How long have there been people with Powers?
People have been getting superpowers since around 1920, although the number has increased dramatically, going from a few hundred back then to almost a million now, every 2 to 3 decades there's a dramatic spike until the population eventually stops rising and levels out into a new normal.
How do people get Powers?
People get powers when their backs are to the wall and everything has gone to-
Ok, honestly it's basically Triggers from Worm, at least from the perspective of someone ignorant of both setting's metaphysics, it's a good idea, sue me. (Please don't.)
Other important note, it's basically impossible to give someone powers, or, well, it is possible, but you'd probably have to crawl through hundreds of dead bodies to get someone with superpowers, and they might not be super happy that you threw them into meat-grinder.
Alternatively you could use a device based on the original Crucible Machine, but that's literally a war crime and causes horrific mental impairments.
Why do they get Powers?
Nobody knows for certain but there are a lot of theories, some people think that they're somehow biological, others think it's some sort of radiation that causes specific changes in humans, some think they're given directly by God.
At the end of the day nobody knows for certain and I sincerely doubt that the truth to that question will matter in this quest.
What kinds of Powers are there?
Powers can frankly do almost anything, from allowing someone to lift more than 800 tons to allowing someone else to control minds, the main restrictions on them is the fact that almost every super can at least beat roughly ten guys with guns, the strongest of them can bring cites to ruin when they fight, although those people are so rare that they number less than a hundred in the entire world.
Generally, most people only have a single power, although plenty of them have secondary powers tacked on or have their primary power supported by flight or superhuman strength and durability.
Beyond that there are Inspired Scientists and their technology.
Inspired Technology cannot be built or understood by someone who is Uninspired or even another Inspired Scientist if their specialties are sufficiently incompatible, although someone with a lot of training and talent can maintain it until someone breaks it pretty badly provided they've got appropriate parts.
Furthermore, an Inspired's attempts to explain how a given object works inevitably devolves into maddening technobabble, and reading their similarly incomprehensible notes will cause a similar reaction.
And then there are Pseudo-Inspired, who aren't quite Inspired, but what they do isn't different enough to be wholly separate, self proclaimed wizards who can make magic items and 'invent' spells and other similar abilities fit into this area.
Are there any aliens, wizards, gods, demons, other dimensions, etc?
There are no aliens, there is no such thing as magic aside for superpowers, the old gods and monsters do not walk the earth and if there are any new ones then they're keeping a low profile, there are however several other dimensions with their own unique biospheres, with more being discovered all the time. Nobody has found sapient life there yet though.
Who are you working for?
You're working for STAR, a multinational organization of superheroes who have been working for most of the NATO countries since it was founded, originally specialized in fighting Nazis, Soviets, and crazy people trying to blow up Kentucky, they've since branched into dealing with more and more stuff as powers have become more and more common.
Of course they're not the only group who does this kind of thing nowadays, there are a lot of smaller groups running around who vary wildly in competency and moral integrity.
Why doesn't the government do all that directly?
Would you argue with the Justice League if they said they weren't interested in working for you? Congress and the President didn't.
That's not to say that the government doesn't have Supers working for them, they just usually don't do things on US soil, usually.
What kind of regulations exist around superpowered people?
You don't need to register with the government unless you're going out in costume to punch crooks in the face with them, STAR is always hiring though.
What do people think of superheroes and villains?
Most heroes are respected, loved, and damn near revered, they're celebrities, and a few of the largest names… well some of them are just straight up revered, no ifs ands or buts.
Villains, well they're terrifying, modern day monsters, picture almost any spider-man or Batman villain and imagine knowing that they live in your city.
By the way, I will be instituting a system similar to the Hey Blackhand system in Norse Quest, here's how it works.
Post
@alexthealright Hey (Insert Character Name here) then follow up with your question, that question will then be answered IC.
