Hell Hath No Fury

This adventure is designed for a small group of superheroes based preferably in New York City. The group should consist of four to five members, but could be played by as little as two heroes. The Avengers, The New Warriors, The Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four, or The Slingers are a few suggestions.

The scenes below are presented in a way to further the development of the plot. Of course, it may not always be possible to follow such a linear sequence of situations, due to player ingenuity. In such a case, it is necessary for the Narrator to have an overall sense of the story, so that the "lost" players can be redirected towards the main plot goal.

Part One: A Box of Chocolates

Synopsis

This first scene is mainly a role-playing scene. It focuses on the heroes' social/love life. The scene will end with our protagonist arriving on the scene of a battle.

Players

None other than the player characters and supporting cast.

Action

To start off this, have the players describe their social lives and love interests. This whole adventure takes place on Valentine's Day, so ask them what they are planning for their significant others, if they have them. Maybe some of them are bitter and are staying home, drinking until the pass out. Take some time and help the players develop their character's personality.

At some point, the heroes should become aware of an "altercation" taking place downtown. Possibly, one of the heroes, while out on a date, could stumble upon the scene. Either way, this is what they will see:

The battle is taking place in Greenwich Village, preferably during the day. When the heroes arrive, everything will be quiet. Suddenly, the front window of the "Life Is A Box Of Chocolates" candy shop shatters. A familiar figure lands at the feet of the heroes in a shower of multi-colored light-balls. Speedball looks up and says in a weak voice, "I could use some help here."

Aftermath

Not much to wrap up. It's just getting started.

Part Two: The Kissing Game

Synopsis

While on a date, one of Speedball's ex-girlfriends has shown up and decided to win back her man. Of course, his ex-girlfriend is none other than the mutant Infectia.

Players

Speedball

Infectia

Bliss

Action

Robbie Baldwin (a.k.a. Speedball) was enjoying a nice Valentine's Day with his new girlfriend Joy Schuester (a.k.a. Bliss). He decided to go for a walk with her and they stopped in to get Joy a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Everything was going fine until one of Speedball's former girlfriends showed up. Her name is Infectia and she brought a few of her friends, the Anti-Bodies. Robbie shoved Joy into the backroom and then transformed into Speedball. Upon returning, one of the Anti-Bodies knocked him out the window.

Infectia knows of Speedball's secret identity. She has been following him for weeks now. She thought it would be romantic to confront him on Valentine's Day, when she will express her love for him by changing him into an Anti-Body. Infectia wants to see Joy humiliated by changing her into something ugly.

Joy also knows Speedball's secret. She has a secret of her own. She's a mutant who can convert positive emotional energy into heat energy. She knows that he'll need help, but she's not sure she wants to use her mutant powers in public. Of course, with a pack of Anti-Bodies hunting her down in the backroom, she may not have a choice.

Once the heroes' surprise wears off, they will hear a voice coming from inside of the candy store. "Oh Speedy-Poo, where have you gone?" A dark-haired, good-looking woman in high heels and a short skirt steps out the front window. A dozen disfigured humanoids flank her. They have different colored skin, ranging from light blue to dark red, some have horns, other have long, sharp teeth, but all of them stare at Infectia with an affectionate look in their eyes.

The humanoids fan out and attempt to harm the heroes. They are not overly bright. They use their powers in crude fashions. The main stats are under Infectia's stats. Each Anti-Body has their powers at level 10. Here are their individual powers (each has only one): CLAWS, REGENERATION, GROWTH, WINGS, ELONGATION, QUILLS. If more are needed to keep the heroes busy have more come from the candy store. It is necessary to keep them busy, because someone else will deal with Infectia. If the number of Anti-Bodies starts to decrease, Infectia can make more by touching and kissing innocent bystanders, men and women. For different types of powers, see Infectia's stats for Anti-Body powers. Which also brings up the morality of killing the Anti-Bodies. Though the are doomed to disintegrate anyway, they still are innocent humans.

At one point (the Narrator can decide), an Anti-Body with the GROWTH power will catch Speedball. Infectia will giggle with delight. Suddenly, a wave of heat will blanket the battlefield. "That's enough! I don't know who you are, sister, but I was having a good day until you and your freaks showed up. Now I'm angry and you're heading for a beating!" Standing in front of the candy shop (now burning) is a young woman with short, blonde hair. She is dressed in shredded, smoldering jeans and a half-burnt blouse. She doesn't look happy. Joy decided that Robbie was more important than keeping her powers secret. Unfortunately, on Valentine's Day her powers have doubled to a level of 20 and when she defended herself against the Anti-Bodies, she caused the building to catch fire.

Infectia seems startled. "I thought my Anti-Bodies had take care of you. No matter. I'll deal with you myself, you harlot."

"You can try, you tramp!" Joy retorts.

And with that witty repartee, Infectia charges Joy, only to learn that Joy is not defenseless. Joy fires a beam of red heat at Infectia, narrowly missing her head, only burning her hair. Infectia stops in her tracks, blinking in fear. "Anti-Bodies! Destroy this cow!" Any Anti-Bodies still left over, except those holding Speedball, will leave the heroes and head for Joy.

Now the heroes must protect Joy from the Anti-Bodies. There is also the problem of the burning building, which started when Joy first used her powers defensively against the Anti-Bodies inside the candy shop. Plus, Infectia is still running around. Speedball is her primary target. Since he is still held by the giant Anti-Body, she's going to try to kiss him, turning him into another Anti-Body (of course, she hasn't figured out that his force field will protect him as long as he keeps it up. When she does, she will be furious, threatening to hurt Joy unless he drops his field.)

Play this out until the heroes are about to capture Infectia, then the situation complicates itself. A thunderous boom rocks the whole area. The weather suddenly becomes stormy, as more thunder and lightning erupt from the sky. Electric lights flicker, including traffic signals and neon signs.

A familiar voice gulps and says, "Oh boy."

Aftermath

As deadly as Infectia and the Anti-Bodies are, the burning building should be the most important situation. If unchecked, it will start to burn neighboring buildings. If Joy wasn't occupied, she could remove the heat from the fire, effectively putting it out. Instead, it's up to the heroes.

Next, the heroes will probably need to rescue either Joy or Speedball. Both are in desperate situations, but Joy is in the most danger. Once the Anti-Bodies are neutralized, Infectia should be no problem to capture.

Of course, with the arrival the next person, things will get more complicated and dangerous.

Part Three: The Crying Game

Synopsis

Another spurned female has arrived. Siena Blaze has been miffed with Speedball ever since he withstood the brunt of her electro-magnetic attack during the Younghunt affair (even though she was under the Gamesmaster's control, she still witnessed the event). She grudgingly gave him some credit and began to develop an interest in him. Later, she approached him and asked him out. Flattered and freaked out at the same time, Speedball agreed but never actually showed up for the date. No one has ever stood up Siena. Angry beyond imagining, she destroyed the movie theatre where they were supposed to meet. She has been following him around as well, planning to exact her revenge on Valentine's Day.

Players

Speedball

Infectia

Bliss

Siena Blaze

Action

The heroes, Infectia, and Joy are nothing compared to her anger and her single-minded desire to destroy Speedball. She has arrived by teleporting into the area, standing on top of an Italian restaurant, across the street from the candy shop. Her powers will wreak havoc with the EM spectrum (see her stat entry), causing a thunderstorm to form over that part of the city. Fortunately, the rain helps with the fire.

"No one gives me the brush off! Make your piece with God, Speedball. And kiss your ass good-bye!" Siena's first action will be to fire a full force EM blast at Speedball, whether he is free or if he's still held by the Giant Anti-Body. Remember that her indiscriminant use of power makes heroes with similar powers, including Weather Control, have a more difficult time using their own powers (see her stat entry).

The heroes should have many things to keep them busy. Besides Siena, her powers cause many side effects. Lightning bolts are literally raining down upon the area, causing damage that could endanger human lives. Winds pick up small objects, hurling them at people. Electric power will fluctuate, causing traffic accidents, people being trapped in elevators, and transformers and wires exploded in ferocious arcs of electricity. The Narrator should throw a few obstacles like these in the heroes' way.

Of course, the Love Quadrangle is the primary act in this show. Joy will run to Speedball's side, making her a target too, since Siena will notice her and assume she's Speedball's new girlfriend.

Infectia will slink away, unless the heroes remember her. Infectia will try to convince the hero to help her escape, smiling and promising a kiss for their assistance. If they don't fall for her charms, she will get angry and try to touch them, hoping to transform them into an Anti-Body. A small rap to the head should keep her out of trouble for a while.

Siena will not consider the heroes a problem until they get in between her and Speedball. She will simply blast them with her EM energy. This is how the battle will go. She will laugh at the destruction she causes and how Speedball and Joy scurry.

If it looks like she's going to lose, Siena will teleport out. "I knew you weren't half the man I thought you were, Speedball. So, here's you Valentine's Day present!" And in a flash of crackling energy, she's gone. However, a glowing ball left behind begins to implode, drawing surrounding energy and wind into it. Suddenly, the mass of EM energy will begin to expand and pulsate. The heroes have 2 exchanges to clear out before the EM energy explodes in waves of destruction, as a contingent action. There will be innocent bystanders to save as well. Possibly, the heroes can think of a way to reduce the damage or prevent the explosion all together.

Aftermath

This depends on what the heroes do. If the heroes just rescue some people and high tail it out of the area, the damage will be close to catastrophic. Four square blocks will be demolished and the EM field for downtown Manhattan will be scarred for some time into the future, preventing the use of any electronics for at least a month. Weather patterns will also be disrupted for a month or so too. There is also a small chance that the global ecosystem has been permanently damaged. This shouldn't happen unless the Narrator has a good reason.

Hopefully, the damage was minimal. Speedball and Joy will thank the heroes for their help.

I don't think the heroes should get a +1 experience bonus unless they were able to reduce the damage by Siena's EM explosion.