Supplementary Background Info - Since They Left

I wanted to clarify a few points about what your characters do and do not know about the events of the time between when
the heroes went off into space and the start of the game. If anything's unclear, or you still have questions, feel free to 
ask, but be aware that there's some stuff your chars aren't supposed to know going into the game.

The departure of the assembled heroes was a big public event. This wasn't the first time this had happened, and the 
leaders of the group about to head off into space held a press conference to reassure the public (and warn any villains
watching) that they'd be back shortly, and that arrangements had been made to keep a handle on things while the huge group
of heroes was gone.

Left in charge was a small group of powerful heroes, representing the various specialties within the superhero community:
brute force, science skills, magical knowledge, speedsters, and so on and so forth. The heroes that your characters would
most likely be aware of are noted in the Dramatis Personnae below.

Everything was fine for the first month. Supervillain crime was at normal levels, and the heroes, though busy, had a 
pretty good handle on things.

Another week went by. The media started asking questions, but the various heroes assured them that things were
just taking a bit longer than expected, and that all the heroes that had gone off into space would be back soon.

Another week went by. And then another. And another. Media speculation was reaching a fever pitch, and speculation grew 
that something had gone wrong, and that the heroes were not telling the truth about what was going on.

At the same time, towards the end of the second month, supervillain activity was starting to rise. Villains who had little
or no connection to each other, or who normally worked alone, were seen working in groups. The heroes still had things 
mostly under control, but they couldn't be everywhere, and more things were starting to slip through.

One night, as the third month since the assembled heroes had left Earth began, the public finally got some word on what was
going on, but not from the heroes. An unknown villain hacked into every channel and claimed responsibility for the 
disappearance of the departed heroes. He said he was holding them somewhere they could not escape, they could not be found,
and they could not be rescued from. He was responsible for the increase in supervillain activity; he'd gathered numerous
villains under his banner, and with use their combined power, the remaining heroes of Earth could not hope to stand before
them.

"The time shall soon come when all shall recognize my greatness. The few pathetic fools that were left on Earth when all the
other heroes went off to play in space cannot hope to stand before my army. There are no reinforcements coming. There will
be no cavalry riding to the rescue. All your greatest heroes are gone, trapped by my power. Those left behind will fall."

Needless to say, this set off a panic among the public, especially when the remaining heroes refused to comment, even to 
assert that it was a hoax. Experts in the field of supers noted that the man apparently behind the disappearance of the
space-travelling heroes bore a strong resemblance to Master Magus, a young sorcerer whose villainous exploits had earned 
him the coveted Villain of the Year award two years ago. But he had been inactive for almost a year and half amid reports 
that he'd been killed in a great battle; it couldn't actually be him, could it?

Whoever he was, his words were no mere boasts. NYC was overtaken by a veritable tidal wave of superhuman crime. The heroes
struggled to stop the worst of it, but there was far too much for them to handle. Even worse, rumors started to circulate 
that some of the few remaining heroes had been grievously injured or killed; there was no confirmation, but several heroes
suddenly were no longer being spotted in public.

This is the situation your characters find yourself in. If you're active on the super scene, things have gotten a whole lot
more hectic the past couple of months, and you've been encountering stronger and more determined villains. Even if you're
not, you can tell that things are getting bad; even the normal criminals are stepping up their activities, now that the
heroes and the cops are busy struggling to keep the villains from running amok.

Things are getting desperate. So desperate, in fact, that the heroes might go looking for help. Why, they might even come to
someone like you...


DRAMATIS PERSONNE

= Eternal Warrior
	A 7 foot tall Norsemen, approximately as wide. Build like a truck. Bald, with a long blond beard. Two and a half
millennia ago, he won a contest held by the gods of war and battle from various pantheons designed to settle the question
of whose followers were the greatest warriors. For his victory, he was gifted with various boons from each of the gods,
including immortality, eternal youth, incredible strength, immense resistance to damage, mastery of all forms of armed and
unarmed combat, and strategic brilliance. Has been involved in virtually every major conflict over the past 2500 years, on
whichever side he felt deserved his help. Loud and jolly in public, he is nonetheless one of the most powerful and respected
heroes on Earth. Has helped train many heroes in the art of combat. Favors axes, but has been known to use virtually any
weapon, ancient or modern.

= American Dream
	The first American Dream had no powers, but his incredible feats of daring and bravery early in World War II led 
the government to recruit him to be a symbol for everything was good about America. Donning his famous red, white and 
blue uniform, he cut a swatch through Europe and the Pacific, leading Allied troops to victory and defeating Axis 
supervillains with only a knife, a tomahawk and a Tommy gun. After a war, he helped train and lead a generation of 
America's superheroes against the rising threat of supervillainy. His left-wing political views brought got him caught up 
in anti-Communist hysteria in the early 1950s, but so powerful was his reputation among the superhero community and the
public that the attempt to tar him backfired. The events left him shaken, however, and he started to take a less 
prominent public role until the 1960s, when his outrage at the war in Vietnam caused him to speak out. Unfortunately, the
passage of time had faded the memories of his heroism in the defense of his country, and he was denounced by the 
government and the public. Even some of the heroes he'd trained and fought with branded him a traitor; a few spoke out in
his defense, but most were too scared to speak up, and eventually the government stripped him of his uniform. He once again
disappeared from the public eye, and was last seen at the funeral for his wife and children, who'd been killed by a bomb
in his house, presumably planted by one of his old villains.

	A decade and a half passed, but by 1980, the government decided it was time to find somebody new to serve as a
symbol for the nation. This time, though, a more "gung-ho" patriot was sought for the job, and eventually a former Marine 
who'd gained incredible powers was chosen to be the new American Dream. 

	The second American Dream has been one of the most powerful heroes on earth for the last three decades, possessing
immense strength, nigh-invulnerability, flight, super speed, and a host of other powers. Yet he's never achieved the same
level of respect and admiration as his predecessor; his public image is aloof and arrogant, quick to dismiss those he
deems weak or insufficiently patriotic. 

	Those "in the know" are aware of the truth: he's actually a colossal dick. Xenophobic, jingoistic, 
self-important, self-righteous, and insufferable are some of the nicer things those who know him have to say about him. His
power is only exceeded by his ego, and he's damn powerful.

= Solaris
	A former astronaut, gained the power of an exploding sun (because, really, a million is just showing off) when her
shuttle was sucked through a wormhole into the heart of a star going nova. Can channel enormous amounts of solar energy.
Widely respected in the superhuman community, especially among heroines. Was the first woman ever to lead The Rampart,
the world's preeminent superhero team. Brilliant, courageous and beautiful. A public proponent of heroines dressing 
in practical attire. Stepped down as head of The Rampart about a year ago, and had been largely inactive up until the 
recent crisis; even now, she's rarely seen out in the field.

= Sister Admin
	- Completely unknown to the public. Little is known about her, and she likes it that way. Appeared on the scene 
about five years ago as an provider of intel and technical support to the superhero community. If you've been active on the 
scene, you've probably dealt with her at some point, and if you don't have her number, she most definitely has yours. 
Serves as a clearinghouse for information of supervillain activity, collecting information from all the myriad heroes and 
trying to identify patterns. Similarly monitors the superhero community, and organizes rescue efforts when heroes get in 
over their heads. If you needto know where to find a hero, or where a villain likes to get his cape laundered, she'll 
probably know. Also a computer whiz; can get into virtually any system, and provides real-time intel and assistance to 
heroes in the field.