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13:37, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day.

Posted by The WatcherFor group 0
The Watcher
GM, 33 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 2 May 2021
at 04:45
  • msg #1

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

Masquerade - A New Generation

[Earth-682, Two Years Ago]

The long-awaited SHIELD report on young metahumans was finally released to the public.  It confirmed what most had always suspected over the several generations of superpowered from the so-called 'Golden Age' of the Greatest Generation until the present day.  Simply put; a well-educated young superhuman was more useful and more stable than an uneducated one.

And so the report was made public so that superpowered schools would start around the world.  And super 'villains' took note as well, realizing that a superpowered recruit will still more useful educated than not...

[Outskirts of New York City, One Year Ago]

Friday night, the giant ballroom was empty as it was most nights before that.  The SHIELD base used it for rare diplomatic functions.  Sunday night onward would be the same state of readiness.

But Saturday night, there was to be a Masquerade Ball, hopefully the first of many.   Young superpowered students, full of potential, were invited to an Open Campus Day.  Various superpowered schools were attempt to court and charm them.  And the students themselves would vie and strive to be placed in the learning institution of their choice.

For those young talents who were 'out of the phone booth' and still accepted by friends and family, guest tickets were also issued.   For lone runaways and other loners, SHIELD granted limited legal emancipation, a legal leverage almost demanded by the need for teen heroes.  Or was that teen soldiers?

To keep everyone's identity discreet, holographic emitters were installed everywhere.  Tony Stark had promised the tech would work if everyone respected its defined limits.  Reed Richards had then increased the power and capabilities of the holofilters but including warnings about how to use them correctly.  But the security was not particularly enhanced in response.  Mr. Fantastic had been one of the most sober and mature individuals even as a teenager.  And it had never occurred to such a serene intellect that other teens might not see things with such maturity...
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:53, Sun 09 May 2021.
The Watcher
GM, 34 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 2 May 2021
at 04:47
  • msg #2

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

OOC:  Face front, True Believers!  This game has finally begun.  :-)

Please don't be concerned with the great deal of OOC text at the end of this post.  The lengths will fade as the posts go on.

The post is set within a SHIELD base in New York City.  This could be very similar to the base the defrosted Steve Rogers was held in at the end of the Captain America movie.  This base is a skyscraper that has floors devoted to diplomatic and conference functions.  Tonight those floors have been turned into an Open Campus day for young superpowered teens.   It is a strange mix of adult ball for the grownups and a horrid little pizza arcade for the younger guests and everything in between.

SHIELD has hosted the party as it is one of the few places that can provide security for such an unusual gathering.  SHIELD agents are discreetly everywhere protecting the guests from outside malfeasance and the various sensitive base functions from the guests.

It is one year before the real start of the game.  This is essentially a flashback.  Your characters are a year younger than you have designed them to be (perhaps even as young as twelve).  They are less mature and likely have less control over their powers.

At this point in their lives, the PCs don't necessarily know each other (individual players can decide that their characters know each other in the scene if they wish).  They want to join a super team and get some ordinary schooling but have not yet found one they will accept and/or will accept them.

If the characters are out to their family, they have guest passes for their family.  If they are representing themselves alone, SHIELD has granted limited legal emancipation to young heroes and possibly assigned a superhuman adult sponsor to them.  Asylum and visa status have been granted, if needed, for visitors from elsewhere.

Young heroes can arrive dressed as they will.  They may choose to not hide their 'secret', ordinary, identity.  They may choose to be in their super-identity.  Or they may choose to just obscure their identity and just be rather overdressed strangers.  In this game, secret identities are not generally a problem for heroes (unless their players wants one to be) except for the Janus playbook.

With so many people to possibly disguise, SHIELD has holo-filters that cover all of the party floors.  These holo-filters are much like video filters now but three-dimensional and very convincing.  SHIELD allows general free reign in choice of masquerade costumes but do ask that the filters aren't actually used to deceive.  Characters with unusual anatomies can seem normal.  Those with secret identities can appear to be some other normal person.  The filters are generally foolproof but can not keep up with rapid movement.

With that, the young heroes are free to mingle.  There are several groups of people to mingle with.  An incomplete list would be:

1. Other young hero prospects:  This will be all of the PCs but a few NPC young student applicants as well.
2. Staff and SHIIELD agents:  There are obvious SHIIELD agents and most of the servants and waiters are actually SHIELD agents in tuxes. A 'smart' assistant will respond vocally if called by name (Jarvis/Friday/Veronica/Jocasta).
3. Family and friends of the young heroes:  Starry-eyed normal folks on one of the strangest and most wonderful nights of their lives.
4. School Recruiters:  Practically every legitimate school for supers has a booth and staff ready to schmooze with the young talents.  The Avengers, Fantastic Four, SHIELD (as a military school) and the X-Men certainly have a presence.   Other known 'heroic' groups may have schools of their own.  Here is a list of Marvel superteams.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...mics_superhero_teams

There will also be custom groups running schools unique to this campaign, some to be designed by the players.

5. Media:  Selected and trusted members of the media have been allowed to mingle with the guests with the following restrictions.  First, they must identify themselves as media.  And, second, they cannot 'out' anyone's true identity or the actual location or 'front' name for the schools so as to give the student's privacy and a sense of normality.
6. Actual Marvel Heroes:  Many heroes are mingling.  Some really are looking forward to meet the next generation.  Others are regretting getting the coffee when weekly assignments were decided.
7. Some folks I forgot or you suggested:  'Nuff Said.

All of the schools have nice swag and gift baskets to give.  Most of the takings are good quality but ordinary items (coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts, etc.).  There is one exception.  As a mercy to young heroes, the Fantastic Four will donate a UMF (Unstable Molecule Fabric) costume for heroes whose clothing may be damaged by their powers.  This is why the Fantastic Four aren't the Fantastic Flashers.  UMF suits will withstand any use of powers and change form when the user changes form (for those shapeshifting heroes).

There is a central 'lobby' that connects all of the locations and attractions of the party.  This is where characters could meet if there was no other reason for them to meet.  Various interactive holographic globes are available in the lobby for guests to play with.  The globes show 'school districts'.  These districts are small around major population centers (such as New York City) and large over sparsely-populated areas (say, all of Micronesia).  The location of the schools within each district is not shown to keep student's privacy.

OK, here's what to do this post; simply place your character and whatever guests they might bring.  You can interact with other PCs if you wish.  Then go ahead and 'name-drop'.  That is, let me know what your characters are hoping to find at the party in-character.  Or let me know what you as a player would like to see in the posts OOC section.  Don't be discouraged by this tame opening.  Once you are placed on the board, the game can really begin.

And I will try to serve up your suggestions next post.

Oh, one last thing, 'villain' groups are just as interested in recruiting you as heroic groups.  And they really want to be at this party  But they have to be sneaky about it.  Not every mask you will find in this party has a true friend behind it.


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:54, Sun 09 May 2021.
The Watcher
GM, 55 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 9 May 2021
at 07:55
  • msg #3

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

OOC: And so it begins... :-)
Gateway
player, 23 posts
Sun 9 May 2021
at 09:48
  • msg #4

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

Dr strange had dressed Rendal in a tailored suit, nothing over the top or expensive but well made.
His long unruly dirty blond hair had been brushed and tied back in a pony tail and his blood red eyes were covered with green contact lenses.
Rendal had been nervous all day and had worked himself up to the point that he said he didn't want to go.

Strange had talked it through with him and in the end they had come to a compromise, he would go if his little demon from his sanctuary was allowed to go to to give him moral support.

At present the nervous young 14 year old was stood in a darkened corner opening little portals between himself and the food table, every now and then he'd reach through pick up a little titbit and secretly places it under his jacket where it dissappeared followed by the sound of crun hung and the odd small burp.

All, the time he kept his head down and didn't make eye contact with anyone.

He knew he needed to get into one of the schools, strange had said it was to help him stay safe but his nerves had got the better of him so he just tried to will himself to disappear into the shadows and not be seen. It took all his will and the gentle  ooing from his breast pocket to stop him opening a portal back to his room at Dr strange's house
Ricochet
player, 34 posts
Sasha Struck
The Bull
Sun 9 May 2021
at 10:04
  • msg #5

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

The crowd of people was surprising to the teen girl meandering around the event, seeing what the various booths had on offer. She wore jeans and a purple T-shirt, along with a simple black domino mask to hide her identity. It wasn't much, but she clearly hadn't put in much effort to that effect. Beside her, and about the same height, was a stout older man in a blue business suit. He rubbed his hands together to get out some of his nervous excitement, wearing a wide grin as he took stock of the local options. All in all, he seemed the complete opposite of the girl's vague indifference.

"Alright kiddo, time to meet some superheroes and get your foot in the door to SHIELD!" The girl didn't look at him when she responded.

"I dunno, Roger. Maybe the Avengers instead. But over there it looks like the Fantastic Four are passing out costumes, so that sounds very cool."

"Free costumes? Dang, those guys really know how to win folks over. Wouldn't hurt to go look, right? C'mon, Sasha, let's check it out." Roger started a brisk pace toward the FF booth, with Sasha following along behind him, eyebrows raised above her frown.

"I've got the mask on, Rodge. That means I'm Ricochet."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Sun 09 May 2021.
Leviathan
player, 16 posts
Sun 9 May 2021
at 23:55
  • msg #6

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

Abi walked a bit behind her parents. She had begged and whined and pleaded for them to use the holofilter.

So now Abigail walked in to the ball looking like a normal 12 year old girl. Mousey brown hair, just a bit too long. A skirt, blouse and a much loved cardigan. Just normal.

"Now dear you must come and meet... This should be a good school for ... "

"Nathan, surely .. would be better."

Abi let her parents talk and looked towards the Xavier Institute stand.

They've been doing this for years, and probably have all the answers, or at least the best way to cope with unexpected developments. "I grew scales overnight.. does this mean I'm a mutant?" I wonder what they all think about having to compete openly for students like this?

Her gaze shifted as her parents chatted to a blinding array of other persons.

God did you see the size of that man. Which bricklayer built his suit for the evening?

Another group. Dad seems happy with them, must be scientists.

Her eyes were drawn to the Fantastic Fource. Dr Richards is an expert, perhaps he..

Dr Richards happened to look her way at just that second scanned across to her mum and dad happily engaged in another conversation about the mysteries of the universe and then pointedly, looked away. Perhaps not

She chewed her bottom lip. I don't want to be here. I can't even go to the school and just talk to the teachers, and get the guided tour. How can I even feel what I want right now. It's.. It's a festival.. or a circus.

She tried to tug at her father's sleeve. "Dad can we go. I know you haven't seen these people for ages but.." And then more people swept in.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Sun 09 May 2021.
Jubilee
player, 12 posts
Mon 10 May 2021
at 00:25
  • msg #7

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

"I can't believe I got stuck with this" Jubilation Lee grumbled to no one in particular as she manned the X-Men's booth. As the youngest of the X-Men, she was supposed to be there to connect with other young mutants and put on a good face-metaphorically speaking, it was a masquerade-for the group. "This is so lame. I've got homework I could be doing"
"Based on past experience I am highly skeptical you would be doing your homework even if you weren't here" Beast told her.
"Duh. But I could be. Shouldn't we be, you know, saving the world or somethin'?"
"We can't save the world every day, child. Besides, I assume Wolverine's off on a mission."
"That's what he says, but I think he just didn't want to come to a party that doesn't have a bar."
She waved to one of the passing potentials. "Hey, we're the X-Men. Fighting for a world that fears us. Umm... that doesn't make us sound great, but it's really exciting. You get to fight bad guys and go into space. I've been to other planets. Further than Louis Armstrong and all those guys."
"Neil Armstrong"
"What-ever"
Counterforce
player, 28 posts
Svetlana Kragova
The Brain
Mon 10 May 2021
at 10:37
  • msg #8

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

Svetlana took her time fiddling with the holo-filter just outside the ballroom. She was never one for cosmetics – why waste all that time and money just to look nice? When it was so easy to adjust her appearance, though, she could begin to see the appeal. Besides, there could be people from A.I.M. in attendance. Based on what people write about that group online, I would not put it past them to have agents or informants looking for me here. They must know I am the best person to go to if they want to perfect their stolen suits. Why make their work easy for them? Yet while surely correct, this argument smacked a little of rationalisation.

And it is a very interesting technology. That much was true. It was not so remote in principle from her force field generator, but obviously the design was quite different... I suppose it would be indecent to take it apart and see how it works. They surely have strong security measures, too. Well, at the very least I could put it through its paces.

Having found a secluded mirror, the lanky teenager began by turning her hair ginger, then, upon reconsideration, black. After lengthening it, she shook her head back and forth. Outstanding... No disruption – that I could see. Next, she enhanced her skin’s pallor, grimacing as a further test. Not bad, not bad at all. Her facial features, she decided, could stand to be a little more angular – though not so much that it would catch attention. The eyes took her a few moments longer, as she experimented with sparkles and rainbow hues before settling on a sane dark green. Finally, she turned to her wardrobe, extending her crimson jacket downwards. It was her favourite, but the latest growth spurt made it seem a little small. She also darkened it a tad, along with her blue jeans. It probably went without saying that her belt and wrist devices were nowhere to be seen.

The tinkerer was quite aware that she was underdressed for an actual ballroom, but she honestly did not care about that. Yet, as Svetlana finally stepped inside, she felt daunted for a whole other reason. All those strangers. Strange strangers. I did not realise that there would be so many. There must be people from all over the world, too. Maybe not just from Earth and not just people. That blue man over there – is he an alien or a mutant, or simply someone less restrained in using the filter?

Although Svetlana’s outward expression did not betray her anxiety, the teenager’s body language might have, as she stopped in her tracks just past the door. It wasn’t just that she was not used to such large and chaotic gatherings. Loath as the wunderkind was to admit it, she felt completely lost. She had come here alone. Being 15, she could fly unattended. Babushka Pavlina was a tough old woman, but too old to travel so far away – knowing that, she merely insisted that Svetlana would stay with an old friend of hers in Brooklyn. True to her promise, the girl spent the previous night there, yet nevertheless travelled to the base on her lonesome. After all, it was entirely her own business - and up until now, it did not seem so difficult.

A long moment passed. ...It’s your own decision and your own fault, you fool, so get a hold of yourself and move! Gritting her teeth, Svetlana made herself stride forward into the crowd, feeling some of her fear fall away as she did. She peeked at the stands, ignoring the din. Just keep moving – and focus! You still have a decision to make! ...The Avengers invited me here, but that does not mean I have to go with them. I can probably dismiss S.H.I.E.L.D. right away. X-Men too, no need to waste their time and mine. What is the Atlas Foundation? The Fantastic Four are tempting, but... my great uncle...

Distracted by her inner turmoil, the teenager almost bumped into someone, stumbling back at the last moment. “Sorry,” she muttered with a noticeable Russian accent, coming to a halt and looking ahead. She had lost her trail of thought, but maybe that was for the best. This choice had to be approached logically and with a clear mind.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:38, Mon 10 May 2021.
Max
player, 25 posts
Age: 17
Mon 10 May 2021
at 21:15
  • msg #9

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

Max stood next to one of the punch bowls strategically placed throughout the room and looked with a disinterested smirk at it. He wasn't here by choice, Jean Grey had made it a condition of his parole, as it were; show up and pick a school or I'm turning you in, were her exact words. He sighed deeply as he glanced around the room, boredom quickly taking hold of him. Then he disappeared.

He reappeared about five minutes later with a bottle of beer in one hand, Shock Top Belgian White to be exact, and a bottle of vodka in the other. He glanced around with that typical 'up to no good' check to make sure no one was watching, and poured the bottle of vodka into the punchbowl. The bottle disappeared as he teleported it into the alley out back and then he took a sip from his beer.

Another heavy sigh escaped as he shook his head in annoyance; I guess I might as well get this over with, he thought himself as he started walking towards the booths. He saw the X-Men booth and steered clear of it; that was all he needed, Jean Grey able to check up on him whenever she wanted...although she was really hot, so there could be worse things.

As he turned towards one of the other booths, he had to abruptly stop, spilling a couple of drops of beer on his shirt, to not get run into by girl; somebody from Europe he guessed by the accent. He was dressed in what could best be described as 'bad boy casual.' His combat boots were clearly well-traveled, while the torn and ripped jeans likely came out of the factory that way. His shirt, now with a couple of drops of beer, was a plain black t-shirt and was covered by a rather well-worn black leather jacket that he'd likely had for quite some time. His rather handsome face was framed by shoulder length dirty blonde hair that was left to do what it wanted as his eyes were covered by dark sunglasses.

"Hey, you might want to be a bit more careful, I'm guessing touching some of the freaks here will end you up in a hospital. Anyway, I'm Max," he said as he extended his hand.
Counterforce
player, 31 posts
Svetlana Kragova, 15
The Brain
Tue 11 May 2021
at 02:52
  • msg #10

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

The girl took a moment to process the older boy’s gesture before remembering that handshake etiquette was different in America. She shook his hand a little awkwardly from unfamiliarity before pulling hers away. “Svetlana,” she introduced herself curtly, then pursed her lips in thought. Freaks? It occurred to her that he probably meant mutants, which seemed both rude and stupid with the X-Men in attendance, not to mention likely at least some young mutant recruits with less restraint. Then again, perhaps not...

“Do you mean that they are infectious or violent?” she asked instead, wheels in her head still turning. To be honest, ‘Max’ came across as at least a little shady – for one thing, where did he get that beer bottle? Her gaze flitted to it surreptitiously, then to the back of the room. No bar. On the other hand, she did feel a bit apologetic still. She really should have watched where she was going.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Tue 11 May 2021.
Resonance
player, 9 posts
Xin1 Xie2 Zhen4: The Meta
Age: 13; Sheng4 Xin1
Tue 11 May 2021
at 02:54
  • msg #11

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

The unobtrusive figure standing in the corner watches quietly as more arrivals join the growing crowd.

Interestingly enough, for each and every one of you who venture to glance in that direction, the figure looks rather... familiar.  Very familiar.  In fact, the figure looks just like... each of you, as you currently appear through your own holofilters.

The figure looks with particular interest at the twelve-year-old girl, giving her a kind and sympathetic smile as she chews her bottom lip, and as she unsuccessfully attempts to depart.

Yet there is something more than sympathy there, something deeper.  It is as if this mirror image of holofiltered Abi not only understands her feelings, but shares them to some degree...
Max
player, 27 posts
Age: 16
Tue 11 May 2021
at 04:24
  • msg #12

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

"Svetlana," he said slowly, getting a feel for the name. "Who knows, maybe both? Neither? Who's to say, but it's better to be safe than sorry, right? I mean, it's not like anyone here is wearing a sign, you know?" He shrugged and took a sip from his beer.

"So where ya from, I'm guessin' not from around here?" He asked as he caught her glancing at his beer. "You want some?" He asked as he offered her the bottle.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Tue 11 May 2021.
Counterforce
player, 32 posts
Svetlana Kragova, 15
The Brain
Tue 11 May 2021
at 05:53
  • msg #13

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

“No, thank you,” Svetlana replied automatically, perhaps a little skittishly. She wasn’t here to socialise – she was never anywhere to socialise – and her first instinct was to disengage. And then go where? On second thought... perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to talk and get his read on things. While undoubtedly suspicious, Max also sounded pretty sensible, or at least smart enough not to be taken in by people. “I am from Omsk, in Russia. And you, I take it you are local? Any ideas on who to join?”
Ricochet
player, 38 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Tue 11 May 2021
at 08:21
  • msg #14

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

A hand gently tapped Abi's shoulder, attached to an older girl wearing a domino mask and a soft expression.

"Hey, are you alright? It's okay to be nervous. I'm Ricochet. I could walk around with the three of you if you'd like company. It's easy to feel alone in a big crowd like this. Would that help?" Her own adult came by about then, carrying a blue and white bag.

"Hey, I picked up a swag bag from the Fantastic Four, lotta weird lookin' stuff in here. Oh! Makin' friends already?"
Octopus
player, 4 posts
Otto Octavius, age 15
The Brain
Tue 11 May 2021
at 08:48
  • msg #15

IC Scene #1: Open Campus Day

A young man, short and a little wide for his size, happily made his way through the promenade, looking eagerly at the various options offered. While he made his way toward the SHIELD booth, a pair of long metal arms tipped with grasping claws slipped out from under his green trench coat and quickly snatched a plastic cup while the other filled it with punch. Then the two quickly retracted under the coat, all while the boy had still been ambling as though nothing was happening. After that, there was simply a cup of punch in his hand, which he took a short sip of before stopping in place, nearly choking, and staring down through his dark goggles into the glass.

"Blech, ethanol? How vile." As he passed by the nearest trash can, the cup went right in. "Well that's unfortunate. Still, let's go see if SHIELD will appreciate a keen mind, yes?"
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