Bay Times News Article - Nightfall Bay Implements Anti-Vigilante Legislation

 

By Alex Montgomery

Nightfall Bay has been known to have its fair share of masked vigilantes patrolling the streets at night, fighting crime and dispensing their own brand of justice. While some see them as heroes, others view them as dangerous individuals taking the law into their own hands. In an effort to curb vigilantism in the city, Borough President Marino passed the Anti-Vigilante Legislation (AVL 9A.16.020) today, which prohibits individuals from using physical force to fight criminal activity, unless it is to protect themselves from immediate danger or personal property.

From the Desk of Borough President Marino: Anti-Vigilante Legislation (AVL 9A.16.020)

 

From the Desk of Borough President Anthony Marino

Press Contact: Jason Simmons

718-555-0001

 

For Immediate Release – April 7, 2023

 

Anti-Vigilante Legislation (AVL 9A.16.020)

Any person caught fighting criminal activity within the limits of the city, taking "crime fighting" into their own hands, by using physical force to stop criminal activity that is above and beyond protecting themselves from immediate danger or protecting personal property will be considered obstructing justice and acting in an authoritative capacity which is not authorized by the city. Elected & Appointed officials are to arrest and detain Vigilante activity by any means necessary to uphold the laws of the city.

 

AVL 9A.16.020 allows use of force in these instances:
• When used to arrest someone who has committed a felony and deliver the suspect to a public officer.
• When used by a party about to be injured or about to suffer "malicious interference " to his own property. The force must be "not more than is necessary."
• When force is "reasonably" used by the owner of property to detain someone who unlawfully enters his property.

 

Vigilante Defined

A vigilante, also known as a "mask", is an individual who takes the law into their own hands, believing that the police and the court system are unable to or unreliable at bringing criminals to justice. However, not all vigilantes are fighting for justice, some do it out of personal revenge or antagonistic reasoning. It is also common for vigilantes to take on a moniker to be known by some by personal choice and others by having been named by the public. Some vigilantes eventually gain a level of popularity and admiration from the general public that they begin to be seen as a "superhero". Despite the name suggesting this term is reserved for individuals with superhuman powers and abilities, it is also used to define individuals without any but instead rely on combat skills, intellect, or gadgetry.

Vigilante Justice

"Vigilante justice" is often rationalized by the concept that proper legal forms of criminal punishment are either nonexistent, insufficient, or inefficient. Vigilantes normally see the government as ineffective in enforcing the law; such individuals often claim to justify their actions as a fulfillment of the wishes of the community. Persons alleged to be escaping the law or above the law are sometimes the victims of vigilantism. Vigilante conduct involves varying degrees of violence. Vigilantes could assault targets verbally and/or physically, damage and/or vandalize property, or even murder individuals.

 

GM Note: This really isn't a mechanic for your game but more so a flavor to add to your game, to basically put some realism or fear into the players of their character that being a masked Vigilante is against the law. You don't have to use this, but if you do, it will make the player's job even harder as they will have to be more creative with their character choices and be more sneaky in their crime fighting duties. Maybe they will think twice about going out to fight crime, when the police force is ordered to capture Vigilantes and bring them in. While I do a lot of street fighting level games, I will normally implement this law after a certain amount of time when the players get really comfortable with just out right doing things with their characters. While the people may respect the man behind the mask, and sometimes the law will as well, vigilante activity should be done in secret and from the shadows.

I was inspired to make this by watching TheCW's Arrow, which at first was a great show, but then fell into trashcan. This did happen on the show, when Oliver Queen was Mayor of Star City, but he put the vote to the people of Star City, and the measure passed by a landslide. While I could find no actual wording, or things defined based on the show, other then the name "Anti-Vigilante Legislation". I sat down and defined it myself and I even made up the legislation number docket to make it seem more "official". Enjoy!

 

 

 

Master Lin Chen

 

Name: Master Lin Chen
Real Name: Lin Chen
Age: Appears to be in his 70s
Sex: Male
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 160 lbs

Powers: Sorcery, Master of the mystic arts

Skills: Martial Arts, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Meditation, Divination

Advantages: Wealthy, Connections to various mystical groups around the world

Drawbacks: Old age, often too cautious and unwilling to take risks

Equipment: Various magical items and artifacts, including a staff made from a mystical tree, enchanted robes and talismans, and a large collection of ancient scrolls and texts

Description: Master Lin Chen is a wise and powerful sorcerer who has dedicated his life to mastering the mystic arts. He has traveled the world, seeking out knowledge and training from various mystical traditions, and has become a respected member of many mystical societies and organizations. He took Wayne Powers under his wing when he was just a young man, recognizing his potential as a sorcerer. Master Lin Chen is a patient teacher, but can be stern and demanding when necessary. He values caution and careful planning, and is often hesitant to take risks or act impulsively. However, he will do whatever it takes to protect his student and the greater good, even if it means putting himself in danger.

GM Notes: Master Chen served as a mentor to one of my player's characters in the past, and I never actually wrote him up, because there really was no need for stats when the character was a pure roleplay character and as GM that does stuff on the fly I could always just make up something for him if and when needed. This is really I have on him.

The Church of the Eternal Flame

 

 

The Church of the Eternal Flame was once a small and obscure sect within the Catholic Church, led by a young and charismatic priest named Gabriel. Gabriel's preaching had always been marked by a fiery passion and a belief in the power of God's divine wrath, but it wasn't until a tragic incident that he truly found his calling.

New Power: Holy Smite

 

Name of Power: Holy Smite
Range: Normal
Type: Dice Roll
Base Cost: 25

Description:

When the wielder invokes the power of their deity, they can unleash a devastating blast of holy energy upon their enemies. This attack is considered a physical ranged attack and has an A/V and E/V equal to the number of APs invested in the Power against the OV/RV Equal to the Target's Dex/Body.

Undead enemies are particularly vulnerable to this holy blast, suffering a -2 column shift to their defense value when attempting to resist the attack. To channel this divine energy, the wielder must have a holy symbol in their possession, which serves as a conduit for the power of their deity.

This ability allows the wielder to tap into the immense power of their deity to smite their foes, making it a formidable tool in the hands of a devout and skilled combatant. However, the use of such power should not be taken lightly, as it is a holy and sacred ability that comes with great responsibility.

 

Father Gabriel

 

Name: Father Gabriel

Dex: 3 Str: 2 Bod: 3
Int: 4 Wil: 5 Min: 5
Inf: 4 Aur: 4 Spi: 4
Init: 11 Hero Points: 3

Wealth: 4
Organization: The Church of the Eternal Flame
Classification: Religious Fanatic
Whereabouts: Nightfall Bay

Real Name: Gabriel Rodriguez
Age: 43
Sex: Male
Weight: 185 lbs
Height: 6'0"

Powers: Holy Smite: 8, Regeneration: 6 (Bonus: Healing others, but at 3APs)

Skills: Charisma: 6, Occultist: 5, Theology: 5, Weaponry: 3

Advantages: Iron Nerves, Leadership, Scholar (Theology)

Drawbacks: Fanaticism, Secret Identity

Equipment: Priestly Robes [Body: 3, +1 OV/RV vs. Physical and Energy Attacks], Crucifix [Body: 3, Energy Blast: 5]

Description: 

Father Gabriel had always been a devoted servant of the church. From a young age, he had felt the calling of God and had devoted his life to serving Him. He had been a model student in seminary, and his passion for the faith had impressed all who knew him.

After being ordained as a priest, Father Gabriel had been sent to Nightfall Bay. At first, he had been happy to serve there, grateful for the chance to spread the word of God to those in need.

However, over time, Father Gabriel began to see the darker side of Nightfall Bay. He saw the sin and corruption that lurked beneath the surface, the darkness that threatened to engulf the town. And he knew that he had been chosen by God to rid the world of this evil.

At first, Father Gabriel's methods had been subtle. He preached against sin and corruption, encouraging his parishioners to live a life of righteousness and piety. He used his charisma and the strength of his convictions to sway the hearts and minds of those around him, and soon he had built up a loyal following.

But as Father Gabriel's power and influence grew, so did his zealotry. He became increasingly convinced that he had been chosen by God to carry out His will, and he began to use his position of authority to amass even more power.

Father Gabriel's divine powers had always been a source of wonder and amazement to his followers. He had used them to heal the sick and the injured, to ease the suffering of those in pain. But as his zealotry grew, so did the intensity of his divine powers. He began to use them to smite his enemies, to strike down those who opposed him.

In his mind, Father Gabriel was doing God's work. He was ridding the world of sin and corruption, just as he had been chosen to do. But in reality, his actions were causing great harm. Families were torn apart, lives were destroyed, all in the name of his holy mission.

As time went on, Father Gabriel was chased into hiding with his fantical followers and is lurking somewhere in Nightfall Bay ready to smite those who stand in his way of the Truth, Justice and the Holy Way.