Sometime in the last century, each of our soon-to-be heroes acquired super-powers in similar ways. Though your character might not even know it, each initial manifestation of power occurred immediately after eldritch energies rose from the earth, like glowing, slow-moving roots or ripples of electricity. After your powers manifest, the strange energies disappeared and you haven’t seen them since (if you ever did in the first place).

You’ve kept your powers secret, fearing what the respectable authorities would do to you if you were found out. But in the last two weeks you had cause to use your powers, and a local copper found out about it. Each of you were individually given some version of the following speech by Constable Edgar “Eddy” MacDougall, a burly Scotsman with a heart as large as his accent.

“Och, ye gave me quite a show, didn’t ye?” he says with a wide grin, his thick Glaswegian accent making his words roll together. “A regular ‘bang’ and ‘flash’, like somethin’ outta those Penny Dreadfuls!”

He then sobers, looking at you squarely in the eyes, “But we’ve got a matter of great importance to discuss. I belong to Her Majesty’s Irregular Investigations Office, or the IIO as we’re fond of callin’ it. We’ve been keepin’ an eye on folks like yerselves. Parahumans, that’s what ye are, right?”

Before you can respond, he continues, “No need to worry. We ain’t lookin’ to lock ye up or anythin’. Quite the opposite, actually. We’re offerin’ ye a chance to do somethin’ good, to use yer gifts for the benefit of all.”

From his pocket, he produces a card and gives it to you. The card contains the emblem of the IIO and an address:

The Queen’s Conservatory
The Goddess Athena
10:00am, March 5th, 1887

“I need ye to show up at this address on the card. Saturday, next week. Don’t be late,” he adds, “And don’t ye worry about bein’ noticed. The Conservatory ain’t what it seems. It’s our secret ‘home’, so to speak.”

With that, Eddy tips his cap to you, flashing a warm grin, “Lookin’ forward to seeing ye there. ‘Til then, stay outta trouble, eh?”

GM Note:

Feel free to describe what you were doing when Constable Eddy caught you using your powers and what your thoughts were on hearing about the summons to the IIO. Constable Eddy left you without answering any further questions. You don’t know the other PCs yet, but will meet on March 5th.

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