Mutants&Masterminds: Because you're S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

[Dudeicuf]

September 15th. 2011.

As always, the sun burns strongly over the Australian outback. Dust blows gently over Ayers Rock masking the hub activity below the rock. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Academy is preparing for the start of the new year. Janitors, workmen and teachers alike, all working within the hidden base underneath Ayers Rock. A Dingo walks by, looking for shade in which to escape the midday heat. Pushed up against the base of Ayers Rock, the Dingo paws at its face, scratching a tick. Nearby, a door slides open and a janitor walks out for a cigarette, just as wary of the Dingo as the Dingo is of him. Suddenly the Dingo yelps out in pain as the tick drops off its face and starts to hum and grow. It enlarges until it doubles Ayers Rock in size, all the while, the janitor stands there, paralysed with fear, cigarette smouldering away in his jaw dropped mouth. The tick rears up on its furthest back pair of legs and launches itself onto the rock.

Titan-Tick had found what it thought to be the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. HQ and was launching an attack. Amongst the rubble that remained of Ayers Rock, a few super powered teachers managed to escape, and commenced in the fight or their lives. For two long, hot, vicious hours, the teachers fought Titan-Tick, loosing many and making very little progress. Just as one of their last was falling, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad One arrives.

Captain Power
Miss Fire
Pozi-Tron
Man Muscle
Lady 51
Arthur Kane
The Blur

The paragon, human fireball, power suited billionaire, powerhouse, energy controlling woman, man of magic and speedster make quick work of the enormous insect. Within minutes, Titan-Tick is defeated and reduces back to its original size, impossible to find in the vast expanse of the outback. Sure that it would attack again at some point, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad One knew there was not much they could do and so attend the wounded. It was a grim day for the founding members of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. The Super Powered Elite Combat Intervention Assault Legion. They set it up for peace but when attacks like this happen, they dread if it will ever be possible.

S.P.E.C.I.A.L. protects the world from villains and defends it from itself. Sometimes acting as peace envoys, sometimes as international police, and sometimes as the true superheroes they are, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. does all it can for the citizens of Earth. Accepting Supers, Mutants and Meta-humans into its ranks, the Legion also has 6 academies spread across the world to train and teach future Heroes who will one day join S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and take over from the current Legionaries.

The Amazon Rainforest, The American Midwest, The Siberian Wastes, The Australian Outback, The Congo Jungle and The Swiss Alps. All academies hidden away from the public to raise a new group of 'Powered'. The students come from all backgrounds. Some are urban humans, caught in some sort of hideous accident, some are tribal youngsters, granted superpowers from some unknown mystical source, some are taken as children and experimented on until they are old enough and then sent to train with S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Whatever the background, all Supers, Mutants and Metahumans are welcome at S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Some can afford to pay the fees, some are sponsored by governments and benefactors and some receive grants. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. prides itself on providing a place for all 'Powered' amongst its Academies. Often, students do not study in the closest Academy to their home, for diversity and safety. It helps protect the families and agencies connected to the students. Students are typically between the ages of 14-19, however exceptions above and below these ages are known. There is no set year system and as a student arrives, no matter what their age, they start in the bottom year with three years of study. Once joined, they are only allowed contact with their previous lives when on leave during the holidays, and even then, it is encouraged to stay at the academy rather than head off.

---

The game takes place in the Swiss Alps, as a group of students are sent to start their training. Given instructions to be at Geneva Airport at 9am on September 23rd. They will be picked up by someone with a sign saying 'Coach to Academy'

[Dudeicuf]

September 16th. 2011.

This is the 10 o'clock BBC News, Welcome. Our top stories today. After a vicious battle between Titan-Tick, some of the less well known members of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad One, Titan-Tick was defeated in the Australian Outback, but not without a great loss to the Australian tourist industry. Ayers rock was destroyed when Titan-Tick body slammed it at full size. It is rumoured that S.P.E.C.I.A.L. had a base hidden underneath the rock however these reports have not been confirmed. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. have released a press statement claiming their clean up crew are there now along with some of their best investigators looking for clues as to why Titan-Tick Attacked.

In other news, China has requested S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stop offering them protection as the Chinese 'Powered' units are fully capable of protecting the country themselves. The US seems to be following suit, pulling some funding away from S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and supposedly putting more money into Super Research and Meta Creation. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. declined the request but it is said that they are now in talks with the Chinese government about the situation. Captain Power released a statement saying 'We set S.P.E.C.I.A.L. up to protect and defend the world, we hope that all the governments can appreciate this and understand we do not want to take sides. We want to be the arbiters of peace, not an optional defense force'. Beijing responded with 'S.P.E.C.I.A.L. are no longer needed to defend us. We have raised and trained our own 'Powered' defense force who we have direct control over. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. cannot be accountable for their actions however our new force can. We feel we have outgrown the need for S.P.E.C.I.A.L. to watch over us'.

The riots continue in Kiev after last week's overload by the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Legionary Pluto. The irradiated Superhero had a partial meltdown following a battle in the already dangerous Chernobyl and the Ukrainian Citizens are demanding compensation from S.P.E.C.I.A.L. fearing for their health. They are claiming that S.P.E.C.I.A.L. do more harm than good and should leave their country too. No comment from the Ukrainian parliament has been released however it is thought that, due to overwhelming force, they will follow China's act and request S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stop protecting the country. It is also thought that they will try and claim from S.P.E.C.I.A.L. for the damage done however, due to the loss of Pluto, at a direct cause from an Ukrainian radiation mutated child, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. will find reason enough not pay out any compensation.

The World seems to be going through an anti-'Powered' wave of emotion as more and more young 'Powered' are ostracized by their communities around the world. The alleged S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Academies and the various Private Institutions around the world are said to be going on lockdown as the new terms are due to start. In some US cities, illegal 'witch hunts' for 'Powered' have been shut down after mobs formed trying to find local teens and adults who have accidentally or purposefully used their powers in the community, often ending up in destructive results. The investigation into last month's 'Blue Boy Murder' continues as police in Manchester question the 200 strong mob responsible for the murder of Jeremy Yolt, the 7 year old boy hunted and killed for having blue skin and a slight electric field after he accidentally started an electric fire in a local football stadium.

In other news, a fireman tried to save a kitten stuck in a tree yesterday only to be struck by some cosmic radiation. Feline Fire, as the newly combined being will now be known, has released a press statement saying 'I wish to continue my service as a fire officer as long as is possible. Also, I want some milk'. I'm sure he'll still remain the purr-fect citizen!

Thats all for tonight, catch us again tomorrow morning...

---

So, the Game will be starting on Thursday at 5:30pm. Our first game will be in the Library in one of the study rooms, 4d36. Don't worry if you haven't finished your character by then, but try and at least have a solid concept and an idea of back story. The only other addition of house rules I've decided on is, for 5 power points per rank, you can get one extra attack on a full action. So, if you put 15 points in, you will have a total of 4 attacks on a full attack, etc. Just for those who really want to own in combat...

[Daisyhead]

Ooooh I'm the first one to post, great now everyone will see how lame I am at character creation!

No superhero name as of yet so for now we have Miss Elena Pavlo.
As you can guess she's Russian. She grew up in a travelling circus, her father was a magician and her mother the assistant.
As she grew up Elena proved to be a talented performer (acrobatics) and soon she was working along side her mother and father.
Blah blah blah basically her mum got squished by some broken equipment because the circus people didn't have the money to fix it so Elena stepped up (to be chopped up) instead of mummy darling.

Due to nerves about being maimed and what not Elena's performance was real, she disappeared in a flurry of doves (teleportation). Circus people being what they are (bearded ladies and what not), didn’t discriminate against Elena, they just worked out a way to exploit her newfound talents. With practise Elena found she could use her ability to travel at will, which also enabled her to become a better pickpocket. Which helped support her mangled mother.

The circus was asked to perform in Moscow because so many people had heard of Elena and her father’s incredible act. At the performance a member of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. was a spectator and recognised Elena’s abilities for what they really were. After the show they spoke and Elena realised she could further her skills and become more powerful if she attended a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. school. The lure of power was irresistible to her so off to Geneva she went.

So that's basically it, hope its ok. Danielle ;D

[jeffreazy]

Right So far I have Got:

Rob Cox
A 17 year old from western America.

Rob was an avid rock climber/spelunker and used to take trips to the rockies to persue his hobby. On one such camping trip Rob was climbing a particularly difficult crevasse when all of a sudden he felt the ground shake, he was flung from his hand holds (as he is a free climber) and fell into the crevasse, as he fell he saw a huge rock slide following him down the crevasse. Coincidentally this rock slide had aslo dislodged some illegally dumped radioactive waste which began to affect Rob's unconcious body, buried beneath the rubble.
One week later Rob awoke in pitch black unaware of how long had passed, he began to stuggle out of his bouldery prison, and was shoked at how easily he seemed to be able to move large boulders, as he neared the surface he noticed hat the sillouhette of his hands seemed different and when he reached the moonlight above he saw that his body had been transformed into that of a monster made entirely out of stone. The shock of this caused him to pass out immediately and he awoke to find himself looking at a pile of rocks that when he tried to sit up started moving and forming together to form his body.

After gathering himself together (har har har) Rob started making his way back to camp, stopping by a stream to drink he found himself hungry and for some reason craving to eat the pebbles at the bottom of the stream, gingerly he picked one up and put it into his mouth, then crunched down hard, it tasted like nothing he had ever tasted before, it was delicious.

After having a rock buffet Rob got back to camp attempted to use his spare phone, accidentally crushing it, he also tried to get on his motorbike however that just crumpled under his weight. So Rob, distraught and just realizing that he was naked covered himself up as best he could with his tent in the style of a toga, started making the long hike back to the nearest civilisation.

During this hike he found that he did not tire easily, could easily jump ravines and also he really freaked out the wildlife.

After finally finding civilisation, and managing to hitch a ride on the back of a flatbed truck, he finally made his way home. A month later than he should have been, his father (single parent) after dealing with horror confusion and fear finally accepted that this thing was infact his son. Things went downhill for Rob after that, his friends ostricised him and after many accidents involving destroying machinery and flooring after a few months his father snapped and couldnt take it anymore, a well connected and wealty man, Rob's father arranged passage for Rob to England via container vessle and then to Geneva on a frieght Airplane. He told Rob that he could not deal with him anymore and sent him packing to join up with S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

Richard

[phenomenal0ne]

Gather around, folks! I will tell you the story of Jacques LaCroix, probably better known to you as the masked crusader under the name "The Frenchise™".



Young Jacques grew up in a the town of Avignon, France in a well-situated family. His father was a nuclearscientist and his mother a lawyer in a big lawfirm.
Allthough supporting Jacques education and monetary wishes to the outmost his parents were keeping a distant and cold relationship to their son, raising him with a harsh and crued manner.

Growing up Jacques started to adopt and detest that distant and cold manner at the same time. Especially the snobish behaviour of his well-situated family seemed to fascinate and disgust him the most.
Because of the influence of his parents in a young age Jacques is today known to be a very arrogant and self-centered individual.

In his teenage years Jacques had frequently some kind of freakish visions and sensory precognition. He sometimes had very strong dejavues seeing stuff that was going to happen up to 30 minutes later. Allthough not clear where this powers came from it is widely assumed that it has something to do with the job of his father, who took Jacques sometimes with him to work.

First being afraid of this astonishing visions, Jacques got later used to them and at the age of 17 even started training this skill to the point he could willingly use this trait and take a look into the nearer future.

After finishing his alevels he broke out of university.Being fed up with his family he took a leave and very soon canceld every contact or link to his parents and hometown after getting paid out his heritage.

Having no longer financial problems Jacques wandered around aimlessly and spend his time gambling by using his uncanny power to predict outcome of games.
He spend a part of his money on various kinds of martial arts and weapon training all around the world. He seemed to have a natural talent for man to man combat, which is of course because of his ability to foresee every move of his enemy.
He especially trained the combat with a baton and throwing knifes where he proved to be quite talented.

Wandering around aimlessly Jacques one day witnessed a superhero saving a girl from a burning building. That sight fascinated him so much that he decided at first out of pure boredom to put his fighting skills and powers to use and become a hero himself. Therefore he decided to visit the S.P.E.C.I.A.L trainingcenter in Switzerland. Allthough only having had few experiance as a superhero arrogant Jacques was convinced that he couldn't learn anything new.
Being the arrogant and spoiled person he is he decided to call himself the "Frenchise™", because in his opinion all other heros should copy his style as being the superior style.

Today he sat foot on Geneva airport.

His costume:
Jacques has short black hair, a trained physique and a black goatee and mustache (french style).
Jacques costume is mainly white with black patterns. On his chest the Frenchiselogo is situated. On the side of his right and left leg he has a pocket for his batons. On his black belt there are more than a dozen throwing knifes and the beltbuckle itself is a sharpened french lilly symbol. His mask is just covering his eyes.

Let's have some fun....Georg

P.s.: Just that you get an idea how Jacques is suppossed to look like:

[jeffreazy]

So are we meeting up at 5 or 5.30 and same place or different place? It may have been said last week but I cannot remember.

[Dudeicuf]

5 30 same place. 4d36 in the group study section of the library

[phenomenal0ne]

Jacques's Room

When you enter Jacques's room your first impression is that you by mistake might have entered a Hall of mirrors funhouse. Jacques seems to have installed a mirror literally on every wall of his room (not to mention the big mirror on the ceiling above his bed). On the floor there are some weights lying around with which Jacques usually works out. Also on the wall you will fnd a huge french flag with his "The Frenchise™" logo printed thereon. Next to his king size comfortable looking bed on the bedstand you will find (aside to the usual stuff) a book (French Romantic Poems holed, with one of those trusty small Hustler magazines inside), a sleeping mask, one set of playing cards with special French design a couple of dices and a special coin. But the most obscure items is , and I am not kidding, a big framed photo of himself posing without a costume.
Besides that you will find a huge wardrobe with civil clothing and his self-printed "The Frenchise™"-Shirts (not for sale!) and a valet stand with his patented costume (He carries his knifes and batons always with him, even in bed). In one corner Jacques managed to store a wine rack. The last thing you might notice is a dart board with a few knifes and other sharp object stuck into it and a huge hi-fi system.
You can tell that some of Jacques's heritage went into this room.
Also it is astonishing that the only items of personal value seem to be the photo of his and his playing cards and weapons. No family pictures or other intimidate stuff


Jacques's Day:

After having his first hard training session at S.P.E.C.I.A.L and decorating his room with everything he got predelivered to this institution (if possible) Jacques first took some time off and relaxed while listening to music. After that he decided to take a walk around his new home and explore the facility some more. He put on civil clothes (his trusty "The Frenchise™ Hoodie"). After that Jacques gets the few things he never leaves the house without: his belt carrying his knifes and batons, his set of playing cards as well as his dices and the coin. Aimlessly he wanders around the institution and meets some of the new students. Unfortunaltly he was not able to meet Josefyn, the very pretty girl from the bus or the astonishng beautiful teacher. He stumbled across the big Rock guy he fought the werewolf with and gave him a little smile, because Jacques's french instincts tell him it is a good thing to have this guy as a friend. After some wandering around some more he meets the Speedster standing around in the hall. Of all the people he met today two were especailly dislikable to him. First of all this "Flashlight kid", who seemed to think he is something better than the Frenchise just because he can shoot flashy stuff out of his hand and because he is by coincidence the offspring of those two people considered to be the most powerful heroes in the world. Well, at least he is not bragging about it that much, Jaques thinks. But much more worse is the Speedster. Jacques instantly gets a bad taste in his mouth."What a pure show-off, he thinks, But no matter what... none of them can steal the show when it comes to the Frenchise™". He passes the Speedster giving him a short nod.

After that he managed to find two or three new students with whom he can indulge his addiction: gambling. Of course in Jacques's case it is really not a bad thing since due to his uncanny power he never loses. And since the other students don't know of his powers yet Jacques thinks he can make some profit out of it.
After making some money Jacques decides to call it a day.
He goes to his room and trains his sleight of hand a little bit more with the coin and practices some more magic tricks, which in Jacques case involve even less magic than normal.

[jeffreazy]

Rob's Room:
Basic. That's the theme of Rob's room, All the furniture is made from reinforced steel, the bed is huge (as expected for a guy of Rob's size), and there is a simple desk and chair. There is a heavy punching bag in one corner of the room, the only special feature in his room is a small fountain with hundreds of pebbles in (now known as snacks to Rob), a small piece of nature in his room. The window overlooks the gardens of the academy.

Rob's Day:
After spending a while brooding in his room Rob decided to go for a walk in the gardens trying to avaoid people as much as he can, he has some peace for a while by himself until the speedster and the slimy-acid-boy find him and hang around, Rob doesn't pay too much attention to them but every once in a while nod's or grunts in agreement as much of the talk is about the test earlier and the teachers. Rob heads back to his room with the two followers in tow until he leaves them at the door, he then has a snack and lies down thinking he should find some books to read if there's a library anywhere.

[Dudeicuf]

We currently have dropped down to 4, maybe 3 players so this is a message for anyone who would like to play, PM with what sort of RP experience you have and any ideas for characters and I'll send you the rule book and a character sheet. We play thursdays from 5 30 to 9 on frenchay campus in the library group study rooms

[mafoon]

The Fabricator-
A young genius soon to be the greatest scientist of his time, known then as William Scott, sat down at his computer and opened his mail. He read it aloud to himself. A withdrawal letter on the companies previous permission to begin human testing and a cancellation of his research grant.
"...which is why we regret that we will be withdrawing the funding and cancelling tommorows human testing. *sigh* There's no way i'm letting them sell my research on, not after i worked so hard and i was so close."

Will got up and headed out of his office to the labs down the hall. He tryed his code on the door but he was already taken off the system. It didn't take him long to disable the security systems and get the door open.

Once inside Will gathered all the documents into his bag and transfered all the data onto discs irreversibly wiping the computers after. He just needed the nanites now and he was out of there. He broke through the secound set of security systems into the isolation room and grabbed all the samples. In his rush one of the containers tumbled out of his hand onto the floor and smashed, setting off the breach of containment alarms he himself designed. This was the last thing he could remember before he passed out.

The image of the falling vial and release of the nanites haunted his dreams. When Will finally did come round he was laid out on a table in a sterile looking white room dressed in white overalls. A voice crackled up from the corner of the room and he span around to look where it was comming from. Will noticed how different he felt as he span, he felt more agile. He looked up into the corner of the room where the voice was coming from and saw a speaker and a camera.

"Good to see your awake, we were worried you were gonna stay in that comatose state" Will didn't recognise the voice "You've been out now for nearly 3 months, all the while your body has been changing." Will interrupted at this point
"Where am I? Who are?"
"My name is not important, and your in a whole mess of trouble is where you are."
"What's happened to me? whats going on?"
"You were infected with those nanites of yours and we're studying the effect of them on your body." Will paced around the room looking for a way out "When they said they'd get us your research material i didn't think we'd actually get you as research material." Suddenly Will fixated back on the camera and his mind raced with new ideas and a way to bust out.
"I won't be your lab rat!" Will yelled as he leapt at the camera and yanked it and the speaker from the wall.

Will slumped into the corner and took the speaker and camera apart and cobled together a device from their parts. He could feel the nanites in and on his skin and somehow they were helping him, spot welding and making the metals malleable. It was genius, a device that would have taken him years to design and perfect, designed and created in moments from scraps of electronics. He could hear doors opening just outside the room. They must be coming to restrain me Will thought.
"Well here goes" he crossed his fingers and activated it. Guards burst in dressed in hazmat suits just as Will disapeared in a flash of light.

Will reapered in the back of a vehicle landing flat on his face, there were several odd looking people dressed in brightly coloured costumes.
"Who are you?" asked one of the passengers
"Um..." Will considered his words carefully for a change, these were clearly super heroes as was evident from the stretched arm wrapped around him "I'm a super heroe." The stretchy guy put him down at this point.
"Not yet your not, you gotta graduate first" one of the other passengers picked up Will's device, which was now used up and smoking a little.
"So you don't have powers then, your one of them toy type heroes" Will nodded affraid and insulted that his creation was referred to as a toy
"My name is Will" everyone laughed "whats funny?"
"Thats not a heroes name, you should call yourself gadget man or something, my name is Aluric, i have the aluring powers of hypnotism."
"OK then call me the Fabricator" Will was begining to worry now, he was getting deeper into this lie and he was not good at lieing. But wait, your a wanted man thought Will aka the Fabricator this could be a way out of it, i can re-invent myself. The driver leaned around his chair to look back at the passengers
"We're here."

[mafoon]

Hopefully that works as an intro, i turn up to the acadamy in some vehcile with a bunch of other new students and i enroll

[Dudeicuf]

Game will be Thursday at 6pm in 4d36 (group study room, 4th floor library). Matt and Neil will be the new players and you'll both be coming in a small minibus of 6 students all together (including you two) who were supposed to be going to Australia, but for an undisclosed reason, you have been transferred to Switzerland

[jeffreazy]

I knocked out a bear, it looked like this:

[Dudeicuf]

You join us now on the twelve o'clock news for this emergency bulletin. 25 minutes ago, a deadly attack was launched in London. The unknown villain is attacking in central London as we speak, after the attack was launched at Trafalgar Square, the battle seems to be heading down towards Westminster. Currently there is no sign of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad One, however S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad Six and Three have been fighting the enemy.

This just in, it is believed that the Villain is referring to himself as the 'Meme Master', and from what we can tell, his powers seem to consist of having animated several popular internet memes. There seems to be this man is spitting high speed bolts at the heroes. The man is tearing up newspapers he's spawning which are razor sharp, cutting through buildings and people alike. There are also unconfirmed reports of more enemies attacking the the city.

All we can hope is that S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Squad One turn up and put an immediate end to this violence.