I'm new to Mutants and Masterminds, but charging ahead anyway. I may not understand quite all the mechanics, but I'm making up a campaign to run for my friends. The setting is very heavy with genetic engineering as well as mythologies like the Four Horsemen, Haitian Loa, Lovecraftian Horrors, and also sinister, back-room dealing plots.
The story begins with a rash outbreak of metahumans, including the player character. It's unknown how or why people are suddenly gaining superhuman abilities, and it's especially disconcerting that it's specific to a single location. a prestigious, city named Paragon Town, built as a central hub for scientific advancement (think Eureka, but privately owned by the man who runs the prominent business of NoahCo.) Before the outbreak in Paragon Town, super heroes and villains were a rare phenomenon, and metahuman mutations were just as rare, and often weren't useful as far as superhero powers go.
Prominent in the story is a group of minors living in the street. Some call themselves the Misfits, others the Runaways. The co-leaders call the ragtag group they help take care of The Renegades, as they fight against a society that marginalizes and spites them. The leaders are a mutant named Sean Grisham (nicknamed Gruesome), and -though once a normal, if overly angry and confused, teenager, he is now a newly empowered metahuman - Karl Feldmann (nicknamed Yin-Yang).
The group was originally a haven for children born homeless on the street, those who ran away from home, and those who were forced away from their normal lives. Kids exhibiting mutations were rare, and Sean was the only noteworthy metahuman. Since the event, there has been an influx of metahuman members displaced from their homes by their fearsome abilities and appearances, and many of the original members have manifested as new metahumans.
Now there is a team of metahumans in the Renegades that actively cares for and defends their subculture from any danger, be it political and legal sweeps to capture or disband their group, or fanatic extremists, or anything else.
This team, also referred to (and perhaps more aptly) as "The Renegades" consists of:
Sean "Gruesome" Grisham - Sean is a mutant with enhanced agility and flexibility as well as the trait of secreting an adhesive slime from his pores instead of sweat. Gruesome has spent his entire life in the streets and underground of Paragon Town. Almost an adult, Gruesome takes the role of a thoughtful and concerned father-figure.
Karl "Yin-Yang" Feldmann - So called for the shapes he traces on his forearms when nervous, Yin-Yang is on the Autism Spectrum, and has a very unique outlook and set of natural abilities. He found the Renegades when he ran away from an abusive home that did not understand his mental condition. Although he is aloof and analytical, he cares for his newfound family very much and regards himself as the sentinel and protector. Since his recent empowerment, he has spent lot of time behind the scenes, secretly testing the limits of his newfound abilities.
Tara "Siphon" Hollister - Tara didn't join the Renegades until after the outbreak of metahumans. She fearfully ran from her life as an Olympic hopeful gymnast when she sprouted a pair of prehensile, somewhat retractable, vine-like appendages on her palms, which she immediately discovered would indiscriminately steal life energy from any organism she happened to touch with them. Originally, Gruesome was the only one she could touch, as his filmy secretion made him immune to her power, but she has since learned to control her siphoning ability, even learning how to make the transfer go the other way.
Gwendolyn "Wicca" Banner - Wicca is a 7th generation Gardnerian witch. Although the coven her family belonged to never performed any real magic beyond the common hedgewitch variety, Gwen found herself surprisingly very adept at protective magic. When religious extremists attacked her family and coven, and orphaned her - 5 years before the metahuman outbreak, it was Karl who found her and brought her into the fold. She has since graciously stepped in as a nurturing, maternal addition to their group. The recent outbreak has also given her an increase in spell-casting strength.
Jameson "Totem" Jackson - Due to his powers granted by the outbreak, Totem can take on the traits and strengths of any single animal he focuses on. Jameson was born on the street and was the son of the homeless couple that originally found and took in Gruesome.
Kit "Aum" Rizby - Aum was gifted with incredible mental faculties and psionic ability by the metahuman outbreak, but it came with a price. Aum is dying of cerebral cancer. After it became clear that chemotherapy wasn't working, Aum left the hospital ward, and found then joined the Renegades based on a premonition. Though a premonition of what, he will not say.
Maureen "Tundra" Farraday - When Maureen's mother died, her father was deemed unfit to care for her on his own, so Social Services came to claim her. Afraid of the unknown, Maureen fled and wandered the streets until she was found by the Renegades. Since the outbreak Maureen has developed cold control powers, and has been given the nickname Tundra. Her control over her newfound ability is largely dependent on her emotional state, however, and she can cause severe problems when she panics or gets angry.
Sarah "Skip" - Sarah is the abandoned product of an unwanted pregnancy, found and adopted by Wicca.4 years ago. Now almost 5, and a newly empowered metahuman, "Skip" uses her powers of teleportation to follow her adopted mother everywhere, even into the dangerous fights. Despite every action Wicca could take to keep Skip safe, the little girl is incorrigible, and is always ready to teleport after her mommy.
Leviathan - Leviathan is a Huge-sized child-like monstrosity with greenish brown fur, canid and ursine features, and six legs. Leviathan will either stand on all six, or bring his first pair of legs up to use as rudimentary hands. Leviathan found and adopted the Renegades as his family shortly after the breakout of metahumans. None of the Renegades know for sure where Leviathan came from, or who - or even what - Leviathan was before his empowerment - and Leviathan ignores all questions about his past. Aum has even tried to read Leviathan's mind, but to no avail.
And also:
Damion "Moloch" Powers Jr. - Moloch is an on and off member of the Renegades, due to his past and his felonious behaviour which has become somewhat of a habit. Even before his empowerment, Damion was going by Moloch as his nom du crime, stealing cars, money, and jewelry to support himself as a young teen all on his own. With his new option of joining the Renegades family, and his new ability to consciously control his bone growth and limited regenerative abilities, Moloch has a chance to turn his back on crime, but by the same token, his new abilities, and the monstrous appearance his bony tail and wings grant him, it's hard to do so.
Paige "Pagemaster" Haley - Pagemaster is an honorary member of the Renegades, and best friend to Siphon. When Paige was empowered she found herself able to make her art come to life, literally.
All these characters will get their CS up here in time, starting with Pagemaster. I hope you'll critique my work. It's the only way I'll get them right and get better at building.
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Saving the world, one d20 roll at a time
Saving the world, one d20 roll at a time
