Night of the Netherworlders

The Night of the Netherworlders was a vicious attack on the super-powered citizens of Rocket City and caused major shifts in the dynamics the city. Some describe this event as the birth of the modern super hero age.

## Into Darker Territories...

Crimelord Deacon had grown to despise superhumans and what they stood for, particularly his sworn enemies the Super Legion. Although he started as a small time mob boss, Deacon was delving deeper into dark and mysterious magic to help his cause. He was particularly intrigued by the Phantom and where his powers came from; setting up his own research team to find out the truth. This eventually led to a breakthrough to the Netherworld, where Phantom's powers were sourced from. Deacon allowed access for the Netherworlders into the city for one purpose; to hunt and kill every superhuman that could ever oppose him. In return, Deacon offered the life of his youngest son, despite his wife's refusal. The deal was agreed and a portal was created, flooding the city with the Netherworlders.

## Night of the Attack

The initial wave happened at Deacon's base of operations at the heart of downtown. Dozens of Netherworlder assassins entered the city, starting a murderous rampage against superhumans. This included active heroes, villains, those who didn't know their true powers and even those with the potential bloodline/legacy powers. The initial kill-count was high and grew higher as the evening went on. Obscura activated a tracking system he had been developing with his assistant Zero, to find and protect those in danger. However the four members of the Super Legion were massively outnumbered against the invading force.

The plan was to find the targets and collect them into once place where the team could protect them together. Phantom transported all targets into Legion Park; where Hummingbird & Catnip urged those with powers to fight with them. Phantom eventually came across Grenade, the ex-sidekick of Deacon. He had been secretly working with Deacon but left once he realised how obsessive his behaviour had become. Grenade offered Phantom to take him to Deacon's base and shut down the portal from the Netherworld. Back in the park, the team tried endlessly to stop the wave of attackers. Catnip was severely injured but saved by the arrival of Devil's Kiss. Hummingbird was eventually killed protecting her son, Whisper, who had recently uncovered his own powers.

Back at Deacon's base, Phantom & Grenade worked together to shut down the access portal and seemingly kill Deacon in the process. Phantom was also fatally wounded and phased out of existence once the portal was closed. In the park, Obscura released an energy pulse as a kamikaze attempt against the final batch of Netherworlders. This left Catnip as the only surviving member of the team, despite losing her ability to walk.

## Aftermath & Legacy

Almost every superhuman felt the impact of this attack; regardless of their status as hero, villain, active or unknown.

* Super Legion was technically disbanded as the majority of the team died in battle.
* Obscura left the majority shareholding of his company FIT to Zero, although this was taken from him through shady business deals almost immediately
* Hummingbird left her son Whisper in the care of her sister's family, giving him relative stability after the event
* Phantom's heroics were secret from his wife & daughter; leading them to believe he had abandoned them. They relocated to India shortly after.
* Catnip retired from superheroics, going into a protection programme and training to become a history lecturer at the city university.
* Honour Guard came together after the event in an attempt to heal the city and replace the disbanded Super Legion
* Deacon was thought dead after the implosion of the Netherworld portal; but in fact was saved by his family and took into exile to heal
* Deacon's son (Catacomb), who was offered as tribute, eventually grew up to harness some deadly powers sourced from the Netherworld
* Devil's Kiss reopened the Midnight Bunker to house & train anybody impacted by the event; eventually forming the Externals team
* Silhouette was attacked by a Netherworlder but unknowingly absorbed their power with her abilities
* Kronos lost his sister Pandora in the battle, eventually becoming a member of the Externals in the process.

## Named Victims

* Hummingbird
* Obscura
* Phantom
* Dead Man Walking
* Pandora
* Catacomb
* Lady Luck
* Protostar
* Double Trouble
* Backlash
* Magpie
* Spellcollector
* Trick'o'Treaters
* Highlight
* Wildflame
* Skeletonne
* Dreadful Duke
* Rosary