Basic Action Super Heroes!

This might be best (later) under the settings forum. But for now, I'm looking for idea bouncings. This is the "set-up" pitch I gave to my players for my upcoming short-shot COSMICS game.
You can see the pitch of the setting idea BELOW at this post's bottom.
This is for issue #1...
I have the core ideas for the main villains and plot here. I can share that later in this thread if folks are interested. I'll have to watch that my players don't read. hehe

KARL... DAN... Stop reading!!



anyway.... I'd love your comments and thoughts and ideas to jump from this... the BIG * COSMIC of the ideas I'm cooking up, will begin with a few "milk-run" type things to kick off our ISSUE #1, then slam-bang into the heart of GALACTIC VILLAINY!! With an invasion of sorts!! Or as I like to call it:

basic action super heroes role-playing game
p r e s e n t s
Issue #1
"WHENCE COMES THE BRIDGER OF WORLDS!!"

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In story they tell it always begins with a thundering clang - mettle-mallet on living iron, the galactic thug "Mjǫlnir" now driven to task by a Crier, taking stake in worlds.
And so it is, as it must always be - beginning in thunder. Yet always ending in relinquished reign. Seized - the peacemaker, monarch of galaxies, bridger of worlds - one as yet unknown to our realities.
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And it was spoken by The Symphony.
"Oh woeful chattel, the coming is of pity yet solace.
It is "URRRTH" that has not anything to show more fair:
though riddled in war, dull would be He of soul who could bridge-beyond a site so ripe to be given the Boon.
Your planet now doth, like a garment, to wear the beauty of a new morning;
silent bare, ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie open unto the fields that must be sown.
And give way to the blue-black sky; all bright and glittering in war-smoked air.
One more unfortunate, weary of breath, rashly importunate, be Gifted.
It is I the Void Sovereign, Pontifex Maximus...
Cessation must be gifted or I go ever unsated... But now rejoice ye little Drudge of "URRRTH"!
For you will relinquish and receive the Boon of Gjallarbrú or you shall be goned cross The Bridge.
I walk from the farthest reaches of the Void --- to proclaim concord of the human race!
I am power incarnate! No living thing dares ignore My abetment.
For I am that which has always been, since a dozen Galaxies were birthed from the Debris of the Last.
I am The Symphony that soothes worlds, the Boon-Giver. I am He who is beyond such frail concepts as good and evil.
I am Pontifex Maximus. It is your enmity I seek -- and not your understanding!
Paritur pax bello.
To Gjallarbrú nothing is impossible!
Whence comes Gjallarbrú Bridger of Worlds.

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FUN NARRATOR COMMENTARY:

This is basically an idea based on Galactus Devourer of Worlds. My idea is that this galactic being feels it's his duty to bring peace to worlds, like it or not. He "bridges" worlds into a massive collective of galaxies that he is the sovereign dictator of. Not really paying attention to them, but "killing" them (turning them into his bridge masons: the Thoughtless-Ones - cavemen-like brutes that have but one single thought: "build bridge", but they can fight if needed). Not only is the "bridging" metaphorical, but it's LITERAL. Through a massive breech in space-time the Thoughtless-Ones build a real bridge that the armies of Gjallarbrú Bridger of Worlds can cross to "pacify" the new world to His order. Ending all war (or else), through subjugation.

The idea of a "real" bridge, that is wide/strong enough to carry armies across is cosmically silly, but completely Kirby-like. I got the core idea from the Omlevex setting and expanded it more to my style/liking here. The idea of the bridge is that the Drogher (Heralds) of Gjallarbrú literally destroy the world's moon or closest planet - breaking the planetoid in half to form the breech in space-time that (again literally) links world to world! Think of it as a twist on Marvel's version of the Rainbow Bridge to Asgard, it doesn't make sense but it's awesomely cosmic of the gods.

Gjallarbrú himself will be much like Galactus is... growing with the power of emotional servitude of those he "brings" his Boon of Peace to. The style of image is based on an egyptian pharaoh style dress mixed with the cosmic-Galactus style look. He is (at base) 28' tall and rarely walks his bridges - he prefers to stand atop specially made "tanks" that act almost like roller-skates in a way.... but cooler! Imagine a massive man standing like the Colossus of Rhodes atop two mega-tanks blasting away as he comes with thousands of "troops" (ie. the Thoughless-Ones) now with blasters of their own! (after done building the bridge).

The "Droghes" or Envoys are similar to Galactus. Probably 4-5 given powers of the Bridge Builder: "the Power of the Void" (aka. "Star-Black"). The one I mention (below) Móðguðr drogher of Gjallarbrú is taken from an idea/name in Norse Mythology - a giantess warrior woman who defends the bridge.
NOTE: I am considering making Gjallarbrú female (instead of that Envoy) to match this myth a little more and make the Bridger of Worlds different from Galactus. Not sure though. What do you think??

The note of in the beginning of the pitch above. The "galactic thug" Mjǫlnir - is my idea to take the hammer of Thor as if it were sentient itself... a representation as a man with a hammer (or hammer for a hand). This guy has normally been a brute that the PCs may know (streetwise for him, as they will NOT know of Gjallarbrú as he's new to their galaxy). Mjǫlnir has always been just a brute for hire or a little conqueror... but recently got put into servitude by one of Gjallarbrú's heralds. "The World Nail", the idea is that of a massive 2001-movie style obelisk that is sentient, basically a massive 15' black-iron spike with limited telepathy/mind control it forces someone in the galaxy to be bridged to (Mjǫlnir in Earth's system) to take him to the moon of Earth and drive him in. When that happens (into any major planetoid) this spike "animates" the planetoid - al la "Ego the living Planet".... In this case (now given the power cosmic to become a herald) he animates it and forces it to BREAK... cracking Earth's moon in two, to form the breech in which the Bridge comes is built out of!!

Paritur pax bello: translates to "peace hath her victories no less renowned than war"
Pontifex Maximus: literally, the ‘greatest bridge-builder’, the link between the divine and the mundane.
Gjallarbrú is the name of the bridge spanning the river Gjöll in the Norse Mythic underworld, which must be crossed in order to reach Hel.



Once told to coming worlds by
Móðguðr drogher of Gjallarbrú
(aka. a "Star-Strider", or "Crier", or "Envoy of Gjallarbrú")
"Nor was civil society founded merely to preserve the lives of its members; but that they might live in solemn: for otherwise a state must be composed to slaves, or animal creation ... nor for only He seeks the alliance mutually to defend, for a commercial intercourse.... But whosoever endeavors to eschew wholesome laws in His state, attends to the ego and id vices of each individual who composes it; from whence it is evident, that the first care of Him who would build the Bridge, truly deserving name, and not nominally so, must be to have His citizens virtuous undying praise or walk bile the Bridge."


The proginy-learning of "Why We Mason", as told to the ditto-childer of
The Thinkless-Ones, masonites of The Bridge
(aka. the Unthinkers)
"These to He on high, we owe;
Source whence all our blessings flow.
And this a bridge one thought we raise
With mason-brick, vow grate solemn praise."



and lastly.... the campaign pitch:

BABEL STATION
"It is a Tower of Babel - with its top in the heavens...lest we be scattered abroad upon the void of the galaxy.
We are one people and have one language, and nothing will be withholden from them which they purpose to do."

It is a place of neutrality. A place of sanctuary. A place of peace. A galactic bazaar and council house to Ambassadors, Kings, Conquerors, Generals and Powers beyond the scope. This is Ara Pacis 742-T. Heralded by the watchful eye of the "The LEGATUS" - The Rangers of the Void, made up of members of the worlds governed under her scope.

Campaign Scale: World Class (average)
Campaign Rule Option: Cosmic rules are open to use. the ION Guard = Green Lantern Corps.
PCs: Player heroes are members of the Rangers, a small force to protect the interests of Babel Station. Heroes may be of any race or world with any powers and abilities. A ship, and basic gear for space travel will be made available to Rangers (free) if your hero cannot survive the void. PCs may also build heroes with custom gear/vehicles. Any "hero" may apply and be accepted by the Rangers. From a lower "Blue Beetle" level to near cosmic Silver Surfer types. All will be balanced with Hero/Setback Points. Everyone has the Disad-Duty (Babel Station), this doesn't count against your max ads/disads but you do get the free point for it, - and could buy it off or get out of it later.
A potential option: each player creates 3 PCs at different Street Level and World Class levels. A player is given the "mission" at hand and picks the team. No one PC can be played twice before all PCs are played.
Options: ION Guard membership (discounted rates on ION Guard power suit to add to your alien type abilities)

ADVENTURE/ISSUES: Stopping planetary invasions, negotiating between worlds, protecting ambassadors, policing world-class thefts, exploration, stopping world threats, world/galactic disasters, mega-villain (Thanos/Darkseid) schemes, etc...

I'm having COSMIC FUN making up weird/neat "Kirby-esque" ideas.
Hope you dig it!!

-kev-

Very cool concept, Kev, and I think the Bridger of Worlds fits the "Kirby-esque" genre wonderfully. And I love the image of Gjallarbrú crossing the bridge riding on mega-tanks. The image it brings to mind (for me) is reminiscent of the Celestials standing on the step pyramids when the 3rd (or was it 4th) host came to judge Earth.

I'm torn on whether I think Gjallarbrú should be male or female. One possibility (which has been done before with Galactus) is that as a cosmic "bridger of worlds" his/her appearance varies for each person who sees him/her - Gjallarbrú appears as a giant of the race (and gender?) of the viewer. I'm not sure whether that adds anything, but thought I'd throw it out just in case it strikes a cord.

Gotta run, only have a few minutes today. Good luck, and I'm looking forward to reading more about your game.

Very cool major menace. Your writing really brings life to the granduer of the World Bridger. It might be too late for my opoinion now, but I'd go with a male-type gender for the character: while women can be terrifying - it is rarely because of an intimidating stature (even at 28' in height). I think it's because we men are naturally drawn to a female. It's when we cross them that we learn to fear them (and I'm not even inferring the deep end as represented by Lorena Bobbit)!

MrJupiter wrote:Very cool major menace. Your writing really brings life to the granduer of the World Bridger.

heheh... Thanks MJ (and Lindharin)!
I Narrated this epic threat in my short-shot cosmic Issue this past Friday. I wasn't as prepared (with stats) as well as I wanted from the many many cosmic villains I had... but overall, folks had a great time.

The Bridger of Worlds evolved a little but mostly stayed as I noted. I made him 200 meters as opposed to the paltry 28', haha...

In the Issue the "Void Rangers" (our PC Heroes!) thwarted the COMING of the Bridger of Worlds!! As the "World Nail" was being driven into Earth's moon by "Mjolnir" the Rangers were teleported in by the Leveler of Earth sector ...

(Leveler: female version of Uatu the Watcher, whose race of blindfolded scale wielding women "level" cosmic events by getting heroes OR VILLAINS to go up against mega-threats)

Rushing to the clanging thunder of the living hammer-hands of Mjolnir on the living iron of the World Nail, the heroes quickly bullrushed Mjolnir away from the spike (set as an "Extended Check" to bring various effects such as: awakening the moon to animate and fight the heroes, then eventually breaking in half to explode the space/time rift for the Bridger to come forth!)... As they took care of Mjolnir with some interesting tactics, one Ranger/Hero extracted the World Nail and tossed it into space!! Thus literally thwarting any way for the rift to open further than it had at only 4-5 ft... a few "Thinkless Ones" fired their blasters through and the ominous EYE OF THE BRIDGER glared through - bellowing his wish to "Bring peace to Uurrth!!" but ultimately the heroes stopped the Bridger from ever being seen in our reality!! SUCK!! haha

The players liked my "epilogue" describing the Bridger and how/why he would have made conquest of Earth, had they failed!!
Good times!


You can see more evolution of my idea from the cross-post on RPGnet here: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?569 ... p=13749533

Tell me what you think!
-kev-

But what happens when the nail finds itself close to the orbit of Mars and starts commanding martians to crack open the red planet?!

simpson wrote:But what happens when the nail finds itself close to the orbit of Mars and starts commanding martians to crack open the red planet?!

Oh no... Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos! What if the nail happens to settles on one of those? If someone was to pound it into one of those two rocks orbiting the red planet, then the Bridger would have a beach-head that would be remote enough that the heroes might not get there in time!