AGE OF WONDERS - "The IMPERIALS"

From RPGnet
Jump to: navigation, search
"The British Empire has always encountered difficulty in distinguishing between its heroes and its monsters..."



GREETINGS, children of vanquished and colonised nations the world o'er.
Welcome to this telling of our exciting picture-periodical for boys and girls. And let us bid a special welcome to those poorer children who, in four or five years time, will be gratefully reminisce these words in a creased and dog-eared copy of our transcripted publication, perhaps donated to their orphanage or borstal by local Rotarians. To all such urchins of the future, and to our educated audience of the present day, we wish you many happy fireside hours in the memorium of the thrills and chuckles inwhich we shall play, though let us not forget the many serious, morally instuctive points there are within this narracitve: firstly, women are always going on and making a fuss. Secondly, the German and Chinese are brilliant, but evil. Lastly, laudanum, taken in moderation is good for the eyesight and prevents kidney-stones. With these dictums in mind, allow us to wish both many hours of pictorial pleasure.
LONDON, Eighteen Hundred Eighty Eight.
The Victorian Era is in it's latter day, as the last decade of the 19th century begins to open. It is a time of great change in an age of stagnation, a period of chaste order and ignoble chaos. It has been too long since heroes walked this land.
And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mighties heroes found themselves united against a common threat! On that day, the AVENGERS were born -- to fight the foes no single Man Of Renown could withstand!
HUZZAH!
Thus we begin our first remarkable and rousing serial narrative... The first edition of our new Boys' Picture Monthly will begin this arresting yarn. If man ye be and not some craven dog of Flanders, then in GOD's name do not fail to reserve your seat at the table for this edition of our Great Game of illustrated chap-book.
With Best Regards, I remain, a friend and confidant to boys everywhere.
Long live the Queen!






a prelude for things to come... LARGE

Welcome to AGE OF WONDERS - "the AVENGERS - 1889" setting and campaign wiki. This wiki site is a resource for a face-to-face tabletop superhero role-playing game using the M&M system called "the AVENGERS - 1889". This site is a wiki, which is a web page that can be editted by anyone with surfing the web! The goal of this wiki site is to form a repository of information about our game that is easily accessible and edittable to the entire game group. A "campaign series bible".

CAMPAIGN CONNECTIONS

THE CURRENT AVENGERS ROSTER
Avengers 1888 - Claim Your PCs
MARSHAL AMERICA 1888 ARGONAUT 1888 DOCTOR STRANGE 1888 SPYDER-MAN 1888 THOR 1888
Captain Steve Rodgers NA Dr. Steven Edmund Strange Pieter Benjerman Parkure John Henry
Blah blah blah, this is where you write a short bio brief, who you are, why you are and what you're going to do about it... An electromagnetic marvel, the world's first A.I. protects Queen and Country while searching for answers about its existence. Blah blah blah, this is where you write a short bio brief, who you are, why you are and what you're going to do about it... Blah blah blah, this is where you write a short bio brief, who you are, why you are and what you're going to do about it... Seeking to reintroduce his son to the world of Mortals, Odin All-Father created the mortal form of John Henry to teach his son humility and understanding of the common man. by the power of Mystic Mjolnir, Henry can assume the powers and form of THOR, GOD OF THUNDER!!
Tutelage / scrapper Mad Science / brick Mystic / support Mad Science / martial artist Alien / brick
inspired by Captain America inspired by the Vision inspired by Dr. Strange inspired by Spider-Man inspired by Thor
as played by DEVIN as played by ERIC as played by JEFFERSON as played by KARL as played by SCOTT
Individual Title:
??? 		Individual Title:
"The Astounding Argonaut" 		Individual Title:
"Strange Tales...starring the mystifying D" 		Individual Title:
"The Unknowable Spyder-Man" 		Individual Title:
"Journey into Mystery"
Character Sheet Files
CURRENT LOCATION
The Giza Plateau, Egypt - the Avengers, having just escaped Kang the Cnoqueror's pyramid deathtrap, now find their way out of the ancient tomb but not before uncovering a hidden chamber. An entrance to the dimension of Limbo. They now see the clues to the destination and masterplans left in the residence of the lord of time...
timeline of the Avengers' 1888 story




AGE OF WONDERS: Setting Background[edit]

The IMPERIALS (MARVEL's Victorian Age Avengers)
PL8 | 120pp | Trade-offs Max +3/-3 (unless otherwise approved) | +5pp for completion of Background & 3x3s
It's the Victorian Age, 1888. The world needs heroes, great heroes. In a setting "re-imagined" from Marvel Comics. Players take the role of any previous "Avenger" from Marvel Comics continuity and "re-imagines" them in a Victorian state of mind. ONLY former Avenger characters are allowed (but many many Marvel heroes have been Avengers!).

THE GREAT GAME

The AVENGERS are heroes, special agents of Queen & Country.
First concieved to reform a group previously considered during the reign of Queen Elizabeth that had vanished without a trace some 330 years ago. The reason for the lag in reforming the team was: lack of need and the time in finding men of power such as yourself.
The previous Avengers team (the Imperials) were heroes of the generation that could have consisted of people that would be the age of an older sibling to your forefathers. This group was known to most commoners as special guard to the Queen but they were likely not on "your" power level (as powers have increase on the average in YOUR generation). So you may or may not have heard of them...
You will be housed in the Tower of London...
The Council of War Room is housed in Broad Arrow Tower (also known as: Wakefield Tower) and your quarters will be with the other guards to the Queen in the Fortress just below Broad Arrow or if you are of a family of note you will have a cottage in the Yeoman Warders’ Homes area.

THE SETTING

More of a "Age of Wonders" type of Avengers of the Gaslight era type thing. That's inspired by the Marvel comic 1602.
While I'll use enough of the mood/themes to give the feeling of the Victorian Age I don't plan to go too crazy with gothic/horror. that's the main reason I went away from naming the group some sort of secret society... I want them to be wonders... hence all the "Men of Honor", “Sons of Darwin”, "Witchbreed" and the team name "the AVENGERS".

THE MEN OF RENOWN (not “supers” or “super powered”)

Whether mutant, clockwork golem, alien, paranormal, or trained hero I want to have a term for the supers of the setting. I don't imagine it being that regal (as opposed to the Mutant-Aristocracy), but it's not negative.
It is 1889, the world is lit by gaslight. For the most part history remains unchanged, with minor additions and changes caused from the "super powered". Scientists of the ages have given them the scientific name "Lusus Naturae". History has been littered with people of legend and myth today they are known largely as "MEN OF RENOWN" (or simply the "RENOWN"). The world looks at these oddities with awe and suspicion... All save those of the more noble birth - some RENOWN came into their powers through their ancestory. They are known as the “Sons of Darwin”, “the Witchbreed” (or as Darwin terms: “MAJESTIC"), while basically a mutant by our standards these men and women are looked at in high regard. They descend from Witchbreed Ancestory... A noble stock. Family lines pass along many similar traits and are known for their abilities. Only the grotesque of the Witchbreed family lines are not regarded as aristocracy, most Witchbreed find wealth and fame by carrying on the traditions of their family.

POWER SOURCES

The Power Sources that all your powers should be listed as follow. Mystic power source is generally left to the opposition.
Victorian Society is coming to terms with itself through science and invention. Heroes wishing to have a Mystic Power Source must speak with me about the origin in better detail. Some power sources may BE mystic but they are assumed to be under one of the above for the Victorian Society.
ALIEN
You are of alien stock. Alien races may have abilities that are super-human by comparison to Earthlings, particularly in Earth's enviroment. Contact with alien or alien technology also may transform ordinary Earthlings, giving them powers and abilities far beyond those of their fellow men. Not all aliens come from other planets - included in this branch of power source is: Gods, Lost Earthly Cultures, Atlantians, Martians, MoonMen, and those from other dimensions.
SONS OF DARWIN
You are of majestic stock. By Darwin's studies we know that evolution is a reality. Throughout known history there have been legends of great heroes - this may be the solution. The Majestic are known to have evolved beyond human capacity, derived from their ancestory, having abilities and powers beyond mortal man. Generally the line of succession follows a set of parameters on which the Majestic ancestory follow, but it is not limited to further evolution. The Majestic metamorphose or "emerge" through any means of cause - from coming of age to outside stimuli. Majestic are generally thought of as family lines in the Arthurian sense and take to royalty should the family (and evolution of powers) appear favorable to society.
The idea for this one is that all "mutants" (people born with powers) have inherited the same powers from their ancestory, but with the "mutant-gene" getting stronger with every couple generations.
Similar to Marvel Comics the mutants (aka. Sons of Darwin or Witchbreed) are looked at with disdain and suspicion in most cases, thought to be mockeies by some. On the other hand there are those that are men of science and believe in the newly coined term of Darwinism. This is the next evolutionary state. Many of these men/women's families are becoming the aristocracy within such science circles. And the outlook of the “enlightened” Victorian person is becoming more of AWE and lesser fear of the mutant. "Witchbreed" is the old-world negative term for Mutants. "Sons of Darwin" is the overall term and “Majestics” is the new Darwin coined term for these wonders.
MAD SCIENCE
You are a product of mad science. From gadgeteering to men of science to true pioneers of tomorrow's theories, and any of their creations - these are considered the Mad Science power sources.
TUTELAGE
You are a master of skill and training. Through aspiration, training and hard work you have developed yourself to the limits of human capacity. Your abilities may seem "Majestic" in ability and scale but your family hasn't exibited Majestic Ancestory...
MYSTIC
Mystic power source is generally left to the opposition. Victorian Society is coming to terms with itself through science and invention. Some power sources may BE mystic but they are assumed to be under one of the above for the Victorian Society.

THE AVENGERS

The AVENGERS were formed early in the Queen Elizabeth’s reign and consisted of several men and women of Renown. Their powers let them be a formidable special league to serve and protect Queen and Country. The original AVENGERS were regarded as heroes known across the UK, but details were always scarce and sketchy at best.
They were formed based on the 1555 "calculatiions" of horoscopes of Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth by Nicholas Dee “the Fury”, Dee was arrested and the charges were expanded to treason against Mary. Dee appeared in the Star Chamber and exonerated himself, but was turned over to the reactionary Catholic Bishop Bonner for religious examination. His strong and lifelong penchant for secrecy perhaps worsening matters, this entire episode was only the most dramatic in a series of attacks and slanders as Dee sought to protect the crown to be. Clearing his name yet again, he soon became a close associate of Bonner, then later when Elizabeth took the throne in 1558, choosing Elizabeth's coronation date himself.
Dee became her trusted advisor on astrological, scientific and defense matters forming S.H.E.I.L.D., Britain's supreme intelligence agency for advocating resource control in renown, majestic and weird happenings.
Recently Queen Victoria has issued request for the recreation of the HMM team. The creation of the new team has come from the urging of Queen Victoria's Prime Minister (leading his administration from the House of Lords since 1895), Henry-Peter Gyrich, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, with several recent "accidents" and threats to the Queen hopes to alliviate further problems. Along with several of the Queen's lead scientists and researchers he has compiled a master list of the best options for the new AVENGERS and has begun making contact to bring them under contract. He is an Imperialist with plans for expanding the Royal Navy and the formation of Her Majesty's Men (the AVENGERS) that is causing disagreement within the Liberal Party. It is rumored that his care is so great that he would resign following a vote of censure over military supplies.
With his status, Gyrich is one of only two humans (the second being the Queen) who can affect the AVENGERS in many difficult ways. He has the need for control. Gyrich in the past has revoked the AVENGERS' priority status after noting several (in his mind) problems with the team.
Gyrich oversaw various S.H.E.I.L.D. activities, and most recently forbade their presistance in forming these AVENGERS to go on a mission to help Captain Britain (John Carter). The next incident involved a security leak. Gyrich took part in a Parliment investigation involving the formation of the AVENGERS which claimed they were threats to the state's security. When the investigation was over, Parliment drafted a charter of guidelines for any future invarnations of the AVENGERS to follow.
Gyrich formed the Commission on Men of Renown Activities, the oversight body on activities of such individuals across the Empire; there he was part of the team that forced Captain Britain to resign. Gyrich also took part in Stratigem: Wideawake. A project of Parliment commission designed to deal with the problems concerning indigent Men of Renown across the Empire.






WORLD AT LARGE[edit]

the GOOD (heroes)[edit]

- The Shield of Britain[edit]

SECRET IDENTITY: SHIELD (the acronym for Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage Law-Enforcement Division)

S.H.I.E.L.D. has existed for 300 years as a secret order dedicated to protecting Britain and the British Empire, each member of the cabal tracing their lineage back to one of the Knights of the Round Table. Only the Royal family can order them, and they are a very secret order - known only to higher stations of Parliment.
Nicholas Dee “the Fury”, Queen Elizabeth's trusted advisor on astrological, scientific and defense matters formed S.H.E.I.L.D., Britain's supreme intelligence agency for advocating resource control in renown, majestic and weird happenings. This organization, from which “the Imperials” (the previous incarnation of Avengers) were constructed under, often operates as much as a covert agency as a quasi-military one with cutting edge technology and theory such as Babbage's engines as well as Otto Lilienthal and Wright's flying technology. Currently led by Tod Radcliffe - in the post of executive director (the agency's second), with field agent Commander Lance Hunter. S.H.E.I.L.D. includes a Spiritualism Division, which includes majestic Betsy Braddock who is the liason for Muir Island's Torchwood Institute, a small university institute and island off of the northern coast of Scotland and the home of Britain's most comprehensive majestic study complex, founded by Dr. Moira MacTaggert. Originally, she created the facility to help her son. Muir is a rival to Cambridge in scientific study. The staff includes: Rahne Sinclaire, Rory Campbell, Tom Corsi, Sharon Friedlander, James Madrox and other naturalists.
They utilize an airship that is their "futuristic" air base. With "cloud" generators that keep it hidden.
Lord "the Fury" envisioned
"A permanent department for skullduggery, denied military operations, and intelligence gathering. The Shields of Britain."
At that time the Torchwood Institute formed to research and combat "renown" threats to Great Britain, and use their findings to make the British Empire great. To those ends, it acquires and reverse engineers technology by any means deemed necessary. While described as "beyond parlament", they are known to cooperate with the AVENGERS to some extent. There appears at present to be some sort of rapport with the Prime Minister although historically this may not always have been the case. To those that have come in contact with Torchwood, they are primarily believed to be a special forces team. ... based on the Marvel Character: S.H.I.E.L.D. (cameo mention - Issue #1)






the BAD (villains)[edit]

- the Moleoids[edit]

a field artist representation of the Moleoid creatures

ALTERNATE IDENTITY: Mole-Things

" ??? " ... based on the Marvel Character: Moloids (1st Appearance - Issue #1)

- the Magma-Men[edit]

a field artist representation of the Magma-Men creatures

ALTERNATE IDENTITY: Stone-Apes

" ??? " ... based on the Marvel Character: Lava Men (1st Appearance - Issue #1)






the UNKNOWN (neutral or unknown)[edit]

- Lord Henry-Peter Gyrich[edit]

PUBLIC IDENTITY: Lord Gyrich

Lord Henry-Peter Gyrich, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, mentioned by "the Fury" as having organized the Avengers ... based on the Marvel Character: Henry Gyrich (cameo mention - Issue #1)

- Lady Charon Carter[edit]

PUBLIC IDENTITY: Madam Carter

"Bright red curly long locks of hair, crystal blue eyes, porcelyn skin - a beauty to behold. This young (17) lady was saved by Argonaut and Marshal America from falling to her death below the train tracks while aboard the British Rail way as it travelled to the Welsh countryside. " ... based on the Marvel Character: Sharon Carter (1st Appearance - Issue #1)

- Richard Milhouse Jones [edit]

PUBLIC IDENTITY: Jones

"Jones, a part time pub musician was travelling with his extended family - his sister and her four children on the British Rail line returning them to their home in Wales from spending time with him in London. Jones was at first somewhat resistance to answering the Wasp's commands to save his family - she quickly made him come to his senses and they escaped without incident." ... based on the Marvel Character: Rick Jones (1st Appearance - Issue #1)

- Master Henry Pym[edit]

Hank Pym in wonderous discovery!

PUBLIC IDENTITY: that wanker Pym

 ??? ... based on the Marvel Character: Hank Pym (cameo mention - Issue #1)








NEWS & EVENTS[edit]

Projects & Plans[edit]





LOCATIONS OF INTEREST[edit]

Notable areas, landmarks, institutions and businesses[edit]

The Isle of Wight coastline, just off Osbourne House.
The Isle of Wight is an English island and county in the English Channel five miles from the South Coast of Britain. It is situated south of the county of Hampshire and is separated from mainland Britain by the Solent. Popular as "THE" Victorian holiday resort, the Isle of Wight is known for its natural beauty and for its world-famous sailing based in Cowes.
It was home to the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Queen Victoria with her much loved summer residence and final home Osborne House built in East Cowes. The island is also one of the richest fossil locations for dinosaurs in Europe.
In 686 AD, it became the last part of the British Isles to convert to Christianity, a century after the rest of Great Britain had done so.
The island is the smallest ceremonial county in England at 380 km² (147 sq mi), although at low tide it is actually larger than Rutland. With a single Member of Parliament and roughly 32,000 permanent residents, it is also the most populated Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It was once part of Hampshire.
On August 27, 1888 a massive 200 meter cylinder "appeared" along the coast of the Isle. This trench, seemingly carved sheer into the surface, formed in the center of Osbourne Manor, destroying it dropping much of the stucture into the unknown depths of the abyss. As the Avengers arrived three days later it was learned that "Stone-Apes" (as Wasp called them) were continuing to slowly move across the country-side seemingly from out of the whole in "stone ship" patterns - which appeared to advance their "ground" of ultra-heated ground and into the (now) boiling channel. Opposite the stone ship patterns of the hole stood a single Standing stone.
  • The London Trumpet
    Map of London, noting the location of the London Trumpet's office building.
 ???


Neighborhoods & Boroughs of London[edit]

Suburbs & the Country outside London[edit]

Government, Corporate & Financial of London[edit]

The World Beyond[edit]

The streets of Tombstone, AZ
Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, USA, founded in 1879 in what is then the Arizona Territory. The first known "hole" appeared about 2 miles out of this American town.





RESOURCE MATERIAL[edit]

Avengers 1888 Bluebook BASE: this is a copy/paste format for starting a Bluebook.

Avengers Resource[edit]


ANIMAL STATS Steve Kenson posted several new animals templates for M&M2e... Here they are for posterity.

NEAT FACT-OIDS[edit]

POLICE RESPONSE TIMES[edit]

  • Rich Suburbs and Civic Centres: 4 minutes +1d20 rounds.
  • Middle class suburbs, and entertainment centers: 8 minutes +1d20 rounds.
  • Slums and low-class suburbs: 1d20 minutes.







SPOILERS[edit]


RESERVE AVENGER ROSTER
These hearty souls are potential candidates for full term membership or our teammates that have fallen in battle or been lost.
THE WASP 1888 MR. HULK 1888 BUSH RANGER 1888
Lady Janet Van Dyne Professor Robert Bruce Banner Mr. Clint Barton
Peer of the Van Dyne title. Defender of the Realm. Defender of the Natural Order. Within the esteemed Psychiatrist and Professor of History at Cambridge, it is Mr. Hulk that rages from the psyche - “From here, light and sacred draughts”. Fraught with self-doubt and a need to find himself beyond the monster, Banner lends his body for Queen and Country, while looking for answers... Driven off the family ranch and into the Australian outback by brigands, young Clint Barton learned the way of the warrior and earned the Aborigine name Burnum Matari, or great warrior man.
Mystic / Blaster Son of Darwin / Brick Tutelage / Blaster
inspired by Wasp inspired by Hulk inspired by [1]
as played by JOHN as played by KEVIN as played by DAN
Individual Title:
"The Wasp at the Earth's Core!" 		Individual Title:
"The Strange Case of Professor Banner and Mister Hulk" 		Individual Title:
"Weird Outback Adventure Illustrated"
With John's withdrawl from the game, you can see the Wasp is on hiatus.
Players can also post their ideas for future alternate characters here on this chart, as I have.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=AGE_OF_WONDERS_-_%22The_IMPERIALS%22&oldid=75142"