Wednesday, October 19, 2005
More Neighborhoods
Fort Rogers
After the Rose Hill massacre, the ne colonists wanted protection. Fort Rogers was the answer, and it stood on this rise of land for many decades until age forced it to close and be torn down. Some parts are preserved in a museum in the area. The area has a decidedly Bohemian quality to it, and is sometimes referred to as 'Little Berkeley'. The city's gay quarter along the south beach bleeds into a thriving artistic community that has several galleries, both public and private, small niche museums (The Museum of Masks has everything you ever wanted to know about various masks that heroes have worn, along with souvineers and a gift shop), homey Mom-and-Pop eateries and bakeries, and the first clock tower in the city. As it flows north and west, it shades into student housing, cheap fast food and various other University-oriented commerce.
'Chinatown'
With the largest Asian community in the US outside of San Francisco, Pacific City's oriental community is seperated within itself by ethnicity, so there is a Little Korea, Japantown, Hmong, etc. The Japanese are very strong within this community, and a man known only as The Mantis is said to be the boss of all gang bosses within it's confines. Most people simply come for the great food and the varoius festivals, but there are many specialty stores in the area, most not even labled as to what they are.
Drake Industries.
Robotics, areonautics, electronics; all these combined insutries are contained in the sprawling Drake complex. To the south is a series of offices, campuses and facilities for every kind of commerce from national company HQs to small business incubators.
Bank Street
The financial district, also known as the Jewelers District. Stock exchanges, accounting firms and software design houses stand side by side here.
Curry Oceanographic Institute
One of the top ocean research campuses in the world, bringing together some of the top scientific minds in the world.
Crown Pointe Theme Park
A large roller-coaster-centric theme park complete with rides, submarine tours, games, shows, and ten roller-coasters in the park itself. A hotel and resteraunt complex, two resorts, and a 'Pavillion of Planets' (providing sketchy presentations on the various alien worlds known) provide fun for the parents.
Bishop Square
Until the late Seventies, this was considered 'the heart of the city'. The massive St. Luke's Cathedral is the centerpeice. Across the broad square with it's small park, statues and man fountains stand the looming 'Press Buildings', where the city newpaper trade used to be conducted. Statesmen and Presidents frequent the Press Club Dining Room atop the old Herald building.
After the Rose Hill massacre, the ne colonists wanted protection. Fort Rogers was the answer, and it stood on this rise of land for many decades until age forced it to close and be torn down. Some parts are preserved in a museum in the area. The area has a decidedly Bohemian quality to it, and is sometimes referred to as 'Little Berkeley'. The city's gay quarter along the south beach bleeds into a thriving artistic community that has several galleries, both public and private, small niche museums (The Museum of Masks has everything you ever wanted to know about various masks that heroes have worn, along with souvineers and a gift shop), homey Mom-and-Pop eateries and bakeries, and the first clock tower in the city. As it flows north and west, it shades into student housing, cheap fast food and various other University-oriented commerce.
'Chinatown'
With the largest Asian community in the US outside of San Francisco, Pacific City's oriental community is seperated within itself by ethnicity, so there is a Little Korea, Japantown, Hmong, etc. The Japanese are very strong within this community, and a man known only as The Mantis is said to be the boss of all gang bosses within it's confines. Most people simply come for the great food and the varoius festivals, but there are many specialty stores in the area, most not even labled as to what they are.
Drake Industries.
Robotics, areonautics, electronics; all these combined insutries are contained in the sprawling Drake complex. To the south is a series of offices, campuses and facilities for every kind of commerce from national company HQs to small business incubators.
Bank Street
The financial district, also known as the Jewelers District. Stock exchanges, accounting firms and software design houses stand side by side here.
Curry Oceanographic Institute
One of the top ocean research campuses in the world, bringing together some of the top scientific minds in the world.
Crown Pointe Theme Park
A large roller-coaster-centric theme park complete with rides, submarine tours, games, shows, and ten roller-coasters in the park itself. A hotel and resteraunt complex, two resorts, and a 'Pavillion of Planets' (providing sketchy presentations on the various alien worlds known) provide fun for the parents.
Bishop Square
Until the late Seventies, this was considered 'the heart of the city'. The massive St. Luke's Cathedral is the centerpeice. Across the broad square with it's small park, statues and man fountains stand the looming 'Press Buildings', where the city newpaper trade used to be conducted. Statesmen and Presidents frequent the Press Club Dining Room atop the old Herald building.
Pacific City Map 2
Further cleaning up of the map, plus the addition of place names and area names. I need to find out why the text tool makes everything so blurry.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Universities and Colleges
Universities and Colleges
UWPC – University of Washington at Pacific City. Extension of the UW university system
PCU – Pacific City University. Largest and best institute in the area.
Crown Pointe College – The chief rivals of PCU in the athletics area as well as scholastic merit. Crown Pointe is a private college known for a very exclusive student body.
St. Anthony’s College – Oldest college in the area, privately funded.
Buckley Conservatory of the Performing Arts – Music, dance, theater
Adams Polytechnic University – Leader in aerospace and electrical engineering
UWPC – University of Washington at Pacific City. Extension of the UW university system
PCU – Pacific City University. Largest and best institute in the area.
Crown Pointe College – The chief rivals of PCU in the athletics area as well as scholastic merit. Crown Pointe is a private college known for a very exclusive student body.
St. Anthony’s College – Oldest college in the area, privately funded.
Buckley Conservatory of the Performing Arts – Music, dance, theater
Adams Polytechnic University – Leader in aerospace and electrical engineering
Pacific City Neighborhoods
Barrow Hill
Barrow Hill has a murky past involving murders, mysterious mass suicides, and general strange goings-on. It’s said to be one of the most haunted areas in the US because not only is it on the site of an old Indian burial ground, it’s the site of Rose Bay, the first settlement on Crown Island.
Rose Bay, founded 1835, is named after the Fireweed wildflower that dotted the area and was one of the first permanent settlements of any size in the Northwest Territories. The Mtaki Tribe natives seemed friendly and helpful, and eagerly aided the settlers; for this reason the town grew rapidly and also didn’t feel the need for much protection. By 1837, though, increased contact with other nearby tribes revealed that the Mtakis were shunned as demon worshippers. Scouts who tried to relay this information to the city fathers were laughed at until the summer solstice of 1837, when the Mtaki revealed their true nature and slaughtered every white man on the island and nearby mainland in a massive demonic ritual that was supposed to drive the white man from the shores of North America. The next trading ships that came found every human in the area white and native had been skinned alive and the town burned to the ground. They buried all 3000 and more in a mass grave under what became known as Barrow Hill. A new colony was founded at the Crown Pointe anchorage in 1843.
North Church
North Church Street is the center of the city’s entertainment district, starting with the theater district based about the Newhaven Opera House at its southernmost end. Theater groups, art house movie theaters, and small museums quickly give way to good restaurants and nightclubs as well as the larger hotel chains and the convention centers. North of that are the various casinos and large hotel complexes. After that, though, the character of the area starts to deteriorate. The casinos become cheap card parlors and the nightclubs become strip clubs and ‘gentleman’s entertainment clubs’. The hotels drop in price as well as minimum occupancy times. The bars become rougher. Just before the area devolves into Iron Harbor, it makes one last stab at respectability with the Convent Arena, a sports complex that usually plays host to boxing, kickboxing, pro wrestling, and local school matches of various types.
Barrow Hill has a murky past involving murders, mysterious mass suicides, and general strange goings-on. It’s said to be one of the most haunted areas in the US because not only is it on the site of an old Indian burial ground, it’s the site of Rose Bay, the first settlement on Crown Island.
Rose Bay, founded 1835, is named after the Fireweed wildflower that dotted the area and was one of the first permanent settlements of any size in the Northwest Territories. The Mtaki Tribe natives seemed friendly and helpful, and eagerly aided the settlers; for this reason the town grew rapidly and also didn’t feel the need for much protection. By 1837, though, increased contact with other nearby tribes revealed that the Mtakis were shunned as demon worshippers. Scouts who tried to relay this information to the city fathers were laughed at until the summer solstice of 1837, when the Mtaki revealed their true nature and slaughtered every white man on the island and nearby mainland in a massive demonic ritual that was supposed to drive the white man from the shores of North America. The next trading ships that came found every human in the area white and native had been skinned alive and the town burned to the ground. They buried all 3000 and more in a mass grave under what became known as Barrow Hill. A new colony was founded at the Crown Pointe anchorage in 1843.
North Church
North Church Street is the center of the city’s entertainment district, starting with the theater district based about the Newhaven Opera House at its southernmost end. Theater groups, art house movie theaters, and small museums quickly give way to good restaurants and nightclubs as well as the larger hotel chains and the convention centers. North of that are the various casinos and large hotel complexes. After that, though, the character of the area starts to deteriorate. The casinos become cheap card parlors and the nightclubs become strip clubs and ‘gentleman’s entertainment clubs’. The hotels drop in price as well as minimum occupancy times. The bars become rougher. Just before the area devolves into Iron Harbor, it makes one last stab at respectability with the Convent Arena, a sports complex that usually plays host to boxing, kickboxing, pro wrestling, and local school matches of various types.
Pacific City Neighborhoods
What are the best places to live in Pacific City?
Within the actual city limits (basically, just Crown Island)….
Gold Row
This downtown area centered on 24th Street is the site of five-star hotels, exclusive stores and boutiques, the best restaurants and high-rise luxury condos. It’s the third most expensive address in the US. Most high-end retailers in the US and quite a few international ones have an outlet here. Many corporate headquarters are located here as well. Gold Row is generally considered to start in Township Square with the old Pacific Herald building.
Cicero Park
Old homes around the actual park area combined with a great deal of police presence make this a safe and expensive place to live. Rows of spacious brownstone reconstructions, Victorian corner homes and turreted brick hotels are scattered around this residential neighborhood. Most of the waterfront development is newer and up to modern codes because it was destroyed by Lemurian bio-machines during the invasion of 1995.
Connerton
Formerly ‘Conner’s Town’, Connerton is a 19th-century settlement that was overtaken and incorporated early this century by the rapid urban growth. Conner’s Town was founded by silver magnate Peter Conner in 1834, who built a sprawling mansion atop Pickens Hill overlooking the bay. Even today the ‘Pickens Hill Conners’ are one of the top five wealthiest families in the area. Most of central Connerton is a historical district surrounding the Maritime Museum and Boardwalk (including the whaling ship displays), but away from the tourist areas are quiet narrow streets lined with brick apartment buildings, neighborhood bars, and some of the finest seafood dining in the city (including the Pickens Crab House, the first five-star restaurant in the city).
Witch Hill
A small four-block area adjacent to much more infamous Barrow Hill, Witch Hill nevertheless has a bloody past. In 1870, the five Abbey sisters were dragged from their home (now long since demolished) and hung for practicing witchcraft. Each year for five years, the legend goes, one of the people involved in the hanging disappeared without a trace until a masked gunman confronted the demon-women and killed them again (modern superhero scholars are almost certain this was The Silver Kid, who was said to hunt skinwalkers and other supernatural creatures). Today it’s the site of Pacific City’s largest Halloween celebration, which usually spills over into Conestoga Park. Witch Hill features several nice detatched brick row homes, a close-knit community, numerous shopping, dining and theater amenities, and is the heart of the local non-chain booksellers area.
Within the actual city limits (basically, just Crown Island)….
Gold Row
This downtown area centered on 24th Street is the site of five-star hotels, exclusive stores and boutiques, the best restaurants and high-rise luxury condos. It’s the third most expensive address in the US. Most high-end retailers in the US and quite a few international ones have an outlet here. Many corporate headquarters are located here as well. Gold Row is generally considered to start in Township Square with the old Pacific Herald building.
Cicero Park
Old homes around the actual park area combined with a great deal of police presence make this a safe and expensive place to live. Rows of spacious brownstone reconstructions, Victorian corner homes and turreted brick hotels are scattered around this residential neighborhood. Most of the waterfront development is newer and up to modern codes because it was destroyed by Lemurian bio-machines during the invasion of 1995.
Connerton
Formerly ‘Conner’s Town’, Connerton is a 19th-century settlement that was overtaken and incorporated early this century by the rapid urban growth. Conner’s Town was founded by silver magnate Peter Conner in 1834, who built a sprawling mansion atop Pickens Hill overlooking the bay. Even today the ‘Pickens Hill Conners’ are one of the top five wealthiest families in the area. Most of central Connerton is a historical district surrounding the Maritime Museum and Boardwalk (including the whaling ship displays), but away from the tourist areas are quiet narrow streets lined with brick apartment buildings, neighborhood bars, and some of the finest seafood dining in the city (including the Pickens Crab House, the first five-star restaurant in the city).
Witch Hill
A small four-block area adjacent to much more infamous Barrow Hill, Witch Hill nevertheless has a bloody past. In 1870, the five Abbey sisters were dragged from their home (now long since demolished) and hung for practicing witchcraft. Each year for five years, the legend goes, one of the people involved in the hanging disappeared without a trace until a masked gunman confronted the demon-women and killed them again (modern superhero scholars are almost certain this was The Silver Kid, who was said to hunt skinwalkers and other supernatural creatures). Today it’s the site of Pacific City’s largest Halloween celebration, which usually spills over into Conestoga Park. Witch Hill features several nice detatched brick row homes, a close-knit community, numerous shopping, dining and theater amenities, and is the heart of the local non-chain booksellers area.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Pacific City Neighborhoods
What are the worst areas of Pacific City?
Iron Harbor. In 1956, this was the shipping center of the city until it the shipyards were destroyed by the Silver Sentry's battle with a Korexian invasion force. The new shipyards were in a different area and Iron Harbor spiraled into poverty. Rezoning attempted to correct the problem but only produced an industrial hellhole where people once lived. Today, the area is block after block of abandoned warehouses, rusting gantries and dockyards surrounded by outdated housing projects, factories, chemical facilities and mills. Crime is a tremedous problem and the Bonelords gang rules the streets and alleys. The area abuts the north end of the red light district, which certainly doesn't help matters. The vigilante Raven is often seen in this area.
Isla Maria. The Spanish ghetto, more commonly known as La Hoya ('The Pit'). Povery and rampant unemployment, overcrowding and gang warfare between a dozen different rivals creates an almost visible aura of fear. Razor and Saber (apparent brothers with force-field powers) are known to be protectors of the area and rarely leave it.
Blackmine aka The Tombs. About a dozen square blocks in the north-central area were reduced almost to rubble by a time-displacement effect during the Eternity War. It's been more than 10 years, and so far no-one seems to be able to rebuild the area. It's a haven for homeless, runaways, odd cults, and the like. It's almost totally cut off from the rest of the city in terms of services; bus or train service only at the edges, no taxis, little electricity or fresh water.
Iron Harbor. In 1956, this was the shipping center of the city until it the shipyards were destroyed by the Silver Sentry's battle with a Korexian invasion force. The new shipyards were in a different area and Iron Harbor spiraled into poverty. Rezoning attempted to correct the problem but only produced an industrial hellhole where people once lived. Today, the area is block after block of abandoned warehouses, rusting gantries and dockyards surrounded by outdated housing projects, factories, chemical facilities and mills. Crime is a tremedous problem and the Bonelords gang rules the streets and alleys. The area abuts the north end of the red light district, which certainly doesn't help matters. The vigilante Raven is often seen in this area.
Isla Maria. The Spanish ghetto, more commonly known as La Hoya ('The Pit'). Povery and rampant unemployment, overcrowding and gang warfare between a dozen different rivals creates an almost visible aura of fear. Razor and Saber (apparent brothers with force-field powers) are known to be protectors of the area and rarely leave it.
Blackmine aka The Tombs. About a dozen square blocks in the north-central area were reduced almost to rubble by a time-displacement effect during the Eternity War. It's been more than 10 years, and so far no-one seems to be able to rebuild the area. It's a haven for homeless, runaways, odd cults, and the like. It's almost totally cut off from the rest of the city in terms of services; bus or train service only at the edges, no taxis, little electricity or fresh water.
Your Superhero History Moment
StahlKorps: The Steel Corps. Nazi Germany had help from many strange quarters as it’s scientists ranged far afield in their search for any means to prevail over their enemies. One of the strangest was the Steinhauer Wormhole, an unstable hyperspacial bridge to the planet Korex, in the Andromeda galaxy. The Korexians were fanatical militaristic expansionists who ruled over 10,000 planets, and who thought the Third Reich had the right idea. Messages and information flowed back and forth, and from this the Nazi science corps was able to build the armored walking machines, the VogelPanzer, (Bird-Tank, called so because the two long legs are reminiscent of a bird’s) and the TotenPanzer (Death-Tank, a massive armored fortress on four legs). At the height of the program, there were almost 200 AusländerMaschines within the Empire. The units were high-maintenance because the builders simply did not understand some of the technologies used. They were capable of tremendous devastation but were also instant targets for any significant metahuman, so they tended to be used mainly as support, propaganda displays, or metahuman exterminations. They led to the development of the later FurchtWaffe, or Weapons of Fear, like Doktor Blud’s Eisenhunds.
JägerGeist (lit. Spirit Hunter). They were the most feared SS special group in Nazi Germany. The atrocities that came to light in 1949 fueled the US witch hunts of the late 1950’s. Composed of telepaths and empaths, the JägerGeists were a law unto themselves even within the SS. Though most were barely powerful enough to reliably read surface thoughts, they learned to link themselves together in series and boost their power exponentially. That technique has never reliably been replicated since that time, and is still a subject of intense research. Many theories have been advanced but so far none have been proven. What is known is that this ability enabled even the weakest empath among them to read and control a person like the strongest psychic. They periodically swept Berlin government buildings for spies and traitors. Those they found were frequently ‘re-educated’ on the spot, turning them into fanatical believers in the Nazi cause.
They became extremely powerful, politically, after Karl Kaiser (aka EisenMaske) became their leader in 1943. In 1944, he attempted a coup but was betrayed by his own second-in-command. He (actually his clone) was publicly lobotomized and the JägerGeist ranks were purged almost to the point of extinction. Kaiser survived the war and re-surfaced in Austria in 1965 as ambassador to Vargastadt, granting him diplomatic immunity to prosecution for his many war crimes. He has devised a means to psychically steal youth from people and has remained young all these years.
JägerGeist (lit. Spirit Hunter). They were the most feared SS special group in Nazi Germany. The atrocities that came to light in 1949 fueled the US witch hunts of the late 1950’s. Composed of telepaths and empaths, the JägerGeists were a law unto themselves even within the SS. Though most were barely powerful enough to reliably read surface thoughts, they learned to link themselves together in series and boost their power exponentially. That technique has never reliably been replicated since that time, and is still a subject of intense research. Many theories have been advanced but so far none have been proven. What is known is that this ability enabled even the weakest empath among them to read and control a person like the strongest psychic. They periodically swept Berlin government buildings for spies and traitors. Those they found were frequently ‘re-educated’ on the spot, turning them into fanatical believers in the Nazi cause.
They became extremely powerful, politically, after Karl Kaiser (aka EisenMaske) became their leader in 1943. In 1944, he attempted a coup but was betrayed by his own second-in-command. He (actually his clone) was publicly lobotomized and the JägerGeist ranks were purged almost to the point of extinction. Kaiser survived the war and re-surfaced in Austria in 1965 as ambassador to Vargastadt, granting him diplomatic immunity to prosecution for his many war crimes. He has devised a means to psychically steal youth from people and has remained young all these years.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Your Superhero History Moment
Minutemen Memorial
Battalion Park has several statues and plaques to fallen heroes of all sorts, but the largest is the Minutemen Memorial. Five bronze statues stand atop a marble pedestal, depicting the first Pacific City superteam: The Minutemen. Originally started by Amazing Woman, Red Ace, and Mercury, the Minutemen served in every theater of WWII though they concentrated on the Japanese threat. They gained and lost members over time until they numbered five in 1958: Red Ace (Super strong war hero), The Shield (Alien with a golden force shield), Vesper (Formerly the villainous Mind Maiden), The Eagle (Weapons expert with mechanical wings) and Raptor (Eagle’s former sidekick Wing). On July 4, 1958, they stopped a plot by Reichmaster (II) to turn the entire city into mind-controlled Nazi zombies but at the cost of their own lives.
The city erected the Minutemen Memorial Complex in 1960. It consists of the north end of Battalion Park, with the bronze statues surrounded by plaques and changing holographic displays of everyone who ever served with the Minutemen. Their former base atop Superior Tower now houses the Minutemen Museum, which holds a re-creation of their main meeting room, a theater constantly showing their various Movietone News clips, interviews and press conferences. On Saturdays and Sundays the theater shows the restored version of 1975’s ‘Minutemen’ and 1998’s ‘Front Line’ for a minimal charge. There is also a gift shop and a trophy room (The trophy room is filled with replicas after the incident with Count Catastrophe's Disaster Staff).
Pacific City Sports
NFL: Wolverines
Major League Baseball: Kings, Redwoods
National Basketball Assoc: Silver Knights
American Hockey League: Stars
Barber Stadium Complex, including the BarberDome, the Levy Arena, and the St. John Olympic Center. Named for James ‘Buddy’ Barber, a local philanthropist and sports enthusiast. The Barber Complex was the centerpiece of Pacific City’s 1984 Summer Games hosting, and has since been expanded even further.
Major League Baseball: Kings, Redwoods
National Basketball Assoc: Silver Knights
American Hockey League: Stars
Barber Stadium Complex, including the BarberDome, the Levy Arena, and the St. John Olympic Center. Named for James ‘Buddy’ Barber, a local philanthropist and sports enthusiast. The Barber Complex was the centerpiece of Pacific City’s 1984 Summer Games hosting, and has since been expanded even further.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Pacific City
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Some campaign Miscellany:
Aliens
There is regular extraterrestrial contact though most access to the two publicly-known Alienage enclaves (one near Las Vegas, the other in The Azores) is restricted. Alien researchers, explorers and cultural exchange personnel typically have limited three-day visas in the US, after which they must check in with an INS agent or facility. There are about a dozen different races that regularly have contact with humans; most are humanoid themselves. It is known that there are interstellar empires and the Earth has been invaded a few times.
Atlantis
Atlantis exists somewhere in the Burmuda Triangle near the edge of the continental shelf. Relations with the nation and the US are shaky at best. It maintains a Mission to the UN in New York, San Fancisco, and Pacific City. It is known that the Atlanteans posesses very strong mental powers and a high level of technology, but they keep to themselves a great deal. Their city-state is protected by a psionic barrier that prevents people from determining it's exact location. Atlanteans are very diverse in appearance, and it's obvious that they have several sub-species ranging from the Aryan-like High Atlanteans down to the hideous fish-human half-breeds.
Impossible Materials
Neotex - This is the basic material most superhero costumes are made from. It can be formed and fitted to resemble almost any other material. Usually it responds to a person's body warmth to tighten down and follow the contours of their form to a high degree but can be treated to not do this. It's very difficult to tear, burn, soil or stain.
Teslium - Element 312, is a superdense superconductive metallic element that acts as a sink for electrical energy, absorbing and holding a charge indefinately. Discovered by Nikola Tesla in 1900, it paved the way for modern superbattery and battlesuit technology. A palm-sized Teslium-doped battery can power a device for years, given a sufficient initial charge.
Osmium - Element 324, a superhard metallic element that is often blended with steel or titanium to vastly increase the durability of either. It's very rare and expensive, usually only used by military, advanced technology industries, or metahumans.
Adamantium - Lighter than aluminium, stronger than neutronium; the hardest substance known. It is a compound formed and mixed, then poured into molds; only two known matter manipulators working on the atomic level have been able to form Adamantium after it's set.
Aliens
There is regular extraterrestrial contact though most access to the two publicly-known Alienage enclaves (one near Las Vegas, the other in The Azores) is restricted. Alien researchers, explorers and cultural exchange personnel typically have limited three-day visas in the US, after which they must check in with an INS agent or facility. There are about a dozen different races that regularly have contact with humans; most are humanoid themselves. It is known that there are interstellar empires and the Earth has been invaded a few times.
Atlantis
Atlantis exists somewhere in the Burmuda Triangle near the edge of the continental shelf. Relations with the nation and the US are shaky at best. It maintains a Mission to the UN in New York, San Fancisco, and Pacific City. It is known that the Atlanteans posesses very strong mental powers and a high level of technology, but they keep to themselves a great deal. Their city-state is protected by a psionic barrier that prevents people from determining it's exact location. Atlanteans are very diverse in appearance, and it's obvious that they have several sub-species ranging from the Aryan-like High Atlanteans down to the hideous fish-human half-breeds.
Impossible Materials
Neotex - This is the basic material most superhero costumes are made from. It can be formed and fitted to resemble almost any other material. Usually it responds to a person's body warmth to tighten down and follow the contours of their form to a high degree but can be treated to not do this. It's very difficult to tear, burn, soil or stain.
Teslium - Element 312, is a superdense superconductive metallic element that acts as a sink for electrical energy, absorbing and holding a charge indefinately. Discovered by Nikola Tesla in 1900, it paved the way for modern superbattery and battlesuit technology. A palm-sized Teslium-doped battery can power a device for years, given a sufficient initial charge.
Osmium - Element 324, a superhard metallic element that is often blended with steel or titanium to vastly increase the durability of either. It's very rare and expensive, usually only used by military, advanced technology industries, or metahumans.
Adamantium - Lighter than aluminium, stronger than neutronium; the hardest substance known. It is a compound formed and mixed, then poured into molds; only two known matter manipulators working on the atomic level have been able to form Adamantium after it's set.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Your Superhero History Moment
SQUIRE
Some of the early mystery men of the 20's and 30's occasionally had assistants that were younger than they but none were consistent or noted. It took the unusual action of putting a minor into combat to bring the term 'sidekick' into the American vocabulary. Squire, the assistant to the Quantum Knight, was the first teenager to put on a costume and fight crime, beating out the first appearance of Kid Superior by two full years. In one interview the hero now known as Sentinel said that he regarded Squire's appearance as an inspiration to him to use his gifts for the betterment of mankind.
William L. Shirer's monumental work Godlike, his 1965 follow-up volume The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich which details the entrance of true metahumans onto the world stage, contains a lengthy interview with the Quantum Knight and Squire done soon after the end of the war. Later in the book he examines the proliferation of young assistants to the metas of the time without the bias and cruel animosity seen in 1954's Seduction of the Innocent (an FBI-sponsored propaganda peice aimed at swaying popular opinion against the prominent metas of the time, especially The Astronaut and Starboy, and The Eagle and Wing).
Metahuman historian Ron Goulart explored the popularity of the sidekick in his 1967 book Boy Wondering, which devoted a good quarter of the book to Squire's exploits in WW2, his later popularity on the American pop scene, his rise as one of the first 'teen idols', and his gradual withdrawal from the superhero community as he aged.
TV and movie portrayals of Squire have been surprisingly sparse given his popularity in the 1950s. The movie serial 'Quantum Knight vs The Robot Menace' featured John Duncan as Squire; productions values were terribly cheap though even it was not as bad as Christopher Atkin's portrayal in 1980's 'War Hero', widely regarded as the role that ended the young actor's career. Much better was Kevin Zeger's portrayal in 1999's 'The Greatest Generation'.