The Amazing Avengers #1: "...By the Dawn's Evil Glare"
So often the greatest epics begin from the humblest beginnings.
The near-legendary hero known as Hawkeye has often been known as the loosest cannon of the Avengers but he has also been one of the most loyal. His dedication is known far and wide to a team that has changed over a great many years. The current incarnation is not commonly known to the public, as the Avengers have not had need to handle many global emergencies of late. It's not that the Avengers are not present in some form, it's just that they are not so necessary. A strange sort of calm has settled over the world this summer, a status that would seem odd if anyone had been more aware of it. As it is, life has continued for everyone without a particular threat. But that does not mean that danger is not present, that perhaps it is just not above the surface, and it certainly does not promise that there is not a great threat just over a near horizon. But the grandest sagas must take one event at a time, and there must be an inciting incident, perhaps one that is plain to the eye, or perhaps one that has been buried in the past, forgotten or not realized in the first place, but not minimizing its great importance.
Hawkeye has called together a patchwork of heroes to investigate and urgently shut down a Hydra base at the docks on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. A number of champions have taken the call, whether they be Avengers or otherwise. This combination of heroes, numbering perhaps as many as dozen, have not had cause to come together in the past but their teamwork and dedication to each other, as well as to the mighty name of the Avengers, could now be the thing that will allow them to triumph, if not simply just to survive to see another adventure.
Hercules was first to arrive at the location, despite not knowing exactly where he was meant to go. The god was nearby and the location that Hawkeye inferred was not the most difficult to find: It's not a run-down part of town but it's certainly empty, even in this early, late June evening. A lot of buildings are boarded-up and uninteresting to tourists, despite their proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge. There is no one else up and down the shadowy street, just the occasional car down FDR, but Hercules found the one building with a few fellows in leather jackets smoking outside. The building does not look occupied but it's the only activity in the area.
Hercules strode up to the building and bellowed, "Ho, fellows! Hercules is here! Now where is my compatriot?" then glanced around to see if Hawkeye was on the scene as well.
The three very average-looking men gazed at him in something like surprise and disbelief but said nothing. The one to the side reached into his leather jacket then halted. The one in the back, closest to the building, raised his arm and spoke into his cuff, too quietly to hear. The only movement from the one in front, the one closest to Hercules, was the plume of smoke coming from the cigarette in the side of his mouth.
Hercules's brows knitted together and a frown twisted his beard. "Mortals, the son of Zeus has addressed you! Be warned, I brook no disrespect. Find your tongues and answer!"
None of the three men moved a hair. Their faces were still pulled blank with no expression but maybe the faintest disbelief. The cigarette in the front guy's mouth wavered just a bit as he spoke. "Uh...," he mutters. "Hail Hydra?"
A ferocious grin split Hercules' face. "That, mortal, was a poor choice of words indeed!" Then he reached a beefy hand for the man's jacket front.
Little does Hercules know that there is another figure lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. Is it friend... or foe?
Starting Doom Pool: 2d6
Scene Distinctions: DOWNTOWN AT NIGHT, WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE UNDER FDR DRIVE, EMPTY STREETS.
Initiative:
Hercules
Iron Fist
Hydra Guard A (with the cigarette)
Hydra Guard B (with the hand in jacket)
Hydra Guard C (with the cuff)
First Action: Hercules.
Put together your dice pool. Let me see your dice pool before you roll it. Post it as you normally would and I'll approve it then you can roll. You won't have to do this every time -- you can post your dice pools and roll results together when you take your turn, but just as we're starting out and everyone is getting used to the format and we have some players who have never played the game before, I'd like to look over dice pool intentions before they become set in stone. I could also catch any dice you might have missed to include.
End the post with whose reaction will need to roll for your action then pick the next character to go. For the next player, you might want to wait until the first action is resolved, though I don't honestly know how best that would play out -- the next turn going regardless of the outcome of the action or waiting for it.
The rest of the heroes have not yet arrived to the scene. The Human Torch and Spider-Man are close. For others, please reply to private messages to resolve events to set up characters and get them to the location.
