<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Episode 1: The Calm Before the Storm</strong></span></span><br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/gDhRyQZ.jpg?1)</div><br/><strong>Hero Points:</strong>1 (Sleeping Wyvern)<strong>Conditions:</strong>None<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/o6r9i1T.jpg?1)</div>Seattle used to be the largest city in Washington State, but it was reduced to so much rubble during Terminus Day. The survivors moved southwest to nearby Emerald City, which experienced an economic boom and rebuilding thanks to the charity of billionaire inventor Maximilian Mars. A city that has had its hard times and wondrous years, from the rough days of the Depression to the cautious hopefulness of the late 90s. But with the assassination of Maximilian Mars and his company being bought out by more ruthless investors, it seems that the cycle is reversing course.<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/0CUCbNx.jpg?1)</div><br/>Rakutsu Hayasa was but one of many souls who felt as though things were heading south, albeit for him his concerns hit closer to home. There was no sign of those red fuzzy slippers his mom kicked off in the hall before going to bed, nor the daily smartphone message asking if he was awake and in school yet. Instead the update he got this morning was informing him of her welfare for a change.<br/><br/>I can text now that I’m on painkillers. Speech to text actually, but at least I can talk to you. Doctors say that I’ll be here for 4-5 weeks. Hope the Hisakawas aren’t too much trouble; be sure to tell Ryoko to get skim milk, not whole, at Safeway.<br/><br/>Love you!<br/><br/>Mom <3<br/><br/>Rakutsu barely stepped out of his room before one of his new guardians confronted him. Tumbling down the hallway at the sound of the creaking door, a young woman with dyed blonde hair extended a leg across the door frame’s length.<br/><br/>“Oooh, that’s a fast response time!” she cheered at Rakutsu’s inevitable reaction. “But some improvements could be made in your technique.”<br/><br/>Another voice echoed from the kitchen. “Is he up yet, Teruko?”<br/><br/>“Yes, and five minutes early! That’s a record!”<br/><br/>Having two extra pairs of hands around the house was certainly helpful; the A/C was set at an agreeable temperature, the trash was out by the curb for the weekly garbage collection, and Rakutsu’s breakfast was already set out on the kitchen table. The only missing ingredients were refrigerated products which the women retrieved with a (literal in this case) ninja-like agility.<br/><br/>“Sooooo,” the dark-haired woman asked Rakutsu. “How were you last night? You got home rather late.”<br/><br/>I’m leaving Rakutsu’s home life open a bit. Feel free to add details to the house beyond what I describe if you wish.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Potential map of a space/cost-efficient house. (https://i.imgur.com/LZ33m53.jpg)</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>School Daze</strong></span></span><br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/xtrjrhS.jpg?1)</div><br/>William Orville Douglass High School sat in the Southern Shore neighborhood, somewhere east of University Hill and north of Elysian Forest. Its coastal suburban feel was a marked difference than the Eastern District which Rakutsu and various other Asian-American students hailed from, although its relative closeness to said neighborhood and spacious environs made it an ideal choice for enrollment. Rakutsu made it just in time, as soon a throng of teenagers were being dropped off (or pulling up for the few with driver’s licenses and their own cars) in the parking lot.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/Cld3hHn.jpg?1)</div>Kaitlyn Saito waved at Rakutsu, rushing over after exchanging a brief Japanese greeting.<br/><br/>“For once we’re both here at the same time!” she said, quickly picking up the pace to walk alongside him. “Usually I’m the first one here, but...my parents took away my car keys. Had to hitch a ride with Michiko.”<br/><br/>Kaitlyn sighed. “It was so embarrassing, but she totally got me and was happy to help. Something tells me her mom and dad don’t care as much about her ‘academic future.’ Sometimes I wish I could have that kind of freedom.”<br/><br/><em>This is sort of an “open hub” segment. Here you can give Rakutsu Hayasa a bit more character as to what he does and who he interacts with in her civilian identity. For help I can list his classmates below and brief personality types.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button"> William O. Douglass, Year 3</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Student Body, Year 3</strong></span></span></div><br/><strong>Brief explanation of modern-day high school cliques. (https://www.metroparent.com/daily/parenting/tweens-teens/categories-of-high-school-cliques-identified/)</strong><br/><br/>The following entries are separated by gender. Students who have a superhero (or villain) identity have their codename listed alongside their real names.<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong>Girls</strong></div><br/><strong>Amy Rogers: (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5f/76/48/5f76484a395af908b5dad46ca9f47eb1.jpg) Hornet (https://i.imgur.com/IqMzhfv.jpg?1) [Loner]:</strong> Parents work for a logging company, lives outside Emerald City proper. Keeps to herself after suffering a hit to her reputation about “helping an online scammer.”<br/><strong>Amrita Khatri: (https://i.imgur.com/YGIeYgF.jpg?1) Scarab (https://i.imgur.com/oWL7AFv.jpg?1) [Indian, Good-At]:</strong> One of Amy’s only friends.<br/><strong>Kaitlyn Saito: (https://i.imgur.com/e09MdFD.jpg?1) H2GO! (https://i.imgur.com/OuaOEOr.jpg) [Asian: Japanese, Brain]:</strong> Daughter of Saito Solution bigwigs. Has what it takes to follow in their footsteps, but is going through a rebel phase.<br/><strong>Leslie Stafford: (https://i.imgur.com/GOa3sZm.jpg) Chlorophyll (https://i.imgur.com/8YmMmxJ.jpg) [Popular]:</strong> Most popular girl in school. Made it big on Instagram.<br/><strong>Tanaka Michiko: (https://i.imgur.com/05JJL0a.png) [Asian: Japanese, Emo/Goth]:</strong> Music nerd, but more into guitars. Had a falling out with Leslie over some 'private drama.'<br/><strong>Alison Middleton: (https://i.imgur.com/AgYjLb5.jpg) [Anime/Manga]</strong> Won’t shut up about her cosplay and fanfics. Constantly talks about how she wishes she could live in a “more interesting place,” like Freedom City, Atlantis, or Etheria.<br/><strong>Juana Castillo-Vargas (https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/greatpretender/images/a/ae/Abby-airport.png/revision/latest?cb=20200618104830) [Latina: Mexican, Floater]:</strong> Joined various after-school electives and gaming Discord groups, but rarely stayed in one of them for more than a year. “I just go where my friends go, you know?”<br/><strong>Melanie Baker (https://i.imgur.com/0a6q0jt.jpg) [Druggie/Stoner]:</strong> Todd Baker’s sister, is quite hyperactive and bubbly. Classmates unsure how much of this is due to drugs.<br/><strong>Stacy Huang (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3f/15/cd/3f15cd7c8e3508c9fa1e3b715bef4183.jpg) [Asian: Chinese, Anime/Manga]:</strong> Only watches shows with “cute guys.” Is trying to become a big-time streamer after marathoning Final Fantasy XV.<br/><strong>Eliza Addington (https://cdn.donmai.us/original/53/39/__imai_lisa_bang_dream_drawn_by_sakamata__53393a083f093cd02013cf6841f9c966.png) [Popular]:</strong> Cheerleader, has a muselike ability to inspire people, is well-liked as a result.<br/><strong>Emily Zhao (https://i.imgur.com/Y9G0igh.jpg?1) [Asian: Chinese, Floater]:</strong> Has a sweet ride. Sometimes co-pilots Stacy’s streams.<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong>Boys</strong></div><br/><strong>Rex Steyer IV: (https://i.imgur.com/KD2HvNo.png) [Popular]:</strong>Son of rich venture capitalists, he’s the most sought-after boy in his grade for dates.<br/><strong>Adolfo Tapia-Ibarra: (https://i.imgur.com/ZreVHZx.jpg) [Latino: Mexican, Fine Arts]:</strong> A sensitive and shy young man, he shares the same name as a famous Mexican wrestler, which has earned him no small amount of teasing from other Latino students.<br/><strong>Chris Terazzo: (https://i.imgur.com/XW6Kcn8.png) [Brain]:</strong> Young, thin, and somewhat sickly, Chris is the stereotypical nerd minus the near-sightedness. Self-deprecated sense of humor but very self-conscious about his appearance.<br/><strong>Reyansh Saxena (https://i.imgur.com/HuVsmsN.jpg) [Indian, Brain]:</strong> Competes with Chris and Kaitlin for the highest grades in class. Is a bit of a party animal, eager to wriggle out from under the thumb of strict parents.<br/><strong>Carson Cross (https://i.imgur.com/N2SWcm1.png) [Normal]:</strong> Has the same food every lunch, plays the same video games and hasn’t bought a new one in 2 years, never goes on field trips. Seems to be trying hard to be the most boring boy in school.<br/><strong>Daniel Hughes (https://i.imgur.com/pAe7DEK.jpg) [Anime/Manga]:</strong> Runs the school’s Anime Club. Others still aren’t letting him live down the time he was caught masturbating to hentai in the locker room.<br/><strong>Eric Renhardt (https://i.imgur.com/u13MtqL.jpg) [Emo/Goth]:</strong> Dresses all-black, his social media posts are littered with existentialist poetry and quotes. Is actually kind of a dork IRL.<br/><strong>Alejandro Varelas (https://i.imgur.com/OnwJnOA.jpg) [Latino: Puerto Rican, Jock]:</strong> Star player for the school basketball team. Is very confident and outgoing, seems a bit too happy all the time.<br/><strong>Eddie Liao (https://i.imgur.com/rpt2GfL.png) [Asian: Chinese, Good-At]:</strong> Obsessed with Skyrim/Elder Scrolls lore, social media posts are filled with selfies in natural scenery.  <br/><strong>Todd Baker (https://i.imgur.com/iWL7Lo6.png) [Druggie/Stoner]:</strong> Is popular because he’s on good terms with a local weed dealer. Kind of a dick otherwise.</div></div>