Backstory
Galaxies away from the planet Earth exists another planet called Mustraphus. Mustraphus had formed a powerful galactic military empire in a distant galaxy, forged upon the usage of technology far beyond anything that Earth had ever seen before. This alien domain had developed massive amounts of military technology, used to consolidate power across their kingdom, and in the year VVKL090 (in human terms, year 2031), the leader of the Mustraphians sent High General Viadite to escort a transport ship by convoy to a military base on a distant moon at the edge of their territorial control. The cargo? A large shipment of intelligent microbes that enhance the abilities of the Mustraphians that it attaches to.
Viadite, a power-hungry general who desired his own empire that could rival that of the Emperor’s, quickly took the ship off-course, launching it at maximum speed into the galaxy identified as “Gamma Alcyoneus,” or as we know it, the Milky Way.
The fatal flaw in Viadite’s plan was that the transport ship could not handle above-light speed travel for extended periods of time, and several parts of it quickly disintegrated as it neared Earth, including portions of the hull that wrapped around the cargo bay, causing the sample to be released. The explosion caused several thousands (the number is currently unknown) of tubes to fall down onto the East Coast of the United States of America, before the ship crash-landed into the Sahara Desert, to never be seen by human eyes, and with Viadite's plan never coming to fruition.
His actions did have major consequences, though, and would shape the human world for decades to follow.
The microbe, titled “Imperium” by the human scientists, is a conundrum to all scientists to have ever seen it before. Each “Imperium” microbe is entirely unique and quickly bonds to the first primate that it encounters. Each “Imperium” is also capable of “communicating” with its bonded lifeform by sending vague messages through the nerves. If an Imperium is happy, it may send a flood of endorphins; if it’s angry, it may send a blast of pain. But most notably, Imperiums grant every host that it attaches to two distinct abilities- Powers and Pitfalls.
Powers are your everyday superpowers- fire manipulation, flight, et cetera. Every microbe, being different and unique, grant their host their own power, which they can use generally use with at least a moderate degree of control.
Pitfalls, on the other hand, are major weaknesses that Imperiums also bring. Pitfalls just as unique as powers, but are severe limiting factors that most humans are fine with.
The threat of Imperiums and their hosts is a new one, and one the slow-moving democratic body of the N.A.L.O.C. (North American Legion Of Countries) dealt with in the most passive way possible- establishing the Department of Imperial Management (with their acronym being as dim as their officers), a slow-moving bureaucratic department that has insofar failed to address the problems of rising numbers of Host supervillains. Indeed, the job of dealing with caped villains are often caped vigilantes, rising against the law to use their powers for good. Most of the hero activity is centered in the megacity of New America City, or NAC for short, as that’s where the cargo was originally sprinkled when Veidite’s ship crashed.
With new threats around every corner, from crazed villains to disgruntled alien generals, a group of courageous heroes may be crucial to save the Earth.
Hopefully their Pitfalls don’t get in the way.
Description
Time: 2045, near-future Earth
Place: New America City (Capital of NALOC), Virginia/Maryland, Earth
Genre: Superhero/Future, Structured Sandbox
As anticipated, PCs will be Hosts, people that have, by luck or however, have come into contact with Imperiums and have since developed some form of Power and Pitfall. Whether they decide to be crime-fighting vigilantes or allies with one of the many factions tearing NALOC apart is a choice for you to decide.
The RP will be a "structured sandbox" style, with one loose plot and occasional moments of linear progression encompassing an RP where you are, in essence, free to do whatever you please.
Any questions, please ask! Also, as I’m new to this site in particular, do send any criticisms (Constructive, please) to me. I like to improve my craft and the way this RP is run in any way possible.
Misc.
I'll just roll a dice and work it out that way
