Timeline

1978-1991

Late 1978

Wielding an ultra-lite compound bow and sophisticated arrows, a vigilante calling himself Grey Arrow halts a robbery at Big City's First National Bank. The incident receives little media attention, but is the first appearance of a hero in the world.

Early 1979

Two other heroes emerge in Big City - Avenging Angel, bearing bird-like wings and discharging electricity through a sword; and White Cobra, a mysterious figure who generates powerful kinetic energy from his fists. The abilities of both men are assumed by the public to come from mechanical equipment in their costumes, although this is disproven in later years.

Grey Arrow and Avenging Angel team up to foil Big City's first confirmed super-villian, an inhumanly strong man with a green skull for a face, dubbed The Monster. Although able to stop his late-night attacks on women, Arrow and Angel fail to bring him in custody. The Monster has not been seen since.

Late 1979

Police officer Paul "Sledge" Hamner is captured, drugged and brainwashed by the leaders of a growing criminal organization who wish to push his physical capabilities well beyond normal human maximum, and use him as a weapon against law enforcement.

Early 1980

During his first outing, Hamner witnesses the killing of a police officer during a bank heist. He snaps out of his drugged conditioning, experiences a phenomenal surge in size and strength, and captures the criminals. He becomes the world's first "super-hero," going by the name Sledgehammer.

1980

Sledgehammer announces the creation of Furies, an organization dedicated to battling criminals, especially those with beyond-normal capabilities. The world's first super-hero group is funded by the U.S. government, yet operates with few restrictions.

Furies' membership grows during the next six months. In addition to Sledgehammer and Grey Arrow, charter members include: Professor Clue, a master detective; Snowstorm, who travels on great ice ramps and generates snow squalls; Nucleon, who alters the DNA of inanimate objects; Klaxon, who controls sound to devastating effect; and Lightning Fist, whose ability to generate electricity complements his mastery of martial arts.

Although hundreds of villains appeared in Big City during the 1980s, Furies' primary nemesis from 1980 to 1985 is Fear, lead by the psionic powerhouse Vertigo.

1982

Iron Fist, a skilled martial artist, and Spark, a 17-year-old boy whose body was charged with electricity during an accident on a Navy submarine, join Furies. White Cobra is a member for about six months.

Granite, whose great strength comes from his super-human mass, founds the Super-Human International Force Team (SHIFT) in San Francisco. Its charter members include: Cyclone, a super-speedster; Mind Shadow, an alien with great mental powers; Sub-Micronian, whose dwarf-star generated powers make him microscopically small and incredibly strong; Red Dragon, a martial artist; Inviant, a magically summoned invisible giant; and FireDrake, a demonic-looking fellow with the ability to generate and manipulate fire.

Late 1982

Captain Wonder, the quintessential super hero, arrives in Big City in a single bound.

Together with Grey Arrow and rookie hero Neutralizer, Captain Wonder travels to Mexico and defeats a colony of ants who had grown in size and intelligence after being exposed to the radiation of a fallen meteorite.

Captain Wonder; White Dragon, a kung fu master; and Intimidator, a crime-fighter who frightens villians by revealing the demon hidden within him, join SHIFT.

Media coverage of super-heroic events begins in earnest. BCTV begins recurring coverage of the heroes in its area, lead by perfect-haired anchorman Brandon Courtney "B.C." Williams. Editorials and news stories about super-heroes are predominately supportive and upbeat.

1983

The U.S. government launches a super-patriot project. It produces three powerful figures during the year - the shield-toting Alpha-Prime, swordsman Captain Fury and the ultra-strong U-Man, the Ultimate Man.

Late 1983

DeadEye, a mercenary assassin who uses laser-enhanced firearms, shoots and kills Silver Serpent during a scuffle in Big City. Silver Serpent, a one-time villain obsessed with White Cobra who later joined his fight for justice, is the world's first hero killed in action.

SHIFT disbands.

1984

Suffering from cancer caused by the drugs that gave him his powers, a weakened Sledgehammer is killed at the hands of the Axemen (Hatchet, Axe and Saw). He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, with full honors. Tens of thousands attend the memorial service, and millions more watch the televised proceedings.

Fear member Big Time, the world's reigning professional wrestling champion, is dismissed from the group after refusing Vertigo's orders against attending Sledgehammer's funeral. Inspired by Sledgehammer's sacrifice, Big Time vows to become a hero.

A videotape left by Sledgehammer names Grey Arrow his successor. Arrow puts the decision to all Furies members, and is voted leader.

Mid 1984

As part of a deal negotiated with Big City authorities by Grey Arrow, Big Time is allowed to serve out his "parole" for past crimes by being a member of Furies.

1984-1992

Furies membership includes: Grey Arrow; Big Time; Phoenix; a fire-wielder; Princess, an Amazon warrior; Seeker, a power-ring wielder; Elasticite, a super-stretcher; Shocker, the hero formerly known as Spark; Ivy, a druid; Mr. Wizard, a 10,000-year-old wizard; and Starman, whose body is charged with cosmic radiation.

Short-term members during this time also included: U-Man; Black Widow, a martial artist with spider powers; Missing Link, a man with the ability to change into a giant gorilla; White Wing, a knight with magical armor; Emerald, a swordswoman; and The Ebony Knight (TEK), a man in a powered armor.

1985

The New York City Police Department creates a "Special Forces" unit to deal with street-level paranormal crimes. Members include MoonShadow, a vigilante detective; Pathfinder, a Sioux Indian with unparalleled tracking ability; Condor, a world-class helicopter pilot and aviation expert; and Stalker, a motorcyclist.

Early 1986

Furies battle master villain Doctor Dread in Big City Central Park, during which he casts Grey Arrow into another dimension.

1986

Fear's master of temporal physics, Time Lord, transports the group to early 1980, whereupon they waylay the arrival of police to Paul Hamner's first outing as a brainwashed villain. Sledgehammer, now failing to break free of the conditioning, becomes a powerful super-villain, reigning terror over Big City with the help of speedster-villain Mongoose.

Grey Arrow returns from an alternate dimension and discovers dramatic changes to the timeline. After being attacked at Furies headquarters by heroes mistaking him for villain Black Feather, Grey Arrow convinces Mr. Wizard and White Wing of what has happened. The three return to 1980, and ensure Sledgehammer's emergence from chemical brainwashing by safeguarding the arrival - and fated deaths - of several policemen to the scene. The timeline resumes its original path.

Spark changes his name to Shocker.

While attempting to rescue a group of children being held prisoner in an elementary school, the child-guardian Black Panther is killed while fighting Lion of the Council for Survival.

Late 1987

In a parallel universe, Watchmen is formed in Chicago by Jerry Swift, a billionaire philanthropist with the ability to predict the future. Its charter members are Aura, a powerful spirit known as a Lord of Order; Olympian, a multi-talented athlete; Runner, a super-speedster; and Castle, a rock-based shape-shifter. [W]

Several core members of SHIFT reform in San Francisco, under the name Guardians. Members are Mind Shadow, Inviant, Cyclone and Sub-Micronian.

A covert U.S. government organization, Poltergeist, begins operation. Headed by secret agent Bruce Colt, its members include: Sabretooth, a were-tiger; F/X, a movie special effects technician; White Whip, a mercenary adventurer; and Moonshadow, a vigilante detective.

1988

Olympian is shot and killed during a conflict with agents of the anti-mutant organization Genocide. [W]

Glow, a mutant with light-based powers, serves as an intermittent member of Watchmen. [W]

Late 1988

In a battle with the Incarnations, Aura heals a seriously wounded bystander on national television, giving rise to the belief he is able to resurrect the dead. [W]

1989

A nuclear bomb detonates in the Nevada desert, crippling Alpha-Prime and apparently killing Iron Guard. His body is never found.

1990

Anti-matter rips through the universe inhabited by the Watchmen. Jerry Swift, Aura, Runner and escape into the universe inhabited by Furies. Glow is killed in the crossing. [W]

1991

Runner takes a leave of absence from Watchmen following a falling-out with Aura. [W]

Iron Maiden, a teen-aged girl with superhuman strength, and Moonsword join Furies. Dr. Enigma, a dimensional traveller, joins Guardians.

During a fight with Furies, Fear member Disc is killed by Moonsword.

** This time period was not role-played during our campaign, due to a real 7-year playing gap in the campaign. The information here reflects projected events for characters. Actual play resumes in the year 2000.

1992

Public sentiment regarding super-powered beings sours. The general public, weary of super-powered battles in the streets, begin pushing through legislation that severely restricts the acts of supers.

Seeker is jailed for assaulting a vigilante hero. Grey Arrow resigns from Furies in protest, and the organization folds over the next few months. Aura, Captain Wonder, Iron Maiden and Cyclone are among the handful of heroes who continue to operate in the public eye. Others, including Grey Arrow and Bruce Colt, continue to work behind the scenes.

1994

The U.S. government reinstates its super-patriot project. Alpha-Prime's shield is passed on to the Amazon martial artist Miss America, who carries on the fight for truth, justice and the American Way.

Dr. Enigma leaves Earth to resume his travels.

2000

A new beginning...

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