcatcher
 Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 20 (+5) try to calm him through his nightmares and see that
Grim Diddle Int: 6 (-2) Wis: 8 (-1) Cha: 6 (-2)
he is fed. They are amazingly patient and
understanding with him, and somehow he senses
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +9 their affection, and knows not to use his powers on
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +10 Defense: them. Yet sometimes he escapes their care and
wanders off to commit random acts of havoc.
+20/+19 Speed: 30/40 (Flight) Grim Diddle has been cursed with the ability to
Damage Save: +10 Fortitude Save: +7 suck the lifeforce out of anyone he comes near.
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +-1 Constantly cold, he craves the warmth of others and
when he isn't curled up in a heap or rocking back and
Skills: None forth muttering to himself, he roves aimlessly around
Feats: Darkvision, Durability, Great Fortitude, seeking warmth to drain. His companions try hard to
Immunity (Starvation, Suffocation), Trance keep him from wandering off and drawing attention
to himself, but the Woodchuck is frequently gone
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +5, Drain and the Ratcatcher is frequently too drunk to know
(Constitution) +9 (Power Stunt: Penetrating Attack what's going on.
x2; Cost: 2pts), Flight+8 (Cost: 2pts), Mental Although he won’t attack his caregivers, no one
Protection +9 (Cost: 2pts), Paralysis +9 (Cost: 2pts), else is safe from him. When he comes floating down
Protection +9 (Cost: 2pts) the street at midnight, glowing a ghostly blue and
Weaknesses: Disturbing (insane old derelict mumbling insane nonsense, look out! He isn’t so
with glowing blue skin, suffers a -5 penalty on Bluff much merciless as he is unaware of the harm that he
and Diplomacy checks, can't function in normal does—perhaps incapable of understanding.
human society) In combat, he really doesn’t use any tactics at all.
Quirk: Totally Nuts (behavior is almost random and He directly approaches his chosen target, but can get
frequently harmful to both himself and others, distracted if some other warm body gets in the way.
incapable of meaningful conversation) If hurt, he retreats. If cornered, he lashes out. He
Vulnerable (to Dazzle attacks.) won’t take hostages or threaten non-combatants—
that’s far beyond his mental capabilities.
“Unnnh! Maaaaa! Whether up through No one but the other Nowhere Men can reason
with him, even via telepathy, but he’d respond well
my skins of flaming heart burning to Emotion Projection.
Real Name: Unknown (does not burning so cold over the sky--Lutes! No one really knows where he came from or how
remember it himself) Lobsters! Nuuuuuuuuh!” he got his powers. The other Nowhere Men have no
PL: 9 idea, and if anyone ever manages to cure his
A lost, tormented street psychotic, incapable of shattered mind, they’ll find huge gaps in his memory
taking care of himself. Grim Diddle doesn't even that effectively obscure it.
have what it takes to survive as a bum. Like Woodchuck Man, Grim Diddle can be used
Instead of speaking, he moans. His skin is pale as a bridge to the monster-making mad scientist or
and glows faintly in the dark. His eyes do not look secret government and/or corporate laboratory of
human. your choice. Once the PCs have subdued and
The Woodchuck and the Ratcatcher tend to him, studied him, they can follow the clues (his surgical
scars, the place where Woodchuck Man and the They always assumed he was a spy.
Ratcatcher found him) back to the master villain About five years ago he took on some kind of
responsible. outside consulting work for something called the IF
Foundation and disappeared. Before left, he told
Adventures With Grim Diddle: Lorna’s mother that he might be gone for two
months. That was the last his family ever heard
1) A Midnight Snack from him, until Lorna saw his face in a tabloid piece
Late one night Grim Diddle gets away from his on the Nowhere Men. His wife has been dead for
caregivers and floats off down the subway tunnels. three years and he doesn’t even know. Can the
First he scares off a pair of maintenance workers, Player Characters help her find him?
then the half-asleep passengers on a late train spot Alas, this is all a lie. “Lorna” (her real name is
him through the windows, and then he then he floats Hilda Glick) has been hired by some Russian
onto an almost deserted subway platform and panics mobsters who want to catch Grim Diddle and have
everyone there. him fight other superhumans in a pit. She has a
Reports reach the Player Characters of a monster tranquilizer dart-gun on her person, a van with stolen
in the subway, working its way down the line. Or license plates and a pair of burly Russo-American
perhaps a PC happens to be on the train that passes henchmen named Greg (Gregor) and Mikey
him in the tunnels, or walks on to the subway (Mikhail) who work as bouncers at a local club.
platform just as everyone is fleeing. In fact she knows nothing about Grim Diddle’s
If the PCs don’t catch him in time, he will reach a origins. Or, if the GM wants to use Ms. Glick as a
station where two major lines come together, just as bridge to whatever supervillain or sinister conspiracy
a sporting event lets out and the tunnels flood with produced Grim Diddle, she’s working for them. In
spectators on their way home. this case she still has no idea who he really is and
Meanwhile, Woodchuck Man and the Ratcatcher she doesn’t know much about her employer, either.
are also tracking Grim Diddle, and will catch up with Her thugs know even less. None of them are agents
him just after the PCs do. of anything, just part-time criminals who’ve been
hired to do a job.
2) We Love You Grim Diddle, Come Home!
Fliers with Grim Diddle’s face on them start
appearing all over the city. “Have you seen this
man?” the fliers ask. There is a phone number.
If the Player Characters call the number, they
speak with an attractive woman in her forties who
gives her name as Lorna Canby. She doesn’t want to
talk about this on the phone, and asks to meet them
in person.
Grim Diddle is her father, she says. His real
name is Victor Lang. He was a career government
worker from Pennsylvania, who didn’t talk about the
details of his job, even to his family. He used to go
on long trips overseas that he would never discuss.
 facility outside of Wurms, they found the secret time to surface once again.
Vernichtung 5 prison built to hold Der Totenkopf, a world-class
supervillain whose very existence is a closely
This works particularly well in conjunction with
the Moebius Man's powers. He's a teleporter, and is
guarded secret. They let him out, and he joined the powerful enough to whisk them away to one of their
Membership: The Moebius Man (the closest team in gratitude. Or at least we think it was safe havens in a flash if they suddenly need to
thing the group has to a leader, an articulate, cruel gratitude—the man is so hopelessly insane that it’s retreat. This is what kept them alive until they found
young man who has the ability to warp space with hard to understand anything about his motives. No Der Totenkopf.
the power of his brain), Der Shriek (a dimwitted, one seems to know what he intends, but how could it
violent, incoherent teenager who can knock walls possibly be anything good? Organization: Vernichtung has no common
down with the force of his screams), Blitzenhammur uniform or theme (apart from neo-nazism). The
(a lightning-wielding supervillain from the Nazi era, Threat Level: Before they unleashed Der Moebius Man has had some emblems with the
who is beginning to feel serious doubts about having Totenkopf on the world, Vernichtung 5 was a team’s “V-5” logo put together for them to wear on
signed on with an outfit as disturbing and dangerous disorganized rabble of angry superkids with their costumes in an attempt to drum up more team
as Vernichtung 5), Der Totenkopf (a horrible, relatively low-level powers. They were particularly solidarity, but not all of them can be persuaded to
psychotic madman with vast atomic powers, who the weak on defense—almost all their powers were wear them.
team unwisely broke out of a secret prison near attacks of some kind and they had no idea how to Nor does V-5 exactly have rules. The Moebius
Wurms) and Zyclon B (a silent and deeply disturbed coordinate them effectively. They had no formal Man is the team’s center and he dominates the others
teenage girl, whose very thoughts are poison). rules or established tactics. Only the Moebius Man’s through his strong personality and the strength of his
strong personality kept them together. oratory. Der Shriek is totally devoted to him,
Vernichtung 5 (usually called "V-5" for short) is All these things are still true, but now they have although he’s too uneducated and distractible to
a loosely organized gang of superhuman teenage Der Totenkopf standing silently at their side, ready understand much of what his idol is saying. Zyclon
white supremacists, who have spread havoc and to melt their opponents into radioactive sludge. B is a loose cannon (but them again aren’t they all?),
death all across Germany for the past year. The They have already defeated a team of young bloodthirsty and difficult to control. She’s in love
name means something like "Annihilation 5," Austrian super- with der Totenkopf but mortally afraid of him. She
although it doesn't translate very well. never speaks, and it’s hard to predict what she’s
V-5 is the brainchild (if the term can be applied to anarchists (der Nachtmuzik), killing three of them in going to do next. Blitzenhammur is a hired gun who
a group this short on brains) of the Moebius Man, an the process, and devastated one of the European the Moebius Man brought on board to replace a dead
infamous young German neo-nazi paranormal. One Union’s special anti-parahuman police units. team-mate (Der Totenkopf killed him for some
of Germany’s most hated new supervillains, the The German media likes to comment on senseless, crazy reason). While Blitzenhammur is
Moebius Man is more articulate than most Vernichtung 5 as though they were some kind of easily the calmest, most experienced and most
skinheads, and an inspiring leader to the collection insane, inexplicable aberration, which just came out disciplined member of the team, he now has serious
of psychotics and super-thugs he has gathered of nowhere. Yet the sad truth is that there are people doubts about V-5 and the kinds of things they might
around himself. The group’s aims are unclear, apart who sympathize with their views all across ask him to do. He might have considered deserting,
from a vague and hopeless desire to somehow return Germany. They are heroes to innumerable angry despite this being against his rigid code, but frankly
the Third Reich to power. young skinheads, who treat them like celebrities. he’s so scared of Der Totenkopf and the Moebius
From Berlin to Stuttgart, from Munich to White supremacists in nearly every town in Man that he doesn’t dare betray them—at least not
Hamburg, they have crisscrossed the country in a Germany are willing to hide V-5 from the yet.
bloody trail of random carnage, killing hapless guest authorities, provide them with drugs and groupies For his part, der Totenkopf stays apart and aloof
workers and robbing banks with little purpose or and whatever else they need. As a result, the team from the rest of the team. He could be the leader if
plan. can go to ground and vanish between jobs, moving he wanted to, but he seems to either be uninterested
And now they just got really dangerous. At a invisibly through the skinhead underground until it’s in the job or too crazy to understand it. When the
team attacks a target he attacks it too, when they attack at once, possibly getting in one another’s way He may space out or get obsessed by some pointless
come under attack he helps to defend them, but for or even getting caught in one another’s’ attacks. Der thing in the middle of a battle and he’s far too insane
the most part he just follows them around. Shreik is way too enthusiastic in combat and doesn’t to direct his attacks wisely. The others trip over one
Sometimes he stays silent for days, other times he always make sure his teammates are out of the range another like homicidal keystone cops. In fact the
rants and raves for hours on end. He’s extremely of his attack. Zyclon B barely even cares if she Moebius Man is really the team’s most dangerous
scary, and even the Moebius Man is beginning to accidentally hits a teammate and Der Totenkopf and durable member. He just doesn’t know it yet.
regret associating with him. doesn’t care at all.
If the Moebius Man ever figures out how to
coordinate his powers with the others, they could Adventures With Vernichtung 5:
Base of Operations: The Moebius Man’s
powers allow Vernichtung 5 to turn up all over become incredibly effective. As of yet, he hasn’t,
Germany. They spend more time in the small and he may not live long enough to do it. He has 1) Coming Soon to a Fistfight Near You
industrial towns of the East than anywhere else, realized that he can use his powers to block Vernichtung 5 appears in the Player Characters’
since that’s where their grassroots support is incoming attacks against his teammates as well as home town, eager to start some trouble. The heat
strongest. They have no single fixed headquarters, against himself, but that’s about the limit of his was getting too intense back home, so the Moebius
but people are always willing to put them up. tactical sense. Man finally decided that it was time to emigrate.
If they come under too much pressure from the He’s not quite sure how he managed to transport
authorities, or if they should suddenly decide to get Using Vernichtung 5 in your them that far, and he’s not sure he could do it again.
as far away from Der Totenkopf as possible, then A white supremacist youth organization called
campaign: Vernichtung 5 is either a gang of the Vanguard is putting them up for the time being.
they could easily relocate to Norway, where many self-destructive youths on a rapid course to their own
kids in the Black Metal scene would be willing to The Vanguard has chapters all over the US, but they
doom, or a powerful recurrent enemy that is just in can’t offer the team nearly as much protection as
give them aid and shelter. They could just as well go its earliest stage of development. Which it turns out
to Austria or Russia, where they also have fans, or their European counterparts, so here they have to
to be depends on the both the GM and the players. keep a lower profile. Back home in Germany V5
who knows, maybe the United States? The Moebius V-5 can be encountered in a number of different
Man is powerful enough that with some effort he managed to stay above the petty squabbles that
ways. While they do have an agenda that vaguely divide the white supremacist community, but here in
could relocate them almost anywhere on Earth. The involves world domination, they also pull hold ups
only reason they’ve never ventured outside of the states that isn’t possible.
and attack random civilians. The PCs could be called One of the few things that can make a white
Germany before is that they’re scared to. None of in to stop them from blowing up a nuclear power
them speak Norwegian, let alone Russian, and the supremacist group a lot of money is skinhead hate
plant, to foil their efforts to rob a bank or even face music. There is a huge underground market for this
Moebius Man is the only one who is articulate in them as an American white supremacist's hired
English. stuff, which the Vanguard has long been cut out of.
muscle. Perhaps they'll spend their whole career in But now with V5 at their disposal, that is quickly
Germany, or perhaps they'll turn up in the PCs home going to change.
Tactics: V-5’s tactics might be charitably town tomorrow, on the run from the European After making a couple of public appearances and
described as simple and direct. They prefer to pick authorities and spoiling for trouble. holding some rallies, V5 sets out to consolidate the
on targets who are weaker than they are, stalking, They make a good nemesis for a team that is just Vanguard’s power. They will visit all five of the
taunting and threatening them before murdering starting out, and if they don’t self-destruct it can be a current underground white power music labels, and
them. They particularly like to terrorize victims into lot of fun to watch them grow and evolve with the convince them to surrender or die. All five of them
performing grotesque acts to save themselves, and PCs. are paranoid, twitchy skinheads, of course, and most
then kill them anyway. They’re plenty scary and evil, but weak enough have heavily armed gangs of thugs backing them up.
They aren’t yet used to facing opponents of equal for most PC groups to beat. Even Der Totenkopf is Once the Player Characters realize that there’s a
strength, and haven’t quite worked out how to do it. nowhere near as much a threat as the press makes war on for the control of white supremacist music,
When faced with other superhumans, V-5 will all him out to be—his weaknesses are just too crippling.
they may be faced with a moral dilemma. They down with his bare hands. And perhaps he’ll
don’t want to have to defend nazi punks, yet if they succeed, if the PCs don’t stop him.
don’t make some kind of a stand, not only are people
going to die, but the American neo-nazi movement 3) Coming Soon to a Fistfight Near Everybody
will change from a fractious, disorganized tangle of Vernichtung 5 appears in the Player Characters’
different warring factions, into a unified, well home town, eager to start some trouble. The heat
organized, well funded movement with it’s own was getting too intense back home, so the Moebius
supervillain team. Man finally decided that it was time to emigrate.
He’s not quite sure how he managed to transport
2) Coming Soon to a Fistfight Near Nobody them that far, and he’s not sure he could do it again.
Vernichtung 5 appears in the Player Characters’ They have no allies at hand and no way to find
home town, eager to start some trouble. The heat them, so they steal a Winnebago and set out on the
was getting too intense back home, so the Moebius road to see their new country and try to make contact
Man finally decided that it was time to emigrate. with other neo-nazis. They slice a bloody arc across
He’s not quite sure how he managed to transport the heartland of America, spreading pointless terror
them that far, and he’s not sure he could do it again. and mayhem wherever they go, stealing to stay alive
But this is not like Germany, the team quickly and killing for the sheer twisted hell of it. A lawless
discovers. Here they have no friends, nowhere to pack whose only rule is “thrill me,” on a crazed
stay, no supporters that they can reach. The big slum cross country mission of murder. Can anyone stop
areas of an American city are not a hospitable place this gruesome rampage?
for a gang of White Supremacists who barely speak The Moebius Man is capable of creating warps
English. big enough to drive their whole land-yacht into,
There may be places in the decaying blue collar which makes it almost impossible to catch them with
neighborhoods near downtown or out in the redneck roadblocks. Yet the PCs can certainly track them
areas beyond the suburbs where they could find across country (just follow the screams and smoke),
allies, but they have no idea where these places are and der Totenkopf’s love of demolishing famous
or how to reach them. So instead they take up landmarks and blowing up nuclear power plants
residence under an abandoned factory in an makes it all too easy to tell where they’re headed
industrial zone and venture out only for food and next.
other supplies. The tension is unbearable, and Der As an added complication, after V5 has been on
Shreik, Zyclon B or der Totenkopf is almost sure to the road for a few months, they actually do gain a
go out on a rampage sooner or later. following among the scattered gangs of white power
And this is the way the PC’s encounter V5, as a lunatics that spread like lice across the nation’s
unit of soldiers lost behind enemy lines, committing underbelly. This network isn't a strong or as all-
random acts of savagery and havoc until the pervasive as the neo-nazi underground in europe, but
Moebius Man drags them home to their secret lair. so long as they stay in the right places V5 can
Either the PCs will eventually track them down and always find shelter, and soon they may have a ragtag
end everything in a huge climactic battle with the army riding with them.
factory collapsing all around their ears, or der
Totenkopf will start walking toward some major
American landmark with the intention of ripping it
 Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 10 (+0) Con: 20 (+5) and a crusader's zeal, he was about the worst thing
Der Totenkopf Int: 8 (-1) Wis: 8 (-1) Cha: 14 (+2)
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee):
that could have possibly come crawling out of the
test chamber.
His creators put him under continual sedation at a
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +7 secret sanatorium outside of Wurms, while they tried
to figure out how to un-create him. Then they forgot
Defense: +16/+15 Speed: 30 (60 while flying) about him. This was a mistake, for Vernichtung 5
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 found him, woke him up and suddenly went from
Reflexes Save: +0 Willpower Save: +8 being a pack of hateful bullyboys to a genuine
menace. With the Totenkopf on their side they can
Skills: Intimidate +12 threaten a lot more than a few guest workers.
Feats: Chokehold, Durability, Improved Grapple, He is headstrong, megalomaniacal and far too
Immunity (to Cold, Disease, Heat, Poison, crazy to control, but of course this isn't such a
Suffocation, and Radiation) Infamy, Power problem in a group like V5, where control isn't really
Immunity an issue. Der Totenkopf loves to rant about
Nietzsche and fascism, the purity of Nordic blood
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +8 (Source: and his crusade to cleanse the world in atomic fire.
Mutation; Cost 1pt), Amazing Save (Will) +9 He likes to quote Nietzsche, passing the mad
(Source: Mutation; Cost 1pt), Energy Control philosopher’s observations off as his own. He can
(Radiation) +13 (Extras: Energy Field, Energy sound surprisingly reasonable when he does this, but
Absorbtion, Explosive Blast; Power Stunt: it’s only because he doesn’t understand what he’s
Penetrating Attack; Source: Mutation; Cost 5pts) saying.
Super-Strength +10 (Extras: Protection, Shockwave: He has no friends, no close associates outside of
Cost: +6) his team-mates and almost no memory of his former
Weaknesses: Disturbing (looks like a burning life. His current beliefs were probably always a part
nuclear skull, makes all Bluff and Diplomacy checks of him, but they became impossible to hide once he
at a –5) underwent the transformation process and had a
Quirk: Totally Insane (does weird, random, psychotic break.
irrational stuff, frequently getting into trouble or His current mental stability is tenuous at best and
putting himself at a diadvantage) he is prone to irrational and pointless acts of
savagery. As an example, when the team woke him
“The world is dying of cancer. It needs up, told him that they were Vernichtung 5 and that
they wanted him to join them, he wanted to accept,
radiation therapy. It must bathe in the but was terribly upset by the fact that there were
warm nuclear glow of my love, to be already five of them. How could he join the team if
Real Name: Unknown purged of its impurity.” it was already full? He immediately killed two of
PL: 13 their members so that there would be room for him
Created to be a secret living weapon that the G-8 to join, and then apologized for having miscounted
nations could call upon to discreetly solve their and killed one person too many.
problems, Der Totenkopf was a terrifying failure. If you are using the second book in this series
An atomic superman with crazed messianic fantasies ("More Bad Guys") then Der Totenkopf was
considered for membership in the Legion of the Yes, der Totenkopf replies. He thinks so. But
Damned, but they rejected him--this is the guy that would take too long—could they just go home
whom even the Aleph and Doctor Zed think is too instead? The Moebius Man agrees.
crazy and dangerous. The Moebius Man probably
wouldn't mind stepping aside and letting him lead 2) And Zarathustra Said “Two Scoops of Rum
the group, but the Totenkopf isn't really equipped for Raisin in a Waffle Cone, Please.”
it and while he doesn't take orders he doesn't give An irrational craving for ice cream siezes der
them either. Totenkopf. He starts walking towards a big
He visibly isn't human anymore and is extremely industrial park, muttering “I shall have it” to
unnerving to be around for any length of time. It's himself, with the rest of the team trailing nervously
not just that he never takes off his skull mask, or behind him.
talks about anything but his obsessions. He also They get spotted from the air and the government
doesn't breathe, or sweat. He holds utterly still when tries to intercept them before der Totenkopf can
he isn't in motion, like a mannequin. He also sleeps reach his target. There are at least three potential
standing up, with his eyes open. You don't want to targets in that park which he could cause widespread
look at those eyes, even when he is asleep. You havoc, and they move to block his path to all three.
don't want to see what is in them. But they have miscalculated. He isn’t headed for the
chemical works or the foundry or the power plant,
Adventures With Der Totenkopf: but for the frozen desert factory, off to one side.
The Player Characters arrive at the scene just in
time to see him change abruptly change course.
1) Why Didn’t I Think of That? Where can he be going? The authorities are trying to
Der Totenkopf has conceived a cunning plan that intercept him at the wrong spot! They’ll never be
cannot fail! At least it sounds cunning to him. able to re-deploy fast enough---it’s up to the PCs to
He will leave his erstwhile allies in V5, go to a catch up with him and stop him from committing
crowded train station at rush hour, kill a bunch of some horrible crime.
people at random and take the rest hostage in the To their surprise, instead of going into the frozen
station’s main atrium. This should attract lots of desert factory itself, he walks into the refrigerated
cops and superheroes, whom he can then kill. In the warehouse next door. What sinister deed does he
meantime, he’ll kill some hostages, one at a time, so intend to commit there? “I shall have it,” he
as to keep from getting bored. mutters.
And that’s it. That’s the whole plan. When they confront him in the warehouse, he is
If someone asks what his demands are, he’ll say gorging himself on a five gallon tub of ice cream,
something like “send more cops.” but when he sees the Player Characters, he roars “No
After a while the Moebius Man appears and asks sprinkles! For so Zarathustra spake unto Nietzsche!
him what the next part of the Plan is. The atomic No sprinkles—he really said that!” and attacks.
monstrosity becomes confused and says that he As soon as the Moebius Man figures out what is
hadn’t thought of anything. really going on here (the big radioactive weirdo
The Moebius Man gently asks if this is another wanted some ice cream) he will teleport V5 to safety
one of those plans where eventually they have to in disgust, taking der Totenkopf with them.
send everybody, so he gets to kill everybody in the
whole world?
 deflect any attack within 100 feet, whether aimed at abilities, and could fold space with the power of his
The Moebius Man himself or not], Reflection; Cost 5pts), Teleportation
(Extras: Extended Teleport, Portal; Cost 4pts)
mind. This made it easier to sneak out after dark,
and gave him the idea for what became his life’s
Equipment: Armor +3 (thick leather coat), central ambition. He would assemble a group of
Bayonet (+3 Lethal) skinhead supervillains and bring the world to its
knees.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Bigot (The Moebius Man In college he became a vocal student advocate for
is not capable of cooperating with members of other the far right, and continued to search for superhuman
ethnic backgrounds and he will attack them in white supremacists like himself. By his sophomore
preference to all other targets, even if doing so puts year his parents had enough of him and severed all
him at a tactical disadvantage) contact and financial support. He hasn’t spoken to
them since, which is a shame, since his real notoriety
"Kill your parents. Then eat them. was just beginning.
This is the only way you will ever be That summer he helped stomp an Ethiopian guest
worker to death, got caught, and came up with a
free." legal defense that made headlines across Germany.
He couldn’t be held for murder, he claimed, since his
Karl Anton Moebius isn’t a typical German neo- victim was black, and therefore wasn’t human. He
nazi. Articulate and educated, the product of a good would be willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of
home, he doesn’t even shave his head. His parents cruelty to animals, he said. When the authorities
are successful, politically progressive, upper middle responded with a shocked refusal, he announced that
class Yuppies from Stuttgart. they had in that case forfeited their right to hold him,
Real Name: Karl Anton Moebius His mother, Maria Moebius, was once a member and teleported out of custody.
of a tiny Maoist parahuman terror group called the This incident made him a hero to Germany’s
PL: 10 “Red Legion” in the late 1970s. The Red Legion skinhead underground, which combined with his
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 14 (+2) carried out a few random bombings and one failed superpowers and natural leadership ability, suddenly
bank robbery before it broke up in an argument over
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 16 (+3) some little ideological point.
made him a force to be reckoned with. Certain that
he would be gunned down by the cops at any
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): +4 Many of the other members went to jail, but moment, Karl intensified his search for others like
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +5 Defense: Maria’s superhuman abilities kept her out of the himself, and within six months he found Der Shreik,
clutches of the law for long enough to marry a Zyclon B and two other parahuman kids (both now
+13/+12 Speed: 30/50 (Teleportation) handsome young banker and move to a house in the deceased) who shared his vision. Calling his group
Damage Save: +2/+5 (Evasion) Fortitude suburbs. She was a cold, self-absorbed parent, but Vernichtung 5, he set out on a campaign of random
Save: +2 Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower not an abusive one. terror and havoc across central Europe.
It’s hard to freak your parents out when your They probably would have slaughtered a few
Save: +1 mom knew the Bader-Meinhoff gang, but Karl more hapless guest workers and perhaps blown up a
Skills: Diplomacy +5, Hide +5, Intimidate +5, managed to find something she’d disapprove of. He landmark or two before getting captured or killed,
Move Silently +5, Speak English +3, Taunt +5 listened to Norwegian black metal, read white but last month they made an amazing find which has
Feats: Dodge, Evasion, Leadership, Inspire supremacist literature and hung around with lower transformed the group into something far more
class skinheads all through his teenage years. dangerous. On the outskirts of Wurms, they
Powers: Deflection (Teleports incoming attacks When he was 17, Karl accidentally discovered
away from himself; Extras: Deflect Others x2 [can discovered the secret prison of an unbelievably
that he had inherited his mother’s parahuman
powerful white supremacist supervillain called der Kalispell, Montana to make contact with a maverick siege.
Totenkopf, and released him. producer named Lemuel Scroggins, who runs an The PCs are called in to help (or show up on their
The Moebius Man has no intention of challenging underground label called White Death Records. own once it comes to their attention that a notorious
der Totenkopf for the leadership of the group, but in The Moebius Man doesn’t realize that the supervillain has been cornered) and discover that the
fact the Totenkopf seems to have no interest in being American nazi scene is a maze of dangerous, violent, Moebius Man is actually desperate to talk to them.
in charge, so for the moment he remains the de facto heavily armed factions who constantly struggle to That’s why he hasn’t just teleported away.
leader of V5. He’s also starting to have nightmares, control the music trade, and that allying himself with Der Totenkopf has gone crazy, he explains. He’s
and to wonder if this was ever such a good idea. Scroggins will upset a lot of other factions. about to lead the rest of the team in an attack on a
The Moebius Man is a scary presence, with his Not long after word reaches the PCs that the nuclear power plant that could devastate a huge
ghostly white makeup and air of quiet, horrible Moebius Man has been sighted in Montana, the swath of central Europe. The Moebius Man doesn’t
intensity. In love with the supervillain mystique, he national neo-nazi organization that Lemual want to die, and now that he’s had a chance to think
likes to wax philosophical and poetic about his Scroggins belongs to (the so-called “Blood-Banner about it he doesn’t really know if he’s wants all
beliefs and frequently posts on the Internet. Front”) collapses in an internal conflict and the those millions of people to die either. The attack is
However, he isn’t as clever or as educated as he struggle is on to gain control of White Death probably underway right now, but he could take the
thinks, and often comes across as a pretentious, Records. A rival group tips off the PCs as to where Player Characters there, if they let him.
affected fool. they can find Karl Moebius and just as they arrive at If your Player Characters have no easy way to get
Now that his group actually has the firepower to Lemuel Scroggins’ basement apartment in Kalispell, to Europe and you sense that they would never trust
wreak some world-class havoc, he isn’t quite sure a hit team from a rival gang arrives at the scene and the Moebius Man enough to let him teleport them
which target they should pick. To tell the truth, he riddles the place with bullets. there, then the plant is actually in Western
hadn’t really thought it through. A three way battle probably ensues. If the Pennsylvania rather than in Germany.
Unbeknownst to the Moebius Man, if he ever gets Moebius Man gets away, then he’s unsure whether There is one additional complication. Unlike the
himself into a situation where he is about to die in his powers are strong enough to return him to Moebius Man, Taylor Dane is a fanatic who would
public, his mother will suddenly teleport onto the Germany without killing him, and so he is stranded love nothing more than to die in a blaze of glory. If
scene and come to his aid, wearing her old costume here for now, on the run and looking for a way to the PCs leave the scene, the siege will continue and
from the Red Legion, screaming Marxist slogans and survive. innocent people really could get hurt. Yet the lives of
embarrassing him half to death. She tells herself that millions could be at stake! How to resolve this
she’s doing this because she loves her son in spite of 2) A Good Day to Die Badly ethical dilemma?
everything, but in fact she also feels jealous of all the The Moebius Man suddenly turns up in West Meanwhile, the other four members of V5 really
fun he’s been having, and hates to be upstaged. See Virginia, frightened and alone. He presents himself are attempting to assault a nuclear power plant.
her stats later on in this section. She’s a lot more at the fortified compound of Taylor Dane, a Their chances of causing a lethal meltdown are up to
powerful than her wayward son. prominent white supremacist who publicly supports the GM, depending on where the campaign is going.
V5, and takes refuge there. The attack could be a shabby exercise in stupidity,
Adventures With The Moebius Man: Dane is the leader of a national organization with little to no chance of success, or this could be
called the Invincible White Brotherhood of the Iron the final climactic conflict that brings V5 down at
Fist—one of America’s larger post-Klan hate last. If it turns out to be the latter then Der Shreik
1) Play That Funky Music, White Boy groups. Someone in his large, fractious organization will switch sides when he sees what his friend the
The Moebius Man was frustrated in his efforts to lets it leak that one of Europe’s most wanted Moebius Man is doing, and Blitzenhammur will
turn V5 into a band (they’re all the kind of guys who supervillains is staying with at the Brotherhood’s wish that he could (alas, his code prevents it). The
would have to play bass) but he is determined to compound, and pretty soon Dane and the Moebius army will show up, the press will show up, and so
make a name for them in the White Supremacist Man find themselves surrounded by the federal could Mother Moebius.
recording world nonetheless. He wants to put authorities. A standoff develops, which turns into a
together a spoken word album and he’s on his way to
 Defense: +23/+19 Speed: 30 assigned to hunt down Allied superheroes on the
Blitzenhammer Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2
Reflexes Save: +6 Willpower Save: +1
battlefield. A titled Baron from Swabia, in the
easternmost part of Germany, he inherited his
powers from his father, and his father before him.
His ancient, powerful, moribund family goes
Skills: Acrobatics +5, Diplomacy +5, Knowledge back to the era of the Teutonic knights and beyond.
(Nazi underground) +3, Knowledge (World War 2)
At least since the days of Charlemagne the eldest
+5, Spot +5, Speak Portugese +5, speak Spanish +2
male heir of his family has been the secret protector
Feats: Attack Finesse, Attack Focus (Armed of the Lightning Hammer and the Strangshield,
Melee), Immunity (Aging), Lightning Reflexes ancient occult artifacts of incredible power. The
Powers: A gentleman would not stoop to having Blitzenhammer may actually have been the hammer
anything so deplorably vulgar as superpowers (ugh!) of Thor, or perhaps the thing that the legend of Thor
See “Equipment” instead. was based upon.
Equipment: The Strangshield: Deflection +10 The Von Hammurhold family itself has always
been apolitical, far too rich and ancient to concern
(Flaw: Device; Cost: 1pt), The Blitzenhammur:
itself with kings and Reichs and their affairs. But
Energy Control (Electricity) +10 (Extras: Energy
when Swabia was threatened in the first World War,
Absorbtion, Energy Field; Flaw: Device; Cost: 3pts),
the Junkers of the Blitzenhammer sent son after son
Weapon +10, Armor +4 (Cost: 1pt)
to protect the family’s possessions in the trenches.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Unwavering, irrational All of them wielded the Blitzenhammer and
devotion to the 19th Century European officer's Strangshield against the Prussian Empire’s enemies
code. Among other things, it forbids him to harm a and all of them died. By the war’s end the family
fellow officer who has surrendered, drive an fortune was in tatters and its lineage all but depleted
automobile (a gentleman will not lower himself to of sons. They barely noticed the rise of the Nazis,
the status of a servant by driving his own car), betray joining the National Socialist Party purely because
his side's secrets, disobey an order or let an insult go that was what one did.
unavenged by violence. Heinrich, the family’s last heir, answered
Germany’s call in 1939 and was shipped off to
"Just shut up and die, you pointless, invade France with a parahuman unit known as
dirty little person." Einsatzgruppen X. Throughout the war Heinrich
saw little of the Nazis’ dark side and never really
understood what was happening to the Jews sent out
The world is full of haters and white
Real Name: The Honorable Baron supremacists, but actual real-live nazis are a rarity
of France for “resettlement.” His smug, stolid
aristocratic outlook and lack of imagination shielded
Heinrich von Hammurhold these days. Old age claimed the ones who weren’t
him well—but it still doesn’t excuse him.
PL: 10 killed in the war or hunted down by the Israeli
Once the tide of the war turned, Einsatzgruppen
security services. Time devours all things. Yet it
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 15 (+2) X found itself pushed back further and further into
hasn’t devoured Blitzenhammer, who still looks as
central Europe, taking terrible losses as they went.
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 14 (+2) young today as the first moment he put on his
During the Battle of Berlin the surviving
Wehrmacht uniform in 1939.
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): He is the last surviving member of
members were supposed to sacrifice themselves in
+12 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +11 the city’s defense, but Heinrich didn’t see the need to
Einsatzgruppen X, a German parahuman team
shed his noble blood for a grubby little lower- the war, the bones of former SS men and Hitler these kids actually seemed to revel in them—not
middle-class politician like Hitler. Instead he lay Youth littering the jungle. even the Serbs did that.
low. Then after the war he made his way back to Better-connected Party officials were living safe It’s against his cold and rigid code to betray an
France and like so many former Wehrmacht and SS lives in South America, and after few years of employer, but he wants to get away from
soldiers, he joined the French Foreign Legion. service in Southeast Asia Heinrich was determined Vernichtung 5 as fast as he can. The problem is,
This seemed the proper course—he was the only to join them. He got a transfer to French Guiana, he’s scared to death of them.
Von Hammurhold left, his family estate was gone, cashiered out of the Legion there and set off to what
absorbed into communist Poland, and he had nothing he hoped would be a comfortable existence in
left to protect but the family’s occult relics. The Buenos Aires. It didn’t last. Adventures With Blitzenhammer:
rigid European officer’s code would have normally The Nazi community had deep roots in
required him to blow his brains out, but since his Argentina, but once its pro-fascist leader, Juan 1) Storm Warning
mortal duties weren’t yet completely discharged, a Peron, fell out of power they were scattered to the V5 attends a skinhead rally, which turns into a
disgraceful death in the ranks of Le Legion seemed winds. Many fled to places like Paraguay and lived riot. Blitzenhammur is left wounded and
an acceptable substitute. hand-to-mouth, one step ahead of the nazi hunters. unconscious on the field. His teammates lost sight of
To his surprise, he found that the Legion was full This seemed undignified to Heinrich, who instead him in the brawl and had to leave when the
of Germans, although they only spoke their native moved to Portugal, and began hiring himself out on a authorities turned up in force.
language to one another in whispers after lights-out. short-term basis to whoever would pay him. He To make this incident easier to work into your
The penalties for speaking any language but French spent part of each year fighting in squalid third- campaign, we’re not going to specify exactly where
were incredibly severe. Beatings were standard world conflicts and the rest of the time stretching his it happens. Depending on the characters’ reach, it
punishment for even the most trivial offenses in the pennies as far as he could, to avoid having to take could be Europe or it could be their own hometown.
Foreign Legion, and Heinrich heard more than one another such job for as long as possible. It may actually work best if the incident happens in a
of his new comrades grumble that discipline hadn’t By the mid 1980s the mercenary wars in Africa relatively small community outside the city that will
even been this harsh in the SS. He spent some had all but completely dried up and he was forced to take the PCs a little time to reach, but that isn’t a
unhappy years fighting insurgents in Algeria, before hire himself out part-time to criminal organizations. complete hardship to get to.
they shipped the Legion off to Vietnam. The 1990s bought him some extra work in the The local authorities have taken Blitenhammur
By now it was the 1950s, and Heinrich noticed former Yugoslavia, but they wanted him to do into custody, and they are nervously waiting for a
that he wasn’t getting any older. He supposed that repellent things there and he tried to stay out of their special federal unit to show up and take him off to a
this was because he hadn’t created any heirs and clutches as much as he could. confinement facility for parahumans. Their police
couldn’t pass the family relics down. The The Moebius Man had heard of Blitzenhammer, station is reasonably secure, but it’s not up to
Blitzenhammer didn’t want to be left without a who was something of a legend in neo-nazi circles, withstanding a supervillain attack. They would
wielder, although it was going to be hard-pressed to but never suspected that he was real until the greatly appreciate the PCs assistance in guarding
keep him alive in Vietnam. Totenkopf said something about remembering his him.
As the Legion marched through the streets of phone number. To the Moebius Man’s shock the Blitzenhammur has regained consciousness by
Paris prior to its departure, it struck Heinrich as number worked and Blitzenhammer was more than the time the PCs arrive, but true to his code he will
funny that the crowds were wildly cheering so many willing to sing on with Zerstoiten 5. He now regrets say nothing to his captors, whom he regards as being
of the same men who had tramped through these taking the job. as far beneath him as the center of the earth. The
streets as hated occupiers, not long before. An actual Nazi, he is nonetheless shocked and Strangshield and the Blitzenhammur are under lock
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s the French horrified at how vicious, brutal and crazy the and key at the station and will be transported
steadily lost the first Vietnam War, years before Moebius Man’s organization is. He always managed separately.
America had a chance to do the same. The Foreign to maintain his psychological equilibrium by V5 will almost certainly try to rescue him (unless
Legion was pretty well annihilated over the course of denying that the Nazi atrocities ever happened, but he’s wounded too badly to move, in which case
they’ll kill him instead), either at the police station or ten years, if he can. He’s going home to pay his
in transit to the federal facility. Once they break him respects to his mother on the anniversary of her
out of his restraints, the team’s first priority will be death and he will not be pleased to have such a
to retrieve his hammer and shield, which may result private moment intruded upon.
in the comic and surreal picture of V5 breaking him
out of the police station and then breaking back in
again to get his things.
To complicate matters, everyone expects V5 to
mount some kind of rescue attempt, which means
that any local superhero (or supervillain) with a
grudge against V5 will now know where to find
them and may well stakeout the police station and
wait.

2) Mother, I’ve Brought Friends

Blitzenhammur excuses himself from the rest of
the group, and goes home to the ruins of his family
estate.
A group that monitors the activities of prominent
white supremacists notices what he is doing, takes
note of his probable destination, deep in the forests
of Eastern Germany, and suddenly they figure out
who he really is.
And if this is who they think it is, then his family
history is actually quite alarming. His relations were
said to be the hereditary keepers of the
Blitzenhammur, the Strangshield and who knows
what other ancient, terrible secrets. The hammer and
the shield turned out to be only too real. Is he about
to dig something even worse out of the ruins?
The group hastily gets in touch with the Player
Characters and presents them with their findings.
Blitzenhammur is traveling by train and he’ll have to
walk the last few miles on foot. The PCs could
probably catch up with him, and the group is willing
to pay their airfare to Germany if they need it.
Meanwhile, the Moebius Man is also wondering
what Blitzenhammur could be up to, and is
discreetly trailing him across the country.
In fact, while no one has noticed it before,
Blitzenhammur actually makes this trek once every
 Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +8 or a lawyer like her stepmother. They sent her to a
Zyclon B Attack Bonus (Ranged): +9 Defense:
lot of therapists, until she bit one half to death. With
a feeling of mingled shame and relief, her parents
+19/+18 Speed: 30 had her commited to indefinite psychiatric care
Damage Save: +11 Fortitude Save: +5 (allthough it's fair to say that her uncles were
genuinely sad to see her go).
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +4 Alas, the facility they sent her to made extra
Skills: Hide +8, Move Silently +8, Spot+5, money by illegally testing a host of experimental
Intimidate +8 drugs on its patients. After a few rounds of
Feats: Dodge, Evasion, Great Fortitude, Iron Will excruciating treatments her mind gave way
completely, she lost the power of speech and her
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +8 (Cost: 1pt), powers errupted.
Energy Field +8 (Extras: Energy Blast +8, Explosive The clinic staff studied her new abilities for about
Effect, Subtle; Power Stunt: Energy Blast is a six months. Then she poisoned everyone on her
Penetrating Attack x2; Flaw: Only does damage to ward and walked out the door into the night.
living tissue; Cost 4pts), She lived on the street for a while, staying at
Equipment: Armor +5 (Cost: 1pt), Darkvision squats with other kids. Then she noticed the
(Light-amplification Goggles), Immunity to skinheads. Their ideas were appealing, their anger
Suffocation and Poison (Gas Mask and Oxygen inspired her and she determined to become one of
Tank) them. She didn't talk and they didn't know anyone in
Weaknesses: Disabled (Mute) common, so she just shaved her head and started
hanging around them.
Quirk: Fanatical Bigot (finds it impossible to work
It's tough to be a skinhead and a girl, particularly
or cooperate with members of other ethnic groups
if you won't have sex with anyone. She had to kill
and will always attack them in preference to all other
many times to get her new friends' respect. This
available targets, even if doing so puts her at a
drew a certain amount of unwelcome attention from
tactical disadvantage)
the authorities, although she managed to avoid
Quirk: Crazy (does irrational and pointless things,
getting caught.
frequently getting herself in trouble or putting
In 1999 the Moebius Man learned that there was a
herself at a disadvantage)
skinhead in Dusseldorf with superhuman powers and
sought him out as part of the original line-up of
"Ssssssssssssssss!" Zerstoiten 5. He found a madwoman with an insane
lust for death.
Gerte Dingle was always a strange child, hateful He didn't need to convert her to the cause, or coax
and withdrawn. Molested by her father, brothers and her into killing a homeless person to prove that she
a host of uncles, she had nowhere to retreat but the could take a life. She was already far more radical
Real Name: Gerte Dingle darkest depths of her mind. Soon her head was full than he was himself and she was ready to kill at the
of crazy, violent fantasies and she took no interest in drop of a hat. His real task was to restrain her from
PL: 8 school or family life. getting too excited, going on a rampage and getting
Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 13 (+1) Con: 16 (+3) This would not do for a young lady who was gunned down too soon.
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 16 (+3) supposed to grow up to be a surgeon like her father These days Zyclon B has found a kind of fragile
equlibrium. Perhaps the most dedicated nazi of the attending a medical conference in the US when she
group, she believes in the ideology with mad lunatic decides to drop in on him. Instead of a hospital, the
zeal. It's the only stable mental framework she has. setting is a big expensive hotel, but the rest of the
No horror or outrage is beyond her, she's much plot remains the same.
too nuts to grasp that other people's suffering is real.
She still won't speak and hates anything sexual with 2) Just a Little to the Left…
a crazy passion, but she gets enough violence and While skulking down the street one night, Zyclon
has enough friends to feel content. Unable to really B spies an interracial lesbian couple, and while the
relate to others, she looks totally withdrawn from the sight of them fills her with rage and horror, it
group, but she does take comfort from their presence fascinates her, too. She stalks them to an art
and she was horrified to see Der Totenkopf kill two opening, and if a Player Character doesn’t find her
of them. and stop her, she follows them inside.
She is still terrified of Der Totenkopf, but the fact The patrons at the show are alarmed when Zyclon
that she's also in love with him helps take the edge B walks in the door, but they’re also curious to see
off it. how this infamous neo-nazi supervillain will react to
the art on display. She doesn’t seem violent at first,
Adventures With Zyclon B: and is clearly engrossed by the work, drifting though
the gallery, staring in silence through her mask.
1) Papa, Look How Big and Weird I’ve Grown! Then the screaming starts. Zyclon B grabs people
Zyclon B impulsively decides to visit her father at at random, shoves them in front of one or another
the hospital where he works. It does not occur to her work of art, poses them and then kills them. She’s
that he won’t recognize her in her costume or that interested in seeing what they look like dying in
the moment she walks through the front door front of those particular pieces—what their death
everyone is going to panic. Soon this turns into a agonies contribute to the work.
police siege, with SWAT teams and sharpshooters This is a lot of fun. She never really took an
surrounding the building. interest in art before, and there is clearly so much to
Zyclon B does not care if any of her “hostages” learn. Most of all she would like to see what the
walk away and pretty soon everyone who is capable couple she follwed in here would look like, dying in
of leaving the hospital under their own power will front of one particular mural. But they’re hiding
have drifted out the door, leaving her to sit on her behind an installation.
terrified father’s desk and stare at him in silence. If the Player Characters don’t stop her, she
After a while, the Moebius Man arrives to rescue eventually finds and kills the two girls, gets
her. As he takes her away, he gently tells her that disappointed by what it looks like, decides that art is
that isn’t her father anymore, that her father is boring and walks out the door.
Germany, now. And suddenly her dad knows
exactly who she is.
Zyclon B’s secret identity is about to become
public knowledge, perhaps with drastic
consequences for her family.
If you have no good way to arrange for the PCs to
be in Germany when this happens, then her father is
 PL 9 (Extras: Deflection, Energy Field, Explosive built up his pride.
Der Shreik Blast; Power Stunts: Energy Blast; Cost: 5pts)
Weaknesses: Quirk: Silly, stupid and has no
Although Der Shreik had never been a white
supremacist and didn't really understand the
self-control. ideology, beating up foreign guest workers was
already a way of life in the East, and he took to that
part with relish.
“I shout! I shout! Yer brains fall He is probably the Moebius Man's closest ally on
out!!” the team and the only one with no ambitions of being
leader.
A damaged kid who likes to hurt people--stupid, No strategist, he doesn't know when to retreat and
addled, loud and cruel. He talks a lot, but none of it easily gets distracted from the mission objective if he
makes much sense. He seldom thinks beyond the isn't given careful guidance. Yet he's actually a good
present moment and is always misbehaving and team member, because he's just smart enough to
trying to get attention. know that he doesn't know anything about anything,
Born in public housing in East Berlin, he was the and that his safest option is to do what the Moebius
youngest child of a dangerous mother. She punished Man says.
her offspring for whimsical reasons and regularly
sent them to the hospital with broken limbs or burns Adventures With Der Shreik:
from her electric iron. When he was five she killed
two of his siblings in front of him. He would have Night of Screams and Giggles
been next, but his powers manifested for the first Der Shreik goes out for a night on the town,
Real Name: Klaus Schlager time and she died instead. spreading random mayhem as he goes. The Player
He spent the next ten years in foster homes and
PL: 9 the East German state orphanage system, where he
Characters may catch up with him at any point in his
rampage. He hasn’t told any of his teammates
Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 15 (+2) Con: 14 (+2) learned lessons in pain, humiliation and fear that his where he is going, and they will get increasingly
Int: 8 (-1) Wis: 8 (-1) Cha: 9 (-1) mother had never even begun to teach him. restless and worried as time goes on. Eventually the
And then things got worse. After the Berlin Wall Moebius Man and Blitzenhammur set out looking
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 came down, the state orphanage system slowly ran for him, and may stumble over the PCs on his trail.
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 Defense: out of money and collapsed. By 1995 he was fifteen If der Shreik gets arrested or is in immediate danger
+17/+15 Speed: 30 and on the street. of losing his life, the Moebius Man catches up with
He was a rent-boy for a while, and a doper. him and rescues him.
Damage Save: +10 Fortitude Save: +8 Sometimes he would make trouble with his power, First der Shreik will go to an underground
Reflexes Save: +7 Willpower Save: +1 but he always ran away before the authorities arrived skinhead concert and pick fights with people outside.
Skills: Bluff+4, Hide +9, Intimidate +10, and so was never arrested for anything worse than He doesn’t have a ticket.
posession of drugs. It never occurred to him to use Then once he get bored with this he will go to a
Knowledge (German Skinhead Underground) +7,
his power to steal things. house where he thinks an old friend of his lives, and
Move Silently+9, Taunt+10
In 1999 the Moebius Man heard rumors that there when he finds out that they don’t really live there, he
Feats: Iron Will, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid was a street kid in East Berlin who had the the power will scream the place down.
Healing, Surprise Attack, Toughness, to shatter windows with his voice. It took him quite Then he’ll decide to go to the beach, whether
Powers: Amazing Save (Fortitude) +6 (Extras: a while to find Der Shriek but it was easy to win his there is one in this town or not.
Reflex, Damage; Cost: 3pts), Energy Control (Sonic) trust. He taught the poor lout about Nazism and On the way to the beach he stumbles across an
exhausted Chinese waiter named Marvin Wu,
staggering home after a long and hellish shift, and
taunts, chases, terrorizes and eventually kills him.
Then he gets on a bus that he thinks is headed for
the beach. But he gets distracted when the bus
crosses a freeway overpass, and jumps off there.
Then he stands on the overpass and tries to see if he
can shout every fifth car off the road.
This gives him an idea, so after a little while he
will go down to the train station, stand on the tracks
and try to shout an oncoming passenger train off the
rails (we didn’t say it was a good idea). If the
Moebius Man hasn’t already caught up with him and
brought him home, it happens here.
 Extended Teleport, Portal; Cost:11pts) unsuccessful attempt at a bank robbery in Munich.
Mother Moebius Weaknesses: Quirk: Willing to die to protect
her witless son.
During the course of these adventures, Maria
barely had a chance to use her powers at all. If she
Quirk: Distrusts anyone in authority, won't listen to did, the police would have searched for her a lot
any advice, no matter how useful or important, if it more vigorously. The lady is a one-woman
comes from an authority figure, defies anything any apocalypse.
authority figure tells her to do, even if this is She can teleport bullets and energy blasts out of
severely to her disadvantage. the air, hold them outside of time for as long as she
likes, and then make them reappear, pointing in the
opposite direction. She can teleport the heart out of
“I am the screaming fist of the people, an opponent’s chest or the top half off of a
Mr. Uncool Businessman! This boy is skyscraper. She has been shot at and has had
mine—you won’t feed your evil grenades thrown at her on a number of occasions,
and has stored the projectiles in timeless
machine with his blood! By the holy extradimensional space, ready to be let out whenever
names of Marx and Mao, I sentence the moment is right.
you all to execution!” The GM should save this effect for dramatic
purposes until after the PCs have seen her teleport
Far more powerful than her son, the so-called and reverse the course of a few bullets. Once the
Moebius Man, she hasn’t been an active supervillain PCs understand that she can do this, have her
since the 1970s and finds it much more satisfying to materialize a grenade that a policeman threw at her
sell real estate in the Stuttgart suburbs than to in 1978. As you describe the attack, mention how
Real Name: Maria Moebius overthrow the forces of world capitalism. and when it originated, even though the PCs would
She will only reappear if her son is in deadly really have no way of knowing this. It will help to
PL: 15 underscore how powerful she is.
peril. If Karl is about to die, and she knows about it
Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 16 (+3) (perhaps by watching the incident on television) she Her motives for coming out of retirement are
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 16 (+3) will teleport back into her old costume and instantly more complex than they seem. Maria and her
appear at the scene. husband, Klaus, have long since turned their backs
Initiative: +3 Attack Bonus (Melee): +7 on their wayward son. But they have kept track of
Her leather pants are old and cracked, but the rest
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +10 Defense: of her is in exceedingly good shape for a woman him and his exploits. Every time he kills someone,
+24/+20 Speed: 30/70 (Teleport) who is nearly fifty. She clearly works out and has a they send the family some money and make a
good plastic surgeon. donation to an Anarchist group that kills skinheads.
Damage Save: +3 Fortitude Save: +3 Her brief stint as a terrorist in the 1970s wasn’t Yet more and more, as she watches the Moebius
Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower Save: +0 enough for anyone to form a clear impression of just Man on TV or reads about him in the newspapers,
how powerful she is. The Maoist group she Maria has begun to remember her own glory days as
Skills: Profession (homemaker) +3, Performance a young hell-raiser, and how brief they really were.
+6 belonged to, the so-called Red Legion, didn’t
manage to accomplish very much before it fell apart She remembers what it felt like to live on the run,
Feats: Dodge in an argument over whether or not some piece of staying up late and plotting mayhem with friends so
Powers: Teleport +14 (Extras: Deflection dogma had already been invalidated by Chairman close you thought you’d die for them. It didn’t seem
[Deflect Others, Reflection], Disintegration Mao’s more recent teachings. They were able to pull fair that it all ended for her so quickly. Karl has had
[Restoration], Energy Blast [Explosive Effect], off two bombings, abandon a third, and make an more than two years—Maria only had a few months.
More and more she wants some of that lost glory for
herself, and her son’s imminent demise gives her an
excuse to go grab a piece of it.
In combat she will be as ruthless as she thinks is
required to save her son and herself, and may very
well use lethal force if it seems appropriate. You’d
think that she’d just teleport them both far away and
end the fight, but in fact she’s also here to show off
and snatch some of her son’s fame for herself, so she
will proibably stick around for more rounds of
combat than are strictly necessary.
To complicate matters, the Moebius Man may
refuse to leave the scene (he’ll be mortified that his
mom is showing up and getting in the way of his big
moment with her dopey, embarrassing Marxist talk)
and may keep teleporting back into the battle after
she has already sent him home. How the whole thing
ends is strictly up to the GM.

Using Mother Moebius in your

campaign: Maria is a wild card who may never
turn up at all, particularly if her son gets killed in
secret. She’s there to add an extra wrinkle to the
plot, especially if the Totenkopf is about to do
something crazy that will devastate a big chunk of
central Europe and has already beaten the PCs. She
hates the Totenkopf for bullying her son and for
being a Nazi, and will most certainly try to kill him
if she gets a chance.
The whole thing may well end with Maria
slumped dying over her dying boy, trying to shield
him with her arms, murmuring “Ah, bubby, if your
real father were here, we’d have shown them the
wrath of the people.”
Or with Maria and the Totenkopf killing each
other in a small but spectacular thermonuclear
explosion. Or even with Maria and her son
vanishing from sight entirely, never to be seen again
(perhaps to some alternate dimension where no one
has ever heard of Mao or Hitler?)
 Then Jim Dandy and Boy Howdy both got killed
The Corpus The Corpus Christi Good Time Boys are a gang
of professional supervillains with a story as tangled
sticking up a liquor store. They had done it out of
habit, without the rest of the team and without
and outrageous as any rock band. The team’s leader, needing the money, and finally found the bullets
Christi Good- Cimarron Starr, has stolen the Lone Star Lady’s
boyfriend, Johnny Black. The Lone Star Lady has
with their names on them.
This left Cimarron Starr in charge, looking
Time Boys by way of revenge taken up with Cimarron Starr’s
boyfriend, the Texas Twister. This arrangement has
desperately for new recruits before the money from
the last job ran out. She still had Mr. Fist and the
left no one happy, and the dangerous, self-important, Grease Monkey’s phone numbers, but she didn’t
grandiose and unstable personalities of everyone have anything to pay them with.
involved haven’t made things any easier. Nor has Then she found a wandering superhuman duo, the
Johnny Black’s problem with methamphetamines twitchy, paranoid Johnny Black and his whining,
(although to be fair, he’s manic and irrational even murderous girlfriend the Lone Star Lady, fresh from
when he isn’t high). an unsuccessful stint in the adult film industry,
The team hasn’t always been this dysfunctional. raising havoc up and down the gulf coast. They
The Corpus Christi Good-Time Boys were founded were both only too glad to pool their meager
by the deathless cowboy supervillain called Jim resources with a team, and Johnny Black found
Dandy and his sidekick, Boy Howdy. The two of himself drawn to the proud, imperious Cimarron
them had haunted the Texas gulf coast for nearly a Starr. For her part, she liked his forceful, angry,
century, committing minor acts of highway robbery brooding personality better than her own boyfriend
and knocking over the occasional store for extra (who always tried much too hard to please her) so
funds. she threw over the Texas Twister and stole Johnny
In the 1990s Jim Dandy was seized with an Black away from his girl.
uncharacteristic attack of ambition, and decided it The Texas Twister is more powerful than Johnny
was time to finally make a go of his criminal career. Black, and has a long and troubled history of
Membership: Cimarron Starr (a living atomic He and Boy Howdy hired a legendary pugilist called murderous tantrums. Yet he’s so devoted to
weapon with a self-absorbed and grandiose Mr. Fist and a gadgeteer who called herself the Cimarron Starr that he accepted her decision and
personality), Johnny Black (a paranoid, bullying Grease Monkey, and the four of them started robbing determined to worship her from afar. Then the Lone
speed freak who wields a legendary enchanted banks and armored cars. Star Lady gave herself to him, and the object of his
pistol), The Texas Twister (an impulsive killer, Things went well, but the team lacked the raw obsession switched completely. He now loves the
prone to lethal temper tantrums, who can create power to stand up to superheroes, so after some Lone Star Lady with his usual hopeless doglike
whirlwinds with the power of his mind), the Lone looking around they brought the beautiful Miss devotion. Alas, she’s still totally in love with
Star Lady (a shy, sullen energy-drainer, who Cimarron Starr (then calling herself Winter Steele) Johnny Black and painfully eager to get his
constantly complains about everything), Mr. Fist (an on board. The lady was a walking talking H-Bomb, attention. This has not done the Texas Twister’s
aging unarmed combat expert who the team hires and despite her obnoxious, vain personality she perilous mental stability much good.
from time to time, famous and well-regarded in rounded the team out well. Soon her ne’er do well Johnny Black, in the meantime, is enraged that
criminal circles), the Grease Monkey (another boyfriend, the Texas Twister joined the core of the someone else would dare touch the Lone Star Lady,
hireling—she’s a quiet, polite gadgeteer who dresses group (Mr. Fist and the Grease Monkey were just and if it weren’t for the fact that his new girlfriend is
in spotless mechanics coveralls), Doctor Destructor muscle they hired for big jobs, and didn’t spend strong enough to cause him serious harm, he would
(a giant killer robot with an upper-crust accent and a much time with the rest of the team) and they had all have killed the Texas Twister (he sees no
gentle demeanor). the raw power they could have asked for. contradiction in any of this). Nor is Johnny’s
relationship with Cimarron Starr exactly blissful. The Corpus Christi Good Time Boys see liquidate stolen assets, launder money and so forth,
They yell and scream and throw things at each other themselves as a wide-ranging, well-traveled team, but relations with them are tricky and difficult.
and make terrible accusations. This is just force of because in spite of their name they don’t spend all Cimarron Starr is a lousy negotiator, Johnny Black
habit—neither one has ever been in a relationship their time on the gulf coast and have gone as far constantly antagonizes people, and these things have
that wasn’t this bad. away as Lubbock and even Amarillo on occasion. not endeared them to the mob. The fact that neither
Cimarron Starr briefly ran back to the Texas West Texas makes them uneasy—it’s too alien, Johnny nor Cimarron Starr trusts non-whites makes
Twister’s arms a few weeks ago (mostly to show the almost like a foreign country. Yet they’re things doubly awkward. The team might or might
Lone Star Lady that she could, if she wanted) and comfortable enough across the border in Matamoros not be able to get rid of stolen goods in a reasonable
this has made things even worse. and Veracruz. amount of time and every time they visit their
There is a country-western nightclub in Corpus contacts there is a risk that it will end in violence.
Threat Level: The Corpus Christi Good Time Christi called the Pines, where they can often be While the team seems to be constantly broke,
Boys are a low to mid-level team. They could be a found partying on the weekends (even though the they do have ambitions of saving their money up and
lot more effective if they spent less time quarreling Lone Star Lady can’t stand the place—she doesn’t they have tried to make a few investments. Some of
among themselves and more time planning like music, hates the way it stops her from thinking them (most notably in real estate) have paid off well
robberies. Their teamwork is weak and their about herself, insists on its own importance). A lot but for the most part they’ve just been flinging cash
dysfunctional lives hamper them on the job. They of their heists get planned in one of the booths or in at harebrained schemes.
aren’t really capable of thinking in terms larger than the back room. The club’s owner, Big Mack Their accountant is the nervous, semi-competent
bank holdups and revenge killings and have no Briscoe, isn’t a criminal himself, but he knows V.J. Gupta, who operates out of a run-down strip
dreams of ruling the world. Their ambitions run enough to be afraid of the Good Time Boys and lets mall in Brownsville. They rarely see him face to
more along the lines of being famous and having lots them pretty much have the run of the place. He’s face, and mostly deal with his personal assistant via
of money. thinking about retiring soon. phone.

Base of Operations: The team has no single Organization: Cimarron Starr is the team’s Tactics: The Corpus Christi Good Time Boys
base or headquarters. They stay on the move most leader, partly because she’s the longest standing specialize in robbing banks, jewelry stores, armored
of the time, stealing cars and vans as need be. member, partly because of her forceful personality, cars and so forth. Their tactics (such as they are)
Sometimes, when they’re plush on funds, they’ll get and mostly because she’s stronger than any of the work better for stealing stuff than they do in big
a suite in a big hotel for a few weeks, spending others. She’s a bad leader, selfish and given to super-brawls. The Grease Monkey provides them
lavish amounts of money on room service and lording her position over the team’s weaker with the technical assistance they will need to bypass
partying wildly. They have public storage units members. Johnny Black feels that his status as her alarms, open vaults and so forth. Doctor Destructor
scattered around east Texas, with spare equipment present boyfriend gives him authority, and picks on subdues resistance or creates a distraction, the Lone
and supplies if they need it in an emergency. the Texas Twister and the Lone Star Lady whenever Star Lady and Johnny Black pick off any particularly
In the event of a really dire emergency, the team he can. Yet the team pulls itself together when Mr. powerful targets at a distance and Mr. Fist does his
owns a house in a brand-new suburban subdivision Fist and the Grease Monkey show up. They all want best to fend off armed guards while Cimarron Starr
way outside of Houston, where they can lay low for to look like professionals around a famous and the Texas Twister concentrate on making off
a while. Last year they bought a pretty good-sized supervillain like Mr. Fist and they like the Grease with the loot.
chunk of the housing development as an investment, Monkey for her calm, self-effacing personality. In a flat out combat situation with another
and they kept this one unit vacant, just in case they Even though the two of them are really just hired supergroup they will send Doctor Destructor in first,
ever needed it. The house is completely empty and help, they bring out the best in the group’s troubled using his giant body for cover as they advance and
unfurnished, but there’s a hidden room in the core members. come to grips with the enemy. Then each of them
basement that’s big enough for four people to sleep Cimarron Starr and Johnny Black have contacts will pick an opponent their powers seem to be suited
in. in the Mexican Mafia who can help the team to fighting and try to face them one on one, with no
coordination or broader strategy. They don’t even the PCs didn’t fight fair, and her team will keep the
trust one another enough to lay down covering fire— Adventures With The Corpus Christi name.
it’s pretty much every man and woman for
themselves. Good-Time Boys: 1) Corpus Christi 78411 2) Nice Day for a White Wedding
Johnny Black and Cimarron Starr are both Johnny Black calls the PCs from a pay phone in
convinced that the PCs intend to steal the name "The Las Vegas. If he has no way of getting their phone
Using The Corpus Christi Good- Corpus Christi Good Time Boys" for their own. number then he sends them a letter, or has a contact
Time Boys in your campaign: The Nothing will convince them that this isn’t true (this meet them in person and hand them a cell phone. He
Corpus Christi Good Time Boys are a good recurrent works particularly well if one of the PCs has wants a three day truce.
nemesis for low to mid level teams of player previously made some ironic, sneering comment Johnny sounds excited and happy, bursting to tell
characters. Their lack of coordination and woeful about their name—something like “Gee, great name, them something, and even if the PCs don’t ask him
group dynamics make them less effective than an wish I’d thought of that.”) why he wants a truce, he blurts it out. He is going to
equally powerful but better organized PC group. The Corpus Christi Good Time Boys issue a marry Cimarron Starr. They decided to get married
They can be hired to perform almost any kind of challenge to the Player Characters. The PCs should on impulse, just yesterday. They’re not in Vegas to
crime, and for enough money or a personal grudge come face them in abandoned industrial park on the raise hell or steal anything, they just want to spend
they would be more than willing to leave Texas and Texas gulf coast, to battle for who gets to use the three days at a “classy” hotel, get married and go
come face the PCs on their home ground. They hate name. Even though the Player Characters know that home. PCs who are familiar with Johnny Black may
to leave their home state, but they’re not completely this is a misunderstanding, it does also represent a note that it’s just like him to be so paranoid and self-
helpless in a setting like New York City—they just chance to capture one of Texas’ most wanted absorbed that he thinks they have nothing better to
complain about it a lot. supervillain groups. Anyway what superhero team do than to track his movements and speculate about
The GM can make good use of the team’s tangled could resist a challenge like that? why he's in Las Vegas.
internal politics, having team members show up late The other Good Time Boys are skeptical of Johnny adds that he fears some of his teammates
or shout at one another as they fight. After the PCs Johnny Black and Cimarron Starr’s claims. If the may have caught wind of his upcoming nuptials, and
have encountered the Corpus Christi Good Time PCs show up for the confrontation and vociferously that he wants no violence to mar his wedding day.
Boys more than once, the GM can draw the PCs into protest that they have no designs on the team’s Can the PCs come to Vegas and run interference for
their crazy soap opera of a back story--perhaps name, the others will remonstrate with Cimarron him? He wants them to stop the Texas Twister or
Cimarron Starr or the Lone Star Lady comes rushing Starr. When she can see that even Mr. Fist has taken the Lone Star Lady if they show up in town and do
into an attractive male PCs arms, just to make their the other side, she’ll concede that maybe the PCs something crazy. He’d even be willing to testify
current boyfriend even more jealous. don’t want to steal their name after all, maybe against them if the PCs catch them getting up to
Perhaps Johnny Black gets an irrational Johnny was wrong about that, but they’re here for a anything, despite the fact that it would violate his
conviction that one of the PCs is seeing Cimarron fight now and the honor of Texas must be answered moral code to rat out a fellow crook.
Starr, and tries to goad her into attacking the Player once she has been called forth. This makes sense to If the PCs take Johnny up on his offer, neither the
Characters to prove it isn’t so. the others, who will reluctantly agree that they have Texas Twister nor the Lone Star Lady shows up. In
Perhaps the Lone Star Lady lets the PCs capture to fight now. fact neither one has even guessed what might be
her, to prove that Johnny Black still loves her and Industrial park fights can be a lot of fun, with afoot. However, as the hour of her wedding
make him come running to her rescue. Perhaps he broken down forklifts and rusty old barrels full of approaches, the bride develops cold feet, gets drunk
does, but not because he loves her—he wants to toxic waste to throw at one another, I-beams and and runs amok on the Strip in her wedding dress,
make sure that she doesn’t give up any of his secrets. sections of chainlink fence to beat on one another smashing anything she can lay her hands on. If the
Perhaps Cimarron Starr finds out where Johnny with and no innocent bystanders who might hurt. PCs try to stop her, they will be breaking the truce,
Black has gone and goes off in a jealous rage to stop Maybe there’s even a catwalk or two to for the and Johnny will swear revenge.
him. Perhaps the Texas Twister follows her, eager combatants to chase one another across, or dangle
to prove that he still loves Cimarron Starr, etc., etc. from. If the PCs win, Cimarron Starr will insist that
 Skills: Drive +5, Intimidate +8, Knowledge so she did. While some amateur historians contend
Johnny Black (Texas Criminal Underworld) +2, Listen +5, Spot +5
Feats: All-Out Attack, Dodge, Evasion,
that anyone from Wyatt Earp to Buckskin Frank
Leslie murdered Johnny Ringo, the fact remains that
he shot himself.
Equipment: Enchanted Pistol (Energy Blast +9: Not a lot of people saw the gun outside its holster
Extras: Amazing Save [Damage, Reflexes and and lived to talk about it. Those who did said that it
Willpower], Deflection; Power Stunts: All-Around superficially appeared to be a .45 caliber revolver,
Sight, Blind-Fight, Darkvision, Far Shot, Multishot, but was in fact is something much stranger. Neither
Penetrating Attack x2, Penetration Vision, Point- the caliber nor the make were at all standard—
Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Ricochet Johnny Ringo must have had his bullets custom-
Attack, Quick-Draw, See Invisibility; Cost: 5pts) made. The Cylinder was said to hold five oddly-
Weaknesses: Quirk: Paranoid speedfreak, does shaped chambers, while the firing mechanism
stupid irrational things that screw up both himself operated according to what one Arizona gunsmith
and his comrades. called “a simple, ingenious but wholly unfamiliar
principle.” The gunmetal was rumored to be some
unfamiliar alloy, with a peculiar greenish tint,
“I’m gone show you who you’re trifling covered with a complex design that smacked
with, son. You like pain much? ‘Cause distinctly of the occult.
this here would be a great time to After a decade of searching, Tom Tanner stole the
weapon from a private collection in Laredo. This
start.” weird enchanted gun has made him the fastest
gunfighter alive, given him the ability to shoot
A career criminal long before he gained his through walls and around corners, (and incidentally
superpowers, Thomas Tanner has always been let him give up his unsuccessful career as an adult
obsessed with the legendary gunfighters of the old entertainer) but it hasn't improved his disposition.
west, and particularly with the infamous Johnny He's a paranoid, manic, overbearing bully,
Ringo. convinced that the people around him are planning to
A cruel, erudite man with a taste for Plato, cheat him and that he can intimidate them into
Thucydides and meaningless slaughter, John Ringo admitting it. A trial to be around, he constantly
remains one of the most enigmatic and frightening questions, threatens and browbeats anyone in reach.
Real Name: Thomas Tanner figures of the 1870s. Always ready to confound He has been known to kill people preemptively,
PL: 9 listeners with his carefully reasoned arguments about before they can do him wrong, or to betray them
the hopelessness and futility of the Universe, and before they can betray him. If he suspects anyone of
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 14 (+2) twice as ready to kill them dead, he was as adept having more education than he does (or worse yet,
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 14 (+2) with a pistol as he was with a classical allusion. catches them actually reading a book) then he singles
Initiative: + Attack Bonus (Melee): +10 His contemporaries knew that there was them out for special punishment. For some reason
something very wrong with the gun he carried, he doesn’t apply this rule to women, the Grease
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +13 Defense: though they spoke of it only in whispers. We don’t Monkey is relieved to note.
+19/+14 Speed: 30 know how many human lives this weapon took. He Johnny Black never seems to sleep, both because
Damage Save: +11 Fortitude Save: + 2 used to refer to it as a living thing, which hungered of his paranoid, hypomanic personality and because
for the blood of men. She would come for him he takes far too much speed. He has also been
Reflexes Save: +13 Willpower Save: +9 someday, he said, when she had drunk her fill. And
known to crash and collapse for days on end, going eight totally pointless robberies, sticking up stores powerful enough to shake the mountains, so perhaps
to ground in some crummy motel room until he can and stealing whatever random objects happen to he’s strong enough to help Johnny Black.
get himself together. catch the fancy of his drug addled brain. At each And Johnny finds him, and he does in fact have
Despite his bad behavior, he can't be kicked out crime scene, he leaves the PC’s name spray-painted the power to help Johnny, so the gun kills him.
of the Good-Time Boys. He's Cimarron Starr's on the wall, along with the words “I Know What The old man’s body has come to light and Johnny
current boyfriend and what she says goes. Although You Done.” is now hunted through the swamps by both the law
she could easily fry him in his snakeskin boots, he When the PC finally manages to track him down and Burning Wind’s vengeful relations. And as his
often yells at her for no reason and accuses her of and confront him, Johnny is holding the Korean gun changes, it begins to erode reality, and rabid
unfaithfulness. Amazingly, he gets away with this. couple who run a minimart hostage, pointing his gun extradimensional abominations start to appear in its
His background is depressingly familiar. His at them and talking irrational nonsense. The speed is wake.
father was a small time hood, who taught young starting to wear off, and he’s crashing really badly The PCs can get involved in this mess when news
Tom how to steal and fight and kill without remorse. (he’s been up for five days straight). Johnny won’t reaches them of Burning Wind’s death, or when
Tom grew up in the back of a Winnebago with a be able to put up a fight and if the PC makes any slobbering obscenities from outside time and space
bunch of half-brothers and whichever unfortunate effort to negotiate with or talk to him he will actually start turning up in East Texas. Or perhaps the Lone
woman Pa was dating at the time. lie down on the floor and lapse into a deep dark Star Lady runs weeping to a Player Character for
Pa got into a drunken knife fight with Tom on his sleep. assistance, and offers to be their girlfriend for a
sixteenth birthday, cut him bad and drove him off. However, Cimarron Starr has been tracking while if he helps Johnny.
After Johnny Black gained his powers, but before Johnny Black, convinced that he’s sneaking off to Once the PCs catch up with Johnny, it is possible
he hooked up with the Corpus Christi Good-Time see another woman. When she sees that he has been to trick his gun into thinking that the time is not yet
Boys, he roved the Texas gulf coast with his whining captured, she will attempt to rescue him from the right for it to assume its true form. Any PC with the
codependent girlfriend, the Lone Star Lady. One PCs. If she isn’t tough enough to do it by herself, ability to cast spells can do this with a roll vs. DC
look at Cimarron Starr and he knew it was time to then the Lone Star Lady has also been chasing 20.
trade up. He pushed out her crazy loser boyfriend, Johnny, convinced that Cimarron Starr intends him If the team has no spellcaster, then Burning Wind
the Texas Twister, and was shocked and enraged harm. Perhaps the Texas Twister is pursuing the left some notes on a yellow legal pad that explain
when the Twister then took up with the Lone Star Lone Star Lady, convinced that she’s running off to which symbols to draw on the ground and what
Lady. He seriously thought about murdering the a secret tryst with Johnny Black… words to intone. It requires a Will roll vs. DC 25 for
Twister, until he realized that Cimarron Starr would a non-spellcaster to successfully perform the ritual.
probably kill him for it. Nonetheless, things have 2) The Unwelcome Apotheosis of Johnny Black However, the gun will try to shoot anyone who
been rather strained of late. Johnny Black’s gun is shifting and unfolding attempts to fix the problem, and the ritual takes at
itself into something else—something bigger and least 3 rounds of total concentration on the part of
Adventures With Johnny Black: stranger. He can’t seem to put it down anymore and whoever is performing it.
he’s getting really scared. If the PCs manage to save him, Johnny Black will
1) I Know What You Done His teammates have deserted him, except for the show no gratitude. It seems to him that the PCs took
Johnny Black gets it into his speed-crazed head Lone Star Lady, who he drove away. He’s in a lot of an awfully long time to fix things, like maybe they
that one of the PCs has been having an affair with physical pain, and tormented by visions in which enjoyed watching him suffer. And they seem to
Cimarron Starr, and the thought torments him well everyone the gun has ever killed comes up and stares know an awful lot about what went wrong with his
nigh unto madness. He will seek the PC out and at him. gun. If they was able to fix it so damn easy, how is
challenge him to a duel. In agony and terror, Johnny Black runs out into he to know they didn’t cause it in the first place?
When he can’t find the PC, he decides that the the depths of the East Texas swamps, looking for a
best way to get in touch with him would be to legendary Native American shaman called Burning
commit a crime. Over the next 24 hours he commits Wind. Everyone says Burning Wind, if he exists, is
 Defense: +16/+15 Speed: 30 feet, (fly 60) Cimarron Starr? Woman of mystery, with a heart as
Cimarron Starr Damage Save: +5 Fortitude Save: +4
wide as the Texas sky and as warm as the prairie
wind..." etc.
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +7 Cimarron Starr is a Christian, as she will smugly
Skills: Innuendo +4, Taunt +4 tell anyone who cares to listen, although this doesn't
stop her from getting drunk, stealing someone's
Feats: Aerial Combat boyfriend or robbing banks. She can be manipulated
Powers: Amazing Save (Will) +8 (Source: through her beliefs, although you won't ever be able
Mutation, cost 1pt), Energy Control (Radiation) +12 to convince her that she is wrong or that anything is
(Extras: Flight, Force Field; Power Stunts: Drain her fault. It would, for example, be easy to convince
Energy; Source: Mutation; Cost: 4pts), Super- her that she shouldn't steal from a bank owned by a
Strength +10 (Extras: Immunity, Protection; Source: televangelist, or that she shouldn't trust someone
Mutation; Cost 6pts) because they haven't been "saved."
Saved or not, her life is dysfunctional mess.
"Yes, I’ve robbed, I’ve killed and Whenever the Player Characters encounter her, she
is screaming at some former friend on her cell
maimed. I’ve taken drugs, betrayed phone, even if she is walking into combat.
friends and had improper thoughts just Unfortunately, she's radioactive and her powers
like everybody does. But I don’t let it interfere with cell phones when she gets mad. This
does not improve her mood.
define who I am. My tender womanly Although she is easily the most powerful member
heart, my unwavering faith in Jesus, of the group, Cimarron Starr is so used to being
these things are more important than mistreated by the men in her life that she'll put up
with an amazing amount of emotional abuse from
who I slay or cripple or what I steal her boyfriend, Johnny Black, without doing anything
from them.” worse than screaming back at him.
She claims to always fight fair, and that she
A walking H-Bomb with a temperament to would never harm a child or an animal, but she
match. She's the team's de facto leader, largely mostly says this to annoy the Lone Star Lady. While
because she could kill any of the others without taking hostages and hitting people who are trying to
much difficulty. surrender isn’t normally her style, once the tide of
She once used the alias "Winter Steel" but too battle turns against her she will promptly forget her
many people started calling her "Nuclear Winter", so principles and become capable of anything.
Real Name: Tammy-Rae Mulford she changed it. She'll probably change it again once She claims that her powers are a gift from God
enough people point out how much her current name (although it’s not clear why He would want her to
PL: 12 sounds like a racehorse (or a stripper). Perhaps she'll rob banks with them) which most people assume
Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 20 (+5) be "Angel Blayze" next. means that she’s a mutant. She writes startlingly bad
Self-absorbed and melodramatic, her hair is large, poetry, and sometimes she recites it, too.
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 9 (-1) Cha: 15 (+2)
her makeup is overdone, she wears boots with six-
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): inch heels in the middle of combat. She likes to talk
+10 (Attack Bonus (Ranged): +7 about herself in the third person, as in: "Who is
Adventures With Cimarron Starr: time Cimarron Starr has had it, and decides to rob
1) This is Not a Stick-Up the place after all. She only wants the money from
Cimarron Starr walks into a bank. She’s not there her account. Plus twelve dollars.
to rob the place, she’s there to complain about some The PCs get called in again, and find that she’s
extra fees that she feels shouldn’t have shown up on desperate to explain things to them. Whether she
her statement. She claims that there’s a special wins or loses this fight isn’t that important to her.
exception to the rules that should keep her from What she’s really afraid of is turning up on that
having to pay the extra fees—the whole thing is reality show about America’s stupidest criminals, for
complicated and she’s not very good at explaining it. trying to rob the same bank twice in one week. Can
Amazingly enough, she’s right. Her bank has they explain things to the TV people? She doesn’t
actually cheated her out of about $12 in total. mind jail so much, but she couldn’t bear it if she
However, the branch manager doesn’t like her tone turned up on that show.
and recognizes her as Cimarron Starr. So he trips
the silent alarm and claims that she’s robbing the
place.
Exasperated and indignant, she insists that this is
not a stick-up, she’s just here for her money—but the
cops won’t listen. A standoff develops, and the
Player Characters get called in to resolve the crisis.
She will attempt to explain things to them while
she’s fighting them, but even if they do take her
complaint seriously, how can they help her now?
She’s already taken hostages and injured police
officers. And now she’s attacking them.
After the PC’s defeat Cimarron Starr (or get
defeated by her and watch her fly angrily away) the
smirking bank manager points out that she really was
right, but it was cheaper to call the cops than to pay
her the twelve bucks.

2) This is Not a Stick-Up Either Oh, Wait…

Cimarron Starr walks back into the same bank.
She’s fuming mad, but she's not here to rob it this
time either, she just wants to close her account and
give them a piece of her mind. Unfortunately,
whether or not she’s out on bail, the government has
frozen her account, and the terrified tellers can’t give
her any money.
Then the bank manager walks in and sees her. He
panics and calls the cops again.
When she hears the sirens coming for the second
 (+7S, Gadgets) Defense: +10/8 Speed: 30 team-mate. All of the others bring their problems to
Grease Monkey Damage Save: +0/+8 (Armor) Fortitude
Save: +0 Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower
her eventually, pouring out all the latest
developments, while she makes neutral remarks and
pretends to listen.
Save: +2 She’s not unattractive physically, but with her
quiet personality, short, sensible ponytail and
Skills: Computers +10, Craft (Mechanical complete lack of makeup, she’s the very opposite of
Devices) +10, Craft (Electronics) +9, Disable Device Johnny Black or the Texas Twister’s “type”, so
+9, Open Lock +9, Repair +10, Science (Robotics) neither one has yet made a pass at her. If either one
+10 of them did, she would simply ignore it, and avoid
Feats: Evasion, Expertise, Hero's Luck, Improved ever being alone with them again.
Initiative, Photographic Memory, Talented (Craft, No killer herself, she probably wouldn’t raise any
Robotics), Talented (Computers, Repair), Talented objections if her teammates killed someone in front
(Disable Device, Open Lock) of her. She tries to avoid the messy side of being a
Equipment: Toolkit (Effect: Gadgets +8; Flaw: supervillain, but she’s aware that unfortunate things
sometimes happen.
Device; Source: Super-Science; Cost 1pt; Total
Her detachment does have limits, however. She
8pts), Armored Coveralls (Effect: 8 points of armor;
would not participate in any plan that involves
Cost 1 pt; Total 8pts), Small Can of Anti-Antagonist
killing a lot of innocent people, taking hostages or
Spray (Effect: Weapon, does PL 7 Stun)
anything as stupid as world domination. While she
is a pro and wouldn’t betray her employer for
“Yes, I’m sorry to hear that, Ms. Starr. money, if you asked her to help unleash a killer virus
It is difficult when people don’t on Houston she’d call the cops.
understand you. Would you like to look Superhumanly adept at finding new uses for
existing technology, her genius is practical rather
at these schematics for the new death than theoretical. She doesn’t invent new technology
ray? Would that cheer you up a little?” outright, or create blatantly impossible machines.
She’s more the kind of person you’d have install
An occasional member of the Good-Time Boys, rocket engines and flamethrowers on your wonder-
she's a gadgeteer for hire and works with them car than the kind who would build you a weather-
whenever Cimarron Starr decides that they need a control device or an earthquake machine. However,
technical expert. She looks a little like a female Mr. if you were to give her a weather control device,
Real Name: Miss Phoebe Klokholm Goodwrench and wears mechanics' coveralls, which she’d figure it out in a flash and could probably
PL: 8 are always spotless and neatly pressed. improve on its design. She could rebuild or
Nobody really knows much about the Grease reprogram a giant combat robot (in fact she has—see
Monkey's background. She works out of Dallas, Doctor Destructor later in this section) but she lacks
Str: 8 (-1) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 10 (+0) Int: New York and Berlin and has no detectable accent the financial resources to build one from scratch.
18 (+4) Wis: 15 (+2) Cha: 13 (+1) of any kind. Professional, polite, a little reserved, Nor does she have access to the kind of money and
the Grease Monkey stays carefully aloof from the manpower required to build giant death rays or the
Initiative: +6 Attack Bonus (Melee): +4 kind of laser you’d use to write your name on the
crazy soap opera which is the Corpus Christi Good-
(+6S, Gadgets) Attack Bonus (Ranged): +7 Time Boys, and as a result is everyone's favorite moon. Offer her that kind of money and the plans
for a giant death ray, and she’d certainly be problem, but she will need their help getting inside. despicable). He stole the plans from someone much
intrigued. She can indeed deactivate the robot, once she gets a bigger and scarier than himself. Use the biggest
look at its serial number, and she can even help meanest evil gadgeeter or world-conquering arch-
make it light enough to get out of the floor (by villain in your campaign. Or, make it the Hammer of
Adventures With Grease Monkey: cracking the safe and taking the guns out). She will Doom (see page 48) or perhaps a cabal of doddering
however need some assistance getting into the old Nazis in South America.
1) Monkey Business building without being shot, and getting out again The Six Dollar Man has no interest in using the
The Grease Monkey takes on an emergency job without being arrested. plans himself, which he’s sure would get him killed
in the Player Characters’ home city. A gang of once their owner finds out who took them. His real
cheap hoodlums has found a warbot lying unused in 2) The Death Ray, the Monkey and the Six Dollar target is the gold shipment.
a government warehouse. They have instructed it to Man He learned about the shipment from an unrelated
steal a huge gun safe from a store that sells firearms The Grease Monkey receives a set of plans for a source (his most recent girlfriend worked for the
and model trains. giant death ray from a mysterious patron who wishes Swiss bank that is transporting the gold) and while it
The warbot does as they ask, walks into the store to remain anonymous. She is intrigued, and sounded like a great idea to rob it, this also sounded
with them and rips the safe out of the wall. although she doesn’t have anything like the like a lot of hard work. Much easier to get someone
Unfortunately, when it’s carrying the safe it’s too resources required to construct a full-sized working else to steal it for him.
heavy for the floor to hold. The robot takes three prototype, she builds a small model and finds that it But killing off the Corpus Christi Good-Time
steps and falls halfway through the floor. does indeed work—and violates a number of Boys also seemed like it would take too much effort,
This makes it think it’s under attack, and initiates established principles of physics in doing so. so instead he has tipped off the owner of the plans,
a combat sequence that the gang doesn’t have the Then the anonymous patron gets back in touch who is sending a hit squad to intercept them after
passwords to countermand. In this mode it will and suggests that she talk her friends the Corpus they knock over the gold shipment at the rendezvous
shoot anything that moves, so its erstwhile masters Christi Good Time Boys into stealing enough money point he picked out for them.
find themselves pinned down, frozen in place. to pay for building a full-sized ray. The patron can They’ll probably do each other a lot of damage,
Fortunately, one of them is facing a wall when provide some manpower and some design contacts if and he can then finish off whoever is left and walk
this happens, and he knows the Grease Monkey’s she can put up the funds, and he knows the location away with the gold. But he hasn’t counted on the
phone number. He carefully dials her up on his cell of a gold shipment that would pay for about half of PCs getting involved.
phone, trying to move as little as possible, explains the entire project. He promises a very high return on
the nature of the problem and offers to hire her on a the investment.
short-term basis to get them out of it. The Grease Monkey is no fool and immediately
She agrees, but she isn’t anywhere nearby and it suspects that the patron intends use the ray to pull off
takes her nearly six hours to get there. In the some major act of extortion or something even
meantime, the police have surrounded the building worse. She tries to notify the authorities, but they
and the PCs have arrived at the scene. won’t listen to her, so she contacts the Player
The warbot attacks anybody who gets too close to Characters.
the building and there is a strong risk of collateral The patron is going to rendezvous with her right
damage—there are apartments directly above the after the gold shipment heist to discuss further plans.
shop and no one can get out of them until the warbot They can probably intercept him and take him down
gets deactivated. there.
As the PCs are trying to figure out what to do, the Things are worse than she realizes. Her patron is
Grease Monkey appears out of nowhere and politely the loathsome cyborg assassin who calls himself the
explains to the PCs that she’s here to fix the Six Dollar Man (or someone equally treacherous and
 Sidekick ("The Grease Monkey" PL 8, see individual built-in weapon systems, but he's ideal for things like
Doctor description below).
Powers: Gadgets +5 (1pt), Super-Strength +10
tipping over armored cars and throwing police
cruisers at pursuing superheroes.
He always greets his enemies politely, always
Destructor, aka (Extras: Protection; Cost 5 pts)
Equipment: Vehicle (Doctor Desructor rides
says "please" and "thank you". If he hurls a tank at
you he will probably say "excuse me" as he does it.
Murder Machine concealed in the back of a specially modified
motorhome, piloted by the Grease Monkey; it has 7
Doctor Destructor regrets commiting acts of
havoc and savagery, but there doesn't seem to be
Movement Ranks [top speed of 128 mph], a much he can do about it, so he attempts to maintain a
Hardness of 11, and 7 points of Armor) cheerful outlook. He reads the New York Times and
Weaknesses: Disturbing (looks like a hulking the Utne Reader, and wishes he had time to learn
great killer robot) golf.

“Good afternoon! I’m afraid we are Adventures With Doctor Destructor:

going to have to have to smash open
your vault and take all the money. I Rampaging Robot Reunion
The Grease Monkey gives Dr. Destructor a book
hope you’ll accept my apologies in on crime, in hopes that he will learn more about
advance, as well as my condolences for being a criminal. He halfheartedly peruses it, and
any loss of life you may suffer during finds a picture of the robot gangster known as
Johnny Machine, AKA the Steel Deuce. See page
the course of the robbery. If it’s any 114 for a lengthy description of this unpleasant
consolation to you, my meteorological individual.
indicators show that it will be a lovely He looks weirdly familiar to Doctor Destructor,
Real Name: Unknown who grows very interested in whether or not the
day tomorrow.” Steel Deuce might know something about his own
PL: 10 origins. So Doctor Destructor has himself shipped to
Doctor Destructor is the Grease Monkey's
Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 20 (+5) favorite gadget. A huge killer robot with a Harvard
a random address in Brooklyn, the town where
Johnny Machine operates.
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 14 (+2) accent and no memory of his past, he doesn't know if When the truck drops him off and he bursts out of
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): "Doctor Destructor" is really his name, or if it's just his shipping container, the addressee protests that he
what the Grease Monkey calls him. We don't know
+11 (+15 S Punch) Attack Bonus (Ranged): didn’t order no giant killer robot and he ain’t paying
who built him or where she found him, but he's for no giant killer robot. Doctor Destructor
+8 Defense: +16/+14 Speed: 30 definitely hers, and is somehow compelled to follow apologizes for the inconvenience, thanks him for his
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 her orders whether he wants to or not. She is clearly time and lumbers off to find Johnny Machine. The
proud of her favorite toy and is forever fussing over
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +1 him, tinkering with him and adjusting his systems.
addressee places a complaint with his city
councilman, which makes its way to the PCs and
Skills: Diplomacy +5, Knowledge (Fine Wines) Doctor Destructor is as friendly and personable as draws them into the case if nothing else has.
+3 a big killer robot can be, allthough his ridiculous When the Steel Deuce hears that a big whussy
Feats: Durability, Immunity (Aging, Critical Hits, Kelsea Grammer voice does tend to set his robot is walking around the neighborhood showing
Disease, Poison, Pressure, Starvation, Suffocation, ) teammates' teeth on edge. He doesn't have a lot of people his picture, he figures his weird brother
Guiseppe must somehow be back from the dead and
goes off to find him and put him put of his misery.
The Steel Deuce has correctly guessed Dr.
Destructor’s real identity. Guiseppe’s central brain
unit survived his brother Johnny’s assault and the
Grease Monkey somehow acquired it, years later.
She already had a chassis for a giant battle robot, but
no brain. She put the two of them together and they
worked just dandy, apart from a little amnesia.
The Steel Deuce walks down the street with
murder in his eye. He smashed Guiseppe into little
pieces once and he’ll do it again. But when he sees
how big his kid brother has grown, he takes to his
heels instead.
Once Doctor Destructor chases down the Steel
Deuce and gets the whole story out of him, he thanks
him for his time and goes away. He’s not interested
in revenge. He just wanted to know.
 Feats: Great Fortitude, Identity Change, Instant maelstrom which surrounded the spot where he was
The Texas Twister Stand, Lightning Reflexes, Power Immunity,
Toughness
standing.
This was good enough for IF, which tried to sell
him to the Department of Defense as a superhero.
Powers: Energy Field +10 (Extras: Explosive They didn't pick up the program, but the State of
Effect [Energy Field Covers a circular area up to 50 Texas was just then trying to assemble a super-group
feet in diameter], Variable Effect [the Twister can of its own (the "Lone Star Rangers") and bought him
increase the field up to a 50 foot diameter or contract at a discount.
it to no range at all as a free action], Variable Effect Alas, he was much too angry and violent to be
[the Twister can also decide whether to do Stun or useable and was kicked out almost at once. He
Lethal damage with this attack, depending on how drifted into crime and got locked up for trying to rob
much hard and/or sharp debris his vortex has picked a Piggly Wiggly in Brownsville.
up] Obscure [Flaw: Only Partial Obscurement], During the two years he spent in prison, he
Protection [Flaw: does not protect against light or started corresponding with Supervillainess known as
radiation-based attacks], Shockwave [Anyone caught Cimarron Starr, who was also incarcerated at the
in the Energy Field must make a Strength or time. When they both got out, they struck up a
Dexterity check, whichever is higher, against the relationship and then a partnership in crime. They
power of the field, or be rendered Prone], made a good couple. He's almost as childish, self-
Telekinesis [Anyone rendered Prone by the absorbed and melodramatic as she is.
Shockwave is swept 10 feet in a counterclockwise Anyone who spends much time with the Texas
direction from where they were standing; Flaw: only Twister won’t be surprised to hear how he got
works on targets that have been knocked down by kicked out of the Rangers—the man is a blatant
the Energy Field]; Cost: 6pts), Sensory Protection menace to himself and everyone around him. Prone
+10 (Cost: 1pt) to frightening temper tantrums, he's a furious
Equipment: Armor +4 whirlwind of rage and always seems to be holding
Real Name: Donnie Craven back a murderous outburst. Whenever he throws a
Weaknesses: Berzerker
PL: 10 Quirk: Flies into a rage if anyone mocks or insults fit, someone is almost sure to die. He is not however
devoid of conscience and feels really bad about
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 13 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) his hairstyle.
killing people, until loses his temper and does it
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 12 (+1) again.
“I’m a whirlwind a’ beefcake with a
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 He seems to be making a valiant if doomed
side order a’ mean an’ hash browns a’ attempt to control his anger. The crazy,
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +5 Defense: dysfunctional atmosphere in the Good-Time Boys
grievous bodily harm! Yee-ha!”
+15/14 Speed: 30 does not help.
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 Yet another bad result of the IF Foundation's Cimarron Starr's former boyfriend, he's now
involved with the Lone Star Lady. He’s passionate
Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower Save: +0 research into psychic enhancement drugs. The
about his new girlfriend, but she’s still completely
Texas Twister looked at first like one of their few
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Balance +8, Bluff +4, real successes. A powerful telekinetic, but unable to hung up on her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Black. This has
Climb +6, Forgery +4, Hide +4, Intimidate +4, Jump exert any fine control over his power, he couldn't lift caused more than a little friction. Putting up with
+6, Knowledge (Texas criminal underground) +4, anything or manipulate objects with his mind, but he Johnny Black's craziness hasn't been easy for him,
Listen +4, Repair +8, Spot +8, Swim +5 was able to generate a kind of swirling destructive either. Only the calming influence of Mr. Fist and
the fact that Cimarron Starr could easily kill the media, if they show up before the PCs, that he will It won’t feel real enough if nobody else even knows
Twister has kept him from doing something fatal to only surrender to the PCs themselves. He’s frankly a about it. It will be like his wedding never even
one or another of his teammates. little scared of the treatment the Texas state happened. But where to find a best man who would
You would think that the IF Foundation would authorities might give him. He intends to die for his never blab to anyone on the team?
know better than to give a violent sociopath crime, but he wants to do it in a dignified, official On impulse, the Twister asks one of the PCs—
superhuman powers, but the fact is that they were setting, not in the back of a police cruiser. preferably one who hates Johnny Black. Can they
just recruiting their test subjects from the general If the Texas Twister has never actually met the have a truce, he asks? Just long enough for him to
pool of guys who turn themselves in for paid PCs before then he’s heard about them, possibly get married, just so somebody else was there and
medical experiments. They barely even bothered seen them on the news, and he thinks of them as witnessed the thing.
with a background check. good, fair, trustworthy guys. There should be some Alas, complications ensue. On the morning of
If they had paid more attention, they would have anxiety on your players’ minds about whether or not the big day, the bride is banging on the door of
hastily sought another candidate. The Twister has this might be some kind of a trap, but it’s not. Johnny Black’s mobile home, crying and screaming
been in and out of jail on assault charges since he However, while the PCs are transporting him to and begging him to come out and see her. When she
was fifteen. jail, it comes out that his victim didn’t actually die— doesn’t appear at the wedding chapel, the Texas
One word of warning about his hair. The Twister she’s in stable condition at a Houston hospital and is Twister will blame the PCs, accusing them of
is extremely touchy and proud about his haircut. He expected to recover. The Twister suddenly changes kidnapping his bride for some nefarious purpose.
thinks his hairstyle is called "bad-ass hair" because his mind about going back to jail and will do his best This happens whether or not a PC agreed to stand in
he's never heard the term "mullet" and that it makes to break loose and lead the PCs on a cross-country as his best man.
him a rebel (instead of a guy whose life peaked in chase. If the GM is feeling particularly mischievous,
high school). He threw the tantrum which got him Worse, the rest of the Corpus Christi Good Time then just as a fight is about to break out, Johnny
kicked out of the Lone Star Rangers when they Boys may show up and accuse the PCs of having Black bursts into the room, spoiling for a piece of
asked him to update his haircut and he's grown more used some kind of mind control on the Texas the Texas Twister. And then perhaps Cimarron Starr
sensitive about it since then. The Twister is quite Twiuster to make him turn himself in. They will barges in, furious with all parties and everyone starts
capable of killing people for disrespecting his hair, want to rescue their comrade, but also to make the hitting everyone.
although to his credit he'll feel pretty sorry about it PCs suffer for the insult.
afterwards.
2) I Shouldn’t be Wearing White and You Can’t
Afford no Ring
Adventures With Texas Twister: The Texas Twister asks the Lone Star Lady to
marry him. She agrees, hoping it will get Johnny
1) Twisted! Black’s attention.
The Texas Twister has had another one of his But for his part, the Texas Twister is eager to
temper tantrums, and killed a Houston TV reporter avoid letting Johnny know anything about the
who made a crack about his haircut. This time the wedding, for fear that it might provoke the kind of
Twister has finally had enough—he intends to turn lethal confrontation he’s been trying to avoid. He is
himself in to the Player Characters and take his determined to kill no more of the people he knows
punishment. (not even Johnny Black) and this time he’s going to
If he doesn’t know how to get in touch with the stick to it.
Player Characters, then he will go out into the In an effort to do this discreetly, he has found a
middle of a field somewhere and create the biggest tiny wedding chapel down near Brownsville where
twister he can make, holding it in place until the nobody knows them. He wants to have a best man.
authorities take notice. He tells the cops and the
 Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 16 (+3) Cimmarron Starr hires him for big jobs, whether
Mr. Fist Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 14 (+2)
she strictly speaking needs an unarmed combat
expert or not. The Good-Time Boys think it's cool to
Initiative: +9 Attack Bonus (Melee): get to hang out with Mr. Fist, and he exerts a
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +12 calming influence on the group. Everyone wants to
look like a pro around him, so they misbehave less.
Defense: +21/+21 Speed: 30 Mr. Fist is surprisingly short, scarred up and old.
Damage Save: +3/+5 (Evasion) Fortitude His hair is starting to get thin and gray, some of his
Save: +3 Reflexes Save: +7 Willpower teeth are missing and some are made of gold. It’s
been years since he’s gotten any new tattoos and the
Save: +3 old ones are starting to blur and fade. His voice
Skills: Acrobatics +10, Balance +10, Bluff +4, sounds like he smokes cigarettes with broken glass
Drive +9, Escape Artist +5, Hide +10, Jump +6, in them. He affects a grizzled handlebar moustache.
Knowledge (Criminal Lore) +4, Listen +5, Move Despite his stern voice and grim appearance he's
Silently +10, Sense Motive +7, Spot +5, Taunt +8 actually quite friendly with younger criminals,
concerned and sympathetic about people's problems,
Feats: Assessment, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Evasion, eager to hold forth and explain how to be a good
Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative, crook.
Improved Trip, Infamy, Instant Stand, Iron Will, A seasoned professional, he has a personal code
Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, of ethics and would never abandon or betray a team-
Rapid Strike, Surprise Strike, Takedown Attack mate, never show up late for a job or show up drunk.
Powers: Combat Sense +5 (Source: Training, Mr. Fist has had to kill people on a number of
Cost: 1pt) occasions, but he doesn't enjoy it and won't do it if
he can avoid it. He might take a hostage if he
absolutely has to, but he would never actually kill
“Just what I wanted for my birthday, a them. He's a criminal to the core, has spent half of
fight! And it ain’t even my birthday!” his life in jail and knows that he'll never lead a
normal existence now. Yet he's determined to be as
An older, wiser criminal than most of the Good- good a guy as he can. Beware of taking too much of
Time Boys, Mr. Fist is a kind of surrogate father to his advice--he may have grown up a little by now,
them all. but he didn't get where he is today by being mature
A legendary pugilist, he has ranged all across the and responsible.
West for a quarter of a century, competing in illegal Mr. Fist has no fixed abode. He was a biker for a
bare-knuckle brawls. He's the undisputed champion while but the codes and rituals of that world didn't
of that world. The Michael Jordan or Muhammed suit him, so these days he rides the rails like an old-
Ali of dirty fighting, one of America's great unsung time hobo. He usually shows up by hopping off a
Real Name: Winton Casey Bunyard athletes. In between bouts, he steals, when he isn't in freight train, down at the Corpus Christi railyards.
PL: 11 jail. There are less fights than there used to be,
"Ultimate Fighting" videos are killing the market off,
so he supports himself more and more through
robbery these days.
Adventures With Mr. Fist: powerful gang of outlaw bikers known as Satan’s
Little Helpers. These guys are bad, bad news, and
they aren’t just a local organization, they’re a
1) What, Me Worry? national club—a real organized crime family. Mr.
Mr. Fist is visiting the supermarket, browsing Fist cautions Big Marvin to make himself as scarce
through biker magazines and the latest issue of Mad, as possible, but he won’t listen and anyway it’s too
when three thugs decide to hold the place up. That late.
doesn’t bother Mr. Fist—maybe he’ll get to keep the That very night, Satan’s Little Helpers show up
magazines for free. and riddle Big Marvin’s shack with bullets. Mr. Fist
But these three robbers are incompetent and only survives because of his habit of sleeping
bloodthirsty, the heist rapidly turns into a hostage outside. As he picks through the wreckage the cops
situation and then starts sliding toward a bloodbath. arrive, and he has to run for his life with the
The cops besiege the store, the robbers start killing massacre’s only other survivor—an eleven month
hostages and Mr. Fist starts getting disgusted. old girl.
When the PCs arrive outside, he text-messages Mr. Fist flees cross country, by freight train,
them on a cell-phone he finds lying around, lets them hitchhiking and by stolen motorcycle, with the baby
know he’s hiding in the magazine section and asks if slung across his back, trying to cope with the
he can help. demands of unexpected fatherhood as he struggles to
The three thieves are Lonnie Biggs, Pennsylvania keep them both alive and one step ahead of the law.
Pete and his girlfriend Mountain Mama Annie. All Will the Player Characters catch him before he gets
three are killers, but the shy, quiet one called to Mexico? Will Satan’s Little Helpers?
Mountain Momma Annie is particularly casual about
taking human life and her boyfriend does whatever
she says.
Lonnie Biggs is a violent loudmouth, but he’s
beginning to wonder if it was really a good idea to
get involved with these two. He’s not dumb enough
to question their actions, though. If Lonnie sees a
known supervillain like Mr. Fist decimating his
friends, then despite his bluster he’s likely to make a
run for it.
Once the situation is resolved, Mr. Fist will
attempt to slip past the Player Characters before they
can apprehend him.

2) Little Marvin and Her Uncle Fist

Mr. Fist pays a visit to some old biker friends.
We purposefully won’t specify which state they live
in, so as to make it easier to work into your
campaign.
Unfortunately, Mr. Fist’s old buddy Big Marvin
Goines has ripped off a crank lab owned by a
 Heat, Starvation, Suffocation) the 1930s for some awful, sneaky act of treachery
Lone Star Lady Powers: Flight +7 (Cost: 2pts), Drain +10 (Extra:
Ranged; Power Stunt: Penetrating Attack x2; Cost
and in 1988 she rose from her grave, suddenly able
to fly and to draw the life force out of anyone within
3pts), Protection +10 (Cost 2pts) reach. It’s uncertain whether she’s a creature of
supernatural evil, or just a really odd mutation. We
do know that she drifted into stripping, and then
“Oh yeah, like you never killed no kids making "amateur" adult movies in Galveston, where
before!” she met and fell in love with Johnny Black.
He was already obsessed with Johnny Ringo, and
A whiner, a complainer and a heartless killer to with finding that legendary killer’s gun. And it just
boot, the Lone Star Lady is probably the worst so happened that she knew where it could be found.
member of the Corpus Christi Good-Time Boys, and Lovers and partners in crime, the two of them
certainly the most annoying. Sulky, sullen and rampaged across southeastern Texas in fine fashion
underhanded, she constantly gripes about everything, until they met up with the Twister and Cimarron
so lost in her own self-pity that she’s capable of Starr. Johnny Black promptly threw his murderous,
almost any thoughtless crime. She holds grudges whiny doormat girlfriend over for the wild and
over tiny things and will bring up some minor tempestuous Ms. Starr. The Lone Star Lady took up
unfairness that she once suffered years after the fact. with the jilted Texas Twister by way of revenge, but
The Lone Star Lady dresses like a trashy Vegas she’s still completely obsessed with Johnny Black
lounge act, but that’s just because Johnny Black and desperate to get his attention.
designed her costume—she’s actually rather shy. Barely literate, tasteless and crass, she can’t find
Cimarron Star picks on her and stole her boyfriend, Texas on a map, doesn’t know cheese doodles from
filet mignon and doesn’t want to know.
but the Lone Star Lady is at least as angry with her The Lone Star Lady’s willful ignorance and
for taking a code-name that sounds too much like her whining self-absorption have actually helped her
Real Name: Patience Coyle own. She’s convinced that Cimarron Starr did it on adapt to the present day. She’s not really interested
PL: 10 purpose, and she may even be right. Johnny Black in the world around her, so she can’t really be
and the Texas Twister look down on her too, and she shocked by it. She takes no pleasure from listening
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 20 (+5) almost seems to invite their abuse. to music, so she can’t feel alienated by how much it
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 12 (+1) Wanted for the cold-blooded execution of six has changed since the 1930s. She likes soap operas,
elementary school kids during a hostage situation in but has no interest in knowing how the TV is able to
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 Beaumont, the Lone Star Lady resents the way her dispense them. She has no idea how a cell phone
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +7 Defense: teammates constantly throw that dishonorable crime works, but she doesn’t want to know any more than
+20/+18 Speed: 30/35 (Flight) in her face. Like it makes them better than her. how to use one to pester Johnny Black.
She’s far too codependent to even think of harming By now she has more or less completely
Damage Save: +5 Fortitude Save: +5 or leaving the teammates who emotionally abuse her, assimilated into the 21st century. She barely
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +1 although she’s capable of killing just about anyone remembers her former life, and doesn’t really wish
Skills: Hide +8, Knowledge (Soap Operas) +5, else without thinking twice. to.
Move Silently +8 Her origins are murky. Although she appears to
be in her early twenties, she’s actually closer to
Feats: Darkvision, Durability, Immunity (Cold, eighty-five. She was buried alive by her kin back in
Adventures With the Lone Star
Lady:
Jilted by the Devil
The Lone Star Lady has a dream, in which the
Devil tells her he will come for her in three days.
She wakes up terrified, and determined to reform her
evil ways.
She has thee days in which to put things right
with everyone she has wronged. She decides to start
with the Player Characters, and either tracks them
down or creates some kind of public incident to draw
their attention. If they don’t attack her on sight, she
will explain why she has come to see them.
However, she doesn’t have any idea how to set
things right with the PCs—in fact she didn’t think
that far ahead. Can they think of anything?
Whatever they suggest, she whines that it would
take far too long, she has so many people to make up
with, and only three days to do it. She begins to list
all the terrible things she has done (the GM can
generate some black humor by making her list of
atrocities ridiculously long and foul) and before
she’s even halfway through, she realizes her mistake.
There’s no way she can ever make up with all those
people in three days.
Another plan occurs to her, and she abruptly flies
away. Since she’s going to Hell anyway, she may as
well take as many people with her as she can. And
so she goes off to poison the nearest city reservoir.
Whether or not the PCs can stop her in time, the
devil never shows up. Perhaps he didn’t want her
soul once he got a better look at it.
 Powers: Incorporeal (Affected by Mentally- convenience stores became a positive bonanza for
Jim Dandy Based attacks) +10 (Extra: Immune to Disease,
Poison, Pressure, Starvation, and Suffocation while
the two of them. As the open country vanished, they
spent more time living in cheap motels, which they
Incorporeal: Cost: 3pts) had to admit was a lot more comfortable than
camping out on the range, even though it cost more.
Equipment: Lariat (Snare +10; Flaw: Device; In the 1990s Jim Dandy found out about
Cost 1pt), Pistol (Weapon +5; Extra: Variable supervillains, realized that he was one, and suffered
damage [fires spectral bullets that can pass through a completely uncharacteristic attack of hubris. It
the target and Stun them, or materialize and punch was time to do the responsible thing, he decided—to
holes through them]; Cost: 2pts) grow up, be a man and get serious about his criminal
Weaknesses: Naïve career. For his part, Boy Howdy went along with
Quirk: Foolishly loyal to associates, even when it is whatever Jim Dandy said.
severely contrary to his advantage. They set about trying to put together a
supervillain team, which they understood was what
Jim Dandy and Boy Howdy got themselves killed one did. Jim Dandy hired an unarmed combat expert
a couple of years back, but if for some reason you he knew slightly, called Mr. Fist (they had seen Mr.
need their stats, here they are. Fist fight a few times down at the railyards and had
Jim Dandy was as laid back, fun-loving and good talked to him a little). He in turn put them in touch
natured as any professional criminal you’d be likely with the Grease Monkey, who brought her giant
to meet. It was almost impossible to get him riled— killer robot into the team with her. The five of them
he’d laugh off insults and shrug at threats. Boy became the original Corpus Christi Good Time
Howdy was much the same, but even more lazy and Boys, robbed a bank or two and then discovered the
Real Name: Does not remember, may even less inclined to plan ahead. hard way that they didn’t have the raw power
not have one. They used to stick up travelers on the road, and required to stand up to a superhero team.
PL: 10 occasionally knock over isolated businesses. After some searching they located Cimarron Starr
Friendly and congenial robbers, they were always at (who still called herself “Winter Steele” in those
Str: 14 (+2) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 14 (+2) pains to put their victims at ease and to keep from days) and she shortly brought her boyfriend, the
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 13 (+1) Cha: 18 (+4) upsetting them too badly. Texas Twister, into the group. This gave them all
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): We don’t really know much about their origins, the power they needed, and then some.
but we do know that they lived the life of Texas The team got along fairly well in the early days.
+12 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +14 outlaws for a hundred and fifty years. They ranged Jim Dandy and Boy Howdy didn’t let Cimarron
Defense: +24/+20 Speed: 30 all up and down the gulf coast, camping out in the Starr’s obnoxious temperament bother them, and
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2 wilderness for the most part, coming into town only they were a calming influence on the tormented
to buy supplies or steal things as needed. Sometimes Texas Twister.
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +1 their victims would be the only people they had The future looked bright, until the evening Jim
Skills: Diplomacy +4, Handle Animal +9, Hide spoken with in weeks, so they were always eager to Dandy decided to knock over one last liquor store
+5, Survival +9 make conversation and share news. for old times sake. People say he did it out of force
Only very slowly did they realize how much the of habit, and it is certainly true that he didn’t need
Feats: Far Shot, Immunity (Aging), Point-Blank world was changing. Some time in the 1950s they the money. It may however also be the case that he
shot, Quick-Draw, Sidekick (Boy Howdy; PL 9), began robbing isolated gas stations and liquor stores didn’t feel comfortable with his new life, that his
Tracking as well as travelers, and later the spread of all-night new ambitions didn’t wholly satisfy him and that he
felt nostalgic for the old days. We’ll probably never (Harmonica) +7, Survival +8
know. We do know that Jim Dandy and Boy Howdy Feats: Far Shot, Immunity (Aging), Improved
walked into the store just after midnight, robbed the Initiative, Point-Blank Shot, Quick-Draw, Tracking
place, and spent a few minutes making conversation
with the clerk, who then shot them both in the back Powers: Incorporeal (Affected by Mentally-
as they walked out the door, and killed them. Based attacks) +9 (Extra: Ghost Touch: Cost: 3pts)
Equipment: Lariat (Snare +9; Flaw: Device;
Cost 1pt), Pistol (Weapon +4; Extra: Variable
Boy Howdy damage [fires spectral bullets that can pass through
the target and Stun them, or materialize and punch
holes through them]; Cost: 2pts)
Weaknesses: Naïve
Quirk: Can't do lethal damage to anyone unless they
have attacked him first.

Real Name: Does not remember, may

not have one.
PL: 9
Str: 14 (+1) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 14 (+2)
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 16 (+3)
Initiative: +6 Attack Bonus (Melee):
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +13
Defense: +23/+19 Speed: 30
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +1
Skills: Handle Animal +9, Hide +5, Performance
 boys do still give him money and visit him in prison know anything at all about one another apart from
The Four Deuces from time to time, but these days he doesn’t really
have much influence over what they do. His boy
their code names.
In the eighteen years since Bones was sent away
sidekick, Double Deuce (now in his forties) is the to prison, all of these rules have gotten weaker.
Membership: Double Deuce (a hot tempered only original team member left. There are now five of them, plus Bones, they know
little psychopath with the abilty to see the weak The Four Deuces mostly specialize in robbery way too much about one another and even their
points in everything), the Steel Deuce (aka Johnny and hijacking. They like to pull a few really big jobs names don’t really follow the convention anymore.
Machine, a robot who pursues a life of crime around every year, all up and down the East Coast. In But these days the Deuces barely even need a set of
the clock with inhuman mechanical determination), between they plan, rest up, tend their individual formal rules. Everyone already knows that they
Lady Deuce (a kid-killing murderess with the ability criminal schemes and sometimes run errands for the shouldn’t blab any of the team’s secrets to outsiders,
to dampen superhuman powers), Diamond Deuce (a Mafia. They do assassinations for hire and they may show up for a caper late or inebriated, do things that
witless, wife-beating, super-strong flying thug), the be willing to perform bodyguard work as well, will draw too much attention to the crew, or attack a
Ace of Wounds (one of America's greatest especially if the Mob asks them to. If superheroes teammate while they’re on the job. The penalty for
commandoes, now fallen on hard times and forced to cause the Mafia too much grief, this is the team most of these mistakes is death, although none of
fall in with the likes of the Four Deuces) and they’ll send in to stop them. them would ever be unprofessional enough to
sometimes Bones (zoot-suit wearing master criminal commit them (with the possible exception of
from the 1930s, who has been blessed by the forces Threat Level: The current incarnation of the Diamond Deuce, but he’s much too scared of the
of death and paints his face like a skull). That's Four Deuces is about the best and most effective Steel Deuce to screw up in front of him).
more than four, of course, but who's counting? line-up they’ve had. It’s also lasted the longest, Double Deuce is the ideas man—a genius at
although Double Deuce now plans to kill off its two conceiving a heist, paranormally gifted at seeing the
The Four Deuces are a tight-knit professional newest members. flaws in security systems, he plans nearly all their
crew of super-criminals, based in Brooklyn. None of Not a threat to world peace and security, they crimes. Whenever the team finds itself in a combat
them are “Made Men”, but the team is deeply don’t have any broader goals than getting rich and situation, the Ace of Wounds temporarily takes over
intertwined with the New York Mafia and they know staying that way. No individual member has the the leadership role. He’s a superb small-unit
that world very well. ability to knock down skyscrapers or blow up tactician, trained by some of the best minds in the
Founded by the infamous gangster supervillain Manhattan. Yet they are arguably far more US armed forces and he knows exactly how to use
who calls himself “Bones”, they’ve terrorized the dangerous than a lot of teams with much greater raw everyone’s abilities to the greatest advantage. In all
New York City metropolitan area, in a low-key kind power, because they work together so effectively and other matters, the Steel Deuce has the final say.
of way, for nearly twenty years—longer than almost plan so well. Everybody knows their own role, He’s the smartest and arguably the most ruthless of
any other supervillain team. They owe their everybody does it without question and as a result, them, and he’s the one all the others are scared of.
longevity and success to careful planning, solid this version of the Four Deuces works like a well- He owns the bar where they meet, he invests their
organizational skills and to the fact that the team’s oiled machine. money for them and he deals with the mob on their
two core members always kill off the new guys Exceedingly ruthless, they won’t hesitate to kill, behalf. They know not to defy him and he in turn
before they’ve had time to betray them. to take hostages or to threaten a hero’s friends and knows not to interfere with them in their areas of
They are careful about who they recruit, everyone family. Their connections with organized crime expertise.
on the team is a seasoned pro, used to working make them doubly dangerous. Double-Deuce frequently takes on jobs outside of
smoothly as a unit. They never take on jobs that are the crew, and the Steel Deuce constantly does—in
too flashy, they keep the cops paid off, they always fact the team is just one of his ongoing criminal
give the Mafia its cut and they never defy the local Organization: Bones set the rules up carefully. enterprises. Lady Deuce may take on the occasional
mob Capo. There are supposed to be only four of them, and outside job, and certainly has some other identity
Bones is still nominally the team’s leader and the they’re supposed to name themselves after the four ready and waiting to step into the moment she leaves
deuces in a pack of cards. They aren’t supposed to
her comrades behind. Diamond Deuce and the Ace The Steel Deuce and his crew meet in the back with his sniper rifle.
of Wounds, on the other hand, have no professional room, surrounded by boxes of liquor and cartons of The Steel Deuce will provide cover for the more
life outside the team, because the former is too cigarettes. A small apartment above the bar lightly armored team members, moving into an
stupid and the latter is a pariah in the underworld. (reachable from the street or the back room) provides offensive position when he can see that they’re safe.
Double Deuce and the Steel Deuce don’t kill their living space for the Ace of Wounds and for any Double-Deuce will try to come to grips with an
own team members after every heist—that would hostages they may have kidnapped. There is also a opponent who would be particularly vulnerable to
cause too much disruption and would force them to large and cluttered basement, with a concealed his attack—guys in powered armor are his favorites.
constantly readjust their tactics. An average Deuce tunnel leading out to the water. Lady Deuce will coordinate her power with one
lasts about a year until they figure he knows too A trip to the basement tends to be a one-way deal. of the other low-powered members of her team,
much. This version of the team has lasted a lot That’s usually where they kill guys, so as not to have shutting down the parahuman defenses of a target
longer than most. Their newest member, the Ace of to drag them as far to the water. There are a lot of just before the Ace of Wounds puts a bullet in them
Wounds, has now been with them for two years. empty barrels, and a surprising number of bags of or the Steel Deuce gouges them up. She tends not to
Double Deuce’s trigger finger grows itchy… cement down there, as well as a nasty-smelling little coordinate with Double-Deuce, since their powers
room with a steel door, which contains nothing but a have a similar effect.
Base of Operations: People sometimes ask bathtub and a shelf with a chainsaw and some bolt Although that’s a typical pattern, they can vary
Bones how he came up with the team's name. He cutters sitting on it. The tools are stained and their tactics completely if it’s what’s called for.
always tells them: "The thing with the four deuces is, crusted with things you don’t want to know about. They love to set ambushes, they love to hit the target
that's a low and dirty hand that almost always wins." Should superheroes chase the Four Deuces out of by surprise, they love to pull fake retreats that draw
This may be a cool answer, but it's a lie. The team their lair, they will meet in the back room of any of the enemy into a vulnerable position.
is actually named after the crummy waterfront bar another half dozen bars, restaurants or adult They will hit opponents when they’re down,
they hang around. A friend of Bones named Red bookstores that the Steel Deuce owns, either in they’ll shoot people who are trying to surrender,
Morgan owned it, but more recently the Steel Deuce Brooklyn or in Queens. The Deuces aren’t as they’ll take hostages if need be, they’ll endanger
bought the place. comfortable in Queens as they are in Brooklyn and innocents so that the Player Characters have to go
It used the be that the “Four Deuces Lounge” was won’t go there unless the heat is really on something rescue them rather than continue the fight—they
down by the water, far away from everything else, fierce. Should the Steel Deuce’s financial empire play to win. Yet they won’t hold their ground if it
but during the boom of the 1990s the area around it come crashing down around his ears, leaving them looks hopeless. Nor will they hang onto the loot if
got built up. Now you reach the bar by turning down with no base of operations, they’ll meet at Diamond dropping it ensures a clean getaway. There’s always
a narrow alley into a dank and sunless courtyard. It Deuce’s big, tacky house up in the Long Island more stuff out there to steal.
has an unsavory reputation and the locals never go suburbs. Really all they need is a secluded place to
there at certain hours of the night. meet, plan and possibly to kill people. Using The Four Deuces in your
The bar itself is surprisingly big, although there campaign: The Four Deuces are a good
never seems to be much business. It’s booths are Tactics: The Ace of Wounds’ keen tactical sense recurring nemesis for east coast campaigns. They’re
done up in tacky red vinyl and there is nasty scuffed is one of the team’s greatest assets. In a combat tough and durable, ready to come back for more
red carpet on the floor. The pinball machines work situation they smoothly coordinate their attacks, punishment again and again. As both thieves and
indifferently. A shady looking fat Irish guy called backing one another up as needed. mercenary supervillains they can be involved in
“Red Junior” tends bar during the day. His eyes In a typical attack pattern the Diamond Deuce almost any kind of criminal activity. Player
don’t point in the same direction and he talks too will fling himself at the biggest, toughest opponent, Characters can try to foil one of their crimes, run
much. At night the bar is tended by a huge black distracting the opposing team while everybody else afoul of them while breaking up a mob operation or
dude with an eyepatch and a crooked scar across one gets into position. face them as the minions of a master villain or a
side of his face. He never gives his name, and says The Ace of Wounds will hang back and crime boss.
nothing. coordinate the attack, hitting targets at a distance Primarily an East Coast outfit, they feel most
comfortable operating in the New York metropolitan work, and who better than God to cause a really big shields or carry out suicide attacks on their
area, and especially in what’s left of the old Irish and one? The Steel Deuce finds the telepathic cult leader besiegers. And then just as things look like they
Italian neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Yet if Double who goes by that name (see his individual couldn’t get any worse, the Four Deuces enter the
Deuce sees the opportunity for a good heist, or if the description, elsewhere in this book) and smooth- fray.
Mafia sends them out to kill somebody, the crew talks poor weak-willed God into going along with
may find itself anywhere on earth. Diamond Deuce his plan. God will appear at the Christmas Carnival 2) Four Deuces Beats a Full House
whines a lot whenever they go overseas—he finds across the river from the warehouse, cause One of America’s mightiest heroes, Captain
other countries incomprehensible and terrifying, but pandemonium, draw down enough police attention Valiant himself, has been laid low by an unknown
then again he feels the same way about Los Angeles. that their response time will be compromised enough assailant. He’s in a hospital in New York City,
Once the PCs get to know the opposition a little for the Steel Deuce to get out before the alarms draw unconscious, barely able to breathe.
better, you can start introducing plot complications them down on top of him. Despite the best efforts of the NYC authorities,
based on their back-stories. The individual Then God will hypnotize people into thinking the news has slipped out, and the consequences
characters have a lot of potential plot hooks. What they saw all five Deuces at the carnival, right when could be disastrous—who knows who or what might
happens when Fat Tony D’Ambrosio comes back to the robbery was taking place across the river. It’s show up at the hospital looking for revenge? The
finish off the Ace of Wounds? Or when Double not a bad plan, but it’s God’s first major crime and authorities beg the Player Characters for help. They
Deuce decides it’s time to eliminate the two new he makes hideous mistakes. He shows up too late, he have a squad of officers ready to protect Captain
team-members? Or when Lady Deuce finally finds panics at the sight of the cops and orders the Valiant’s room, but they’re afraid that this might just
her long lost cousin Miranda? mesmerized crowd to attack them. The whole affair tip off his enemies as to which room he is in.
One of the best (but most complicated) wrinkles turns into a bloodbath, with innocent civilians and Anything might be coming to finish the job, and they
you can add is the whole question of what’s going to police getting killed left and right. He also forgets to might not stand a chance against it. Whatever it is, if
happen once Bones gets out of prison. We have implant the fake memories in anyone’s mind. it felled Captain Valiant, it’s big.
some notes on that below, under Bones' individual Meanwhile, because the heist started late, the For most PC groups this scenario should happen
entry, but feel free to do whatever seems best for warehouse robbery gets under way before the before the players realize just what a jerk Captain
your campaign. distraction starts, the police show up and the Four Valiant really is. However, if you think your players
Deuces have to kill six of them. Everyone gets would feel conflicted about guarding somebody they
Adventures With the Four Deuces: away, but the whole debacle turns into front page dislike, but would do their best to protect him
news. God will pay for this. anyway, then by all means play that card—it will
Meanwhile, God has fled back to his fortified make the scenario seem much richer.
1) A Contract With God compound upstate, announced to his cultists that the In fact the Four Deuces have knocked Captain
They say the Steel Deuce could corrupt God end of the world is nigh and prepared for the coming Valiant out of action—he surprised them robbing a
himself, and he’s about to prove it. He finds out siege. truck full of cigarettes and Double Deuce got close
about a shipment of stuffed toys that will be passing The Player Characters may have gotten involved enough to him to blow some powdered glass up his
through a particular warehouse just before at any stage in the unfolding drama, but they should nose (“Gee, I guess his lungs wasn’t all that
Christmas. These particular toys, the “Power Ponies certainly arrive for the grand finale—the siege of bulletproof.”) The Deuces left him for dead, and
and Magical Friends” are going to be this year’s top Heaven. Both the state and federal authorities have were shocked to see him turn up on the news.
seller—by Christmas eve every parent will be surrounded the compound, they don’t work well They hate the idea of doing such a high profile
desperate to have one and there won’t be any for together and they’re making a mess of it. The Four hit, but what choice do they have? He saw them.
sale. The Four Deuces intend to help themselves to Deuces have put a contract out on God, and who Before they show up themselves, they’ll try to get
a pocket full of Power Ponies in advance, and make knows what kind of supervillain scum may turn up a patsy to do it. God owes them a favor and
a killing at Christmas time. to collect. God has more than one hundred although God would normally be no match for
But what would the Christmas season be without brainwashed faithful who will gladly act as human Captain Valiant, He might be able to get the man’s
God? They need a big distraction to make his plan
doctors to poison him or something of the sort. God
will make a sincere effort to kill the comatose
captain, but will flee at the first sign of serious
trouble from the PCs.
Once he has failed, the Four Deuces will come
themselves, hitting the PCs in the dead of night with
as much strategic sense as possible. A hospital is
full of good hostages and hideous distractions.
Perhaps they call the PCs in Captain Valiant’s room
and threaten to unleash Diamond Deuce on an
operating theatre with a live patient in it—or to send
Lady Deuce up to the children’s ward.
Meanwhile, other villains may be heading to New
York from all across the country, eager for a slice of
Captain Valiant. Use as many of them as you think
appropriate. Some of them may actually be willing
to fight the Four Deuces, to make sure they get the
first swipe at Captain Valiant.
At a certain point in the proceedings the patient
may wake up, and suddenly spring to the PCs’
rescue at the last second. Or he may mistake them
for attackers and wreck everything at the last second.
Whatever happens, Captain Valiant takes the
credit for the whole adventure. On the news, they
say he fended off a wave of superhuman assailants
from his hospital bed. Even incapacitated, he was
more than a match for anything the forces of villainy
might throw at him.
If the PCs ask the New York authorities why that
was their official story, they hastily explain that it
was to protect the PCs. It looks as though the
attackers had strong ties to organized crime. Captain
Valiant lives with that kind of danger every day, but
they can’t ask the PCs to take a risk like that.
They’ve already done enough. Captain Valiant is
unavailable for comment.
 Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 16 (+3) A nasty, vicious little man, and one of the greatest
Double Deuce Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 14 (+2)
thieves alive. He’s committed some of the biggest
heists on the East Coast, and he’s always on the
Initiative: +9 Attack Bonus (Melee): lookout for something even more spectacular. In
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +11 love with his own sinister reputation, he courts the
press as much as he can.
Defense: +21/+16 Speed: 30 Just to taunt the authorities, he always leaves a 2
Damage Save: +3/+5 (Evasion) Fortitude of Spades at the scene of his thefts. He can’t always
Save: +3 Reflexes Save: +7 Willpower leave one at the scene of every murder he commits,
since there are too many of them and he tends to do
Save: +4 it without any advance planning. But he tries.
Skills: Balance +8, Bluff+6, Escape Artist +8, He would love to be seen as a dashing gentleman
Intimidate +8, Hide+8, Listen +5, Move Silently +8, thief, romantic, suave and debonair. He gives
Sense Motive +5, Taunt +8 money to the bank tellers he robs (if they’re pretty
and he hasn’t killed them). He sends roses to the
Feats: Assessment, Connected, Dodge, Evasion, cops who chase him. He sometimes throws money
Expertise, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning into the crowd at Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
Reflexes, Penetrating Attack x5 (Light-Caliber To a certain extent the press buys this act, since it
pistol), Penetrating Attack x6 (Knife), Power makes good copy. Yet in fact he’s anything but a
Attack, Surprise Attack, Throwing Mastery gentleman.
Powers: Disintegration +10 (Extra: Subtle [the Not actually from Brooklyn, he grew up in
affected object will break down and cease to Queens, in the Mob haven of Bensonhurst. His
function, irreperably ruined, but it won't actually father was a bus driver who wanted to be
disappear into thin air]; Flaws: Will not work on any respectable, and beat his four sons savagely if he
object with the "Impervious" Extra, Must actually thought they were hanging around with the
touch the object to make it disintegrate; Cost: 1pt), neighborhood’s bad element. They weren’t at first,
Drain +5 (Flaw: Only works against the power but he beat them anyway, constantly accusing them
"Protection"; Cost: 1pt), Strike +5 (Cost: 2pts) of being thieves and hoodlums in their hearts. It
Equipment: Knife (+5 Lethal; Cost: 1pt), Light wasn’t long before little Pete started to catch and
Caliber Pistol (+5 Lethal; Cost: 1pt) torture animals, and to start dreaming of being a
gangster just to spite his pop.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Adheres absolutely to the His older brother Vinnie started cutting school to
Mafia code. Will not under any circumstances rat hang around the Mob guys at the corner drugstore.
out a fellow criminal, call the police for assistance Pete joined him from time to time, and the two of
Real Name: Peter "Little Pete" Scarpia (no matter how dire the situation) or defy the word them began running messages and minor errands for
of a "Made Man." the drugstore guys. Pop caught on eventually and
PL: 11
beat both boys until they could barely walk. But as
“Say, I wonder how bulletproof your soon as he could, Vinnie was back at the drugstore.
eyelids are?” He asked his new friends if they would help him
get even with his Pop, and they found the idea
hugely amusing. So, on Christmas Eve some goons
picked Pete and Vinnie’s dad up after work, family wasn’t “connected” he probably could have A hair-trigger killer who has no honor, principles,
terrorized him, broke his nose and told him not to risen as high in the Mafia hierarchy as his intellect or moral scruples of any kind—he’d sooner murder
mess with Vinnie again. and ruthlessness would allow. Everyone thinks he his teammates than pay them, because it’s cheaper.
For the next three days Pop lay on the couch and stuck with the team and gave up the opportunity to He’s the chief reason for the team’s high turnover
wouldn’t speak. Then he marched all four of his be a full-fledged Mafioso out of loyalty to Bones, rate, and always seems to have a ready excuse to kill
sons down under the El tracks and shot them each in but the truth is that Double Deuce doesn’t have those some new ally or hireling when the job is done.
the head. Ma wept and wrung her hands, but she kinds of feelings about anyone. He just likes stealing By now the other two long-term team members,
knew her man and she knew better than to interfere. stuff and has no inclination toward running things. Diamond Deuce and the Steel Deuce, know that he’d
Little Pete lay on the ground with a bullet in his Double Deuce does indeed look on Bones as a rather take a life than not, and they listen to him with
brain, seeing weird new colors as he bled into the father, but that doesn’t mean the same thing to him a little more skepticism. Only the fact that they’re
snow, but he did not die. In fact the bullet had done as it does to you and me (I hope). For a while he more physically powerful than he is has kept them
something strange to him—hurt his brain in some visited Bones every week in prison, but that was safe. That, and the fact that he’s fallen into the habit
ways but changed it in others. Stepping over his because they had business to discuss. of not trying to kill them.
dead brothers, the little boy stumbled through the Quick to take offense, vengeful and cruel, he Even though he’s just a little guy, he looks like a
frigid streets, no longer able to smell or to see certain veers between wild affability and terrifying sudden menace. His head is shaved, the lower-right part of
colors (or to feel certain things like remorse) but violence. He’s a lot of fun to be around—a regular his face is covered with disfiguring scars (a rival
suddenly able to perceive the weak spots, the party animal. He tells good stories, he pays for all slashed him up really bad, years ago). He has four
fracture points in everything. the drinks, he leaves huge tips. Outrageous and gold teeth in front, which you can see every time he
This was a wonderful Christmas gift his father irresponsible, he’s the kind of guy you could call up flashes his nasty grin. His body is covered with
had given him, and he couldn’t wait to repay the at two in the morning to go play some insane prank jailhouse tattoos, some of which bleed up onto his
man. Later he would go down to the drugstore and on somebody. neck. He looks like he’s had a lot of time to work
show Vinnie’s friends what he could do. But first it Always laughing and telling jokes, Double Deuce out—probably in a cell-block exercise yard. A
was time to make an orphan of himself. is prone to sudden, random acts of generosity. But bullet hole marks one side of his skull. He dresses
Pete spent the rest of his childhood as a Mafia he’s just as prone to impulsive acts of unspeakable with expensive bad taste, favoring five hundred
mascot when he wasn’t in Juvenile Hall. They called cruelty. He kills people for saying he’s short, for dollar blue or black silk shirts with solid red ties. He
him “Double Deuce” (slang for a .22 caliber pistol) showing him disrespect, for wearing flashier clothes wears a lot of jewelry and has a huge gold hoop
because of his small size and explosive temper. than he has on, and often for no discernable reason at earring.
At first he just fetched and carried for the big all. Anything can set him off, especially when he’s
guys, but it wasn’t long before the Mob supervillain been doing coke, and no one is safe from his anger. Adventures With Double Deuce:
known as “Bones” noticed the kid’s superhuman On a job, he’s crazy mean. He’d sooner kill a
aptitude for breaking stuff, and took him under his bank teller than leave them alive. He’d rather torture
wing. Double Deuce’s ability also let him see the a captive than not do it. He comes up with excuses 1) That Certain Special Spot You Know so Well
weak points in things like security systems, so he to do the most blood-curdling things, and his Double Deuce has found something amazing.
became Bones’ idea man as well as his hot tempered teammates sigh and shrug their shoulders. What can There’s a weak spot in the Verrazano Narrows
little sidekick. they do? He’s their little Double-Deuce, and Bridge, a single point no bigger than a dime that
Bones gradually put together a powerful crew of everyone knows that Double Deuce just does stuff could make the whole thing collapse within two
superhuman toughs, who became the Four Deuces. like that. hours if you poked it hard enough.
The only original member of the team left, Double Because of his peculiar ability to see the weak He can’t resist the temptation and he gives the
Deuce stuck with it longer than any of the others. spots in security systems and in other peoples’ plans, spot a poke. Then he panics, grabs some poor
Unlike most members of the team, Double Deuce Double Deuce is the team’s idea man as well as their random guy off the street, and forces him to call a
was in fact a pure-bred Sicilian, and although his resident loose cannon. Player Character, tell them what’s about to happen
and beg them to stop it. When he’s finished, Double
Deuce sticks a paper clip in the guy’s brain and by a coincidence is about to play host to an oil just long enough to kill off all six members of his
leaves him dead in the phone booth. minister from Bahrain and his entourage. gang. Over the next few days two of them will be
Always quick to seize an opportunity, he calls Always one to seize on an opportunity, Double found burned to death in their dad’s expensive car,
over a couple of thugs he knows, and the three of Deuce slips into Miss Splavine’s apartment and one will found dead in a dumpster with a plastic bag
them lie in wait, ready to bushwhack the superhero leaves her an envelope with the ace of spades in it. over his head, one of them turn up asphyxiated on
once they finish repairing the bridge. He plans to get As an expert on major criminals, she immediately his parents' huge lawn, with a game of croquet
the press to blame the whole incident on the dead knows what this means. The police pooh-pooh her scattered around him and a ball hammered neatly
hero. concerns, so (just as Double Deuce hopes) she will into his mouth by a single inhumanly precise blow.
If you think Double Deuce wouldn’t pose enough turn to the PCs for help. If the PCs don’t manage to foil the robbery in
of a threat with his pair of machine-gun-toting If the PCs don’t yet know Double Deuce, she progress, one of the two surviving members of the
mooks, he calls in Lady Deuce, as well. explains to them who he is and what that card gang comes to see them a few days later, in fear of
By the time the PC arrives at the bridge, it’s means. his life and eager to tell them where they can find
already starting to vibrate pretty badly, but the city Meanwhile, Double Deuce recruits a gang of rich Double Deuce (he’s supposed to meet the kid on the
authorities haven’t yet taken any action. It’s not teenage preppies who desperately want to be roof of a crummy bar at 11:45). This should lead to a
quite rush hour yet, but it will be by the time the criminals. He dresses them in matching sweaters scary midnight chase across some rooftops, and
bridge starts to shake itself apart. and ties and calls them his “Sweater Gang.” finally to a direct confrontation with their shadowy
The PC has 80 minutes in which to act. After He has a few members of the Sweater Gang hang foe. But the PCs must be quick and careful, for if
that, the bridge will collapse. Anyone with out around her building and look ominous. A florist they catch Double Deuce he will claim that he has
spellcasting, city-manipulating, cosmic, or earth- delivers a bunch of grave-lilies with an ace of spades already sent the gang’s last member over to murder
animating powers can fix the bridge with two tucked into the card and a vaguely threatening poem. Marika Splavine. He’ll tell them how to stop the kid
successful consecutive rolls vs. DC 20. They can try Someone leaves a Polaroid photo of Marika sleeping it time if they let him go.
for two consecutive rolls as many times as they like, in her bed. The photo appears right in the middle of Is he telling the truth? And has the oil minister
but each try takes 5 minutes and every time they fail her coffee table, while no one is looking. from Bahrain become annoyed enough to bring in
two rolls in a row, it actually makes things worse, Then just as the tension starts to get unbearable, the Hammer of Doom?
and speeds up the bridge’s collapse by 20 minutes. the manager of a swank hotel down the street
If two characters with any of the appropriate powers plummets to his death from one of the upper
collaborate, the DC goes down to 18, but both of balconies. By a freak coincidence, Marika happens
them have to make both their rolls for the bridge to to see it. This is the first real mistake Double Deuce
be fixed. If three characters collaborate, the DC has made. For in the meantime, he and the Sweater
drops to a puny 15 and if four or more of them work Gang are planning to rob the suite that Bahrain’s oil
together then success is automatic within 5 minutes. minister is staying in, and make off with a fortune in
Anyone who used their powers to fix the bridge jewels and cocaine.
can feel that the trouble originated at one spot Once the PCs were too preoccupied with
underneath the Brooklyn terminus. This of course is protecting Marika Splavine to notice, the Sweater
where Double Deuce is waiting for them. Gang cased the joint, juiced all the information they
could out of the hotel manager and threw him off the
2) Of Sweaters and Splavine balcony (making it look as though he slipped on a
A journalist named Marika Splavine has written a banana peel—the kind of flourish Double Deuce
book on the New York Mafia, in which she talks a approves of).
little too much about Double Deuce. She lives and They are going to rob the place the very next
works in the Player Characters’ home town, which night, after which Double Deuce will stick around
 Feats: Accurate Attack, Assessment, Attack neighborhood behind forever. It was not to be.
Ace of Wounds Finesse, Dodge, Evasion, Far Shot, Great Fortitude,
Iron Will, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise
Silvio excelled as a soldier. Tough, disciplined,
smart and ready to follow orders, his ambition and
Shot, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Move Silently), his quiet self-control took him far. He was an
Takedown Attack, Talented (Listen and Move obvious choice for commando school and quickly
Silently), Talented (Demolitions and Spot), became first a Ranger, and then a member of a
Toughness, Track secret, super-elite shadow unit called “Team Seven”.
Even on Team Seven he was exceptional. By the
Powers: Super-Dexterity+5 (Extras: Super- time he was thirty-five he was about as tough a guy
Senses, Super-Strength, Super-Wisdom; Flaw: Only as the Armed forces had at its disposal.
applies to skill checks; Cost: 9pts) Somewhere along the way he learned to love his
Equipment: Body Armor +8 (Cost: 1pt), Pistol country and gained a sense of honor. It embarrassed
(+3 Lethal Damage), Specially Modified Sniper him to think about his origins, not because they were
Rifle (+10 Lethal Damage) humble, but because it pained him to remember the
grasping little hustler he had been.
“You’re dying. Try to do it like a Then on a disastrous covert mission to Syria, he
lost an eye. He was lucky—most of the other guys
man.” in the unit got killed or crippled, but not quite lucky
enough. For the Army’s rules were clear. The loss
Silvio Strozzi was marked by his last name. of an eye constituted a disabling injury, so they had
Growing up in his old neighborhood in Brooklyn, to retire him.
everyone who heard that name could tell at once that A lifer with nowhere else to go, Silvio found
his father’s family came from Toscano in northern himself back in his room in his Mom’s apartment in
Italy. Forever denied a place in the Mafia by his Brooklyn. He didn’t have any friends outside Team
Real Name: Silvio Strozzi tainted ancestry, he avoided crime altogether as there Seven (and since their real names were all classified
was no percentage in it. The problem was, in his there was no way to get in touch with them) or a lot
PL: 12 neighborhood there wasn’t much percentage in of skills apart from shooting people. Worse, because
Str: 17 (+3) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 18 (+4) anything else, either. so much of the work he had done was classified,
He avoided the youth gangs, since time wasted
Int: 13 (+1) Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 12 (+1) with them was time he couldn’t spend delivering
there was a huge hole in his employment record,
which anyone who saw his muscles and eye-patch
Initiative: +10 Attack Bonus (Melee): newspapers or sweeping out shops or making money was going to assume he had spent in prison. But he
+12 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +12 any other way he could. His schoolmates resented wasn’t one for self-pity, so he picked himself up and
his high-and-mighty attitude and soon he came to
Defense: +26/+15 Speed: 30 take his lumps from them on a regular basis. He had
got moving.
He worked fast food, he worked as a security
Damage Save: +6 Fortitude Save: +6 to become a brawler, though he resented the amount guard, he pumped gas—for the next two years he
Reflexes Save: +10 Willpower Save: +9 of time he had to waste on learning to box and lifting never seemed to have less than three crummy jobs at
weights. one time. He figured he’d live with Ma and help her
Skills: Bluff +4, Balance +10, Climb +10, Since he had no gang affiliation to protect him, he
Demolitions +10, Diplomacy +4, Escape Artist +10, out until he got enough saved from his jobs and his
wound up spending increasing amounts of time pension to make a go of things.
Hide +10, Intimidate +5, Knowledge (Military incapacitated with injuries. By his seventeenth
Proceedure) +5, Listen +15, Move Silently +19, It was easier to fall back into hustling for a buck
birthday he was sure that this was a losing battle, so than he had thought, and the ghost of his former self
Search +11, Sense Motive +6, Spot +18, Survival +5 he joined the Army and expected to leave the
haunted him more than a little. keeping an eye on Silvio for some time. They had to get too attached to him.
Guys his age who have lousy jobs and live with fought Team Seven once and guessed the rough Life is surprisingly good for Silvio right now.
their mothers don’t get a lot of dates, but after a details of his background, knew he could be an asset Theresa still won’t talk to him, but there are other
while he hooked up with a neighborhood beauty and were eager to find a way to recruit him. Now girls who hang around the team and Lady Deuce is
named Theresa (who was way too young for him, they had a ready-made opportunity. willing to let him sleep with her from time to time.
but what the Hell) and things started to look a lot Double Deuce told Silvio that the Four Deuces He has money in his pocket and for the moment he’s
better. The two of them were about halfway to being could protect him from the wrath of the safe. The Ace of Wounds would in fact be willing to
able to buy a pizza place, when fate smacked them in D’Ambrosios, and that they’d help him get revenge stay loyal to the team forever, despite having no
the head. just as soon as they could. In the meantime, he’d illusions about who they are, if Double Deuce
The kids who used to hassle Silvio were grown help them out in return. To take revenge against an weren’t about to have him killed.
men now, but some of them still gave him grief. A outfit like the D’Ambrosios, they were going to need In person, Silvio Strozzi is quiet, confident and
lot of the ones who had been deep in the gangs were money and a lot of it. somewhat guarded. He won’t kill anybody without a
dead. Some of the others were now made guys. Silvio was about ninety-five percent certain that good reason, but he’s not dumb enough to question
One of them in particular had it in for him—a guy this was some kind of con, but the part about having Double Deuce’s behavior, either. A charming guy
they called Fat Tony D’Ambrosio. Fat Tony was an protection sounded good, so he negotiated protection when he wants to be, he can tell a good joke or a
obnoxious slob who women didn’t like, and it galled for Theresa and the surviving Strozzis into the deal. funny anecdote, but for the most part he hangs back
him that a nothing like Silvio could have a girl like He also wanted Double Deuce’s assurances that they and watches the room, ready for signs of danger or
Theresa. So he raped her, and messed up her face. wouldn’t kill any innocent people. Double Deuce of something he might turn to his advantage.
A few days later, it occurred to Fat Tony that enthusiastically agreed, thinking to himself that no He’s a brutally effective combatant, a superb
Silvio was a big tough looking guy, and that he one was exactly innocent. tactician who doesn't care a thing for fighting fair
might want revenge, so he went by the Strozzi's On their first heist Double Deuce saved the and always gives himself every advantage in a battle.
apartment with some of the boys. They set the Silvio's life, gunning down an off-duty police officer Not as powerful as some of the actual superhumans
building on fire and shot anyone who tried to get out. who got the drop on Silvio while they were robbing he fights, he wears a lot of body armor and tries to
The cops and firemen knew to stay away, so the an armored car. On their next outing, The Ace of hit super-opponents from a distance, taking them by
incident claimed the lives of six people, including Wounds saw a bank guard catch Double Deuce surprise if he can.
Silvio’s mother, uncle and little brother. flatfooted, and he owed Double Deuce his life, so He occasionally tortured people during his stint
Silvio wasn’t home—he was spending another despite his reservations he killed the man. And now with Team Seven, but he doesn’t like doing it, and
fruitless night trying to get Theresa to talk to him. he'd done it--he'd killed an innocent person--a will always let someone else do it if it has to be
The next day he came back, stood in the ashes of his working stiff like himself who'd just been doing his done. God knows there are enough guys in the Four
Ma’s building and wondered what to do next. It was job. Killing “innocent” people got easier and easier Deuces who enjoy it more than he does. If faced
then that a guy called Double Deuce approached with each passing crime. with a choice between taking a hostage and losing
him, expressed his sympathies and put a gun in his For the past two years Double Deuce has been his freedom, he would pick going to jail, to his own
hand. telling Silvio that they’ll take on the D’Ambrosios enormous surprise and relief.
Silvio didn’t really care about revenge. He’d just as soon as they’re strong enough, and while he
seen too many guys do too many stupid things over doesn’t believe the Deuce (or want to kill any
Vendetta to believe in it. But it was clear to him that D'Ambrosios), Silvio tries to look interested. He Adventures With the Ace of
he was now a marked man, and that with the Mafia doesn’t know that Double Deuce thinks he may get Wounds:
out to kill him, there was nowhere on earth to hide. wise soon, and is planning to kill him before it
So he pretended to be grateful and he asked Double happens. He should have noticed that his name “The 1) Ace of Fools
Deuce what he wanted in return. Ace of Wounds” sets him a little apart from the Theresa vanishes. The Ace of Wounds is
In fact the Four Deuces had been casually permanent members of the crew, reminding them not convinced that Fat Tony must have taken her, but he
doesn’t dare try to go get her back—if he picks a shy and quiet.
fight with the D’Ambrosios on his own, Double One of Fat Tony’s cousins knows all about this,
Deuce is sure to have him killed. In desperation, and when the PCs demand to know where Theresa
knowing that he doesn’t have much time, he gets in is, he laughingly tells them. Silvio has found out
touch with the Player Characters (possibly by setting too, and he’s headed down to the Port Authority
a fire or committing some other big crime that he right now. The PCs may well want to try and stop
knows will get their attention). him, before he does something crazy. But the truth
When they show up, he apologizes for the is that he really just wants to see her one more time,
commotion (if he had to cause one) and offers to turn and maybe, if he has a chance and she doesn’t look
himself in if the PCs will listen to him. He tells too scared, to say goodbye.
them his whole story, even though it will blow his The future looks uncertain for the Ace of
secret identity, leaving out only the parts that might Wounds. He’s changed his mind about turning
expose the other Deuces. He needs the PCs to get himself in, but even though the PCs didn’t actually
Theresa back and he’ll do anything at all if they do it rescue Theresa he will keep his word about
for him. He’ll turn states evidence, he’ll wear a wire everything else, and will give the PCs any
to a Four Deuces meet, he’ll do whatever they say. information they may want about the Four Deuces.
Unfortunately, when the PCs arrive at Fat Tony’s Unfortunately, if Fat Tony has died in the fight then
restaurant (called “Fat Tony’s) they find that the Double Deuce will assume that his hold over Silvio
D’Ambrosios are presently engaged in a nervous sit- is dead as well, and the Ace of Wounds will soon
down meeting with a Russian gang. find himself making one last trip to the basement.
It’s important to remember here that Fat Tony,
while he is a “made guy” is not a capo. In fact he’s
kind of a lowly, unpopular guy in the mob hierarchy,
largely because of the way he treats women. All
eight of his brothers and cousins are present at the
meeting, heavily armed and ready to kill, but he
doesn’t have hordes of loyal gunsels ready to die for
him. Could a guy like Silvio Strozzi wipe them out
all by himself? Probably, but then the mob would
come kill what’s left of his family and anyway he’s
never seen the point.
The Russian gang under Crazy Joe Snagarov is a
little bigger, and has about twelve active members
present. That’s still more than enough thugs in total
to give the PCs a lively time when they come
bursting into the room.
Meanwhile, Theresa prepares to get on a bus at
the Port Authority Terminal with her new boyfriend.
His name is Markie Savanelli, and he’s an auto
mechanic with a huge disfiguring birthmark covering
one side of his face. He’s a pretty nice guy, strong,
 Feats: Assessment, Attack Focus (Armed), Hispanic (in fact she’s of Albanian ancestry).
Lady Deuce Connected, Detect Parahumans, Dodge, Expertise,
Iron Will, Indomitable Will, Penetrating Attack x2
Her mother was a career criminal, who taught her
how to lie and steal and do people wrong, in between
stints in jail. When Mom got sent away to prison
(Knife)
forever, little Eliza became a ward of the state,
Powers: Neutralize Power +12 (Extras: spending the rest of her childhood in a variety of
Neutralizing Field, Nulification [does not require foster homes, orphanages and reform schools.
concentration to maintain]; Cost: 5pts), Amazing A “problem client” she became increasingly
Save (Damage) +4 prone to acts of wild, destructive cruelty. Other kids
Equipment: Big Scary Knife (+5 Lethal), Big just weren’t safe around her, and her magnetic
Scary Gun (+5 Lethal), +2 Armor personality and talent for leadership made her even
Weaknesses: Quirk: Sadist (Commits more dangerous.
shocking acts of cruelty, would sooner take a life When she was nine the state authorities managed
than not) to locate her father’s family in the run-down
Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn, so she went to
live with a distant aunt, uncle and their four children.
“Close your eyes, honey. I’ve got a Within a week she had killed their puppy. Within a
surprise for you.” month she killed the baby. She managed to get both
episodes blamed on the family’s eldest daughter
Sometimes, for one reason or another, the Four Miranda (Eliza told Jane, the younger daughter, that
Deuces will need to kill a child. In a case like this, she would kill their little brother Sammy if she
they always give them to Lady Deuce. Not that the didn’t back up her story). Then after Miranda got
Steel Deuce would object to killing kids himself, but sent to reform school Eliza killed little Sammy
it doesn’t fit his image and she enjoys it so much anyway, and it became impossible to conceal what
Real Name: Eliza Agani (but she more. kind of creature she was. So she killed everyone
seldom uses it, and instead goes by a And this fact sums her up pretty well. A else and burned the house down.
huge number of aliases) vindictive, clear-eyed sadist, there is nothing Lady After this, it was clear that Eliza was going to
Deuce isn’t capable of. Nothing at all. She kills, she spend the rest of her life on the street or in an
PL: 12 maims, she mutilates, she glories in it. But even institutional setting, and even though she liked
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 18 (+4) Con: 18 (+4) though she’s actually more vicious than Double reform school she chose the street. There were a lot
Deuce, she’s also in much better command of of street kids in New York in the mid 1970s, living
Int: 16 (+3) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 16 (+3) herself, and never lets her love of carnage and pain by begging and petty crime and the occasional act of
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): get in the way of her objectives. She does prefer to prostitution. It was easy to vanish into their midst.
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +14 kill children, (because they’re small and helpless and Arrested and thrown in lockup many times for
sometimes trust her), but she would never stalk and truancy, no one in the judicial system seemed to
Defense: +26/+22 Speed: 30 murder them in her spare time—that would be figure out that she was the same Eliza Agani who
Damage Save: +8 Fortitude Save: +4 stupid. had vanished from the burning house in Flatbush,
Reflexes Save: +4 Willpower Save: +5 Her age is difficult to judge, as is her nationality. years before.
She could be anywhere from her mid twenties to a By the time she was 11 she had killed six more
Skills: Bluff +6, Diplomacy +5, Forgery +5, Hide well-preserved thirty-five (in fact she’s forty). She times, for both profit and fun, and had started
+8, Intimidate +8, Pick Lock +4 can pass for Turkish, Italian, Arabic, Greek or running with the teenage gangs. Popular, pretty,
charismatic and well-liked, she had her own girl prison, but she loves that too. These days women’s somewhere, who may have guessed the truth. She
gang by the time she was fifteen and had killed prisons are full of soft young drug offenders who are has searched for her surviving cousin many times,
another eight people. Her crew, the Screwhead like meat on a plate to Lady Deuce. Brooklyn is the but after Miranda was released from reform school
Chicks, were unusual in that they weren’t just a closest thing she has to a home, and she always on her 18th birthday, she changed her name and
female adjunct to a male gang. They were a criminal comes back to it. vanished. She is in fact a waitress at a truck stop in
enterprise in their own right, and swiftly became Three years ago she hooked up with Four Deuces the Yukon, and has spent a good part of her life
known for their willingness to kill at the drop of a and life has been even better. They’re a tight crew, looking over shoulder, getting ready for the day
hat. They dealt speed, they shook down businesses where everybody knows his job and nobody tries to Eliza finds her at last.
for protection, they even robbed banks grab more than their share.
In fact they caused such a ruckus in Brooklyn that In person she is wild, carefree, and hideously
they attracted the attention of a superhero called Mr. cruel. Forthright, confident, charismatic and Adventures With Lady Deuce:
Groovy, who determined to put a stop to their deadly articulate, she smiles a lot and always looks whoever
hijinks. He confronted the Screwhead Chicks in the she is speaking to straight in the eye. Much more 1) Ain’t Love Grand?
act of setting a Salvation Army warehouse on fire. careful than Double Deuce, she never kills or Lady Deuce has been hired to hit a superhero who
Protected by his force field and his bulletproof skin, brutalizes anyone impulsively, but she can think of a has incredible strength and the ability to fly. If you
Mr. Groovy felt pretty confident as he presented lot of good reasons to do either one. She’s a good don’t have an NPC superhero like that in your
himself and demanded that they stop. He was giving team player despite her personal limitations, takes campaign, then use the stats for the “Original”
them a lecture on not wasting their lives in a gang, orders well and isn’t afraid to put herself at risk. archetype from the M&M Core Book, and call him
when Eliza stabbed him in the face out of sheer Even though she’s incredibly brave and totally Captain Justice.
defiance. To her amazement, he fell down, choked defiant if captured, she isn’t actually willing to die The PCs know him a little, but not too well. He’s
on his own blood and died. It seemed that she had for anyone or anything and knows when to run. She kind of a square, unimaginative and workaholic. A
the power to shut down other parahuman abilities at always has a scam or two running on the side, celebrity, Captain Justice takes his fame just a little
will, but had never had the chance to find this out always has a backup plan and an escape route. If it too seriously. He cares a lot about his reputation and
before. were them or her, she would betray her team mates keeping up appearances—maybe more than he does
They burned Mr. Groovy’s body in the without hesitation. Otherwise, she's loyal. about actually fighting crime. At least, this is the
warehouse and decided to lie low for a while. Eliza Largely self-educated, apart from some City impression the PCs have of him. Great hero, not
was already thinking of how she could turn her College courses in business and computers, she such a great guy. Does not deserve to be cruelly
newfound superhuman ability to her advantage. wishes she had more time to study and find things murdered by the likes of Lady Deuce.
Pretty soon she turned the Screwhead Chicks over to out about the world. Her Brooklyn accent can be And the Lady has thought of a truly horrible way
her second in command and started hanging out with anywhere from really thick to totally undetectable, to do him in. She waits on a rooftop near one end of
the Mafia instead of the gangs. Her ability to detect depending on who she is talking to. She loves a bridge with a light sniper rifle. Then she calls in a
superheroes was even more useful than her ability to dancing, sings well and is always up for a good time. major supervillain alert—either someone she knows
shut their powers down and the Mob always had a It seems to her that Double Deuce is starting to Captain Justice (or whoever the target is) hates
use for her. get uneasy about how long she’s been with the team personally, or a heavy hitter like the Death Angel.
Over the past twenty-five years her life has been and how much she knows about their past crimes. When Captain Justice arrives, she shoots the tire
one constant adventure. She has hung out with one He’ll probably have her killed soon, she figures, but out of a passing vehicle, and sends it careening off
crew or another, taken on freelance criminal work in he’ll probably ask her to kill the Ace of Wounds the bridge. Any vehicle will do, but in fact when the
Russia, Israel, Italy and Hong Kong. She has done first, so that will be her cue to get out of Dodge. crucial moment occurs she spots a schoolbus full of
everything from organized credit card fraud to So far no one has been able to link her to the kids—fate is kind! When Captain Justice picks up
elaborate con jobs to kidnapping to dealing dope, Flatbush murders, but she is acutely aware that she the bus, she will turn off his powers and he will die,
and she loved it all. She’s also spent a lot of time in has one surviving family member out there crushed under the bus’ weight or drowned in the
river. Either way, the kids probably die too, and
Captain Justice looks like a real jerk. In fact his last night this week, and ask to speak with officer Norton cheerful voice say: “I know a little girl who’s going
thought will probably be “I look like a real jerk” Haselbeck. When he meets Haselbeck, Harry will to be very, very disappointed that her daddy did
which will suit Lady Deuce just fine. recite a list of accusations at him, (which Lady something he wasn’t supposed to.” Then she
It’s a beautiful hit. There’s just one complication. Deuce will fax right over), and then Harry will shoot switches off the meanest looking Player Character’s
Captain Justice’s wife hired Lady Deuce to kill him, him six times in the head. “Otherwise, little Dora is powers and attacks.
and at the last moment she gets cold feet and runs to gonna be Dora the Explorer” Lady Deuce cheerfully She’ll actually try not to hurt Harry Deal, since
the Player Characters. Can they stop Lady Deuce in explains. she still wants him to go through with shooting
time to save one of America’s most beloved heroes? If a PC works with Harry, then he is inexplicably Officer Haselbeck. If the Players beat her, then
Once Captain Justice finds out who hired the absent from work for two days while he thinks over she’ll explain that the Arabs are on their way, and
assassin, he will decline to press charges against his options. That is utterly, totally unlike the guy— that if the PCs let her go she’ll tell them how to get
Lady Deuce. Not that he loves his wife, but the Harry is such a workaholic that he’s even in the there in time. She’s as good as her word, for once.
scandal would be more than he could bear. If it ever office on Sundays.
came out, America would be irreparably harmed, he Lady Deuce, meanwhile, has been doing a 3) A Bouquet of Bullets for the Deuce of Hearts
explains to the PCs. Two years later he dies under surprisingly good job of taking care of Dora, letting Eventually, Lady Deuce’s life is sure to fall apart.
suspicious circumstances. Lady Deuce has an alibi. her stay up late and watch anything she wants, If the PCs don’t bring down the Four Deuces then
feeding her ice cream and treats and sometimes just Double Deuce will eventually decide to have her
2) Big Fat Hairy Deal a little heroin to make her go to sleep. It’s more fun killed.
Lady Deuce runs a certain number of scams on playing Mom than she expected. Once she has to go on the run, she vanishes
the side, socking away money for the moment when She picked Officer Haselbeck more or less at utterly for a while. Everyone assumes that she’s
she finally has to go on the run. One of the more random. They met once at a social function. He either relaxing on a beach in Tahiti or lying on the
harmless ones involves selling shoddy, defective seemed like a nice enough guy. But he happened to bottom of the East River in a barrel of concrete. But
printer cartridges over the internet through a shell tell her what shift he works, and she knows when in fact neither one is true.
company she calls “International Productions” and he’ll be at the precinct. Frankly she doesn’t care Lady Deuce’s retirement hasn’t gone well. She
then selling the debt to a collection agency when the which cop Harry kills, just so long as he gets gunned had too leave New York too quickly and she wasn’t
mark refuses to pay for them. down in the process and discredits himself by acting able to get her hands on as much of her emergency
Unfortunately for everyone, her latest mark is a like a paranoid maniac. cash as she wanted. She’s cruising aimlessly around
guy named Harry Deal. If one of the PCs works in an She’s already sold his little girl to some Arabs, the west in a sport utility vehicle, burning through
office, then Harry is their office manager. He’s a who will arrive to pick her up on the night things what little money she has left, enjoying her freedom,
loud, fat, obnoxious guy, red-faced and angry. He come to a head. marveling at the beauty of the landscape. She never
bullies people while pretending to kid them around, For his part Harry is no fool, he’s sure that the had time to do this before and she’s amazed that
he holds petty grudges, he ignores his wife and five cops will shoot him and that Lady Deuce will kill his America is actually such a gorgeous place. It puts a
year old daughter. little girl anyway. So instead of going to the new perspective on things for her. In fact she’s
When Harry gets snared by the printer cartridge Precinct house, he walks into a part of town that he barely killed anyone since she left New York.
scam, he won’t stop complaining about it. He knows the Player Character regularly patrol, and A few months later word reaches the PCs of a
constantly posts warnings about International smashes every store window on the street. When the strange murder in northern British Columbia. A
Productions on the internet, he hassles and pesters PCs show up, he apologizes and explains everything Canadian superhero called the Masked Mountie has
the police about having Lady Deuce prosecuted, he to them. Can they help him get his little girl back? been found dead by the side of the Alaska Highway.
tries to have her served with writs from his lawyer. Alas, Lady Deuce thought he might pull He was bulletproof, and yet someone shot him
So she nabs his little girl, Dora, and gives him a something like this, and has been following him. As through the face with a light caliber pistol. Now
call at the office. If Harry wants Dora back, he will soon as he finishes telling his woeful story, she calls whose modus operandi does that sound like?
have to walk into the 20th Precinct at 12:15 AM, any Harry on his cell phone. The PCs can hear her If the PCs pursue Lady Deuce up the long and
lonely road to Alaska, they will reach her at around
the time she walks into the wrong truck stop,
somewhere near Kluane National Park, and comes
face to face with her cousin, Miranda.
Eliza has long since forgotten what Miranda
looks like, but Miranda will never forget Eliza. She
will drug Lady Deuce’s coffee if she gets a chance,
and then gently walk her out the back door. The PCs
will arrive at the truck stop to find Lady Deuce’s
SUV parked outside, but no sign of her. The regular
waitress, who everybody knows as Julie, is also
unaccountably absent.
Somewhere out in the woods nearby there is a
tiny cabin, where Miranda keeps certain things—
sharp things mostly. She has had a long time to
think about what she’s going to do if she ever gets
Eliza through the door of that cabin, and she may
finally be about to get her chance to do them all.
 +10 (Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +11 (Extras: was cruel, but ingenious. They were trying to
Diamond Deuce Protection, Shockwave; Cost: 6pts)
Weaknesses: Quirk: Will attack anyone who
implant stem cells taken from captured superhumans
into the test subjects, who they kept under wraps at
disrepects his hair, clothing, car, girlfirend or other an improvised clinic in a Jersey City warehouse.
posessions, cannot stop attacking them until they are Alas, most of the subjects died or went crazy.
unconcious or he spends a villain point. The whole operation was about to be shut down
and the remaining subjects disposed of, when
Diamond Deuce manifested his abilities. He ripped
“Well look at this. Your hand already through his restraints, smashed his way out of the
didn’t look so good, and now they just warehouse, and went on the run (more test subjects
dealt you the Deuce.” may have escaped during the confusion, and some of
them may have superhuman powers of their own--it's
Big, dumb, vicious and hard to kill—these traits up to the GM).
have kept the Diamond Deuce alive longer than Afraid that the Mob would still be after him, he
almost any member of the Four Deuces to date. tried to commit enough robberies to get out of New
Double Deuce feels pretty uncomfortable with York, even though he’d never left the area and the
letting any of his teammates live this long. Who thought terrified him.
knows what kind of stuff they might come to know He was a miserable excuse for a supervillain,
about him, about the Deuces and about their crimes? brash, impulsive, murderous and sloppy. He was
Much safer to have them killed after a year or so. afraid to rob banks, so he wasted his considerable
Then powers on botched and bloody supermarket heists,
Real Name: Izzy Schwartz Jr. (usually never taking in more than a few hundred dollars at a
just called "Junior") again, killing the Diamond Deuce has always time. Fortunately for him, the Steel Deuce found
seemed like a whole lot of work and it’s hard to him before the capes or the feds did.
PL: 11 A big, dumb, violent kid at heart, he’s as silly as a
seriously accuse somebody that dumb of knowing
Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 18 (+4) too much about anything. Anyway he owes the child. He never seems to learn his lesson or improve
his behavior. He’ll fight against superior odds, he’ll
Int: 9 (-1) Wis: 9 (-1) Cha: 10 (+0) Four Deuces everything, and one of his few good
antagonize guys who he should already know are
traits is his stupid, doglike loyalty.
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +9 Fifteen years ago he was a star of the illegal tough enough to beat him. He’ll stay too long at a
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +6 Defense: underground boxing circuit. Getting his head crime scene so that he can keep hitting people.
Fortunately for him, he likes Double Deuce and fears
+15/+14 Speed: 30/50 (in flight) broken for a crummy buck was all he seemed to be
good for—and he was starting to feel his injuries the Steel Deuce enough that they can keep him in
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +6 more and more as he got older. In his off hours he line when they're on a job.
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +1 got high, wandered the streets and picked fights with He loves being a supervillain, revels in his power,
guys in bars. If he won, he went home and slept. If likes his code name and likes to work it into
Skills: Intimidate +12, Knowledge (the conversation (see the quote above). Just as he did in
Underworld+5), Listen +9, Repair +6, Spot +9 he lost, he found a hooker and beat her up instead.
By 1989 he was headed nowhere fast, and dimly the ring, he likes to taunt and threaten his opponents
Feats: Durability, Great Fortitude, Immunity aware that he wanted something more. and would gladly fight for its own sake, even if no
(Disease, Pressure, Suffocation), Improved Grapple, The Mob was then experimenting with ways to money were at stake.
Power Attack give its soldiers superhuman powers, and he Vulgar and crass, he’s also extremely vain,
Powers: Energy Blast +10 (Cost 2 pts), Flight volunteered as a test subject on impulse. The process particularly about his ponytail. He spends a lot on
hair care products and styling for his tail. Insult it at and has become the Diamond Deuce’s latest they’ve heard from her, or her parents run to them
your peril. girlfriend. for help. There are a dozen other ways the PCs
A compulsive bully, he abuses women savagely. Not that she ever wanted to have anything to do could be drawn into this situation—she could even
He has a pretty blonde wife named Gwen up in the with the man. He took a fancy to her while he was be a total stranger who comes running out of an alley
Long Island suburbs, six girlfriends and ten sons by driving into the city, and saw her practicing in the and collapses at their feet (and there’s always the old
one or another of them. window of her parent’s home. He determined to “you hear a scream” hook).
All of his boys are named Junior, after himself. have her, just to show everybody that he wasn’t no The Diamond Deuce’s friends are perfectly
He’s foolishly proud of his sons, constantly showing low-class thug. A girl with class, that’s a mark of willing to back him up if the PCs start to make life
off their pictures and passing out cigars whenever a distinction—a feather in a man’s cap. So he began difficult for him.
new one is born. Yet he’s a terrible dad when he’s to harass her and to bully her family.
around. People who are weaker than he is bring out Her middle class parents were at first indignant,
the bully in him, and he can no more resist beating but they shortly came to fear the man and his visits
his kids than he can keep himself from beating his so much that they stopped interfering. The first time
wife and girlfriends (or hookers, when they aren’t they tried to send their daughter away to some
available). He’s already killed his two oldest sons relatives upstate, where she might be safe from his
by punishing them too hard. advances, he had a pair of crooked cops bring her
Right now his oldest surviving boy is the subject back to her parent’s house and explain that the
of his special attention. Diamond Deuce senses that Deuce would be there to see her on Friday. Once
Junior is turning out to be a wimp, so he has to beat this happened, her parents broke down completely—
him up every day to make him tough. If he dies, that they couldn’t even go to the police, the police were
will be a terrible shame—it will mean that the wimp on his side!
part of him was stronger than the strong part. Since These days, the Katzenbaum home is full of
this has already happened twice, Diamond Deuce is silence and despair. Depressed by the atmosphere
starting to wonder if it’s some kind of failing on his and by the constant weeping, the Deuce has moved
part that’s causing this, if he’s not really a good Rebecca out to an apartment in the city, which has
enough father to raise his sons strong. actually upset her family even worse.
Double Deuce is perfectly aware of how He took her away from her job and broke her
grotesquely wrong this is, but he finds it very cello to make sure she didn’t have anything in her
amusing, and often tries to draw Diamond Deuce out life that was bigger than him. The first set of bruises
on the subject of his troubles, nodding earnestly as have already begun to fade on her face, but they will
he wonders aloud at how tough it is to be a good soon be replaced by many more. He’s thinking of
dad. having her long, lovely hands smashed to make sure
she can’t play music again, so that she can give
herself to him more completely. Already she
Adventures With Diamond Deuce: stumbles through her days in a bleary haze, hoping
for death. Perhaps it will get here soon—the Deuce
Deuce of Diamonds, Knave of Hearts is already beginning to tire of her.
Rebecca Katzenbaum is a pretty, fragile young And this is when the PCs stumble onto the
concert cellist whom a PC knows slightly. Perhaps situation. They either see Rebecca in some public
she is the friend of their love interest, or a former place, looking lost and tragic with bruises on her
classmate at the Juliard, or even a member of a PC’s face, or they realize that it’s been a long time since
family. She lives on Long Island with her parents,
 Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 18 (+4) generator in the basement], a Security System [a
The Steel Deuce Int: 16 (+3) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 16 (+3)
seldom-used burgular alarm for those rare hours
when the bar is unoccupied], and a Workshop [that
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): same reinforced room in the basement holds a lot of
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 materials for dismembering corpses, and the rest of
the basement holds a number of empty barrels and
Defense: +18/+16 Speed: 30/60 (Leaping) bags of cement, as well as less lethal tools. The Steel
Damage Save: +10 Fortitude Save: +6 Deuce comes down here to repair himself] and a
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +9 baseball bat behind the bar [Weapon, +3 Lethal
Damage]),, Immunity (Aging, Disease, Exhaustion,
Skills: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Forgery +8, Poison, Starvation, Suffocation), Iron Will, Minions
Intimidate+10, Knowledge (Crime) +10, Pick Lock (in a pinch he can call on as many as 60 mooks,
+9, Profession (Legitmate Businessman) +3, Spot thugs, punks and other such PL1 employees,
+11, Sense Motive+12 scattered around his various businesses and criminal
Feats: Connected, Dodge, Durability, Great enterprises, as well as 6 PL2 goons, 3 PL3 criminals
Fortitude, Expertise, Headquarters (crummy bar of greater experience, 2 big mean PL4 guys who
called tend bar at the Four Deuces Lounge, a PL5 mob
doctor who knows better than to ask questions about
"The Four Deuces Lounge", with a Communications gunshot wounds, and a PL6 lawyer), Power Attack,
Center [a police radio and some illegal wiretapping Rapid Takedown, Startle, Surprise Strike, Takedown
equipment] a Computer [a super-sophisticated Attack
desktop model which the Steel Deuce stole from a Powers: Amazing Save (Willpower) +4, Energy
gadgeteer, buried in the clutter of the bar's back Blast +12 (Flaw: Reduced Range, Cost: 1pt),
room], Concealment [appears to be nothing more Gadgets +10 (Extra: Gadgets don't require separate
than a crummy dive bar], a Dock [or at least a devices and are instead built into the Steel Deuce;
trapdoor in the basement which leads to the river], a Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +12 (Extras: Leaping,
Fire Prevention System [although the fire Protection; Cost 6 pts)
extinguishers haven't been checked in years and the
sprinkler system might not be up to code], a Gym [or “Regrets? Yeah, like the song says, I
at least a set of weights in one room of the apartment
upstairs from the bar], an Infirmary [there is some got a few. If there was ever a day that I
medical gear in the basement and although it's none didn’t wreck for somebody, if I ever
too sterile, a surprising number of surgical spent a nickel I didn’t steal, if I ever
proceedures have been performed in the bar's back
room], Holding Cells [a specially reinforced room in went a minute without hurting
the basement and another one in the apartment nobody—that I regret. But you know, I
upstairs, both with a Hardness of 15], Living Space don’t think there was a lot of days or a
Real Name: Gianni "Johnny Machine" for 15 people [if they cram into the apartment really
tight--but hey, it's New York. They're probably used lot of nickels like that. Not even a lot of
Gaspari to it], a seperate Power System [an illegal tap on the minutes.”
PL: 14 Brooklyn power grid, plus a gasline-powered
 Also known as Johnny the Robot (“because he’s foolish mistakes and misbehaving like any small never become Made Men. So instead they
a robot, see”) Johnny Machine and Johnny Bionic. children. It wasn’t long before all of them but flourished as mid-level criminals, robbing trucks and
He doesn’t like that last name, and no one dares call Guiseppe (who seemed to enjoy nothing but reading jewelry stores and anything else they could get their
him Johnny Bionic to his face. He’s been one of and listening to old opera records) were running with greedy metal hands on.
Brooklyn’s most ruthless street-level criminals for the neighborhood’s bad element, committing petty Gianni is the only one left now. Paulie got
forty years, pursuing a life of crime with inhuman crimes and getting into trouble. He had built them to broken fighting a superhero back in 1978 and two
mechanical efficiency. adapt to and learn from their environment, and they years ago Gianni had to have Joey dismantled for
There used to be four Robot Brothers, but now did this well. Unfortunately, their environment was cheating him on a shipment of stolen designer
there’s only one. A sweet little old man named Dr. Brooklyn. bathroom fixtures.
Giovanni Gaspari built them. He was one of the Dr. Gaspari took his three wayward steel lambs Johnny the Robot hooked up with the Four
world’s greatest pioneers in artificial intelligence, aside and attempted to set down some firm rules Deuces shortly after Bones got put away, and soon
decades ahead of his peers. with them, but he was old and inexperienced and became their leader. He owns the club where they
They mocked his theories and hounded him out they ran rings around him. Soon he took to his bed, meet, he resolves disputes among the members of
of his career at CalTech. He found himself back in while Paulie, Joey, Johnny (Gianni) and their the group, he hands out discipline where it’s needed.
the run-down neighborhood in Brooklyn where he hoodlum friends ran wild in his deserted workshop. He’s a better strategist and personnel manager than
had grown up, trying to eke out an existence on Guiseppe stood guard outside his father’s door all any human being could be, and he takes care of their
Social Security and an academic’s pension. night, for he had heard talk of having something money better. Plus, everyone on the team knows to
Although Dr. Gaspari felt no malice toward the done about the old man. One morning, Dr. Gaspari be deathly afraid of him—an important consideration
world that had scorned him, he was determined to found that someone had smashed poor Guiseppe to when leading a gang of sociopaths.
find a way to continue his researches. He had bits. The old man was never really the same after Inhumanly ruthless, inhumanly determined, as
appropriated a lot of materials from his lab and that, his heart was broken and he died soon implacable as any machine, this is the guy that even
crammed them into his small, drafty apartment. A thereafter. His apartment became a den of vice for Double Deuce fears. He has had his body upgraded
tireless worker, he wrote code by night and repaired the Sicilian gang kids and his notes were trampled, many times, and he no longer resembles a child.
people’s electrical appliances by day to supplement strewn and lost. Instead he looks almost like a caricature of a robot
his meager income. He had never married and had Gianni, the smartest and most aggressive of the gangster. He likes the fact that this makes him look a
no family to support, which gave him all the time he surviving brothers, realized that they would need little silly—it helps to have people underestimate
needed. some of Dr Gaspari’s tools to repair and upgrade him. Constantly changing and updating his weapon
After some years of labor he had four small themselves, and soon found that they were also systems, he always seems to have some lethal new
prototype robots scuttling around his apartment like useful for breaking and entering. trick up his sleeve (hence all the points he has in
infants and felt he must be the happiest man alive. The Robot Brothers rapidly became known as “Gadgets”).
He named his metal sons Paul, Joseph, Gianni and rising stars of the Sicilian gangs. Because they He wears really expensive silk suits (Brionis are
Guiseppe. After a brief period of infancy he built didn’t sleep or eat, they could pursue crime around his favorite) and has far better taste in clothes than
them reasonably lifelike human bodies and the clock and were more efficient predators than Double Deuce. His Brooklyn accent is thicker than
introduced them to the world. The press reported it their flesh and blood competition. They had a any of the other Deuces, although his voice sounds
with only lackluster interest, and suggested that the wicked sense of humor, dressed up as boy scouts oddly mechanical and his lips don’t move. In person
four boys were in fact clever remote-control when they mugged old ladies, and killed rival gang he is funny, warm and very Italian. Everybody’s
mechanical dolls, rather than thinking, self-aware members by jumping out of windows with them. best friend, he wants to know how you’ve been, he
organisms. The Mob took an interest in the Robot Brothers wants to make sure you’re having a good time, he
Enfeebled by age and by his disappointments, Dr. early on, but decided after much grave deliberation remembers everything about you, your family, your
Gaspari wasn’t able to look after his boys as well as that because they had no blood, they could by friends, their birthdays, their history and what’s
he would have liked, and they were soon making implication have no Sicilian blood and hence could going on with them now. It’s impossible to tell if he
genuinely likes you or if he’s about to have you Adventures With The Steel Deuce: delivering it to. They will hand it off to some
killed. This is the secret of the terror he inspires. Syrians in the middle of the night at a rest stop in
But while he is an absolute stone cold killer, he’s 1) Dealer Takes The Pot Virginia, without ever seeing the pickup men.
not a maniac like Double Deuce. He will do The Steel Deuce leans on a stoolie he knows to go The goons are wearing body armor and carrying
whatever it takes to achieve his goals, no matter how stick up an old lady right in front of the PCs. Let him military weapons, but if you don’t think they’re
treacherous or diabolical, he’ll kill people just to give the PCs a good chase to warm things up. Once enough of a challenge for your PCs, then the
maintain his reputation or to make sure they won’t nabbed, the squealer blurts out that he knows Hammer of Doom has hired the Snow Queen to
someday turn on him, but he doesn’t seek out something really big—something that could hurt the watch over the handoff at the docks.
needless violence. Nor does he kill people purely for whole city real bad. If the PCs let him go, he’ll tell The Steel Deuce has no desire to tangle with all
the joy of it. them everything. those goons with all that hardware, let alone the
He is a criminal to the bone (or would be if he If they bite, he says that there’s a shipment Snow Queen, and he certainly doesn’t want an arch-
had bones) and would rather steal a dime than earn coming in on the docks, tonight, from this Romanian uber-villain like the Hammer of Doom to know who
it. He’s incredibly vengeful when shown disrespect. freighter. These Russian guys are making some kind ripped him off. So he’ll wait in the shadows and
Yet even these traits are largely an act he maintains of a heavy buy down there, for a supervillain they then take the case from the PCs once they have it in
to help keep up his reputation. call the Hammer of Doom (or some other very heavy hand.
Unburdened by mental exhaustion or the need for master villain—use whichever one would be the If the stoolie has gone with the PCs to the docks,
sleep, he works around the clock and never stops scariest). The stoolie isn’t sure, but he thinks it’s he gets separated from them n the ensuing fight. In
planning, calculating or running his various plutonium. Whatever it is, it comes in a big sealed either case, once they get away with the case, they
businesses. He owns dress shops, a construction metal case. hear the stoolie screaming and crying out to them for
firm, a collection agency and a number of clubs and There’s gonna be at least one cape watching the help. When they go down the alley to see what’s
he runs them all amazingly well. It is probably a loot, and all kinds of heavy security. Telling the going on, they find the Steel Deuce and as many of
good thing for the Mafia that they never let him enter cops is no good, he figured. After all, he heard about his cohorts as he deems necessary, holding a trash
their ranks, because he’s a more effective gangster this from two cops who ran him in the other night— bag that contains the sliced up remnants of the
than any human being could be. they thought he was unconscious so they were stoolie.
talking about it in the squad car. The Steel Deuce greets the PCs and says he
He’s got to get out of town, but he doesn’t have stopped by to give them their rat back (here he gives
the bread. That’s why he robbed the old lady, even them the bag, or throws it to them and the stoolie’s
though he knew it was a low and despicable thing to head rolls out). He wondered if they’d like to switch
do. He doesn’t want anybody to get killed if this bags. Fun and hijinks no doubt ensue.
turns out to be a terrorist type thing, but whose going If it seems too nasty to have NPCs flinging around
to believe a bum like himself? bags full of body parts, or if it just doesn’t work with
Whether the PCs let him go or not, it hardly your campaign style, then the Steel Deuce steps out
matters. Down at the docks, somewhere near four of the darkness with the stoolie standing behind him,
AM, a group of Russian mobsters in indeed grinning.
offloading an illegal cargo from a Romanian “You done good, kid” the Deuce tells him. He
freighter, and it is indeed meant for the Hammer of hands the stoolie a couple of twenties and a small
Doom, bit it’s not plutonium—it’s cocaine. He is bag of (poisoned) junk. “Now amscray—us
throwing a birthday party at a private island retreat grownups got business to talk.”
off North Carolina and he needs a lot of coke. To The stoolie runs off and the Steel Deuce asks for
keep things tidy, he has hired Russians to transport the case. “There’s no plutonium in there, just a
the blow, without knowing what it is or who they are bunch of cocaine—and what’re ya gonna do with
that? Better let me take it off yer hands.” rescue him and any number of old enemies will try
When they refuse to give him the case, he says to do him harm.
“Okay. But wait, I got a better plan. Why don’t I Then, after the PCs have run themselves ragged
just kill you and take it?” We will see how his plan keeping Johnny alive and out of the execution
works out. chamber, a backup system kicks in and his sinister
old personality reasserts itself.
2) The Deuce of Nothing
Good news! The feds are finally ready to arrest
Johnny Machine, the so-called Steel Deuce, for
murder. If the PCs have been trying to have him
arrested for murder (of the stoolie in that last
scenario, for example) then this is the crime he’s
going down for. Otherwise, it’s a truck dispatcher
named Ken Scarpia, whom the Deuce executed for
the crime of knowing too much about a hijacking the
two of them collaborated on.
The police would very much appreciate having
the PCs assistance in apprehending Johnny Machine.
And for once, the authorities know exactly where to
find him. He’s at his victim’s funeral, consoling the
man’s wife and assuring her that he’ll find the guys
who got Ken.
The Steel Deuce admonishes the cops for
disrupting a funeral and showing the deceased such
disrespect—Ken was a fine, decent man who
deserved better, the Deuce says.
When the cops read out the charges against the
Steel Deuce, the dead man’s mother screams “I
knew it!” and stabs the Deuce in the chest. She
would have hit his heart, if he had one. Instead she
hits an emergency reset system that nobody knew
about, and blanks out his personality and memory.
Which raises all sorts of interesting questions.
The new Johnny is completely innocent, naïve,
curious about the world around him and eager to
please whoever he is speaking to. Can this poor
unworldly creature be executed for Johnny’s awful
crimes? Is Johnny only faking his condition? Well,
in fact he isn’t—but how do the PCs know that for
sure? To make matters worse, once news of his
condition leaks out his friends will be coming to
 in the world for long enough to found the Four
Bones Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 18 (+4)
Deuces. He’s spent more than half his life in prison,
all-told and may no longer fully understand the
Int: 14 Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 14 (+2) outside world.
Initiative: +3 Attack Bonus (Melee): Bones is the living avatar of death, in a minor
kind of way. He spent a lot of the 1950s in Cuba,
+13 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +13 working for the mob. Cuban organized crime was
Defense: +26/+23 Speed: 30 intertwined with the occult and after seeing some of
Damage Save: +6 Fortitude Save: +4 what the Cuban Brujos were capable of, Bones tried
to learn all he could about their arts.
Reflexes Save: +3 Willpower Save: +5 On a fetid dank midnight he drank the bloody
Skills: Forgery +5, Gather Information +5, rum, spoke the Forbidden Words and summoned up
Intimidate +10, Listen +10, Move Silently +10, the Lords of Death within himself. The powers that
Sense Motive +7 they gave him should only have lasted a week, but
the Lords of Death decided that they liked Bones.
Feats: Connected, Darkvision, Durability, They have stayed with him ever since, and probably
Immunity (Suffocation), Infamy, Iron Will, won’t leave until he himself dies.
Penetrating Vision (blocked by living tissue), True Cursed with a big agile brain, Bones was always
Vision, Startle an idea man as much as he was a thug. This makes
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +2 (Cost: 1pt), him a leader, which has always made him a target
Incorporeal +10 (Affected By: Mystical Attacks; for anti-crime crusaders.
Extras: Ghost Touch, Phase Attack; Cost: 4pts), Over the years the Irish gangs he ran with faded
Mind Control +10 (Flaw: Only One Command [Be away, and he could never be a “Made Guy” in the
Afraid]; cost: 1pt), Paralysis +10 (Cost: 2pts) Sicilian Mafia, so he formed his own crew and
contented himself with smaller goals than ruling the
“We're all born sobbin’ and underworld. As a mid-level criminal and
supervillain, he was quite a success.
screamin’—we don't got no choice Although he’s been in jail for the past twenty
about how we come into the world. But years, he’s still the nominal leader of the Four
a guy can choose how he leaves it.” Deuces and the guys still come to him for advice.
They lend him money and help him out in little ways
Bones is a gangster from the 1930s—old time when they can, just to show their respect, but the
Irish muscle, and he’s quietly plagued the superhero truth is that they visit him less and less. Even
community almost from the beginning. Masked Double Deuce, who used to be his boy-sidekick,
avengers fought him in the ‘30s, back when he was hasn’t seen him face to face in more than a year.
just a mook in a pinstriped suit, the star-spangled In fact they forgot when last his parole hearing
heroes of the 1940s fought him on the homefront was, so they’re going to be surprised when they learn
when they weren’t busy overseas. In the fifties he that he got out of prison two days ago.
Real Name: Jack Doyle gained his superhuman powers and battled a whole What this will mean for the Four Deuces is
PL: 15 new generation of costumed heroes. He spent the difficult to say. Will they accept his leadership?
sixties and seventies in jail, and was really only out Will Double Deuce see him as an ally against the
Steel Deuce, or as another rival? They’ve been dealt old now. Determined not to kill anybody for as long that Bones is out of the joint and that he hasn’t come
a wild card. as he can, he wants to breathe fresh air and put his to see them yet, he calculates an unacceptably high
What comes of this depends on how the GM life into some semblance of order. He has no idea probability that the old man intends them some kind
wants to play it It may even be that Bones has no how to begin. of harm. When he learns that Bones is asking about
desire to return to his life of crime, but they won’t New York’s superhero community isn’t making old friends who Double Deuce has killed, this
take no for an answer. Or perhaps they’re willing to things any easier for him, either. Bones gets confirms it. Bones has got to die. In fact, maybe it’s
let him be, but then he feels compelled to take up threatened almost as soon as he leaves prison by time to burn the whole outfit and start fresh.
his gun again when he finds out that his old crew has more than one masked vigilante. They know he’s up The first time the PCs think of tailing Bones, he
hired, betrayed and killed some old supervillain to no good (although he isn’t) and they’ve got their goes to a huge cemetery in Queens to make his
friend of his. eye on him. In light of this fact, going to see the yearly pilgrimage to Jimmy Grogan’s grave. As he
In person Bones is grim, unhappy, ferocious and Four Deuces doesn’t seem like the right thing to do, stands there to pay his respects, the Ace of Wounds
old. An emotional but untalkative man, he is at least not at first. tries to kill him. Bones notices the sniper waiting for
wracked by many regrets. Every year, on the But when he starts asking around, Bones is him and says: “You don’t look like you’re afraid I’ll
anniversary of the day he killed his old friend Jimmy amazed to find out how many former members of his kill you. And that’s just how it is with young guys, I
“The Red Corsair” Grogan, he visits Jimmy’s grave team are dead now. All the signs point to Double know. But you oughta be. I put you in the ground
and stands there in silence. Bones is driven by a Deuce having killed them, but he doesn’t want to right here, and you’ll never get out of Brooklyn.”
vague desire to make things right, but he doesn’t believe that. Bones starts investigating on his own. The Ace of Wounds laughs and points out that
have a clear idea of what that would mean or where Word reaches the Player Characters that Bones is they’re already in Queens. Bones laughs too, and
to begin. Events may propel him any of a number of finally out of jail, seeing old underworld associates, the fight begins.
different ways, as the GM sees fit. and that his crew is suspected of having just pulled In the course of the conversation, the PCs learn
While his powers have greatly slowed his aging off a major job. If they confront Bones he won’t what’s really going on. They also learn that the Ace
process, he really is getting old now and he feels the bother trying to convince them that he means no of Wounds feels no loyalty to the Four Deuces, that
lack of time acutely. He harbors a lot of affection for harm. Long years of dealing with cops have taught they’ll probably have him killed soon himself (in
Double Deuce (and mistakenly thinks the kid returns him that no one ever listens to a crook’s side of the fact Lady Deuce is going to cut his throat in bed
it) but he knows what kind of a rotten little monster story, and he will instead act hostile and sarcastic, tonight, as soon as he gets done killing Bones).
his protégé is. Sentimental, aggressive and easily although he will be careful not to pick a fight. How the fight goes depends on the GM and on
moved to tears, he’s prone to violence when drunk, If they tail him they will find that he is visiting the actions of the Player Characters. Bones may take
and so has vowed off the sauce. the widows and orphans of a number of his former a mortal wound, but he doesn’t have to die here.
He’s killed a lot of people for a lot of reasons and associates, hanging around crummy bars asking Whatever happens, the PCs now know that Double
is painfully aware that he’s become too casual about people questions, and generally acting suspicious. Deuce and perhaps the Steel Deuce are responsible
it, so he has sworn to go as long as he can without If they go to see the Four Deuces, they find that for murdering perhaps as many as eight of their
killing anyone. This makes him almost comically the Steel Deuce is more than happy to talk to them. former associates over the years. It looks like a big
reluctant to resort to violence, even when sorely He’s friendly, and charming, and he expresses super-battle may be in the works very shortly.
provoked. Will Bones be able to hold true to his concern when he hears that Bones is out of prison.
pledge? We shall see. The Steel Deuce may have done some bad things 2) Rolling the Bones, Second Version
himself, that’s just in his nature, he explains, but he’s Bones walks out of jail, a free man for the first
always tried to be as decent a guy as he can be. That time in decades. He’s full of regrets and while he
Adventures With Bones: 1) Rolling the Bones, though—he’s real different. The Steel Deuce doesn’t age the way the regular guys do, he is finally
Bones, First Version actually feels kind of afraid of him, he confesses. old now. Determined not to kill anybody for as long
Bones walks out of jail, a free man for the first Once the Steel Deuce knows (either because the as he can, he wants to breathe fresh air and put his
time in decades. He’s full of regrets and while he PCs have told him or through some other source) life into some semblance of order. He has no idea
doesn’t age the way the regular guys do, he is finally
how to begin. money. It’s perfect. No civilians get hurt, no decent final days and that he’s trying to make up for his past
And things aren’t easy on the outside. More than people lose a dime, and it’s big enough to set Bones misdeeds by telling the authorities everything he
one superhuman vigilante hassles him (including up for life. But the attacks continue. knows. It’s time for Bones to sleep in the ground—
perhaps the Player Characters), his old crew hasn’t The Ace of Wounds tries to kill Bones outside a in fact maybe it’s time to burn the whole crew and
come to see him in prison for months and nobody bar in Brooklyn Heights and in the crossfire a six- start fresh.
will hire a guy with a skull tattooed on his face. year-old boy gets wounded. This is intolerable. The Steel Deuce sends Double Deuce to
Maybe he belongs in the joint after all. Bones may lose his temper and start to hunt the Four assassinate his old mentor. Instead Bones reluctantly
After being hassled one time too many, Bones Deuces down one by one (complicated by the fact kills him. And it now seems to him that the entire
loses his patience and starts to plan another heist. that the Steel Deuce may be about to kill them off city is rotten to the core. Neither the cops nor the
This one should either set him up through his himself). crooks deserve to live—humanity is a cancer on the
retirement or put him back inside forever, either one Bones would be just as willing to frame the Steel face of the world. He goes to visit some old criminal
of which would be okay with him. It’s a tricky thing Deuce for the crime he is about to commit and associates over the next few days, and although most
to plan, though, since he needs to make sure that vanish with the loot forever, if the PCs are willing to of them are dead, he manages to get the information
nobody gets killed. help him do it. he needs.
Bones doesn’t go to the Four Deuces for help— It should be obvious to the PCs by now that
he’s still too offended at the way they stopped 3) Rolling the Bones, Third Version Bones is up to something. If nothing else, the
coming to see him. Instead he tries to talk to other Bones walks out of jail, a free man for the first sudden discovery of his old sidekick’s body should
old criminal associates, but most of them are dead. time in decades. He’s full of regrets and while he let them know that something is up. The first time
Bones doesn't notice that the evidence suggests doesn’t age the way the regular guys do, he is finally the PCs trail him, he goes to a huge cemetery in
Double Deuce is responsible for the deaths of so old now. Determined not to kill anybody for as long Queens. There, in front of his old pal Jimmy
many old friends--he's much too preocupied with as he can, he wants to breathe fresh air and put his Grogan’s grave, he meets Khalid al Warhadi--the
making plans. life into some semblance of order. He has no idea man they call the Hammer of Doom.
But the Steel Deuce is alarmed to hear that Bones how to begin. Khalid has problems of his own that have also
is out of prison and that he’s been talking to the Despite his earnest desire to somehow put things driven him to desperation. See his character
relatives of guys the Four Deuces have killed. It’s right, the world seems determined to thwart him. description for the details.
time for Bones to die. In fact, maybe it’s time to kill His crew has deserted him, he can’t get a job, and As the two men talk, hidden PCs can learn the
Diamond Deuce, Lady Deuce and the Ace of everybody looks at him like some kind of a monster. whole back-story.
Wounds, too. He’s trying to keep it together, trying to keep himself Khalid has brought a “dirty bomb” full of
The first time the PCs tail Bones, he goes to a from doing anything stupid, but then things take a plutonium, with him, and the two of them are going
huge cemetery in Queens to pay his yearly respects sudden turn for the worse that sends him off the rails to set it off on top of the Empire State Building,
at Jimmy Grogan’s grave. Lady Deuce attempts to completely. purging this vicious, twisted abomination of a city
bushwhack him there, and unless the PCs somehow A superhuman vigilante roughs Bones up, telling from the world forever. They will both die (or
intervene he is going to kill her in self-defense. him to stay out of trouble. Bones gets sarcastic and almost—Khalid’s nerve fails him and he flees at the
Either way, this new development angers and defiant with the guy (perhaps it’s even a Player last minute) but they’ll take the Big Rotten Apple
depresses Bones. His own crew is trying to have Character) and gets beaten savagely. The very next with them. Unless of course somebody stops them.
him killed—for nothing! day, another superhero does the very same thing to
If the PCs haven’t thrown him back in jail, he him.
continues trying to put together his final caper. It is Meanwhile, the Steel Deuce hears that Bones is
in fact a jewel heist. Bones intends to hit a major out of prison and that he’s been talking to
money launderer coming back from the middle east superheroes. He calculates an unacceptable
with a load of diamonds to trade for American drug probability that the old man has gone straight in his
 outside of military and intelligence circles, but then reach of American law enforcement. This second
Executive again so do most other mercenary outfits. The
general public is largely unaware of how many of
facility serves mostly as a place where a superhuman
might lay low until the heat is off. It's just a drafty,

Solutions these companies there are in this country, or how

great their reach is. Private firms presently supply
elite mercenaries to guard America’s nuclear power
crumbling stone cottage, and its resources are pretty
minimal, although it does have a small infirmary and
a lot of food stored in the basement.
plants, Air Force bases, the facility at Groom Lake Only one full-time staff member serves the
Membership: Executive Solution M (a.k.a. (Area 51) and of course the homes of the very rich. Ireland facility—a grouchy caretaker named Fergus,
Major Maximum, disgraced all-American superhero If the CIA needs a sniper for some black book who is himself on the run from the law and asks no
and commie fighter), Executive Solution Z (a.k.a. operation overseas, they don’t send one of their own awkward questions.
the Gray Golem, giant hammer-wielding man of staff out into the field with a rifle—they pick up the The company’s business offices are located in the
stone, the team’s resident troublemaker), Executive phone and call a vendor. If they need a superhuman Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, midway up a
Solution X (deathless and unspeakably cruel assassin, they call Executive Solutions. shiny new skyscraper in a remote office park. The
superhuman soldier who has fought on at least two Founded by legendary secret agent Jim Flint, office has a staff of about six people, all of them
sides of every major war in the past three hundred Executive Solutions claims to be pro-American and purely administrative, watched over by a stern,
years), Executive Solution R (a.k.a. Dan Dauntless, to be dedicated to eradicating communism and weary, hugely overweight office manager named
Rocket Ranger, weary, shell-shocked Bosnian terrorism from the world. Yet the truth is that they Morgan Colglazier. Few members of the ever-
rocket-man, utterly fearless, beyond caring if he have no broader agenda than making money—you changing office staff have any clear idea as to what
lives or dies), Executive Solution D (sadistic Serbian can hire them for any task, no matter how unsavory Executive Solutions actually does, and even Mr.
psychic, Dan Dauntless’ former arch enemy) it might be. There is a saying at the CIA’s Colglazier doesn’t know any of the firm’s real
Executive Solution Q, (a.k.a. "The Obscenity," Operations Directorate: “If you want a dirty job done secrets.
shambling sentient heap of quagmire, who could lose fast, call Executive Solutions.” The only one who knows where the bodies are
his mind at any second), Jack Flint (the former buried apart from Mr. Flint is his lawyer, B.
“Agent Twelve” who fought America’s secret wars Coleman Black, of the unthinkably powerful and
throughout the mid 20th century, now old and ancient Chicago law firm Corvus, Corvus, Corwin
confined to a wheelchair, he leads and owns Base of Operations: Executive Solutions’ and Black Associates.
Executive Solutions), Mr. Smith (Jim Flint’s main headquarters is located in the Charlottesville Mr. Flint almost never visits the Virginia site,
mysterious right hand man, powers unknown) . suburbs. They have a large, well-protected despite having a palatial private office on the
compound off in the woods, with living facilities for premises. He spends most of his time out of the
A small private security firm based in Charleston, any superhuman Resources who want them, an country and almost always attends business meetings
South Carolina, Executive Solutions supplies airstrip, a helicopter landing pad, a firing range, via teleconference.
parahuman talent for whatever purpose its clients workshops to repair super-equipment, an infirmary, Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for his
require. Over the past twenty years Executive exercise rooms and an obstacle course for the ferocious personal assistant, Miss Zelma Zimmer,
Solutions personnel have quietly fought to protect Resources to keep themselves in training. who often puts in unexpected appearances and
the interests of governments and multinational The Charlottesville facility has its own security throws the whole office into an uproar. She is said
corporations in low-level conflicts around the world. and medical staff, and has an understanding with the to be the one person Morgan Colglazier fears.
Their mercenary super-humans have battled local local authorities—they can take care of their own Few clients ever see the facility in South
insurgents, third world armies, and sometimes other problems. No local police or paramedics will attempt Carolina, unless Mr. Flint wants to impress them.
corporate mercenary teams on every continent to set foot in the facility without an invitation, and Virtually all of the organization’s business is
except Antarctica. they have never yet received one. transacted through the Virginia office. Whenever
Executive Solutions keeps a very low profile There is another, much smaller facility on an superhumans or scary looking clients have to come
island off the western coast of Ireland, outside the
tramping through the place Colglazier sends the achieve the mission objective. Punishment usually they’ll hit hard and fast, using the element of
regular office workers home, so that they won’t see takes the form of docking the offender’s pay. There surprise as much as possible. They strike to kill
or hear anything untoward. have been one or two field executions when unless they are under specific orders not to—and
Resources have gone insane or tried to murder a then sometimes they do it anyway. The team won’t
Threat Level: Executive Solutions is neither as teammate, but by and large parahumans are too rare hesitate to leave a wounded man behind if it means
big nor as responsible as they present themselves to and expensive to kill, no matter how badly they reaching the mission objective. Frankly there’s little
be. They have about eight superhumans on staff behave. Mr. Flint will certainly yell at misbehaving camaraderie in the unit and most of them don’t really
presently. All are experienced combat veterans, all Resources, and threaten to fire them if they screw up like one another that much. They won’t risk their
of them are superbly dangerous, just as he claims. again. Yet no one has ever actually been fired. lives to save one another (except for Major
Yet they are also an odd collection of personalities, The Resources are all known by one-letter code Maximum and the Gray Golem—more on them
with quirks and petty rivalries that can and do names; “Executive Solution D”, “Executive Solution below) but they’ll gladly do it to achieve the mission
undermine their effectiveness as a team. R”, “Executive Solution X” and so forth. Officially objective.
Their powers and capabilities are pretty widely none of them are ever supposed to know anything
varied, but that’s a far cry from being able to about one another but their code names, but this has
proved difficult to enforce. Executive Solution Y Using Executive Solutions in your
“provide the exact superhuman talent your job
requires” like their promotional literature claims. was famous before she joined the team, so everyone campaign: Executive Solutions makes a
Even though they aren’t as potent a force as they knows who she is. Executive Solution R and particularly good nemesis if the PCs are themselves
say, they’re still one of the most powerful, Executive Solution D knew eachother in their mercenaries. In this case Jim Flint’s merry lads are
determined, ruthless, well-trained group of previous careers, while Executive Solutions M and Z the Other Guys, the competition, the bad, amoral
supervillains a Player Character group is ever likely have actually become a couple. Because there’s not team that takes on dirty assignments, roughs up
to encounter. much he can do about these breaches in protocol, civilians and fights without honor. If you get sent to
If the PCs send a team member to jail, Mr. Flint Mr. Flint pretends not to notice. topple a brutal dictator, these are the guys the brutal
might or might not be able to get them out, All of the Resources are officially independent dictator hires. Otherwise, this is the team that an evil
depending on the nature of the crime. Certainly contractors, paid strictly on a per-mission basis. corporation or sinister government agency will call
Corvus, Corvus, Corwin and Black will do their best They have no benefits (and the office staff in in if you trifle with them one too many times.
on the imprisoned villain’s behalf, and that’s quite a Virginia barely have any—Mr. Colglazier likes to It’s rare to encounter the team inside the borders
bit. If it looks hopeless, Flint will just abandon them hire long-term temps rather than salaried employees) of the US, since they’re not supposed to undertake
and deny all knowledge of their actions. Resources can live at the Charlottesville facility if operations (apart from bodyguard work) on
they like, but they have to pay rent. They can buy American soil. But if they get riled enough or if
medical services and insurance from the company, they’re tracking down someone they believe to be a
Organization: The Resources follow a quasi- but it comes out of their pay, as do legal fees, traitor or a terrorist, they might well be willing to
military set of rules, but they don’t have ranks, don’t weapons, ammunition and repairs. There is no ignore that rule. Depending on how much collateral
salute and don’t call anybody “sir” but the old man retirement plan, no 401K. Since they get paid seven damage they inflict the authorities might or might
himself. If the company sends more than one of figures for each job, this isn’t as onerous as it not be willing to turn a blind eye.
them on a job, Mr. Flint will appoint a team member sounds. Sometimes individual team members take on
to serve as the Field Commander. outside jobs—the Six Dollar Man is particularly
Team members can be punished for prone to this. If one of them commits a crime and
insubordination, causing too much collateral Tactics: Depending on the nature of the job, they
might send one Resource or they might send a bunch gets arrested, the others might bust him out just to
damage, drawing the wrong kind of attention to keep him from talking, even though Mr. Flint is sure
Executive Solutions, blabbing secret information, of them. All of them are skilled tacticians and cagey
fighters, with the possible exception of Executive to yell at them for it.
endangering teammates, brawling on the job, getting
drunk on the job, showing up late or for failing to Solution D. If they are on an assault mission,
Adventures With Executive up during the course of the fight, and they have people as possible while she learns how to control
brought a superhuman resource of their own—the her new mental abilities. He brought her up to a
Solutions: living incarnation of Ogun, the Iron God (use the little organic farm that some friends of his own off in
“Powerhouse” archetype from the basic rulebook for the mountains, and together the two of them have
1) Showdown at Lumbaga Ogun. His powers are “Mystical” in their origins). been slowly exploring her newfound mental abilities.
Executive Solutions has been retained to defend the She’s very powerful—use the stats for the standard
Lumbaga oil fields, deep in the interior of a west 2) The Colonel’s Very Private Matter psychic hero archetype in the basic rulebook.
African country (use a fictional large, corrupt An old Venezuelan colonel has a beautiful, Executive Solutions is in for a surprise.
military dictatorship with huge oil reserves and a rebellious granddaughter. She is his favorite, and
squalid capital city—or just use Nigeria). All signs has been since she was a little girl. Alas, she has run 3) Operation Apocalypse
indicate that the oil fields may soon come under off with her hippie boyfriend and joined a group of A tiny African republic has just managed to
attack from rebel forces that are now in the region. Marxist insurgents up in the mountains. The old weather a coup attempt (either invent a country, or
The PCs have been sent to the region to see if man is filled with dismay, and gets in touch with his use a real one that seems appropriate—Gambia
they can provide humanitarian assistance for the friend Jack Flint. He wants the whole hippie gang of would be ideal). Democracy has been restored and
famine that the war has brought to the interior, or them tracked down and killed—especially his the kindly old president who has run things for
perhaps to help fight the rebels. As they get into the granddaughter. There is a piece of jewelry he gave twenty years is back in power. The state is damaged,
vicinity of the oilfields, they either witness or hear her for her twelfth birthday, a phenomenally its one university has been destroyed and it’s
about a shocking double murder that a member of valuable diamond brooch, which he wants returned precious water treatment plant will take a lot of
the oilfield security staff has committed (perhaps it’s as well. foreign investment to repair, yet with a little help and
Executive Solution D, or perhaps it’s just some Jim thinks he knows just the man for the job—it a little luck, they’re going to survive.
security goon—whoever he is, he hates women and seems tailor made for Executive Solution X. After X This is good news for Africa. That tiny state was
has killed both his local girlfriend and her father, is already on his way, the old man suddenly suffers one of its best run democracies and a real stabilizing
who tried to protect her). an attack of regret and calls in the PCs to stop the force in the region.
The local constabulary accompany the PCs to the assassin. But then once the PCs are on their way, he Unfortunately, the CIA doesn’t want the region
oilfields, where the killer has fled, but the security suffers another attack of regret and tells Jim Flint stable. Chaotic and corrupt countries are much
staff insult them, threaten them and won’t let them what he has done. easier to influence than stable and democratic ones.
enter. Executive Solutions simply won’t give the Flint sends more resources down to the South In any case, they backed the leaders of the coup, and
man up. They need him for the coming battle, and in American jungles to stop them. How many guys will not be deprived of their prize. To show the
any case they don’t trust the local courts. Flint sends depends on the size and strength of the world what happens when you oppose them, they
The only way for the PCs to bring this man to PC’s party. Executive Solution D is likely to be one have hired Executive Solutions to do a complete
justice is to retrieve him by force, and they’ll have to of them, as is Y. M and Z could be as well. He’s “Carpet Job” on the republic, ruining it so utterly
fight their way through Executive Solutions to do it. less likely to send Dan Dauntless or the horrible that its people will live in misery for decades.
How many superhuman Resources have been Executive Solution Q, but the Six Dollar Man might In a single predawn raid, they will smash its
committed to this assignment depends on the also show up if he isn’t lying drunk on a bender power plant, wreck its telecommunications
strength of the PCs. The whole team might be here, somewhere. infrastructure, tear up its roads, destroy its
or it might just be one or two of them, with a bunch For an added twist, the colonel’s granddaughter storehouses of food, fuel and medical supplies,
of hired mercenaries and local army goons, didn’t go off to join the rebels at all. In fact her destroy its only hospital, annihilate its army, murder
depending on how many Player Characters face psychic powers were just beginning to manifest and all its leaders and kill as many random innocent
them. The GM shouldn’t make beating them an the thoughts of all the millions of people in Caracas people as possible. They will do their very best over
impossible task, but this one should be no cakewalk. were crashing in on her, driving her insane. Her the next day or so to leave this place with nothing.
To complicate matters, the rebels actually show boyfriend wanted to get her as far away from other The first thing they will try to is to wreck the
country’s communications infrastructure, cutting it
off from the rest of the world.
The PCs are with a UN fact-finding mission in a
neighboring country, perhaps tracking the
whereabouts of some major arch-villain or cleaning
up after a natural disaster, when everything over the
border goes silent. The lights have all gone out up
there, too.
Perhaps someone manages to get a final desperate
message to the outside world, perhaps someone
stumbles over the border, wounded, bleeding and
desperate or perhaps the PCs go up there to
investigate on their own.
Executive Solutions has brought the whole team
for this job, although if that makes them too
powerful for the PCs to beat the GM may decide that
they have split up into little groups of two or three,
each squad focusing on a different atrocity.
Executive Solution D to inflict more anguish on the target. set out for wonderland. He was not disappointed.
For the next two years a lot of old people, women
“Hey wait! We almost forgot the part and children seemed to die wherever he went. Life
was good. His psychic powers became stronger
where we stab you in the face--and every time he used them to kill, and his reputation
that's the best part!” grew until he came to the personal attention of
General Ratko Mladic, field commander of the
Vlade Andric grew up with his aunt in Mostar, in Bosnian Serb forces.
what was then the dismal little socialist republic of In his headquarters at Pale, in the old compound
Yugoslavia. Auntie beat him for looking like a left from the Winter Olympics, they were trying to
Turk. She might have slowly killed him over time, create super-soldiers. The process wasn’t safe by
but fortunately the Andrics had rich cousins in any means (it had been developed in Uganda by the
Chicago, who agreed to sponsor young Vlade Idi Amin regime), but General Mladic assured Vlade
through his high school and college years. that if his heart was strong and the Serbian blood in
He went to Northwestern University and his veins was pure, he would emerge from the
Real Name: Dr. Vlade Andric, PhD eventually pursed an advanced degree in child treatment like a living god.
PL: 12 psychology. By the time he was thirty Dr. Andric Vlade was petrified—this was certain death, but
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) had settled into practice in New York City and wrote then again guys who defied General Mladic didn’t
the occasional children’s book. tend to live so long, either. He moved into the dirty
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 20 (+5) Cha: 14 (+2) He drank too much, he wallowed in pointless little improvised clinic in Pale and submitted to a
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 self-pity, he used his psychic powers to abuse his painful course of injections and the agonizing
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +9 Defense: young clients and put psychological time bombs in hallucinations that followed.
their brains. Why should they be allowed to have But despite the months of suffering and terror, his
+18/+17 Speed: 30/50 (Flight) happy, well-adjusted childhoods when he felt so powers did in fact grow tremendously. He could fly
Damage Save: + 2/+8 (Evasion) Fortitude miserable all the time? It wasn’t fair. with his telekinesis, he could use the power of his
Save: +2 Reflexes Save: +7 Willpower Then in 1992 his country went up in flames. mind to enhance his physical strength, burn off his
Yugoslavia came apart at the seams and people beer belly, grow a set of huge rippling muscles. And
Save: +11 started killing one another. Once the new nation of he did. General Mladic was greatly pleased, and
Skills: Bluff +8, Concentration +8, Intimidate Bosnia imploded and Bosnian Serbs like himself assigned him to the siege of Sarajevo.
+10, Listen +8, Profession (Child Psychologist) +5, were massacring every Turkish looking person they They gave him a costume, which made him feel
Sense Motive +8, Spot +8 could lay their hands on, he felt the noble Serbian even more powerful, although he didn’t like the way
blood in his veins roused to action. In Manhattan it failed to conceal his face. For the next three years
Feats: Evasion, Indomitable Will, See Invisible you had to live by rules and law and society’s he fought the embattled Sarajevo militias, coming to
Powers: Amazing Save (Reflexes) +6 (Extra: tenets—to drive the right car and attend the right blows with the city’s flying superhero “Dan
Willpower; Cost: 2pts), Telepathy +10 (Extra: Mind parties and wear the right shirts. But in this grand Dauntless” on many occasions. He never bothered
Control; Cost 4pts), Telekinesis +10 (Extras: Energy new Bosnia a man could do anything, be anything he to take a superhero code name himself—it was too
Blast, Flight, Force Field; Cost 5pts) chose! He could even kill women and kids if he hard to think of one that sounded scary enough.
Weaknesses: Quirk: Sadist. Would sooner wanted, and who wouldn’t want to do that? He was Unfortunately for Vlade, he was still fighting at
torture or kill a target than not. Must spend a villain getting excited just thinking of it. Sarajevo when the giant massacre at Srebrinica took
point to resist staying too long at the scene of a battle So he left his practice, sub-let his apartment and place. One of the war’s worst atrocities, nearly
8,000 civilians lost their lives up there, inside a UN parahumans has kept him from killing a teammate. government has insisted on transporting the samples
safe zone. Vlade was beside himself with envy and A bigot, he makes disparaging remarks about other themselves, under police escort, to ensure that no
frustration. To this day, having missed the fun at peoples’ ancestry (note to the GM: keep this mild if one tampers with them. And now C2M Hill has
Srebrinica remains one of his great regrets. That and you think your players would be too upset and retained the services of a shadowy organization
never getting to kill Dan Dauntless. offended by it), but anyone who says anything about called Executive Solutions. They bought one airline
After the mid 1990s things started to fall apart. Serbs in his presence is in deep trouble (unless he’s ticket for Executive Solutions, headed for Guatemala
NATO moved in to keep the peace, the siege of afraid of them). City. Why would they only need one ticket,
Sarajevo ended, General Mladic had to go into Vlade complains a lot on missions, but it’s not Durwood wonders?
hiding and things looked bleak. Vlade heard that like the way the Gray Golem gripes. Rather than In light of the fact that everyone at Durwood’s
some of the guys were trying their luck in the Congo carping about little things, he whines that they’re not firm whispers that Executive Solutions is a
War, fighting for Laurent Kabila’s rebels, and even being paid enough for this type of assignment, that supervillain-for-hire outfit, this looks really
though black people made him uneasy it seemed like the operational plan is going to get them killed, and ominous. The fix is surely in, or at least it looks that
the best available option. so forth. He’s also weirdly desperate for affection way to Durwood. A supervillain is going to
He both loved and hated the time he spent in and respect. A published author, he writes bad, intercept the police convoy, substitute some samples
Central Africa. The food, the people, the living pseudo-experimental short stories and poems and that have been seeded with bauxite, and blame the
conditions, all of these things he loathed. But the frequently tires to get his teammates to read them. attack on the guerillas.
war itself was paradise. In the Congo he was free to Vlade is shocked to find himself fighting The moment everyone thinks that there’s bauxite
give up all pretense. He wasn’t fighting this war for alongside his old nemesis, Dan Dauntless, and has in Guatemala, investors are going to be beating a
the Serbian people or to prove he didn’t have Turk been making an unsuccessful effort to befriend him. path to C2M Hill’s door. The stock will shoot up in
blood. Here you could fight for the love of fighting, value, and the investors will sell the moment before
kill for the love of death. And kill he did, so well Adventures With Executive Solution D: the mine goes bust. Durwood’s firm can’t take
that the CIA got in touch and asked him to do a few The Great Guatemala Bauxite Caper another Enron fiasco, and he knows that as the
things over the border in Rwanda. A financial planner from a giant accounting firm assistant chief auditor for the C2M Hill account he’s
He soon gained a reputation with the CIA as a nervously approaches the PCs. His name is going to get thrown to the wolves once everything
reliable man, in the sense that he would do Seymour Durwood, and he has found some things comes out.
absolutely anything the Agency paid him to do. that make him very anxious. He’s right, but things are actually even worse
When Kabila’s army finally won the conflict, He’s been doing an internal audit for a firm called than they appear. The entire scheme is the
Vlade grew desperate and scared. He was running C2M Hill, and he thinks it’s a dummy—a shell brainchild of C. Graydon Kingsland, the coke-
out of war—the rebels in Columbia and Sierra Leone corporation slapped together by some big New York sniffing ne’er do well son of one of America’s most
wouldn't let outsiders join up, and the rest of the civil investors. Officially, C2M Hill is a mineral powerful families. Mr. Kingsland has raised the ire
wars then in progress were all in Islamic countries consortium, and they own a central American mining of a certain Colonel Santos, late of Guatemala’s
where a Serb Nationalist would no doubt be shot on company called Stroessner-Reinhold Ltd. Everyone death squads, who senses that a scam is in the works
sight. So he begged the CIA to take him on full knows there’s no bauxite in Guatemala, and yet and resents not having been offered a cut. Colonel
time. They declined, but were happy to give him the Stroessner-Reinhold has purchased a failed bauxite Santos’ influence has resulted in the heightened
number for Executive Solutions. mine in the Guatemalan highlands, an unstable security in Guatemala, and forced Mr. Kingsland to
He has never gotten along with the rest of the region that still has pockets of guerilla activity. retain the services of Executive Solutions.
team, largely because of his personality. Boastful They hired some vendor to take some samples at the Sensing that this is a delicate matter, Jim Flint has
and aggressive, desperate to make an impression, he mine, and they’re shipping the cores back to be sent Executive Solution D, in hopes that he can use
is hypersensitive to criticism and takes himself far tested at the University of Colorado’s geology lab in his telepathic powers to nab the samples without
too seriously. He throws murderous temper tantrums Denver. anyone being the wiser. But that’s just not D’s style.
and only the fact that he’s afraid of other To everyone’s surprise, the Guatemalan He will hit the convoy on a narrow mountain road
with a cliff on one side, and he’ll try to kill as many themselves, and they’re willing to accept outside facility was shortly overrun by slobbering
people as he can get away with. aid—by which they mean they might turn a blind cannibalistic psi-zombies.
When the PCs go to Guatemala to stop him, they eye if foreign superheroes were to turn up and Unbeknownst to either party a third drug firm,
will find it to be a frightening place. Death squads quietly resolve the matter. They would prefer a team Lippinor-Zarin, has also hired a team to retrieve the
were still operating here ten years ago, and there are with no official ties to any national government. The drug. While they are a big multinational firm, they
ugly secrets everywhere. In fact the army may still PCs would be ideal. don’t have anything like the resources available to
be quietly trying to exterminate the country’s Indian To spur the players along, someone at Executive Human Dynamics, let alone a giant like ProVox
population up in the mountains, and the PCs may or Solutions thinks the PCs are getting involved and Unlimited. Lippinor-Zarin wouldn’t survive a
may not stumble onto evidence of this. that they know way more about this situation than protracted battle in the courts with either one of
Colonel Santos will not be pleased to have them they actually do, so they foolishly try to scare them them. Therefore, they have elected to conceal their
operating on his turf, but he won’t interfere with off. A PC encounters a ringing payphone outdoors involvement by killing everyone in the complex, and
them. in some public place. When they pick up the phone, collapsing it on top of their bodies. A supervillain
If they manage to capture D and bring him back an electronically distorted voice snarls “Stay the attack would be the ideal way to do this, so they
to the US, everything comes out over the next few @#$%*& away from Chang-Gura!” contacted Executive Solutions, which had the very
weeks, there is another round of financial scandals, It just so happens that Chang-Gura is the name of man for the job.
C. Graydon Kingsland’s associates get dragged out a small jungle island in the isolated Banda province Executive Solution D isn’t sure how to use his
of their offices in handcuffs (although he himself of the Northeast archipelago, a wild and primitive powers to collapse a really large building, so before
remains untouchable) and Guatemalan hit teams will region still occupied by Neolithic tribes. Chang- he goes out to the island he’s been practicing in
attempt to assassinate everyone with any connection Gura is officially uninhabited, except for a small Djakarta.
to the matter, including Seymour Durwood, C. hospital and recuperation center run by a He needn’t have bothered. Most of the complex
Graydon Kingsland and the PCs. philanthropic organization called Helping Hands is underground.
Executive Solution D gets extradited back to International. Neither Executive Solutions nor Lippinor-Zarin
Yugoslavia, to stand trial for war crimes, and the A Dutch non-profit, the charity seems to have no knows that the tunnels are crawling with psychic
sympathetic Serb authorities allow him to escape existence on paper apart from the Chang-Gura clinic. man-eating zombies, or that the Human Dynamics
within a day. As an added twist, Colonel Santos It’s only major donor is a giant multinational drug team is still alive down there, besieged but willing to
knows Jim Flint, has worked with him before and firm called ProVox Unlimited. kill anyone who tries to take the drug away from
complains to him about his involvement in the affair. Which brings us to what is really going on here. them. Hasn’t it been too long since your players
Mr. Flint apologizes, and then assigns Executive ProVox has a secret research facility on Chang-Gura enjoyed a really good dungeon crawl?
Solution D to work with the hit-squad that’s after the island, masquerading as a hospital on paper.
PCs. They’ve been performing all kinds of ethically 3) Masks of Desperation
dubious tests out there, and one of them has been a The tiny central African nation of Zangara is in
2) Blood Orgy on Zombie Island real breakthrough. Professor Dreyfus Graven (now grave trouble. They broke away from Equitorial
There are ominous rumblings from the deceased) has perfected a psionic enhancement drug Guinea last year, after decades of suffering from the
tumbledown megalopolis of Djakarta, capital of that may be able to give ordinary people temporary central government’s mismanagement and ethnic
Indonesia. Someone has been collapsing abandoned superhuman powers. Unfortunately, it also has a discrimination. The UN is on the verge of
buildings in the city’s dying industrial zone, way of turning them into mindless ravening zombies recognizing them, if they can just make it through
somehow imploding them without the use of with a taste for human flesh. this year. Otherwise Equitorial Guinea is sure to
explosives. What can this mean? One of ProVox Unlimited’s rivals, a smaller, less invade, possibly with the help of the notorious army
There is a big and potentially violent election ethical company called Human Dynamics, sent a from the People’s Republic of the Congo and they
coming up and the Indonesian authorities are getting mercenary squad out to Chang-Gura to seize the are going to be merciless.
spooked. They’re not sure they can handle this drug, but things did not go as expected and the Zangara is landlocked, desperately poor and
largely covered by rain forest. They want to upper reaches of the Congo river basin, D has tipped
preserve their forest from logging and start up a off an infamous rebel warlord (“Colonel” Gonagara)
tourism industry, but to do this they first have to get just over the border, who will hunt the PCs once they
some capital and right now they’re struggling just to enter his domain. He thinks they’re carrying a load
prevent a famine. This year’s crop has failed, their of diamonds, and will be displeased to find nothing
armed forces are getting restless, and if they can’t but useless wooden masks.
buy enough food to get through the next planting Colonel Gongara is something of a bloodthirsty
season things are going to get really bad really quick. fiend, although he is also a jovial fellow who laughs
But where to find the money? They actually have a great deal. He’s a giant of a man, physically the
some diamond mines, but they’re fearful about equal of many superheroes who derive their powers
developing them. The big South African diamond from “training” and he relishes fighting opponents
consortiums are unbelievably powerful and man to man. Use the stats for the “Martial Artist”
incredibly ruthless toward competitors. They crush archetype from the M&M Core book if the PCs
little nations who get in their way. come to grips with Colonel Gongara. He’s PL 10.
Fortunately, Zangara’s hand-carved wooden
masks are internationally famous and although they
aren’t as lucrative as diamonds, a big load of them
should still fetch a high enough price at auction to let
the country squeak through the next harvest. The
masks take decades to create, and they are sacred to
the people of Zangara, but what choice do they
have?
Unfortunately, the big South African diamond
firms believe in taking no chances. Even though
Zangara hasn’t yet opened its diamond mines and
started competing with them, they’re going to crush
the little country anyway, just to be sure. They hire
Executive Solutions, which sends Executive Solution
D.
He burns the warehouse where most of the masks
are stored, but the Zangarans are able to scrape
together one last load of them from other places.
The warehouse fire looks very suspicious, and has
all the hallmarks of a supervillain attack, so Zangara
complains to the UN, which asks the PCs for
assistance. Their task is to safely get the load of
ceremonial wooden masks to auction in New York
City, with Executive Solution D dogging their heels
at every stage.
In case the PCs misdirect D and take an alternate
route out of the country, through the dangerous
 Weaknesses: Quirk: Insanely Gung-Ho (Can't nice guy, just a hard man who wouldn't let America
Executive Solution M, willingly work with anyone who seems to be less take crap from anybody. He was gung ho, not gee
than 100% patriotic or who looks "weird" or whiz. Hardly the boy next door, the public wasn't
aka "Major Maximum" somehow subversive. He will attack "unpatriotic" or going to just assume he was innocent. There were
foreign targets first, even if doing so puts him at a barely even any pictures of him smiling.
tactical disadvantage) Under the circumstances, even though he seemed
likely to beat the rap (and he did) it would be better
for him to retire. They farmed him out to private
“Stand down or die squealing. You enterprise, where he shortly found that the work was
pick.” easier and the pay was better.
After freelancing for a few years he found a place
Buck Stone was an American hero. Beloved by at Executive Solutions that suited him perfectly and
millions, the crowning glory of the US Parasoldier he met the love of his life--the eight-hundred pound
program, he battled Marxist insurgents in El stone giant called the Gray Golem. Life has been
Salvador and Granada, the Bhopal disaster in India good for the past decade or so. Buck doesn't even
and villains like Dr. Frightful on the streets of New have to worry about the gay thing anymore. His
York City. The Army's superhuman program had a partner isn't technically human which means the fact
lot of expensive failures over the years, but Major that the guy is officially male doesn't count. So long
Real Name: Major Buck Stone Stone (aka Major Maximum) was a shining success. as he sticks with the Golem, Buck isn't gay. The
PL: 13 Then he killed a prostitute. To this day he's Gray Golem himself is pretty skeptical of this line of
unable to account for why. It wasn't like she had reasoning, but Buck doesn't care.
Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 16 (+3) Con: 18 (+4) called him gay. He had beaten up hookers before if Despite how well things worked out, the former
Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 12 (+1) they questioned his manhood (he had some Major Maximum still misses the glory of his public
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): +9 intermittent difficulty performing with professionals, career. The Army has done a good job of erasing his
which he attributed to stage fright ) but he had never memory from the public consciousness. No one ever
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +7 Defense: actually killed one. Not even if they called him gay. makes reference to him in any official materials
+19/+16 Speed: 30 So what was it about this particular girl that made about superheroes, his name is never spoken on the
Damage Save: +4 Fortitude Save: +4 him go berserk? When it turned out that he was too news and after 15 years he's as forgotten as Spandau
tired to party, she was actually pretty nice about it Ballet or the Thompson Twins. That really hurts
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +6 and she certainly didn't insult him. Yet it felt Buck and he still bears a grudge. He often jokes that
Skills: Intimidate +8, Jump +5, Knowledge incredibly satisfying to rip her in half. he wishes the girl he killed was still alive so that he
(Military Proceedure) +7, Spot +5, Survival +5, He truly hated being called gay. Not because he could kill her all over again for what she did to him.
Taunt +5 feared that name but because it wasn't fair. He Neither Buck's powers nor his personality are
enjoyed his infrequent explorations with men better subtle, but he's very tough and an extremely
Feats: All-Out Attack, Choke-Hold, Dodge, than anything he had ever done with a woman, but competent soldier, so Executive Solutions sends him
Durability, Improved Grapple, Iron Will, Power that was because it was secret and forbidden, not on missions where overwhelming force is needed.
Attack, Rapid Strike, Surprise Strike, Takedown because he was gay. Of this, he was sure. They generally send the Gray Golem with him, since
Attack When the investigation began to point toward otherwise the two of them worry about each other.
Powers: Energy Blast +13 (Flaw: Reduced Major Maximum, the Pentagon knew it had a serious They do bodyguard work as well, since they're both
Range, Cost: 1pt), Super-Strength +10 (Extras: problem. His image was clean, but it wasn't exactly great at looming and looking scary. It doesn't appeal
Protection, Thunderclap; Total Cost: 6 pts) wholesome. Major Maximum never claimed to be a to them nearly as much as throwing some third
world army's tanks around. crown.
They have king Ottar shot, and by the time his
Adventures With Executive Solution M: eleven year old daughter leaves her school in
England to come assume the throne, half the army is
A Kingdom by the Sea in open rebellion and tanks are rumbling toward the
A tiny kingdom in the Caucasus is about to slide capitol. Her honor guard will no doubt fight bravely
into chaos and war. Once a Soviet Republic, when on her behalf, but she’s only a child, her generals
the Eastern Bloc collapsed in the 1990s they brought have no confidence in her and the rest of her army is
back the descendant of their traditional royal family, melting away.
King Ottar IX. He had been living quietly in Paris, A sad, wistful, unsmiling little girl, when she sits
getting his PhD in Political Science, and had no idea on her throne her feet don’t reach the floor. Little
that he might one day actually have to ascend to the does the enemy suspect that while she is only eleven,
Tourmaline Throne. Queen Yzalda has a measured IQ of 185 and is more
Things haven’t been easy since his return. He’s a than capable of running the nation herself. In fact
thoughtful, humane, and capable leader who has no she was in the middle of her sophomore year at
intention of running his country like a dictatorship. Oxford when she was pulled away from her studies.
However, he is scared to death of his huge, bullying Even though she feels overwhelmed with grief at
right-wing uncle Zogor, who has an important her father’s demise, she begins pulling the remaining
position in the country’s army and treats the peasants defenders together with remarkable efficiency. But
like cattle. Every time he tries to give the press more just to make sure that things go to plan, the oil
freedom or to rectify some inequity in his country’s company has engaged the services of Executive
social system, Uncle Zogor is there to bully him out Solutions, and Executive Solutions M and Z march
of it. at the head of the advancing tanks. Her forces will
Now a giant multinational oil company wants to fight fiercely, but they can’t stand against Major
build a pipeline across his country, and even though Maximum and the Gray Golem.
the king knows that it could wreak environmental There is a media blackout in effect and the oil
havoc on his country if it isn’t built carefully company has been circulating the rumor that the
enough, they are so desperately poor that he has child-queen is being held prisoner in her own castle
reluctantly agreed. by crazy Marxist elements of the former government
Then he discovers that the oil company is going and that they support the rebels’ efforts to rescue her.
to bring in outside labor and intends to give his She surely won’t survive the rescue attempt—at least
government only a pittance for the use of its land. If with her brain intact. Who can save this little
there are jobs for the locals, they will be in supplying kingdom by the sea?
alcohol and vice to the pipeline workers. King Ottar
finds this intolerable, but doesn’t quite know what to
do about it.
The executives who are building the pipeline
sense that he feels tentative and conflicted about the
project. So they go to his uncle and offer to back
him in a coup. Zogor is glad to be rid of his
weakling nephew and happily agrees to take the
 Equipment: Weapon (Big Hammer) +10 (Cost: Dr. Solomon immediately identified the creature
Executive Solution Z 1pt) as a thing out of Yiddish legend, the Golem.
Presumably some forgotten cabalist had built this
aka "The Gray Golem" Weaknesses: Disturbing (looks like a huge artificial man to protect Prague’s Jewish community
stone statue with a nasty sneer on its face. Can't pass from the nazis. Considering what had become of
in normal society, suffers a –5 to all Bluff and the Jews of Prague, the Golem hadn’t been finished
Diplomacy checks.) in time to do much good. Someone had inactivated
the creature by blotting out one of the magic letters
“I know it’s none of my business, but written on the top of its head, but this was easy
are you trying to lose this fight? You enough to fix.
Curious about the golem’s origins, Dr. Solomon
one of those guys who likes to get beat drew the missing letter back into place and brought
on?” the creature to life. It acted surprisingly human, in
that it was a sneering, sarcastic and thoroughly
Real Name: Unknown (may not even At the end of World War 2, the hunt was on for disagreeable being, who refused to answer any of
Germany’s secret weapons, scientists and supermen. Doctor Solomon’s questions out of sheer obstinacy.
have one) The Americans and the Soviets grabbed everything It did however accept his offer to come work for the
PL: 13 they could, sometimes with little regard for the Mossad.
ethical implications. The Israelis wanted to put the Golem through
Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 20 (+5) An advance team of US army rangers found the Basic Training and a set of courses in military
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 9 (-1) strange creature they called the Grey Golem inside a intelligence, but it refused to cooperate, so they just
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): warehouse in Prague. A giant made of stone with an dumped it directly into a secret parahuman unit
enormous stone hammer by his side, he appeared to called “the Forgotten Men” and started giving him
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8
have been recently killed (or rendered inert at any covert assignments.
Defense: +16/+14 Speed: 30 rate—he bore no visible wounds). Six dead SS Over the next fifteen years the Grey Golem
Damage Save: +4 (+17 with Super- officers lay around the giant in bloodied occult fought the Egyptian Secret Service, the PLO and
robes, smashed and broken like roaches on the floor. various armed factions in Lebanon, clashing with
Constitution) Fortitude Save: +4 (+17 with Clearly some terrible battle had taken place here, and other superhumans many times. He never got along
Super-Constitution) Reflexes Save: +1 both sides had lost. with the rest of his unit, partly because his super-
Willpower Save: +4 The rangers retrieved the fallen stone titan and abilities were badly matched with theirs (most of the
sent him back to the US for study. No one could Forgotten Men had stealthy, subtle powers) but also
Skills: Intimidate+12, Knowledge (Mercenary figure out how he had been killed or for that matter because of his personality.
Underworld) +5, Search +6, Sense Motive +10, how he ever could have been alive in the first place. He remained as cynical, sarcastic and truculent as
Taunt +11 After many rounds of failed tests, the creature was when Dr. Solomon first revived him. Impossible to
Feats: Durability, Expertise, Immunity (Aging, left in storage at an Air Force base in the Nevada get along with, he would constantly snipe and jeer at
Critical Hits, Disease, Poison, Starvation, desert. the other members of the team, undercutting their
Suffocation), Indomitable Will, Power Attack, Rapid In the mid 1970s the Mossad requested confidence and provoking mischief for no reason. He
Healing permission from the Americans to study the stone used excessive force, he defied orders for the heck of
Powers: Super-Strength +13 (Extras: Protection, giant. The Air Force agreed, and Mossad sent their it.
Super-Constitution; Power Stunt: Lethal Damage; kabalistic sorcerer "Doctor Solomon" to the hanger In the late 1980s the Forgotten Men got wiped out
Cost 5 pts) in Nevada. on a mission to Iraq. Only the Grey Golem survived,
and that was because he had missed his flight. It has a chance, he’ll spend a moment sizing his society that normally has to worry about things like
made him think. Why was he busting his hump for a opponent up, figuring out how their powers work prosecution, but a young and idealistic assistant DA
little money and the joy of fighting? He could fight and whether he can find a weak spot while his has actually gotten a warrant for his arrest. The press
guys and get rich. teammates soak up some damage. He’ll usually has descended on the Collier-Dunbarton compound
After a few bungled attempts at supercrimes in attack the target who looks most vulnerable to upstate and the police have arrived to serve the
Europe, he got wise and hired himself out to physical attack, and will only come to grips with warrant. They have a search warrant as well, but the
Executive Solutions. There he met the love of his other super-strong bruisers if he has to (or if that’s Collier-Dunbartons are refusing to acknowledge its
life, the disgraced American superhero who used to clearly what would make the most sense). authenticity, and their security people won’t let the
be known as Major Maximum. Their relationship is He constantly talks trash and jeers at his police inside.
pretty tempestuous, but despite his rotten disposition opponents. Not only does this make them mad (a Only a few hours remain before the Collier-
the Golem really tries to keep it together. He tells goal in and of itself, as far as he’s concerned) it also Dunbarton attorneys get a superior court to nullify
himself that he’s only doing this because its so makes them think he’s a prancing buffoon and the warrants and put young Cabot on a private plane
difficult to find anyone he can get physically underestimate him. to Switzerland, where he can spend the rest of his
intimate with (at least without killing them) but he’s He will kill if it’s a part of the mission or if it life skiing and boasting about how easy it is to get
lying to himself. The truth is that he’s finally found seems like the most expedient way to solve a away with murder. In desperation the Assistant DA
the one thing in his life that he doesn’t want to crush. problem, but he won’t do it casually or in an turns to the PCs. Can they help her serve the
Love has mellowed the Grey Golem quite a bit, impulsive rage. His anger burns cold, instead of hot. warrant?
but he’s still impossible. Contrary, sarcastic, While he loves combat, he never gets completely There is, alas, one small complication. The
stubborn and petty, he constantly sneers and makes swept away by the joy of battle. He knows when to Collier-Dunbartons have also retained the services of
cutting remarks. He’s selfish and defiant, and will withdraw and he has no intention of dying for Executive Solutions, who have sent over Executive
oppose other people even when it’s to his advantage anyone or anything. He tells himself that this Solutions M and Z—Major Maximum and the Gray
to go along with them. includes Major Maximum, but deep down he knows Golem. They won’t give Skullbone up without a
Even though he doesn’t need to eat and can that isn’t true. fight, even though they find his strutting faux hip-
barely feel anything through his stone skin, he loves hop mannerisms thoroughly annoying.
his little creature comforts and will cause all kinds of
havoc if someone else gets in the way of them. He
Adventures With Executive Solution Z:
wants the best seat on the airplane, he wants the
biggest sandwich on the plate, he wants the best Prince of Skulls
chair in the briefing room and he'll cause trouble if Cabot Collier-Dunbarton III, alias Skullbone, is
he doesn't get it. He’s the kind of guy who will the wayward, homicidal son of one of America’s
smash the pie and throw it out the window if he sees wealthiest families. He wants to be a gansta and has
that you have a bigger slice. been trying to ingratiate himself with an inner city
Smarter than most people think, he’s good at gang. They treat him with amused contempt, but
manipulating others and loves to provoke fights. He they are intrigued by the amount of money he has to
claims to have never believed in anything, but if you throw around.
see the way he looks at Major Maximum you’ll In order to impress them, he has murdered the
know that’s a lie. girlfriend of a rival gang member. The cops have
Not a subtle opponent, the Grey Golem’s powers taken an interest, his new friends have sold him out
aren’t suited for stealth. But years of fighting other and the press has gotten wind of the whole sordid
superbeings have made a tactician out of him. He affair.
wants to win, and he’ll calmly do what it takes. If he Skullbone isn’t from a segment of American
 Willpower Save: +5 down or speeding up seemingly at random], and a
Executive Solution X Skills: Climb +5, Hide +10, Intimidate +8, Move
Workshop where X tinkers with, cleans and repairs
his weapons), Immunity (Aging), Improved Critical,
Silently +10, Profession (Soldier) +5, Spot +10, Improved Disarm, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack,
Survival +10, Swim +5 Rapid Takedown, Scent, Startle, Takedown Attack,
Feats: Darkvision, Far Shot, Headquarters Tracking
(Equipped with a Dock [adjacent to the lagoon, Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +2, Running
hidden from the air], Concealed [the villa is hidden +1 (Cost: 2pts), Super-Strength +8 (Extras: Leaping,
beneath the trees on a seemingly deserted island that Super-Dexterity, Super-Senses; Cost 7 pts)
is not marked on any of the standard nautical charts],
an infestation of biting flies that carry the
Equipment: Sword (+4 Lethal Damage; Power
Stunt: Penetrating Attack +6; Cost 1pt), Rifle, (+4
debilitating disease known as the Bleeding Fever [4
Lethal Damage), Weird Green Gem (Telepathy +4;
levels of Drain; Extras: Delayed Effect and 2 levels
Extras: ESP, Mental Protection; Flaws: Device, Only
of Slow Recovery; Flaw: Only Drains Constitution]
Allows Communication; Cost: 2pts)
which X happens to be immune to, an ancient
howitzer hidden behind the house just in case X Weaknesses: Berzerker
suddenly has a need to shoot down any incoming Vulnerable: Dazzle attacks.
aircraft [+8 Lethal Damage Energy Blast], a Gym, a
seldom-used aircraft Hanger and concealed airstrip “The look on a dead child’s face is its
some distance away from the villa, a small but well-
stocked Infirmary in one room of the villa, a set of
own reward and its own justification.
reinforced Holding Cells [concrete It makes you feel like you’re in love.
‘This child is dead’ you say ‘but me, I
lined pits full of sludge] for unruly guests, an
Isolated Location [on a jungle island somewhere in
live’ and your twisted heart rejoices.
Real Name: He always signed his Indonesia], a jumbled and disorganized Library full You can admit these things to me. I
recruitment papers with an "X." If he of wierd tomes and trashy adventure novels that X know how it is.”
has accumulated over the years, Living Quarters for
had a name before that, he neither roughly 17 people, a Pool [or at least ready access to He doesn’t know how old he is. The past two
knows nor cares. a sheltered lagoon, suitable for an improvised centuries are fairly clear in his mind, the century
PL: 18 submarine pen], a seperate Power System, a Security before that he can only recall dimly, and before
System [consisting of a number of tame monkeys about 1650 it’s all a blur, lit by occasional flashes of
Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 18 (+4) and parrots who wander the grounds and shriek at violence. He’s always appeared to be about thirty
Int: 16 (+3) Wis: 20 (+5) Cha: 16 (+3) the first sign of a stranger's presence on the island], five, or maybe just a little older. He has always been
its own Staff [if you can really call them that--about a soldier—of that he is somehow sure. They call him
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): thirty tame PL1 pit-vipers, 3 PL2 cobras, a PL 3 "X" because that was always the way he signed his
+21 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +21 Leopard and a big mean PL 4 shark rove at will enlistment papers.
Defense: +35/+24 Speed: 35 around the island. All of them somehow know not War is his heart, his soul, the center of his being.
to attack X], two levels of Time Control [time flows He has sampled every bloody conflict Europe has
Damage Save: +6 Fortitude Save: +4 weirdly on the island--either two days or half a day had to offer, and it all was sweet to him. Whatever
Reflexes Save: +5 (+12 with super-Dexterity) passes for each day in the outside world, slowing mercy or sympathy he might have once possessed
are long, long gone. He revels in carnage and grue He only just barely survived both world wars, their old CIA contacts, and while they were shocked
and he loves to talk about it. Treacherous and which left him baffled and afraid. He fought on both to learn that he was more than just a legend, they
savage, cruel and cunning, his eyes glint with sides in World War Two, first for the Latvians were eager to have him on board. For his part, he
sadistic mirth. He looks confident and relaxed in against the Russian invaders, then with the right- feels renewed and rejuvenated in his new job. Death
situations that most of us would run screaming from wing Polish nationalists against both the Soviets and and blood taste good to him again.
and he never loses his brutal sense of humor. the Nazis, then with the Germans against everybody When using Executive Solution X, it is important
It’s not strictly true that he’d kill noncombatants else. to remember that although he feels out of place in
without a second thought—in fact he relishes it, will The twentieth century was not a good time for the modern world, he knows how to function in it.
go out of his way to harm innocents (if it doesn’t mercenaries, on the whole—it was an age of huge He can operate a cell phone, he knows how to use a
jeopardize the mission) and boast about it conscript armies, where everyone wanted to check fax machine and although he doesn’t have a license,
afterwards. He likes to claim to follow the 19th your identity papers when you tried to sign up. The he can drive a car.
century officer’s code, and to conduct himself as a French Foreign Legion seemed like the last place in He can be used as an independent master villain,
gentleman, but he can always find some sneering Europe where soldiers without a past might be particularly if the Player Characters are unlucky
excuse to violate it. (“Honor, for a dirty peasant welcome, so after the war he signed up, along with a enough to find themselves on his island, but he
who hasn’t yet killed his first man? Surely you’re great many former Wehrmacht and SS men, and was works better as a hired gun. He won’t try to take
joking! Honor is for real men.”) promptly shipped off to the killing fields of French over the world, but he might well attempt to provoke
He’s as hard a man as you’re ever likely to Indochina. a major war if he saw an opportunity to do so.
encounter. But he is not without his secret fears. He fought in le Legion’s parhuman unit,
Everything dies, he has found. People, nations, alongside such former Nazi ubermenchen as Adventures With Executive Solution X:
alliances, ideologies, ways of seeing the world. Blitzenhammer (later of Vernichtung 5). As the
As the last three centuries rolled past he found French slowly lost Vietnam the Legion was badly
that even the things which are supposed to be eternal The Most Violent Man in the World Contest
devastated, and the parahumans were hit particularly
cosmic absolutes die. The Divine Right of kings, the X has become bored, and has done a silly thing.
hard. Yet even though they were losing, he loved
earth’s fixed position at the center of the cosmos, the He has used his contacts to obtain some normally
this war more than he had any conflict for a long
innate superiority of the Noble Class, the position of inaccessible documents—proof of American
time.
Woman as Man’s loyal servant and helpmate—these citizenship and a signed pardon from the President of
When the French pulled out, he stayed on and
things can’t die, they’re laws of the universe, older Indonesia. He then offers them as a prize in a no-
kept fighting for the South Vietnamese. When the
than the world. And yet these things die, too. holds barred fighting competition, which will take
Americans took the whole show over he was referred
For a long time he gloated over the idea that only place on his private island. Killers, pirates,
to the CIA as a man who could get things done. He
gunfighters and other assorted scum from across the
war was eternal, that the sound of the cannon’s roar undertook some covert missions for them in Laos
Indian Ocean flock to the contest, eager for a chance
and the thunder of the cavalry’s hooves was the only and Cambodia, but to tell the truth they were always
lasting truth. Then World War One came along and at a new life in America.
afraid of him, and used him less and less as time
even the nature of armed conflict changed Perhaps the Player Characters get wind of the
went on.
completely. Time devours and obliterates all things, contest and decide to join. Perhaps someone sends
He withdrew for some years to a small island he
it seems. Except for him. them to infiltrate it. Perhaps X kidnaps them and
had purchased off the coast of Borneo, and
And he is well-equipped to survive. Stronger, forces them to participate.
occasionally hunted men for sport on his jungle
swifter, fiercer and more durable than any human Conditions on the island are primitive and
estate. While he tried to interest himself in a few
being, he can quickly recover from almost any injury sanitation is poor. The only house is X’s villa,
sordid little conflicts in places like Africa and
which he lets no one approach (the skulls and
and he has the senses of a wild beast. None of these Yugoslavia, he feared that he was finally beginning
corpses on sticks outside his door serve as a
things would save him on a modern battlefield, of to succumb to ennui.
reminder to stay away). There’s not enough fresh
course. Executive Solutions heard about him through
water and not enough food. But most of the
contestants are desperate men in any case, used to
hardship of every kind.
The rules of the contest are fairly lax.
Contestants pick who they will fight by mutual
agreement. Fights may or may not be to the death—
that’s up to the combatants, as is the choice of
weapons. If they want to blast away at eachother
with firearms, X has no objection. If an unarmed
man wants to fight a fencing expert armed with a
chainsaw, that’s his own concern. They can fight on
the beach, among the rocks, in the jungle or even in
the water (despite the problem with man-eating
sharks)—anywhere that X can get a good view of the
fight.
There will be quite a few PL 5-7 fighters in
attendance, as well as a few actual supervillains and
one or two PL 10 assassins. At least one of the
combatants is secretly here to settle an old grudge
with X. At least one is an infiltrator from some
international law-enforcement organization. Some
will try to cheat, some will try to eliminate their
rivals before the contest begins. On an island full of
seasoned killers without enough food or water, fights
unrelated to the contest are sure to break out, some
of them lethal. And midway through the contest, X
enters the competition himself.
 Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +6 super-criminals came to the city’s defense.
Executive Solution R Attack Bonus (Ranged): +6 Defense:
Zoran Draskovik was neither—just a coffeehouse
folk singer who didn’t want to see his city burn. He
aka Dan Dauntless, +15/+14 Speed: 30/50 (in flight) fell in with an informal militia under a guy they
Damage Save: +3/13 (with Armor) called “Yuko”, a crazy, angry, funny street criminal
Rocket Ranger Fortitude Save: +1 Reflexes Save: +8
who didn’t seem to care whether he lived or died.
Draskovik was a Serb himself, but he had nothing
Willpower Save: +8 against the Bosnian Muslims and he felt that his first
Skills: Intimidate +12, Knowledge (Bosnia) +6, loyalty was to Sarajevo. And he was enough of an
asset to Yuko’s group that they didn’t even grumble
Performance +5, Repair +6, Search +10, Spot +11,
much about his Serbian ancestry, at least to his face.
Survival +5
Zoran had done his stint in the Yugoslav army,
Feats: Aerial Combat, All-Out Attack, Attack back when there was such a place as Yugoslavia, and
Focus (Energy Blast), Dodge, Evasion, Far Shot, had qualified as a divisional marksmanship
Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Move-By Attack, champion. He had even been trained as a helicopter
Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack, Talented pilot, which might come in handy if the gang ever
(Performance and Intimidate), Toughness managed to lay its hands on a helicopter.
Powers: Amazing Save (Willpower) +10 (Cost: Instead they found something much better.
1pt) Breaking into an old military warehouse, looking for
Equipment: Armor +12 (Extras: Energy Blast, ammunition, Yuko’s gang discovered a prototype
flying suit, with a jet pack attached. Apparently the
Explosive Effect, Flight; Power Stunts: Blind-Fight,
old Yugoslavian regime had abandoned the project
Blindsight, Darkvision, Radio Broadcast, Radio
because of its expense and put their only completed
Hearing, Super-Flight; Flaws: Device; Cost 4pts),
suit in storage.
Oxygen Supply, (Grants Immunity to Suffocation
It was relatively easy to use, and only killed the
and Pressure; Flaw: Device; Cost 2pts)
first two men who put it on. A former Air Force
Lieutenant named Danil Zvornik was the third, and
“Ah, don’t take it so hard. I’ll get mine he was a good enough pilot to use the suit
eventually. Everybody dies all twisted effectively.
up and scared and alone. I will, too. As the best marksman in the unit, Zoran
Draskovik was made Danil’s spotter, and the two of
You just get to do it first.” them wreaked bloody havoc on the advancing Serb
militias. Danil Zvornik was utterly fearless, willing
He used to be Dan Dauntless, Rocket Ranger. to take insane risks. People started calling him “Dan
Now he’s no one and nothing—just another faceless Dauntless” after an old comic book character. It’s
black ops killer who can barely remember his own arguable how much he actually accomplished, since
Real Name: Zoran Draskovik name. This should make him bitter, he thinks, but in the rocket-pack’s range was never great enough for
fact it gets harder and harder to feel anything at all. him to flush the Serbs out of their positions around
PL: 12 When Bosnia slid into bloody chaos, and the the city, but people loved him anyway. He gave
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 12 (+1) Serbs were closing in on Sarajevo with murder in them hope, at a time when the desperately needed it.
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 14 (+2) Cha: 14 (+2) their eyes, a ragtag assemblage of gangsters and He wasn’t much of a hero on the ground, being
prone to drink and harassing women and explosive knowledge of how it worked. own side, so he took the CIA up on their standing
fits of violence. But in the air he was exactly the Yuko was about to try it on himself (despite this offer (they had no idea that he wasn't the original
man they needed. being almost certain death) when Zoran returned. Dan Dauntless), and they turned him over to
As the war ground onward, Bosnia grew better Some guys in the unit grumbled about him being a Executive Solutions. For years he has fought in
organized and the wild and disorderly Sarajevo traitor and a Serb, but Yuko let him fly anyway. whatever ugly little conflict they assign him to,
militias became a liability. They looted, they Zoran lost three fingers on his first mission. But spending his off hours practicing his marksmanship
appropriated good apartments and gave them to their that was all right. His grandmother was dead, his or fine-tuning his equipment. It amuses him that his
friends, they abducted civilians and made them dig guitar was broken and his city was in flames. It was old enemy, the Serbian supervillain named Vlade
trenches. And there were darker hints as well. time to die. Andric, is in the same unit. Dr. Andric seems
While Yuko didn’t particulalry hate Serbs, it was But instead something else happened. The Serb determined to make friends with him, but Zoran is
said that some of the other militia leaders were marauders were pushed back, more UN past being friends with anyone now.
quietly exterminating Sarajevo’s Serbian population, peacekeepers arrived and the course of the war Last year he heard that someone shot Yuko to
bit by bit. finally began to turn toward the Bosnians. No one death at a rest stop in Belgium. Something about
When the President attempted to integrate the outside Yuko’s group seemed to know that he wasn’t this news made him want to go home again, so he
irregular units into the new Bosnian Army’s the original Dan Dauntless, but that was okay, too. took some time off and went back to Sarajevo. The
command structure, they refused to obey orders or to He was a better symbol this way. city was at peace, the cafes were full of vacationing
let the government investigate their actions. Zoran The CIA got in touch shortly thereafter. It seems American students and all of his old friends were
Draskovik thought this might be a good time to they had regularly been asking Danil Zvornik to dead. No one spoke of the past, no sign of the war
leave. come and work for them as an independent remained. Sarajevo kept its secrets to itself, these
A friend of his had recently lost a thumb in a contractor. Zoran told them to get stuffed. He was days.
firefight and it made Zoran think hard about his own too busy trying to die. But then the Bosnian He doesn’t think he’ll ever go back. His war
future, and about what that kind of wound would government finally cracked down on the independent didn’t end here on these blood-spattered streets, but
mean to someone who played the guitar for a living. militias. it will end somewhere like it, someday. Soon.
If he were to get crippled that way, he could never Yuko’s unit was declared rogue, and left town. In person, Dan Dauntless is cold, formidable and
go back to being a musician, war would be all he’d He set himself up as a warlord in the mountains exhausted. Absolutely unfazable, he knows no fear
ever be good for, and he was already sick to death of north of the airport, extorting money and supplies and nothing surprises him. His years surrounded by
war. He didn’t want to be like Yuko. from anyone who passed through his domain. Zoran hostile comrades in the field forced him to learn how
Not that Zoran had any idea what he’d do if he had no desire to follow Yuko up into the to be a bully, but he takes no pleasure in it. He is
gave this life up. He lived in his grandmother’s mountains—that looked like a dead end. He did visit forever trying to intimidate people and he will never
apartment, he had no money and as a Serb things Yuko briefly to try to reason with the man, but was back down or let up on someone who has insulted
wouldn’t be safe for him once he left the unit. cruelly rebuffed. him or shown weakness in front of him. Even in
Nonetheless he had to try. None of the other militia leaders seemed likely to combat he constantly seeks the psychological edge
He resigned his post and tried to get out of town. want to talk to anybody named Zoran (that’s a Serb over his opponent, taunting and belittling them. Yet
Yuko appointed Dan Dauntless a new ground name), except maybe for the superhuman gangster he does it coldly, calmly, without passion. For it’s
observer, who wasn’t as good and who promptly got they called the Masked Marauder. Alas, just as all just a matter of habit to him.
him killed. And then the Serbs launched a Zoran prepared to approach him, the crackdown He hates killing and has bad dreams about
murderous new winter offensive, raining rockets and began in earnest. The Masked Marauder was the everyone he’s ever put in the ground, but he’ll do it
sniper fire down on the hapless citizens of Sarajevo, government’s first target, killed by the Bosnian anyway, if the mission requires it. If he corners a
staining the snow-choked streets with blood. There Army in a running battle that lasted for three days defeated Player Character and no on else is
was no way out now. Someone had to put on the and took about thirty lives. watching, he’ll let them go, rather than execute
suit and Draskovik was the only one with any Zoran had no desire to die fighting against his them, whispering urgently that they had better not
tell anyone he let them escape. that’s capable of speeds in excess of two hundred does not want to hurt any civilians.
In combat, Dan Dauntless shows an unusual, miles per hour on the straightaway. But of course He also doesn’t care what happens to the money
unhealthy lack of fear. He has no objection to Dan Dauntless is faster, and he’s coming. in the box, so long as it doesn’t reach Hamas. His
fighting against vastly superior odds, nor will he A quiet, guarded kind of guy, Heck neither knows mission was to keep the box from reaching its
attempt to withdraw if he is wounded. He’ll leave nor cares what’s in the box. He’s just the driver. destination and it doesn’t matter to him if the PCs
the field when he is ordered to, but not before. Yet However, he is almost as determined as Dan burn the money, blow it up or even keep it for
he won’t just hurl himself at the opposition like a Dauntless, and will use every trick he knows to get themselves. Of course Hamas might feel differently
kamikaze, either. A shrewd and canny fighter, he’ll the box to its destination. about that.
stay airborne and pick targets off from a distance if In California’s Imperial valley, at the mean and
he can, but he doesn’t mind getting close up and skanky end of the Salton Sea, there is a dismal, dusty 2) Dan Dauntless and the Eight-Year-Old Enemy
physical. little town called Nyland, where Heck Corliss will of America
hand the box off to a second driver—a French Mr. Flint sends Dan Dauntless into the
woman of Vietnamese extraction named Henrietta mountainous northernmost reaches of Pakistan, up
Adventures With Executive Solution R: Ong. by the edge of the Himalayas. The international
Miss Ong drives a souped-up Mercedes sports car boundaries are loose and poorly charted up there,
1) Dan Dauntless and the Billion Dollar Box and is looking forward to testing it on America’s with autonomous tribal groups on both sides of the
Mr. Flint sends Dan Dauntless to intercept a light legendary wide-open highways against an opponent official borders.
aircraft that will be carrying a box of laundered like Dan Dauntless. Her car isn’t quite as fast as Dan Dauntless is supposed to hit the mountain
Euros from Juarez to a hidden airstrip somewhere Heck Corliss’ Barracuda, but it's a lot more encampment of a clan that is giving shelter and aid
south of Yuma. He’s more than fast and maneuverable. to the Taliban—and possibly Al Quaida as well.
maneuverable enough to catch it in the air, but it If Dan Dauntless or the Player Characters don’t Technically the target is inside the borders of the
leaves ahead of schedule, and he isn’t in position in
stop her, Henrietta Ong will park her car on the People’s Republic of China, which makes the
time. He winds up having to pursue the plane deep street in downtown San Diego, pull the box out of mission extremely sensitive.
into American airspace, which is both illegal and the trunk and carry it to an outdoor public plaza, Unfortunately, the intelligence is faulty and he
against the rules that Executive Solutions operates within sight of the harbor. winds up annihilating a whole mountain clan that
under. There, under the palm trees, she will hand the box had nothing to do with the Taliban , let alone Al
The PCs presumably get drawn into the matter to a dignified, white-bearded diplomatic courtier Quaida. A Chinese doctor was with them,
when they hear that a small, fast-moving object has from Oman. The courier, Wahid Azimi, handcuffs participating in a study on high altitude medicine.
breached American airspace over the Arizona desert, the box to his wrist and rides off in the back an So was a documentary film crew. Everyone is dead,
near the old Barry Goldwater Air Force Gunnery
armored Rolls-Royce limousine. He is headed for the and this is going to cause a lot of important people a
Range. This looks pretty ominous and most PCs will
airport, where he will wave his diplomatic passport, lot of embarrassment when and if it gets out.
want to have a look. get on an international flight and vanish into the Fortunately, the only two surviving witnesses are
Dan Dauntless won’t explain anything about his Middle East. The money will then find its way into Dan Dauntless himself and an eight year old girl.
mission and he is totally dogged in his pursuit of the the coffers of the Palestinian radical group Hamas. The home office instructs Dan Dauntless to hunt the
target. Unless they ground him with a serious injury, If the PCs haven’t put Dan Dauntless out of girl down, hide her body with the others and return
the best the PCs will be able to do is to drive him action by the time the Azimi walks through airport to his drop-off point. Instead he takes her under his
away for a little while. security, he will actually attempt to break his way protection and flees deeper into the mountains,
If they manage to keep him from hitting the plane into the airliner in mid-flight and nab the box. He’ll unsure where to go or what to do once his fuel runs
before it touches down at the airstrip, the box with
be careful not to let it reach the altitude where it out.
the money inside will be transferred to a professional
would cause explosive decompression to break into As an added complication, one of the generals
getaway driver named Heck Corliss, who drives a
the cabin. Determined though he is, he genuinely overseeing the mission hates Executive Solutions.
battered-looking, heavily customized Barracuda
He has ties to another, similar firm called
International Consultations and is enraged that the
Intelligence officers on this mission managed to get
their favorite vendor on board instead of his own.
He intends to retire soon to a comfortable Vice
Presidency at International Consultations and
doesn’t want anything rocking the boat.
Out of spite, he arranges to have a bunch of
complete outsiders brought in to hunt down Dan
Dauntless—the Player Characters. They are told that
he’s a fanatical Bosnian Muslim, who has
slaughtered a bunch of moderates and kidnapped a
little girl as part of some crazy attempt to foment a
war with China. The General hopes they’ll bring the
whole truth to light and cause Executive Solutions a
lot of public embarrassment, which may actually
make the folks at International Consultations grateful
that he didn’t win them the contract.
But Jim Flint is not so easily circumvented as
that, and he has a backup plan already in play. He
has sent Executive Solution X up into the mountains
to finish the job if the PCs fail to kill Dan Dauntless.
 the Brink, Regrowth; Cost: 4), Super-Strength +15 Underneath his calm exterior he is a boiling cauldron
Executive Solution Q (Extras: Protection, Super-Constitution; Power
Stunt: Lethal Damage; Cost 5 pts)
of repressed rage, which is now creeping closer and
closer to the surface. He will never have a normal
aka "The Obscenity" Equipment: A small pointy stick that he can use life, people he trusted betrayed him and turned into a
loathsome freak, Executive Solutions probably isn't
to press the buttons on his laptop.
working on the cure they have promised him for his
Weaknesses: Disabled (Mute) condition--the stress that all this generates is
Disturbing (looks like a supperating mass of intolerable. Even someone who isn't so brittle and
sludge, suffers a –5 on all Bluff and Diplomacy repressed wouldn't be able to cope with his situation
checks) indefinitely.
So far he has reacted by growing even quieter and
"..." more withdrawn, but it's only a matter of time before
he snaps and runs amok. They already know this at
A hideous, shambling, squelching pile of proto- Executive Solutions, and have made arrangements to
matter, vaguely shaped like a man. His eyes are kill him when it happens.
awful and empty, like the eyes of a dead fish. They
only send out Executive Solution Q on jobs that
require the Resource to be extremely scary. Adventures With the Obscenity:
Real Name: Bruce Hollander He actually volunteered for the treatment which
PL: 15 turned him from a human being into something far, 1) Happy Birthday to Nobody
Str: 20 (+5) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 20 (+5) far less. Like many of Executive Solutions' A retired KGB general has taken up residence in
Resources, he was a soldier in an elite military unit the Cayman Islands, where he may or may not be
Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 10 (+0) Cha: 14 (+2) (the US Delta Force, in his case). He showed so selling his expertise to private clients. Jim Flint has
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): much promise that one of the Defense Department's a personal grudge against the old scoundrel and has
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 private security contractors hired him before his tour determined to kill him in front of his grandchildren.
of duty was even up. He worked as hired muscle for He wants the general to die as horribly as possible,
Defense: +16/+14 Speed: 30 one or another of the big security firms for a few so he has carefully waited until the General’s
Damage Save: +4 (+17 with Super- years, guarding nuclear power plants and secret youngest grandson comes to the island for his fifth
aerospace design labs until he was offered the birthday party, and has sent and unexpected guest to
Constitution) Fortitude Save: +6 (+21 with
chance to volunteer for an experimental man- attend the festivities—Executive Solution Q.
Super-Constitution) Reflexes Save: +2 amplification program. However, Q has been spotted multiple times since
Willpower Save: +1 Most of his body tissues were replaced with setting his squelching foot on the island and the
Plast-o-Flesh, turning him into a sentient shambling general has gotten wind of his presence. No fool, the
Skills: Intimidate+12, Listen +5, Move Silently+8, heap. This wasn't what the firm who designed him wily old dog at once guesses that Flint has sent a
Repair +2, Spot +5 had intended, so they didn't renew his contract and Resource to kill him, and calls in the PCs for
Feats: Darkvision, Durability, Great Fortitude, he found himself both out of work and protection. The general foolishly thinks Flint is an
Heroic Surge, Immunity (Aging, Critical Hits, unemployable. Executive Solutions offered him the honorable opponent and is sure that Q will wait until
Disease, Poison, Starvation, Suffocation), Improved best available deal, and now he works for them. his grandson’s birthday party is over before he acts.
Grapple, Improved Pin, Power Attack, Rapid He has always been a careful, quiet, methodical In person the general is warm and funny, fond of
Healing, Startle, Surprise Strike soldier, although in the Delta Force he had a dirty jokes and wry observations about life. He’s
Powers: Regeneration +15 (Extras: Back From reputation for being wound a little too tight. confined to a wheelchair these days, just like his old
enemy Jim Flint, and feels that it may be long past Dr. Wong’s assassin. He’ll tell them anything they The first time the PCs catch up with Q he tries to
his time to die. Yet he would prefer not to do it in want to know about Executive Solutions, although escape, rather than attacking them. The second time
front of his grandchildren with a birthday hat on his it’s often hard to understand his typing. He is he attempts to explain his situation. Q can be
head. however shy about revealing exactly who he is. reasoned with, and he is willing to come in from the
When the PCs arrive at Winston Wong’s big cold and tell the world his story, rather than making
2) The Strange Case of the Obscenity and the cluttered loft, the Obscenity will be nervously a doomed and futile attempt to kill Jim Flint.
Non-Dairy Whipped Topping lurking in the shadows outside, and if they figure out However, taking Q in and protecting him is going
Executive Solutions decides to have the that he was the one instant messaging them, they to be an extremely dangerous thing to do. Not only
Obscenity killed. They send him out on a very rare may be able to strike up some kind of alliance with will Jim Flint try his best to have him killed, but
kind of assignment—an assassination on American him. there are numerous men in the intelligence
soil. His target is Doctor Winston Wong, the Q does not know that Executive Solutions already community who fear what might come to light if
inventor of Plast-O-Flesh (and of a famous non-dairy has a backup plan in motion. There is a huge bomb Agent 12 ever gets put on trial, and who are willing
whipped topping, which he talks about constantly in Dr. Wong’s building and if Q doesn’t kill Wong to dedicate considerable resources to wiping out the
and brews up in his bathtub by the gallons for special or get smashed to bits by the PCs before a certain Player Characters. But if they survive, this could be
and extremely private parties). amount of time elapses, the bomb goes off and kills the scandal that brings Executive Solutions down at
Executive Solutions then anonymously tips off everybody. last.
the Player Characters. They claim that Q has gone
berserk, and intends to kill the mad doctor 3) Rampant Obscenity
responsible for his creation. Executive Solution Q finally snaps. He breaks
To their credit, Dr. Wong really is fairly his restraints and goes on a rampage, smashing his
strange—he’s a forty year-old punk rocker and an way out of the Charlottesville facility and killing two
incurable party animal, with a graying New Wave people in the process. Executive Solutions moves at
haircut and a taste for heavily pierced guys half his once to cover up the incident and hunt down their
age. He’s hardly insane, but he’s also not likely to wayward employee.
listen the PCs warnings. He will however flirt Q is not just running around smashing stuff at
shamelessly with rough-looking male PCs. random. He intends to make his way north to
Meanwhile, when Q sees that he’s being sent to Executive Solutions’ business offices in Virginia and
kill one of the men responsible for his creation, he kill Jim Flint. He doesn’t know that Flint is almost
knows they must be about to dispose of him, and sets never there and he will be very disappointed when
a plan of his own in motion. He writes the PCs a he finds out.
clumsy, poorly typed e-mail message (his fingers Any Player Characters who join the hunt for Q
don't type very well anymore), in which he invites get a stern warning to back off from the Resources
them to go to the deserted office of a huge junkyard who are already on his trail. This will almost
at midnight, and instant-message him on the office certainly make them try harder to interfere.
computer. Major Maximum and the Gray Golem are likely
If the PCs do this, he will break into a nearby to get assigned to this mission, as are X and Dan
public library, hunch down over a computer Dauntless. Jim Flint is less likely to send someone
terminal, and IM them back, punching the keys with as unstable as Solution D or as untrustworthy as the
a pencil. He will laboriously explain to the Player Six Dollar Man, but feel free to use as many of the
Characters that this assignment is a set-up, that Resources as you need to give your players a
someone is going to try to get them to assassinate challenge.
 Powers: Running +1 (Cost: 2pts), Sensory infections in all four limbs and collapsed veins all
Executive Solution F Protection +4 (Cost 1pt), Super-Strength +10 (Extra: over his torso.
Protection; Cost 5 pts) When the authorities gave him a chance to get out
aka the Six Dollar Man Weaknesses: Quirk: Compulsive Liar (must
of this jam, in exchange for undergoing a set of
dangerous surgical procedures, he figured he didn’t
make a Willpower Saving Throw vs. DC 20 to tell have a lot to lose. He was wrong, of course, but of
the truth) course hindsight is 20-20.
The Byelorussians were contracting out their
“I’m gonna hurt you so bad, you’ll feel semi-legal medical facilities to a super-secret British
like me on one of my good days. Heh. military program—Project Abbadon. The kind of
surgical experiments they needed to perform were
I'm just a rotten useless scumbag, illegal everywhere in Britain, so the actual
aren't I?” operations had to be performed on foreign soil, on
non-citizens who were already multiple amputees.
A failure as a combat cyborg but an even bigger After they chopped off his limbs, took out most
failure as a man, he knows he’s a worthless piece of of his innards and covered half his face with
crap and he’s determined to prove it to the rest of us. stainless steel, they told him that he would have to
The Six Dollar Man constantly has a sheepish, work for British Intelligence for the rest of his life to
hangdog smile on the part of his face that isn’t made pay for the expense of the surgery. Unless of course
of steel. That smile sums him up perfectly. he would rather get shoed out the door right now,
He’s a loner and an outsider, sick alienated, self- with no arms and legs. He agreed to the terms, they
absorbed and self-loathing—he has a lot of bad replaced his missing limbs and organs with stronger
traits, but no one can say that he doesn’t have a sense and more durable artificial ones, and then shipped
Real Name: Ronald Jerome Houston of humor about himself. He tells mordant, self him off to commando school. He toughed it out for
deprecating jokes almost constantly, which makes a little while and then deserted the first time they
PL: 12 him seem less dangerous than he is. sent him to America.
Str: 18 (+4) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 14 (+2) For he is truly despicable, and richly deserves Not exactly a career criminal, he consults with a
every bit of the shame he feels. Completely devoid private firm called Executive Solutions, which rents
Int: 14 (+2) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 16 (+3) of honor, he’s capable of any outrage, either to save him out to various intelligence agencies for black
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): his worthless skin or on a vindictive impulse. He ops and muscle work. In between these infrequent
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +8 feels really bad about the harm he does, for what jobs he takes on work for the Mafia and for any
little that's worth. He almost always keeps smiling other such criminal conspiracy that might care to get
Defense: +20/+18 Speed: 35 his loser’s craven smile, no matter how angry he in touch. The Player Characters will probably
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2 feels or how badly things are going for him. encounter him in this capacity, although if someone
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +1 His personal history is sad, shabby and sordid, as came to him with an attractive plan for a major
one might expect. A perpetual college student and crime, he would certainly consider it.
Skills: Bluff +13, Diplomacy +8, Hide +8, Listen heavy drug user, by the time he was twenty six he The Six Dollar Man neither fits in nor feels
+5, Move Silently +8, Sense Motive +7,Taunt +10 was running out of money, excuses and healthy comfortable anywhere, although he’s too laid back to
Feats: Chokehold, Connected, Darkvision, veins. After a long and tangled series of look nervous in social situations. It would be a real
Immunity (Suffocation), Improved Grapple, Radio misadventures in Europe, he found himself in a mistake to team up with him, but other villains have
Reception Byelorussian prison with rotting gangrenous tried. He will warn people that he’s not a team
player, but if someone is fool enough to recruit him she would have to go up there and try to disarm the them, but the thing is equipped with an EM p deice
anyway, he figures that’s their tough luck. combot. If she didn’t do it, he said, the secret built in that would fry his cybernetics and kill him in
He is terrible to have on your side. Treacherous, government agency he worked for would kill Polly’s a second.
given to cowardly backstabbing, he tells a lot of dad. The PCs should be extra careful—Doctor
malicious lies. In fact one of the most unnerving This didn’t as insane or as improbable to Polly as Pratchett is up there too, wounded but alive. She’s a
things about fighting him is the way he constantly you might think. She has an advanced degree in very dangerous woman. Believe nothing she says.
makes insinuations about the people you trust. In computer science and might conceivably be able to Remember, this person is responsible for the deaths
any encounter with the Six Dollar Man, whether the come up with some sort of way to disable the robot. of countless people most of them American citizens
players characters engage him in combat or not, he She’s also active in the anti World-Bank movement, killed on American soil.
should tell them at least one mean-spirited falsehood, and paranoid enough about the US government to Before the Player Characters even enter the
designed to undermine their faith in a teammate, a believe almost anything about it. And her father is a building, they start to see signs that they have been
loved one, their country or an organization they notorious old radical from the sixties who made a lot lied to. A pair of Federal Marshals lie dead outside
belong to. of enemies in federal law enforcement. The fact that the front door. Why didn’t he mention this?
For some reason certain women find him she loved and feared the Six Dollar Man helped too, The building seems to have been evacuated for a
irresistible, even though he’s careful to explain that as did her self-destructive, fantasy-prone personality. fire. A lot of it is new, and a lot of it is still
he’s no good. He always seems to have some The Six Dollar Man suspects that she’s still alive unoccupied, but the thirtieth floor is occupied by an
unfortunate young woman to live off of, although the up there somewhere, so when he tries to send the electronics form called BioSim Unlimited. They
turnover rate is high. He devotes himself to draining Player Characters to their doom on the thirtieth floor, seem to have some kind of research facility up there.
their resources and making their lives hell when he he tells them a carefully crafted set of lies about her. When they find the body of the Golden Phantom
isn’t on a job. He gets in touch with the PCs and asks them to meet they may have more questions—what’s a dead
Hideous on the outside, worse on the inside, if him in the parking lot of the infested office building. superhero doing in here?
someone points out that he’s a disgusting wretch he It may take a little while for them to get there. As soon as they reach the thirtieth floor Polly
will heartily agree. The building stands by itself, way out in the most Pratchett comes on the intercom and warns them to
distant suburbs, surrounded by trees and cornfields duck. A shot goes past over their head. The combot
(or the desert, if your game is set in the Southwest). then scuttles off and hides as they take cover,
Adventures With the Six Dollar Once they arrive he tells them that he represents a without them getting a good look at it.
Man: secret branch of the defense department, which has Polly is injured, but she’s lying in a sheltered spot
been testing killer robots for combat in Iraq. on the floor below them, in a security station. She
Tower of Lies Doctor Polly Pratchett, the head of the design can see them on the building security cameras and
The Six Dollar Man has been assigned to capture team, went a little nuts and has started testing her she can talk to them through the intercom. She has
a rogue combot that has taken over the upper floors robots in urban settings—dropping them into figured out most of what is really going on, although
of an office building. This sounds like a lot of work, shopping malls and office parks and counting the she doesn’t know about Executive Solutions, and
so he’s come up with a way to make it easier. He numbers of civilians they kill. It’s his job to clean will desperately try to explain things to the PCs.
will lure prospective heroes into the building to run up messes like this when they happen, and he’s sick Her boyfriend is a liar and the destruct sequence
down the combot’s batteries and use up its of it. He’s willing to testify against his superiors and he’s given them is a sham. He’s been hired to
ammunition. He has already sent a pair of Federal tell the world the whole story. The evidence is deactivate the combot and he’s sending people up
Marshals to their doom, as well as a minor superhero upstairs on the thirtieth floor. here to run its batteries down. She has no idea what
called the Golden Ghost. The combot is still rampaging around up there, he’s told them about her, but she’d be happy to tell
At around this time his girlfriend, Polly Pratchett, but if they feed it the following sequence: them the truth.
started to get on his nerves, so he told her that he RJATIMOR113 they will activate its secret override If the Combot gets the better of the PCs, it will
was a spy and that as a test of loyalty to her country function and shut it down. He would go up to help suddenly run out of power just as it’s about to finish
them off. Then they hear the elevator doors open.
The Six Dollar Man is here to mop up the loose
ends. Including Polly and including the PCs.
If on the other hand they have broken the robot he
shows up and flies into a rage. “You broke it! The
Ukrainians won’t pay for a broken robot!” He yells.
He’ll try to kill them here too, out of spite. If
confronted about his lies, he grins and says “Yeah. I
just suck, don’t I?
 Defense: +17/+15 Speed: 30/50 (Flight) of the Royalists and she became persona non grata in
Executive Solution Y Damage Save: +2/+17 (Force Field)
Protestant circles. So she had herself baptized as a
Catholic and joined the IRA. This felt wrong to her,
aka the Burning Woman Fortitude Save: +7 Reflexes Save: +7 but all her Protestant friends were either dead or out
Willpower Save: +6 to kill her and she didn’t know how to do anything
but fight, so it seemed like her only option.
Skills: Acrobatics +9, Bluff +8, Concentration +8, Afraid that she would get killed too quickly if
Diplomacy +4, Disguise +6, Knowledge (Northern they kept her in Ireland, the IRA sent her to London,
Ireland's bloody secrets) +5, Spot +8 gave her a cover identity and told her to “make some
Feats: Accurate Attack, Aerial Combat, Expertise, noise.” Always an obedient and unquestioning
Identity Change, Immunity (Cold, Heat, soldier, she carried a number of terrorist attacks on
Suffocation), Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack, British landmarks, killing civilians and getting
Power Immunity, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Surprise declared one of the UK’s most wanted foes.
Strike And she learned a funny thing. They told her she
Powers: Amazing Save (Fortitude) +5 (Extras: was hard as stone, cold as ice and that human life
meant nothing to her. In fact the people she loved
Reflexes, Willpower; Cost 3pts), Energy Control
and trusted had been telling her this since her early
(Fire) +15 (Extras: Flight, Energy Field, Explosive
teens. And yet it wasn’t true. Every time innocent
Effect, Force Field)
people died by her hand, it hurt worse and worse.
Weaknesses: Vulnerable (Water attacks.) Pretty soon her head was full of nightmares and she
slunk around feeling guilty and tormented all day.
“Have you ever wondered why people Then things got worse. The long war in Northern
Ireland finally seemed to be coming to a close.
are so afraid of being burned alive? There were peace talks, lasting agreements, ancient
Would you like to know more?” grudges settled. People were laying down their arms
for good.
Jim Flint is usually suspicious of letting women The IRA leadership was almost sure to give her
in the armed forces and doesn’t want them on his up as part of the deal—she was so widely feared and
team. But when he heard that Myra Savage, the hated by the British that she would make an
Burning Woman might be available, he hastily incredibly good bargaining chip. Plus she was a
decided to make an exception. Protestant by birth, and had no family to object if the
The Burning Woman has been a legend in IRA sold her out. Even someone as loyal as Myra
Northern Ireland for a decade. An Ulster Unionist could see how expendable she was.
Real Name: Myra Savage from Londonderry, she was already fighting the IRA Nor would it make sense to switch sides again, or
when she was fifteen. While nobody is sure where to join one of the radical splinter factions. The
PL: 15 remaining shreds of the Royalist Militias and the
her powers came from (she’s either a mutant or the
Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 14 (+2) living incarnation of Northern Ireland’s burning Provisional IRA were degenerating into criminal
Int: 13 (+1) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 12 (+1) rage, whichever the GM prefers) she always seems gangs, and they only had the craziest, most
to have been able to set things on fire. bloodthirsty or most cynical people left on board.
Initiative: +2 Attack Bonus (Melee): When she was twenty her adoptive family was There was no future in Ireland for Myra, and
+13 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +15 wiped out in a power struggle between two factions certainly none in England.
 God alone knows how or why she had the CIA’s Adventures With Executive Solution Y: Yamaguchi, has vanished without a trace and his
number, but she knew exactly who to contact in house has burned to the ground. Gravis thinks they
order to sell her talents to the Americans. The CIA 1) Bloody Opals and Burning Snow may have hired a supervillain firm he’s heard
gave her a mission in Belarus, she handled it well, so An Irish gangster named Gravis O’Grady is ready whispers about, for the MO used on poor old
they put Jim Flint in touch. to turn states evidence on his former colleagues. He Norbert’s house sounds exactly like an Irish
Serious, stoic and professional on the outside, on was a high-ranking guy in Ireland’s mob, and his supervillain he used to know—a horrible, heartless
the inside Myra is lonely, tormented, anxious and testimony will be extremely damaging to a lot of killer they called the Burning Woman.
eager for approval. She is keenly aware that she’s an powerful people. Because he doesn’t trust the Gravis is right. In fact the Burning Woman is on
outsider and is getting desperate to prove herself to authorities to keep him alive until his trial, he wants her way up to the chalet right now. She will lurk in
her comrades. She never complains about anything, to surrender to independent superheroes—to the the snow until she sees a good chance to attack, and
always takes the most dangerous, thankless Player Characters, in fact. then will burn her way inside.
assignments, always gives 120% and never shows Gravis lives in Australia, these days, but he gets And here comes the big surprise. She’s not here
any trace of hesitation or pity despite her moral word to the PCs that he is staying under assumed to kill Gravis. She just wants his suitcase, which
qualms and the nightmares she always has when she name at a ski chalet in Switzerland and that they can contains all the opals he has left—the sum total of
kills somebody. pick him up there. He’s grown a little paranoid, and his remaining wealth.
Nor does she ever respond to the abuse her he wants to stay in a place where he can see trouble
teammates give her over being a girl. For the lads coming from a long ways away. 2) The Secret Torture Dungeon of Hitler’s Doctor
haven’t exactly been making her feel welcome. After the PCs arrive a snowstorm blows up, and Satan
Major Maximum and Executive Solution D openly while they wait out the storm Gravis tells them why The ruined lair of a forgotten arch-villain from
hate having a woman on the team. They feel it he’s finally going to turn himself in. He was one of the Nazi epoch comes to light (use one from your
weakens them and is sure to lead to trouble and the few lucky souls who made a lot of money from own campaign, or if your campaign doesn’t yet have
neither one minds telling her this to her face. his years in the IRA, and when he went into semi- any guys like that, call him Dr. Reinhold Strunk, aka
Executive Solution X doesn’t like it either, but retirement in Australia a few years back, he used his Doctor Satan, who conducted unspeakable
holds D in such contempt that he seldom expresses funds to buy an opal mine. The mine performed cybernetic experiments on live human subjects and
his distaste in front of the man. quite well and made him a much richer man. He was one of the few supervillains from that period
The Gray Golem doesn’t care, but contradicts used his opal money to finance this or that criminal who vanished completely after the war, never to be
anything D says out of habit, while Dan Dauntless enterprise, as much out of boredom as from any need heard from again). Located in the frigid and desolate
actually feels some faint sympathy for Myra and for capital. Bransfield Archipelago, off the coast of Antarctica,
would try to help her if he had any idea how. Alas, Last year he put up the funds for the wildest caper it seems to have been undisturbed since the 1940s.
he’s only good at bullying people and breaking stuff. he ever heard of, and the whole thing exploded in his Who knows what secrets it might yet hold?
The Obscenity has barely noticed—he’s much too face. It was the biggest gamble of his life, and the Unfortunately for the Player Characters, a group
busy worrying about whether he will remain a only one he lost. of ancient, doddering ex-Nazis is wondering exactly
loathsome freak forever. There’s a rebel group in Nigeria that came up the same thing. What terrible secrets might be
They’ve all hit on her except for Dan Dauntless with a scheme to grab a major oil pipeline and hold revealed about them and their network once the base
and the Obscenity (yes, even Major Maximum has it for three billion dollars in ransom. Gravis bought is unearthed?
tried) and while she would be willing to sleep with them the guns and explosives they needed for the job Here too, if you already have some organization
any of them if it made them accept her, she and he was going to handle the ransom negotiations of former national socialists plotting lethal mischief
somehow senses that in this case it would just make for them. But the oil company that owns the down in South America, use them. Otherwise, this is
things worse. pipeline somehow got wind of the plot and things a group of about five very old men (there used to be
fell apart. seventy of them) scattered around the world, who
Gravis’ business partner in Oslo, Norbert call themselves Der Spinner (the Spider). They live
in places as far flung as Australia, Portugal, The journalist runs to the Player Characters for
Montevideo and Baltimore. All of them are rich and help and protection. Hounded by the Burning
paranoid, more focused on preserving their wealth Woman, beset by attacks from both Loyalist and
and prolonging their own wretched existence than IRA forces, can they get him and his footage to
they are on anything as unlikely as taking over the safety?
world. To complicate matters further, the Burning
The PCs are sent or hired to investigate the ruins, Woman is willing to back off if the PCs give her the
or perhaps they just decide to do it on their own. footage and help her defeat Executive Solution D.
Der Spinner hires Executive Solutions to stop them. She may also be willing to negotiate if the PCs offer
Jim Flint sends the Burning Woman, and as many of her a chance to disappear altogether.
the others as the GM thinks would be required.
The leaky old underground bunker is not without
its own dangers. A lot of the complex is under the
ocean, and at a certain point in the festivities
someone is almost sure to knock a hole in a wall and
sent countless tons of frigid seawater flooding
through the tunnels.
And could Doctor Satan still be alive down there
in the darkness somewhere?

3) Belfast Welcomes Careful Travelers

An Irish journalist in Africa catches footage of
the Burning Woman on tape, and recognizes her as
the infamous terrorist who caused so much havoc in
London, a few years ago. After a little more
research, he has enough data to blow her identity
wide open, and he’s figured out who she works for.
She’s got to kill him, before he publishes the story
and Jim Flint has her killed.
Although the Burning Woman hates going back
to Ireland, where she’s wanted by cops and criminals
alike, she has little choice. She actually still has
some contacts on both the Loyalist and the IRA side
who are willing to help her kill the journalist, or who
fear her enough to do whatever she says.
In the meantime Jim Flint has figured out what
happened in Africa (though he has no idea just how
much the journalist knows). Mr. Flint has decided to
give the Burning Woman a chance to put things
right, and has sent Executive Solution D to kill her if
she fails.
 Knowledge (Espionage) +10, Sense Motive +7 my Viagra."
Jim Flint, Agent 12 Feats: Chokehold, Connected, Headquarters
(Complex in South Carolina; Features: Combat Jim Flint has lived in the shadows since World
Simulator, Communications Center, Computer, Fire War Two. One of the most promising young men in
Prevention System, Garage, Gym, Hanger, the OSS, after the war he was recruited on an
Infirmary, Living Space, Pool, Power System, unofficial basis to use his talents for murder and
Security System, Staff [15 PL1 Security flunkies and subversion against the Reds. They called him by a
a PL2 Unit Commander, supplemented by additional simple code name—Twelve.
Executive Solutions personnel as needed], Over the next two decades Agent Twelve worked
Workshop), Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, for the OSI, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the
Indomitable Will, Inspire, Iron Will, Leadership, CIA and many other “Black Book” agencies that the
Minions (135 PL1 security goons and other general public has never even heard of. Yet he was
employees, 13 PL2 officers and managers, 7 PL3 never officially employed by any of them. He
elite troops, 4 PL4 bodyguards, 1 PL 5 yacht captain, fought America’s invisible wars on all its secret
1 PL5 lawyer, 1 PL6 personal assistant) fronts, but he never got a medal for it. Not that he
Powers: Amazing Save (Damage) +2, Telepathy ever complained—finding out people’s secrets and
+14 (Extras: Memory Alteration, Mental Blast, Mind betraying them was always its own reward, as far as
Control; Cost: 5pts) he was concerned.
Yet the years eventually took their toll. He
Equipment: Wheelchair (Running 10 ft; Flaw: nearly died in Vietnam, he lost an eye in the jungles
Device; Cost 1pt), Pistol (+3 Lethal Damage), of Central America and by the 1980s he was getting
Vehicle so old that he could barely kill a man with his bare
hands anymore. In any case CIA Director William
(Yacht) 30pts (Size: Huge; Movement: 6; Hardness: Casey hated him and wouldn’t use him if he could
Real Name: Has used so many alises 13; Armor Bonus: 10; Features: Communications help it.
that no one is sure. "James Flint" is the Center, Computer, Gym, Living Space, Infirmary, A lot of the guys Jim knew were getting rich in
one he has settled on for the past forty Isolated Location, Power System) private industry. This or that famous spy would
years or so. Weaknesses: Disabled (Unable to walk, makes retire from public service, set up a private security
all Dexterity-related skill checks at a -5) firm, provide muscle and corporate espionage for the
PL: 14 Quirk: Can never admit that he's wrong, no matter big multinationals or take on dirty work that the CIA
Str: 8 (-1) Dex: 10 (+0) Con: 10 (+0)Int: what kind of a disadvantage this puts him at) didn’t want to handle. He’d always resisted the urge
Quirk: Refuses to use his psi powers unless his back to go that route because he knew he’d miss the smell
14 (+2) Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 18 (+4) is absolutely to the wall and all other options have of blood in his nostrils, but after he got cut out of the
Initiative: +4 Attack Bonus (Melee): +8 already been exhausted. Iran-Contra deal altogether, he figured it was time to
Attack Bonus (Ranged): +10 Defense: take the hint.
"Deny everything, admit nothing, make In the 80s the field was crowded and he didn’t
+15/+15 Speed: 10 (in wheelchair) have the funds to set up more than a small operation,
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +0 counter-accusations. That's still true so he decided to supply the one commodity most
Reflexes Save: +0 Willpower Save: +9 today, son, and it still makes get all hot private merc firms couldn’t handle—superhuman
and bothered just saying it aloud. It's talent. He knew Major Maximum and he had a good
Skills: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Intimidate +11, idea how to find the man called X. The others came
to him, over time. seldom do. More often, the Resources are ushered Anyone who gets past both Mr. Flint’s security
Once Director Casey was dead, Twelve’s old into his office and listen to his orders on staff and Mr. Smith will face the man’s own
contacts at the Agency were happy to send him more speakerphone, underneath his gigantic, glowering formidable psychic powers—a trait he has managed
work than he could handle, and of course the big portrait. to conceal all these years. Because his psionic
multinationals always need help in the Third World. A crotchety, irascible old man, while he isn’t abilities are his most carefully guarded secret, he’s
A lifelong smoker, Flint has lost a lung and his senile he sometimes misunderstands what people say not likely to let anyone live who has actually seen
voice box to cancer, and has recently been confined to him. He can go on and on about some idiotic him use them.
to an electric wheelchair. He’s still an arresting thing he thinks someone has said, sometimes
presence with his thick mane of white hair, his bringing the imaginary incident up months or years For games set in the 50s and 60s, here's what
craggy, battle-scarred face and his eyepatch. He later. It is utterly impossible to convince him that he Agent 12 looked like in his glory days.
talks a lot about politics, but for someone who has misheard anyone, and it can prove fatal to
knows as much about the secret history of the world contradict him too any times.
as he does, his opinions are odd and inconsistent. While he understands a great deal about various Agent 12 in his prime
He claims to hate big government and to feel that types of high-tech spy gear, he doesn’t understand
only private industry can accomplish anything, yet the internet and won’t allow it to be mentioned in his
he has proudly spent his whole adult life working for presence (fortunately his staff are more competent in
the feds. Generally conservative, he nonetheless this area). A bachelor, he hates kids and jokes that
worships John F. Kennedy (not for his policies, but anyone who brings one aboard his yacht risks being
because he was so much fun to hang out with in Las thrown overboard in mid-ocean along with their brat.
Vegas during the Rat Pack era) and he swears that At least we think he’s joking.
Kennedy was killed by left wing elements in the Mr. Flint is accompanied everywhere by his
State Department. personal assistants, the blankly malevolent Miss
He feels that women should know their place, he Zelma Zimmer, who does everything for him, and
mistrusts people of color and he still thinks the Civil the merely blank Mr. Smith, who appears to do
Rights movement was a foreign plot. He grudgingly nothing at all. Smith always stands just behind Mr.
admits that this wasn’t the case with the anti- Flint on the right. Neither Mr. Flint nor Miss
Vietnam movement, but only because he spent so Zimmer ever look at Mr. Smith or seem to
much time fighting them and came to know them so acknowledge his presence. On very rare occasions he
well. He loved Richard Nixon and keeps a picture of will lean forward and whisper something in Mr.
him on the wall of his office, but he never trusted Flint’s ear, but the old man never seems to react to
Ronald Reagan or his commitment to fighting the this.
Cold War. He hates hippies and environmentalists In fact Smith is Flint’s ace in the hole—he’s a
with a passion that isn’t wholly sane, yet he’s a parahuman with the ability to detect and shut down
vegetarian and had experimented with both Zen other parahuman powers. He’s quiet, loyal and
philosophy and psychedelic drugs as early as 1955. nondescript, a hovering presence that few people
Perhaps Flint’s perspective on things is best really notice.
summed up by the dominant feature of his office— Flint rarely goes anywhere without at least a few
an eight foot portrait of himself. bodyguards, mostly ex-special forces personnel hired
These days Flint lives mostly on his yacht, in through a separate division of his company. Give
international waters. His clients sometimes get to him enough bodyguards to impede your players, but
meet him in person, but his Parahuman agents not enough to overwhelm them.
PL: 12
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 20 (+5) Con: 18 (+4) Zelma Zimmer precise business-speak. Nor does she ever raise her
voice above a threatening murmur. She never
Int: 13 Wis: 20 (+5) Cha: 12 (+1) PL: 6 unwinds, never smiles, never makes small talk or
Initiative: +10 Attack Bonus (Melee): Str: 8 (-1) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 12 (+1) Int: any kind of informal remarks. Most of all she never,
ever says please or thank you for anything. Yet you
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +11 14 (+2) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 10 (+0) are required to say please and thank you to her. She
Defense: +24/+13 Speed: 30 Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): +3 speaks for the great man, Mr. Flint himself.
Damage Save: +6 Fortitude Save: +6 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +4 Defense: Everything in this office is his. Therefore everything
in this office is hers. She is not required to say
Reflexes Save: +10 Willpower Save: +7/+6 Speed: 30 please.
+10 Damage Save: +1 Fortitude Save: +1 Despite her insistence on rigid office protocol, if
Miss Zimmer senses weakness on the part of any
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +5 member of the office staff, she will try to force them
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +10, Bluff +10, Skills: Diplomacy +4, Innuendo +5, Intimidate +8, to buy the crappy rip-off long distance service that
Demolitions +7, Diplomacy +11, Disable Device +4, Listen +8, Profession (Personal Assistant) +9, Spot her loser boyfriend sells, or Amway products, or diet
Drive +8, Hide +10, Intimidate +10 Knowledge +9 remedies or whatever shabby pyramid scheme the
(Espionage) +10, Listen +10, Move Silently +10, two of them are into this month. No one ever seems
Search +10, Spot +8, Survival +5 Feats: Connected, Far Shot, Iron Will,
Indomitable Will, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, to see this boyfriend, but he’s real enough (his name
Feats: Accurate Attack, Assessment, Attack Talented (Intimidate and Profession: Personal is Harvey Glick, and he’s a classic watery-eyed,
Finesse, Chokehold, Connected, Dodge, Evasion, Assistant) whining, sixty-five year old ne’er-do-well).
Far Shot, Great Fortitude, Improved Grapple, Point- There are no personal objects on Zelma’s desk,
Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Psychic Powers: apart from a single dead plant.
Awareness, Quck-Draw, Talented (Listen and Spot), Equipment: Big Ugly Pistol (+5 Lethal), Can of
Toughness, Track Mace (+5 Stun attack)
Powers: Powers: Super-Dexterity +5 (Extras: Weaknesses: Quirk: Fanatically Loyal to Mr.
Super-Senses, Super-Strength, Super-Wisdom; Flaw: Flint
Super-Strength only applies toward skill checks;
Cost: 9pts), Telepathy+8 (Cost: 2pts) Jim Flint’s redoubtable assistant. She looks like a
Equipment: Pistol (+3 Lethal), Rifle (+3 badly preserved sixty-year old, but in fact she’s
Lethal) seventy-five. Spite keeps her young, as does her
unwavering fanatical devotion to Mr. Flint. She
Weaknesses: Quirk: Irrationally obsessed with does everything for him, has devoted her life to
concealing his psi powers, will use them only in the helping him rid the world of Communism, and she’s
most dire emergency conceivable. more than a little in love with the man.
All of the office staff are afraid of Miss Zimmer,
and with good reason. Blank and emotionless, yet
also cruel and mean—she wants it to be known that
she is a powerful person and that she can have you
destroyed.
Everything she says is couched in carefully
 Skills: Spot +10, Listen +10, Innuendo +4, Move Baltimore. She was a very attractive woman, so
Mr. Smith Silently +10, Swim +6 Flint blackmailed her into having an off-again, on
again affair with him for a few years back in the
Feats: Detect (superpowers), Iron Will, Psychic early seventies.
Awareness Despite the shabby way he treated their mom,
Powers: Neutralize +13 (Extras: Neutralizing both Tom and Peter are fascinated by and totally
Block, Neutralizing Field, Nulification, Nulify loyal to their dad.
Without Concentrating; Cost: 6pts)
Equipment: Concealed Body Armor +4
Mr. Flint’s silent shadows, Tom and Peter Smith
are his ace in the hole. They’re also Flint’s only
living sons.
Identical twins, the Smith brothers look and dress
completely alike. They never appear together and
most people have no idea that there are two of them.
Either one or the other Smith always stands behind
their dad’s left shoulder, quiet, nondescript, making
no facial expression at all. “Smith” never seems to
say or

do much of anything. While Zelma Zimmer fusses

and makes phone calls and adjusts my Flint’s tie,
Smith just stands there.
Both Smith brothers dress conservatively but
unostentatiously, wearing business clothes even on
Mr. Flint’s yacht. Neither one ever seems to sweat.
The Smiths’ superhuman powers are simple yet
deadly effective. They can detect parahumans and
can snuff out their powers at a distance. Their
Real Name: Thomas and Peter Smith power-suppression ability is invisible—they don’t
PL: 12 have to say or do anything to make it happen, which
Str: 12 (+1) Dex: 12 (+1) Con: 14 (+2) makes it very hard to tell where the effect is coming
from.
Int: 12 (+1) Wis: 16 (+3) Cha: 10 (+0) If a disguised parahuman enters Flint’s presence,
Initiative: +1 Attack Bonus (Melee): the Smith boy on duty will lean down and whisper
+11 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +11 the information in Mr. Flint’s ear. Flint never
outwardly reacts to this information, but he will most
Defense: +21/+20 Speed: 30 certainly be thinking about it.
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2 The Smith boys’ mother was a Russian
Reflexes Save: +1 Willpower Save: +5 parahuman agent who lived under in deep cover in
Mr. Flint's
Bodyguards
PL: 4
Str: 16 (+3) Dex: 14 (+2) Con: 14 (+2)
Int: 13 (+1) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 10 (+0)
Initiative: +6 Attack Bonus (Melee):
+10 Attack Bonus (Ranged): +9
Defense: +16/+14 Speed: 30
Damage Save: +2 Fortitude Save: +2
Reflexes Save: +2 Willpower Save: +1
Skills: Intimidate +4, Listen +5, Spot +6
Feats: Attack Focus (Armed), Attack Focus
(Ranged), Chokehold, Improved Initiative, Quick
Draw, Talented (Listen and Spot)
Powers:
Equipment: Pistol (+3 Lethal), Body Armor +2
Weaknesses: Quirk: Willing to die for Mr.
Flint.

These guys are pretty tough. Culled from the best

of America’s elite forces, they don’t have as much
armor or as high tech weaponry as a lot of villainous
super-agents, but they’re still very effective with
what they have.
They tend to be a little older than most security
personnel, men in their thirties and forties with as
much combat experience as possible. All of them
are personally loyal to Mr. Flint and his vague pro-
American, anti-communist credo. None of them are
fanatics, but as bodyguards they won’t hesitate to lay
down their lives for their employer if they have to.
 Appendix A: Villains by PL
Solution M (page 128), Executive Solution Z
PL 4 Jim Flint’s Bodyguards (Page 152)
(page 130)
PL 6 Zelma Zimmer (Page 150)
PL 14 Jim Flint, Agent 12 (page 147), The
PL 7 The Ratcatcher (Page 58) Steel Deuce (page 113)
PL 8 Grease Monkey (Page 85), Sicko the PL 15 Bones (page 117), The Snow Queen
Clown (Page 6), Zyclon B (Page 72) (page 33), Executive Solution Y (page 144)
PL 9 Big John (Page 9), Boy Howdy (page 96) PL 16 Azeraphel, the Screaming Angel
Doctor Shock (page 11), Johnny Black (page (page 45), Black Thunder (page 36), The
81) Death Angel (page 40), Doctor Moloch, PhD
Mano del Muerte (page 13), Der Shreik (page 74) (page 43)
PL 10 The Lone Star Lady (page 93), Jim PL 17 The Hammer of Doom (page 47)
Dandy (page 95), Doctor Destructor (page
87), PL 18 Executive Solution X (page 132)
The Texas Twister (page 89), The Moebius PL 19 Captain Valiant (page 50)
Man(page 67), Blitzenhammer (page 69),
Broken Arrow (page 15), UgoGrrrl (page
18),The Unicorn (page 19),Vampire Girl
(page 21), Wolf-Dog(page 24)
PL 11 Mr. Fist (page 91), Double
Deuce(page 101), Diamond Deuce(page 111)
PL 12 Ace of Wounds (page 104), Agent 12
in his prime (page 149), Cimarron Starr (page
83), Executive Solution D (page 124), God
(page 28), Helen Damnation (page 30), Mr
Smith (page 151), Executive Solution F (page
141), Lady Deuce (page 107)
PL 13 Der Totenkopf (page 65), Executive
Ace of Wounds-------------------------------------104
Index
Feats and Powers, new--------------------------6 Sicko the Clown------------------------------------6
Agent 12--------------------------------------------147 Flint, Jim------------------------------------------147 Six Dollar Man, the (see “Executive Solution F”)
Azeraphel, the Screaming Angel----------------45 Four Deuces, the --------------------------------97-119 Snow Queen, the ----------------------------------33
Big John--------------------------------------------9 God------------------------------------------------27 Steel Deuce, the-----------------------------------114
Black Thunder------------------------------------36 Gray Golem, the (See “Executive Solution Z”) Teams----------------------------------------------53-152
Blitzenhammer------------------------------------69 Grease Monkey, the -----------------------------85 Texas Twister, the --------------------------------89
Bones-----------------------------------------------117 Grim Diddle--------------------------------------60 Threats, Major------------------------------------34-53
Boy Howdy---------------------------------------- 96 Hammer of Doom, the --------------------------47 Threats, Minor------------------------------------6-14
Broken Arrow-------------------------------------15 Helen Damnation--------------------------------30 Threats, Moderate -------------------------------15-32
Burning Woman, the (see “Executive Solution Y”) Jim Dandy----------------------------------------95 Der Totenkopf-------------------------------------65
Campaign World---------------------------------5 Jim Flint, Agent 12----------------------------------147 U-Go-Grrrl----------------------------------------18
Captain Valiant-----------------------------------50 Jim Flint in his Prime (stats)-----------------------149 Unicorn, the ---------------------------------------19
Cimarron Starr-----------------------------------83 Jim Flint’s Bodyguards-----------------------------152 “Using This Book”--------------------------------5
Corpus Christi Good-Time Boys, the ---------78-96 Johnny Black-----------------------------------------81 Vampire Girl---------------------------------------21
Dan Dauntless, Rocket Ranger (see “Executive Johnny Bionic (see “Steel Deuce, the) Vernichtung 5--------------------------------------62-77
Solution R”) Johnny Machine (see “Steel Deuce, the) Winter Steele (see Cimarron Starr)
Death Angel, the ---------------------------------40 Johnny the Robot (see “Steel Deuce, the) Wolf-Dog-------------------------------------------24
Der Shreik-----------------------------------------74 Lady Deuce------------------------------------------107 Woodchuck Man----------------------------------56
Der Totenkopf-------------------------------------65 Limited Immunity to Prosecution (New Feat)---6, 18 X----------------------------------------------------132
Diamond Deuce-----------------------------------111 Lone Star Lady, the ---------------------------------93 Zelma Zimmer------------------------------------150
Doctor Destructor-------------------------------- 87 Major Maximum (Executive Solution M) Zyclon B--------------------------------------------72
Doctor Moloch, PhD------------------------------43 Mano del Muerte------------------------------------13
Doctor Shock--------------------------------------11 Moebius Man, the ----------------------------------67
Double Deuce-------------------------------------101 Mother Moebius------------------------------------76
Executive Solutions------------------------------120-152 Mr. Fist---------------------------------------------- 91
Executive Solution D-----------------------------124 Mr Smith--------------------------------------------151
Executive Solution F-----------------------------141 Murder Machine (see “Doctor Destructor”)
Executive Solution M----------------------------127 New Feats and Powers---------------------------6
Executive Solution X-----------------------------132 Nowhere Men, the --------------------------------54-61
Executive Solution R-----------------------------135 Obscenity, the--------------------------------------139
Executive Solution Q----------------------------139 Ratcatcher, the ------------------------------------58
Executive Solution Y-----------------------------144 Der Shreik------------------------------------------74
Executive Solution Z-----------------------------130
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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