The Newcomers

The Newcomers are both an underground music sensation and a team of young superheroes. What many do not know is the Newcomers are also aliens stranded on Earth for a variety of reasons, doing their best to fit in and help their adopted world in the process. They travel the highways and byways of the great nation of America in the company of their human friends, helping people, putting on shows, and solving crimes along the way.

Structure

JACOB “JAKE” KING The Newcomer’s manager, mentor, and overall guide to Earth and humanity is Jake King, a modestly successful entertainment agent before he met up with the young Newcomers on a camping trip with his nephew, Jimmy. It was Jake who came up with the idea of putting the youngsters together as a band and helping them tour, and he handles many of the practical issues confronting a group of true “illegal aliens” operating in human culture.
All Jake ever wanted was to manage a star act and, with the Newcomers, he’s got one. He’s really not looking to get rich, or even famous, and enjoys looking after his young charges and helping them to help other people, whether it’s using their amazing powers or just providing them with some good music and a good time.
Jake is an older guy, commonly seen in a rumpled suit with a half undone tie, shirtsleeves and suspenders, or loud Hawaiian print shirts. He likes to eat, smoke cigars, drink on occasion, and doesn’t apologize for enjoying life while he can. He’s got an easy laugh and a brusque attitude towards anyone posing a problem for his young charges.
JIMMY KING Twelve year-old Jimmy King has been with his uncle Jake since losing his parents in an accident when he was only seven. Getting to pal around on the Wonderbus with a bunch of alien rock stars is about the coolest thing Jimmy could imagine, even if he has a tendency not to listen to his uncle’s advice about staying out of trouble. He loves the Newcomers and would do anything to help them out, and has shown courage and compassion far beyond his few human years in doing so.
Jimmy is a skinny, sandy-haired kid just hitting a growth spurt that will probably make him taller than his Uncle Jake eventually. He’s good friends with Bigfoot and Ryder, admires Indigo’s musical talents, and has a crush on Serafina.
BIGFOOT In spite of his resemblance to the Earth legend that is his namesake, Bigfoot is actually a native of the planet Cholax V. The Lor Republic exploited the primitive and peaceful inhabitants at one time as laborers and even mercenaries. Bigfoot was a hold-out in the illegal trade in Cholaxan slaves, charged with going on a rampage to protect Serafina, who befriended him. Together they fled the authorities and encountered the other Newcomers on Earth.
Although Cholaxans are incapable of human speech, Bigfoot communicates via Serafina’s psychic abilities. He is a kind-hearted and gentle being, although possessed of great strength and a fierce devotion to his friends. In particular, he would do anything for Serafina, and bristles at any perceived threat to her. Most people seeing the Newcomers’ stage-act think “Bigfoot” is a costume or special effect, even some kind of puppet. Most of the time, the big guy has to hide-out in the Wonderbus, although he sometimes dons an overcoat and wide-brimmed hat to conceal his true nature and pass amongst humans.
Jake King has speculated that maybe other Cholaxans have found their way to Earth in the past, leading to the creation of the “bigfoot” and “sasquatch” legends.
INDIGO Zefir In’Dego was never likely to follow in his father’s footsteps as a scientist or explorer of the past on Zultas. Young Zefir looked towards the future and wanted to be an artist, a musician. Matters changed when his father Ollano discovered an ancient Preserver site. Word of his discovery spread in spite of Ollano’s best efforts, reaching the ears of a Zultasan warlord, who wanted anything of value the scholar might have found.
Ollano managed to get his greatest discovery into his son’s hands before the warlord’s men caught him and he was able to hold out under interrogation long enough for Zefir to get away. When cornered at the spaceport, the younger In’Dego discovered the true nature of the dark gem his father gave him. Not just a valuable jewel, it was the Nightstone and he was able to use its power to escape. The warlord who sought In’Dego soon fell to other factions on Zultas, particularly the ambitious Queen Khana, but with his father gone, Zefir has nothing to bring him back home.
Indigo is perhaps the most powerful of the Newcomers, although he prefers to settle conflicts as non-violently as possible. His mastery of the Nightstone has improved over time, allowing him to shape its energy into different forms, and he has developed a strong bond with the alien jewel. Enemies often seek to take the stone from him and Zefir holds on to it at least partly out of fear of what it could do in the wrong hands.
RYDER Ryder does not remember a time before the Helpful Hospice or the torment suffered there. He might have come from any of an infinity of worlds before ending up in The Terminus. All he knows is that he was saved from becoming another of Omega’s minions by the Overriders and that they took him in. Unfortunately, their kindness to him was nothing but a trap; an implant led Omega's forces out into the Warpwold after the Overriders. Only Ryder’s realization and sacrifice was able to lead them away.
It was in the depths of the Warpwold that he found the Wonderbus or it found him. Ryder was able to use its damaged dimension-hopping circuits to blast free of the Terminus and rocket out into the Omniverse, finding himself on a world called “Earth.” He accidentally brought some of Omega’s agents along for the ride, scattering them across the planet. In seeking out other Newcomers to Earth, Ryder found friends and allies to help him against the forces of the Terminus. When asked his name, all he can tell anyone is “I’m a ‘Ryder”.
SERAFINA Even from a race of winged humanoids with the ability to fly, Serafina was born unique. She possessed not only a beautiful and captivating singing voice, but also a mutant psychic ability, making her a valuable commodity. Small wonder she was kidnapped and sold into slavery on the harsh frontiers of the Lor Republic. She eventually escaped with the aid of Bigfoot, a powerful Cholaxan she befriended. Fleeing from bounty hunters, they eventually found their way to Earth and the company of the Newcomers.
Serafina is a kind and gentle soul, somewhat hardened by her experiences in the cold, harsh galaxy. She loves many of the qualities she sees in humanity, but is confused and repulsed by others, particularly the human capacity for violence and prejudice. She pities species unable to experience the joys of unbounded flight and has tried to teach Indigo some of it (although just getting him comfortable with the idea of flying has been work). She adores Jimmy King like a little brother, and considers Bigfoot her dearest friend.

Assets

THE WONDERBUS

The Newcomers get around in a vehicle Ryder calls “the Wonderbus,” an example of Terminus technology and his means of escape. To the outside world, the Wonderbus looks like a fairly ordinary Recreational Vehicle, but on the inside, it is as large as a mansion, with more than enough room for the Newcomers, their human friends, and occasional guests (along with all of the team’s instruments and other gear). The Wonderbus is also capable of “driving” on air. It originally had dimension-hopping abilities, but these were burned out in Ryder’s escape from the Terminus.
Either Ryder or Jake King generally drives the Wonderbus, although Indigo, Serafina, or even Bigfoot can handle it under routine conditions. Jimmy King would love to drive the ‘bus, but he’s not allowed to yet, except in the most serious emergencies.

Type

Adventuring Party