by Charles Phipps » Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:28 am
OOC: This is information compiled for my newest campaign "The Freedom Friends." Oddly, a very dark series of Iron Age/Ultimate heroes hated by the Silver Age world around them is the place where the embodiments of the Silver Age routinely show up starting around Adventure 3#.
I want to say that I've tried to be as Legion-ey as possible with this work. Honestly, I'm stunned that this group hasn't received more attention than it has. The fact that it hasn't is really stunning to me since they're such a wonderful group with plenty of stories to do.
The Freedom Legion
The 'Modern' age of superheroes was, unfortunately, the last age of superheroes for a very long time. The Golden Age of Superheroes was destroyed by politics, the Silver Age mixed with the rise of graying morality, while the subsequent age was eliminated by the advancement of technology. Simply put, technology and genetics caught up to the powers that rendered superheroes to be special. They were no longer special and few villains were capable of breaking out of prison once they were thrown in.
The cynicism of the Cyberpunk Era that would emerge in Freedom City followed by the rise of Science explorers that were heroic enough without guady costumes made the tradition of costumed champions seem rather hokey. The eras had their own heroes, certainly. However, like the Wild West and the gentlemen adventurers of the Victorian era, they were largely unrecognizable from what we would term a 'superhero.'
That changed with Constantine Roman. Constantine Roman was the direct descendant of Augustus and Saturnalia Roman. The head of Empire Corp, Constantine Roman was equally as brilliant as his lineage of ancestors but lacked what all of them had.....an utterly ruthless and evil spirit. Indeed, Constantine Roman was an individual whom was utterly fascinated by the strange and wonderful stories of the 20 and 21st centuries. In an austere era where conformity and contentment were the rules, the heroes of the past seemed to be incredibly dynamic.
It was when Constantine was saved from a group of Grue terrorists by a gathering of young superpowered beings, super abilities being hardly rare in the cosmos, that he became determined to revive the heroic spirit of the world. Frankly; Caias Ward was the only one whom was interested (though most of the others would eventually join up later in an ironic display of destiny's power). Caias Ward was, unfortunately, the only one without powers. That was when a blood test discovered that he was a direct descendant of the Centurion!
Which was...impossible given Mark Leeds had no children.
Constantine's brilliant intellect then realized what no one else might have suspected. Mark Leeds may have never had any descendants but he was from an alternate version of Earth. That meant that it was entirely possible an existing double of his had been on the planet the entire time! This man had gone on to live a perfectly normal life, marry, and procreate while spreading his offspring throughout the cosmos. It would have meant very little if not for the fact that Caias, like all of the Centurion's double's descendants, could absorb Terminus radiation and become empowered with it!
Thus was the second Centurion born!
Six hundred years tends to blunt a populous' outrage to someone else taking up the mantle of a superhero. Thus, the second Centurion was eagerly embraced when he displayed his awesome courage during the Grue Wars. The initial battles against the Grue are the stuff of legend but the majority of tales don't tell the full story. Many superpowered heroes died during that battle and the future Freedom Legion made many mistakes due to their lack of understanding or failure to utilize proper teamwork.
The answer presented itself when Constantine revealed that he'd purchased the ancient Claremont Academy and leased the use of the 'dusty landmark' in Freedom Hall. The zillionaire footed all expenses as the collection of young people decided to pool their knowledge in order to become true superheroes. Their efforts might have been for naught had not the time travelling Clockwatcher arrived and brought with them members of the Freedom League in their prime to help with their training. Though their memories were blocked of relevant historical details, the team of the past was inspired by the discovery of their legacy that survives centuries while the future team came to appreciate the importance of the mantle that they wielded. The two teams would fight together against threats both in the future and past at various times in the future. These "Crises" would often be subjects of great fanfare and discussion.
Ultimately, the Freedom Legion successfully pulled itself together and became a force as successful and respected in their time as the Freedom League was in theirs. This has not been without its shares of trials, tragedies, and tribulations. In the decade or more since the Freedom League's assembling, the heroes have gone on to greatness but also had its chief member go into retirement with his wife. They've also suffered staggering defeats in addition to their great victories. The Apochrypha's raising of their master Omega into the physical world and the terrible battles with Malador the Mystic are things that have left their scars on all the Legionaires.
Still, they are the hope for the future....and they are Legion.
Next: Retired and Semi Retired Legionaires plus Charger!
Last edited by
Charles Phipps on Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
