Egomaniacs

“Hello and welcome to the EBN 4 o’clock news, brought to you by me, Arella Salvatore. Authorities have been left dumbstruck this afternoon after the brazen theft of the infamous Lequal Diamond from Epicentre Central Museum. Though this is not the first theft from the Museum this week, this was an exceptionally well monitored and valuable piece that was stolen from under the gaze of staff and crowd alike with nobody being any the wiser as to who did it or how it was done. What a mystery! Several Villains have claimed credit for the deed but we are still investigating the case. In other news, Spotlight has initiated an impromptu autograph session outside his secret lair in Downtown Epicentre, get there while you still can, dear viewers!”

Villains of Epicentre need to be noticed. Nowhere in Nequam are the deeds of ne'er do wells given greater prominence than here and it is therefore no wonder that the vast majority of supervillains, Bond-like Villains and crazed scientists have made Epicentre their home. Here Villains undertake heists and stunts with the primary aim of gaining more and more notoriety, made easier due to the proliferation of news networks that has taken root in Epicentre.

The Villains themselves tend to work alone, not willing to share the limelight with another. Though they will often engage in long bouts of one-upmanship, or the theft and re-theft of the same artefact from another Villains vault. Backstabbing and betrayal are not in the forefront of Villains' minds in Epicentre, much preferring flashy frontal clashes if conflict arises. However Villains of a more meticulous nature may still engage in plots and schemes, especially if they can flaunt their machinations to a crowd via formal monologue during the inevitable reveal.

Far to the South of Nequam lies Epicentre, a coastal town situated between towering cliffs and pristine tropical waters. In the bay, a chain of volcanic islands can be seen stretching beyond the horizon. Inland from the city, smaller settlements can occasionally be spotted in clearings in the dense jungle or precariously clinging to perilous mountainsides. And everywhere in the vicinity of Epicentre, wherever you look, at every time of day, are the screens. Posted on municipal buildings, above intersections, even hanging from blimps, these displays are all tuned to one of many local news channels that are blaring the most recent and daring exploits of the many egomaniacal Villains that have made Epicentre their base of operations.

Attitudes

The culture of Epicentre has been warped by the interests of the Villains who effectively control the region. Thus the two main businesses that are uniquely flourishing in the town are media companies, which contribute to the publicity and constant airtime of the Villains, and real estate agents, which specialise in both hidden and ostentatious lairs for the Villains to plot from and repel misguided “hero” types.

Technology in the region is roughly equivalent to the 1980’s on Earth, and television especially is the general populace’s main form of entertainment. Given that the main focus of all television is on the Villains, they find themselves being supported much like football teams might be elsewhere. Fan groups are widely prevalent and it is a source of great pride to be a fan of the current “Villain of the Week” or better yet, their Underling…

Geist is unfortunately rarely featured in the morning news. The son of Epicentre’s number one famous Villain, Spotlight, he has had to bear the burden of living in his father’s shadow for a long time. Furthermore he hasn’t inherited any of his father’s formidable powers. Instead, turning to experimentation, his efforts with serums derived from exotic marine wildlife eventually bore fruit and gave him the ability to turn transparent and intangible. Whilst this has been helpful in achieving crime, it has been markedly unhelpful in getting him credit for his deeds. Some wonder if his invitation to The Club is due to his dad’s influence rather than his own inherent success, but any mention of this in front of Geist is sure to merit swift retribution. It doesn’t help matters that some of his Underlings have only signed on to his team as a way to get closer to Spotlight.

• Spotlight (He/Him) - The first name on everyone’s lips in Epicentre. A supervillain with a flair for the dramatic and a powerful set of abilities in their own right. Known for casting beams of light with seemingly any effect, from freezing a target in place to simply creating an epic light show for himself. Spotlight is always keen to apply himself to ever more grandiose acts of villainy. Most recently he has used a stolen satellite to beam a spotlight up to the moon, carving a giant “S” that is visible from town.

• Arella Salvatore (She/Her) - It is unclear whether Salvatore is a Villain at all; there are very few actual deeds attributed to her in Epicentre. She is nevertheless one of the most important figures in society as she controls the largest broadcasting network EBN. As such, her face can be seen as often as the main Villains on the screens of Epicentre, and if you’re a Villain who values your airtime, you would be wise not to get on her bad side.

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