More pre-campaign bits and pieces I distributed to the players. Some of these elements are reworkings from other sources. IIRC Terror Firma comes from a suggestion in a Heroes Unlimited book; there's another version of that concept which appeared a couple of years after I did this in Squadron UK. You can find the first post and more explanation here. The
history of the Second Sunder War is here.
JAPAN
Japan has a significant split between the two sides of its
superhero population. On the one hand it possesses a large and colorful segment
of what have been called "Paracelebrities" in the U.S. They draw from
across the range of powers from the unstoppable might of the Solar Commando to
the less intense abilities of Second Guesser. Many have their own TV
programs—reality or otherwise—with more emphasis placed on likeability of their
persona's rather than actual powers. In fact, the most popular hero today is Super
Taster, whose ability to discern flavors and identify substances has
captured the public imagination, despite its decidedly now flashy and
non-visual nature. However his careful choice of appearances, his go-to
attitude and his recent victory on Ninja Warrior have made him near and
dear to many. It is worth noting that Japan has a significant influx of
paranormals from around the globe, hoping to make their mark in this lucrative
sector. The situation has become somewhat problematic and Japan has recently
moved to limit such travel.
The other side of the superhero population in Japan might be
called a form of superhero elite. These supers have been recruited by the
semi-nationalized zaibatsu, Asaka Concepts, to serve as agents of the
government, security handlers, rescue experts and criminal investigation
adjuncts. The government heavily monitors press and publicity for members of
the Asaka zaibatsu, and is fairly liberal in its use of security restraint
orders to prevent negative publicity. Asaka supers never make press appearances
except in a carefully controlled situation. Still there exists a large
underground network of gossip and fan-fiction dealing with them. To the public
at large, these heroes are stoic representatives of the national identity,
almost serving as a parallel imperial house in the minds of some.
AFRICA
Having been struck by natural disasters, government
corruption, incessant warfare, and environmental damage, many worry about a
recent new threat which seems to have struck the continent. Less than a year
ago, a government patrol chasing down insurgents in Zaire came across a swath
of land vastly different and alien. They reported back to HQ and then went in
to explore. They were never heard from again. Several follow up patrols also
apparently met a similar fate. At the time a few outsider observers were able
to survey the area from a distance. They said the land seemed to have
drastically changed vegetation and that there appeared to be movement of
animals within the area. Visibility was reduced by something akin to a heat
shimmer effect that may have been a property of the temperature or something
else. Government Officials soon restricted the area and seized recordings and
data from scientists before forcing them out of the country.
In the months that followed, satellites could track the
progress of the area, now known popularly as Terror Firma, as it grew in
size. Now it encompasses an area many miles across—and significantly spread
into a local village. A government blackout within Zaire has kept reports
sketchy, but there is some suggestion that the army quarantined the whole of
the region forcing people to remain within the village even as the Terror
Firma grew. Senior leaders within Zaire apparently believe that this lush
development could be key to progress and growth—either through industrial
development or perhaps through weaponization. Thus they have been loath to
permit any outsiders to study the area. Rumor has it that some western nations
have managed to gain samples through backdoor samples and are analyzing the
data.
Given a dearth of information, currently scientists can only
speculate about the source of Terror Firma. Some fear it may be an alien
invasion in the form of a terraforming attack, others believe it some kind of
sentiment ecological disaster, some think it might be some kind of magical
attack or elemental, and others believe it is some kind of super villain lair.
Regardless the situation has become more pressing following the discovery last
month of two new and independent areas of Terror Firma in Sudan and
Mali.
RUSSIA
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union many outside
observers expressed concern about the safeguarding and decommissioning of the
great nuclear arsenal. Less thought was given to the large numbers of
superhumans recruited and trained by the government over the course of many
years. Over the next two decades, most former Soviet supers ended up in one of
two camps. A good number emigrated to the West or other portions of the
developing world where their talents could bring them fame and wealth. Most of
the rest remained and began to take up strongman positions if their powers
supported it or else joined with one of the Russian crime syndicates or corrupt
industrial groups. Battles between superhumans tied to one faction or another
became commonplace, adding to the already deadly mundane violence between
criminals.
However, some Russian supers remained who loved their
homeland and refused to bow down to the corruption around them. They took up
classic superhero roles-- fighting crime and battling for justice. In this they
found little support from the government or the elite who saw them as
roadblocks to gathering wealth and power. When several supers tried to stop a
turf war involving persons tied closely to the powerful of the Kremlin, they
found themselves arrested and denounced. The few remaining idealistic supers
found themselves in a difficult position. Chief among them was The
Guardsman,a hero who had been given his mantle from his father, and his
father before him. He gathered together a group of loyalists and made a
desperate move. In lightning succession he assassinated Putin, the Prime
Minister, and a score of other publicly corrupt officials. Within hours battles
broke out between Guardman's forces and various other rogue supers. However,
lacking any unity these criminals soon found themselves overwhelmed. The
Guardsman declared new elections and established himself and his chief allies
as the self-appointed guards against corruption, cronyism, and treachery.
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