<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>Shorn Spandex AU</strong></span></span><br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/CSMAGVd.png)</div><br/>The omniverse spans many realities, many Earths, only a fraction of which have been explored much less fathomed. In Earth-Prime, gifted men and women (and other species) display amazing powers beyond human limitations. In the 20th century a tradition of superheroes arose, donning mantles and identities in line with their powers and ethos to make their mark on the world. In Anti-Earth, the globe-spanning heroes usually known as the Freedom League are instead the Tyranny Syndicate, who rule a worldwide dictatorship through a mirror darkly. In Earth-Eldritch, robed mystics and secret societies of monsters plot and scheme under perpetual twilight. And there are stranger realms such as Gestalt-Earth, (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/54983/Gestalt-The-Hero-Within-MM) where superheroes are living symbols of concepts such as Courage and Heat, and their victories and defeats have noticeable impacts on their domains of influence!<br/><br/>Many classic tales through history are retold, where even a single small differentiation can impart dramatic change to the saga. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=300880.0) Shorn Spandex AU takes place in an alternate world, where a fun-loving hacker and a professional demon-hunter grow to become Emerald City's greatest unlikely heroines!<br/><br/>Shorn Spandex AU is a system-based story utilizing the 3rd Edition of Mutants & Masterminds. (http://www.d20herosrd.com/)<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: courier;">List of Capers</span></span></strong></div><br/>Just Another Boring Day in the City of Destiny (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=309959.msg15050946#msg15050946)<br/><br/>Beautiful Prisoner of Lust (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=309959.msg15124909#msg15124909)<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: courier;">Heroes</span></span></strong></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Desiree Harper aka "Dizzy," Codename Ghost Signal</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/3sniGPS.png)(https://i.imgur.com/Fa14Gp4.jpg)<br/><strong>Ghost Signal</strong><br/>PL 10; 150pp<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Attributes</span></strong> 68<br/>Strength:  3<br/>Stamina:  3<br/>Agility:  6<br/>Dexterity:  6<br/>Fighting :  6<br/>Intellect:  8<br/>Awareness:  4<br/>Presence:  4<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Advantages<span class="bbc_u"></span></span></strong> 7<br/>Defensive Roll x2<br/>Inventor<br/>Jack of All Trades<br/>Skillmastery (Technology)<br/>Takedown Attack<br/>Well-Informed<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Skills</span></strong> 18<br/>Acrobatics 2 (+8)<br/>Athletics  2 (+5)<br/>Close Combat (Club) 8 (+14)<br/>Insight  2 (+6)<br/>Investigation  2 (+10)<br/>Perception 6 (+10)<br/>Ranged Combat (Hacking Suite) 6 (+12)<br/>Sleight of Hand  2 (+8)<br/>Stealth  4 (+10)<br/>Technology  2 (+10)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Powers</span></strong>: 35pp<br/><em>Nanotech Hacking Suite</em>; (Removable -1); 29pp<br/> - <em>"R.I.P." System Crash</em>: Nullify Technology 8 (Broad, Concentration, Sustained)<br/> - <em>"Seance" Signal Interceptor</em>:  Communication 1 (Radio, Range 2); Sense 1 (Radio; Accurate, Acute); Comprehend (Machines)<br/> - <em>"Possess" Remote Control</em>: Mind Control 8 (Limited: Machine Minds Only)<br/> - <em>"Poltergeist"Remote Interface</em>: Summon 6 (Active, Controlled, Mental Link, Variable Type (Machines)<br/> - <em>"Haunt" Hijack the Feeds</em>: Remote Sensing 7 (Visual and Audio) (Simultaneous, Medium (Cameras), Subtle 2)<br/><br/><em>Armored Costume</em>: Feature 1(Microcomputer), Protection 3, Senses 2 (Darkvision) (Removable -1); 5pp<br/><br/><em>Grappling Gun</em>: Movement 1 (Swinging) (Removable -2); 1pp<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Equipment</span></strong> 3<br/><em>Club</em>: Damage 2, Critical 20 (2 ep)<br/><br/><em>Commlink</em> (1 ep)<br/><em>Mini-Tracer</em> (1ep)<br/><em>Restraints</em> (1 ep)<br/><br/><strong>Vehicle</strong> - Motorcycle (10 ep)<br/>Size: Medium<br/>Strength: 1<br/>Speed: 6<br/>Defense: 10<br/>Toughness: 8<br/>Features: None<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Offense</span></strong><br/><em>Unarmed</em>  +6     Close Damage +3<br/><em>Club</em>:  +14     Close Damage +5<br/><em>System Crash</em> +12      Ranged Nullify Technology 8 (Broad, Concentration, Sustained)<br/><em>Remote Control</em>  +12     Ranged Mind Control 8 (Limited: Machine Minds)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Defense</span></strong> 19<br/>Dodge: 12<br/>Parry: 12<br/>Willpower: 8<br/>Fortitude: 6 <br/>Toughness: 8 / 6 Flat-Footed<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Complication</span></strong><br/><em>Compulsive Prankster</em>:  Dizzy's sense of humor has a tendency to get her in trouble.  The faces that people make when someone suddenly pulls the rug out from under them is easily her favorite thing about people.  The more difference people give that person, the bigger the pay-off for her gag, which incentivizes Dizzy to target people who either wield some authority or are generally considered to be too dangerous to mess with.  She's a bit of an equal opportunity prankster in that she's tied the shoe laces of gangsters together as many times as she's vandalized the banner of governorial candidates before they were dramatically unveiled.  Dizzy prefers to keep her pranks "harmless", but the kinds of victims she targets tend to put a lot of stock in reputation.<br/><br/><em>Thrill Seeker</em>:  Dizzy's primary motivation in life is a desperate scramble to keep ahead of a soul crushing wave of boredom.  As talented as she is, she doesn't feel challenged by the life she leads, and so, she has to find ways to spice things up.  Superheroing generally helps stave that off, but that doesn't mean that she won't bite off more than she can chew just to see if she can get away with it ... or take wholly unnecessary risks like streaking through downtown  wearing only her helmet and grappling line.<br/><br/><em>Reputation: Public Nuisance</em>:  Ghost Signal is one of those vigilantes who kind of gives the rest of the superhero scene a bad name.  On one hand, she throws herself selflessly into dangerous situations, rescuing people from burning buildings or fighting back against Emerald City's violent criminals.  On the other hand, it's hard to ignore when she does stuff like spray paint over traffic cameras, pockets the money from the drug deals she breaks up, or leaves tags in hard to reach but visible locations.<br/><br/><em>Secret Identity</em>:  An enduring classic.<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Total</span></strong><br/>Attributes 68 + Advantages 7 + Skills 18 + Powers 35 + Equipment 3+ Defense 19 = 150</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Shiori Chambers, Codename She-Devil</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/h9NVLvN.png)(https://i.imgur.com/gcPSoIV.jpg)<br/><strong>She-Devil</strong><br/>Shiori Chambers<br/>PL 10; 150pp<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Attributes</span></strong>; 72pp<br/>Strength:  4<br/>Stamina:  4<br/>Agility:  6<br/>Dexterity:  4<br/>Fighting:  10<br/>Intellect:  0<br/>Awareness:  4<br/>Presence:  4<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Advantages</span></strong>; 13pp<br/>Defensive Roll x3<br/>Evasion<br/>Improved Critical (Unarmed)<br/>Improved Initiative<br/>Languages (Japanese)<br/>Power Attack<br/>Precise Attack (Close, Concealment)<br/>Skill Mastery (Stealth)<br/>Takedown x2<br/>Trance<br/>Uncanny Dodge<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Skills</span></strong>; 15pp<br/>Acrobatics 4 (+10)<br/>Athletics 6 (+10)<br/>Close Combat (Unarmed) 6 (+16)<br/>Expertise: Monsters 6 (+6)<br/>Intimidation 2 (+6)<br/>Perception 2 (+6)<br/>Stealth 4 (+10)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Powers</span></strong>; 28pp<br/>Demon's Eyes; 9pp<br/>  - Senses (Counters Illusion, Counters Concealment, Detect Supernatural 2, Acute, Darkvision)<br/><br/>The Black Fire of the Kokuen Clan; 14pp<br/>  - <em>Erupting Knuckle</em> Damage 10 (Affects Insubstantial 2, Incurable)<br/>  - <em>The Exor-fist</em> Nullify Supernatural 10 (Close Range -1, Simultaneous)<br/><br/>Ninja Movement - Speed 2, Leaping 1, Movement 1 (Safe Fall); 5pp<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Equipment</span></strong><br/>-- None --<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Offense</span></strong><br/>Initiative +10<br/>Unarmed +16     Close Damage 4 (Crit 19-20)<br/>Erupting Knuckle:  +10      Close Damage 10 (Affects Insubstatial 2, Incurable)<br/>The Exor-fist:  +10      Close Nullify Supernatural 10 (Simultaneous)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Defense</span></strong>; 22pp<br/>Dodge:  13<br/>Parry:  13<br/>Willpower:  12<br/>Fortitude:  8<br/>Toughness:  7 / 4 Flat-Footed<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Complications</span></strong><br/><em>Scion of the Kokuen</em> - Shiori's mother was from a branch family of the Kokuen Clan of monster hunters, unimportant enough that she was allowed to marry her gaijin lover and leave the country.  When Shiori developed the Black Flame however, she was suddenly thrust into a position of prominence within the family.  Though she's successfully fended off their attempts to have her shipped back to the ancestral lands for "proper" training, Shiori has had to deal with an endless train of extended relatives with "advice" for how she should be living her life...fairly prominently among these is a need to birth an heir to the power while her own flame is still vibrant.<br/><br/><em>Creepy Molesty Monster Magnet</em> - Shiori blames her heritage for this, but it's really just another aspect of the Black Flame luring it's food into striking range.<br/><br/><em>Fighter's Pride</em> - Shiori's passion has been martial arts since she was ten years old, and despite being so young she's competed at the national level several times in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do.  Her heart, however,  is set on a championship cup closer to home.  The Emerald City Tournament of Martial arts, a mixed style competition that lures some of the best fighters in the world, a distinction that Shiori wants to claim for herself.  As She-Devil, Shiori usually singles out other martial artists to duel with in a fight, hungry to prove herself.<br/><br/><em>Secret Identity</em> - The problem with being a modern day monster hunter is that, too often, the monsters hide among their prey like wolves in sheep's clothing.  As such, the Kokuen receded back into the shadows of history long ago, so that they could stalk their prey without the interference of well meaning fools.  ... Unfortunately, Shiori was not raised in the traditional manner, and is <em>kind</em> of a terrible liar.<br/><br/><em>An Imbalance With Purpose</em> - The Black Fire of Kokuen is a perversion of the natural flow of chi, burning out the energy of one's life in exchange of destructive power.  This fire is rapacious and difficult to work around, as such Shiori <em>must</em> make a Resistance Check against Healing powers as her flame leaps to consume them.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Amy Rogers, Codename Hornet</div><div class="spoiler_body">ATTRIBUTES (60)<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/IqMzhfv.jpg?1)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5f/76/48/5f76484a395af908b5dad46ca9f47eb1.jpg)</div><br/>STR 6  FGT 10<br/>STA 6  INT  0<br/>AGL 4 AWE 4<br/>DEX 0  PRE   0<br/><br/><br/>OFFENSE<br/>Initiative +12<br/>Sword-Stinger +10: Close, Damage 10, Affliction 10 (Fortitude DC 20, Hindered &amp; Vulnerable, Defenseless &amp; Immobilized)<br/>Unarmed +10: Close, Damage 6<br/><br/>DEFENSES (11)<br/><br/>Tough 10/6 (defenseless/vulnerable)<br/>Dodge 10<br/>Parry   10<br/>Fortitude 12<br/>Will        5<br/><br/>SKILLS (21)<br/><br/>Acrobatics 9 (+15)<br/>Athletics 5 (+11)<br/>Deception 4 (+4/+9)<br/>Perception 8 (+12)<br/>Persuasion 4 (+4/+9 if target is attracted)<br/>Stealth 4 (+10)<br/>Vehicles 8 (+8)<br/><br/>ADVANTAGES (14)<br/><br/>Agile Feint<br/>Attractive 2<br/>Defensive Roll 4<br/>Improved Initiative 2<br/>Move-by Action<br/>Takedown<br/>Teamwork<br/>Tracking<br/>Uncanny Dodge<br/><br/>POWERS (44)<br/><br/>Insect Mobility (6 pts):<br/>-Flight 5, Wings (900 feet/round, 120 mph, 5 pts)<br/>AE: Wall-Waker (1 pt): -Movement (Wall-Crawling) 2: climb at full speed, not vulnerable<br/><br/>Insect Senses (4 pts):<br/>-Accurate and Acute Smell (3 pts)<br/>-Analytical Vision (1 pts)<br/><br/>Speak With Animals (4 pts)<br/>-Comprehend 2 (Animals)<br/><br/>Summon Insects (9 pts)<br/>-Swarm: Summon 3 (Active, Controlled, Limited: Must be Physically Present in the area)• 9 pts<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Swarm</div><div class="spoiler_body">PL8 • MR3<br/>STR — STA 2 AGL 0 DEX 0 FGT 0 INT — AWE 0 PRE -3<br/>Powers: Swarm (Insubstantial 2, Permanent, Innate, Quirk: Limited by size of individual components, –2 points), Swarm Attack (Affliction 6, Resisted and Overcome by Fortitude, Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated; Affects Corporeal, Concentration, Cumulative), plus choose one of Flight 2 or Movement 2 (Slithering and Wall-Crawling)<br/>Skills: Close Combat: Swarm Attack 10 (+10)<br/>Offense: Initiative +0, Swarm Attack +10 (Close, Affliction 6)<br/>Defense: Dodge 8, Parry 4, Fortitude 5, Toughness 2, Will Immune<br/>Totals Abilities –12+ Powers 37 + Advantages 0 + Skills 5 + Defenses 15 = 45</div></div><br/>Sword-Stinger (21 pts):<br/><br/>-Strength-based Damage 4, Linked to Affliction, 1 pt/rank<br/><br/>LINK- Progressive Affliction 10 (Resisted by Dodge, Overcome by Fortitude; Hindered &amp; Vulnerable, Defenseless &amp; Immobilized), Extra Condition, Limited Degree, 3 pts/rank<br/><br/>Extras: Insidious, flat 1 pt; Flaws: Easily Removable -14 pts<br/><br/>COMPLICATIONS<br/>Motivation: Acceptance: Amy grew up with distant parents and learned that few of her old friends wanted to help out of the kindness of their hearts. She believes that if she can prove herself, she will gain recognition and respect.<br/>Identity: Amy strives to keep her personal life and superhero life secret.<br/>Reputation: Amy had a falling out with most of her online friends 1.5 years ago for being perceived as a scammer when she promoted a sick friend who turned out to have faked his illness for money. She defended him, believing that he was being maligned, only for her credibility to plummet along with his.<br/>Weakness: Due to her enhanced senses, Amy is particularly vulnerable to sensory overloads related to vision and smell. Attacks and Afflictions which target said senses inflict the Dazed condition on her on a failed Dodge or Fortitude roll (shield one's eyes or overcome stench, DC depends on power or level of magnitude of phenomena).<br/><br/>BACKGROUND: Amy Rogers is a bubbly, extroverted girl and top of her class in the school basketball team. She lived a life like many American high school girls: geeking out over the latest music album or Netflix drama, socializing with friends at the mall and more often online, and working part-time at various retail jobs to buy the latest consumer items when pestering her parents failed.<br/><br/>Amy always fantasized about being a superhero, ideally a cool one such as Centurion's secret lovechild or some Ivy League graduate who could build super-armor like the Freedom League's Daedalus. She has more than a few embarrassing fanfics of torrid romances between herself and members of established superteams, although nobody knows or will know if she can help it.<br/><br/>Her deepest fantasy was granted, but not on her terms. While working one odd job at a drug store she saw some things she wasn't supposed to, and ended up kidnapped by some shifty masked types. Exposed to a virus-filled syringe, the next few hours were but blurry pain as Amy's body gained insect-like qualities. She was later rescued, and the responsible parties were arrested but dismissed by the Grant Conglomerates corporation as rogue employees.<br/><br/>Amy appears happy to be a superhero, but deep down is guilt-ridden that she put another in danger. She adopted the codename Hornet and trained herself to use her mutant powers as a means of making up for this.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Esther Khatri, Codename Scarab</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/YGIeYgF.jpg?1)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/oWL7AFv.jpg?1)</div><br/>ATTRIBUTES (20)<br/><br/>STR 0  FGT 0<br/>STA 0  INT  2<br/>AGL 0 AWE 7<br/>DEX 0  PRE 1<br/><br/>OFFENSE<br/>Initiative +0<br/>Telekinesis +10: Ranged Precise Move Object, Damage 10, can lift up to 25 tons; short range 250 feet, medium 500 feet (-2 hit), long 1,000 feet (-5 hit)<br/>Emotion Control: Perception Range Subtle Cumulative Affliction 6 (Impaired, Disabled, Incapacitated), Resisted &amp; Overcome by Will, Variable Descriptor (Emotions), Affects Insubstantial 2<br/>Mental Blast: Perception Range Damage 6, Resisted by Will, Affects Insubstantial 2<br/><br/>DEFENSES (12)<br/><br/>Tough 10 (0 w/o Force Field)<br/>Dodge 9<br/>Parry 9<br/>Fortitude 6<br/>Will 13<br/><br/>SKILLS (7)<br/><br/>Insight 4 (+11)<br/>Investigation 4 (+6)<br/>Perception 4 (+11)<br/>Persuasion 2 (+3/+8 if target is attracted)<br/><br/>ADVANTAGES (5)<br/><br/>Attractive 2<br/><em>Beginner's Luck<br/>Jack-of-all-Trades</em><br/>Languages 1 (Hindi)<br/>Ultimate Effort (Will)<br/>Uncanny Dodge<br/><br/>POWERS (109)<br/><br/>Self-Propelled Kinesis (8 pts)<br/>-Flight 4 (500 ft/round, 60 mph)<br/><br/>Telekinetic Barrier (10 pts)<br/>-Sustained Protection 10<br/><br/>Ka Sense (1 pt)<br/>-(Senses 1 [Mental Awareness])<br/><br/>Past-Life Memories (2 pts)<br/>-Enhanced Advantages 2 [Beginner’s Luck, Jack-of-all-Trades])<br/><br/>Predictive Defense (20 pts)<br/>-Enhanced Defenses [Dodge 9, Parry 9])<br/><br/>Telekinesis (37 pts)<br/>-Move Object 10 (Accurate 5, Damaging, Precise, 36 pts)<br/>-AE: Move Object 11 (Perception &amp; Precise Extras, 1 pt)<br/><br/>Telepathy (30 pts)<br/>-Burst Area Subtle Mind Reading 6, Subtle Area Mental Communication 2 (28 pts)<br/>-AE: Emotion Control: Perception Range Subtle Cumulative Affliction 6 (Impaired, Disabled, Incapacitated), Resisted &amp; Overcome by Will, Variable Descriptor (Emotions), Affects Insubstantial 2 [1 point]<br/>-AE: Mental Blast: Perception Range Damage 6, Resisted by Will, Affects Insubstantial 2 [1 point]<br/><br/>COMPLICATIONS<br/>Motivation: Responsibility: Esther intuitively knows that she comes from a long line of reincarnated heroes, and knows that she must fulfill her role in the cosmic order.<br/>Enemy: The terrorist organization SHADOW is one of the Scarab's greatest foes, and it seems that fate draws them together to do battle on a regular basis.<br/>Identity: Esther's superhero identity is secret.<br/>Power Loss: If Esther suffers effects which can interfere with or remove her memories (or just a well-timed blow on the noggin), this can cause her powers to gain the Uncontrolled flaw (if partial memory loss or disorientation) or even lose them entirely (if complete memory loss or major head trauma).<br/><br/>BACKGROUND: TBD</div></div><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: courier;">Villains</span></span></strong></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">F.O.E</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/Ni0qQ0T.png)</div> An as of now unknown organization which seems to have an alliance with organized crime groups in Emerald City. A spectral psychic image of a man with an oversized brain its seeming mastermind, a blonde martial artist the apparent second-in-command.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Hellqueen</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/HrZqqaJ.png?1)</div>A shapechanging devil and master of illusions who drew She-Devil into her spell, putting her into a stable of enchanted sex workers in a massage parlor in the Eastern District.</div></div><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: courier;">Bystanders, Wild Cards, &amp; Everyone Else</span></span></strong></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Dyanne Harper</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/2/331697.jpg)Dizzy's mother. A recent divorcee, she moved to Emerald City from Freedom to get away from the superpowered mayhem common to the latter. She is much more high-strung than her daughter, and often tries and fails to reign her in.</div></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Caleb Gardner</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/zr5XdPJ.png)</div> A local news anchor who is very popular in Emerald City thanks to his quirky personality.</div></div><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: courier;">The Freedomverse</span></span></strong></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Emerald City</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/QpPkgHa.png)</div><br/>Known as the City of Destiny, this bustling burg is located in an unnamed state of the Pacific Northwest. Historically it was a colonial outpost fought over by various European powers but claimed directly by none. In the early 1800s American settlers spurred on by Manifest Destiny settled there as an ideal endpoint at the end of the long Oregon Trail. In the 20th century its port served the US Navy in conducting war in the Pacific Theater. Many Japanese-Americans were interred, and local Chinese-Americans who sought to join the army and liberate their homeland from Japan also faced racist hardship from Americans who couldn't tell the difference. Although home to a WW2 team of costumed mystery men known as the Victory Squadron, Emerald City's resident super-team disbanded to go their own paths. The temporary outlawing of costumed superheroes in the 1980s, along with a strange absence of supervillainy, they were utterly unprepared when the Silver Storm hit.<br/><br/><strong>General Info:</strong><br/><br/><ul class="bbc_list" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li>It is home to a large population of Japanese-Americans and Chinese-Americans, living in the Jadetown and Little Osaka neighborhoods respectively in the Eastern District.</li><li>Due to its name, a few landmarks take inspiration from the Wizard of Oz as a sort of friendly joke, such as Yellow Brick Road.</li><li>Elysian National Forest is both beautiful and full of strange sightings, from cryptoid animals to mysterious UFOs.</li><li>It's a tech-heavy city, with various competing companies working on scientific breakthroughs.</li></ul></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Freedom City</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/pvHbf6t.jpg)</div><br/>An old and prominent East Coast city dating to colonial times, the aptly-named Freedom City is the most iconic American metropolis in the public consciousness of superheroes. It served as the base of operations for many costumed luminaries, such as the famed Centurion, the first publicly known superhero in the modern era, and the national alliance of crime-fighters known as the Freedom League.<br/><br/><strong>General Info:</strong><br/><br/><ul class="bbc_list" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li>During the early 90s Freedom City was the epicenter of the Terminus Invasion, an extradimensional force of aliens. Led by a nihilistic entity of pure destruction known as Omega, the Centurion bravely gave his life in the fight in order to repel the brunt of the Terminus forces.</li><li>The Liberty League, first true superhero team, was established here at the behest of President Roosevelt. Its modern incarnation, the Freedom League, is now an international, non-governmental organization.</li><li>Costumed vigilantism was outlawed in 1984 after public sentiment turned against a new generation of violent costumed anti-heroes, only to be replaced by equally crooked and bloodthirsty law enforcement. The Moore Act, named after Mayor Franklin Moore, served as a blueprint for similar legislation around the United States.</li></ul></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Brande Management</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/L3B92D1.png)<br/>One of the larger employers in Emerald City, with its main holdings in security. It is the only major source of competition against Grant Conglomerates, who by now is overtaking most of Maximilian Mars' legacy.<br/><br/>Ghost-Signal ran into their security forces at Atlas Mall, and ended up in a shoot-out when witnessing a most suspicious sort of meeting.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Grant Conglomerates</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/n7aAfc5.jpg?1)</div>A multinational holding company founded by Jonathan Grant, a flower child chemist of the 60s. Said founder discarded much of his old ideology to become the ruthless CEO of today, seizing MarsTech in a hostile takeover and much of Emerald City's business and tech sectors.<br/><br/>Despite being in his 70s, Jonathan Grant looks 20 years younger on account of cutting edge biotech treatments.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Maximilian Mars and MarsTech, Inc.</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/8oU1jDh.png)</div> An iconic fixture in Emerald City, Maximilian Mars was one of the world's most innovative scientists. Owner of the worldwide MarsTech, Inc. he created many inventions and devices which grew the city into a tech haven while using his personal wealth to fund numerous charitable and progressive causes.<br/><br/>He was tragically murdered before our tale's beginning, and much of his assets went into the hands of Grant Conglomerates courtesy of a hostile takeover. Although still a company, the hand of Grant has sent Emerald City in an ever-so-subtle worse direction. At-cost health clinics were closed, faulty generators jacked up energy bills, city council members elected by Conglomerate donations banned the sale of energy-efficient vehicles in town, and many other policies which helped almost no one save the bank accounts of company managers and the board of directors.</div></div>