“The Eighth Legion,” Player Characters for Jason E.R.’s “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, using Icons (previously DarkPages and the Cortex: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game), as of spring 2014:

• “Kyle Martins / The Cloaked Quarrel” [Gene D.]-male human college student and legacy crime fighter with mystical crossbows

• “Tim Gray/DarkStorm” [Bruce K.]-male metahuman, experimented upon by the government, amnesiac weapons designer for Oryx Industries, armored vigilante, and team leader at subway base

• “Rain Tomotowa/Thunderbird” [Sara F.]-female Native American, exiled demigod able to change into a giant eagle, onetime park ranger now working in a pet shop

• “Matthew Shanks / Merlin” [Josh C.]-male incubus sorcerer and occultist with an ancient family legacy; member of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave

• “Samuel Adams Jackson/ The Stranger” [Beruk A.]-male human Buffalo Soldier released from Purgatory, time-displaced bounty hunter with dark force manipulation and shadowy steed Gabriel (from Gene’s Mutants & Masterminds: “Drake’s Port” and Josh’s Dresden Files: “Dallas” scenarios)

• “Erwin Schrodinger/ Erwin72” [Brian W.]-male replicant, law enforcer from an alternate timeline with the ability to tap alternate dimensions

• “Empty Spoon” [Rich C.G.]-male metahuman, Tibetan refugee with mystical air control (apologies to Avatar: the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) and speed, seeking revenge for the destruction of his monastery

• “Adriana Novak/ Phantasm” [Brian S.]-female metahuman, former magician’s assistant turned permanently invisible; used the power of illusions to commit crimes but trying to turn over a new leaf

“Hamliton, Delaware, 28 to 29 January 2014:” After preventing a prison breakout and fighting supervillains working for a mysterious new mastermind, members of the Eighth Legion regrouped at their secret subway base.

The Cloaked Quarrel, the Stranger, Erwin72, and Empty Spoon tell DarkStorm, Thunderbird, Merlin, and newcomer Phantasm about how they learned of rumors of a criminal mastermind plotting a three-stage attack on their city.

Erwin72 and Thunderbird go back to the secret metahuman prison beneath Hamilton’s Korean War Memorial downtown to try to track Inferna and Maxwell’s Demon, who escaped. Inferna’s molten footprints fade after several steps, suggesting that she shifted back to human form.

The Cloaked Quarrel texts Conchita Melendez, a blogger following the vigilante community. She tells him that Maxwell’s Demon was a member of the “Seventh Legion,” a previous band of colorful characters. The demon apparently wore a glowing yellow gargoyle costume and was also known as “Anomaly S48,” with the power of “quantum manipulation.”

DarkStorm contacts police detective Scott Scowronski and learns that Dmitri Chesnokov, a former colonel in the Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) and recent employee of mob boss Viktor Ozerov, is being held at the James T. Vaughn Sr. Correctional Center.

Scowronski also says that the Stevens Inneman Refractory Co. (SIRC) had a false alarm a few years ago, but its building in the Fairmont neighborhood has had no other incidents.

The Stranger explains that a hatch in a tunnel near the “Fortress of Fortitude” led to a SIRC financial center that strangely lists only one employee. Harvey Thorne is a 30-year veteran who has an address in Kings Gate. Secretary Abigail Williams calls Kyle, who posed as a real estate developer, to move up his appointment with Thorne to 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

The Eighth Legion splits into three squads. DarkStorm, the Cloaked Quarrel, Empty Spoon, and one of Erwin’s duplicates drive to the prison to interrogate “The Colonel.” The Stranger, Thunderbird, and another Erwin go to the South Market to shake down criminals to find out more about the mastermind.

Merlin, Phantasm, and yet another parallel Erwin go to Sharp Harbor to visit three old ships said to be involved in one of the meticulous but insane schemes. The vessels are the U.S.S. Superior, a frigate from the War of 1812; the Icefish (SS-367), a World War II Balao-class submarine; and the Bullock (AK-165), a WWII Alanosa-class cargo vessel. The last ship also served in the Turkish merchant marine, was renamed the S.S. Edime, and was refurbished by tobacco firm D.J. Sharif.

At the Vaughn jail in suburban Smyrna, Del., the Cloaked Quarrel talks with warden Richard Gladstone, who is grudgingly grateful for heroic help stopping the recent breakout attempt. The Cloaked Quarrel manages to resist the temptation to taunt personal nemesis Palmetto.

DarkStorm questions Chesnokov and pretends to be a sympathetic super-soldier, at least until the Colonel sees Empty Spoon looking into the holding cell.

At South Market, the Stranger pulls his revolver on a local drug dealer. He pulls him into an alley, then into a pocket of darkness. Thunderbird shifts to avian form to follow, even as startled bystanders record the incident with their smartphones.

At Sharp Harbor, Merlin and Erwin take a tour of the three antique warships, while Phantasm slips away from the group to explore the Edime’s cargo hold. She finds five stripped-down video game cabinets and vending machines that dispense Devil’s Head candy.

Col. Cheznokov tells DarkStorm that Empty Spoon fought well and that his newest boss pays generously. The mercenary declines DarkStorm’s counteroffer and asks for the time, confident that he’ll soon be released.

The Stranger dangles the druggie, who says that a flash mob is planned for the Ramseir Museum of Natural History, the site of previous misadventures. As the three teams compare notes, word comes over the police scanner of mass trauma at the museum.

The Eighth Legionnaires race to the scene, where several people appear to be suffering seizures and are bleeding from their mouths. Thunderbird smells tomatoes and guesses that these pranksters are the flash mob. Phantasm projects an avatar and talks with the police, while Empty Spoon quickly searches the museum.

From the renovated glass dome, the martial artist can see people gathering around a Tyrannosaurus Rex and chanting. The late Erichtho (a.k.a. Anna Lucia Schizzitano) once animated that skeleton during an attempted heist of a jade dagger. The remaining flash mobbers disperse.

However, another alarm has gone off at the Baylus Museum of Science and Technology, and the police radio says those guarding the 1,200 inmates at the Vaughn facility are again in danger. DarkStorm takes Thunderbird, Empty Spoon, and an Erwin to the prison.

The Cloaked Quarrel takes the Stranger, Merlin, Phantasm, and another Erwin to the Baylus Museum, and yet another version of Erwin heads back to Sharp Harbor to make sure the ships are secure.

Another helicopter sits in the prison yard, this time a larger military model. In avian form, Thunderbird unleashes a sonic scream and pecks at the cockpit, scaring the pilots.

Speedster Empty Spoon runs into Inferna, who sends fiery blasts at him and armored DarkStorm. Erwin leaps to catch up, and gunslinger Stranger’s shadowy steed Gabriel tries to trample the villainess.

DarkStorm draws his shotgun, but neither his bullets nor Empty Spoon’s air control affect Inferna. She gets away, and DarkStorm is surprised to find that both guards and prisoners appear to have died, bleeding from the mouth like the flash mob foreshadowed. Thunderbird finds a remote detonation device in the helicopter, more evidence of a diabolical plan.

Erwin suspects a Rudolph-series replicant, whose precognition was used to enforce the law in his home dimension. DarkStorm and Thunderbird wait for more state troopers to arrive, while Empty Spoon rides the winds to join the Erwin at the docks.

Meanwhile, at the Baylus Museum, sniper Cloaked Quarrel and company see Jeanne Baylus talking to police. She explains that “Pixels,” a special exhibit of 1980s video game consoles, has been robbed.

Phantasm notices a dazzle disc on the ground and recognizes it as a souvenir from Flashbang, a former colleague in the “Technoluminati.” Illusionist Phantasm tells her new companions that the group probably conducted the heist and includes Flashbang, dark force manipulator Blackout, reflective speedster Ricochet, and power drainer Mundane.

Wizard Merlin and duplicate Erwin examine the captions in the exhibit curated by Ernest Gutner. They describe the Hamilton Gaming Co., before eventually being sold to D.J. Sharrif. The lead programmer was one Frank Zorn, who created several best-selling video games from 1980 to 1984 before disappearing.

Strangely, characters in those games, such as “The Devil’s Den,” seem to predict the Eighth Legionnaires! Over the radio, the Stranger speculates that somehow Harvey Thorne and Frank Zorn are the same person, and Erwin says that the as-yet-unidentified mastermind might be able to see the future.

Merlin casts a spell and determines that the game parts have been taken to Sharp Harbor. The Stranger, Merlin, and Empty Spoon argue over where to go next in trying to thwart the hidden mastermind’s plans.

The Erwin incarnation there reports that he sees the Technoluminati leaving the S.S. Edime and boarding the Icefish. The entire Eighth Legion converges on the ships.

Erwin notices the Technoluminati checking their watches. The Cloaked Quarrel and Empty Spoon head toward the sub. However, Maxwell’s Demon appears and begins to phase out with the cargo vessel.

DarkStorm, the Stranger, Erwin72, and Empty Spoon jump onto the Edime as it vanishes, leaving the Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird, Merlin, and Phantasm with the Technoluminati on the Icefish….

Fellow role-players, here are Jason’s and Gene’s notes for “Glassworks” Session 3.4, which Brian W. hosted in Newton, Mass., on Monday, 17 March 2014:

“The Eighth Legion,” Player Characters for Jason E.R.’s “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, using Icons (previously DarkPages and the Cortex: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game), as of spring 2014:

• “Kyle Martins / The Cloaked Quarrel” [Gene D.]-male human college student and legacy crime fighter with mystical crossbows

• “Tim Gray/DarkStorm” [Bruce K.]-male metahuman, experimented upon by the government, amnesiac weapons designer for Oryx Industries, armored vigilante, and team leader at subway base

• “Rain Tomotowa/Thunderbird” [Sara F.]-female Native American, exiled demigod able to change into a giant eagle, onetime park ranger now working in a pet shop

• “Matthew Shanks / Merlin” [Josh C.]-male incubus sorcerer and occultist with an ancient family legacy; member of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave

• “Samuel Adams Jackson/ The Stranger” [Beruk A.]-male human Buffalo Soldier released from Purgatory, time-displaced bounty hunter with dark force manipulation and shadowy steed Gabriel (from Gene’s Mutants & Masterminds: “Drake’s Port” and Josh’s Dresden Files: “Dallas” scenarios)

• “Erwin Schrodinger/ Erwin72” [Brian W.]-male replicant, law enforcer from an alternate timeline with the ability to tap alternate dimensions

• “Empty Spoon” [Rich C.G.]-male metahuman, Tibetan refugee with mystical air control (apologies to Avatar: the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) and speed, seeking revenge for the destruction of his monastery

• “Adriana Novak/ Phantasm” [Brian S.]-female metahuman, former magician’s assistant turned permanently invisible; used the power of illusions to commit crimes but trying to turn over a new leaf

“Hamliton, Del., 30 to 31 January 2014:” The heroes known as the “Eighth Legion” pursued leads to stopping a mysterious mastermind’s plot across parallel dimensions. In Hamilton, the Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird, and Phantasm saw a submarine carrying the “Technoluminati” be taken out to sea and questioned Stevens Inneman Refractory Co. (SIRC) employee Harvey Thorn.

Meanwhile, in the alternate universe of Lepton City, Erwin72, the Stranger, DarkStorm, and Empty Spoon met mobsters at the Iron Orchid Migraine Cabaret and fought Maxwell’s Demon at the Helix Towers.

In Hamilton, the Cloaked Quarrel and Thunderbird return to their secret base of operations in an abandoned subway station. Merlin, who has been interviewing potential apprentices, is surprised to learn from Kyle that SIRC robots have taken trophies from their base and from Rain that members of the mystical Conclave are leaving the city.

At Helix Towers, the Stranger tries to blind the glowing Maxwell’s Demon with a patch of darkness. Erwin72 chases Jani Gold, who is trying to steal an advanced computer processor from a safe. DarkStorm punches Maxwell’s Demon through another floor, causing more structural damage.

Empty Spoon, a.k.a. “Saffron Lightning,” leaps down after the so-called demon. DarkStorm hangs onto him, “riding the lightning.” However, once he’s out of the force field protecting the bridge vault, Maxwell’s Demon regains his powers.

Merlin conducts some online research about reclusive video game programmer Frank Zorn, whom is suspected of being able to see possible futures as well as a murderous mastermind. Matthew notices that one entry has been edited by Ernest Gutner, a German “Zorniac” or fan last seen at the Baylus Art Museum shortly after it was robbed by the Technoluminati.

The occultist also notices that “Zorn” is German for “wrath” and is probably a pseudonym. He, Kyle, and Rain go to the museum and pose as college journalists to interview Jeanne Baylus. She says that the exhibit of classic games will continue and that Gutner has been helpful. Baylus also notes that the young man can be found at Hamilton’s hall of records.

Over in Lepton City, gunslinger the Stranger creates portals of darkness to teleport down. Gold pulls out her twin Zero-Approach Kafka-Cell hand cannons, forcing local law enforcer Erwin72 to dodge. Armored DarkStorm and martial artist Saffron Lightning continue chasing Maxwell’s Demon, even as the huge Helix Towers start to collapse around them.

Gold shoots at Erwin, presses buttons on the vault, and disappears! Saffron Lightning and DarkStorm slam into Maxwell’s Demon, rendering him unconscious. The skyscraper crashes down, destroying several city blocks. The Stranger later finds pieces of bioroid Erwin72 in the wreckage.

Gold reappears next to the vault, and DarkStorm knocks her out. Tim realizes that the combination lock displaces people through time unless they press the right combination of tiles [see Quirkle ]. He, Sam, and Empty Spoon figure out the moves, and open the safe. It releases a mutagenic phase cloud, so the Stranger must retrieve a metal briefcase.

From the Baylus Museum, the Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird, and Merlin head to the municipal archives. Merlin casts a locator spell, which finds the submarine with the Technoluminati beached in a remote area of southern New Jersey. The Cloaked Quarrel agrees to a road trip and calls blogger Conchita Melendez.

She points out that more people are connected by the birth date of Feb. 27, 1933. Not only was fugitive SIRC employee Harvey Thorn born on that date, but so was Rosa Gualtero, who was rescued by the Black Hat [Gene D.], who allegedly traveled back to 1942 [see Jason’s “DarkPages: The Gate With Dreadful Faces” one-shot].

In addition, Russian mobster Viktor Ozerov, magnate D.J. Sharrif, and tech boss James Orex share that birth date!

Gutner does prove helpful, and Kyle again poses as a fellow student and Zorniac to persuade him to share his research on Zorn’s true identity. Together, they find a Franz Keidel born to Richard Keidel and Rosa Gualtero in 1962 in a house in suburban Fairmont. Before going to New Jersey, the Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird, and Merlin take Gutner to the house.

As emergency response units and other synthetic humanoids arrive at the ruins of Helix Towers, DarkStorm turns Maxwell’s Demon and Jani Gold over to the local authorities. The Stranger is unable to find enough remains of Erwin72 to heal. Saffron Lightning leads the way back to the ship on which they arrived in this world.

As they drive to Fairmont, the Cloaked Quarrel and company make some phone calls. He warns the Red Right Hand, a helpful but violent vigilante, that something big is coming. Kyle also tells warden Richard Gladstone to secure the corpses of prisoners killed during a second incident at the James T. Vaughn Sr. Correctional Center in Smyrna, Del.

The same spell used to animate a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton at a natural history museum might be used to create an undead criminal army. Gladstone says he’ll call Sgt. Scott Scowronski, his man at the morgue. Merlin reviews his applicants: well-connected Mihai de Burigny; Priory, recommended by his father, Soul Mage; and natural talent Domini.

The trio finds the Keidel-Gualtero house uninhabited. The Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird, and Merlin talk Gutner into joining their search inside. It looks like Franz’s parents left some time ago, but the outside of the house is still maintained, and it still has electricity.

An antique desktop computer and a high school binder provide the only clues — juvenilia concerning “Dexter Crimson: Private Investigator.” They’re enough to confirm that Franz Keidel became Frank Zorn and that he had the ability to perceive across time from an early age. The group also finds a Masonic bible.

The would-be heroes drop off Guttner and the laptop, swear him to secrecy, and head after the Icefish, the World War II sub that shadows released by the Stranger had taken to the site of a sunken German U-boat.

In New Jersey, Merlin casts a spell drawing DarkStorm and Empty Spoon back to their home plane of existence. Reunited, the “Eighth Legion” approaches the beached vessel and looks for signs of the Technoluminati. One soon appears in the form of a flash grenade!

The Cloaked Quarrel, the Stranger, and Merlin are briefly incapacitated by Flashbang, a former cohort of Phantasm before Silverfish set her straight. DarkStorm tries to fire Gold’s gun but finds that it’s DNA-locked.

Empty Spoon takes down fellow speedster Ricochet, who drops a case. Former super soldier DarkStorm then chases Flashbang, and arcanist Merlin casts a lightning bolt. Gabriel, the Stranger’s shadowy steed, turns into a normal horse, thanks to Mundane’s power drain.

The Cloaked Quarrel uses his custom crossbows to fire a sticky bolt at Mundane, but the sniper’s flare bolt is deflected. Blackout uses a force field to evade the Stranger. Empty Spoon ties up Ricochet.

DarkStorm finally knocks down Flashbang, and Blackout only briefly eludes the team in the woods. Empty Spoon calls for local police and waits with the three supervillains. The submarine is empty, but the case contains a 9-rotor Enigma code machine.

Because the unidentified mastermind’s plans for Hamilton are still unfolding, everyone but Empty Spoon and the prisoners heads back to Hamilton. The Cloaked Quarrel calls Gutner, who says that the old computer contained two quotes:

“Already the Father has sent enough of snow and
dreadful hail upon the earth, and having hurled with
his red right hand his thunderbolts at the sacred citadels,
has terrified the City.” -Horace’s Odes 1:2

“What if the breath that kindl’d those grim fires
Awak’d should blow them into sevenfold rage
And plunge us in the flames? Or from above
Should intermitted vengeance arms again
His red right hand to plague us all?” -Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” 170-174

The Cloaked Quarrel is disturbed to hear a seeming reference to the Red Right Hand, but he agrees that the verses confirm that Keidel/Zorn has had apocalyptic visions and must somehow be stopped.

DarkStorm plans to take the data from the SIRC machines and check it with the code machine, while Merlin hopes to use magic to track down the current location of “Wrath.” Swift Thunderbird and Empty Spoon are sent to check on the prison morgue, as the Chinese Year of the Dragon fast approaches….

Fellow role-players, here are Jason’s and Gene’s notes for Session 3.6 of the “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, which Brian W. hosted in Newton, Mass., on Monday, 7 April 2014:

“The Eighth Legion,” Player Characters for Jason E.R.’s “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, using Icons (previously DarkPages and the Cortex: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game), as of spring 2014:

• “Kyle Martins / The Cloaked Quarrel” [Gene D.]-male human college student and legacy crime fighter with mystical crossbows

• “Tim Gray/DarkStorm” [Bruce K.]-male metahuman, experimented upon by the government, amnesiac weapons designer for Oryx Industries, armored vigilante, and team leader at subway base

• “Rain Tomotowa/Thunderbird” [Sara F.]-female Native American, exiled demigod able to change into a giant eagle, onetime park ranger now working in a pet shop

• “Matthew Shanks / Merlin” [Josh C.]-male incubus sorcerer and occultist with an ancient family legacy; member of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave

• “Samuel Adams Jackson/ The Stranger” [Beruk A.]-male human Buffalo Soldier released from Purgatory, time-displaced bounty hunter with dark force manipulation and shadowy steed Gabriel (from Gene’s Mutants & Masterminds: “Drake’s Port” and Josh’s Dresden Files: “Dallas” scenarios)

• “Erwin Schrodinger/ Erwin72” [Brian W.]-male replicant, law enforcer from an alternate timeline with the ability to tap alternate dimensions

• “Empty Spoon” [Rich C.G.]-male metahuman, Tibetan refugee with mystical air control (apologies to Avatar: the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) and speed, seeking revenge for the destruction of his monastery

• “Adriana Novak/ Phantasm” [Brian S./ absent ]-female metahuman, former magician’s assistant turned permanently invisible; used the power of illusions to commit crimes but trying to turn over a new leaf

“1 February 2014:” After defeating supervillians in parallel universes, fighting zombies at a prison, and investigating disappearances and kidnappings, the “Eighth Legion” regroups at its not-so-secret base of operations at an abandoned subway station in Hamilton’s Fairmont neighborhood.

The vigilantes review a coded list with marginal notes by Ricochet, a onetime co-conspirator of Phantasm in the “Technoluminati.” The list is from a printer similar to the antiques removed from the SIRC warehouse above their base.

The would-be heroes decipher some of the locations and people listed in the fragment of plans by the as-yet-unidentified insane mastermind, believed to be reclusive video game programmer Frank Zorn, aka Franz Keidel. Previous evidence suggests that he has the ability to glimpse potential futures and nearby realities.

They also try to correlate the data with recent battles with other metahuman teams and data such as the fact that several notable Hamiltonians share a birth date of Feb. 27, 1933. After again debating what to do next, the superheroes split into squads.

The Cloaked Quarrel and recently returned Phantasm drive to southern New Jersey to question Ricochet further. The Stranger tries to track the shadow creatures that escaped from one of his portals and later appeared at some key battles.

Erwin72 creates duplicates to go with each squad. Thunderbird visits Harrow House, a home for outcast familiars, to talk with headmistress Rebekah Dejardines. Merlin casts a locator spell to find the “quintum” chip from Lepton City that Rasayana stole.

DarkStorm contacts Oryx Industries to review security footage of the kidnapping of CEO James Orex and his daughter Maggie Orex (Tim’s girlfriend). The recording shows Orex being dragged from his limousine by someone holding an amulet. Empty Spoon initially accompanies DarkStorm but then joins Merlin to check on Metion, the Wind Lord.

On the way to New Jersey, Kyle recalls some past cases, and Adriana calls ahead to the prison holding Ricochet using one of her law-enforcement aliases. Back at the base, Matthew finds that the chip seems to be in his extradimensional library.

Sam follows the shadowy trail to a cavern, where he sees two people and a horse in chains and a woman drawing dark energy from them. She says, “You’re early” before the mystical bounty hunter teleports back to Hamilton.

At Harrow House, Rain learns from Urvogel, an archaeopteryx with an Elizabethan ruff, that Dejardines, like much of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave, has departed. The shapeshifter also notices Devil’s Head candies, which an imp is eating without apparent ill effect. Grizzel Greediguts apologizes for eating the Enchantress’ (aka Rebekah Dejardines) candies.

DarkStorm checks Sharp Harbor (“L032” on the printout), but with two of the three historical ships gone, there are no additional clues to connect onetime “Devil Doll” Maggie and her missing father to the hidden mastermind’s schemes. All other costumed crime fighters have recently gone missing.

Other lines in the printout refer to the Baylus Museum (L031), people not to be harmed (P003 and P122), and both the Technoluminati (G034) and the Eighth Legion (G008). The secret mastermind has apparently accounted for all variables.

Flamboyant mage Metion greets Merlin and Empty Spoon. He claims to know nothing about why the Conclave is abandoning its home city. When Merlin asks for a lozenge, however, he offers a Devil’s Head candy (X007) and says he had hoped that the Wizard (P064) would take on Mihai de Burigny as his apprentice, even as “P010” (possibly Zorn) is in charge of the Red and Blue Society.

At the prison, the Cloaked Quarrel (in civilian garb) feeds illusionist Phantasm questions as she impersonates Samantha Telling, or vampiric supervillainess Sanguine. Phantasm then identifies herself as “Agent P045” to Darick Farkash, a.k.a. Ricochet, in an attempt to draw him out.

Ricochet claims that he worked on three “subroutines” and admits that the Technoluminati didn’t destroy an Enigma code machine (X011) taken from a German U-boat (L023) as instructed. Ricochet also refers to Phantasm’s mentor Silverfish as “P037” and his sidekick Firebrat as “P038.”

In addition, the captured criminal alludes to two “traitors” — “P094” (possibly Phantasm herself) and “P122,” whom Erwin believes is Ernest Gutner, a “Zorniac” and fan of Zorn’s video games. Sanguine promises to eventually help Richochet escape and to put in a good word for him with the mastermind.

The Eighth Legionnaires reconvene at their base. Merlin, the Stranger, Thunderbird, and Phantasm enter his library. All the books on the pocket dimension’s shelves have been replaced with volumes of Milton’s Paradise Lost and Horace’s Odes, both of which were quoted by an adolescent Keidel/Zorn.

Merlin finds a bowl of Devil’s Head candies with a note in his own handwriting reminding himself to eat. The acting head of the Conclave has a flash of being tortured and force-fed. Grizzel, who came with Thunderbird, gobbles much of the candy.

The Cloaked Quarrel notes that the Devil’s Head candies are similar to the Indian Head candies used to create the bandaged female arsonists known as Devil Dolls. The latter mind-controlling sweets were manufactured by a defunct company bought by D.J. Sharrif. Kyle check’s Matthew’s apartment for more candy, while Erwin looks for Ernest.

The Stranger recommends heading straight to the dark dimension where he saw people being drained of energy. The Cloaked Quarrel and Empty Spoon agree, but they are outvoted when Merlin writes the missing verses in the books of poetry. The books disappear, and five video game consoles magically appear.

The Devil’s Den game includes characters eerily similar to the Stranger and Merlin, while Legend of the Four Winds features Empty Spoon. Versions of Erwin and Phantasm inhabit the Lepton City game, and Tim is pleased to see Operation DarkStorm.

The Cloaked Quarrel and Thunderbird put a candy in the slot to start up the Jade Bow game, which disappears, along with both of them! The young archer and shaman find themselves on a grassy plain where Mongol-style and ancient Chinese troops are fighting.

Kerbala of the Green Flame, a mystic they remember from a prior meeting, appears and exhorts them to join the fight. Kyle dons the Jade Panoply, while Rain shifts to giant eagle form and sees a nether dragon snaking through the battle.

The Cloaked Quarrel strikes the monster with glancing blows, and Thunderbird draws its attention. Kerbala casts a spell, and just as the dragon is about to devour the Cloaked Quarrel, Thunderbird calls out for Kittaguka to aid them, using her true name. The Cloaked Quarrel and Thunderbird find themselves chained to the wall of the cave that the Stranger had described.

Shadow Queen announces the arrival of “P063” and “P064” and turns to a dragon cage, where Rain’s mentor Kittaguka is imprisoned. Kyle recognizes the “Amazing Mr. Fantastic” [Brian W./Non-Player Character], “Shadow Fury” [Bruce/N.P.C.], and “Nightmare” [Sara/N.P.C.]. The Shadow Queen adds that “P025” is secured.

Back in Merlin’s library, DarkStorm tries to play his eponymous game. He finds himself back in the Cold War and is briefed on a covert mission to infiltrate the Soviet Cosmodrome at Baikonur. Tim parachutes into the virtual installation and is soon surrounded by Mandroids serving supervillain Kraken.

DarkStorm leaps over the Mandroids and knocks out Kraken with a punch. When a rocket launches, the armored hero manages to deactivate the controls, apparently “solving part of the shadow interface.” He also finds himself in the cave with Shadow Queen and her prisoners.

After losing a few teammates, the Stranger decides to create a dark portal to get himself, steed Gabriel, Empty Spoon, and Phantasm to the cave. Merlin eventually follows via his own magic.

Thunderbird and the Cloaked Quarrel struggle with their shadow-reinforced bonds. Erwin72 pulls out his pistol and shoots at the energy-draining machine containing the quintum chip. His bullet bounces off a force field. Empty Spoon tries to suck the air from around Shadow Queen and Dream Hunter, another supervillain.

The Stranger draws shadows from the manacles but is unable to grab the chip. DarkStorm bursts out of his restraints, while Phantasm picks the lock on Thunderbird’s. Merlin steps through one of Phantasm’s illusory replicas and joins the fight.

Thunderbird, back in eagle form, attacks Shadow Queen and the dragon cage, but to no avail. Erwin also shoots at the dominatrix, stunning the Coven member, while the Cloaked Quarrel strains at his cuffs. Astride Gabriel, the Stranger tries to trample Shadow Queen and dodges a shadowy blade.

Empty Spoon is less fortunate and is injured, and DarkStorm puts back on parts of his armor. As he did once before, Dream Hunter forces some legionnaires to swap bodies. Sniper Cloaked Quarrel, in the Stranger’s body, shoots at Dream Hunter.

Gunslinger Stranger, in Merlin’s body, blasts Dream Hunter, knocking him out and allowing the mage to return to his own body from Thunderbird. Rain had found herself in boyfriend Kyle’s relatively weak body.

Replicant Erwin shoots at the cage, and martial artist Empty Spoon blows the energy-draining machine away from Kittaguka, whom he then frees. The team grabs its gear, the device with the quintum chip, and the other prisoners.

The Cloaked Quarrel helps the Amazing Mr. Fantastic, Shadow Fury, and Nightmare leave Merlin’s library and the base so they can get medical treatment. The Stranger pushes a ball of numerous spirits summoned by the Shadow Queen back to a realm of darkness.

DarkStorm helps restrain the Shadow Queen and Dream Hunter so that local authorities can take them away. Thunderbird stays with Grizzel and Kittaguka, whose cintomanni (dragon pearl) is cracked. She is too weak to return to human form and squeeze out the exit from Merlin’s library.

Merlin and Erwin72 go back to Metion at Indian Beach. They find the mystic packing to leave for the “Atlantean Redoubt,” which they realize might be the site (L002) visited by the Technoluminati aboard World War II-era submarine Icefish and where they were supposed to deliver the Enigma message.

Empty Spoon finally visits herbalist and sifu Kunzang Tenzin, who treats his injuries. Tenzin mentions that Shadow Queen is the one who destroyed Empty Spoon’s monastery, causing the speedster to race back to the base for revenge….

Fellow role-players, here are Jason’s and Gene’s notes for Session 3.7 of the “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, which Rich C.G. hosted in Waltham, Mass., on Monday, 12 April 2014:

“The Eighth Legion,” Player Characters for Jason E.R.’s “Glassworks: the Devil’s Den” superhero scenario, using Icons (previously DarkPages and the Cortex: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game), as of spring 2014:

• “Kyle Martins / The Cloaked Quarrel” [Gene D.]-male human college student and legacy crime fighter with mystical crossbows

• “Tim Gray/DarkStorm” [Bruce K.]-male metahuman, experimented upon by the government, amnesiac weapons designer for Oryx Industries, armored vigilante, and team leader at subway base

• “Rain Tomotowa/Thunderbird” [Sara F.]-female Native American, exiled demigod able to change into a giant eagle, onetime park ranger now working in a pet shop

• “Matthew Shanks / Merlin” [Josh C.]-male incubus sorcerer and occultist with an ancient family legacy; member of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave

• “Samuel Adams Jackson/ The Stranger” [Beruk A.]-male human Buffalo Soldier released from Purgatory, time-displaced bounty hunter with dark force manipulation and shadowy steed Gabriel (from Gene’s Mutants & Masterminds: “Drake’s Port” and Josh’s Dresden Files: “Dallas” scenarios)

• “Erwin Schrodinger/ Erwin72” [Brian W./ absent ]-male replicant, law enforcer from an alternate timeline with the ability to tap alternate dimensions

• “Empty Spoon” [Rich C.G.]-male metahuman, Tibetan refugee with mystical air control (apologies to Avatar: the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra) and speed, seeking revenge for the destruction of his monastery

• “Adriana Novak/ Phantasm” [Brian S.]-female metahuman, former magician’s assistant turned permanently invisible; used the power of illusions to commit crimes but trying to turn over a new leaf

“2 February 2014:” The “Eighth Legion” raced to foil a mysterious mastermind’s schemes, journeying to prisons and alternate dimensions. The superhero squad continued following various leads.

Thunderbird stays with her mentor, the shaman Kittaguka, who is stuck in dragon form in the pocket dimension used by Merlin for his library. Kittaguka’s cintomanni (dragon pearl) is cracked and drained as part of an attempt to harness its power.

Merlin goes to Indian Beach with Metion, the Wind Lord, a fellow member of Hamilton’s mystical Conclave. Several other mages and vigilantes have gone missing because of mind-controlling Indian Head and Devil’s Head candies. Merlin and Metion hope to summon a true Atlantean.

Empty Spoon leaves his sifu (teacher) Kunzang Tenzin, who was also influenced by the insidious sweets, back at the legion’s secret base in an abandoned subway station. Empty Spoon races after the police car holding supervillains Dream Hunter and Shadow Queen because he has learned that the latter was responsible for destroying his monastery.

Erwin72 is nowhere to be found as the remainder of the Eighth Legion strategizes at its base of operations. The Cloaked Quarrel says the top priority should be stopping Franz Keidel, a.k.a. reclusive video game programmer Frank Zorn, who is believed to be behind a plot to unravel the multiverse.

DarkStorm is more concerned with rescuing magnate James Orex, founder of Oryx Industries, and his daughter (and Tim’s fiancee) Maggie. Phantasm notes that the “quintum” chip, which DarkStorm gave to Orex before he was kidnapped and is now part of a device in Merlin’s library, is key to thwarting Zorn.

The Stranger senses that the dark sphere he took from the Shadow Queen and hurled through a portal has grown into a black hole, collapsing that dimension and draining his powers.

Empty Spoon punctures a tire and flips the police car carrying the two criminals. He drags the unconscious police out of the vehicle and interrogates Dream Hunter and Shadow Queen, who escapes as soon as she realizes her power-dampening restraints are damaged. Empty Spoon trashes the cruiser to eliminate any evidence and leaves Dream Hunter.

Merlin contacts his companions as he and Metion successfully summon an ancient submarine. Nephos, the anemo potiro (automatic pilot, literally “wind pilot”) of the Pa-ka-na, (“Sword”) hovers insubstantially above the organic vessel and apparently speaks English, despite having been alone at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for millennia.

The Eighth Legion reconvenes at the Delaware beach. The Cloaked Quarrel asks Nephos if he can convey the group to the nearest “Atlantean redoubt,” where Zorn’s followers and captives are suspected to be gathering. The ghostly man agrees, and the costumed crimefighters board the submarine. Metion, Kunzang Tenzin, and Kittaguka stay behind.

Hamilton’s protectors are surprised to find that the Pa-ka-na is a biomechanical ship, with no recognizable equipment or controls. The Cloaked Quarrel and DarkStorm watch Nephos on the bridge, while the others explore strange chambers connected by sphincter-like hatches.

They encounter a boarding party of humanoid newts, an ancient race of high-pitched creatures who believe that they can finally attack Atlantis if they seize control of the sub. The humans manage to talk them into leaving, but the anemo potiro says that he can’t keep them out without disabling weapons, which include egg-like torpedoes.

The submarine drops off the strike force at the redoubt, and Nephos agrees to wait nearby. The Eighth Legionnaires crawl down a narrow tunnel, and invisible Phantasm scouts ahead.

She sees a cavern with a large Atlantean statue, as well as a pale woman, a six-armed swordsman, and a martial artist with blades for feet. Adriana reports back to the others and creates illusions of them entering the chamber before they actually do so.

DarkStorm attacks Lady Snow, but the ice ninja dodges. The Cloaked Quarrel fires glue bolts from his crossbows, briefly immobilizing clockwork-enhanced Feng Bo. Phantasm sends illusory Erwins after Lady Snow, Merlin casts a fireball at her. It damages the stone idol, but not the cold assassin.

Lady Snow and Feng Bo hit DarkStorm with frost and bladed feet, and Phantasm realizes that Lokapala, the six-armed swordsman, is a robot immune to her illusions. The Cloaked Quarrel hits Feng Bo [an alternate of “Tempestade” in the “Vanished Lands”] with a blast bolt, knocking him back.

Merlin hits Lokapala with a lightning bolt, and Thunderbird finishes him off with a sonic scream. Phantasm’s ersatz Erwins tackle Feng Bo. The Cloaked Quarrel briefly knocks down Lady Snow with another blast. Merlin melts her armor.

The Stranger brings up the rear and uses his dark force whip and gun against the icy femme fatale. Empty Spoon maneuvers to help restrain fallen foes. Merlin heals DarkStorm. The group continues through the undersea stronghold.

A fork in the corridors takes the investigators past alcoves with clothing taken from 20 young women entrapped by the mind-controlling candies. As the Devil Dolls, they were wrapped in mummy-like bandages became arsonists and assassins. Phantasm finds the personal effects of Maggie Orex and gives them to DarkStorm.

The tunnels lead to a catch basin with a waterfall and magical alarms. Merlin disrupts the grid, and Empty Spoon creates an air bubble large enough for the party. The Cloaked Quarrel, DarkStorm, and Phantasm go ahead. The Stranger, who wasn’t able to bring his steed Gabriel along, follows with Thunderbird, who has shifted back to human form.

They pass through the pipe and notice a shaft of water leading up. They follow the horizontal passage and pass through another catch basin. A sign welcomes the Eighth Legionnaires and asks them to don white robes before ascending a staircase.

The heroes recognize everyone present and meet Frank Zorn for the first time. The precognitive neo-Nazi Atlantean nihilist wears a white robe, and one of his hands glows red while the other is blue. Merlin recognizes him as the murderer of violent vigilante the Red Right Hand.

Zorn’s prisoners include “the Fire Children,” notable Hamiltonians sharing the birth date of 27 February 1933, when Germany’s Reichstag burned:

• Viktor Ozerov, a Russian mob boss and contact
• Jimmy Galati, the head of the Galati crime family
• Jeanne Baylus, proprietor of the Baylus Museum, where an exhibit of Frank Zorn’s video games was robbed
• Harvey Thorne, manager of Stevens Inneman Refractory Co. (SIRC) data processing center above the Eighth Legion’s base
• Rosa Gualtero-Lazare, Franz Keidel’s mother, once rescued by the time-traveling Black Hat
• Kunzang Tenzin, Empty Spoon’s sifu

Zorn has a “dead man’s hand” — a magical noose around each Devil Doll. He says that each of his prisoners is capable of “carrying a second soul,” where he intends to force the monks of the Four Winds to enter. He will then transfer his mind into the Atlantean Anchor to escape the destruction of the universe caused by his program on the quintum chip so that he can emerge and recreate it in his own image.

Zorn is also accompanied by his remaining lieutenants — Shadow Queen, Inferna, Palmetto, and Rasayana. He invites the Eighth Legion to fight them to earn a place at his side in the new world order. Young archer Cloaked Quarrel tries to engage Zorn in conversation but realizes that he is insane, even if he has the powers of prediction and reshaping reality.

Mystical gunslinger Stranger struggles to open a portal from his collapsing shadow plane. Giant eagle Thunderbird unleashes a sonic scream at Shadow Queen, knocking her unconscious. Merlin’s heir returns to his magical library to retrieve the quintum chip.

Armored DarkStorm tries to hit Inferna, and Empty Spoon bends air to try to suffocate the assembled supervillains. Stealthy Phantasm remains invisible. Zorn strolls out of the chamber as the fight rages on.

The Stranger sucks Shadow Queen into the void, instead of nigh-invulnerable Inferna, as he intended. The Cloaked Quarrel knocks back old nemesis Palmetto, and Empty Spoon loses his grip.

Meanwhile, in his pocket dimension, Matthew disables the force field around the machine with the quintum chip, and he has Grizzel Greediguts grab it. The imp familiar and friend of Thunderbird gnaws on the processor before Merlin heads back to the Atlantean redoubt.

Thunderbird attacks Inferna with more sonic screams, but the flaming woman shrugs off Rain’s attacks. The Stranger swings his whip, and Sam has more luck, stunning Inferna. The Cloaked Quarrel shoots acrobatic Rasayana, but Inferna had wounded DarkStorm.

Rasayana stabs the Cloaked Quarrel, and cockroach-suited Palmetto adds insult to injury by hitting Kyle with stink goo. Empty Spoon knocks Inferna toward the Stranger’s sucking portal.

Phantasm releases Zorn’s prisoners from their mystical nooses. DarkStorm drops Rasayana, and the Cloaked Quarrel shoots a grapnel line at Inferna, dragging her into the Stranger’s bottomless pit. Empty Spoon knocks out Palmetto.

The Cloaked Quarrel realizes too late that Merlin should have had someone go with him to his pocket dimension. Zorn takes the quintum chip from the mage, who is still affected by the candy! The evil mastermind admits that the Eighth Legion has damaged his plans, but he promises that his schemes will still come to pass with some “reprogramming”….