- c h a p t e r t w o -
tesla's torch
Tesla’s Torch is the second adventure in the The Trail of
the Scorpion series. While this adventure is designed to be
part of the ongoing serial, it can be played independently
as a stand alone adventure. If the Gamemaster decides to
run it in that fashion he can replace the Red Scorpion Crime
Syndicate with any other nefarious organization in his
serial and could even reveal who the mastermind is at the
end of the adventure by designing one last climactic chase
to capture the villain who orchestrated the kidnapping
plot. Tesla’s Torch is designed for any number of players,
though it is best suited for 2 to 6 characters of no more
than 15 Story Points.
Episode Overview
In Tesla’s Torch the player characters only have to save the
1939 Worlds Fair, but also the greatest scientific mind of
the Rocket Age, Nikola Tesla! Agents of the Red Scorpion
Crime Syndicate have infiltrated the interplanetary council
and if they can capture Tesla then they will have control
of the single most powerful scientific mind in the Solar
System. After torturing him into revealing untapped
theories and technology they can ransom him back to the
Solar System for a fortune. But when Tesla is kidnapped
and the characters take up hot pursuit over the Big Apple,
the entire city could be destroyed unless they can rescue
him and retrieve his newest invention!
New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia hopes to use the
upcoming New York City Worlds Fair and its theme of “The
World of Tomorrow” to unite the species of the world and
herald an era of peace in the wake of the tumultuous Rocket
Age. To this end he is hoping to hold a Worlds Fair that
Gamemaster’s Note
Before running Tesla's Torch the Gamemaster should read through the entire adventure and decide which non-player
character introduced in the first reel is to be a spy for the Red Scorpion. This will affect how that non-player character
interacts with everyone present and have an impact on the epilogue of the adventure. It also will help create replay value,
as players who have already played this adventure may find a new adversary on the second or third time through!
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encompasses every species of the Solar System. Inviting
the brightest minds of Earth alongside representatives from
Mars, Europa, and Venus. But Mayor La Guardia is no fool
and knows that tensions will run high. To ensure the safety
of everyone present, the Mayor has hired the heroes to serve
as his assistants in both security and diplomacy.
Intro Montage
Thrill to the adventures of Rocket Age starring (player
name) as (character name), (player name) as (character
name), (player name) as (character name), and (player
name) as (character name), in Tesla's Torch. Our heroes
have been hired by the mayor of New York City, Fiorello
La Guardia, to assist in protecting some of the greatest
minds of the Solar System ahead of the 1939 Worlds Fair.
Martians, Venusians, Earthlings and Europans are all in
attendance and the fair’s guest of honor is none other than
Nikola Tesla himself! But not everyone has come together
in the spirit to celebrate the world of the Solar System!
Dark forces loom and soon the fate of tomorrow will rest in
the hands of a few brave heroes...
Reel One: A Stolen Future
Gathered delegates from across the Solar System have come
to plan the 1939 Worlds Fair, including a new innovation
from none other than Nikola Tesla! But danger is as cutting
edge as science, and when Tesla directs those in attendance
to look towards the Statue of Liberty as unveils his new
creation, the Red Scorpion strikes and the chase is on!
The trail of the scorpion

Scene One: A Gathering of Stars Nikola Tesla, Brightest Mind of the Rocket Age: Nervous
and gruff, obviously struggling to maintain some level of
civility for the sake of the Mayor and the Solar System.
The World of Tomorrow
You stand among the greats of the Solar System,
sticking out like a sore thumb. As informal guests of
Mayor La Guardia, you feel quite out of place next
to the elegantly dressed guests gathered here today.
Scientists, diplomats, and Rocket Rangers, are all present
on the 97th floor of New York’s Empire State Building
to reveal what will be the jewel of the upcoming Worlds
Fair. This mysterious technology, a creation by none
other than Nikola Tesla, promises to propel the Solar
System further into the Rocket Age. This magnificent
invention is rumored to be based on information
retrieved from recently excavated Erisian ruins. Lushly
decorated tables full of the finest food and drink from
across the Solar System fill the room, offering a bizarre
tang of scents as the gathered company awaits Mayor
La Guardia and Nikola Tesla and their grand reveal
at noon. With only an hour left, the Mayor orders you
and your friends to mill about the delegates and get to
know them, offering the guests a show of good will that
tomorrow will bring.
Prince Tashatha, Martian Royalty: This Silthuri nobleman
is nervous at the prospect of Earth’s growing power and
The adventure opens with the player characters at a fears this whole event is a sign of the growing domination
glorified dinner party. They are surrounded by a plethora of Mars.
of beings from across the Solar System and there is
an air of polite tension in the room. Mayor La Guardia
encourages the players to interact with the gathered
dignitaries to show the good will of New York City and
Earth to the rest of the Solar System. The various party-
goers are detailed below:

Richard Feynman, Beleaguered Assistant: Tesla’s assistant

is gregarious, charming and quite at ease among the guests.

Fiorello La Guardia, Mayor of New York: Proud but

nervous, wants to make sure the event will go off without
a hitch.

Col. Claire Lee Chennault, US Rocket Ranger: Irritated

that she has to be here, Col. Chennault would rather be
in the field or helping the 1st MEF. Instead, she’s stuck
rubbing shoulders.

Kaaa-noik, Assistant to Estolan: Estolan’s servant walks

always at the flank of its master and always with its head
cast down. It speaks only in submissive whispers defers to
Estolan in all things.

26

Ambassador Estolan, Europan Dignitary: Estolan is
cold, polite, and curious about this whole affair is more
interested in observing what it calls “these new Earthlings
and their toys.”
Kotho, Tashatha’s Maduri Bodyguard: Kotho has nothing
to say, and will only growl as she shadows her lord,
imposing herself between Prince Tashatha and anyone
who approaches the Silthuri noble.
Reska, Opportunistic Pilthuri Trader: A consumate snake-
oil salesman, Reska is owner of Engineered Radium Brokers
of Mars; he is here hoping to broker a deal for his company
and cement himself as a power player in growing galactic
economy.
Hanan, Deeply Spiritual Venusian Explorer: Hanan speaks
gently and wisely, wearing the talismans of her people in
odd contrast to earthly khakis and a leather jacket. She
is a kind but troubled soul. She fears that, as technology
grows, her people will continue to be marginalized.
There are also several Earthlings bustling about with trays
of fine food and champagne as well as a collection of
poorly prepared dishes from other planets in an attempt to
cater to the extraterrestrial guests.
The Gamemaster should give the players an ample amount
of time to interact with the various non-player characters
present for as long as they are enjoying it. Once things start
to slow down, use the following description to continue
the scene.
27
Tesla's torch
Scene Two: The Eternal Flame
Everyone’s attention turns to Mayor La Guardia, as he taps
a silver spoon against his champagne glass. “Thank you
all so much for coming. We have come together to discuss
the 1939 Worlds Fair and for the first time it will be a fair
showcasing the wonders of all our planets and cultures –
indeed we are stepping into the world of tomorrow. The man
beside me has created a new technology that will change all
our worlds – the jewel in the fair’s crown – and he is going to
demonstrate it for us today! Without further ado, I give you
the greatest scientist of our age: Nikola Tesla!”
He motions to Nikola Tesla, who steps up to the podium
to an awkward smattering of claps. His tone is dry, stiff
and direct. “Let me get past all this foolish pomp and
circumstance. What drives us to conflict? What drives us to
war? What drives us to kill each other? Resources. We are in
a perpetual state of conflict because of the limited supply of
energy in our galaxy. Whether it’s electricity or radium, we
know that in spite of the amazing advances in our time that
the Rocket Age has not brought peace to the stars.” Tesla
pauses as the guests look darkly between themselves.
“But, I have developed a new technology that will provide
clean and limitless energy to people of all races and I will
unveil if you will indulge me for just a moment. Please,
keep your eyes on the Statue of Liberty and you will indeed
see the World of Tomorrow.”
The scientist sits a small RADIO on the podium and then
walks to the elevator without a word. The stunned silence
is broken only by the chime of the doors as they close and
he ascends to the roof.
The trail of the scorpion
Mayor La Guardia begins to clap awkwardly and offers
an obviously nervous smile. A few moments pass and the
players will have an opportunity to discuss the speech with
the various non-player characters present, most of whom
are disturbed and put off by Tesla’s dour speech. After the
discussion has died down, a light begins to flare up in the sky.
Trouble atop the Apple
Suddenly a great light begins to twinkle above the glow
of day. You look towards the Statue of Liberty and see
that her torch is pulsating with a light that seems to slowly
be growing. There is a crackle of static from the RADIO
and Tesla’s voice can be heard: “You see the light? The
generator I have installed in Lady Liberty’s torch will
create enough energy to power the entire east coast of
the United States indefinitely. Soon I will give this-”
His words are cut short by the sound of a struggle! Several
guests look around horrified as the sound of Tesla crying
out and men fighting echoes from the RADIO. Then, the
zzap of a RAY gun and a moment of silence.
Colonel Chennault is the first to react. “Get yer asses up
to the roof,” she yells as she draws the pistol at her hip
and takes a protective position in front of the Mayor.
“I’ll handle security down here!”
The crowd becomes chaotic as you push your way
towards the elevator. The last thing you hear before the
doors close is another static-ridden echo pouring from
the RADIO: It sounds like a rocket engine...
Scene Three: Rooftop Rescue!
Our heroes burst onto the roof of the Empire State
Building just in time to see one of the Red Scorpion Crime
Syndicate kidnappers leap into a rocket car and zoom off.
They’ll have to fight off the remaining criminals who have
planted a bomb on the roof and plan to blow the top half
of the Empire State Building to smithereens!
There are five Red Scorpion thugs on the roof: two
Earthlings, two Maduri Martians and a Venusian. The
Gamemaster is free to add a few more if his party is
particularly large. The thugs will fight until defeated, but
the larger concern is the bomb they’ve set on the roof.
Once combat begins the thugs focus on falling back to their
get away rocket cars. The bomb will go off if the heroes
do not successfully disarm it within 6 Action Rounds
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after combat begins (see below). Once the characters have
defeated the goons and disarmed the bomb it should be
fairly obvious that they have no time to return inside to get
help – the only hope for rescuing Tesla is to take up the
pursuit themselves!
Kidnapped!
The elevator doors open to the roar of an engine
echoing over the city and you see across the roof the
blazing engines of several rocket cars roar to life and
speed off towards the horizon. Seeing no sign of Tesla,
the nefarious nature of this dastardly plot becomes
clear: kidnap!
A collection of Earthlings, Maduri Martians and even
a Venusian still linger on the rooftop, clustered around
what appears to be a metallic suitcase with a large
ticking display. Judging by the brutal twinkle in their
eyes and the heavy weapons in their hands, they’re
clearly up to no good.
“You know what to do boys,” slithers one of the
weaselly Earthlings before glancing back at a few
waiting rocket cars still parked on the roof. “Let’s take
out the trash and then get outta here before the whole
place blows sky high! The boss wanted the pencil neck
to the rendezvous in a jiffy.”
Ticking Time-bomb!
Roll: Ingenuity + Technology
Difficulty: 15
Results:
• Fantastic: You instantly know which wire to cut to
disarm the bomb! It only takes you 1 Action Round to
disarm the bomb.
• Good: Is it the red wire or the blue wire? You have to
think for a few seconds to get it right, but manage to
disarm the bomb after 2 Action Rounds.
• Success: There are so many wires, so many gears. It
takes quite a bit of study to shut the explosive down
and you have to study it for 4 Action Rounds before
the bomb is successfully disarmed.
• Failure: You’ve never seen anything like this before.
You spend 1 Action Round studying the bomb. Roll
again next round with a +2 bonus.
• Bad: This thing looks impossibly complicated. After
spending the entire round studying the bomb you’re
more lost than ever. You may roll again with a -2
penalty in the next Action Round.

• Disastrous: You cut the wrong wire! The timer
begins ticking even faster! The bomb accelerates its
countdown. The bomb will explode one Action Round
sooner.
Explosion!: If the player characters are unable to disarm the
bomb before the six Action Rounds have passed they will
need to make a Coordination + Athletics roll (Difficulty
21) to leap into one of the rocket cars still docked at the
edge of the Empire State Building. Those who fail will
need to somehow resist 50 levels of heat damage as a tiny
atomic explosion levels the top ten floors of the Empire
State Building. The fall out and debris will kill several
pedestrians walking the streets below and the guests
inside the building may be injured or even killed too!
Reel Two: Rockets Over New York!
Desperately pursuing the kidnappers who have taken
Nikola Tesla into dangers unknown, our heroes will need to
dodge the dangers of the New York skyline before a fiery
crash down on Bedloe Island!
Scene One: Hot Pursuit!
The Chase is On
Seeing the remaining rocket cars, you and your allies
prepare for hot pursuit of mysterious kidnappers who
are fleeing across the Manhattan skyline! You’re going
to have to weave through skyscrapers, cut across the
wind and dodge mysterious Venusian terrorists if you
hope to rescue Nikola Tesla! Who are these nefarious
criminals and what foul fate do they have planned for
this genius?
With Tesla kidnapped and the agents of the Red Scorpion
fleeing across the skyline of Manhattan, nothing stands
between the destruction of New York City and total
destruction except our brave heroes. This scene makes
extensive use of the chase rules found in the Rocket Age
Core Rulebook (beginning on page 224) and each Chase
Round of the encounter is considered an aerial chase with
an Area size of 500 square meters.
The number of Areas separating the player characters from
the fleeing kidnappers is determined by how quickly the
characters are able to get their own rocket car fired up and
going. Each rocket car requires one pilot and can carry two
29
Tesla's torch
passengers. There is one rocket car left behind for every
three player characters in the group.
The Red Scorpion thugs are fleeing in a small fleet of their
own rocket cars. For every player character in pursuit, there
is one enemy rocket car. During the chaos and distraction
of the chase the player characters will have difficulty
determining exactly which car is carrying Tesla. In the
event that the player characters actually catch one of the
Red Scorpion’s cars, they discover that Tesla is in some
other car. Either they misjudged which car was carrying
Tesla, or one of the thugs has dressed in clothes up as their
victim to throw of their pursuers!
Light the Fires and Kick the Tires
The player characters need to get their rocket cars fired up
and going, and need to do it lickity split! Lightning reflexes
and intense knowledge about the rocket car will help them
jump start their pursuit! Gamemasters should make sure
to ratchet up the tension for this roll, implying that the
characters may have lost quite a bit of time if they took too
long to defuse the roof-top bomb, even though it has no
direct impact on the roll itself – but the players don’t need
to know that…
Roll: Ingenuity + Transport
Difficulty: 12
Results:
• Fantastic: You are hot on the heels of the fleeing
kidnappers! The Chase Rounds begin for them with
only 1 Chase Area separating you and your foes!
• Good: Sometimes fast isn’t fast enough, but speed
counts for something. The Chase Rounds begin with
the character’s rocket car 2 Areas away from the
kidnappers.
• Success: Start your engines, already! The characters
begin with a formidable 3 Areas between you and the
kidnappers!
• Failure: You’re a Sunday flier! There are grandmothers
who drive faster than you! The Chase Rounds begin 4
Areas away from your targets.
• Bad: Flooded Engine. After giving it too much radium,
your rocket car stalls out, and you don’t get it going
again for a few precious seconds. The chase begins
with 5 areas between your rocket car and the fleeing
kidnappers.
• Disastrous: Stalled Engine. After slamming on
the accelerator in hopes of hot pursuit, the engine
completely shuts down and now your rocket car is
spiraling towards the crowded city streets below.
You’ll need to make a Coordination + Transport roll
(Difficulty 18) to recover, or risk wrecking your only
The trail of the scorpion
hope of pursuit. If you get control of their vehicle,
you begin the chase at a painful distance of 6 Areas
between yourselves and the kidnappers.
Each Chase Round both the player character pilots and the
non-player character pilots will need to make a Coordination
+ Transport roll (Difficulty 15) as the rocket cars skim the
top edges of the great towers of steel and glass above New
York. The Red Scorpion agents are focused on speed and
escape, and are not above trying reckless and dangerous
maneuvers that endanger the lives of both themselves and
the citizens of the city to save their own skin and escape.
The Gamemaster is encouraged to make use of the various
traits of the rocket car like Agile, Thrill Ride, and Turbo
Boosters (see the Rocket Age Core Rulebook, page 184).
In addition to fancy flying, the Red Scorpion agents will
make use of their own weapons in hopes of blasting the
characters out of the sky.
The agents came prepared and as the player characters give
chase they will encounter several obstacles along the way.
The Gamemaster is encouraged to use any number of the
following encounters to add to the chaos of a high speed
rocket car chase above the streets of New York City.
Snipers!
The Red Scorpion Crime Syndicate has positioned several
snipers in advance of their escape to pick off any would-
be pursuers that might inhibit their escape. When one
of the players’ rocket cars draws within 2 Areas of the
kidnappers then the snipers will open fire from positions
atop nearby buildings. Because the Red Scorpion had a
30
preplanned escape route, there are several snipers spread
out over a large distance, exposing the player characters to
their attacks for 3 Chase Rounds. During the first round
the characters will need to succeed in an Awareness +
Subterfuge roll opposed by the snipers’ Coordination +
Subterfuge. If the player characters are successful, they
notice the snipers before they open fire. A Good or
Fantastic success might allow them to spot the snipers well
before the first attack is made while a Bad or Disastrous
failure could mean the characters accidentally drive into an
optimal position for the snipers and grant them a bonus to
their attack.
Sky-Jam!
A collection of rocket trucks has gotten backed up in the
skies of the city, creating a dangerous obstacle for both the
player characters. Massive transport trucks are blocking a
narrow passage between the buildings of New York City
and the player characters will need to navigate through
the mess without losing ground if they hope to catch the
kidnappers! A collision could not only end their chase,
but also their very lives as the rocket trucks are hauling a
dangerous load of unrefined radium!
Stuck in Traffic
Roll: Coordination + Transport
Difficulty: 15
Results:
• Fantastic: Noticing a slight leak of radium from one of
the trucks, you manage to pull just above it, creating
a tiny explosion that pushes your rocket car to new
speeds! Advance 1 Chase Area.

• Good: Piece of cake. Not only did you avoid the
obstructing trucks, but you also managed to put yourself
in an advantageous position to continue the pursuit!
Receive a +2 bonus on your next Transport skill check.
• Success: You manage to slip by the cluster of transports
without any problem and without losing too much speed.
• Failure: Slamming on the air brakes, you lose almost
all of your momentum but manage to avoid crashing
outright. Lose 1 Chase Area.
• Bad: There’s no way around it! You practically have
to come to a stop to avoid killing both yourself your
friends and the truck drivers! Lose 2 Chase Areas.
• Disastrous: Fire in the sky! Two of the rocket trucks
very nearly collide, narrowly avoiding a massive
explosion. Your rocket car clips one of the trucks as
it struggles to avoid fiery death and suffers 1 level
damage to its structure. Lose 2 Chase Areas.
Rocket Hoodlums
Awareness 3 Presence 2 couldn’t quite make the jump, while a Bad roll results
Coordination 5 Resolve 3 below. A Disastrous result means you’ve tumbled
Ingenuity 2 Strength 3 from the car and unless one of your allies acts quickly,
Skills: Athletics 3 (Rocket Board), Fighting 3,
Marksmanship 2, Subterfuge 1, Transport 2.
TRAITS: Adversary (Minor Bad, NYC Police), Brave (Minor
Good), Fighting Man or Woman (Minor Good), Impulsive
(Minor Bad), Item (Rocket Board, Special Good), Lucky
(Minor Good), Outcast (Minor Bad), Quick Reflexes (Minor
Good), Tough (Minor Good).
equipment: Rocket board (see page 109), leather
jacket (AV 1), knife (+2 Damage, Quick) or crowbar (+2
Damage), small pistol (2/4/6).
story points: 2
Mook Threshold: 4
Rocket Hoodlums are gangs taken into the Rocket Age.
These hoodlums are interested in using their speed and skill
to disable the player characters’ rocket car by any means
necessary. They will attempt to attack the pilot of the rocket
car or damage the vehicle enough so that it is forced to land.
While they’re brave enough to strap a radium powered board
to their feet and fly through the sky, if the player characters
make a strong enough show of force, they will retreat.
31
Tesla's torch
Hot Rocket Hoodlums!
Rocket boarding (see page 109) is a new and dangerous
sport sweeping the juvenile delinquents gangs of the city. A
group of three Hot Rocket Hoodlums want to get in on the
action as our heroes race past in hopes of scavenging parts
or valuables from what they believe to be rich joyriders!
Construction and Destruction!
The Red Scorpion agents are growing desperate to escape
the player characters and decide to fly through the upper
floors of a massive skyscraper still under construction. The
heroes will need to do some tight flying to keep up.
Construction Delay
Roll: Coordination + Transport
Difficulty: 18
Results:
• Fantastic: You’ve gained on the nearest fleeing
rocket car! Now’s the time to make your move! You
may attempt to leap from your own rocket car to the
kidnappers’ car if you’re willing to risk an Coordination
+ Athletics roll (Difficulty 21). Failure means you
in you tripping and almost tumbling to the ground
you’ll be out of the story!
• Good: You’re not falling for any of their tricks! Pouring
on the speed, you make a break-neck shot through the
girders and steel! Gain 1 Chase Area.
• Success: It took some fancy flying, but you managed
to keep pace without losing any ground.
• Failure: Brace yourselves! You bring the rocket car a
little to close for comfort, scraping it against a nearby
beam and damaging the RADAR system. They’ll need
to be repaired before they can be used again.
• Bad: That was too close! Everyone in the rocket car
except you loses their action as they throw themselves
to the floor of the vehicle to dodge a low-hanging beam
of steel. The giant girder smashes into your vehicle,
doing a level of structural damage and causing the
vehicle to lose 1 Chase Area.
• Disastrous: Dodging a massive concrete barrier at the
last minute, you turn the rocket car completely on
its side! Any player character not wearing a seat belt
is pitched from the vehicle! His friends will need to
make a Coordination + Athletics roll (Difficulty 21) to
grab him in time before he falls to the pavement below.
During the chase the Red Scorpion agents will use any
means necessary to stop them. Whether it’s trying to pick
them off with their RAY guns, using fancy flying or pure
The trail of the scorpion
speed – the Syndicate is bent on escape with its prey
intact. If the player characters manage to close the distance
between themselves and reach the same Chase Area as the
Red Scorpion’s rocket car, one of the agents will attempt to
leap onto the player characters’ rocket car and seize control
of the vehicle or even crash it into a nearby building while
their allies escape with Tesla.
Players attempting the same maneuver will find the Red
Scorpion pilot making every attempt to avoid their boarding.
Whether it’s slamming on the brakes to suddenly create
new distance, pulling higher into the sky, or descending to
mere inches above the automotive traffic moving through
the city – it doesn’t matter as long as they keep Tesla out of
the players’ clutches.
If the chase hasn’t ended after 10 Chase Rounds, the Red
Scorpion’s rocket car will suffer a sudden engine failure.
The Gamemaster is encouraged to present his engine
failure as something related to the player characters’
heroics. Perhaps a seemingly harmless RAY beam severed
a fuel line, or a psychic character’s attempt to dominate the
mind of the pilot caused him to momentarily lose control
of the vehicle.
If there is no reasonable explanation for the engine failure
then the Gamemaster should simply inform the player
characters that the Red Scorpion’s rocket car has simply
been pushed to its limits. The rocket car surges forward in
a burst of speed over the New York Harbor and begins to
spiral down towards Bedloe Island, leaving a trail of heavy
black smoke.
If the chase ends with the any of the player characters
actually on board the kidnapper’s rocket car, then they
discover that Tesla is not on that car, but is instead on the
car that just crashed down on Bedloe Island! Perhaps they
see the kidnappers hauling Tesla away in the distance or
manage to force the information from one of the thugs.
Either way, its abundantly clear that the chase is far from
over.
Scene Two: Crash Down at Bedloe Island
With the rocket car crashed down on Bedloe Island, the
characters will need to run and gun their way into the
Statue of Liberty itself before their foes can escape with
Nikola Tesla in tow and flee the planet, thwarting all hopes
of a rescue! To complicate matters, the Red Scorpions have
set up a light RAY cannon on the tip of Lady Liberty’s torch
that will blast the characters into atoms if they don’t get
inside quickly!
32
Heavy Artillery
Plumes of smoke begin to blow from the escaping rocket
car as it breaks free from the city streets and shoots out
across the New York Harbor. Putting the pedal to the
metal, the kidnappers come to a hard landing between
Fort Hood and the Statue of Liberty. As you slam down
on the accelerator and close on your quarry a sudden
volley of RAY beam energy splatters across the hull
of your rocket car! The kidnappers have set up a RAY
cannon on the rim of Lady Liberty’s Torch and you’ll
need to make a hard landing if you don’t want to be
shot out of the sky!
It will take 3 Action Rounds for the characters to cross
New York Harbor and attempt a safe landing on Bedloe
Island. Each round the player characters will need to make
contested rolls against the gunmen positioned on the
walkway surrounding the Statue of Liberty’s torch. They
will roll Coordination + Transport against the gunman’s
Coordination + Marksman. During the first round of
contested rolls the gunmen are at long range and as each
round passes, the range will close to medium and then
close range before the characters are finally able to land
and attempt to make their way across the field and into
the statue itself. It is important to note that while there is
only one light RAY cannon being used by the kidnappers
and they may only target one vehicle each round, the
Gamemaster is encouraged to add more agents of the Red
Syndicate to the platform and arm them with RAY rifles
that they can use if there is more than one rocket car and
the characters reach a close distance.
The Battle of Bedloe Island
You land to a scene of chaos. A collection of rocket
cars beaten and burnt from your relentless pursuit are
scattered across the once-peaceful green lawn before
the great marble stairs leading across the island and
into the lobby of the Statue of Liberty. Vile thugs duck
into the building, hoisting the limp form of Nikola Tesla
as they disappear inside. Several goons remain outside,
drawing weapons and yelling to the cannoneers to put
a stop to you and your friends – permanently.
One of them lifts a hand-held RADIO to his mouth as he
draws his RAY gun and calls out, “Get the ship here, now!
Tesla’s inside!” With that, he takes aim and opens fire.

Once the characters have safely landed, they’ll need to
fight off the Red Syndicate agents who are still outside
or have positioned themselves at the entrance – all while
avoiding shots from the RAY cannon bearing down on
them and the danger of nearby rocket cars bursting into
flames as the energy beams fly!
Stray RAY Beams
If the Gamemaster wants to really ratchet up the danger,
he can have one of the kidnappers shoot at an already
damaged rocket car and cause the vehicle to explode in
a radium-fueled fireball! In order to successfully blow up
a landed rocket car and potentially incinerate everyone
within ten meters, the kidnapper will need to make a
successful Coordination + Marksman (Difficulty 18) skill
check.
Roll: Coordination + Athletics
Difficulty: 18
Results:
• Fantastic: Managing to leap clear of the terrible
explosion and except for a few singed hairs, you take
no damage.
• Good: You leap away, covering yourself as the flames
rush over you. While it could have been worse, it sure
doesn’t feel good. Takes 2 levels of damage.
• Success: Your lightning reflexes kept your goose from
being cooked, but it still got seared pretty thoroughly.
You take 4 levels of damage.
• Failure: Unable to clear the blast radius, you are
thrown to the ground and suffer some pretty terrible
burns. You take 8 levels of damage.
• Bad: You didn’t even see that coming. In an instant
you’re blown several meters across the battlefield and
engulfed in flames. You suffer 10 levels of damage.
• Disastrous: Ground zero. You were standing right next
to the fuel tank when the rocket car went up. You
take 10 levels of damage and are set ablaze. You or
one of your allies will need to make a Coordination +
Medicine roll (Difficulty 12) to put the flames out. Each
round that you remain on fire you take an additional 2
levels of damage.
The Gamemaster should use the statistics for Red Scorpion
Thugs listed on page 104 and simply place several other
agents on the balcony of Lady Liberty’s torch and arm them
with the light RAY cannon (see page 179 of the Rocket
Age Core Rulebook). The number of kidnappers present is
three greater than the number of player characters, plus the
cannon operator. At least three of the men on the ground
will be guarding the entrance into the Statue of Liberty in
an effort to cover the kidnapper’s escape with Tesla.
33
Tesla's torch
Reel Three: Liberty Ablaze!
Hot on the heels of the Red Scorpion, our heroes have them
cornered! Here in the very heart of the Statue of Liberty
itself they must make their climactic rescue to save not just
Tesla, but all of New York City itself as the scientist’s new
technology threatens to go atomic and destroy the city!
The Statue of Liberty in the
World of Rocket Age
Players native to New York City or those who have
visited the monument will notice significant differences
between the layout of Lady Liberty’s interior between
the real world and that of Rocket Age. In order to
keep the action fast and furious, the interior of the
statue has been streamlined and condensed as the
game builds to a climax and certain liberties have been
taken with, well, the Statue of Liberty. Gamemasters are
have visited the Statue of Liberty are free to modify or
expand this scene if they wish to stick closer to its real-
world depiction.
Scene One: Fleeting Freedom
As a running gun battle unfolds inside the very body of
Lady Liberty, the player characters must race against the
clock to rescue Tesla. But they’ll need to figure out the
correct path to the top, face off against the Red Scorpion
agents, and eventually climb out onto the very crest of the
statue itself and make their way to the torch if they hope
to save Tesla and the City. This scene is a series of rooms
where the characters will need to make their way as fast as
possible to the main observation deck (6).
1. Entrance Hall
After ascending the long marble stairs into the Statue of
Liberty’s interior you see a long hall extending nearly half
the width of the statue’s base. Its smooth walls contain
images depicting American glory and heroism, though
the hall itself is eerily quiet. As you take your first steps
across the threshold the sizzle of a beam of RAY energy
burns a nearby wall and you see two of the kidnappers
have positioned themselves at the far end of the hall and
are using the distant doorways as cover as they bare down
on you with deadly modern technology.
Two kidnappers are armed with RAY pistols at the far end
of the hall and using the cover to their advantage. Because
of this cover, all attacks made against them have a +2 to
their difficulty. They will call back orders to the agents in
The trail of the scorpion
the visitor’s lobby as the battle progresses and will attempt
to hold their ground as long as possible before falling back.
2. Visitor’s Lobby
The long hall opens into a huge lobby with high vaulted
ceilings and twinkling chandeliers. The beauty of these
lights becomes blinding as you hear a high-pitched whirring
noise from somewhere far above and the light in the room
flares to a new brightness before the bulbs explode. A
second later the room is painted in a shadowy darkness.
Peering through the shadows you see a large round counter
running along the wall to your right and a set of double
doors flung wide open on the far end of the room some 15
meters away. Between you and this doorway stands a large
Maduri warrior clutching a rifle with a wickedly barbed
bayonet and blood burning in his Martian eyes.
The Maduri stationed in the doorway is attempting to bait
the player characters into stepping out into the lobby where
the Red Scorpion has laid a deadly trap. The Red Scorpion
agents have laid several tiny explosives through out the
lobby and as soon as the characters enter the room the
Maduri pulls out a small detonator, gives the characters
a wicked smile and hits the kill switch. He then flees up
the stairs and into the belly of Lady Liberty. The walls
34
of the lobby begin to explode with timed charges, filling
the room with fire and debris. The characters will need
to move with lightning speed if they hope to survive the
blazing flames and collapsing steel.
It’s a Trap!
As the lobby of the Statue of Liberty explodes around
them, the heroes must make their way through explosions
and collapsing steel girders and shrapnel if they hope to
stay in pursuit of the Red Scorpion’s agents!
Roll: Strength + Athletics
Difficulty: 15
Results:
• Fantastic: You manage to push your way forward through
the fire and collapsing room well ahead of explosions,
surprising the Maduri before he can escape up the stairs.
Stunned by your speed, you have the opportunity to get
the drop on him with a surprise attack.
• Good: With flames licking at your feet, you catch
the Maduri warrior before he can flee up the stairs,
but he’s ready for you and is prepared to go down
swinging!
• Success: You made your way safely through the flames
and debris, but not before your ambusher has escaped
up the stairwell!
• Failure: Though you’ve been caught in the blast, you
manage to duck behind the receptionist’s desk on the
far side of the room, avoiding worse injury. You suffer
4 levels of damage.
• Bad: The explosion has caught you fully unaware.
Flames rage around you and collapsing steel rains
down. You suffer 8 levels of damage.
• Disastrous: A huge support beam has fallen on top
of you! You suffer 8 levels of damage and are trapped
beneath the wreckage of the lobby. You or your allies
will need to make a Strength + Athletics roll (Difficulty
18) to pull you free, but doing so will expose them to
the dangers of the room – requiring them to make new
skill checks each round to avoid being pinned down
and burned alive. Each round that you and your allies
remain trapped in the room causes 8 levels of damage
to each character.
Players who are quick-witted enough to look around the
room as they flee may make an Awareness + Subterfuge
roll (Difficulty 12) to notice a visitor’s map mounted on
the wall behind the visitor’s desk. It provides directions
to both the Secondary Observation Deck (Location 5) via
Stairwell B and the Crown Observation Deck (Location 6)
via Stairwell A.

3. Central Stairwell
Central Stairs
A pair of spiraling boxed stairwells fill this room. They are
separated by a large metal wall that cuts across three
quarters of this room and rises up into the darkness. An
echoing hum still hangs in the air, reverberating against
the walls of the each rising stair case.
There are two stairwells in this chamber. Stairwell A
ascends over 35 meters to the Crown Observatory (Location
5), while Stairwell B goes only 20 meters to the smaller
Secondary Observatory only 20 meters up (Location 6).
4. Continuing Stairwell
As you and your companions continue to ascend the inner
workings of Lady Liberty the maddening and mysterious
hum that seems to have blown all the lights inside is broken
by a sharp clatter of something heavy bouncing down the
metal stairs. You and your companions look down just in
time to see a single live hand grenade has landed at your
feet! Trying desperately to leap free of the blast, the last
thing you hear before the explosion is the laughter of one
of the kidnappers. This encounter can be used optionally
35
Tesla's torch
by the Gamemaster. A single Red Scorpion agent is hiding
in the stairwell two floors above the player characters.
Unless one of the player characters succeeds in a contested
roll of Awareness + Subterfuge against the kidnapper’s
Coordination + Subterfuge, he will drop a live grenade
right at their feet. If the characters are successful then the
kidnapper fumbles with the grenade before preparing it
and instead makes use of his sidearm.
Fire in the Hole!
The Maduri sniper who lured them into the fiery trap in
the lobby (or some other Red Scorpion agent, if the Maduri
is dead) is waiting to ambush the characters in the narrow
stairwell that climbs to the main observation deck of the
Statue of Liberty. The characters look up to see him just in
time to as he drops a live grenade right at their feet.
Roll: The player characters will need to make a Coordination
+ Athletics roll to scramble out of the way of the two-meter
blast radius of the grenade before it detonates.
Difficulty: 18
Results:
• Fantastic: Your lightning reflexes have turned the table
on your enemy. You quickly pick up the grenade and
may make a Coordination + Athletics roll (Difficulty
12) to toss it back up the stairwell at your enemy! If
you succeed, you’ve managed to blast him to bits. On
The trail of the scorpion
a failure you simply manage to toss the grenade away
before anyone is hurt.
• Good: You manage to vault down the stairs just before
the grenade detonates, avoiding most of the damage
•
and suffer only 2 levels of damage.
Success: Leaping back, you avoid the brunt of the
explosion but still take quite a licking. You take 4 levels
of damage.
• Failure: What’s that?! Caught unaware, you are only
able to duck away from the blast before detonation.
You suffer 6 levels of damage.
• Bad: You attempt to get free of the blast but barely
manage to move and the massive explosion at your
feet not only does 6 levels of damage, but leaves a
horrible ringing in your ears. This constant distraction
causes a -2 penalty to all your Awareness rolls for the
remainder of the reel.
• Disastrous: Freezing up, you look on in horror as the
grenade detonates. You suffer 8 levels of damage and
the concussive force will leave you completely deaf
for several days. You automatically fail any Awareness
checks related to hearing for the next 48 hours.
Detailed rules for hand grenades can be found on page 11
of Heroes of the Solar System.
5. Secondary Observation Deck
The Observation Deck is a dead end, but if the players were
unable to discover the correct route to the rendezvous
point, they may find themselves even more pressed for
time than ever before!
The polished wooden door opens onto a room easily
ten meters long. A panoramic view of the city stretches
out before you with the vast waters of the New York
Harbor some fifty meters below and the great towers of
glass and steel standing majestically in the distance. A
low rumble rises above the energetic hum that fills the
statue and you feel the ground begin to shake as you
long shadow passes over Lady Liberty. You see a civilian
rocket transport zoom into view before rising towards the
crest of the statue. You’ve got no time to waste! You know
that if the kidnappers get Tesla on board that ship there’s
nothing to stop them from getting him off-planet!
As the rocket transport zooms off to the torch, the
characters will have to hurry if they hope to make it to
the top of the statue in time! As they’re scrambling to
the proper stairwell, the Gamemaster should read or
paraphrase the following text to create a further sense of
36
urgency. This description can and should be used any time
before the characters reach the crown observation deck.
Mysterious Explosion
As you scramble through the inner workings and up the
stairs towards the Crown Observation Deck you hear
a massive explosion sound from above and the entire
structure seems to shake! You don’t know what’s going on
up there, but it sounds like it came from inside the statue!
6. Crown Observation Deck
The player characters finally reach the Crown Observatory
only to find an ambush awaits them and their route to
Tesla is cut off! They’ll need to fight off the kidnappers and
climb out onto Lady Liberty’s crown if they hope to rescue
Nikola Tesla!
Ambush at the Crown
The stairs end in a sudden opening in to the center of the
Statue of Liberty’s famous Crown Observation Deck. Over
20 windows run along the south-eastern wall of this round
room. It is over 10 meters from end to end, but that’s not
what draws your attention at the moment. You see a rag-tag
collection of Earthlings, Martians, and Venusians waiting
in the room all armed to the teeth. You barely have time to
notice the beautiful view of the city before they descend on
you with a surprising array of deadly weapons.
There are a three more goons than player characters here.
They will fight until defeated. Once the battle is over the
characters will notice in the north western corner of the
room that one of the walls has been collapsed in on itself,
hopelessly buried beneath copper and iron debris. It’s
obvious that this was the source of the noise they heard
earlier. Amongst the rubble they can find a mangled sign
that says “Maintenance Hatch to Torch.” It would seem that
the Red Scorpion agents have sealed themselves atop the
Statue of Liberty in a last ditch effort to prevent pursuit.
But the heroes aren’t without hope! They can attempt to
climb through the windows that dot Lady Liberty’s crown
and climb on top of the statue to assault the torch from the
outside! In order to make their way through the window
and make the precarious climb above the crown they’ll
need to succeed at a Strength + Athletics check (Difficulty
12), though characters with Mark III rocket packs or other
 Tesla's torch

modes of flight will have a much easier time and will be

able to assist their companions. However, such mobile
heroes will certainly alert the Red Scorpion agents to their
presence very quickly with their surprising resourcefulness.

Scene Two: The Blazing Light of Liberty

In their final confrontation with the Red Scorpion
kidnappers our heroes will need to climb onto the exterior
of the Statue of Liberty some one hundred meters above
Bedloe Island and climb to the torch if they hope to save
Tesla from the transport ship waiting to take him off planet
and to who knows where!

Cresting the Crown

You come to the stand atop the head of Lady Liberty
and gaze up to the torch. It’s blazing with the light of a
hundred suns, pulsating and powerful and you realize
this is the source of the constant echoing hum you heard
all through the inner corridors. Above both this noise and
howling harbor winds you hear the engine of a rocket
ship and see the massive shape of a rocket transport
moving into position to pick up Tesla and his kidnappers.
You see a rope ladder drop from an open hatch in the
transport as it precariously moves within a few meters of
the torch. Just as you’re about to leap into action you see
that there’s a struggle on the platform ringing the torch!
Torches and Terror
Tesla’s awake and clearly struggling with his kidnappers. As you set foot on the platform encircling the now
His eyes catch yours and he frantically waves, pointing blinding, pulsating flame of Lady Liberty, Nikola Tesla’s
to the torch before catching a hard shot to the jaw and screams are barely heard over the chaos of wind,
crumpling to the cold copper. technology and battle: “The torch! It’s going to explode
and destroy the city if you don’t-”

Heroes who have rocket packs or other means of flight will
be able to reach the torch in a mere move action and may
even carry their allies to the platform, while those below
will need to make Strength + Athletics rolls (Difficulty
15) as they struggle to free climb the copper exterior of
the statue. It will take the climber 3 Action Rounds to
make it to the platform, reduced by one round for each
degree of success achieved beyond a normal success to a
minimum of 1 full Action Round with a Fantastic Success.
The platform itself is quite full, with six Red Scorpion
kidnappers crowding it along with an injured Tesla. As the
characters make their ascent the kidnappers will attempt
to open fire with their own sidearms as well as the light
RAY cannon still positioned there. When the first player
character reaches the platform read or paraphrase the
Torches and Terror boxout.
His cries are cut short as one of the criminals brings the
butt of his pistol down on the scientist’s head. It’s only then
that you see a tiny panel open on the side of the torch
revealing several gauges, dials and buttons and it doesn’t
take a rocket scientist to see that they’re in the red!
As one of the kidnappers hoists Tesla onto his shoulder
and reaches for the ladder you and your allies realize
you’re saving more than just one man, but also the millions
of Manhattanites who will perish if the torch blows!
The kidnappers are focused on fleeing to the waiting
transport, but will use every dirty trick in the book to keep
the player characters from stopping their escape, including
hurling them to the pavement one hundred meters below.

37
The trail of the scorpion
They have 3 Action Rounds after the Gamemaster reads
the above description to stop the kidnappers before Tesla is
successfully carried up the rope ladder and the ship escapes.
On the last round, the transport will begin pulling away
with a single kidnapper carrying Tesla over his shoulder and
clinging to the rope ladder. If this happens the characters will
need to think fast to prevent their escape. The Gamemaster
should encourage the players to come up with creative ideas
for his rescue and determine Attribute + Skill pools and
difficulties based on the nature of what the characters are
doing. If anyone attempts to engage the kidnapper in any
form of hand-to-hand combat, he will drop Tesla and our
heroes will have to react in an instant with a last minute
catch him. Coordination + Athletics (Difficulty 21) will allow
them to grab the scientist as he falls within arm’s length of
the torch platform and save him from certain doom! During
the whole affair they will also need to address the ticking
time bomb that is Lady Liberty’s torch, which will detonate
in 5 Action Rounds if no action is taken.
A Splendid Torch
Roll: Ingenuity + Science
Difficulty: 21
Results:
• Fantastic: You read a book on Tesla’s theories regarding
radium-based energy production! You’re able to power
down the torch in 1 Action Round.
• Good: It’s complicated, but nothing you can’t handle.
You are able to shut down the torch in 2 Action Rounds
as long as you are not interrupted.
• Success: There’s a reason they call Tesla a genius –
this is complicated. It will take 3 Action Rounds of
uninterrupted fiddling to keep the torch from exploding.
• Failure: This is far beyond anything you’ve ever seen!
You can’t make heads or tails of it!
• Bad: You crossed the wires! The light of the torch
suddenly flares bright enough to momentarily blind
you and break your concentration. You can try again
next round with a -2 penalty to your roll.
• Disastrous: You’ve caused a power surge and the jolt
of energy has nearly launched you off the platform! In
order to keep yourself from tumbling to the ground
below you’ll need to make a Strength + Athletics roll
(Difficulty 12) roll. If you fail, another character can
attempt to catch you with a Coordination + Athletics
roll (Difficulty 15), but they forfeit all other actions
that Action Round.
If the characters have already rescued Tesla before the torch
has been disarmed they can attempt to revive him from
unconsciousness with a successful Ingenuity + Medicine
(Difficulty 12) roll. Once Tesla is awake, he will assist the
38
player character, granting them a +4 to their attempt to
disarm the torch. In the event the torch is not disarmed a
spectacular explosion occurs that can be seen across New
York State. The Island of Manhattan is leveled in a radium-
fueled explosion and countless innocent lives are lost,
including Tesla, the player characters and the Red Scorpion
agents.
After the battle is over and the torch disarmed, if the
characters search the kidnappers they discover a few of them
have a mysterious red Martian scorpion tattooed on their
left wrist. Any character with the Friends trait associated
with the criminal underworld may make an Ingenuity +
Knowledge roll (Difficulty 18) to recognize it as the symbol
of the Red Scorpion Crime Syndicate – an organization that
exists only as a rumor and is said to have its hands in the
illicit affairs of every planet in the Solar System.
The Tragic Death of
Nikola Tesla
Sometimes even the greatest heroes fail and it is quite
possible that Tesla may not survive this adventure.
Sometimes the heroes don’t react fast enough.
Sometimes they don’t see what the villains are planning.
Sometimes they’re just out of Story Points and the dice
just aren’t on their side. Nikola Tesla isn’t immortal and
he could die in this adventure. But death in Rocket
Age is not always certain. If Telsa tumbles from the
torch of Lady Liberty, he could easily be cast into the
New York Harbor and his body never recovered. This
would allow creative Gamemasters to introduce him in
a later adventure. Perhaps he is shot by a Red Scorpion
kidnapper’s RAY pistol and slums to the ground in a
heap. Only after they have defeated the villains and
disarmed the bomb do they discover that the scientist
was wearing a prototype personal energy field that
protected him from the blast. This might offer hints to the
technology revealed in the next episode: Walk Right
in Steal 'Em Blind. There are any number of ways for
Tesla to survive in the world of Rocket Age – it’s just
a matter of a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of moxie!
For a darker spin on the adventure Tesla could truly be
slain. The death such an icon would certainly give the
player characters reason to take up arms against the
Red Scorpion Crime Syndicate. If the Gamemaster opts
to have Tesla slain in the course of this episode, they
will need to alter the epilogue, as it is written with the
assumption that he will survive.

Epilogue: A Traitor Revealed
With Tesla safely returned to the Empire State Building,
the characters receive the thanks of Mayor La Guardia
and the other attendants. However, one of the guests has
mysteriously vanished without a trace. A frustrated Tesla
informs the Mayor that the Torch of Liberty Project will
have to be scrapped in light of these events, though he
thanks the characters heartily for saving his life.
A Mind in Flames
The heavy mood on the 97th floor of the Empire State
Building rises as you return with Nikola Tesla safely in
your custody. Mayor La Guardia rushes forward with a
smile on his face and congratulations on his lips, but is
cut short by the dour scientist.
“We’re done, La Guardia,” he says tersely. “The Torch
of Liberty has been extinguished.”
Tesla turns to walk away as the Mayor begins to protest,
but Nikola turns on his heel and before a stunned crowd
begins to shout: “I’ll not have my technology used as a
weapon of mass destruction! I’m returning to my lab to
burn the notes!” His expression softens ever so slightly
as he turns to you and your friends. “I owe you my lives,
and for what its worth, the Age of the Rocket could use
more people like you and less like these vultures.” He
waves a hand at the dignitaries who look on in shock
and disgust.
As he steps into the elevator, Tesla waves in departure
at you and your friends, a grudging smile on his
face.“Hvala, my friends.”
The Mayor steps up with a dour look on his face
as the doors close and Tesla disappears. “Police
Commissioner Woods is downstairs. We captured one
of the kidnappers after you and your friends sped off.
It wasn’t long after agents from the State Department
showed up and took him into custody – damn g-men.
The thug had a red scorpion tattooed on his arm and
made mention of something called the PKR. Does that
mean anything to you?”
With a heavy sigh, La Guardia looks out towards
Bedloe Island. “So much for the World of Tomorrow.”
39
Tesla's torch
Concluding the Adventure
The characters find no clues or signs that will allow them
to track down other signs of the Red Scorpion. It’s as if
they vanished into thin air. No doubt they will appear in
another episode to trouble the player characters again…
Though a shadow hangs over the Worlds Fair of 1939,
representatives from all the planets invited will attend.
If the characters handled themselves well around Tesla
and didn’t attempt to make him feel beholden to them for
saving his life they may have a powerful ally in the future
– though he does not like to be disturbed very often or
regarding matters of little importance.
Rewards
At the Gamemaster’s discretion, player characters who
successfully rescue Tesla may earn a Story Point, or
even a second one if they attempted to protect both the
property and population of New York City while doing so.
However, thrilling heroics aren’t everything. Characters
who managed to inflict wonton damage on the city or
were particularly brutal to their adversaries run the risk
of earning no additional Story Points for their adventures.
Story Point Awards
1 Successfully rescuing Tesla and disarming the torch
1 Making an active and successful effort to minimize
collateral damage to NYC
-1 Recklessly destroying parts of the city and the Statue of
Liberty.
-1 Being particularly brutal or bloodthirsty towards the
Red Scorpion agents
New York City
Theme: City at the Center of the Universe
Complication: The Big Apple with a rotten core
Personality: Giuseppe Marcone, mob boss looking
to the stars
New York City is recognized across the Solar System as
the jewel of Earth and many extra-terrestrial visitors
mistakenly believe it to be “the capital of the human
world,” not recognizing that Earthlings still live in a
multinational world. But with the reality of the Rocket Age,
New York Harbor now welcomes visitors from across the
The trail of the scorpion
Further Adventures in New York City
New York City. The Big Apple. The City that Never Sleeps.
There are far more adventures to be had in the Great
Metropolis of Earth and excitement lurks on every street
and around every corner. Here are a few ideas for more
adventures to be had in the Five Boroughs.
The Battle Over Times Square: This infamous locale
is known to be the heart of illicit activity in New York City,
but a particularly ambitious criminal mastermind has seized
control of this once great place! Whether it’s an Ancient
Martian RAY Shield covering several blocks, a garrison
of robomen holding the region hostage or several rocket
fighters hovering in the skies above, our heroes will need to
muster their courage and quick-wits to keep this power-mad
entrepreneur from spreading his power across the city!
Solar System. Earthlings, Venusians, Martians, and even a
few Europans have come to New York in hopes of building
a new life for themselves. Some come for wealth and some
for power, but Earthling or not, they come with a dream.
With a new influx of dreamers and enterprising visitors,
the city has been buried under a deluge of new problems.
Skyscrapers can’t be built tall enough and rocket cars can
go fast enough. As the legitimate government becomes
more and more overwhelmed with these all manner of
new problems, citizens now turn to New York’s vibrant
underworld of organized crime. These families have
become the true power of the city. They have influence
in government, law enforcement, the waterfront, and the
illegal production of alcohol. Nothing seems to happen in
New York City without knowledge or permission of these
mobsters.
Yet life goes on and New Yorkers are a proud, dedicated,
and tenacious lot. The strongest bodies and the brightest
minds always seem to find their way to the Big Apple. Even
Nikola Tesla makes his home here. His genius has drawn
scientists and explorers who are eager to be on the edge
of the latest radium-powered technology. With each new
day it seems a new miracle is revealed to the public by way
of scientific discovery. These daily revelations continue
to draw curious and eager citizens from across the Solar
System to the City of Lights.
But not everyone is hoping to travel to the stars and
beyond for the betterment of all beings. Technology, like
any innovation, is often turned to nefarious purposes and
40
Broadway is Burning: The latest hit on Broadway is
Mars the Red, a dramatic musical depicting the conflicts
on Mars – but not all the reviews are warm! A group of
splinter group of Martians and their freedom fighter allies
have been setting theaters ablaze up and down Broadway
and soon their master stroke will be revealed – a radium-
powered bomb planted beneath the heart of New York City
that must be discovered and defused before it’s too late!
The Urban Jungle: The New York City Zoo is about to
take possession of several extra-planetary creatures. But
when the security measures and fail-safes prove to be too
little too late, a horde of monsters terrorize Central Park! The
player characters will need to find a way to wrangle up the
beasts and save the lives of innocent bystanders enjoying
this once peaceful refuge!
between the bright lights of the biggest city in the Solar
System is a dark underbelly.
Giuseppe Marcone
When Charles “Lucky” Luciano got fitted for a pinstripe
jumpsuit by way of Uncle Sam in 1936, a young under-
boss of the mafia named Giuseppe Marcone saw a golden
opportunity. He swept in as the five families were thrown
into chaos. Through promises and threats, he drew men to
his service and became a boss in his own right after less
than a year. But knowing the older bosses saw him as an
upstart, he knew he’d have a short reign if he didn’t carve
out his own place in the world of organized crime.
While other bosses of the five families held on to their
positions of power in liquor trade, racketeering and
protection schemes, Giuseppe set his eyes on a new market:
the stars. Building on his connections in the underbelly
of the New York Harbor, Marcone made inroads into the
burgeoning stellar trade of New York.
Now, he’s the kingpin of the radium-powered trade that
passes through the city. If it’s illegal, rare, or profitable
and it arrives in the five burrows by way of a rocket then
Marcone’s got a hand in it. He’s shrewd, patient, and
draconian in his control of these resources. But Marcone
is also a traditionalist and a gentleman. He has a code
of honor and whether it’s a promise of retribution or
agreement that’s mutually beneficial, Marcone always
keeps up his end of the bargain and expects the same kind
of respect from any of his “business partners.”