Date: Saturday, 22 February 2020
Time: 1210
Weather: Normal for season (cold); light wind; no precipitation
Location: Guardian Tower/Chicago
Scene Modifiers
- Light: Bright
- Visibility: Clear
Round 0
Sam didn’t notice anything unusual as he entered Guardian Hall. There were a lot of people, gawking at the items on display, getting snacks, fan squealing over their favorite heroes.
Rob’s heightened awareness got all that and a bit more. He could hear some of the Anubis Security men talking, something about their daughter’s piano recital. But mostly there was a lot of jumbling of conversations from the number of people in the hall.
The Jackals, as Kat dubbed them, all seemed to be doing their job well. It was still early, though, and there were a lot of people. They didn’t really look particularly interested in the group of teens as they passed through.
The receptionist looked up from her flirting as Kat approached.
“Yes, the guest lockers are down that hall, see where the restroom signs are? You’ll need a quarter to open it and get the key. I can make change if you like.”
The guard and receptionist flirted a bit more, before the guard looked for his hat to head to his duty station. He blinked.
“I could have sworn I didn’t forget it this morning…”
A tall, handsome blond man in an expensive grey power suit strode onto the stage. His blue eyes looked over the gathered crowd and he flashed them a million dollar smile as he touched fitted the thin ear microphone onto his face.
“Welcome, everyone, to Guardian Days 2020!” he greeted, and the crowd started to settle down.
“I am Peter Venta, as you might be aware.” He gestured to many of the promotional posters for the Guardians, which his face adorned,
“The CEO and president of Force Majeure, Inc., and of Guardians, Inc. We are so pleased we could have you here today to celebrate the great work the Guardians have done to keep this city -- and the world -- safe from the evil depredations of those who would wish us harm. This week is a chance for us to give back to you, to the people who mean so much to us, the people of Chicago!”
There was a rousing cheer from the assembled crowd.
“So without further ado, let me introduce to you the Windy City Guardians!”
If the cheer before had been loud, this one was deafening! Loud music started playing, heavy beat, fight music that thumped in one’s chest.
“Please welcome Celestial Dragon!”
A small Asian man in his thirties walked out on stage. He wore a green and yellow gi, with the chest open, revealing a glowing dragon tattoo. His face was stoic, and as he reached the center of the stage, he bowed to the assembled fans, hands pressed together in front of him.
“The beautiful Zephyr!”
An attractive woman with a Mediterranean skin tone, black hair, and dark eyes flew into the Great Hall, held aloft by the winds swirling around her. Her costume was an airy white short Greek style dress with plenty of colorful ribbons streaming around her from her hair or tied to her wrists and boots. She practically danced on the air over the crowd as it roared its approval, the winds moulding the dress to her generous curves. Even when she landed on the stage, her hair and ribbons still seemed to move in a gentle breeze as she waved and gave a perfect smile to the adoring fans, blowing kisses and pressing her hands to her heart over her generous cleavage.
“John Henry!”
A massive mountain of a black man emerged. His head was shaved, he wore a goatee, and his yellow and black costume clung tightly to his rippling muscles. The yellow top had a deep V exposing his muscled and hairy chest. He carried a massive hammer over his shoulders. When he reached center stage, he started to swing the hammer around with incredible finesse, whirling and spinning. Then he brought it down on a massive anvil that had been placed on the stage. The steel anvil cracked in half.
“Power Man!”
A tall, lanky man strode onto stage. He wore tight leather pants and an open leather vest over his bare, slender, muscled torso. His hair was green and spiked up into a punk rock mohawk. He carried an electric guitar, and as he hit the center stage, he struck a power chord that reverberated through the great hall. Swirling winds lifted him from the stage, and then his hands ignited on fire. He bulked out like John Henry as he rocked out in the air.
“And the leader of the Windy City Guardians, the lovely Lady Liberty!”
A well built and endowed blonde woman flew out on stage. Her costume was red, white, and blue miniskirt with knee boots. Small and slender, she waved at the adoring fans and then easily lifted the broken halves of John Henry’s cracked anvil and tossed them off stage to the screams of the fans.
“And finally, our special guest from the Gotham Guardians in New York, the Iron Angel!” Peter Venta yelled.
A woman in sleek, feminine armor in blue and grey colors walked out on stage, waving. Steel wings emerged from her back, and she took off in a blast of repulsor energy and did a few turns in the air before landing where the rest of the Guardians had gathered, and they all took a bow.
As Peter Venta walked back to center stage, the Guardians took places at the table set up there. Peter smiled at the crowd, waiting for them to calm down. When things had gotten to a dull roar, he started speaking again.
“We have some microphones set up in the Great Hall here. If you would form orderly queues, the Guardians will gladly take questions from you. Please limit yourself to one question.” Peter flashed his charismatic smile.
“And no, you can’t ask what their secret identity is!” he said with a laugh.
“After the panel, the Guardians will be signing photographs for fans, and, as always, be sure to purchase your Guardians merchandise from the gift shop!”
***
Team:
Rob Marks/Volo
Cailean Blythe/Highlander
Jason Konig/????
Samuel Franklin/Probe
Katherine “Kat” Wilhelm/Hexx
Constance Abels/Chance
Shanice Walker/Winger
GM Bennies: 7/7