"INTERLUDE 1"

This is the first `between issues' time, where I intend for the turns to be less formal. Feel free to have your characters explore the outside world in any way they wish. Post their queries and investigations (or just plain explore their character), and I'll supply the information (and post it to the web site as I go). Think out at least a day or two (until the beginning of the next issue).

Each of the characters will easily learn the following information just from hanging around:

WUNDAGORE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX:

The complex has housed many beings of great power over the ages. Over time, these tenants have added and subtracted to the caverns nature originally provided. But many of the sub levels have been closed for decades, and only four main levels have been lived in much at all for the past several years.

The level all of the brood except Master Pheonix and Jonna Constantine are on is the main base level of the current Wundagore complex. From here there are elevators up in two different places. There is an elevator shaft down to the sub levels where the Brood were hatched, but the shafts are wrecked and full of rock and debris. The main level features a large bay that accommodates vehicle travel, with extensions to a landing outside the mountain. Also on this level are barracks type living rooms, a large kitchen and several storage rooms. The rooms have been unlived in for years and are mostly empty.

The next level up contains the living quarters for the Knights of Wundagore and the New Men. They are described by Bova as noble warriors who served the Master. She offers little other explanation. Most of the rooms are unused, except for three that house Bova, Felix and Skeeter.

The next level up contains common areas (recreation, dining and meeting rooms, one of which is currently being used as a library. There is an elevator on this level that leads up to the top layer, the former personal quarters of the High Evolutionary. This level is an expansive suite of rooms for various uses, now mostly empty except for the bedroom, sitting room and hall to the outside balcony. There will be maps of these levels on the web site soon.

INTRODUCTIONS:

Wundagore currently houses four individuals, who were here before the Brood were hatched. They are Mortimer Toynbee, AKA "the Toad," Bova, the original hand servant to the High Evolutionary and the ferret kids, Felix and Skeeter. A brief introduction of each follows.

Mortimer Toynbee:

The old man that stands before you is a self professed mutant, formerly called "the Toad." He was a member of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants. Magneto is the leader of a mutant's rights organization, but Toynbee left his company years ago. Magneto and the Brotherhood had disagreements with the High Evolutionary in the past and attacked the Wundagore complex. This was while Mortimer was injured, so all he did was monitor sensors for the battle's progress. However this attack lead to the subsequent attack on the mountain days later that killed the Knights, New Men and High Evolutionary. The Brotherhood of mutants occupied the Wundagore complex for a while, as did other groups. But eventually, only Bova and the ferrets were left. Mortimer, feeling his years slip by and not having much success in the outside world, finally happened upon the mountain complex and made it his home. He has been investigating it ever since, looking for artifacts of previous inhabitants. He has tried to clear the passages to the lower levels where the High Evolutionary's laboratories were said to have been, but has made little progress. Mortimer generally appears nervous, as though afraid of the Brood, or maybe afraid of what they might represent. He acts friendly and accommodating, though his actions lack sincerity.

Bova:

Half cow, half woman, Bova was one of the first New Men. They were animals the High Evolutionary genetically accelerated to intelligence. Never a warrior, she became the first and most loyal servant of the Master. She has stayed at Wundagore ever since (some 47 years) and knows the mountain, the surrounding countryside, and the history of Wundagore better than anyone. She is very quiet however, and seems loath to talk certain subjects. She is especially quiet about previous inhabitants of the mountain, mostly when Toynbee is present. You feel you will have to ask her specific questions to get more information. She radiates truth and goodness, but is slow, old and quiet for the most part.

Felix and Skeeter:

These two smallish (4 feet tall) beings appear to be a cross between human children and ferrets. They have a limited vocabulary, but appear to be very friendly and playful. They accomplish most of the cleaning and upkeep around the Wundagore complex, leaving cooking mostly to Bova but, as one laments, "Skeeter clean pots and pans." You get the feeling you will have trouble communicating with them. They appear to have sub human (or at least sub adult) levels of intelligence.

CURRENT EVENTS:

There is a lot of technology around the Wundagore complex. There is also artwork that suggest several mythological type creatures exist or existed nearby at some time. However most of the technology is not working any longer and art work is an unreliable indicator.

Most of the radio and television communication received at the mountain complex is local to the area. Aside from the occasional German report, most is in a language unknown to the brood. However, the pictures from the television reports, even in unknown languages, show a world full of costumed and `changed' peoples such as the brood. They fairly dominate the news reports. And certain brood feel a kinship to some of the figures seen on the telly. Jonna can point out many of them, regardless of the language of the broadcast, when she gets upstairs.

ISSUE ONE WRAP UP:

I'll post Hero Point awards, usage during the adventure and running totals tomorrow night. Please feel free to communicate as much as you want, both publicly and privately. But if you want a question or action to count, make sure you let me know about it. Some new Brood will be added during this interlude and I'll have the new player and lurker lists ready tomorrow night, as well.