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West Coast Watchdogs, a Superhero Team RP

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UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#1: Nov 5th 2025 at 11:08:37 AM

"The year is 2010. It's hard to believe that, not even a full year ago, the Earth stood at the brink of oblivion. Disaster rained from the skies, the earth and seas darkened as monstrous, terrible things from beyond the reality we know crossed over. Ancient powers and factions revealed themselves anew to a wider world that had long since become ignorant to their existence, and hidden hands revealed their machinations. The world was struck with a crisis of supernatural proportions.

We learnt two things that day.

The first: there are malevolent forces working in the shadows of our society, as doomsday cults revealed themselves and attempted to usher the world to an end. Some, in the chaos of the crisis revealed their powers, skill and/or genius and engaged in gross hedonism, only compounding suffering for their own apparently short-lived gain. The worst the world, we, had to offer, on full display. Villainy on an unprecedented scale.

Second: there were benevolent forces from the shadows as well. Ancient mystical orders, the stuff you might have heard in some legend or crazy evangelical conspiracy theories, revealed themselves, bringing their contingencies to full bear. But they were too few, the threat too wide-spread, and with other cults working against them, hope was slim. And so other individuals and organisations stepped out into the light, people possessing powers beyond human or technology beyond our scientists wildest dreams, or just plain uncanny skill and grit. Even the Earth and the comsos itself seemed to rage against its end, as a chosen few were empowered to be avatars of their will. Gods long thought dead walked the earth again. Aliens, actual aliens from other planets and galaxies, made their existence known, working to save the earth out of bevolence or honouring of some deal.

With the combined effort of such heroic individuals across the globe, across planes of reality, across time even, the planet was saved, and our end halted. But many lives were lost. The biggest names in the game are gone, entire cities now in ruins, even wiped off the map, and the world is still forever changed.

The world we knew, where supersoldiers, cults and shadowy power-holding organizations were the thing of conspiracy theories, where aliens were the object of speculative fiction, and the idea of "magic" was scoffed at in serious scientific circles, was gone. Metas are no longer simply quaint curiosities, with the occasional story of saving the day from criminals and disaster, regular or meta, being shared on social media. Metas and meta-tech, as it's come to be termed, are now firmly in the cultural spotlight, as the wider populace and systems struggle with the implications of their existence and what to do about if a new crisis emerges.

Who could possibly police such entities, apart from each other? Should the wider world be subject to the whims of their personal moralities? When 1 meta is the worth of an army's amount of tanks, who could stop them, apart from another meta? What should happen if more heroes fall when the world is in danger? The status quo is challenged, and our world continues to change.

We were saved from the end, but the world was reborn that year.

- Alexandra Hirsch, The Meta Narrative


In the Great Crisis of 2009, which ended 9 months ago, many of the major population centers across the world were devastated by an ongoing stretch of worldwide threats and villainy. In its wake, a multitude of new cities have arisen in and near the ashes of the old. San Alvaro, California, is one such town. At 9 months old, San Alvaro is one of the earlier reconstruction efforts, taking in refugees from across the Californian Coast, mostly from the ruins of San Francisco. 9 months, and the city's central hub is a metropolis that stands in a race to return to the glory of the old, thanks to the help of metas and metatech, although many of the outer sprawls are repurposed commercial buildings and the furthest reaches can only be described as "refugee shantytowns" as reconstruction can only progress so far so quickly. For every metaperson that helps the city, though, others threaten it. Even regular people, in the heart of such uncertain and morose times, make themselves opportunists of others.

This is where our story starts, in the district of Upper South Peak. One of the more relatively well-off districts of San Alvaro, sandwiched between the inner metropolis of shiny new buildings and the outer ring of refugees, although that's not to say it's all sunshine and rainbows. Reconstruction has finally reached this part of San Alvaro, and its many repurposed buildings are now being restored to proper working order, and larger businesses are beginning to start up again. Life has a passing resemblance to that before the catastrophe not even a year ago, and hope stands renewed.

The world stands on an uncertain precipice, locally, globally, galactically, and where it goes to from here is anyone's guess. But it's clear that the time of the Meta is now, to become a hero (or anti-hero), even if it begins in your local neighbourhood. And sometimes, you can't do it alone.


Hello there, and welcome to West Coast Watchdogs, a superhero RP inspired by western superhero comics. West Coast Watchdogs focuses on an up-and-coming team of superheroes as they band together and make a name for themselves fighting crime and supervillains in the city of San Alvaro, and maybe even further beyond.

The rules are simple:

  • There's no need for a strict power-balancing, rather working on the general principle of "as the plot/scale demands" that so many comics do. After all, the Avengers has "actual Norse god of thunder" and "regular human who shoots a bow and trick arrows really well" both be major members of the team and equally capable. Rather, the focus is more on the team, their dynamics with each other and the reaction of and to the world and events that happen around them. Do try to keep things relatively in line though. Stuff like blanket total invulnerability, large scale reality warping, etc things that basically can trivialise a plot make for very poor storytelling, and should be saved for select moments, if appearing at all.

  • I reserve the right to have countermeasures in play for the sake of drama and plot in the case of things like teleportation.

  • When, because it happens with superhero teams all the time, characters come to blows with each other, no godmoding. We're here to tell stories together, and communication is key.

  • Your character can be a dick. Not all heroes are nice. You, however, should not be. Be respectful to the other players.

  • We have a Discord server. Attendance is required.

With all that said, onto the sheet.


Signup Sheet

  • Name:

  • Alias: (A super name, if any. Metahumans are facing scrutiny, so secret identities are encouraged)

  • Age:

  • Personality:

  • Powers/Skills/Gear/Etc:

  • Backstory: (How did they get here? What's the origin of their powers? You don't need to answer every question though.)

  • Hooks: (Optional. Basically, what aspects of your character's concept/backstory are you willing to allow me to handle and put twists on? Things like the origin of their powers, connections to people or groups, etc. I'm a collaborative GM first and foremost, and this is your way of signaling how you want your character's story included.)

  • Misc: (Anything you feel doesn't fit in with the rest.)

Edited by UndyingPhoenix on Nov 5th 2025 at 9:12:03 PM

Faelisya Since: Jan, 2022
Enirboreh AKA Nixer from the domain of infinite floof. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
AKA Nixer
#3: Nov 5th 2025 at 12:07:27 PM

  • Name: Krista Eisberg
  • Alias: Arctica
  • Age: 27
  • Appearance:
    • As Krista: A glamorous woman with short black hair and blue eyes. Usually seen wearing the latest fashions; favouring furs and tight dresses. Stands at around 5'9" in height.
    • As Arctica: Equally glamorous but with whitened hair, and a much more overtly skimpy fashion sense. Carries herself with more dramatic flair than her civilian persona.
  • Personality: Quiet, aloof, and bold, Krista separates her civilian persona with her superhero persona entirely through dramatics. While those who know her only as Krista may think of her as being unassuming but cool and collected, her Arctica persona is much more theatrical and outwardly cocky, with a biting wit and a sly smirk on her face. In either case, she is a private person and is often closed-off with her emotions, preferring to make a superficial impression and put on a display rather than show her true colours. Deep down, Krista has a strong sense of justice and gets a profound enjoyment out of her hero work, and fears the possibility of superheroes being overly restricted or even barred from the streets. Interpersonally, Krista tends to maintain her sharp tongue, demonstrating a preference for tough love and getting uncomfortable whenever someone around her is acting emotional.
  • Powers: As Arctica, Krista possesses a variety of magical ice powers, including the power to conjure up and manipulate constructs such as sharp icicles or large slabs of frost. She is capable of freezing her enemies solid with beams of frosty energy, though the magical properties of her ice prevent those frozen by her from harm. In fact, her ice has a certain healing quality to it, meaning that those struck by her icicles tend to heal quickly after removing them, and she can even conjure up sprinkles of frost in order to help rejuvenate the injured. Her control over her local temperature is such that she can keep her body comfortable even when surrounded by ice, allowing her to withstand extreme cold without so much as shivering, and she can even freeze raindrops before they hit her to stay dry. Krista can use her powers to get around quickly, skating on icy surfaces that she can generate in front of herself, or launching herself into the air by conjuring a pillar of ice beneath her. Krista's costume is also a magical construct, made of tiny threads of ice, and she can change its design at will. Krista cannot control ice that doesn't come from her, unless she incorporates her magic into it through touch.
  • Backstory: An aspiring model and fashion designer, Krista worked several small-time gigs in her hometown in Germany before eventually moving to America to further her career. Shortly after the disastrous events of 2009, Krista decided to move to the newly-rebuilt San Alvaro specifically, hoping to face minimal competition and establish herself as a fundamental pillar of the fashion scene there. While studying the local trends, Krista discovered a unique icicle earring being sold on an online auction, which she promptly outbid the competition for and purchased in order to build an outfit around the accessory. Without realising it, she had in fact bought an ancient magical relic that was being actively sought after by someone else at the auction, who owned the other matching half of the earring set and was furious upon losing their chance to buy it. Ignorant to this, Krista soon discovered the earring's magical properties after it bestowed ice powers on her upon wearing it, and after a few months of experimentation, created her own superhero persona to take advantage of her new abilities. Seeking to establish herself as an up-and-coming hero, Krista is naive to the importance of the artefact she has in her possession, and her motivations for choosing this path may very well soon be tested.
  • Hooks: The magical icicle earring has no origin known to Krista, and she is so far oblivious to the other potential buyer of it that owns the matching counterpart.

Edited by Enirboreh on Nov 5th 2025 at 8:09:39 PM

bork
kagescorpionakki Breath of the Sun from Long Ago Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Breath of the Sun
#4: Nov 5th 2025 at 12:35:25 PM

  • Name: Alexander Nichols
  • Alias: Alchemist
  • Age: 20
  • Appearance: A young man of average height with shaggy dark hair. Generally always looks tired, his brown eyes perpetually sagging. Lanky and thin, Alex is not a particularly muscular sort, though he's not out of shape either. His costume is a simple black bodysuit and mask, over which he wears a golden hooded cloak. The back of his cloak bears an alchemical hexagram.
  • Personality: Alex is polite but not particularly respectful. While he won't snap or get angry with people, he will not hesitate to point out their flaws. He's not a people person, and has trouble at times empathizing with others. At his heart, however, Alex is heavily utilitarian, wanting the best for the most people, and dislikes violence when it isn't absolutely necessary. He's very studious, and places importance on intellect and reason, though understands the need for emotion at times, even if he himself is not very emotional.
  • Powers/Skills/Gear/Etc:
    • Material Transmutation: By touching something inorganic, Alex can gain an understanding of its physical composition, break it down, and restructure it into a new form. This process is not instant and takes longer the more material he affects; while theoretically he has no upper size limit, spreading the 'energy' he uses to transmute takes exponentially longer the further away from himself he pushes it. In addition to reshaping, he can change materials from one element to another, such as lead to gold. Like with size, the more distant the elements are on the periodic table, the longer it takes to turn one into the other. In combat, Alex generally sticks to quicker, small-scale tricks such as pulling weapons from walls or trying to bury an enemy's feet in the ground.
    • Equipment: Alex's hero outfit is comprised of advanced nanomaterials of his own construction, making it highly impact resistant and unable to be pierced by most blades and bullets. He tends to carry raw material on him, usually in the form of armbands which he can shift into weapons or tools as needed.
  • Backstory: Alexander is the son of Dr. Edward Nichols, a single father and a researcher specializing in materials science. Alex's mother, Esmerelda, left shortly after his birth, and only in the wake of the Crisis did he understand why; she was some kind of metahuman, and Alex had seemingly inherited her powers. He's unsure what part of the Crisis caused his powers to activate, but not long after they did he received a letter from his mother explaining that she left to protect him, having somehow sensed the potential within him to awaken metahuman powers, which she believed might make him a target of her enemies. However, she promised she'd see him again one day. Realizing he had the ability to bring about change, Alex decided that while he awaited his mother's return, he'd dedicate himself to bettering the world however he could.
  • Hooks: He doesn't know who his mother's enemies are or why they'd want to target him.
  • Misc: Alex's Theme

What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
NotPeppermint The Friendly Awakened Arcanist, Ulrich from Laplace Scientific Computing Center (Troper Youngling) Relationship Status: Mmmm...chocolate hearts
YOUMOTHERSPORKER I'm very utensil-ly! from your kitchen, Which is every troper's kitchen (Troper Youngling) Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
I'm very utensil-ly!
#7: Nov 6th 2025 at 8:41:36 AM

I got intrest... and an idea!

Every time I go on here, It's a NECESSITY that I shove my soul onto a marvelous, priceless spork, held only by a haunted glove. Cool, right?
This Unarmed Goon from Umburgh Since: Mar, 2021 Relationship Status: A cockroach, nothing can kill it.
Unarmed Goon
#8: Nov 6th 2025 at 9:03:57 AM

Interested.

"It's Thane! Whack him!"
PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#9: Nov 6th 2025 at 12:16:09 PM

Formally putting my interest here.

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
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