Champions - San Angelo
Champions - San Angelo
Sweeney, who
CREDITS showed me that you don't need superpowers to be a
hero. And to my niece, Elizabeth Grace Sweeney, who
Author: Patrick Sweeney will grow up in an age of new horizons - and new
Original Concept: Mark Arsenault heroes.
Cover Art: Storn Cook Additional thanks to: My consultants, who advised
Cover Design: Mark Arsenault me on everything from the proper structure of a DA's
Interior Illustration: Steve Bryant, Stom Cook, Albert office to the Spanish language: Linda Beymer, Kate
Deschesne, Louis Frank, Gary Mitchell, Bryce Casa, Rob and Patty Humphrey, Steven S. Long,
Nakagawa, Greg Smith Karen Yelton and many others mentioned elsewhere
Coloring & Digital Enhancements: Mark Arsenault in these acknowledgments
Cartography: Joe Coleman All my gaming companions of countless campaigns
Editor: Mark Arsenault gone by: Brian "Voltus" Michaelson, Mike "Hero with
Project Editor: Greg Lloyd Claws" Matts, Byron "Green Mantis" McLeod, Rych
Editorial Contributions: Geoff Berman, Amy "Dr. Anthrax" Davis, Jeff "Cerebrix" Davis, Hugh
Crittenden, Steve Kenson, Tomas Skucas "Quasi-Quantam" Morrison, Joey "Cyber" Paschane
Project Art Coordinator: Nicole Lindroos and all the others.
Graphic Design Concept: Philip J. Reed, Jr. Also, the San Angelo Roundtable on America Online:
Layout: Mark Arsenault, Bruce Harlick Geoff Berman, Storn Cook, Amy Crittenden, Jim
Crocker, Basil Drake, Steve Kenson, Tomas Skucas,
Michelle Knight and Greg Lloyd, all of whom were
Acknowledgments generous with both their time and ideas. An extra
Special thanks to: Rex Hodge, my best friend and one- thanks to Greg Lloyd, who reviewed the completed
man gaming think tank; Sara Hodge, for putting up manuscript and helped me find all kinds of typos,
with all our gaming silliness; and Mark Arsenault glitches and inconsistencies.
for taking a chance on an unpublished author to And, of course, Hero Games, for starting the whole
launch his campaign universe. thing in the first place.
Copyright© 1998 by Gold Rush Games. All rights reserved under International Copyright Convention. San Angelo: City of Heroes,
The Justice Foundation and all characters and their likenesses are trademarks owned by and/or copyright by Gold Rush Games.
Hero System, Champions and Hero Games are registered trademarks of Hero Games (www.herogames.com). Used under license; all
rights reserved. All situations, incidents and persons portrayed within are fictional and any similarity without satiric intent to individu-
als living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Published and distributed by Gold Rush Games, P.O. Box 2531, ElkGrove, CA 95759-2531; (916) 684-9443 (Tel/Fax);
[email protected]. Visit our web site at http://members.aol.com/goldrushg P_A_G,_E...,
L,...
NUMBER
2
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
C tty of S11n Angot.o 4500 -
Table of Contents
3
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Twister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Vietnamese Gangs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 The Bard .. ... ..... . ..... .... 238
Other Restaurateurs . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Vietnamese Gang Members of Note225 Dynamo ..................... 240
The Local Music Scene . . . . . . . . . . 208 Paragon, the Perfect Human ...... 242
Bands and Musicians of Note ... . 208 ALLIES AND ENEMIES ..... . ... 226 Enemies .................... .. . 244
Concerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Allies ............... .. ....... . 226 Amok ... . ................. .. . 244
The Fine Arts and Museums ...... 209 Justice Foundation ..... . ...... . . 226 Bloodsport ....... ... ....... ... 246
Classical Music ............... . 209 Azteca . . ................... 227 Phobia ....................... 248
Classical Musicians of Note . . . . . 209 Cavalier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Photon ....... . ............... 250
Drama and Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Corona ...... . . . ............ 231 Siren .... ....... . ........... . 253
Theater and Dance Companies Lotus .. ... . ................ 233
of Note .......... . ......... 209 Savant . .. .. . ................ 235 AFTERWAl<D ... ....... . ..... . . 255
Dancers and Thespians of Note . .. 210 TurboJet ... . ....... . . ....... 237 Origins of San Angelo .... . . . ..... 255
Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Justice Foundation Headquarters . . 237 Author's Afterword .. . ... .. . .. . . . 255
Museums .. . .... .. ........... . 210 Solo Heroes ......... ... ....... 237 Bibliography .. . .. .. . . .... .. . . .. 255
Mission San Angeles ........... 210
Other Museums of Note . . . . . . . . 2 IO
Theaters and Auditoriums ..... . .. 212
Visual Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Artists and Ait Dealers of Note ... 212
Parks, Recreation Facilities and
Other Attractions .... . . . ...... . . 213
Regional Parks ....... . ..... .... 213
Lake Oro State Recreation Area . . 213
Samuel Brackett City Park . . . . . . 213
Other Noteworthy Parks ........ 213
Theme and Amusement Parks . . . . . 215
49er Amusement Park ......... . 215
Annual Community Events . . . . . . . 215
San Angelo County Fair. . . . . . . . 215
Other Annual Community Events. 215
4
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
SAN ANGELO
The City of Heroes
Jerry Abbot
Clarion Staff Columnist
5
SAN ANGEL:.O: CITY OF HEROES
r.11y 01 S.11 .Angolo 4SOD -
Introduction
This book presents four-color Champions in three
dimensions - a vibrant world of superhuman powers, What is
gadgets, hero teams, dastardly enemies and all the other
hallmarks of the comic books, carefully packaged in a
Champions?
Champions is a role-playing
cohesive setting with a nod toward realism.
game published by Hero Games
No Champions campaign can promise total realism
set in the fun, fantastic world
- and such a campaign wouldn't be much fun any- of four-color superhero comic
way. Part of the joy of Champions is the utter unreality books.
of it all. To fly, punch down brick walls, bounce bullets Using pencils, paper and
off your chest... who wouldn't want to be a superhero? dice, players create characters
But continuity and cohesiveness aren't beyond the and play out adventures. In
reach of Champions. Nor are cities that are more than these adventures, they imagine themselves to be play-
mere scenery for titanic slugfests, or well-rounded char- ing the role of their player-character, or PC, as they
acters, superpowered or not, with real-life desires, fears interact with other players, non-player characters, or
NPCs, and the world around them. A Gamemaster, or
and aspirations.
GM, describes the world and referees the action.
Moreover, a fresh breeze is stirring in the comics in-
San Angelo: City of Heroes uses Champions 4th
dustry. After years of grim storylines and gritty anti- Edition mles, available at your local hobby store or by
heroes, the four-color protectors of truth, justice and order from Gold Rush Games, a distributor and lic-
liberty are making a dynamic comeback. Hope, joy and ensee of Hero Games. This book is also fully compat-
a sense of optimism are returning to the comics, tem- ible with the new 5th Edition Hem System mies.
pered by insights gained from deconstructing the su-
perhero genre.
As a result, every aspect of the comics and Champi-
"Dit/')1011 see the big fight on lV last night" Ni
ons campaigns, from high-tech corporations to the very not 7\, Pl . o,
·~.ton~ loton took"" the Justice Foundtttion
origin of superpowers, has been re-evaluated for this
oi·er m dowmown. Bo): wltat u battle. Too bad he
book to foster a refreshed, revitalized approach to the gtJI awuy.
age-old world of superheroes. "This is .ruch "" ama~illg lime lo be alive, All
Inside these pages, you'll explore the bustling streets rlu:fe !1eople with 111perh1mu111 f>owers. lmagifle lhlll
of a living city with a rich history, visit interesting land- - be1.ng able ro fly. or control the weather, or..• well
marks, meet hundreds of fascinating people, uncover m1yrh111g you can think of '
villainous plots and, perhaps, spot a hero or two soar- ''.A'~'' iL,'s 1101 just the supe1:t Ir:~ the sciemists
ing in the sky far overhead. b1u/dm,y, mcredihle im•e11tion.r, rhe martial arts
Best of all, you'll get to step inside this world and ~tasters: the ~rdinary people who Pltl '"' mash und
j1gl11 crime. I ve even hearcl 1'1111101·" ab" I • ,,,
walk around for awhile. Find out what it's like to fly, I .. "" WIU/J'uS
w w fight supernat11ral 11lmut.f we llei•er el'f'll k110 •
or shoot energy blasts, or toss tanks around. Join a team. <1bm11! 1-l
Fight crime. Save the world. "K~nd of hard I<> helie1•e it's all huppening nglu
Be a hero. here ,,, San Angelo. ~Ju k11t>u~ I'm St<1ning a
Welcome to San Angelo: City of Heroes. .vcmphook for my kids, so they can look back and
see wlwt 1vent on here.
··A_~t!r all. these llel'Qe.r and all - the)' might nof
be aroimd forever. You j11s1 nei·er know k'ht1t's goin
to hap/1m rlleu day,f ... " g
- Mike Tucker. 36. lah assistant
PAGE
NUMBER
6
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
1~-' " I~.- mJlmi 11~
How to Use This
Ry 01 '' An~lo 4M>C -
Introduction
Book "I love this town! The streets are clean, the
•, people are friendly. And theres a real can-do
'~ spMr here in Sw1 Angelo. People help their
San Angelo: City of Heroes presents a coherent, dy- 1
neighbor~' our. I belong ro Kiwanis - we've got
namic city setting for four-color Champions campaigns.
In keeping with the traditions of the comics, San one of the highest participation rates in the state.
Angelo is a fictional city whose exact location has de- \ The state!
liberately been left vague but is presumed to be some- j "Look, I can see you think I'm putting you on.
where on the West Coast - a locale often ignored by · Here's what I mean: Back in '90, when Alloy got
comic books and Champions campaigns alike. sick ... well, you can't e:r:actly get health i11sur-
In addition, San Angelo is set in a new campaign . ance in that line of work. So people all over Stm
world, totally independent from the Champions Uni- Angelo donated money for hi.'i medical bills.
"Service clubs held every kind offu11d-rC1iser
verse and Champions: The New Millenium worlds
published by Hero Games. This campaign world fea- you can think of ... seemed like there were two or
~ three almost every weekend. And schoolkids,
tures new heroes, new enemies and new organizations
t;ollecting loose clumge. I saw photos in the
of all kinds.
paper- jar after jar of pennies, nickels, yo11
Full details on the lively, engrossing metropolis of
name it. The whole community pitched in to help
San Angelo are included, covering everything from
city government to popular nightspots. A/Toy 0111, just like he'd always helped us. Its the
spirit of thi!i place.
The book also contains information on the resident
heroes, villains and normals of San Angelo, along with "I don't know, maybe it 8 the heroes - sort ofa
Hero System statistics for many of the characters and good example, you know wlwt I mean? OK. some
gadgets presented. of tlumr are jerks, like t'1Clt Paragon guy, bw you
get my point.
A timeline outlines San Angelo's past, and possi-
'A11yhow, that~ what/ love about San Angelo."
1
- ...
-Chip Hamacker, 29; real estate agent
' --
formation on living in a superpowered world. Novice players and GMs may want to use the Jus-
Finally, San Angelo: City of Heroes is jam-packed tice Foundation hero team, covered in complete detail
with tips and suggestions on how to use all these de- starting on Page 227. Once you are familiar with the
tails to create memorable characters, adventures and Hero System rules, you can start creating your own
campaigns. superheroes to protect San Angelo.
San Angelo: City of Heroes contains a tremendous Experienced GMs may want to customize their San
amount of information. Don't despair if you don't get Angelo campaign. The book has been designed for this,
all the way through it right away, or can't remember with numerous open slots in listings for player or GM
creations. Open spots have been left on the City Coun-
every last detail. Familiarize yourself with the basics
of the city, then refer back to the book as needed. cil and other important institutions as well.
Players are especially encouraged to take advantage
of the fully detailed city to create links between their
In a New Campaign PCs and the world around them. Pick a university for
Obviously, San Angelo: City of Heroes is eminently your PC to attend, or decide which corporation em-
usable as the basis for a new Champions campaign. ploys her. Need a DNPC, or just wondering who your
Just skim through the book, create some PCs and start hero's parents are? San Angelo: City of Heroes is filled
playing! with NPCs ripe for inclusion in a PC's background.
PAGE
NUMBER
7
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City OI S..rt At.g•fo • t.OO -
Introduction
-so~ -
Introduction
more surprising, and hence, frightening, when they are in a pulp adventure campaign are advised to examine
found in a typical American city instead of some the timeline in Welcome to San Angelo. Some neigh-
haunted moor or ancient castle. borhood descriptions in A Description of San Angelo
The contrast between the ghastly night-time world also contain references to the early days of the city,
of the PCs and the sunlit, everyday San Angelo around and several corporations outlined in Life in San
them also fits well with the Horror Hero genre. Angelo got their start in this time period.
For a really different campaign, elements of Horror
Hero and Champions could be blended in a San Angelo Fantasy Hero
where paranormal powers are rare and unacknowledged. This may be the least appropriate genre for San
Supers conceal their bizarre powers in a dark, para- Angelo. As a modern metropolis, San Angelo has little
noid world laced with government conspiracies, corpo- in common with the rustic towns and villages found
rate schemes, mad scientists and freakish occurrences. in most fantasy worlds.
The PCs might be supers themselves, or normals who However, the city could be used as the setting for a
are somehow drawn into this twilight world of super- modern Fantasy Hero campaign, in which magic is
powers and secrets. real and the dimensional boundaries twixt Earth and
Faerie have been breached. Magicians, witches and
Pulp Adventure other spell-casters could exist, but keep their powers
The two-fisted, high-adventure world of pulp-era hid<len. Likewise, dragons, shapeshifters and assorted
heroes also occupies a place in San Angelo's history. magical creatures might move unseen through the
The 1930s exploits of the Argonaut Society, an or- world.
ganization of explorers, air aces, archeologists and As described under Horror Hero, the contrast between
other adventurers, are described in Life in San Angelo. the mystic world of the heroes and the everyday go-
As with Western Hero campaigns, GMs interested ings-on around them is a hallmark of such campaigns.
Additional Information
Not all the information in San Angelo: City ofHeroes is presented in the main body of text. Look for these
layout features for additional details on the city or how to use it:
r---------------~
Campaign Tip I GM's Option I
These boxes contain hints on how to use the in- I These boxes offer suggestions on customiz- I
formation presented in this book to create better I ing your campaign to suit your preferences and I
characters or adventures. I gaming style. I
These highlight extra details, such as organiza- ·---------------~
tion charts, Champions statistics for equipment and
Top IO lists for San Angelo. This information has
Quotes from San Angelo residents are scat-
been set apart from the main text to make it easier to tered in the page margins thro1ighout the book.
find. Some describe momentous events ofthe past, while
Many of the Top IO lists contain open slots for others pass on interesting rumors.
players or GMs to fill in. This allows you to easily Mostly, howeve1; these quotes offer insights into
add elements of your existing campaign or to cus· how ordinary citizens view San Angelo and its resi-
PAGE dent supers.
NUMBER tomize a new campaign.
10
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
mnrL.I
C1C'/ OI S." AnV"IO
Welcome To San Angelo
·~ -
San Angelo is an attractive, lively city of nearly San Angelo is a fictional metropolis blending ele-
3 million souls that traces its history to the Span- ments of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and
ish missions of the 1700s and the Gold Rush of other West Coast cities to provide a vivid, detailed
the 1800s. background for Champions campaigns.
First a rough-and-tumble mining camp, then a Government, law enforcement and other aspects of
railroad town and agricultural center, San Angelo city life are modeled after real-world examples and
has today grown into a major urban center with a carefully integrated with fictional elements inspired
diverse economy. High-tech industries, along with by the four-color comics.
banking, insurance and public sector jobs, fuel a The city is presumed to be somewhere in the Central
robust local economy. Valley of Northern California, but its exact location
The towering skyscrapers of City Center, where has been left vague in the tradition of the comics.
million-dollar deals are brokered every day, are a
key stop for visitors, and tours of the bustling Per- r----------------~
egrine Aircraft plant and other top industries are I GM's Option
offered regularly. San Angelo can easily be relocated to another
But modem San Angelo hasn't forgotten its heri- part of the country. Other Western states, particu-
tage. The beautifully restored Mission San Ange- larly those with a mining heritage, will work best,
les, historic Old San Angelo and Brackett House but GMs willing to do a little extra work can adapt
Museum are just a few must-see stops for his- the city to an East Coast, Midwest or even South-
tory-minded visitors. ern setting.
Built at the confluence of two rivers near lovely For example, a GM who wishes to use San
Lake Oro, the city offeres tourists a vast array of Angelo in Texas will find many aspects of the
recreation, sports and entertainment options. Bi- city, such as the Mission San Angeles, carry over
cycling, jogging and walking along the lush Del seamlessly. A few minutes spent changing the
Oro River Parkway are popular pastimes. Water gold-mining references to denote oil-drilling, such
sports on the two rivers and lake are equally popu- as renaming Prospector Bank to Wildcatter Bank,
lar, and San Angelo boasts two professional sports will yield a city well-suited to a Texas locale.
teams for your enjoyment. Or, as described in the Introduction, if convert-
An agreeable climate of warm summers and mild ing the city seems like too much work, GMs can
winters makes outdoor activities especially entic- just incorporate the appropriate elements of San
ing. Angelo into an original creation or a real-life city.
But San Angelo also has a spirited nightlife, with
many nightclubs, live music venues and fine din- ~----------------·
l
ing spots catering to almost any taste. Fine arts
connoiseurs will find the Center for the Perform- 1- S n Angelo
ing Arts and Historic San Angelo Opera House The Real. sa Angeo-~
\ (!,,n Angelo.
entrancing. Numerous theaters, art galleries and -ri1ere really i sa an l. est Texas about
'' . entra w . .
museums also call the city home. Texas. Located in c f pal\as. the real ctty
And no description of San Angelo could possi- 260 mHes soothwcst o \ din the I g70s and
was fo\ln< e
bly be complete without a mention of the colorful, of San AngeIo . . d al g4 .ooo.
awe-inspiring superheroes who dwell there ... i..a . a population esttrnate e ila111e the fie-
,,~ · thesam '
- San Angelo Visitor's Guide, Aside from sharing \ al san Angelo have
. I San Angelo an<. re
San Angelo Chamber of Commerce ti 0 na .
no connect10n.
r----------------,
GM's Option
singularities, one in 1936 and the second in 1982.
A singularity is a point in space-time at which the
laws of physics do not apply. In short, anything can
If you or your players disagree with some of these
premises, change them! You and you alone are in charge happen in a singularity.
of your Champions campaign. Make it one that will In nature, singularities can be created when a star
offer the most enjoyment to you imtl your players. collapses so completely that it gains infinite density
&m Angelo: City of 1-/eroex is a resource. not a and gravity, while occupying a point in space so in-
straitjacket. Uae the portions you find useful, und significant as to be infinitely small. Black holes , for
disregard the purrs you don ' t example, are a form of singularity with a gravity so
GMs should be aware, however, that future Gold intense that even light cannot escape.
Rush Games products set in San Angelo will he But physicists think other singularities may be so small
PAGE
NUMBER based on these premises in the interest of product as to allow the occasional emission of particles. Such
continuity and cohesiveness. singularities are thought to be inherently unstable.
12
~----------------~
SAN ANGELO: CITY· OF HEROES
1$_ ~a, or S.n 4.ogolO •$00 -
.
any fancy supe1power.r to
get the 1·oh -' .
cmne. llt!lfher. ..
est concentration of
unexplainable phe-
ered metahumans, or LPMs.
Most LPMs choose not to become heroes or crimi-
14
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
) Ct!y !JI $•n 4nOolo • SOO -
~ "Yes, I did say she was
r. u(ful womt.111
Welcome To San Angelo
"/was worlcingfor 1l1e mosr ueti v• h
I ever s<1w. b111. honey'. .i e
Professor Rabinowitz up )
ters on equal footing with was cor11rolli11g 1111 mmd searchers. The extreme effort and
in the observatory in the
hills above Lake Oro - their superhuman counter- ui ihe 1ime!" expense involved make creation
lousy pay, but I got parts. Whether powered by - Kur\ Sanchet.. 24' of a duplicate unlikely, and mass
course credit at CSUSA. ley lines, elemental forces construction worker production of such suits nearly
Anyway. I was alone up or even vile necromantic L inconceivable.
there one night when I
saw it. A bright, glowing rituals, their spells are fully as In addition, the presence of at least two time travelers
object passing through effective and powerful as those from the 21st century in modern San Angelo has accel-
Ursa Major. of legendary spell-casters. erated the development of technology in certain fields.
"At first I thought I'd Indeed, the time-defying na- Finally, the influence of the flux on technology can-
discovered a comet.
ture of the singularities respon- not be discounted. Some of the gadgets carried by su-
Then it changed course.
And this wasn't any sible for the flux could account pers simply should not work. They violate accepted
plane - at the end, it for tales of magician s and scientific principles, use inexplicable energy sources
split into five smaller sorcerors down through the or represent fantastic advances in manufacturing. Cop-
lights that shot off in all ages. ies of these devices are rarely possible, and working
directiotis. Plus, some of
the instruments at the Unlike most superheroes, replicas are rarer still.
lab picked it up, so I however, mystic masters tend to Many of the inventions of so-called "mad scientists"
knew I wasn't just seeing stay out of the limelight-per- or rogue geniuses fall into this category.
things. haps due to the oft-stated belief In any case, examples of hyper-advanced technology
"The Prof got really
that ordinary folk could never are rare and often singular.
excited and had me
check with the local truly understand the unseen ar-
airports for radar cane forces at work in the "What are the&e supers teaching o~r chil- .
records, but no luck. So world.
a few days later. this Air dnn .? That might makes right, and,q violence ts
Fmce im~.~tiRator .thows the m1ly so/11tio11 ro eve1' problem.
lip, interviews me for Science and _ Mary Ann Battaglia, 36~ homemaker
two hour.~ mu/ <:w~li.~- Technolgy
Ctlll!tt '"l
011r rec:orcl.v 011
The world of San Angelo par-
tlll' thi11g.
"The Proffinally got allels 1990s Eruth in technology The Role of Supers
alwld of the Air Force and science for the most part. Just how do these superpowered heroes, mysterious
report abow a year This applies to supers as well wizards, crackpot inventors and megalomaniacal arch-
later. They detemlined
- get this - it was 'an as normals. A few San Angelo villains fit into the world around them? Perhaps more
unidentified paranor- companies are extremely high- importantly. how does the person in the street feel about
mal. ' Yeah, sure. " tech by our standards, but these them?
- Curtii; Kwan. 26. are based primarily on exLrapo- The emergence of super powers has certainly rede-
gr11du11te sludent
lations of existing technology. fined the world of San Angelo in some subtle and not-
For example, Helix Technolo- so-subtle ways.
gies has produced a human clone. While this might seem While the activities of supers are responsible for intro-
far-fetched, researchers on our Earth have already suc- ducing some new concepts to the world - costumed
ceeded in cloning frogs, mice and sheep. crimefighters, for example-in most cases the ramifica-
Hyper-advanced technology, representing huge leaps tions of superpowers are dealt with in the context of exist-
in scientific or technical concepts, also exists in San ing laws, organizations and other aspects of society.
Angelo, but generally represents the fruit of intense la- For example, no independent law enforcement agency
bor or isolated cases of individual brilliance. has yet been formed to battle superhuman crime. But
For example, the powered armor worn by the hero numerous existing agencies. from the FBI to local po- GE
Cavalier is the product of a vast top-secret military Iice departmenLs,. have created specialized squads or r~'"
project involving billions of dollars and dozens of re- bureaus to <lea) with the problem. 5
1
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
"Somebody tum on the TV, quick! No, no,
Although supers may feel remote from normal soci- Channel 7! KABL has a special bulletin - the
ety at times, supers and normals live in the same world. Justice Foundation just radioed an alert about
,, , ..
"8e"$1 Girl'! Why <ltJ you Well{! to know al>our l~r? a stolen nuclear warhead. Hurry up. .
look. I hm~ Reds. Now I'm /Wt Sllying you we one, - Jeff Warner, 28, auto mechanic
bur I liare 'em."
~-~-~---~--- Nate Rangel, 72, retired ties, though they are still subject to the same laws, regu-
lations and procedures as any other citizen.
Supers and Government For the most part, matters involving American su-
Every nation bas reacted differently to the emergence pers are handled by the appropriate branch or bureau
of supers. In totalitarian states, many supers simply of the local, state and federal governments.
disappear - whether into secret Jabs, prisons or elite For example, a super involved in drug smuggling
military units is impossible to say. The only public he- mightbe investigated by the DrugEnforcementAgency,
roes are official government supers. while the FBI or CIA would deal with the case of an
Less repressive regimes may not force all supers into international super-spy. Likewise, a super who emits
government service, but still keep a tight rein on the toxic chemicals could draw the attention of the EPA.
activities of unsanctioned paranormals. And a few na- On all levels, the U.S. government has been slow to
tions have so few supers ac; to make formulating an recruitsuperpowered individuals for jobs or official po-
official policy moot. sitions - perhaps out of fear of making a misstep.
In the United States, a high concentration of supers There are rumors that the American armed forces have
coupled with a tradition of personal freedom have com- organized secret units of paranormals, though such re-
bined to give paranormals wide latitude in their activi- ports are denied by military leaders.
Supers and the Law Of course, most attorneys aren't interested in taking
The existence of superpowers has sparked the cre- cases in which the person being sued has no way of
ation of some new laws to deal with specific problems, paying a judgment. A destitute hero, or one whose true
but for the most part the activities of supers are cov- identity is a secret, isn't a good target for a civil suit.
ered by existing statutes. Even if a suit does come to trial, few juries are likely
A person who uses her flame powers to steal a proto- to enter an award against a hero - especially in a case
type beamgun is still guilty of armed robbery despite her filed by a criminal - as long as the hero has acted
somewhat flashy M.0., for example. Likewise, using su- fairly responsibly and reasonably.
per-strength to thrash an innocent bystander is battery -
potentially battery causing great bodily injury. Sanctioned Heroes
Most states have passed laws equating the use of su- Sanctioned heroes are supers who work directly with
perpowers in a crime with the use of a deadly weapon, police or other law enforcement agencies, either as out-
providing for enhanced sentences of criminal supers. right employees or under some kind of formal agree-
The activities of non-sanctioned crimefighters are also ment. As a result, they are bound by the same restric-
largely covered by pre-existing statutes. tions and procedures as other peace officers. In return,
In most states, ordinary citizens have nearly as much power sanctioned heroes have full police powers within the
and authority to make arrests a~ peace officers. They are jurisdiction of the .sanctioning agency, not to mention
access to personnel, equipment and confidential records.
even allowed to use force if necessary, as long as the force
Most law enforcement agencies require sanctioned
used is reasonable to overcome resistance to the arrest.
heroes to reveal their true identities - at least to the
The legal blame for property damage, injuries to agency - undergo background checks and go through
bystanders and other mayhem resulting from a super- special training.
battle is normally pinned on the criminal whose resis- In San Angelo, the City Council or Board of Supervi-
tance caused the ruckus in the first place. sors must approve sanctioning agreements with heroes.
Also, independent heroes are not held to the same The Justice Foundation hero team is sanctioned by the
standard as peace officers in matters of warrants, city and county.
searches and so on. Evidence collected by private citi- Non-sanctioned, or independent, heroes may well have
zens can still be used in court even though it would be informal relationships with law enforcement agencies
but essentially operate as private citizens. They have
thrown out if it had been gathered by officers using
no police powers and are subject to arrest themselves if
the same methods.
they break the law. Non-sanctioned heroes normally do
Although independent heroes could be called vigi- not have access to confidential files, though some have
lantes, in practice the word usually refers to individu- been known to obtain such material through "friends
als who break the law in the name of justice. A super on the force."
who killed suspected criminals instead of turning them Most heroes are non-sanctioned, trading the protec-
over to police would be a vigilante, for example. tions and resources of sanctioning for the freedom to
Vigilantes are certainly subject to arrest for their operate outside the rules and procedures constraining
crimes, and particularly violent or bloody vigilantes may "official" heroes.
be hunted by police almost as much as criminal supers.
While criminal laws may protect independent he- r----------------~
roes from being arrested, as long as they act responsi-
I Additional Information I
bly, they are no protection against civil suits.
I GMs and players interested in a comprehensive look I
I at how the existence of superheroes and supervillains I
Heroes can be sued for causing injuries, property dam- I might affect the legal system should check out Dark I
age, even emotional distress. Not only can innocent I Champions: Heroes of Vengeance by Steven S. Long. I
bystanders file suit, so can the criminals!
L----------------.1,~~~ AGE
NUMBER
17
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
c.ry of $.tl11 £ng1.1lo
Welcome To San Angelo
4'>00 -
-
Supers and Society Some choose to use their powers to benefit society,
Supers have a unique role in society. Their incredible motivated by altruism, a desire for fame, religious faith
powers and amazing adventures accord them a celeb- or just a flair for adventure. Others see their superhu-
rity formerly reserved for the most popular actors and man abilities as a pa~h to riches. power, revenge or
models. even world domination.
The public is hungry for news of their fantastic doings, But many supers fall somewhere between these two
devouring endless news stories and magazine articles on extremes. They may be heroes or criminals, but often
high-profile heroes and their enemies. Public battles be- take on these roles unwillingly. A desperate financial
tween supers are likely to attract every news crew in the situation could push a super over the edge just as eas-
city, not to mention crowds of gawkers. ily as a normal. Likewise, family pressure could force
Fans seek their autographs, memorabilia and even the son of an illustrious hero into the crimefighting
political opinions. Some supers have cashed in on their business, regardless of his personal desires.
celebrity by marketing licensed comic books or other Other supers are busy pursuing personal goals, and
merchandise. a few just want to be left alone.
Even those supers who shun the spotlight attract plenty On the criminal side of the street, a few organized
of attention when they reveal their powers in public. crime groups have taken advantage of the existence
Behind the public adoration, however, lies another of supers to boost their power. For example, yakuza
face. Envy, prejudice and fear are also parl of the equa- syndicates and Chinese tongs are known to employ a
tion when it comes to the public's view of paranormals. handful of superpowered members.
The god-like feats of supers can inspire resentment The Mafia, on the other hand, tends to be more old-
in normals, while the pampered lifestyles of a handful fashioned and shuns the use of supers, who attract all
of high-profile heroes are a source of jealousy. kinds of unwanted attention.
And even those who admire the good deeds of he- Most supers involved in organized crime activities are
roes worry about what might happen if those powers simply hired guns, but a few are full-fledged members of
were ever turned against normals. the organization. They are a part of the hierarchy, subject
Just how do the supers themselves feel about their to the same orders and discipline as any other soldier.
powers? For example, a Chinese super who joins a tong may
For some people, the granting of superpowers ful- be richly rewarded and reserved for special assign-
fills a life-long dream, while others find their newfound ments, but he still must obey the commands of his
abilities a curse. superiors and conform to other tong expectations.
to win his fortune in California. The months of fruitless panning. Word of the become the neighborhoodof Poverty Gulch.
fami ly joins a wagon train in Indepen- discovery spreads. and prospectors flock July 4: After a long day of celebrating
dence, Mo., bound for the gold fields. to San Angelo. Independence Day, drunken prospectors
September 9 : The U.S. Congress ad- April 20: Amos Barnes founds the first form the Miner's Protective Association
mits California to the union as a free general store in San Angelo and strikes it and hang a suspected claim jumper. The
state. rich selling supplies to the hordes of gold association is the first of several vigilance
September 19: The wagon train con- miners. committees to operate in the San Angelo
taining the Brackett family arrives at September 2: The first mu rder in San mining camps.
the ri ver confluence near the abandoned Angelo takes place when a quarrel over a November 21: A vigilante association
Mission San Angeles . The settlers claim turns violent. The town soon gains a kills the town marshal when he tries to pre-
found a town, named after the nearby reputation as a rowdy, violent place of sa- vent them from lynching a prisoner at the
mission, but cartographers mistakenly loons, street brawls, dance halls, squalid San Angelo Jail. Future marshals let the
record it as San Angelo and the altered mining camps and frequen t shoot-outs. vigilantes operate unchecked.
name sticks. 1854 1856
1852 May 12: The First Baptist Church of San June 30: Exaggerated tales of the kill-
.January 18: Samuel Brackett discov- Angelo, the first non-Catholic church built ing of a prospector by a Native American PAGE
NUMBER
ers gold in the Del Oro Ri ver after 18 in the town, is dedicated in what will later prompt the Indian Springs Massacre. An
19
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
'Llw.11 Clly of Sen /lngoto
"I j11.st love !{Oi11g U> Twi.tter's mrd seeing <11/ tile
supers memorabilia. 11rey have Iii\' oltl t<.1, twne, uf
<:011rse, tAJu/ the (i1aui11m du1i11 rlwf Cbairi cc1rried,
San Angelo
San Angelo is a thriving modem American metropo-
a11d some of Lm1gl>mv 's arrows. Olr. lie:~ from
Sea ff le - llit'y luwe Stt{fffrom all over '" Twi.~rer 's. lis. Millions of people call the city and its surrounding
"Right now I'm 4'(1Vi11g up for ti ticket to 1/ie communities home, making San Angelo the sixth-larg-
diariry bt11/ for t/1e wo1ne11 '.\' ceme1: I hear r/1e est city in the U.S .
J11s1ice fow1dati1111 will be tire~. f llope I ca11 get A hub of business activity, the city has a diverse eco-
Corona\. <111wgrap/I." nomic base and an expanding role in the world of high-
- Stacy Chung, 24, becretary tech industry. Several top international corporations
are based in the area.
San Angelo is also a city of contrasts. Glittering high-
Design Considerations society balls take place just a few blocks from gritty soup
Along with the basic suppositions about the world, San
kitchens and shelters. Mom-and-pop groceries exist side
Angelo: City of Heroes is based on certain principles of
world-building. Here are a few: by side with the soaring skyscrapers of multibillion-dol-
• The PCs are the most important heroes in the lar corporations. Suburbs of winding streets and neatly
campaign. manicured lawns lie a few miles away from inner-city
• Supers are people with powers, not the other way neighborhoods rife with crime, drugs and violence.
around. And ordinary people look. up from their everyday
• Normals are just as interesting as supers. lives from time to time as the colorful, costumed he-
• There are more heroes and villains around than roes and criminals who share San Angelo with them
just the ones with superpowers. pass by overhead.
• Every PC, NPC and agency should stand out as a
unique entity.
• Diverse ethnic, national and religious backgrounds
make for memorable, realistic NPCs.
Topography and
• In any conflict between realism and fun, fun wins.
• The best campaigns tell a story. Climate
• A good campaign book presents all the informa- Built at the confluence of two rivers in a rich agricul-
tion necessary to start gaming, yet leaves GMs and
tural valley, San Angelo overall has a fairly flat land-
players opportunities to exercise their own creativ-
ity without having to discard parts of the book. scape marked by a few rolling hills.
20
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The terrain becomes more hilly to the east, where the Floods, however, pose a grave danger to the city. In
foothills of a sizable mountain range begin just beyond the the early days of San Angelo, flooding from the two
Lakeview area Hills, gorges, ravines and other rough ter- rivers nearly destroyed the town several times. Now
rain also mark the Lake Oro region, and steep bluffs rise the flood control system anchored by Oro Dam keeps
over the Del Oro River below Oro Dam. the problem in check most of the time.
Countless creeks and streams meander throughout But prolonged heavy rainfall can tax the system to its
urban San Angelo. A few have been channeled into limit. Levee breaks on the swollen rivers have flooded
underground culverts or drainage canals, but most re- outlying communities in recent years. Problems in the city
main relatively natural. proper have so far been limited to a handful of flood-prone
The city enjoys a temperate climate, with hot sum- neighborhoods along creeks, however.
mers and mild winters. Temperatures in the summer Earthquakes are a slight concern in San Angelo. The
average 85 degrees, but periodic heat waves push the region is considered fairly stable seismically, and no
mercury to 105 degrees or more. Summer thunder- known faults run through the metropolitan area. The
storms occur occasionally, though skies are generally closest nearby fault is found near the town of Marshall,
clear and humidity tends to be low. which was badly damaged by a 1918 earthquake.
In winter, temperatures range from below freezing to Severe earthquakes along the coast are normally felt
the low 60s. Rainstorms with high winds are frequent, in San Angelo, but rarely cause any damage. In fact,
and heavy morning fogs are encountered almost every day. the relative seismic safety of the region has been a
The sky can be overcast for weeks at a time in winter. major selling point in bringing corporate computing
It very rarely snows in San Angelo, and when it does centers and high-tech industries to the city.
the snow melts within a few hours at most. The foot-
hills and mountains east of the city experience regular Campaign Tip
heavy snowfalls. Supers with weather-control powers are a staple of the
Hail, pounding rainstorms and dangerously high comics and Champions campaigns. While they are un-
winds are about the extent of severe winter weather in likely to induce long-tenn climatic changes, these indi-
San Angelo. Tornadoes can form when conditions are viduals might have a profound short-tenn effect on San
Angelo weather.
right, but seldom last more than a few minutes or cause
GMs can use these NPCs to account for aberrant
much damage. weather or even un-natural disasters in the city. For ex-
Hurricanes and volcanic eruptions are not a threat in ample, San Angelo nonnally has little chance of being
San Angelo, though some peaks in mountain ranges struck by a major earthquake - but when Temblor hits
north of the metropolis are long-dormant volcanoes. town, all bets are off!
help lay tracks . Some of the workers 1873 launches preparations to construct an Old
fou nd the Chinatown neighborhood of April 20: The first public library is es- World cathedral to replace the sadly di-
San Angelo. tablished in San Angelo. lapidated chapel of the old Mission San
1866 September 5 : T he San Angelo Clarion Angeles.
January 1: Gabriel Price steps down reports on the rise of criminal tongs con- October 20: A smallpox epidemic deci-
after 8 years as town marshal. Grateful troll ing illegal gambling. prostitution, mates nearby tribes of California Indians.
San Angelo residents and civic leaders opium dens and other crime in Chinatown. 1886
present him with an engraved gold watch, Efforts to blot out the tongs fail, as do sug-
April 13: Fire again devastates down-
and the aging lawman settles into a quiet gestions to eradicate Chinatown itself. town San Angelo, despite the efforts of the
retirement. 1882 volunteer fire brigade. Twelve buildings
1868 August 30: Fire sweeps through down- are destroyed and four people ki lled.
J<'ebruary 24 : A heavy rainstorm town San Angelo, gutting 23 buildings. August 2: Joshua Price, son of famed
causes the Del Oro River to rise, result- 1884 lawman Gabriel Price, and partner Silas
ing in the worst flooding to dale in San September 12: Newly arrived Bishop Hunter finish construction of the Hunter-
Angelo. Twelve people are killed. Cristoforo D'Amicoclaimsa parcel of land Price Arms factory in Irish Bar. PAGE
NUMBER
outside town for the Catholic Church. He
21
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-
daily newspaper July 23: The "Hatchet Wars," a bloody
competing against underworld conflict between rival tongs,
the now thrice- erupts in Chinatown over control oft he prof-
weekly San Angelo itable opium and gambling trades.
Clarion. The rival 1927
Clarion switches to May 30: Following nearly nine months
daily editions a of killings, street fighting and other vio-
year later. lence, the "Hatchet Wars" in Chinatown
1915 come to a close. The Wing Chao tong
September 1: emerges as the dominant force in the
University of Cali- Chinatown underworld. A mysterious young
fornia, San Angelo, man known only as T'ien Lung now con-
founded. trols the tong following the assassination
1918 of its former dragon head during the con-
August 3: An flict.
earthquake hits the 1928
town of Marshall, April 25: AdvenLUrerTyler North founds
destroying 12 the Argonaut Society, an assembly of ex-
buildings in the plorers, flying aces and other daredevils.
old - fashioned The society builds a private dining club and
downtown district.
museum in Midtown.
The quake also
causes moderate November 13: Aircraft designer Arnold
damage in San Havelind and pilot Gig Norris form Norris
Angelo. Air in the back of a San Angelo drug store.
Havelind designs racing biplanes for dare-
1919 devil flier Norris.
February 14 :
The conflict in Eu- 1931
rope ended, World February 2: The Whisper, a masked
War I pilot "Ace" c1imefighter, breaks up a liquor smuggling
Braddock returns ring on the San Angelo riverfront. An eerie
1892 home to San Angelo to become a daredevil cloaked figure who operates mostly at night,
May 9: Craftsmen finish construction of barnstormer. Based at a South San Angelo the Whisper strikes fear into the hearts of
the Cathedral of St. Mary, a vast Gothic airstrip that will later become a municipal the city's criminals. He is the first of a hand·
church in a neighborhood that soon be- airport named in his honor, Braddock per- ful of mystery men, dark avengers who fight
comes known as Cathedral Square. But forms at air shows throughout the western for justice in the back alleys of San Angelo.
Bishop Cristoforo D'Amico, still dissatis- United States. 1932
fied, orders construction of other assorted 1923 December 5: Antonio "Hacksaw"
religious structures surrounding the cathe- December 5: Bishop Cristofaro Torricelli establishes a crime family in San
dral. D' Amico dies, bringing to anend the cease- Angelo and takes steps to control the ille-
1897 less construction at the Cathedral of St. gal liquor trade in the city. Torricelli, whose
Mary. claims of ties to East Coast mafia families
November 3: Residents vote to incorpo- are never proven, comes into immediate
rate San Angelo as a city, despite a vigor- 1925 conflict with the Whisper.
ous anti-cityhood campaign by the Valley September 2: The Order of the Knights
Pacific Railroad and other railroad inter- Templar, an ultra·secret fraternal society, 1934
ests. is established in San Angelo by financier July 5: Pilot Gig Norris perishes in a mid-
1898 Andreas Hunt. The club claims to trace its air collision at the San i\ngelo Airshow. His
January 1: San Angelo officially be- history back to a historical order of knight- business partner, Arnold Havelind, renames
comes the newest incorporated city in Cali- hood active in the Crusades. A nondescript their company Peregrine Aircraft and it goes
fornia. The elected City Council takes of- meeting hall is built in Cathedral Square. on to become a top manufacturer of mili-
tary and commercial airplanes.
fice, with Hiram Washington serving as the 1926
first mayor. Pioneer prospector Samuel June 10: Explorer Tyler North discovers 1935
a lost city of the Mayans in the Cenu·al
Brackett, an honored guest at the first coun- September 17: The last known sighting
cil session, dies two days later at the age
American jungle. North and his compatri- of the Whisper. In a battle with the Torricelli
_ _ _.of84. ots fight their way out of an attempt to sac- gang, which took up gun-running follow-
ing the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the
, ~~GE 1902 rifice them to the ancient Mayan gods, and
cloaked vigilante and his nemesis, gang
~;
March 31: Vernon Fletcher publishes the make a narrow escape when an erupting leader Antonio "Hacksaw" Torricelli, are
tirs1 cdirion of the San Angelo Times, a volcano destroys the lost city.
killed when a burning warehouse collapses. the world develop superpowers in the wake 1939
The Whisper's body is never found. of the incident, starti ng the so-called Mar ch 13: The Liberty Corps tangles with
1936 Golden Age of heroes. Clockwork and his gang of thugs during a
A ugust 29: A government lab in San 1937 jewel heist at the San Angelo Metropolitan
Angelo accidentally creates what is later Aug ust 21: The Minuteman, a s tar- Museum. Clockwork escapes in the first of
determined to be a singularity, a breakdown spangled hero who flies via a prototype many confrontations with the hero team.
in the laws of space and time. The unstable jetpack, foils a downtown bank robbery. He Decem ber 1: The U.S. Army Air Corps
singularity collapses 6.3 seconds later, but turns the captured gunmen over to the FBI. establishes Forgan Field, named after the
not before flooding the world with a burst The Minuteman exemplifies a new breed first pilot from San Angelo killed in World
of bizarre energy dubbed "flux" radiation of heroes, more colorful and straightfor- War I, in Plea~ant Grove.
by scientists. The strange energy field acts ward than their shadowy predecessors, the 1940
as a catalyst, making the impossible sud- mystery men. February 20: The Liberty Corps foils a
denly possible. A handful of people around 193 8 scheme by Baron Frost to induce anew ice age
June 19: Explorer Tyler North departs on Earth, but not before the madman freezes
EXCERM' FROM .JOURNAi. OF on an expedition to investigate reports of a half of downtown San Angelo. Fortunately, the
AME RICAN SCIENCE: lost valley of prehistoric creatures. He never corps rescues those trapped in the ice and keeps
W/t,.11 one '~"tfldi!rs thr .... ,.1 r •
ret urns, and the Argonaut Society begins property damage toa minimum a~ thecity thaws.
""' ••1S1111r f"'ll'cr
fl«:t'.rsury· Ir> brin11 " .flngulu111v imn bt>t'ng to fade away. 1941
rf11' Sllf(gcsriim tl1w " r:ut/c,·rlt11; of J'dlmrur: July 4: The Liberty Corps forms in San D ecember 8: The United States enters
"'"'Y l11mi accid1111tully CTFutc'Cl """ ill ,1,,. Angelo to battle crime, particularly the World War II. Hundreds of San Angelo resi-
1930s is f 1m1/umc11rnl/y almurL threat posed by newly created superhuman dents enlist or report for military duty. An
Dr. Revette oml hlJ tYJllfague4 c!f 1936 criminals. Founding members are Sky employment boom at Forgan Field brings
t'oultl iw mm-t l1aw• cmued "frt.ak Ranger, Commando X , D r. Oblivion, Night- thousands of out-of-work people to San
r(11gu"1riry thou my 8-yM,.·uld Ja11JllitC'f ingale, Colossal Man and Beast Girl. The Angelo from all over the nation, im:luding,i o---"il
f:Olf/1/ i1mcfl-ertu111/y built/ a /11 i·/011 rr11c1or Minuteman remains independent, but works many African Americans. When land lords
fit;m lier 1!/ic111istry :rt.•/ with the Liberty Corps on occasion. refuse to rent to them, some build their own
N;;R
PAGEi
Welcome To San Angelo tions causes a toxic spill at Allied Chemi- of Supervisors in a special election to replace
cals, an Eclipse Industries subsidiary. Sis- the late Rod Weber.
ters Christina and Maria Spiros are among 1996
1991 those injured.
May 17: The Faraday Memorial Clinic, Janua ry 19: Suffering from amnesia, the
September 19: The first Twisters res-
named for the late hero Kip Faraday, or taurant opens in the fashionable Wharves clone Cameron begins competing in under-
Alloy, opens in midtown. Funded by fin - district. Filled with supers memorabilia, ground pit-fighting bouts - some to the death
ancier Alastair McDermott, the clinic the theme restaurant is owned by retired - as Bloodsport.
treats injured supers and normals caught hero Twister. February 20: Marietta Grey, founder of the
in the crossfire of super-battles. Temple of Atlantis, dies. Her protege,
October 21: Having returned home to
October 29: The Ferret, a superskilled the midwest with her still-comatose sis- Dreamweaver, who has the power to enter and
freelance thief, steals a jewelry collection ter, Christina Spiros discovers that the influence dreams, takes over as head of the
worth hundreds of thousands of dollars mutagenic properties of the toxics spilled New Age temple.
from the home of a wealthy San Angelino at Allied Chemicals have given her sound- May 1: The freelance thief known as the
in his first appearance. Ferret steals materials from an ultra-secure
based powers. She begins to train herself U.S. Army laboratory in the midwest for an
1992 in her newfound abilities. unknown employer.
July 1: The San Angelo Police Depart- December 12: Dr. Anton Megalo goes May 19: Ati:er turning the lab materials over
ment establishes the Paranormal Ale1t Re- underground after authorities discover his to his contractor, the Ferret learns they include
sponse Team to handle incidents involv- cybernetic experiments on patients at San test batches of a deadly plague virus devel-
ing superhuman criminals. T he heavily Angelo County General Hospital. oped by the military. The Ferret infiltrates the
armed, highly trained squad is the fi rst 1995 secret base of his former employer, retrieves
such team to be formed by a local law February 28: Helix Technologies suc- the viral samples and returns them to the Army.
enforcement agency in the United States. ceeds in creating a human clone with peak August 30: An anti-Paragon backlash swells
November 26: The hero, Mind-Master, normal human abili ties. Named Cameron, among San Angeli nos fed up with the perfectly
appears for the first time, foiling a rob- he is rapidly matured in a special nutri- annoying perfectness of the hero. Paragon an-
bery at a high-tech Arroyo Verde labora- ent tank developed by the I.ab. nounces he will not be seeking office in 1996.
tory. April 18: Cloning expert Vladimi r 1997
1993 Kaminov dies in a boating accident on Ma r ch 24: Peter Quayle, a young college
.January 13: Twister prevents Shrap- Lake Oro. Two days later, the Helix Tech- music student, buys a secondhand flute from
nel from carrying out a threat to des troy no lugies lab is <lestroyed in a fire. a Cathedral Square pawn shop. Quayle dis-
City Hall, but suffers crippling injuries Cameron disappears . covers that the flute has arcane powers, and
in the battle. May 7: Peter and .ludy Kaminov resolve takes on the role of the Bard, a mystic protec-
August 9: The thief known as the Fer- to secretly carry on the work of Helix tor of Cathedral Square, as he learns more
ret defeats an ultra-high-tech security sys- Technologies and embark on a crash pro- about the flute's power. He does not know the
tem to steal plans for a prototype fuel cell gram to recreate the lost cloning equip- instrument is actually an ancient magical arti-
from Orion Labs for a corporate rival. ment. fact once used by the Piper.
November 2: A never-before-seen su- May 24: Robin Fleming makes his de- June 3: San Angelo homemaker Mary Anne
per, whom the press dubs Amok, goes on but as Paragon, the Perfect Human, fight- Battaglia founds STOP, or Supers Trashing Our
a destructive rampage through downtown ing crime in San Angelo with perfect pre- Peace, which decries violent public battles
San Angelo, causing extensive property cision according to a perfectly designed between paranormals.
damage. He disappears among the rubble master strategy. The brilliant, handsome July 26: Peregrine Aircraft hires Dynamo,
while police and fire personnel are busy Paragon becomes a public figure, mak- a Georgia superhero who gained fame for be-
rescuing trapped victims. ing television appearances and authoring ing the first superhero to make commercial
1994 articles for prominent magazines. endorsements, as its new security consultant.
J anuary 1: T he Justice Foundation July 2: Amok goes berserk in the Ar- Her actual duties primarily involve public re-
think tank forms a hero team of the same mory neighborhood downtown, demolish- lations work. Dynamo moves to San Angelo.
name. Founding members are leader Co- ing several stores and smashing countless September 18: Photon appears and attempts
rona, Cavalier, Azteca and Savant. cars. The Justice Foundation battles him to free Amok during a hearing at the San
January 21: Peregrine Aircraft donates to a standstill, but the crazed Amok pulls Angelo County Courthouse. The Justice Foun-
a prototype VTOL passenger jet, dubbed a building down around himself and the dation and Paragon battle Photon over down-
the Turbokl, lo Lhe Jusli1,;t: Foundalion. team barely escapes. Amok disappears. town San Angelo, narrowly forcing him to flee.
February 15: Wealthy heir Robin September 30: Supervisor Rod Weber Amo k disappears in the confusion, but
Fleming injects himself with the experi- is killed when his Jeep overturns while Photon's apparent plan to recruit him for a new
mental paragon drug. The drug acceler- he works on his Gan-etts Landing farm. band of superhuman criminals fails. Photon
ates his physical and mental development Weber, who was alone at the time, is vows revenge on the heroes for interfering with
to an astonishing degree. Fleming qu ickly found dead several hours later. him.
reaches the apex of normal human abil- October 11: The Paragon Fan Club October I: Christina Spiros returns to San
ity, becoming a perfect human. He decides forms, encouraging young people to keep Angelo with a list of names of those she
to put his new abilities to work for the physically fit, stay in school, resist pres- holds responsible for the 1994 accident at an
PA_G...,..e"' goou of human ity. t111d begin~ an incense sure to use drugs and keep out of gangs. Eclipse Industries subsidiary. As the sonic-
l'.....
NUMBER traini ng regimen in the nmr1iul arts. gym- November 2: Erik Bates, a retired de- powered Siren, she intends to make com-
unstics and other skill11. fensive end for the San Angelo Miners pany executives pay fur their negligence -
26 August •l: C<l~l-Cull i ng Qfl safety prccau- football team, wins election to the Board with a vengeance.
A E
NUMBER
27
SAN ANGE L!O: CITY OF HEROES
Cny of ~n A"!l•lo •!>¢0 -
Politics
Vital Statistics Percentage of population registered to vote: 62%
Size: 247 square miles (metropolitan area) Average election turnout: 44.6%
(18 miles long by 14 miles wide)
Average Elevation: I 33 feet Democrat: 48% Libertarian: 3%
Independent: 5% Republican: 41 %
Climate: Temperate.
Green: 2% Other: 1%
Religious Background
Percentage of population attending
religious services in past seven days:
41%
Catholic: 43% Muslim: 2.5%
Buddhist: 2.1 % Protestant: 46%
Jewish: 3.4% Other: 3%
Leading Protestant
Denominations
Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints
Southern Baptist
Presbyterian Church USA
Assemblies of God
Economics
Average household incomes: $22,200 in
Brenton to $128,000 in Lakeview.
Percentage of households below poverty
line: 12.4%
Unemployment: 6.8%
Median home price: $124,000
Average monthly rents, two-bedroom
apartment: $440 to $675
PAGE
NUMBER
28
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
~ -1 .l mml C1t1otlloaAnQ910
Layout of the
Region
San Angelo County lies at the heart of a broad river
valley, nestled against the foothills with the Sierra Ne-
vada mountains to the northeast and east. The wedge-
shaped county extends southward along the Del Oro
River to the edge of a delta feeding into the Pacific
Ocean.
Metropolitan San Angelo covers the northern two-
thirds or so of the county. Most of the rest of the re-
gion is rural farmland, marked by farmhouses, dairies
and an occasional small town.
Oro County lies to the west, just across the Del Oro
River from the city. The Port of San Angelo and com-
munity of West San Angelo are located in Oro County.
The rest of the county is heavily agricultural, consist-
ing mainly of thousands of acres of farmland and a
few small towns.
29
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cir)' ('JI S•I\ Angoto 4SGO -
The timeless bayou country has reminded more than town reciprocates with strong support for the institution.
one person of the Deep South. An incorporated city, Canfield is governed by its own
Water-skiers are a common sight on the delta, while five-person City Council. The city contracts with the
the region's striped bass, bluegill, sturgeon and black San Angelo County Sheriff's Department for law en·
bass draw countless anglers. Houseboat excursions are forcement.
also popular.
. ti radio about it- Garrett's Landing
• "l heard something on ie 0 Dam again? A sleepy delta town of 2,000 people, Garrett's Land-
' threatening to blow up ro
someone s . Th h roes will stop them. ing lies along the Del Oro River as it makes its way to
No I'm not worried. e e
the ocean amid a series of sloughs and islands. The
,;They always d~." . massage therapist
- Mindy Rivers. 34 , town gained its name as an early shipping stop fre-
quented by the colorful steamboat captain Quincy
Garrett.
The Foothills Today, bait shops, general stores and filling stations
The Gold Country, a forested region of gently roll- are pretty much the height of the commercial scene in
ing foothill country laced by rivers that pour down Garrett's Landing. A few bars and restaurants com-
from the Sierra Nevada, lies to the east of San Angelo. pete to attract tourists returning from a day of water-
Covered brjdge:s, mining museums, swimming holes borne fun on the delta.
and ghost towns are just some of the sights, intermixed Delta Community College is located just outside
with an occasional town or 19th-century hotel. town, and a small community hospital in town pro-
Several closed mines are found in the Gold Country, vides basic medical care for delta residents.
along with a few active mining operations. The foot- Garrett's Landing is an unincorporated community
hills are also home to some award-winning wineries. governed by the county.
30
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
ool
Points of Interest Layout of the City
Canfield Indian Rancheria: A 20-acre reservation
for Native Americans found a few miles outside the
The city of San Angelo got its start at the confluence
town of Canfield. About 30 families from various tribes
of the San Angelo and Del Oro rivers. Now a sprawl-
live on the rancheria in a collection of modest houses
ing metropolis, the city has outgrown these early
and mobile homes.
boundaries to cover an immense area.
Unemployment and poverty are serious problems for
The actual city limits of San Angelo only enclose a
many rancheria residents.
portion of the metropolis-about half the residents of
The state established Canfield Indian Rancheria in
urban San Angelo live in unincorporated communi-
1923 for homeless Native Americans of any Califor-
ties governed by the county.
nia tribe. A united council elected by residents over-
Like most other West Coast cities, the population
sees the rancheria.
density of San Angelo is low compared to East Coast
Residents are discussing opening an Indian casino,
cities. High-rises are really only found downtown,
featuring card games and bingo, to provide jobs and
mostly in City Center, and mainly provide office space
bring in revenue to upgrade living conditions at the
for businesses.
rancheria. The proposal has nearby residents worried
Even in the center of town, high-density residential
about increased traffic.
buildings such as apartment houses with hundreds of
Clavell Quarry: A closed granite quarry near the
tenants are fairly rare. Most people prefer to live in a
town of Marshall. In its heyday, the operation pro-
house or smalJ apartment complex.
vided granite for the construction of several city land-
Outside the city core, single-family homes are the
marks, including California State Prison, Canfield, and
norm. Suburban apartments, condos, offices and stores
the San Angelo County Courthouse.
rarely rise higher than three or four stories. Retail busi-
The quarry shut down in the 1960s, and the deep pit
nesses line most major streets, clustered in strip malls
is now filled by rainwater. It is a popular swimming
or shopping centers intermixed with office parks.
hole for youngsters from nearby Marshall.
As a result, urban San Angelo sprawls over a huge
Lightning Strike Mine: An abandoned gold mine
portion of the county. Cars or mass transit are a vir-
in the hills around Lake Oro. The Lightning Strike Min-
tual necessity, particularly outside the downtown.
ing Co. operated the mine for more than 80 years be-
fore the gold gave out in I 971.
The mine, a maze-like warren of tunnels and shafts, The Streets
is closed to the public due to the numerous hazards, Streets in central San Angelo tend to follow a grid
including cave-ins, unmarked shafts, pockets of poi- pattern. In the downtown, north-south streets are let-
son gas and flooding. tered, while east-west streets are numbered. Some
While the Lightning Strike Mine may be the most downtown streets are one-way, and narrow alleys be-
extensive, there are numerous old gold mines in the tween buildings are common on many blocks.
foothills above the reservoir. In outlying parts of the city, roads follow the typical
suburban model of meandering neighborhood streets
Other Points of Interest feeding into wide boulevards that serve as major traf-
California State Prison, Canfield (p. 111) fic corridors. Many streets have Spanish names, while
Delta Community College (p. 114) others are named after prominent San Angelinos.
Delta Community Hospital The metropolis has expanded over the years to en-
Marshall Airport (p. 64) gulfseveral formerly outlying towns, such as Lakeview
Marshall Community Hospital and Castle Heights. The old-fashioned grid-style down-Cji ip!o-o'A....G"""eiiiii'
1
San Angelo County Landfill (p. 77) towns reappear in the older parts of these communi- NUMBER
= ties. 31
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City o1 ~"" Anaolo 450Q -
Top 5 Busiest Downtown "I'm hanging out in this traffic jam on Wayne
Intersections Street when suddenly-KA-BI.AMI-there's this
1. Mission St. and Center Parkway (F8) explosion up the street. Everyone jumps out of their
2. Liberty Blvd. and Center Parkway (F5) cars and we see these supers slugging it out a.few
3. Curry St. & Wayne St. (C9) blocks up.
4. Kane St. & Center Parkway (F7) "Total bummer, man. Non-violence-increase the
5. Cuny St. & Lee St. (E9) peace. you know? Anyway, all thesefrealcy psyche-
delic flashes and explosions are going off, but it's
Prominent Landmarks all happening too fast for us to figure out whar 's
going on.
Cathedral of St. Mary ''Then this flaming dude comes flying right over
Gold Panner Statue us. Sparks are falling eve1ywhere, people are
A stone monument sculpture of a grizzled gold screaming and diving under cars. Real wild scene.
So this other flying dude comes barrelling along and
panner holding up a nugget. Sculpted in the 1960s,
lays the first guy out with a wicked uppercut.
the stalue stands outside City Hall. "He lands-KA-RUNCH!-right on the roof of my
Liberty Square '69 VW. He's wasted, out cold, but my Bug catches
Minuteman Circle fire anyway. I'm standing there thinking, 'My
A traffic circle in Confluence Point Park near City Grateful Dead tapes!'
Center. A bronze statue of the Minuteman, a revered "My insurance guy totalled it out. I was bummed. I
San Angelo hero of the Golden Age, stands in the cen- really dug that VW. "
-"Starchild" Zane, 44, record shop owner
ter of the circle. ringed by flowerbeds.
"See thflf crack in tlle ~will? Chrome did ''"'' for shipping bulk commodities, the port opened just
with her Jmre Jilt. Sire was tning w punch Aztecti. as heavy manufacturing plants gave way to light in-
bw Jw dodgetl j11st tl1e11 sn Chrome mi ~std. dustry and high-technology enterprises.
"l SdW it all from tlte rcsw11111ru wlter~ I work. Agriculture and timber products from surrounding
across 1/le street. W1ien it was 111/ over. /\zrec11 counties remain the primary cargoes passing through
a.c:ked me out. 81111fla1 ·:; a whole ntlter sto1)' .. : .. the port.
-Stephanie Van Dom. 22. wrutrCSll
Downtown
The heart of San Angelo, downtown encompasses a
profusion of diverse neighborhoods. Shining skyscrap-
ers rise from the bustling financial nerve center of City
Center to define the San Angelo skyline, while a few
blocks away tourists crowd the streets of Chinatown
hoping to experience a taste of the Orient.
Five-star hotels, fine dining, theaters, nightclubs and
other attractions add to the sparkle of the downtown,
as do numerous statues, monuments and plazas cel-
ebrating the city's past. And the shadows of the high-
rises fall across a few neighborhoods in decay, places
of fear and grim despair.
San Angelo got its start in the area now considered
downtown, anti several of the oldest neighborhoods
of the city are found there. In particular, the restored
l 800s-era storefronts of Old San Angelo recreate the
early days of the city for visitors and schoolchildren.
Now the economic nucleus of San Angelo, the mod- The Armory
ern downtown is primarily a business district that at- A gritty neighborhood of rooming hotels, shelters,
tracts hundreds of thousands of suburban commuters liquor stores and soup kitchens, the Armory takes its
each day. From the tallest office tower to the hum- name from the central National Guard Armory.
blest old-fashioned grocery, the businesses found The last stop for San Angelo 's down-and-out, the
downtown play a vital role in the daily commerce of neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations
San Angelo. of homeless people in the city. Despite complaints by
Residential neighborhoods are also part of down- Vietnamese and Laotian refugee families who have
town, though they tend to be overlooked by outsiders. moved into the Armory, nothing seems likely to
The housing market consists chiefly of older apart- change.
ment homes, second-story flats over storefronts and a Dilapidated brick hotels, some nearly a century old,
scattering of houses. rise over Armory streets crowded by shelters, dining
The people of downtown are as diverse as its neigh- halls, missions and olher charities. A han<l[ul of neigh-
borhoods, ranging from artists in hip Riverfront lofts borhood stores, offices and cafes occupy age-worn
to pensioners in cheap Armory rooming hotels. The commercial buildings, though many storefronts stand
homeless are a sizable, and very visible, component empty.
of the downtown population. The National Guard Armory, a blocky, concrete
The high concentration of people and businesses in structure, and the San Angelo County General Hospi-
downtown San Angelo gives rise to a booming crime
r- --
PAGE rate, 1hough only a few neighborhoods are thought to
tal are the two largest buildings in the neighborhood.
Seedy liquor stores scattered along the main boule-
MBER 1
)e rea 11 y uungerous.
·• c·Hy po1·tee 11ave H strong pres- vards, intermixed with an occasional greasy spoon
36 ence 1lmmghout the area. diner, thrift store or gloomy bar, constitute the bulk of
41
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
crry o1 S.11 Ar.a•ro 'sco -
loans and tax breaks persuaded some property owners New to the scene are underground nightclubs, popu-
to convert their dilapidated warehouses into residential lar with young people into the Gothic or vampire scene.
or commercial spaces. Attired totally in black, with pale faces and dark
Now Riverfront is emerging as a hip address for ac- makeup, the patrons of these clubs only add to the ee-
tors, artists, musicians and other performers, not to rie unreality that is the Strip at night.
mention young professionals and other adventurous The numerous tattoo and piercing parlors in the
sorts. The area has a vibrant, village-style atmosphere neighborhood also attract disaffected young people.
coupled with a sparkling nightlife. Other than a handful of poverty-stricken families
Some of the city's hottest new nightclubs, including staying at the abundant cheap motels in the Stiip, the
the Matrix, are found in renovated Rive1front ware- neighborhood has very few permanent residents.
houses. Crime is profligate in the Strip. Nearly any variety
Also, empty warehouses are sometimes rented by of drug, from heroin or crack to the newest "designer"
teenagers for raves, underground all-night dance par- drugs, can be purchased here. Prostitution is rampant,
ties notable for the copious consumption of LSD, mari- along with sales of obscene materials such as child
juana and designer drugs. porn and almost any other vice crime that can be imag-
The tide of redevelopment has not reached every part ined.
of Riverfront, however. Several blocks continue to be The many "johns" who flock to the neighborhood
dominated by rusty, silent warehouses that are some- each night are also i::asy targets for thieves and rob-
times subject to break-ins by homeless people seek- bers, who know that few of their embarrassed victims
ing shelter. will report the crime.
The San Angelo Police Department has a heavy pres-
The Strip ence in the Strip, and the vice squad spends much of
A seedy collection of porn theaters, shabby motels, its time in the neighborhood.
adult bookstores, tattoo shops, sex clubs, massage par-
lors and underground clubs, the Strip is the rank un- The Wharves
derbelly of the downtown. In Gold Rush times, this part of the downtown built
In daylight hours, the Strip has a wan, faded look. a reputation as a rough-and-tumble waterfront district
Beer bottles, discarded hypodermic needles and other of rowdy saloons, dance halls and brothels. Over the
trash litter the streets. A few hardy barf1ies staggering years, these institutions died an inevitable death, and
off to an early start at favored watering holes are the the neighborhood became sadly dilapidated.
only signs of life. The low rents appealed to artists, and the area un-
But at night the Strip, lit by flickering neon signs, derwent a brief renaissance in the 1950s and 1960s as
comes to life once again. The strip clubs and darkened a center of the San Angelo art world before sinking
bars throw their doors open, while the nether regions back into decay.
of the Strip are transformed into an open-air market After decades of neglect, city leaders targeted the
for narcotics, flesh and other illicit pleasures. area for an ambitious redevelopment project in the late
Clerks at threadbare motels negotiate hourly rates 1980s. Lured by tax incentives and promised public
with streetwalkers and their patrons as nearby adult works projects, investors bought up the neighborhood
bookstores and porn theaters do a brisk trade. and rechristened it The Wharves.
The back-alley massage parlors and escort services Working together, the city and the property owners
of the Strip are often targets of police prostitution raids. marketed the area to hotel chains, swanky restaurants
A few fraying liquor stores round out the commercial and other high-class establishments. Construction be-
picture. gan soon after, and transformed the formerly rundown
--..'"!!'!!!!"'I
waterfront into a clean, attractive area of five-star ho- "Well, I ~o~ldn 't ever ordinarily be in that neighbor-
tels, fine dining and classy nightspots. hood, whats ll called, the Strip? Except my car, it, uh.
ha:f af!~t tire and I, um, pulled of{ the freeway.
Parker Square, a bright, open area surrounding a tiled
So tJ s dark, all the street lights are out and I'm
fountain, is popular with visitors and nearby office walking... no. I mean, changing my, uh, my tire. On the
workers alike. The steady streams of passers-by at- car. Um. and these guys, these thugs, come walking up.
tract an array of colorful street performers, including T~ey start pushing me around. They 've got knives,
jugglers, mimes and magicians. Pickpockets, flim-flam Pt~~e.f, a baseball bat. One of them grabs my wallet.
artists and other disreputable characters are also fre- Then, well, it all happened so fast. One of the punks
quent visitors. goes flying, and another collapses onto the pavement.
A collection of low-rise brick office buildings, a few 111ey're all shouting, I'm ducking, there's a whole
ba11Je going on around me. Just like that, it's all over.
remnants of the early days of the neighborhood, sur-
cmd the punks are sprawled all over the place and
round Parker Square. They mostly house advertising
Purugo11 s standing there He hands me back my wallet
agencies and design firms, along with a few ritzy eat- and tells me to go on home.
eries and watering holes catering to the style-conscious. "So that:r what happened.
"Um, look, you don't have to use my name, do you?"
Point s of Interest -Name withheld
*Eclipse Plaza: A 36-story office tower under con-
struction by Olympus Construction Inc. When com-
*Old San Angelo Sewers: Replaced by a modern
pleted, the building will house the corporate offices of
drainage system in the 1950s, the cavernous 1800s-
Eclipse Industries. Jt will be the third-tallest building
era storm drains below Old San Angelo are a dark re-
in the city.
flection of the bustling city above. A dank, crumbling
Liberty Square: An open plaza with an eye-pleas- maze of passages, the century-old drains are largely
ing mix of fountains, trees, grassy knolls and park unmapped. Some people claim they go on for miles
benches. The square honors the Liberty Corps, a hero below the streets of San Angelo. City officials dis-
team active in the 1930s and 1940s. A bronze monu- courage access to the sewers, however, citing the ex-
ment statue of the team stands at the center of the plaza. treme danger of collapse.
Liberty Square also contains a handful of bronze Prospector Bank Building: A 38-story office tower
plaques honoring more recent San Angelo heroes who that houses the corporate headquarters of Prospector
have been killed in the line of duty. Bank. Bank offices occupy the first several floors of
Most supers consider Liberty Square "neutral the tower, but the rest is rented by other companies.
ground" as a gesture of respect to the fallen heroes. The top story contains the exclusive Skyline Club, a
Even criminal supers are unlikely to attack foes here, private dining establishment catering to the ultra-rich.
and a few have at times arranged meetings with their The Prospector Bank Building is the second-tallest
heroic rivals at the plaza to pass on information, make building in San Angelo.
threats, discuss mutual enemies or fulfill some other *San Angelo Corporate Center: A 32-story office
non-combat purpose. tower, once the tallest building in San Angelo but now
Old City Cemetery: An 80-acre cemetery that dates eclipsed by newer developments.
back to the late 1800s. A wrought-iron fonce surrounds *Twilight Tower: Officially the Morgan Office
the old graveyard, which is crowded with headstones, Tower, this imposing piece of the city skyline is com-
a variety of monuments, crypts and tombs. Many San mon! y called the "Twilight Tower" for the smoked gray
Angelo pioneers are buried here. Historical brochures glass used in its construction. Built in 1988 by Mor-
are available, and weekend tours are sometimes held
at the cemetery.
gan Construction Co., the office tower rises 42 sto- .
ries, making it the tallest building in the city. '!'!':! ,
43
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
"These he1v•"· , .1 ,
"'" .otta); '"'~)''re.just k tJ. M
responsibility. umk at I ' .r. o
Their r. h · t u: mess they make :with all
The building has a high occupancy rate, housing in- Jl8 Tmg. And IOme ofTh
ought to lie as/1(1me l ose costumes-they
numerable law offices, accounting firms, consultants, •·1 '.
remember the Atomic J(.id b k .
engineering companies, stock brokerages and other WW.ZJ· 1vow
u ' ac m rhe Big o
there was l ne.
professional offices. Some of the top firms in the city saved my whole unit ataOk.
U!l'C> yo11 could be
pmud o.f
are found here, including the Jaw firm of Graham, that had us pinned d 11/tlW(l-too!.: OuT a pillbox
.. own.
Drake & Wagner, the political consulting firm of - Every Veterans Da,( I n over
Hardesty & Associates and Highland Securities. The mhu k' -1 g
111111 wul the to that stmue of
o <1 teroe,\' at Uber!)• S .
Twilight Cafe in the first floor is considered one of to sav rlwnks. 11ie VFW . · quare, 1us1
San Angelo's finer dining establishments. thel'e every' y·ear. h It' 11.\ed lo have ceremonies
' u 1ra1 prottv m 'hfe//
wt1y.ridt' "few veur:r "1 ·t uc hv the
SOmethin fi · , ago. 'OI 'tJ W(Jf /f's jlLfl
Other Points of Interest · g rom lt1story• cla.Yses tofiif.'-.. 1
guess. c ~ t11ese days, /
Chamberlain Administrative Center (p. 77)
"But I still run i1110 a few fc ll
City Hall (p. 72) l~tercms Du" !. .1 • : • e ows Ott/ there eve ,
0
Convention Center (p. 212) _,.. o '' vets like me .
the Atomic Kid an'/ t.- ' , commg ro remember
Federal Courthouse (p. I 08) " tru: ()f11ers. ,.
N Street Shelter (p. 183) -Hal Boyd, 70. retired
Golden Rule (p. 183)
Historic San Angelo Opera House (p. 2 12) something slackers in the relaxed neighborhoods of
Kelley Medical Center (p. 143) Midtown.
Police Headquarters (p. 88) Picnics and zoo visitors flock to the vast Samuel
St. Kjeran 's Catholic Church (p. 165) Brackett City Park, a vital escape valve from the pres-
St. Lawrence Dining Hall (p. 184) sures of city life, which defines the western edge of
San Angelo County Courthouse (p. l 08)
Midtown.
San Angelo County General Hospital (p. 143)
San Angelo County Main Jail (p. 111)
And high-fashion society balls in the elegant man-
San Angelo Plaza (p. 122) sions of Poverty Gulch and other exclusive enclaves
San Angelo County Sheriff's Dept. HQ (p. 94) are just another piece of the Midtown puzzle.
Temple Beth Israel (p. 165) As San Angelo began to spread out from its riverfront
University Medical Center (p. 142) origins, residents began to buy up land in Midtown.
Some of the first to build in the area were successful
"I I iear there(r f<>111tttlti11 l" . . prospectors who erected ostentatious Victorian man-
storm dmimr he/ow Old "11 tv111g m tlw.ve <JI</ sions in the Poverty Gulch neighborhood.
. YfJll k1101v. M h>Jtlll
fior nu/es. .
Angelo 11
• tey go (m Over the next century, Midtown continued to pros-
stmitatio depar1
11 y mther ""01 *~Ior th~.citv per as a residential offshoot of the downtown. Stores,
huddieJ· have .rpn;;~~j~J,~lld lz~ .rays s(Jme ofhis · offices and other businesses followed their custom-
there. Tiu• drv's k· . ,~weird crr!at11re do11·11
- ee1~1~g it all huJ·hed up. thouglt . .. ers, while universities, museums and libraries sprang
- V1vian Flanders 41 h up to educate the public.
' • omemaker
All these elements come together in modern Mid-
Midtown town, a funky yet pleasant mix of housing, businesses
An eclectic blend of sidewalk cafes, Victorian man- and nightlife.
sions, office buildings, museums, bungalows and bou- Along major streets, apartments or flats are often lo-
tiques, Midtown is the laid-back residential counter- cated upstairs from boutiques, restaurants and mom-
part to the high-energy downtown. and-pop stores of all types. A few comer groceries
In-line skaters jet down the streets at midnight, while remain in Midtown, survivors of the influx of super-
PA_G_e"''bicycles line the sidewalks outside the numerous cof-
i .... markets and reminders of days gone by.
NUMBER feehouses. A1tists, poets and musicians mix easily with Dusty bookstores, including some specializing in rare
young professionals, university students and twenty- or antique volumes, seem to be everywhere, sur-
44
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctr, ol 5tn ~oolo •~OO -
~
filte ov...Y- ~ .aeo.Y-~'tt: :f-t:'s;;-- .aff ttie
W t/ie sA,y..tfi kte-~ J:-'ut ~ .aff~eo;
t!!'?,-
~ wz:.e ttie efeVo.~ Pl( '1ll!($efk-; !?I.AC' ;f-
.~ ev.f;" t/ie Wi'l,d..~ .a'l,d.. ~~'l,d.. J:-'ut .a
gilvir e"("" J:-'ut -4'41'i'l8.
A/o'Ui, We $OW 0. ~e<"'-/le'(""'(!!rf We We-<e
~- ttie ~ t:?J' t!ie ff~IA"t ~Y- t/ie ?::>.<$
f'.~ W/1e~ /1e Sdew Y-i8/1t- Ulie<"' ~ -Re was;.·
af6 P'riS/1-r .a'l,d.. 9f0i.![, .a'lA. /1e WO.Veq .a(;"
~ t ~ $1M(Sb" /1i9' 'Uiffte ~ c.a~tie'<t
O.'th /1e l$" i~ tfie f~t.Ce ·rer.Attd...'P!,.-f-l,~. We
~nc-· tfieix- cmftic ~.
;:. ft.ave t?f gt!! t?f f?ec{ ~
Leve,
~e'<\"ie
Other Points of Interest "Whatcha doin '? Oh, these are for ole Mrs.
Mt. Zion AM.E. Church (p. 165) Marks. She broke her leg, so Moms makin' me do
her grocery shopping 'til she gets better.
"You 'member that fight on the 1V couple weeks
Castle Heights ago, where Amok threw that bus at Lotus? Dude,
Mrs. Marks was on that bus! Yeah. Messed her up.
Houses are popping up like weeds in Castle Heights
"Aw, J don't mind. Mrs. Marks, she cool. She
on the southernmost edge of metropolitan San Angelo.
useta bake me cookies. "
Thousands of head of cattle once roamed where -Jamal Pulliam, 14, student
streets, suburban homes and modern shopping cen-
ters now arise in a seemingly unstoppable tide of de-
velopment.
Eastside
A residential community with many homes dating
In the early days of San Angelo, the entire region back to the early 20th Century, Eastside contains sev-
was part of the vast Castle Ranch. Cattle baron Frederic
eral early suburbs of downtown San Angelo. It is gov-
Castle sold part of his land to the railroad in the 1870s
erned by the city.
for a depot and small town, which became known as
Separated from downtown San Angelo by the raised
Castle Heights. Interstate 7 highway, Eastside neighborhoods tend to
Over time, fruit and nut orchards began to replace be more spread out than the densely packed city core.
cattle ranching as the mainstay of the region. Castle Neat grids of shady streets are lined by single-family
Heights remained primarily a cluster of storefronts, homes and an occasional apartment house .
surrounded by a few blocks of houses, lining the old Most neighborhoods are quiet, slightly upscale en-
railway. In the 1980s, however, demand for new hous- virons with a bevy of beautiful homes in a variety of
ing for workers at nearby Arroyo Verde and Southport styles. The Gothic architecture of Cathedral Square
factories brought developers to Castle Heights. marks one exception, and to the north moneyed neigh-
Now suburban-style subdivisions surround old Castle borhoods give way to the grittier North Mission dis-
Heights, while modern shopping centers are found at trict.
either end of the tiny historic downtown district. Eastside neighborhoods are home to several San
Residents of Castle Heights tend to be middle-class, Angelo landmarks, including the vast Cathedral of St.
mostly employees at the high-tech factories in Arroyo Mary, Mission San Angeles and the San Angelo Sports
Verde. The community has a slightly below-average Complex.
crime rate. Housing development began in Eastside at the turn
of the century as well-to-do residents sought homes
Points of I nterest outside the crowded downtown but still conveniently
Castle Heights Auto Mall: A gigantic conglomera- close to their businesses. In time, Eastside became a
tion of auto dealerships just off Highway 170. popular address for middle-class residents as well.
Opened in 1993, the 100-acre facility contains 16 A few grocery stores, supplemented by hardware
dealerships representing every major foreign and do- stores, nurseries, dry cleaners and other small busi-
mestic automaker. About 5,700 new and used vehicles nesses catering to daily household needs, constitute
are on display at the lots, which rack up $450 million most of the commercial scene in the community.
in total annual sales. A handful of restaurants hearkening to tourists are
found near the Mission San Angeles, and gas stations,
. Other Points of Interest · fast food outlets and motels beckon to travelers on I-
Castle Heights Community Hospital 7. Industrial ventures play a key role in the North Mis-
P~GE Castle Heights Country Club (p. 190) sion economy, while authentic ethnic foods are a popu-
NOM~R
, __
50
Kelley Castle Heights Hospital (p. 143) lar commodity in Cathedral Square.
Single-family homes are the norm, though a few World flavor and a well-deserved reputation for eerie
small apartment complexes are located in the commu- goings-on.
nity, particularly in North Mission and Cathedral The sprawling Cathedral of St. Mary, built in the early
Square. 20th century, lies at the heart of the neighborhood,
Homeowners in most Eastside neighborhoods tend fronting a cobblestone plaza inhabited by hundreds of
to be middle- to lower-upper-class, and a generational pigeons and ringed by old-fashioned cafes, bakeries
change has brought an jnflux of young families into and shops.
the community. The Gothic architecture of the visually stunning ca-
Property crimes are the chief law enforcement com- thedral carries over to some of the apartment homes,
plaint of Eastside residents, though the North Mission townhouses and storefronts in the community. Arches,
neighborhood is troubled by gang problems. flying buttresses and even a scattering of gargoyles
adorn older buildings.
Neighborhoods of Note Enhancing the Old World feeling are the onion-
Cathedral Square: Shadowed by the towering Gothic shaped parapets of St. Basil's Cathedral, a Russian
spires of St. Mary's, the streets of Cathedral Square have Orthodox church serving as a distinctive architectural
an ominous air, especially at night, when tendrils of fog and religious landmark in the neighborhood
come stealing up from the river to veil the neighborhood Architecture and design students on field trips from
in a silent shroud of mist. various San Angelo universities are a frequent sight
One of the oldest outlying neighborhoods of down- in Cathedral Square.
town San Angelo, this community has a distinctly Old A portion of the neighborhood has been dubbed Little
Kiev to denote the Ukrainian, Russian and Eastern Eu- as Dio de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, are assidu-
ropean origins of many residents. Bakeries, delis and ously observed by the faithful in the neighborhood.
restaurants catering to the tastes of these new arrivals Employment prospects are not especially good in
attract diners from all over San Angelo. North Mission. Many residents hold down low-pay-
The uncanny nature of Cathedral Square by night ing positions in San Angelo industries or any of a range
has given rise to innumerable tales of supernatural hap- of unskilled labor jobs.
penings in the neighborhood. The Bard, an arcane hero A variety of light industry operations have located
in medieval garb, serves as a mystical protector of the in North Mission, attracted by low rents and a ready
community. supply of cheap labor. Welding shops, souvenir t-shirt
North Mission: The North Mission district has be- printers and lumber yards are just a few examples.
come a focal point of Latino life in San Angelo, though Several towing companies and landscape mainte-
all ethnic groups ru·e well-represented among its popula- nance firms are also based in North Mission.
tion. Along with bodegas, a handful of supe1markets, phar-
Originally laid out as an industrial district, North Mis- macies and other shops catering to household needs,
sion never took off and soon became an inexpensive the commercial scene includes a number of well-re-
residential area. From the 1940s onward, the commu- garded restaurants serving authentic Mexican dishes.
nity attracted great numbers of Latino residents un- The San Angelo Sports Complex, the home arena of
able to secure housing in white neighborhoods. the San Angelo Nuggets basketball team, is located in
Housing ranges from aging single-family homes to North Mission.
old-fashioned apartment buildings. While most homes Crime problems are moderate to severe in North Mis-
are well-kept, the occasional eyesore with peeling sion. A number of gangs, some established in the late
paint, overgrown yards, rusting cars on blocks and 1960s, are active in the neighborhood. The Varrio Mis-
other debris catches the eyes of passers-by. sion Boys are considered the largest and most power-
Commercial and industrial buildings tend to be un- ful North Mission gang.
attractive structures often constructed of cinderblocks,
corrugated metal or other inexpensive materials. Points of Interest
Despite the rundown look of the neighborhood, a *Cathedral of St. Mary: A beautiful, eerily silent
vibrant spirit infuses North Mission. church in the Cathedral Square neighborhood. The vast
Strikingly colorful murals, many extolling Latino cathedral dates back to the early days of San Angelo.
pride, decorate walls throughout the community. Old- Displeased by the sad state of the chapel at the old
fashioned bodegas offer credit and a friendly atmo- Mission San Angeles, Bishop Cristoforo D' Amico
sphere to locals. Cultural festivals featuring mariachi claimed land for the Catholic Church in 1884 and in-
bands, Mexican folk dances and other highlights are sisted a cathedral that would properly extol the glo-
frequent. ries of God be built.
Religion is also key to the lives of No1th Mission The determined, some say obsessed, bishop person-
residents. St. Anthony's Catholic Church is the best- ally oversaw construction of the mammoth cathedral,
attended church in the city, and religious holidays, such a Gothic monument on a scale rarely seen on the West
Coast. Soaring twin towers crown a facade decorated
"Naw, I don't go into Cathedral Square no more. with sculptures, with additional towers, a profusion of
Too creepy, ya know? Besides, I heard there's this flying buttresses and spiky pinnacles rising around the
new hero workin • the neighborhood. Whattyacallim- upper reaches of the edifice. Huge stained-glass win-
rlte Brat? Naw, wail, it's the Bard. Yeah, an' Joe dows give walls a cu1tain-like appearance, and leer-
Kushnick ~e"t. hes got some magic flute thingie. ing stone gargoyles serve as rainspouts.
PAGE
M.esses Wlf yer head. Nothin • to be Joo/in• around
NUMBER wrt, ya ask me.,, D' Amico continued to add to the cathedral over the
next 40 years, surrounding it with a haphazard collec-
-Bill Ward, 45, criminal
52
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City Of on A1>g•lo 4 SOO -
tion of chapels, vestries, religious libraries, convents out for a picnic lunch are all frequent sights at the pleas-
and other buildings. ant park.
Adding to the confusing layout are a series of tun- Muro de los Heroes: The "Wall of the Heroes," a
nels, catacombs and other underground spaces. mural in the North Mission neighborhood that com-
Construction finally ceased after D' Amico died in memorates Latino heroes. The Aztec king Montezuma,
1923, and St. Mary's served as a center of Catholic farm labor leader Cesar Chavez and Golden Age speed-
life in San Angelo for the next 50 years. But changes ster Velocidad are just a few of the images on the col-
in earthquake safety laws forced the closure of the ca- orful mural.
thedral in the early 1970s. The offices of the archdio- The artist Emilio painted the Muro de los Heroes
cese were moved to St. Kieran's Catholic Church in under a grant from the city Arts Commission and re-
City Center, where they remain today. development agency.
Renovation efforts, hampered by court suits filed by
historical preservationists, allowed the church to re-
open the cathedral on a limited basis in 1983. The rest Ot er Points o Interest
Children's Hospital of San Angelo
of the sprawling Gothic complex in Cathedral Square
Mission San Angeles (p. 210)
remains closed to the general public.
Order of the Knights Templar (p. 180)
Eastside City Park: A sizable park in an upscale St. Anthony's Catholic Church (p. 165)
Eastside neighborhood featuring a duck pond, play- St. Basil's Cathedral (p. 165)
ground, soccer fields and a grassy picnic area. Jog- San Angelo Sports Complex (p. 200)
gers, walkers, parents pushing strollers and families
PAGE
NUMBER
53
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
tty un AllQ!lk) • -
Neighborhoods of Note
Lakeview Falcon Bluff: Perhaps the most exclusive address
Once an outlying town, Lakeview has been engulfed in San Angelo, Falcon Bluff is home to a handful of
by the tide of urban development sweeping out from beautiful estates overlooking the picturesque Del Oro
central San Angelo. The community is governed by River Canyon below Oro Dam.
the county. Gated driveways wind off into the densely wooded
An old-time downtown of sidewalk storefronts and hillside, leading to the magnificent blufftop mansions,
cross-hatched streets forms the core of Lakeview. some boasting dozens of rooms. Most homes are not
Newer suburban-style subdivisions, sc1me exclusive visible from the street, lending residents a cherished
gated communities of custom-built homes, surround bit of privacy.
central Lakeview. The acres of pro petty surrounding each architectural
Found at the base of the foothills leading to the Si- masterpiece boast elaborate gardens, horse pastures,
erra Nevada, the hilly community offers several fine woodland areas and vast green lawns.
views of Lake Oro. While there are no commercial enterprises in Falcon
Lakeview started out in the early I 900s as a cluster Bluff, the estates provide plenty of employment for
of shops serving neary fruit growers and other farrn- servants, chefs, gardeners and handymen.
1 ers. In those days, it was known as Hamilton Corners. Some of the city's wealthiest residents, including
·~~!~e~ Construction of Oro Dam in the 1940s brought a new Aristeides Pappagianis, Thaddeus Long and Benjamin
1
prosperity and new name to the town. which eventu- Morgan. dwell in Falcon Bluff. Fancy high-society par-
54
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
ties are held almost every weekend at one or the other but the firm seeks to rezone the valley for construc-
of the mansions along the blufftop. tion of high-end housing. The proposed project would
Crime in the ritzy neighborhood is light. Most es- create hundreds of construction jobs and bring in mil-
tates are equipped with burglar alarms, motion sen- lions of dollars.
sors, video cameras and other security gear, not to But critics claim that Quail Valley is an environmen-
mention private security officers. tally sensitive habitat for several endangered species.
Royal Grove: A wealthy suburban enclave in an ex- They want the land set aside as a nature preserve. The
clusive part of Lakeview, Royal Grove surrounds a fire hazards of extensive development in the brushy
championship golf course and country club. hills and canyons are also a concern.
Vast custom-built homes costing $500,000 or more County planners are evaluating the advisability of
are the norm in Royal Grove. Some of the most valu- allowing development in the valley, under heavy pres-
able houses are built right on the golf course. The pri- sure from both factions in the high-stakes dispute.
vate links are owned by the Royal Grove Country Club,
the most expensive and prestigious country club in Other Points of Interest
the city. Ashcroft Riding Stables (p. 190)
The community also contains a handful of small, up- St. Mary's Lakeview Hospital (p. 143)
scale shopping centers housing pricey boutiques and Lakeview Airport (p. 62)
eateries. Lakeview Community College (p. 114)
Royal Grove Country Club (p. 189)
Numerous top corporate executives, business own-
ers, doctors and attorneys live in Royal Grove. The
neighborhood is popular with the city's "nouveau La Vista
riche" crowd. La Vista is a solidly middle-class mix of quiet sub-
The streets of Royal Grove are privately owned, and urban neighborhoods and commercial ventures rang-
security personnel guard a gate at the entrance to the ing from corner convenience marts to gigantic
subdivision 24 hours a day. The community also em- shoppping malls. The unincorporated community is
ploys a private security patrol. Most homes are governed by San Angelo County.
equipped with costly alarms and security systems. On weekends, neighborhood yards are full of activ-
ity as residents mow lawns, trim shrubs, garden or just
Points of Interest chat over some iced tea. Backyard pools are almost a
Hunt Gardens: A stunning garden on the former requirement, and nearly every driveway has a basket-
estate of 1920s financier Andreas Hunt in Falcon Bluff. ball hoop over the garage door. Parks, front yards and
The lavish garden includes a hedge maze, delightful even streets are often the scenes of after-school games
burbling fountains and numerous sculptures. A small of football, kickball or baseball.
replica of Stonehenge can also be found in the garden. Key La Vista boulevards, meanwhile, are clogged
Exotic plants and rare flowers from all over the world by shoppers traveling to the vast shopping malls and
bloom in the Hunt Gardens. other shrines to consumerism in the community.
The estate, owned by East Coast relatives since In the 1940s, real estate entrepreneur Thomas Porter
Hunt's death in 1952. is open to the public on week- bought up several hundred acres of orchards and pas-
ends. The mansion is closed, but guided tours of the ture land west of the burgeoning city of San Angelo.
gardens are offered for a reasonable price. He built scores of low-cost homes for returning World
Quail Valley: A valley in the foothills above War II veterans, giving rise to modern La Vista.
Lakeview at the heart of a controversy involving en- Now La Vista contains both housing and consumer-
vironmentalists and builder Benjamin Morgan.
The Morgan Development Co. purchased Quail Val-
oriented commercial ventures, and numerous office - --r1
parks housing every kind of professional or business ~:~e~
ley in 1995. The property is zoned for agricultural use, office imaginable.
Il_'.'.5
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clry of Sin M9'1IO HOO -
Retail strip centers and larger shopping centers an- ever, and a handful of streets are known for spacious,
chored by supermarkets handle the everyday needs of lovely estate-style homes. Apartment complexes, some
suburbanites, but the real commercial powerhouses are quite large, are generally limited to major boulevards.
La Vista malls. A host of parks, neighborhood schools, churches and
The community contains several malls, ranging from library branches round out the residential picture in
small but select collections of ritzy stores catering to La Vista.
an upscale clientele up to gigantic, multi-level malls Most residents own their homes, and range from re-
jammed with hundreds of stores. Shoppers throng these tirees to mid-level managers or government employ-
mega-malls, and the parking lots are almost always ees. La Vista is also home to innumerable retirement
packed. The largest, most popular example is the three- communities and nursing homes for seniors.
story Fairtime Mall, located in Western La Vista. Crime problems are light to moderate in La Vista,
Family-oriented entertainment venues, such as movie which boasts a number of Neighborhood Watch
theaters, miniature golf courses, bumper boat rides and groups.
bowling alleys are also popular.
In addition, outdoor recreation opportunities abound Neighborhoods of Note
in La Vista. Little League, Pop Warner football and College Gardens: The College Gardens neighbor-
soccer leagues are popular among La Vista families, hood surrounds the campus of California State Uni-
and local high school teams are strongly supported. versity, San Angelo, and reflects a college atmosphere.
The Del Oro River Parkway lines the northern edge of Apartments, condos, townhouses and duplexes clus-
the area, beckoning to joggers, hikers and cyclists. ter around the university, as do a handful of fraternity
The county-owned La Vista Public GolfCourse is popu- and sorority houses. A sizable share of the single-fam-
lar with duffers, though the links are considered some of ily homes in College Gardens are rented to students as
the least challenging in the city. Those seeking a more well.
rarefied air can visit the Oakhills Country Club, a golf More upscale subdivisions and condominium com-
course and dining facility with an exclusive member- plexes cater to professors and instructors at CSU San
ship. Angelo.
Education also plays a key role in the daily life of La College tastes also influence the commercial scene
Vista residents. Along with various elementary, jun- in College Gardens, though perhaps not to the degree
ior high and high schools, the area is home to the Cali- found in University Commons. Pizzerias, fast food out-
fornia State University, San Angelo campus. lets, convenience stores, used book stores and a few
Homes in La Vista tend to be tract-style traditional nightclubs occupy shopping centers near the college.
houses on smaller lots, with winding streets and nu- Given that CSU San Angelo tends to be more of a
merous courts. Other architectural styles, particularly "commuter" campus, several gas stations are also
Mission or Santa Fe homes, are not uncommon, how- found near the campus.
Points of I nterest
California State Uni versily, San Angelo (p. 114) Paradise Beach: A nude beach along the Del Oro
Del Oro River Parkway (p. 214) River. Located along a remote stretch of the river, the
Fairtime Mall (p. 122) beach can be difficult to reach by land, which enhances
La Vista Cabana Club (p. 190) its popularity with sunbathers.
La Vista Public Golf Course (p. 214) Since Paradise Beach is public property, nudity is
Meridian Engineering (p. 175) technically illegal but sheriff's deputies rarely bother
Oakbridge Country Club (p. 190) to hike to the beach to issue citations. Their one or
PAGE Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital
NUMBER two visits each year are typically sparked by long-run-
San Angelo Christian Center (p. 164) ning complaints from nearby homeowners.
56
SAN ANGELO: CtTY OF HEROES
Northside Houses in the area recall the 1930s, with detatched
A ragged collection of fading industrial districts and garages, gravel driveways and wooden clapboard sid-
struggling residential neighborhoods, the Northside has ing. But peeling paint, sagging foundations and over-
aged badly since getting its start nearly 100 years ago. grown yards betray years of neglect at many homes.
The city has jurisdiction over the community. Vacant weed-covered lots, sometimes surrounded by
Belching smokestacks, modest homes, barking rusted chain-link fences, are not uncommon. Piles of
junkyard dogs, colorful gang graffiti and occasional abandoned furniture and other debris are frequent
gunshots are just a few of the sights and sounds of sights along the streets, which are plagued by flood-
Northside. ing problems in the winter.
First settled by gold panners who sought their for- A mix of residents live in the neighborhood, from
tunes on the Del Oro River, Northside caught the eye elderly original homeowners to younger families seek-
of factory builders at the turn of the century. Close ing low-cost housing. Many houses are inexpensive
enough to the city for crucial services, yet far enough rentals-owned by absentee landlords who have moved
away that their activities would draw few complaints, up to better neighborhoods. Boxy, low-rent apartments,
Northside seemed perfect for the early industrialists. often roach- or rat-infested, are also scattered here and
As the plants established along the Valley Pacific there in the neighborhood.
Railroad lines began to prosper, inexpensive housing
A few old-fashioned corner groceries can be found
for the rising numbers of factory workers began to go
among the convenience stores, liquor marts and bars
up.
constituting most of the local commercial scene.
Today Northside is a mix of older middle-class
neighborhoods, industrial districts and a few high- Veterans Memorial Hospital, an imposing but age-
crime areas. The heavy industry that once sustained worn facility constructed in the 1940s, looms over the
the northern part of the city has declined with the new shadowed streets and decrepit homes of the neighbor-
emphasis on light industry and high-tech enterprises hood. Many Bannon Park residents are employed at
in outlying regions of San Angelo. As a result, the hospital, though typically in low-paying jobs as
Northside has undergone an economic downturn. laundry workers, orderlies or janitors.
Northside residents tend to be poor, and a high per- Crime has become a serious concern in Bannon Park,
centage rank below the poverty line. Many work long particularly crack dealing and gang-related violence.
hours for low pay at nearby factories, while public The Northside Posse is the largest independent street
assistance checks support a number of other house- gang in the area. Sets of the Nomads and Prophets
holds in the community. street gangs are also active.
Racial tensions are high in the ethnically mixed
The city police department has assigned neighborhood
Northside area, and simmering grudges occasionally
police officers to help residents retake their streets and
boil over into violent confrontations.
park, and numerous Neighborhood Watch associations
A few outlaw motorcycle gangs are active in
have formed in recent months despite threats by the gangs.
Northside, and some neighborhoods are claimed by
crack-dealing street gangs. Overall, the area has a high In spite of the determination of some residents to
crime rate. fight back, Bannon Park remains a dark, dangerous
place shunned by other San Angelinos.
Neighborhoods of Note Irish Bar: A sandbar named for a Gold Rush-era
Bannon Park: A rundown neighborhood of dilapi- mining camp populated by Irish prospectors gave this
dated older homes, Bannon Park takes its name from industrial neighborhood its name. One of the earliest
a nearby park honoring a pioneer San Angelo banker. industrial disrric.:ts of San Angelo, Irish Bar is home tor ~
~~
Despite its moneyed name, the neighborhood has fallen . I f- l' . . I . . I l' I . PAGE
some o I· L 1e 1rst :actones 111 t lC city. inc U( 111g t 1e NuMeeR
on hard times. Hunter-Price Arms plant. 57
A dismal, dingy neighborhood, Irish Bar also con- There are very few homes in Irish Bar; the noise,
tains numerous other factories, trucking terminals, fumes and other nuisances of living in an industrial
warehouses, auto wrecking yards and distribution cen- area made residential development unprofitable. As a
ters. Dead-end streets, railroad freight lines and a result, the streets of the neighborhood are virtually de-
jumble of rail spurs complicate traffic through the serted at night, making Irish Bar a popular area for drug
neighborhood. Rust-stained corrugated metal ware- sales and other illicit activity. Stolen cars are frequently
houses, weeds sprouting in fenced storage yards and a abandoned in the neighborhood, where they are quickly
profusion of diesel big rigs form the overwhelming dismantled by thieves or destroyed by vandals.
impression of most visitors.
A constant barrage of noise assaults the ears in Irish Points of Interest
Bar, from rumbling truck engines to blaring public ad- Jeremiah Bannon Park: The large park that gives
dress systems and piercing whistles at manufacturing the Bannon Park neighborhood its name has been vir-
plants. Smoke, fumes and other odorous emanations tually taken over by drug dealers and street gangs.
are also frequent. Graffiti-covered restrooms, untended landscaping
Some of the key industries found in Irish Bar in- and knots of street toughs congregating on crumbling
clude a fiber-board pressing plant, a soft drink bottler, blacktop basketball courts accord the park a menac-
a corrugated box facility and a mobile-home manu- ing air.
facturer. *Pantheon Steel: A shuttered steel foundry in Irish
A few newer business enterprises can also be found Bar. Founded in the 1930s, Pantheon Steel played a
in the neighborhood, including a gigantic FoodBasket key role in the city's economy for decades until an
supermarket distribution center. Smaller businesses aging, outdated plant began to drag profits down in
include auto body shops, wrecking yards, mini-stor- the early 1980s. The company fell prey to a hostile
age lots, recycling centers and some light manufac- takeover by financier Donald Croft, who laid off hun-
turing. The city Corporation Yard, which houses most dreds of employees and liquidated its assets.
city-owned vehicles, repair shops and other facilities, The plant itself, however, remains unsold. An out-
can also be found in Irish Bar. moded design that precludes equipping the facility with
robotics, coupled with longstanding pollution prob-
"What was that? I don't hear so good ' lems, has blocked all attempts to sell the property.
anymore ... Whispering? Oh, the Whisper. Yes, I saw As a result, the huge plant stands empty and silent,
him once, back in '24 or '25 'twas. already stripped of what equipment could be sold to
"I'd just finished my shift at the Hunter-Price
other foundries.
factory up in Irish Bar and I was out having a
smoke when the Whisper comes leaping over the
alleyway, chasing someone cross the rooftops. Long Other Points of Interest
black coat, wide-brim hat-creepy-lookin '. There one
City Corporation Yard (p. 72)
second, gone the next.
City Water Plant (p. 72)
"Never did hear if he caught the feller he was
Hunter-Price Arms (p. 126)
chasing." Veterans Memorial Hospital
-Hollis Smith, 96, retired
~ PAGE
NUMBER
58
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Pleasant Grove into subdivisions in the emerging community of Sun-
The area that would one day be known as Pleasant set Farms. Pleasant Grove has the highest share of
Grove was little more than farmland when railroad pio- short-term residents of any established area of San
neers Leland Shaw and Jeremiah Bannon chose it as Angelo, due primarily to the nearby airbase.
the site of the key freight yard for their new rail line Most Pleasant Grove residents are lower middle-
130 years ago. class, although there are also many poorer neighbor-
Completion of the Valley Pacific Railroad yard in hoods in the community. Numerous households are
1872 sparked construction of a nearby town named on public assistance.
Junction Flats to house families of rail employees, Retired military personnel make up a key segment
along with shops to serve them. of the area's population, and Pleasant Grove tends to
In 1939, the Army Air Corps opened Forgan Field be one of the more patriotic communities in San
in nearby Pleasant Grove, but the full impact of the Angelo.
new airfield wasn't felt until three years later. Crime in Pleasant Grove is moderate to severe. A
The advent of World War II in 1942 brought thou- few neighborhoods are home to feuding street gangs,
sands of civilian workers from all over the nation to and at least two outlaw motorcycle gangs are based in
Forgan Field, including many African Americans. the area.
Denied housing elsewhere, some enterprising black
workers built their own homes out of discarded air- Points of Interest
craft parts crates. In time, these rudimentary shelters *Camp Baker: A closed U.S. Air Force communi-
were replaced by new houses built with government cations depot. All equipment has long since been re-
assistance to house airbase workers. moved from the depot, but a handful of dilapidated
Today Pleasant Grove ranks as a key residential area wooden buildings remain.
of San Angelo, though job prospects and business have A flimsy fence surrounds the depot, which is still
failed to keep pace with housing. owned by the military. Security officers from nearby
Used car lots, fast food outlets, pawn shops, liquor Forgan Air Force Base occasionally check the prop-
stores, check-cashing establishments and tawdry shop- erty for squatters.
ping centers comprise the bulk of the Pleasant Grove * San Angelo County Fairgrounds: The 85-acre
commercial scene. home of the San Angelo County Fair, held each Au-
Several discount stores and wholesalers do a brisk gust. Exhibition halls, livestock barns, arenas and
business, while industrial districts are home to all kinds stages are scattered around the fairgrounds. When the
of warehouses, auto repair shops, building suppliers fair is not running, the facilities are rented for home
and other ventures. expos, banquets and other events.
The rail yard and Forgan Air Force Base are still the
largest single employers in the area, however.
Apartments, duplexes and modestly priced homes Other Points of Interest
constitute most of the housing stock in Pleasant Grove. Del Oro Correctional Center (p. 111)
Many homes are rented out by owners who have Forgan Air Force Base (p. 145)
moved up to better areas of the city, while others are Gold Camp Amphitheater
picked up by first-time homebuyers looking for bar-
Light of Charity Mission (p. 184)
gains. Pleasant Grove Memorial Hospital
Newer homes are found to the northwest, where de- Valley Pacific Rail Yard (p. 132)
velopers are hard at work converting old pastureland
59
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Rancho Madera Southport
The modern community of Rancho Madera once lay An industiial area dating back to the late 1800s, when
at the heart of the vast holdings of Mexican rancher a number of agriculture-related plants were established,
Juan Madera. The ceding of California to the United Southport is today one of the top centers of employ-
States in 1848 brought an end to his cattle empire, and ment in the city.
Madera eventually returned to Mexico a broken man. In the early days of San Angelo, easy access to the
Now a suburban bedroom community, Rancho railroad and the proximity of the river lured several
Madera consists chiefly of middle-class neighborhoods dairy creameries, bakeries, canneries and fruit-pack-
interspersed with schools, parks and churches. ing plants to the region.
A few clusters of apartment complexes, four-plexes As the economic base of San Angelo diversified, so
and other rental housing shelter poorer residents, par- did the types of industries found in Southport. Today
ticularly Southeast Asian or Russian newcomers to the the region contains a toy factory, plastics plant, furni-
U.S. Crowding, crime, health code violations and safety ture manufacturer and a music CD packaging facility,
deficiencies are problems at some complexes. to name just a few. Other Southport ventures produce
Supermarkets, video rental stores and fast food eat- everything from plumbing fixtures to chainsaws to hos-
eries occupying shopping centers along key boulevards pital beds.
comprise the bulk of the business scene. Several agriculture-related operations, the largest be-
Many longtime workers or mid-level managers at in- ing a Heartland Foods tomato cannery, continue to
dustries in nearby Southport reside in Rancho Madera, prosper in Southport, though they now rely primarily
as do numerous Peregrine Aircraft employees. on milk, produce, wheat and other products trucked in
Crime is on the rise in the suburban community, part! y from outlying areas.
due to influxes from Brenton and South San Angelo The city's largest private employer, Peregrine Air-
neighborhoods. Sheriff's investigators are also worried craft, operates a 625-acre design and manufacturing
by reports of activity by Southeast Asian gangs and plant in Southport.
the Organizatsiya in Rancho Madera. Intermixed with the huge factories are warehouses
and innumerable industrial parks housing a variety of
Other Points of Interest small business ventures, ranging from spa manufac-
San Angelo County Juvenile Hall (p. 110) turers to tool-and-die shops. Many industrial park ten-
Montgomery Youth Center (p. 110) ants are suppliers, consultants and vendors for the cor-
National Guard Armory (p. 146) porate giants a few blocks away.
Rancho Madera Community College (p. 115) The popular 49er Amusement Park, open all week
in the Spring and Summer and weekends in the Fall,
St. Mary's Rancho Madera Hospital (p. 143)
is another attraction in the community.
Southport also contains the Texxon Golden Dome
"E11ery tlayfor eigliree11 yeqrs I drove p<1sl this stadium, home of the San Angelo Miners football team,
great li11/e fmit s1a11d. '/'hey 'd sell fre~h c:om and conveniently located near Highway 170.
tomutoes, atrawberrie.-. - lt,!/1<11ever wets fre.~h and ;,,
seascn, right from their own fields. Neighborhoods of Note
"One day I'm driving to work and I see these two Devil's Bar: Named for a treacherous sandbar in the
guys fighting up in the s/cy. One 's covered in jlome:r. nearby San Angelo River, the Devil's Bar region con-
All of a sudden this fireball falls out of the sky and tains a jumble of junkyards, auto wreckers, firing
hiu in the field, up ahead, on the side of the road. I'll
ranges and other noisy or unsightly operations, includ-
be damned if it didn't hit that fruit stand. Eight years,
ing a rendering plant.
PAGE and in a second it's gone, just like that."
NUMBER "I really miss that fruit stand." Vacant fields overgrown with grasses and wildflow-
- Jeremy Whiteman, 57, plant worker ers comprise the bulk of Devil's Bar. A few houses
60
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of 5an Ange4o 4SOO -
are scattered here and there, mostly ranch-style dwell- terprises in Arroyo Verde. Others hold down low-pay-
ings situated on several acres. Many Devil's Barresi- ing service or retail jobs, and public assistance checks
dents keep horses or other livestock. support some households in depressed neighborhoods.
Gangs, drug trafficking and violent crimes are a se-
Points of Interest vere problem in some portions of South San Angelo.
* Junkyard Row: A progression of auto wrecking Overlaid by a patchwork quilt of gang turfs, the com-
yards found in Devil's Bar. Replete with junked ve- munity sees more than its share of violence as rival
hicles of every make and model, these yards are a fa- gangs compete for crack markets.
vorite stop for auto enthusiasts and do-it-yourself re- The Prophets and the Nomads are the two largest
pair buffs. street gangs in South San Angelo.
61
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clry of San Ang-ulo ·~ -
PAGE
NUMBER
62
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Utilities Getting Around
Water, power and telephones are critical to keeping
urban San Angelo going. These vital utilities are pro- San Angelo
vided by a mix of government agencies and private Most people get around San Angelo by driving; in fact,
enterprise. a car is almost a necessity in the sprawling city. There are
Water: Drinking water for urban San Angelo resi- other forms of transportation available, however, as well
dents comes from the Lake Oro reservoir or one of the as options for getting into or out of the city.
two rivers. Treatment plants prepare the water for do-
mestic use, and sewer plants filter out impurities be-
fore the water is returned to the rivers. Wells are typi- San Angelo
cally used only in emergencies or in times of drought.
A branch of the city public works department over-
International Airport
The San Angelo Interna-
sees the water system within the city limits. In the sub-
tional Airport provides
urbs, water needs are met by independent special dis-
commercial passenger
tricts. Water in rural San Angelo comes primarily from
and freight service to most
wells, either privately owned or managed by irrigation
U.S. cities, as well as Ca-
districts.
nadian and Mexican des-
Sewers: Due to the flood danger facing the city, ur-
tinations.
ban San Angelo has an extensive storm drainage sys-
Opened in 1965, the
tem. Canals, creeks and underground piping are all used
airport serves nearly
to divert rainwater.
9.6 million passengers
The earliest parts of the system, cavernous storm
each year. All of the top
drains dating back to the late 1800s, were replaced in
U.S. airlines have regular
the 1960s and are now mostly abandoned. No maps
flights from the airport. Its
exist for much of the old sewer system, which runs for
vast parking lots are crowded, and the airport restau-
miles below the downtown.
rants, gift shops and car rental agencies are always
Gas and Electricity: The Western Gas & Electric
bustling. A detachment of the Sheriff's Department pro-
Co., a private utility company, provides natural gas
vides security at the San Angelo International Airport.
and power to all San Angelo County residents as well
as those in neighboring counties.
Hydroelectric plants in the Sierras provide much of the Other Airports
power distributed by Western Gas & Electric Co. Five Along with the international airport, San Angelo fea-
large substations are scattered around the metropolis, tures a number of smaller airports catering to private
regulating distribution of electricity to the county. aircraft.
While a private enterprise, its activities are regulated The Ace Braddock Municipal Airport, named for a
by the state Public Utilities Commission. The com- World War I pilot born in San Angelo, has two run-
mission must also approve all proposed rate changes. ways, 60 hangars and nearly 200 aircraft tie-downs.
Telephones: Valley Bell, created in the 1980s breakup Numerous charter services, airplane repair firms and
of a telecommunications giant, provides telephone ser- other businesses can be found here. The airport, lo-
vice to most of the San Angelo area. cated in South San Angelo, is heavily used by San
Angelo businesses as well as private pilots.
The Lakeview Airport, a single-runway airport withr-...,,..,.....
PAGE
120 aircraft tie-downs, mostly serves private plane own- NuMaeA
ers in nearby neighborhoods.
63
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cttynt~HAllft•lt\ 4~00 -
Helicopters
The numberof helicopters in the skies over San Angelo
is on the rise. The police and sheriff's departments have
aerial patrols, and the University Medical Center oper-
ates an air ambulance service. Three local television
stations have helicopters as well.
The Marshall Airport, just outside that rural town,
Private helicopter companies based at local airports
has a single runway, 60 tie-downs and a dozen han-
offer charter services, and a few top companies main-
gars. Along with several charter services and
tain helicopters. Several of the taller office buildings in
cropdusters, businesses at the airport include the Aero
downtown San Angelo have rooftop helipads.
Grill, an old-fashioned diner.
buses vary
greatly, from "Sorry l'm late. You' re never going to
run-down ve- believe this. Yes, 1 know I'm supposed to be in
hicles to new the office by 9 a.m., but-The time now? It's
natural gas- 10:30. J know-Listen to me! My bus got
powered mod- transported to another dimension! You can 't
els. Buses are dock my pay for that!"
stored at the -Toni Houston, 23, office clerk
Rapid Transit
yard below the
elevated I -7 Heights and the downtown. Spurs extend off the main
freeway lines to connect to industrial plants and other vital lo-
downtown. cations.
The Light Rail system, built in the 1980s, has lines in The railroad runs a freight yard in Pleasant Grove,
the downtown, Eastside, La Vista, Pleasant Grove and
where boxcars arriving from all over the United States
South San Angelo. It has not yet been extended into are assembled into new trains bound for other West
Arroyo Verde, Brenton, Castle Heights, Lakeview,
Coast cities. Built in the late 1800s, the yard today has
Rancho Madera, Southport or West San Angelo.
a serious pollution problem.
The tracks run parallel to surface streets or in free- Valley Pacific Railroad security officers patrol the
way center dividers, and for the most part are not el-
yards, but are helpless to stop the innumerable hobos
evated.Stations are located anywhere from three to five
who use freight trains as free transportation.
miles apart. Electricity-powered trains run from 5:30 Amtrak provides passenger rail service to San Angelo,
a.m. to midnight every day.
stopping at a restored historic train depot in Midtown
Numerous private bus companies also operate in San as well as a larger modern station in City Center.
Angelo, offering trips to other cities, charter buses and
other services. The largest is Roadrunner Bus Co., a
national line providing bus trips all over the United Taxis
States. The company operates several depots in San Taxis are not common in San Angelo, except in the
Angelo, including a large bus station in Riverfront. downtown and at the airport. Most of the dozen or so
taxi companies in the city will send cabs to other com-
Railroads munities on request.
PAGE
NUMBER
65
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City Ordinance S.21.29: No place designated
City Government
as a base, headquarters or other focal point of An elected City Council, headed by the mayor, over-
activity by individuals with paranormal powers, sees municipal affairs in San Angelo. There are seven
also referred to as supers, heroes and superhe- council seats; six council members are elected by dis-
roes, shall be established without a Special Use trict, while the mayor is chosen by all the voters in the
Permit by the City Council. city. Council members and the mayor serve four-year
- San Angelo City Code terms. Elections are held every two years. Four coun-
cil seats are on the ballot in one election, with the
mayor's post and other two seats going before voters
The government of San Angelo plays a vital role in two years later. City codes do not limit the number of
the everyday lives of all its citizens - even the super- terms a council member may serve.
human ones. Along with being a chief employer in the The mayor sets the council agenda each week, with
region, government agencies provide an array of criti- the aid of the city manager. While he often has con-
cal services to residents, everything from street repairs siderable political influence, the mayor's official du-
to drinkable water. ties are mostly ceremonial and promotional in nature.
The City Council and other government leaders can Most decisions on city policies, personnel, ordi-
also have a profound influence on the paranormal nances, development projects and other major actions
population. A friend ly administration could offer sanc- must be made by the full City Council, which meets
tioning and other aid, while hostile officials could crack every Wednesday night.
down on vigilantes or even try to ban use of super- The seat of city government is the historic down-
powers entirely. town San Angelo City Hall. A modern annex across
the street houses most city offices, however.
Government
..
, , ·~. for Cassandra Knight's seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives when she retires.
An attorney before entering the political scene, the
mayor has a wife, Teresa, and two daughters, Maria,
23, and Mercedes, 19. Martinez fought several bouts
as an amateur boxer in his youth, something his po-
litical advisers are fond of pointing out during cam-
paigns.
Martinez, 50, stands 5'8" tall and has a burly build.
He has gray-streaked black hair, dark brown eyes and
a mustache. He is ski lled at putting visitors at ease,
though Martinez can also be quite caustic in political
debates.
Government
Organization of City Hall
Administrative Services Historic Preservation Office Community Pools
Computer Services Division Zoning Administrator Youth Sports
Finance Office Redevelopment Agency Zoo
Accounts Payable Fire Department Police Department
Business Licenses General Services Public Works Department
Payroll Architectural Services Administration
Purchasing/Procurement Building Maintenance Public Works Director
Treasurer Construction Management Animal Control
Human Resources Division Contract Administration Animal Control Shelter
Risk Management Office Mayor's Office Corporation Yard
City Attorney Parks and Recreation Vehicle Maintenance
City Clerk Administration Sign Shop
Elections Office Parks Planning Engineering Division
Records Office Golf Division Traffic Engineering
City Council History and Science Division Parking Division
City Manager Museums Parking Enforcement
Fiscal Affairs/Budget Office Old San Angelo Parking Maintenance
City Manager Park Maintenance Division Refuse Collection Division
Public Information Officer City Cemeteries Recycling Coordinator
Community Development Street Trees Road Maintenance Division
Economic Development Office Recreation Division Street Lighting
Planning Department Adult Sports Street Sweeping
Building Division After-school Day Care Utilities Division
Permits Community Centers Water
Inspections Senior Centers Sewer
Code Enforcement Division Teen Centers Wastewater Treatment Plant
Design Review Division
The Economic Development Office tries to attract Finally, the Redevelopment Agency works to reju-
new businesses, bringing jobs, tax revenue and other venate blighted neighborhoods through civic improve-
benefits, to San Angelo. The office also strives to keep ments and new construction, providing tax breaks or
firms already in the city happy . other financial incentives to persuade developers to
The Planning Department advises city officials on build in rundown areas.
zoning and development questions. Planners also re-
view proposed projects to ensure that they meet city, Parks and Recreation
state and federal regulations. The expansion and upkeep of the San Angelo city
park system, including public museums and the San
Ir----------------~
GM's Option I Angelo Zoo, is the responsibility of the the Parks and
I Battles between superpowered foes can be incred- I Recreation Department.
I ibly destructive. A City Council hostile to paranormals I Recreational activities and facilities are also over-
I could direct' the Cicy Attorney's Office to file flllit I seen by the department. Adult softball leagues are very
I against the PCs or their enemies for compen~ation for I popular in San Angelo, and many city businesses spon-
I any damage to public property. In fact. the city could I sor at least one team of employees. Youth soccer
seek an injunction banning the PCs from operating in
I San Angelo altogecher if it could prove they pose a I leagues are also exploding in popularity. rP~A~G""'!E'""I
Nl)M BER
I thre"t to the health [UlJ safety of others. I Public pools are open every summer, and commu-
nity centers provide classes, meeting halls and other 69
~----------------·
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
City cit &11• h.nuoto .t~O'O -
Government
programs. The Parks and Recreation Department also
nms a series of after-school programs for latchkey chil- "OK, so L.A. has your quakes, your fires,
dren in conjunction with the San Angelo City Unified your riots. Well, we've got the supers to
School District. clean up after and believe you me, they can
be a lot worse than any natural disaster.
Public Works "I remember one time I went to repair this
The largest department in city government, public broken water main a:fter some scrap between
works provides most of the basic services people as- a bunch of supers, except it wasn't so much
sociate with municipal government. Road repairs, trash broken as just ... gone. One of the heroes told
pick-up and street cleaning are all performed by pub- me some guy fighting on t' other side acciden-
lic works employees. tally teleported it to Antarctica during the
The department also oversees utilities such as water battle.
and sewer service, though power and gas are provided "Tell me the last time an earthquake did
by private utility companies. In addition, the depart- that."
ment offers animal control services and operates an
animal shelter.
-
_Brett Harper, 34, public works employee
~
~
out of trouble by offering hassle-free places to Wharves neighborhood downtown, which attracted
play basketball, study, hold garage band concerts or national attention.
70
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
- Ctty of San A11(1&fo 4SOO -
Government
• • • 1 ings. One bloc of commissioners, led by Morgan, con-
Campaign Tip tends that supers are damaging the economic reputa-
PCs who are popular or have good reputations tion of the city with their violence and property de-
might be the target of recruiting efforts by Akiyoshi, struction. But another faction argues that supers are
who is always looking for local celebrities to appear
an incentive to tourism and high-tech companies. The
at the teen centers. She could also try to persuade a
PC to serve as a mentor to troubled youths or help
dispute remains unresolved, and the panel has not yet
out in other ways. submitted a report on the topic to the City Council.
Behind the scenes, commissioners use their influ-
His latest project involves the fading warehouse dis- ence to help persuade companies to locate in San
Angelo and act as unofficial mediators in disputes in-
trict in Riverfront, though troubled Northside and
South San Angelo neighborhoods are also a priority volving local businesses.
for his agency. The constant pressure from the Economic Develop-
ment Commission to reduce fees and government regu-
lations has caused some friction on the City Council.
City Commissions Mayor Martinez does not get along well with the panel,
A number of appointed commissions help govern San but Councilman Tom Kincaid strongly supports it.
Angelo. Some are authorized to issue rulings on be-
half of the City Council, while others merely advise Other City Commissions of
the council. Appointments to commissions are made Note
by the council, and are often used to repay political
The city has dozens of commissions dealing with
favors. Also, serving on a key city commission, par-
everything from employee relations to street trees.
ticularly the Planning Commission, has paved the way
Some meet every other week, while others confer just
for many a City Council campaign.
once or twice a year.
Government
Planning Commission Supervisors are elected to four-year terms. Elections
The city Planning Commission rules on zoning and are held every two years, with three supervisorial seats
development-related issues in the city. However, votes up for election in one cycle and the other two in the
on controversial projects are almost always appealed next. There is no limit on the number of terms a su-
to the City Council by the losing side - a source of pervisor may serve.
great frustration to most commissioners. Supervisorial posts are part-time in nature; most
board members also hold other jobs. The board meets
Notable Places weekly on Wednesday mornings.
The board's chambers and most county offices are
City Hall: The historic San Angelo City Hall was
constructed in 1922. An example of architectural styles found at Chamberlain Center, built in 1981 and named
for a longtime supervisor of the l 940s- l 960s, down-
heavily influenced by the Spanish missions of early
town.
California, the picturesque building is now a historic
landmark.
However, San Angelo has long since outgrown the The Board of Supervisors
nearly 75-year-old City Hall, and most offices are now Supervisorial districts, which are redrawn after each
housed in an annex across the street. Only the City census, cover all areas of the county, including the
Council chambers, city manager's office and city incorporated city of San Angelo. Each supervisor rep-
clerk's office are located at the original City Hall. resents roughly 600,000 citizens. While supervisorial
Corporation Yard: Most public works employees posts are nominally non-partisan, political parties are
report for work at the city Corporation Yard in Irish frequently active behind the scenes in key races.
Bar, which houses all city-owned heavy equipment,
such as street sweepers, dump trucks and refuse trucks. Prominent Supervisors
The huge yard also contains gas pumps, a sign shop Supervisor Erik Bates: A retired football player for
producing all street signs for the city and a garage main- the San Angelo Miners, Erik Bates now owns a night-
taining most city vehicles. club in Garrett's Landing. Bates, who had no prior
Water Treatment Plant: Commonly called the Wa- political experience, surprised many observers by win-
terworks, its original name, this Irish Bar facility treats ning his supervisorial seat in a 1995 special election
water drawn from the Del Oro River for use by San after the accidental death of Supervisor Rod Weber.
Angelo citizens. Access to the plant, run by the city Supervisor Jeffrey Daley has taken Bates under his
public works department, is limited but security is wing, and the two often vote together on key issues.
fairly light. Supervisor Jeffrey Daley: A men's clothing store
The city Wastewater Treatment Plant, a separate fa- owner, Jeffrey Daley won election to the board in 1990
cility several miles downriver in South San Angelo, on a strong law-and-order, pro-business platform.
uses bacteria, chemicals and other processes to clean He has often spoken out on the need for greater con-
the water from San Angelo sewers before it is returned trol of paranormals - both heroes and criminals -
to the river. whom Daley argues pose a serious threat to the safety
and security of San Angelo citizens.
County Government Daley also advocates allowing extensive develop-
ment of the environmentally sensitive Quail Valley
An elected Board of Supervisors directs the govern-
area. However, his proposals on these issues have been
ment of San Angelo County. The five supervisors are
blocked by the board majority.
elected by district, and they select one of their number
72
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-- City ol Son AnQ•lo 4SOO -
Government
Supervisor Connie Nishimura: A consultant on and often use this fact to control elected depa1tment
welfare and other human assistance questions, Connie heads.
Nishimura has represented downtown and Eastside Other key county agencies, such as the planning, pub-
neighborhoods since l984. She has led the opposition lic works and human assistance departments, are
to proposals to build in the Quail Valley area. headed by board appointees. These personnel serve at
There are rumors that Nishimura, who is well-known the will of the board, and can be disciplined or re-
in the national debate over welfare reform , may be moved by supervisors.
tapped for a post in the White House. Rank-and-file county employees are hired by the
county personnel office. They are represented by a pub-
County Employees lic employees union and cannot be fired or disciplined
The county of San Angelo employs roughly 32,727 without cause.
people who provide a wide range of services to resi-
dents of both the city and unincorporated county. Their Medical Examiner's Office
activities are overseen by several department heads. The medical examiner, sometimes innacurate ly
Unlike city government, a number of chief county called the coroner, is charged by law with investigat-
officials are elected, including the district attorney, ing all unnatural deaths in the county.
sheriff, clerk, treasurer-tax collector and assessor. Forensic pathologists, medical doctors employed by
Elected officials report to the Board of Supervisors, the office, conduct autopsies in all cases of homicide,
but cannot be fired or disciplined by the board, giving and most cases of suicide and accidental death. They
them some degree of independence. However, super- are often called to the scenes of unnatural deaths to
visors control the budgets of all county departments, get a better idea of the circumstances.
Government
toxicology and other blood tests, though
"We 're out patching Marshall Boulevard one day back in ~he DNA testing is handled by private labs un-
•80s. Hot as all get-out, in the middle ofnowhere. Norm, he JUSt
der contract to the county.
got on with public works a week earlier, and he's w01:king t":
backhoe. Takes it onto the shoulder, which collapses mto this
A closed-circuit te levision system is used
when bodies must be identified by friends
irrigation ditch.
"Nonn's not hurt, but we're all standing around wondering h?w or relatives, sparing them the necessity of
to get our backhoe out of the ditch when along comes Alloy.. domg going into less-public areas of the morgue.
those giant leaps he used to make. He takes one look, steps mto Detectives, district attorney's investiga-
the ditch and lifts out the backhoe. Puts it back on the road, pretty
tors and other law enforcement personnel
as you please. .•are frequent visitors 10 the morgue.
" 'Be more careful next time,' he says, winks, and leaps off. The ehief medical examiner is appointed
- Bob Wanawski, 44, road crew supervisor
by lhe county Board of Supervisors. Dr.
George Kassis is the current chief medical exam-
Pathologists are also charged with conducting au- iner of San Angelo County.
topsies when the cause of death is in doubt. They are
often called to testify on the medical evidence at mur- Other County Departments
der trials. Assessor's Office
In addition to its investigatory role, the Medical Appraisers from the Assessor's Office set the tax-
Examiner's Office acts as a watchdog of public health able value of all property in San Angelo County.
and safety. Its findings can spur the early discovery of Records of property ownership. sales and transfers in
a disease outbreak, reveal fatal product safety flaws the county are kept by the office, and are available for
and provide insight into trends in death statistics. review by the public.
The San Angelo County Medical Examiner's Office,
or morgue, is located downtown. The high-tech mod-
Count y Clerk
ern morgue contains autopsy rooms, cold-storage fa-
The County Clerk's Office issues birth and death cer-
cilities and various offices, and was built in 1990 to
tificates, marriage licenses and business licenses to
replace an overcrowded, outdated facility.
the public. Copies of these documents are among the
The autopsy rooms are equipped with video cam-
public records kept at the office.
eras to provide records of procedures, and one room is
The elections office, part of the clerk's responsibili-
sealed and specially ventilated for autopsies on espe-
ties, registers voters, prepares ballots, tallies votes on
cially noxious bodies. An extensive lab handles most
election day and keeps . - - - - - - - - - -..
I
Government
Campaign Tip I
Campaign Tip '
As with city government, county offices could make Property records at the assessor's office could
an interesting workplace for a DNPC, other NPC or even prove an interesting investigative asset to PCs -
a hero's Secret ID. The job could be either mundane or just who owns the land where that supervillain base
fascinating, depending on which office employs the char- was built, anyway?
acter.
Contacts with top county officials, or even ordinary
employees in key departments, can be a useful resource
for well-connected PCs and NPCs. Even villains can use "You ever have to appmise a superhero base?
such contacts - a stooge in the Medical Examiner's
Office could be useful in a scheme to frame a PC hero
I mean. how do you determine" property w1Jue
for murder, for example. for something like that?" .
- Mervin Horwodd-Willis, 30. appnuser
AGE
NUMBER
75
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
County Executive's Office Superintendent of Schools
The chief appointed official in county government, The county Superintendent of Schools, who is
the county executive answers only to the Board of Su- elected, oversees all the school districts in San Angelo
pervisors. She oversees the day-to-day business of run- County. This office ensures that districts have sound
ning county government, implements board policies fiscal practices, fu lfill state education codes and meet
and prepares the multi-million dollar annual county other requirements. The office also keeps track of
budget. county-wide test scores and other measures of school
quality. Individual school districts are run by elected
Health & Human Assistance Dept. boards of trustees and appointed superintendents.
One of the largest in county government, the Health
and Human Assistance Department oversees public The sheriff, district attorney, public defender, pro-
health and welfare services to all San Angelo County bation department and court system are covered in
residents. The agency handles welfare, workfare, Public Safety.
AFDC and general assistance programs to the poor
and indigent citizens of San Angelo County. County Officials of Note
The public health division operates free clinics for County Administrator Helen Voorhes: An adept,
the poor, conducts health inspections of restaurants, capable administrator who has held the top job in San
checks on report::; of environmental hazards, keeps Angelo county government for the past eight years.
track of health statistics and monitors cases of infec- Always diplomatic, Voorhes gets along well with her
tious diseases, such as tuberculosis. bosses on the Board of Supervisors. She is married to
Finally, child protective services investigates and in- Richard Voorhes, a vice-president with Eclipse Indus-
tervenes in cases of abuse or neglect of children. tries.
Assessor Irving Holland: A Jean, cadaverous man,
Office of Emergency Services Irving Holland has been San Angelo County assessor
Normally a small, quiet department, the Office of for the past 20 years, running unopposed in his last
Emergency Services plays a vital role when calamity two elections. Holland is known as a stickler for accu-
strikes. It coordinates a unified response to county- racy who over the years has hounded dozens of em-
wide emergencies, works with state and federal agen- ployees out of his office for minor errors.
cies, collects information on local needs and performs Dr. George Kassis: The chief medical examiner for
other crucial tasks. San Angelo County. A scientist in an increasingly po-
liticized post, Dr. Kassis has a reputation for being
Campaign Tip "difficult." He insists on keeping his office apolitical
The Office of Emergency Services could well call on and directs pathologists to evaluate cases solely on the
PCs, particularly sanctioned heroes, for assistance in medical evidence. The medical examiner has also
battling wildfires, flooding or other threats in San clashed with county supervisors over budgeting for
Angelo County. his department.
There is some speculation that his years of making
enemies are about to catch up with Dr. Kassis, who
Public Works Department does not hold an elected position. As the highest-ranked
Rivalling the health department in size, the Public civil servant in county government, he cannot be fired
Works Department performs many of the same func- without cause, however.
tions as its counterpart in the city of San Angelo. In Planning Director Lynn Rodriguez: A quiet,
___,addition, this department oversees the county landfill knowledgable planner elevated to the position of de-
PAGE
NUMBER near Marshall. partment director less than a year ago, Rodriguez has
had a difficult time adapting to her new responsibili-
76
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
llJ ol Son AnOolo 4!.00 -
Government
ties. She has also faced heavy pressure from Supervi- Corporation Yard: Like its city counterpart, the
sor Jeffrey Daley and other advocates of construction county corporation yard houses the heavy equipment
in the environmentally sensitive Quail Valley area near and shops of the Public Works Department. The yard
Lakeview, who want her department to produce fa- is located in Pleasant Grove. Smaller satellite yards,
vorable analyses of the proposal. mostly used to store road maintenance equipment, are
Chief Building Inspector Edgar Marino: Head of found in Marshall and Garret's Landing.
the building inspection division of the Public Works San Angelo County Landfill: The 675-acre county
Department, Marino has stained the office with a repu- landfill near Marshall handles all t~e refuse generated
tation for corruption. An expose in the San Angelo in the San Angelo area. The county funds and oper-
Times recently revealed several cases of inspectors ates the landfill, while
accepting bribes to sign off on improperly constructed Campaign Tip other jurisdictions, such
homes, offices and other buildings. County supervi- A toxic waste spill at the as the city, pay "tipping
sors have ordered an investigation of the charges by San Angelo County Land- fees" to use it. A newly
the county administrator's office, and the district at- fill could be part of the ori- built recycling facility at
gin story for a PC or NPC
torney may also be probing the building inspection the landfill sorts glass,
super. If the chemicals were
division. aluminum and paper
illegally dumped by an un-
Health Officer Dr. Sanjiv Natarajan: A native of ethical or careless com-
recyclables, but the bulk
India, Dr. Natarajan serves as the chief health official pany, the newly created su- of the refuse goes into
in county government. A strong advocate of provid- per might seek revenge. the ground.
ing medical services to the poor and indigent, Dr. The landfill does not
Natarajan has had to fight to keep the county's free handle toxic wastes, but hazardous chemicals routinely
health clinics open in the face of severe budget cuts in make their way to the facility by accident or design.
recent years. He has also resisted efforts to eliminate Also, the county bomb squad typically responds to the
the county's already minimal funding of the non-profit landfill several times each year to dispose of poten-
Faraday Memorial Clinic, which provides medical care tially explosive chemicals.
to supers.
State and Federal
County Commissions
As in the city of San Angelo, a number of appointed Governments
commissions advise the Board of Supervisors on key Numerous state and federal agencies are active in
issues. A few, such as the county Planning Commis- the San Angelo area, particularly those dealing with
sion, are authorized to make decisions on behalf of health, the environment and law enforcement.
supervisors, although commission actions can be ap- State offices are scattered throughout urban and sub-
pealed to the board. urban San Angelo, mostly in rented office space or
shopping center storefronts.
Notable Places Federal offices are based at the eight-story Federal
Chamberlain Administrative Center: A 10-story Building downtown. Built nearly 30 years ago, the
building in downtown San Angelo housing the county building is now badly outdated and lacks enough room
administration offices. Built in 1981, the center was for all the federal agencies active in the San Angelo
named after Horace Chamberlain, a county supervi- area.
sor from 1942- 66. Most county departments are based As a result, many agencies rent space in the Twi-
here, though some, such as the Health and Human As- light Tower or other downtown office buildings. Con-
sistance Department, have branch offices throughout
the county. The Board of Supervisors meets here.
:~':~~::.~~ ;;;: 15-story federal building is slated I!:~~ I
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
CUJ of San Angolo '!I® -
Public Safety
the jail system and provides security for the courts as
816.05.2: Officers responding to any event involv- well as the San Angelo International Airport. Finally,
ing a ~bjcct known to possess Or eXhibit paranor· state and federal law enforcement agencies have a pres-
mal power, <as defined by CA Health & Safety Code) ence in San Angelo.
~tall complete department fom1 SPI 13-8, lo be al-
tad1ed w the report. A copy of the entire reporl Slu11J
be forwarded to the Paranormal Affairs Office. San Angelo City Police
816.05.3: When completion of the form is imprac-
tical due to the urgency of the situation, or other cir- Department
cumstances at the officer's discretion, the form shall The San Angelo Police Department, which is part of
be completed and submitted to the division com- city government, enforces the law within the city lim-
mander within 72 hours. its. Officers can pursue fleeing suspects into other ju-
8/6.06.1: Officers shall categorize observed para- risdictions, but otherwise normally work in conjunc-
normal abilities and annotate form SPl 13-8 accord-
tion with the appropriate local law enforcement agency
ingly. Classifications include...
when they must leave the city.
Source: SAPD General Orders The department is commonly referred to as the
SAPD, or the "saps" by criminals and others less en-
amored of the police. Naturally, San Angelo police
This chapter outlines the organization, duties and hate the term "saps."
notable people of the various agencies charged with The police department employs approximately 2,450
protecting the people of San Angelo. sworn officers, plus about 800 clerical personnel and
support staff. Non-administrative officers are repre-
78
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
NCI, watching) 11-, Psych: Protective of police force,
Psych: Physical fitness advocate, Rep: Police Chief 11-
Notes: Jack O'Shea started his police career more
than 30 years ago after a stint in the U.S. Army. After
returning from Vietnam, he got a job at a small-town
police department in Illinois and began studying crimi-
nal justice in college. O'Shea earned a night school
degree and moved on to the St. Louis Police Depart-
ment, where he quickly rose through the ranks.
In 1985, the former chief, Kent Robinson, brought
O'Shea to the San Angelo Police Department. O'Shea
briefly served as a deputy chief, then took over as as-
sistant police chief while Robinson groomed him to
head the department. When Robinson retired in 1989,
O'Shea beat out 94 applicants nationwide to succeed
Robinson as police chief.
While he presents the image of an old-fashioned po-
lice chief, O'Shea keeps up with changes in the orga-
nization and administration of modem police depart-
ments. He judiciously implements new techniques and
policies, such as the Neighborhood Police Officer pro-
gram. In addition, O'Shea has a zero-tolerance policy
toward brutality and corruption. Reports of wrongdo-
ing are quickly investigated, and officers found guilty
of violations can be reassigned, demoted, suspended
Police Chief John "Jack" O'Shea or fired.
STR 13 DEX 13 CON 15 BODY 10 However, the chief always stands behind his offic-
INT 18 EGO 15 PRE 18 COM 10 ers in public and firmly defends the department against
PD 5 ED 4 SPD 3 REC 6 outside criticism or interference.
END 30 STUN 28 Most officers generally respect Chief O'Shea, de-
Powers and Skills: Bureaucratics 13-, Combat Driv- spite periodic grumbling about pay, working condi-
ing 12-, Conversation 13-, Criminology 13-, Deduc- tions and other long-running beefs.
tion 13-, High Society 8-, Oratory 13-, Persuasion 13-, The chief opposes vigilante activity, mostly because
Running +3", WF: Small arms, tonfa, KS: Criminal he believes that it places the public at greater risk than
Law 11-, KS: Law Enforcement 14-, KS: San Angelo having trained officers handle dangerous criminals.
Police Department 14-, KS: San Angelo city govern- However, he is willing to enter into agreements with
ment 11-, KS: San Angelo underworld 11-, CK: San heroes who are law-abiding. For example, O'Shea sup-
Angelo 14-, CK: St. Louis 11-, PS: Police Chief 11-, ported the city sanction given to the Justice Founda-
Fringe Benefits: Local police powers, license to carry tion hero team.
a gun, San Angelo police chief, Perk: Well-connected, In recent months, O'Shea has had to defend his de-
10 Contacts in city government and other law enforce- partment against Councilwoman Emily Carver's ac-
ment agencies. cusations of laxness in curbing gang activity in South
Disadvantages: Age: 40+, Distinctive Features: San Angelo. He has also fended off proposals to have
Commanding presence (easily concealed), Hunted by the city Human Rights Commission investigate com- ... ,~
...A-G"""e""''I
NUMBER
Mauler (Mo Pow) 8-, Hunted by the press (Mo Pow, plaints of police brutality.
79
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clft al S2n AngilO 4SOO -
-~ I
Public Safety
Mauler, a hulking super-criminal who hates the po- pol icies and procedures. Training officers receive
lice, has vowed to get the chief someday. corporal's pay while they are training a new officer,
O'Shea, 54, has silver-gray hair and blue eyes. He but otherwise are considered pau·olmen with no real
stands 6' tall and appears slim. He keeps in shape by rank.
running regularly, and competes in seniors track-and- In most West Coast police departments, "detective"
field events. O'Shea is a widower with two grown sons, is an assignment, not a rank. Since only experienced,
one of whom is a sheriffs deputy in Los Angeles. proven officers are assigned to investigation squads,
A devout Catholic, O'Shea has in recent years be- most personnel in these details will be sergeants or cor-
come good friends with Archbishop Francis Kelly of porals. In the SAPD, detectives normally rotate back
the San Angelo Archdiocese. to street patrol duties after three to five years in inves-
* * * tigations. The best detectives are sometimes granted
Ricardo Alvarez serves as assistant chief of the San exceptions to this rule on request, however.
Angelo Police Department. He works directly with the
chief, carries out special assignments and runs the de- "I'm coming nut of thiJ pqw11 shop over 011
partment while O'Shea is away. Fourth Street willt a $t1ck full of cash when this
Below the chief's office, the San Angelo Police De- loon jumps 0111 from bt1hind a parked ;,ar. He's
partment has four tiers of command. The deputy chiefs decke1J out itt tltiJ oddball superhero costume,
are administrators who oversee the five Jivisions of ~('ept it's all raggedy-looking. I mean, Jw worn
the department: administration, internal affairs, detec- this old .'liirl with !lw sleeve.f /tacked offfor a cape!
tives, patrol and training. "So lte comes 0111 with, 'Captllin CuM>age
crJ111111aml.r yau to halt in the T1mne qfjuifice!' Ai
Next are captains, who are also mainly administra-
/eus1, tlta/ 's 11'/Jat if sounded Ukf! to me.
tors. Each patrol sector is commanded by a captain. " 'Captain 'Cabbage? Your name;., Captain
Other captains are responsible for the various bureaus Cub/Jagu? · I as/;. him. I'm laughing .w han/ I can
and details making up each division. barely ~el tlte wortlr 0111.
Lieutenants are supervisors who ensure that the day- "He gets all puffed up, real indignant-Like, and
to-day operations of the department run smoothly. One says, 'My name is Captain Courage, you miscre-
lieutenant acts as a watch commander on every shift ant! I am the embodiment ofthe courage ofthe
for each patrol sector. Lieutenants also head some bu- common man, the valor ofthe Little people, the
reaus, and assist captains commanding other details. brm•ery• of ... '
The sergeants comprise the final tier of command. "/never got to hear the rest of it, though. 'cause
tltat 's when the police pulled up. I wa,\' laughing so
Sergeants directly supervise the men and women on
hard I could11 ·t hardly breathe - co11ld11 't run or
the street. Department policy calls for a sergeant to
even pll/ up a decent fight. Probably the easiest
respond to major incidents, but since each sergeant collar rite .>aps ever made. "
oversees four to six units on an average shift this is - Larry Y~brou~h, 2~, jail inmate
not always possible.
Below the sergeants are the street officers them-
selves. There are two ranks of officers, corporals and SAPD Personnel Breakdown
patrolmen. Corporals are more experienced officers Chief of Police - l
who have passed an exam, but in practice they do not Assistant Chief - l
"pull rank" on patrolmen. In general, the first officer Deputy Chief - 5
on the scene, whether a patrolman or corporal, com- Captain - 25
mands until a sergeant or lieutenant arrives. Lieutenant - 145
Sergeant - 325
Training Officers are patrolme n who are partnered
Corporal - 490
PAGE with new officers as necessary lo teach them SAPD
l'IUMBER Training Officer - 110
Patrolman - 1,350
80
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clt't GI Ila• An9alo 000 -
Public Safety
Divisions of the San Angelo experienced officers vs. "green" personnel in each di-
vision. The policy also helps prevent burnout, particu-
Police Department larly in the high-stress detective bureaus like homi-
Some details on the more active or well-known bu-
cide, and allows the department more opportunity to
reaus and personnel in the SAPD.
reward proven officers with greater responsibilities.
Special task forces are sometimes organized within
Administration Division the division to handle specific cases, such as a serial
Most of the employees of this division are not sworn killer or serial rapist.
officers, who are needed on the streets. The clerks, Some of the notable bureaus within the division in-
office managers and other personnel in the adminis- clude:
trative division play a vital role in keeping the depart- Burglary Bureau: Technically this bureau investi-
ment running, however. gates all burglaries, but in fact the sheer number of
Some of the notable bureaus in the division include: such crimes in San Angelo means only the most bra-
Public Affairs/Media: Sgt. Alyssa Walker serves zen or costly thefts will be actively investigated. De-
as the public information officer of the San Angelo tectives do not even respond to most home burglaries.
Police Department, handling press inquiries and sched- Computer Crime Bureau: A fairly recent addition
uling public appearances. Tough and capable, Walker to the police department, this small bureau investigates
can hold her own with the most persistent reporter, cases involving computers and the Internet. Recent in-
but dislikes this duty. She has repeatedly asked to be vestigations have involved the theft of credit card num-
returned to street patrol, but her superiors value Walker bers from Prospector Bank databanks and a band of
in her current post. teenage hackers who altered the San Angelo City web
Paranormals Affairs Office: Headed by Lt. Chet page to include obscene messages.
Dawes, this detail tracks incidents of superhuman Gang Task Force: A joint effort of the city Police
crime and known superhuman criminals in San Angelo. Department, San Angelo County Sheriffs Department,
Dawes also serves as a liaison between the police de- California Highway Patrol and state Department of Jus-
partment and sanctioned heroes, such as the Justice tice, the task force fights gang activity throughout the
Foundation. An experienced, no-nonsense officer with metropolitan San Angelo area.
an ironic sense of humor, Dawes gets along fairly well Officers, deputies and other personnel assigned to
with supers. the task force gather intelligence on gangs, arrest gang
members suspected of crimes and try to stem gang-
Internal Affairs Division related violence. Task force activities are overseen by
This is the smallest division in the San Angelo Po- the police department.
lice Department, with just five officers, a secretary
and a deputy chief. Officers from this division inves- Sgt. Due Lam
tigate reports of wrongdoing and corruption on the po- Gang Detective
lice force. The division also probes every incident in STR 13 DEX 18 CON14 BODY12
which an officer shoots someone. A stint in the IAD is INT 13 EGO 13 PRE 13 COM IO
considered a good stepping-stone to administrative PD 8 ED 6 SPD 3 REC 6
rank, but the officers in this division are not popular END 32 STUN 30
with rank-and-file officers. Powers and Skills: Martial Arts: (police self-de-
fense) Boxing Cross (use art with tonfa), Martial Arts:
Detectives Division (jiu jitsu) Choke Hold, Disarm, Escape, Legsweep,
As noted above, police officers rotate back and forth Combat Skills: +2 w/pistols, +3 w/martial arts, Com-~ _
between the patrol and detectives divisions. Adminis- bat Driving 13-, Criminology 12~, Deduction 12-,~P~~E~
trators consider this a good way to keep a high ratio of Shadowing 11-, Stealth 13-, Streetwise 12-, WF: Small
81
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of Stu A.OG"I() 4500 -
Public Safety
arms, tonfa, KS: Law Enforcement 11-, KS: San
Angelo Underworld 12-, KS: Southeast Asian gangs
14-, KS: San Angelo PD 11-, CK: San Angelo 12-,
Language: English (fluent w/accent) (Vietnamese na-
tive), PS: Police detective 11-, Fringe Benefits: Perks:
Local police powers, concealed weapons permit, Con-
tact: Phuoc Tran (Mien Community Temple) 11-;
Contacts: Street gangs 8-.
Disadvantages: DNPC (Tam "Tommy" Pak, gang
member) 11-, Distinctive Features: Cop (easily con-
cealed), Hunted by Southeast Asian gang (Less Pow)
8-, Psychological Limit: Dedicated police officer, Psy-
chological Limit: Protects innocents, Psychological
Limit: Subject to chain of command, Reputation:
Southeast Asian gang expert (limited group: local law
enforcement community) 11-.
Notes: Due Lam and his family fled Vietnam in 1978,
taking to the Pacific Ocean in an aged, barely seawor-
thy boat badly overcrowded with refugees. Gun-tot-
ing pirates came across the craft in the ocean, robbing
the refugees and brutalizing the women. Lam vowed
then that he would never let that happen to him, or
anyone around him, ever again.
After reaching the United States, his family was re-
settled in San Angelo. Lam studied hard in high school,
the Thunder Knights. Lam hopes to persuade Pak to
learning English quickly and earning a criminal jus-
leave the gang life behind.
tice scholarship to California State University, San
Lam, 31, stands 5'6" tall and has a lithe build. He
Angelo. He also began studying martial arts.
has black hair and brown eyes, and speaks fluent En-
In 1988, Lam became the first Vietnamese-Ameri-
glish with a slight accent. Lam is unmarried.
can officer hired by the San Angelo Police Depart-
ment. As a patrol officer, Lam received several com- * * *
Homicide Bureau: One of the most prestigious de-
mendations for heroism and eventually was promoted
tails, the homicide bureau investigates all unlawful
to sergeant.
deaths in the city. Homicide detectives are known for
He joined the gang task force in 1994, specializing
being experienced investigators and quick thinkers.
in Southeast Asian gangs. Many refugees are afraid of
This assignment can be extremely stressful, due to the
police and will not even report crimes. With the aid of
often gruesome nature of the crimes and considerable
Phuoc Tran of the Mien Community Temple, Lam has
pressure to quickly solve well-publicized cases.
succeeded in building some inroads into the South-
Narcotics Bureau: Detectives in this bureau are of-
east Asian community.
ten called on to work undercover, making drug buys
In 1995, he a1Tested three members of a Southeast
to gather evidence on suspected dealers and distribu-
Asian gang later convicted of a brutal home invasion
tors. The bureau sometimes brings in San Angelo
robbery in Rancho Madera. The gang has sworn re-
sheriff's deputies or officers from neighboring juris-
venge on Lam.
dictions for undercover work when the target might
,_P_A..,G"""E-. Lam has also befriended Tam "Tommy" Pak, a young
recognize a San Angelo police detective.
NUMBER Amerasian man involved in an Asian gang known as
The Internal Affairs Division watches the narcotics
82
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of $lln Angolo • 'OO -
Public Safety
bureau closely, due to the large sums of untraceable "I'm tired of having ro go into court and
cash involved in these cases. The detectives resent this explain why I didn 'r just shoot the gun our of
scrutiny, since no one on the detail has been accused some pe1p 's hand. The heroes make if look like
of corruption in more than IO years. ir1s easy. bur I 'm not Quicks/wt or the Rifleman
Organized Crime Bureau: This small bureau -I'm just a cop doing my job."
mostly keeps track of the various motorcycle gangs -Brady Fox, 31. SAPD detective
active in the San Angelo area. Detectives also keep an
eye out for incursions by mafia families, yakuza syndi- Patrol Division
cates or other organized crime groups from the Bay
The patrol division contains most of the department's
Area or Southern California.
sworn personnel. Officers in the patrol division work
the streets, responding to crimes and keeping an eye
.!l'
Standard Patrol out for trouble on their beats.
Officer Equipment Patrol officers normally do not investigate crimes;
they take reports from victims, make an arrest if the
Sig Sauer P-229 .40 cal. pistol - ld6+l RKA
suspect can be found and move on to the next inci-
(Charges: 3 clips of 12, OAF)
dent. In major crimes, such as homicides or robberies,
Tonfa - +3d6 HA,+ I OCV (OAF)
they secure the crime scene and await the arrival of
Pepper Spray - Flash 2d6 vs. normal sight &
detectives.
smell plus 2d6 NND (not vs. Life Support)
However, an alert patrol officer can do a lot to curb
(OAF, Charges: 3)
crime and get criminals off the street. For good or ill,
Handcuffs - Entangle 4d6 (Entangle takes no
they are also the chief representatives of the depart-
damage, Entangle with one BODY, Only en-
ment to the public.
tangles arms, Only on a target at 0 DCV,
The city is broken down into four numbered patrol
Charge: l recoverable, No range)
- sectors: Sector One includes Northside and Eastside;
Sector Two encompasses Downtown and Midtown
"Lt. Grogan never did find out who put the skunk neighborhoods; Sector Three covers the South San
in his car. bur he suspecred DeBruin and me. So we Angelo neighborhoods located west of Interstate 7;
got assigned to paddy wagon duty in the Armory - Sector Four includes the remaining South San Angelo
we call it the wino wagon. area east of I-7.
"We're sitting there in the wagon drinking some The northern sectors (Sectors One and Two) and
coffee one night when this homeless guy staggers southern sectors (Sectors Three and Four) are over-
out into Polk Avenue. I yell at him to get out of the seen by a lieutenant who acts as a shift commander.
street, but before I can even get the words out. up Each sector contains fou r to six beats.
comes this Mack truck. Brakes squeal. and crunch!
Each sector is also supervised by a sergeant. Each
Bum goes flying.
"I radio dispatch for tm ambulance. excepr l know beat contains one patrol car, or unit, on each shift.
it's" morgue wago11 we ret1l(Y neefl. I'm tT):i11g ro During the night and early morning (6pm to 2am), they
wlk 011 tile rndio. bur DeBmin keepa grabbt11R my are two-man units, and during the day most are one-
t,1m1 ancl pointitlg at rhe ftreet. . . man units.
"It's the bum! He's gone through a lmck wall mto Some of the notable programs within the patrol di-
some store. I mean l'ight through the wall. 8111 rmw vision include:
he ·a crawling out a"'J lot>king around, kind of Airborne Detail: The San Angelo Police Depart-
confused. Nm a scrord1 on /lim. He wa11der.\ off ment owns two two-man helicopters, based at Ace
down the street. Braddock Municipal Airport. One officer pilots the1..----~1
helicopter, while the other acts as an observer and op- 1!:i1~e~
" 'Now there's something you don't see every
day,' I tell DeBruin."
crates a mounted spotlight. One of the helicopters is ~
- Jack Nally, 29, police officer
3
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-~'
normally in the air every night. They are used to pa- schools and community events, especially among chil-
trol troubled areas, pursue fleeing suspects and assist dren, and live at home with their human partners.
in searches. The dogs themselves are considered officers, and a
Community Relations Bureau: This bureau over- plaque at police headquarters memorializes Macho, a
sees citizen Neighborhood Watch groups, which en- police dog shot and killed by a bank robber in 1990.
courage residents to keep an eye out for suspicious Neighborhood Police Officers: A popular program
people or activities and report anything unusual to instituted by Chief Jack O'Shea in 1993, this effort
police. Its personnel also coordinate anti-drug cam- assigns selected officers to work with residents in
paigns and other crimefighting efforts in the commu- troubled neighborhoods. Cooperating with community
nity. associations and Neighborhood Watches, the officers
Dispatch Center: The dispatching center receives try to identify trouble spots, curb gang activity and
all incoming generally help residents take back their neighborhoods.
emergency police The NPOs also work with other government offices
calls, keeps track
SAPD Radio to tear down abandoned buildings, enforce heal th
of radio transmis- Channels codes, target illegal liquor sales and combat other
sions by patrol I - Patrol Sector I crime-related problems in neighborhoods.
units and routes 2 - Patrol Sector 2 Paranormal Alert Response Team: The elite
uni ts to hand le 3 - Patrol Sector 3 PART squad handles incidents involving
4 - Patrol Sector 4
calls . All police superpowered crime suspects. Officers on this detail
5 - Records
radio transmis- 6 - T actical Ops Channel are equipped with special gear for detaining and hold-
sions are (SWAT, PART, etc.) ing paranormals, including som~ prototype devices
scrambled to pre- 7 - Tactical Ops Channel 2 created by local high-tech labs.
vent criminals 8 - Car-to-car Most PART squad members have other assignments
from listening in 9-10 - Unassigned (Can be within the department, but are always on call to re-
on police opera- assigned by GM, or used spond to emergencies involving superhumans.
tions, but illegal for sanctioned heroes) Under a mutual-aid agreement with San Angelo
descramblers can County, the sheriff's department can call on the city
be purchased on the black market. PART squad as needed. Lt. Jerry House commands
Mounted Officers: A handful of city police offic- the PART squad, with Lt. Chet Dawes of the
ers are qualified for horseback patrols, but the depart- paranormals affairs office acting in an advisory ca-
ment does not make extensive use of horses except in pacity.
Old San Angelo. Horseback pau·ols are mostly used
during special events, such as parades or the county
fair, and for crowd control. "So we got the callout, 10-BBA - supers-
K-9 Officers: A dozen officers in the San Angelo involved incident. Dispatch says some guy's
Police Department are partnered with police dogs. going nuts over in the Fairtime Mall parking
These highly trained dogs are adept at finding and lot, tossing cars around, and the SO asked
pursuing fleeing suspects, and instill such fear in crimi- for a mutual assist.
nals that suspects often simply give up when a police "We get out there in the PART van and
dog arrives on scene. The dogs are also used in search deploy, but the negotiators eventually talked
and rescue operations, and a few are trained to sniff the super down so it ended up that we didn't
out drugs or explosives. have much to do. Turned out he was some
Human officers in the K-9 program are vqlunteers teenager who'djust been dumped by his
PAGE who arc reimbursed by the SAPD for their dog-related girlfriend. "
NUMBER
expenses. The police dogs are popular attractions al - Beverly Fancher, 28, police officer
84
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
(ll'f of S.n An;o lo 4SOO -
Public Safety
powers, PART commander, concealed weapon permit.
Disadvantages: DNPCs: Children(incompetents) 8-,
Distinctive Features: Cop (easily concealed), Hunted
by Salvo (Mo Pow) 11-, Psych: Dislikes paranormals,
Psych: Subject to chain of command, Reputation:
PART squad commander 8-.
Notes: A veteran San Angelo Police Department of-
ficer, Lt. Jerry House joined the force in 198 l. He
quickly distinguished himself in his patrol duties.
Coupled with his expertise as a sharpshooter, gained
from a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, his hard-charg-
ing attitude soon earned House an invitation to join
the department SWAT team.
He initially served as a SWAT sniper, but later
switched to the squad's entry team, winning accolades
in both roles. In an incident watched live by thousands
of San Angelo television viewers in 1988, House fired
the shot that killed a gunman holding 38 hostages in-
side a Prospector Bank branch.
When the San Angelo Police Department formed the
Paranormal Alert Response Team in 1992, House was
the first choice to head the new squad. He has proven
to be a competent and effective leader who trains his
elite squad relentlessly to meet the extreme dangers
inherent in battling paranormal crime.
He does not get along well with paranormals, even
Lt. Jerry House recognized heroes. House takes an especially dim view
PART Comma nder of self-proclaimed heroes who interfere in PART squad
STR 18 DEX 18 CON 18 BODY 15 operations. House takes the decision to sanction some
INT 15 EGO 15 PRE 18 COM 12 heroes as an affront to his team, which he believes is
PD 8 ED 6 SPD 4 REC 8 fully capable of dealing with the superhuman crime
END 40 STUN 40 threat without the assistance of free-lance "heroes"
Powers and Skills: Running +3", Superleap +2", whose loyalties House perceives as questionable. He
Martial Arts (Commando Training): Aikido throw, tends to treat all paranormals as potential adversaries.
Boxing cross, Choke, Jiu-jitsu disarm, Kung fu block Mauler, a wanted criminal with immense strength,
(use art with tonfa), WF: Small arms, grenade has sworn revenge on House for his arrest by the PART
launchers, heavy machine guns, tonfa, Combat skills: squad a few years ago.
+3 w/sniper rifle, +2 w/small arms, Breakfall 13-, House has been divorced twice, and is currently un-
Bureaucratics 8-, Climbing 13-, Combat Driving 13-, married. His three children, two sons from his first
Concealment 12-, Criminology 8-, Demolitions 8-, marriage and a young daughter from his second, live
Interrogation 13-, Security Systems 8-, Shadowing 11-, with their mothers.
Stealth 14-, Streetwise 13-, Tactics 14-, KS: SAPD House, 38, has intense blue eyes, thinning red hair
11-, KS: San Angelo Underworld 11-, KS: Military and a mustache. He stands 5' 11" tall and looks very
World 11-, KS: San Angelo paranormals 14-, CK: San fit The PART lieutenant follows a boxing workouti:..P~A..,..,G,..E"'f:
,.
• NUMBER
Angelo 14-, PS: Police Lt. 11-, Perks: Local police routine at the police gym to keep in shape.
85
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Campaign Tip PART/SWAT Equipment
GMs can use the write-up of Lt. Jerry House as a
template for other PART squad members. Common Equipment:
Sig Sauer P-229 .40 cal. pistol - I d6+ I RKA, 3
clips of 12 Charges, OAF
PART members respond to incidents in two armored Kevlar Vest - Armor, 5 PD/5 ED, OIF, Activation
vans, one carrying the team and its equipment, with 11 -, Limited Power: 3 PD vs. piercing attacks
Trauma Plate - Armor, +5 PD/+5 ED, OIF, Acti-
the second equipped to safely transport captured
vation 8-
paranormals.
Radio - Radio Listen and Transmit, OIF
Handcuffs - Entangle 5d6, Entangle takes no dam-
age, Entangle with one BODY, Only entangles
PART Armored Van arms, Only on a target at 0 DCV, 1 recoverable
Val Char Charge, No range
4x2 Size Flexcuffs (hard nylon or plastic cable ties) - En-
tangle 3d6, Entangle takes no damage, Entangle
-4 DCV
with one BODY, Only entangles arms, Only on a
6.4 tons (-6) Mass (KB)
target at 0 DCV, l recoverable Charge, No range
40 STR Black Fatigues - +I to Stealth rolls, OIF
10 DEF Combat boots, jungle cap, sunglasses
18 BODY
15 DEX Entry Team Additional Equipment
2 SPD Night Vision Goggles-Infrared Vision, OAF, Lim-
15" x8 Move ited Power: Restricted field of vision, - I PER
240" MAX H&K MPS 9mm SMG- ld6+1 RKA, Autofire, 4
Equipment: clips of 30 Charges, OAF ...or...
Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun - 4d6 RKA,
Police Radio: Radio Listen and Transmit
OAF, 8 Charges, Reduced Penetration
Flash-bang Grenade - 2d6 Flash vs. normal sight
A typical PART response involves a squad of nine and hearing, AE 4" radius, OAF, 1 Charge
officers and Lt. House. The PART officers carry stan- Tear Gas Grenade - 1d6 Flash vs. normal sight
dard SAPD SWAT equipment, including bullet-proof plus ld6 DEX Drain, Area of Effect 4" radius, OAF,
vests, radios, flashlights and flex-cuffs. l Charge
Squad members are armed with sub-machine guns
or shotguns, in addition to handguns. They also carry Sniper Additional Equipment
tear-gas grenades to flush out banicaded suspects and Sniper rifle with scope - 2d6 RKA w/+2 OCV
"flash-bang" grenades to blind or distract suspects (OAF, Charges: 5)
during high-risk entries.
Special PART Equipment
Titanium Handcuffs - Entangle, 5 Def, 5 Body,
r----------------~ Entangle takes no damage, Half END cost, Only
I GM's Option I entangles arms, Only on a target at 0 DCV, 1 Re-
I GMs seeking a less lethal tone to their campaign I coverable Charge, No range
I should replace the firearms carried by the PART I Prototype Tangier Field - Entangle 6d6, OAF, Re-
quires three attack rolls, 3 Charges, Activation ! I -
I squad with prototype beam weapons developed by I
Pacifiers - Drain 4d6 STUN plus Drain ld6 REC,
, ,I Orion Labs. (Beamgun - 8d6 EB [OAF, Charges: I OAF, I Continuing Charge, No Range, Extra Time:
P~~! 'I 2 Clips of 6 charges, Beam Attack]). I I Minute
86 ~----------------~
-· SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
cial-action teams dealing with paranormals. Officials
from England, France, Japan and Russia have visited
San Angelo to inspect the team.
Special Weapons and Tactics: The SWAT team
draws experienced officers from throughout the de-
partment to form an elite, highly trained force capable
of dealing with the gravest threats to the city.
The heavily armed SWAT team handles situations
involving hostages, barricaded suspects, snipers and
anything else beyond the capabilities of ordinary of-
ficers.
Lt. Bill Weathers, a calm, professional police vet-
eran, serves as SWAT team commander for the de-
partment.
Training Division
This division handles the training for all new police
department personnel. New hires are required to at-
tend a 24-week academy before being assigned to duty
with a training officer, who provides additional on-
the-job instruction in department policies and proce-
dures.
The department does not maintain a permanent, year-
round academy; academies are scheduled two or three
times a year as needed. Classes are held at police head-
quarters, with field instruction taking place at the de-
partment firing range or other locations.
This division also provides advanced officer train-
ing and update training for experienced personnel.
Finally, the training division oversees reserve offic-
The PART squad carries some special equipment to ers, who are called in to help police public events such
help even the odds against superpowered foes. The as fairs or parades or to bolster understrength patrol
squad has several sets of titanium handcuffs rated to sectors. Most reserve officers are either retired law
handle individuals with up to eight times normal hu- enforcement personnel or recent academy graduates
man strength. "Pacifier" tranquilizers are also used to waiting for the next examination for a full-time posi-
control superpowered individuals for transportation to tion with the department.
a secure facility.
Also, the squad carries three prototype "tangler" guns ) "You ever have that nightmare where you
developed by Orion Labs. If the three guns are fired at
shoot the l'od guy tmd no1hi11R happe11s?
the same opponent, they may create an electrical field
Tht1t's what it was like. I unloaded 12
entrapping the target. However, each shot expends a
rounds into him. and nothing hapfJened.
huge amount of energy, so the guns can only be fired
Well, llOI quiie not/ring.
three times before requiring several hours to recharge.
Law enforcement agencies all over the United States "Ht la11ghed. " . . PAGE
_ James White. 30, police officer m 1MeeR
consider the San Angelo PART squad a model for spe-
87
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Cltt OI Sin Anw:~lo ASOD -
Public Safety
Officers of Note Uniforms and Insignia
Cpl. Margaret Barrera: A detective in the Sex/Eld- Officers in the San Angelo Police Department wear
erly Assaults/Child Abuse Bureau, Barrera handles black uniforms with shoulder-mounted radios. They
sexual assault cases. Her compassion and skill earned do not wear hats unless in dress uniform.
Barrera Officer of the Year honors in 1992. She is Detectives are not required to wear uniforms, but
skilled at karate and can often be found training at the are expected to dress in business-like attire unless they
Wilder Karate Center. are taking part in an undercover operation.
Sgt. Brady Fox: A flamboyant undercover detec- The SAPD uses Ford Crown Victorias almost exclu-
tive with the Narcotics Bureau known for taking stun- sively, and has recently started buying a brand new
ning risks and making spectacular arrests. Tn 1995, Fox fleet to replace aging 1994 and 1995 patrol vehicles.
captured a drug dealer by grabbing the man and leap- The cars are painted white, with blue stripes. Both front
ing out a fifth-story hotel window into the pool below. doors bear the department logo, a stylized badge.
He's also been involved in several shootouts. Most of Tn addition, the police department maintains a fleet
Fox's colleagues are now afraid to work with him. of 60-plus Kawasaki 1000 Police motorcycles, and two
Officer Ray Hodges: A patrol officer assigned to river boats.
Sector One (Northside) who holds the department The department also has a number of unmarked cars
record for drunken driving arrests. Hodges jokes that for investigations, and for undercover work keeps a
he has a "sixth sense" about intoxicated drivers, but handful of sports cars and luxury cars seized from drug
his almost uncanny ability to spot drunks actually stems dealers.
from years of experience and training. He sometimes
teaches seminars for other departments on this topic.
Sgt. Curt Wiesbeck: A veteran officer who serves
San Angelo County
as president of the police union. Wiesbeck has held Sheriff's Department
the job for 10 years, most! y due to his skill at winning The Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction over all
favorable contracts from the city. He has also molded unincorporated areas of San Angelo County. The de-
the union into a potent political force in City Council partment covers a far larger area than the police de-
elections, which gives the organization added clout at partment, but deals with a lower population density.
the bargaining table. As with the police department, deputies can pursue
Wiesbeck, whose salary is paid by the union, works fleeing suspects into other jurisdictions, but otherwise
full-time for the San Angelo Police Officers Associa- normally work in conjunction with the appropriate
tion but retains his peace officer status. local agency.
One of the department's chief responsibilities in-
Notable Locations volves operating the county jail system. All arrestees
Police Headquarters: The headquarters building, in San Angelo County are housed at one of the county
located downtown, contains the administrative offices jail facilities, whatever the arresting agency. The city,
of the department and the main garage for patrol ve- California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement
hicles. The detectives division is also based at police agencies help finance the jail system through funding
headquarters, though some bureaus maintain satellite agreements or booking fees, but most of the expense
offices in police substations around San Angelo. falls under the county budget.
The eight-story headquarters was built in 1980 on The Sheriff's Department employs approximately
the site of a historic, but badly outdated, police build- 2,400 sworn personnel, about 900 of whom work in
ing follow ing years of public debate and intense op- the corrections division, and roughly 600 clerical work-
""P~'A""'G""'E!"t position from city preservationist organizations. ers and support staff.
NUM8fR
88
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctty al S.n Ang.&Jo 45-QO -
Public Safety
L Structure
Staffing Ratios The San Angelo County Sheriff's Department some-
While the Sheriff's Department has about the same
what resembles the city police department in organi-
number of total employees as the city police force, it
actually has a lower ratio of patrol officers to popula- zation, with some changes to reflect its different re-
tion because about one-thfrd of its employees work in sponsibilities.
corrections. At the top of the hierarchy is the sheriff, who is
The San Angelo Police Department puts 1.3 officers elected by the voters every four years. The current
on the street for every 1,000 people in its jurisdiction, sheriff, J.T. Preston, has held the job for five years.
while the county Sheriffs Department fields .8 patrol
officers per 1,000 people. Sheriff John Taylor Preston
Both departments are considered understaffed - the STR 15 DEX 14 CON 13 BODY 10
preferred ratio for law enforcement agencies is 2 patrol INT 15 EGO 18 PRE 20 COM 10
officers per 1,000 people.
PD 5 ED 4 SPD 3 REC 6
END 30 STUN 28
Non-administrative personnel are represented by a Powers and Skills: Bureaucratics 13-, Combat
union, the Deputy Sheriffs Association, but are for- Driving 12-, Conversation l 3-, Criminology 13-,
bidden by state law from striking.
Deduction 13-, High Society 8-, Oratory 13-,
A professional, competent organization, the Sheriffs Persuasion 13-, Riding l 1-, WF: Small arms, tonfa,
Department suffers from funding problems that have KS: Law Enforcement Administration 14-, KS: San
rendered it understaffed and slightly under-equipped. Angelo Sheriff's Department 14-, KS : San Angelo
As a result, sheriff' s officials spend most of their time county government l l-, KS: San Angelo Underworld
trying to stretch limited resources to handle the rising l l-, AK: San Angelo County 14-, KS: Horses 12-, PS:
crime problems of the growing county population. Sheriff 11-, Fringe Benefits: Local police powers,
Nevertheless, clever use of federal grants and other license to carry a gun, San Angelo Sheriff, Perk: Well-
resources has allowed the Sheriff's Department to in-
connected, 8 Contacts in county government and other
stitute some new programs, such as helicopter and river law enforcement agencies.
patrols, in recent years.
89
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Disadvantages: Age: 40+, Distinctive Features:
( /
Sheriff (easily concealed), Hunted by the press (Mo
(
Pow, NCI, watching) l 1-, Physical Limit: Arthritis
(infrequent, slight), Psych: Aggressive, blunt
personality, Reputation: Plain-spoken sheriff I 1-,
Rivalry: County Supervisors (Prof, Superior).
Notes: Sheriff J.T. Preston took office six years ago
after the previous sheriff, Jerry Wilder, decided not to
run for re-election. Before taking over as sheriff,
Preston had served 15 years in the Sheriff's Depart-
ment, working his way up to the rank of captain.
Preston has a forceful, blunt personality that earns
him few points with more politically minded county
supervisors, but he doesn't care. In particular, Preston
has clashed repeatedly with the board over funding
for the department, and is not above taking his case to
the public via newspaper and television interviews.
He favors cowboy hats and Western wear, an<l an
autographed photo of John Wayne hangs prominently
in Preston's office. An avid horseman, he rides with
the Sheriffs Posse in parades and other community
events.
But those who take Preston for some kind of country
bumpkin are making a mistake. He is an able admin-
istrator who stays on top of the latest trends in law
enforcement and is skilled at stretching the limited The undersheriff, Ned Pickett, serves as an assistant
resources of his department to accomplish its mission. to the sheriff and fills in when Preston is away from
The sheriff is beginning to have some arthritis prob- the office.
lems, especially in his wrist, which was broken in a Below the sheriff's office, the department has three
struggle with a drunken driver nearly 20 years ago. tiers of command. Captains oversee each of the divi-
J.T. Preston is 48 years old, with close-cropped, re- sions of the department, aided by lieutenants who su-
ceding brown hair and brown eyes. A strong, barrel- pervise various bureaus and details within each divi-
chested man, he stands 6' 5" tall. Preston is married sion .
and has three grown children, including a daughter In the patrol division, one lieutenant serves as watch
who Ii ves in San Angelo. commander on each shift for both patrol sectors. He
keeps up-to-date on patrol activities, and may respond
· "Listen up, rookie. I've got JO weeks to retire-
in person to major incidents.
ment, so if we run into any supers, you let me Sergeants supervise the men and women on the street,
handle it, OK? And no guns. Some of these guys and are the last tier of command. Below the sergeants
get testy around guns, and l don'twannaget
are the street officers themselves. There are two ranks
disintegrated, electrocuted, turned to stone, of officers, corporals and officers.
teleported to Dimension X or nothin' else. Not
As in the San Angelo Police Department, corporals
with just 10 weeks left on the job. You hear me?" are more experienced officers who have passed an
-Gus Pappas, 49, deputy sheriff exam, but do not have a role in the command structure
of the department.
Detectives Division
Most of the bureaus in the detectives division are " /worked with Mi11,f-M<Utero11 ct few
smaller than those in the police department, given the ~·e1ses before lte went bad, you know. Ile
Mn•ed my /mu a couple oiftime.r, at least a
understaffing problems facing the agency. coupe. l
Also, the Sheriff's Department does not rotate offic- "LJ
ne was a good guy' not H·ern , .d .
ltke some
ers between the patrol and detectives divisions, so
oif tI1ese supers. We used •o lk .
openings on the various squads are Jess frequent and I " ta sometimes
£1 'JOut /row society was J:ulli11g
more highly coveted. Cnme . ·'' apan.
terrofri"111 01''d 1 d"
Some of the bureaus of note include: • ' "' ' • a ie.r C!fmid to leave
Explosives Ordinance Detail: The bomb squad rhe1~ ho"ies. He even got kind of hor
deals with all incidents of suspected explosives in San ta/kmg abo111 lillerbugs! No respert r,
othen I "d I ,,or
Angelo County. Members are expert at detecting, re- . , re se11 • mean, /iJrerhu,,,,"> B
th • . ~· llf
moving, defusing and safely detonating bombs of many ~t s JUSt how he was. One-tra~k mind.
I guess he just couldn't ta,-- t"t
kinds, but this duty remains extremely hazardous. I' . I\-<:: anymore.
This detail has some protective equipment, included d.m not saying he was right to do what he
heavy padded armor and face shields, and a remote- id, now. But I ~nderstand how he felt."
controlled, wheeled robot used to move suspected ex- - Hugh Fields, 42, sheriffs detective
plosives. PAGE
NUMBER
91
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
tty of S.11 An09l0 4~ 00 -
Public Safety
;i- '.l
Sheriff's Deputy Standard
Equipment
Sheriffs deputies carry most of the same equip-
ment as their police department counterparts. How-
ever, the Sheriffs Department allows its officers
to choose their own weapons (at their own expense),
based on experience and personal preference, as
long as they satisfy departmental guidelines. Depu-
ties may opt to carry the standard issue firearm,
the Beretta 92FS, 9mm semi-auto.
Pu bl iC Safety
Special Enforcement r.=========;i Sheriff's Personnel of Note
Detail: An elite, highly SED Team Bernadette Capelli: The sheriff's personal secre-
trained team of officers Equipment tary, Capelli serves as an effective barrier between
that responds to incidents The Special Enforce-
Sheriff Preston and those who would waste his time.
involving heavily armed ment Detail uses equip-
ment similar to that de- A woman of imposing size and an abrasive personal-
or barricaded suspects in ity, she can be extremely intimidating. However,
tailed for the San Angelo
the county. Similar to a Police Department Capelli is very loyal to the department.
police SWAT squad, the SWATandPARTteams. Cpl. Jordan Emerson: A helicopter pilot in the Aero
SEO team has the fire- Detail of the sheriffs department. Emerson, who pi-
power and skills to handle l!::==============:'...l loted a U.S. Army helicopter gunship in the Gulf War,
the most dangerous threats to public safety. Lt. Frank loves to fly. He won a departmental commendation
Stalker commands the sheriff's SEO team. for bravery in 1995 after landing his chopper in a haz-
ardous area of high-tension power lines to pick up a
Technical Services deputy wounded in a shootout.
This division handles the communications and iden- Lt. Calvin Abukawa: A veteran detective in the ho-
tification needs of the department. micide bureau respected for his knowledge of foren-
The communications center handles all 911 emer- sic science and criminology. Abukawa is an expert at
gency calls in San Angelo County. Operators route crime scene examination and acts as a consultant to
the calls to the appropriate agency, such as the police other local departments on the subject at times.
department or a fire protection district. A joint powers Deputy Robert Hernandez: A popular deputy as-
authority of participating agencies provides funding signed to the Pleasant Grove substation as a patrol of-
for the center, which is staffed and operated by the ficer, Hernandez comes from a family of cops. His
Sheriff's Department. father, one of the first Latinos hired by the sheriffs
The center also handles dispatching and radio com- department, was killed in the line of duty 15 years ago
munications duties for Sheriff's Department patrols. when he unwittingly pulled over a car driven by a
This division also includes an identification bureau, prison escapee. Robert's uncle, Tony Hernandez, is a
responsible for fingerprinting and other evidence col- D.A. investigator, and his two brothers, Joe and Hec-
lection at crime scenes. The bureau also fingerprints tor, are deputies assigned to the main jail. Also, his
job applicants, registers sex offenders and processes sister, Teresa, is a bailiff in the county court system.
applications for concealed weapons permits.
Notable Locations
Transcript of 911 Call Sheriff's Headquarters: The nine-story Clarence
Operator: 91 1, what is your emergency?
Caller: Hello, yes, there's a man going crar;y out In Wayne Sheriffs Administrative Building, named af-
the street. Can you send the police? ter the first elected sheriff of San Angelo County, is
Operator: A man going crazy? What's he doing? located in downtown San Angelo. Known informally
Caller: Yes. He's shouting and throwing things at as the sheriffs headquarters, it houses the administra-
people's houses.
tive offices of the department and most of the investi-
Operator: OK. can you describe him for me?
Caller: He's, uh, about 12 feet tall, with blue hair gations bureaus.
and glowing eyes ... red eyes. Glowing red eyes. Pleasant Grove Substation: This substation serves
Operator: Twelve feet tall, with blue hair and glowing as the headquarters for north sector patrols.
red eyes? OK, ma'am, is he armed? Rancho Madera Substation: This substation serves
Caller: Oh no! (loud crunching sound)
Operator: Ma'am, are you all right? Stay on the phone as the base for south sector patrols. The high-crime
with me ... neighborhoods assigned to officers stationed in Rancho
PAGE
NUMBER Caller: I 'm OK. No, he's not armed, but he just Madera recently prompted some wags to nickname
threw my Honda Accord up on the neighbor's roof. the substation "Ground Zero."
94 Please hurry!
Public Safety
Federal Law
Angelo. Investigators with INS occasionally conduct
Enforcement Agencies raids on businesses suspected of knowingly employ-
A number of federal law enforcement agencies are ing illegal aliens.
active in the San Angelo area. They enforce federal The INS also investigates individuals suspected of
laws and sometimes offer assistance to local law en- smuggling undocumented aliens into the United States
forcement agencies. for pay.
One recent case involved Chinese immigrants who
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: Agents had been crammed into a freighter due to dock at the
from this bureau, a branch of the federal Treasury De- Port of San Angelo. Conditions aboard the ship were
partment, enforces federal laws relating to alcohol, to- so squalid that one woman died before the ship was
bacco, explosives and firearms. The ATF maintains a stopped by the U.S . Coast Guard and INS officials.
small office, headed by Adrian Masselli, at the Twi-
light Tower.
Drug E nforcement Agency: The DEA investigates
Corruption
drug-related crimes in San Angelo, focusing on tong- Law enforcement agencies in San Angelo are not
related heroin smuggling and methamphetamine sales overrun with corruption - far from it. While most
by motorcycle gangs. Meth labs in rural San Angelo agencies no doubt have a few bad apples, there is no
are also a target of the DEA in joint operations with systematic bribe-taking, such as the reported "padding"
the Sheriff's Department. of entire precincts in East Coast departments.
Colin Hunt heads the small DEA squad based at the Contrary to popular belief, the fabk<l '\:o<le uf si-
Prospector Bank Building office tower. There are ru- lence" among peace officers does not always extend
mors that the squad is probing tong-related opium to corrupt cops, who are likely to be reported to their
smuggling at the Port of San Angelo. superiors.
The DEA and county sheriff's department are run-
ning a joint undercover operation targeting the meth- Brutality and
amphetamine ring run by the Flaming Skulls motor-
cycle gang. Excessive Force
Federal Bureau of Investigation: The FBI office Almost all San Angelo officers, of any department,
in San Angelo probes all federal crimes, such as bank do not condone the use of excessive force or beatings.
robberies, terrorism and some civil rights violations. Most officers also see a difference between subduing
Agents also keep an eye on tongs and motorcycle gangs a suspect and beating a confession out of someone,
in the city. however.
Dale Parsons is the special agent in charge, or SAC, Officers tend to "close ranks" around colleagues who
of the San Angelo FBI office, based at the Federal are accused of excessive force by a criminal suspect.
Building downtown. But officers with a reputation for brutality will find
Immigration and Naturalization Service: A branch few supporters on any police force and will soon find
of the federal Department of Justice, the Immigration themselves the target of internal affairs division in-
and Naturalization Service has a small office in San vestigations.
PAGE
NUMBER
96
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
I Clry or &In Anplo 4 SQO -
Public Safety
Emergency Likewise, other agencies can call on the city fire de-
partment for aid. Each year, the department typically
sends several companies to help battle wildfires in the
Services mountains or in Southern California.
Crime and criminals are not the only threats to pub- The fire department employs 3,600 people and has
lic safety in San Angelo. Fires, auto accidents and 85 stations scattered throughout the city. Department
medical emergencies must also be dealt with. These headquarters are located in an annex to Station #1
are the responsibility of San Angelo firefighters and downtown.
private ambulance companies.
Structure of the Fire
"A fire start in our apartment. Bad wiring, I think. Department
Our landlord very cheap. I get fa mily out, but my The fire chief, who is appointed by the City Council,
daughter inhale smoke. Coughing very bad. Fire
heads the department. The current chief, Dean Mandel,
department come very quickly to help, put out fire,
give tlaughter oxygen. 11ren hero land near fire trucks.
has held the job for the past three years.
"Paramedics talk to him, and he come over. Says, The Deputy Fire Chief, Franklin Sexton, assists
'Your daughter need go to hospital. I fly her very Mandel and runs the department in his absence. The
fast. · Wife and I say yes, and hero carries daughter to fire marshal, David Ortiz, heads the fire prevention
hO$pita/. bureau.
"She OK now. Hero save her life. My family love Below the office of the chief, the San Angelo Fire
U.S., belit place. love heroes. " Department has a simple, four-tiered command struc-
- Hung Tran, 38, school custodian ture. Division chiefs command each of the bureaus,
except for the fire prevention bureau.
San Angelo Fire The fire suppression bureau, which handles the
firefighting duties of the department, splits the city
Department into three divisions, each commanded by an assistant
The San Angelo Fire Department, a branch of city chief. Next in line are the battalion chiefs, who super-
government, responds to all fires and other emergen- vise a number of fire companies inside a division.
cies in the city limits. The department can call on other Battalion chiefs normally respond to fires, but do not
agencies, including the Forgan Air Force Base fire enter burning buildings - they direct the overall strat-
department, for assistance when battling extensive egy of battling the blaze.
blazes or other large-scale emergencies.
97
- ~'
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Finally, captains are in charge of companies. A com-
pany may consist of a truck, an engine or both. Fire
trucks are huge rigs with aerial ladders, while engines
are the somewhat smaller, more commonly seen ve-
hicles. Each carries three to four firefighters.
Depending on the assignment of the companies, a
station may also be equipped with grass-fire rigs, boats,
water tankers, ambulances or other specialized ve-
hicles. Some stations contain three companies - a
truck, an engine and an ambulance.
Captains respond to all emergency calls, and gener-
ally stay with their companies inside burning build-
ings or other emergency scenes.
Engineers, who must have some firefighting experi-
ence and pass a written test, drive the trucks and en-
gines. At the bottom are the firefighter-paramedics,
who make up the bulk of the department's personnel.
Not all firefighters are paramedics, but they all have
at least some emergency medical training. Paramed-
ics have advanced training that qualifies them to ad-
minister drugs, start IVs, intubate an<l defibrillate pa-
tients.
All firefighters in the city are paid, full-time profes-
sionals - volunteer firefighters were phased out in
the 1960s. The city has been trying to increase the
number of female firefighters, but the department re- Fire Chief Dean Mandel
mains almost 95 percent male. STR 13 DEX 11 CON 13 BODYlO
"My company's up on the roof of this old storefront
INT 10 EGO 10 PRE13 COMlO
downtown. It's just after dawn, spring, so it's nice and PD 4 ED 3 SPD 3 REC 5
cool. Same old story - some homeless people broke in END26 STUN 24
l ~he night before, lit afire to stay warm and it got away
p rom them. Now it's burning pretty good. Powers and Skills: Bureaucratics 12-, Combat Driv-
"We're ventilating the roof when /feel it start to ing 12-, High Society 8-, Paramedic 11-, KS: San
give underneath me. I shout to my guys to get outta Angelo Fire Department 14-, KS: Firefighting 13-, KS:
there, but before I can jump clear the roof collapses. Firefighting Tactics 11-, KS: Emergency Medicine 11-,
"I'm looking straight down into hell. That's exactly KS: Fire Department Management 11-, CK: San
what it looked like. a burning hell. The guys are all
Angelo 11-, PS: Fire Chief 11-, Perk: Fringe Benefit:
shouting 'Cap! Cap! Cap's gone through the roof!'
Fire Chief, Contacts: State and local fire agencies, 5.
I'm mentally saying goodbye to my wife and kids, you
know, when suddenly I'm jerked up by the collar of my Disadvantages: DNPCs (family, normals) 11-, Dis-
· tumour. tinctive Features: Fire Chief (easily concealable),
"/look up, and this super's got ahold ofme, pulling Hunted by the press (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching) 8-,
me out of the hole. Don't know where she came from. Reputation: Unpopular Fire Chief 8-.
She carried me down to the street, then.flew o.ff. Never Notes: Dean Mandel took over as fire chief in 1994,
found out her name." after serving as an assistant chief in the Angel Beach
-Robert Plummer, 41, fire captain Fire Department in Southern California.
99
SAN ANGEL:.O : CITY OF HEROES
Cny "' !Lin A11g.IO 4$00 -
Public Safety
Notes: Leonard DeSantis joined the San Angelo Fire Unlike some agencies, the San Angelo Fire Depart-
Department nearly 15 years ago after several years with ment does not separate firefighters into fire or rescue
the Marshall Volunteer Fire District in rural San companies. All companies are capable of either as-
Angelo County. After a few years as a firefighter and signment.
engineer, he earned a night school degree in criminal 1f reinforcements are required at a fire or other emer-
justice and transferred to the arson investigation squad. gency, the department can call a "second alarm." Ad-
In 1994, DeSantis cracked the "Pyre" case, which ditional companies and personnel are dispatched. Third
had thrown San Angelo into a citywide panic. or even fourth alarms can also be called if further as-
Superpowered arsonist Geoffrey Lindsay set 20 fires sistance is required.
in 12 days, killing two people and causing hundreds A few companies have specialized equipment or
of thousands of dollars in damage. In cryptic letters to training for certain emergencies, though they still spend
the San Angelo Times, he dubbed himself "Pyre" and most of their time as ordinary firefighting companies:
announced his intent to burn down the entire city. Cliff and River Rescue: These companies carry
After a harrowing, round-the-clock investigation, climbing gear, stretcher baskets and other equipment
DeSantis tracked Pyre to his seedy Armory apartment. for conducting rescues on the steep bluffs along the
With the aid of the .Justice Foundation, he captured San Angelo and Del Oro rivers.
Pyre, who was later sentenced to the Gaviota Island Hazardous Materials: Companies assigned to
Federal Penitentiary. handle hazardous materials emergencies are equipped
A very private person, DeSantis keeps to himself and with full-body suits and other protective gear. They
prefers to work alone. Although he is very respected are trained in identifying, handling and cleaning up
within the department, he has few friends and most of toxic chemicals, and are knowledgableabout tht medi-
his co-workers know little about his private life. cal effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
DeSantis, 42, has brown hair and eyes with a dark
complexion. He stands 5' l O" and has an average build. 1997 City Fire Statistics
DeSantis is divorced, with no children. Total Calls: 163,668
Education Section: This office handles fire preven- Fires: 12,057
tion education in San Angelo public schools, arranges Medical Assistance: 109,575
firehouse tours for youth groups and organizes other Other Emergencies: 42,036
outreach programs.
Hazardous Materials Section: This section keeps Special Signals
track of the storage and transportation of all hazard- Second Alarms: l 04
ous materials in the city. These records are used to Third Alarms: 20
keep firefighters responding to blazes or other emer- Fourth Alarms: 2
gencies informed of potential hazardous materials risks Fifth & Higher Alarms: 0
associated with a particular business or other location. - Source: San Angelo Fire Department
~
GE sist of the crew on a truck or an engine. Thus. each for responding to earthquakes, floods, chemical spills
M ER statio11 houses one or two companies.
OBO and other disasters in San Angelo.
Public Safety
"Remember the Consolidated Electronics Notable People
warehouse fire back in '91? I was with Co. 8 Firefighter Mitch Loughlin: A firefighter with a
then. We were sitting around the station reputation for making dramatic rescues. He has pulled
watching 'L.A. Law' on the tube when we got a several people from blazes over the years, often plac-
call-out on the third alarm. You should've seen ing himself at considerable risk. In 1994, Loughlin was
all the trucks. Guys from all over the city were seriously injured when a stairway collapsed underneath
there. him in an apartment building fire, but he returned to
"We get the news that some of the night shift active duty a few months later.
is trapped on catwalks up near the roof, so our He is a Native American from the Canfield Indian
company goes in. The whole warehouse is Rancheria near Lake Oro.
burning up now - it's slow going. but we· re Engineer Russ O'Connell: An engineer stationed
making our way to 'em. downtown, O ' Connell has restored an antique San
"Then part of the roof comes flying off, and Angelo Fire Department engine that he drives in pa-
this super is plucking people off the catwalk rades. One of the most senior firefighters in the de-
and flying them out. Easy as pie -for him, partment, O ' Connell is also known for his distinctive
anyway. handlebar mustache.
"Well, so much for that, we say, and start "Sparky the Fire Dog": Actually a firefighter in-
headin' out. I'm thinking I'm gonna be there side a costume, Sparky the Fire Dog is a popular char-
all night mopping 11p - not much hope of acter with San Angelo schoolchildren. He visits schools
supers helping with that, huh? - when a load and community events to pass along fire safety tips.
ofdebris drops out of the rafters, lands right
011 top of me. Fire Protection
"Broke my back. They told me later the guys
barely got me out of there. I was in the hospital Districts
for six months, and I had to re ti re from the In the unincorporated areas of San Angelo County,
department. fire protection duties are handled by independent spe-
"The super got a parade down Kirby Boule- cial districts. These districts, which are overseen by
vard. I got a pension and a gold watch. elected fire boards, are funded by a share of property
"The watch stopped 'bout a year ago." tax revenues. Fire districts are organized along much
- George Maguire, 44, disabled the same lines as the city fire department, though some
rely on volunteers for the bulk of their personnel.
There are several fire districts in San Angelo County .
Uniforms and Insignia The three largest are the Foothills, Pleasant Grove and
City firefighters, engineers and captains wear light South San Angelo Consolidated fire protection dis-
blue shirts and navy blue slacks. They wear short- tricts.
sleeve shirts in the summer. Of course, they wear pro- Remote parts of San Angelo County are covered ei-
tective "turnout" gear, including coats. boots, helmets ther by volunteer fire departments from the nearest
and breathing apparatus, when responding to a fire. community or by the California Department of For-
Administrators - battalion chiefs and higher ranks estry, under agreement with the county.
- wear white uniform shirts. Each fire protection district has its own uniform and
Engines. trucks and other vehicles of the San Angelo insignia. The color scheme of fire vehicles likewise
Fire Department are the traditional red, with reflec- varies, with lime-green, white or yellow nearly as
tive stripes and the department name in gold letters popular as the traditional red.
PAGE
NUMBER
over a logo on the doors.
101
· SAN-ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City Cd S•~ Mgolo •Y.>O -
Public Safety
Metropolitan Ambulance: Once the busiest private
State and Federal ambulance company in San Angelo, Metropolitan
Agencies Ambulance has been overtaken in recent years by new-
Agencies of the state and federal governments also comer ET. As a result, "Metro" crews are nervous
have some responsibility for fire protection in the San about their future. There are rumors that owner Ravi
Angelo area. Singh faces bankruptcy after over-extending himself
replacing outdated ambulances. The tension has
California Department of Forestry: Firefighters sparked a rivalry between Metro and ET crews, and a
from the forestry department, or CDF, battle blazes in recent softball game between the firms ended in a
state parks, such as the Lake Oro State Recreation Area. brawl.
Also, San Angelo County contracts with CDF to pro- Valley Medical Systems: In recent years, Valley
vide fire protection in remote parts of the county not Medical Systems has gained a reputation as the worst
covered by other fire districts. The CDF operates a private ambulance company in San Angelo. Horror
number of air tankers, huge airplanes used to drop stories of ambulances running out of gas, breaking
water and flame retardant on wildlands fires. down and getting Jost on emergency calls are often
U.S. Air Force: A detachment of Air Force person- told. The owner of Valley Medical Systems, Naomi
nel provides fire protection at Forgan Air Force Base Coffey, is known as a miser loathe to spend money on
in Pleasant Grove. The department has special train- salaries, upkeep, new ambulances or anything else.
ing and equipment for air crashes, and can be called Coffey spends most of her time cajoling county offi-
on for assistance by other fire agencies. cials out of revoking her license to operate in San
U.S. Forest Service: The U.S. Forest Service, a Angelo
branch of the federal Department of the Interior, is
responsible for fire protection in national forests. The Campaign Tip
famed "smoke jumpers," firefighters who parachute Paramedics will try to treat injured supers, unless do-
to remote wildlands fires, are affiliated with the USFS. ing so puts them at risk. However, superhumans often
have powers that could hinder or prevent medical treat-
ment - for example, armored skin could rule out intra- 1
Private Ambulance venous injections! Most ambulances do not carry spe- 1
cial equipment for treating supers.
Firms
Jn addition to the ambulances operated by local fire
agencies, three private ambulance firms serve the "We got a call to this frat house in the Commons.
metropolitan San Angelo area. These companies are Big parry going on, lots of beer, loud music. We're
licensed by the Board of Supervisors and overseen by figuring an alcohol poisoning or drug O.D. You work
a rescue wagon, you see these things a lot.
the county health services division.
"So this guy comes up and tells us the victim's in the
pool. OK, so it's a drowning. We hustle to the pool.
ET: The busiest private ambulance service in San "Well, the guy's not drowning, but he is at the
Angelo. Owner Austin Lane began ET, which stands bottom of the pool smiling up at us. He's got gills and
for "Emergency Transport," just five years ago. The fins, just like a.fish. His buddies say he changed as he
company has expanded rapidly and lured a number of swam around the pool after taking some drugs -
the best ambulance crews away from other firms. His mushrooms I think.
employees have asked Lane several times to change "We called in some specialists from Faraday, but
the name of the company, which makes them the butt you wouldn't believe what a pain in the butt it was to
transport that guy - he couldn't breathe plain ol' air
1fiiii!!i
~""'A,_
G...
l!....uf endless "alien'• and ''extra-te1Testria1•· jokes, but he
anymore."
NUMBER likes the ET name ;.mu will not change it.
-Tony Rudenko, 30, paramedic
102
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-
The Judicial and Organization of the D.i strict
Penal Systems Attorney's Office
Administration
Once an officer or detective makes an arrest, the case District Attorney
moves to the criminal justice system. As with law en- Office Manager
forcement, most of the activity occurs at the county Personnel/Payroll
level, though the federal and state governments also Records
play roles in the administration of justice. Consumer Affairs Division
Family Support Division
Felony Crimes Division
The District Attorney's Career Criminal Section
Drug Crimes Section
Office Homicide Section
The county District Attorney's office is responsible Organized Crime Section
for the filing of criminal charges and prosecution of Property Crimes Section
all criminal cases in San Angelo County, including Robbery Section
Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Section
the city of San Angelo.
Investigations Division
The D.A. reviews arrest reports filed by local law
Juvenile Crimes Division
enforcement agencies, including the San Angelo Po- Misdemeanor Crimes Division
lice Department, San Angelo County Sheriffs Depart- Traffic Section
ment and the Highway Patrol, and decides on which
cases formal charges will be fi led. Charges may also
be filed based on police affidavits.
The D.A.'s Office is headed by the San Angelo Dis-
Structure of the D.A. 's Office
The elected district attorney of San Angelo County,
trict Attorney, who oversees the administration of the
Jan Lehman, heads the office.
approximately four dozen deputy district attorneys who
try the various misdemeanor and felony cases in the
San Angelo Municipal and Superior courts. District Attorney Jan Lehman
The District Attorney is an elected position with a STR 8 DEX 11 CON 12 BODY 8
four year term. Deputy D.A.s are full-time county INT 13 EGO 11 PRE 12 COM 12
employees, hired by the D.A. In addition to Deputy PD 2 ED 2 SPD 2 REC 4
D.A.s, the D.A.'s Office employs a dozen criminal END 24 STUN 18
investigators and as many assistant investigators. Their
duties include conducting follow-up interviews with Powers and SkilJs: Bureaucratics 11, High Society
witnesses, collecting and reviewing additional evi- 11-, KS : Civil Law 12-, KS : Criminal Law 13-, KS:
dence, and so on, to bolster the prosecution's case. San Angelo Legal Scene 12-, KS : Criminal Procedure
11-, KS: Juvenile Crime 11-, PS: Attorney 14-, Perk:
District Attorney, License to Practice Law, Contacts:
''Nmv, are you strong enough to pick up tr
Judicial and legal community, 8.
car? That's t iery impre.rsiv'IJ. flow about a bus?
Disadvantages: Age : 40+, DNPC s : Family
A train /pconwtive? A jet fighter? So. some-
(normals) 8-, Hunted by the Press (Mo Pow, NCI,
thing like ripping rite door:;·aff an armored car.
Watching) 11-, Physical Limit: Nearsighted (fre-
you' re certainly .'Urong enough for that, are11 '1
quently, slight), Psych: Seeks justice, Reputation: ___,
you?"
- Juliet Price, 33. deputy D.A. Tough D.A. 11 -, Rivalry: Roger Feist, deputy D.A. ~P!~~
(Prof).
103
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctfy of &111 •1'l9'1lt> 4500 -
Public Safety
Divisions of the D.A.'s Office
Details on the more interesting or active divisions of
the District Attorney's Office.
Public Safety
Andrew Carlisle Misdemeanor Crimes Division
Deputy District Attorney Attorneys in this division handle all misdemeanor
STR 11 DEX 10 CON 11 BODY 11 cases, such as most traffic violations, petty thefts, mi-
INT 12 EGO 13 PRE 11 COM 10 nor assaults and other lesser crimes.
PD 3 ED 2 SPD 2 REC 4 In general, misdemeanors are crimes that carry a
END 22 STUN 21 potential penalty of no more than a year in jail or a
fine of less than $ l ,000.
Powers and Skills: High Society 8-, Oratory 11-,
KS: Civil Law 13-, KS: Criminal Law 14-, KS: San
Angelo Legal Scene 13-, KS: Organized Crime 11-,
Notable People
KS: Criminal Procedure 11-, PS: Attorney 13-, KS: Deputy D.A. Roger Feist: A grandstanding public-
Sailing 12-, Transport Familiarity: Boats, Perk: Li- ity hound who works in the criminal prosecution divi-
cense to practice law. sion. Keenly aware of public opinion and his own
Disadvantages: Age: 40+, Physical Limit: Far- popularity, Feist seems more interested in gaining fa-
sighted (frequently, slight), Reputation: Organized vorable press than the pursuit of justice, and his pros-
ecution of cases reflects this. His numerous contacts
crime prosecutor 8-.
Notes: Andrew Carlisle is a long-time deputy D.A .. inside and outside the San Angelo legal scene give
He has been practicing law for over 20 years, five with Feist a powerful voice in the internal politics of the
the Public Defender's Office and the remainder as a D.A. 's Office, however. Feist is expected to challenge
deputy D.A .. Carlisle was on the prosecution team that D.A . Jan Lehman in the next election, and most ob-
brought down reputed mobster Arlisson Kalstrom, servers project a down-to-the-wire finish. There are
something that Carlisle downplays in conversation. reports that he has already engaged the services of
Carlisle specializes in prosecuting organized crime political consultants Hardesty & Associates.
cases, few as there are in San Angelo, and white-col-
lar crimes. One day he hopes to make that the case Campaign Tip
that will propel him to the national spotlight - and a Superpowered individuals have captured the public's
lucrative private practice after retiring from county ser- imagination, and Feist will try to tum this to his advan-
vice. tage. PCs who are not popular may find Feist unwilling
to prosecute cases they have been involved in, leading
A 48-year-old man, Carlisle has black hair and a
to the release of captured foes. On the other hand, Feist
close-trimmed black beard, which is beginning to show
will try to ingratiate himself with popular PCs, hoping
some gray. He has brown eyes and wears glasses. In to link himself to them in the minds of the public -
his spare time, Carlisle is an avid sailor who owns his which may not be very desirable for the PCs either.
own sailboat.
Investigator Tony Hernandez: A former San
Investigations Division Angelo Police Department detective who retired after
This division handles the investigatory needs of the 20 years on the force and went to work for the D.A. 's
District Attorney's Office. Although police or sheriff's Office. His bad knee, injured while pursuing a bur-
deputies perform the initial investigation of crimes, glary suspect over a fence, does not impede Hernandez
more work is often needed to prosecute a defendant. in his new job.
Witnesses must be found and re-interviewed, alibis He's known for his slow, methodical approach to
probed and new evidence examined. investigations and extensive knowledge of the San
D.A.' s investigators are often former police or Angelo crime scene. His three nephews, including
sheriff's detectives, sometimes retired for health rea- Deputy Robert Hernandez, work for the county - - - .
sons but still able to caJTy out investigative work. Shen'f"f S department. PAGE
NUMBER
105
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cl!y ot Sift An~olo •!00 -
Public Safety
Deputy D.A. J uliet Price: A brash, brilliant pros-
ecutor who specializes in cases involving "Yu11r H_ono~ I objec/ to the i11tmduclion
superpowered defendants. A great-great-granddaugh- ofthe po/we !me-up as evidence M 1·
ter of Gabriel Price, a famous marshal of early San was the I . · Y c 1e111
on y repute-man in the line-11p o»r
Angelo, Price backs up her dramatic courtroom style course th · · 'J
h. . e w1mess wair going to idemify
with intense preparation. She has an extremely high zm as the suspect in a crime involving
conviction rate. Price, who drives a flashy red sports supe~s! He should ha11e been put i1~ a line
car and attracts speeding tickets like a magnet, is un- up with other repti/tt./ik.e peoipl ·
l · e, or at •
married and has a busy social life. east ot/1er supers. I move that am• test1·-
Deputy D.A. Malcolm Washington: A quiet, com- mony on th'zs topic· be disallowed.·"
petent attorney who heads up the consumer affairs di- - Tanya Simm .
ons, 35 • pubhc defender
vision. Washington avoids office politics, preferring
to focus on prosecuting businesses that cheat their cus-
tomers or manufacture defective products. His divi- underpaid attorneys, and finally the small support staff
sion has been praised by consumer affairs advocates of secretaries, clerks, and legal assistants.
for tackling deceptive advertising by local auto Steven LeGuinn is the public defender of San Angelo
dealerships. County. He has held the post for only two years, and
Washington, who is blind, has a guide dog named changes his mind almost daily about continuing to h<!ad
Bolo and uses a special computer that scans documents the office.
for translation into braille or reads them aloud. On one hand, the office is a nightmare to supervise,
with a skimpy bu<lget, unsympathetic supervisors and
a revolving-door staff. On the other hand, the high-
The Public Defender's pressure conditions forge a strong sense ofcameraderie
Office in the office, and helping his inexperienced assistants
beat the higher-paid, better-funded deputy district at-
The county Public Defender's Office represents
torneys in court has proven extremely satisfying.
criminal defendants who cannot afford their own at-
LeGuinn, 44, has thinning, curly brown hair and a
torney. The office is run by the public defender, who
mustache. He wears glasses and has brown eyes, usu-
is hired by the Board of Supervisors. His assistants
ally bloodshot from lack of sleep.
include both full-time county employees and private
LeGuinn has been gaining weight since taking the
attorneys under contract.
public defender's job as it allows him little time to
The courts can assign cases to outside attorneys in
keep fit.
private practice when the Public Defender's Office
cannot represent a defendant due to a conflict of inter-
est. Notable People
Supervisors try to keep funding of the office, which Brent Flynn-Davies: A crusading assistant public
is not popular with the public, to a minimum. As a defender with a special interest in the rights of
result, salaries and benefits are low. Most attorneys in paranormals. Flynn-Davies has won acquittals for a
the Public Defender's Office are either fresh out of number of superhumans accused of crimes in the past
law school or extremely committed to public defense. five years.
A skilled and capable lawyer, he is one of the few
defense attorneys in San Angelo to win such cases
Structure of the Public
against Deputy D.A. Juliet Price. Flynn-Davies has
Defender's Office rejected numerous offers to join private law firms,
PAGE The office has a very simple organization, with the preferring to defend the poor and indigent.
NUMBER
pu bl'ic de1ender
+ at the top. Next are his over-worked,
106
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clly ol San Atlg.lo 4SOO -
Public Safety
The Probation There are actually two court systems in San Angelo
- state courts deal with matters of state law, while
Department federal courts handle violations of federal law.
Officers of the San Angelo County Probation De-
partment are responsible for ensuring that criminals
sentenced to probation fulfill the terms of their sen- Campaign Tip
tence. This office also oversees the Juvenile Hall and
By definition, crimefighting heroes are bound to
other youth detention facilities in the county.
wind up in court at some point, and really busy
Probation officers are expected to meet regularly with
crime-busters may be seeing a lot of the county
their charges, partly to make sure they do not leave
courthouse. Of course, PCs can always be employed
the county and partly to provide counseling, help in
there in their Secret IDs as well.
finding a job and other aid. In some cases, officers can
The court system can provide GMs and players
search the home or car of a person on probation with-
with a lot of interesting adventure ideas. A villain
out warning or consent to make sure the person is not
on trial might try to stage a breakout, or his col-
violating the terms of his probation.
leagues might launch a rescue attempt. The
Due to budget cuts, however, the county probation
breakout could fail, leaving the villains holed up
department is severely understaffed. Each probation
in the courthouse with the judge, jury and other
officer has hundreds of cases, far too many to handle.
innocents as hostages.
As a result, most cases go unsupervised.
Or a nefarious mastermind could blackmail, bribe
The county Juvenile Hall and other facilities are de-
or threaten a judge or jury to let his minions off the
tailed under The Corrections System.
hook, sparking an investigation by the PCs.
Rufus Hopkins is the chief probation officer of San
The heroes might become involved as witnesses
Angelo County.
givning testimony, or they might be asked to pro-
vide extra security at the courthouse during the trial
State and Federal of a major supervillain.
Even if the PCs aren't needed to testify in court,
Attorneys the prosecutor could need their help to track down
The state and federal governments also have a surprise witness or last-minute piece of evidence
prosecutorial branches that are active in San Angelo. crucial to getting a conviction.
The state Attorney General's Office provides assis- On the other hand, it might be the hero herself
tance to the District Attorney's Office as needed. The who has to go on trial - maybe as the target of a
office also investigates allegations of official miscon- prejudiced prosecutor, or as the victim of a frame- M
duct or mishandling of cases by district attorneys. up by a villainous foe. While the PC tries to defend
The U.S. Attorney is the federal equivalent of a herself in court, her friends scour the city in search
county district attorney, and has a similar staff and of evidence proving her innocence.
duties. Ellen Wang is the United States Attorney for One twist might be to summon a PC to the court-
the federal district encompassing San Angelo County. house in his Secret ID for jury duty! In fact, the
trial could be that of a villain he captured earlier
The Court System - creating a real moral dilemma since the hero
can't exactly disqualify himself without revealing
Once the D .A. 's Office files charges or a civil suit is
filed, the matter goes before the courts for ajudication.
his Secret ID. .
PAGE
NUMBER
107
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
(; 1(1 of !i:!ln :t.!lgGIO 4500 -
Public Safety
State Courts Judges of justice courts are elected to six-year terms.
Matters of state law, which include most civil and Vacancies are filled by the county Board of Supervi-
criminal cases, are handled by the state courts. State sors. Municipal court judges are also elected to six-
courts have a simple four-tier structure. year terms, but vacancies are filled by the governor.
At the bottom are justice courts and municipal courts. The county Superior Court hears appeals from mu-
Each county is divided into several districts. Districts nicipal and justice courts, all felony cases, wills and
with fewer than 40,000 residents have a justice court estates, divorces, mental competency bearings, cus-
with one judge. A few rural areas of San Angelo tody disputes and many other kinds of civil cases.
County have justice courts. The juvenile court is a branch of the Superior Court
More populous districts are served by a municipal that deals with defendants under 18 years of age,
court. The state legislature determines the number of though minors can be tried as adults for certain crimes.
judges in each municipal court. Procedures for juvenile court trials differ from other
Justice and municipal courts have jurisdiction over cases - for example, there is no jury.
civil cases involving up to $25,000 and try all misde- In addition, the Superior Court has appointed a hand-
meanors and infractions. Preliminary hearings for felo- ful of referees to deal with routine and uncontested
nies are also heard in municipal or justice courts. These cases in divorce, probate or juvenile law.
hearings determine whether there is sufficient evidence The state legislature determines the number of Su-
to warrant a trial in Superior Court. perior Court judges in each county. Superior Court
Routine traffic violations are often decided by traf- judges are elected by county voters for a six-year term.
fic referees, who are experienced attorneys hired by The governor fills vacancies, and most judges come
the courts to free judges for more serious cases. to the bench by gubernatorial appointment.
Criminal Procedure
There are a number of steps involved in bringing a crimi- If the municipal court judge agrees that the case should
nal suspect to trial on a felony charge. Most cases in Cham- go to trial, an arraignment is held in Superior Court. At
pions campaigns are likely to be felonies. this hearing, the defendant enters a plea of guilty or not
First comes the arrest by local law enforcement offic- guilty. Many cases are resolved at this point with a guilty
ers, based on probable cause that the person committed plea, reached in a plea bargain between the defense and
the crime in question. The D.A.'s Office may or may not prosecution. Judges are not bound by plea bargains, how-
be involved in the case at this point, though it often is in ever.
the case of a long-running investigation. After all, there's If the case proceeds, a pre-trial hearing is held at which
no point in making an arrest if the D.A. won't file charges. various motions are considered, such as motions to sup-
The arrestee is booked and sent to a holding cell. In a press evidence or disallow certain testimony. Once the
few cases, the arrestee may be released or allowed to post judge has ruled on the motions, a trial is scheduled.
bail at this point. Most of the time, however, the indi- Criminal trials are decided by a jury of 12 people, and
vidual remains in custody until his first appearance in court. jury decisions must be unanimous. An acquittal cannot be
These hearings are nonnally held within a day or two of appealed, but a guilty verdict can. When the jury is un-
the arrest, after the D.A.'s Office has filed charges. The able reach agreement, a hung jury is declared and the pros-
judge informs the defendant of the charges, sets bail if ecution can opt to try the defendant again if it seems worth-
applicable and orders a court-appointed attorney if neces- while.
sary. If the defendant is found guilty, a sentencing report out-
The next step is a preliminary hearing, held in munici- lining his past record, potential for rehabilitation and other
pal court for felonies. At a preliminary hearing, the pros- pertinent information is prepared. After a sentencing hear-
ecution tries to prove that it has enough evidence to war- ing, at which victims may be allowed to speak, the judge
PAGE rant a trial. The prosecution is not required to reveal its passes sentence. Sentencing is often constrained by state
NUMBER
entire case at this proceeding. laws requiring prison terms for certain crimes.
108
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The state and county share the cost of all three kinds The courthouse has a huge pigeon population, re-
of trial courts, though salaries of municipal and Supe- sulting in unsightly stains all around the building and
rior Court judges are set by the legislature. frequent complaints. Periodic attempts to thin out the
Above the trial courts are the Courts of Appeal and birds using poison have drawn complaints from San
the state Supreme Court. These entities handle appeals Angelo animal rights groups, however.
of civil and criminal verdicts reached in lower courts.
Death penalty cases are automatically appealed from Judges of Note
the Superior Court to the state Supreme Court.
Judge Arthur S. Beach: A longtime municipal court
There are strict legal guidelines regarding the disci-
judge considered something of a bumbler by his col-
pline and removal of judges during their terms of of-
leagues. Beach has been known to fall asleep during
fice. A state commission of judges and attorneys in-
long, boring court sessions. His fellow jurists try to
vestigates allegations against judges. The panel can
keep all but the simplest of cases out of his courtroom.
admonish a judge privately or advise his retirement or
removal to the Supreme Court. Judge Stewart Blackbridge: A no-nonsense jurist
Judges can be censured or removed for conviction with a short temper. A Superior Court judge,
of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, failing Blackbridge runs a tight ship and likes trials in his
to perform duties, habitual drug or alcohol abuse, mis- court to keep a snappy pace. Attorneys who engage in
conduct in office or conduct that brings the judicial time-wasting or courtroom theatrics are likely to in-
office into disrepute. Judges can also be forcibly re- cur his wrath.
tired for serious disability. Even though he handles more cases each year than
Most local trial courts are housed at the historic San any other Superior Court judge, few of his decisions
Angelo County Courthouse downtown. are overturned on appeal. A veteran jurist, Blackbridge
Court facilities actually occupy two buildings, a cen- also serves as presiding judge of the San Angelo
tury-old domed courthouse next to an eight-story mod- County Superior Court.
em building. The old courthouse houses the Superior Judge Meredith Holiday: Her colleagues call her
Courts, while the municipal courts, records, offices "Doc" Holiday, but criminal defendants have another
and other facilities are in the modern annex. name for her: "Hang 'Em" Holiday.
Courthouse corridors are often filled with attorneys A Superior Court judge, Holiday has a reputation
hurrying to trial, witnesses waiting to testify and for handing down extremely tough sentences and bru-
newspeople in search of a scoop. tal lectures on personal responsibility to those con-
victed in her court. An experienced jurist, she has no
Federal Courts patience for excuses.
Cases involving federal laws are tried in the federal .Judge Harold Kwan: A Superior Court judge
courts, located downtown at the U.S . Courthouse. known for his extensive knowledge of civil Jaw. A
calm, well-prepared judge, Kwan oversees some of
"After he got out of the hospital, Dave came back the most complex civil cases for the courts. He is a
to work for a few days, but it just didn't work out. I workaholic who is well-liked but not especially so-
didn't mind his insect eyes so much myself, but it ciable with his colleagues.
made the customers nervous. 1 just didn 't have any Kwan has quietly helped dozens of Asian American
choice but to ask him to resign. young people go to college over the years - paying
"Now he's suing me for wrongful dismissal and tuitions, using his contacts to line up jobs and provid-
discrimination. My attorney says it's a precedent-
ing other aid as needed.
setting case. It could go all the way to the Supreme
Judge David Stein: A juvenile-court judge who has
Court.
"Great, I said. That 's all I need." been criticized for handing down light sentences to"'~ · ...
PA_G
11
__,.E..
. NUMBER
- Eugene Ingalls, 45, business owner young defendants, even gang members convicted of
violent crimes. 109
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cl~ OI S.n An!IOIO ••Oil -
Public Safety
Stein strongly opposes vigilante crimefighters, and
takes a hard line on evidence or testimony based on
their activities. His decisions are always within the
law, but defendants captured by vigilantes are fre-
quently let off on technicalities in Stein's court.
Victim's rights groups have called for his removal,
though Stein is several years away from his next elec-
tion and cannot be removed without proof of miscon-
duct or incompetence.
.
• • • • -
~
~~~ Supers whose powers make them an escape risk or a ,\. w«~" '1 too happy. either... F .
36'
deputy sheriff
. .
danger to other mmates can be sent to Gav1ota Island
-~1 ~~
10
_,
SAN ANGELO: CITY· OF HEROES
Cf!) of S.11 Ang•io 4:.00 -
Public Safety
crimes requiring less than a year's incarceration, serve San Angelo County Juvenile Hall
their time in a county detention facility. Inmates younger than 18 years old are sentenced to
All county detention facilities are operated by the Juvenile Hall, found in Rancho Madera. Youths are
Sheriffs Department, except Juvenile Hall, which is also detained at the facility, which is overseen by the
under the Probation Department. county Probation Department, pending bail or trial.
People convicted of felonies may go into the state The county Juvenile Hall has 500 beds and is a me-
prison system, which has 22 prisons of varying de- dium- to maximum-security facility.
grees of security, all overseen by the California De- Other youth-oriented correctional facilities include
partment of Corrections. Various facilities around the the Boy's Ranch and the Montgomery Youth Center.
state house inmates requiring medical care. The CDC Non-violent, first-time offenders are sometimes sen-
decides where to place inmates based on their crimi- tenced to the Boy's Ranch in rural San Angelo County,
nal history, sentences and other factors. where counselors attempt to rehabilitate them through
Of all the people convicted of felonies in San Angelo work, discipline and group therapy. Despite its name,
County, about 67 percent serve their time in county the ranch houses both boys and girls.
facilities, 20 percent in state prisons and the remain- Youthful offenders deemed unsuitable for the Boy's
der on probation. Ranch are sent to the Montgomery Youth Center, a
minimum security facility in Rancho Madera, to serve
San Angelo County Main Jail out sentences of Jess than six months.
The San Angelo County Main Jail, located down- Minors sentenced to prison are the responsibility of
town, houses arrestees awaiting trial and inmates con- the California Youth Authority. The closest California
victed of misdemeanors or lesser felonies. Youth Authority prison is the Gold River Youth Camp
People being detained for trial are kept separated in the Sierra foothills.
from prisoners sentenced to incarceration.
The eight-story building houses more than 2,800 in- California State Prison, Canfield
mates and is staffed by 700 sheriff's personnel. The Now known ac; California State Prison, Canfield, the
jail has segregated facilities for men and women, but prison near Lake Oro dates back to 1886. The oldest
faces severe overcrowding problems. County voters parts of the prison, one of the first built in California,
have rejected two bond measures to fund construction are solid granite.
of a new jail. A maximum security facility, the prison houses 6,800
Capt. Phillip Turpin oversees jail operations for the inmates- nearly double its official capacity of 3,650.
Sheriffs Department. As a result, all but the most dangerous inmates are
double-bunked in cells.
Del Oro Correctional Center Most inmates are divided along racial lines into
Located in Pleasant Grove, the Del Oro Correctional prison gangs. White supremacist, Latino and black
Center is designed to handle inmates deemed less dan- gangs are the most numerous and most powerful. Vi-
gerous than those at the main jail. Non-violent offend- cious gang wars wracked the Can, as it is known, in
ers and inmates with short sentences are supposed to the 1970s but finally faded under a severe security
be housed at the lightly secured facility. Overcrowd- crackdown.
ing at the main jail downtown has forced the Sheriffs Gang members were dispersed throughout the state
Department to place some higher-risk inmates at the prison system, and gang leaders were sent to the infa-
Del Oro Correction Center, however. mous ultra-secure Pelican Bay State Prison.
The correction center, an H-shaped two-story build- While violent incidents still occur at the Canfield
ing surrounded by a fence topped with concertina wire, prison, they tend to be personal disputes and not gang- ~--
houses 1,200 prisoners and has a staff of 200. Capt. related. The last fatal stabbing at the prison took place !u~~e~
Will Robbins is in charge. in 1995.
111
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Chy Of 1011 A1'gulo ~soo -
Public Safety
The last successful escape occurred in 1983, when a day. But even the Marion prison proved incapable
the criminal known as Phosgene broke out, killing two of dealing with superpowered inmates.
correctional officers. The incident helped prompt con- In response to the rising problem of incarcerating
struction of Gaviota Island Federal Penitentiary. paranormal criminals, the U.S. government opened
While the Canfield prison is capable of housing ex- Gaviota Island Federal Penitentiary in 1990.
tremely low-powered supers, more powerful supers
are normally trnnsferred to Gaviota Island. Gaviota Island Federal
Along with five cellblocks, California State Prison, Penitentiary
Canfield has a correctional industry operation that Originally known as Isla de las Gaviotas, or "Isle of
manufactures furniture for state offices. Inmates are the Gulls," Gaviota Island was nothing but a wind-
paid to work in the furniture plant on the basis of skills, swept rock off a wild part of the Northern California
production and hours worked. By state law, products coastline until 1988. Faced with a growing number of
of the prison industry operation cannot be sold. superhuman inmates, several of whom had already
Other facilities include a chapel, recreation yards, made spectacular escapes from standard correctional
dining halls, kitchens and a library containing a col- facilities, the U.S. Congress approved construction of
lection of law books for so-called a multi-billion-dollar ultra-secure
"jailhouse lawyers." "Rich? Oh, he'J in the joint. Yep, prison for p.iranormals on the island.
Inmates spend most of each day out Cal/field State Priacm. You tiid11 't Gavioi:.i Island Federal Penitentiary
or their cells, i:eturning only for {hear? B<l.\', rulk abom wmr basic opened in 1990. The onl y facility of
counts and at night to sleep. Those 1bf1d fm,·k: He '.r, 11111gging tbix old its kind, the prison holds only the
ladJi 11p ifl Bct111io11 Purk wlrf'll this
who do nol work in the furniture most powerful and most dangerous
.Juper·ueep comes by. Beat the
plant are assigned other johs around crap out of Rich and leji bi111/or superhuman convicts.
the prison, mostly landscaping and ~ the .'i(lf1S. " Due to the extreme cost. of con-
upkeep. Prisoners spend their off- - V.ic Ma1r.anga, 39, criminal struc1ing and ope.rating the prison, it
hours visiting friends, watching TV " was designed to handle state prison-
or working out i n the recreation yard, which includes ers as well as federal inmates. States must prove to a
basketbal I courts and weights. judge that they are incapable of safely housing a para-
The prison reservation covers 2,520 acres, mostly normal convict before he can be sent to Gaviota Is-
rough, wooded terrain surrounding the actual prison land.
facilities. California State Prison, Canfield, has a staff The island itself is a desolate rock rising 100 feet
of 2,261. Warden Thomas B. Oliver runs the prison from the ocean about two miles offshore. The rocky
with the assistance of his administrative staff. shoreline is met by steep cliffs on all sides, and the
only access is by helicopter.
Federal Corrections The penitentiary is mostly underground, with only a
The Bureau of Prisons, a branch of the Department fenced compound of support buildings and a helipad
of Justice, operates the federal corrections system to on the surface. The first sub-story contains adminis-
incarcerate prisoners convicted of federal crimes. tration facilities, the second and third cellblocks and
The bureau runs more than 50 prisons across the the fourth a geothermal power plant.
United States, ranging from minimum-security camps Inmates are housed sing Iy in cells specially designed
where white-collar criminals spend their afternoons to counteract their powers. Gaviota Island Federal
playing tennis to maximum-security penitentiaries. Penitentiary has a capacity of 200, and is nearing its
Prior to 1990, the most secure federal penitentiary limit. The federal government is considering building
----.1 was located in Marion, Ill. Leaders of prison gangs, a second, similar facility off the East Coast.
' P~~~ escape artis.ts and other dangerous inmates are sent to Warden Elias Kamen has been in charge of the
~ 12
the prison, where tbey are Jocked in their cells 23 hours Gaviota Island prison since it opened.
fraternity or sorority houses or the numerous nearby California State University, San
apartment complexes. A spirit of activism runs strong Angelo {17)
at the university, and students often organize on- and San Angelo State, as it's commonly called, offers in-
off-campus protests against various social injustices. struction to 30, 149 students at its 345-acre campus near
The 1,869 faculty members at UC San Angelo in- the San Angelo River, on Peterson Drive in La Vista.
clude some of the top minds in a variety of fields. In Dorms and Greek houses are present, but the college
addition to teaching duties, professors are expected to social scene is not strong. Many students attend part-
conduct research. time while working full-time jobs, and others live at
An effort to design an in-car computerized locator home to save money.
map using satellite positioning technology is just one The university has a faculty of l ,654 and employs
of hundreds of research projects underway at the uni- 2,702 people in all, excluding student employees.
versity. The business, political science and engineering pro-
UC San Angelo employs 12,415 people in all, not grams at San Angelo State have excellent reputations.
including student employees.
The sociology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, his- Harper School of Law {06)
tory, English and engineering programs at the univer- A privateMidtownschool with an enrollment of 1,500,
sity are nationally known. The medical school, affili-
the Harper School of Law takes its name from a past
ated with University Medical Center, and law school
U.S. Supreme Court justice who was born in San
are also well-regarded. Angelo. Degrees in taxation, business and transnational
Science and technol-
business law are offered at the school.
ogy-related sdtuols ··You try teaching physics
are also strong, and to " roomful Qf people who
many UC San Angelo \ grew up watching supers fly Community Colleges
.
graduates go on to around on pure willpower. There are four community colleges in the San Angelo
I
find jobs at the multi- Try explaining Newton to area. Community colleges are two-year schools offer-
tude of high-tech cor- rltem.6 Then you ' 1 e xm rime ing associate degrees and minimal registration fees. In
1
Financed partly by endowments from wealthy her radical theories on artificial intelligence. One of
Lakeview residents, the campus boasts state-of-the- her long-term research projects involves an effort to
art facilities including a fiber-optic communications create an AI computer.
and computer network. Lucy Perez: A UC San Angelo sociologist whose
theories on interaction between normals and supers are
Rancho Madera Community causing a stir in the academic world. Her research sug-
College gests that divisions are already forming in society be-
A suburban campus, Rancho Madera Community tween normals and supers.
College has 14,000 students. Many of its classes are The god-like feats of supers inspire resentment and
geared toward technical fields, and the college works feelings of inadequacy in the normal population, Perez
closely with manufacturing plants in nearby Southport says. Supers, on the other hand, tend to identify more
for guest lecturers, internships and other programs. with other supers than with non-powered society.
Her theories are not yet widely known, but several
San Angelo City College (C7) magazines are preparing stories on Perez and her pro-
The oldest and largest community college in San vocative ideas.
Angelo, San Angelo City College occupies a charm- Lawrence Rabinowitz: An astronomy instructor at
ing but aged campus in Midtown. California State University, San Angelo. Rabinowitz,
About 20,000 people attend classes at the school, who also runs a small university-owned observatory in
which offers a pre-veterinary program that enables stu- the foothills, has personally discovered several comets
dents to work at the nearby San Angelo Zoo. Courses over the years.
in photography and visual arts are also popular. Though he rarely speaks of it, Rabinowitz is a Holo-
caust survivor. A child at the time, he struggled to sur-
Scholars of Note vive in a Nazi labor camp until it was liberated by
American Gls. His parents and many other relatives
Ken Ashida: A UC San Angelo genetics professor
perished in the death camps, however.
and a participant in the human genome project, an in-
ternational effort to map human DNA. Ashida strongly April Revette: A UC San Angelo physics professor
supports the project, but others fear it could be used to and the granddaughter of scientist Hal Revette, creator
discriminate against people based on their genetic of an artificial singularity in 1982. April Revette be-
makeup. A map of normal human DNA, once com- lieves that her grandfather did not perish in the explo-
pleted, could form the basis of a test for superpowers. sion of his laboratory, as commonly thought, but was
Ashida is a licensed pilot who enjoys flyings his pri- pulled through the singularity into another dimension.
vate plane to conferences across the U.S. She is obsessed with re-creating the singularity to res-
Everett Flagg: A criminal justice professor at San cue her grandfather. Revette is secretly diverting grant
Angelo State who is an expert on vigilantism. Flagg is money from a fuel cell research project to finance a
regularly quoted in news stories on the legal and soci- clandestine effort to duplicate her grandfather's work.
etal implications ofself-appointed crime-fighters. Law Hendrick Wheeler: An anthropology instructor at
enforcement agencies faced with a rise in vigilante San Angelo City College who teaches a course on magic
activity, particularly among supers, also call on Flagg and witchcraft. He is versed in arcane beliefs from
for advice. around the world, as well as people and places in San
Carolyn Hillman: A computer science instructor at Angelo associated with the supernatural. Wheeler has
UC San Angelo. Hillman, a recent graduate of the uni- numerous contacts in the various pagan and New Age
versity, has become known in the high-tech scene for movements in the city.
PAGE
NUMBER
115
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cir, 01 Sn Angolo 4500 -
Public and Private while others are magnet schools focusing on comput-
ers, the arts, job training or other specialized fields.
Schools A seven-person school board governs the district,
Several public school districts serve the San Angelo which is headed by Superintendent Gordon Bester. Re-
metropolitan area. Most are unified school districts, lations between trustees are cordial, despite political
meaning they include elementary, middle or junior high, differences on budget and academic matters. Class sizes,
and high schools. A few contain only elementary sex education, teacher's contracts and parental efforts
schools, sending older students on to a union high school to ban certain books have been volatile topics at recent
district that encompasses several smaller elementary school board meetings.
school districts. Thousands of teachers report to work each day at San
Districts are governed by independent elected school Angelo City Unified School District campuses. A num-
boards. These boards, typically having five to seven ber of city school teachers have earned state and even
trustees, set the budget, curriculum and policies of each national recognition for their enthusiasm, dedication and
district. A hired superintendent oversees day-to-day innovative new techniques.
operations and implements board decisions. Although the district also has its share of bad apples,
The county Office of Education, or the state Depa1t- most teachers are dedicated to providing the best edu-
ment of Education, can step in when a school board cation possible to their young charges, often under some-
fails in its responsibilities, particularly in fiscal affairs. what trying circumstances.
The state has taken direct control of bankrupt districts Overall, the city school district has a mediocre repu-
in other California cities, but that has never happened tation, due largely to the serious maintenance problems
in San Angelo. at many of its older campuses. Leaky roofs, electrical
School funding comes from a variety of sources, in- shorts, broken heaters, peeling linoleum floors and a
cluding state tax revenues, property taxes, lottery funds lack of air conditioning are frequent complaints. School
and fees on new development to finance school con- custodians also battle graffiti and vandalism.
struction. Nevertheless, financial problems are nearly Budget problems have constrained district efforts to
constant at most public school districts. address these problems, though multi-million dollar pro-
grams to remove asbestos and upgrade outdated play-
ground equipment are under way.
San Angelo City Unified School safety is also a concern to many parents, par-
School District ticularly in crime-plagued South San Angelo and
The largest in the county, the San Angelo City Uni- Northside neighborhoods. The gang problems in the
fied School District serves the population within the communities carry over to the schools, and the district
city limits of San Angelo. security force often has its hands full keeping order.
The district has an enrollment of 163, 529, oversee- High schools in the San Angelo City Unified School
ing nearly I 90 elementary schools, 26 middle schools District are largely named after early settlers and other
and 25 high schools. Some are neighborhood schools, San Angelo pioneers.
Districts
Canfield Unified School District
Castle Heights Elementary School District
Delta Unified School District
La Vista Unified School District
Brenton Elementary School District 'I
Campaign Tip
One staple of four-color comics often overlooked by
gamers is a team of teenage heroes. A group of
superpowered youngsters from San Angelo high schools
could be an interesting addition to your campaign, ei-
ther as a PC or NPC team.
Along with worrying about homework, driver's li-
censes and the prom, the teen heroes could fight gangs,
drugs and other problems facing young people. Keep-
ing a Secret ID while living at home definitely poses an
additional challenge!
Even if players aren't interested in a long-term cam-
paign involving teen heroes, a mini-campaign in this Educators of Note
sub-genre could provide a refreshing break from your
Superintendent Gordon Bester: The superintendent
main storyline.
of the San Angelo City Unified School District, hired
five years ago from a school district in the Midwest.
Bester has proven a capable administrator, though his
Private Schools self-promotional style sometimes rankles colleagues. A
bombastic, enthusiastic man, he tends to take credit for
Along with public schools, numerous private schools
everything positive in the district. Bester keeps the dis-
serve the educational needs of San Angelo. They range
trict public relations staff busy cranking out press re-
from tiny home schools of less than a dozen pupils to
leases on his latest achievements.
campuses as large as any public school. Most private
Halley Brooks: A science teacher at Juan Madera
schools are religious in nature, though they are gener-
High School, twice named Teacher of the Year in San
ally open to students of any faith.
Angelo County. An energetic and innovative teacher,
1n particular, the Catholic Archdiocese of San Angelo Brooks is very popular with students. Her class projects,
operates a number of private schools covering all grade such as a cardboard-boat building contest with a re-
levels from elementary to high school. While costly, gatta in the school swimming pool, are famed and much-
the Catholic schools offer numerous scholarships and copied events. Brooks, who was paralyzed in a youth-
financial aid programs to poorer families. ful diving accident, uses a wheelchair to get around. PP...A'""'!G!"""Eiiii
NUMBER
117
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
ry ol ~n At19ofo ·UOO -
Brother Francis Carmody: A Jesuit priest who Dr. John H. Keyser: A San Angelo dentist who serves
serves as principal of St. Sebastian Catholic High on the Rancho Madera Elementary School District
School, the largest private school in San Angelo. A soft- board of trustees. Elected in 1994, Keyser has earned a
spoken man popular with teens, Brother Carmody holds reputation as a rabble-rouser. His accusations of fiscal
the boys-only mismanagement against fellow trustees and adminis-
"It was cool, Mom! He school to very high trators have severely strained relations on the school
picked up the whole bus and academic stan- board.
flew it off the bridge. right dards. He is also Hannah Schmidt: A German-language instructor at
before it fell into the river! quite active in out- Samuel Brackett High School who heads the teacher's
Mom, why are you crying?'' reach efforts in union in the San Angelo City Unified School District.
- Jason Bryant, 9, student poorer neighbor- Born in Germany, Schmidt leads a class trip to Munich
hoods, and has each year. In her job as president of the San Anglea
personally intervened in countless cases to reduce or City Teachers Association, Schmidt plays hardball with
waive tuition fees to allow families to send their sons to the school board. Pickets at board meetings are not un-
St. Sebastian. usual during contract negotiations, and Schmidt led a
two-week teacher's strike in 1990.
Chester Wang: A history teacher at Lakeview High
School known as an expert on San Angelo history, par-
ticularly during the days of the Gold Rush. Wang has
also published a book on the experiences of Chinese
railroad workers in California during the 1800s. He is
married to U.S. Attorney Ellen Wang.
PAGE
NUMBER
118
SAN ANGEL:.O: CfT.Y OF•HEROES
Other Local Chains
The Commercial In addition to franchises of nationally known compa-
PAGE
NUMBER
119
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
CtfrolS.llAnlf o .t.~- -
Short stop
ShortStop is a chain of 24-hour convenience stores Empire Books
with a baseball theme. A frequent target of robberies, Empire Books is a used bookstore in University Com-
the markets have been dubbed "stop-and-robs" by lo- mons specializing in rare and out-of-print books.
~cal police and sheriff's personnel. Sagging bookshelves are crammed with tomes of all
types, and stacks of new anivals await shelving near
ELECTROOICS St1LE!
the tiest prices on
we've go~ urveillance gear!
electronic s
Scanners from $59.95
Transmitters from $69.95$129 95
Miniature Came1ras from .
GPS Systems from $249 .95
h e 5py5hDP
'fi . Palms Shopping Center)
11289 Lillian Ave. (mt~ et netJ-thespyshopguys PAGE
555-4SPY www.go " · NUMBER
121
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Shopping Malls Campaign Tip Other Malls
The city is home to several shopping Wirh thousands of The area supports several other malls
malls, huge conglomerations of shops, pe.ople jammed into a con- in addition to San Angelo Plaza.
department stores, fast food eateries ta 111 ed area, shopping Elmhurst Mall: An older single-story
and cinemas surrounded by acres of malls a(e excellem targets structure, the Elmhurst Mall in South San
parking lots. Thousands of people ~or supervillai1111 interested Angelo suffers from the bad reputation of
shop at these malls every day, and 1? hostage-raking or exror- the surrounding neighborhood. Though
thousands more find jobs at the busi- twn. A well-planned take- ctime inside the mall is light due to a heavy
nesses within. over of a mall by several presence of private security, shoppers from
supervillains could present other neighborhoods are afraid to go there.
a real challenge for the The enclosed Elmhurst Mall has 85 stores
San Angelo Plaza PCs - particularly if with four anchor tenants and an aging
(C10) some of them have been movie theater showing second-run films.
The newest addition to the city re- tra~ped inside the mall in Mall tenants employ I, 185 people.
tail scene, San Angelo Plaza has al~ their Secret IDs! Fairtime Mall (12): The largest shopping
ready become a mecca for diehard mall in San Angelo, Fairtime Mall contains
shoppers. 210 tenants including seven anchor stores
The two-story mall covers a one-by-six block stretch and an eight-screen cinema. Located in La Vista, the
of downtown. The open-air mall features underground three-story enclosed mall has more than 4,800 employ-
parking garages and boasts more than 130 shops, in- ees.
cluding five department stores. A six-screen theater Parking at Fairtime Mall can be an ordeal, particu-
and food court are also found at the mall. larly during the holiday season, despite the recent addi-
tion of a five-story parking garage.
A Norton's Books outlet and a Fontaine's Depart- Marshall Factory Outlets: A collection of 60 stores
ment Store are just two of the many businesses at San on the outskirts of the rural town of Marshall, the
Angelo Plaza. Mall tenants employ more than 3,000 Marshall Factory Outlets offer bargains galore to dedi-
people, a figure that nearly doubles in the holiday sea- cated shoppers. Retail manufacturers offer their over-
stocked, slightly damaged or out-of-style merchandise
Opened in 1992, San Angelo Plaza replaced a di- for sale at the outlets.
lapidated outdoor mall mostly made up of storefronts Clothes, shoes, books, athletic gear and household
along a street that had been closed to vehicle traffic goods are just some of the products available at re-
and planted with grassy strips intermixed with an oc- duced prices. Construction of another 12 outlets is un-
casional fountain. derway at the center.
PAGE
NUMBER
122
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
l~lmkl [¥Jl L -
The
Corporate Campaign Tip
The corporate world holds all kind of potential for GMs and players
World alike.
All those NPCs and DNPCs in your campaign - not to mention the PCs
themselves - have to work somewhere, and most are no doubt employed
The cornerstone of the San Angelo at one of the many corporations in San Angelo. Owners and corporate
business scene, corporations are also officers are listed for only a handful of the corporations detailed in San
Angelo: City of Heroes, making it very easy for players to insert their own
key players in almost every aspect of
NPCs or PCs into the top spots of interesting companies.
city life. Business titans are influential
Or GMs can use these companies as competitors to PC-owned corpora-
players in the political arena, while cor- tions. Some business rivals might even stoop lo underhanded tactics like
porate affairs provide endless grist for industrial espionage or sabotage, possibly with the aid of villains, to deal
legal and financial specialists. with PC companies.
Corporations sponsor all kinds of sci- The corporate world also provides a place for wealthy PCs and NPCs to
entific and medical research, both by make investments. After all, when you buy stock you buy into a specific
company scientists and outside re- company. Players might want to detail just which corporations their fabu-
searchers. They are also interested in lously wealthy PC has in his stock portfolio - providing GMs with all
strange phenomena. kinds of hooks for later adventures. as suggested under Banking and Fi-
nance in The Professional World.
Advertising, government, law en-
Corporations can be tremendous assets to PC heroes - not to mention a
forcement, entertainment - corpora-
dangerous adversaries. They can provide invaluable equipment, advice and
tions touch almost every aspect of facilities to the heroes. A really diplomatic PC might even get them to do
modern life in San Angelo, not the least so for free!
of which is employment. Big corpora- Corporate sponsorship of hero teams is another possibility. After all, pro-
tions, especially manufacturers, pro- viding a base, high-tech vehicles, supercomputer and other typical team
vide most of the private sector jobs in needs can be pretty expensive. A corporation might be willing to defray
the city. A national places-rated sur- some of the costs in exchange for the good publicity of having its own hero
vey ranks San Angelo in the top 20 team.
U.S. c ities for job opportunities, and Of course, the heroes will likely be expected to film TV commercials and
economists expect the city's job mar- other advertisements for the company. And some of the less ethical corpo-
rations in San Angelo might have other, shadier uses for employee heroes.
ket to grow 7.2 percent by 2000.
Villains can also get involved in the corporate world. If the PCs can hold
down top corporate jobs in their Secret IDs, so can some of their criminal
"My prese11tatio11? Oh, yeah, it went
counterparts. Coupling the raw power of supervillain with the resources
N'~'''· unless yo11 t,'l)t11111l1e fact th(lt 110 one
and contacts of a key corporate exec can make for a dangerous combina-
f!l'd a11y tllte111im1. My n11t! big chtmce ft)
1111pre.rs the board <?f diret•/nrs•.• it was i11 tion.
tht> hoartlroom o11 tli11 tnp floor. I 'vr llttver Out of ruthlessness or desperation, a corporation could hire villains to
o1•e11 been cm ilte lop floor ~Jore.I take out the competition. For example, a super-saboteur or spy might be
"I'm .r1anding "fl rl1ere" ;,, mv best suit hired to conduct some industrial espionage or arrange an "accident" at a
I 'vp gut all lflose chartf / .f!Je~t rite /tut ' rival plant. Less subtle tactics, like hiring some villainous thugs to wreck a
tltrtre weeks on. I even cn/or-axled my competitor's factory. are also a possibility.
11(1te.r/
Or a villain might just take it into her head to do a little company-smash·
. "A~d I suddenly get the feeling no one '.t ing of her own, whether out of revenge for the industrial accident that cre-
l1.~re11111g. 1'11~"re all /oolci11g ""' lhe
ated her in the first place or as part of an extortion scheme.
w111~ow behind me! iht·~·e R1•i11g super,v t1re
t/11/cmg it""' oi·er the·S"" Attgelo Cm7Jo· Finally, corporations themselves can act as villains to the PCs. The tre-
1·a11 Ce11ter four blocks O}l."ttJ . Tlw chair- mendous resources and capabilities of some of these firms make them able
nwn tlwnked me for f1l;V time - l wn.rri 'I behind-the-scenes foes for PCs, particularly since the heroes can't strike
even ha{ffinished. PAGE
back without taking the law into their own hands and possibly endanger- NUMBER
"Man, I need a drink." ing hundreds of innocent employees.
- Phil Cosgrove, 34. junior executive 123
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Corporations Low-cost water desalinization plants, cleaner energy
sources, undersea habitats and advancements in hy-
San Angelo is home to the corporate headquarters of droponic farming are just a few projects under way at
numerous national and even international operations, company labs. The exploration of space, particularly
many of which originated in the Golden City. Most the possibility of colonizing other planets, is one of
also have their primary production centers in or near the long-term goals of Avalon Enterprises. Corporate
the city. researchers are working closely with NASA on a pro-
Of course, companies from all over the world also posal to step up exploration of Mars, for example.
own factories, labs and other facilities in San Angelo, Avalon Enterprises is a privately held corporation,
including top manufacturers in a number of fields. The meaning its stock is available only to a select group of
high-tech reputation of the Arroyo Verde area has at- buyers. It is not traded on the stock market.
tracted many prominent businesses, in particular. Thecompanyhas 25 principal subsidiaries and 13,992
This section primarily covers manufacturing-oriented corporate employees. In 1996, Avalon Enterprises
corporations. Banks, health-care and retail-oriented posted $201 billion in sales and a $300 million profit.
companies are covered elsewhere in Life in San The corporate headquarters of Avalon Enterprises are
Angelo. located in a 16-story tower in downtown San Angelo.
The firm also owns an extensive research complex in
Avalon Enterprises Arroyo Verde.
Founded in 1970, Avalon Enterprises is dedicated to But Aval on Enterprises has facilities all over the globe,
findi ng humanitarian solutions to global problems including a handful in very out-of-the-way places such
through high technology. as Antarctica, the Amazon rainforest and the ocean floor
Pollution, world hunger, disease, over-population and off the coast of Florida.
homelessness are some of the ills targeted by Aval on
Enterprises researchers. A company policy forbids it Eclipse Industries
from taking contracts to develop weapons or military A savage top-level power struggle wracks Eclipse
technology of any kind. Industries, a sprawling conglomerate with a hand in
While it might seem a poor financial risk, Avalon everything from fast food eateries to heavy industry.
Enterprises has actually turned a tidy profit from its The current chief executive officer, C. Fullerton
inventions over the past three decades. A surprisingly Hughes, has held the position since the 1970s. Weak-
high number of its research endeavors, deemed too ened by age and infirmity, Hughes has lost control of
risky by competitors, have paid off handsomely. the conglomerate, however.
In fact, its founder and president, Averell Pendleton, A feud has broken out among ambitious executives
ranks as one of the wealthiest men on the planet. Now eager to replace the ailing Hughes at the helm of the
a billionaire recluse, he controls the corporation from company. Top executives, division chiefs and subsid-
his palatial estates on various private islands around iary presidents are locked in a vicious behind-the-scenes
the world. He hasn't been seen in public since 1990. battle for the lucrative and influential post.
Pendleton founded Avalon Enterprises in 1970 as a The two chief contenders appear to be Stephen Bow,
research and development firm in San Angelo. He per- executive vice president for acquisitions, and Pepper
sonally invented some of its first products, and holds Coyle, chief marketing director.
several patents. The competition has split Eclipse Industries into fac-
Soon the company began to expand, and it has con- tions, with lower-ranked executives and employees lin-
tinued to grow into an international powerhouse. Par- ing up behind various contenders in hopes of cashing
---~ tially-owned subsidiaries handle the manufacturing and in when their candidate succeeds to the top spot.
<listri hution of products, leaving Aval on Enterprises As they battle for influence and the notice of the board
free to concentrate on research. of directors, Eclipse Industries executives are cutting
Top 10 Manufacturers
Name (lol:al employees)
I. (tcserved for PCs or GM-created firm)
2. Peregrine Aircl'aft (13,390)
3. HyperDyne Computers (6,500)
4 . Anderson Pharmaceuticals (5,62~)
S. (reseFved for PCs or GM-created firm)
6. Consolidated Electronics (4.940)
1. Taiyo Corp. (4,485)
PAGE 8. Allied Chemicals (2,400)
NUMBER
9 Heartland Foods Inc. (2,340)
126 10. (reserved for PCs or GM-created firm)
I--- nia and research into biotechnology and genetic engi- its pricey downtown headquarters in the early 1990s
~~~e~ neering. Clinical trials on its new products are some- and moved its corporate offices to an annex at its Ar-
~
28times conducted in conjunction with physicians at the royo Verde factory.
The Arroyo Verde complex also includes research cent of its profits are from overseas sales, and Heart-
labs, which are now minimally staffed. In all, Con- land has targeted Mexico and Asia as future markets.
solidated Electronics employs 4,940 people in San Headquartered in Iowa, Heartland Foods Inc. has
Angelo. canneries in 12 states. The company employs 42,560
The company also operates warehouses in four states, people and reported $7.7 billion in 1996 sales.
along with six factories and warehouses in Mexico. In San Angelo, Heartland Foods Inc. operates a
Southport cannery that produces canned soup, tomato
Heartland Foods Inc. juice, canned pasta and spaghetti sauce. Opened in
Rare indeed is the kitchen cupboard that doesn't con- 1948, the plant uses tomatoes trucked in from rural
tain at least one Heartland Foods Inc. product. Based south San Angelo County and nearby Oro County.
in the Midwest, the corporation sells canned soups, The factory normally employs 2,340 people, but tem-
sauces and vegetable juices. porary workers hired at the peak of the tomato harvest
The company began in 1876 as a canning and pre- run the number up to 2,600 or more.
serving business, but soon moved on to soups as a pri-
mary product. In 1912, Heartland Foods Inc. became HyperDyne Computers
one of the first American companies to achieve national A top U .S. computer manufacturer, HyperDyne
distribution of a food brand. Computers is striving to stay ahead of the pack in the
Over the years, the company built a reputation as a crowded personal computing market. The firm is
conservatively managed business and cautiously began among the top 10 providers of desktop computers, serv-
to diversify beyond soups in the 1980s. Only 20 per- ers and peripherals in the United States.
NUMBER
129
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
ty o s..>n ..,,uo~o 4SOO -
Infinity Software
A leader in the field of computer entertainment, In-
finity Software creates games that capture the imagi-
nations - and pocketbooks - of millions of com-
puter gamers each year.
The company was founded in 1982 as a partnership
between game designer Paul Cates and programmer
In 1964, engineer Wayne Frazier founded Dave Fitzsimmons. Their first product, a text-based
HyperDyne Computers in a spare bedroom of his San adventure game titled Hunt for the Lost Mine, per-
Angelo house. Years of design work in his spare time formed moderately well.
paid off in 1973 when HyperDyne Computers intro- Cates and Fitzsimmons used the profits from Hunt
duced one of the first hand held scientific calculators. for the Lost Mine to produce one of the first computer
Frazier plowed the profits from his first success into games to capitalize on the re-emergence of
expanding HyperDyne Computers, allowing the cor- superpowered humans. Justice Squad became the top
poration to produce a line of business computers a few seller of 1986, but artistic differences over the game
years later. In the 1980s, the company scored again, split the partners.
cashing in early on the personal computer boom. A bitter battle for control of Infinity Software
The company has been traded publicly on the stock erupted, and in 1988 Cates succeeded in forcing
market since the mid- l 970s, and when Frazier retired Fitzsimmons out. The buyout left Fitzsimmons a mil-
in 1986 the board of directors recruited the head of a lionaire, but a bitter man. The firm reorganized as a
rival company to run HyperDyne Computers. privately held corporation and began a rapid expan-
In 1994, the corporation won a contract for a 10-
I
sion.
r"m year, $1.5 billion project to design tactical targeting Infinity Software has continued to prosper in the
·~~ 'computer systems for the U.S. Air Force. 1990s, producing hit computer games in a variety of
30
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
CH; of Son Angolo '500 -
genres. The studio designs software for both PC and environmentalist ire for pollution and ecologically un-
Macintosh platforms, along with game cartridges for sound practices.
home entertainment systems. Created in the 1912 government-ordered breakup of
The company has more than 100 PC game titles on a petroleum monopoly, Texxon Oil Co. took over the
the market. Recent top sellers include the fantasy game western territories of its progenitor. In the ensuing de-
Crystalgate, the 30 action game Hit Man and the simu- cades, it became one of the top oil companies in the
lation Ace Braddock: WWI Pilot. A licensed Justice United States, and then worldwide.
Foundation game originally slated for a Christmas '96 The company's international expansion has contin-
release has been delayed several times. ued into the 1990s, as have its efforts to seek out new
Based in San Angelo, Inifinity Software employs 365 oil reserves. It recently negotiated rights to oil fields
people at its AIToyo Verde design studio and reported in Indonesia and the former Soviet Union.
$98 million in 1996 sales. Headquartered in Angel Beach, California, Texxon
Oil Co. runs 35 refineries worldwide. It operates four
Taiyo Corp. U.S. refineries and more than 9,600 gas stations in 38
High-tech products are the lifeblood of Japan-based states. The company is also involved in the petrochemi-
Taiyo Corp., an international giant in the computer cal, coal and power generation industries.
and communications industries. The leading supplier Active in more than 100 nations, Texxon Oil Co. is
of computer chips worldwide, the corporation ranks especially interested in the Asian-Pacific market. The
fourth in personal computers and seventh in telecom- company has 79,000 employees and posted $116 bil-
munications. lion in 1996 sales.
Founded in Tokyo in 1908 by Japanese investors, In San Angelo, Texxon Oil Co. has countless ser-
Taiyo Corp. started out as an importer of telephone vice stations along with a Southport plant that pro-
equipment. In the 1960s, the company began dabbling duces plastic waste bags, produce bags and grocery
in computer research but did not invest heavily in these sacks. The plant employs about 260 people.
efforts until the 1970s. By 1983, Taiyo Corp. had be- The company also operates a distribution facility in
come a top maker of memory chips around the world. West San Angelo. A dozen or so huge oil tanks, filled
Still on top of the chip market, the company is also by an underground pipeline from an Angel Beach re-
investing in new technologies, such as advanced color finery, supply tanker trucks with gasoline for delivery
plasma display panels, as it fends off competitors. to service stations in several states.
Based in Tokyo, the corporation has 132 subsidiar- Finally, the corporation helped finance construction
ies and affiliates in 33 countries. Taiyo Corp. employs of the Texxon Golden Dome stadium in Southport,
154,000 people worldwide and reported $43 billion in home of the San Angelo Miners pro football team.
sales in 1996. In San Angelo, the company owns a
200-acre chip-producing plant in Arroyo Verde. TJT Furn iture Inc.
Headed by Kiyoji Takemoto, a senior vice president, A top maker of office furniture, the Canadian firm
the plant employs 4,485 people and contains 1.2 mil- of TJT Furniture Inc. manufactures free-standing
lion square feet of manufacturing space. modular office partitions, desks, file cabinets and other
The factory, which uses numerous toxic and caustic necessities.
chemicals, has its own water treatment facility and Founded in 1921 in Toronto, the company switched
emergency response teams. from household decor to office furniture during the
hardships of the Depression. The corporation prospered
Texxon Oil Co. in the post-war business boom, and in 1970 went pub-
A familiar name to everyone who owns a car, Texxon lic.
Oil Co. is a leading international producer of oil and TJT Furniture Inc. manufactures its prodllcts in ~~~e~
natural gas. The company has also been a focus of Canada, the U.S., .lctpim, Mexico and the United King-
131
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
cur ot SP1• Anguto uoo -
dom. Wholly owned subsidiaries sell its furniture in colorful and historic Chinatown district.
32 nations. Other subsidiary firms produce furniture After the gold boom that gave the city its start played
for specialized markets, such as hospitals and prisons. out, access to the railroad kept San Angelo alive as a
The company has 7 ,360 employees and reported $1 .2 center of agriculture and later encouraged its indus-
billion in 1996 sales. In San Angelo, TJT Furniture trial growth. The rail company continued to expand
Inc. employs 364 people at its furniture-manufactur- by laying new tracks and buying other railroads until
ing plant in Southport. rising competition in the mid-20th century sent Val-
ley Pacific Railroad into a slow decline. Financial
U.S. Fertilizer losses spurred the firm to begin cost-cutting in 1992,
A supplier of soil-enriching products for agriculture reducing its workforce and trying to control expenses.
and gardening, U.S. Fertilizer has had a troubled his- Today Valley Pacific Railroad operates 16,800 miles
tory but appears to be on the rebound. of tracks in I 5 states. The company has I 9,000 em-
Founded in 1923 as a subsidiary of Texxon Oil Co., ployees and reported $3.1 billion in 1996 sales, a $3
U.S. Fertilizer remained solidly in the middle of the million loss. In San Angelo, the company operates its
agri-business pack for the next 40 years. primary West Coast freight yard in Pleasant Grove.
The oil company sold U.S . Fertilizer to the Japan- The 610-acre yard employs I ,560 people and has a
based conglomerate Hitomi Co. in 1962. The firm con- $9 l million payroll.
tinued to perform unspectacularly unLil lhe late 1980s, Despite America's reduced reliance on railroads, the
when an expensive new line of fertilizers targeting romance of the rails remains strong. San Angelo is
home gardeners flopped. The financial hemorrhage home to many railroad retirees and diehard rail buffs,
continued despite several top-level shakeups. who restore old locomotives, build scale-model trains
In 1994, Hitomi Co. sold its interest in U.S. Fertil- and give talks on the history of the railroad.
izer to Eclipse Industries. The new owners put the firm
back in the black by ruthlessly slashing costs and lay-
ing off employees. Today, a leaner U.S. Fertilizer is Other Major Corporations in San
moving up in the ranks of American agri-businesses. Angelo
U.S. Fertilizer owns a key production plant in West Some retail-oriented corporations are described under The
San Angelo. Two 8-million-gallon tanks at the plant Commercial Scene, while health-care corporations are cov-
ered in The Medical World and banks are outlined under The
contain anhydrous ammonia, a deadly poisonous gas
Professional World.
used to manufacture fertilizer. The 16-acre facility
employs 120 people. Name Product
Barnes Co. Department stores
Black Widow Pesticides Pesticide manufacturer
Valley Pacific Railroad Durham Corp. Film manufacturer, film
A San Angelo institution, the Valley Pacific Rail- processing
road in large part kept the town alive after the Gold Fontaine's & Co. Department stores
Rush dried up. Today competition from trucking and FoodBasket Markets lnc. Supennarkets
air freight services places considerable strain on its Hitomi Co. Diversified conglomerate
Kelley Hospitals Health care
finances, but the railroad continues to tough it out. MacGregor Paper Co. Paper recycling
Valley Pacific Railroad got its start in 1865, when Nugget Records Retail music stores
local banker Jeremiah Bannon and investor Leland Patchwork Textiles Clothing, bedding manu-
Shaw formed the company to connect San Angelo to facturer
Prospector Bank Banking
the transcontinental rail lines being built across the
St. Mary·s Hospitals Health care
I
r,;o,,-_..._
Rocky Mountains.
~~~e~ Work on the railroad line brought hundreds of Chi-
S:111 Angelo C larion Newspapers
32
San Angelo Times Newspapers I
~ nese laborers to the region, giving rise to San Angelo's
PAGE
NUMBf R
133
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cft)' ot Sun Anooio l500 -
134
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Gny al l.1r, At•t;elo ·UCO -
135
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Clly of S.1' '"'D•IO H QP -
-
Life In San Angelo
shoot energy blasts. He doesn't have super strength or under the weight of judgments in court cases filed by
enhanced senses. But he pulls the strings of the Golden unhappy customers.
City. Very little happens in the government or busi- The company had a bad reputation for shoddy work-
ness scenes that does not involve Morgan in some be- manship, and numerous home buyers won civil cases
hind-the-scenes capacity. against N&W Co. for selling defective homes.
Morgan has contacts everywhere- government, law Faced with mounting debts, not to mention govern-
enforcement, top corporations, churches, even chari- ment inquiries into possible violations of environmen-
table organizations. And all kinds of people owe him tal laws, Norwood declared bankruptcy in 1992 and
all kinds of debts. His resources and contacts mean dissolved the company. Many of his creditors have yet
that Morgan can usually bring pressure to bear on just to see a dime.
about anyone he desires, regardless of the person's Norwood continues to live a comfortable life in San
position or community standing. Angelo despite being flat broke on paper, but efforts
Of course, Morgan stays out of the action himself. to prove that he hid assets during bankruptcy proceed-
Third parties deliver his suggestions and expertly veiled
ings have so far failed.
threats. Most of the time his name is never even men- Aristeides Pappagianis: A Greek emigre who built
tioned. That's the way Morgan wants it. And he al- a development empire in San Angelo. He founded
ways gets what he wants. Olympus Construction Inc. in the 1950s and has played
Appearance: Morgan, 58, is a heavyset man with a crucial role in the growth of the city ever since.
short, thinning white hair and blue eyes. He stands 6'2" Pappagianis rarely appears in public nowadays, pre-
tall and has a burly build. Morgan favors plaid work ferring to let his associates and children handle most
shirts and jeans, but will wear a business suit when of his business affairs. Nevertheless, his behind-the-
appropriate. scenes political influence remains potent.
One of the wealthiest people in the city, Pappagianis
Other Builders of Note lives in an elaborate, well-secured estate in picturesque
Perry Bradley: A longtime San Angelo homebuilder Falcon Bluff, overlooking the Del Oro River.
and owner of Bradley Homes. Bradley constructed
many of the 1960s-era subdivisions in the county. His Labor and Union
innumerable donations to local youth groups, not to
mention his firm's good reputation, have made Brad- Activity
ley a popular and well-respected figure in the county. Labor unions are not especially strong in San Angelo,
His daughter, Jeanette Bradley, took over the except in a few key areas. There are several powerful
homebuilding business in I 995 after her father was public employee unions in the city, and labor organi-
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He now spends zations are also strong in construction trades, hotels,
most of his time at home and rarely goes out in public. trucking and warehousing.
Pierre Duval: A prominent San Angelo architect Public reaction to unions is mixed - while some San
known for his expertise in designing high-tech facili- Angelinos are strongly pro-union, others feel they can
ties. In recent years, Duval has been hired by several get a better deal on their own. Business owners, of
hero teams to design headquarters or bases. He was course, tend to be very anti-union, citing the exorbitant
the primary architect for the Justice Foundation team demands made by some employee groups.
headquarters. Strikes and other job actions by unions are infrequent,
Duval, a native of France, splits his time between as several corporations have taken advantage of such
his San Angelo studio and a vacation home on the situations to break unions in recent years.
Riviera. He is courting wealthy widow Helen Payne. Corruption in labor unions is fairly rare in San Angelo, ~...,...... ,
Duane Norwood: The former owner of N&W Co., and ties to the Mafia are almost non-existent given the~ · !:i~':e~ '
a housing construction firm that went bust in 1992 mob's relative lack of influence in the region.
137
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Intellectual perts is always available for consultation on any topic
from paranormal medicine to time paradoxes.
The Justice Foundation hero team, in particular, has
Scene credited the Horizon Institute for providing informa-
tion that helped resolve several emergency situations
Information is the commodity of the future, and San in recent years.
Angelo is home to several think tanks, consulting firms Financing for the Horizon Institute comes from a va-
and other organization trading in this market. riety of sources, mostly through donations by private
individuals and companies. Some top donors from San
Horizon Institute Angelo include builder Benjamin Morgan, Eclipse In-
dustries and financier Alistair McDermott.
The Horizon Institute, a non-profit entity, attempts
to gauge the effects of superpowered humans on sci-
ence, technology, criminal justice, the military and Campaign Tip
The experts at the Horizon Institute can be a valuable
society as a whole.
resource to a PC hero team, particularly to one lacking
The Institute is based at a three-story former ranch expertise in a particular field of science or engineering.
house in rural south San Angelo County, with a sizable Also, the Institute may be able to provide advice on
paid administrative staff boasting experts in several handling an extremely unusual situation, like trying to
fields. close a dimensional gateway. I
In addition, the list of consultants affiliated with the
Horizon Institute reads like a who's who in sociology,
law enforcement, defense, business, engineering, sci- Justice Foundation (C9)
ence and politics. A non-profit think tank founded by Averell
The board of directors alone includes a retired admi- Pendleton, president of A val on Enterprises, the J us-
ral, a former justice of the Supreme Court and U.S. tice Foundation is devoted to researching the root
Senator Catherine Forbes of California. Nicholas Boyle, causes of crime, war, terrorism and other forms of vio-
an ex-deputy director of the CIA, serves as administra- lence.
tor of the Horizon Institute. Based in a City Center office building, the founda-
The prime function of the think tank involves care- tion has a small paid staff. It primarily offers grants to
fully evaluating the changes wrought by the activities sociologists, and others investigating topics related to
of superhumans on Earth. The findings of its research, its purpose, who conduct much of the actual research
usually conducted by paid staffers or under grants, are of the think tank.
disseminated in the appropriate scholarly publications. The other chief activity of the agency involves pro-
Recent papers published by Horizon Institute re- viding funding and support for the Justice Foundation
searchers include an analysis of the effect of hero team based in San Angelo.
paranormals on the sporting world, a review of recent Most of the funding for the foundation continues to
supers-related bills in the U.S. House of Representa- come from Pendleton and A valon Enterprises, though
tives and a report on anti-supers bigotry in a small town donations from other sources are not insignificant.
in Minnesota.
A branch of the Institute is quietly collecting data on Other Institutions of
all known supers - heroes, criminals or otherwise. The
ultimate purpose behind this intelligence-gathering op- Note
eration is unknown. The San Angelo business scene includes numerous
While its research efforts are its primary focus, the consulting companies, mostly offering advice on cor-
PAGE
NUMBER Institute provides considerable assistance and advice porate affairs, engineering and development. A few
to supers, particularly heroes. Its helpful staff of ex- are involved in more esoteric fields, however.
138
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Gaia Co.
The Gaia Co. is a San Angelo consulting firm that
focuses on environmental concerns, especially pollu-
tion. While it poses as an ecologically friendly opera-
tion, The Gaia Co. actually exists primarily to help
corporate clients get around state and federal environ-
mental laws.
The consulting firm also helps corporations fight ci-
tations by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Its studies, which uniformly shift the blame for pollu-
tion from big business, are something of a joke in schol-
arly circles.
RV&G Inc.
A data retrieval company, RV &G Inc. collects infor-
mation for other businesses on everything from scien-
tific papers to marketing statistics.
The firm has an extensive computer database, and
also conducts on-line searches for requested data. In
addition, RV &G Inc. can perform patent and trade-
mark searches for clients.
The Martial World
The Yggdrasill Center Martial arts are popular in San Angelo, attracting
A think tank with an environmental focus, The everyone from school kids to street toughs.
Yggdrasill Center conducts research on the biosphere Instructors in almost every fighting art, even some
and ecology around the world. fairly obscure ones, can be found in San Angelo.
The center takes its name from Yggdrasill, the great Chinatown, of course, is a center for martial arts activ-
ash-tree of the universe from Norse mythology. The ity, but schools are found throughout the metropolitan
roots of the tree connected the domains of gods, men area.
and the underworld.
Cuffent projects of the center include an investiga-
tion into a rise in ocean temperatures off Indonesia, a Wei Cheng
report on the ecological effects of logging on forests Kung fu master
in Washington and a probe of the status of the ozone
belt. STR 15 DEX 20 CON 18 BODY 12
INT 15 EGO 18 PRE 15 COM 10
Campaign Tip PD 6 ED 4 SPD 4 REC 6
Investigations undertaken by The Y ggdrasill Cen-
END 30 STUN 30
ter could tip PCs off to a villainous scheme to alter
Powers and Skills: Gliding 6" (only for not leaving
the Earth's environment in some way - a really
tracks), Missile Deflection vs. thrown objects, affows
large-scale threat might involve melting the polar
or projectiles, Talents: Combat Sense, Defense Ma-
ice caps, for example. Or perhaps the ecological
neuver, Simulate Death, Combat Skills: +2 w/kung PAGE
changes are merely inadvertant side effects of some
unrelated scheme. fu, Acrobatics 13-, Breakfall 13-, .contortionist 13-, t·~
Martial Arts (Kung Fu): Block, Disarm, Dodge, Es-
139
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
cape, Kick, Knife Hand, Legsweep, Nerve Strike, Not to be outdone, his brother Ho soon established
Punch, Throw, Uproot, Use Art with Swords, Axes, his own kung fu school in Chinatown, counting nu-
3-Section Staff and Staff, +3 Damage Classes, WF merous members of the tongs, or Chinese organized
Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Paramedic 12-, crime groups, among his pupils .
Language: English (fluent w/accent; Chinese native), Over the decades, the intense rivalry between the two
KS: Chinese Healing 14-, KS: Kung Fu 14-, KS: brothers has continued to burn bright despite Wei's ef-
Chinatown 14-, KS: The Martial World 11-, KS: Chi- forts to heal the breach. This rivalry has extended to
nese Myths and Legends 11-, PS: Kung fu master 11-, their students, who have been involved in several brawls
Familiarity w/tongs 8-. over the years, to Wei 's dismay.
Disadvantages: Distinctive Features: Serene (eas- Already known in the martial arts community as a
ily concealable), Psychological Limit: Seeks recon- skilled instructor of authentic kung fu , Wei also has a
ciliation with brother, Psychological Limit: Protects reputation as a knowledgeable practitioner of ancient
the weak, Psychological Limit: Code of the Chinese Chinese healing arts.
Master, Reputation: Kung Fu Master 11-, Rivalry: Ho Wei Cheng, 74, has long white hair but otherwise
Cheng (prof.). shows few signs of age. Still strong and hale, Wei now
Notes: Wei Cheng grew up in rural China with his restricts his teaching to advanced students, who also
brother, Ho Cheng. At a young age, the boys became act as instructors to beginning and mid-level pupils. A
students to renowned kung fu master Kien Li. But the widower, he has several grown children and grandchil-
brothers grew up to be opposites in almost every way. dren.
Wei became noted for his calmness and serenity, while
Ho was feared for his explosive temper and arrogant
ways.
Schools and
After one outburst too many, Master Li threatened to Instructors of Note
dismiss Ho. When Wei tried to speak up for him, fury Dojos, gyms and training centers scattered through-
at his popular brother overcame Ho. He beat Wei bru- out San Angelo offer instruction in virtually every mar-
tally before Master Li intervened and expelled Ho. tial art imaginable, from boxing to the newest street-
Wei continued to hone his kung fu skills at the school fighting techniques. The city is also home to many
until the rise of the communists in the 1940s. At the fighting arts masters who pass their skills on to select
urging of Master Li, who was later imprisoned and students.
killed, he emigrated to the United States.
Wei discovered his brother had also come to the states
and had settled in San Angelo, but when he visited the
Alder Martial Arts
A chain of schools in San Angelo, Alder Martial Arts
city his efforts at reconciliation with Ho failed.
offers instruction in karate, Aikido and tai chi. The prof-
Nevertheless, Wei discovered that he enjoyed life in
itable chain is owned by Tristram Alder, a nationally
San Angelo's Chinatown, and he began his own kung
known karate champ who sometimes even comes by
fu school to pass on the teachings of Master Li. He
the schools to sign autographs and recruit new pupils.
soon became a well-known, respected member of the
Chinatown community.
PAGE
NUMBER
140
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
House of the Dragon
A martial arts studio in downtown San Angelo, the
The Medical
House of the Dragon teaches kung fu, kickboxing and
weapon skills. Vance Hatch, who claims to be an ex-
World
Green Beret, owns and runs the House of the Dragon. Every city needs hospitals and medical personnel to
Students of this school have a reputation for being bul- care for its citizens, and San Angelo is no exception.
lies.
Hyong- Kim Kwang Faraday Memorial
A Korean master of Tae Kwan Do, Hyong-Kim Clinic (D6)
Kwang teaches select groups of elite students. He does A unique medical facility, the Faraday Memorial
not advertise, nor does he hold his classes in any par-
Clinic specializes in treating the injuries and illnesses
ticular place. Once prospective students have found ofsupers in San Angelo, not to mention those of normals
Kwang, they must prove their honest desire to be in- caught in the crossfire of superpowered conflicts.
structed before he will agree to take them on. The clinic, located in a three-story Midtown build-
ing, opened in 1991 . Financier Alastair McDermott
funded its construction in memory of Kip Faraday,
Sakai Fighting Arts also known as the super strong Alloy. The hero, who
Sakai Fighting Arts is a karate school run by James had won McDermott's friendship by rescuing his son
Sakai, a Japanese-American man who also teaches from kidnappers in 1986, died in 1990 of a rare blood
police self-defense courses for local law enforcement disease linked to his paranormal metallic body.
agencies. In addition to karate, he teaches kobojutsu Headed by Dr. Philadelphia Ryan, known as "Dr. Phil"
and kenjutsu. to her patients, the clinic provides medical care to
paranormals and conducts research on their special-
Sakai, a former San Angelo County sheriffs deputy,
ized needs. Its staff of highly skilled physicians ex-
has strong ties to the local law enforcement commu-
cels at untangling the medical mysteries of treating
nity. His school is located in Pleasant Grove.
supers, many of whom have bizarre metabolisms,
strange eating habits and unusual allergies.
Wilder Karate Center All records are kept strict! y confidential, and the clinic
does not require patients to reveal their true identities.
A karate and self-defense school in suburban La Physicians at the clinic are even known to take after-
Vista, the Wilder Karate Center is owned by Alexa hours visitors or make a house call or two to accom-
Wilder, champion of the 1984 All-City Martial Arts modate patients obsessed with secrecy.
Exhibition. Along with treating supers, the Faraday Memorial
Wilder also teaches free self-defense seminars for Clinic offers medical care to normals who are injured
women and children at community centers through- or otherwise affected by paranormal powers. Victims
out San Angelo. Her insistence on making martial arts of plasma blasts, bizarre toxins, inter-dimensional
instruction affordable to those who need it means teleports, alien viruses and other strange ailments are
Wilder's school faces nearly constant financial prob- usually taken directly to the clinic or referred there by
lems. doctors at other San Angelo hospitals.
PAGE
NUMBER
141
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
c11y o1 San ~10 •~ao -
-
Life In San Angelo
The first of its kind in the United States, the Faraday University Medical
Memorial Clinic has inspired similar operations in a
handful of cities but remains the pre-eminent institu- Center cos)
tion in supers medicine. Clinic physicians often assist A downtown hospital affiliated with the University
supers who have come from all over the U.S., and even of California, San Angelo, University Medical Cen-
other nations, for treatment. ter is the largest hospital in the county.
Faraday Memorial Clinic policies mandate equal The 641 -bed medical center features two eight-story
treatment for all patients, but very few criminals go to towers, one topped by a helipad, rising over a collec-
the clinic since they are likely to be reported to police tion of smaller buildings .
and arrested. Physicians are also required by law to The hospital has I , 14 1 physicians on staff, and nearly
report all gunshot victims to law enforcement officials. 7 ,000 employees in all. A teaching hospital, it has a
complement of interns and residents in addition to at-
The clinic has 20 beds, including a small intensive
tending physicians. Several University Medical Center
care unit and an isolation room.
doctors are natiopally recognized authorities on their
Most of the clinic's annual budget comes from pri- specialties.
vate donations, though the San Angelo County health The medical center has a well-regarded trauma cen-
department provides partial funding for its operations. ter and an air ambulance service. Critically inj ured ac-
Public funding for the clinic has been a hot topic at cident and crime victims are often taken to the medical
county budget hearings in recent years, however. center even if other hospitals are closer.
University Medical Center has specialized facilities Catholic nuns. The hospitals are now run by a not-for-
for burns, organ transplants, neonatal care, cardiology, profit corporation, though nuns serving as volunteers
orthopedics, oncology and pediatrics, among others. are still frequently encountered.
The hospital complex also houses an AIDS research The corporation has hospitals in the downtown,
center. Lakeview, Rancho Madera and Pleasant Grove. St.
In addition to its teaching programs, the hospital is a Mary's hospitals are particularly well-known for their
focus for medical research of all kinds and constantly childbirth centers and community outreach health
advertises for participants in various clinical trials. classes.
144
SAN ANGELO: CITY. OF HEROES
The Military employees work at the airfield. The airbase also sup-
ports the roughly 6,000 dependents of its active-duty
personnel, and provides services to the large popula-
World tion of military retirees in San Angelo.
Three gates on Rogers Boulevard provide access to
Forgan Air Force Base, and are manned by sentries 24
hours a day.
The base is practically a small city unto itself, com-
plete with its own housing, shopping, recreation fa-
cilities and churches. Public safety needs are handled
by special Air Force units, as are all other services,
such as road maintenance and trash pickup.
Twelve co-ed dorms, with room for 60 personnel
each, provide on-base
"This doesn't make any
The armed forces have a strong presence in San housing for single of-
sense. I'm reading a thermal
Angelo, thanks primarily to the activities of Forgan ficer s and enlisted signature... My God, it's
Air Force Base in Pleasant Grove. personnel. Forgan Air huge. If it wasn't moving I'd
Aside from the air base, the city also contains sev- Force Base also has say it was an explosion. Yes
eral National Guard armories and recruiting offices two housing develop- sir. Getting a fix on it now
for all branches of the armed forces. ments for families. ... it·s two klicks south/
In addition, a federal Veterans Administration hos- The I 00-home southeast of San Angelo.
pital in Northside provides medical care for the area's Wherry Housing Negative, sir, no active silos
large military retiree population. complex on the base in that area.
is reserved for offic- "Hold on a... Getting some
ers, while the 540- E.M. interference - off the
Forgan Air Force Base scale. This is too weird. No,
home Capehart Hous- sir, I don't ... wait a minute, I
Forgan Air Force Base in Pleasant Grove serves as ing complex five think /... One moment,
one of the chief employers in San Angelo and accounts miles from the base general. Johnson, remember
for the sizable military presence in the community. houses families of that fight between those
The base, established in 1939 as Forgan Field by the both officers and en- supers outside Albuquerque a
Army Air Corps, is named for a pilot from San Angelo listed personnel. few months back? I'll just
killed in World War I. In 1948, the newly formed U.S. The Air Force ad- bet... Bringing the file up
Air Force officially renamed the facility Forgan Air ministers and polices now... Match on the thennal
Force Base. all military housing, signature!
"General, I think we're
During the Cold War, the airbase housed a Strategic including the off-base
looking at a paranormal
Air Command bomber wing and was the site of nu- site.
battle of some kind. This is not
merous protests by anti-nuclear demonstrators. The An on-base shop- a launch. I say again, this is
bomber wing has since been decommissioned. and the ping complex con- not a launch. "
base now houses an Air National Guard F-16 wing. tains the commissary, - Capt. Robert Harlan, 32,
Forgan Air Force Base primarily serves as a key air- base exchange, a bar- NORAD
craft repair and supply depot for the Air Force. ber shop, beauty sa-
The airbase covers 3,852 acres, with 48 miles of roads lon, florist and snack bar. Dining facilities and a credit
and 1.4 million square yards of runways. Approxi- union are also available. Fitness centers, a theater,
mately 3,600 active-duty military personnel are as- bowling alley, swimming pools and a golf course can -""'!""!'~ AGE
NUMDl!R
signed to Forgan AFB, and another 10,300 civilian also be found at the airbase.
145
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cny of :Slit Anguro 4SOO · -
PAGE
NUMBER
146
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Mystic Scene
The power of the flux has brought magic to life, though
some claim mystic forces have been at work in the world
for millennia. Given the time-defying nature of flux
energies, none can say for certain whether these tales
are true.
Arcane goings-on are a topic of mystery to most San
Angelinos, and those few with direct experience of the
mystic scene tend to keep the knowledge to themselves.
Nonetheless, certain places, items and people in San
Angelo have gained a reputation for mystic or super-
natural ties.
Chinatown cc11)
The downtown neighborhood of Chinatown has long
been a focus of mystic activity and arcane forces in
San Angelo.
In the Golden Age of heroes, Chinatown fell under
the power ofT'ien Lung, a Chinese sorcerer and arch-
criminal who controlled the Wing Chao tong.
Nowadays, the neighborhood has reinvented itself for has a Gothic motif popular with architecture students
the tourist trade, but behind the public facade lurks the and sketch artists.
real face of Chinatown - a place of ancient healing The otherwise nondescript building hides a dark se-
arts, magic, vengeful spirits and other strangeness. cret, however. Constructed in the 1920s, the Orloff
The back alleys of Chinatown are home to countless Building is actually the work of a secret cult. The en-
dusty curio shops offering all kinds of puzzles, gizmos, tire structure has been carefully designed to attract and
pets and other oddities, some reputedly bearing bizane absorb mystic energies - a gigantic magical battery.
curses. Philosophy-quoting kung fu mystics, often The buildup of 75 years of arcane forces has started
schooled in healing rituals, are also part of the unseen to have a strange effect on the Orloff Building. Doors
Chinatown. occasionally open and shut of their own accord, draw-
The arcane forces at play in Chinatown extend into ers fly open and residents sometimes come home to find
the century-old storm drains below the streets as well, their furniture mysteriously rearranged.
and there are tales of labyrinthine networks of tunnels The purpose of the building, and the goals of its cult-
and secret places in the dark underground. ist builders, are still a mystery.
Based on the superstitions, legends and religious be-
liefs of ancient Asia, the mystic goings-on in Chinatown
are often unintelligible, and invisible, to outsiders.
Raven Books cos)
A little-known occult bookstore in Midtown, Raven
Books stocks candles, incense and other oddments along
Orloff Building (G9) with hundreds of tomes on arcane topics.
A four-story apartment house on Pratt Street in the The store's bookshelves are crowded with volumes ...,.,..,_..
PAGE
Cathedral Square neighborhood, the Orloff Building ranging from compendiums of spells to scholarly texts. NUMBER
147
SAN ANGELO: CtTY OF HEROES
Rare manuscripts, a few dating back centuries, are kept Old San Angelo lailhouse (BS)
behind the counter or locked away in storerooms. Some San Angelinos claim the historic Gold Rush-
Vincent Kane, son of the mystic Golden Age hero era jailhouse in Old San Angelo is haunted by the ghost
known as Dr. Oblivion, opened Raven Books in 1962. of Andrew Jenkins, a town marshal killed by a mob of
Kane did not inherit his father's magical powers, but vigilantes in I 854.
shared his interest in things arcane and became well- Late at night, his restless spirit rattles the cell doors
known in occult circles for his wide-ranging knowl- in the jailhouse to check the locks, just as Jenkins did in
edge. life before going to bed, according to ghost-story afi-
Liz Kane, Vincent's daughter, now runs Raven cionados.
Books. She doesn't sell books that she considers harm-
ful or dangerous, and refuses customers that may use
Spear of Destiny
the knowledge in her vast collection of tomes for evil.
A mystic artifact of enormous but undefined power,
the Spear of Destiny is believed to be the weapon used
Other Mystic Places by a Roman centurion to pierce the side of Jesus Christ
Late-night stories of ghostly visitations, supernatu- at the crucifixion. Legend has it that whoever possesses
ral happenings or other unexplained phenomena are the lance will rule the world. After the death of Christ,
told about many San Angelo landmarks. the Spear of Destiny tumbled down through the pages
of history, resurfacing briefly during the Crusades be-
fore being lost again to the mists of time.
Brookcrest Estates Numerous stories of the spear tell of its various ad-
A posh Lakeview subdivision, Brookcrest Estates is
ventures and particularly the efforts of evil men to gain
purportedly afflicted by a rash of hauntings, polter-
its power. The opera Parsifal, by composer Richard
geists, possessions and other supernatural activity.
Wagner, recounts the story of a wicked sorcerer who
Parapsychology experts and psychics hired by des-
sought to wrest the lance from the Knights of the Holy
perate homeowners have rated it as one of the most
Grail. The truth of these tales remains unknown, how-
supernaturally active sites in the nation.
ever.
Most of the homes in Brookcrest Estates are up for
The Spear of Destiny next resurfaced in the dark days
sale, but word of the bizarre happenings in the neigh-
leading up to World War II, when Nazi dictator Adolf
borhood has spread and buyers are scarce.
Hitler, who had a fascination for the occult, ordered his
Unbeknownst to its frightened residents, Brookcrest followers to seek out the holy lance to add its arcane
Estates lies atop an ancient Native American burial power to his military might.
ground. As is so often the case concerning the spear, accounts
of this point in its history differ. Some tales have it that
Cathedral Square (G9) the relic was snatched from the hands of Nazi opera-
The Old World streets of Cathedral Square have tives by a daredevil adventurer and taken to the U.S.
given rise to many stories of supernatural activity, par- for safekeeping.
ticularly those involving vampires and werewolves. This version was recounted in the highly fictional-
Midnight tales of ghosts, ghouls and demonic crea- ized but very popular I 982 film Tyler North and the
tures in the neighborhood also abound. Spear of Destiny.
Gypsy fortunetellers are a very real part of the Ca- But other reports suggest that Hitler actually obtained
thedral Square scene, and many of the older women in the Spear of Destiny and was only stopped from uti-
the neighborhood, immigrants from Eastern Europe, are lizing its power by a Golden Age hero team, possibly
PAGE knowledgeable about healing herbs, protective charms the Liberty Corps, in a secret mission behind enemy
NUMBER and other methods of combating occult influences. lines.
148
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
In either case, an iron spear point believed to be that
of the fabled Spear of Destiny spent the post-war years
on display in glass box in a West German museum.
The artifact, whose authenticity was never proved,
was stolen while on loan to the San Angelo Metropoli-
tan Museum in 1950. It has not yet reappeared.
Codex of Summoning
A dusty volume dating back to the Middle Ages, the
Codex of Summoning appears to contains various com-
plex spells for calling forth demons or other extra-di-
mensional beings. None can tell if the arcane directions
are effective or merely insane scribblings.
The only copy of the tome is shelved in an out-of-the-
way area in the rare books room of the Niven Library
at UC San Angelo. The book has not been checked out
in more than 50 years, and librarians have forgotten
that it even exists.
Takemoto Blade
Mask of the Jaguar An heirloom katana dating back to 1600s-era Japan,
A clay mask of Aztec origin on display at the San the Takemoto Blade has passed to Kyoji Takemoto, a
Angelo Metropolitan Museum, the Mask of the Jaguar senior vice president with Taiyo Corp. assigned to San
was found in a ruined temple in Mexico in the early Angelo.
20th century. Generations ofTakemotosamurai wielded this katana,
The Aztecs believed that the war god Tezcatlipoca created by a master swordsmith, in the service of their
frequently appeared as a jaguar, historians say. Some lords. Today the sword is displayed in a glass case in
obscure legends suggest the mask may be integral to a Takemoto's office at the Taiyo Corp. computer chip
complex magical ritual intended to bring Tezcatlipoca, plant in Arroyo Verde.
or a likeness of the god, to Earth. No record of this Some Japanese legends say the Takemoto Blade car-
ritual is believed to exist today, however. ried an enchantment of some kind.
PAGE
NUMBER
149
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
t-rry ot Sin Anpto 4500 -
-
Life In San Angelo
TAKE BACK
BRENTON
NEIGHBORHOOD
RALLY
PAGE
NUMBER
151
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
- I
C:try o• Son All!l•I<> • ~o -
Senator Catherine
Forbes
~
MBER ing oft-contentious special interest factions together to
1
Latino culture through traditional festivals, dances,
deliver solid support for local Democratic candidates. musical performances and other events in the city.
54
I -l
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Cfty al hn .lf'O'IO ·HOO -
155
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
City o1 Sa" •noolo '~o -
1
"ft was just another day. The customers were polite, Campaign Tip
my line was moi·ing well. I was just about to close my Most PCs rarely even step into a bank, except when
teller's window for my lunch break when it happened. some villain is robbing one. But the financial scene can
"There was some kind ofa commotion at the front provide GMs with some intriguing adventure ideas,
door and Charlie. our security guard, went over to particularly for those ubiquitous fabulously wealthy PCs.
check it ottt. Someone screamed. and Charlie flew Poor investments, embezzlement or other problems
across the lobby into a wall. He fell on the floor, all could throw that fortune into disarray, requiring the
loose, like rag doll - l thought he was dead. attention of the PC. People seeking handouts or ped-
"Then Chain jumped into the lobby, shouting and dling investment schemes will be a nearly constant an-
swinging that titt.1nium chain around. He ordered all the noyance.
customers down 011 the floor, and told us to fill up a bag Or a rival could attempt a hostile takeover of a PC-
with cash. owned company. possibly turning to spying, industrial
"I was so scared, I was shaking, but Chain didn't even sabotage or other nefarious methods to mount an over-
look at me. Just moved on to the next teller. When he powering attack. In fact, the takeover scheme could be
had all the cash, he jumped out the plate glass windows engineered by a villainous foe. who may or may not be
into the street, and then 01•er the buildings across the aware of the PC's involvement in the company.
way. At the other end of the financial scale, destitute or
"The police came and took Charlie away in an poor PCs could find themselves in hot water with a lo-
ambulance. He had to retire, later. I was so relieved cal bank or credit union. Imagine the reaction of a hero
when I heard that some hero had captured Chain a few whose car gets repossessed! Even middle-class PCs can
months later. The depmy DA said I might testify against face financial difficulties, s uch as paying credit card
him, but it turned out they didn 't need me. bills or student l oan~. A villnin could use surh pres-
"He got 20 years at Gaviota Island. I wish it had been sures to attempt to corrupt a heroic PC.
more. I still have nightmares about that day. " The enemies of the heroes can get involved in the
- Gloria Roosevelt, 36, bank teller financial world in other ways as well. Organized crime
and other large-scale criminal operations often require
the assistance of shady money men to launder their ill-
Financiers and Money Men gotten gains. Any investigation of such an organiza-
Donald Croft: A top financier in the city who spe- tion will most likely require PCs to delve into the fi-
cializes in hostile takeovers. Croft, known as "The nanc.:ial scene.
General" for his philosophy of business as war, cap-
tured and liquidated a number of San Angelo compa-
nies in the merger-crazed 1980s. Hundreds of people
who lost jobs in Croft's highly profitable takeovers In 1986, the late hero Alloy saved his infant son from
still harbor ill feelings toward him. a band of kidnappers. Since then, McDermott has
An economic slump cut into the pool of cash avail- strongly supported supers in the city. He also helps fund
able for such schemes, slowing Croft's acquisitions in the Faraday Memorial Clinic, which provides medical
recent years, but he remains a much-feared power care fo r paranormals.
player on the financial scene. He is the founder and president of Highland Securi-
He is a partner in Croft, Hardy and Moskowitz Inc. ties, based in the Twilight Tower. McDermott and fel-
A fierce rivalry exists between Croft and Alastair low financier Donald Croft are professional rivals who
McDermott. make no secret of their dislike for each other.
Alastair McDermott: A prominent San Angelo in- Arthur Wu Tan: President of the First Bank of
vestment broker. A native of Scotland, McDermott Chinatown and a highly influential community leader
•_ _ _.earned a fortune in the stock market at a young age. in Chinatown. A visible, active figure in the Asian com-
1
!:i~~E~ Now rnic..ltlle-agccl. he is still considered one of the ..whiz munity, Tan has also become known in civic affairs for
kids'• of the cily'i; fimmcinJ scene. his efforts to promote and protect Chinatown.
156
_,
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Xavier Trent: The head of the oldest stock broker-
age in San Angelo and a member of one of the city's
Investigations and
wealthiest families. Under his restrained, conservative Security
management, Trent's brokerage firm continues to earn Private investigators and security firms are an ac-
steady, if unspectacular, returns for its clients. tive, if often low-key, component of the city's profes-
Trent, who moves in the city's top social circles, is a sional scene. They frequently interact with the legal
member of the Order of the Knights Templar. His and financial worlds as well.
younger brother, Jeremiah Trent, heads the Paranor-
mal Defense League but is a black sheep in the family.
Karyn Weiss: An independent broker who has be- Taylor Mackenzie
come well-known in San Angelo for her daily stock Private investigator
market updates on radio station KGTI. Weiss also per- STR 13 DEX 14 CON 13 BODY 10
forms with the Argyles, an amateur a cappella and bar- INT 13 EGO 13 PRE 13 COM IO
bershop singing group popular at farmer's markets and PD 5 ED 4 SPD 3 REC6
other small community events. END 26 STUN 25
In 1996, Weiss learned that she has IBV, the AIDS Powers and Skills: Running +3", Bureaucratics 12-,
virus, possibly contracted from her philandering ex- Combat Driving 12-, Concealment 12-, Conversation
husband before their divorce. She is considering going 12-, Deduction 12-, Familiarity w/Criminology 8-,
public with her diagnosis, but worries about the reper- Familiarity w/Disguise 8-, Familiarity w/Lockpicking
cussions to her professional and personal life. 8-, Martial Arts (Aikido) Dodge, Escape, Takedown,
Shadowing 11-, Stealth 12-, Streetwise 12-, Trading
"A11other 14-lrour clt1y - tax seaS{)ll. you 12-, WF: Small arms, PS: Private Investigator 11-, KS:
know?- and I'm on my way to my car, except Benjamin Morgan 8-, CK: San Angelo 11-, Perk: Li-
the street's all blocked off. Cops a11Ll TV ae ws
are everywhere. a PART squcul van pulls up. I
hadu '1 heard tt thing. Turned out some super was
holed up in a flophouse up the. :uree1.
"Wlrat do you think I did? I went home, of
ctJurse. I was exluuwed, and I had another long
day ahead of me. Tax season, remember?"
- Robert Fujisaki, 52, accountant
Top 5 Brokerages . ,
. H· d and MoskoWttz Inc.
1. (ue) Croft, ar Y . . •
\. (tje:) Higll\and ~unl~~-created firms)
2. ~Reserved for n....s or "
3. Trent & Co.
4 Darby Peters
S~urce: Business Chronicle
PAGE
NUMBER
157
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City ol a.n AngOl<> HOO -
censed P. I., Contacts: Street Scene 11-, County records Other Private Investigators
offices 11 -, SAPD 8-, Sheriff's Department 8-. Abel Giantino: A veteran private investigator con-
Disadvantages: Hunted by Benjamin Morgan (Mo sidered the dean of his field in San Angelo. He often
Pow, NCI, Watching), Psychological Limit: Blames contemplates retiring, and has even quit for a few
self for father's death, Psychological Limit: Investi- months at times, but Giantino cannot break away from
gates Benjamin Morgan. the shadowy, seductive world of investigations.
Notes: A newcomer to the private investigations scene, Giantino has taken many newcomers to the field un-
Taylor Mackenzie recently opened her own office after der his wing, and trained most of the private investiga-
working with Abel Giantino for several years. tors in San Angelo. His most recent apprentice was
Her father, Davis Mackenzie, was a prominent San Taylor Mackenzie, for whom Giantino feels an almost
Angelo attorney convicted of taking bribes 20 years fatherly affection.
ago. Evidence found in his office proved that Davis A highly skilled investigator, Giantino has scores of
Mackenzie had accepted a bribe from an unknown contacts in San Angelo, everywhere from the mayor's
source to throw a case, apparently using the ill-gotten office to the scum of the streets. People all over the city
funds to pay for expensive life-saving surgery needed owe him favors, and he knows most of the secrets of
by his only child, Taylor. the metropolis.
His legal partner, Michael Bailey, testified against Nonetheless, Giantino prefers to remain on the side-
Mackenzie in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. lines of the behind-the-scenes power struggles of San
Convicted, disba1Ted and disgraced, Mackenzie killed Angelo, content to use his contacts and knowledge only
himself on the eve of his sentencing hearing. His wife, to solve his own cases. An attractive Victorian home
heartbroke.n, died a few years later. converted into commercial space houses his Midtown
Fulfilling a promise made to her father, Abel Giantino office.
looked after Taylor Mackenzie and helped her get started Paul Wolf: A fo1mer police officer who is believed to
in the private investigations field after she finished have resigned from the San Angelo Police Department
college. Mackenzie believes that her father was cor- under threat of indictment in a corruption case. Wolf
rupted and betrayed by powerful San Angelo devel- has an extensive network of street contacts and infor-
oper Benjamin Morgan. She is secretly investigating mants built up over years of pol ice work. He is skilled
Morgan, who is aware of Mackenzie's inquiries but at surveillance, and also relies on less-than-legal strat-
has yet taken no action as he considers her no threat. egies, such as breaking and entering, shunned by more
Mackenzie is building a modest reputation as a skilled reputable investigators.
investigator, but so far most of her cases have been Rumor has it that Wolf will work for almost anyone,
low-paying ones involving divorces, custody disputes including organized crime figures. He has occasion-
and missing people. An aging office building in a seedy ally been employed by defense attorney Anders Drake.
part of downtown houses her cramped office. His office is found in a run-down part of the down-
Few people expect a young woman to be a private town.
detective, and Mackenzie often takes advantage of this Wolf is a member of the secretive Order of the
when conducting a surveillance operation or tailing a Knights Templar.
subject.
She takes Aikido lessons for self-defense purposes
and knows how to use a handgun, though she does not "It's not finding them that's hard, or even
often carry one. necessarily finding out who they are. It's
Mackenzie, 27, has long blond hair, which she often doing it without being noticed. Now that's the
braids, and blue eyes. She stands 5'7'' and has an ath- challenge. "
~..-PA-G'""E..,letic build. Mackenzie runs several miles each morn- - William Tory, private investigator
NuMeeR
ing. She is single and has no brothers or sisters.
158
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
1.FJl;1111111b II I
Campaign Tip "· . Bail Bonds and Bounty
In the real world, private investigation jobs mostly Hunting
involve a lot of tedious footwork, like poring through Eli Hirsch: Owner of the largest bail bonds firm in
stacks of paperwork or spending hours in a cramped, San Angelo, with offices located across the street from
smelly car waiting for a surveillance target to show the main jail downtown. For a 10 percent fee and col-
up. lateral, Hirsch will post bail for arrestees. He refuses
But in Champions and the four-color comics, the clients that he feels might flee, preferring to avoid the
private investigations scene is filled with intrigue problem of seizing collateral in return for his forfeited
and danger, providing an excellent background for bail. After the birth of his first grandchild, Hirsch also
a DNPC or Secret ID, not to mention all kinds of began refusing business from accused child abusers.
fodder for adventures. A kind, grandfatherly man, Hirsch excels at comfort-
AP.I. could enlist the help of the heroes after find- ing the distraught relatives and loved ones of arrestees,
ing out something better left alone. Villains, orga- but his gentle manner belies a hard-nosed attitude to-
nized crime bosses or even the government could be ward bail-jumpers.
after him. Or, if the gumshoe has already been si- Dallas Jackson: A bounty hunter based in San
lenced, her notes could lead the heroes through an Angelo. A free-lance operator, he has worked with most
investigation to rescue her from kidnappers or un- of the bail bondsmen in the city, including Eli Hirsch,
mask her killer. at various times. For a sufficient fee, normally a per-
On the other hand, a private eye could be a major centage of the forfeited bail, Jackson will travel any-
hindrance to the PCs. Paul Wolf or some other un- where in the United States in search of a bail-jumper.
savory investigator could be hired to research a PC's He is an expert at finding fugitives, and though he car-
Secret ID, get incriminating photos for a blackmail ries a pistol Jackson prefers to land his quarry without
scheme or probe the hero base's security systems violence.
for a future attack. If the PCs figure out they are
being investigated, they still have decipher who is
behind it all and what the investigator plans to do ICENSll 'fO CAl\RY CON(EALliD PIS1'l)l...Rl!VOLVf.KOK (.JfHl',R. l'lllfAllM
L wmnN musTA'ft: OI· tA1 .1l'OnN111
with the information. 1asulll'> av:
C ERD'I' lll\'11! OF ISS UB.N,U/96
In fact, the discovery of a P.I. snooping around AoEHCv:s11.-.11oo~gArsr As .JAr.KsoN
could be the prologue to a full-scale adventure. MAMg OFl.ICl!NSCF- ;.J,; ' • Wl"EE ~fl
llE.'ill)EN<:E AOOR; 2.,139 PA I SA·...!-' A ""Gk'JJ"
'/- TA cour<TY l'~ tul ._, ~·
Hiring a private investigator to check out the PCs cm: r' A 1c
~, 'l? WAYNE ST SAN ANGELO
Bl'Sll'liSS AOOR: • 7 '" '
4 4
WUT 220
and clever Hunteds, in particular. Let a PC hero BIRTI«>Arf.. ..}/5/4~ llOT: 'hRO twlt. RRO
EY~.S •
fi nd out from a private detective that his oldest en- . cu"'sc· SEIF
KliASON f011 J>llSlll lNG LI ,..,. ... _.
?ROT.E•rTTO'"
... -- ,., ~'IO>
emy now knows his Secret ID, and watch a tired MAN\;1' SN CAL
NUMBER
159
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cl!y ct San Anpolo HOO -
b&Q1 . I
PAGE
NUMBER
160
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctry or S..n Angolo 4SOC -
The Legal Scene filiated with the office have sat at the defense table in
countless high-profile trials.
The city has a thriving legal community and a strong Madison,Fairchild & Associates was founded in I 938
bar association numbering thousands of members. The by attorneys Roger Madison and Rex Fairchild. The
practice of law attracts a diverse crowd, from those now-elderly Roger Madison still serves as senior part-
seeking lucrative corporate jobs to reform-minded ner, but spends most of his time meeting with top cli-
champions of the underdog. Attorneys of all stripes ents and advising partners on cases. Meg Fairchild, the
can be found in San Angelo, including a handful sus- daughter of the late co-founder of the firm, has risen to
pected of less than ethical behavior. become a senior partner in her own right.
The firm occupies a sumptuous suite of offices high
Campaign Tip in the San Angelo Corporate Center in City Center.
Conflicts between supers are spectacularly haz-
ardous for bystanders, not to mention being hard on Other Law Firms
the scenery. Normals injured during a super-battle
California Legal Services
could sue the heroes and/or villains involved for
A not-for-profit firm, California Legal Services of-
medical costs and punitive damages. Likewise, citi-
fers free or low-cost legal advice and assistance to the
zens whose property is damaged could also seek
poor, particularly in fair housing issues. This agency
compensation in court. The Welles Law Firm, in
has filed a number of lawsuits against property owners
particular, will be quite interested in pursuing a ci vii
and local government for failing to provide quality af-
case against supers.
fordable housing. Wesley Hale works for this agency.
GMs are advised to use these stories sparingly,
however. It's not much fun for players, and not ap-
Graham, Drake & Wagner
propriate to the genre, to force PCs to constantly
One of the top criminal defense practices in San
defend their actions in court. But a suit could be
Angelo, the law firm of Graham, Drake & Wagner
used to force negligent or careless PCs to face the
handles many of the highest-profile cases in the city.
consequences of their acts.
Of late, the firm has taken an interest in cases involv-
In fact, a court case against the PCs could be the
ing superhuman defendants. Partner Anders Drake has
work of a villainous foe who seeks to embarrass the
been quite successful at winning acquittals, or at least
heroes, or maybe just tie them up in court while he
reduced sentences, for his superpowered clients.
implements his master plan. The claims in the suit
In fact, Graham, Drake & Wagner often represents
might be bogus, witnesses bribed, and so on. A par-
indigent or destitute supers for free, trading the loss in
ticularly fiendish enemy might try to win an injunc-
legal fees for the publicity value of such cases.
tion prohibiting the PCs from operating as heroes
until the case is resolved, or seek a court order forc-
ing the PCs to stay 100 yards away from the villain
iTop 10 Law Firms
- making it difficult for them to foil his plans. I. (Reserved for PCs or GM-created firm)
2. Madison, Fairchild & Associates (general law)
Madison, Fairchild 8t 1 3. Davis & Weber (corporate law)
4. Graham, Drake & Wagner (criminal law)
Associates 5. (Reserved for PCs or GM-created firm)
One of the top Jaw firms in San Angelo, Madison, 6. Welles Law Firm (personal injury)
Fairchild & Associates has a sizable staff representing 7. Ortiz, D'Angelo & Associates (family law) I
Prominent Attorneys
Leia Birch: A young attorney on her way up. Birch
handles civil litigation, particularly cases of corporate
negligence that result in injury to customers or employ-
ees. In 1995, Birch won a $10 million judgment against
an Eclipse Industries subsidiary for workers injured in
a chemical spill. The conglomerate's high-powered le-
gal team has appealed the case.
Birch is an avid scuba diver who often vacations in
the Caribbean and other diving hot spots.
Anders Drake: A well-known criminal defense at-
torney who specializes in cases involving superhumans.
An elegant, dignified man, Drake has never been known
to lose his composure. He has an encyclopedic knowl-
edge of criminal law, and often manages to have cases
against his clients dismissed due to technicalities. Some
police and prosecutors attribute Drake's record to judi-
cial corruption, however. He is a partner in the firm of
Graham, Drake & Wagner.
Campaign Tip Meg Fairchild: A prominent attorney with the city's
top law firm, Morgan, Fairchild & Associates. Daugh-
The law firm of Graham, Drake & Wagner can be a
useful tool for GMs to free up captured villains for use ter of the late co-founder of the firm, Fairchild special-
in later adventures. Its attorneys can get clients out on izes in corporate law.
bail, arrange plea bargains or even win acquittals for Following the death of a childhood friend from AIDS,
imprisoned foes. After all, everyone can't break out of Fairchild became a tireless fund-raiser for AIDS re-
jail. search and charities. She organizes several benefit con-
GMs should exercise restraint in using Graham, Drake certs, casino nights, high-society balls and other fund-
& Wagner to spring villains, however. If the players raising events each year.
begin to feel that captured foes are being set free willy-
nilly, they may become discouraged or decide to put Fairchild breeds and trains show dogs as a hobby.
enemies out of conunission permanently- in either case, Wesley Hale: An attorney with California Legal Ser-
not a pretty picture for campaign longevity. vices who has won several fair housing suits against
the city and county on behalf of his poor or indigent
clients. City leaders blame Hale's lawsuits for holding
up efforts to redevelop the San Angelo riverfront.
The Welles Law Firm is actually a chain of storefront J. Prescott Marr: A former Superior Court judge
Jaw offices that floods local airwaves with commer- who resigned under a cloud, though charges of corrup-
l'l!!o_.--.f.
1 ials aimed at people injured in accidents. Other San tion against him were never proven. Now an attorney
PA~~ Angelo attorneys dislike this firm, which is owned by in private practice, Marr advised the defense team of
attorney Oscar Welles. San Angelo crime boss Arlisson Kalstrom and handles
62
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ct!) aP Sart A""QO'O .n(IO -
Kalstrom's appeal. He reputedly has other ties to orga- The editors, fact-checkers, graphic artists and type-
nized crime as well. setters at Gramercy Press are based in one of the fash-
Jacqueline Stone: A gutsy human-rights attorney who ionable office buildings surrounding Parker Square in
has launched a campaign against Light of Truth Minis- The Wharves.
try. Stone represents several families who have lost loved
ones to the cult. as well as some dissatisfied former Inner Light Publishing
members. Cult attempts to intimidate Stone, including A publishing company owned by the cult-like Light
posting fliers in her neighborhood accusing her of reli- of Truth Ministry. The cult obtained the small printing
gious intolerance, have so far failed to dissuade her. house when the owner converted to its teachings. Post-
The challenge of taking on a multi-million-dollar cult ers of the cult master, Adam, soon appeared on the walls
is right up Stone's alley. In the past, her solo practice and recordings of his teachings played in the offices.
has handled cases involving police brutality, corporate Under heavy pressure to join the cult, most employ-
layoffs and the rights of the disabled. ees quit within a few weeks to be replaced by Light of
Stone, who is single, recently adopted an orphaned Truth acolytes receiving little or no pay.
infant from Guatemala. Renamed Inner Light Publishing, the firm prints the
Lucas Wong: A longtime San Angelo attorney now various texts, fliers, pamphlets and posters required
in semi-retirement. Wong, a famed defense attorney in by Light of Truth Ministry. The company is based in
his day, has become something of a mentor to many Riverfront downtown.
idealistic young lawyers with a passion for champion-
ing the underdog. His dingy Chinatown office is still MHM Comics
the scene of many late-night strategy sessions as he An independent comic book publisher based in a City
advises his younger colleagues. Center skyscraper, MHM Comics (The ac-
"S. ronym is drawn
o You're a t·olfectorJI /'
The Publishing Scene #11.
'"'PV• · vCJce Fuundarion
got a of JuQ . • Vt!
from the last
names of the three
A numberof publishing houses call San Angelo home. /ere o11 tilt- '''"''/. .
"''1}USI $.~'.5 0.
I
TIOW t1/J01i/ If.? j ..>. • f founders of the
Their catalogs contain fiction and non-fiction books b, ... , where tllev
riute the E.A·iJe.r., 1 company) prints the
of all kinds. 01,e 8<J for S/5. . COtdd let tht11 licensed Justice
While San Angelo cannot compare with New York "OJ
cours.e. ifyou •re loo'·' Foundation comics,
City in the publishing world, firms based in the Golden fif)r Q real cl · · , "mg as well as other
City do have an edge in the narrow, but popular, field 1947 us-.re n1t1a 'as.r1c_,. l1ere s '""
.. •
o11 r/, . o 0 ...1ne to1•er ,\ 'lory comic books based
of books regarding supers, their adventures and re- e Wedding t>:fS" R. on the real-world su-
lated phenomena. and Niglltingo/e T. ·y. "''K~r
hack $.J,()O • 'hat II 4et you pers of San Angelo.
•• • thoJJgh.
About half the ad-
Publishers of Note The Paragon mil .
cl<USic l' W. 11·.ter/es, a ventures in MHM
Gramercy Press "'-· ., . • 'hat, are You kiJLJ;;,,,,,:;
\.RI amk m tit a. "' • Comics books are real,
A company that specializes in publishing non- Geez, ., e f.l"Ck-u-bool.: bi,,.
or based on real events.
fiction books, particularly biographies and auto- -Barne K'1 The rest are created by
biographies, Gramercy Press has printed a few Y PP. 33, comic
book shop owner the talented writers who
best-selling books by or about local supers, in- work for the firm. but
cluding the memoirs of Golden Age hero Sky Ranger. readers don't seem to mind.
163
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Religious San Angelo Christian
Center (G4)
World An Assemblies of God church in La Vista, the San
The city of San Angelo has a diverse religious land- Angelo Christian Center has a membership of more
scape encompassing everything from vast Roman than 3,200, making it one of the largest in the region .
Catholic cathedrals to tiny storefront churches. In be- The center occupies a lush 65-acre complex, includ-
tween, practically every form of faith can be found - ing a private school campus, offices, youth centers and
from the oldest traditional religions to the freshest New acres of parking. The vast sanctuary itself is a marvel
Age beliefs. of architectural design. Something is going on at the
San Angelo Christian Center almost all the time,
whether it be an actual service, a gospel concert, a
Catholic Archdiocese Christian singles event or an elaborate stage play based
of San Angelo on the Bible.
The activities of the Catholic Church in the region The church, which has a $6.6 million annual budget,
predate San Angelo itself. Spanish priests built the counts several top figures in the local political and busi-
Mission San Angeles in the area in the late 1700s to ness worlds among its members. Rev. Timothy
convert nearby tribes of California Indians, but met Crandall is the pastor.
with little success. Despite the failure of the mission,
the Mexican ranchers who followed kept the Catholic Other Religious
faith alive.
The arrival of mostly Protestant American settlers Institutions of Note
in the 1800s, not to mention waves of immigrants from Every form of organized religion is represented in
around the globe in later years, have diluted the once- San Angelo, though some churches are larger or bet-
supreme influence of the Catholic Church in San ter-known than others.
Angelo. Nevertheless, Catholicism still ranks as the
largest single religion in the city and the influence of Al Qazar Mosque (E6)
the church remains potent. The largest Islamic mosque in San Angelo, the Al
Originally part of the San Francisco archdiocese, San Qazar Mosque is named for an 18th century Palestin-
Angelo gained its own bishop and diocesan offices in ian military leader. The Midtown mosque, which holds
the 1880s and became an archdiocese headed by an daily prayer services, serves Sunni followers of Islam.
archbishop in the 20th century. Mohammed Omar-Sidawi is the imam, or prayer
The archdiocese oversees parishes serving hundreds leader, of the Al Qazar Mosque.
of thousands of city residents. Scores of chari-
ties, schools. missions, associations and other ''Whe11 Shrapnel hurt Twi.rter back in '93 1 · '
institutions affiliated with the church are also gtll'e him a 50-50 h . · ' l11e uoctors
. c ance to ltve rhrough the night I
governed by the Catholic Archdiocese of San wem to St. K'.r to light a candle for him . .
Angelo. I wasn't alone. later. I hear..1 h h , and belzeve me,
A Ii , u c urc es all over San
Archbishop Francis Kelly heads the archdio- 11ge o were ft/ltd with people that night .
the ne. r da h • praymg. And
cese, which is based at St. Kieran's Catholic ~ 'Y t e doctors announced Twister .
Church in downtown San Angelo. make it. was gomg to
-\ "Surper..t, 11om1als - I figure we 're all in this .
\ We each do Oflr part. ,, together.
PAGE
NUMBER if .
~ -Claudia Vitelli, 42, travel agent
164
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Mosque leaders are currently trying to persuade Mos- St. Anthony's Catholic Church
lems who work at liquor stores to find other jobs, as
{G7)
the consumption of alcoholic beverages is forbidden
The best-attended church in San Angelo, St. Anthony's
by the Koran. A special task force has been formed to
help find new employment for those who quit their old Catholic Church is located in the North Mission neigh-
borhood.
jobs. An outreach program also tries to combat nega-
tive public images of Moslems and Arab Americans as The church offers three Sunday morning Masses, in-
terrorists, particularly stereotypical depictions in films cluding two Spanish Masses, as well as services at
and television. midnight Saturday and Sunday evening. Practically
every Mass is packed, and on holidays the church is
filled beyond overflowing.
Temple Beth Israel {E9)
The synagogue with the largest Jewish congregation
in San Angelo, Temple Beth Israel is located down- St. Basil's Cathedral {H9)
town. The temple follows the reform branch of Juda- A Russian Orthodox church found in the Little Kiev
ism and is led by Rabbi Arik Goldberg. portion of Cathedral Square, St. Basil's is noted for its
distinctive architecture. St. Basil's is well-attended by
First Baptist Church of San the numerous Ukrainian, Russian and Eastern Euro-
pean immigrants in the neighborhood.
Angelo (C7)
The oldest non-Catholic church in the city, the First
Baptist Church of San Angelo was built in 1854 in St. Kieran's Catholic Church
Poverty Gulch. The white clapboard church is a his- {C9)
toric landmark. An ornate downtown church, St. Kieran's Catholic
Church houses the offices of the archdiocese. Named
Mien Community Temple for an obscure 6th Century Irish saint, the church was
A small Buddhist temple in West San Angelo, the built in the early 20th Century but did not become the
Mien Community Temple is chiefly attended by South- principal church of the archdiocese until 1972.
east Asian residents. The temple actively assists new- The closure of the huge Cathedral of St. Mary in Ca-
comers to America, providing translators, help with thedral Square due to earthquake safety fears prompted
paperwork, advocacy programs and other aid. the archbishop at the time, an austere man who dis-
liked the ostentatious Gothic cathedral, to move his
Mt. Zion African Methodist offices to St. Kieran's in the more convenient City Cen-
ter. When the Cathedral of St. Mary reopened in 1983,
Episcopal Church the archdiocesian offices remained at St. Kieran 's. Most
One of the largest churches in Brenton, Mt. Zion Af-
people refer to the church as St. K's.
rican Methodist Episcopal Church (most people
shorten the name to Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church) has
made a name for itself for its moving services and T'ien Tsun Temple (011)
famed gospel choir. A Chinatown landmark, the T' ien Tsun Temple is
The choir, winner of several national awards, trav- dedicated to all the Chinese gods. The three-story temple
els frequently around the western United States. Rev. on Canton Street is a favorite with tourists. It was built
Everett Smythe serves as pastor for the predominantly in 1868.
African American church, which features a busy youth
program including outreach efforts targeting street Other prominent Chinatown temples include the Fui.....'A"'."G' ""'E!!'l'I
gang members. Shen Temple and the Wong Taisin Temple. NUMBER
165
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Rev. John Warden
Pastor
responsible for the spiritual well-being of initiates and Recent Light of Day targets have included attorney
acolytes. They also supervise the various operations Jacqueline Stone, who represents families seeking the
of the cult, from its homeless outreach programs to return of loved ones from the cult, and the S.A. Weekly,
recruitment efforts. which printed an expose on the operation. Very few
At the top of the hierarchy are the master, Adam, readers saw the story, however, as cult members re-
and his coterie of advisers. moved the papers from newsracks and destroyed them.
Joining Light of Truth can be quite expensive. Ini-
tiates are expected to purchase robes and reading ma- Elijah
terials from the cult at inflated prices. They also tithe a
Light of Truth acolyte
share of their income to the cult, and must pay addi-
STR 9 DEX 11 CON 12 BODY 9
tional tithes for the various rituals prescribed by faith
INT 13 EGO 12 PRE 10 COM 12
leaders. Initiates are constantly pressured to become
SPD 2 REC4 END24 STUN 20
full members, known as acolytes.
Acolytes must sign all their worldly possessions over PD 2 ED 2
to the cult as proof that they reject the outside world. Skills/Powers: Animal handler 11-, Bureaucratics
They work for Light of Truth for little or no pay, but 11 -, Computer Programming 12-, Familiarity with
are housed and fed by the sect. Electronics 8-, Gambling 11-, Familiarity with High
Most of the cult's income comes from tithes, par- Society 8-, KS: LightofTruthdoctrines 12-, KS : Stock
ticularly the ones given by acolytes. Light of Truth market 12-, Persuasion 11-, PS: cult acolyte 11 -, PS:
has acquired several businesses signed over by new Stock broker 11-, Riding 11-, Trading 11-
disciples, not to mention access to the bank accounts Disadvantages:Age 40+, Distinctive Features: white-
of affluent members. robed acolyte, Watched by leader 14- (As Pow, NCI,
While new Light of Truth members come from all limited geographical area), Physical Lim: Bad leg (-2"
walks of life, recruiters target bright, young people with Running), Psych: Loyal to Adam (Very Com, Total),
low self-confidence or feelings of alienation. They are Psych:Severed ties to "past life" (Com, Total), Psych:
particularly active on college campuses in San Angelo. Driven to recruit and "enlighten" others (Com, Str)
Initiation rituals are designed to break down the de- Notes: Elijah is one of many acolytes of the Light of
fenses of recruits, who eat spartan diets and sleep only Truth Ministry. His real name is Simon Turner, chang-
a few hours a night. The cutting of ties to family and ing his name when he joined the cult six months ago.
friends slowly makes Light of Truth the only life its Simon was a stock broker, working in an office on
disciples know. Wayne Street, in San Angelo's downtown financial dis-
Efforts by wonied parents and friends to contact aco- trict. Every day he would work 10 to 12 hours and
1ytes are politely rebuffed by faith leaders, who typi- return home to his wife, Cynthia, and two children,
cally respond that no one by that name belongs to Light Stevie and Erin. Years of mounting pressures at work
of Day - not strictly untrue, since acolytes are given and home became too much for Simon to handle. One
new names. night after work he was given a pamphlet from a kind,
Government efforts to investigate allegations of seemingly happy man in a white robe. "Eternal life.
brainwashing, force Light of Truth to conform to zon- Inner Harmony ." The words beckoned to Simon.
ing regulations or audit cult-owned companies are like- He gave up everything, drove to the compound and
wise stonewalled. signed over his bank account to the cult. He denounced
Foes of the cult are subject to a variety of intimida- every worldy possession and took the name Elijah.
tion tactics, including defamatory leaflets, threatening His wife and children, left penniless, have moved in
phone calls and vandalism. Light of Day attorneys are with Cynthia's parents. Her efforts to contact Simon
also quick to file lawsuits against outspoken opponents were fruitless, so Cynthia has hired an attorney to tryfioP_A_G_e""'"
NUMBER
of the ministry as well as government intervention. to recover some of their finances from the cult's grasp.
169
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Other Fringe Religions Grey, who refused any religious title, claimed the
rites of the temple were revealed to her by spirits from
and Cults the lost civilization of Atlantis, who communicated
Although Light of Truth Ministry is the largest fringe with her via meditative trances. She taught her fol-
group in the San Angelo religious scene, the city is home lowers that Atlantis was not destroyed, as legends say,
to a variety of untraditional faiths. but merely abandoned when its people moved on to a
Based on New Age beliefs, occultism or ancient pa- higher state of consciousness. By following the spiri-
gan faiths, these groups are small but climbing in popu- tual path set out by the Atlanteans, temple followers
larity. While more traditional religions are quick to la- believe they too can someday ascend to a higher plane.
bel all these groups as cults, actually very few engage In 1986, a sometime temple member named Aurora
in cult-like activities such as brainwashing. Whitfield brought her 10-year-old daughter Kirsten to
Grey. She told Grey that Kirsten's dreams sometimes
Church of the Army of the came true. Baffled, and a little frightened, Aurora
Whitfield turned to Grey for advice.
Lord
Grey proclaimed Kirsten a reincarnated Atlantean high
An apocalyptic sect, the Church of the Army of the
priestess. With her mother's permission, Grey raised
Lord preaches that supers are the Earthly manifesta-
the child herself - guiding her emotional and spiri-
tions of angels and demons sent to herald the coming
tual development, while teaching her the inner-most
Armageddon. Sect teachings are based on selected Bible
secrets of the Temple of Atlantis.
verses, the prophecies of Nostradamus and the revela-
tions of its self-styled messiah, John McBride. Mem- Grey renamed the youngster Themis, after a ti tan
bers live on a secluded ranch near the town of Canfield from Greek myths with the power to foretell the fu-
in the foothills near Lake Oro. ture, but as word of her powers spread outside the
The Church of the Army of the Lord does not ac- temple she became known as Dreamweaver.
tively recruit new members, and the sect is actually As she grew up, Dreamweaver gained new powers,
quite suspicious of outsiders. including the ability to enter and influence the dreams
The sect raises its own food, produces its own cloth- of others. Grey taught her to use her powers to help
ing and manufactures most other needed supplies. Temple of Atlantis followers find enlightenment, and
Sheriff's investigators and federal ATF agents fear the introduced new ceremonies centering on her abilities.
Church of the Army of the Lord may be arming itself The changes reinvigorated the Temple of Atlantis,
for the foretold final conflict between good and evil. reaffirming the faith of longtime members and bring-
ing in many new followers.
Temple of Atlantis (03) When Grey died of cancer in 1996, Dreamweaver took
New Age mysticism and the paranormal psi powers her place as leader of the Temple of Atlantis. Some-
of its high priestess are at the heart of the Temple of what shy and naive, she nonetheless believes strongly
Atlantis. in Grey's teachings and is committed to carrying on
Founded in 1970 by Marietta Grey, the Midtown her work.
temple attracted a small following in the next two de- Local authorities are worried about the potential for
cades. Its teachings are based on meditation, dietary brainwashing or other abuse, but no one has ever come
restrictions, peaceful living and harmony with nature. forward with a complaint about Dreamweaver or the
Followers are urged to move beyond emotion to a place Temple of Atlantis - not even those who later left
of serenity. the temple.
Dreamweaver
New Age mystic
way. ~~·
PAGE
NUMBER
172
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Scientific In the end, however, the assemblage of gifted minds
proved too fragile to survive the inevitable clash of
World egos. In 1964, a dispute details of which are known
only to its members - irrevocably shattered the "Brain
The city of San Angelo has acquired a national repu- Trust."
tation as a center of scientific inquiry and high technol- A number of now-prominent San Angelo professors,
ogy. As a result, numerous labs and companies on the scientists, physicians, engineers and researchers are
leading edge of science, technology and research have alumni of the informal club. Some are still in contact
located in the metropolis, particularly in the Arroyo with their old friends, while others continue to be split
Verde area. by the long-ago incident that drove the union apart.
The city's two public universities and various hospi- They include Orion Labs chief Franklin Colt, ren-
tals are also heavily involved in scientific research, as egade cyberneticist Dr. Anton Megalo, scientist-hero
are several of the larger corporations in town. Savant, supers physician Dr. Philadelphia Ryan and
physicist-turned-bag lady Lilith Newmeyer.
Campaign Tip
Weird science and incredible inventions are staples Helix Technologies
of the world of comic books. Most hero teams seem
Most people consider Helix Technologies a run-of-
to have at least one scientist, and the bad guys often
the-mill medical lab that performs routine DNA testing
have their own renegade geniuses on hand.
for local hospitals and law enforcement agencies.
The world of San Angelo is no exception. These
They' re wrong.
companies and NPCs can be used for all kinds of
Helix Technologies, based at an Arroyo Verde com-
scenarios in your campaign - some are handy for
pound, is actually an ultra-secret operation that has
consultation by the heroes, while others provide aid
made incredible advances in the fields of cloning and
to their enemies. A few might even be considered
genetic engineering. The lab has already succeeded in
enemies in their own right!
creating and cloning at least one "perfect" human be-
ing. The company's true purpose has been kept totally
The "Brain Trust" secret from the government, other labs and the public
A remarkable convergence of brilliant minds took at large, however.
place at UC San Angelo in the early 1960s. Several Even most Helix Technologies employees and con-
individuals who went on to become leading lights in sultants are not aware of the covert experiments con-
their chosen fields studied under Hal Revette, himself a ducted by the inner-most circle of scientists at the lab.
famed scientist, at approximately the same time. A Soviet emigre, Vladimir Kaminov, founded Helix
Drawn to each other as if by fate, graduate students, Technologies in 1990 with his American-born son, Pe-
undergrads and even a few high schoolers coalesced ter, and daughter-in-law, Anna.
into an informal group of junior scientists with Revette Vladimir had come to the United States in the 1940s,
as a mentor. fleeing a Stalinist purge. A gifted
Known around campus as the geneticist, he had been involved in a
"Hmmm, inrert11itrg. It ~ppeors failed effort to induce superpowers,
'"Brain Trust," the fractious gang of
your motee11/ar structure mvolve.'t
geniuses debated the fine points of the . ' ,w of q1ui11rum-phose rtlO· like those possessed by the Golden
< '>I
latest theories, compared notes on 11ante sig1&ature "e .. , •v,,. t1ever
.
Age heroes of America, in Soviet
their individual research projects, de- em:ountefed IieJ""··.1. .... Wht1t? Oli, soldiers.
voured news of fresh scientific ad- tlCllIllll . g 10 wc1rry cJbour, as long A mysterious benefactor per-,..- -...
rt .
vances and even conducted a few clan- as you stay awa)' from ce ain suaded Vladimir, who had retired ~!,~E~
destine experiments. rypes of 1·mlicrtion ···" . . after several decades as a geneti-
- Franklin Colt, 53, sc1enust 173
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
.
r-----
1 GM'
cisL in the U.S .. to begin a study of I A PC~ Opbon
. - - - - ..
I Cameron, who escaped from the labs
the possihilily of human cloning. I nolo .• c~eared by He/ix Tecli- I during the fire, now competes in the
The benefae Lor provided Lhe I hero.g~:r~~u/.d be an interesting I underground pit-fighting world as
Kaminovs with rudimentary plans I .secondclo~P~/ich~ lab created a I Bloodsporr (see Allies & Enemies).
· · e a cci Cameron I1·
tor the lughly advanced Lechnolo- I al.ready succeede<l . •. as I
gies rel1uired t_o genetically engi- I its lost equipmer11" re~~atmg I 0 ri 0 n Labs
1
. . .
Vlad11111r Kammov, also supplied
. 1 ·ther.estreetsofSa
. b' . . 11 Ange/o 10 tesr I c_ f · ·1· · · · · th ·
e nters o sc1entt 1c mqmry m e, nauon,
a
the billions of dollars necessary I mighi a k • tltltcs. Local a h · · I d · 'bl
'ur on11e.~ an quite poss1 Y e wor . th Id
to create the hyper-advanced I look 'tfler s rhche. PC hero. ream · 10 I U ntler c h 1e · f scientist
· · F ran k 1·m C o It,
technology. Although not even
I. '
- - - - _ _ _
e amnesia vic1i
m. I .
Onon Labs conducts research under con-
Vladimir knew his true identity. the benefac- - - • tract to other corporations and the govern-
tor was Ren Westlake, a time traveler from the future. ment. While these projects often result in break-
In 1995, the Kaminovs succeeded in producing pro- throughs, they mostly serve to help finance so-called
totypes of the cloning technology. They successfully "pure" research projects in a variety of fields.
created a genetically engineered human clone, named Colt believes strongly in serendipitous discoveries,
Cameron. in which investigations into one topic produce unex-
Then disaster struck. A sailing mishap on Lake Oro pected breakthroughs, often in an entirely different
killed Vladimir, and a few days later a fire destroyed field of study. This concept is at the heart of his ad-
the Helix Technologies labs. Curiously, the prototypes ministrative policy, and Colt often authorizes projects
were nowhere to be found amid the rubble, and in seemingly unprofitable or unlikely subjects. A
Cameron's body was never recovered. But all of the healthy percentage of these efforts have paid off for
notes, designs and other information pertaining to don- Orion Labs.
ing technology were destroyed in the blaze. A well-known scientist in his own right, Colt founded
Peter and Anna Kaminov have re-established Helix Orion Labs in 1978 after becoming disillusioned by
Technologies and have embarked on a crash program the emphasis on applied science at other companies.
to recreate the lost cloning equipment. Now the labs employ scores of scientists in a variety
The DNA-testing services provided by the firm are of fields, including physics, atomic theory, chemistry,
just a front, though they are useful in gathering DNA engineering, electronics, biology, medicine and genet-
samples for the lab's more secret experiments. Rec- ics, to name just a few. Orion Labs also makes heavy
ognizing that someone does not want to see the clon- use of outside consultants for specific projects.
ing equipment replicated, the Kaminovs have intensi- Along with its scientific pursuit'>, Orion Labs is also
fied security. Along with an array of high-tech sen- responsible for many of the high-tech gadgets in the
sors, Helix Technologies facilities are protected by world of San Angelo. Many heroes and law enforce-
armed guards. ment agencies use devices invented at the labs to help
Westlake, who engineered the death of Vladimir even the odds against superhuman criminals.
Kaminov and destruction of the labs to ensure he re- The labs are also a key source of information and
,!..
NUMBER
mained the sole possessor of human cloning technol- advice, and many a strange device taken off a cap-
P-'A"""G"""e""''ogy, does not realize the Kaminovs are attempting re- tured super-criminal has been sent to Orion Labs for
,
build the stolen prototypes. analysis.
174
-· SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Campaign Tip
?rion ~hs is a giCa1 rCSOUl'CC for GMs and playerS
ahkc. PC mvcnl011 could find employment at the lab.
while lhei1· less ScientificuJly inclined colleagues could FutureWorks Robotics
go tO Orion Labs lor advice on the offbeat problem& Engineers at FutureWorks Robotics are at the fore-
often .encountered l>y heroei - just how to get to Oi- front of robo-technology. The Arroyo Verde company
me~10~ X to rescue a kidnapped DNPC. for elUlmple. fashions robots for specialized uses in various fields,
SC1en11sts <tt Orion Labs are always happy to srudy a
including heavy industry, medicine and warehousing.
captured gadget or rwo. On Lhe other hand a PC could
hire the lab to huild tome of his own gadg~try! Designers are also tinkering with a primitive artificial
GMs c~n use Orio~ Labs ro explain some of the high- intelligence in hopes of someday creating sophisticated
tech equipment camed by police and mjfitary person- self-programming robots.
nel. While I.be lab Joe1n•1 sell equipment to the bad
guys, there's no reason why stolen devices couldn't wind
up in the wrong hands. Meridian Engineering (H4)
The lab might ask supers with a particularly interest- Designs for ultra-secret spy satellites are the forte of
ing origin or powers to drop by for an examination. Meridian Engineering. Housed in a non-descript La
Finally, experiments gone awry at Orion Labs are al- Vista office park, the firm produces plans for sophisti-
ways a great adventure possibility - not to mention a cated orbital satellites able to take photos so precise
chance for PCs to repay I.be lab for all its past assis- that a license plate can be read. Other satellites are de-
tance.
signed to pick up radio transmissions, detect nuclear
testing or perform other covert tasks.
Other Laboratories All of the company's work is done under contract to
and Research Firms various departments of the federal government, and
nearly all employees have security clearances.
A recognized leader in the field of high technology,
San Angelo has attracted a number of top companies
involved in scientific research and advanced engineer- New Frontiers Inc.
mg.
A prime player in the field of advanced micro-cir-
cuitry, the New Frontiers Inc. labs of Arroyo Verde are
BioGen Sciences busy designing the next generation of electronics.
A bio-science firm based in Arroyo Verde, BioGen Chemists, engineers and other experts at the labs are
Sciences has a state-of-the-art genetic engineering lab forever experimenting with new ways to shrink the size
used primarily for agriculture-related research. and cost of electronic components, particularly com-
The firm has developed new strains of corn, tomatoes puter chips. Micro-circuitry technology created by New
and other crops, boosting their resistance to blight and Frontiers Inc. is typically licensed to other companies
disease. Other projects involve crafting helpful micro- for integration into advanced electronic devices.
organisms, such as oil-eating bacteria that can be used
to clean spills.
But BioGen Sciences has been the target of protests Radiant Concepts
by critics, who argue that human-engineered organ- Lasers and laser technology drive Radiant Concepts,
isms could have unforeseen, possibly catastrophic, a small but respected lab in Arroyo Verde. High-tech
effects on the world. factories and hospital operating rooms are just two
places where the company's precision lasers can be
CryoDynamics found.
An Arroyo Verde lab, CryoDynamics researches su- Radiant Concepts is considered a leader in the bur-
percooling technology for industrial and computing geoning field of laser technology, due in no small part PAGE
uses. The firm also builds and tests prototype systems to the advances made by its research team, headed by 1:i~eeR
at its facility. Holly Tamura. ~5
Ren Westlake
Time traveler
176
SAN ANGELO: CITY. OF HEROES
Background: On the run, hunted by his own sol- As his resources grew, Westlake began to implement
diers. Branded a war criminal, for God's sake! And the next step in his strategy - increasing his military
all General Ren Westlake had tried to do was save the power. He became the shadowy sponsor of numerous
Earth. hyper-advanced technology projects, such as the clon-
In the year 2063, Westlake led a military coup that ing experiments at Helix Technologies.
attempted to impose an authoritarian world government Drawing on his knowledge of 21st century technol-
on the squabbling nations of a nightmarish world. ogy, Westlake provided rudimentary plans for the weap-
Beset by famines, plagues, endless wars, rampant ons, vehicles and other equipment he desired - often
pollution and out-of-control population growth, the supplying the crucial information needed to make the
world was on the edge of total collapse. Westlake hoped technological leaps required.
to pull it back from the brink by seizing control, then Westlake is nearly ready to launch the third stage of
implementing the harsh measures necessary to preserve his strategy, creation of a small but potent secret mili-
humanity. Even though some considered his plans heart- tary force employing hyper-advanced technology.
less, even inhuman, Westlake knew drastic methods Personality/Motivation: Ren Westlake has a goal:
were needed. nothing less than saving the Earth. And the only way to
But the coup failed, not least because his colleagues save the world is to unify its bickering, short-sighted
were more interested in boosting their personal power peoples under a strong leader. A leader willing to rule
than in safeguarding Earth, and Westlake went from a with an iron fist, to make the hard choices. Someone
world dictator to the most-hunted fugitive on the planet who won't be held back from decisive action by senti-
in a single night. ment or wishy-washy humanitarian ideals. Someone
Then he got a second chance. willing to go to any extreme and make any sacrifice to
Westlake discovered what appeared to be a prototype ensure the future of the human race.
time portal in some abandoned laboratory he'd broken In short, someone like Ren Westlake.
into as a hiding spot. The device had been damaged, Westlake is deeply committed to saving the Earth from
but Westlake used his technical skills to jury-rig the itself, though his vision of a totalitarian world govern-
equipment. As his pursuers closed in, he stepped through ment may fall short of others ideas of a utopian future.
the portal - and emerged in the San Angelo of 1988. But Westlake has seen at least one of the alternatives,
Westlake was too late to save the Earth of 2063. Con- and it's not something he'd like to see again.
ditions had slid too far before he'd even been born. He Quote: "My time is coming. "
could see that now. Powersffactics: Ren Westlake is a normal human,
This time, he'd make sure things went differently. But with no superpowers. His elite military training and
in order to change the course of the future, Westlake access to high-tech weapons make him a dangerous foe
needed power. And in the 1980s, money was power. in combat, however.
Wagering on sporting events, investing in key stocks, Westlake typically wears a suit of extra-light body
executing precisely timed criminal heists - Westlake armor and carries a plasma pistol, though his best de-
quietly nurtured an expanding, but invisible, financial fense is his careful planning, which should make it un-
empire. necessary for him to ever engage in direct combat.
As he explored the world of the 1980s, Westlake dis- He has naturally acute hearing, which has helped
covered signs that another time traveler had preceded Westlake get out of more than one close call.
him. A few inventions before their time, a few changes Appearance: Ren Westlake, 50, has close-cropped
from the history Westlake recalled - mostly having to white hair and pale blue eyes. He stands 5' 1O" and has
do with humanitarian causes. Still, it couldn't hurt to a stocky, muscular build. Westlake keeps in excellent
be cautious. So Westlake stayed undercover, making physical shape with daily workouts. He has a distinct
sure to remain safely anonymous. military bearing and a commanding presence. --......-Ji
PAGE
NUMBER
177
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Other Inventors and Holly Tamura: Chief of research at Radiant Con-
cepts. A brilliant young scientist, Tamura has helped
Scientists of Note make several discoveries in the field of laser technol-
ogy that have given the company a solid edge over its
Brian Card: An engineer at Meridian Engineering competitors. Industrial cutting lasers are her specialty.
who helped design several top-secret spy satellites. Card Tamura, who is Japanese American, has a strong in-
sold information on the projects to agents of the Soviet terest in her heritage. She belongs to several cultural
Union during the late 1970s and early 1980s. societies and has twice visited Japan to seek out long-
The collapse of the USSR brought an end to the ar- lost relatives.
rangement, but Card now lives in mortal fear that his
indiscretions will someday be revealed.
Franklin Colt: A top scientist and head of Orion Labs.
An African American man who grew up in Brenton The Social Scene
and attended UC San Angelo, he is one of the most Like any city, San Angelo is home to all kinds of
respected scientists in the world. clubs and other organizations. There are even a few
As president of Orion Labs, Colt still makes time for secret societies in the Golden City.
his own research projects and has participated in most
of the major breakthroughs achieved by the private lab.
Colt founded the lab in 1978 after becoming discour-Clubs & Organizations
aged at the scant opportunities for "pure" research at Various clubs and organizations are an important part
top corporations. Every project had a budget, usually of the San Angelo social scene. Societies based on the
small, and a schedule, usually tight. He longed to un- ethnic or national background of members are com-
dertake projects that interested him without having to mon in San Angelo, with German and Greek organiza-
produce an immediate, profitable application. tions being the most prominent. These clubs host an
Using royalties from his earlier inventions, Colt es- array of social and cultural events throughout the year.
tablished Orion Labs as a center of both applied and Service clubs, mostly local chapters of well-known
pure scientific inquiry. The innovative approach has national or even international organizations, are also
paid off with a number of important breakthroughs in popular among San Angelinos, as are lodges and fra-
several fields. ternal orders.
His full name is Benjamin Franklin Colt, but he pre- In addition, veterans organizations are fairly strong
fers to just go by his middle name. in the city, with members including a number of Viet-
Peter Kaminov: The highly intelligent, driven head nam and Persian Gulf veterans, though most members
of Helix Technologies, a focus of advanced cloning are aging World War II or Korean War vets.
and genetic engineering techniques.
Kaminov is totally focused on the potential for creat- Argonaut Society (D3)
ing genetically engineered human clones. He has never A l 930s-era club of explorers, daredevils and other
even considered the ethical or societal implications of adventurers, the Argonaut Society was founded by ex-
such efforts, and laws prohibiting human cloning are plorer Tyler North in 1928. North took the name from
of no concern to Kaminov. the Greek myth of the quest of Jason and his heroic
He also lacks any regard for the clones that might be friends for the Golden Fleece.
created by such a process- to Kaminov, they are merely The private Midtown club building featured a din-
experimental subjects, not human beings in their own ing room, lounge and trophy hall. Members included
........__,...irighl. Kaminov is consumed by the how, not the why WWI pilot "Ace" Braddock, archaeologist Professor
I ~1,~~ or even the if, of his studies. Simon Morrow, Arctic explorer Dakota Ross and big-
t78
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clly or Sen Angulo ooc -
game hunter Rock Cody. Howard Shaw, the heir of The Cyber Underground
railroad magnate Leland Shaw, also belonged to the Despite its sinister name, the Cyber Underground is
club and sponsored many of its expeditions. really just a club of teenage hackers based in San
The exploits of the Argonaut Society electrified San Angelo. Even though the oldest members are in their
Angelo and the nation during the bleak years of the early 20s, the underground has amassed an impressive
Depression, but the club began to fade after the disap- pool of computer expertise.
pearance of Tyler North in 1939. North had led an ex- Cyber Underground tactics vary from person to per-
pedition to investigate reports of a mysterious lost val-
son, from secretly inserting a program that collects
ley of prehistoric creatures, but never returned. The passwords into a target computer system to the low-
advent of World War II soon eclipsed the club. tech approach of going through a firm's trash bins in
The few surviving members of the Argonaut Society, search of discarded notes and computer manuals.
now all long since retired, still meet occasionally at theOther underground members are so-called "phone
club, found in the now "yuppified" Piper Glen neigh- phreaks," adept at navigating through telephone com-
borhood. The club's trophy hall, home to rare and un- pany computers to get free service, obtain extra lines,
usual artifacts from all over the globe, is sometimes change phone numbers or play practical jokes on en-
visited by scholars from San Angelo universities. emies.
The capabilities of the Cyber Underground, particu-
Other Clubs & Organizations larly the potential for stealing financial data or crash-
Most clubs in San Angelo are fairly mundane, orga- ing computers controlling vital functions like the city
nized either to help the community or bring together power grid, are of considerable concern to San Angelo
people interested in a particular hobby. A few organi- authorities.
zations stand out from the crowd, however. But club activities have so far been confined to minor
computer break-ins and low-grade mischief, like rede-
Skywatch signing the San Angelo city web page with nude pic-
An association of San Angelo UFO buffs, Skywatch tures and obscenities.
meets once a month at a local hotel. Members keep Most Cyber Underground members subscribe to a
track ofreports of UFO sightings, encounters with ex- loose hacker "code of ethics," which proscribes eras-
traterrestrials and other odd phenomena. Many claim ing files, planting viruses or committing other destruc-
to have personally seen alien spacecraft. The club also tive acts. The challenge of breaking into encrypted files,
publishes a free monthly newsletter on UFO phenom- coupled with a general feeling that cyberspace should
ena. be a place for the free exchange of information, moti-
Skywatch adherents are convinced that the govern- vates the Cyber Underground.
ment is covering up evidence of UFOs, and claim the Members normally communicate via their comput-
military is hiding a recovered alien ship at Forgan Air ers, and in fact most have never met face-to-face. They
Force Base. go by pseudonymous "screen names," often drawn
from cyberpunk science fiction novels.
The Cyber Underground prides itself on being the
Secret Societies "elite of the elite" among hackers. In order to join,
The city is also home to a few secret societies, who prospective members must hack into one of several
try to keep their membership, activities, and some- highly secure computers into which data on contact-
times even existence, quiet. ing the underground has been secretly planted.
PAGE
NUMBER
179
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Order of the Knights
Campaign Tip
The Cyber Underground can be a useful resource
Templar
for PCs who lack computer-related skil1s. The no- A secretive fraternal society, the Order of the Knights
tion of cracking a villain's computer network might Templar claims to trace its history back to a historic
appeal to some of its members, more for the chal- order of knighthood active during the Crusades.
lenge than any altruistic reasons. The Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the
Of course, dealing with a paranoid, obsessive Temple of Solomon began sometime in the early l lOOs.
bunch of teenage tech no-nerds can try the patience By the 13th century, the order had grown powerful
of even the most understanding of heroes. PCs work- enough to essentially ignore the edicts of various Euro-
ing with the Cyber Underground will also have to pean monarchs. But in 1306 King Philip IV of France,
deal with the complications of teen life - school, who owed debts to the order, convinced Pope Clement
parents and so on. Imagine finding out that your V to order the arrest of all templars in France.
ace hacker can't help you because she's been Many knights templar were tried and condemned as
grounded for a month! heretics, and the order was officially dissolved in 1312.
On the other hand, a villain could turn the tables Some believe the order merely went underground, how-
on the heroes by enlisting the Cyber Underground ever, and conspiracy buffs say it continues to secretly
in an effort to attack their base computer system, influence world events even loday.
possibly erasing files, planting viruses or compro- In 1925, financier Andreas Hunt and some friends
mising security systems. These kinds of destructive founded the Order of the Knights Templar i n San
acts will not appeal to most Cyber Underground Angelo. Hunl, who claimed to be an actuai descendant
hackers, but a persuasive villain could probably find of a templar, set up elaborate rituals for initiating new
at least one teenager willing to do his dirty work. members and conducting meetings.
Members vow never to reveal the existence of the or-
der, nor its membership, but are taught various hand
signals and phrases by which they can recognize one
.. You ougllto el1fck olll the Ju.~tice Fnunda- another. Hooded velvet robes are worn for baroque cer-
titm Wl!hsite! It has bi'os of e\•eryone (n~ the emonies lit by flickering candles.
team,.a di(lgram of the TurboJet, all kmds of The newly formed Order of the Knights Temp Jar built
stuff. And you cart se11d e-mail ro tl1em., roo~ a non-descript meeting hall in Cathedral Square, which
,;/ set1t <1ne to Azteca about how on page is still used today.
of Justice foundation #ZB 11~ say~ that D~ While the modern order continues to follow all the
meltlicl might be bell ind the tlluswnary .g1a11t customs and traditions laid down by Hunt, it now ex-
robots attacking their base whe11 ~(le~"' ~5 ists mainly as an ultra-secret lodge for bored execu-
Savant told the team that Dementia disori- tives and bureaucrats. They meet monthly at the hall,
ented her victims with chaotic, incoherent and occasionally hold feasts on certain historic dates.
illusions. The order has attracted people from all walks of life.
"He hasn't sent me a reply yet, though. Among its members are financier Xavier Trent, private
. . ?"
Think J should e-mail him agcwi. investigator Paul Wolf, a police captain and an assis-
- Nathan Weingartner, 14, student tant to the mayor, as well as numerous attorneys, doc-
tors, corporate executives and a few blue-collar work-
ers.
PAGE
NUMBER
180
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
The Street Scene
The gritty world of the streets stands in direct con-
trast to the glittering high society scene. Life on the
street can be hard, even with the aid of shelters, meals
programs and other charitable endeavors. Even so, San
Angelo seems to have more than its share of homeless.
While an accurate count of the homeless has never
been made, they live in virtually every part of the city.
The highest concentrations of homeless people are found
downtown, particularly in City Center and the Armory,
and in Pleasant Grove.
Poverty and
Homelessness
Many of those on the streets suffer from mental ill-
ness, alcoholism or drug addiction. Others were forced
into homelessness by insurmountable hardships. And a
handful actually prefer a life in the open air, without
rules or responsibilities.
A high percentage of the city's homeless population
has lived in San Angelo for several years. Others are
highly mobile, traveling around the state and nation by ing, temporary jobs, such as day work at construction
hopping freight trains or hitchhiking. They rarely stay sites. Government aid, whether disability checks, food
in town longer than a few months. stamps or other help, supports others, but the money
Cars, working or not, are used as shelter, as are seems to run out faster every month.
bridges, underpasses, doorways and almost anywhere Teenage runaways, sometimes fleeing abuse, are an-
else that a person can stay dry and maybe even warm. other component of the street scene. Runaways tend to
In the summer, times are easier and many homeless band together, relying on prostitution and panhandling
people build crude camps along the brushy riverbanks. to support themselves. They sometimes break into aban-
Camping on the river is illegal, however, and police doned buildings for shelter, or build camps in under-
occasionally sweep the riverbanks to dismantle the un- passes or other out-of-the-way spots. Many runaway
sightly, unsanitary camps. Mostly this just chases the youths frequent the University Commons neighborhood,
homeless to some other part of the riverfront, to be where they blend in with the college-age crowd.
rousted again a few months later. Runaways and other homeless people prefer to avoid
Seedy motels and dilapidated downtown residency ho- confrontations with authorities, especially law enforce-
tels provide a respite from the streets, and government ment officers. Crimes are almost never reported, and
assistance provides a few people with enough income investigators are rarely able to find witnesses willing
for long-term stays, though they often have to rely on to talk. In fact, most street people are averse to volun-
soup kitchens and food banks for meals. teering any kind of information, particularly personal
Panhandling and recycling are key sources of income data like names or hometowns, and are suspicious of
for the city 's homeless, and a few hold down low-pay- strangers.
181
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
- I
Ernie "Tinfoil " Theiles Disadvantages: Age 40+, Distinctive Features:
Homeless man with tinfoil-lined cap (concealable),
Money: Destitute, Psychological Limit: Fears alien mind
DEXlO CON 12 BODY 11 control, Psychological Limit: Obsessed with alien in-
EGO 11 PRE JO COM 10 vasion.
ED2 SPD 2 REC4 Notes: Aliens! They' re everywhere, pulling the strings
STUN 21 of their human puppets, secretly ca1Tying out their con-
Powers and Skins: Eidetic Memory, Shadowing, quest of Earth.
11-, Streetwise 11-, CK: San Angelo 11-, KS: Street But Ernie Theiles knows the trnth. And he knows how
scene J 1-, KS: Films and books about aliens 14-, KS: to block their mind-control powers. Just put some tin-
Chess 14-, Perks: Contact: Judge Baxter Theiles foil in your cap, see? It deflects the telepathic emana-
(brother), 14- , Contacts: Street people, 11-. tions, protecting your mind from alien domination. So
what if everyone laughs at you? At least you're safe.
It all started 20 years ago in college. That was when
Campaign Tip Ernie began to see the truth. Class lectures, chess tour-
The street scene can provide seeds for some compel- naments, homework ... those things just didn't seem
ling adventures and memorable NPCs, offering GMs
important anymore. He holed up in his apartment, read-
an opportunity to set stories against the backdrop of a
pressing social issue in the tradition of many four-color ing his tattered sciern.:e fiction books until one day it hit
comics. him - an extratetTestrial influence was at work in the
The anonymous, faceless hordes of street people are college! Soon he could see the signs of mind control in
easy prey for criminals, not to mention mad scientists his professors, his feiiow students, even the dean when
in search of experimental subjects. The PCs could hear she expelled him.
rumors of disappearances or other strange goings-on Sure, his parents forced Ernie to see a psychiatrist,
that are being ignored by authorities. who mumbled something aboutrnental illness and medi-
Homeless people are often well-informed about the cation. But Ernie could see the truth- the doctor and
people, places and news of the street scene - keeping his parents had been co-opted by the aliens. The pills
on top of things can be a matter of survival! Street-
were really a slow-acting poison. So Ernie left, and
level PCs, in particular, might want to develop contacts
among the homeless. Often overlooked, and with plenty
he's been on his own ever since.
of time on their hands, homeless NPCs can be particu- Life on the streets isn't so bad. Oh, it can be hungry
larly good at surveillance work. A PC might even pose and cold, but there are food banks and shelters. Ernie's
as a street person to conduct undercover work, though kid brother Baxter is a judge now, and he sometimes
such a disguise is unlikely to fool the truly homeless. comes by with some money or clothes. He tries to get
Many homeless people once held respectable jobs, with Ernie to come Jive with him, but the only way Ernie
families, homes and other responsibilities before ad- can track the progress of the alien invasion is to stay on
diction, illness or misfortune drove them to the streets. the streets, just another invisible street person. He's even
Perhaps the heroes need a crucial piece of information gotten pretty good at following the alien pawns around
from a former attorney, scientist or other important per-
without being noticed.
sonage who has disappeared into the street scene.
Or the PC could have a homeless DNPC - imagine
Ernie Theiles knows the truth. And isn't that what's
the difficulty of trying to help a friend or relative who really important?
is unable to cope with a "normal" life. For a twist, the afford all them
"Hey, I jigger if lie c:<1n are some cha11gt•
GM could arrange for the PCs themselves to become
homeless - perhaps they are on the run from the law colorf11 I ou.tfits• lw cw• SI' •H
ks him. f say.t, ey,
1
for a ver'rtm. So os .,. Ami Ire snys. real
after being framed by a villainous enemy.
A E gor snme .....~ire
- change.
1 ....~
(/
'r corr)' ti wo er.
NUMBER emtx1rrassed• ·u11• ."''"·m: if yci ask me.
1 r I .' 44 panhnndler
..
No pockt:tS.. Bad rarWo
182 _ H~rve)' a mp. •
183
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
cu1atS1nAnook> -'SOO -
-
Life In San Angelo
Full Gospel Mission (DS) The operation conducts several canned food drives
An overnight downtown shelter for the homeless, the each year, and uses cash donations to purchase addi-
Full Gospel Mission also offers an evening meal six tional food at discount rates from local supermarkets.
days a week, but diners must first listen to an evangeli- Boxes and bags of food are handed out each week at
cal sermon. various distribution points around the city.
A coalition of San Angelo churches supports the mis- The food bank, one of San Angelo's oldest and best-
sion. Several other similar missions are also found in known charities, was founded by Father Paul Stuart, a
the Armory and Pleasant Grove. Catholic priest.
PAGE
NUMBER
184
·· SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cll)'ollbnA>lO>to •o;.()0-
185
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Thomas Caldecott
(Clockwork)
Retired arch-criminal
187
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Prominent Wealthy parties at Payne's Brackett Park mansion are a key
part of the high society scene. A past president of the
People San Angelo Historical Society, Payne has a strong in-
Wealthy individuals still active in their chosen ca- terest in preservation efforts in the city. She is being
reers are covered under their respective professions. courted by French architect Pierre Duval.
Dakota Ross: An explorer and adventurer of the
Veronica and Violet Barnes: Elderly twin sisters 1920s-1930s who published a best-selling autobiog-
who inherited the Barnes department store fortune. The raphy in the 1980s. One of the few surviving mem-
eccentric sisters own a considerable share of Barnes bers of the Argonaut Society in San Angelo, Ross was
Co. stock, but are not involved in company operations. particularly well known for his daring Arctic and Ant-
The twins, who never married, live together in the fam- arctic expeditions. A cranky, gruff exterior conceals
ily mansion in Poverty Gulch. A frequent sight on the his sharp mind and keen interest in the modem world.
social circuit, they are fond of dressing alike. James and Amelia Tanner: A rich Af1ican-Ameri-
Kenneth Cameron III: The young heir apparent to can couple who administer a small charitable founda-
the Peregrine Aircraft fortune, considered the most eli- tion. A retired heart surgeon and medical researcher,
gible bachelor in San Angelo. While he has made a James Tanner invented an artificial heart valve that he
pretense of learning the family business, Cameron sold to a major corporation for hundreds of thousands
seems content to live the carefree life of a playboy. of dollars. Now he and his wife provide scholarships
His father, president of Peregrine Aircraft, has all but to medical students and grants to local hospitals
given up on him and the two do not get along. through the Sarah Tanner Foundation, named after a
Charles Harrison Moore: A retired attorney with a daughter who died as a child.
passion for hunting and sport-fishing. He has hunted Bethany Rhys Waterhouse: A young woman who
all over the world, and typically spends several months has risen quickly in the world of high society. She is
out of town each year on married to Russell
hunting expeditions. Top 20 Wealthiest San Angelo Waterhouse, considered
Moore's mansion on the Resident s one of the up-and-coming
bluffs of the Del Oro River young attorneys at Madi-
contains hunting trophies of 1. (Reserved/or PCs or GM-created characters) son, Fairchild & Associates,
all kinds, including a hand- 2. Aristeides Pappagianis (developer) the city's top law firm.
3. Thaddeus Long (sports mogul) Known for her extensive
ful of now-rare or endan- 4. Xavier Trent (investor)
gered species such as griz- 5. (Reserved/or PCs or GM-created characters) jewelry collection, Bethany
zlies, tigers and rhinos. He 6. Benjamin Morgan (developer) also has earned a reputation
also collects hunting rifles 7. Kenneth Cameron II (president, Peregrine Aircraft) for her charity work. Her
8. Veronica and Violet Barnes (heiresses) balls and parties on behalf
of all types, from the most 9. Peter K. Fletcher (newspaper publisher)
sophisticated new models 10. (Reserved/or PCs or GM-created characters) of local causes are becom-
to vintage muskets dating 11. Alastair McDermott (investor) * ing very popular among the
back to the 1700s. 12. Donald Croft (investor) city's social elite.
Helen Payne: A wealthy 13. C. Fullerton Hughes (CEO, Eclipse Industries) Unbeknownst to her hus-
14. Thomas Caldecott (retired investor) * band, Bethany Waterhouse
widow known as an excel- IS. (Reserved/or PCs or GM-created characters)
lent hostess. Her late hus- 16. Randolph McAlpine (rental property owner/politician) is having an affair with
band, Howard Payne, 17. Ethan Reynolds, aka Twister (restaurateur) * Scott Blake, a dashing ex-
owned Pantheon Steel be- 18. Tom Fitzsimmons (software designer) test pilot and astronaut who
19. Dakota Ross (explorer-author) • works for Peregrine Air-
~ PAGE'tore :1 ~~elCIprefy to financier 20. (Reserved/or PCs or GM-created characters)
1
eeR 0 on<1 u ro t. 6 laborate craft.
88
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
c11yotS00An9•lo •~co -
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NUMBER
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SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Cnyof~tlAtlflak> 4$00 -
Other Places of Note deals take place at the gym. Security at the club, lo-
The city's social elite have their pick of places to hob- cated in a grim part of the City Center, is extremely
nob, with numerous country clubs and other attractions tight.
scattered around San Angelo.
La Vista Cabana Club (14)
Ashcroft Riding One of the few survivors of the once-plentiful pool
Stables clubs of 1950s-era suburban La Vista, the members-
A private equestrian club only La Vista Cabana Club includes a swimming pool,
in Lakeview, the Ashcroft a diving pool and other swimming-related facilities.
Riding Stables cater to the Once considered the "country clubs" of the middle
very rich and their chil- class, cabana clubs are now mostly known for their
dren. In addition to an ex- swim teams and barely register on the social scale.
tensive stable, the club offers miles of wooded riding
trails, training corrals and a show compound complete
Oakbridge Country Club
with grandstands.
Oakbridge Country Club in La Vista has a well-re-
Shows are held at the stables almost every weekend,
garded 18-hole golf course cut by numerous creeks.
and regular classes in riding and jumping are avail-
The l 960s-style clubhouse is undergoing renovation and
able . The club is owned and run by Lady Judith
remodeling work.
Ashcroft, a British champion of the equestrian circuit.
The least expensive club in the city, Oakbridge Coun-
try Club is considered a good start for would-be social
Castle Heights Country Club
climbers.
One of the newest country clubs in San Angelo, Castle
Heights Country Club has an 18-hole course designed
by a retired professional golfer. San Angelo Yacht Club
A shortage of mature shade trees makes the course An exclusive organization of wealthy sailing fans, the
blazing hot in summer, however, and early morning tee San Angelo Yacht Club
times are highly coveted. holds several outings on
Lake Oro and the
Central City Racquet Club (DlO) delta each year.
A gym and sports com- The organization
plex in the City Center, the a l so sponsors
Central City Racquet the annual Lake
Club is popular with many O ro Regatta
top executives at nearby sailboat races,
corporate headquarters. which are open
The pricey club offers racquetball courts, two pools, a to non-club members for a
gym, steam baths and other attractions. Many business slightly higher registration fee.
PAGE
NUMBER
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SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Museums and Libraries
San Angelo Metropolitan Museum: Hall Avenue
The Media
In order to keep up with life in the big city, people
at E Street - "The Golden Age" takes a timely look
back at the first superhuman heroes of San Angelo. have to stay informed. San Angelo has a host of news-
The exhibit spans 1936 to 1950, offering insights into papers, magazines and radio and television stations
the careers of such early luminaries as Minuteman ready to meet the need.
and the Liberty Corps. Their enemies. from Nazi
spies to Clockwork, are also examined. Dioramas, old
newspaper clippings and a few artifacts of the era tell
Newspapers
the story. While the exhibit touches on some contro- The city has a lively newspaper scene, with two large
versies, such as the racist public reaction to the daily papers and a host of smaller competitors and
addition of the Japanese-American Silver Samurai to weekly publications.
the Liberty Corps following World War II. overall it
takes a fond look back at what now seems a simpler
age. (Open daily from l 0 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
San Angelo Times
- "On the Town" listings, The largest daily newspaper in the city, the San Angelo
Golden City Magazine Times has been a part of the community since 1902.
Founded by Vernon Fletcher, the operation is still domi-
Life's not all work and no play for San Angelo resi- nated by the Fletcher family today, although it is now a
dents, and the city is bursting with entertainment op- corporation with thousands of shareholders and a board
tions. of directors.
Sports, nightlife, fine dining, the arts and outdoor rec- Peter K. Fletcher, a great-nephew of the founder, is
reation are just a few possibilities. But residents also the current publisher.
need to stay up on the latest news, and that's where the The San Angelo Times is a morning paper, published
media comes in. seven days a week. The Sunday editions are the larg-
est, and usually feature major projects or the start of a
series of reports on some pressing local issue.
Campaign Tips Each day's paper is a little different, but the core ele-
Plenty of adventure possibilities will present them- ments include a front section devoted to state, national
selves in this chapter, but GMs may also want to keep and international news, a metro section on local news,
the human side of the PCs in mind when reading
a sports section, a lifestyles section, a business section
through it, particularly entertainment-related material.
and two or more sections of classifieds.
Fighting crime and saving the world all the time can
get a little old - an occasional adventure in which the Sections focusing on food, entertainment, gardening,
heroes unwind with a trip to the ball game, day at the real estate and small businesses typically appear one
beach or night at the opera can open up new vistas in or two times a week on a regular schedule.
your gaming and provide players with a chance to ex- The San Angelo Times has a daily circulation of
plore another side of their PCs. 344,342 and a Sunday circulation of 429, 440.
The various people, places and activities described in The paper employs 2,080 people in all at its down-
this chapter can also be sprinkled into more standard town plant. Its newsroom staff of about 60 reporters
adventures to help give players the sense their PCs do covers state and local news. The sports, lifestyles and
their heroing in a real, living city.
business sections have their own staffs of reporters,
For example, if one point in the adventure calls for a
and a crew of award-winning photographers snaps the
television report on the villain's latest escapade, con-
sider mentioning which station aired the report, using pictures to go with the words. Graphic artists provide
one of the listed TV reporters or anchors. snappy-looking maps and charts to liven up the news
1..--...
pages. PAGE
NUMBER
191
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
City m San Anuo ooo -
Media, Entertainment
And The Arts
International news and photos come in over the As- mally distributed free at supermarket racks, these neigh-
sociated Press wire, though the San Angelo Times oc- borhood papers are tiny operations with one or two
casionally sends teams overseas for special projects writers at most. The city also supports numerous weekly
or series. or monthly "shoppers," filled entirely with classified
The paper's edi- "Hey Jolene! Dynamos ads of all types.
torials tend to be fighting Phosphorous by Curry The city also supports a host of monthly specialty
fairly liberal, Bridge on the river! We just publications. Gays, lesbians, parents, singles, computer
which angers picked it up on Jhe police aficionadoes and New Age adherents are just as few of
some conserva- scanner. Here 's some fibn, get the groups targeted by these papers.
tives in town. out there! Bill, you go with her.
Contrary to com- This is for page one, folks! Business Chronicle
plaints from those Sheny, get the.file on Phospho- The weekly Business Chronicle reports on the San
rous out of the morgue. Now,
who disagree with Angelo business scene - everything from shake-ups
where's my- hey, has anyone
its opinion page, seen my coffee?" at top corporations to innovative small businesses. The
the paper' s editors - Norm Fowler, 40, city editor paper also prints charts ranking the top companies in a
strive to keep bias variety of categories.
out of news stories and generally succeed.
Overall, the San Angelo Times has a good reputation Chinatown Express
for accuracy and fairness. Critics claim the paper some- A twice-weekly paper, the Chinatown Express focuses
times plays it safe by not more aggressively pursuing on life in the Asian American community, particularly
investigative sluries, bui ihe Times still breaks its share
Chinatown.
of exposes on scandals and corruption. One recent se- Written in Chinese, the Chinatown Express has a repu-
ries detailed the rampant corruption in the San Angelo tation for breaking big stories, particularly those deal-
County building inspector's office, for example. ing with gangs and organized crime.
Competition with the San Angelo Clarion, an older The paper was founded by immigrant Hu Chow, who
but slightly smaller daily paper, is intense. Scoops are became known as Harvey Chow, in the 1960s. A one-
celebrated and missed stories cursed as both papers man operation, Chow established the muckraking repu-
struggle to provide better coverage of the Golden City tation of the Chinatown Express, and his shooting death
than their rival. in a Chinatown restaurant in l 988 is believed to be the
The San Angelo Times has won three Pulitzer Prizes work of Chinese organized crime figures irked by his
over the years, along with a host ofless-famous awards. exposes on the tongs.
The death of Chow failed to silence the Chinatown
Other Newspapers Express, however. His daughter, Suzy Chow, took over
At 3 million people and growing, San Angelo is a the paper and continues to operate it much as her fa-
big newspaper market - far too big for just one paper ther did.
to satisfy its residents.
The city has a second metro daily, and outlying towns Golden City Magazine
are served by their own daily or multi-weekly news- The glossy Golden City Magazine, published
papers. Still other newspapers focus on various cul- monthly, concentrates on life and lifestyles in San
tural or ethnic sub-groups in the metropolitan area. Angelo. Regular stories include interviews with promi-
In addition to these publications, San Angelo has sev- nent residents, photo spreads on the beautiful homes
eral weekly newspapers with limited circulation. Nor- of the city and fine arts listings.
PAGE
NUMBER
192
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
C.,.,afl••1"""'110 •500 -
Media, Entertainment
And The Arts
193
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Madeleine Sainte-Marie
Newspaper reporter
STR IO DEX 14 CON 13 BODY 10
INT 15 EGO 13 PRE 13 COM 12
PD 4 ED 3 SPD 3 REC 5
END 26 STUN 22
Powers and Skills: Bureaucratics 12-, Conversation
14-, Deduction 12-, Familiarity w/Criminology 8-,
Familiarity w/High Society 8-, Persuasion 12-, Stealth
12-, Streetwise 12-, PS: Newspaper reporter 11-, KS:
San Angelo supers 14-, KS: U.S. supers 11-, KS: World
supers 8-, KS: Newspapers 11-, KS: Notable people
11-, CK: San Angelo 11-, AK: New York 11-, AK:
Louisiana bayous 11-, KS: Cajun foods 11-, Language:
French (idiomatic), Perk: Press Pass, Contacts: SAPD
11-, Sheriff's Department 11-, City Hall 11-, Street
scene 11-, FBI 8-, Justice Foundation 8-.
Disadvantages: DNPC (Mai Tien) 8-, Distinctive
Features: Cajun accent (concealable), Psych: Competi-
tive, Psych: Curious, Psychological Limit: Code of eth-
ics, Reputation: Reporter 11-.
Notes: Madeleine Sainte-Marie covers the supers beat
for the San Angelo Times. Her editors consider her one
of the paper's ace reporters, and readers depend on
Sainte-Marie to deliver the latest scoop on A few people have taken issue with her stories on
superpowered doings in the city. them, but on balance Sainte-Marie has a good reputa-
Born in the Louisiana bayou country near New Or- tion for accuracy and fairness. She's also known for
leans, Sainte-Marie grew up in a backwoods Cajun keeping her word to sources.
family. Even as a child, she was intensely curious about Off the job, she volunteers for the Big Brothers/Big
everything. Sisters program and often spends time with her "little
Editor of her high school newspaper, Sainte-Marie sister," Mai Tien, a Vietnamese American youngster.
earned a journalism scholarship to Columbia Univer- Sainte-Marie, 35, has shoulder-length curly black hair
sity in New York. A job covering the police beat at a and brown eyes. She likes wearing hats, and a battered
small-town daily paper in the Midwest launched her fedora given to her by an old newspaper colleague is
career as a professional journalist. among her favorites.
A succession of jobs at progressively bigger and bet- She speaks with a recognizable Cajun accent. Regu-
ter papers led Sainte-Marie to San Angelo, where she lar workouts at a local gym help her stay in shape.
landed the prime supers beat by dint of her hard work Single, with no children, Sainte-Marie visits her par-
and perseverance. An able, skilled reporter, Sainte- ents and relatives in Louisiana at least twice a year.
Marie excels at putting her interview subjects at ease. Cajun cooking is one of her hobbies.
AGE
NUMBER
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SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
more impassioned of the pair, balancing McAdams's
Other Reporters of cynicism.
Note J.J. McAdams: Half of a crack investigative duo for
Jerry Abbot: A veteran columnist for the San Angelo the San Angelo Times. With his reporting partner,
Clarion. A throwback to the cigar-puffing, no-nonsense Bobbie Goldblum, McAdams broke the story on the
newsmen of the past, Abbot often jabs at politicians, payoffscandal involving the San Angelo County build-
judges and other officials in his column for such faults ing inspector's office.
as waffling on issues or pushing pet projects at public Adept at negotiating bureaucratic mazes, McAdams
expense. His criticism often hits the mark, and more specializes in rooting out documents and following
than one civic leader has quietly dropped a particularly money trails. He has a cynical take on life.
silly proposal after being ridiculed in Abbot's column. McAdams and Goldblum are now investigating ru-
Abbot unfortunately exhibits another legendary trait mors that former City Council member and powerbroker
of early newsmen - he is an alcoholic who spends Randolph McAlpine is secretly a top slumlord in San
most of his off-hours at downtown watering holes. His Angelo.
health is not especially good, but Abbot has resisted Jesse Orozco: A young reporter for the S.A. Weekly
entreaties to take better care of himself. who writes stories on social injustice in San Angelo,
Maggie Blaylock: A free-lance photographer with a particularly those involving prejudice or bigotry.
home in San Angelo. Blaylock regularly travels over- Matt Powell: A sports reporter and columnist for the
seas on assignment for magazines and papers, often San Angelo Clarion. He covers the San Angelo Nug-
placing herself at considerable risk. Her photos focused gets basketball team for the paper, but his candid as-
world attention on the Rwandan civil war in 1994. sessments of some players' work ethic and skills have
Blaylock also shot photos of the Tienanmein Square not made him especially popular with the team.
protest in China, the Bosnian war and several African In 1996, player Tate Hall slugged Powell in the San
famines. A daring, inventive photojournalist, Blaylock Angelo Sports Complex locker room following publi-
seems destined for a Pulitzer Prize. cation of a particularly critical column. Hall was fined
Suzy Chow: Owner, editor and chief reporter of the by the team for the incident, but Powell declined to file
Chinatown Express. Chow returned to San Angelo from criminal charges against the volatile player.
a job at an East Coast newspaper to take over the pa- Paul Quigley: A crusading San Angelo Times col-
per following the death of her father, Harvey Chow. He umnist. Quigley, who worked for a Texas paper before
was shot to death in 1988 while dining at a Chinatown coming to San Angelo, writes biting columns on local
restaurant in a suspected tong reprisal for his exposes concerns and controversies.
on Chinese organized crime. Quigley tends to champion the underdog in his widely
Suzy Chow has lived up to her father's reputation as read thrice-weekly columns.
a gutsy reporter determined to root out corruption, preju- He has taken up several causes over the years, and
dice and injustice in Chinatown. The Chinatown Ex- his latest pet peeve seems to be the potential for ci vii
press continues to be the authoritative source on news rights abuses by self-proclaimed heroes, particularly
of San Angelo's Asian population. those with superpowers.
Bobbie Goldblum: A San Angelo Times investiga- D. Jonathan Whittier: Editor of the San Angelo
tive reporter who works with fellow reporter J.J. Clarion. Whittier came to the paper from a hard-charg-
McAdams. The duo has landed several major awards ing East Coast paper, and has infused the newsroom
for its exposes on public corruption, corporate skull- with the same go-get-' em attitude. He is largely respon-
duggery and other wrongdoing. sible for the Clarion's recent circulation gains on the
Goldblum shines at developing sources and finding San Angelo Times, in spite of his paper's smaller newsll!!!'!-~I
people willing to talk on the record. She tends to be the staff and budget.
196
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-
Clly tr. 5~11 A.nlJalO
Media, Entertainment
.u oo -
n'
Bob Mellon and Tony Spencer: The hit morning- more than 100 channels from all over the nation, in-
drive team of Bob & Tony on station KXFT. They trade eluding a number of "super-stations." The cable sys-
wisecracks, conduct funny interviews, - - - - - - - - - - . tern also provides two public access chan-
hold wacky contests and once in awhile Cam pa ig n nels.
play some top-40 songs. Tip
"Dingo" Raines: An Australian "shock Supers are a colorful and Television Reporters
jock" on AM news/talk station KNDI flashy lot, as well-known
known for his off-color commentary and to the public as any celeb-
and Personalities
Parker Bell: The host of a syndicated
outrageous behavior. His often vulgar rity. "Dingo" Raines will
talk show based in San Angelo. The
morning drive-time show has been the certainly work them into
Parker Bell Show has been criticized for
target of numerous protests and letter- his "shock jock" routine,
its tawdry topics, which tend to focus on
wri ting campaigns by offended San engaging in graphic specu-
lation on obscene uses for cheating spouses, out-of-control kids, and
Angelinos . Radio executives have de-
their powers or inventing wild disputes between lovers. Bell's cheap
fended his top-rated show on free-speech
vulgar "news stories" theatrics, such as confronting guests with
grounds, however. Raines lives for pub- about them. He might
surprise allegations or ambushing them
licity, and is forever dreaming up new challenge a female PC to
with unexpected guests, are also a target
ways to get in the public eye. In 1995, an oil-wrestling match in
of critics.
police anested Raines for making a nude front of City Hall, or invite
But the formula has proven successful,
skydiving jump from the top of the Twi- a naive PC hero onto his
show in order to humiliate and neither Bell nor her producers seem
light Tower.
Roberto de la Torres: A popular DJ him on the air. likely to change the show's format any
on Spanish-language radio station KSDF. The antics of Raines can time soon.
Part of the San Angelo radio scene for present a real moral di- A former Miss San Angelo, Bell has
lemma for PCs - their toughened up a lot since her early days as
nearly 10 years, de la Torres remains rela-
first impulse will probably a talk show host. Now she's adept at han-
tively unknown to non-Spanish speaking be to beat him to a pulp,
dling guests and jeering audiences, always
residents but is widely respected in the hardly a heroic action
keeping things barely on the verge of boil-
Latino community. His efforts to sway since he's just a normal.
ing over and viewers on the edge of their
Latino youths from gangs and give them But once he latches onto
seats.
some pride in their heritage have won de the PCs, Raines will never
la Torres particular praise. He is a per- let up until he senses that In San Angelo, her show airs afternoons
sonal friend of Mayor Alex Martinez. his audience is losing in- on TV station KXTY.
terest. Tobi Cantrell: A likable young reporter
assigned to do daily "person in the street"
Television Stations interviews for KCTZ. She and her cameraman, Jake
The city supports six major broadcast stations, in- Loftus, are a common sight on the streets of San Angelo
cluding local affiliates of national commercial net- as they charge about asking ordinary people for their
works. opinions on local happenings.
There are four national broadcasting networks in the Cantrell hated the assignment at first, but after nearly
San Angelo world: the National Broadcasting Network a year she's become quite good at picking out willing
(NBN), American Broadcasting System (ABS), Co- subjects. She's also conscientious about showing the
lumbia Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the World diversity of the city with her nightly spots.
Broadcasting System (WBS). In addition, always being on the street has helped
Nearly every household in metropolitan San Angelo Cantrell land a few scoops when something interest-
is hooked up to a cable system, giving them access to ing has taken place nearby. rAGE
NUMBER
197
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES -·
mml _J
Jake Loftus: A cameraman for KCTZ who accom-
panies "person on the street" reporter Tobi Cantrell on
her daily forays into the streets of San Angelo.
Loftus tries to keep the irrepressible Cantrell out of
trouble, like the time she wanted to interview gang
members at a Lemon Terrace crackhouse about their
neighbors' complaints. His nerves are sometimes shot
at the end of the day, but Loftus enjoys working with
Cantrell.
Tom Longstreet: The respected veteran news anchor
of KABL. Longstreet has worked for the station for 20
years, becoming a veritable San Angelo institution.
Wally Masterson: An obnoxious late-night talk show
host on KWNT. Masterson speaks out on conservative
causes, though he's something of an embarassment to
local conservatives.
Mostly his weekly show features Masterson berating
some hapless guest before ignoring the person com-
pletely and going off on a rant about commie-sympa-
thizing liberals. Most viewers seem to watch it more
for entertainment value than any serious discussion of
political issues.
In the past, Masterson has come out strongly in favor
of vigilantes and non-sanctioned heroes who fight crime
in San Angelo.
Darcy Vuong: A news reporter for KSVX who has
built a reputation for fairness and accuracy. Vuong
also anchors the weekend news for the station.
198
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
1
Ctty af San A.t1(JOIO .UOO - •
Media, Entertainment
And The Arts
199
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
. Coach said I was pretty
"I ran track !fl college. d h t CSU
. d so damned liar on t a
College Sports good, too. I frame . to get that four-minute
The two universities in San Angelo offer a full slate San Angelo track, t1yin.g
oal my dream.
of collegiate sports, including such mainstays as foot- mile. 111at was my g ' m er up in Washing-
, "Then J l1eard that some , p . d .t
ball, basketball and baseball. : k d fi0 ur-second mile, an '
But the universities also support teams in swimming, ton state cloc e a . OK so he
, o importanr cmymo1 e. • . ,
wrestling, water polo, softball, track and many other didn t seem s . I· NCAA /wt. hell, I d1dn t
ouldn't compete mt 1e ' .
sports, including offbeat pursuits like archery and field c and the troplues.
' care about the meets r ·rs be the best I co11ld
hockey. "/ wanted to p14sh my im~i;tclass you witltoiu
Alumni and student support for college teams is be, but when someone can
strong, particularly for football and basketball pro- even '1ret1king a swem ... k after that. Coach
grams. The highlight of each college football season ' "I quit the team "few wee s
. ppointed." d
is a cross-town matchup between California State Uni- \ was rea lly disa - Angel Cardoza, 26. a rep
versity, San Angelo, and UC San Angelo.
Both university campuses have their own football
stadiums, along with a full complement of playing Arenas, Stadiums and
fields, gymnasiums, pools and other sporting facili- Coliseums
ties. San Angelo has plenty of sporting facilit ies for fans
The city's four community colleges also offer sports hungry for a close-up look at their idols.
programs, which give some athletes more time to de-
velop and catch the eye ofuniversity recruiters. Financ- San Angelo Sports Complex (H-7)
ing for community college teams is always tricky, and An 18,220-seat arena in the North Mission neighbor-
the programs mostly stick to traditional sports. hood of Eastside, the San Angelo Sports Complex is
the home of the San Angelo Nuggets pro basketball
Recreational Sports team.
Interest in recreational adult softball leagues is espe- The team plays 41 home games each season, attended
cially strong in San Angelo, and some have dubbed the by 717 ,500 fans or an average of 17,500 spectators
city the "softball capital" of the United States. per game. Tickets arc available at the box office or
The city parks department and most parks districts in through an agency.
the county offer a cornucopia of organized leagues for The facility also hosts a semi-pro arena soccer team
softball enthusiasts in the spring, summer and fall. There and a few pro hockey matches each year featuring a
are even a few winter leagues, despite the problem of team from the Bay Area. Championship high school
frequent rain-outs. basketball games, especially sectional or state tourna-
Despite the high cost of signing up - up to $200 or ments, are another attraction.
more for a team in some leagues- leagues are always Concerts are held at the San Angelo Sports Complex
full and usually end up turning away a few latecomers. during the winter months when rainy weather makes
Employee teams are often sponsored by local busi- the Gold Camp Amphitheater less palatable.
nesses, and some large San Angelo corporations spon-
sor several such teams each year. San Angelo Speedway
Organized youth sports are also a big draw in San A quarter-mHe track in Devil's Bar, the San Angelo
Angelo. Swimming, baseball, softball, soccer and foot- Speedway hosts a dozen or so drag races each year.
ball are the most prominent, but parents can probably The speedway, which has grandstand sea ting for about
find a league for just about any youth sport. Soccer is 2,000 people, has not yet managed to land a champi-
...~P--~A-G""'"E""'particularly popular. onship race.
l:~~
1
Media, Entertainment
And The Arts
Texxon Golden Dome age and experience of participants, but the grand prize
Home of the San Angelo Miners football team, the goes to competitors in the open division. Superhumans
Texxon Golden Dome stadium in Southport seats may compete in a special division, but cannot fight in
75,000 people. The stadium features a retractable roof. the open division.
The Texxon Oil Co. paid team owner Thaddeus Long The two-day exhibition takes place each fall at the
several million dollars in the late 1980s for the right to San Angelo Convention Center.
put its name on the stadium.
The Miners play eight home games each season, and City Park Fishing Derby
nearly all the games sell out early in the season. A ticket A popular summer-time event, the City Park Fishing
agent or scalper may be the only choice for tardy fans. Derby brings hundreds of youthful anglers to Samuel
Brackett City Park in Midtown for a day of fun.
Annual Sporting Events The city parks department stocks the large duckpond
Each year, San Angelo hosts several annual sporting at the park with trout, and children sign up for a one-
events in almost every field of endeavor. day fishing derby with prizes for the largest catch and
various other categories. A sporting goods company
All-City Martial Arts Exhibition in the city donates fishing poles for needy youngsters.
The All-City Martial Arts Exhibition pits contestants For more serious anglers, various sporting clubs hold
from fighting arts schools all over San Angelo against fishing derbies and tournaments on the waterways of _ __
each other. San Angelo throughout the year. Some contests fea- ·~P!~~
The competition has several divisions based on the ture impressive cash prizes for the winners.
201
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
David Hernandez Memorial Golf Restaurants, Bars and
Tournament
The annual David Hernandez Memorial Golf Tour- the Music Scene
nament held each spring at La Vista Public Golf Course San Angelo has a thriving nightlife. Fine dining, bar-
benefits a charity aiding families of local peace offic- hopping, dancing and live music are just a few of the
ers killed in the line of duty. The tournament and char- options. There's some-
ity are named for a veteran sheriff's deputy killed in thing going on somewhere
the 1980s. almost every night of the Cam~-;11 n Tip
week, but on weekends Even heroes need a night
out on the town sometimes!
Golden City Triathlon the nightlife scene really
An adventure where the
Thousands of the toughest of the tough compete each takes off.
PCs take off their costumes
year in the Golden City Triathlon, an ironman event and spend a night bar-hop- l
with running, bicycling and swimming legs. Men and Nightclubs & ping could provide some in-
women compete as teams or as individuals in several Bars teresting opportunities for
age categories. character development.
Almost every kind of
The highly coveted overall trophies are awarded to Such a gaming session
nightspot can be found in
the first man and woman to finish the race. The Golden might also be a good way
San Angelo, from neigh- o unwind and re-connect
City Triathlon takes place each summer. borhood watering holes heroes to the normal world
to huge industrial dance after a particularly cosmic
Lake Oro Regatta clubs in old warehouses. adventure.
Local sailing enthusiasts eagerly look forward to the lf the idea of an adventure
Lake Oro Regatta each spring on the reservoir north- All That Jazz ·without combat doesn't
east of San Angelo. The competition features several A downtown restaurant I haveanyappeal, these clubs
races held over a three-day span on Memorial Day and lounge, All That Jazz can also be used as settings
weekend. for more standard adven-
is one of the classier
tures. Some popular
The San Angelo Yacht Club organizes the event and nightspots in San Angleo.
nightspots have hundreds of
provides the trophy. Non-members of the exclusive club Live jazz bands play at
patrons, possibly making
can participate by paying a slightly higher registration the club on weekends. them attractive targets for
fee. hostage-taking schemes. Or
Catfish Cantina maybe the supervillains are
Perry Bradley Baseball A University Commons only after a particular per-
Tournament bar, the Catfish Cantina son in the crowd.
A youth baseball championship held each fall in San is mostly known for hav-
Angelo County, the Perry Bradley Baseball Toummanet ing the cheapest beer in all metropolitan San Angelo.
was named in honor of a local homebuilder and long- The bar also offers free, if sometimes stale, popcorn.
time fiscal supporter of youth sports programs in the
city. Club Calypso
The Lemon Terrace Tigers, a scrappy Little League Club Calypso, a downtown nightclub, has an island-
team from a tough neighborhood, has captured the tro- themed decor and features weekly live performances
phy for two years running. by reggae bands.
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cny otStn Ang•lo •soo -
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SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Cl\y of S.1111 /'t.ny.1JIO 4SOD - •
Media, Entertainment
and the Arts
Campaign Tip
28th Street Theater . The library can be n great resource for PC's conduct-
The unimaginatively named 28th Street Theater ing research, and the micn>fiche files of old new
downtown stages all kinds of plays, but tends to stick perrvs·e<11~?be ufsteh•ful for looking up info1m.ition on he:::~
O t .. rns o e pail.
to traditional comedies and dramas. It is considered
one of the city's best bets for dramatic productions, b Rare book~. 5ome centuries old. kepi at libraries can
pa1ticularly for mainstream audiences. e a goo<l adventure hook for GMs PerLanc f h
11 , ... one o 1 e
b k · ·
oo s co11ta111s clues ro the loca•:o 1· I . .
. ·f u n o a osl mystical
~kac1 or otl~er powerful item. Villains could steal the
Dancers and Thespians of • promp11ng PC'ti to investigate its signjficance Or
Note maybe lhe rheft 11i1emp1 fails. and 11·brAn. fl" . I . k
ti L - ~ o 1c1a s as ·
ie ueroes to safeguard !he tome.
Carline Huston: A popular San Angelo actress who
has appeared in numerous local theater productions.
She has also done some film and television work, along Museums
with a few commercials. San Angelo has more than 50 museums, large and
Natalya Petrosian: A Russian ballet star hired as small. Some are popular destinations for tourists and
the new lead dancer for the San Angelo Ballet follow- school classes, while others are rarely open to the pub-
ing the acrimonious departure of Leticia Sadler. lic. Many local museums focus on the history of San
Petrosian, who speaks very little English, is something Angelo, but others cover everything from art to the de-
of an untried commodity and ballet insiders are quietly velopment of telephones.
concerned about her ability to attract audiences.
Leticia Sadler: The former lead dancer with the San Mission San Angeles (FS)
Angelo Ballet who quit at the end of the 1997 season, The Mission San Angeles, founded in 1792 and aban-
citing artistic differences. The talk around town is that doned in 1828, is now a popular attraction for thou-
the ballet board refused Sadler's outrageous salary de- sands of tourists and schoolchildren every year.
mands. Sadler now claims to beente1tainingoffers from Fully restored in the 1960s, the mission is operated
famed ballet companies around the U.S . by the non-profit San Angelo Historical Society. The
Jeff Street: A model from San Angelo who has ap- mission includes a chapel, crafts shops, living quarters
peared on dozens of magazine covers over the years. and library. Approximately 240,000 people visit the
Street is trying to break into acting, but so far has only mission every year.
landed a few commercials. Displays illustrate mission life in the 1700s, and live
crafts demonstrations are often given on weekends. The
Libraries Mission San Angeles is located in Eastside.
There are 138 libraries in the San Angelo metropoli-
tan area, ranging from public library branches to spe- Other Museums of Note
cialized law and medical libraries. Both universities The city is home to numerous other museums of all
have libraties, which stock rare books and government kinds. Several are clustered across from Samuel
documents in their collections. Brackett City Park in Midtown, forming a kind of "mu-
The public library system, jointly funded by the city seum row."
and county, has42 branches offering 3.2 million books.
Many branches retain microfiche copies of San Angelo Brackett House Museum (C7)
Times and San Angelo Clarion editions dating back to A Victorian mansion built by pioneer prospector
the 1940s. The largest public library in the city is the Samuel Brackett in 1868, the Brackett House Museum
___ Central Branch downtown. in Povety Gulch is now open to the public. Volunteer
~~~e~ An estimated 1.9 million people visited San Angelo docents lead tours of the home on weekends and by
public libraries in 1996. appointment.
210
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
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r'"~G~E""'''
1
love tl1a1 srutue. I miss flim ...
MBER center. _ Rosilyn Jackson, 32. sculpter
12
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
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SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Confluence Point Park (812) Brackett City Park in midtown, Pleasant Grove, Rancho
Located on a floodplain where the Del Oro and San Madera and South San Angelo.
Angelo rivers meet, Confluence Point Park is a popu-
lar stop for nearby City Center office workers and San Angelo Zoo ( C4)
Chinatown residents. The park features picnic areas, A 45-acre zoo inside Samuel Brackett City Park, the
playing fields, playgrounds, a boat ramp and a marina. San Angelo Zoo contains more than 600 animals from
In the winter and spring, Confluence Point Park is sub- around the world. Gorillas, lions, bears, elephants, gi-
ject to flooding when the rivers rise. raffes, rhinos and
"You've heard about the
The brushy riverbanks adjacent to the park are popu- many other creatures
talking monkeys over in
lar camping spots for the city's homeless populace, and all call the zoo home.
Samuel Brackett Ciry Park.
campers sometimes wander into the park to panhandle Many of the animals haven~ you? Yeuh. a bunch of
despite an ongoing campaign by city park rangers and are endangered in the lab ,·himps e.\'caped jivm a
police officers to keep them away. wild. top-.recret laborarorv at
A gorilla rainforest, Forgan Air Forctt 8~1ie where
Del Oro River Parkway (02-12) alligator swamp and scientists were doing intelli-
The Del Oro River Parkway, stretching from Lake Australian outback gence-enchancing experi-
ments. The military wanted to
Oro to the downtown, is a 30-mile-long system of bi- habitat populated by
use rllem for i11Jiltratio11 and
cycle paths, parks and nature areas. A popular, beauti- kangaroos and ko-
sabotage mi.rsions.
ful retreat in the midst of the city, the parkway is truly alas are among the "But the chimps got smart
one of the jewels of San Angelo. Crowds of bicyclists, most popular attrac- enough to breakfree. Now
in-line skaters, hikers, joggers and other visitors of all tions. thq live in the park, you
ages can be found on the parkway's paths and trails at The zoo also con- lmow, in the remote areas
all times of year. tains a wooded where hardly anyone ever
breeding facility for goes. Some of the animal
La Vista Public Golf Course rare felines, such as rights activists know about it
snow leopards and and they bring the monkeys •
One of several public golf courses in San Angelo, the
food Ofld medicine.
La Vista Public Golf Course is popular with duffers, jaguars.
"It's all true, I swear."
though it's not considered much of a challenge by ex- Most exhibits at-
-Zach Barrows, 14, student
perienced golfers. tempt to replicate
The links actually feature two 18-hole courses, along the natural habitats
with a clubhouse and driving range. Golf ca1ts are avail- of the animals, and there are very few old-fashioned
able for rent, and the golf pro can be hired for lessons. cages left at the San Angelo Zoo. Moats or glass win-
The course's proximity to a skeet-shooting range some- dows now separate zoo inhabitants from curious visi-
times spurs complaints from golfers. tors.
An estimated r.:::=============================:=:;-i On weekdays, the zoo is often filled
180,000 rounds of Top 5 Public Golf with busloads of schoolchildren on field
golf were played on trips.
Courses Pam Brandenburg oversees the opera-
the two courses in I. Samuel Brackett Municipal Golf Course
1996. tion as zookeeper, and a zoo foundation
2. La Vista Public Golf Course
Other major pub- 3. Del Oro Public Golf Course conducts extensive fund-raising efforts to
lic golf courses are 4. Rancho Madera Public Golf Course supplement the meager budget provided
located in Samuel 5. Aero Parkway Public Golf Course by the city.
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SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
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SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
CUy al 11011 Angulo H OO -
Overview
Like every city, San Angelo has a dark side. Crime,
gangs and drugs haunt the Golden City no less than
r Dd .
BRENTON
M~ Die!.!';!! A9!10
ve~by shooting kills t "91!
WO
1. ·11 d - A gaug-relared sh · ·
other major population centers. ,.;I c! two rcen·1ue.... H ooung tnCidenr
. 'c- •., on alcyo B I
Nearly all San Angelo residents are concerned about evening. Sho1s f . n ou evard Tues1Jav
If rom a pasi1110 . k·11 "
crime, but most parts of the city are actually pretty oward, J 7, and K . W . C' car I ed Jaleel
·111c1dent.
. e.~s1e hue• 14• m
· I he 7:20 p.m.
safe. Overall, the city has a moderate crime rate.
Sheriff' ·
s rnvelV1gators ide IT
Crimes by superhumans may get all the attention, but peered member or tht! P ~1 ' red Howard <ts a sus-
by far most crimes in San Angelo still involve normals Whlre wui; an innocent b~~ els stree1 gang1 bur said
attacking, robbing or stealing from each other. h
of bullets as she walk •d Mander caught iu rhe $prdy
bor. c ome fro111 vi. iting u neigh-
San Angelo Crime Deputles later found lhe .
a South San Angelo crnck/mspected gunmen inside
Statistics 16-year·oldS"" uud a 15.
rhree had l5ee11 be
iouse ar I I:52 p.m. Two
Year-old Were arrested All
A sizable percentage of crimes are never reported to aren, and are be/" .
bent of the Nomn·'" sr ieved to be mem-
police, making exact estimates of crime rates difficult. N .. v~ rcer gang.
cighbo~ l'cported ·
These figures are based on FBI Uniform Crime Re- lhe crackhouse .~hortlyscebe••~g a m~sked figure leaving
ports for the San Angelo urban area, which includes iore officers arrived.
city and county jurisdictions.
The chart lists an average annual total for each type
of crime, based on San Angelo c1ime statistics for the
past five years. Campaign Tip
Most superheroes are just too tough for your ev-
eryday, garden-variety criminal. Neverthe!ess, an en-
San Angelo Crime Statistics counter with a robber, mugger or other street thug
at the start of a session can accomplish a lot:
1997 • It can remind your players just how powerful
Crime Total P~r D!!l'. ~rime Ev~u.,. their PCs are compared to most people, particularly
Murder 276 .75 31 hrs.
if the PCs just got the stuffing pounded out of them
Rape 1,290 3.5 7 hrs.
by some all-powerful villain in the last adventure.
Robbery 8,571 23 1 hr.
Assault 13,848 38 40 min. • Saving innocent crime victims can help players
Violent Crimes 22,695 62 23 min. get into a heroic mindset.
Burglary 47,520 130 12 min. • The GM can give PCs who tend to get ignored
Theft 103,410 283 5 min. or outclassed against more powerful foes a chance
Vehicle Theft 36,000 99 15 min. to shine.
Property Crimes 186,930 512 2.8 min. No one is immune to crime - not even DNPCs.
Source: FBI. Crime Analysis Section
When some supervillain kidnaps the PC's girlfriend,
the solution's easy - beat him up and rescue her.
But what's the hero going to do when his dear old
Aunt Martha gets mugged? He can't exactly go
around beating up every mugger in the city - or
can he?
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SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
The Drug Scene Campaign Tip
Illegal drugs aren't hard to find in San Angelo. And, The organized crime scene mostly plays into Dark
contrary to popular belief, they are probably present in Champions adventuring, but can play a role in four-
every neighborhood in the metropolis - not just the color campaigns as well.
inner city. Individually, ordinary criminals aren't much of a
The best place to find drugs is the sordid Strip neigh- threat to your average superhero. But an organized crime
group might have the resources to invest in some heavy
borhood in the downtown, where virtually any kind of
weaponry - even a PC who could care less about some
drug can be purchased.
thug with a knife will think twice when the Flaming
The drug of choice is methamphetamine, also known
Skulls bring out a surface-to-air missile!
as "crank." One advantage of meth is that no compli- As mentioned elsewhere, organized crime groups
cated smuggling schemes are required; the drng can be could hire some superhuman help, particularly if the
manufactured locally in illicit labs. These labs, set up PCs have been causing problems lately. Or the group
in rented houses, barns, warehouses or even motel itself could include a few superhuman members.
rooms, change locations often in hopes of thwarting Players can use the organized crime world in the back-
narcotics investigators. grounds of their PCs. Perhaps the death of a hero's par-
Depending on the recipe used, various kinds of meth- ents or sibling at the hands of the Chinese tongs moti-
amphetamine can be created. One of the more popular vates the PC. Or the hero might be a reformed ex-gang
member.
varieties is called "ice" or "crystal" meth.
These groups can make good Hunteds for PCs. When
The toxic chemicals used to manufacture crank are a hero is hunted by the Prophets street gang, the GM
classed as hazardous wastes, and each year a few ex- has an almost inexhaustible supply of enemies to throw
plosions take place at makeshift meth labs in San at her. And the PC never has to worry about replacing
Angelo. the Disad, since in all likelihood the Prophets will con-
Some outlaw motorcycle gangs are known to be in- tinue to exist for years - they' re never going to get
volved in manufacturing and selling methamphetamine, killed or locked up the way a single enemy might.
but for the most part meth dealers operate independently.
Cocaine, particularly crack, also plays a key role in
the city's drug scene. Crackhouses are not uncommon
in Brenton, South San Angelo and Northside neighbor-
hoods. To a lesser extent, they can also be found in Organized Crime
parts of the downtown, Pleasant Grove and Rancho Gun-toting street gangs. Ancient Chinese tongs. Wild
Madera. motorcycle-riding outlaws.
Street gangs control much of the cocaine traffic in These are the faces of organized crime in San Angelo.
San Angelo. The largest gangs, the Prophets and the Overall, organized crime is not an overwhelming prob-
Nomads, are the chief competitors in the crack trade. lem in San Angelo. There are no bloody mob wars or
Heroin, LSD and marijuana appear to be making a drug cartel gunbattles. Other than a handful of highly
comeback, however, particularly among young people. visible street gangs, most criminal organizations in the
And designer drugs, new synthetic concoctions, are also city prefer to keep a low profile.
on the rise. Crime bosses in San Angelo also tend to stay out of
The tongs and Mexican Mafia are the key players in supers-related affairs, which can attract all kinds of
heroin trafficking. Though some outlaw motorcycle unwanted attention, and genrally shy away from em-
gangs are involved in marijuana sales, most marijuana, ploying superhumans.
LSD and designer drug operations are independent in They may occasionally make use of superpowered
nature. These drugs are particularly popular near the individuals, but only when doing so fits into their over- -PA_G_E"""
CSU San Angelo and UC San Angelo campuses. all operations. NUMBER
217
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
,lmlJM '
For example, the Chinese tongs have no interest in The San Angelo chapter has all but taken over the El
sponsoring a heist of high-tech equipment from an Ar- Loco Bar in Pleasant Grove, which serves as its de
royo Verde lab. But a paranormal with a Chinese back- facto headquarters. Bikers from other gangs are for-
ground may be brought into the tong as an enforcer. bidden to wear their colors in the El Loco, so the Flam-
ing Skulls pretty much have the place to themselves.
Outlaw Motorcycle The chief criminal enterprise of the Flaming Skulls
involves manufacturing and selling methamphetamine,
Gangs also called "crank" or "ice." The gang cooks up crank
A few criminal motorcycle gangs are active in San in crude labs, often assembled in rented homes, mini-
Angelo. Outlaw bikers are known for their beloved storage units or vacant buildings.
motorcycles, often outlandish clothing and anarchic, The Flaming Skulls use each location for only a few
violent behavior. days before relocating the labs to avoid law enforce-
Some motorcycle gangs are national organizations ment raids. Only an inner circle knows the exact loca-
with chapters in various cities. A few travel the coun- tions of the labs.
try, and others are purely local. Gang members also perpetrate most of the other crimes
Every outlaw biker gang has a set of "colors," ragged common to outlaw biker gangs. The Flaming Skulls
jackets emblazoned with a patch, logo or other distinc- and Centurions are technically at war, though things
tive mark. Next to his motorcycle, his colors are an have been calm lately.
outlaw biker's proudest possession. The gang colors depict a grinning human skull sur-
Spontaneous violence is a key part of the biker mys- rounded by flames. Guy Claymore, known as "Big
tique, one that gangs often use to cow bar owners, gas Guy," is president of the Flaming Skulls.
station attendants, waitresses and crime victims.
Some gangs are involved in making and selling meth- Other Outlaw Motorcycle
amphetamine. Othercommon biker gang crimes include Gangs
sales of other drugs, rape, assault, robbery, extortion, There are about a half-dozen motorcycle gangs in San
kidnapping, bombing, arson and murder. Angelo, though a few are so small or rarely active as to
be negligible.
Flaming Skulls
The largest, most powerful outlaw motorcycle gang Centurions
in San Angelo, the Flaming Skulls are heavily involved The Centurions are the second-largest motorcycle
in the city's methamphetamine trade. gang in San Angelo, and compete fierce! y with the Flam-
Founded in San Angelo in the late 1960s, the Flam- ing Skulls for methamphetamine markets. The intense
ing Skulls now have chapters rivalry erupts into periodic violence,
in several West Coast cities. •11!'111!1!1!11111111919!1"-"'IPJ!ll!!!ll!l/.P!i!!" · -~~~- usually sparking a law enforcement
.. "'
The president of the San crackdown that cools things off
Angelo chapter technically again.
outranks all chapter presi- The president, Charlie "Praetor"
dents, but in practice rarely Fargo, gave the gang its name and
asserts this authority. Roman motif. The Centurions are
In San Angelo, the Flaming considered one of the most cold-blooded biker gangs in
Skulls have about 50 active members. Nationwide, the San Angelo, ruthlessly killing anyone who gets in their
gang has an estimated strength of 250. Each summer, way - even fellow Centurions suspected of informing
i-~-~-~all the chapters join together for an annual "run" - a to police.
· NuMC:~ weekend of drunken revelry somewhere in the Sierra The gang has about 35 active members, and is based
Nevada mountains. at a N orthside motorcycle shop owned by a friend. It is
218
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
CU'y rrf Son Aflfl9IO • '-°O -
not part of a national organization. Gang colors show a Tom "Diamondback" Walters is the current presi-
crested Roman helmet and a Latin motto. dent of the Rattlers. The bikers have taken over a va-
cant store, which they have fortified and equipped with
Desperadoes security cameras, for a headquarters.
The Desperadoes are a racially mixed motorcycle Gang colors show a coiled, striking rattlesnake.
gang with a sizable Latino contingent. One of the old-
est biker gangs in San Angelo, they are on the decline. Motorcycle Gang Members of
Founded in the mid- l 960s, the gang was for a time
the largest in San Angelo. But age, jail and family ob-
Note
ligations have taken a toll on the Desperadoes. Their ''Fat Frank" DeVille: The legendary founding presi-
ranks now number about 15, making the biker gang dent of the Flaming Skulls. A tough-talking, head-
almost a non-entity in the organized crime scene. knocking bear of a man, he led the gang for 15 years
The current president is Jim "Barbwire" Delgado, and until he was convicted of ordering a rival gang leader
his North Mission welding shop is the closest thing the murdered and sent to California State Prison, Canfield,
Desperadoes have to a headquarters. The gang is a lo- on a long sentence.
cal phenomenon. Reportedly in failing health from chronic hepatitis,
A pair of crossed six-shooters over a tombstone con- De Ville continues to exert a strong influence over the
stitute the gang colors. Flaming Skulls from his prison cell.
Charlie "Praetor" Fargo: The well-read president
Rattlers of the Centurions. Fargo has an extensive knowledge
A violent gang with a white-supremacist tinge, the of history, and sometimes fancies his gang as modern-
Rattlers are one chapter of a national organization based day Roman soldiers.
in Idaho. Beneath the cultured facade and philosophical quota-
In the past, the Rattlers fought regularly with the tions, Fargo can be extremely cold-hearted. He has or-
Desperadoes but the war petered out with the decline dered the execution of Centurions suspected of inform-
of the latter gang. Now most conflicts involve the Flam- ing to police in the past, and is willing to do so again.
ing Skulls, who are also active in Pleasant Grove. The relative lack of education of his outlaw brethern
The San Angelo chapter has roughly 30 active mem- is a continuing source of annoyance to Fargo as it dims
bers, and is involved in most of the criminal activities their appreciation of his own genius.
typical of motorcycle outlaws. A few area hate crimes Tim "Shorty" Morris: One of the newest members
are also believed to be the work of the Rattlers. of the Flaming Skulls, Morris got his "colors" just six
Jn 1994, five founding months ago after a long probation-
members left the Rat~ " . G1ty lieanl 1hi1·n,mor tl1e Centurit>ns wefe ary period in which the gang tested
8 rg El • -o so he h11d a couple IoyaIty an d I11s
· w1·11·mgness to
tiers to launch a com- gomiafirebomb '''e ""'" • if. A 111s
L •
mercial waste removal of us 1118 rhi.t frigBin' M-00 up to rlie r; · commit crimes. Unbeknownst to
business . The finn has fr " in ' machine-glfn, mnn. Put some sai nJgs the Skulls, Moiris is actually a
prospered, winning con- a!!nd ii-looked like sometliing ourta tlie 'Num deep undercover agent with the
. • "luiow' Rambo! Rar-tat-tat-tatl
tract~ with several Pleas- tJr some1l1111 · yo · ., Ire choppers fede ral Drug Enforce men I
ant Grove corporations. "We put up .fome nemng S" t • . Agency.
ultln 't see. a11d we were t'ead)' for .em.. Cept
Despite outward appear- co . fl e nioht man, with his helll He is collecting infonnation o n
ances, ho wever. the fi ve
Cavalier ew over 011 o • 1/
vision. Bet1t the gun-barrel, man. towlly. And "'' the gang's criminal activities. par-
did not sever their ties was the errd of 1ht1t." b'k ticularly the manufacture and dis-
with the Rattlers, and a - "Weird Willy" Logan. 32. outlaw 1 er tributionof methamphetamine, in ..P_NJ__,E..,
key factor in t·heir success a joint operation with the county Sheriff's Depart- NUMBER
has been the intimidation of competitors by the gang . ment.
219
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
Street Gangs "I used to bang with
Street gangs, which are often heavily
armed with assault rifles and other high-
Street gangs are a serious problem in the the Pope Street
Nomads down it1
powered weaponry, are wantonly violent.
more desperate neighborhoods of San Almost anything, even a wrong look, can
Angelo. Local law enforcement agencies Brenton. Sold rock, did provoke a shooting.
some b11si11es.r - .rome
estimate nearly 50 gangs are active in the
4ril-e-by's, 'fhe11 Mind-
city. Most gangs are made up of youths
from pre-teen ages to their early 20s.
Masrer. he •traigJu-up Exiles
nu·lled me at tl1is roclc
While blacks and Latinos predominate house, yo. Got into my The Exiles are an independent street
in many gangs, all San Angelo gangs are messed-1cp heat/ mid gang made up entirely of young low-pow-
racially mixed to some degree. Predomi- showed trw wliat time it ered meta-humans. Teenage boys and girls
nantly black gangs began recruiting youths was - illowed me I wa.T of all races are Exiles, who number about
of other races in the early 1990s, for ex- doill[l Wl'011g, 20. Every prospective Exile must have
ample, hoping to expand into other neigh- "/quit bangin • and some kind of paranormal ability, though
dealin'. Now I'm nearly all fall into the category of low-pow-
borhoods. Gang membership is not lim-
tnldng do1se.v up ;,, ered metahumans. Several members are
ited to young men, either; there are sev-
S.A. C. Gonna be a runaways.
eral all-female gangs in San Angelo as teacher 011e <lay. Yori
well. The Exiles, most of whom take on new
know. he/pin ' kids arid
Most black gangs are affiliated with one all dat. When I'm 1101 names based on their power, are led by
of two loosely knit coalitions, the No- working ut that whack Catseye. The gang seems to be most active
mads and the Prophets. Individual gangs, burger joi111, / do downtown, but roams the city.
or "sets," of these two frequently take llOlunteer- time over 01 It keeps a very low profile, and most San
their name from their turf, home street tlte ltnnrtfiett.r shelter. Angelinos are unaware of the gang's exist-
or some nearby landmark. "Sm11e people .ray ence. Even city police know little of the Ex-
what Mind-Master:~ iles beyond rumors.
The Baker Park Prophets and Pope
tloin' is messed up. While some members of the Exiles are in-
Street Nomads are examples of two
ir11rJ, is, /Jes just
gang "sets." volved in crimes, the gang as a whole does
straighteni11 ' 01, 1 ilie
Other street gangs are independent, suckers who won ·1 not seem to be involved in any criminal en-
with no allegiance to any person or or- listen ro no one el.re. " terprise. The Exiles mostly seem to act in
ganization. Theseincludemany Latino
and mixed-race gangs.
.
- Akinsheye Johnsron self defense.
19, sludent Many young Exiles dye their hair garish
Most gangs are associated with a par- colors, while others have tattoos or multiple
ticular color. Gang graffiti is always of the chosen color, body piercings.
and members often wear "rags," or bandannas, of their
color. Some gangs also use hand signs to communi- Nomads
cate. The Nomads are a coalition of mostly black street
Criminal activities of street gangs vary widely, but gangs, comprising one of the largest street gangs in
most are centered on drug dealing. The Nomads and San Angelo. Authorities estimate the gang has 20-25
Prophets sell cocaine from heavily guarded crackhouses, sets, concentrated in South San Angelo. Nomads sets
for example. are also based in Brenton, Northside and parts of Pleas-
Other activities include every kind of property and ant Grove, however.
violent crime. Drive-by shootings are a frequent tactic, Ramsey Hoyle founded the Nomads in 1987 at Vernon
though these hits are often so imprecise that innocent Fletcher High School. The gang's color is black. They
-P-A""'"GiiiiiEiiil\bystande!'ti are killed. typically wear at least one article of black clothing.
NUMBER
220
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
l.~al-- I
Clry r1t San Angll4o
221
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of San Ang•lo csoo -
Tongs
Three tongs, or Chinese organized crime groups, are
active in San Angleo. Chinatown, of course, is the fo-
cus of their activities.
When Chinese laborers settled in the United States in
the 1800s, they brought with them the ancient tradition
of triads, or secret societies serving as both protectors
and predators. Known as tongs in the U.S., these soci-
eties at first acted as a kind of benevolent association,
governing and defending the Chinese newcomers in an
often hostile land.
But the tongs also controlled crime in Chinatown. In
time, this led to conflict over the vast profits generated
by the opium trade and illegal gambling.
Bloody clashes, known as "hatchet wars" for the tra-
ditional Chinese axes carried by participants, erupted
between the tongs. The last hatchet wars took place in
the 1920s.
Today, the criminal tongs continue to operate behind
the scenes in Chinatown, though each tong also spon-
sors a public component that appears to be nothing more
than a merchant association or other mundane organi-
zation. As a result, not all tong members can immedi-
ately be classed as criminals.
the Exiles, even though the gang has since attracted
In addition, the tongs are extremely insular. Only
several older teenagers.
people of Chinese background are permitted to join.
Catseye, 15, has blond hair and golden cat-like eyes.
Even victims of the tongs are reluctant to deal with
He has a strong build, and seems to possess the quick
outside authorities. The tongs are incredibly difficult
reflexes of a cat. He also has a pierced ear and nose.
for local law enforcement agencies to investigate.
Tongs are led by chairmen, or dragon heads. Other
Other Gang Members of Note officers include a vice-chairman, an "English secretary"
Obaseki Dutton: Known as "Deadeye" Dutton to his who helps run tong
"~Ju lurow Gordon lAi?
fellow Prophets after a 1992 shooting blinded his left businesses and a
Remember M'IUlt happe11ed to
eye. Dutton is one of the gang's most violent members, "street secretary" who
him. lieya? He plo11ed agui11st
and a key enforcer. Sheriff's personnel are seeking oversees tong soldiers. / 1
..... 1 1 1
~·-'~'f ('~'Y~'JF~OM"~·~u~11-M«w"''""""'OM'-----
Dutton in connection with four murders. A1l three tongs es- chopped. I he"r he got burned
Ramsey Hoyle: The founder and head of the No- sentially engage in the "P by lightning 011 a dotulless
mads street gang. Now in his mid-20s, Hoyle com- same sorts of crimes. 11igl1r. Dragon head, lte'.v
mands much respect in the gang but doesn't have much Opium sales and ille- pmtecred by tire god.~. that'J
real power due to the group's fairly disorganized state. gal gambling are the m1e. (f you know whut '.\· good
J esus Quintana: Leader of the Varrio Mission Boys linchpins of their .for ytm - know your place,
street gang in North Mission. Quintana, in his early criminal empires, but do11 ·, get grt•edy. "
J"!P~A'!"'G~E,...20s, acts as a protector and father figure to the gang. A the tongs also engage - Fei "Proficablc'' Cong, 32,
NUMBER · tong member
smooth-talking wheeler-dealer, he could have been a in loansharking, pros-
222 politician - and still might become one someday. titution, protection rackets and murder for hire.
Wing Chao
Of the three tongs active in Chinatown, the Wing Chao
is clearly the most powerful and most feared.
The tong has approximately 325 criminal members.
While the Wing Chao dates back to the earliest days of
Chinatown, it came to the fore during the Golden Age.
A man known only as T'ien Lung, Chinese for celes-
tial dragon, directed the rise of the Wing Chao tong to
its pre-eminent position during the 1930s and 1940s. William Shiyu Yuan
T'ien Lung reportedly had the power of ancient Chi- Businessman/fong leader
nese sorcery at his command, with which he foiled sev- STR 10 DEX 12 CON 10 BODYlO
eral efforts by the Liberty Corps to break the hold of INT 15 EGO 15 PRE 15 COM 10
the Wing Chao on Chinatown. PD 3 ED2 SPD 2 REC4
His reign as dragon head of the tong is thought to END 20 STUN 20
have ended in the early 1950s. The present dragon head Powers and Skills: Combat Skill: +2 w/pistols,
is William Shiyu Yuan, outwardly a respected Stealth 11-, Streetwise 12-, Trading 12-, WF Small
Chinatown businessman. Yuan's involvement in the arms, PS: Businessman 11-, PS: Tong Leader 11-, KS:
tongs has been rumored but never publicly proven. Tongs 11-, KS: Wing Chao 14-, KS: Local Politics
11-, AK: Chinatown 14-, CK: San Angelo 11-, Lan-
The Jade Dragons street gang, led by Johnny Lao, is guage: Chinese (fluent, no accent), Perks: Fringe Ben-
affiliated with the Wing Chao. The gang takes its name efits: Dragon Head of Wing Chao, Wealth: Well Off.
from the green banners associated with the tong, and Disadvantages: Age: 40+, DNPCs (family, normals)
members often wear green sashes or headbands. Num- 8-, Hunted by rival tongs (As Pow) 11-, Psych: Power-
bering 40 or so, the Jade Dragons are embroiled in a hungry, Psych: Despises outside interference in
mild war with the Wo Fat gang over the fireworks trade. Chinatown, Secret ID.
224
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctty ~ S.n Ano•lo 'i-00 -
'PAGE
NUMBER
225
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
CllJ al S•n ~"!1010 •900 -
Allies
As the City of Heroes, San Angelo is home
to several do-gooders who fight for truth and
justice. Heroes in the city come in all shapes,
sizes and power levels.
Justice Foundation
TheJusticeFoundation hero team was created in 1994
as an offshoot of the San Angelo think tank by the same
name. The institution, established by billionaire Averell
Pendleton, seeks to uncover the root causes behind war,
crime, terrorism, hunger, poverty and other problems.
The hero team takes a more direct approach to crime
;,.~ and superhuman violence.
The four founding members of the Justice Founda-
tion team - Corona, Cavalier, Azteca, and Savant -
are still active; in 1996 they were joined by a new hero,
Lotus. An advanced headquarters compound in down-
town San Angleo houses the operation.
The TurboJet, a prototype vertical takeoff and land-
ing passenger plane loaned to the team by Peregrine
Aircraft for field testing, provides transportation for
the Justice Foundation.
Ir----------------~
GM's Option I
I GMs and players new to Champions may want to I
". I consider using the Justice Foundation as the PCs I
for their game until they' re comfortable making their I
I own heroes.
~----------------~
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Aztec a
Diego Cruz
229
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of a.n Angoro • iyjQ -
Background: Lt. Michael Quinn loved being a test Quote: "If you thought that was good, watch this."
pilot for the U.S. Air Force. When it assigned him to Personality: Cavalier can be something of a hotshot,
Forgan Air Force Base for something called Project: which sometimes lands him in trouble. He likes to show
Cavalier, Quinn figured his superiors simply wanted off, and doesn't mind taking risks to pull off an espe-
the best pilot in the Air Force to check out some hot cially impressive maneuver. His showboating and oc-
new jet fighter. casional disregard for orders creates all kinds of fric-
He didn't see any new jets when he got to the top- tion with his Air Force superiors, particularly Gen.
secret Sector 10 at the airbase, but Quinn certainly got Briar. But his status as the only pilot qualified to wear
to see the inside of a lot of laboratories as scientists put the Cavalier armor gives him some "job security."
him through every test imaginable. Cavalier has discovered that he enjoys using the ar-
Finally they explained that his brainwaves were the mor to rescue people and fight crime; he personally
best match for a new cybernetic helmet. But the helmet sides with Dr. Clay in the debate over the best use of
wasn't for fighters. It was for an ultra-advanced, top- the suit but doesn't get much of a say in the dispute.
secret battlesuit. Dubbed the Cavalier armor, it was Most of the scientists and military personnel involved
assembled by a huge force of scientists, engineers, tech- in Project: Cavalier treat him like a test subject - Dr.
nical experts and others for the U.S. Air Force at a cost Clay is the only one who really seems interested in his
of billions. General Harold S. Briar, the commander of opinions and ideas. He considers the older scientist
the project, didn't like assigning a junior officer to test something of a mentor.
the armor. But Quinn had the best chance of being able The need to deceive his Justice Foundation friends
to control the suit; the general didn't have much choice. about the origin of the armor and his true identity both-
The first rests were a success, even when Quinn devi- ers Cavalier, but national security issues are one thing
ated from his assignment to rescue some people trapped he does take seriously.
in a burning car on Interstate 79. Soon the San Angelo Powerstractics: Along with excellent defenses, the
papers were full of reports on a new armored hero. Gen. Cavalier armor can generate bursts of superhot plasma
Briar was furious. in combat. The suit has a full life-support system, and
But Dr. Augustus Clay, chief scientist on Project: incorporates some enhanced vision technology, radio
Cavalier, convinced the general that having Quinn j oin systems and a personal flight system.
the superhuman community would be a perfect real- Feedback circuitry in the suit provides enhanced
world test of the armor's capabilities. Gen. Briar even- strength and speed, though the cybernetic helmet is the
tually assented, and when the new hero was offered a primary control device for the armor.
place on the Justice Foundation hero team he signed A flaw in the electrical damping systems of the armor
off on the idea. makes Cavalier vulnerable to electricity-based attacks.
Under strict orders to conceal his Air Force affilia- Engineers have so far been unable to resolve the prob-
tions and the true origin of the armor, Cavalier has told lem.
his teammates that he discovered the battlesuit and keeps Quinn's role is much like that of a test pilot; while he
it working with the help of a friendly engineer whose excels at using the Cavalier armor and has a basic un-
identity he must protect. In reality, whenever the suit derstanding of aeronautics, Quinn doesn't know much
requires repairs or maintenance he returns to Sector I 0 about the construction, maintenance or repair of the
at the airbase. battlesuit.
While Cavalier continues to field-test the rumor, work Appearance: Michael Quinn, 25, has brown hair and
has started on the design of a second, more powerful hazel eyes. He stands 5 ' 1O" tall and has an athletic build.
generation of the armor. The final fate of the project The Cavalier armor is an ultra-high-tech, fully en-
remains up in the air, however, with Dr. Clay favoring closed metal alloy battlesuit with plasma generators
~~~
AGE peaceful applications for the suits and Gen. Briar in- attached to each arm and jet-powered flight boots. The
Nu111eeR
sisting that the armor be designed for combat. armor has a light blue hue, with crimson detailing.
230
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Ctty Cl'f O;i1n Att(1110 6SOQ -
Corona
• >
Callie Dalton
I~
••
231
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Background: Callie Dalton always had a passion right thing no matter the risk or cost. Corona has earned
for justice. Even as a child, she insisted the villains in the respect and trust of her teammates for her able,
her bedtime stoiies be made to see the enor of their compassionate leadership.
ways. Fiercely determined, Corona never admits defeat. Her
A legal career was a natural step, and after graduat- grit has won several battles in which Corona refused to
ing from law school with honors Dalton went to work go down despite relentless attacks, giving her fallen
at one of San Angelo's top legal firms. friends time to recover and rejoin the fray.
While she soon discovered the occasional gaps be- In her limited free time, Corona enjoys playing the
tween justice and the law, Dalton never lost her deter- viola and spending time with Tracy Keller in their home.
mination to see right triumph over wrong. They often visit auctions and yard sales together on
Shortly after going to work at the law firm, Dalton weekends to hunt up furniture for the house, which they
became lost while hiking in the high mountains. Night are still decorating.
fell, and Dalton huddled shivering against a rock as a Powers/Tactics: Corona controls flames so hot they
shower of falling stars began. Suddenly there was a are invisible except as heat distortions, similar to those
bright flash and an explosion! seen over asphalt on a hot day . Using these flames, she
Rangers checking out the meteor strike the next day can blast enemies, generate force fields and fly.
found Dalton unconscious at the edge of the blast ra- Corona's flame powers are generated by separating
dius. After a few days in the hospital, she returned to water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, the com-
work. But something seemed different, and soon Dalton ponents of rocket fuels. As a result, extensive use of
realized that she could now produce flames from her her powers can leave her severely dehydrated, and Co-
body, just by concentrating! rona tries to drink a lot of water prior to any battles.
The strange energies released by the meteor strike had Cold-based attacks are especially effective against
somehow altered her, transforming her into a superhu- Corona
man with control over fire and flame. In combat, Corona tends to hover and pelt foes with
After learning to control her powers, Dalton became flame blasts while directing the tactics of her fell ow
the superhero Corona, carrying her fight against injus- Justice Foundation heroes via radio.
tice and dedication to helping others to a new arena. Appearance: Callie Dalton, 29, stands 5' 6" tall, with
When the non-profit Justice Foundation sought her an athletic build. She has thick red hair and green eyes.
out to discuss forming a team of superhumans to pro- As Corona, she wears a light blue bodysuit, boots
tect San Angelo, Corona didn't hesitate to volunteer. and a short red vest. Belts and pouches carry vital equip-
Her idealism quickly captured the respect of her team- ment, and a small mask conceals her identity.
mates, and Corona became the leader of the team. Campaign Use: Corona is the archetypal four-color
Corona recently purchased a small, quaint home in hero, committed to doing right and helping others. Her
Midtown with her longtime companion, Tracy Keller. rock-solid belief that superhumans must use their pow-
An artist, Keller works for a graphic design firm down- ers to aid others could come off as being hokey, but her
town. She is aware of Dalton's superhuman alter ego determined stand against those who use their powers to
and supportive of her commitment to helping others. bring harm actually could be quite inspiring to the PCs.
Quote: "Hang on. We 're on our way." Her convictions run true all the way to the very core
Personality: Corona's unshakable conviction that su- of her being, and she will never give up in the battle
pers must use their powers to benefit humanity forms against villainy. She can be beaten, but Corona can
the guiding spirit of the Justice Foundation hero team. never be defeated.
She is a strong leader, who never hesitates to do the
PAGE
NUMBER
232
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clty ot l1n AnQelo '~ -
Lotus
Debbie Yuan
"No, daughter, we bring order to Chinatown," he re- She has continued her classes at UC San Angelo,
plied. "But order costs, and the people must pay. That's and is currently undecided between a career in sci-
fair, isn't it? And with your powers we can eliminate ence or acting.
the lesser tongs. When the Wing Chao rules supreme, Powers/Tactics: Lotus, a short, petite young woman,
there will be peace." has incredible strength, endurance and defenses. She
"You can't fool me with words, father," Debbie said. surprises many foes who expect her to be a martial
"I know about the tongs. About how they kill people, artist or psi talent.
extort money - I won't be part of it." A front-line combatant, Lotus has gone blow-for-
She ran from the room in tears. Even though she was blow with some of the toughest supers in San Angelo.
only 18,juststartingcollegeat UC San Angelo, Debbie Her superstrength also comes in handy for rescuing
knew what she had to do. Her family had committed normals trapped under debris.
great injustices on the people ofChinatown. As the hero Appearance: Debbie Yuan, 19, stands 5'6" tall and
Lotus, she would use her superhuman strength to com- has a fairly petite but wiry build. She has straight black
bat the tongs and atone for her family's wrongs. hair and brown eyes.
Quote: "/know I have the strength to do what's As Lotus, she wears a pale green bodysuit with a
right." lotus symbol on the chest and a mask to protect her
Personality: Lotus feels a strong commitment to pro- identity.
tecting the people of Chinatown, particularly against Campaign Use: Lotus is the young, idealistic su-
the depredations of the criminal tongs. She strives to perhero who still finds the whole idea of being a hero
make up for the wrongs committed by her father, Wil- exciting and fun. Her enthusiasm could be used to jazz
liam Shiyu Yuan, and his Wing Chao tong. up more jaded PCs.
Lotus has cut all contact with her father since discov- Her ties to the Wing Chao tong can certainly be ex-
ering his tong links one year ago, but she still meets her ploited for some strong adventures, especially if Lo-
mother occasionally when William Yuan is away. She tus ever has to direct! y oppose her father. Other possi-
operates under a secret identity to protect her mother bilities include a scenario requiring Lotus to protect
and younger siblings from reprisals. William Shiyu Yuan against tong killers, or one in
Since joining the Justice Foundation hero team which he must aid Lotus when another tong marks her
shortly after starting her superhero career in 1996, for death.
PAGE
NUMBER
234
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Savant
Salim Abdul-Jahi
ever. Even so, the loss had led directly to the most so in extreme circumstances, and even then must usu-
important moment in his life - his discovery of Is- ally be talked into it by his teammates.
lam. Savant is a deep thinker who rarely speaks up unless
He eventually converted to Islam, and even changed he has something substantial to add to the conversa-
his American name to Salim Abdul-Jahi to celebrate tion. His serious manner, maturity and personal honor
his new beginning and newfound pride in his African make Savant one of the most important members of the
heritage. Justice Foundation.
Years passed, and he eventually became a professor Powers/Tactics: Savant has a number of psychic
at UC San Angelo. A strange explosion claimed the senses, including the abilities to scan for a specific mind,
life of his old mentor, Dr. Revette, in 1982, and soon read the thoughts of others and send messages into
after Abdul-Jahi began to experience strange visions another's mind. In addition, Savant can attack foes with
of past events. He could sense the thoughts of people a punishing bolt of mental energy.
around him, and could even tell when someone he knew By concentrating deeply, he can sometimes "see" im-
was nearby. ages from the past of a particular place or object. He
And he could always tell when someone was lying must handle the object or be physically present in the
to him. Abdul-Jahi concealed his psi powers, even as area, however.
colorfully clad superhumans burst onto the San Angelo Savant is also a skilled researcher in several fields,
scene, using their new powers to seek justice, fame, and acts as the team scientist.
wealth, revenge or any of a hundred other goals. In combat, Savant avoids physical confrontations and
When he heard about the formation of a local hero lashes enemies with ego attacks from a safe position as
team to fight for juslit.:e in i 994, Abdui-Jahi realized much as possibie. His mental powers are actually most
that he had stood on the sidelines long enough. He be- useful to the Justice Foundation team in non-combat
came a founding member of the Justice Foundation as situations, such as investigations.
the hero Savant. Appearance: Savant, 48, stands 6' tall and has a thin
Quote: "You cannot lie to me." build. He has receding black hair, which he keeps very
Personality: Dignity and self-discipline are the keys short, and a goatee. His eyes are dark and Savant has a
to Savant's personality. He rarely jokes around, even very dark complexion.
with friends, but despite his reserved manner Savant He does not wear a superhero costume, preferring to
has come to respect his fellow Justice Foundation team dress in African-style clothing or ordinary street clothes.
members. He particularly admires Corona's commit- He often wears a vest over a black shirt and blue jeans.
ment to justice and helping others. Although he chides Savant is diabetic, which limits his diet and requires
Azteca about his impulsiveness, in his heart Savant regular checks of his blood sugar. He relies on insulin
respects the young man for his efforts to straighten out injections to help regulate his blood sugar, and could
his life. become seriously ill withoutthem.
Savant takes his Islamic beliefs very seriously, pray- Campaign Use: Savant is an example of the older,
ing at the appointed times and taking part in religious more experienced hero who tempers the sometimes reck-
holidays. His beliefs are at the core of his patience and less enthusiasm of his younger compatriots.
self-assurance. His strong sense of personal privacy, His retrocognition abilities could be useful to PC he-
and respect for the privacy of others, means that Sa- roes investigating an old mystery, or they could result
vant dislikes using his telepathic powers to invade the in Savant summoning the PCs for help after stumbling
thoughts of other people. He will only consent to do across some secret from the past.
PAGE
NUMBER
236
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Turbolet Justice Foundation
The Justice Foundation TurboJet is a prototype ver-
tical takeoff and landing passenger jet built by Per-
Headquarters
egrine Aircraft. The company donated the prototype The Justice Foundation Headquarters are located in a
jet to the team but expects regular reports on any prob- two-story annex to the think tank's offices in down-
lems or design suggestions. town San Angelo. A high stone wall surrounds the com-
The jet is well-known to the public as the transporta- pound, which includes a garden, swimming pool and a
tion of the Justice Foundation. separate garage for ground vehicles.
The basement contains the power generator, computer
Val Char Cost Notes mainframe and storage rooms, while the first floor
4xl ~1ze 3U houses offices, a conference room, guest rooms, a
-4 DCV 0 kitchen and a lounge. A laboratory complex, commu-
6.4t Mass 0 -6" Knockback
nications center and gym are found on the second floor.
40 STR 0
8 DEF 18
The TurboJet hangar, equipped with a roof that opens
16 BODY 0 to accommodate takeoffs and landings, sits on the rein-
20 DEX 30 forced roof of the headquarters.
4 SPD 10
20" Move (Flight) 60 x32 Non-combat Mult Val Char Cost Notes
640" MAX 0 236 mph 7 BODY
Equi pment 13 DEF 33
5 H1gh-Kange R;idio Hearing (Ull·, lhtlky)
500 Hexes Size 18 2 stories of I 8xl 2 hexes
7 Radar Sense (OIF, B11Jky) and an 8x8 hex hangar
Cost: 160 2,000 Hexes Grounds 2 4 x 44 hexes with
Disad va ntages DEF 2/Body 2 wall
I) Distinctive Features: Prototype v l VL Jel (Not E<1uipme11t
Concealable. Always noticed) Base Ra 10 (OIF, Immobile)
15 Watched by Peregrine Aircraft (Mo Pow, NCI) 14- 4 High-range Radio Listen and Transmit
10 Public ID Labor atories
2 Chemistry Lab 11-
3 Criminology Lab 11-
2 Engineering Lab 11-
2 General Knowledge (computer) 11-
2 Medical Lab I I-
Security Staff
20 Personnel: Security Officers (skilled normals), 8x
External Sensors (IIF, Immobile)
11 Clairsentience with Infrared Vision
Solo Heroes
The Justice Foundation allies aren't the only heroes
in town. San Angelo is also home to several solo he- PAGE
roes who prefer to operate independently. ~uMeER
237
c -
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Clly at S• n A 1,g.1fo -4~0 -
The Bard
Brian Quayle
flute, the Piper mind-controlled the citizens of San His girlfriend, Joanna Donaldson, doesn't know
Angelo and turned them against the superheroes of about his nightly activities as the Bard. A fellow UC
the Liberty Corps. Outlawed and on the nm, the Lib- San Angelo music student, she lives in the University
erty Corps finally managed to break the Piper's mys- Commons neighborhood.
tic hold on the people of the city. In a battle in Cathe- Quote: "More ghosts. That 's just wonde1ful. Like I
dral Square, the heroes banished the wicked entity to don't have enough to worry about with midterms com-
his own dimension. ing up."
Unbeknownst to the Liberty Corps, the Piper's magic Powersfl'actics: All of the Bard 's powers are based
flute had remained behind when its master was defeated. on his flute, which is actually an arcane artifact of tre-
A passer-by sold the flute to a neighborhood pawn shop, mendous power.
where it gathered dust for the next half-century. Each tune played on the flute has a particular effect
Early in 1997, young college student Brian Quayle on foes. A discordant one causes injury to listeners,
found the flute in a forgotten corner of the shop. Al- while others can induce feelings of fear, awe or respect.
ways alert to a bargain, he bought the flute for his music The Bard can entrap listeners with a mesmerizing song,
classes at UC San Angelo. But Quayle soon discov- requiring them to make rolls based on their EGO rather
ered that this was no ordinary instrument. than STR to break free. Other powers include the abil-
ity to reduce the willpower of listeners, compel enemies
He still hadn ' t decided what to do with his newfound
to dance and create sound effects. Finally, the Bard re-
powers when he heard a scream one evening while
cent! y learned to use the powers of the flute to create a
walking home from the bus stop. Quayle spotted a
protective shield against magical attacks.
woman being attacked by two muggers. Pulling out his
Most of his powers require the Bard to continue play-
flute, he sent the thugs fleeing in terror with a burst of
ing to maintain the effect, and are useless against any-
eerie music.
one unable to hear his music. He must make a music
Cathedral Square had been going downhill for years.
skill roll to properly activate the powers, modified by a
Street crime was on the rise, and the Organizatsiya had
penalty based on the active points of the power.
started strong-arming Eastern European immigrants in
The flute has many more powers that the Bard has
the community. Not to mention the ever-present hints
not yet discovered, including the mass mind control
of supernatural forces at work.
abilities used by the Piper.
Taking on the costume of a minstrel, Quayle became Appearance: The Bard wears agreen medieval-styled
the Bard - mystic protector of Cathedral Square. costume with red gloves, boots and cowl. He also wears
Personality: Brian Quayle often feels that he has got- a black domino mask (just to be safe), and a leather
ten in over his head as a hero, particularly since he belt and "holster" for his flute when not in use.
knows little about the supernatural and magical threats Campaign Use: The Bard is a reluctant hero whose
that he sometimes faces. He is also self-conscious about ambivalence could be used to challenge PCs about their
his relative inexperience; when he meets other heroes own reasons for putting up with the dangers and incon-
Brian feels like he's making a fool of himself. veniences of the heroic life. GMs can use the Bard as
But he's also driven to protect Cathedral Square, the "voice of reality," perhaps leading PC heroes to re-
where he grew up. He still lives in the old neighbor- examine motivations they've come to take for granted.
hood, where rents are cheaper, to stretch his meager The Bard hardly qualifies as an expert on the arcane
budget. Outsiders consider Cathedral Square a strange, or supernatural, but he may be the only resource avail-
slightly creepy place; to Brian, it's home. The people able for PC teams without mystic-themed heroes.
of the neighborhood - his landlady Mrs. Hradetsky,
old Mr. Popov the grocer and all the rest - had been
like a second family since the death of his mother.
On the other hand, his inexperience in magic, par-
ticularly with supernatural entities, could land the Bard
in trouble requiring the assistance of the PCs. l-----
~AGE
NUMBER
239
SAN ANGELO : CITY OF HEROES
CHAR Cost
1 0
20 DEX 30
23 CON 26
10 BODY 0
10 JNT 0
10 EGO 0 ECV: 3
18 PRE 8
12 COM I
5 PD 3
5 ED 0
5 SPD 20 Phases: 3, 5, 8, JO, 12
7 REC 0
60 END 7
36 STUN 9
otal Costs
har: 117 + Powers: 133 = Total: 25
Base: 100 + Disads: 150 = Total: 250
Cost Powers
15 Elemental Control: Lightning Powers
35a Energy Dlast, l0d6 5
15b Force Field, +15 PD, +15 ED 3
26c Flight, 18" (2x Non-Combat) 3
l 7d Teleport 20'', Only via wnductive material (-V2) 4
Cost Skills
4 'ombat Skil s, +2 OCV w/energy blast
Background: Jordan Allen grew up in the poorest
Familiarity w/Bureaucratics 8-
1 Fami liarity w/High Society 8-
family in the poorest town in backwoods Georgia.
3 Streetwise 13- There was never enough money, and the family of six
2 PS: Corporate hero 11 - children often went without. When the TV broke, it
2 KS: Peregrine Aircraft 11- took three years of saving before the Allens could af-
2 CK: San Angelo 11-
ford a replacement - a used black-and-white set, at
2 AK: Georgia 11-
3 Contact Peregrine Aircraft 14- that.
5 Money: Well Off The kids wore each other's hand-me-downs, and it
seemed like Jordan's mama spent every evening at the
15 P ~: Billy llcn. brother/manager (Normal) 11-
sewing table resizing or patching worn c lothes. Class-
10 Distinctive Features: Southern accent (Concealable)
15 Watched by Peregrine Aircraft (Mo Pow, NCl) 14-
mates from families better off than hers teased Jordan
15 Psych: Considers heroing a job (Common, Strong) unmercifully about her ragged clothes.
15 Psych: Enjoys using powers (Common, Strong) As soon as Jordan graduated from high school, she
IO Psych: Fears being poor (Uncommon, Strong) left that two-bit town for the big city lights of Atlanta.
I0 Psych: Subject to employer's orders (Common, Mod)
Walking home from her job one night, Jordan was ac-
I0 Public ID (Jordan Allen)
JO Reputation: Corporate hero 11- costed by a knife-wielding mugger.
10 Rivalry with other heroes, incl. PCs (Professional) The young woman was almost as surprised as her
I0 Vulnerability: 2x effect vs. energy drains (Uncommon) attacker when a bolt of lightning erupted from her hands
20 Susceptible: 3d6 vs. metal-based attacks (Common)
to blast him across the street.
PAGE
NUMBER
240
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City of S1r1 Ang1ilt1 A500 -
Panicked, Jordan quit her job and went back home, ues to carefully manager her career.
where she confided in her younger brother, Billy. After Heroes motivated primarily by altruism or a search
thinking it over, Billy told Jordan that her powers could for justice are sometimes offended by Dynamo's mer-
make them rich - if she played her cards right. cenary approach to heroing.
While Jordan secretly practiced using her lightning She doesn't much care.
powers, Billy designed a costume and name for her: Powersnactics: Dynamo's powers are based on her
Dynamo. Returning to Atlanta, Dynamo began to per- control of electricity. She can fire lightning bolts at
form rescues and other acts of heroism. enemies. In battle, Dynamo surrounds herself with a
Operating under precise instructions from Billy, Dy- crackling protective energy field. She flies by generat-
namo timed her heroic endeavors to attract maximum ing an electro-magnetic force, and can turn herself into
public attention and TV time. She always took time electricity to teleport through power lines, telephone
out for interviews, appeared at key local charity events wires, metal girders and other conductive material.
and even dated some of Atlanta's most eligible high- The electrical charge in her body makes Dynamo es-
profile bachelors. pecially vulnerable to energy drains and metal-based
Soon Dynamo created a sensation wherever she went. attacks.
That was when Billy approached an Atlanta soft-drink Since joining Peregrine Aircraft, Dynamo has learned
company about the first-ever celebrity endorsement by a little about dealing with a gigantic corporation and
a super-hero. proper behavior at high-class company-sponsored
The one-commercial deal earned the siblings millions events, such as parties at stockholder's meetings.
of dollars as newspaper columnists and heroes around Quote: "Y'all are trespass in' on Peregrine property.
the nation erupted in howls of outrage. I hope y'all aren't think in' of go in ' peacefully. "
Peregrine Aircraft took note of the young Southern Appearance: Dynamo, 25, has short, fashionably cut
hero-celebrity, and when the furor died down the aero- blonde hair and blue eyes. She stands 5' 8" and has a
space corporation approached Dynamo about coming slim fig ure, carefully accentuated by her profession-
to work for the company. Officially, she would be a ally designed costume.
special consultant on security matters, but her main Dynamo wears a light green and yellow costume, with
duty would be public relations - appearing at com- no cape. She does not wear a mask.
pany events, signing autographs for tour groups, etc. When Dynamo uses her powers, her eyes emit a blue
Billy drove a hard bargain, but in the end Dynamo glow and a crackling field of electrical discharges sur-
signed on as Peregrine Aircraft's newest- and prob- rounds her.
ably best-known -employee. Campaign Use: Dynamo's cynical, selfish attitude
Personality: Growing up poor had a profound effect toward being a superhero can lead to some interesting
on Dynamo, and she has privately promised herself that philosophical debates with more altruistic PCs .
she will never lack for money again. As an employee-hero, Dynamo's primary interest will
The hero business is exactly that - a business - to be protecting the properly and interests of Peregrine
Dynamo. She's interested primarily in the potential for Aircraft. This conceivably could bring her into conflict
financial gain in any enterprise, and is always on the with the PCs - a corrupt executive implicated in ille-
lookout for gal arms sales might order
new ways tc Man suffers n1ysterious electrical burns Dynamo to stop the PCs
cash in on he1 (Atlanta) Fire Deparlntent personnel responded to a re~tt ~f_a 1111m down from entering corporate
super-powers. yesterday evening. Upon arrival. rescuers fotm~ chi: umdcnuh~d man lay- property as they investigate
H er brother. ing on the sidewalk with third degree bums on h1~ chest. hands anti face. He his illicit do ings. for ex-
was treated und taken to Grndy Memorial Hosp1tul. . . •
Billy, contin- ample.
According to one witness. the man wa\ struck l>Y a lwl! .o~ h~hl111ng. Con-
flicting statements from another witness indicate that clectqcuy Imm a ncnrby PAGE
NUMBER
241
SAN ANGELO: CITY OP HEROES
City S11> A•IQ•I• •500 -
Enemies
For every superhuman who chooses to use his pow-
ers for good, there seems to be another who takes ad-
vantage of his power to satisfy his greed, powerlust or
vengeful side. These are just a few of the superhuman
criminals active in San Angelo.
Amok
Warren Voight
PAGE
HUMEIER
244
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
"Get off my sidewalk before I call the police on you!" Amok often attacks cars, buildings and other inani-
Something inside him snapped, and a blind fury mate objects as normals usually flee at first sight of
erupted in Voight. He stood up, snatched the broom him . He'll gladly fight supers or anyone else who holds
from the startled shopkeeper and broke it in half like a still long enough, though.
toothpick. The merchant ran away in panic, followed Once his anger has been touched off, Amok cuts a
by Voight's companions, as he began demolishing the random path of destruction through the city until halted
store. by heroes or exhaustion.
Once Voight had it all - a family, a respectable job, Quote: "Stop bothering me!"
a home in a nice neighborhood. But his hot temper and Appearance: Amok, 43, is a homeless African Ameri-
drinking cost him everything. can man with black hair and brown eyes. He stands 6'
Now Voight lives on the streets of San Angelo, just tall and has a muscular build, which he often conceals
another face in the anonymous crowd of homeless under an old overcoat. His clothing is typically dirty,
people. smelly and worn-out.
He still has a temper, and a few years ago Voight Campaign Use: Amok is very handy for on-the-spot
realized after one of his rages that he had done a lot adventures. GMs caught without a prepared adventure
more this time than bust a few store windows. Wrecked can just set him loose on downtown San Angelo for a
cars and half-destroyed buildings were everywhere. battle royale with the heroes.
Voight had somehow developed superstrength and A really clever villain might set Amok on a rampage
defenses. He didn't really care. as a distraction while he pulls off a crime somewhere
The newspapers dubbed him Amok, and over the years else in the city. Or Amok can be used to inject some
he has gone on several berserk rampages through the unrelated combat into a long, drawn-out investigation-
city. Police are looking for him, but when he's not en- type adventure.
raged Amok blends into the street scene - one more
homeless person among many.
Personality: Amok just wants to be left alone. Pe-
In what can only be described as a ;upcr·being
riod. When people annoy him, he tends to go berserk,
gone amok. downtown San An~Jo wa~ litensUy
smashing through downtown San Angelo in an uncon- shaken at iii very foundations. A large African
trollable fury. American man with incredible strength walked
Anything can set Amok off - a chatty homeless per- llirough City Center yestorday afternoon. knocking
son, a snotty liquor-store clerk, a religious pamphle- large holes in the sides of buildings and 1mashing
teer or city police officers moving vagrants along. Para- cars as be made his way down Kirby Avenue.
normal arch-criminals sometimes try to recruit Amok Police responded but their efforts to restrain the
for their schemes, which also bugs him. man proved fruitless, as officers were tossed about
Amok doesn't really want to fight anyone, but when like rag dolls. For possibly the first time ever, San
Angelo's fineSI was on the receivfog end of a
he's annoyed his temper takes hold and he becomes
beating they have flO often delivered to others. and
uncontrollable. Afterwards, he's often remorseful about
by a minority. If not for the tremendous injuries
his berserk actions and drinks to forget his horrible ram- Suffered by many of the police, the tenn poetic
pages. justice might seem appropriate.
Powers/Tactics: Amok has incredible strength and Luckily for the officers at the scene, the city's
defenses, but his paranormal powers have also left him ravorite team of "supers" arrived and immediately
oddly vulnerable to sound-based attacks. engaged lhe man in paranormal fisticuffs. A short
Amok only fights when he's berserk, so his combat time after the battle began, however, it ended, as
tactics are almost non-existent. He attacks anything in the mysterious hulk of a man disappeared amidst
front of him at full OCV until it's destroyed, then goes the rubble of a two story office building... PAGE
NUMBER
on to the next target.
245
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
City oflll" Anga>o •500 -
Bloodsport
Cluunmuil Armor (0
12 Arinnr, +8 PD. +4 ED
6 Running, +3" (IJ" total) 2
Contortionist 13-
Combat Skills: +2 w/muay thai
Familiarity w/Gambling 8- !S<:H!SNE
Martial Arts - Muay T hai flD 9-9&
With strength, agility, resistance and endurance near No one he's fought in the ring has provided much of
the apex of normal human ability, he was programmed a challenge, and Bloodsport has started to wonder just
with martial arts skills while being matured to the physi- how good those heroes using martial arts are compared
ological age of 20 in the lab's high-tech nutrient vats. to him. He's beginning to think that maybe it's time he
Then a fire broke out at the Arroyo Verde lab. found out.
Cameron barely escaped and wandered away, lacking Powersffactics: Bloodsport fights using the muay
any knowledge of his identity and origin. Since the au- thai, or Thai kickboxing, style of martial arts. His
thorities didn't know of his existence, and could never heightened physical abilities make him a formidable foe,
know, the lab never reported him missing. and the fighting techniques placed into his mind are
The sheriff's department picked Cameron up as a perfectly honed.
vagrant, and he was sent to a psychiatric hospital for
In combat, Bloodsport naturally tries to fight other
treatment as an amnesiac. But Cameron got tired of the
martial artists. He will try to avoid a direct fight with
place and escaped. He had only to cripple a couple of
enemies he is unlikely to be able to harm, such as fly-
security officers to do it.
ing energy projectors. He doesn't mind sneaking up
Eventually, he met some friends who showed him how behind a preoccupied mentalist for an easy takedown,
he could use his phenomenal martial arts skills to make however.
some money. Cameron liked making money.
While Bloodsport doesn't make a special point of kill-
Now he fights in illegal, underworld pit-fighting com-
ing his foes, unless they have angered him in some way,
petitions, in which two martial artists fac.e off, some-
he doesn't take much care not to kill them, either.
times with weapons, sometimes not. Spectators make
bets on the match, which ends when just one man is left Appearance: Bloodsport is 6'2 and has an excellent,
standing. Some matches only end when one man re- athletic build. His angular features are accentuated by
mains alive. Known as Bloodsport, Cameron has never short blonde hair, which he usually wears in a flat top.
yet lost a match. Bloodsports fighting costume is white and crimson
That makes his backers happy, and it makes with spiked wristbands and shoulder pieces. While ap-
Bloodsport happy, too. pearing functional , these items are actually made of
Quote: "/hear you're pretty good. Lets see ifyou're plastic and painted silver and thus do no extra damage.
good enough to beat me." Bloodsport's backers continue to promise him lethal
steel replacements for these "costume weapons."
Personality: Bloodsport is virtually a blank slate emo-
tionally and personality-wise. It just wasn't in his en- Campaign Use: Although he's kind of a dim bulb,
coding. Since escaping from the Helix Technologies lab, Bloodsport could make a good rival or hunted for mar-
he has discovered a few things about himself, though. tial arts-themed PCs. He will be interested in testing
He doesn' t like being cold or hungry. He doesn't like himself against any hero known for his fighting skills,
things that confuse him. He does like having lots of though Bloodsport knows enough not to take on any
money, which Bloodsport has discovered can keep him truly superpowered foes.
warm, well-fed and supplied with all kinds of distrac- Contact with Bloodsport could put the PCs on the
tions from confusing thoughts. trail of the illicit experiments at Helix Technologies,
But the one thing Bloodsport really likes is fighting. particularly if a mentalist hero reads his mind and dis-
It's the only thing he's any good at, and he's very good. covers just how little there is in there.
PAGE
NUMBER
247
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
-
Cfty of San Ano-lo
Phobia
.&500 __.,
'
Background: A thunderstorm split the night outside
the upscale La Vista home, while inside raged a battle
Emily Warden of a different sort.
Emily Warden tried to make her father see that
Val CHAR Cost Notes
10 TR lOOkg; 2d
superhumans weren't evil, just human beings who de-
15 DEX 15 OCV: 5 I DCV: 5 served some understanding, some compassion.But Rev.
18 CON 16 John Warden couldn't be dissuaded, especially not by
10 BODY 0 his teenage daughter.
13 INT 3
Her constant arguing and willful defiance only proved
18 EGO 16 ECV:6
15 PRE 5 his point about supers having a disruptive influence on
12 COM 1 the spiritual and social well-being of the city, he said.
18 PD 16 Emily tried to keep calm as her father patiently ex-
15 ED 11
plained that the pernicious influence of the flashy,flam-
5 SPD 25 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
REC 0
boyant superhumans had poisoned her mind. He was
6
36 END 0 treating her like a little child again, just like always.
35 STUN 11 In a moment of unreasoning anger, Emily let slip the
Total Costs one secret she had kept from her family. She herself
Char: 119 + Powers: 10 I = Total: 220
was a paranormal, with the superhuman power to sense
Base: 100 + Disad: 120 =Total: 120
Cost Powers END and make real the fears of others. Emily saw the shock
30 Elemental Control: Fear owers in her father 's eyes, and in that instant her uncontrol-
A) Telepathy 12d6, Reads fears only (-2) 6 lable fear-st:nsing powers lanced out.
B) Telepathy 8d6, 0 END Cost, Always on,
In one horrifying moment, Emily realized that what
No conscious conu·ol. Reads fears only (-2) 0
C) Mental Illusions 12d6, Based on fears
her father most feared was ... her.
onl y (-2) 6 Overcome by emotion and grief, she fled into the night,
Running, +2" (7" total) never to know how quickly the momentary burst of fear
ost Skills in her father 's heart gave way to concern and love.
JU Combat Skills, +2 DCV all combat
A year later, Emily lives on the streets of San Angelo.
3 Concealment 12-
1 Fami liarity w/security systems 8- Still estranged from her parents, she usually stays with
3 Lockpicking 12- a ragtag band of teenage runaways that drifts from
3 Steallh, 12- University Commons to City Center. She tries to help
3 Streetwise, 12-
them find food and shelter, but sometimes panhandling
2 PS: Runaway 11-
2 KS: Street Scene 11-
or petty thefts don't bring in enough money - particu-
2 KS: Abandoned Buildings 11- larly when someone in the band needs medicine or medi-
1 KS: San Angelo Underworld 8- cal care.
1 KS: Religious Scene 8- When that happens, Emily puts on a mask and be-
2 CK: San Angelo 11-
comes Phobia, supercriminal for hire. As Phobia, she
2 AK: Downtown 11-
7 Contacts: Other Runaways 14-, Exiles 11-, Cha rities 11 - has taken part in a handful of crimes in recent months
l>isadvanlagrs and police are looking for the newly emerged paranor-
15 DNPC : Rev. John Warden. father (Slightly Less ow) 14, mal criminal.
20 Hunted by police (Mo Pow, NCI) 8- Quote: "Don't be afraid."
10 Money: Destitute
5 Psych: Dislikes using powers (Uncom, Mod) Personality: While her constant exposure to the in-
15 Psych: Hates prej udice (Com. Str) ner demons of those around her could have twisted
I 0 Psych: Misses family (Com. M od) Phobia's personality into sadism or even driven her mad,
PAGE 20 Psych: Understanding, compassionate (Very Com, Str) it has instead gifted her with a profound empathy. Her
NUMBER 10 Reputation: Young crimi nal for hire 11 -
powers enable Phobia to realize that so many of the
15 Secret ID
248
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
harmful and hurtful things that people do stem from
their own fears and prejudices. Even so, at times she
has to seek some solitude - a chance to escape the un-
ceasing hammering of fearful thoughts plucked from
the minds of others.
Phobia cares deeply for her fellow runaways, who
have become a kind of surrogate family. For their sake,
she is sometimes willing to work as a criminal-for-hire,
although she strongly dislikes doing so and especially
regrets confronting foes with their fears made real.
Anyone harming or threatening her young compan-
ions, however, faces her full, unfettered fury. Phobia
will do almost anything to protect her friends.
She also longs to return to her real family, but feels
that she cannot so long as her father continues to con-
demn superhumans as tools of evil. Phobiadoesn' t hate
her father, but believes his bigotry and fear have built
an unbreachable wall between them. She has kept her
relationship to the well-known reverend secret, to pro-
tect her family and his reputation.
Her fellow runaways know her by her "street name,"
Kitten.
Powersffactics: Phobia has the power to sense and
manifest the fears of those around her, via a limited
form of telepathy and mental illusions. Her telepathy,
although restricted in its use, can be fairly effective
and can sometimes even root out deep-seated or sub-
conscious fears.
While she can direct a more powerful version of her Her powers also provide players with a chance to
telepathy against a specific target, her power to sense explore the inner fears of their PCs - some of the re-
the fears of others is uncontrolled and always active. sults could be quite interesting and provide new insight
As a result, Phobia is continually assailed by the dark into the heroes.
thoughts of those around her. After the PCs encounter Phobia a few times, they may
In combat, Phobia tends to try to blend into the crowd begin to learn more about her tragic background. Even-
and use her powers to confound foes while remaining tually they might try to reunite Phobia with her family,
undetected. which could help her father see past his bias about
Appearance: Phobia is 5'6" with a body developing superhumans and dissuade him from preaching hate.
from that of a teenager to a young adult. She has short Along with providing an uplifting way to "defeat"
blonde hair and hazel eyes. She most often wears blue Rev. Warden, this story arc could offer a chance for
jeans and a nylon jacket over half shirt. Phobia is fond some dramatic role-playing and a real challenge -
of wearing dark make-up and nail polish, as well as persuading a runaway to return home, and convincing
ostume jewelry. her father to accept her superpowers, requires some-
Campaign Use: Phobia is the archetypal villain with thing other than the ability to pound the tar out of some
~"""!"'!!""I
a heart of gold. She only commits crimes to help her supervillain. AGE
NUMBER
fellow runaways, and even then reluctantly.
249
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Stephen Bow
his powers from recharging at all and can even kill curing their doom. If Photon's Secret ID is revealed,
Photon in time. he will most certainly seek revenge on those respon-
Aside from his superhuman abilities, as Stephen Bow sible.
he commands the resources of a vast high-tech corpo- Initially, however, most adventures involving Photon
ration. Numerous business and political contacts pro- will likely relate to his efforts to form the mightiest
vi de him considerable behind-the-scenes influence, supervillain team around. Along with the obvious, such
which Bow can use to thwart enemies or rivals even as trying to break a potential recruit out of jail, Photon's
without using his superpowers. efforts can result in more complicated adventure seeds.
Despite his formidable array of powers, Photon real- For example, perhaps the villain Fireball offers to join
izes that he can still be defeated by a well-coordinated Photon on the condition that the arch-villain help him
hero team. He intends to found a team of his own, re- exact revenge on a past foe. Or Photon could kidnap a
cruiting the most powerful, most dangerous and most top scientist in an effort to augment the power of a
feared supers in the world to counter the might of vari- weaker potential recruit.
ous hero teams that might interfere with his plans. GMs should assemble Photon's villain team gradu-
Appearance: Photon wears a brilliant yellow-white ally over numerous adventures. As the PCs encounter
costume with black trim resembling crackling energy. villains, take note of the ones that fare best or gain the
He has a full-face mask. respect of the players. A few adventures later, let slip a
Campaign Use: Photon is a classic four-color arch- hint they 've been recruited by Photon. In this way, the
villain. He simply intends to be the most powerful, most PCs will eventually confront a truly menacing team
respected and most feared superhuman in the world. comprised of their most dangerous foes. Along with
Aiong the way, Photon seeks to crush aii those who the suspense engendered by the gradual buildup of the
have thwarted him. team, creating a force of villains known to the PCs
Over time, as the PCs foil his schemes again and again, through personal experience will result in stronger sto-
Photon will probably become obsessed with their de- ries than presenting a pre-generated villain team whose
stmction and will gear most of his efforts toward se- members the PCs have never met.
PAGE
NUMBER
252
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Siren
Christina Spiros
unresponsive in a deep coma. As soon as Christina powers involve the manipulation of sound, including
was well enough, she took her kid sister back to the several attacks, a deafening screech and a charming
midwest and put her in a long-term care facility. song. The commands for her song-based mind control
The workers injured in the spill filed suit against Al- must be verbalized.
lied Chemicals and its parent company, Eclipse Tndus- Siren has a list of Allied Chemicals and Eclipse In-
tries. The attorney handling the lawsuit uncovered evi- dustries executives, compiled from a careful examina-
dence that executives at the parent company had forced tion of company records obtained by her attorney as
deep cost-cutting measures on the plant. part of the suit. She intends to kill every one of them, in
When Chiistina discovered that cuts to safety pro- the name of justice for her sister.
grams, demanded by Eclipse Industries executive vice She carefully researches her targets and plans her at-
president Stephen Bow, had a direct role in the acci- tacks to avoid placing herself at undue risk or endan-
dent that injured Maria, she got so angry she screamed. gering innocent bystanders.
Windows shattered. Drinking glasses exploded. Light Siren is primarily interested in exacting revenge on
bulbs popped. Mirrors cracked. those she deems responsible for Maria's injuries, but
Christina looked around her, stunned. Eventually she she also needs money to pay for her sister's long-term
realized that exposure to the highly dangerous toxics care. As a result, she sometimes takes on jobs as a free-
had altered her body chemistry, endowing her with su- lance mercenary, usually as hired muscle in someone
perhuman sonic powers. else's criminal enterprise.
Keeping her newfound powers a secret, Chtistina clan- Appearance: Siren wears a white full-body costume
destinely began to explore their reach and plan her re- with a large, black stylized "S" design and black gloves.
venge. The money-hungry executives at Allit:ll Chemi- Her biack half-mask exposes her short, jet black hair
cals and Eclipse Industries who had caused her sister's and the smooth, pale skin of her face. Siren is tall, stand-
injuries were going to pay when Siren came back to ing 5' 10" normally, and a full 6' in costume.
town. Especially Stephen Bow. Campaign Use: When corporate executives begin
Quote: "You could ask me to keep quiet ... but it dropping dead around town, it's bound to catch the at-
won't do any good. " tention of PC heroes sooner or later. A careful investi-
Personality: Siren has become completely obsessed gation of the ties between the deceased businessmen
with avenging the wrong done to her sister, partly be- could reveal their link to the Allied Chemicals accident
cause of her own subconscious guilt about not living in 1994, giving the heroes their first clue in unraveling
up to her promise to protect Maria. the mystery.
Since returning to San Angelo, she spends virtually Adventures involving Siren could create some mixed
all her time tracking targets and plotting the next step emotions for PCs; they will likely feel obliged to pro-
in her revenge. Siren has decided that any thoughts of a tect some really unlikeable people from a woman with
normal life will have to wait until she has fulfilled her a legitimate grievance against them. The conflict be-
vow to bring those who hurt Maria to justice. tween their heroic ideals, public image and personal
Her own experiences at the hands of Eclipse Indus- feelings about Siren's quest for vengeance is good fod-
tries have left Siren with a burning hatred of corporate der for some excellent roleplaying.
greed, and she sometimes becomes filled with rage when Siren is not aware of Stephen Bow's dual identity as
confronted with examples of unethical or dangerous the arch-villain Photon. Once he figures out the score,
business practices in the name of profit. She tries not Photon will be out to neutralize the threat posed by
to allow these incidents to distract her from her pri- Siren. One particularly four-color way to resolve the
mary goal, however. problem would be for Photon to recruit Siren for his
Powerslfactics: Her exposure to toxic chemicals team of ultimate super-villains, where he can keep an
PAGE mutated Siren's body, giving her superhuman speed, eye on her. Of course, if Siren ever discovered Photon's
NUMBER
agility, endurance and resistance to attacks. Her chief real identity ...
254
SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES
Origins of San Angelo Bibliography
When Mark Arsenault started Gold Rush Games and re- Reference
ceived a license from Hero Games to publish Champions Baden, Michael. U1111atura/ Deatli: Co11fessio11s ofa Medical Exami11er.
adventures, he used San Angelo as the setting for his first Baumgartner, Anne S. A Comprehe11sive Dictionary of the Gods.
Bosley, Deborah; and Jensen, Jamie. San Francisco: The Rough Guide.
book - Heroic Adventures, Vol./. Then a funny thing hap-
Carpenter, Allan. Facts About the Cities.
pened. Gamers who bought the adventure anthology began Ellefson. Connie Lockhart. The Melting Pot Book of Baby Names.
asking Mark for more information about San Angelo. Fischgrund, Tom, editor. Barro11sTop50: An Inside Look at America :v
When Patrick Sweeney stumbled across the Gold Rush Best Colleges.
French. Christopher W.. editor. The Associated Press Stylebook.
Games forum on America Online, he discovered a lot of
Hawking. Stephen W. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to
messages from people suggesting a Champions book about Black Holes.
San Angelo. Although he had never heard of San Angelo Kessler, Ronald. The FBI.
and had never written a roleplaying book, Patrick had been League of Women Voters. Guide to Ca/ifomia Govemment.
Neighbors. a community publication of The Sacramento Bee.
interested in breaking into the game-publishing world for
Sacramento '.r Answer Boo/<..
a long time. So he sent Mark an e-mail about the prospec- Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. Catholic Almlllwc.
tive San Angelo project. Porter, Darwin; Prince, Danforth; and Levine, Dan. Frommer~· 96 Cali-
After reviewing a formal proposal and meeting for lunch, fornia.
Mark assigned the book to Patrick. He also organized an Rieger!, Ray. Hidde11 Sar1 Francisco and Northem Califomia.
Robinson, John J. Dungeon. Fire ar1d Sword: The Knights Temp/ar in
on-line roundtable of experienced authors to provide sug- the Crusades.
gestions, advice and feedback on the ongoing project. Smoot, George; and Davidson, Keay. Wrinkles in Time.
Nine months, two missed deadlines, one computer crash The Sacramento Business Journal. The Business Lists 1996.
Wordsworth Reference. The Wordsworth Spanish Dictio11ary.
and a ton of e-mail later, San Angelo: City of Heroes was
finished .
Role-Playing Games
Allston, Aaron. Ninja Hero.
Author's Afterword Arsenault, Mark; and Berman, Geoff. Corporatio11s.
Cook, Monte. Champions U11iverse.
Now tirings get interesting. I've always believed that no Findley. Nigel D. GURPS Illuminati.
matter how much preparation a GM does, a game world Long, Steven S. Dark Champio11s: Heroes of Vengeance.
isn't complete until players get involved. They invent char- - Justice, Not Law.
octers the GM never foresaw, discover connections he never MacDonald, George; Peterson. Steve; and Bell. Rob. Champions: Tfle
Super Role-Playing Game.
realized and take the campaign in directions he never imag-
ined. The world comes alive.
Inspiration
I think this concept holds true for authors of role-playing
Fiction
g;imes as well. One person, no matter how inventive, can
Martin. George R.R. (editor). Wild Cards I-XVI.
never hope to match the creative output of the hundreds of Comic Books
g;imers who will use his adventure, campaign or game. Batman. DC Comics
I'm very proud of San Angelo: City of Heroes. But right Batma11: The Dark K•iight Returns, DC Comics
now it's all still conjecture - just words on a page. It's up Code of Ho11or, Marvel Comics
Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC Comics
to you to make it real; to bring San Angelo to life. And it The Fantastic Four, Marvel Comics
ooesn 't bother me that your version of San Angelo will 1tifi11iry Inc .. DC Comics
differ from mine, or from that of gamers in the next town Iron Man. Marvel Comics
Justice league Jnremationa/, DC Comics
over. I have to admit a sneaking admiration for the old
Justice League ofAmerica, DC Comics
"infinite Earths" of DC Comics; sure, it was terrible for *Ki11gdom Come, DC Comics
continuity, but it was a lot of fun to see alternate versions *Kurt B11sieks Astro City, Homage Comics
of my favorite heroes and villains, not to mention alternate *Marvels, Marvel Comics
The MighryAvengers, Marvel Comics
histories, places and things.
The New Teen Tita11s, DC Comics
I can't wait to see all the different ways that people put The U11canny X-Men, Marvel Comics
San Angelo: City of Heroes to use; all the infinite San Watchmen, DC Comics
Angelos out there waiting to be born. WildC.A. T.S., Image
PAGE
Up until now, this has been my book. My world. NUMBER
*Of particularinfluenceon this book.
Now it's yours.
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SAN ANGELO: CITY OF HEROES