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[Marvel RPG] A Tale of Two Worlds
Posts
I'd be picturing the scene starting out in a SoCal beach, so we've got the waves, then dunes/scrub grass, then a light forest/wooded area entering into light sprawl/suburbia. Hot days, still temperate nights.
This sounds really good, recast my vote as beach. With regards to the Watcher NPC I feel like they'd work better as just a catalyst for the whole thing happening.
Either way there'd be no real harm in including one, they can always fade into the background if they're getting in the way.
Good point. Much harder to integrate one post-facto than to just let one drift off into the ether.
I think the idea of the 1st World Watcher could be dropped or phased out if it gets too in the way, that being said I do think it's a nice idea.
Any type of beach house/cabin is a good idea, it's not too uncommon for such a group to get together and split up the cost for a nice sized place.
Also, the more I think about the character that "Paul" rolled the more I can make it fit with him. The Doctor is a shapshifter, or someone who has the ability to mask themselves, and also a science nerd like his brother. In other words, Dr. David Row reflects what Paul is and what he desires most to be.
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
The first drops of rain splatter against the hot pavement as you're getting into the car. It's still sunny enough, but the clouds rolling in from over the ocean have that dark gray look that always come with a sustained storm. It looks like the five hour drive staring you in the face might be accompanied by a duet of staccato water droplets and the swish-swish of the wipers. It's late in the afternoon, you just got off work, and that long drive is starting to feel just a bit longer. But the beach house is rented; Kitty's already there, airing the place out and getting a few things together for Barbara's send-off tomorrow. So you slide into the driver's seat, and head towards the interstate.
The inappropriately named Laughing Place isn't hard to find, even with the setting sun's last traces of crimson fading from the sky. It's your typical beach house; built on raised stilts, single car garage, curved flight of steps leading up to the front door. It's siding is a faded baby blue, worn with age, but not so warn as to need replacing. The entire house is like that - the roof looks like it's one good storm from needing to be replaced, the driveway could use a fresh layer of gravel, and the yard's lone tree needs trimming. But the price was right, it's plenty roomy on the inside, and it's on the beach. You lock your car and head inside.
TRANSITION
PCs
Lucy Johnson
Jake Larson
James Madsen
Paul Madsen
Carmen Schultz
NPCs
Kitty Wolfinger
(( Kitty Wolfinger, Barbara's former roommate, has the beach house all ready for occupancy. She's also almost ready to start an introductory session of the new RPG she picked up - chips are on the table, soda is on the counter, the pizza's on its way, and there seems to be dice everywhere. But there's a bit of time before everyone has settled in and is ready to play; what are you doing? Chatting with Kitty or one of the others? Grabbing some chips and flipping through the rule book? Taking a moment to stare out of your room's window at the sea? Whatever it is, take a moment to get a feel for the situation and then we'll dig into Kitty's game. ))
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
He cracks open a root beer and slides onto a bench. His conversation with Kitty is a bit muted, of course, but it isn't the stuttering halting terror that he'd been worried it would be.
"-few nails here and there and it should be good as new." Looking at the paper and dice-covered table his brow furrowed as if something was wrong,
"Is this table level? This table isn't level." Kitty rolled her eyes as he began to wobble each table leg to find the offending piece.
((in before grimmy's edit- I'm Jake, you're James))
Of course, running into Kitty at the service had been awkward. Though Lucy had tried to hide, Kitty managed to find her and convince her to come on this ridiculous beach trip, "to honor Babs' memory and celebrate her life!" Yeah, because grief has to be shared with other people, right? Forget it. But Kitty wouldn't give up, and finally mom had promised for Lucy, and that was that.
Lucy turned her attention back to the miniature spectacle unfolding in the living room, suppressing a small smile at Jake's antics. She found herself glad he was there, actually - one of her few real friends. The others she knew, mostly, more or less well, but she and Jake went way back. As he continued muttering, she reburied her head in the rulebook for the new game. It definitely sounded intriguing.
The sound of the rain jumped a dozen decibels as the front door opened. 'Speaking of people I haven't seen in years…'
"Paul! Holy crap, how are you?"
"God damnit you're strong." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grinned at his brother.
"Doing well Carmen, all things considered."
Grimmy is out for the weekend. Do we want to pause and pick things back up on Monday, or go ahead and get started and have him jump in late?
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
Kitty beams. "Ah, drama! Can't let something like that slide. Let's begin!" As the others pull up their chairs to the table, she takes a moment to collect her things. She pulls a small notebook from her bag; on its cover is a thickly muscled man with long blonde hair. He clutches a hammer before him, a massive thing that seems more like an exaggerated scepter than functional tool. Kitty flips the book open, skims a page or two, and places it on the table in front of her. She dives back into the bag, pulling out another book scarcely larger than the first. This one's glossy cover depicts men and women in colorful costumes striking heroic poses. It too goes on the table, but off to one side. Farther than the notebook, but still at hand. From her pocket comes an iPod, which she places in a speaker-flanked docking station.
The penultimate item is a small leather bag. Kitty slides the contents onto the table - a couple dozen metal dice, reflecting back the light from their surfaces of steel, brass, and copper. She quickly sorts through them, arranging them in some arcane sequence whose meaning eludes you.
Only then does she withdraw the final item from her bag - a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, which she slips on as if donning a mask. Kitty leans forward, placing her elbows on the table and steepling her fingers.
She quirks an eyebrow. "Now then. This game we're going to play is about assuming an identity different from your own. You've created a character - an alternate persona - and I've created a world. Together, we'll tell a tale or two. A tale of heroes and villains, deeds worthy of song and acts worthy of nothing but condemnation. I will put barriers in your way, and you will tear them down. In telling the tale, you will learn more about your character - you will grow. And I will adjust the world to better suit its occupants. For this game is not adversarial, but cooperative - my role in it is to facilitate play. To provide a path to a mutually agreeable resolution.
"But, like every story, there will be drama. Hardship. Loss. But you'll endure, you'll cope, and if you're good - you'll win the day. Are we ready?"
Kitty scarcely glances around the table before continuing.
"Imagine, if you will, a world where the norm is subverted by the supernatural. Oh, it still has all the normal problems - crime and poverty and war. But it also has men who can fly, women who can turn invisible, and villains that can tear apart a building as easily as you might tear a piece of paper. It is world where, perhaps, anything is possible."
She reaches out, and gently taps play on the iPod.
"New York City, the East River. For eighty years, Riker's Island has housed New York's worst. Button men, con men, murders, rapists, and thugs of all stripes. And it has served its purpose well, for even the worst men are still only men. Adjacent to Riker's Island is another facility, designed to hold something more than men. Something worse. It is The Raft, an ultramax prison for supervillains, for criminals who can shift shape, read minds, and project fire from their hands. And it has done its job admirably.
"Until today. There is a massive shock wave, an explosion, and half of New York City goes dark. Billowing clouds of black smoke pour from the facility, clouds that can be seen from virtually everywhere in the city.
"Something has gone wrong in the prison holding the worst of the worst the metahuman community has to offer. Someone has to do something. But who?"
FIND A POWERFUL ALLY
Rumor has it that more than just villains are kept within the Raft's reinforced walls. An entity of massive - but uncontrollable - power has decided to make it his home, opting to lock himself up instead of potentially subjecting the populace to his destructive force. Maybe now is the time to change his mind.
1 xp when you find and introduce yourself to this potential ally.
3 xp when you convince the hero to act, whether it means leaving his cell or working to halt the jailbreak.
10 xp when you convince the hero to rejoin society, or convince him to remain locked up for the safety of the world.
ROUND UP THE FUGITIVES
Some of the most dangerous super villains are locked up in the Raft. When they break out, you’re one of the only people ready and able to bring them back in. But who is behind the breakout?
1 XP when you defeat and capture a fugitive from the Raft.
3 XP when you choose to let a fugitive go in order to help an innocent bystander or an ally.
10 XP when you track down the group behind the breakout and either turn them in to the authorities or join them.
CONNECT WITH S.H.I.E.L.D.
You've heard of S.H.I.E.L.D., the government agency created to protect the US from aggressive metahumans. Maybe you have even worked with them before. When a crisis strikes, allies need to stand together against a common threat. But what if S.H.I.E.L.D. is the threat?
1 XP when you work with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to neutralize a villainous foe.
3 XP when you act against the orders of S.H.I.E.L.D. Command for the good of others.
10 XP when you choose to stand either with S.H.I.E.L.D. or with the rest of your team when they’re in opposition.
Pick a Milestone or two, either from your character sheet or from those outlined here. Please make a note of it in your next post.
This next part is going to be slightly more free form, in that I'd like you to tell me where you are and what you were doing when the Raft was attacked. In the future, I'll drop you into a situation (as appropriate), but I wanted to give you an opportunity to establish your Second World characters here like I gave you an opportunity to establish your First World characters earlier.
Doom Pool:
Kitty looks at each of you in turn. "Where are you, and what are you doing?"
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
Rikers Island. Great evil has been unleashed. We must stop it.
Revving his motorcycle, he takes off, leaving a flaming trail behind. Sighing a bit at her companion's bluntness, Obscura unfurls her wings and flies off after him. She's nervous, because she's never really fought anyone in GR's league, but she's excited at the same time."
He's not doing very well." James chuckles to himself, and continues.
"It is almost a relief when he feels the shockwave of the explosion through a set of dedicated antennae. The room goes dark, he stands, and strides over to a beaten-up pickup truck. The shocks squeal as he wedges himself behind the wheel and heads uptown."
"Well, I reckon Telesto would be in the East River itself, using his powers to walk on the riverbed. He's sitting in a rusted pile of junk, meditating down there when he feels the shockwave. Unaffected by the waves he starts to grow and stretch toward the surface, ready to teleport toward the disturbance."
"The explosion clears her head; suddenly everyone's thinking the same thing: 'what happened?' It's clear that Rikers was the epicenter. Nell disappears and makes her way out to the runway. From there, it's a very short swim to Rikers."
@tzeentchling:
James is next. "The brakes squeal on your truck as you skid to a halt near the Bowery Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. Something big must be going down, as you can see a trail of fire leading out from the city and off into the bay. What manner of creature could have produced such a thing...?
"The Raft is cut off from the land, so you'll have to secure some sort of additional transportation - or swim. Your antennae pick up the distinct pressure waves of several approaching helicopters. Perhaps you could hitch a ride? Or, if you don't want to wait, there's a number of official-looking boats moored at the plant's docks. Surely city officials would not take umbrage at the temporary use of a vehicle borrowed in the name of hard justice?"
Kitty checks her notes before continuing with Jake. "It only takes Telesto a moment to spot the disturbance once his head breaks the water - some sort of atmospheric phenomena is interfering with the local metahuman incarceration facility. The side effects from this appear to have negatively impacted the local population, in the form of reduced services and increased panic. Teleporting to the nice, level patch of concrete on the portion of the facility above the water would be trivial."
"The water is freezing, but Nellie barely notices - the amount of strong emotion pouring out the Raft is almost enough to overwhelm. Anger, despair, fear, hate, joy - even exaltation. And every last bit of it is drenched in the malign. Shivering, she pulls herself onto the landing pad, and is greeted by three men and one woman wearing body armor. Each has a M4 carbine installed with various parts of the SOPMOD Block I kit. And all are pointed at Nellie.
"Excuse me, m'am." The lead ... soldier? guard? ... approaches her, but does not lower the weapon. "This is a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. No unauthorized personnel."
Judging by his appearance, you'd assume him to be calm, collected, and in control. But his emotions betray him - he's scared, but not of you. Apparently, a woman pulling herself out of the freezing East River onto a government prison doesn't even really concern him. But the power going out? It apparently warrants about a "9.8 on his weird shit-o-meter." His thoughts, not yours.
Kitty turns back a few pages in her notebook, then addresses Paul. "Does David want to turn into a bird or something to fly to The Raft? Someone with his level of Shapeshifting could even turn into a dragon or something." From her grin, it's clear that Kitty would find this vastly amusing.
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
James leans back in his chair. "Man, I've got to develop some sort of movement power."
He looks suddenly at his sheet again "Oh! And I stay invisible so I can see what's happening. Er, but not in a weird way." Jake looks around at the others in mock embarassment.
"OK, James. Saar has no problems finding an unattended boat suitable for the purposes of rapid transportation over water. Moments later, he's speeding towards the Raft."
"Meanwhile, on the Raft's helipad: the agent in charge lowers his weapon off of Nellie. 'MI-6, huh? We can check on that. Langtry, you on it?' The woman responds: 'I got it Rubens.', before turning her back to the group and raising a hand to her ear.
"Nellie becomes aware of another presence on the Helipad - you can't see or hear anyone else, but there's definitely a thinking mind here that wasn't there before. Just as you're registering this, there's the bass rumble of collapsing stone, and the shriek of tearing metal. A cascade of blue energy fountains from a rift in the concrete surface, then blossoms outward into an explosion. Chunks of concrete, rebar, and silvery metal rain down around you.
"From out of the hole floats a figure clad in a ridiculous red and orange cape and black spandex bodysuit. Pale blue boots, gloves, and gorget trim the outfit. Finishing the ensemble is a wide red belt with a six inch high letter "N" for the buckle. He takes a moment to smooth his goatee before addressing you.
"'Fall to your knees, mortals, and bear witness to another one of my triumphs - for Count Luchino Nefaria has escaped the Raft!' He throws his head back and laughs up to towards the sky."
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
Have acted:
Have yet to act:
(on the scene)
Nellie Cochrane (tied for first)
Telesto (tied for first)
Count Nefaria
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents
(will show up when picked)
Dr. David Row
Obscura
Ranger Saar
Whoever goes first is probably Solo, though Nellie/Carmen/Sneaks could argue that they're Buddy with the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents.
Expert S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent (d8)
Solo (d4) Buddy (d6) Team (d8)
Body Armor (d6) Comms (d6) Small Arms (d6)
Edit: This is all stuff I should have mentioned in my previous post. :oops:
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists