Metaverse:The Episodes

Sentinel City

Episode 1: Hyperreality Bites Five strangers are forced into service on a mysterious mission, traveling to parallel universes and occupying the bodies of key figures. Their first world: surperheroes!...of reality TV?

Summary:

Mysterious agents for an unknown organization visited four individuals: a yoga teacher and secret cat burglar named Aquamarine, the aging rodeo queenRosie Harvin, and prison psychologist Jenika Clarkson. These three were coerced and blackmailed into blindly joining a secret program for purposes unknown.
Around the same time, Crash Jaxun, a professional gamer and hacker extraordinaire, showed up unexpectedly; he claimed to know about the program and demanded a chance to join it. Yet another individual, a technician for the program named Jebidiah Lexingon, was informed that his duties had changed and he would be joining the project as well. These five formed the core team for a mission that injects them into an alternate universe, where they occupy the bodies of strangers.

After a brief introduction to the Project Manager Col. Steve Richardson and Chief Engineer Dr. Samantha Simkins, as well as a vague explanation of the project itself, the pilots were directed into their metapods and immediately uploaded into their first alternate world--Earth 00668, Sentinel City.

The pilots found themselves in a waiting room, in the bodies of superheroes: Lady Veil, Hex Destiny, Mr. Moxie, Riptide, and Bombshell 3.0. These individuals had entered themselves in a competition reality show called American Sentinel, and they were grouped together for the team rounds, starting with a hostage situation in a bank. Unfortunately, a problem with another superhero with a prior claim forced Mr. Moxie to revert to his previous childhood title, Kid Titan, which he'd abandoned after writing a contraversial tell-all book about his experiences as a teenage sidekick.

The judges made a brief visit to the waiting room to welcome all of the contestants. They were:
--Doctor Dynamo, a one-time supervillain turned hero for the second time and a former member of the Sentinels;
--Katrina Callsman, owner of a well known superhero IP; and
--Encino Girl, who wielded the power of the valley.

Following an introduction from vapid host Bryan Seacrest, the newly branded Alpha Squad were sent into the challenge, where they proved less than stellar initially. They never got around to formulating a plan until fully mired in the problem. Some struggled to get into the building, while others were faced with Jackhammer, the Janitor, and the Curler inside. Kid Titan inexplicably began the challenge by punching the outside wall of the bank. Ultimately the were able to stop a lot of bank robbers, but not before Johnny Legion, another superhero with the ability to clone himself, swooped in and rescued the hostages out from under them.

It's only after the excitement of the challenge has faded that the team realize they have no logout interface and no way to step out of these avatars without outside help.

Transcript

GM Breakage count: 1
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Metapods, Crash Jaxun, Dr. Jenika Clarkson, Rosie Harvin, Jebidiah Lexington, Aquamarine, Hex Destiny, Lady Veil, Kid Titan, Riptide, Bombshell 3.0, Johnny Legion, Col. Steve Richardson, Dr. Samantha Simkins, Doctor Dynamo

Episode 2: Earth 00668

Trapped in the bodies of superheroes, the team finds themselves unwitting contestants on America's hottest competition: "American Sentinel."  They are sent to protect a mall opening, but is there something else afoot...?

Summary:

Following the failure of their first challenge, Alpha Squad sat together and discussed their performance. They came to two points of agreement:
1. Talking together and formulating a united plan is a better way for them to achieve success, and
2. Johnny Legion is kind of a dick.

The team immediately had to revise their list of irritating competitors, however, when Reddit Lad came over solely to insult and belittle them. They exchanged verbal abuse, and ultimately the team used their powers to attack him in multiple small but humiliating ways. The argument was only stopped by an intern stepping in and sending them off on their next challenge: security work at a newly opening Sentinel City Mall.

On the bus over, one of the show staff informs Kid Titan that he's scheduled next for the confessional, and asks if he can get a bit of preliminary interviewing done before. Through the course of this interview, we learn about Butch Baker's career as a private investigator, the infamous Rocketboots Incident, and the event that brought him back to super heroism.

The bus arrives at the mall shortly after. The dedication of the mall was planned to begin shortly, and the Mayor Cynthia John's crew is already setting up, so the team disperse briefly to explore the space, form a perimeter around the mayor, and any possible avenues of defense. As they do so, Kid Titan recognizes a very fashionably suited man standing near the mayor as Armor Guy, a preeminent former sentinel who has a particular beef with him regarding his writings. Reconvening, the team puts together a plan of action, wires a few of Bombshell's nanowasps to act as communication devices, and spreads out to look for potential threats. They listen with half an ear and a handful of salt to Armor Guy's welcoming speech, noticing an odd proliferation of mimes and other street performers. In the midst of the Mayor's speech, the mimes begin harassing some of the security guards, and four of them rush the stage at the same time the team hear screaming from the thirst floor.

Alpha Squad initially prove very successful, taking out most of the mimes right off, despite their ability to conjure walls through mime. The mimes are reinforced by a team of buskers wielding the power of really uncool music, however, and three villains, Chambermaid, Le Resistance, and Punch-and-Judy, used the chaos as cover to carry off a bystander. The team had to split their attention to clean up the remaining chaos in the mall and lasso the monorail serving as a getaway car. The villains are ultimately overpowered in an epic showdown in a monorail car, the hostage saved, but not before Riptide is knocked unconscious and Lady Veil dies and must regenerate.

After a brief moment of consternation as Hex Destiny tried to recall where she left the hostage, Alpha Squad return to accolades and discover that they have rescued no less than the British Ambassador to Sentinel City, Lord John Marbury, Earl of Cray, Marquis of Needham and Dolby, Baronet of Brisee.
For their success, the team members (with the exception of Lady Veil, who's still reincarnating)are given opportunities to briefly advocate for themselves as the next American Sentinel; their speeches are somewhat less than stunning, but well meant and well received.

GM Breakage count: 2
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Reddit Lad, Armor Guy

Episode 3: Finger Licking' Dead

The gang must race against a rival squad to defeat a "fowl" threat to Sentinel City.

Summary:

Little has happened in the week since Alpha Squad's previous challenge. They have been sequestered from one another with no opportunity to talk. Bombshell's nanowasp continues to harass Reddit Lad, who has no doubt had a bit of his own harassment to dish out in return. Kid Titan has noticed that his powers seem to be weaker and a little less reliable than usual.

One of the show interns asked for an interview with a member of Alpha Squad; his conversation with Bombshell was...not perhaps the best interview ever given.

A home world scientist attempted to communicate with the metapilots, but the connection is spotty and unreliable; she indicated that they'd had trouble retrieving the pilots but would keep trying. Jebediah corroborated this, stating that the metapod system is highly experimental.

All conversation ended abruptly with the arrival of armed soldiers, however, who led them to their transit to the next challenge. Aquamarine attempted to seduce one of the guards; she didn't get much information about the next challenge, but did garner herself a fanboy and almost acquired his gun. So the team were left to their musings, as the guards take them to a deserted center city location near an empty mall and leave them in favor of defensive positions around the perimeter. Nearby, the team does notice the presence of two other squads. One was composed of Reddit Lad and the Four Chans; the other was Plan A, consisting of Red Menace, Granny Mabel, Johnny Legion, General Panic, and the Conductor.

Before the teams can respond much to the presence of one another, they were shocked by the abrupt arrival of their challenge: a 50m tall golem fashioned out of assorted food court leftovers into the shape of a chicken.

Reddit Lad and the Four Chans prove less than effective in this challenge; it seems that a largely mindless chicken golem is not particularly vulnerable to psychological warfare. Aquamarine's seduction attempts (yes, you read that right) prove similarly weak. Reddit Lad and the Chans are temporarily incapacitated, and Aquamarine is killed (again). Our team begin eating and shredding as much of the chicken as they can, but it finds a way to regenerate itself from nearby fast food joints. Plan A was conspicuously reluctant to join this fight.

Recongizing the challenge, Alpha Squad paused briefly to construct a united plan. Aiding them was Hex's magic, which told her that the chicken golem seemed to depend on a series of focal points on the chicken's fowl body. Galvanizing them was Kid Titan's knowledge of geography, which told him that a major food distribution hub was a mile away and probably had enough greasy junk to make their foe unstoppable. A combination of grapples, spells, and blasts from the team assailed the chicken all at once, and for the first time it seemed genuinely distressed.

The team was startled, however, when Reddit Lad and the Four Chans launched their own attacks--not against the chicken, but against the female members of Alpha Squad. Johnny Legion also launched an attack, but against Riptide. Bombshell was unharmed, but Riptide had to pause and fight off Johnny Legion clones. Hex Destiny had toentirely redirect her assault onto herself to get Reddit Lad out of her head and away from her powers.

Reddit Lad finally gave up his control of Hex Destiny around the same time the chicken assault began to gain traction. Alpha Squad ripped off one wing and destroy a power node on its chest; Granny Mabel and the Conductor belatedly decided to break with Johnny Legion, uniting to destroy the other wing. In a final coup de gras, Kid Titan used the wrapping tangled chicken to bludgeon the Four Chans, which left it prone and open for Riptide to freeze the legs so the remaining members of Alpha Squad and Plan A could destroy them.

The remains of the magic that animated the chicken coalesced into an Amulet of Life and Death and Life missing a piece, so the remaining teams scoured the food court until they could find the remaining section and reconstitute it.

Before the showrunners can respond to this success, the pilots are unceremoniously sucked back into the metapods and their home world.

GM Breakage count: 3
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: the Four Chans

Episode 4: David Bowie's Codpiece

Yeah, it's going to be an a-maze-ing episode: we guarantee it.

Summary:

The day after our party had been ripped from Sentinel City and returned to their bodies in the metapods, they gather in a blandly beige conference room. The team has been examined both physically and psychologically, then allowed a chance to rest and eat in the entirely adequate but not exactly thrilling Program facilities.

In a briefing with Col. Richardson and Dr. Simkins, the team listened dully as a scientist, Dr. Linnea Johnson, briefed them on the computer readouts and results from their most recent trip. She noted that they had had trouble re-interfacing a given pilot with a particular world more than once, but believed they had a workaround they wanted to test.

When questioned about any insights they've gained from the trip, Crash stated his belief that Kid Titan and Bombshell 3.0 are each "hiding something." He noted that he only remembers Kid Titan's secret when in Sentinel City, however, and that while he was sure about Bombshell having a secret, he was also sure that Kid Titan couldn't tell that she was hiding something. Interestingly, Jenika had no stated awareness of any secret Bombshell might conceal. When questioned about it further, Jaxun stated that this world was detailed in a comic book series he reads, and the in the books, there is no Bombshell 3.0.

While Col. Richardson was eager to see the team return to Sentinel City, he felt that they needed a more experienced pilot to help guide them, codenamed the Operative, who was brought in. The team was less than thrilled by this new addition, even more so when the Operative resisted any invitation to share anything about himself including his name.

The insertion process went relatively smoothly, the players return to their previous avatars. Upon arrival, however, the pilots found themselves in unusual circumstances. Lady Vale and Riptide were in a room that resembles a German beer hall following a barroom fight, complete with a few unconscious people in traditional German garb. Bombshell 3.0 and Hex Destiny were in a small rectangular bare white cubicle with identical doors on each wall. Kid Titan and The Operative's avatar Hashtag Hashtag were in the midst of a fight with a group of animated tiny marionettes, who attempt to charm and garotte them. None of them had the nanowasps Bombshell gave them for communication.

With their characteristic determination, the team began to work their way through the challenges that faced them. Half a roomful of gun turrets was convinced to shoot rainbows instead of bullets; the other half is taken down by a swarm of hungry nanowasps. As the team slowly convene in a roomful of rainbows and defunct turrets, some of them pause to cavort among the colors and others pause to appreciate the view. And then they were off to the maze again.

No sooner do HashtagHashtag and Kid Titan escape the marionettes but they find themselves in a rock concert with undead bees.

GM Breakage count: 1
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, James R. Dean, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Marcus, Hashtag Hashtag

Episode 5: Permanent Down Vote

With two of their own accused of murder, the MetaPilots seek out the real killer/s. Or are their teammates guilty after all?

Summary:

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GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

Episode 6: A Real Losing Streak

A murderous conspiracy is afoot at American Sentinel, and it's up the The Alpha Squad to solve it -- before they're next!

Summary:

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GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

Episode 7: Johnny B. Good-ish?

Approached by an old foe seeking help, the Alpha Squad must decide how much risk to take in search of the truth.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

Episode 8: Collateral Damage Is A Given

Hunted by assassins while seeking shelter at the "American Sentinel" studios, the Alpha Squad find themselves under siege & responsible for the safety of countless innocent civilians.

Summary:

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GM: Chris Ode; Players: Vanessa Postil, Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

The Kingdom of Yosemite

Episode 9: Gunmen Of The Apocalypse

Ninja Emily Dickinson. Steampunk Richard Gatling. Druidic Johnny Appleseed. And a herd of zombies… or is that called a “shuffle”?

Summary:

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GM: Chris Ode; Players: Strix, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Dona Maria Vasquez de Villa, the Agent, King Teddy Roosevelt, Nick Krieger

Episode 10: It's Good To Be The King

Having found their quarry, the team must find a way to convince him to return to his native reality. But getting Teddy Roosevelt to abdicate the throne of Yosemite won't be easy...

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Lisa Coronado, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Slou Foot Sue, Tessa

Episode 11: The War Of Eastern Aggression

The citizens of Yosemite are under attack -- and only Ninja Emily Dickinson, SteamPunk Richard Gatling, Druidic Johnny Appleseed, "Not a Myth Anymore" Slou-Foot Sue, Aeronaut Orville Wilbur Wright, and King Theodore Roosevelt can save them.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Lisa Coronado, James R. Dean, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Wilbur Orville Wright

Episode 12: Smoke On The Water

The team finds itself facing a new threat while trying to protect an old ally: King Teddy Roosevelt is ready for war, and they have no choice but to join him. Note: the GM breaks more easily and dramatically when he's tired.

Summary:

Under attack from a strange monster made of folk, the team must jump back into action quickly and rethink their strategies; touching the monster seemed to cause sickness, and thrown weapons passed through it unharmed. Nothing seemed to have much effect until Gatling threw some methane and fire at it. In the midst of the fight, however, the monster revealed itself as a middle aged man, accosted the team for participating in the Project...

...And then was lost, as Crash, Jebidiah, and and Jenika were sucked back into their metapods. They were unharmed, but Marcus' metapod was smoking, which the technicians explained only as "unforseen consequences" of a "technical glitch" and refused to discuss further. In Marcus' place, the Project team saw fit to send Rosie Harvin to join the team again, and they were immediately re-injected back into the Kingdom of Yosemite.

When they returned to their avatars, the team found themselves by the side of the lake, under a crescent moon in late autumn. Most of the team were unchanged, but Johnny unexpectedly appeared to be in his 80's, and Rosie inhabited the Body of one Annie Oakley. King Teddy was in mid speech, attempting to rally the troops. He and Teddy's cousin Franklin finished their speeches, and the team quickly discern that their team are intending an amphibious assault on Lake Tahoe, take down a target known as A.C., and attack a hydroelectric dam there. The war continued--a conflict known variously as The War Between the Sides of the States, The War of Eastern Aggression, and the American Civil War: Electric Bugaloo.

The team begin the process of stealthily sneaking into the enemy camp, but inexplicably paused when Annie and Teddy insisted on a shooting contest. Emily was able to scout ahead more quietly while Gatling babysat the team, at least,

GM Breakage count: 2
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of: Annie Oakley

Episode 13: (Un)Dam It

The Industrialists have completed a new form of power plant capable of turning the war's tide, and it's up to the team to pull the plug.  But first, they'll need to seek help from a pair of old friends...also gorillas.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

Episode 14: The Nick Of Time

A hydroelectric threat in the middle of a desert & a metapod pilot unwilling to come home: The American Civil War 2 (Electric Boogaloo) is about to go off the rails for good...

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Matt Vancil, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Christian Doyle, Kelly Fuson First appearance of:

Magical Space Princess Galaxy Force 5

Episode 15: Galaxy Force 5 Chapter 1: The Prince's Diary

The team is inserted into a new Metaverse, one where Magical Girls and technology rule the day. Old allies and new join forces to become to face off against the greatest power this galaxy has ever seen!

Summary:

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GM Breakage count: 2
GM: Christian Doyle; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Lisa Coronado, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Chris Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Episode 16: Galaxy Force 5 Chapter 2: Kiss From A Rose

As Magical Space Galaxy Force 5 attempt to repair and rebuild Glamatron Base, they also attempt to understand Chad and his fascination with his turkey leg "Brad". Things become more complicated when everyone's parents show up for a visit.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Christian Doyle; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Lisa Coronado, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Chris Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Episode 17: Galaxy Force 5 Chapter 3: Clear And Present Rangers

The Sparkle Sisters, and Chad, prepare to enter the ultimate Battle of the Bands! They also discover hidden secrets and new realities over cherry pie at Joe's Diner.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Christian Doyle; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Lisa Coronado, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Chris Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Episode 18: Galaxy Force 5 Chapter 4: Battle Of The Bands Royale Part 1

Galaxy Force 5 finally heads to the Battle of the Bands to compete as The Death Sparkles. Once there they are finally confronted with Dark Queen Lorrianna and her evil plans!

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Christian Doyle; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Lisa Coronado, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Chris Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Episode 19: Galaxy Force 5 Chapter 5: Battle Of The Bands Royale Part 2

The team meets Lorrianna in a final confrontation in a desperate fight for the galaxy. Old friends return to aid them and secrets are revealed.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Christian Doyle; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Lisa Coronado, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Chris Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Return To Sentinel City

Episode 20: Supervillains Wanted

Having escaped from The Program, the pilots find themselves in the employ of The Founders. With more questions than answers and sent back to a previous metaverse, the team finds that trouble comes in all sizes.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Christian Doyle, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of:

Episode 21

The team must discover a way to unshrink themselves, deal with Bombshell's newfound godhood, and keep Johnny Legion's man bun in check. And this is all before they find out who is behind the murders in Sentinel City in the ultimate betrayal.

Summary:

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GM Breakage count:
GM: Chris Ode; Players: Maggie Ferguson Wagstaffe, Christian Doyle, Sarah Sanders-Ode, Vanessa Postil First appearance of: