This October, House Dok begins a new Actual Play podcast set in the Metahumans Rising universe. The Three Rivers Academy is a secret school dedicated to helping educate Metahuman children in as safe an environment as you can have, given the student body. Each of our heroes come from very different backgrounds and have come to the school for their own reasons, from saving their family to learning humility.
To give everyone an idea of things to come it’s time to learn a bit about the school and who’s attending. Our first episode: Like a Hurricane will premiere next Friday, 2015 10 16 so stay turned and welcome to Three Rivers.
The Three Rivers Academy
In a secret location twenty five miles north north west of Phoenix, AZ, the Three Rivers Academy was established by veteran hero Moon Dog after the Lensing Conflict in 2002. Birth place of the original Phoenix Shield the school has operated successfully for eight years.
Built on a natural six hundred acre plateau the school consists of five central buildings and the ranch. There are two dorms, housed on opposite sides of the school, north and south, consisting of ten quad apartments. Each quad contains four bedrooms connected by a central kitchen/living space and two bathrooms. Whenever possible older students are assigned to quads with newer children to help them adjust to the school. School Faculty maintain five modified quads for the eight teachers, five facilitators and two maintenance employees. While designed for up to eighty students the highest attendance was in 2005 with sixty seven students.
Our Heroes
Arianna Corazón de Sousa
A Brazilian heiress to a massive coffee fortune Arianna was sent to Three Rivers to try and temper her growing disconnection from everyday people and disgust of anyone she does not see as being of the same social stature. Gifted with amazing strength, agility, endurance and beauty Arianna’s powers sadly, only reinforce this arrogance.
Arianna’s life has not been without tragedy though. Last Spring Arianna lost her mother to an attack from a homeless Metahuman in Phoenix. While she may not admit it, Arianna blames herself for her mother’s death because the Metahuman’s intended target was her, after she needlessly pushed him off the sidewalk calling him a peasant while walking past.
This has shaken Arianna. Unfortunately, she feels she can’t show this publicly and has refused to show any real change.
Origin
Generational
Catalyst
Atone for my actions
Drives
Noblesse Oblige
Learn to Respect Others
Am I Really That Shallow?
Soren “Quick Steel” Stal (Søren Fljóturstál)
Raised by his father, Soren grew up traveling Northern Europe studying Norse culture and myth. Home schooled, Soren was trained in Runic Lore and ancient fighting styles. Unfortunately, his father didn’t spend much time on more secular study giving Soren a rather focused education. How he came to Three Rivers involves the loss of both his father and uncle over a sword.
After returning to the US Soren’s father sought out his brother. Caught off guard, Soren did not see how the fight started only that his uncle killed his father with a mysterious sword. Before he could explain though the house was beset by strange creatures of Norse Legend. In the protracted battle the uncle fell as well. To escape Soren used the blade to defend himself and fled. He spent days on the street fighting for his life against an onslaught of these creatures.
Broken and hiding in an alley, Soren was found by a local detective. The officer seeing the child had no place to go arranged for him to hide at Three Rivers. And, while Soren has been there for several months now, he has only just begun taking classes.
Origin
Trained Badass
Origin
Familial Conflict
Drives
Keeper of Tyrfing
Protect Innocent Bystanders
I’m Part of a Team Now
Steve “Reflection” Moore
After displaying his powers Steve lost his home. Taken in by The Burning Ashes, a local street gang, he put his talents to use as a spotter. With a touch Steve could take the appearance of anyone. While with the Ashes Steve picked up the name Reflection. While things seemed welcoming at first Steve was shot by a fellow gang member and left for dead.
Found by the cops, near death Steve spent months in the hospital then with a Metahuman Crime Prevention Officer at the local police academy. Steve could never really control his shape shifting and while at the academy he found a new passion, running. It was a sport he could play, even excel and never worry about touching someone.
He couldn’t stay with the local police forever though. With no home to go back to the MCPD officer arranged for Steve to attend the Three Rivers Academy.
Origin
Generational (Mutant)
Catalyst
The only place I can be me
Drives
Gender Inequality
Stabilize/Deescalate Situations
Empathize with those he copies
Mina Shirdel
A second generation Iranian-American from North Texas Mina’s hair began to fall out when she was 13. Snakes began to grow in it’s place. Unsure what to do her father eventually turned to their local Imam afraid to approach the police or other government officials. Scared what might happen to his family, he didn’t tell the Imam that the snakes were growing from his daughter’s hair only that his house was infested.
The Imam gave them a blessing to drive the snakes out without harming them: I adjure you by the covenant which Noah made with you, and I adjure you by the covenant which Solomon made with you not to harm us.
This however dis not affect the changes happening to Mina. Unsure, the parents drew deeper into their faith. Praying to find a solution. Unabated, the snakes continued to grow. Fearful what was becoming of her daughter Mina’s mother turned to alcohol.
Seeing this the father returned to the Imam, this time telling the truth. Listening to the father he explained that they should not fear these changes. Reaching out to an old friend the Imam was able to have the daughter enrolled in the Three Rivers Academy.
Origin
Non-Human
Catalyst
Prove the Serpents are a blessing
Drives
Stop bullying them!!
Familial Loyalty
Peaceful Resolution
Metahumans Rising
Developed using the Open Action System, Metahumans Rising focuses on recreating the experience of a comic book. Characters roll dice based related characteristics. Each character has a pool of Willpower that allows them to modify their powers in creative ways and achieve any number of other related effects. This pool is fueled by their Drives, motivations that push them to go beyond their limits.
