It was 1992 when the first superpowered man emerged. An unknown man who went by the name Titan. He was what everyone envisioned a superhero would be. He could fly and be anywhere on the planet in minutes and had seemingly unlimited strength. The man never showed his real face, which led to much speculation about him even being human. Titan spent almost every waking moment helping with natural disasters and similar problems.
In the coming months, the number of those who possessed powers skyrocketed, with hundreds and thousands of people waking up one day to discover they could manipulate fire, or stone, or create servants made of light and technology centuries ahead of what was capable of. For the next fifteen years powers became a bit of a novelty, while some opted to use them for illicit gains, the number of self proclaimed “heroes” grossly outnumbered the “villains.” Often it was played more like a game of cat and mouse with some moderate property damage. Overall, the public perception of superhumans was quite high.
2007. A good fifteen years after Titan’s emergence, and despite the decade and a half, he had not slowed down in the slightest. Until one fateful day in the middle of July. A new superhuman had manifested, and this one, now dubbed “Madhouse”, managed to completely seal off an entire city inside of a power-created barrier. On the outside, hundreds of heroes, Titan included, mobilized in an attempt to break the barrier and free the trapped people.
Twenty hours passed, with many heroes having used their powers until they were utterly exhausted, the only one still going was Titan, as he slammed and struck the barrier with all of his strength for the entirety of the event. Eventually, whether because of a power or Titan simply managing to break it, the barrier came down, and inside were the bodies of dozens of heroes and thousands of people lying dead. Madhouse himself managed to escape, but July 16, 2007 marked the end of the Golden Age of Superheroes.
Public opinion of their heroes dropped quickly and harshly. Within a year, the public funding to keep heroics going had dropped to a third, sales of merchandise and similar media met a similar fate. Many of them still tried, but it was clear that the public no longer truly believed in their heroes since the emergence of Madhouse.
Titan also seemed to have vanished after. Some speculated he died, others believed that the shame of being unable to help with Madhouse was enough to drive him into hiding.
Things only continued to spiral out of control as many once-heroes turned to vigilantism or simply became villains. The numbers quickly swapped until the villains and vigilantes outnumbered the heroes.
Madhouse was still at large, occasionally striking anywhere that seemed to have an upsurge in heroics, more and more villains saw opportunity to take what they wanted with few heroes to stand in their way. No place worse than the very city where Madhouse first emerged: Las Vegas. After the massacre, the local government was overrun by the surviving supers who stuck claims over land and resources.
Upon realizing that they couldn’t control the growing superhuman population, the government made the choice to let the supers have Vegas, which its new leaders renamed to Springfield presumably out of irony.
History of Springfield
In the remains of Madhouse’s wake in Las Vegas spurred new life, a new idea. The United States government had voted to declare the city uninhabitable and simply cut their losses in January of 08. As many superhuman scavengers had taken up residence and severely hampering the construction efforts even more. People evacuated by the thousands, but some saw an opportunity: A city completely free from the laws and constraints of the government?
In a twist, this attracted even more of the superhuman population to the city. Cleanup and construction started continuing as the people took it into their own hands.
The US government wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it. Localizing the vast majority of the powered population into one area would definitely curb the rampant superhuman crime that had been besieging the country since Madhouse had attacked. A large number of them had already begun to migrate, so they decided to simply make a new law: Any person caught using their powers outside of the city would have a bounty placed on their head, for anyone powered or otherwise, to collect if they did not move to Springfield. Those unable to afford a trip to the city can simply request one from their local government. Transporting is usually done a few times a month in a heavily armed, artificer tech vehicle.
Outrage was immediate, but the low population of both those with powers and powered sympathizers led to it passing almost unanimously, and went into effect at the very start of 2010.
The city had a number of issues. While the internet and power grid were repaired, none of that would matter without food. At which point a group who called themselves the Merchant’s Guild offered their services, providing not only food, but drugs, weapons, parts for artificers, and even artificer tech assuming you had the money, and or could provide them with an equally valuable service.
With most of the immediate issues solved, the next problem became law and order, which caused the most controversial faction in the city to rise: The Militia. The US government had considered the soldiers in the area all dead or otherwise compromised, so they instead tried to offer something rare in Springfield: Safety. Safety provided by order, regimented schedules, and heavily augmented soldiers with power armor and energy weapons.
Major Factions:
There are two major factions in the city, the Militia and the Merchant’s guild, a few influential gangs, and more minor gangs than you can shake a stick at.
The Militia: After Madhouse devastated the city, including wiping out most of the military, the government sent in another force in an attempt to reclaim the city from the powered squatters. Unfortunately for them, they were not prepared for the squatters to, largely, be immune to their weapons for one reason or another. Not only that, but on top of the people resisting them, they were pushed all the way back from the city to Nellis by a small army of robots.The commanding officer of the operation Liam Johnson radioed to his own commander about the harsher resistance than expected. To their horror, the government now considered them completely compromised due the cost and public perception that the government had failed and that all present were relieved of their duty. Liam quickly took charge and rather than abandon his men, managed to work out a truce with the city’s new “leader” Deus Machina. Since then, they operate as a pseudo police force and place of refuge for the unpowered. While they now employ those with powers, it is primarily in a support role.
The Merchant’s Guild: A group that initially started as a band of Artificers that quickly organized and made their living creating and selling technology to anyone who’d buy it, which expanded into household goods, drugs, and just about anything you could imagine. This earned them a reputation for being apathetic to the damage they indirectly caused, but many turn their opinions around when they need to buy a new hovercraft or some groceries on the cheap. They also act as a safe haven for Artificers on the run. While the smallest of the three, they are very influential as they are the ones keeping the water flowing, lights on, and internet working. Led by a man who calls himself Deus Machina, the self proclaimed “greatest mind on the planet” and unofficial new leader of the city.
The Docs: The closest group that Springfield has to being untouchable. Missing a limb or two? Got cancer? Paralyzed from the neck down? Happens all the time in Springfield, simply go to your nearest clinic and they’ll have you patched up within a few hours. While they technically work for the Merchant’s Guild, they’re quite independent of it. Due to the services being provided, no one dares lash out at them without very good cause or being insane.
Minor Factions:
Larger, more influential gangs that don’t quite reach the standards of the other three, but still a good bit stronger than most other gangs in the city
The Bank Rollers: Once a group of prominent bank robbers, they mostly hang out on the outskirts of the city, getting drunk and high while building vehicles to either race or destroy in one of their competitions. Surprisingly open to outsiders as long as you follow their “culture”. Also often host events to test their vehicles against anyone else’s.
The Blood Pact: A rather isolated group with a heavy religious bent. They claimed to have the ability to grant powers to those without, but are incredibly selective about who they allow within their ranks. The one thing giving their words any credence is their rather bloodthirsty combat record, often not just killing their foes, but making quite a mess of them in the process.
The Heavyweights: An unusually positive gang by most standards. A gang composed primarily of Titan class supers with a sizable number of unpowereds as well. They dedicate themselves to helping others achieve a much greater degree of physical fitness. Led by a popular power couple of a charismatic ex-congressman by the name of Noah Benjamin, and his wife Michelle Benjamin. Like most of the others, they often sell their services as personal trainers as well as the usual mercenary work.
The Seers: A collective of people who have cognitive abilities in the vein of precognition. A nomadic gang who largely keep to themselves and get by selling information about gangs to other gangs as well as alerting the higher ups in the event of a potential major threat such as a Madhouse attack, bad weather, or an unusually powerful super about to start knocking buildings over. They also run an actual radio station known as 96.8 The Eye which gives accurate weather predictions, good music, and warnings about major gang fights or other such violence
The Chimeras: Probably the second most exclusive gang in the city by virtue of being composed entirely of those who are Altered. Founded recently by a woman by the name of Eva, a woman with bleached white skin and black cow-like spots along her entire body. She created the group to ensure that there would be a refuge for Altered.
Life in the City
Springfield is a city that never has a dull day, and even attracts a sizable number of normal people due to just how much of a spectacle it can be at times. Rent and utilities are quite cheap, jobs range from simple manual labor to muscle for gangs, and all pay enough to ensure that you’ll have plenty left over for yourself.
Not that Springfield is in any way safe. Gang fights are a borderline daily occurrence as the meritocracy that the city is demands constant vigilance and effort to ensure you and your people remain on top, or at the very least not buried at the bottom.
That being said, there’s almost always something exciting going on that you can partake in for fun, profit, and immense risk of personal injury.
There’s several arenas that attempted to organize and consolidate the gang fights, to little avail, but instead attracted a large number of people from all around the city to watch, participate in, and or bet on fights. It also doubles as an execution method for those too violent and destructive to be realistically imprisoned.
Another pastime are the Twisted Wheel races held by a gang known as the Bank Rollers. Get a vehicle, doesn’t matter how, that falls into the rules for that particular race, and well, race it. As long as you’re in the vehicle, anything goes. Powers, traps and guns are all fair game.
One of the last notable events is one that is almost required for everyone to participate in: A Madhouse attack. He occasionally attacks the city, and due to the city-spanning range of his power, everyone is required to help in some way. Either by fighting or supporting those who are. As it’s one of the very few times the city is truly united, attempting to take advantage of the situation will almost definitely result in your death. Those without a proper plan or direction can consult Deus Machina for deployment.
Springfield is a hellhole. If the gangs aren't tearing the city apart, there's people trying to enact mob justice for perceived crimes, or Madhouse recently decided that he didn't like a particular group of city blocks. The "leaders" are apathetic and at best and detrimental at worst. Tensions are constantly high as almost everyone is just looking for an excuse to kill each other.
So that's where we come in. It's 2023 and the world needs it's heroes back. And that's where we begin, as a bunch of unruly upstarts speaking Springfield's universal language: Violence, in the attempt that maybe we can turn this hellhole into something worth living in. Maybe we can put Madhouse down for good and bring back the good old days.
Maybe. Maybe not, but even if we fail, it'll probably be a fun ride until then, right?
Powers
That’s where we start. But first an explanation on the power system and the notable bad guys you’ll be fighting.
Powers are classified according to their function.
Titan: Named after the titular hero, those that have abilities relating to increased strength and endurance. They hit hard and can take a large amount of damage before being defeated. Powers that earn you a Titan rating are: Enhanced strength, durability, regeneration, personal force field, or some combination of those.
Artificer: The power to create hyper-advanced technology in a cave with a bucket of scraps. Extremely versatile, annoying when alone, terrifying when in a group. Artificers can create wonders out of junk, but more often than not, they’re specialized in a specific area. For example, one might specialize in explosives, meaning that they make bombs that can have a bunch of different effects. Or one that specializes in ice, meaning that they could create anything ice related, which could vary from ice grenades to freeze rays, to cryogenics. This is because I don’t want everyone just making Iron Man and want to foster more creativity with inventions.
Blaster: The power to attack from range. Whether you shoot lasers, molten glass, weird bombs, rocks or even just carrying a really big gun, this is you.
Quaker: No, not the weird religious people or the oatmeal, people with powers that have area of effect powers. Like an earthquake.
Shifter: The power lets you alter your physical appearance or switch to a powered form. The form itself can be anything from simply a stronger version of yourself or some kind of monstrous form.
Rogue: Powers that are stealth based, or make you harder to detect, like invisibility or retconning yourself out of people’s memories.
Master: Powers that allow you to create or control minions, be they power generated or taken from the environment
Altered: A power that has mutated you into something non-human or given you non-human features, like you now being made of stone, light or crystal, or being a large mostly humanoid multi-eyed bird lady. Unlike shifters, this is permanent.
Striker: Powers that activate upon you touching someone or something.
Speeder: Powers that enhance mobility. It’s rare that it’s the only classification, as flight is a relatively common secondary power, but the ability to teleport or create portals also qualifies.
Cognitive: Powers that make gathering information easier. Like precognition or enhanced senses.
Meta: An uncommon rating given to those who can suppress, enhance, grant or otherwise modify superhuman abilities
You’re not restricted to just one or two classes, you’ll be given them based on your powers, and as many as apply. If you’re an Artificer who made a power suit that can fly and lift trucks you’ll be an Artificer (Titan, Speeder)
Powers often come with little nuances in how they function, with no two powers being identical. They also often change over time, especially those that truly push them to their limits. Those with harder to control powers might find it easier to do so, those with super strength might find their PR going up or healing just a bit quicker. Artificers might find that their field of expertise slightly expanded or that one finicky device they made being a bit more functional than usual. Speaking of Artificers:
A Word on Tech
Technology is much as you would find in the world today, with the exception of Artificer tech being almost alien and often centuries ahead of anything anywhere else. The strange part is that while normal people can often be trained in its use, despite the best efforts of the entire world to replicate the technology, no one has succeeded in doing so, and maintenance almost always has to be done by one as well, especially given Springfield’s intense environment.
Notable Characters
Whether you’ve been in Springfield for a week, or a year, you probably know who these people are.
Hot Spots
Springfield has a few hotspots where people congregate for one reason or another.
And that about does it for lore. Glad you made it this far. Lets get to the fun parts.
RULES
1: Don't be a jerk. This is a collaborative writing story.
2: NS's rules still apply
3: There's no strict length requirement, but do try to keep things nice.
4: Multiple characters are allowed, but please do try to have at least 1 with the main group.
5: If you can't post due to IRL, please say so, so we can work around you.
6: Feel free to suggest lore additions if you have ideas you think would work.
7: Remove the parentheses from the app please.
Discord Link: https://discord.gg/hURgPrQJHr
IC Link: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=537221
Application
- Code: Select all
[b][u]Name:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Age:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Gender:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Appearance (pics if possible):[/u][/b]
[b][u]Power Classifications:[/u][/b] (Given upon app acceptance.)
[b][u]Bio(Please treat this as a replacement for a writing sample. Here's a few questions if you're stuck: Did your character come to Springfield on their own, or were they required to? How long have they been in the city and what have they been doing prior to joining the main group?):[/u][/b]
[b][u]Powers:[/u][/b]
[box][list][*][b][Insert Power Name Here]:[/b] (Insert description of power here)
[*][b][Insert Power Name Here]:[/b] (Insert description of power here)
(Note, you do not have a maximum or minimum of 2 powers. If you don’t need all those, delete them. If you need more, copy and paste.)
[/list][/box]
[b][u]Limitations (Eg, maximum lifting strength for super strength, maximum flight speed, power doesn't work directly on people, ect):[/u][/b]
[box][list][*] (Insert Limitation)
[*] (Insert Limitation)
(Note, you do not have a maximum or minimum of 2 limitations. If you don’t need all those, delete them. If you need more, copy and paste.)
[/list][/box]
[b][u]Weaknesses (Reasons why someone could kick their ass/things that their powers don't work against):[/u][/b]
[box][list][*][b][Insert Weakness Name Here]:[/b] (Insert description of weakness here, if needed)
[*][b][Insert Weakness Name Here]:[/b] (Insert description of weakness here, if needed)
(Note, you do not have a maximum or minimum of 2 weaknesses. If you don’t need all those, delete them. If you need more, copy and paste.)
[/list][/box]
[size=150]Just for fun (Optional; remove if unused)-[/size]
[b][u]Birthday:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Theme song:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Likes:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Dislikes:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Favorite food:[/u][/b]
[b][u]Greatest fear:[/u][/b]
I'll edit it in, glad to be on board.
