Felipe Real (Order #15387488)

Credits
Published by Third Eye Games in Tampa, FL
ISBN: 978-1-944487-22-5 (Softcover)
ISBN: 978-1-944487-23-2 (Hardcover)
Written and Created by Elizabeth
Chaipraditkul, Chuck Dee, J. Fryer, Eloy
Lasanta, Felipe Real
Editing by Carol Darnell
Proofreading by Robert M. Everson
Layout and Typesetting by Eloy Lasanta
Cover Art by Gunship Revolution
Interior Art by Jann Galino

Copyright © 2018 Third Eye Games

All rights reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may
be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from
the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews or copies of the character sheet.

www.thirdeyegames.net
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Table of Contents
Chapter One: Year Four
Timeline of major events of AMP: Year Four
4
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
How the Affiliations are reacting during the Year of Invasion
46
Chapter Three: World Invasion
The Orphans have invaded the globe, and each country responds differently
63
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Mechanics behind AMP: Year Four
78

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 Chapter One:
Year Four
2017 Summary
2017 was full of terrifying discoveries and de-
struction on a level the world hadn’t seen before.
Fear gripped a nation and the backlash against
people with superpowers was explosive. A full-
Chapter One: Year Four
fledged war erupted between two sides: On one
side were the AMPs, struggling for their survival
and trying to find their place in the world. On the
other side was humanity, armed with new tech-
nology that evened the odds. Then there were
the Twice Born, people who came back to life …
not quite human and not really an AMP. They re-
mained in the middle of a conflict they couldn’t
quite understand, a place many people found
themselves throughout the tumultuous year.
Changes in Leadership
Year Three brought with it an upheaval of
all the world knew since AMPs first revealed
themselves. The hatred and fear of AMPs were
both clear, leading to mass suicides and out-
right murder of AMPs by the Faceless in broad
daylight to thunderous applause. The groups
had to change in the face of this dark cloud
over the nation; staying where they were would
leave them behind or lead to their deaths.
President Klein
The presidency changed hands once more in
2017, in a most unexpected way. President Lew-
is continued his administration as he promised
he would: increased legislation that put AMPs
on the bottom. Creation of concentration camps,
and AMPs rounded up for no reason other than
their genetics. Guns laws relaxed massively, and
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
crimes against AMPs were all but entirely swept
under the rug of ‘justice’. Then came a strange
meeting with his predecessor, President Aldridge,
who of course had been assassinated over a year
ago. He returned as a Twice Born, unable to die,
and found new purpose. In a secret meeting be-
tween the two presidents, both were shot dead
… but only one of them would awake once more.
President Klein was sworn in shortly af-
ter. While her positions were ignored as vice
president, she wasted no time reversing many
of the worst executive orders written by Lew-
is. She closed down the Houndmaster program
and sought out new allies to find a new path
forward. Good thing for her she found Doctor
Luminous and the Seekers of Enlightenment.
He brought with him the power of his scientific
acumen and his new soldier AMPs, members of
the new Aegis Squad. The group, formed of many
of the best-trained students from the Donohue
School for the Gifted, are mostly teens — but all
of them warriors in their own right.
The Hanger
Another massive change in leadership was the
fall of the Matriarch, the shadowy controller of the
criminal group called Typhoon. Though she could
control the minds of the weak-willed, it was inev-
itable that she should meet her match, and she
was bested by the time-traveler Kairam, her lover.
He sent her into a void of endless time, never to
be seen again. In her absence, Typhoon needed a
leader — and many fought to assert their domi-
nance — but one came out on top. He called him-
self the Hanger, and he was a serial killer who or-
chestrated his escape from prison and ascension
to new leader of Typhoon. His rule was different,
however. The Hanger seemed far less interested in
lording over a criminal underworld but was fond
 of using the resources to his own ends. What those
ends are is still unclear to this day.
Hawaii’s Fall
The rule of Nā ‘Aumākua over the island state
of Hawaii was beset by intruders on all sides
from their beginning. They sought independence
from all and a chance to become a sovereign na-
tion, but Typhoon and TRAC — and eventually a
barrage of Rampagers — made that much harder.
In an ultimate battle, the leader of Nā ‘Aumākua,
Holoholona, made a desperate decision: if they
couldn’t have Hawaii to themselves, then no one
would have it. In one act, half of Hawaii became
covered in volcanic ash and melted into the
oceans from where it was once birthed. The US
took possession of what remained.
Part of the remnants of the Nā ‘Aumākua es-
caped to the mainland to serve in many of the
Blocks set up to battle against injustice. Oth-
ers found their way to Atlantis, a blossoming
nation that floated in the Atlantic Ocean. They
had what Holoholona wanted, and by making
an alliance with the Founding Five, the leaders
of Atlantis, they came up with new plans to one
day return to the island.
Mutations Run Amok
One of the biggest and most startling devel-
opments in Year Three was the appearance of
mutations in several AMPs, turning some of them
into hulking beasts called Rampagers. These
creatures towered over regular people, had in-
credible strength and a ravenous hunger for de-
struction. While their numbers started small with
just a dozen or so early in the year, by the end
of 2017 Rampagers numbered in the hundreds
across the US. Just one could leave a trail of ruin
in its wake that cost millions in property damage
and countless lives. A new group of AMPs called
the Mystics rose from the need to combat these
creatures, and they figured out how to commune
with Rampagers and ultimately control them.
Other affiliations fought back against the
Rampagers in their own way as well. The Seek-
ers of Enlightenment and their leader Doctor
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Luminous began developing a special serum,
called Reset, that could return a Rampager to
their normal state. The Changelings captured
and secured their mutated brethren until a cure
could be found, while Retribution used the Ram-
pagers as a tool to use against the Saps; a giant,
lumbering monster is quite the distraction, no?
TRACs response was as expected. They
ramped up the Houndmaster program, enslav-
ing even more AMPs to destroy as many Ram-
pagers as possible. Likewise, the UHF helped
them and joined their numbers, as they wanted
nothing more than to put down the unstop-
pable beasts. With their help, the Resistor Suit
program began and gave humanity one more
Chapter One: Year Four
weapon to combat the AMP threat.
Rampagers brought so much death with
them, until one day … the Rampagers were the
least of everyone’s problems.
An Invasion Begins
Only a few within the Changelings knew of
the first signs of the invasion — primarily Con-
duit, who had a close encounter with the first of
their kind to return to Earth. This one used to
be called Shell, a former member of the Seekers
of Enlightenment, who chose to leave with the
other Orphans. He returned ahead of the others
to warn Earth of their arrival, and whispered to
Conduit, “The Eye of Omega is their weakness.”
The Changelings had no one to tell, as their al-
liances were thin and their members scattered,
but they carried this information with them.
The rest of the world, however, weren’t so lucky
as to run into a friendly Orphan. Instead, their inva-
sion forces rapidly attacked military encampments,
political locations, and any place where they could
weaken Earth’s defenses. The United Human Front
and TRAC lost considerable numbers in the first
wave, and the tail end of 2017 swarmed with at-
tack after attack. The Orphans were relentless in
their ferocity, out for blood with seemingly no pur-
pose or meaning to their bombardments.
It became clear, very quickly, that all of hu-
manity — both Saps and AMPS — would have
to find common ground to survive what was to
come. The war between the two sides nearly
 halted completely, except for a few rogue ele-
ments, like the Faceless, continuing their own
nightly battles. The Twice Born became a bridge
between the two sides, being both once human
and now possessing abilities like AMPs, but Or-
phans may still be too much for them to handle.
So begins year four.
2018 Timeline
January 2018
Chapter One: Year Four
The Only Ones Who Know
January 17
Conduit sat at the edge of his seat, gazing
at the old TV the Changelings set up in their
dank, sewer hideout. The newest President,
there was so much turnover for such an im-
portant job lately, stood at a podium and told
the American public about the latest deal
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struck with the Seekers of Enlightenment.
Their aid in looking for answers about the Or-
phans was paramount, but so was solving the
Rampager epidemic plaguing the US. Conduit
couldn’t help but grimace at the thought. He
trusted very little of what the government had
to offer, however; no one knew like he did the
atrocities such a system can inflict upon the
disenfranchised.
He snapped himself out of his deep thought,
however, and flicked the set off. He ruffled the
hair of the girl on his lap. “Catnip, I need to get up.”
Catnip stretched and yawned, and waved
hello as Lockjaw entered the room, concerned
for their leader. “Do you need help getting up?”
Conduit waved off his trusted compatriot,
“No, no, I’m fine. I’m going to have to get used
to walking on my own, since I have a job for
you.” When he got to his feet, he reached out
his hand and it glowed with a strange purple
energy. “I’ve finally mastered it.”
Lockjaw’s eyes widened. “Let me be the first.
If it doesn’t work, I don’t want to risk the lives
of the others.”
 The leader of the Changelings smiled. “I
already performed the rite on Catnip and she
seems fine. The Orphan’s magic cannot touch
her now, but she was a bit tired afterward. You,
however, are definitely my number two.” And
with that Conduit thrust his glowing hands
into Lockjaw’s chest, like he was suddenly a
ghost, and just as quickly pulled away.
Lockjaw’s skin began to glow as well, and
the warrior took a knee. “I can’t believe you
did it. This means we’ll win for sure. We must
spread this as far as we can. We have to- “
“We can’t just trust anyone with this power.
Shell left it to us, as well as the info on the Eye
of Omega. He lived a hero, and he died a hero,
and no one will ever really know. Except for
us. We’re the only ones who know what he did.
This is Shell’s gift to us, and we can’t waste it
on just anyone.”
His second-in-command nodded. “Then
how do we decide?”
Conduit placed his hand on Lockjaw’s shoul-
der. “I trust your judgement. You have seen the
true face of evil first-hand as a Hound, so who
better than you to root out the good in people.
You bring them here, and I will share our gift.
Once we have protected enough of us, we will
no longer need to hide. The Orphans will not
take us, and the world will see us as heroes too.
After all, we’ll all have a little piece of Shell
inside of us.”
The Threat Ahead
January 21
As Orphan attacks continued, the first thing
Doctor Luminous needed to do was figure out
how to track them. He assembled some of the
best AMPs around him, especially those who
knew how to enhance the abilities of oth-
ers and utilized their abilities to increase his
own powers — the ability to sense energy. He
reached out everywhere, to every edge of the
US capital, but could not sense the Orphans.
Instead, he sensed a strange absence of ener-
gy that was unmistakable. Still, when he sent
teams to scout out the locations where he
felt this absence, they were merely where the
Orphans had been, not where they were. This
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
could be used to track them, but even Doctor
Luminous’ powers were finite.
Instead he started drawing up plans for
what could be the best invention of his young
life. The other scientists within the Seekers
wondered how a geneticist was developing
working blueprints of such machinery, but
none would dare approach Doctor Luminous
with such a question — not with his anger is-
sues. The return of Critter into his life curbed
his aggression slightly, but even she was no
match for his urges for perfection.
For now, he had to put all of that out of his
mind, however. Jacob picked up his cell and
speed dialed the increasingly obscured Man-
Chapter One: Year Four
ny Ordoveza, aka Gigahertz, the voice of the
Underground News Network who had been
sharing news of the AMP variety for about 6
months now. After a quick “Who gave you my
number?” and bouts of silence, Jacob spelled it
out for Manny.
“You can remain underground, but you are
also now my eyes and ears. Any stories you find
out about the Orphans, you call me. Any Rampag-
ers attack an old lady, you call me. If you even
think you should call me, you call me. I own you.”
Gigahertz tried to play it cool. “And if I re-
fuse?”
“I have the power of the world’s most ad-
vanced technological centers and the US mili-
tary at my disposal. I also can find other AMPs.
All I have to do is think it, and you’ll be stripped
of your network, your powers — your entire life!
I expect to hear from you every other day.” He
then hung up the phone.
Why did nobody understand what had to
be done for the world to survive? Why was he
the only one to care? If everyone just listened
to him, the world would be a better place. No.
No, that was his other voice. He pushed it deep
down and went back to his blueprints. They
needed to be ready quickly if Doctor Luminous
was going to save the world.
 February 2018
New Home, New Toys
February 3
Dear Mom,
Is it weird I still write you letters?
Whatever, you’re never too old to write
your mom. I mean, I guess you find it
even stranger that they just pop up in
front of you at home, but I guess you’re
used to it by now.
We moved to our new facilities (no,
I still won’t tell you where for your own
Chapter One: Year Four
protection) and they are pretty great.
This is just the boost the Seekers needed.
All the Orphan attacks seemed to shake
Luminous awake, I mean it is probably
something else — it always is with that
guy — but now at least we have a plan.
The guy has us making some kind
of device that will allow him to sense
Orphans all over the world. Luminous
is calling it A.M.A.N.D.A. – Amplifica-
tion Machine Something Something
Something Something – honestly, I am
happy he kept it at A.M.A.N.D.A. If it re-
ally works, we could have a real chance
at getting ahead of these attacks and
hopefully saving a lot more people.
You should see the thing – it is huge
and all underground. Like a giant am-
phitheater covered in a black oil slick.
Every time I go in there with a flash-
light the walls light up like thousands
of rainbows, it’d be pretty if it didn’t
kinda terrify me. I have no idea how
the thing works, but Luminous has me
laying the floor – conductive metallic
material, right up my alley.
That’s all I have time for today mom.
I love you and stay safe.
Love,
You Know Who
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Bleeding Hearts
February 14
The Orphan moved through the diner
booths like silk, his fluid movements empha-
sizing the flowing garments which grew off
his body like Medusa’s serpents. Every step he
took, crepe-paper hearts hanging on the win-
dows lit by the flashing police lights outside
caught fire and burnt to nothing. Couples who
shared Valentine-themed milkshakes just min-
utes before now huddled together in fear, vic-
tims of an Orphan attack.
Messages broadcast over a loudspeaker
reached the diner, diluted through the fog-
gy-glass windows. “TRAC is on the way. Exit the
dinner peacefully and let your hostages go.”
Sliding onto the diner counter, the Orphan
pulled a terrified woman from the floor. “Do
you want to leave the diner?” He asked. Terri-
fied, she nodded her head.
“Alright!” He grabbed her by the back of
her cardigan and pulled her to the diner door,
flinging it open and stepping outside.
“Let go of the hostage!” The police chief
demanded, her gun trained on the Orphan, her
head beading with sweat in the Florida heat.
She turned to her officers, “Don’t shoot, our first
job is to keep the hostage safe.”
“What about me?” A voice slithered through
the chief’s mind. The voice poked and prod-
ded her, tested her — the thing wanted to see
her reaction. Within the jagged notes cutting
through her mind was a malicious will to know
simply how far she’d go.
“Wha — “ The chief spun around terrified to
see nothing behind her. Turning back, she saw
the Orphan was laughing at her.
“You or her?” The voice bore into her psyche
and the Orphan dangled the hostage in front
of him. “You or her? Pick! Pick! Pick!” The Or-
phan’s voice rang shrill in the captain’s head,
reaching a burning pitch of pain.
Desperate to make it stop, to do her job — to
save the hostages — the captain screamed, “Me!”
In the blink of an eye, all the hostages were
transported outside into ill-fitting police uniforms.
The police and the Orphan were nowhere to be
seen. Then, gunshots rang through the night.
8
 Bright blasts of light burst the inside of the din-
ner, blood-curdling screams from the police offi-
cers trapped inside with the Orphan interspersed
through the flashes of light. Then, nothing.
TRAC arrived on the scene to find fleeing
hostages and a diner bathed in police blood.
Over the following weeks, attacks like these
increased. Each attack testing the humans’ re-
solve. Each attack with a terrible choice. Each
attack ending with a massacre.
Pure America
February 17
The following video message was uploaded
to YouTube at 8 am today and went viral within
an hour. It has now been picked up by all major
news stations playing across every state and in
over 40 different lands.
We declare our independence in this
United States of America from the Unit-
ed Human Front who are working with
known AMP collaborators, ‘The US Gov-
ernment’.
We denounce the UHF’s actions
and will not stop until America is great
again. Until America is pure. AMPs
must be purged from our streets and
our homes must be protected. They are
a menace, everyone knows it. Ask any
true-blooded human American and
they will tell you.
Liberal AMP-lovers who believe we
can live alongside one another are just
as bad. We all know it. The UHF knows
it, but they are corrupt and desire pow-
er. We do not, we just want our country
back, and the mutant invaders gone. We
are here to break the system that failed
you and reshape it into something
great, amazing.
You cannot stop us. You cannot quiet
us. We are Legion.
We are the Faceless.
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Dark Rites, Lost Souls
February 25
The Rite of Murder Church would begin
soon, officiated by Lilith — the Twice Born, the
twice damned. The rest of the Murder didn’t
need the rite like Lilith did. She was a bit too
intense, too dark, even for a person who came
back from the dead. They didn’t believe like she
did — they were just angry, scared, and alone —
and doing something dangerous together was
better than doing nothing alone.
Lilith gathered her flock in a circle and each
lit a candle. She pulled her pocket knife from
her jeans and placed it in front of her. “The
blood cleanses,” she proclaimed, holding the
Chapter One: Year Four
knife in the center of the circle. The rest of the
Murder repeated her words.
“Tonight, we sacrifice blood, body, and soul
to death. Embrace us with your dance, bring
us to the place between life and death, let us
waltz with the ones who live in shadows!”
Lilith brandished the knife high into the
air. Hallie’s loss was a gaping wound. The two
girls died together in a car crash, then there
was nothing … but somehow both rose again,
Twice Born, getting a second chance at love.
Then Hallie died, for real, and Lilith’s life spun
out of control. Life was a pointless crazy dance
to nothing. The rite would make it better.
Bringing the blade to her wrist, Lilith
drew it across scarred skin and blessed pain
shot through her. It traveled up her spine and
tugged at the base of her neck, pulling Lilith
onto the ground where the fuzzy figures of her
Murder gleefully danced around the candles.
A shadow fell over her, a desperate darkness
from which she felt she could not escape. The
figures turned to shadows, each of them crying
out in pain. Tears in her eyes, Lilith reached for
one of the figures, she was done, however she
got here, wherever she was, she didn’t want
to go back. A shadow grabbed her hand and
picked her up from the ground.
Lilith found she was in Hallie’s warm embrace.
Her face nuzzled against her girlfriend’s beautiful
ebon locks. They two girls swayed to the rhythm
of the shadows dancing around them.
“How is this possible?” Lilith mumbled into
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Hallie’s shoulder.
“Magic,” Hallie replied with a soft grin, turn-
ing Lilith’s gaze to her.
“From what I did?” Lilith showed her wrist
to Hallie.
“Oh baby, no. You have so much power in
you. You are so special. Why would you do this
to yourself?” Hallie brought Lilith’s open wrist
to her lips, kissing the wound.
“I’m in so much pain,” Lilith cried, “every day
I feel so empty and I can’t deal. I miss you so
much. Come back to me. Please, heal me.”
“I can’t, but you can heal yourself — I know
you can. You’ve been given a second life and this
crazy Sarah-level power. Use it and be happy.”
Chapter One: Year Four
Looking up from Hallie’s shoulder, candle
light flooded into Lilith’s vision and she was
once more in the Murder, the rest standing
around her terrified. Lilith’s body floated above
them high in the air.
“Lil?” Damien questioned, calling up to her,
“What’s happening?”
“Magic.” Lilith replied with a grin and a wink,
landing gently upon the ground.
March 2018
Ghosts of Sorrows Past
March 5
Wind whistled down the Chamber corri-
dors: metal maglocks torn open, tiles stained
with blood and grime — this was a terrible
place created for ‘terrible’ AMPs, but no longer.
Within days of moving in, Aegis Squad turned
the Chamber into their new headquarters and
breathed new life into its mournful walls. AMPs
lived in the Chamber once more — not as pris-
oners, but heroes.
The problem with places with such a deep
history is they have long memories, as the Squad
was soon to find out. While most members set-
tled happily into their new headquarters, the
empathic members of the squad felt off. During
the night, in the stillest moments, the walls
cried a woeful tune and the air tasted of tears.
Skating through the halls of the Chamber,
Lola Red was unable to sleep. The wheels of
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her roller-skates lazily clacked over the tiles.
Surely this would have to put her to sleep,
she hoped. Through half-awake eyes Lola Red
spied something at the end of the corridor:
the hazy figure of a man who at once sprinted
down the east wing.
“Hey wait!” Lola called out, chasing the fig-
ure down the hall.
Corridor after corridor Lola sped after the
ghostly figure until she reached the last cell in
the east wing. Huddled in the corner Lola felt a
small sorrowful, ball of rage. It wasn’t a ghost,
AMP power, or weird tech — it was emotion — left
in Aegis Squad’s new HQ from its past as a prison.
Skating up to the sorrow Lola knelt next to it.
“Rise up this morning, smiled with the ris-
ing sun …” Lola sang and sang until the sun
crested the horizon and the sorrow left the cell.
Aegis Squad had more to clean in the Cham-
ber than they’d expected. The emotions poured
into this place, so thick they painted the walls,
would not be so easy to clean; but in time their
new HQ would heal and help usher in a new
day for the Squad.
Rampage. Control.
March 10
Spearfinger was not the woman she once was.
Neither figuratively, nor literally. Staring down at
her hands, they were not her own, not the ones
she was born with at least — she stole them from
a body when fighting the Orphans in December.
By the end of the battle, she barely had one orig-
inal part left. At what point is one’s soul so flayed
from their body that they become someone,
something, else? Spearfinger didn’t have time to
answer that question, she was pinned down in a
fight with the Orphans — again.
However, this time it wasn’t just Retribution
forces fighting them, but the Mystics as well.
Spearfinger wasn’t sure what exactly the Mys-
tics did; she knew they were telepaths, they
could try to control the Rampagers, and they
generally wanted the same thing, but if she was
honest the rest of the schtick sounded more
than hokey. The idea that someone could ‘tune’
into a ‘Channel’ that is invisibly spread over the
world was just weird, even being considered
 by a woman who could remove her own head.
Beggars couldn’t be choosers though, and Ret-
ribution needed all the help they could get af-
ter hemorrhaging forces fighting the Orphans.
Their first meeting was just weird, with the
Mystic’s leader, Savior, hugging Spearfinger
and announcing he was happy to be ‘surfing
the waves of this great world’ with her. She still
wasn’t sure how he got the drop on her to hug
her, but she was damned sure it would nev-
er happen again. The world just kept getting
more confusing: new creatures, new allies, old
enemies, new body parts … when would it end?
Screaming in rage, Spearfinger shook her-
self once more from her musing. Enough of
this shit. She had work to do and a Rampager
was hurtling towards her. It ripped a table from
the ground and lifted it high above its head.
Just as it was about to come crashing down on
her, the Rampager threw it at a gold-skinned
Orphan floating some meters away. Dancer, a
paisley-clad Mystic helped her up. “You’re wel-
come.” He smiled, focusing his energy back on
the Rampager as if to order it to attack again.
A cold sheet of shock spread over Dancer’s
face as the Rampager refused to attack and in-
stead turned to face him. The Orphan floating
in the sky stared down at them with an indif-
ferent gaze. “You are a skilled telepath, that
should be commended, though it matters very
little in the scheme of the cosmos. We now un-
derstand how to control the beasts. This will
help us bring you peace, thank you.”
The Rampager let out a blood-curdling cry
and bounded towards the joint Mystic-Retribu-
tion forces.
Letters from the Future #1
March 12
Hey, me. It’s been a long time, eh?
I’ve left you a series of letters that I’ve
made sure you’ll find, at least I hope
you do. Or did. Time travel is a tough
thing to nail down, since your future is
my past, or a version of it. It takes time
to get used to, but I’m sure you’re doing
just fine with that.
I thought you’d like to know what
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led me, us, to kill the president — what
put us on the path you’re on. Well, fun-
ny enough, it all has to do with a girl.
Her name is Stacie, but we all called her
Critter. You’d know her as the first AMP,
since that’s how the media portrayed
her, but she was really just the first to
go public. I had my powers long before
she did, and had even perfected some
light time shifts, a few minutes here
and there, when I met her. Critter had
to have been the most beautiful girl I’d
ever seen, though.
Of course, I met Jacob at the same
time. They were already a couple and
Chapter One: Year Four
well on their way to marriage at that
time. He always did right by me, even
when he was an ass, but that didn’t
excuse what we did to him. The night
he walked in on me and Critter kissing
was the worst day of my life, one I’ve
relived repeatedly, but it didn’t matter.
Every time, Critter and I couldn’t hold
ourselves back, and every time Jacob
found out.
And every time, he killed her.
And every time … I am powerless to
stop it.
A crime of passion they call it, but
Jacob is a powder keg just waiting to
blow, regardless of which timeline you
follow. I’m going to kill the president
to save the world, that much is true.
That guy did some seriously horrifying
things to AMPs in my time, and I hope
to avert that future with a bullet. But I
also just came from seeing Jacob and
Critter in mad love with each other. It
brought back so many memories. The
first thing I did when I came back was
move Critter to a safe house, the same
safe house you’re in right now if you’re
reading this letter.
If she’s there with you, tell her I love
her. That another you, from another
time loves her.
- Your Other Self.
 Death is Blue
March 20
Bluewing arrived at Holly House in a halo of
blue light. She floated through the playground
and flitted through the groups of playing chil-
dren, smiling and throwing balls of blue light
into the air for them to catch. Breezy watched
on as Bluewing played with the children. She
wasn’t sure why the AMP kept visiting Holly
House, but Bluewing seemed harmless. She’d
even helped a family find their way to the
school. It was obvious she was some sort of
ally, but what did she want?
Perhaps she just enjoyed spending time with
the kids and that was enough. Breezy knew that
Chapter One: Year Four
was why a lot of the teachers stayed on at Holly
House. The world seemed to be slowly burning
around the school and it wasn’t like the school
didn’t have problems, but at least they were
able to keep some semblance of happiness here,
to teach the children how to use their powers
safely, how to navigate the chaos outside.
Rather than leaving as she normally did af-
ter visiting, Bluewing floated up to Breezy and
lowered herself down, her bare feet touching
the spring grass. The AMP stared for a moment,
her mouth moving, but no words escaping her
lips. It’s been so long since she’d had a real con-
versation with another person. Not a proclama-
tion, or a hurried message, but a real discussion.
Bluewing doubted if she even could any more.
“I’m going to die.” She blurted out finally.
“What?” Breezy replied, shocked. Bluewing
had always seemed so aloof, distant, to her, but
with four simple words she became tangible to
Breezy, human.
“I’ve seen it in a vision. I don’t have much
time and …” Bluewing paused, “I don’t want to
spend it alone. Can I stay here? I want to pro-
tect Holly House.”
“Of course,” Breezy reached over to the wom-
an, putting her arm around her. “You can stay here
as long as you want, you know that right? The
first time you came, you didn’t have to leave.”
“I know, I’m sorry, there were things … things
I had to do.” Bluewing said quietly, letting her
head fall on Breezy’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, you have a home with us.”
14
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
April 2018
To the Streets
April 2
“Damnit,” Doctor Luminous exclaimed, throw-
ing down a pair of earphones as the last gasping
breaths of dying TRAC agents gurgled through
them. Teaming up with TRAC is something he nev-
er thought would happen, but it did, and strangely
enough it was working great. They were profes-
sional, well-equipped and wanted the same things
as the Seekers: to stop the Orphans.
It was a recipe for success, if not for the fact
that combating a single Orphan was nearly im-
possible to do. Talking to them, reasoning with
the alien creatures, was even more difficult so
they were left with one possibility — to fight for
their lives and try to protect innocent people
however they could. They had to fight.
“Luminous,” A voice stuttered out through the
earphones, breathing heavily, wheezing. “They’re
all dead. What should I do, what are my — “
Doctor Luminous grabbed the microphone on
his headphones, “Get out of there, now!” Silence.
Quieting his mind, Jacob tried reaching out
to his team. Damned technology, he should
have been watching them the whole time in
his mind’s eye. Silence was fear, being alone,
death. Finally, through scrambled thoughts and
scattered worries Jacob saw the trees burnt up
like matchsticks and playground equipment
melted into molten rivers of sizzling metal.
Charred bodies of TRAC agents, weapons melt-
ed to their bodies, littered the floor. It was a
massacre. Another massacre.
And just out of the corner of the AMP’s eye
Doctor Luminous spied the Orphan. She had one
wound and nary a fleck of dirt on her pristine
flowing clothes. A tiny river of red blood leaking
from the quickly-closing wound on her chest —
the Orphan looking down shocked at the idea
she could actually be hurt. They could be hurt.
He’d sit and enjoy that fact for the moment,
but there wasn’t time. “Run!” Jacob yelled into
the microphone, and the man made a break for
it as Doctor Luminous’ vision of him faded away.
 Letters to the Editor
April 19
This letter was submitted in re-
sponse to: “Rampager on the loose,
TRAC faced with insurmountable odds.”
I was appalled to read the shoddy
reporting in last weekend’s Ledger in
reference to the fight that broke out in
midtown Chicago with TRAC, the Seek-
ers, Retribution, those psychic AMPs — I
think they’re called the Mystics — and
a Rampager. I am sure you are getting
plenty of letters in response to the ar-
ticle but let me add my own voice to be
clear about what happened.
TRAC and the Seekers arrived at
the scene together wielding some kind
of weird gadgets. By then Retribution
and the Mystics had pinned down the
Rampager. Rather than getting into a
fight with one another, the two groups
worked with one another to pacify the
beast and it was hauled off in a TRAC
van to who-knows-where. TRAC and the
Seekers used their weird gadgets: prob-
ably some type of anti-AMP weapon if
you ask me. Afterwards, the two groups
stood around for a bit talking and, by the
time everyone took out their cell phones
and began filming, seemed to reach an
agreement; then they … flew, hopped,
and drove off to god-knows-where.
I’m not the biggest fan of AMPs, but
it is newspapers like yours that make
the situation we live in every day worse.
You should be ashamed of yourself. If
you don’t spend the required amount
of time getting your story straight and
making sure you are reporting the news
correctly — what’s the point? The last
thing we need is a bout of mass-hyste-
ria brought on by your paper inventing
conflicts that never actually happened.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Reader
Response from our editor:
15
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Thank you for your colorful reporting
on what actually happened in mid-town
last week as well as the accompanying
photos taken at the scene. The Ledger
strives for impartial, timely, well-sourced
reporting, but sometimes we get it wrong.
You letter along with numerous others en-
lightened us that reports we initially had
were not correct, and in our haste to get
the story out to you, our readers, we left out
key details which altered the context of the
article. For that, we apologize and will, as
always, strive to do better in our reporting.
The Hanger’s Realm
Chapter One: Year Four
April 22
VV Lucy: You’re listening to WZZTP’s Lucy and
Baldwin: AMPs in the Afternoon and we’re
on with our first caller, Joan from Green-
view. Hello Joan!
VV Joan: Hi long-time listener, first-time caller.
VV Baldwin: Hey, we’re happy to have you. If
this was a year ago, we’d still be hiding in
my grandpa’s basement doing the broad-
cast. What’s your question?
VV Joan: Well, I was wondering how Lucy is
doing? You guys mentioned something
about her having Magic now, right?
VV Lucy: Thanks for your question Joan! It’s
going, erm, well? I can do a few small
things, but nothing really impressive — yet!
I promise to share it with you when I can
pull off something big.
VV Joan: I am sure you’ll get better, it probably
just takes some practice.
VV Lucy: You know the thing about Magic is …”
VV Baldwin: Okay, now she’s showing off. You
can’t see this Joan, but Lucy has literally
just disappeared from reality.
VV Joan: What?
VV Baldwin: And welcome back, Lucy. I just
want to say…
VV [Woman screams in rage. Sounds of a struggle.]
VV Baldwin: Luc. Please. Stop.
 Chapter One: Year Four
VV [A long silence.]
VV Joan: Hello? Lucy, Baldwin? Are you okay?
Should I call the police?
VV Baldwin: [Breathing heavily] Luc, what the
hell?
VV Lucy: Baldwin, I was in a dark place. I
couldn’t move and all I saw was a man with
a terrible grin and a noose in his hands. I’m
… I’m sorry. I thought you were him ...
VV Baldwin: Shit. We’re still on the air
VV [Program switches to static]
Peace on the Waters
April 30
“We want the mainlanders off our islands.”
Holoholona slammed his fist down on the ta-
ble as President Klein readjusted herself in her
seat. Peace was important, and while she had a
battalion of guards around her and the Found-
ing Five’s guarantee that nothing would hap-
pen to her, she still felt unsafe. Sitting across
the table from a man who erupted a volcano
on one of his islands so ‘no one could have’ Ha-
waii was not conducive to feeling safe.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Clearing her throat, President Klein offered an
answer, “We can’t just kick all mainlanders out of
Hawaii. The point of this conference is to connect
our lands again, not split them apart. You’re being
unreasonable — you must see reason.”
A deep rage burned in Holoholona’s eyes.
His jaw tightened, and fists clenched. Clos-
ing his eyes, he thought of Pahoehoe and her
sacrifice and a wave of calm swept over him.
“Please,” he said, “I’ve just spent an hour listen-
ing to you speak about peace and your plans
for Hawaii without once asking about what Nā
‘Aumākua’s plans were. Then, I heard from the
Founding Five, our allies from Atlantis who are
now docked on our borders, trying to make you
see reason, and I have had enough. I want you
to listen to me. I want you to erase what pre-
conceptions you have of me from your mind
and really hear what I have to say. See me as
a person not an AMP, not as some other trope
burned into your mind. I want to you try and
understand me, as I have done for you.”
President Klein nodded.
Holoholona continued, “The mainlanders
need to leave Hawaii, because Hawaii needs to
heal. We’ve been through too much and yes, we
 were part of America, but no union can be by
force and it can’t be through false integration.
Our people need to decide for ourselves when
we truly come back into the fold. Both sides
need to learn to trust each other again.”
Chahaya, mediator for the Founding Five
stepped in, “Madame President. Atlantis works
because everyone wants to be there. Humans
and AMPs have found a way to live together,
we’ve made new families and forged new loyal-
ties. No one is ever forced into being Atlantean.”
President Klein listened to both of their
words and mulled them over in her mind. She
was a woman of peace, but she wasn’t perfect.
Her predecessor had been a violent brute, ca-
pable of Holoholona’s decision to flood Hawaii
with magma and much worse. Yet, a part of her
never dared place the same stigma on his ac-
tions as she did with the man standing before
her. Realizing her own prejudice burnt deeply
within her, the only thing she could do was live
through her embarrassment and try to make
things better, “You’re right. First peace, then, if
we ever all feel it is right, reintegration.”
The Hanger’s End Goal
No one ultimately knows what the
Hanger truly wants. He’s a convicted seri-
al killer who has now acquired Typhoon in
his quest for more and more power, but a
criminal organization is not his goal. The
hierarchy and the soldiers he now com-
mands are more a tool, a very expensive
tool. With the Matriarch gone, the Hang-
er has begun dismantling everything she
built, attempting to find… well, a way to
expand his own powers. The introduction
of magic has begun his new focus, even
though he has found himself utterly un-
able to spark magical powers in himself.
He is convinced, however, that magic is
the key, and Typhoon can get him several
opportunities to experiment.
17
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
May 2018
The Fire is Lit
May 1st
The migraine throbbed behind Eidolon’s
eyes, blurring his vision with pulsing waves.
They’d become cruel companions ever since his
AMP nature surfaced, arriving at the most in-
opportune times. Usually, he’d crawl into some
dark hole and ride them out. But not tonight.
Pain may have become part of his life, but he re-
fused to let it rule his life. So, he focused on the
drumming, drawing strength from its soothing
rhythm. A gentle ocean breeze rose up from the
Chapter One: Year Four
Puget Sound, cooling his burning forehead.
Between them, he felt vaguely human.
Members of the Rowan Tree coven danced
around bonfires and maypoles to honor their
Goddess, who’d returned magic to the world.
Most were drunk on ritual mead and wine, lost
to the music and rising passions. They’d been
at it all day now, and the day before that. Most
were locals from Tacoma and Seattle, camping
on Sally Crow’s farm for Beltane; many of them
spending the entire week there. Say what you
will, but witches knew how to party.
They’d become his family, not long after his
real one had abandoned him. They’d hidden
him when TRAC started rounding up Seattle’s
homeless AMPs. They’d introduced him to the
Mystics and given him a home. So, he wasn’t
about to let them down tonight. Pain or no.
He felt warm fingers touch his neck, igniting
pleasant tingles. He gazed up into Sally’s round
face. You could lose yourself in those luminous
eyes of hers; wine black and bottomless as the
ocean. Her entire being haloed with spectral
light; Essence fueled by the celebration. He
could bend light and shadow to his will, and
yet he felt inadequate in her presence.
“You up for this, Vic?” she said, smiling. Only
Sally called him by his real name. “I’d under-
stand if you weren’t.”
He nodded, “Always ready, you know that.
Just give me a hand up, would you?”
She helped him up, steadying him. “I’m right
beside you, Vic.”
 Hand in hand, they walked toward the main
bonfire. Soon enough, people gathered around
them, joining the ritual circle. They cheered
and hollered until he gestured for them to qui-
et down. The drummers lowered their tempo,
accompanying his voice.
“On this sacred night, we celebrate life,” Eido-
lon began. “This night marks the end of spring
and the beginning of summer. The night when
the May Queen and the young Oak King became
as one. Their blessed union renewed our world,
bathing all of creation in the fire of their love.
Now, more than ever, we must honor the lives
graced upon us by the God and Goddess.”
His migraine flared as he began weaving
Chapter One: Year Four
an illusion of the May Bride and the young Oak
King above the bonfire. Immediately, the crowd
erupted with cries of amazement. This encour-
aged him as he manipulated the phantom imag-
es and sounds, recreating the Oak King’s court-
ship of the May Queen. The accompanying drum
circle and singers filled the night with music.
By the time the Oak King won the Queen’s
hand, Eidolon realized something was different.
Not wrong. Different. As the ignes fatui danced and
swirled, he sensed some deeper meaning in their
movements and the rhythm of song and drum.
Like pieces of a puzzle falling into place, he felt
their importance and their connection with the
universe. For the first time, he felt power in these
words and gestures, and instinctively grasped
onto them, letting them guide him to new truths.
Above the crowd, the May Queen and Oak
King erupted into verdant flames, spiraling up-
ward into the starry night, illuminating the en-
tire farm. Like a lightning rod, Eidolon felt the
purity of Essence flowing through him, bring
the will of his companions into being. A giant
rowan tree erupted from the ground, entwin-
ing itself around the maypole. Impossibly fast,
it ascended toward the heavens, stretching its
branch to connect Earth and Sky as one.
Well after the burning divinities had faded
above them, the entire camp remained in awed
silence. They dared not breathe, entranced by
the majestic tree standing before them.
Sally’s fingers slipped into Eidolon’s trem-
bling hand, beaming with joy. “Vic. Was that
what I think it was?”
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
He looked into her eyes, the pain forgotten.
He nodded. “Magic. It was magic.”
Voice of the Abyss
May 13
VV NEW YORK (AP): Transcript of interview
with Eclipse, Watcher of the Orphans
Movement, conducted by AP foreign corre-
spondent Hila Sarbanri at the Associated
Press global headquarters.
VV AP: To begin, you are Elijah Miller of Den-
ver, Colorado, born February 23rd, 1985.
VV ECLIPSE: No.
VV AP: No? Do you mean you prefer Eclipse,
instead?
VV ECLIPSE: No. Elijah Miller ceased to exist
on December 12, 2016, as defined by your
limited conception of Time. The moniker
‘Eclipse’ is equally meaningless, as it can-
not encompass what I am. However, for
ease of communication, you may utilize
this designation when addressing me.
VV AP: Uh, thank you, Eclipse. And thank you
for contacting our offices. May I ask you
why you wished to speak with us today?
VV ECLIPSE: To elucidate. To help you understand
our purpose and the transition to come.
VV AP: I see.
VV ECLIPSE: No, you do not. But you shall.
VV AP: (changing subjects) I have some ques-
tions regarding the Orphans’ departure
from the Gates of the Mountains on De-
cember 12, 2016. Roughly ninety of your
group simply vanished into thin air. Where
did you go?
VV ECLIPSE: To the end of the universe.
VV AP: You mean the edge of the known uni-
verse.
VV ECLIPSE: No. I refer to the literal end. The
dissolution of the cosmos.
VV AP: You’ve seen the end of everything?
VV ECLIPSE: For this universe, yes.
VV AP: There are others besides this one?

VV ECLIPSE: Many.
VV AP: And you’ve traveled to these as well?
VV ECLIPSE: No. Even our power is finite.
VV AP: (brief pause) Then my next question
would be if you’ve traveled so far, why did
you return?
VV ECLIPSE: We witnessed the end of every-
thing, torn asunder by phantom energy.
We witnessed the utter indifference of the
cosmos. We gazed into the void and recog-
nized our insignificance in the multiverse.
However, we were undaunted by this grim
revelation. Indeed, within the vast emp-
tiness, we were rejuvenated and infused
with great purpose.
VV AP: And this is?
VV ECLIPSE: One might be disillusioned when
faced with how alone we are in the darkness.
This is further compounded by the nihilistic
manner in which humanity conducts itself.
The human author, Franz Kafka, once stated,
‘There is an infinite amount of hope in the
universe–but not for us.’ We deny this philos-
19
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Chapter One: Year Four
ophy. We recognize the precious rarity of this
world’s diverse people, Sap and AMP alike. As
such, we intend to preserve this world and
save it from itself. We returned to offer hu-
manity hope, despite the cosmic futility of
such a gesture.
VV AP: You speak of offering hope. Yet since
their return, the Orphans have murdered
thousands, if not tens of thousands, across
the United States and the world.
VV ECLIPSE: We’ve murdered no one.
VV AP: I’m sorry? Do you deny the attacks on
global UHF facilities? Do you deny the
Bleeding Hearts massacre? Do you deny re-
leasing Rampagers on population centers?
VV ECLIPSE: No.
VV AP: Then you’ve murdered …
VV ECLIPSE: Murder, by human definition, is the
unlawful killing of a person or persons, typi-
cally out of malice. Although unfortunate, the
deaths you refer to were merely side effects
of our serving the Greater Good. There was no
‘wrongness’ or malice in these actions. Ergo,
 the Orphans have murdered no one.
VV AP: The American people watching this
may disagree with that.
VV ECLIPSE: Irrelevant, yet understandable.
You do not hear our Chorus, and so you
cannot hope to truly understand our Pur-
pose. But you will, in time.
VV AP: And will your attacks continue?
VV ECLIPSE: Of course. The Greater Good would
be best served if humanity simply allowed
us to guide and nurture it. Regrettably, most
people grasp tightly to the delusions of free
will and self-importance. In their madness,
they deny the cosmos and purity of its in-
Chapter One: Year Four
terconnectivity. We shall provide them with
clarity. They shall join the Whole and be en-
lightened. Or they shall fall, swept aside by
the progress of inevitability.
VV AP: And this is the ‘hope’ you bring us.
VV ECLIPSE: Indeed. We come to you not as
conquerors, but as saviors.
Letters from the Future #2
May 20
Hello again, Kairam. If you followed
the clues I left in order, this is your sec-
ond letter.
I’m going to try to not get all mushy
here, but I wanted to talk about us, well,
me. For starters, I’ve made a lot of mis-
takes in my life. Maybe this thing with
the president, this final act I am taking
will be enough to wipe all that away.
Who knows, though. It could also just be
yet another mistake I’m making, but at
least now I’m brave enough to make it.
If you’re like me, and I know you are,
your life has been spent in fear. It started
young with that kid, Miles, who used to
beat us up on our way home from school,
or that time we were chased down the
street by that doberman. All that was just
growing up, some would say, but the real
moment I first felt fear was when I came
home to see “TERRORIST” spray-painted
across dad’s store window. Presumably
20
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
because the vandals believed we were
Muslim. Bigots never stop to do their re-
search, though, huh? The fact that dad
was a Sikh didn’t dawn on them, and
it would have been funny if not for the
act itself. It was an intense hatred of the
other that drove them to do that, and
they became terrorists themselves that
day. Again, they probably didn’t stop to
think that deep though. This thing with
AMPs is the same way, and there’s no
stopping the tide. It’s not a line drawn
between colors of skin this time; it is
literally humanity itself against the next
step in evolution. Of course, that’s what
Jacob always used to say.
All of this is to say that you cannot let
fear take you over anymore. I am finally
facing my fears and taking my future and
the future of the world into my own hands.
I’m hoping you reach this point long be-
fore I did. If you do, then you won’t become
the slave of the Matriarch like I did. She
too had a lot of potential and could have
been one of the world’s greatest heroes
if she didn’t let her own fear control her
too. The fear of losing control is one of the
worst, because you don’t even see it. I wish
I could have changed her, but I’ll never get
that chance now. I left her in the future
when I came back, and maybe she’ll be
able to conquer her own fear as well.
I’m rambling now, but one last
thing. Don’t be afraid to accept help. I
have turned away potential friends and
allies, but I wish I could take it all back.
So, accept help, even if from unconven-
tional places. Take a chance on people
and they might surprise you.
- Your Other Self.
On Deaf Ears
May 23rd
Subscribers of Human Voices, the UHF’s official
publication, were shocked when the publisher,
Arnold Heuvelmans, altered his hateful stance on
unhumans. In an impassioned editorial, Heuvel-
 mans called for the readership to band togeth-
er with the new government and its AMP allies
against the new Orphan Menace. To his reasoning,
mutants still possessed some semblance of hu-
manity, but the Orphans were completely alien. As
such, the Orphans were mankind’s true enemy and
UHF cells had a moral obligation to turn their re-
sources toward repelling these invaders. He ended
the piece with a memorial to those UHF members
lost in recent Orphan attacks.
While some members recognized the wis-
dom of this, Heuvelmans’ words were generally
met with contempt and vitriol, as most could
not differentiate the two unhuman factions. Dr.
Shavar Stephens — father of the UHF — formally
disavowed Heuvelmans’ editorial, calling it ‘reck-
less.’ The Human Voices website was crashed by
hackers; later identified as members of Free-
dom of Man, one of the UHF’s radical offshoots.
Another radical offshoot, Humans 4 Humans,
marked the entire editorial board as race trai-
tors, formally boycotting the publication until
they were removed. This intimidation campaign
continued in public forums, raging for much of
the summer. The divide between moderate and
radical UHF members widened, revealing the
growing cracks in the affiliation itself.
Several new anti-AMP publications and
websites sprang up over the coming months,
adding to the discourse. This included In His
Image, the unofficial newsletter of the Face-
less, now deemed as the true heart of the UHF.
The Human Voices’ subscribership plummeted
dramatically, throwing the publication into fi-
nancial turmoil and eventual dissolution later
in the year. Heuvelmans quickly disappeared
into virtual obscurity.
The Fire Rises
May 27
Events at the Rowan Tree coven took over
two weeks to become known outside their
closed circle. News of an AMP’s awakening to
their inner magic sent shockwaves through
the general public, rekindling anti-AMP sen-
timents. Known to be fearful of AMPs, people
dreaded the thought of these already-danger-
ous beings gaining access to ever greater (and
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
potentially limitless) powers. The UHF and
other hate groups cited AMP-related incidents,
such as the young theology student at McGill
University who inadvertently summoned an
air elemental, killing herself, injuring dozens,
and destroying much of the Rare Books library.
Compounding the issue, the UHF were quick to
spread conspiracy theories linking AMPs with
the invading Orphans, calling them collabo-
rators. The later appearance of Quislings only
perpetuated this rumor mongering. In many
communities, actual ‘witch-hunts’ broke out,
destroying the lives of AMPs and Saps alike.
Magic may have returned to the world, but
humanity remained unwilling to embrace it.
Chapter One: Year Four
June 2018
Divided We Stand
June 3rd
Led by Poli’ahu, a Hawaiian AMP, Nā
‘Aumākua representatives renewed their nego-
tiations with Congress and President Klein for
federal funding of Hawaii’s renewal projects.
They also requested access to the Reset vac-
cine, due to the growing number of Rampagers
on the Big Island. However, even with the aid
of their state senators, the affiliation met with
continual legislative resistance. In particular,
war hawks with deep ties to FutureTech and
the UHF resisted the closure of the Hawaiian
Evacuation Facility (HEF) on Hilo. This political
impasse would have likely continued through-
out the summer, if fate had not intervened.
On the afternoon of June 3rd, Poli’ahu and
her entourage were waiting in the West Wing,
when the skies over Washington darkened with
churning clouds. They immediately developed
into a violent storm, which pounded the city
with torrential rain and hurricane-force winds.
Screams and gunshots erupted throughout the
Mall, as U.S. Park Police and TRAC officers be-
gan reporting ‘demons’ emerging from thin air.
The panicked sounds quickly died out, leaving
an unearthly quiet at the storm’s center. Elec-
tronics and electrical systems failed for blocks
in every direction, even the White House; clear
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 indication of an Orphan attack.
Poli’ahu assembled her fellow Nā ‘Aumākua
and headed out into the storm’s eye. She found
herself accompanied by members of Aegis
Squad, led by the young Rabbit, who’d been at
the White House for a publicity function. The
odd alliance stepped out onto the South Lawn
and gazed into oblivion. Two lines of Rampagers
stalked toward them, tearing through the rein-
forced fence line without breaking their stride. A
few brave Park Police and Secret Service tried to
fend them off but were enveloped by amethyst
light; their bodies sprouting leaves and bark,
feet rooting into the wet grass. Where they once
stood, now only gnarled trees remained, their
ripped clothing and armor dangling from the
branches. The Rampagers tore these from the
ground, casually tossing them aside.
Poli’ahu’s blood chilled as a Host of five Or-
phans emerged from the storm; utterly terrify-
ing in their angelic beauty. Reality itself twist-
ed around the androgynous creatures, hurting
the mind to gaze upon them. Undeterred, she
instructed her second to protect the North
Lawn, and then waded into the fight.
Through Rabbit’s Bilocation power, the mot-
ley group of AMPs coordinated their efforts,
establishing a perimeter around the White
House. Nā ‘Aumākua Ferals and Aegis Bulks
brought down several Rampagers, matching
them claw for claw and fist for fist. Aegis Blast-
ers and Nā ‘Aumākua Elementals washed over
the Orphans’ ranks with fire and lightning, met-
al and glass. Poli’ahu froze Rampagers in their
tracks, encasing them in killing frost. Together,
they held back the angelic horde through sheer
determination and spilled blood.
All the while, Rabbit danced between them
— a wild blur of destruction.
Poli’ahu should have sensed it coming.
She’d seen the gleeful look on the young girl’s
face, the unadulterated abandon with which
she fought. It was as if Rabbit sought her own
demise. And, in the end, she found it.
One of the Orphans, impressive even for
his kind, winked out of existence, only to reap-
pear directly in front of one of Rabbit’s bilocat-
ed forms. A hedgerow of stony spears erupted
from the ground before him. With her enhanced
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
speed, Rabbit could not stop her momentum,
impaling herself upon them. She shifted back to
her other instance, but the wounds were mortal.
Seeing their leader fall, Aegis Squad lost
their initiative, retreating from the onslaught.
Lacking their support, the Nā ‘Aumākua were
also forced to withdraw. Sensing a possible
victory, the Orphans pushed forward, shred-
ding reality with their impossible magics. All
seemed lost in that moment — until the Or-
phans’ leader turned their powers on Poli’ahu.
As the transformative magics stuck her, she felt
her body burn and twist, threatening to rear-
range itself into something inhuman. Enraged,
something shifted within Poli’ahu. She recalled
Chapter One: Year Four
her namesake, the snow goddess sitting upon
her throne on Mauna Kea, who’d stood against
Pele herself. She called upon the goddess,
summoning her power, her strength, and let-
ting it loose upon the world.
The magic around her faded, losing its power
over her. When she opened her eyes, she could
see the strands of fate laid out before her like
a tapestry and recognized how the Orphans
manipulated them with their will. She reached
out, disrupting their incantations and dispelling
their conjurations, as if guided by the Ancestors;
which, perhaps, she was. Slowly, but surely, she
disrupted the storm around the White House,
robbing the enemy of their greatest asset.
Now it was the Orphans’ time to retreat.
Seeing the storm dissipating under Poli’ahu’s
counter-magic, they realized even they would
soon be overwhelmed by TRAC and other Sap
agencies. They winked out of existence, leaving
the White House untouched.
Aegis Squad and Nā ‘Aumākua had won the
day, but at a terrible cost.
Following what became known as the
Stand, public sentiment turned in favor of the
Nā ‘Aumākua, calling them national heroes.
Trying to ride this ground swell of support,
President Klein signed an Executive Order to
provide Hawaii with the financial and logisti-
cal support it required, as well as putting an
end to the Hawaiian Evacuation Facility (HEF).
Poli’ahu remained in Washington long enough
to attend the memorial service for the fallen
heroes from the Stand, placing a flower lei on
 Sara Hare’s grave; now forever known as ‘Rab-
bit’. Sad, yet hopeful, she returned home, carry-
ing with her new weapons for their struggle.
Much to her surprise, senior members of
Aegis Squad eventually nominated Lost Boy
to lead them. Sobered by the responsibility,
the young AMP began the painful process of
rebuilding and preparing the Squad for the
coming battles. He knew Rabbit wouldn’t be
the last of his friends to fall, but led the brave
youths into the uncertain future undeterred.
Bridges to Nowhere
June 13th
Chapter One: Year Four
“He who makes a beast of himself
gets rid of the pain of being a man.”
~Dr. Johnson
In a world besieged with aliens, few noticed
apparently random disappearances, suicides,
and murders. They became little more than
nameless victims, added to the ever-growing
charnel pit, forgotten and ignored. Yet, Hunter
wasn’t one of the few, and she didn’t believe
in coincidences. A monster waited out there in
the dark, and she intended to find it.
Crimson, an ex-TRAC officer turned vigilante,
had begun helping her connect the dots, feed-
ing her a steady stream of FBI, TRAC, Interpol
and local police reports. Together, they’d iden-
tified the pattern hidden amongst the chaos.
More importantly, they had a name; Eric Kervi-
na, also known as the Hanger. After his string
of murders in Phoenix, Arizona, he’d served two
years before escaping with the help of Dan
Schuett, the LAX bomber. Somehow, he could
control AMPs and Saps and force them to com-
mit the more heinous acts of violence, against
others and themselves. This month alone, he’d
committed twenty murders in twenty differ-
ent countries, all on the same day. If Hunter’s
hunch was correct, the Hanger was testing his
limits, building up for something big.
Finding him, however, was like chasing smoke.
In the end, all she ever got for her troubles were
bodies. Lots of bodies. Then Crimson came up
with an elegant solution. Go back to the begin-
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
ning. Find the people the Hanger had used, and
eventually, they’d lead Hunter back to him.
Which is why she’d been working over the
man tied up before her; not to mention the
pure satisfaction of it. An hour in, Schuett
hadn’t give up anything. He stank of fanaticsim,
taking every injury with pride.
Hunter cracked him with the butt of her
gun, “Where is he?!”
Schuett smiled through broken teeth, “He’s
in me. He’s in your friends. He’s everywhere.
You’ll never find him. Even when he’s standing
right beside you.”
His body was found three days later, weight-
ed down in the canal.
Hunter checked her emails from Crimson,
filtering through the list of Hanger ‘potentials’.
She picked her next target; Lihua Wen; home-
maker, PTA member, poisoned her entire family
three days after showing signs of magical af-
finity. Last seen in Austin, Texas.
She headed into the night, trying not to
think of the string of bodies she’d left behind
her. Dozens? A Hundred? How many bodies lay
before her? Was she any better than the mon-
ster she chased? Would justice catch up with
her someday? In the here and now, it didn’t re-
ally matter. She had a job to do.
She’d cross that bridge when she got to it.
From the Shadows, Reborn
June 25th
While the world burned, the Changelings
waited and watched from the shadows, regain-
ing their strength, biding their time. Pariahs,
they helped the outcasts, homeless, and mad-
men. They gathered in the forgotten places,
beneath the city streets, silent railways, and
abandoned factories. They listened to the City
Spirits, learning the magic of concrete, glass,
and steel. They discovered pride in their freak-
ish bodies and tattered souls. The Changelings
waited and watched. For soon, Lockjaw — the
Emissary — would come.
For months, Lockjaw had visited these hid-
den collectives, teaching his brethren the Song.
He was taught this skill by Conduit, who, in turn,
had learned it from Shell, following his be-
 trayal of the Orphans. The Song instilled most
Changelings with a natural resistance to magic,
protecting them from the Orphans’ power, while
in others it awakened their magical potential.
These lucky few wove powerful sorceries, able
to manipulate the various aspects of the City.
These new urban shamans helped expand the
affiliation’s influence across the United States,
as well as in several foreign metropolises.
On June 25th, the Changelings emerged
from the shadows, and the lambs became lions.
Conduit and Lockjaw personally led a massive
assault on an Orphan Choir that had occupied
Kansas City, Missouri. They overwhelmed the
Orphans’ defenses in short order, complete-
ly routing them from the city. As quickly as
they’d appeared, the Changelings disappeared,
returning to their new sanctuary, Subtropolis:
a massive, underground business complex,
now mostly abandoned. Conduit guided the
Changeling’s war-effort from here, as well as
used it to provide shelter to any needing help.
July 2018
Too Little, Too Late
July 4th
Since arriving in the Screw, Lynx now heard
something she’d long forgotten: quiet. No
hateful PSAs blaring over the prison speakers,
no rumbling TRAC APCs, and no cicada buzz
of surveillance drones overhead. Only an un-
easy silence, which now settled over St. Louis’
moldering ruins like a shroud. Her tapered ears
flicked back and forth, catching only predawn
birdsong and wind.
She raised her binoculars, scanning the
Zone’s fence line. Nothing. Even this early, there
should have been TRAC patrol lights.
It made her teeth itch. Something wasn’t right.
She needed to get a closer look. This was Forsaken
territory — her family’s territory — and she wasn’t
about to let something go down on her watch.
Lynx leapt from her perch, deftly bounding
down twisted metal and concrete to the street
below. On two legs and four, she made her way
through the derelict alleys and avenues, head-
25
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
ing toward the Jefferson Avenue Gate.
She startled a few scavengers along the way.
In the dawn’s light, one of them looked uncan-
nily like Greta. All skin, bones, and matted black
hair. Barbs caught in her heart, the memory of
her sister’s wet cough and pained tears fresh in
her mind, even months later. The girl scampered
off like a frightened rat, disappearing amongst
the debris. Greta’s memory lingered on.
Lynx continued through the cracked streets.
Upon reaching the gate, she realized at once
something was wrong. The I-44 guard towers
were unmanned, their klieg lights darkened.
The TRAC mobile command vehicle was gone,
and nothing moved beyond the barricades
Chapter One: Year Four
blocking the on-off ramps. The entire station
looked abandoned.
As she crept closer, four figures appeared
from beneath the overpass. They were not mem-
bers of TRAC. One man stood above the others;
an olive-skinned mountain in an overcoat. The
woman beside him was dressed in biker leath-
ers, fire danced between her long fingers. They
stopped at the fence line, inspecting it.
AMPs, Lynx thought. And on the wrong side.
Without thinking, she called to them. “You
shouldn’t be here! They’ll catch you.”
Noticing her, they began laughing. Her fur
bristled; she didn’t like being mocked.
The man held up his meaty hand, smiling,
“No insult meant. And don’t worry, little sister.
TRAC has left the building, so to speak. We’re
perfectly safe.”
Lynx blinked in confusion, creeping closer.
“Gone? What do you mean?”
“I’m Doruk,” he said. “Charis over there has
been listening in on TRAC for the last couple
days. They’re pulling out. The entire Screw is
being shut down, and you’ve all been left to
rot. They’ve got bigger fish to fry, I guess.”
His grin broadened. “So, we’re here to let
you out. Welcome you back into the world.”
Doruk gripped the metallic post and tore it
from the concrete, throwing the fence aside as
easily as opening a screen door.
“It’s Independence Day,” he said, extending
his hand to her. “Want to get a little payback?”
Lynx remembered the bloody flecks on her
sister’s cold lips. Dead and gone simply be-
 cause she’d been the sister of a freak.
She took Doruk’s hand without hesitation. “Yes.”
His accepting grin made her heart swell
with something else she’d forgotten–Hope.
“Then, welcome to Retribution, sister.”
The Devil You Know
July 18
Don’t make me regret this.
The words echoed in Kairam’s skull, robbing
him of sleep. He leaned on the balcony rail,
staring into the leaf-choked hole serving as
the motel’s swimming pool. He fought the urge
to dive in, sink to the bottom, and fade into
dark, cool oblivion. Anything to avoid dealing
Chapter One: Year Four
with her. Rhiannon. The Matriarch. The woman
who’d shaped him into a killer.
He loved her. He hated her. But most impor-
tantly, they needed her. He needed her.
For months, he and Aldridge traveled the
American highways and byways, fighting the
good fight. They’d even bagged themselves a few
Orphans along the way. Still, an undead ex-Pres-
ident and time-traveling killer could only do so
much in the grand scheme. Soon enough, their
luck would run out, especially with Typhoon on
their tails. He’d seen the future enough times to
know things didn’t end well for them.
So, he did something incredibly stupid — he
decided to get help from the most powerful
AMP he’d ever met, the queen of chaos herself.
She’d made him the man he was, after all. He’d
gone back in time, grabbing the Matriarch an in-
stant after dropping her into the void between
Time and Space. She’d been sleeping it off for
over a week now, tossing and turning as if in
a fevered dream. Whatever she’d witnessed in
that final moment clung to her like poison.
Don’t make me regret this.
Knowing Aldridge would be back with dinner
soon, Kairam sighed and returned to the room.
Much to his surprise, Rhiannon sat on the end
of the bed. He was struck with a queasy sense
of déjà vu from when he’d visited himself over a
year ago in a room not unlike this one.
“Hey baby,” she purred, weaving her pres-
ence around him. “Miss me?”
“Don’t,” Kairam snapped. “Just don’t. Or I’ll …”
26
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
“Send me back to Hell? That’s where I was,
you realize. And I was there for a very, very long
time.”
“It was only an instant,” he said, feeling a
twinge of guilt.
She snorted, “God, you’d think a time trav-
eler would know a few things about relativity.
Trust mean when I say, I know what eternity is.
So, don’t expect me to be all warm and fuzzy
anytime soon. Frankly, you’re lucky I’m not
feeding you little pieces of yourself. Important
pieces.” She rubbed the back of her neck, “Just
tell me what you want, Kairam.”
He shuffled his feet. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t have to read minds to know you
need my help,” Rhiannon chuckled. “You want
to change the future, right? Save the world?
Make up for all the blood you’ve spilled?”
Kairam worried his lip, “Yeah, something
like that.” He laid it all out for her, what he
knew was coming, never glossing over the gory
details.
In the end, she nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.
One condition, though. When this is said and
done, I get to kill Him. And you’re going to help
me do it.”
The Hanger, she means, Kairam realized. He
thought of the futures he’d glimpsed, the ruin
and agony. It wasn’t a hard choice to make.
“Done.”
“Fine, then,” she said, stretching like a sun-
drenched cat. “First things, first. I need a show-
er and a new wardrobe. If I’m saving the world,
I’m going to look good while doing it.”
Backhanded Compliments
July 10th
Despite congressional opposition, President
Klein signed an Executive Order pardoning the
many AMPs incarcerated in the TRAC Elite Pro-
gram, also known as the Hounds. In addition,
each Hound was guaranteed monetary repara-
tions for their time spent in indentured servitude,
as well as a public apology. Much like the Civil
Liberties Act of 1988, the EO did little to repair
the lives effectively destroyed by their unjust
incarceration. Worse, President Klein suffered
political backlash from the decision, as many in
 Congress believed the EO effectively opened the
door to other claims from those affected by the
Aldridge Act and Criminal AMP Detainment and
Enforcement Act (CADE). Rep. Hillary Conway of
Missouri gained popularity (and notoriety) after
proposing internees at the St. Louis Internment
Zone sign waivers absolving the United States of
all wrongdoing. The proposal gained traction in
the House, slowing down the Screw’s closure to
an absolute standstill.
Many suffered from post-traumatic stress
disorders, including mental issues caused by
the Houndmaster’s mental domination. This
made them easy targets for recruitment by
Typhoon and Retribution, who played on their
desperation and anger. However, Radiant —
former poster-child for the Hounds — busied
herself gathering her peers from the program,
creating a support group to help them reac-
climate into society. At one of the meetings,
she met the young Cascade; disillusioned after
being rejected by her sister, who called her a
‘traitor’. Together, they decided to devote them-
selves to fighting for freedom across the globe,
so no one else would suffer as they had.
Calling themselves the Chain Gang, their
first action was to attack a FutureTech black-
site in Colorado, acquiring evidence against the
corporation and its UHF supporters, as well as
information on other hidden AMP-internment
sites. Soon enough, FutureTech research facil-
ities suffered industrial sabotage and arsons;
the attackers leaving only the spray-painted
words “Never Again.”
They Walk Among Us
July 19th
Now in his early twenties, Jerry Groce had
matured considerable in only a few short
years. Gone were Chicago crime-sprees as the
Brick Bandit. He’d buried a sister and too many
friends. He’d witnessed a government abandon
entire generations. He’d sheltered AMPs flee-
ing persecution from across the country. Now,
Bandit was one of the most influential com-
munity leaders in Detroit, inspiring other inner
cities to follow his example, creating their own
Blocks. He was floored when the Lion of Africa,
27
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
one of his greatest heroes, arrived in Crescent
Block, wishing to view the progress the Brick
had made. By the end of their meeting, the Lion
arranged for Sister Cities International to de-
clare Detroit as Lagos’ sister city, as well as the
institution of Blocks in the megacity’s slums,
modeled after the Bandit’s concepts.
Despite these monumental events, Bandit
couldn’t have been fully prepared for his en-
counter in July.
While visiting one of Crescent Block’s urban
gardens, the muggy night air suddenly rippled
and solidified like the oily waters around Zug
Island. He prepared to fight, as two tall, an-
drogynous figures stepped out of the churning
Chapter One: Year Four
portal. Bandit saw enough of the news to rec-
ognize the purple-skinned figures as Orphans,
harbingers of death and destruction.
Much to his surprise, the Orphans explained
they sought his aid. They’d learned of the Blocks
and their partiality for harboring fugitive AMPs.
The female, Pallas, explained they were Quis-
lings, and had parted from the Whole after wit-
nessing the indiscriminate destruction wrought
by their brethren. In exchange for harboring
them, the Quislings would lend their aid to the
Blocks, teaching the community the ways of
the cosmos. Even disconnected from the Eye of
Omega, their magical powers were considerable.
They acknowledged the immense risk the Brick
would take allowing them into his community,
so they gave him four days to decide their fate.
Before they left, the male — Cathetel — demon-
strated their power, magically tripling the gar-
den’s yield with little more than an incantation.
Following the exchange, Bandit could hard-
ly sleep. He drew in on himself, feeling the
weight of this decision. Yet, after the Quislings
returned, he welcomed them into the Crescent
Block. He publicly addressed the initial con-
cerns among residents, explaining the Blocks
were based on mutual trust and understand-
ing, and the unwavering desire to serve one’s
community. If the Quislings were willing to
commit to this philosophy, they deserved re-
spect, just like everyone else should.
“If we focus on our pasts, we’ll never have
a future. The Blocks are not about redemption;
they are about equality for all. AMP. Sap. Black.
 White. Muslim. Christian. We all have worth,
we are all the same. We do not need to
prove ourselves to the world. Nor should
we demand others prove themselves to us.
The fact we’re standing side by side and
building a future together proves our value.
We’ve set aside our differences and created
something beautiful. Something important.
Now, we have the chance to take another
step forward. We will not stumble, simply
because we’re too busy looking behind.”
Much to his surprise, the community
heeded his words, welcoming the Quislings
into their fold. Crescent Block benefited
greatly for their presence, and the Brick’s
Chapter One: Year Four

recognition as a powerful civil leader grew.

August 2018
The Abyss Gazes Back
August 1
When the Orphans returned, their arriv-
al created a massive storm within the psy-
chic network known as the Channel. Even
after this temporary disruption faded, many
Mystics continually suffered from night-
mares and disturbing psychic impressions
following any connection to the Channel.
Suspecting the Orphans were at the heart
of this disturbance, Savior and several other
Mystics started searching the Channel for
the invaders’ mental ‘footprints’. Eventually,
they uncovered the Chorus: The Orphans’
telepathic web, used to communicate — as
well as control — the Rampagers.
Fiercely protective of the Channel, a col-
lective of Mystics gathered together and
launched a psychic attack on the Orphans.
Regrettably, their insular nature prevented
them from involving other affiliations. Led
by Savior and his closest peers, the group
chose Lammas night, the Celtic harvest fes-
tival, to use the increased spiritual energies.
Across the country, other Mystics tuned into
the collective mind, such as Lookout, Phaser,
and Rapture. Thus connected, they began
their psychic assault on the Orphans’ Chorus.

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Initially, the Mystics were able to infiltrate
the telepathic network unopposed. Together, they
severed several Orphans from the hive-mind, re-
placing each one with their own psychic mani-
festations. Encouraged with their successes, Sav-
ior pushed the Mystics deeper into the Chorus,
attacking larger nodes of the telepathic network.
What happened next is unclear.
Something vast and alien reached out from
the center of the Orphans’ hive-mind. One by one,
Mystics were stripped of their minds and souls.
Many, including Phaser, died screaming — victims
of cerebral hemorrhaging. Others, like Lookout,
were left in vegetative states, devoid of con-
sciousness. As this entity ensnared more victims,
Rapture martyred herself to allow the few surviv-
ing Mystics to disconnect. Her last words echoed,
“The Eye sees me … The Eye sees me …” Her body
collapsed into gray ash, utterly consumed.
Despite their significant loses, the Mystics
had struck a major blow. Within days, combat-
ants across the planet noticed significant re-
ductions in the Orphans’ power and frequent
disorganization in their movements. Savior
and the traumatized survivors began rebuild-
ing their fractured group, but the psychic scars
lingered for some time.
Letters from the Future #3
August 11
This one is big, so pay attention. I
need to write this down. It’s strange,
cause I thought I’d be okay just leaving
everything to a lost future I changed,
but before I do this thing, I need to tell
someone what actually happens. Why
did I kill the president? What specifical-
ly did he do that was so bad? Even if it’s
just you, other me, someone needs to
know, so it doesn’t happen again.
When AMPs came out to the world, it
was all rainbows and roses, but it didn’t
last. Less than a year before President Al-
dridge enacted a ton of anti-AMP laws, all
passed quickly by a new wave of McCar-
thyism. Along with that came the worst
part… Jacob, or Doctor Shadow as he
started calling himself, was hired by the
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
president for a secret task force. This man
who was my friend, despite everything,
studied and dissected AMPs to figure out
everything that made us tick. And when
he was done, there was the Cure.
He created a serum that killed any
AMP who ingested it. They put that shit
into the water supply and murdered
thousands at a time. They spread it with
crop-dusters for miles to kill anyone out-
side the city. The nation didn’t have need
for the special task force they were try-
ing to jam through congress for approval
anymore. Instead, they just hired people
to clear out the dead. I saw mothers and
Chapter One: Year Four
fathers and children carried out of their
homes and thrown into mass graves that
spanned miles. It was one of the worst
experiences of my life, and I only lived
because I hid in Uncle Abir’s bunker for
a few months.
Little did Doctor Shadow know that he
was an AMP himself since his powers were
passive. He thought he was sitting pretty
until he took a sip of water and keeled over
himself. I talk lightly about it now, but I’ll
never forget the days when Critter, Jacob,
and I were the best of friends. I’ve wracked
my brain for years trying to figure out why
he would go to such lengths. Why did he
hate AMPs so much that he’d kill all of
them in one fell swoop?
And the answer I can come up with
is… it was me. This is all my fault, and
this is why I have to be the one to fix it.
If the president dies, then he can’t hire
Jacob. If I remove Critter before they fall
too deeply in love, then Jacob won’t kill
her. The easy answer would be to kill
Jacob, but I could never pull the trigger
myself. I just don’t have it in me. But the
president is just a face, a man standing
in the way of a better future. Him, I can
kill and be proud of what I did.
And maybe, just maybe, everyone
will make it out of this okay.
-Your Other Self.
 Past the Precipice,
Past the Fears
August 17th
On August 17th, the Nā ‘Aumākua launched
their final assault on the Orphans occupying
Hawaii. They’d recently won several victories,
taking advantage of the invaders’ total disar-
ray following the Lammas Incident. Holoholo-
na and Maichiru (leader of the Menehune) set
aside their previous differences for the better-
ment of the Islands and the Nā ‘Aumākua, as
a whole. Together with Poli’ahu and dozens of
AMPs and Sap kahunas, they fearlessly ascend-
ed the slopes of Kīlauea, fighting against light-
ning storms, lava flows, and twisted monsters.
Chapter One: Year Four
Having assumed the guise of Hawaiian deities,
the Orphans were relentless in their last de-
fense, warping the very mountain with their
still considerable powers.
Time and again, Poli’ahu’s counter-magic pro-
tected the group, but she could not save everyone.
Over twenty Nā ‘Aumākua died simultaneous-
ly when the sky itself rained shards of obsidian
upon them, reducing their bodies to ribbons.
Only through their sheer tenacity and courage,
the native warriors finally reached the summit,
where the last Orphan stood, defiant. Wreathed
in flame, the False Pele incinerated anyone fool-
ish enough to approach her, while burying others
alive in volcanic ash and stone. She beckoned to
Holoholona, mocking him. “Come to me, my son.
Embrace death in your mother’s arms.” Enraged,
Holoholona leapt forward, falling upon the wom-
an like a tsunami of hate and muscle.
Maichiru and Poli’ahu combined their powers,
protecting Holoholona as best they could. Even so,
he suffered terribly, slashed with volcanic glass,
and burned with molten rock. The False Pele’s
cruel smile crumbled into fear, as the Hawaiian
warrior closed the last few steps, barely alive.
His meaty hands wrapped around her thin neck
and squeezed. The sharp crack of bone snapped
across the entire crater. Both Holoholona and the
Orphan collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Hawaii had been truly liberated. Maichiru,
Poli’ahu, and other Nā ‘Aumākua leaders formed
the Hawaiian Council, overseeing each of the six
largest islands as konohiki (land agents). Their
30
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
first function was to bury Holoholona beside Pa-
hoehoe in the Alika Crater, declaring them the
new King and Queen of Hawaii. Their graves be-
came a sacred place of worship (heiau) for the Nā
‘Aumākua; a solemn reminder of their sacrifices.
Next, the Council used government funds to
rebuild New Hollywood and transform the State
into the Pacific’s new center of commerce and
trade, while holding closely to their native tradi-
tions. They tore down the Hawaiian Evacuation Fa-
cility (HEF), using its cache of weapons and power
armor to buttress the islands’ defenses. FutureTech
did little to resist, unwilling to expose the truth of
their unnatural experiments to the world.
Suspecting reprisals from the Nā ‘Aumākua
for manipulating Holoholona, Kyle Hickok
wisely fled the Big Island, but not before steal-
ing equipment and data from the HEF. He later
tracked down the former Hound, Bryan Hickok
(AKA Loco Diablo). Together, they began search-
ing for the other ‘Hickok’ copies, following
some unknown compulsion.
Too Rare to Die
August 26th
The red convertible flew over the Texas
blacktop like a shark strung out on War Path.
The dead President was at the wheel, decked
out in an Acapulco shirt and stylish shades. Be-
side him, the ex-junkie time-assassin fumbled
with the map; pausing only to keep his base-
ball cap from flying off. Stretched out in the
back seat, the once-megalomaniac, now-some-
times-savior painted her nails gunmetal black
to match her razor-crisp suit.
They’d been on the road for weeks now, cut-
ting a swath of good (and not-so-good) deeds
across the country. They were the American
Nightmare on wheels, creating a better to-
morrow, one lost soul at a time. After all his
misdeeds, Kairam felt right with the world, per-
haps for the first time ever.
He noticed the side road and nudged Al-
dridge’s elbow, pointing. The ex-President
turned the car off the highway. Five minutes
later, they roared into the Podunk town; little
more than a gas station and a wind-beaten
tavern. On the bar’s front stoop, two men sat
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 sipping beer and enduring the heat.
Aldridge slammed on the breaks as they
pulled up, kicking up a cloud of dust. They
didn’t give the men the chance to finish cough-
ing, jumping from the car and riddling them
with bullets and buckshot.
With practiced grace, the trio burst through
the saloon doors, shocking the hell out of the
bartender and a dozen patrons. Except they
weren’t patrons. Just like the guys outside
hadn’t been a pair of harmless old-timers.
Time slowed to a crawl for Kairam. He leapt
over the bar, plucking the AR-15 from beneath
the cash register, and then returning to his com-
panion’s side before anyone even blinked.
Chapter One: Year Four
The Matriarch flooded the room with her
corrupting presence, bending the weak minded
to her will. Men tossed away their guns, tore at
their faces, or ran off screaming.
And Aldridge … well, he just unloaded his
shiny new shotgun, blowing a few holes in the
roof to make people hit the floor.
Only one of them, an oily-haired AMP with bad
skin, got a few shots off. Bullets slammed into Al-
dridge’s chest, knocking him back a few steps.
Kairam emptied the AR-15 into Oily-Hair,
sending him flying in a cloud of blood and
bone chips.
“Anyone else want to try that? Or are we
done here?” Kairam yelled. “Get on your knees,
hands behind your backs. Now!”
The remaining men looked at the Trio.
Whatever loyalties they had to Typhoon ended
right there. Those who weren’t already fetal,
dropped down. The bartender remained stand-
ing until a mental push from the Matriarch
floored him right quick.
Kairam looked over at Aldridge, “You okay,
chief?”
“Yeah, I suppose so. But the jerk ruined my
good shirt,” Aldridge replied, examining the
bullet holes in the flowery cloth.
“I’ll buy you another one,” the Matriarch
chimed. “After today, you can buy the whole store.”
Kairam looked at the Typhoon thugs. Two were
definitely AMPs, who could barely pass as human.
It took him a second to realize the bartender was
also an AMP, his sharpened teeth flashing.
“Do you know who we are?” the bartender
32
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
snarled. “Do you even know what this place is?”
The Matriarch smiled, “Of course, I do. I’m
the one who made sure we had plenty of these
money caches like this across the country. Now,
if you wouldn’t mind, point me to the vault? I’d
like to count my new millions.”
“Screw you, lady,” the bartender spat.
The Matriarch sighed and shot him in the
face, turning the bar wall into a Jackson Pollock
masterpiece.
“Damnit, Rhiannon!” Kairam glowered at her.
She shrugged, smiling innocently. “Sorry, dar-
ling. Still getting used to this Good Guy crap.”
He breathed through his teeth, wanting to
say more, but knowing it was pointless. Instead,
he returned his attention to the remaining
thugs. Their faces said it all, wide-eyed and ter-
rified. Her methods might be questionable, but
the Matriarch sure made a lasting impression.
“So, here’s the deal,” Kairam began. “We’re
giving you a way out. A second chance at life.
A chance to redeem yourself for all the twist-
ed, evil crap you’ve done. We’re calling it the
Future League, ‘cause although everyone has a
past, they don’t necessarily have a future. To-
gether, we’re going to make things right before
they go wrong.
“This second chance is a one-time offer. And
one time only, got it? What do you say? Want to
finally be the hero and save the world?”
September 2018
Slumming It
3 September
The palatial New Mexican ranch was
equipped with three swimming pools: one in-
doors, one outdoors, and one Jacuzzi. Beautiful
gardens surrounded the ranch, filled with local
flora, cactus gardens and white stone statues
carved into the shape of Grecian nymphs pour-
ing water onto the plants below. It was a shrine
to decadence and greed, which was completely
lost on its current inhabitants.
Tomas shifted on his feet uncomfortably,
there were five Quislings standing right across
from him and the other Crossovers, but it was
 this kind of greed which made him really uncom-
fortable. The Orphans were something godly and
unknowable, greed was totally human and some-
thing that still made him sick to his stomach. He
wondered if that is why the Orphans, or rather
Quislings, chose to meet him here.
“So, you’re telling me,” Tomas said, “you want
to help us?”
“That’s correct.” The Quisling lounging by
the pool replied to Tomas impassively. “We
don’t wish to … murder … any more. We wish to
help you, to fight back.”
Tomas flicked the cigarette from his mouth
onto the ivory-stone tile of the poolside and
crushed it with his boot. “Why is that?” He
asked in genuine curiosity. Did these creatures
even have the ability to lie?
“Killing is … no longer conducive to what
we want. The great order cries out to be recti-
fied and we must listen to it. The only way to
set the world right is for there to be peace. For
there to be peace, you mortals must stop dying
at the hands of our brothers and sisters. It is
simple.” The Quisling replied.
Letting out a deep-bellied laugh Tomas
couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “Oh! So,
you’re doing this to help us actually? Well I’ll
be,” he took a deep bow, “us lesser beings thank
you for your offer.”
The Quisling looked down at Tomas’ bowing
figure, “You’re welcome.”
Sighing, Tomas stood back up. The Cross-
overs weren’t going to reject the rebel Quisling
offer for help, but they had a long road ahead
of them.
Lost & Found
13 September
A.M.A.N.D.A. was finished, and it couldn’t
come fast enough. For weeks Luminous had fe-
vered dreams of a young girl; she was scared
and alone, she called out for him. The young girl
felt just outside his reach, dancing at the edges
of his perception, but begging to be found.
Plugging into the monstrosity of a machine,
Luminous felt his psyche stretch across the
world in a blinding moment of searing pain.
For a second, he was everywhere and nowhere.
33
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Standing next to each AMP, both alive and
dead. He felt himself drawn towards the dark-
ness of death, melting into a great system he
could not comprehend, but then a voice came
through to him as clear as day — it was the girl.
Her name was Catnip. Her voice focused Lumi-
nous’ thoughts and using A.M.A.N.D.A.’s amaz-
ing power, he focused his thoughts on Catnip.
Catnip was hiding in an abandoned ware-
house in Detroit, huddled in the dark of a cellar
alone and scared. She was split from Conduit in
a fight and when she couldn’t find him she fled.
She ran from humans, from Orphan attacks, from
other Rampagers. She ran until she found a quiet
space. The feral girl was terrified out of her mind.
Chapter One: Year Four
A helicopter landed just outside, causing
the windows of the warehouse to vibrate un-
der its power. Catnip sat up on her haunches
and growled, sniffing the air. Engines meant
danger. Danger meant fighting.
Prowling through the shadows, a group of
heavily armed men poured into the warehouse.
A few of them wore TRAC uniforms and carried
guns. Quickly doing the math in her head, Cat-
nip realized she could take down some, but not
all. This wasn’t a fight she could win.
Closing her eyes tight she called out to Con-
duit with her thoughts, a small child wishing the
impossible could happen. Please, help. She was
alone and scared.“I’m here,” a voice answered back.
Catnip’s eyes flung open, backing against
the wall as blurry figures approached her.
Someone familiar was with her, he saw where
she was, “Come here. Hurry!” she replied back
in her mind. Danger was so close.
“I’m here,” Luminous replied again. This time
not in Catnip’s mind but only meters in front of
her. Looking around her, Catnip saw she’d been
teleported into a dark room with walls refract-
ing thousands of bright flashes of color. Was this
a trick? Wide-eyed and panicked she caught the
scent of something familiar; it wasn’t Conduit,
but something she never belonged to, a family.
No sooner had Doctor Luminous called out
to the shadows again, than a figure leapt from
the darkness — bounding into his arms, shak-
ing, hugging him tightly in fear.
Doctor Luminous choked back tears as a wave
of relief swept over him. Clutching the girl in his
 arms he realized what bothered him for so long.
Her thought patterns, how she moved, she was
Critter’s daughter … she was his daughter.
The Ants Go Marching
22 September
“In an astonishingly strange turn of events
families have been reporting their AMP family
members disappearing overnight. No signs of
break-ins nor letters left behind. Joint police
task forces have yet to give an official word on
how or why this is happening, but people are
demanding answers. With so many things to
worry about: Orphan attacks, Rampagers, the
UHF — this reporter asks herself — who’s look-
Chapter One: Year Four
ing out for the little guys?”
“Who indeed?” the Hanger questioned, zap-
ping off the TV and turning back to his factory
floor. Below him stood no less than thirty AMPs
lined up in tidy rows. More were coming soon,
and his project could begin.
Waiting for the project was proving to be
ever-so-hard. Grabbing onto the steel rails of
the walkway the Hanger’s knuckles went white
under the strain. How he loved to squeeze
things. To feel them in his hands, under his
thumb. The lack of give provided by the steel
was so unsatisfying, it was nothing compared
to flesh. How he yearned to go below, take a
person’s neck in his hands, and slowly, lovingly,
squeeze the life out of them.
How long had it been since he’d enjoyed
himself, really? Perhaps it was time for some
self-reflection. Was he still the man he once
knew, was he too focused on his mission? No,
the Hanger could not falter, he was so close to
achieving his goals.
Descending the stairs, the Hanger went
to check on his first victim. He stood frozen
in place, hooked up with various tubes to an
extraction machine at the end of the hall. A
large, metal needle protruded from the man’s
left temple which was bruised red from him
shoving it into his own head.
“Now,” the Hanger whispered in the man’s
ear. His gloved finger ran over the man’s pur-
pled-temple, tapping next to the needles,
sending shivers through the man’s body. Un-
34
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
able to move, scream, or even wet himself the
man’s body convulsed in pain with each tap
of the Hanger’s finger. “Delicious, you play so
well,” the Hanger exclaimed.
“Once I drain your psychic abilities, I’ll kill
you first. Don’t worry it will be fun. For me.”
The Kraken Option
28 September
Lucinda poured water over the back of the
gigantic beast. They were small raindrops com-
pared to its hulking size, but she felt it helped;
at least it helped her. Atlantis had lost so much
during the Orphan attacks, there was barely
anything left, but they had to keep fighting.
At least, it wanted to fight, and Atlantis would
help it. They had no words for the great creature
who carried them so far and so quickly — from
one coast, around South America, to the east
coast — but many called it the Spirit of Atlantis.
Cared for by the Founding Five, fed by the Atlan-
teans; growing, mutating because of the strength
of its people to become the beast they knew.
The Spirit of Atlantis was once a peaceful
creature, now it was just angry.
The sound of steel rending apart outside
tore through Lucinda’s thoughts. She placed
her hand on the Spirit of Atlantis and it told
her it was time. Running outside Lucinda let
out a sonic-scream echoing across the waters
to all the ships of Atlantis. Men, women, and
even children all fighting the Orphans outside
dropped their weapons. Joining hands, chains
of people touched the ocean’s waters and
small tentacles extended from the cold depths,
clasping onto their hands.
Suddenly, a gargantuan creature appeared
from the water towering over the hundreds of
ships below. Fueled by the power given willingly
from every inhabitant of Atlantis, the Spirit of At-
lantis let out a furious roar, blowing the Orphans
attacking its ships into the water. The Orphans
rose battered from the water and finally realized
… Atlantis wasn’t going down without a fight.

October 2018
United in Purpose
1 October
Every moment Catnip held her parents’ hands,
she felt their bond growing stronger, she felt
she knew them better with every heartbeat she
greedily stole some of them, for her, just her —
forever and always. Critter smiled down at Cat-
nip, picking the girl up in her arms. Critter wasn’t
a Rampager anymore, but she was still strong,
and the young girl was her daughter. She should
feel guilty for the happiness she felt compared
to the tragedy happening around her, but she
couldn’t. Her family had suffered enough, she’d
suffered enough, and she wouldn’t let misery
destroy what she’d managed to find again.
Turning to Luminous, she could see he was
nervous. It was something the rest of the Seek-
ers never saw. He was their fearless leader and
never questioned what he’d done, the deals
he’d had to make, but Critter knew better. She
knew how Luminous doubted, questioned; he
was a good man and that is what made every-
35
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Chapter One: Year Four
thing he did while she was gone bearable. No
one’s hands in this conflict were clean.
Catnip wiggled in Critter’s arms and
brought her attention to the man approaching.
“Conduit!” Catnip gasped seeing her long-lost
friend approaching with a cadre of Change-
lings. She made to leave her mother’s arms but
paused, was it safe to leave Critter and Lumi-
nous? They appeared like a dream to her, what
if she let go and they were gone?
Luminous sensed his daughter’s hesitance
and assured her. “It’s okay, we’re here. Go say
hello to your friend.”
With her father’s words, Catnip leapt from
her mother’s arms and ran towards Conduit, giv-
ing him a big hug. Smiling, Conduit embraced
the girl and ruffled her hair, “Hey there Fraggle.”
Bearing her teeth at Conduit, Catnip retort-
ed playfully, “No Fraggle! You Fraggle!”
Conduit walked over to Luminous and Crit-
ter, “Well it seems like you have the girl’s ap-
proval. Thanks for the invite.”
“Thank you,” Critter replied, “I’m happy we
could finally do this.”
“We’re fighting the same war here and it is
 time to join sides,” Luminous said. Critter turned
to him and rolled her eyes, business as usual.
For someone with his abilities, sometimes he
could be so short-sighted.
“Yeah,” Conduit said turning to Luminous, “I
think there’s a few things we need to smooth
out first. I’ve had … issues before with other
AMPs — fighting, betrayal — you know the usu-
al. The Changelings want to help, but you are
gonna have to explain a few things first.”
“Of course,” Critter interjected, “that’s the
first thing we should do. We’re all in this to-
gether and the only way we will get through it
is with full disclosure.” She shot a look to Jacob.
The doctor shook his head and finally relaxed;
Chapter One: Year Four
Critter’s withering gaze reminding him at the end
of the day they were all here trying to do the
right thing, “You’re right. I am sorry, where are my
manners? It is nice to finally meet you. Thank you
for taking care of my daughter for so long, I can’t
express what that means.” He paused, “Please,
let’s go somewhere and talk about an alliance.”
Return of the Pack
15 October
BREAKING NEWS: Return of the Pack
In a startling turn of events today,
TRAC publicly announced the reinstate-
ment of the ‘Hound’ program. While no
information as to the exact details of
the former ‘Hound’ shadow-op were
provided, a TRAC spokesperson issued
the following statement:
“In the coming days, TRAC will be
rolling out the Hound Beta Program
centered on retention and containment
of the AMPs known as Rampagers. Us-
ing technologies developed by a com-
bined taskforce of TRAC and Seekers, we
are able to control the Rampagers and
make sure they are no longer a danger
to society. Instead, the Rampagers will
become a tool.
We will take back the Orphan’s most
valuable assets, the Rampagers. We will
give them a new life and allow them to
help us take down the Orphans; to crip-
ple their devastating attacks.
36
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Each creature will be given a new
name and designation, along with
training in one of our secure facilities.
Once considered fit for society, Ram-
pagers — along with a veteran team of
TRAC members — will be released back
into the general population with the
aim of providing increased security to
the American people.”
Well, if you ask this reporter, this
all sounds a bit off. First of all, Ram-
pagers were once normal AMPs, right?
Shouldn’t the government be focused
on their rehabilitation, rather than
weaponizing them? Also, why don’t the
Seekers have a problem with this?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am
happy to have a hulking “creature” on my
side if there is another Orphan attack …
but doesn’t this just feel like our govern-
ment missing the mark once again?
Oh yeah, Humans
26 October
The shotgun blast showered over Spearfinger
as she yowled in pain. Throwing off her left arm,
which took the brunt of the attack, Spearfinger
ran at the Faceless fighter, grabbing the shotgun
out of her hand and smacking her on the back
of the head with the butt of the gun. Conduit’s
back slammed against Spearfinger’s and sum-
moning a huge arc of lightning he shocked the
Faceless agents closing on her flank.
Both AMPs turned to face one another, ready
for an attack, when they realized they were
fighting on the same side and stopped. Spearf-
inger requested to meet with Doctor Luminous
and Conduit; they agreed, but it had to be on
neutral ground: an abandoned Air Force base
in upstate New York. Both sides were dismayed
to find the area crawling with Faceless patrols
when they arrived, and a fight broke out. It was
just like old times, Conduit and Spearfinger
fighting back to back, allies in arms.
Both were ready to launch the next attack
when a smile broke out across Conduit’s face.
“God, my back hurts.”

Shipped
Those with the ability to view the
strands of fate have rumored that the
reunion of Conduit and Spearfinger was
inevitable and magically ordained. They
are, after all, two sides to the same coin,
the positive and the negative which al-
ways come together in the end. Conduit
is imbued with magic himself, despite not
having full control of it, and Spearfinger
has many within Retribution who have
learned magic, so the two had much to
talk about and plan. Could this mean a
merger to the Changelings and Retribu-
tion? Online time will tell, but anyone can
see that their futures are intertwined.
Spearfinger laughed. “You do look older,”
she retorted, and dropped her hand.
“I am older,” Conduit said chuckling and dis-
persing the arc of lighting between his hands.
Looking around at the chaos Conduit sighed as
the other AMPs gathered around the two for-
mer friends, “What now?”
Spearfinger motioned around her, “We do
this.”
“We kill people?” Conduit questioned, wor-
ried Spearfinger was still as bloodthirsty as
ever.
“No! Jeez, Conduit. I mean fight, I mean win.”
Spearfinger sighed, “I’m no spring-chicken now
either. I’m tired and this bloodshed needs to
stop. My group, they’re good fighters and you
need us. This fighting is stupid, we need to
work together.”
Conduit laughed once again, a deep bel-
ly laugh. Spearfinger felt blood rush to her
cheeks. “Are you laughing at me?” She ques-
tioned angrily.
“No,” Conduit swallowed the next bout of
laughs, “No, not at all. You’re right of course — I
am just wondering — is that what I sound like?”
Spearfinger rolled her eyes, “I guess that’s a
yes. Let’s work together then.”
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Ghosts of the Past
31 October
Just years ago, the 31st of October was a time
of joy. A holiday, which to most Americans meant
parties, candy, and seeing adorable children in
cute costumes. For the youth it was a time to let
loose and for those more daring, and just a bit
angrier, to pull a few pranks in a night of revelry.
Now, it was a night of fear. Real, terrifying fear.
What would happen on All Souls Day? No one
could tell, but with the Orphan activity, it couldn’t
be anything good. Whether the dead would rise,
disappear, or if there would be another tragic
attack no one knew. All anyone knew was there
was nothing they could do to stop it.
Chapter One: Year Four
So, friends and family, human, AMP, Twice
Born, and everyone in between stayed home
with one another. They shared a drink and a
memory or two. They reminisced about better
times and braced themselves for what would
happen the next day.
November 2018
The Exodus
November 1
The world winced the night before All Soul’s
Day. For years, the supernatural had crept its way
through the cracks of reality a bit at a time. First
it was ghosts, then it was the arrival of the Twice
Born, and no one knew — or could completely
prepare themselves for — what unknown events
would occur after the Orphans introduced mag-
ic to the world in full-fledged fashion. The mere
cracks in reality were gaping holes now, ready to
let any manner of monster into this dimension.
The worst thoughts ran through the people’s
minds, but they woke up to very little. The aver-
age person, even those with powers, didn’t see a
change in the world … unless they were or hung
around one of the Twice Born.
The Twice Born looked for a sense of self for
the entire year, hoping that All Soul’s Day would
bring them some answers. Why did they come
back? Why could they not die? What was their
purpose? Figuring these questions out while
 being hunted by the Heralds of the End was no
easy task. As the clock struck midnight, howev-
er, every Twice Born blinked out of existence for
just a moment, no more than a second or two,
and then they returned. Their souls had been en-
ergized, super-charged even. Some of their kind
were already awakening to magic, more so than
any other group besides the Quislings — but this
was something else, something more powerful,
something from another plane of existence.
Maybe it was a gift from the powers-that-be
who created the Twice Born in the first place, or
perhaps they had visited the underworld and
collected additional souls within themselves
to become stronger. Whatever the case, every
Chapter One: Year Four
Twice Born had a renewed purpose — they
knew who their enemy was, and they began an
exodus to what could be their last battle. One
by one, the Twice Born packed their bags, got
in their cars, and took off to the center of the
nation - Lebanon, Kansas. No one knew what
would await them there, but they were com-
pelled to follow this new power and find out.
The Final Battle
November 6
Somewhere in Kansas, the Orphans were
sure they were going to win. They had taken
over a small town in the northern part of the
state, where seemingly nothing ever happened,
and no one ever visited, and they began amass-
ing their forces months ago. By November, they
wielded hundreds of Rampagers as an army
that could be sent to destroy entire towns if
they so pleased. This was important, as the hu-
mans had gotten clever and taken out a few
of their leading generals; at the White House,
with a kraken, and so on. Their mental con-
nection to each other was also severed, which
made delivering orders more difficult, but was
just a nuisance in the end. Humanity would
have their salvation, though, and there was
nothing anyone on Earth could do to stop it.
Starfield sat upon a throne in an invisible
palace floating in the clouds, gathering these
thoughts and others. He was the one who de-
livered the Orphans to the end of time, the one
who accepted the Eye of Omega to be his man-
tle. And through him, all the suffering, all the
38
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
death, would come to an end. He removed all
the emotion from his Orphans, making them
perfect to fulfill his plans, but in that act, he
had become irrational and unpredictable. He
personally murdered Orphans who had been
bested by their obvious inferiors and was
growing unbalanced in his approach to this
war. It would all come down to one decisive
battle that would be waged just as soon as he
accumulated the forces necessary to…
“What was that?” Starfield screamed as his
castle rumbled with the distant sound of an
explosion. Then his castle started falling out of
the sky, and no one was answering fast enough.
“Omega! The Earthlings! They are … attack-
ing us?”
“No, no, no, no, no! I cannot let this stand. I
will take care of them myself.”
———
It wasn’t the perfect plan, but they had landed
a blow at least. With the help of Doctor Luminous’
A.M.A.N.D.A. machine, the Seekers of Enlighten-
ment were finally able to find the Orphan’s main
headquarters. And thanks to Conduit’s inside in-
formation from the former Orphan, Shell, they
knew they needed to take out something called
the Eye of Omega — the thing that gave the Or-
phans their power. There was a chance that this
floating castle was it, so the first plan was to take
it down. The new leader of the Aegis Squad, Lost
Boy, grabbed the hand of Demolition, a former
Hound turned Chain Gang spokesperson, and got
him inside the castle before blinking away. Then
Demolition did what Demolition does best — he
created his largest explosion ever, pushing his
power to its limits and taking out whatever was
keeping that thing afloat.
As the Orphans came out by the dozens, what
they saw was an organized force against them.
The humans were no longer cowering, no longer
scrambling for safety. They had come to win. The
final Orphan to emerge was the familiar face of
Starfield, and upon his head was a crown made of
eyes, each one a different color looking in a differ-
ent direction. It became obvious that the other Or-
phans needed to be overcome to get to their lead-
er, but he was the only thing that truly mattered.
TRAC agents gave cover fire for the UHF-pilot-
ed power suits to send several volleys of missiles
 with the dual effect of damaging them, even if
only slightly, and creating a smokescreen. Under
this cover, several key AMPs launched their own
attacks. The nomadic Ronin from Japan was a tele-
porter who possessed a special magical sword
that cut Orphans to shreds. Spearfinger, graced
with Shell’s Gift by way of Conduit, sharpened her
own claws and took down a few Orphans herself,
laughing gleefully as their golden blood spilled
to the ground. The surviving Savior, of the Mystics,
also entered the minds of several of the Orphans,
forcing them to turn on their kin and strike them
down with power that equaled their own.
The rest of the Mystics were miles away, in-
terrupting the Orphan’s psychic link with the
Rampagers, and calming the beasts into uncon-
sciousness. The Seekers of Enlightenment, while
the battle waged on in the distance, worked with
members of the Aegis Squad and TRAC to pull the
Rampagers out of harm’s way, while also injecting
many of them with Reset to hopefully cure them —
though some of them were too far removed from
humanity to ultimately be aided by the drug.
When the smoke cleared and Starfield saw
what the Earthlings brought against him, he sur-
rounded the entire battlefield in a time bubble
39
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
where he took control over every aspect. Doctor
Luminous, Conduit, or even Tomas of the Cross-
overs would have thought this a sight to behold,
if not for the bloodshed that followed. Starfield
and the Orphans remained unaffected, and be-
gan cutting down their enemies — despite their
type or affiliation — with reckless abandon. The
Changelings were less affected, thanks to Shell,
but even they were slowed enough to put them
at risk. And in that few seconds that felt like an
eternity, the combined forces of Earth were cut
in half with ease. Would the power that existed
in the Eye of Omega prove to be too strong for
them to overcome? Was this the end?
As Starfield lifted his blade to land it upon the
Chapter One: Year Four
car that Chahaya of Atlantis was pinned behind,
the time bubble collapsed and he stopped in his
tracks, dumbfounded. As the energy faded, an army
of thousands of Twice Born could be seen on the
other side, each of them glowing with newfound
power. They knew they were sent here for a reason,
and that reason was to beat the Orphans. They
pummeled the Orphans with punches that struck
like Mack trucks, and kicks that sent them flying
for hundreds of feet. This made it possible for the
other forces to retreat as best they could.
 Then one woman stepped from the shadows, An Expected Death
someone who had been gone for quite some
November 9
time: Hunter. She was an AMP-murderer and
The ultimate battle against the Orphans
everyone there knew it, but she was likely their
ended only moments ago. The time bubble
best chance at survival. The Bandit grabbed a
altered much more than just time inside — it
handful of bullets and made them a special
made time outside move much faster.
shape that could penetrate the thick armor of an
Bluewing was late, as she often was. She
Orphan. Conduit touched her rifle and charged
wanted to be there to help win, but she knew
the weapon with Shell’s Gift. Sepulcher touched
her real purpose. She only ever showed up after
Hunter herself and charged the once self-hating
the death had already spread. This time was dif-
AMP with as much of the Twice Born’s new pow-
ferent though. So many souls lost, and through
er as he could spare. If there was another way,
tainted magics and obscene mechanics. This
they’d take it, but Hunter was the only one who
was her moment, now. This was her time to die.
could land a shot on Starfield.
News trucks and dozens of cell phones caught
Hunter prepped herself and lined up her
a dazzling display, as Bluewing floated into the air.
Chapter One: Year Four

shot. Breezy called upon a tornado at that mo-

Breezy called out to her, but the blue, fiery AMP
ment, throwing Starfield off balance and re-
couldn’t hear her this high in the air. She simply
moving any obstacles that could have blocked
smiled back. It was warming to know that some-
her bullet, and at that moment, Hunter fired.
one cared that she would not be coming back.
The bullet zoomed through the air, masterful-
And at that moment, Bluewing burst into
ly twisting and turning and navigating its way
blue sparkles that rained down on a battle-
through the din until it met Starfield’s forehead.
field drenched in blood. As each of the spar-
Starfield’s crown of eyes fell apart, each one
kles — containing both her healing abilities
closing and fading away. He looked down at
and mixed with the magic saturating the area
his hands and saw the gold blood pouring out.
— touched a body, it was instantly revived
“THIS WAS NOT MY FATE!” was all he screamed
and renewed. Rampagers lucky enough to be
before he imploded upon himself in a flash of
touched were made whole again, returning to
bright blue light.
their former states and regaining their minds.
The tornado stopped, and it began to show-
From the collection of beasts, AMPs like Nether
er a light rain on the land. The survivors looked
and Inukpak were able to be saved.
down and saw all the heroes who died that day,
Some Twice Born were given the ultimate
but they looked up and saw a rainbow. There
gift — their final journey to the afterlife, where
was hope ahead.
they would not be forced to live again and again
There had to be.
whether they wanted to or not. They had done
what they were presumably meant to do, so a final
rest was welcomed by some. Others, of course, ran
from the sparkles after seeing this. No one fears
death more than one who cannot naturally die.
A few AMPs were made human again, instantly
losing their powers. Another realization followed
that — the Law of Attraction, the urge that caused
AMPs to hurt each other, was a thing of the past.
Many Changelings urged Conduit to dance under
the blue rain, in hopes he could be made whole
as well, but he simply smiled and shook his head.
“No, brothers and sisters. This is who I am. No one
will look down on you for wanting to be normal,
but I am very happy in my oddness.” In fact, some

40
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Changelings did dive in, but many more followed
Conduit’s example and stayed back. Doctor Lumi-
nous made sure to steer clear of the sparkles, as
he did not want to be less than he was. No flow-
ery speech would deter his much-needed work
from being completed.
It was not just people, however. As her magic
touched the ground, it sent waves of her heal-
ing ability mixed with the magic saturating the
Earth in every direction. Damage to the sur-
rounding area, the towns and cities, was rebuilt.
Reports came in from Hawaii, who claimed the
destruction they were attempting to rebuild
themselves instantly vanished, revealing a re-
newed island beneath the rubble. Several ter-
minal patients in hospitals all over the country
were instantly cured, pointing many to believe
that Bluewing may have been behind the mir-
acles at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2015.
Several of the Orphans became Quislings,
devoid of any memory of what came before or
after their lives as Orphans and sought only
help from those they once tried to conquer. The
worst were put down immediately or contained
by the Seekers of Enlightenment, but most were
accepted as fellow Earthlings once more.
Of course, her power didn’t save everyone,
but it gave many a fresh start after winning
a decisive battle against an impossible enemy.
The Work Must be Completed
November 22
Critter tip-toed into Jacob’s lab wearing a
light set of pajamas and nothing underneath,
just perfect since they hadn’t seen each other
in days. After the battle with the Orphans, all
the funerals given to everyone who died saving
the world, he hadn’t taken even a moment away
from work. She was determined to change that.
“I just tucked Catnip in. I’d love it if you came
to bed,” she said massaging his shoulders. He
hadn’t even noticed her until she touched him,
as he was deep into his project.
“We really have to give her a real name at
some point. I’m tired of that idiotic name that
self-righteous dick gave her.” He couldn’t hold in
his hatred of Conduit. Yes, he had treated their
daughter kindly, but kindness wasn’t enough,
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
and Jacob was tired of his convincing people
that being passive is the way of the world.
Critter replied jokingly with, “Okay, Doctor
Luminous.” The air quotes were strongly implied.
Jacob stood up quickly, walked over to this
desk, and rested his weight on it, not once looking
at Critter. “Did you want something? I. Am. Busy.”
A tear dripped from Critter’s eye. “I want the
man I fell in love with back. I want you back,
Jacob.” She grabbed his papers and blueprints
and started throwing them around the room.
“You stay in here every day, obsessed with your
work. Work, work, work! What about me? What
about Catnip? What ever happened to us get-
ting married and settling down. The world is
Chapter One: Year Four
different now, or at least it’s changing. We can
finally be together, but all you do … is … work.”
She couldn’t help herself anymore. Her anger
turned to a flurry of tears she couldn’t hold back.
Jacob turned around and walked over to Crit-
ter, gripping her sternly. He looked her deep in
the eyes before responding, “My work is who I
am. Work is the only thing that matters. Nobody
matters, not even you, compared to my work.
And I can’t have you around if you aren’t going
to be useful to me anymore.” And with that, he
threw her down and hit a button under his desk.
Security rushed in. “Sir! Is there trouble?”
They stood dumbfounded as Doctor Luminous
pointed to Critter.
“Get her out of here. I never want to see her
again. If she returns… shoot her.”
As they dragged Critter off, Jacob sat down
and screamed. This one he couldn’t blame on
his other voice, this was him. Nothing could
stand in his way, though. The work had to be
completed, and love was just a distraction.
December 2018
This Isn’t Over
December 4
Radio stations all over the US are taken
over for just a minute or two and the following
is played for everyone to hear.
The United Human Front is no more. The
coward, Shavar Stephens, signed pacts and blood
 contracts with our sworn enemies just days ago,
giving up humanity’s power to the monsters who
tried to take us over. Crafting new homes for the
fallen Orphans? Building bridges between hu-
mans and the dead things that still walk? Putting
up memorials to a blue AMP, a filthy creature who
supposedly healed the nation, but really brought
all this destruction with her?
And newsflash on everyone’s beloved
Bluewing. We’ve checked the hospital records of
everyone she supposedly healed, and each one
of these people has a blue sparkle implanted in
their bodies. We are this close to becoming pod
people if we keep falling for the AMPs’ tricks.
We must fight back if we want a Pure Amer-
Chapter One: Year Four

ica! You cannot stand by and let it be taken

from us. If you think this is ludicrous, then you
belong with the Faceless.
We will be holding a rally at our nation’s
capital just after the New Year. God help any
AMP who shows up.

The Ranch
December 10
The strange trio stopped the car at a ranch
in the middle of nowhere in Maine. Aldridge
wasn’t too sure about where they were going,
but Kairam insisted that his future self want-
ed him to come here. The Matriarch slept the
whole way and was still sleeping in the back,
so she didn’t care, as long as they didn’t wake
her. They knew better after the last time.
Kairam got out of the car and strolled up to
the cozy ranch house. “Look at that. The porch-
light is even on.”
Aldridge let a bit of his former president
out. “These are real Americans, salt of the Earth
people. Always welcoming, always … AH!!!”
They both screamed as an older woman came
running out of the front door with a shotgun point-
ed at them. “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll cap you
real quick,” the woman cried. “Girls, call the police.”
“I can explain everything. Just put the gun
down,” Kairam pleaded with her. He saw Aldridge
reach for his own gun but gave him a look that
said, ‘This is just an old lady. Do we really need
to treat them like we do Typhoon?’ but without
any words. The president decided he agreed.

42
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Before Kairam could say anything though, an- Unhuman No More
other woman came out of the house with a few
December 16
bees flying around her. “Momma, put the gun
Since the Orphan invasion forces were halt-
down. People come by around here all the time,
ed and several laws were passed that made
and you’re always waving that thing around.
AMPs 100% human, the world was beginning
None of them mean any harm.” And as the woman
its road to healing as AMPs, Saps, Twice Born,
stepped into the light, it was her … it was Critter.
and Quislings tried to share the world that was
She was every bit as beautiful as the future Kairam
almost destroyed. There was one more terrible
said. “Hi, y’all, I’m Critter. It’s late, but I can sign a
relic of their soiled past few years that needed
quick autograph for you and then you need to get.”
to be eradicated, however: the term, ‘unhuman’
Critter’s mom then spoke up, “Hey. I know you.
was something many could no longer abide.
You’ve been here before. You’re that boy who
The beloved Jennifer Stewart became the face
told us Critter here was dead! Why in the hell …”
of the campaign against use of the dirty word.
“Let me stop you right there, because that
She filmed several movies that brought up the
wasn’t really me. I mean, it was me, but … okay.
topic and financed school programs that taught

Chapter One: Year Four

I gave you something then too, right? Do you
kids never to use the U-word about another per-
still have it?” Kairam was stumbling over his
son. There was no way it would be immediately
words, taken aback by the knowledge that his
repelled from society, but at least fewer peo-
other self had already been here and the fact
ple were as emboldened to use such language
that he was meeting the Critter face-to-face.
in mixed company. Those people were forced
The woman ran into the house but came
to save their harsh words until they were with
back just as quickly with a long rod with an
people who shared their views, which of course
ornate E etched on it. “This is it here. I just put
created many bubbles exploited by the Faceless.
it away, but you didn’t tell us what it actually
Even though the majority of her work took
was, so I didn’t pay it no mind.”
place in Canada, Jennifer Stewart returned once
“Can I see that, momma?” Critter reached for
more to the United States and did several in-
the rod and when she did, power surged through
terviews and press junkets about why she felt
her. It was magic, real magic, and this was Critter’s
America was on the rise again. The defeat of the
wand. The energy swirled around her, but eventu-
Orphans was American-made, after all, and she
ally faded, and Critter was left taken aback. “What
couldn’t wait to start doing more movies to show
the hell was that? That was wonderful!”
her patriotic side. Soon after this, there was leaked
Kairam reached out and grabbed her hand. “It’s
footage of Jennifer fighting the Orphans alongside
a wand that I made for you in a future that never
Canadian forces, but this move that was meant to
happened. We’ve already changed our fates, but
make her seem less patriotic just made her seem
we need your help to make our new future safe.”
like more of a hero in the public’s eyes.
Critter smiled, and her tension eased as she
Gigahertz of the Underground News Network
held hands with the strange man with dyed
scored several exclusives with the glass-wield-
hair and weird words. “I don’t know what you’re
ing actor and was instrumental in getting her
talking about. But I’m in. Come on inside. You
message out to everyone. She even convinced
can meet my daughter.” Kairam was shocked,
him to come out of the shadows and, with her
since none of the letters said anything about a
money, start a legitimate network that would
kid, but followed the Winters inside.
be unbiased with the public. He agreed, and to-
On their way in, Critter’s mom jokingly said,
gether they launched a new UNN, dubbed Ulti-
“Your friend looks an awful lot like President
mate National News, the place to get all your
Aldridge,” and they all had an awkward laugh.
AMP-related news, interviews, and stories. It
was an instant money-maker.

43
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Souls at Rest
December 28
The aftermath of Bluewing’s sacrifice has
created more than a poorly molded statue of
her likeness. The Twice Born who survived the
Orphan battle were stronger than ever, but their
numbers remained stagnant. Before, they would
help dozens of new Twice Born dig themselves
from their graves on a daily basis all over the
world, but no more had been created.
Was this a gift? Was it that the Twice Born
had fulfilled their purpose, so the universe no
longer had need of them? Was this the doing
of the Heralds of the End finally robbing their
brothers and sisters of their renewed life?
Chapter One: Year Four
No one was certain, but the fact was …
the Twice Born numbers were now static and
would soon begin to dwindle if they didn’t do
something. Magic was the key, but the correct
rituals would need to be found. The search be-
gan for the answers the Twice Born sought.
January 2019
The Good Guys
January 3
Agent Danielson paced in the hallway, only
stopping every so often to stare at the door.
That dreaded door, with the worst crowd he’d
ever faced inside. He had to put that out of his
mind right now; he had to clear his fears and
prepare his speech about TRAC.
TRAC had its difficulties in 2018, as they
went from bastards who enslaved AMPs to
the people who experimented on US citizens
to further dark agendas, but then finally re-
deemed themselves by standing up for the lit-
tle guy. They held their own in the battle of the
Rampagers and did even more to help when
the Orphans arrived. Public sentiment seemed
to finally be on their side, and they had the
Aegis Squad, who had taken the place of the
tainted TRAC Elite, to thank for that.
The crazy scientists were gone, and TRAC
was a new police force. No longer were they a
44
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
military operation throwing AMPs into intern-
ment camps. TRAC was the hero of this story,
and all the agents who died against the Or-
phans even got a monument put up in Kansas.
TRAC was the face of all that was good about
being a regular person in this world and want-
ing to make a difference, and that’s all Agent
Danielson wanted to be when he was a kid.
And that’s what he felt like he was now.
Look at that, all the fear was gone. Danielson
stood up, wiped his brow, and opened the door.
The children all clapped and cheered.
“TRAC! TRAC! TRAC! TRAC! TRAC!” They contin-
ued their chant until Danielson gestured for
them to calm down.
“I’m Agent Danielson from TRAC, and
I’m here to talk with you kids about the
importance of our organization and all
that we do for the United States. I was
once a kid like all of you, but I grew up to
make a difference. I don’t have any pow-
ers, I didn’t come from space, and I can
die just like anyone else. Even the little
guy can effect change in this world.”
“Even me?” a young girl questioned sud-
denly from the back. She had a cast on her arm
and her front tooth was missing, but she had
hope in her eyes.
“Especially you,” Danielson said.
The Other Voices
January 10
It was finally complete. The machine Doctor
Luminous began with the help of the Seekers,
he was finally able to complete himself. Alone
was how he needed to be right now; alone but
for his voices. Jacob stalked to the console of
A.M.A.N.D.A. and flicked a switch. The machine
Illuminated the room with an intense light
that even Jacob couldn’t look directly into. In
trying to avoid it, he tripped and tore his shirt,
revealing an eye on his chest frantically look-
ing around.
Scrambling to his medical bag, Doctor Lu-
minous reached for a syringe and prepared to
 Jacob’s Secret
The events of 2017 and the knowledge that Jacob’s blood was simultaneously responsi-
ble for causing the reoccurrence of Rampagers in the world and the only thing that could
cure it stirred many emotions in the man. He was Doctor Luminous, the light to guide the
way, but his path had been obscured with mistakes and rage. A new plan was constructed
to solve the world’s problems, and Jacob became his own patient, as he experimented with
mutations. This led to his own ability to touch other AMPs and absorb them fully into his
body, also granting access to his prisoners’ powers. Combined with his own ability to sense
energy, he also acquired extremely heightened intelligence from Amanda Schenfield, the
ability to go without sleep, food, or other sustenance from one of his students and a smat-
tering of lesser powers acquired from weak AMPs he used as guinea pigs.
The ends justified the means in his mind; regardless of how cruel Doctor Luminous
had become, it was all for the greater good. Anyone sacrificed to grant him power served
his goal of saving the world from evil, from invaders… and from itself. The bad side of this

Chapter One: Year Four

arrangement, however, was that every Amp absorbed into his body became a part of his
psyche, fighting for control and driving Jacob to the brink of madness.
As 2018 ends and 2019 begins, he has isolated himself from everyone who loved him,
so no one knows what he is bound to do. Truly, it cannot be anything good.

inject himself, but an arm grew from his chest
and pushed it away. Jacob’s jaws extended
wider than any human’s could, and he wretch-
ed and gagged until a woman spilled from his
gullet. It was Amanda Schenfield, the architect
of the Houndmaster programs who disap-
peared over a year ago. She was too weak to
move, but she could laugh, and laugh she did.
“You’re so pathetic.”
“Shut up,” Jacob said.
“You built this machine for what? You think
you’re going to help people with it?
“Shut up.”
“You stole my powers, my intellect, to build
this thing, and all it did was leave you alone.”
“I said shut up!” Jacob screamed, kicking the
woman on the ground. “I need to be alone. Only
I can save the world from itself. People need
someone to watch over them, protect them, and
that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not some scraw-
ny scientist people can take for granted any-
more. The world, my genetics, no one can tell
me who I am, especially not you, Amanda.”
Amanda curled up, scared. She knew what
was in store and couldn’t fight against it.
“I thought you’d think it cute that I named
the machine after you. Everyone thought it
was some clever acronym I came up with, but
I was honoring you with that name. None of
this would be possible without you. So, thank
you,” and he touched Amanda’s skin, which be-
came his skin, and she was absorbed into his
body once more. The process was painful for
all involved, and Doctor Luminous screamed
with the voices of not only his and Amanda’s,
but the other dozen or so AMPs whom he had
absorbed, borrowing their powers as well. For
the greater good, of course.
“The people need to be controlled,” he said,
seeing the machine had fully powered up. He
sat down, put on his helmet, and pressed a se-
quence of keys before his consciousness was
sent everywhere in the world at once.
“Now I see everything. Now I can be every-
where. I am the All-Knowing Eye.”
Thus ended Year Four, the year of the In-
vasion.

45
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Chapter Two:
Vs. The Orphans
Government
vs. The Orphans
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
“A better president than I said, ‘There
is no honorable way to kill, no gentle
way to destroy. There is nothing good in
war, except its ending.’ I paraphrase his
words to call to all United States citi-
zens to take Lincoln’s words to heart,
and work to rebuild this great country
with a spirit of love rather than fear.”
~President Eleanor Klein
President Klein never thought to be in con-
trol of the Presidency. She was a leavening force
for Lewis’ candidacy, to enable him to get elect-
ed. However, at every turn where she could ex-
ercise that more moderate approach, he had un-
dercut her authority and the anti-AMP forces in
the government were legion. Now, finding her-
self in power, she found herself in a comparable
situation. She used her considerable knowledge
to try to make inroads, but Lewis’ congress made
it clear that she was a lame-duck president.
Kairam’s appearance in her office gave her
hope. But at every turn, she found her paths to
wielding the power that she did have blocked.
She’d been able to get her messages of mod-
eration and unity out and had been able to get
rid of outliers by savvy maneuvering. But her
actions had negligible effect. The Seekers’ and
the Aegis Squad’s support was a positive step,
but one that was by necessity secret. Looking
back to that agreement, she found her tem-
porary way out of the quagmire of the current
state of the country: executive orders. There
were murmurings about exceeding her power
with the sheer number of executive orders she
46
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
put in place, both to counter Lewis’ executive
orders, and to make real progress. Klein fig-
ured that the first challenge would be in the
courts, but the positive effects of her orders in
the general atmosphere in the country gave
her breathing room as there were fewer chal-
lenges than she had expected, and the higher
courts upheld her orders in the circuit courts.
Also in her favor was the fact that many of the
laws she undercut were unconstitutional by
nature, and many knew it, even if they’d been
unwilling to cross the anti-AMP organizations
at the time they passed.
She began to dismantle the anti-AMP reg-
ulations as promised; she turned out to have
a skill for crafting layered executive orders to
make gradual changes, from defunding the
Hounds to granting habeas corpus to those
AMPs in detention to even an executive order
that declared AMPs as human in every way and
as citizens entitled to the protections granted
by such facts, and reversing Lewis’ stance on
war with the AMPs.
The largest boost Klein received came from
the arrival of the Orphans. She changed TRAC’s
mandate and focus, giving them other powers
to help them learn about and defend against
Orphan incursions. She tasked a new division
of TRAC with studying their powers and magic.
After the intensive attacks on the UHF hold-
ings and their change in stances, she had the
opportunity to appoint a more moderate ad-
ministration in TRAC.
The changes in TRAC led to large scale
desertions. This was a positive development,
even as it left the organization understaffed. To
combat this personnel deficiency, TRAC units in
the field joined in arms with the Aegis Squad. It
became hard to view the Aegis Squad — those
AMPs who fought and bled alongside them —
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 as anything but concerned citizens and com-
rades-in-arms. Seeing them die for the country
that the TRAC officers pledged to preserve and
protect (often from them) changed more than
a few views on the AMPs. The public met these
developments with trepidation, but after their
successes in defending the populace, the polls
about the Aegis Squad showed positive sup-
port, and Klein’s approval rating rose.
The next sessions of the Senate and the
House revealed the depth of Klein’s reversal of
fortune. Lewis had stacked Congress in his fa-
vor: that was inarguable. After the decimation of
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
boycotting the session, though there was no
real reason to do so. It soon became clear that
something more sinister caused their truancy.
Though their offices never confirmed that they
died in attacks on the UHF, the lack of an offi-
cial denial was damning. The reasoning didn’t
matter when it came time to vote on legislation,
and Klein proved herself an able leader, rallying
Congress to get positive legislation passed, and
negative legislation neutered.
The Aldridge Act and CADE were two pieces
of legislation Klein attacked relentlessly, press-

ing her advantage before the states in question

the UHF, close to a third of the Representatives held special elections to replace the missing
and 20% of Senators did not appear for session. members of Congress. She shut down funding
At first, it seemed the missing legislators were for questionable programs related to UHF Cells

“President Klein, you know we want the same things; I am more directly affected by these
policies than most. I have always looked after my brother, and by extension my niece.”
“So, what’s the problem, then?”
“It’s not just getting the legislation passed. It’s how you’re doing it.”
Klein waved her hand dismissively.
“You’ve made great strides. More than I or anyone else thought you’d be able,” Hale con-
tinued. “Stay above the fray, and get things done the right way. Don’t be like the evil we’re
trying to fight.”
“Really?!?” she said, a frown coming across her face. “You’re making that comparison?”
“Someone has to bring you back to your senses.”
“They are killing men, women, and children. There is no equating the two sides.”
Hale seemed chagrined by the statement but pushed onward. “You know what happened
to the missing legislators and they’re dead, not just absent.”
“I don’t know for sure. No one does. And if they are dead, they made their choice.”
“But to take advantage of the chaos and confusion,” he responded, “I know it’s wrong, and
you know it’s wrong …”
Klein bared her teeth leaning in towards Hale. “What I *know* is wrong is the United States
citizens in detention for nothing more than their abilities. We’re allowing them to turn this
country into something unrecognizable, and letting our sensibilities hamstring us from fighting
back. I’ve had to make concession after concession, because I can’t get past the contingent in our
own government that thinks this is the way this country should be, and racism and terrorism are
acceptable. I’m tired of letting this happen. I’ll use any advantage I can to turn this country back
into something I can unreservedly love.”
She backed off, though none of the ferocity left her eyes. “They declared war on the United
States when they decided a few words were enough to devalue our constitution and the rights
of our citizens. Now I have real power, not just to compromise and try to redirect horrendous
policies, but to change them. I thought when I brought you on you would have my back in this
fight.” Slashing her hand through the air when Hale tried to talk, she continued. “They started
this war. And now we have a fight on two fronts. I plan to win both, no matter what it takes.”

48
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 and the operation of AMP Retention Centers
(ARCs). Hilo construction shut down, and pro-
posals for definite timelines for the retirement
of these facilities and the reintroduction of the
detained AMPs into society were made. Private-
ly-owned ARC centers lost their contracts out-
right, and TRAC took custody of the AMPs con-
tained within. This made it a necessity to process
the AMPs in custody quickly. Though the ARCs
remained, the conditions became more humane,
and the release of AMPs back into society had
the effect of making the centers more akin to
prisons with the rights implied conferred, and
less like internment. Klein handled The Screw
in a similar fashion after deciding there was no
way to rehabilitate it into something positive.
As she diverted funds from anti-AMP efforts,
Klein redirected them towards the degraded so-
cial programs that limped along. With the fights
that had become prevalent on the streets, there
were more homeless, less jobs, and a general
degradation of services in ‘Middle America’. The
Middle Class became slimmer and slimmer, as
they blurred with the Lower Class. Klein tried to
allocate basic services to all. A large part of the
populace long-ignored in favor of the culture
of fear of AMPs heralded these changes, and
Klein’s numbers rose yet again.
As TRAC and the Aegis Squad worked togeth-
er in a more official fashion, Captain Trommelen
and the higher-ups left in TRAC changed admis-
sion requirements, changing them to a police
force rather than a military organization, with dif-
ferent standards for admission and recruitment,
many centered on the need to work with AMPs.
Innovative equipment became available to them
courtesy of the Seekers of Enlightenment. These
advancements made the fights against Rampag-
ers and Orphans survivable, if just barely.
The desertions of their comrades-in-arms
had been a hard pill to swallow. The changes
in TRAC slowly caused most of them to real-
ize that they had new ones, and the changes
in policy and focus were welcome. The UHF’s
declarations of alliance convinced many rogue
TRAC agents to return to the fold, though many
failed in their bid for re-enlistment. It was a
bittersweet event, as TRAC had changed, and
the agents realized that they wanted no one to
49
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
threaten this or their AMP brethren. Though it
was more dangerous than ever to be a part of
TRAC, those pitched defenses against superior
forces gave them something they hadn’t had
for a long while: pride in a job well done.
While TRAC officials believed those who failed
the re-admission tests should not be agents, they
also didn’t want to alienate those rogue agents
who were still in the wild. There was a lot of
equipment that they didn’t want in the field, as
another faction could repurpose it for detrimen-
tal purposes. Thus, TRAC’s official policy on these
failures was they would receive pardons if they
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
would submit to an exit interview to glean the
location of any rogue forces that may not have
returned. Legislation defunded many of the more
questionable TRAC initiatives and focused the
others on the populace they had ignored in the
fervor to persecute AMPs. Policy-focused scru-
tiny of deployment in any state by the National
Guard and the commission rescinded many or-
ders. Working with the Aegis Squad and the new
policies of conduct within, TRAC turned around
the environment in the organization and became
a force for protection of all Americans.
Klein’s policies turned the Espionage and
Sedition Prevention Executive Program (ES-
PER) towards solving the problem of tracking
the Orphans, revoking the mandate to spy on
citizens within the country while increasing re-
sources. ESPER refocused the technology used
for so long to keep strict watch for AMP ac-
tivity to track outbreaks and anything remote-
ly related to the Orphans. While not exactly
a dismantling of the illegal surveillance, the
government was desperate to find a strategy
to not only cut down on the response time of
TRAC, but to create predictive models of the
Orphan incursions.
After the Orphans attack on the White
House, many policies with only tacit support
from the Government became law of the land.
Those attacks, and the help of the AMPs in re-
pelling it, made the special elections better
than could have been predicted by the pundits.
Images in the campaigns of the AMPs and Nā
‘Aumākua working side by side with TRAC forc-
es positively influenced the elections.
In November, the time came for Klein to ap-
 pear before the UN. Though she was unsure of
the ultimate verdict the Security Council would
reach, she made the trip in good faith, not as a
part of the coalition that defeated the Orphans,
but to answer for the crimes of the United States
under her predecessor. However, she didn’t know
of the deals the Secretary of State had made with
the Russian emissary. In exchange for a veto of
any guilty verdict, he had pledged the aid of the
US against any incursion by the Chinese.
Though the Orphans have been defeated,
the United States had been well on its way
to disaster long before they appeared on the
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
scene. President Klein’s policy changes have
definitely made the atmosphere in the Unit-
ed States less dystopian and geared towards
working together. However, while the state of
near Civil War has been averted, there is a lot
of work to be done to repair the nation; but
for the first time in years, the United States is
a less terrible and more hopeful place to live.
AMPs vs.
The Orphans
Aegis Squad
“We’re humanity’s last line of defense.
If we give up now, there’s no one left to
go to. So, I say: we either die like heroes
— or live on knowing the world went to
shit because we didn’t do our part.”
~Sentry, Aegis Squad cell leader
More than any other affiliation, the mem-
bers of Aegis Squad have always put their lives
on the line to defend others. First, they had to
defend Saps from violent AMPs and, since the
arrival of the Orphans, the Squad has taken up
the mantle to defend all living things on Earth
from their apocalyptic menace.
Because of this, these young people have
suffered the brunt of the catastrophic losses
provoked by the war. Their numbers have dwin-
dled more than those of any other affiliation,
50
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
and with each passing day they grow closer to
zero. Most people considered them the idealists
who didn’t know how the world works. As the
destruction of the Orphans has spread, though,
the Squad has remained firm in their resolution
to protect others — and none of them have yet
to quit. All Aegis Squad members who have left
the cause have done so because their lives were
cruelly and violently ended.
The survivors honor their fallen brothers
and sisters by doubling down their efforts and
sacrificing everything they have to preserve
life on Earth. To the young eyes of the Squad
members, their cause is the only cause. What
would a victory be worth if there was no one
left alive to celebrate it with?
As a result, the Aegis Squad’s main thrust
has been to extend their protection as far and
wide as possible. Once Rabbit died — during
the attack on the White House — Lost Boy be-
came the Squad’s leader, but the young fight-
ers were in desperate need of someone with
more experience leading the fight against the
Orphans. Doctor Luminous should have been
that leader, but he was much too involved in
his work with the US government.
In that moment, the youngsters did what
young people do best: they divided into inde-
pendent cells spread far and wide across Amer-
ica. Using the combined power of technology
and AMP powers, they coordinated their move-
ments and efforts, only considering Lost Boy’s
input when they believed it useful. Most of the
cells chose their own leaders and, because of
it, they were able to carry on with their duty
regardless of any more high-impact losses.
In time, however, the cells dropped sig-
nificantly in both number and members. By
the end of the year, in fact, most of them had
been annihilated. The surviving Aegis Squad
had to work under the most extreme condi-
tions. Sometimes they gave up the necessary
rest, food, and even water to preserve the lives
of those under their watch. In a short span of
time, the idealist youngsters became the beat-
en and scarred defenders of humanity.
No one knows exactly where it originated,
but that has become a core part of the Aegis
Squad ethos. “We defend all people, and every-
 one is welcome” is a common expression en-
countered across America now. This expression
marks refugee camps or road havens set up by
the Squad. In those places everybody, even the
most despicable Saps or AMPs, can find refuge.
No questions asked and no violence between
any of the survivors is allowed. The only ene-
my, at least as far as the Squad is concerned,
are the Orphans out there who are intent on
destroying the world. Everybody else’s lives are
sacred and must be protected at all costs.
Atlantis
“There’s a reason for everything that
has happened. Even if I can’t explain
it, it’s perfectly clear now the Spirit of
our island has awoken. Or do you need
further proof that our love for one an-
other — regardless of our origin as SAP
or AMPs — is the only way to build a
better world?”
~Lucinda, the Kraken Speaker
51
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
In a way, Atlantis was the affiliation best
prepared for the Orphans’ invasion. Not be-
cause they had more resources or precautions
— which they didn’t — but because of the way
of life they chose.
While braving the seas as exiles, the Atlan-
teans learned how to harvest the Pacific Trash
Vortex. In a brief period, they were able to use
those materials to create many wonders, the first
inventions that truly combined cutting-edge
technology with AMP powers. So, when the in-
vasion started, they were the only affiliation
that included Saps and AMPs not only living to-
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
gether peacefully but cooperating. Other groups
looked at them with suspicion, but time would
prove the Atlanteans the wiser.
In this sense, the greatest fruit borne out of
this cooperation was the awakening of the is-
land they inhabited. Baptized by some as “the
Spirit of Atlantis” — and known by others as the
Kraken — this living embodiment of the island
could work many wonders. Led by Lucinda, the
Kraken Speaker, the Spirit defended the Atlan-
teans when they joined their hands and hearts
 as one. That was how they were able to survive
the Orphans’ onslaught and how they were able
to transport the whole of Atlantis, in an instant,
from the West Coast to the East Coast. The ques-
tion in everybody’s mind at the time was how
did the Atlanteans achieve this marvel.
The people of Atlantis, though, didn’t have
an answer because even they didn’t know for
sure how this all came to happen. The fact of
the matter is the Kraken was born out of Lucin-
da’s dream and the needs of her people. Once
the Founding Five found out about the, at the
time small, fragile figment of Lucinda’s imagi-
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
nation, they poured all their energy and dedi-
cation to strengthen the creature. In time the
creature grew bigger and more powerful, but it
remained ever calm and peaceful.
Until the Orphans attacked the island.
After that it was the people’s communion as
one that lent a gargantuan amount of strength
to the beast, turning it from a massive creature
into a titanic one. It was then the Kraken as such
was born and, with it, the confirmation the At-
lanteans way of life was the way to go forward,
and the only road left for the rest of the world
if they wanted to survive against the Orphans.
Once they appeared near the mainland, the
Atlanteans started teaching both Saps and
AMPs how to work together. The groups of At-
lanteans, composed of Saps and AMPs working
in harmony, became the blueprint for the co-
operation that lead to the final defeat of the
Orphans, and the restoration of the world.
The Chain Gang
“Brothers and sisters! We’ve suf-
fered more than any other group in
the last few years. We learned a lot as
well. Nothing like this will ever happen
again! Not as long as we are here to
stop it. NEVER AGAIN!”
~Demolition, Chain Gang spokesman
After President Klein closed the Houndmas-
ter program and pardoned any AMP incarcer-
ated by the TRAC Elite program, the survivors
obtained something they previously thought
52
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
impossible: Freedom. It didn’t include compen-
sation or restitution from the government, how-
ever, and left several AMPs who had suffered
terrible trauma without a way to reenter society.
One such AMP, Demolition, saw the pain and
hurt caused and sought to solve the problem,
at least in part. He created a support group for
ex-Hounds, an initiative that helped bring some
semblance of normality into many lives and
prevented a few tragedies. During one of these
meetings, an AMP named Cascade used her time
not to speak about the horrors she had suffered
but about her vision of justice. She spoke pas-
sionately of AMPs all around the world suffer-
ing under tyrannical government agencies who
performed experiments on them or used them
to fight their petty Sap wars. “I don’t know about
you,” she said, “but I can’t live with that.” Demo-
lition saw the light of hope rekindling in his fel-
low AMPs and used his platform to take a sim-
ple support group and make it a real movement.
This was the foundation of the Chain Gang.
The affiliation’s main goal is to free any
AMP incarcerated by Sap institutions and pro-
tect their kind from being hunted. Different
tactics have been employed, from cyber at-
tacks to arson, but their “by any means neces-
sary” attitudes help them sleep at night. That
said, if they can keep Saps and Twice Born safe,
and create a situation where no one is harmed
in any way, then even better. Saps can’t join the
Chain Gang officially, but they have many spon-
sors and allies who give aid when they can.
Every time the Chain Gang brings down an
institution, their numbers swell. Recently-freed
AMPs often have vengeance on the brain, but
that’s more the realm of Retribution’s power.
The Chain Gang brings these once-prisoners
into the fold and teaches them to be people
again, not animals in a cage. With the world in
deep turmoil from Orphan attacks, the Chain
Gang have found this a perfect outlet for hos-
tilities. To the public, they are heroes fighting
the Orphans, even if their true purpose is work-
ing through their pain and trauma and taking
it out on a mutual enemy.
 Changelings
“One day all the people in this world
will come to you — to all of you — for
aid and comfort. And I know, my broth-
ers and sisters, you’ll be up to task.”
~Conduit, leader of the Changelings
(aka “the Vessel of Shell’s Gift”)
The Changelings have become humanity’s
shepherds. The ability Shell passed on to Con-
duit before he died — and he, in turn, granted to
ing other people, though. The Changelings on
that road, following Conduit’s teachings, have
traveled it for a variety of reasons. The first wor-
ry besides survival has been to find the answer
about “the Eye of Omega” that, according to
Shell, was the Orphans’ weakness. The answers
to that riddle were a trail of clues all over Amer-
ica and, as such, the Changelings were forced to
move out in the open if they wanted to collect
them in time to save the entire world.
And so, they did.

Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans

his followers — has been fundamental in sav-
ing the lives of hundreds if not thousands of The Crossovers
Saps and AMPs. This ability, combined with the “Though we are not powerful, we
Changelings’ already resourceful and nomad- are mighty in our efforts. Not bowing
ic behavior, has made the masses of refugees before evil nor giving in but protecting
flock to those who were once considered the
those who cannot protect themselves.”
pariahs of the world.
~Luna Shroud, arriving in Canada to
This reversal of state has affected all
aid in efforts
Changelings, even if some of them aren’t con-
scious of it. A majority are enjoying this change,
As Typhoon drove La Almas Perdidas, Cuba’s
embracing and helping those who once cast
AMP forces, out of Colombia, the group found
them out. They understand amid this tragedy
allies in an unexpected place. The Crossovers
the Changelings have a unique chance to show
had a policy of staying in the shadows. Their
they’re not only worthy of this burden, but they
guerrilla war depended on working the long
were always deserving of respectful treatment.
game in the gambit to protect their brethren,
Life for the Changelings has not been easy,
get the civilians to safety, and fight against
though. They had to overcome painful mem-
Typhoon. La Almas Perdidas expected to win,
ories of a recent past when they were perse-
and it was their downfall; they made no prepa-
cuted and ostracized. Moreover, their followers
rations for a pitched fight, nor to lose. The
have done so reluctantly, doubting their inten-
Crossovers were used to fights against over-
tions in whispers, and often second-guessing
whelming odds and accepted these fervent but
their decisions openly. It has required patience
untested AMPs into their ranks.
and restraint on the part of the Changelings to
At first it was a difficult proposition. Though
follow this new path and not abandon these
faced with their own mortality at the hands of
often-ungrateful sheep.
Typhoon, it was hard to accept their colorful
Despite this difficult arrangement, the
ways as superheroes were not the best way to
Changelings’ relentless march across America
go about the fight. Typhoon hunted them and
has continued. No place is safe from the Or-
kept them always on the run in the harsh jun-
phans and, as such, the best strategy has been
gles of Colombia. Basic resources became hard
to be constantly on the move, avoiding the ob-
to scavenge, and tensions were high because
vious havens, and being as silent as possible
of the added stress. The training was difficult
when traversing the countryside. When meet-
for them as they were unused to the terrain
ing an Orphan, Changelings — and their fol-
and the hardships.
lowers — have preferred stealth and avoiding
This fledgling alliance was in danger from
them whenever they have been able to.
the beginning, as many of the Crossovers be-
This pilgrimage has not been only about sav-
came tired of fighting the intensified scrutiny

53
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 brought on them by the newcomers. Typhoon
was more serious than ever about killing the
resistance AMPs and fighting them was a losing
proposition with the newcomers in the field. But
hope came in the form of lessening opposition
as rumors of infighting spread. No one knows
the truth, but the breathing room they received
gave them time to mesh as a group. This was
not a solution, but the situation became at least
tenable to the veterans.
In North America, a different issue brewed.
The Crossovers that helped ferry AMPs to
Mexico met a group of Quislings in the Sierra
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
Madres. The Crossovers knew they could not
combat the group, so they chose diplomacy in-
stead. Through their talks, they found out the
group had been hiding there, biding their time
for when they might be able to combat their
more powerful teammates, but that opportuni-
ty had not arisen.
The Quislings were not interested in alli-
ance, but surrender. The Crossovers convinced
the ‘friendly’ Orphans an alliance would better
serve both sides, but tensions were still high
for a time. From working with the Quislings, it
became plain this was because of their nature.
As time passed, it was seen there was no mal-
ice, and true friendships formed between the
strange beings and the Crossovers. These bonds
resulted in the makeshift group becoming a real
force at the Mexican-United States border.
As the North American corridor became less
hostile to AMPs, The Crossovers made decisive
moves to make more of an impact. They sent half
of the Quisling force to the South to help with
the Orphan incursions in South America. This
had another bonus as the numbers shifted in
the Crossovers’ favor. They also sent expedition-
ary forces north, to help bring innocent AMPs to
safety in Canada, and help the resistance there.
These moves stabilized the alliance, bringing the
sense they were making a difference. Over time,
it became obvious the AMPs from the Crossovers
were a tangible tie to the Quislings’ lost mem-
ories and lost humanity. This reminded them of
their former selves and helped them get a han-
dle on their returning memories.
54
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Though the Quislings were not as powerful
as the Orphans, they made a definite impact
in the South American region, allowing what
could have been deadly encounters to be at
least survivable. The seeming fear the Orphans
sowed wherever they attacked was less effec-
tive than it had been because of the efforts
of the ragtag bunch. Though their work was
not a solution to the problems the aliens pre-
sented, they helped in a separate way, as hope
emerged in the populace.
The Faceless
“I — we — were betrayed by those we
put our trust in. The government, the
media, the UHF: all turned their backs
on us and embraced the freaks that
destroyed OUR country. I don’t know
about you, but I’m ready to get rid of
them all.” *gun cocking*
~Kelly Pickett, Faceless member
Here’s how the Faceless see the world.
America was under control and President Lew-
is saw to that. He locked the AMPs away and
didn’t press charges when real citizens, human
citizens, did what was necessary. Ridding the
world of AMPs was a good thing. Sure, some
horrible things happened too, but at least
the AMP menace was being managed. Once
these monsters gunned down President Lewis,
bad turned to worse and aliens arrived. New-
ly-appointed AMP-lover President Klein went
against the average person and gave freedom
to freaks. The good people of America were
forced to stay in their homes out of fear and
just hope for the best. And then the UHF turned
their back on them too.
The Faceless stepped in to fill the void left
behind by the UHF and proved their passion
and true dedication to a cause. Ignoring the
war between monsters, the Faceless continued
with their nightly efforts defending the aver-
age person and putting down any abomination
they met. They protected people in their great-
est time of need — and continue to do so.
 Now publicly and proudly no longer affiliat-
ed with the UHF, seen as betrayers, the Face-
less have found new allies in their endless
struggle against the AMP menace. The group
has received an influx of resources from vari-
ous shadow backers, at once used to fund their
aggressive AMP hunting parties who use the
cover of the invasion to sneak in, gut an AMP
or two, and get out without anyone noticing.
And the public’s response was overwhelming:
the average person once again had their heroes.
Afterward, the media quickly forgot the Faceless’
cause, and this suited their purposes just fine.
Their members are still anonymous, so anyone
could theoretically be a member; a neighbor, a
coworker, or even a lover. For AMPs, however, they
learn the truth much too late to survive.
Near the end of the year, once the war was
over, the Faceless retook the spotlight and
spoke the harsh truth: the freaks were the cause
of this bloody conflict that destroyed America in
the first place. And to show their commitment,
they dared any AMP to show at their rally after
New Year’s at the nation’s capital.
Heralds of the End
“We’re doing God’s work. If the Twice
Born are truly innocent, they should
have no problem with our priests ex-
amining them and our scientists study-
ing them, should they? I’ll tell you why:
‘coz their very existence is nothing more
than Satan’s work!”
~Rev. Michael Spencer, leader of a
Heralds’ church
After the dead literally came back to life in
2017, many saw this as a miracle, a sign God
cared for His flock. Radicals inside many of the
world’s major religions, however, saw the cre-
ation of the Twice Born as a sign of the im-
pending apocalypse. It was yet another sign
when they were shunned from their churches;
They were God’s new chosen people, and they
had to do His holy work. Thus, the Heralds of
the End came to be.
55
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Under President Lewis’s anti-AMP admin-
istration, the Heralds had no problem obtain-
ing the necessary weapons in preparation for
the worst. Their new leader, Jani Koskinen,
preached about monsters more terrible than
any AMP and how the Twice Born would soon
lay waste to all but the most reviled sinners
and the heretical. The Heralds had to strike first
— the only true way to stop what was to come.
Their members created strange and complicat-
ed rituals to bless their weapons in such a way
as to ensure no Twice Born came back after an
encounter with the Heralds of the End.
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
The Orphans’ arrival created a useful dis-
traction, as the church hunted down and killed
as many Twice Born as they could through the
chaos. It was a triumph every time they rid the
Earth of one of these terrible creatures, and the
Lord was obviously on their side. Some camps
even kept Twice Born alive in cages in hopes of
learning their true qualities, if only to kill them
more efficiently.
When the Twice Born exodus began, these im-
prisoned monsters escaped on a large scale. The
Twice Born were now more powerful than ever
and couldn’t be held back. Guns and other weap-
ons put them down for a few moments, but the
Heralds were unable to bring them under heel.
Then a woman called only ‘the Messiah’ ap-
peared. She brought the light of God to purge
the Twice Born once and for all. “The Damned,”
she said, “must be banished before their corps-
es serve as vessels to demons who seek to rise
again.” The Messiah touched a Twice Born and
it crumbled into dust, showing her power. No
one dared to question these God-given powers
and considered this yet another sign to contin-
ue the fight.
Now the Twice Born may be more powerful
than ever, but their numbers still are the same.
With their holy weapon in the Messiah, howev-
er, the Heralds of the End may be able to bring
true peace to the world in 2019.
 Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
Mystics
“The voices in my head told me to do
many things. They told me where to go,
but I ignored them. They told me what
to do, but I refused them. They told me
why people suffered, but I didn’t listen.
When they told me how to save the
world, though, I had to pay attention.”
~Daydream, Channel surfer
During the year of the Invasion, Mystics
continued to refine their ability to connect
with and explore the Channel. The applica-
tions of their discoveries have only increased,
and Mystics have now taken upon themselves
the mantle of facing the Orphans head on. The
boldest or craziest of them, depending on who
you ask, directed Rampagers under their con-
trol to attack Orphans whenever they found
them. In time, these Mystics became expert
hunters and tacticians when it came to fight-
ing the Orphans, and other AMPs sought their
advice and council on these matters.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
The only problem is that, unbeknown to
the Mystics, the Orphans discovered what they
were doing and figured out a way to use that
to their advantage. Thus, it was not long before
the invaders were using their superior psychic
abilities to usurp control of the Rampagers
from the Mystics and using them against any
who dared to oppose the Orphans. The result
was the Mystics’ apparent solution to the war
became the basis for the invaders building a
nearly-unstoppable army of their own.
Some Mystics, however, understood right
from the beginning of the invasion strength of
arms alone couldn’t defeat the Orphans. These
Mystics dedicated their time and efforts to per-
fecting their ability in traveling the Channel
to levels unparalleled even among their own
kind. After months of study and grievous loss-
es on their side — from members who spent
too much time “plugged” to the Channel — they
were able to decipher the truth behind the Or-
phans coordination and unity: they communi-
cated with one another through the Channel,
not unlike what the Mystics did when pacify-
 ing/controlling Rampagers.
In that moment the Mystics had to make
an impossible decision: to attack the Orphans’
main communication medium — revealing their
understanding and usage of the Channel — or
leaving the war’s result in the hands of other
people. After a long council in the Channel, the
Mystics decided to do the former. In the pro-
cess, most died or became empty husks, their
minds destroyed by the Orphans while they
were connected to the Channel. Most grievous
of all these losses was the death of Rapture
herself, their leader and guide.
The Mystics who still stood kept on fighting
the Orphans, on the material world or in the
Channel, to the best of their abilities.
Na ‘Aumakua
“When the dark times come, the sun
of the invaders, we will rise. Side by side
we will fight, far from home, until the
blue rain falls from the skies and our
land is reborn.”
~Manaia, Head-Bird Prophet of the
Nā ‘Aumākua
The dream of independent ruling by the
AMPs of Hawaii had ended in 2017. Surround-
ed on all sides by enemies vying for power
over the island, Holoholona — leader of the
Nā ‘Aumākua — had to make the most difficult
decision of his life: to destroy Hawaii before
letting it fall into foreign, enemy hands. More
than half of the island sank beneath the waves
and the US took control of what remained.
After that, the survivors separated into two
main groups. One went to the mainland and
decided to continue their struggle against
their enemies in their home turf. Others went
to Atlantis and made an alliance with the
Founding Five. These survivors had the hope
of one day returning to Hawaii and rebuilding
it even more beautiful than it had been before.
As most other people on the planet, the Nā
‘Aumākua quickly realized this was a world-end-
ing menace. Those in Atlantis began cooperat-
ing with all the Atlanteans, regardless of wheth-
57
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
er they were AMPs, Saps, Twice Born or other
people. Those on the mainland allied with the
people fighting against the Orphans and discov-
ered things were even worse than they expect-
ed. Holoholona gathered his forces and went
towards the center of the war: The White House.
The Nā ‘Aumākua’s first major action during
the war was during the defense of that place.
There they proved the Sacred Guardians, al-
though debilitated and far from home, were
still a force to be reckoned with. When they
joined forces with the Aegis Squad, in fact, they
were able to achieve the first major victory
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
against the Orphans — but with heavy losses.
After that, the members of Nā ‘Aumākua
began helping the US government and other
allied AMPs in their struggle. This treaty came
from out of more than their good will, although
they had more than enough of it now. In ex-
change for their help, the Sacred Guardians re-
ceived the only missing piece in their arsenal:
the cure for Rampagers. With it, they were able
to recover most of their original members who
had lost their minds, bolstering their numbers
and strengthening their position even more.
When the war ended, Bluewing’s sacrifice
cured many things. One of them was Hawaii.
Those who had gone there trying to restore the
island witnessed a miracle. As blue tears fell
from the skies like rain, a new island was re-
vealed beneath the rubble of the destruction. It
was in this new island that the surviving mem-
bers of Nā ‘Aumākua interred their former leader
and renowned hero, Holoholona, who had died
during the war. He was honored like a king with
songs and poems immediately composed to
celebrate his life.
This rebirth of Hawaii provided a welcomed
opportunity for Nā ‘Aumākua to regroup and
start anew, now under a new leadership; that
of Maichiru and her Menehune.
 Retribution
“The world has gone to shit — on
that much we can agree, can’t we? Now,
this is a new world. If you ask me, I
think it’s high time we made it our own
— and made everybody who made us
suffer feel our wrath. First, however, we
have to survive — and that means fight-
ing the aliens.”
~Doruk, Retribution recruiter
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
them join their ranks. This bolstered Retribu-
tion’s numbers and allowed them to keep on
fighting the good fight, now alongside the
Mystics and having at least passable relation-
ships to other affiliations.
After that, their chances to overcome the Or-
phans seemed pretty good — and then, the in-
vaders learned how to hack the Mystics’ control
of the Rampagers. From then on, Retribution
were now fighting the Orphans and the Ram-
pagers, and the situation became as dire as at
the beginning of the year. More than ever, the
cooperation with other AMPs (and even Saps)

Retribution was one of the affiliation’s most

became fundamental to survive the onslaught.
affected by the Orphans’ arrival; in fact, they re-
ceived the first strikes in the war. Their leader,
Spearfinger, fought in the first battles against
the Orphans, losing — and replacing — most of
Seekers of Enlightenment
her body parts in the process. Despite their tac- “I may be dying, but I’ll not let my
tics and their leader’s resilience, Retribution was life go to waste. I’ll use whatever time I
losing members, and they were losing them fast. have left to help everybody I can. In this
The conflict was too much for them, and the end fight we’re together, aren’t we? We need
seemed nigh. And then, they met the Mystics. to use all our resources — lives included
These were lowly AMPs, even more of a mis- — if we are to defeat the Orphans.”
fit affiliation than Retribution. Despite that, they
~Faerie Fire, Seeker diplomat and
were fighting the Orphans head on — with their
motivator
minds and the help of Rampagers. Although it
made her skin crawl, Spearfinger recognized the
After an almost impossible year, the Seek-
usefulness of the Mystics. Their ability to con-
ers received a couple pieces of good news, one
trol Rampagers was way too important to un-
after the other. Their founders returned home;
derestimate it. Reluctantly, Spearfinger decided
Doctor Luminous was able to bring Critter back
to join forces with them, even if she kept an eye
from a mindless, bestial state, finding at the
on the weirdos and expected the worst.
same time a cure for the Rampagers; and the
Despite being clear opposites, the alliance
founding of the Aegis Squad reinvigorated the
between Retribution and the Mystics turned
Seekers’ efforts to achieve peace with the Saps.
out to be most fruitful, allowing them to hit the
It was too good to be true, but then the Or-
Orphans where it hurt them the most. Because
phans came. Due to their invasion, the Doctor
of this, nowadays most Retribution members
had the unthinkable chance of allying with
travel from battleground to battleground ac-
President Klein to face this new menace. As
companied by one or more Mystics. The Mystics
the war developed, the leader of the Seekers
function as hunting dogs, counsellors, and strat-
was once again taken from them. This time
egists, while the members of Retribution are al-
it was not an unhealthy obsession that drove
ways ready to fight their enemy once again.
him away, but the pursuit of a way to find the
Once President Klein issued her pardon of
untraceable Orphans and hopefully prevent
AMPs incarcerated in the TRAC Elite Program —
at least a part of their destruction. Still, with
effectively dissolving that group — members of
Doctor Luminous away, the Seekers had to rely
Retribution saw it as an excellent opportunity.
once again on other leadership.
They began recruiting these disenfranchised
As the war’s effects became increasingly
(and mostly traumatized) AMPs and having
devastating, the affiliation’s priorities shifted.

58
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 At first, they were trying to lead the war ef-
fort but, after a time, survival became priority
number one. The Donohue School for the Gift-
ed, under Breeze’s leadership and Bluewing’s
protection, became the main haven for young
AMPs wanting to use their powers to battle
the Orphans. Furthermore, under Bluewing’s
tutelage, many Seekers decided to focus their
abilities and powers on healing the injured,
and sometimes even bringing back to life the
ever-increasing casualties of the conflict.
The more scientifically-oriented Seekers,
meanwhile, dedicated most of their time to
help Doctor Luminous with his efforts to build
an Orphan detector. Many advances on anti-Or-
phan technology were created in the Seekers’
new facilities during the war. They could, in
theory retrofit or adapt these advances to vari-
ous purposes, both nefarious and beneficial, so
they keep them under lock and key. Only the
highest-ranking members of the organization
have access to this technology, but all must be
monitored, for they’re still dangerous.
Finally, another sub-group of the Seekers
has used their trained leadership muscles to
lead the talks and alliances between disparate
affiliations and between AMPs and Saps. Led
by Nick Czernek, these diplomatic efforts have
been underappreciated, but they were fun-
damental in bringing together the necessary
strength and abilities to oppose the Orphans
effectively. Without these Seekers’ actions,
both AMPs and Saps would have suffered a
quite different fate.
Overall, the Seekers were present in almost
all the war fronts. In 2018, more than ever, they
cemented their position as the hub of AMP ex-
istence and the nexus between AMPs and Saps.
This presence, at other times resented by other
people, was a welcomed sight. Some Seekers,
in fact, have begun to entertain the idea of
them leading all of Humanness. Chief among
them is none other than the Seekers’ leader,
Doctor Luminous himself. What this vision may
bring in the future for both AMPs and Saps, no
one knows for sure.
59
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
TRAC
“The world is being invaded and
TRAC must be a part of the solution. If
you can’t change along with the rest of
the world, then there’s the door. If you
are here to serve, however... you’re in
the right place.”
~Director Petersen, TRAC HR
TRAC has been, since its beginnings, an or-
ganization mired in the politics of hate. Most
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
of the members joined in good faith to help
protect and serve. Many of them were former
members of other law enforcement agencies
and carried those same sensibilities into service
for TRAC. Policies dictated their responses and
the more militant officers got more attention
and promotions over the more measured mem-
bers of TRAC. Why negotiate if force will suf-
fice? They dealt with unhumans, and unhumans
were a danger to the public trust. A few officers’
deaths helped to reinforce these thoughts.
These attitudes began to set up rot in the
organization. Even the most well-meaning of-
ficer experienced problems making the public
see the difference between TRAC and the AMPs
on the streets. The public began to experience
fear when they appeared instead of trusting
the officers. The public relations arm made a
good effort and spread propaganda about how
the officers protected and served the average
citizen through many projects. It grew difficult
for the public to reconcile their image with
what they saw on the streets. And for many of-
ficers, it became just as hard to believe they
were fighting the good fight.
The arrival of the Orphans brought a radi-
cal change in perception amongst the officers.
The alien invaders were implacable and pow-
erful, and policy changes made these dangers
their focus. Almost overnight, there were aliens
to deal with — what kind of threat were AMPs
in the face of this powerful blue menace? The
announcement in Human Voices helped to alter
beliefs by the more moderate TRAC officers. It
became hard to view the Aegis Squad — those
AMPs who fought and bled alongside them — as
 anything but concerned citizens and comrades-
in-arms. Seeing them die for the country the
TRAC officers pledged to preserve and protect
changed more than a few views on the AMPs.
The desertion of their comrades was a hard
pill to swallow. But they had new ones, and the
changes in policy and focus were welcome.
And when some of their brothers returned, it
was a bittersweet event, as TRAC had changed.
The officers realized they wanted no one to
threaten this, or their AMP allies. Though it was
more dangerous than ever to be a part of TRAC,
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
those pitched defenses against superior forc-
es gave them something they hadn’t had for a
long while: pride in a job well done.
Typhoon
“Things always fall apart; it is just
a matter of who is on top when it all
reaches the ground.”
~Taboo, Director of Marketing
Typhoon has gone through several upheavals
this year. The Matriarch had many plans in mo-
tion, most notably the expansion into the black
market and drug manufacturing. Her death put
these programs and many others in doubt. The
Hanger filled the power vacuum, but it has been
a rough time for the members of Typhoon. He has
proven to be a very different and more mercurial
leader - it’s a game to him, rather than a real or-
ganization, with many resulting deficiencies.
The Divisions so integral to Typhoon’s corpo-
rate facade suffered as many of the personnel in
the divisions lost faith in the organization. Many
attempted to use the shake-ups to move up in
the organization. The first views of the Hanger’s
methods led others to try to leave the organiza-
tion. The frequent purges didn’t help with per-
ceptions, and stability became a thing of the past.
Associates continue to keep Typhoon’s day-
to-day activities running somewhat smoothly,
and those members of Typhoon who operated
in a business environment rather than in the
field saw few changes in their normal routine.
Those who have to operate outside the shell
companies found the rules of professionalism
60
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
they operate under are in many cases suspend-
ed because of the new day.
Quality was the hardest hit of the Divisions,
as it could not run under anything but an or-
derly process in its operations. The drugs at the
center of Typhoon’s flow of revenue lost their
strict adherence to product guidelines. Along
with these problems many other Divisions had
scores to settle, this also served to undermine
Quality’s perceived usefulness. If the clients
were willing to buy an inferior product and
sales didn’t suffer, the bottom line appeared
not to need such a strict adherence to the rules.
Handlers found many of their assets — even
well-established ones — fell out of contact.
Though the contracts were very lucrative,
money alone was not the reason many of them
were in Typhoon. With the changes in the gov-
ernment in the United States, and the general
instability because of the Orphan attacks, the
Handlers were hard pressed to keep these as-
sets in line. Troubleshooters were sent where
the Contractors were essential to Typhoon’s
operations, but there were too many of these
defectors to keep under control.
Outside of the primary organization, the
Hanger’s erratic leadership style disrupted
many of the operations in Central and South
America; at one moment, a person could be a
rising star, and the next, dead. The Orphans have
not turned their attention to Typhoon, which
is a positive, but the Crossovers and La Almas
Perdidas — the AMPs sent from Cuba — have
been able to put pressure on their operations
rather than just holding the borders. In addi-
tion, attacks by yet another mysterious group
sowed chaos within Typhoon’s organization,
using knowledge of the Hanger’s organization
no one else could conceivably have. Rank and
file members of Typhoon questioned how long
it would be before the new leadership turned to
the South, and what the ultimate plan for the
organization was focused upon. Fear spread as
to what that attention would mean, and the sol-
idarity the warlords had kept through the solid
borders within Colombia frayed with the pres-
sure from within and without.
Other countries in the area such as Brazil
and Venezuela pressed Typhoon and tied the

organization up in the wars happening on the
borders. The incursions of the Orphans in Bra-
zil and Columbia directly affected Typhoon and
the warlords and assets in the two countries.
With no support, the warlords found it diffi-
cult to hold on to territory and keep business
flowing as usual. These developments had the
effect of making it very dangerous to associ-
ate with Typhoon, either from incursions from
other warlords, brush fires along the borders
of their controlled areas, Orphan attacks or
stresses within the organization.
As the Hanger took down the Matriarch
with a campaign of a thousand cuts; now the
same thing was happening to him. Many of it
was self-inflicted by inattention rather than
some concerted force, but much of it was the
result of the Orphans’ return and their over-
whelming force from the nations Typhoon bled
their parasitic due. Chaos could be a tool, but it
could also be a hindrance as the Hanger found
out. However, he was loath to change his ap-
proach at the direction of the Orphans, and so
Typhoon continued to bleed ...
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
United Human Front
“We are facing an alien force, whose ultimate
goals are not known. In order to preserve our
race, we must work in concert with all humans to
drive these invaders from our planet.”
~Dr. Shavar Stephens
Rapid changes in the atmosphere in the
United States began to erode the power base
of the organizations that surreptitiously sup-
ported the United Human Front. The policies
of President Klein were progressive towards
unhumans and the arrival of the Orphans gave
the citizens a more present and dangerous
worry. The UHF had also been decimated by
the attack at the end of the year, depriving it of
resources, support, and more importantly, lead-
ership. It was a very confusing time to be in the
UHF, as these changes were greeted in many
varying ways by the higher-ups in the organi-
zation. The cell structure that served the UHF
so well also made the situation more chaotic,
as individual cells were only linked by their
 propaganda.
Though the loss of support hindered the
UHF, they were still bound together by their
beliefs. And though the Orphans were a hin-
drance, to most, if they took out AMPs and the
increasingly corrupt government, that was a
positive development. There was a plan, many
of them reasoned. For now, that plan was to let
them destroy each other, and humanity, led by
the UHF, would rise to inherit the earth.
Many rogue members of TRAC and the
remnants of the Hound program joined the
UHF, and while their members didn’t exactly
Chapter Two: Vs. The Orphans
swell the ranks, it did give a needed boost in
the arm. After Amanda Schenfield was outed
as the primary scapegoat for her pet project,
she disappeared, not to be heard from again.
No one knows if she still lives, but her work
does. Those assistants and proteges she let
near her were true believers, and when she
disappeared, they took up the flag of her work
salvaging much of her research to carry to the
UHF. There was still work to be done, and the
UHF was the obvious safe harbor for them to
carry forth her plans. How obvious they didn’t
find out until later.
Though Schenfield kept a lot of her work
close to the vest, Drs. Ronald Kray and Alex-
is Fry were the two subordinates with whom
she discussed many of her plans and theories.
Without her brilliance, they could not contin-
ue her plans easily. But they found within the
UHF the existence of the genetic tampering
program. It was rudimentary compared to the
works of Schenfield, but enough for them to
build upon. It seemed they were on the cusp of
salvaging their work, and building upon it, and
the work that had already been done within
the UHF to empower humans to rise up against
any forces that threatened them, whether AMP
or Orphan. Though there was support for their
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
initiatives within what remained of the lead-
ership, they found their largest deficit was not
in resources nor personnel. Making an honest
assessment, they realized they were not lead-
ers. There had been someone else to be the
face of the organization, as Dr. Stephens had
not stepped forward to do so, and they realized
they were unequipped for the role.
As the UHF tried to recover, the most dam-
aging wound to their recovering organization
was yet to come — the memo in Human Voic-
es asking the UHF members to band together
with the AMPs against the Orphans. The rea-
soning was they were fighting for all of hu-
manity against a foe that was completely alien.
Many theories arose around that memo;
Someone had compromised their propagan-
da publication and it was a lie; Dr. Stephens
was behind it but was controlled by AMPs; Dr.
Stephens was dead and replaced by AMPs. All
sorts of news spread through the cells — some
with a hint of truth, and others borne by fear.
Dr. Fry could not understand the reasoning
behind the UHF’s announcement in Human
Voices, but it was a convenient device for her
purposes. Those fanatical enough to view the
unhumans as the primary threat, even con-
sidering the Orphans, flocked to her banner.
She used counter propaganda to spread ru-
mors about the ‘true’ reason behind Stephens’
change. The program flooded the social media
with outrageous stories that had not a mea-
sure of truth to them. Even with that edge and
the influx of believers, Fry did not find what
she needed. The organization was falling apart,
and there was nothing Fry could do to change
it. She’d been able to keep the dire nature of
their position from Kray as he worked on get-
ting the exact genetic formula for empowering
humans to fight for themselves, but she feared
she’d have to tell him soon.
 Chapter Three:
World Invasion
Central and
South America
Brazil
“Brazil is in a solid position, but
faces significant obstacles, both inter-
nal and external. We have to learn we
cannot stand alone and must aid our
neighbors to have lasting peace and
prosperity.”
~Former President Dilma Rousseff
Brazil had an uncompromising view of
AMPs. The government tolerated no unregis-
tered AMPs within their borders, and those who
did not comply could expect rapid responses
to their actions. They also drafted AMPs into
the National Force, training them to use their
powers, ostensibly to reduce the number of
AMP-related incidents from untrained pow-
ered individuals. As the actual deployment with
the National Force in the field was voluntary, it
seemed a reasonable policy regarding AMPs.
The policy was not entirely benign, as one
mid-day in July, Wildfire destroyed the statue of
Christ the Redeemer. The Orphan incinerated
the iconic statue, grew to 125 feet, spread his
arms, and took the place of the destroyed edi-
fice. Highlighted in fire, he set the path to the
statue on fire, exercising remarkable control in
his wake, Rampagers appeared on the ground,
racing for the city, forcing a response. The army
was deployed from Brasília, but the more im-
mediate response came from a base found on
a Fazenda south of Rio unknown before this
crisis. This unit consisted of AMPs who had
been forcibly drafted from the National Force
63
Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
and trained in secret. As it was revealed, the
Orphans destroyed the site in a seemingly co-
ordinated attack. Though this would have po-
litical ramifications, at this point, Brazil fought
Chapter Three: World Invasion
just to survive. Shortly after the AMP army
scattered, Brasília, São Salvador, and São Pau-
lo came under attack. The Brazilian Army, even
with the secret AMP forces was not equipped
to repulse the Orphans. A slow war began, as
Brazil struggled against the Orphan incursions.
Macumba is a tradition of magic practiced
in Brazil for centuries; their rituals and practic-
es performed alongside traditional religions, in
violation of the tenets of their official religious
affiliations, but quietly accepted. This changed
as magic came back into the world and they
became as powerful as had historically been
attributed to them, but they stayed in the shad-
ows; that is, until the country they loved was
under attack. Salvador was the first city to feel
the relief of the magic of the Macumba. It was
not so much powerful as it was unexpected.
The Orphans did not seem to be occupying
the cities as much as reveling in destruction,
so the help was more in the way of combat-
ing the Rampagers left behind and rebuilding
infrastructure of the shattered cities. The alli-
ance of different forces — the Army, what re-
mained of the AMP forces, and the Macumba
— was welcome, if unexpected. Quisling forces
on the border were the first who realized this
was an opportunity: the Crossovers were skep-
tical but became less so as they began to make
real progress against the Orphans, and Brazil
began to press northward into Venezuela, as
much to cultivate allies as to help the floun-
dering country.
 Colombia
“The person who recognizes his ma-
jor mistakes is on the road to wisdom.”
~Colombian Proverb
Colombia was a stronghold for the southern
interests of Typhoon and its production of War
Path. After establishing order and carving the
country into districts for the warlords, the pro-
duction and sale of War Path soared to unprec-
edented profitability. The Matriarch took special
Chapter Three: World Invasion
notice of select warlords, and the rewards she
gave them resulted in increased productivity. The
warlords not in the Matriarch’s favor approached
their problem with their usual strategies of spy-
ing, underhanded deals, and extreme violence.
Even so, the Matriarch’s death did not have
a significant effect on War Path distribution
nor on the pet projects started under her lead-
ership. Her underlings were autonomous, and
this kept operations stable regardless of any
shakeups at the home office.
Colombians had heard about the threat
of the Orphans; the Washington attacks were
news everywhere, so it was a topic of conver-
sation and speculation. But the Orphans were
someone else’s problem, and it was easy to ig-
nore what they were doing, especially with the
more immediate conflict between the Cross-
overs and Typhoon constantly raging in their
own backyards. The people lived in fear, as
there was no way to tell when deadly battles
would erupt in the streets.
Two different events shook things up. First,
the assimilation of Typhoon by the Hanger;
though he exercised little authority in the region,
there was an endemic fear of the new leadership.
The rumors spread about his excesses in North
America were far more damaging than anything
the Hanger could have done. As the Hanger was
an unknown quantity, the warlords became less
concerned with pleasing him than gaining terri-
tory and increasing their power and money.
Secondly, the conflicts between the war-
lords did not follow the rules of engagement
they had enjoyed just months prior. There had
been agreements in place that reduced the ef-
fects of the struggles for the Matriarch’s favor:
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
the production facilities for drugs were off lim-
its, they could only raid storage facilities, not
destroy them, workers (not all willing) were
only attacked as part of another operation.
Autodefensas Gaitanistas (AGC), a paramilitary
gang, one of the largest, was the first to break
the informal agreement, targeting Buenaven-
tura with assaults on every aspect of business
in the area: the docks, the red-light district, and
any members of rival gangs in the area.
Normally, a change like this is based on the
economics of the situation, which keeps the col-
lateral damage in check. The Urabeños quickly
learned this was not business as usual, as the
death toll rose above acceptable levels, and they
struck back in kind. These internecine struggles
had effects beyond the warlords as the regions
had to pull back efforts that had been ongoing
in degrading the effectiveness of the Crossovers.
The nature of the conflicts began to take on a
different tenor in the fall. New allies helped the
Crossovers deal with Typhoon on equal footing.
Rumors had it that they had Orphans on their
side, and Typhoon could not counter this new fac-
tor in the conflict. The people in the area began
to openly defy Typhoon, and it seemed that the
balance of power in the area began to change.
That was to change drastically in October.
With their change in fortunes, the Cross-
overs planned a large push with their allies,
Las Almas Perdidas and the Quislings. They’d
already taken Quibdó, so knowing the situation
in Buenaventura, they planned to take advan-
tage of the focus on the port town to strike
decisively toward Medellín and undermine Ty-
phoon’s perceived power in the area.
As the fighting began, and it seemed the
Crossovers’ plans would meet with success,
darkness fell over the city, punctuated by ex-
plosions along the Metro Cable, the cable car
system connecting the city to the mountainous
barrios. Panic reigned as Rampagers dropped
into their midst totally disrupting the Cross-
overs’ plans; a sign the Orphans were no longer
going to ignore Columbia. The conflict ravaged
Medellín along with much of the combined
forces of the Crossovers. The Quislings prevent-
ed the group’s annihilation, evacuating as many
as they could from the area — but with the un-
 expected nature of the Orphans’ attack,
they took severe casualties, inflicting
none of their own.

Venezuela
“This strength of Marti,
of a dignified and stead-
fast Cuba that stands tall,
I will take with me to the
people of Venezuela in rec-

Chapter Three: World Invasion

ognition of their heroism.”
~President Francisco Lairet

The more significant event

was the sudden interjection of
the countries that had, up to this
point, stayed out of the conflict. As the
conflicts with Typhoon pressed closer
to Venezuela, they closed their borders
with Colombia. Though their armed
forces did not have sufficient resources
to combat Typhoon, the internal struggles
weakened them enough as they tried to
shut down the smuggling of drugs across
the border. The two shared a vast and un-
developed border, and there were only a
few areas that accommodated traffic
between them. Venezuela shut down
the last of these near the Colombi-
an town of Cúcuta overnight, and the
fighting escalated. Venezuelan Presi-
dent Francisco Lairet moved troops into
the Paraguachón border crossing that
formerly connected the Guajira depart-
ment and Zulia.
In addition to the drug trade, howev-
er, this move disrupted the lives of hun-
dreds of thousands of bystanders who
had no standing in the conflict. Venezu-
ela also deported thousands of Colombi-
ans living in the country, increasing insta-
bility in the area, contrary to their purpose.
The Guajira department was the province of
Los Rastrojos, led by Aguila Negra, and any
weakness shown to his contemporaries would
cause a loss in territory and production at the
very least. He conducted as bloody a campaign

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 as he was able while securing his other inter-
ests. With the relative weakness of the Vene-
zuelan army, he could make his point to Lairet.
This effectively ended the blockade, but an un-
expected player entered the game in the form
of Venezuela’s southern neighbors.
Having faced their own problems with Or-
phan incursion, Brazil realized they could not
combat them alone, so acting on information
from the Crossovers, and forming a limited alli-
ance, they struck savagely at the limited forces
of Los Rastrojos who had been left behind. It
Chapter Three: World Invasion
seemed South America was on its way to a sol-
id alliance of the major forces in the Northern
part of the continent. The Orphans kept pres-
sure on the cities in the area in unexpected and
unpredictable fashion, bringing force to bear at
random, keeping forces in the area off balance.
Europe
The United Kingdom
“This is no time for Ease and Com-
fort. It is time to Dare and Endure”
~Sarah Champlain quoting Winston
Churchill
The AMP Registration Act enabled the Unit-
ed Kingdom to develop their counter to not only
the Orphans, but also the Extraordinary Crimes
Research Unit. This new organization pressed
AMPs into service, and though it was different
from the Hound program in the United States,
critics pointed out it still deprived the AMPs of
their right to choose. With Sokeli and the ‘Lon-
don Underground’ less of a possibility, AMPs had
few options in their quest to keep their agency.
The new group, dubbed the General Head-
quarters (GHQ) Auxiliary Unit was a call back
to the Auxiliary Units in the World War II Brit-
ish resistance. Opposition voices pointed out
the incongruity of the name and called it a be-
smirchment of those brave souls who volun-
teered to fight Nazi Fascism. Even the British
Army was a volunteer unit. The conservatives
missed the argument, putting the program
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into operation over the concerns of the public.
Prime Minister Henry Gordon-Home appointed
Iain Blackwood to oversee the operations, and
to silence detractors placed an AMP, Tasker, in
charge of training the recruits.
They formed the Auxiliary Units to make use
of irregular warfare to try a different approach
in battles with Orphans. They were to be a
multi-layered group, organized into operation-
al teams that would support regular forces and
each other. Tasker had considerable experience
as a veteran of battles with the Crossovers. He
had returned home to the United Kingdom to
escape the conflicts in Northern Mexico but re-
turned to the same conflict in his home country.
He used this experience to prepare his units the
best he could and resurrected the term “scally-
wag” to refer to AMPs in his unit.
The British Regular Army had no inkling of
how they should deploy the units, and he found
his arduous work wasted in the pitched battles
he had never trained them to fight. The GHQ
Auxiliary Units deployed in defensive positions
at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster
Abbey, as well as the Tower of London.
The problem wasn’t in their deployment,
but in that Tasker had designed them to be
rapid response units. The choices of defensive
positions turned out to be eerily accurate, or as
some said, the Orphans somehow knew where
the units were deployed. Though the units
fought as bravely as the units they were named
after, they proved to be inadequate at defend-
ing ground. The Orphans were just too pow-
erful, striking at will and destroying anything
in their path. The destruction of Big Ben by a
flight of Orphans was a demoralizing event;
the sight of the cultural symbol of the United
Kingdom slowly collapsing in flames lighting
the night sky. The London bomb shelters, long
repurposed as hydroponic farms, returned to
their original purpose as the citizens retreated,
their confidence in the royal armies degraded
with failure after failure against the Orphans.
The decisions to withdraw from the EU and
the joint defense initiatives were debated and
discussed, as more blame than solutions were
tossed about. The more the Orphans attacked, the
more Parliament failed to reach consensus as to
 what should be done. Their AMPs were wasted
in pitched battles with the Orphans at every turn.
Sarah Champlain, known more for her stance on
domestic and child abuse, took a stand — invoking
memories of Churchill and the hardline stance for
the UK in WWII. Calling for action, not blame, she
argued that we should “Let our assets off the chain
and stop letting politics dictate our response.” By a
slim vote, Tasker was placed in full control of the
GHQ Auxiliary Units. His first act was to secure
Quislings from his former comrades in the Cross-
overs to help in regaining a semblance of normal-
cy. Though in the beginning he was only able to
protect London with roaming units, the addition of
the rogue Orphans enabled them to restore order
throughout the entirety of the UK.
The major turning point was the Battle for
Oxford, as Tasker’s forces were correctly able to
predict a target of the Orphans and staged a
counter-attack on their enemy during their as-
sault. In most cases, the Orphans were able to
control the tide of battle, giving them an almost
insurmountable advantage. While the GHQ
Auxiliary Units had a superiority in forces, the
tactical advantage, the addition of Quislings to
their force resulted in a decisive, if bloody vic-
tory, that was a huge morale boost. Champlain
campaigned through the UK to drive support for
the efforts and made the GHQ Auxiliary Units
and Tasker a household name. While their ef-
forts were not totally successful, in the end their
successes outweighed their failures, and the Or-
phan incursions, while not completely stymied,
at least lessened on the mainland.
Germany
“Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige
König (Among the blind, the one-eyed
is king.)”
~German Proverb
The concentration of AMPs made Germany
the spearhead of the fight against the Orphans
for the benefit of the entire EU. Their opposition
to the Russian machinations had put them in
a unique position to use those same AMP forc-
es against the Orphans. Soon they realized the
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fight against this new foe was a more difficult
and deadly conflict. The Orphans reinforced this
through two different incidents, as they staged
their incursions for maximum shock and awe
— attacking in rapid succession the La Sagrada
Familia, the Salzburg Fortress, and the Grand
Fortress, destroying the landmarks in a chain of
attacks designed to demoralize quickly without a
chance for recovery. German authorities became
more concerned as the casualties mounted, and
concerns from other member countries as the
forces they put so much into seemed ineffective.
Chapter Three: World Invasion
The team had been built for a specific reason:
to interdict Russian troops, and though the rap-
id response of the teams to different countries
was admirable, their effectiveness at fighting a
superior force was questionable. As these doubts
began to spread, the Orphans staged another
blitzkrieg, destroying the Eiffel Tower, St. John’s
Cathedral, the Acropolis, and finishing with the
Brandenburg Gate in Germany. Predictably, the
United Kingdom’s response was to further isolate
themselves, citing Germany’s failures. The other
member states contributed funds, military divi-
sions, and AMPs to the cause, doubling down on
their support of Germany. This was not out of a
sense of fairness, nor spreading the responsibility
for the defense against the Orphans, but because
the countries did not want the responsibility for
the defense of the European Union.
The legislature gave the Extraordinary
Crimes Research Unit (ECRU) expanded powers
and personnel. Saps were no longer the only
members, and the organization built satellite
facilities in other host countries to decrease
response time to Orphan incursions. In addi-
tion to the tech division, the ECRU created the
Mystic Division, headquartered in Poland and
led by Hortensia Niemec, to learn about how
they would use the returning magic against
the Orphans. Jasa Brzezicki, a recruit in the
Mystic Division, saw it was truly an organiza-
tion against the Orphans, and introduced her
superior to Touchstone, a member of the Mys-
tics. Touchstone chose to expose himself de-
spite the danger, as he believed any organiza-
tion dedicated to stopping the Orphans could
be of use, no matter the dangers in doing so.
The Mystics’ successes proved this approach
 was effective in rebuffing Orphan incursions.
However, they were no closer to being able to
track the Orphans. The Mystics worked with the
newly set-up division to speed up their research
into the nature of their foe. As they began to
attack the Orphan’s collective after finding out
their weakness to being disconnected, the Mys-
tic Division was a welcome addition to their
forces. Unfortunately, the ECRU became skepti-
cal of this approach as the losses mounted.
Italy
Chapter Three: World Invasion
“I have given what I could to the coun-
try I love. But when the country I love de-
stroys my efforts, I can give nothing more.”
~Via Nicolai (press conference statement)
Though not a country involved in Project
Black, Italy found itself in a better position
than France. AMPs manifested in the country,
though at a low rate. The Italian government
intended to make full use of their AMPs and
actively recruited them with promises of luxury
for them and their families. The Esercito Italia-
no was the designated branch in control of the
AMP effort, though the other branches tried
to make sure they were a part of the program.
Like the United Kingdom’s program, they quar-
tered the AMPs with the special forces unit,
and trained with the Comando operativo in-
terforze delle forze speciali, as the Operations
Headquarters was responsible for the opera-
tions carried out by the group. They placed Via
Nicolai, a TIER 1 operator in the Italian Special
Forces, in command of the group, and when
trained and deployed with the army, it was
minimally effective against Orphan incursions.
As Germany made demands, and Italy accepted
their demands, this reduced the effectiveness
of the unit, sending half of their force to help
with the defense against the Orphans. Jokes
surfaced about Italy’s performance in World
War II: they gave in to German power with little
fight. Those jokes didn’t consider the mistakes
in government and the diplomatic realities of
Italy’s tenuous position.
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Russia
“Долг платежо́м кра́сен (Debt is
beautiful [only] after [it is] repaid).”
~Russian Proverb
The Great Russian Bear had been aggres-
sive since the upheaval in the United States.
As they accumulated success after success, ag-
gression rose to levels unforeseen. The annex-
ation of the Ukraine was just the first step in
their political plans. Fear ruled their relation-
ship with the European Union, a fact that made
Russia seem more powerful than they were.
The continual uncertainty about Russia’s next
move kept the other nations off balance. The
only country able to counterbalance Russia’s
plans was China, and there were always eyes
on the densely populated country. Russia kept
their AMP numbers as a closely guarded secret
and struck hard to make it seem they had more
AMP forces than they truly possessed.
This changed in the latter part of June, as the
Orphans made themselves known. A darkness
descended on Red Square, as St. Basil’s Cathe-
dral flattened. It was not cratered; the historic
structure was merely driven into the ground, the
peaks once the pride of the Cathedral now bare-
ly appearing from the ground. By the time Rus-
sia’s response force arrived on the scene, many
other historic structures had suffered similar
fates. Rampagers dropped into the chaos, as the
Orphans disappeared from Red Square.
The government soon found out the attack on
Red Square was merely a feint, as the Orphans de-
stroyed the high-speed rail connecting Moscow to
Novgorod. Where they’d spared the Kremlin after
the disastrous attack on the White House earlier
in the month, the Novgorod Kremlin was not so
fortunate. Along with many structures, seemingly
as an afterthought, the Kremlin was razed.
The Orphan incursions were a threat to
Russia’s plans. They diverted forces to respond
to any Orphan attacks, and Russia had a lot of
terrain to protect, making it impossible to keep
the Cold War stance with the European Union.
After their blitzkrieg, the Orphans’ aggressions
died down to a more manageable level, but
 paranoia reigned in Russia’s policies. Though
Russia never recognized Mongolia’s sovereign-
ty, they pulled back from their invasion, stand-
ing down the aggressive stance with China. A
truce existed, it seemed, because of the pres-
ence and threat of the Orphans, and though re-
lations were chilly between the two superpow-
ers, there was no danger of outright hostilities.
In Russia’s struggles with China, they have a
card they have not played: the deal two United
Nations peacemakers made over Vodka — unre-
stricted aid from the United States. It is a powerful
asset, but Minister Kovalev husbanded that ad-
vantage ruthlessly. He only had one opportunity
to use it, and he decided that he would make sure
he employed it as a scalpel instead of a hammer.
Japan
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”
~Japanese Proverb
As conflicts raged on the mainland, Japan
turned its political and economic focuses in-
ward. In 2017, the snap general election caused
dramatic shifts in the National Diet — Japan’s
legislature — the results of which reverberat-
ed well into 2018. Progressive and pro-AMP
candidates won several seats, due to the re-
cent changes to voting age-restrictions and
the youth culture’s increasing influence. All
six seats in the Kyoto Prefecture were won by
AMP-rights supporters, including Psycho Oka-
mi — a member of the Coil Children, the flam-
boyant, anti-establishment AMP-youth group.
Unfortunately, Typhoon’s political influence
also expanded, as they supported candidates
with major ties to shipping and fishing zaibat-
su. This allowed them to turn Japan’s maritime
forces against their main adversaries in the Pa-
cific, specifically Atlantis and the Siren.
Japan’s first indications the invasion had
reached their shores occurred in February 2018.
On the northern island of Hokkaido, Sapporo
plunged into darkness during its annual Snow
Festival. The sky burned with scintillating auro-
ras, casting the city in unsettling light. To peo-
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ple’s horror, the festival’s famous snow sculptures
sprang to life, attacking anyone within reach of
their icy claws and teeth. Over the next few days,
a trio of Orphans decimated much of the city’s
meager defenses. They also destroyed the Seikan
Tunnel, the island’s undersea train connection,
effectively cutting Hokkaido off from the Japa-
nese mainland. Finally, they erected an Edo-era
fortress at the heart of Sapporo, surrounding it
with kaiju-like Rampagers. They ruled the island
like shoguns, dispensing swift and brutal justice
against any uprising. Many of the indigenous
Chapter Three: World Invasion
Ainu people began worshipping the Orphans as
gods (kamuy), believing they could return Hok-
kaido to its more traditional times.
The Kami Movement — AMPs with animalis-
tic mutations who’d become shrine guardians —
combated several Orphan incursions into Japan.
By mid-year, many kami manifested tremendous
magical powers, perhaps due to their spiritual
connection to the Shinto faith. These new skills
allowed them to repeatedly repel incursions from
the Hokkaido Orphans and their forces. This fur-
ther softened Japan’s xenophobic leanings against
AMPs, as an increasing number of citizens believed
the kami were divinely blessed heroes.
Utilizing his Teleportation powers, the street
samurai known as Ronin traveled between Ja-
pan and the United States, lending his katana
to the fight against the Orphans. This included
defending Meiji Shrine (Shinjuku, Tokyo) from a
seemingly insurmountable Rampager attack. Nor
did he abandon his one-man crusade against
the criminal underworld, often clashing with the
Yakuza and Typhoon in Japan’s urban centers.
To the south, the Kyoto Dreamscape continued
expanding, well beyond its earlier incarnation. No
longer confined to the augmented reality created
by local kami, the Dreamscape’s phantasmal spir-
its and elements bled over into the city’s actuali-
ty. While many of these spirits were benign in na-
ture, an increasing number turned hostile against
the living. The nightmarish entities and terrifying
ghosts haunting Kyoto’s streets consumed sever-
al Coils and Saps each night. Despite these dan-
gers, the Dreamscape also became a vital tool for
those talented in the mystical arts. Nanako Tat-
sumi, a fox-tailed shrine maiden, harnessed the
Dreamscape to perform major conjuration magic,
 including summoning spectral avatars from her
favorite anime and JRPGs.
Intriguingly, many magically-inclined indi-
viduals — all young women — surfaced across
Japan, usually in larger metropolitan centers
like Tokyo. These self-proclaimed Majokko
(witch-girls), exhibited advanced magical skills
and other talents. As with the Coil Children,
most adopted outlandish personas, and even
more colorful outfits. Some even engaged in
arcane duals straight out of famous manga,
much to the annoyance of normal citizens and
Chapter Three: World Invasion
the fascination of adoring otaku.
South Asia
India
“The Three great mysteries: air to a
bird, water to a fish, mankind to himself.”
~India Proverb
In India, the Nine Incarnations of Dharma grew
in power and influence, winning millions of sup-
porters in rural communities. Furthermore, their
heroics created a groundswell of unchecked na-
tionalism, slowly eroding the Indian Government’s
control, as well as renewing calls for the reunifi-
cation of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The anti-AMP
sentiments faded as citizens saw AMPs more as
blessed than cursed. Many AMPs took shelter
in temples and holy sites, joining sadhu sects or
creating their own. They spread the scriptures of
communal harmony and returning to more tradi-
tional times. The pervasive caste system became
increasingly strict throughout the country, as Indi-
an society shrugged off its British leanings.
In the largest cities, less scrupulous AMPs
formed gangs and lorded over their neigh-
borhoods, easily dominating organized crime
through sheer power. This allowed branches of
Typhoon to infiltrate cities like Mumbai, right un-
der the King of Heaven’s nose. Even so, grandiose
battles often took place between criminals and
the Nine. These brash and loud fights became
the things of legend, helping feed the ever-hun-
gry Bollywood with inspiration. An entire subge-
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nre of superhero movies took off, flooding the
market with tales of justice and national pride.
The Orphans’ arrival caught the Incarnations
completely by surprise. Refusing to bow to for-
eigners, the Incarnations viewed the invasion as
yet another act of imperialistic aggression. The
King of Heaven at once moved against the invad-
ers, eager to push them out of the country. Un-
fortunately, their many victories only fueled his
arrogance, blinding him to the true threat posed
by these entities. As such, the Nine were unpre-
pared for what awaited them in the city of Jaipur.
Upon their arrival in India, the Orphans gath-
ered together all the asuras, the monstrous AMPs,
cast out by Indian society. Under the guidance of
the Orphan Ravana, these bandits and villains
became a formidable army known as the Raksha-
sa. They lured the Nine into Jaipur’s urban center,
only to launch a devastating counter-attack. The
King of Heaven watched helplessly as the Gi-
ant fell to the blades of the multiarmed Ravana.
Gravely wounded, the surviving Incarnations re-
treated, mortally shaken by their first real defeat.
The Rakshasa reduced much of Jaipur to smol-
dering ruins, demonstrating the cost of defiance.
They settled in the nearby ghost city of Bhangarh,
using the cursed site as their center of power. The
Rakshasa and Nine faced off repeatedly through-
out the year, neither side gaining the upper hand,
and leaving untold devastation in their wake.
In late spring, the city of Varanasi became the
focal point for a spiritual upheaval, which soon
spread across Asia like wildfire. As hundreds of
people watched, Pranav Ojha woke upon his fu-
neral pyre, only moments before being cremated
and given back to the Ganges River. This mirac-
ulous rebirth immediately caused both awe and
panic, as believers struggled with proof of rein-
carnation. More troubling for them, Pranav was
low caste; hardly worthy of this blessing. In truth,
Pranav was Twice Born — although he did not re-
alize this until much later. Finding himself both
famous and notorious, worshipped and feared, he
tried to help others like him, as well as discover
where the Twice Born could fit into a society so
intimately tied to the concepts of reincarnation.
When India supported the Bhutanese gov-
ernment during the Doklam Pass Conflict, China
blamed the destruction of their vital infrastruc-

ture on the Incarnations of Dharma. After India
increased its military presence in Kashmir, China
mobilized its forces along the Sino-Indian con-
tested border, known as the Line of Actual Con-
trol (LAC). Utilizing AMPs, Chinese Special Forc-
es conducted frequent incursions along the LAC,
probing the Indian defenses. While both military
forces avoided direct conflict, it was only a mat-
ter of time before events turned deadly.
Pakistan
“Pride is concerned with who is right.
Humility is concerned with what is right.”
~Pakistani Proverb
Tensions between Pakistan and India reached
crisis levels early 2018, prompting a military
buildup along the border — particularly in the
contested region of Kashmir. Hostilities escalat-
ed further by the Nine Incarnations of Dharma,
who often attacked Pakistani troops and facili-
ties. The Nine’s leader, King of Heaven, publicly
denounced Pakistan’s existence and the 1947
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Chapter Three: World Invasion
Partition of India. Despite denials by the Indian
Government, Pakistan blamed them for the Incar-
nations’ actions, threatening military retaliation.
The situation devolved into open warfare af-
ter Pakistan Armed Forces tried to detain AMP
refugees crossing the border with their families,
trapping them in a narrow valley. The troops came
under attack by the Sword, second-in-command of
the Nine. Together with the Giant, the pair rout-
ed the Pakistani unit, mercilessly cutting through
their ranks. Desperate, the border guards shelled
the entire valley, killing AMPs and Saps alike, as
well as hitting Indian positions. Enraged, the
Sword and Giant butchered the entire army out-
post, calling it the first step toward reunification.
The following morning, the Pakistani government
declared any further actions by the Incarnations
would constitute an act of war. Again, India denied
any wrongdoing, but immediately increased their
armed forces along the Kashmir border.
In the summer, Prime Minister Navid Chishti
received an unexpected visitor — an Orphan with
demonic features. It set the Giant’s severed head
on Navid’s desk, smiling with too many teeth. “A
 gift from the Rakshasa,” Ravana said. “When the
time comes, we shall stand with you. All we ask
is your obedience.” One week later, Pakistan wel-
comed the conquering Rakshasa into their bor-
ders — not as invaders, but as protectors.
Bangladesh
“The deer has enemies because of
its flesh”
~Bangladeshi Proverb
Chapter Three: World Invasion
By 2018, the epic movie Mamata, released
worldwide, launching Bangladesh’s beloved
star, Sanghrila Channa, into international fame.
The AMP-advocate used her fame and powers
to better AMP-Sap relations in her homeland,
as well as many Asian countries. Through Jen-
nifer Stewart, the US actor, Sanghrila estab-
lished her own production studio in the capital
city of Dhaka. Her work heavily promotes AMP
rights, as well as women’s rights. She pushed
for a mandatory percentage of seats on the
House of the Nation (the Bangladeshi legisla-
ture) be allotted for AMPs, as had been done
with women. She continued her activism until
an anti-AMP devotee shot her during a press
function, claiming she’d betrayed her fans and
her country. Fortunately, Sanghrila recovered
from the injury, but the incident exposed the
deep animosity still fostered by Bangladeshi
society. She continued her campaign for AMP
rights, but political changes hindered her ef-
forts and placed her in extreme danger.
Hostilities between India and Pakistan
created added turmoil in the already divided
Bangladeshi government. Many members of
the House of the Nation feared the Nine In-
carnations of Dharma would eventually call for
the reunification of Bangladesh. They claimed
disenfranchised AMPs might heed this call
and revolt against the government. Citing the
Fifteenth Amendment — for the protection
against usurpers — these members channeled
more funding into the country’s infamous Rap-
id Action Battalion (RAB), an elite, anti-ter-
rorism police unit. As with TRAC in the Unit-
ed States, the RAB became the government’s
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anti-AMP law enforcement agency. Already
known for its human rights’ violations, such as
murdering protesters and conducting ‘enforced
disappearances,’ the RAB struck fear deep into
the heart of the AMP community.
Even Sanghrila came under RAB scrutiny,
often interrogated over ties to the Nine and
AMP-rights groups, as well as her affiliations
with foreign AMPs like Jennifer Stewart. She
quickly realized not even her fame would
protect her from being forcibly ‘disappeared’
during the night. Despite this constant threat,
she publicly continued her activism.
Bhutan
“A fire should be extinguished when
it is small; an enemy should be sub-
dued while young.”
~Bhutanese Proverb
Also known as Drukyul (the Land of Drag-
ons), the Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, re-
mote country, located in the Himalayan range
between India and China. While the larger
nations around it confronted many internal
and external challenges, Bhutan remained in
relative peace and obscurity throughout the
years. However, China renewed its border dis-
pute with the small nation in early 2018, il-
legally building a road into the Doklam Pass.
This intrusion resulted in a standoff with the
Bhutanese military, supported by Indian troops.
Before the impasse escalated, a massive Ram-
pager descended from the mountains and
systematically destroyed the Chinese heavy
equipment and construction sites — without
harming any humans. Formerly a Buddhist
monk, the creature normally existed in a quiet
monastery, calmed through chants and prayer
bells. Resembling Druk (Thunder Dragon),
the Rampager became the living symbol of
Bhutan’s sovereignty. An influx of AMPs from
northern India escaping persecution helped
advance the country’s modernization projects.
 China
“While living in peace, think of danger.”
~Chinese Proverb
By 2018, China’s government felt increasing
political pressure from the AMP-led People’s
Socialist Advancement Party (PSAP). Despite
heavy governmental opposition, Cheng Wong,
leader of the PSAP, ascended to Deputy Party
Secretary of Guizhou province. Her Marxist re-
vival placed AMPs at the top of China’s social
strata, demarcating them as both leaders and
protectors of the people. Their extensive social
works in the countryside and cities continued
to expand and solidify their public support. This
included winning over the Communist Youth
League of China, which had been diminishing
in political power for several years. Through the
Youth League, the PSAP’s influence expanded
throughout the country, reaching disaffected
AMPs and Saps. Under Cheng’s guidance, they
started a social renaissance,

Chapter Three: World Invasion

based upon a mythology of
new folk heroes.
The National Peo-
ple’s Congress — China’s
national legislature —
strived to halt this revo-
lution before it could be-
gin. Drawing inspiration
from America, President
Bao Qingtian launched
an anti-AMP social cru-
sade, as well as demot-
ing key party members
loyal to the PSAP. How-
ever, this did little to
dissuade the millions
of the underclasses and
marginalized, who saw
firsthand how AMPs
could better their com-
munities. As the govern-
ment lost control of the
rural areas, the situation
escalated quickly, head-
ing toward open conflict.
However, the arrival of
the Orphans and the new
conflicts in Bhutan and
Mongolia dampened the
government’s desire to
risk open revolt. Instead,
they slowed the PSAP’s prog-
ress the best way they knew
how; burying them in bureaucracy.
Cheng soon watched her political
victories transform into an adminis-
trative quagmire beneath her feet.

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 In early 2018, much of Beijing’s Xicheng
District became wreathed in impenetrable fog,
stemming from the Tianning Temple complex.
At first, the strange mist remained benign in na-
ture, but soon enough people spoke of demons
and ghosts patrolling the streets at night. Any
local and military units investigating the area
simply vanished or were left as mindless husks.
Only a group of magically-empowered women,
known as the Red Lanterns, returned from the
district unscathed. They reported encountering
extremely powerful Orphans, who were convert-
Chapter Three: World Invasion
ing the temple complex for some alien purpose.
The shame of having an invading force residing
in the nation’s capital further embittered the
government against AMPs and their supporters.
Sensing the political shift, a group of nomad-
ic Changelings descended from their mountain
retreat. They were heartened to be welcomed
into the rural communities, treated with a new-
found respect. Their new leader, Chikou, contact-
ed the PSAP and offered their support, if Deputy
Cheng helped release their founder, Nu Jaipeng,
who remained a political prisoner after their
failed revolt in 2016. She readily agreed, giving
them positions within the PSAP. In return, they
provided her with considerable information on
China’s covert operations and AMP research. Un-
fortunately, by year’s end, Nu remained locked
away in a secret prison.
Despite their internal issues, China contin-
ued expanding its interests across the globe.
Taking advantage of America’s state of cha-
os, they placed added pressure on Taiwan. The
Chinese navy often stopped Taiwanese trading
ships, justifying their actions on the country’s
recent ‘aggressive’ stance and AMP research
program. Covertly, China Special Forces contin-
ued to plant evidence to support their claims.
This illegal intervention backfired on the Chi-
nese when they intercepted a trawler heading
for Indonesia. As the Jiangkai II class frigate
approached the vessel, the entire crew found
themselves paralyzed with fear. From their final
transmission, it appeared the frigate had be-
come another victim of the Siren. Unlike earlier
attacks, however, the pirate queen demanded no
ransom, raising major concerns in the region.
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Mongolia
“Union is the source of success.”
~Mongolian Proverb
Since late-2017, Mongolia had become the
stage of the world’s first true AMP-powered
war. Russian super-soldiers invaded Dornod
Province, occupying its capital city, Choibalsan,
the economic hub of eastern Mongolia. They
encamped at Choibalsan Airport, which pro-
vided them with continual logistical support;
more than enough to repel the local Mongo-
lian Armed Forces. Responding to Mongolia’s
plea for help, China deployed its super-soldiers
into the province, enveloping the city. Despite
frequent clashes, neither side suffered signifi-
cant losses, while civilian casualties remained
surprisingly light. BBC war correspondent Gor-
don Fletcher documented the 2017 Sino-Rus-
sian Conflict throughout the harsh winter. He
often commented on the apparent lack of mo-
tivation or reasons for the continued war.
“There is always wrongness in war,
but this conflict feels as frozen as the
Mongolian tundra. No one knows why
they are here or what they are doing, as
if they are players in some great mas-
querade, but were never told.”
In the summer, a vast section of the south-
ern Gobi Desert became an electromagnet-
ic dead zone, disrupting air travel. Planes fell
out of the sky, while ground vehicles refused
to work, as did any other type of electronics.
Nomads began avoiding the region, reporting
frequent attacks by the famous ‘death worm.’
The sole survivor of a National Geographic film
team stumbled out of the desert, raving of an
alien city rising from the sands — ‘its cyclope-
an towers shaped from horrid angles, crawling
with beings of impossible design.’
 Thailand
“In a battle between elephants, the
ants get squashed.”
~Thai Proverb
By 2018, the military junta had been over-
thrown and Thailand’s constitutional mon-
archy restored, thanks to many loyal and pa-
triotic AMPs. Many of these freedom fighters
were inspired by dreams to liberate their coun-
try. Already tied to several Thai communities,
these AMPs helped rebuild Bangkok and set up
peaceful relations with Saps. The influential
Buddhists institutions across the small nation
supported these efforts for social reform — its
priesthood also guided by mystical dreams.
Peace and prosperity spread, even as the world
around Thailand tore itself apart.
In truth, this unification was secretly gov-
erned by King Rama VII, the Thai former mon-
arch, who’d ascended far beyond the ken of
most Psychs, effectively abandoning his human
body. He’d suffered repeated visions of the Or-
phans’ arrival and strived to prepare his beloved
country to weather the approaching storm. His
efforts were successful, allowing Thailand to
avoid the brunt of the first invasion.
Rama’s visions revealed another impending
threat, something even beyond the Orphans. As
such, he mentally reached out again, this time
contacting a Seeker of Enlightenment called
Cynthia Sheen (also known as Pattern). Rama
provided her with enough information to be-
gin following Thaksin Wattana’s pilgrim path,
which would allow her to recover his Project
Black research. Driven by dreams, Pattern trav-
eled to Thailand’s countryside, following the
dangerous journey to recovering Wattana’s
work. She worked with the Seeker’s Thai orga-
nization on and off throughout the year.
Unfortunately, Typhoon has firmly en-
trenched itself in Thailand, specifically Bang-
kok. Unlike their operations in the US, the
Asian branches have not met the same level of
pushback for outside agencies. As such, they’ve
been able to invest heavily in solidifying and
expanding their infrastructure. While the re-
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moval of the junta upset their operations, they
are still influential in the city government and
underworld. Eager for chaos, they would tear
down all King Rama’s delicate work, if given
the opportunity. Worse, a radical UHF cell has
learned of Wattana’s research and have invest-
ed time and effort in tracking it down.
Africa
“If our feet leave the earth we no
Chapter Three: World Invasion
longer live in peace.”
~Sudanese Proverb
When the UN General Assembly met in early
summer, the Orphan Threat dominated glob-
al discussions. As such, most countries paid
little attention to the Lion of Africa’s plea for
resolutions addressing AMP rights. Few could
even discern between AMPs and Orphans, and
anti-AMP sentiments still ran deep. No matter
how much success the Lion had shown in Sudan
— and its neighboring countries — representa-
tives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
portrayed him as a terrorist, infringing on their
sovereignty. This claim resonated with anti-AMP
members, discrediting the Lion’s good reputa-
tion. In the end, the General Assembly deferred
all discussions on the global AMP issue until a
special session in September.
Although disheartened by the Assembly’s over-
all results, the Lion found an unexpected ally on
the Security Council: China. Recognizing his grow-
ing reputation among the African people, Chinese
delegates requested he represent their interests
in Nigeria, specifically the largest city on the con-
tinent, Lagos. Their government intended to invest
a considerable amount of money into bettering
infrastructure and promoting economic growth
in the port city. This included construction of
AMP-friendly arcologies, which provided safe and
secure communities for AMPs. No fool, the Lion rec-
ognized the Chinese’s motivations focused more
on expanding their access to Nigerian resources —
including oil — than giving humanitarian relief to
the region. However, he also recognized his shaky
position with the UN. He agreed, but proved to be
 a shrewd negotiator, furthering his African agenda
and improving Sino-African relations considerably.
Magic appeared across the African conti-
nent, taking on many forms; from Heka (Egyp-
tian magic) to tribal shamanism. Fear and awe
followed quickly. To the Lion’s dismay, in the
Sudan, where magic was already deeply ma-
ligned, suspected ‘sorcerers’ were dragged into
the streets and murdered. This cruel practice
repeated itself in other countries, soon involv-
ing AMPs and Twice Born as well.
The violence intensified as word of ancient
Chapter Three: World Invasion
gods and goddesses walking the lands spread. As
with the reemerging magics, these living divinities
assumed many guises, drawn from Africa’s inter-
twined mythologies, leaving swathes of untold
destruction in their wake. Only those few who sup-
plicated themselves in worship were spared. The
Orphans planned their assimilation well, striking
at the very soul of Africa and twisting it to their
alien purpose. However, their plans were effective-
ly thwarted after the Lion fought and narrowly de-
feated their leader, Apedemak. Staggered by their
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loss, the Orphans fell into obscurity, reduced to
monsters stalking the night. Inspired by the Lion’s
near-sacrifice, the UN finally began supplement-
ing his unification efforts on the continent. Prog-
ress would be slow, but at least the people could
expect more than hollow promises.
Fight Like a Lion
The ruins of Naqa’a had endured the relent-
less sands and winds for millennia, witnessing
the rise and fall of great empires. The grand
temples and carved kiosks were little more than
crumbled stone now, yet the city’s former majesty
still echoed in its smoothed pillars and sandstone
arches. In the blistering sun, the Lion’s Temple
stood resolute, undiminished against time itself.
It was the perfect location for a man to
stand against a god.
The Lion of Africa gazed across the parched
ground at the thing waiting for him. It had been
a man once, but no more. Its imposing body rip-
pled with scaled muscles and ebony skin, while
 four clawed arms flexed in predatory anticipa-
tion. Atop its broad shoulders sat a lion’s head,
its magnificent mane blazing like golden flames.
The God of War, Apedemak. The Orphan chose
its mask well, the Lion thought. He stepped for-
ward, bowing his head respectfully. As he had so
many times before, the Lion used his words of
peace to bridge the gap between fractured worlds.
He spoke of honor, of sacrifice, of the betterment
of all. It was his Way; concord before blood.
His words were only dust to Apedemak, who
fell upon him like a mad beast, claws tearing flesh
and reality with equal ferocity. The Lion of Africa
fell beneath the onslaught, broken and battered,
his body ablaze with agonizes he’d scarcely imag-
ined. For what was a man against a god?
Sensing victory, Apedemak prepared for the
killing blow. Yet, in his arrogance, he’d forgot-
ten it was not a man he fought, but a lion.
With a roar, the Lion of Africa sprang for-
ward, moving beneath Apedemak’s guard, driv-
ing his fist through flesh and bone, and ripping
the Orphan’s beating heart from its alien rib-
cage. He crushed the amethyst mass within his
palm and the world came apart around them.
As shadows stretched, the two lions lay silent
upon the crimson sands, bloodied and torn. When
the sun finally relinquished the day, only one rose
to claim the night. The true Lion of Africa.
Australia
“We are all visitors to this time, this
place. We are just passing through. Our
purpose here is to observe, to learn,
to grow, to love… and then we return
home.”
~Australian Proverb
Australia has long struggled with its histo-
ry of bigotry, particularly about its indigenous
people. With the arrival of AMPs, many of these
prejudiced views returned to the forefront. The
high number of AMPs within the Asian popu-
lation lent fuel to hate and anti-immigration
groups, increasing their influence over the
Commonwealth Government. Between 2015
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and 2018, Australia became a divided nation
internally, as well as externally, as it attempt-
ed to sequester itself from the world. As in
the United States, the Commonwealth began
rounding up suspected AMPs, many of whom
were interred in the secluded Outback, to
avoid public scrutiny. While these policies hurt
Australian citizens, they did little to halt the
influx of narcotics, illegal firearms, and human
trafficking from Asia, controlled by Typhoon.
On January 28, 2018, tourists watching the
spectacular sunset at Uluru, more commonly
Chapter Three: World Invasion
known as Ayers Rock, were astonished to see a
massive, prismatic snake emerge from the desert
floor. The Rainbow Serpent — the creator god of
the Australian Aboriginals — coiled around Ulu-
ru thrice, before rising into the blue sky and dis-
appearing with the setting sun. In the following
days and months, bizarre creatures and ancient
animals were spotted across the continent, such
as bunyips and giant lizards (ngintaka). Entire
sections of farmland reverted to primordial times,
while strange hybrids, including bowerbird-wom-
en and kangaroo-men, wandered through the
Outback, attacking or helping anyone they en-
countered. Be it by fate or the Orphans’ doing, the
Dreamtime had returned to Australia.
Across the continent, many indigenous Aus-
tralians found themselves infused with sha-
manic magic. After over a century of persecution
and oppression, several awakened Saps used
their powers to reclaim lost lands and sacred
sites. Repeatedly, entire towns were consumed
by the Australian Outback or erased by massive
wildfires. The local government and law en-
forcement agencies soon responded but found
themselves woefully inadequate to the task.
There were exceptions, however. Jaxon Fisher,
a Changeling, negotiated an uneasy truce with
a group of magically-empowered aboriginals,
who’d forcibly occupied the Waradah Aboriginal
Centre, just outside of Sydney. His crocodile-like
mutations endeared him to the tribal elders, as
did his strong convictions for indigenous rights
and environmentalism — stemming from his life
as a park ranger. Jaxon became a go-between
for the aboriginals and the New South Wales
government, helping both sides move into the
future of an awakened Australia.
 Chapter Four:
Sparks of Magic
Themes/Moods End Times
At the end of 2017, the return of the Or-
AMP: Year Four stories are about hope in
phans caused a major commotion all around
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic

the face of insurmountable odds — after all, we

the world. Some thought — and even declared
are talking about the end of the world! The fol-
— the now purple-skinned AMPs had come
lowing themes are ever-present in the events
back to bring peace and order to everybody.
occurring throughout the year in the US and all
Most Saps and AMPs called them out as the
around the world. Players can take their char-
harbingers of destruction they were immedi-
acters right into the apocalyptic action of Year
ately. A foolish minority looked at their arrival
Four, or create an ongoing, overarching sto-
with cautious optimism.
ry working their way through AMP: Year One,
This is a great chance to portray a world on
AMP: Year Two, and AMP: Year Three.
the brink of destruction. A single Orphan can
take on several AMPs at the same time with
Impossible Alliances ease. Everything becomes more epic and des-
perate when this could be your last battle. Such
After the Orphans came, most of the con- an extreme situation should bring out the best
flicts between Saps and AMPs — and between and worst in people. Lines should be drawn, as
AMPs — came into perspective. As these alien well. When Death comes knocking at your door,
beings started destroying the world and raining there is no way to avoid the big question. Will
mayhem down on everybody, regardless of their you run, or will you fight? Will you care for oth-
loyalties or (supposed) righteousness, one thing ers or only for yourself?
became clear: divided, all of Humanness would
become extinct. United, they stood an infinitesi-
mal chance, but a chance nevertheless. A New World
More than at any other moment, Year Four of-
Even during the war effort — and especially
fers the chance to mix and match AMPs from the
after it — it became clear some of the damage
most disparate Affiliations and origins. Moreover,
done by the Orphans was irreversible. Change
the changes in some of the more extremist Af-
came along with that damage, though. Some
filiations — such as the Faceless or Retribution,
of it was positive, such as the newly found un-
for example — allow you to have them believably
derstanding between a majority of Saps, Twice
joining forces with moderates. Even Changelings,
Born, Quislings, and AMPs, the coming into the
always a difficult kind of AMP to have running
light (and end) of many abusive individuals
around, have become widely embraced during
and organizations, and the inclusive perspec-
the Year of the Invasion, so it’s possible to have
tive adopted by most. Others, not so much.
them “out in the open,” so to speak.
As it usually does, the war brought out the
This time is also the ideal scenario to run
best and worst in people. Many survivors con-
campaigns which include AMPs and Saps
sider the AMPs, Quislings, and Twice Born to be
working side by side, fighting together in their
guilty of the Orphans’ destruction. Some cow-
struggle for survival.
ardly and selfish AMPs used the conflict as a

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 chance to improve their standing or position,
benefiting from the suffering of others. A few
zealots got their beliefs confirmed and are more
intent than ever on ending the “AMP threat.”
All these changes provide a clean slate for
new campaigns, Saps, and AMPs. In this new
world, pre- and post-war, many things once
considered impossible are common. Some are
wondrous; others, horrifying. You can use ei-
ther to craft stories of ultimate heroism and
utmost villainy.
Developing Stories
Chain Gang
The Chain Gang gathers all the AMPs who
once served as the Hounds. They are joined by
their tragic backstories. The oldest members of
the Chain Gang suffered greatly during their
time under the Houndmaster’s control, and re-
member the short, bloody missions and the
long, torturing wait at the Chamber. These vet-
erans are visibly scarred, both physically and
mentally, but their determination to free other
AMPs is adamant. They’d rather die freeing oth-
ers than live another day with the guilt of the
many crimes against their kind they committed.
Younger members of the Gang, on the oth-
er hand, are usually those AMPs who after being
saved by their elders chose to bring the same free-
dom to other oppressed AMPs. They may be inex-
perienced, but they have the same determination
and disposition of other Chain Gang members.
Stories for the Chain Gang should include
some sort of prologue detailing how their
members were freed and who freed them.
More than ever, freedom is the main concept
when it comes to the Gang. They fought tooth
and nail to acquire their own freedom and now
dedicate as much of their time and energy as
they can to free others.
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Story Hooks
VV Looking for a Home: Considering they are
trying to survive attacks from all sides —
Saps, Twice Born, Quislings, AMPs, and the
Orphans — the Chain Gang is in desperate
need of a headquarters. The place should
be as isolated and protected from these
threats as possible. To find and take posses-
sion of such a place would be a huge step
in ensuring the Gang’s survival.
VV Making Friends: Many AMPs look at the
Chain Gang with fair suspicion, remember-
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
ing what many of its members did when they
were still Hounds. If the Gang is to survive,
though, it needs to make as many friends and
surround itself with as many allies as possi-
ble. Younger members are ideal to carry out
these diplomatic missions, since they proba-
bly weren’t involved in the Hounds.
VV Old Habits Die Hard: Word has reached
the Gang that a former Houndmaster is
“recruiting” (i.e., capturing and enslaving)
AMPs to continue their work outside of the
law. The Chain Gang wants nothing more
than to find this Houndmaster and destroy
them, but they need to know how they got
the necessary tech after the original Hound
program ended. An undercover operation is
at hand, but no one wants to be subjected
to the horrors of being enthralled again.
Changelings (Updated)
Once the hidden monstrosities of the AMPs,
Changelings have come into the light during the
world’s most dire hour, proving once more that
“appearances can be deceiving.” Although Change-
lings may seem to be the most unhuman of AMPs,
they turned out to be the kindest of them all. Af-
ter receiving Shell’s gift via Conduit, Changelings
are now humanity’s first line of defense, with the
support of both the Aegis Squad and the Seekers.
They lead and protect nomadic bands from the
Orphans’ devastation across the nation.
Not all of them do this for free, though.
A minority has seen this crisis as the perfect
opportunity to repay the suffering and abuse
Saps inflicted on them before the war. These
“Scavengers,” in the best of cases, charge large
 sums of money or demand other, less savory
payment in exchange for their protection.
In the worst cases, they ignore the Saps and
other AMPs pleas for help and are happy to
protect themselves and leave the Orphans do
their work unmolested. Reports of these “Scav-
engers” anger Conduit to no end, as he feels
they’re abusing his gift. As such, Changelings
who follow this path do so at their own risk,
for Conduit’s retribution may come at any time.
In any case, the stories involving Change-
lings during the Year of the Invasion deal with
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
the radical change of one’s status in the face of
a world-ending situation. Prologues can include
the moment where a Changeling — or a group
of them — discovered their newfound abilities
and how they reacted when that happened. Was
their first instinct to help those who once mis-
treated them? Did they have revenge fantasies?
Did they try to fulfill them? Despite their new
capabilities, many still see the Changelings as
monsters … even themselves.
Story Hooks
VV Patience is a Virtue: A Changeling receives
word from the Seekers of a group of Saps re-
fusing their help in evacuating their neigh-
borhood. The place has turned into a war
zone and they must leave it soon, or not at
all. They must be evacuated because among
them live the families of key anti-AMP sen-
ators. If their families die, the senators are
sure to vote against any pro-AMP law from
now to eternity. How do you save people
who do not want to be saved?
VV Sabotage: Various bands, led and protected
by Changelings, have been ambushed just
when their leader and protector was away.
There is unrest among the people under the
Changelings’ protection and talk of being
“the sacrificial lamb” so the “monsters” can
go on with their lives. The Changelings must
discover the saboteurs before the whole op-
eration comes down and they are left alone
against the horrors of the Orphans.
VV Tax Collector: There is talk of a Scavenger
with the unique ability to take away other
Changelings’ newly-gained ability to protect
themselves from the Orphans. Changelings
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are being more careful with their recruits, but
no precaution is enough. How do they face
a Changeling with the ability to take away
their only weapon against the Orphans?
The Faceless
Although the once-vigilantes now known
as the Faceless were born under the protec-
tion of the United Human Front — and, in turn,
the US government — they are now freelance
agents. In the wake of the Orphans’ arrival and
the compromise of the US government in the
face of AMP-provoked Armageddon, the mem-
bers of the Faceless have decided to contin-
ue their crusade on their own. They may have
lost a lot in the funding department, but their
zealotry and dedication to the cause has done
nothing but increase. Their fanatical hatred of
anything AMP-related has only been exacer-
bated by the Orphans’ war and they, unlike oth-
er traitors, cannot consider an alliance with any
AMP against this new menace. Are the Faceless
supposed to forget the Orphans are nothing
but mutated AMPs? From their perspective, the
problem begins — and, more importantly, ends
— with AMPs. Once the unhumans are gone,
things will go back to normal, won’t they?
Stories involving Faceless characters will for
sure include their fanatic perspective and willing-
ness to commit any and all horrors in the name
of the “cause.” At this point in time there are no
moderates left in the Faceless; all the “heretics”
have been purged from the organization. Even
the slightest hint of a positive outlook on AMPs is
punished with the immediate banishment from
the organization, if not something worse.
Story Hooks
VV Hunt for Bluewing: Out of all AMPs, there’s
one who’s now at the top of the “Most Want-
ed” list that the Faceless monitor. Her name is
Bluewing and she has the ability — as it turns
out — to implant herself in anyone she heals.
During this time of war, she could have im-
planted herself in hundred if not thousands
of AMPs and Saps alike. Because of this, most
of the efforts of the organization are now
 focused on finding all people, human and
unhuman alike, connected with her. What do
you do with them, though? Some think they
should be exterminated to avoid a catastro-
phe in the future, while others advocate for an
imprisonment and study treatment for them.
VV In Need of Funding: Now that they’re official-
ly independent from the UHF, the Faceless
need to find a benefactor (or many) to sus-
tain their ever-increasing monetary needs.
The cutting-edge technology they use to
even the field against AMPs needs constant
repairs and improvements, and those cost

Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic

money. A lot of money. How do you approach
a prospective benefactor? What do you —
and, more importantly what do you not —
reveal to convince them of the worthiness
of supporting the Faceless’ cause. And, more
importantly, what deals will they need to
make to obtain said funding?
VV Traitor in Our Ranks: The Faceless’ endless
investigations and questioning of their mem-
bers’ allegiance are not a perfect method. In
fact, they failed to detect the presence of an
AMP who spent their time in the organization
gathering information about Faceless meth-
ods, codes, and members. Now the zealots
have to find any other spies before it’s too
late. Where do you begin? Time is of the es-
sence, so a summary inquiry won’t do. What do
you do in this situation? Who can be trusted
with such delicate information as a leak?

Heralds of the End

The Heralds of the End were born after the
appearance of the Twice Born. Although the fam-
ilies and friends of the Twice Born consider this
a miracle, the Heralds don’t take so kindly to
them. The most conservative among the Heralds,
usually Saps, see the Twice Born as monstrosi-
ties, abominations sent as a punishment to the
people of the world for their heresy in accepting
the existence of AMPs. More moderate members
concede the Twice Born may not be necessarily
evil, but they’re definitely cursed and need to be
“set free.” In their perspective, the Twice Born are
restless spirits stuck in this plane and need to die
a true death, so they can achieve the promised
transcendence. This latter subgroup is mostly

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 formed by AMPs with a mystical inclination.
Stories about the Heralds of the End should
include the identification, negotiation, and
eventually hunting down of Twice Born and
their associates. Although the organization de-
fines itself as non-violent in nature, the truth
is the Twice Born usually refuse to leave this
world out of their own accord and must there-
fore be forced to continue their journey.
Story Hooks
VV Hunters Hunted: A group of Twice Born have
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
taken a special interest in the Heralds — and
are now hunting them down and killing them!
The Heralds are outraged and are trying the
best they can to defend themselves and ex-
pose these monsters for what they are. In the
New Affiliations
AMP: Year Four introduces several new
player options, including the following Affil-
iations available during character creation.
The Chain Gang
These AMPs have survived their time as
Hounds and have decided to turn their anger at
the system into real change for the world. They’ve
thrown away their collar, and instead carry a steel
determination. They gain a +2 bonus to all Fight-
ing checks against other AMPs, a carryover from
their days in the chamber. The Chain Gang enjoys
a +2 bonus to Intimidation, because few mess
with them nowadays, but they also double their
bonus from Comrades if it involves others within
their Affiliation. Must be an AMP.
Changelings (Revised)
Having left the shadows, the Changelings
no longer need to hide. Instead, they have
now been granted Shell’s Gift. Even without
the Magic power (pg. 95), a Changeling can at-
tempt a Counter-spell using their (Community
Loyalty + Discipline) against magical attacks.
If they possess Magic, Community is treat-
ed as a bonus to their Counter-spell instead.
Changelings who practice magic may also use
Shell’s Gift to create 2 Essence for each suc-
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times we’re living in, though, no one seems to
be too interested in this talk of resurrected
people hunting down a group of fanatics.
VV A Faithful Seduced: A Herald has fallen from
grace! Once a truthful leader of this commu-
nity, they are now defending the Twice Born
and asking other, true Heralds to stop their
“madness” in persecuting the supposed “mir-
acle” the Twice Born truly are. This leader is
a very influencing figure and they must be
stopped at all costs. The only problem is the
usual method of isolation and quiet “disap-
pearance” — i.e. killing — is no good here. Do-
ing so would only make this leader a martyr
and provoke a bigger problem overall. How
do you solve the issue then?
VV Vengeance is Mine: A Herald has lost their
path and is now killing regular people they
cessful channeling roll (instead of 1). Must be
an AMP.
The Faceless
As the United Human Front turned its back
on their own kind, the Faceless took the man-
tle of protectors of humanity. They are more
militant and much more single-minded than
the UHF ever was, which makes them danger-
ous. They receive a +2 bonus to any Survival
(Tracking) or Stealth check against AMPs, and
deal +2 damage with a surprise attack. The
cost of Gadgeteering is also reduced by -1 BP
per level for the Faceless, as they use their
creativity to make weapons perfect for hunt-
ing and killing AMPs. Must be a Sap or an AMP
with the Clean Bill of Health Gift (AY2, pg. 85).
Heralds of the End
So many Twice Born met their final deaths
at the hands of the Heralds, the people of Earth
who see Twice Born as an abomination to this
world. The actions of a Herald are blessed by a
holy power, meaning they deal +1 damage to
Twice Born — and if they happen to fell their
target, the Twice Born does not enter the dance;
they are now permanently dead. As they believe
they are heroes of their story, the Heralds of the
End also receive x1.5 the normal bonus from
the Humanity Loyalty. Cannot be a Twice Born.
 say will become Twice Born. They are do-
ing so to prevent their return because, ac-
cording to their words, they have the pow-
er to send their souls to the true afterlife.
The mass media doesn’t agree with them,
though, and are reporting their killings as a
serial killer on the loose. The Heralds must
find and neutralize them before it’s too late.
If the media finds out about their affiliation,
that could bring a whole lot of unwanted
attention to the group and its customs.
Quislings Enter
the Ring
On December 11, 2016, AMPs from across
the United States arrived at the Gates of the
Mountains in Montana, following a singular
purpose. Known as the Orphans Movement,
these eighty-seven men and women sought to
escape persecution by abandoning our Earth
entirely. As the nation watched, the Orphans
simply vanished in a golden flash of light, leav-
ing their worldly possessions (and their entire
world) behind. However, in the face of growing
unrest, the mass disappearance faded from the
global consciousness, no matter how troubling.
What returned on December 11, 2017, was
neither human nor AMP, but something com-
pletely alien and utterly terrifying. Now bound in
a gestalt intelligence, the Orphans are the living
embodiment of harmony and rule utilitarianism.
Unfortunately, they are utterly bereft of morali-
ty — their minds shattered from truly witnessing
the vast and indifferent cosmos. Guided and em-
powered by the Eye of Omega, they’ll remorse-
lessly butcher millions to fulfill the greater good;
in short, the end justifies the means.
However, some Orphans could not complete-
ly abandon their humanity, retaining part of
their former lives. Soon after their return, these
apostates turned against their own brethren,
unable to justify the wholesale destruction be-
ing inflicted upon the Earth. However, their ties
to the invaders are hard to cut, and they’ve been
deemed “Quislings” in the media — the English
term for collaborators and traitors. Turncoats
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
to humanity and the Orphans, they are now
shunned and actively hunted by both sides of
the invasion. Embracing the moniker, Quislings
recognize their road to redemption is a long
one, fraught with perils both external and inter-
nal. However, their insights into the cosmos may
be the key to turning the tide in this war.
Character Creation
Quisling characters were AMPs in their for-
mer lives, though few remember anything from
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
that time. With the GM’s help, players can de-
velop a rudimentary background for their Quis-
ling character. Vague recollections and feelings
may return to them over the story’s progres-
sion. They’ve also been disconnected from the
Orphan hive-mind, the Chorus, robbing them
not only of their shared powers, but also all
memories prior to the Return. Quislings are
truly outcasts, lost in time.
Step 1: Concept and Loyalties (6)
Other than the following exceptions, con-
cept creation proceeds normally (AY1, pg. 38).
All Quislings possess the Orphans’ distinctive
appearance; purple skin, increased proportions,
androgynous bodies, and unnervingly symmet-
rical features. These physiological changes
stem from cosmic energies further altering their
enhanced DNA. Their experiences have also al-
tered them mentally and players should take
this into account during social interactions.
Due to their disassociation from humanity,
Quislings only begin with 6 points of Loyalties,
reflecting relationships from their earlier lives.
Indeed, these Loyalties may be the reason be-
hind their betrayal, allowing them to reconnect
them to their humanity.
Step 2: Choose Skills (30)
Quislings receive 30 points to spend on
skills. However, Beast Handling, Empathy and
Persuasion are skill capped at 5, due to their
alien nature.
 Step 3: Choose Former Strain, Powers
(6) and Augments
Despite their Ascension, the Quisling’s former
Strain still influences their current existence;
choose one of the 9 core Strains. Spend 6 points
on Powers. Their Primary Power must be Magic,
while Secondary and Tertiary Powers can only be
chosen from either their former Strain or avail-
able Universal Powers (excluding Resistor Suits).
Step 4: Spend Bonus Points (20 or 16)
Quislings are considered ‘Experienced’
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
characters (AY1, pg. 70), so have 20 BP to spend
on the normal traits. Drawbacks may be taken
to gain up to an additional 10 BP. Characters
automatically receive the Gift Ritual Magic,
and may purchase Spontaneous Magic for 2 BP.
However, if they join an Affiliation, the Quisling
only receives 16 BP.
Step 5: Record Integrity and Derived Stats
Calculate major measurements of the Quis-
ling as normal. Quislings begin with only 2
Juice.
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Step 6: Additional Benefits
VV AMP Detection: Due to their altered genet-
ics, Quislings are also Immune to the Law
of Attraction. However, they may conscious-
ly reconnect with their natural senses to
sense nearby AMPs. By spending 1 Juice, the
Quisling may make a Moderate (20) Empa-
thy + Perception Check to detect other AMPs
within 100 yards. This provides a vague im-
pression, rather than pinpoint accuracy.
VV Immunities: As with all Orphans, Quislings
have evolved to survive in the harshness
of space. They no longer need to breathe,
allowing them to exist in airless envi-
ronments. Furthermore, their bodies can
adapt to virtually all planetary conditions.
As such, they no longer need to eat or
sleep (acquiring their nourishment from
the sun’s rays).
VV Natural Essence: Quislings are natural
fonts of Essence, and can draw on their
inner reserves, much as AMPs utilize Juice
to fuel their Powers. All Quislings have
 a starting Essence pool equal to (Disci-
pline)/2, which may be added to any Chan-
neling Check. This pool regenerates each
day (or after a Scene of uninterrupted rest/
meditation). With the GM’s permission, the
Quisling may regenerate their Essence
pool under certain circumstances, such as
finding a mystical site, suffering extreme
stress, or exposed to powerful magics.
New Gifts
Intense Focus (1-5): The character’s intense
training and concentration has increased their
focus (pg. 97), allowing them to maintain +1
Incantation per BP.
Inner Strength (2): By drawing upon their
inner strength, the character can produce more
powerful magical effects. For every Juice spent,
the character gains +1 Essence from their
Channeling Check. Due to their natural con-
nection with magic, Twice Born characters re-
ceive +2 Essence for every Pathos spent.
Magical Prodigy (2): The character innately
understands the underlying principles of mag-
ic. As such, they no longer require the manda-
tory spell components for Channeling, as dic-
tated by their School (pg. 96).
Ritual Magic (2): Some Incantations are far
beyond the ability of even the most seasoned
magician. However, Ritual Magic allows ma-
gicians to combine their abilities to channel
more Essence. The character with the Ritual
Magic Gift (called the leader) makes the stan-
dard Channeling check (pg. 97). For each ad-
ditional character (called participants), up to
the leader’s (Magic)/2, the Channeling check
receives an Essence bonus based on their
Magic skill. In addition, each participant with
the Ritual Magic Gift automatically provides an
additional +1 bonus, even if they fail their roll.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Level 0 No bonus
Level 1-3 +2 bonus
Level 4-6 +4 bonus
Level 7-9 +6 bonus
Level 10 +8 bonus
The leader also makes the final Casting
roll, if/when required. If used during a Battle,
anyone taking part in the Ritual Magic check
must utilize their full Turn for the Round. If the
Channeling check results in Distortion, all the
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
participants suffer the negative effects. Note:
Quislings begin with this Gift.
Spontaneous Casting (4 or 2 for Quislings):
Some magicians can instinctively access and
shape Essence. This natural affinity allows
them to forgo the standard time requirements
of Channeling (pg. 97). When Spontaneously
Casting, each Channeling check represents 1
Turn (rather than ten minutes). However, while
Spontaneously Casting, the risk for Distortion
increases to a Natural 1-3. All other rules for
Channeling apply, and characters can free-
ly choose between Spontaneous Casting and
normal Channeling.
New Drawbacks
Bound (2): The character’s Magic is directly
connected with an otherworldly source, such
as a spirit, totem, or elemental. To utilize their
Magic Skill during a Scene, the character must
pay some form of tribute to this higher pow-
er. This offering is in addition to the standard
Channeling requirements of the character’s
School. If this tribute is not provided, the char-
acter suffers a -3 penalty to their Magic check,
as well as possibly incurring their higher pow-
er’s displeasure. For example, Gerta is Bound to
a fylgja spirit and must offer it a cup of mead
prior to using their Magic Skill.
 Code of Conduct (1-3): A specific code of
conduct dictates the character’s life, either due
to their personal beliefs or their Affiliations.
The level of this Drawback is proportionate to
how restrictive the Code is on the character’s
personal life. A Moderate (20) Mental Trauma
check allows the character to resist the Code,
but there may be repercussions later (for ex-
ample, a police officer may be investigated for
breaking protocol). Certain Loyalties might in-
flict additional penalties on this roll.
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Haunted (2 or 4): Through the character’s
own actions or pure misfortune, a vengeful
spirit has connected itself to them. It contin-
ually interferes with the character’s livelihood,
potentially threatening their life. For 2 BP, the
spirit remains insubstantial and its abilities are
limited as such. It can torment the character
mentally and emotionally but cannot physi-
cally interact with the world. Following each
attack, the character must make a Moderate
(20) Mental Trauma check or suffer a -2 penalty
to all Actions for the remainder of the Scene.
For 4 BP, the spirit can physically materialize
and even inflict bodily harm to character, be it
directly or indirectly. Much like an Enemy (AY1,
p. 59), the GM should provide the spirit with
a distinct personality, determining when and
how it attacks the character.
Unnatural (1–4): The character’s outward
appearance marks them as unnatural, such as
animal features, bizarre body modifications, and
unsettling auras. For each BP gained, they en-
dure -1 penalty to social checks (except Intimi-
dation) in normal society. Indeed, their strange
appearance may automatically incite distrust
and even violence in some. However, in certain
groups, this may be completely natural, incur-
ring no social penalty. For example, a character
with alien features and glowing eyes may be
perfectly ‘normal’ to a group of Changelings.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
New AMP Powers
When magic was released into the world,
new powers began erupting from within certain
AMPs. These weren’t the direct manipulation of
magical energies, but instead an AMP’s inher-
ent abilities mixing with the magic in their en-
vironment to create new crossover powers for
them to utilize. These new powers are available
to multiple Strains, though Twice Born may also
select any of these powers without restriction.
Death (Shaper/Psych)
Check: None
Range: Self / (Death + Discipline) x10 ft.
Duration: Permanent
Resistance: None
Core Ability: An AMP with this magical power
becomes the master of their own destiny, with
the ability to eventually ignore death altogeth-
er. This power can also be used altruistically, but
it’s ability for destruction cannot be understat-
ed. The AMP’s Core Ability begins their journey
with self-control, adding (Death) to any Death
checks. Likewise, they reduce any Pain Penalties
from having low Integrity by (Death)/2.
In addition to this, whenever they are in the
presence (see Range) of someone who dies,
they may spend 1 Juice to recover 2 Integrity,
absorbing the essence of death in the area at
the time. Some AMPs with this power have be-
friended Twice Born who voluntarily commit to
their Dance to save their friend.
Augments
Enhancements
VV Looking Death in the Face (E0): Staring
Death in the eye steels the AMP, adding
(Death)/2 to any checks against Fear.
VV Morbid Healing (E1): The AMP heals
(Death)/2 Integrity when someone dies in
their presence (instead of 2).
VV In Death’s Presence (E2): Must have Look-
ing Death in the Face. Anyone within Range
 in the throes of death suffers a (Death)/2
penalty to their Death checks.
VV Spirit Lord (E2): The AMP gains AR2
against attacks that deal Spirit damage.
Tricks
Recovery Drain (T1)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Instant
Effect: Requires Morbid Healing. If some-
one uses an ability that heals Integrity in the
AMP’s presence, this Trick drains some of that
healing for themselves. They can drain half of
the healing power, up to (Death)/2. For example,
if someone uses the Healing power and would
heal a target for 4 Integrity, the AMP can steal 2
Integrity for themselves as long as they had at
least Death 4.
Death Curse (T2)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Support (1)
Effect: The AMP affects the target’s aura, mak-
ing death much more likely for them. The next
time they are harmed (when they take damage),
the target takes (Death)/2 additional damage as
well. If stabbed, the blade just so happens to hit
a major artery. If they fall, they may break some
bones. Death becomes much more likely.
Recovery Drain Morbid Healing
Death-Proof Death
Death Curse At Death’s Door
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
At Death’s Door (T3)
Check: Death + Discipline
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Instant/Varies
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: The target gets filled with images
of their possible death. These could be some-
thing the AMP creates, or they may leave it to
fate, and the victim sees random visions of all
the ways they could die in the near future. This
deals 2 damage and leaves the victim with a
(Death)/2 penalty that reduces by -1 per Round.
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Death-Proof (T4)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Instant
Effect: The AMP becomes nearly impossible
to kill. Any time the AMP would be reduced be-
low 0 Integrity this Trick can be activated (even
if they are unconscious) to instantly revive
them to (Death) Integrity. If they were uncon-
scious, they also wake up and become active
once more. Cannot be reduced lower than T2.
Reaper (T5)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Instant
Resistance: (Death)x2
Effect: Must have In Death’s Presence and At
Death’s Door. The AMP stares at the target and
fills them with the energies of death to the point
of instantly killing them. If the target fails their
Resistance, they are instantly dropped to 0 In-
tegrity, regardless of how much they possessed
at the time. Cannot be reduced lower than T3.
Looking Death in the Face
In Death’s Presence
Reaper
 Life
(Shaper/Mindbender)
Check: None
Range: (Life + Discipline)x20ft. / Self
Duration: Permanent/Instant
Resistance: None
Core Ability: Life flows through the AMP, al-
lowing them to sense its influence on the world
to a much greater degree. The AMP dives into
the power of life, fertility, and hope, gaining
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
amazing abilities in the process. To start, they
can sense the life force around them, and know
exactly how many living things exist within
Range and generally where they are. This helps
to sense how many enemies may be nearby, or
to sense someone hiding behind a wall. This can
also be used to sense if a woman is pregnant, or
if there are a ton of insects in your apartment.
The AMP may also spend 1 Juice to heal 2
Integrity at any time, but this power only works
on themselves.
Augments
Enhancements
VV Empath (E1): The AMP can sense the emo-
tional state of the life signs within Range.
For example: whether they are in a panic,
are celebrating, or in a state of depression.
VV Protected (E1): Must have Life’s True
Blessing. All effects of Life’s True Blessing
are doubled.
VV Pinpoint (E2): The AMP not only senses
how many life signs are around them but
can now zero in on a life force and gains
a (Life)/2 bonus to find them. Even works
against Invisible targets.
VV Synergy (E2): Must have Fertile Land.
Whenever someone other than the AMP
uses healing powers within Range, the AMP
also heals (Life)/2 Integrity.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Tricks
Bless the Unborn (T1)
Check: None
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Effect: If the AMP senses an unborn child
within the target, they can bless it with a bit
of their new power. Once this Trick is used, the
child will be free of any defects or abnormali-
ties and is not subject to Mutations.
Inspire (T2)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: 3 Days
Effect: Must have Empath. The target is
filled with a lust for life, giving them the urge
to create or build something of value, or even
a newfound respect for the life around them
that will help them in battle. The target gains
a +3 bonus to all rolls that will help them in
their new endeavor. This bonus fades at a rate
of 1 per day.
Fertile Land (T2)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Instant / Support (1)
Effect: The AMP can fill their very environ-
ment with their life energy. Any allies touching
the ground in this moment gain a +2 bonus to
their next roll. Likewise, plants grow with incred-
ible speed, toxins are removed from the area, and
everything is returned to a state of health.
Life’s True Blessing (T3)
Check: None
Range: Core Ability
Duration: Scene
Effect: The AMP chooses a target and their
ability to stay alive raises for the Scene. The
target gains AR1 against any damage they
would take, recovers +1 Integrity if they use
abilities to do so, and gains a (Life)/2 bonus
against Death checks.
 Inspire Empath
Life’s True Blessing Life
Protected Fertile Land
Revive the Dead
Revive the Dead (T5, -1 Integrity)
Check: None
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Effect: Must have Protected. The AMP can
revive the dead, bringing them back to life by
calling their spirit back to this plane with their
magical abilities. Target cannot have been dead
for longer than (Life) days, and it is returned to
full health without any Consequences (AY1, pg.
187). However, the AMP also gives up 1 Integrity
permanently to complete the ritual. Cannot be
reduced lower than T3.
Mother Nature (Ele-
mental/Traveler)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Permanent
Resistance: None
Core Ability: Many AMPs have begun re-
vering those who possess the Mother Nature
power; it is the representation of all the Earth
has to offer and grants control over all the el-
ements, not just a single piece. To begin, the
AMP begins with one of the four abilities listed
below, which costs 1 Juice to activate. They can
gain more through Augments. The AMP must
be connected to the correct Element to select
certain Augments, as well.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Pinpoint
Bless the Unborn
Synergy
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
VV Air: Can use the air to lift into flight up to
(Mother Nature)x10ft. from the ground, and
travel at Movement+10.
VV Earth: They become much tougher,
strengthened by the very Earth they walk
upon. They gain (Mother Nature)/2 addi-
tional Integrity.
VV Fire: They can surround their extremities in
fire to deal +1 damage when in close combat.
VV Water: They may breathe normally under-
water and travel at (Movement)x1.5 in wa-
ter (instead of (Movement)/2 like others).
Augments
Enhancements
VV The Four Elements (E0): The AMP gains
access to one more Core Ability Element.
The player need only spend 1 juice to ac-
tivate all Elements they know at one time.
VV Ocean’s Gift (E1 - Water): The AMP may
now grant the ability to breathe underwater
to up to (Mother Nature)/2 other targets.
VV Earth’s Protection (E1-5 - Earth): For 1
Juice, the AMP gains 2 Temporary Integrity.
VV Speed of the Wind (E2 - Air): Travel speed
while in flight is raised to (Movement x2)+10.
 Tricks
Mantle of the Mother (T1, +1 per Element)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: The AMP gains AR equal to (Mother
Nature)/2 against a Core Ability Element they
possess. They can activate their AR against si-
multaneous Elements for additional Juice.
Mother’s Roads (T2 - Earth)
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Check: None
Range: (Mother Nature + Persuasion)x100 ft.
Duration: Scene
Effect: Must have Earth’s Protection. The land
bends to the AMP’s will to allow them to travel
freely wherever they please. An AMP with Moth-
er Nature can travel in a straight line to their
destination, and the world conforms to their
whim — trees root themselves up and move,
bodies of water part or the earth creates wood-
en bridges to ease the AMP’s way. Darkness is
never an issue, as fire always lights the AMP’s
journey. This ability stays in effect for the Scene,
but can be shut off at any time, as it can disturb
delicate habitats or urban areas just the same.
Light of Humility (T3 - Fire)
Check: Mother Nature + Marksmanship
Range: (Mother Nature + Empathy)x10 ft.
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Dodge
Effect: Must have Mantle of the Mother. The
AMP with control over Fire launches a psychic
The Moon’s Phase Ocean’s Gift
Earth’s Protection Mother
Nature
Mother’s Roads Speed of the Wind
Eye of the Storm The Rising Sun
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
fireball their target. If it successfully strikes, it
deals Brutal damage equal to the target’s (Self
- Humanity)x2. For instance, if the target pos-
sesses Self 3 and Humanity 1, the Trick deals
4B damage. However, if the target had Self 1
and Humanity 1+, it deals no damage. If the
target does not take damage, they are instead
energized and may add their Humanity Loyalty
to their next roll, regardless of the combo used.
Cannot be reduced below T2.
The Moon’s Phase (T4 - Water)
Check: None
Range: (Mother Nature + Fighting)x10 ft.
Duration: Scene
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: Must have Ocean’s Gift. The Moon’s
phases have been known to quell a person’s
heart or enrage them into fits of frenzy. The
AMP can control the moon to create an effect,
while they remain unaffected, but only one
may be active at once time. They glow with the
moon’s soft light, and choose one effect:
VV Frenzy: The bright light of the full moon
makes everyone within Range much more
likely to attack. All checks against the Law
of Attraction fail automatically, and all dam-
age is increased by +1.
VV Tranquility: The AMP pulses calming waves
of energy that lull everyone within range into
peace. Everyone within Range suffers a -3
penalty to Initiative or to any aggressive Ac-
tion, such as trying to scare someone or attack
someone. Cannot be reduced below T2.
The Four Elements
Mantle of the Mother
Light of Humility

The Rising Sun (T4 - Fire)
Check: None
Range: (Mother Nature + Medicine)x10 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: Must have Light of Humility. The sun
is the giver of life, and Mother Nature uses it
so. The AMP glows with energy and releases it
into the area, healing everyone within Range for
(Mother Nature) Integrity. They cannot ignore
any targets, as the light of the sun does not dis-
criminate. If the target is at full Health, they re-
ceive (Mother Nature)/2 in Temporary Integrity
instead. This power is draining, however; if used
during combat, the AMP skips their next Turn
from exhaustion. Cannot be reduced below T3.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Eye of the Storm (T5 - Air)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Varies
Effect: Must have Speed of the Wind. The
AMP has learned from Mother Nature how to
be calm in the face of a storm. As chaos swirls
around them, they can remain confident in
peace. If combat begins, the AMP cannot be the
target of any attack for up to (Mother Nature)/2
Rounds, as long as they also do not engage
the enemy (which is harder than one might
think sometimes). Ranged attacks are thrown
off course by gusts of wind, and close combat
attackers lose their footing if they attack the
AMP. Cannot be reduced below T3.
 Sin (Blaster/Feral)
Check: Envy Only
Range: Varies
Duration: Varies
Resistance: None
Core Ability: The AMP with this power be-
gins their journey to become an embodiment
of sin itself. With each level they take on more
overt expressions of this, from horns to hooved
feet. To start, Sin provides the AMP with 1 (one)
special power from the list below. Through
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Augments, they can access them all, each one
making them deadlier.
VV Envy: The AMP wants what others have.
When in the presence of someone using a
power, they can reflexively make a Moder-
ate (20) Sin + Knowledge check. If success-
ful, they can mimic the power they just wit-
nessed once (if the Duration lasts the Scene,
it may go out suddenly at some point). The
AMP uses (Sin) in place of the original pow-
er’s level. Only one power can be mimicked
at a time. Range: Line of Sight.
VV Gluttony: When the AMP gets a taste, they
want even more. Any time the AMP would gain
Juice, they gain +1 Juice as well. Range: Self.
VV Greed: The AMP doesn’t like to let go of their
Juice, keeping a backup of extra resources.
Their Juice limit is raised by (Sin)/2. For exam-
ple, having Sin 6 means the AMP can hold up
to 13 Juice (instead of only 10). Range: Self.
VV Lust: When using the pleasures of the flesh
or seduction on a target, the AMP receives
(Sin)/2 as a bonus to their check. This is
most commonly a bonus to Deception (Se-
duction) checks, but could be applied to In-
timidation, Persuasion, or other social Skills
when applicable. Range: Touch.
VV Pride: The AMP hates to fail and it becomes
harder for them to do so. They may now re-
flexively add (Sin)/2 to any roll if it means
the difference between failing or success.
For example, an AMP with Sin 6 may roll an
18 against a Moderate (20) check. Since add-
ing (Sin)/2 (+3) to their roll would make it a
success, they are now able to avoid failure.
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VV Sloth: The AMP gains power through inac-
tion. During Battle, they receive a +1 bonus
to all checks for each other combatant who
has already taken their action in the Round.
For instance, if the AMP is battling three TRAC
agents, they would receive a +3 bonus to all
checks if the three agents go first. Range: Self.
VV Wrath: The AMP becomes very good at
causing destruction. They add (Sin)/2 to any
unarmed close combat damage and a +3
bonus to all Strength checks as well. If they
ever fall beneath half their Integrity, their
Strength bonus raises to +6 (instead of +3).
Augments
Enhancements
VV Den of Sin (E0): Gain access to another Sin
Core Ability. Each ability is activated separately.
VV Devil’s Skin (E1): The AMP is now immune
to Fire damage, but Light Energy deals +2
damage.
VV Increasingly Devilish (E1): Must have Den
of Sin. The AMP can now activate multiple
additional Sin Core Abilities at one time, at
the cost of 1 Juice for each one after the first.
VV Keeping Secrets (E2): Must have Absolu-
tion. The AMP gives the removed memory
the physical form of a crystal, which can be
used to restore the memory later or allow
others to see through the target’s eyes.
Tricks
Summon Snakes (T1)
Check: Sin + Beast Handling
Range: (Sin)x10 ft. radius
Duration: (Discipline) Rounds
Resistance: Dodge/Fortitude + Beast Handling
Effect: The area around the AMP erupts with
snakes who burrow from underground and start
snapping at anyone who isn’t their summoner.
On the turn summoned and for the Duration,
all victims must make a Dodge check against
the original activation check. Failure inflicts 2
damage and forces a Simple (10) check against
poison to avoid another 1B damage. Difficulty
goes up by +5 each time they must roll it.
 Revealing the Truth
Keeping Secrets Absolution
Devil’s Skin Sin
Fires of Hell Penance
Fires of Hell (T2)
Check: Sin + Marksmanship
Range: (Sin + Discipline)x10 ft.
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Dodge/Find Cover
Effect: Must have Devil’s Skin. The AMP opens
their mouth and releases a gout of fire capable
of burning almost anything. The attack has only
one target and deals 4 damage, but ignores any
AR granted by worn armor or anything inani-
mate. Only natural armor or that created from
powers can defend against the Fire of Hell.
Revealing the Truth (T2)
Check: Sin + Deception
Range: Line of Sight
Duration: Scene
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: Must have Absolution. Looking into
the eyes of their target, the AMP latches onto
their mind and forces only the truth to be spo-
ken in their presence. If the target tries to tell
a lie, they suffer 2B damage that cannot be re-
duced by any means.
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Summon Snakes
Den of Sin
Increasingly Devilish
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Absolution (T3)
Check: Sin + Discipline
Range: Line of Sight
Duration: Permanent
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: By staring into the depths of the tar-
get’s mind, the AMP removes all memory and
guilt associated to a sin the target has committed.
They will not remember the action or their part
in it. This may have several effects on the charac-
ter and story. For example, if they were driven by
said act, they may lose all reason for living or may
pursue other roads in life. This effect is a magical
memory erasure, and that memory is gone forev-
er. Cannot be reduced to lower than T2.
Penance (T4)
Check: Sin + Discipline
Range: Line of Sight
Duration: (Sin)/2 Rounds
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: The AMP forces that target to relive
their worst sin. This is obviously different for
each target, but their mind is wracked with ag-
ony leaving them unable to act for the Dura-
tion. The victim does nothing except curl into
a ball and weep. If they are harmed in any way,
however, they may make another check with a
+2 bonus to snap out of it. This bonus is cumu-
lative each time they are damaged. Cannot be
reduced lower than T2.
 War (Bulk/Shifter)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Instant
Resistance: None
Core Ability: An AMP who has been granted
the War power becomes a devastating creature
of destruction. Anything they touch becomes
a weapon, and they become capable of tak-
ing down even the most powerful opponent
through sheer force of will. To start, the AMP
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
simply causes much more destruction when
they choose to. For 1 Juice, they may add +2
damage to an attack. This can even be spent
after rolling, making it particularly powerful,
though they can only spend Juice up to (War)/2.
For instance, an AMP with War 6 could spend
up to 3 Juice for +6 damage.
Augments
Enhancements
VV Command the Battlefield (E0): The AMP
can now travel up to (Movement)x1.5 and
attack using only a single Action.
VV Push the Limits (E1): The AMP may spend
Juice on the Core Ability up to (Speed)/3
additional times. Cannot be reduced lower
than E1.
Command the Battlefield
Battlefield Awareness War
Push the Limits Weapon of War
Sharpened Weapon
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VV Extremely Bloody (E2): Must have Al-
ways Armed. The weapon created by the
AMP deals +2B (instead of +1B) and causes
Bleeding to the target on any successful hit
(regardless of damage dealt).
VV Sharpened Weapon (E2): Must have
Weapon of War. The AMP gains a +2 bonus
each Round (instead of +1).
Tricks
Always Armed (T1)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Battle
Effect: From their own flesh, the AMP molds
a weapon with which to take on their enemies.
This cannot be a firearm or a bow but can be
any other close combat or thrown weapon.
They cannot be disarmed of this weapon, and
they will always deal +1B with it. Otherwise,
use the existing stats for the type of weapon
they forged (AY1, pg. 184).
Battlefield Awareness (T2)
Check: None
Range: (War + Speed)x100 ft.
Duration: Battle
Effect: The AMP becomes intimate with
their surrounding area, negating any environ-
mental penalties for themselves and reducing
those penalties by -2 for their allies.
Sympathetic Comrade
Extremely Bloody
Always Armed
 Sympathetic Comrade (T3)
Check: None
Range: (War + Comrades)x10 ft.
Duration: Battle
Effect: Must have Command the Battlefield.
Whenever an ally within Range takes damage,
the AMP heals 2 Integrity. If the AMP takes
damage, they may choose one of their allies to
heal +2 Integrity. This only affects a number of
targets Equal to their Comrades Loyalty. Can-
not be reduced below T2.
Weapon of War (T4)
Check: None
Range: Self
Duration: Battle
Effect: Must have Always Armed and Pushing
the Limits. The AMP gives in to the tides of bat-
tle, and their power increases as they let it wash
over them. Once activated, the AMP receives a
+2 bonus to all combat checks (including Ini-
tiative). Then for (War)/2 Rounds, that bonus is
raised by another +1. While their bonuses stop
at a certain point, the total effect lasts the
Battle. Cannot be reduced below T3.

Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic

New Power
(Universal)
Magic
Check: Magic + Intuition
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Resistance: None
Core Ability: At its funda-
mental core, Magic is the ability
to create, destroy, manipu-
late, and transform real-
ity itself. Through inner
power and knowledge,
magicians shape the
universe’s natural and
supernatural laws to
produce a desired effect
or intentional change.
Note: ‘Magician’ is used
solely for ease of reading;
each School has its own
associated magic-user, such
as shaman or bocor.
All magicians possess the
innate ability to see the underly-
ing currents of the universe. They
automatically detect the presence of
magic and supernatural manifestations
(no check). Their understanding of Magic also

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 allows them to innately defend themselves
against its use. They may avoid an Incantation’s
effects by using Counter-spell (Magic + Disci-
pline), instead of their normal Reaction.
VV School: Upon obtaining the Magic Power,
characters attune themselves to a specific
School, which defines how they perceive
and interact with magic. In addition to
these philosophical details, Schools deter-
mine advantages (and disadvantages) their
perceptions have when utilizing magic. The
player selects one School (pg. 100), which
cannot be changed (except through some
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
extreme personal event). Orphans (and
Quislings) are the exception to this, practic-
ing a form of magic from the edge of the
universe which only they can harness.
VV Incantations: Magic is an extremely versa-
tile Power, allowing the magician to create
a myriad of effects—limited only by their
imagination and ability. These magical ef-
fects are known as Incantations. By following
the steps below, the magician determines
what purpose their Incantations serve, on a
case-by-case basis. The GM always has final
word on what an Incantation can do and can
intervene at any of the steps below.
Step 1: Describe the Incantation Effect
The player describes what overall effect
they wish to achieve through Magic, using the
simplest terms and conditions possible. For ex-
ample, ‘I want to create a magical shield when
attacked,’ ‘I want to heal someone’s wounds’ or
‘I want to turn someone into a pig.’
Step 2: Determine the Aspect
The player outlines how reality would be al-
tered to create the Incantation’s effect and then
determines what Aspect (pg. 100) is required to
affect this change. For example, if the character
‘wants to summon a wall of thorns,’ they would
require the Conjuration Aspect. On the other
hand, if they want to ‘destroy a metallic obsta-
cle,’ they would require the Destruction Aspect.
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Step 3: Determine its Basic Properties
The basic properties for all Incantations
are Range: Touch and Duration: Instant. Purely
defensive Incantations (like a magical shield)
can have Duration: Reaction. However, these
properties can be increased, as required. For
example, an Incantation producing lightning
bolts requires Range: Line of Sight, while a
sustained, magical shield requires Duration:
Concentration. The player also determines the
Incantation’s Resistance, as per (AY1, pg. 74).
Step 4: Determine Essence Cost
The player determines how much the Incan-
tation costs in Essence points, as per the As-
pect utilized. If multiple Aspects are required,
the cost is equal to the highest-level Aspect +1
point per additional Aspect. For example, an
Incantation requiring Adept Conjuration and
Apprentice Manipulation (6+1) = 7 Essence.
Also, if they wish to increase the Incanta-
tion’s effect, such as Range or Duration, the cost
is raised by 1 point per increase. For example, if
the player created an Incantation with Range:
Line of Sight and Duration: Battle, the Essence
cost is increased by 2 points.
Step 5: Describe its Appearance
The player describes the Incantation’s
general appearance, usually flavored by their
character’s School. For example, a malefici-
um’s ‘fireball’ might look like sphere of black
flames, while an onmyōdō’s ‘fireball’ might look
like twin burning dragons, entwined, streaking
through the air.
Step 6: Name/Record the Incantation
The player names the Incantation, as they
wish. It can be as plain or as fancy as they wish.
This is recorded on their character sheet for
later reference.
Several sample Incantations have been in-
cluded later in this book, usable by any magi-
cian, as well as providing inspiration for devel-
oping their own Incantations.
 Channeling
Magic is fueled by the world’s spiritual ener-
gy, known as Essence. The magician empowers
her unique Incantations by channeling these en-
ergies into a usable form. Channeling requires a
Moderate (20) Extended check; each check rep-
resenting ten minutes of intense concentration.
In addition, the character must also utilize the
various spell components, be they material, so-
matic or verbal, as determined by their School
(pg. 100). The number of successes achieved (in-
cluding Boost) represents 1 Essence point. The
Incantation’s Cost is determined by its effect
(see above). With the GM’s permission, characters
may add half the level of similar powers to their
Channeling roll, such as (Technopathy)/2 for tech
magic or (Plants)/2 for nature magic. Once the
character accumulates an Incantation’s required
Essence, they may cast it immediately or main-
tain it for later use (see Focus).
Sometimes the character must utilize their
Essence in another Incantation before com-
pleting their current Channeling check. Re-
channeling accumulated Essence requires a
Moderate (20) Magic + Discipline check; any
excess Essence is lost. For example, Velvet
has accumulated 7 Essence for a high-level
Incantation, but must suddenly cast a minor
Incantation (6 Essence) to protect herself. She
succeeds at the rechanneling and can cast the
new Incantation immediately but loses the ad-
ditional point of Essence.
Casting
Once an Incantation is empowered, it can
be used freely as an Action/Reaction at any
time in the future. The appropriate skill re-
quired for using the Incantation depends on
the specific Action/Reaction. Each Incantation
has 1 use. Once spent, the Incantation must be
channeled again (see above).
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Rote Incantations
At Level 1, the character receives one Incan-
tation they’ve practiced to perfection, gaining
an additional Rote at each even level (2, 4, 6, 8
and 10). When preparing these specific Incanta-
tions, they receive a +1 bonus to the Channeling
check roll. However, this does not affect the nor-
mal time and component requirements. Altering
the Incantation in anyway also negates this bo-
nus; for example, extending its Range.
Focus
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Characters may only maintain up to (Mag-
ic + Discipline)/2 Incantations at any one time
(rounded up). The character may increase this
number through the Intense Focus Gift. They
may replace any number of their current Incan-
tations — on a one-to-one basis — by rechan-
neling a new one in its place (see above). At the
GM’s discretion, if the character is knocked out
or otherwise mentally incapacitated, they may
lose all their stored Incantations.
Distortion
When out of control, Magic can damage re-
ality itself — known as Distortion. If a player
rolls a Natural 1 (Critical Failure) while making
any Magic check, the Incantation automatically
fails, as well as creates some unforeseen com-
plication (such as):
VV The character suffers any harm/detrimental
effect the Incantation would have caused.
VV The Incantation affects an ally, who must
make a Reaction against it.
VV The environment is violently changed;
gravity reverses itself, the ground turns to
mud, etc. Anyone present suffers a -3 pen-
alty to their next Action check.
VV The effect goes wild, altering the environ-
ment as per its Aspect (GM’s discretion).
VV The character is mutated in some non-le-
thal, but annoying fashion (GM’s discretion).
VV They lose Integrity equal to (Essence Cost),
as the Incantation feeds off their body.
 Aspects
Essence Cost = EC
Conjuration
The magician summons something new
into existence, created out of nothingness, be
it natural or artificial. These creations are typi-
cally confined to naturally occurring items and
phenomena, but at higher levels, the magician
can conjure more intricate and substantial
creations — including thoughts, concepts, and
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
living entities. Indeed, Conjuration masters are
limited only by their imagination.
VV Apprentice (EC3): The magician can conjure
naturally occurring phenomena, such as air,
earth, fire, and water. Simple constructs can
be created as well, including wood, stone,
and base metals. Minor sensory phenom-
ena like light and sound can be conjured.
Simple living constructs can be created as
well, such as trees and plants. Attack-based
Incantations inflict Normal damage.
VV Adept (EC6): The magician can conjure arti-
ficial constructs, such as weapons, clothing,
furniture, etc. Minor weather phenomena
can be summoned, including rain, fog, and
heavy winds. Mirages can be created, as
well as mental impressions and sensations,
such as pain and rudimentary illusions.
Small living creatures can be summoned,
such as rodents and birds. Attack-based In-
cantations inflict Brutal damage.
VV Master (EC9): The magician can conjure so-
phisticated items (such as advanced machin-
ery), intricate constructs, and even imaginary
and spectral entities. More advanced phe-
nomena can be summoned, such as firestorms
and tornados. Complex organisms are now
possible. Conjuring more esoteric concepts,
such as dreams, memories, and Loyalties, is
now possible. Attack spells inflict Brutal Dam-
age and may inflict additional effects.
Destruction
The polar opposite of Conjuration, Destruc-
tion magic utilizes entropic energies to weak-
en, damage, and even erase facets of reality.
More subtle applications allow the magician to
diminish something’s core properties, such as
negating a poison or removing a flame’s ability
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to burn. At higher levels, Destruction can dis-
rupt entire concepts like emotions and Powers.
VV Apprentice (EC3): The magician can weaken
and/or dampen something’s intrinsic qualities.
For example, wood can be made to rot, metal
to rust, and bones to grow brittle. Living things
can be afflicted with sickness and poison, and
their thoughts disrupted. Natural phenomena
can be diminished, such as evaporating water
or smothering small fires. Attack-based Incan-
tations inflict Normal damage.
VV Adept (EC6): The magician’s entropic powers
now tear reality apart, inflicting true damage
to its fundamental properties. Plants wither
and die, walls collapse, bones shatter, and
eyes are blinded. Natural phenomena are
disrupted completely, creating vacuums or
extinguishing light and heat. Even memories
and emotions can be damaged, dramatically
altering someone’s thoughts. Attack-based
Incantations inflict Brutal damage.
VV Master (EC9): Natural and integral qualities
can be completely destroyed, erasing their
existence. Weapons and items disintegrate,
bodies decay into dust, and entire buildings
crumble. Concepts like gravity and chemical
reactions cease to function, while natural
phenomena (like storms and forest fires)
dispel into nothingness. Memories are elim-
inated completely, and spirits are exorcised
from our world. Attack spells inflict Brutal
Damage and may inflict additional effects.
Manipulation
The magician manipulates and controls
something, but without altering its fundamen-
tal properties. For example, a pond could be
reshaped and moved as the magician desires
but retains the natural qualities of water. Liv-
ing creatures can be similarly affected, as well
as natural phenomena like gravity and light. At
the highest levels, even quantum forces can be
manipulated, effectively unlocking the relative
universe to the magician.
VV Apprentice (EC3): The magician can affect
minor control over something, moving and/
or manipulating it in a simplistic fashion.
For example, they could turn a lock with-
out a key, make someone stumble over their
feet, cause flames to leap a short distance,
trap someone in vines, or levitate and tie a
rope to a tree limb.

VV Adept (EC6): The magician can affect major
control over something, moving and/or ma-
nipulating it in an intricate fashion. For exam-
ple, the ground could be raised into a defen-
sive barrier or lift the magician into the air. By
bending light, they could effectively become
invisible or create a zone of darkness. At the
magician’s bidding, trees uproot themselves
and attack their enemies, while animals are
calmed and controlled. People can be put to
sleep or have their limbs paralyzed.
VV Master (EC9): The magician can affect ex-
traordinary control over virtually everything,
including weather phenomena. For example,
they could unleash an earthquake or direct
gale-force winds to flatten a building. Living
beings become the magician’s puppets, act-
ing and moving according to her will. Even
gravity can be redirected and controlled, al-
lowing the magician to reverse its direction.
Transmutation
The magician can alter and/or improve
something’s natural qualities, by transform-
ing them into something else. However, unlike
Destruction, Transmutation does not eliminate
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Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
the thing’s fundamental nature. For example,
a rose transmuted into glass remains a rose,
while someone transformed into a pig retains
their personality and memories. Transmutation
can also be utilized to restore something to its
natural state, thus healing physical damage.
Attack-based Incantations can never inflict
more than Normal damage.
VV Apprentice (EC3): The magician can affect
minor transformations on something, with-
out altering its overall nature. For example,
they can give themselves fur and claws,
change water into ice, make flowers change
their color and grow, and turn cloth into
leather. Slight alterations can be made to
someone’s thoughts and feelings, such as
calming or inciting rage. Finally, minor inju-
ries and damage can be healed or repaired.
VV Adept (EC6): The magician can affect major
transformations on something, without al-
tering its overall nature. For example, they
can grow functional wings, change smoke
into blistering fire, increase a rat into the
size of a wolf, transform trees into razored
metal, or alter someone’s memory of an
event. Major injuries can be healed, includ-
 ing regenerating lost limbs.
VV Master (EC9): The magician can affect ex-
traordinary transformations on something,
without altering its true nature. For example,
they can transform someone into a donkey,
turn a candle flame into a raging firestorm,
mutate animals into bizarre chimera, shape
rubble into a small castle, weave light into
intricate illusions, and completely rewrite
someone’s personality. Even the most griev-
ous injuries can be healed and destroyed
items restored. GM Note: Transmutation
cannot kill someone outright–even a stone
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
statue returns to life once the Incantation’s
Duration ends.
Magic Schools
Each magician follows a specific School of
magic, reflecting their world-view and connection
to the Universe. They may only have one School
at a time and changing Schools should only be
allowed after long and intense roleplaying.
Each School provides a +1 bonus to two
Aspects, as well as a -1 penalty to another;
reflecting their specific connection to the Uni-
verse. Also, when casting Incantations, each
School requires specific spell components, be
they material, somatic, and/or verbal, appropri-
ate for their belief system.
Bocor
Usually known by non-practitioners as
“Voodoo” magic, Bocor is the school preferred
by magicians who deal with death specifically
and the energies of decay in general. For ex-
ample, a magician could inflict decay upon a
living target, be it a plant, an animal, or a hu-
man being — including AMPs, Twice Born, and
the Orphans. Due to their intimate connection
with death, Bocors receive a +1 bonus to all
Destruction and Conjuration checks, and a -1
penalty to all Transmutation checks. Typical
spell components include singing, dancing,
candles, gris-gris, voodoo dolls, and powders.
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Bocor Rotes
Touch of Decay (EC3)
Aspect: Destruction
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Fortitude
Effect: The magician’s touch creates an entro-
pic effect, causing things to rot, rust, and crumble.
Small inanimate objects and simple life forms
are effectively destroyed. If used on a living tar-
get, the decay causes (Magic)/2 damage.
The Walking Dead (EC6)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: Touch
Duration: Concentration
Effect: The bocor animates the dead, trans-
forming them into a mindless puppet. The sub-
ject must follow simple commands given by
the controller to the best of its abilities until
released (concentration ends). Twice Born are
susceptible to this Incantation but can make
a Mental Trauma check to ignore commands.
Dolls of Voodoo (EC7)
Aspect: Destruction
Range: LOS/(Magic + Crafts) X 30ft
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Fortitude/None
Effect: The bocor transfers physical damage
from a voodoo doll onto their target, inflicting
(Magic) Brutal damage, which ignores armor. If
the bocor has the target’s personal effects (hair,
jewelry, etc.), there is no Resistance roll and it
can be cast without LOS.
Creeping Death (EC9)
Aspect: Destruction
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Fortitude
Effect: The bocor’s skin unleashes a virulent
poison into their victim via a successful Grab attack
or simple touch. The slow poison inflicts (Magic
+1) Brutal damage every Scene until the victim
dies. The accompanying pain and hallucinations
inflict -2 to all checks. Due to the mystical nature
of the poison, its effect can only be countered with
 a Moderate (20) Medicine + Magic check.
Return to Dirt (EC9)
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician transforms themselves
into a mound of dust. The magician can move
with gusts of wind at full speed and perceive
what’s going on around them. As long as there
is a speck of dust remaining, the magician can
reform themselves and adopt their original
form at any time.
Druidism
Druidism is a school of magic usually relat-
ed to the spiritual practices the Celts performed
during their heyday. The magician must connect
with the tree essences to use them to create
various magical effects. Due to their intimate
connection with the natural world, practitioners
receive +1 to all Manipulation and Trans-
mutation checks, and a -1 penalty to all Destruc-
tion checks. Typical spell components include
trees, chanting, songs, athames, natural altars,
chalices, food/drink offerings, and labyrinths.
Druidism Rotes
Dispel Magic (EC4)
Aspect: Destruction
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Magic + Discipline from the origi-
nal caster.
Effect: The magician dispels the current
magical effect on an item/person they touch.
The GM determines the Resistance, equal to
the original caster’s Magic + Discipline. By
spending +1 Essence, the magician can dispel
magic within Line of Sight.
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Horn of Plenty (EC4)
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The magician magically duplicates a
small, inanimate item, usually food or water. The
duplicate is indistinguishable from the original
and possesses the same properties; e.g. food
produced by this rote is nutritious. Highly com-
plex items may require additional Essence.
Shapeshifting (EC6)
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician transforms into a me-
dium-sized (or smaller) animal they can clearly
envision in their mind’s eye. The magician retains
their own sense of self, but otherwise are limited
by this new form (i.e. loss of speech, no opposable
thumbs, etc.). Also, however, they receive a +3 bo-
nus to any checks that fall under the animal’s na-
ture. For a cheetah transformation, they may gain
a bonus to Athletics and Speed to reflect jump-
ing and running ability, while a magician in bear
form may gain this bonus to Fighting or Might for
their new larger form. For +2 Essence, the magi-
cian can turn into an animal up to 3 times their
size. If the magician suffers from Mental Trauma
while in this form, the GM may have an ‘animal’
mind take over.
Impose Geas (EC7)
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Touch
Duration: Scene
Resistance: Discipline + Knowledge
Effect: The magician declares a simple pro-
hibition for the target, such as “You cannot
fight,” “You cannot lie,” etc. The target must
abide by the prohibition for the Incantation’s
duration. The magician may spend +1 Essence
to either double the effect’s duration or add
one detail to the prohibition.
 Create Portal (EC10) checks, and a -1 penalty to all Transmutation
Aspect: Conjuration checks. Typical spell components include
Range: Touch curses, vocalizations, wands, statuary, crystals,
Duration: Concentration blood, oils, and potions.
Effect: The magician opens a portal through
the Otherworld to another location in the ma-
terial world. They must be able to clearly en-
Maleficium Rotes
vision the location in their mind’s eye, so it
cannot be to somewhere unknown to them. All Cackling (EC4)
Aspect: Manipulation
those the magician consider as allies can trav-
Range: Special
el through this portal. At the GM’s discretion,
Duration: Instant
the journey through the Otherworld may entail
Effect: The magician infuses any current
its own unknown dangers.
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic

Maleficium magical effect with power, dou-

Maleficium
Maleficium is the magic school most com-
monly known as “Hexing” and it is similar to
what was historically considered as witchcraft.
For example, a magician could curse or bless a
person or place, cure or inflict a disease, or pre-
pare a poison or antidote. Due to their intimate
connection with the fates, practitioners receive
a +1 bonus to all Destruction and Manipulation
bling its duration. The target must be able to
hear the magician’s cackling for this spell to
take effect.
Black Cauldron (EC7)
Aspect: Conjuration
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The magician creates a concoction
capable of replicating any of the other Malefi-
cium effects. When imbibed by a target, the tar-

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 get immediately suffers the effects. The target
can resist the effect only if the original effect
allowed for a resistance check.
Good Fortune (EC7)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: By altering the strands of fate in their
favor, the magician receives a (Magic)/2 bonus
to all their checks for the duration of this effect.
For each additional Essence, they can extend
the effect to include 1 additional person.
Unholy Healing (EC7)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Effect: The magician draws upon the neg-
ative energies in the area and uses them to
heal the target’s wounds. The target recovers
(Magic) Integrity. This recovery cannot exceed
the target’s maximum Integrity. However, the
negative energies inflict a (Magic)/2 penalty to
all their checks for one scene.
The Evil Eye (EC8)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: LoS
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician curses the target with
bad luck and misfortune. They suffer a (Magic)
penalty to all their checks for the duration.
Onmyodo
Also known as “the Way of Ying and Yang,”
Onmyōdō is a school of magic traditionally as-
sociated with the Japanese esoteric tradition.
Its main discipline seems to have originated
in the Chinese Wu Xing, known as the “Five
Elements.” The magician can have any one of
these five elements — wood, fire, earth, met-
al, and water — do their bidding. Due to their
intimate connection to the elements, onmyō-
ji receive a +1 bonus to all Conjuration and
Transformation checks, and -1 penalty to all
Destruction checks. Typical spell components
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
include chanting, prayer beads, the five ele-
ments, calligraphy, and paper charms.
Onmyodo Rotes
Create Element (EC3)
Aspect: Conjuration
Range: Self
Duration: Instant
Effect: The magician creates a minuscule
amount — no larger than a handful — of their
chosen element. The magician can spend +1
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Essence to either double the amount created,
manipulate the element’s shape, or prolong
the element’s existence (e.g., continual fire).
This can be done up to (Survival) times.
Elemental Support (EC3)
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Self
Duration: Instant
Effect: The magician uses a minuscule
amount of their chosen element to empower
themselves, gaining a +4 bonus to physical
actions. This bonus lowers by -1 per physical
check, from +3 to +2, until it is gone entirely.
For +1 Essence, they can cast this on an ally
within (Magic + Discipline) x 20ft.
Elemental Defense (EC4)
Aspect: Conjuration
Range: Self
Duration: Battle
Effect: The magician conjures their chosen
element to protect themselves from attacks,
gaining AR 2/2. For +1 Essence, the magician
can protect a target within Short range, instead.
Elemental Strike (EC4)
Aspect: Conjuration
Range: Medium
Duration: Instant
Resistance: Dodge/Find Cover
Effect: The magician conjures an elemental
bolt and launches it at their target, who suffers
(Magic) damage. They may spend +2 Essence
to attack +1 target simultaneously (up to 4 tar-
gets total).
 Manipulate Element (EC4)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: Touch
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician can manipulate a small
amount — no larger than a 3-cubic ft. — of their
chosen element. The GM should increase the
Essence Cost for affecting larger amounts of
material, as well as performing complex ma-
nipulations. By spending +1 Essence point, the
magician can Transmutate the element from
one state to another (solid/liquid/gas).
Chapter Four: Sparks of Magic
Shamanism
Shamanism is the practice of summon-
ing and communicating with unseen beings,
those who are usually referred to as “spirits.”
The magician, for example, can connect with
an animal spirit, a once-human spirit, or a high-
er spirit. The latter can be a spirit in charge
of a part of reality — the spirit of Life, Death,
Dream, etc. — and their powers and abilities
match what people usually refer to as demi-
gods or great “angels” or “demons.” Due to
their intimate connection with the spirit world,
practitioners receive +1 to all Conjuration and
Manipulation checks, and a -1 penalty to all
Destruction checks. Typical spell components
include medicine bags, drums, dancing, singing,
totems, elements, and meditation.
Shamanism Rotes
Entwining Souls (EC4)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician calls upon a spirit to
inhabit their body, entwining their souls and
gaining the spirit’s abilities. Choose two Skills
the spirit possesses, and the magician receives
a +5 bonus for the Scene. They may apply this
bonus to +1 Skill per additional Essence spent
(up to 3).
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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
Spirit Charm (EC4)
Aspect: Transmutation
Range: Self
Duration: Scene
Effect: The magician enhances their per-
sonal aura and receives a (Magic)/2 bonus on
all social checks. For +1 Essence, they can en-
hance an ally’s aura instead.
Commune with Spirits (EC5)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: (Magic + Empathy) X 10ft
Duration: Concentration
Resistance: None/Mental Trauma.
Effect: The magician can communicate with
a spirit in their vicinity and have them answer
up to (Discipline)/2 questions. The spirit cannot
leave until they have done so, or the magician
frees them. If the answer would negatively affect
them, the spirit may make a Resistance check.
Spirit Animal (EC5)
Aspect: Manipulation
Range: (Magic + Beast Handling) X 20ft
Duration: Concentration
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: The magician targets a small animal
in their vicinity and connects their spirit to it.
The magician can now perceive what the ani-
mal does. The animal also follows any reason-
able requests the magician makes. Due to the
spiritual connection, the magician suffers half
the damage the animal may suffer. With the
GM’s permission (and suitable roleplay), this
connection may become permanent.
Summon Spirit (EC5)
Aspect: Conjuration
Range: (Magic + Empathy) x10ft
Duration: Concentration
Resistance: Mental Trauma
Effect: The magician summons a nearby
spirit. The magician sees and can interact with
them. For +1 Essence, the magician can have the
spirit perform simple, non-threatening tasks.
For +3 Essence, the request has no limitations.
 Bandit
Jerry was once a selfish kid who only cared about money and what he could take from oth-
ers. His journey began in 2015, as he would transform bricks into priceless jewelry boxes or
blocks of gold in order to separate fools from their money and make a buck. This earned him
the name of the “Brick Bandit” and was a fun time for a while. Then he turned 17 and looked
at his home of Detroit, Michigan. It was barren and desolate; a community in need of a leader
who could show them the way. It took some time, but people of all kinds fell in line with the
new wave of positivity this young man created.
When the government pushed draconian laws through congress, Bandit (who removed the
‘Brick’ from his name) used his powers to rebuild his neighborhood. When TRAC unashamedly
took over entire states throwing AMPs in the Screw, Bandit organized the Blocks, uniting Saps,
AMPs, Twice Born, and eventually Quislings who wanted nothing more than to live peaceful
lives free of their country’s apparent tyranny. Even though he’s far from the most powerful
AMP or the loudest or even the most authoritative, he became the leader Detroit needed. Now,
facing the new threat of the Orphans, it’s this type of leader, humble and a companion to the
people, who may just win this war.

Sap Name: Jerry Groce

Affiliation: Unaffliated
Strain: Shaper
Integrity: 10, Juice: 3
Loyalties: Community 5, Comrades 2,
Humanity 2, Self 1
Skills: Athletics 3, Crafts 5, Discipline
2, Fighting 4, Intuition 2, Knowledge 2,
Marksmanship 4, Persuasion 6, Speed
2, Stealth 2, Technology 3
Primary Power: Transmutation 6
Augments: Anything I See (E1), Perma-
nence (E4), Wardrobe Change (T1)
Secondary Power: Life 2
Augments: Pinpoint (E1), Empathy (E1),
Inspire (T1)
Gifts: Gang Past (2), Connections 3
(AMPs), Destiny (3)
Drawbacks: Curious (2), Enemy (5)
Other: Initiative +4, Movement 10,
Strength +3, Carry/Lift: 50/100

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 Behold!!
Morgan Heinly is a young man haunted by his past in many ways. When the first AMPs emerged, he
listened to his friends and followed along with the rest of so-called Sap society. He attended rallies
against the unhuman freaks, but never rose to the level of violence like so many others did. When the
Twice Born arose, he listened to religious background imparted to him from his family and upbring-
ing, calling them unnatural monsters. And when the Orphans descended from the sky, Morgan didn’t
have time to think or rally, instead watching his hometown destroyed in the rearview mirror while
he escaped. Others said it was luck or the will of the angels or a million other things, but he knew
the truth... he saw an AMP, willing to sacrifice themselves, who warned the populace and held off the
attack just long enough for some of the people to live. That AMP allowed him and so many others to
see another day.
Of course, a gift always comes with strings attached. Being so close to an Orphan encounter, Mor-
gan picked up a hint of magic he has since worked to enhance. He wants to be the one to help others
next time. Even though the spirits of the dead haunt him in his dreams, as well as his waking hours, it’s
definitely worth it. Morgan’s newfound abilities
will be used to defend all of humanity, Sap, AMP,
and Twice Born... everyone.

Sap Name: Morgan Heinly

Affiliation: Unaffiliated
Integrity: 10
Loyalties: Humanity 4, Justice
3, Perfection 3, Self 1, Truth 3
Skills: Athletics 2, Crafts 1,
Discipline 5, Empathy 3, Fight-
ing 1, Intuition 5, Knowledge
2, Medicine 2, Perception 4,
Speed 2, Stealth 1, Survival 2,
Technology 1, Travel 2
Primary Power: Magic 10
School: Maleficium
Rote Incantations: Black Caul-
dron (EC7), Cackling (EC4),
Good Fortune (EC7), The Evil
Eye (EC8), Unholy Healing
(EC7)
Gifts: Spontaneous Casting (4)
Drawbacks: Death Wish (4),
Haunted (2), Life Saver (3),
Nightmares (2)
Other: Initiative +7, Move-
ment 9, Strength +2, Carry/
Lift: 50/100

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Breezy
After a near-death accident while skiing, Rosalie discovered her powers over the wind allowed
her to fly when any other helpless soul would have perished. It gave her a fresh look at life, and
she developed a laid-back and bubbly personality to match her name: Breezy. She found the
Seekers of Enlightenment, coming in long after the science stuff had begun, but also at a time
when they strongly needed a caretaker. The Donohue School for the Gifted was training the next
generation to become heroes the world could depend on… and then the president was killed.
The hysteria around AMPs, their impact on the world, and the safety of the young people
who also developed powers (as being an AMP wasn’t just for adults) caused a spike in enroll-
ment. The school became flooded not solely with applicants; these children were refugees
within their own country. These circumstances led Breezy to becoming not only a caretaker, but
the school’s dean. She retains her positive outlook but has paired it with the leadership neces-
sary to lead AMPs who aren’t known for their attention span. She was integral to the continua-
tion of the School as a whole after Doctor Luminous left, and she helps to maintain the mental
well-being of those who volunteer for the Aegis Squad. When her people are put in harm’s way,
however, there is no one else more qualified
to protect other AMPs than Breezy.

Sap Name: Rosalie Martin

Affiliation: Seekers of Enlightenment
Strain: Elemental
Integrity: 13, Juice: 4
Loyalties: Community 5, Comrades 2,
Love 5, Self 1, Truth 2
Skills: Athletics 4, Discipline 6, Em-
pathy 4, Intuition 6, Knowledge 3,
Medicine 5, Might 2, Perception 4,
Performance 3, Persuasion 7, Speed 4,
Survival 4, Travel 6
Primary Power: Air 8
Augments: Glide (E1), On the Air (T1),
Wind Defense (T1), Rush of Wind (T1),
Tornado (T2)
Secondary Power: Magic 5
School: Druidism
Rote Incantation(s): Dispel Magic
(EC4), Horn of Plenty (EC4)
Gifts: Attractive (2), Inner Strength (2),
Stable Psyche (3), Linguist (2 - French,
Mandarin), Defensive (3)
Drawbacks: Side Effect- Technology
Bad (4), Shy (3)
Other: Initiative +10, Movement 12
(22), Strength +6, Carry/Lift 50/100

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 Conduit
It had been a rough few years for Conduit, the AMP who left his life behind as Jeff Zitomer and
gathered the Changelings in a move to unify people whose powers made it impossible to live in
normal society. Hiding from the world, however, was not to be his final fate. After the government es-
tablished TRAC, the Changelings were enemy #1; they captured Conduit and put him through months
of public court hearings, where he took the blame for the acts of all AMPs and became the face of
humanity’s fear of people with powers.
The system began to collapse on itself, and Conduit escaped from prison and tried to hide once
more. This time, however, fate came looking for him. Shell, one of the Orphans, came with a warning of
the impending invasion and Conduit was the only one there to hear it. His power to absorb energy, as
well, siphoned Shell’s alien power giving him near-limitless immunity to the magic that was quickly
introduced to the world when the Orphans finally arrived. His path became clear... hiding was no lon-
ger the answer; the Changelings needed to protect humanity. With that new mission, Conduit began
spreading Shell’s gift to all Changelings, who became ambassadors of peace between all peoples and
defenders of the weak in a time where monsters
were all too real. He is a humble, soft-spoken
man, the perfect leader for an oppressed people.

Sap Name: Jeff Zitomer

Affiliation: Changelings
Strain: Blaster
Integrity: 16, Juice: 5
Loyalties: Community 4, Comrades 4,
Perfection 2
Skills: Athletics 6, Beast Handling 4,
Crafts 4, Discipline 7, Fighting 5, For-
titude 5, Intuition 5, Marksmanship 4,
Perception 8, Persuasion 6, Speed 3,
Stealth 4, Survival 3
Primary Power: Vampire 8
Augments: Energy Soak (T1), Energy
Hunger (E0), Replenish (E0), Siphon
Defense (E0)
Secondary Power: Enhancer 4
Augments: Distance Enhancer (E1),
Conductor (T2), Double Trouble (E1)
Gifts: Inspirational (2), Rank (5 -
Changelings), Hideout (6 - Size 3, De-
fenses 2, Entries 1)
Drawbacks: Continuous Power (2),
Life-Saver (3)
Other: Initiative +7, Movement 14,
Strength +6, Carry/Lift 50/100
Note: Due to Shell’s Gift, Conduit is im-
mune to all magic effects

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 Ether
Ether remembers little before their time beyond Earth. There are glimpses in their mind of the
starry-eyed little kid they used to be, but seeing pictures doesn’t jog any real memories, especially
since an Orphan’s body alters throughout their change. Upon returning to Earth, though, Ether reveled
in the agony they caused to humanity, slipping through portals to travel quickly and quietly. That was...
until they ran into a little human child, boy or girl — the concepts of gender were irrelevant — but this
kid looked Ether in their eyes and wasn’t scared. The kid was willing to die for family, and it touched
Ether deep in their own soul.
A soul. Ether remember they had a soul... that they were human... that they used to live on this
planet. Yes, the end of the universe revealed limitless knowledge, but nothing made Ether feel any-
thing in years. They renounced their Orphan status and looked within to recognize their humanity, be-
coming a Quisling. Causing agony and strife were no longer Ether’s mission; instead, saving humanity
from the Orphans became mission #1 — especial-
ly for the next generation who will look at Quis-
lings as heroes if Ether has anything to say about
it. The once-murderer has now become a warrior
for Earth, hoping to change perceptions and use
their portal-bending powers for good, instead of
evil; new concepts for them to contemplate.

Sap Name: ??
Affiliation: Unaffiliated
Strain: Traveler
Integrity: 13, Juice: 2, Essence: 3
Loyalties: Humanity 2, Love 2, Perfec-
tion 3, Self 1
Skills: Athletics 2, Discipline 6, Fight-
ing 4, Fortitude 3, Intimidation 3, In-
tuition 3, Knowledge 2, Perception 3,
Speed 5, Stealth 5, Travel 4
Primary Power: Magic 4
School: Orphans
Rote Incantation(s): Portal Attack
(EC3), Enhanced Portals (EC5)
Secondary Power: Portals 4
Augments: From Thin Air (E1), Vortex (T1)
Gifts: Ritual Magic (0), Spontaneous
Magic (2)
Drawbacks: Unnatural (2), Animal Bea-
con (2)
Other: Initiative +9, Movement 12,
Strength +2, Carry/Lift: 50/100

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 Faust
Formerly known as Hypno, the man who arose from the flaming wreckage of what Typhoon had
become was nothing like he had been before. He was still a man of principles, a man of cunning, and a
man who desired to make everything his and his alone. Something scared him in those days, however,
and the changes to his body, mind, and powers were just as apparent as the name he now bore: Faust.
He was a man who could give you the world, all it would take was a deal, a signature, and a promise.
Faust’s goals are complex, but he is always hospitable to those who would help him achieve his
goals. He would deal with the devil himself if it meant getting his desires; this makes him a far more
dangerous opponent now than ever before. This isn’t because he cares for violence, but because in so
many ways he has tasted his dreams, and now wishes to make them eternal. King in Shadows, behold-
en to none, and ally to any who wish to invoke his name. He will never stop in his desire to rule over
the criminal underworld, but he is still the nimble businessman he’d always been, even if now he must
work through proxies and meticulous manipulations. Faust is a man who is prepared to accept anyone
who needs him, with a sickly-sweet smile, and a burning gleam in his eyes.

Sap Name: Dorian Grey

Affiliation: Unaffiliated
Strain: Blaster
Integrity: 13, Juice: 3
Loyalties: Comrades 4, Humanity 1, Per-
fection 4, Self 3
Skills: Deception 7, Discipline 7, Empathy
5, Fortitude 3, Intimidation 5, Intuition 5,
Knowledge 5, Perception 6, Performance
4, Persuasion 6
Primary Power: Sin 8
Augments: Den of Sin (Pride -E0, Lust -
E0), Increasingly Devilish (E1), Revealing
the Truth (T2), Penance (T4).
Secondary Power: Mnemonics 6
Augments: Erase Memories (T2), Fabri-
cate Memories (T1), Read Memories (E0)
Tertiary Power: Battery (Fire) 2
Augments: Boost Juice (E1)
Gifts: Attractive (4), Connections 3 (TRAC),
Connections 4 (Underworld), Hideout (10
- Security 3, Size 5, Off the Grid), Stable
Psyche (2), Wealthy (5)
Drawbacks: Allergy (2 - Polyester), Bleed-
er (3), Not a Fighter (4), Code of Conduct
[Gentleman] (1)
Other: Initiative +4, Movement 5,
Strength +0, Carry/Lift 50/100

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 The Faceless
He got home from work, from the dead-end job that barely paid the bills. He grabbed a bag
of chips and shoved a ton in his mouth, while dropping his weight onto his love seat, because
he couldn’t afford a full-sized couch. With one hand he flipped on the TV, and with the other he
swiped left on any face that popped up on the app, hoping any one of them would be a match.
No such luck, however. On the TV the news talked about the latest Orphan incident, another
community saved by some hero AMP or TRAC, who was now working with the beings who were
once their enemy. The world had a short memory, but not Franklin. He remembered that the
Orphans were just AMPs at heart, AMPs who went too far, just like the Rampagers, yet another
monster that came to life when AMPs finally showed themselves.
Then the signal was lost and replaced with a familiar mask of the Faceless. They spoke of
a call to arms, a final stand against the AMPs and the Faceless needed more recruits. Franklin
looked at his life, the nothing he had done up to this point, and decided he would finally make his
mark on the world. He would become the
most fervent soldier in the Faceless army,
and he would finally get a chance to prove
himself. In the process, he’d save the world.

Sap Name: Franklin Black

Affiliation: Faceless
Integrity: 18
Loyalties: Community 1, Comrades 2,
Humanity 1, Justice 1, Perfection 5, Self
3, Truth 1
Skills: Athletics 3, Beast Handling 1,
Crafts 4, Discipline 4, Empathy 2, Fight-
ing 6, Fortitude 5, Intimidation 2, Might
4, Speed 4, Stealth 3
Primary Power: Gadgeteering 6
Gadgets: Improved Armor, Improved
Weapon, Made For You, Wear This Mask
Secondary Power: Martial Arts Mastery
Techniques: Body Hardening, Drawing
First Blood
Gifts: Wealth (2)
Drawbacks: Code of Conduct 2 (Failing
isn’t an option), Big Mouth (2), Deep
Sleeper (3)
Other: Initiative +4, Movement 12,
Strength +7, Carry/Lift: 150/300

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)
 Poli’ahu
The loss of Hawaii was especially hard on Poli’ahu of the Nā ‘Aumākua. Her role was as a
premiere warrior of her people who bid her to rid the islands of its enemies, and she did so with
extreme force. Hawaii was her home, the thing she fought so hard to protect from outsiders, but
she lost something else important to her as well. Pahoehoe, otherwise known as the Queen of
Hawaii, and Poli’ahu had a grand and beautiful wedding only days before the final attack stole her
love from her. Only the Nā ‘Aumākua knew the reason for her aggressive nature on the battlefield,
why she couldn’t stop no matter what. She needed to get back to Hawaii to find her wife’s body
and pay her last respects. The mainlanders knew not what they stole from her… it was much more
than just her home.
Poli’ahu made her to be a key personality when asserting their positions to the US president,
and in any battles that would put them even a step closer to reclaiming their lands. She pushed
Holoholona to compromise when necessary, but also knew not to give too much to those who
would oppress the Nā ‘Aumākua. Her blade was never too far away, and her proficiency in mag-
ic — which the Orphans wielded as a weapon — meant she got a lot of time at the front line,
both diplomatically and in battle. In the end,
she won’t be happy until Hawaii is at peace,
something she hopes not only to work for, but
to see one day.

Sap Name: Poli’ahu Kahale

Affiliation: Nā ‘Aumākua
Strain: Bulk
Integrity: 16, Juice: 3
Loyalties: Comrades 1, Justice 2, Love 4,
Perfection 3, Corruption 1
Skills: Athletics 3, Beast Handling 3,
Discipline 2, Empathy 2, Fighting 7,
Fortitude 6, Intimidation 7, Intuition 4,
Might 3, Perception 2, Speed 3, Stealth
2, Survival 4, Travel 2
Primary Power: War 4
Augments: Command the Battlefield
(E0), Sympathetic Comrade (T2)
Secondary Power: Behemoth 4
Augments: Boost Lift (T1-5), Boost
Jump (T1-5)
Mutation Tier: 2
Malformations: Sharpened Teeth
Deviations: Blood Sacrifice, Primal Nature
Gifts: None
Drawbacks: Bloodthirsty (3), Power Ad-
dict (4)
Other: Initiative +7, Movement 11,
Strength +14, Carry/Lift: 325/650
Note: May perform Counter-magic
with a +10 bonus.

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 Prof. Richards
Bad enough to have ghosts visiting from beyond the grave, supposedly just coming by to say hello,
but the undead starting to walk the streets is a bad sign even a blind person could see. Professor Rich-
ards always saw himself as an academic, able to separate his faith and intellect while he preached
about philosophical landmarks, and who taught his students how to think constructively. When a
former student who died in a car accident came back as a Twice Born cultivating a twisted obsession
with Professor Richards, however, things changed for the worse. The student harassed his family, and
forced them to go into hiding eventually, but he wouldn’t be pushed into the shadows.
Professor Richards let his family go but sought out ways to fight against the unkillable. How does
one scare someone who doesn’t even fear death? The Heralds of the End found him and showed him
the rituals needed to take down the Twice Born, which he promptly used. The rush of power, of taking
another life (borrowed or not) became too much to resist, however, and William joined the Heralds
before long. He sent word to his family to keep hiding... until he rid the world of all the abominations
that may cause them harm. One by one, he’s led wars against the undead, each time praising the an-
gels for giving them the tools. AMPs are one thing, but Twice Born are unnatural things that need to
be banished. Only Professor Richards can do so.

Sap Name: William Richards

Affiliation: Heralds of the End
Integrity: 9
Loyalties: Humanity 4, Justice 4, Love 2,
Perfection 2, Self 2
Skills: Athletics 2, Deception 2, Dis-
cipline 2, Fortitude 0 (-2), Intuition 4,
Knowledge 6 (+3), Marksmanship 4,
Medicine 3, Might 0 (-2), Perception 3,
Performance 2, Persuasion 1, Speed 1,
Stealth 3, Survival 1
Primary Power: Magic 4
School: Shamanism
Rote Incantation(s): Spirit Charm (EC4),
Entwined Souls (EC4), Commune with
Spirits (EC5)
Gifts: Ritual Magic (2), Pain Resistance
(4), Stable Psyche (2), Fearless (1)
Drawbacks: Elderly (4), Bloodthirsty (3)
Other: Initiative +5, Movement 8,
Strength +2, Carry/Lift: 50/100

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 Santa Muerte
Yvonne was always special. Her parents always said so, and on Dia de los Muertos (the Day
of the Dead) in 2018, she learned why. Waking up with a smile on her face, she saw her grand-
mother, Mama Tuti, at the foot of her bed. They spent all morning talking, and when her parents
walked in to greet her, she discovered only she could see her. At first, they chalked it up to her
imagination, Mama Tuti had died just a few months prior and maybe this was her way of coping,
but eventually they had to call in an expert. It was the most traumatizing experience in her
young life, being strapped to the bed and having holy water thrown on her while a man with a
white color spouted bible verses to the sky. That man didn’t live much longer, however, as her
grandmother and all her ghostly friends made sure he paid for hurting her.
Since they couldn’t be there all the time to protect her, Mama Tuti taught her how to sum-
mon the dead to aid her in times of need. Yvonne summoned her favorite pet, Rex, from her
backyard before running away. She knew being just a kid that she wouldn’t survive for long
on her own, but she gets by helping people who wish to talk to the dead and occasionally
terrorizing anyone who would cause her harm. It’s best to stay on her good side. There are
even rumblings of a small cult starting in her honor, but she knows from experience not to go
anywhere near religious fanatics.

Sap Name: Yvonne Valencia

Affiliation: Unaffiliated
Strain: Psych
Integrity: 13, Juice: 2
Loyalties: Humanity 1, Justice 2, Love 1,
Self 4, Truth 2
Skills: Athletics 2, Beast Handling:
2, Discipline 5, Deception 3, Crafts
4, Fortitude 5, Empathy 3, Intuition 5,
Perception 3, Speed 3, Stealth 2
Primary Power: Mediumship 4
Augments: Put to Rest (T1), Zombie (T1)
Secondary Power: Death 2
Augments: At Death’s Door (T1), Death
Proof (T2)
Gifts: Ghost Sensitive (4), Undead Dog (3)
Drawbacks: Kid (5)
Other: Initiative +8, Movement 12,
Strength +2, Carry/Lift: 20/20

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 Index
A H
Aegis Squad....50 The Hanger.....4
Affiliation Rules (New)......82 Hawaii....5, 16, 21, 30
Africa....75 Heralds of the End....44, 55, 81
All Soul’s Day...37
A.M.A.N.D.A....8, 33, 44
AMPs vs. The Orphans...50
I
Incantations....97
Aspects (Magic)....98
India....70
Atlantis....16, 34, 51
Italy...68
Australia...77

B J
Japan....69
Bangladesh...72
Bhutan...72
Blocks....27 L
Brazil...63 Letters from the Future....13, 20, 29
Lion of Africa....76
C
The Chain Gang....27, 52, 79 M
The Chamber....12 Magic....9, 15, 17, 42
Changelings....6, 35, 41, 53, 79 Magic Schools....100
China....73 Bocor....100
Colombia...64 Druidism....101
Crossovers....33, 53 Maleficium...102
Onmyodo....103
Shamanism....104
D The Matriarch....26, 32
Developing Stories...79
Mongolia...74
Donohue School for the Gifted....4, 59
Mystics.....5, 28, 56
Drawbacks (New)....85

F N
Nā ‘Aumākua.....21, 30, 57
Faceless....9, 54, 80
The Final Battle...38
O
Orphans...5, 8, 12, 18, 29, 38, 46, 50
G
Germany...67
Gifts (New)....85
Government vs. the Orphans....46

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 P S
Pakistan....71 Sample Characters....105-114
Powers...........86 Seekers of Enlightenment...7, 33, 35, 41, 44, 58
Death....86
Life...88
Mother Nature...89
T
Themes/Moods....78
Sin....92
TRAC....15, 25, 36, 44, 59
War...94
Twice Born....37, 40, 44
Magic....95
Typhoon....17, 26, 32, 60
President Aldridge...30
President Klein....4, 16, 26
U
Underground News Network....43
Q Unhuman...43
Quislings....27, 32
United Human Front....20, 61
Quisling Character Creation Rules....83
United Kingdom...66

R V
Rampagers....5, 12, 23, 28, 40
Venezuela....65
Retribution....36, 58
Russia....68
W
The White House....21

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Felipe Real (Order #15387488)