In the Clutches of Aerial Doom

!
A Heroes Unlimited Adventure for Levels 3-5
Group Size 4-6
!
by Parker Otwell Roe

Game Master Note - This is a basic adventure for HU. Feel free to embellish as necessary to
keep the plot going. Please adjust enemy numbers as well as AR, HP, and SDC in any way you
choose, especially to fit character levels. Hope you and your players enjoy!
!
!
This adventure is free to all and not for sale.
In the Clutches
of Aerial Doom
Introduction
!
One moment, there is just the terrible noise up
in the sky somewhere. The next? The entire
night skyscape erupts into red lightning and
flame above the city of Denver. It is a terrifying
and mesmerizing sight all at the same time.
However, what follows is enough to scare
anyone who wants to stay alive: a massive black
shape emerges from the burning clouds, a giant
flying fortress teeming with cannons and guns.
Immediately, an impossibly loud voice emanates
from the ship saying to the city below: “People of
Denver, be afraid. Be very afraid. My name is
Baron Corsair and the time of your death is
most likely very near at hand. Your fate is in the
hands of those you call your leaders. I demand
$300M in ransom or I will end this city and I will
kill all its residents. You have 24 hours to get
me my money. In the meantime, my forces and I
will stay here high above making sure no one
does anything stupid. Please don’t make me
angry and don’t delay. That is all.”
! state and local officials are working on a solution
Instantly, the police and other emergency bands
light up with activity. Calls begin going back and
forth between the Governor of Colorado and
Washington, DC. State and local government
begin scrambling SWAT and police forces as
well as National Guard. A general panic grips
the city as many people try to escape. The
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 1 of 14
terror from above puts an end to all such
attempts by shelling the major arteries out of
the city with unknown munitions and energy
weapons of some sort, completely destroying all
chances at egress or ingress for Denver. Soon,
the city is more or less sealed off with all planes
grounded at the airport for fear of being shot
down. All railroad activity around the city has
ceased as well. An extreme and rapid
stranglehold has been placed upon Denver from
above. What is to befall the Mile High City?
Who is this Baron Corsair?
!
Like so many other tragic military stories, James
MacDougal’s own ends in misery and pain…and
betrayal. MacDougal was a crack test pilot with
the US military — until the accident. The
accident that ended his career but also gave him
his psionic powers. The Navy failed him
medically…chronic pain from the accident
plagues him still. Embittered and thrust away
from the job he loved so much and Dishonorably
Discharged, he began planning a way to take his
revenge…by living the high life as a dictator down
in South America. That is, if he can pull off his
crazy schemes. Currently, law enforcement and
to this issue. Should jets be scrambled? Can
they take the risk of shooting that damnable
thing down over a populated area? What is the
extent of its firepower capabilities? All of these
and a million other questions are floating across
Quest for Heroes Unlimited
the desks of governors, delegates, generals, and
FBI agents alike.
The Vengeful Maiden
! reserved for formations, such as they are.
Black smoke, whirring rotors, noise, and guns…
so many cannons and guns. The Vengeful
Maiden is the final result of approximately 10
years of Baron Corsair’s life — a life of
mechanics and aeronautics and engineering and
mathematics and hard, hard labor. A labor of
love and a labor that he shared with Katerina
Volsk, Adam Davidson, Piet Wilhelm, and the
remainder of his paramilitary force, The Winged
Corsairs. Fancying himself a bit of a pirate
(maybe more than just a bit), Corsair plans on
using his aeromechanics prowess to pressure
as many cities as possible into extorting the
funds he needs to perform a hostile financial
takeover of a small South American nation.
Once accomplished, Baron Corsair will use his
Vengeful Maiden as a blueprint to make a new
aerial navy for his nation into order to protect his
claim (and maybe even expand it one day).
However, today such dreams are only dreams
as the twisted “Baron” points his arsenal at the
city of Denver, threatening the entire populace if
he does not get his ransom. The Maiden herself
is an almost impregnable flying megafortress,
protected at all angles by so many weapons. No
one knows much of anything about the Flying
Corsairs or just how many of them there might
be. Additionally, the specific nature and
advancement of technology on board is
unknown. A clever strategy will be needed to
neutralize the threat without bringing the
Maiden down on any innocents below.
! 9. Propulsion - No personnel here either
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 2 of 14
The Top Deck
!
The Top Deck of the Vengeful Maiden is
dedicated to two things: ass-kicking and piloting
this crazy airship. Here you will find many of the
larger pulse cannons and ion guns in turrets
along the entirety of the deck. The Forecastle is
a large swath of empty decking that is usually
During battle stations, this area is patrolled by
several members of Corsair’s forces. Shockjaw
is also waiting for the heroes there. The Main
Forward and Rear Turret are exactly the same
— cramped workspaces dedicated to firing pulse
cannons. The Secondary Turret is an ion gun
system and is even more cramped than the
other turrets. The Bridge is the brain stem of
the ship and is a frenzy of activity. Commodore
“Gravestone” Wilhelm commands the Bridge
behind tightly locked doors and is assisted by six
Crewmen, two Interceptors, and two pilots.
Commodore Wilhelm and his minions will put up
one hell of a fight to keep control of the Bridge.
The Main Deck is patrolled regularly by 10
Crewmen in pairs. The Vertical Take-off and
Landing (VTOL) Rotors and Propulsion systems
are just as they sound: for keeping the Vengeful
Maiden airborne and ready to do Baron
Corsair’s bidding.
!
1. The Forecastle - 2 Interceptors, 4
Marauders, 4 Crewmen, Shockjaw
2. Main Forward Turret - 4 Gunners
3. Secondary Turret - 3 Gunners
4. The Bridge - 2 Pilots, 2 Interceptors, 6
Crewmen, Commodore Wilhelm
5. Bridge Deck - 2 Gunners (1 in each small
turret), 2 Marauders guarding the Bridge
6. Rear Turret - 4 Gunners
7. Main Deck - 10 Crewmen evenly dispersed
8. VTOL Rotors - No personnel on these
Quest for Heroes Unlimited

The Main Deck
! 9. Baron Corsair’s Control Room - Baron
The Main Deck is evenly made up of gunnery
emplacements in batteries along the sides from
stem to stern, barracks for the troops, rooms
for the officers, as well as Baron Corsair’s
Control Room and Private Quarters. The gun
batteries contain heavy ion cannons manned by
Vengeful Maiden Gunners, nine on each side of
the vessel. The Containment Area in the bow of
the ship is specially designed to hold most kinds
of super ability folks rather well. Not all, though.
Game Master: feel free to decide what will and
will not fly in there given your players’ abilities.
The Port and Starboard Gun Batteries are
mirror images of one another — long hallways
with open windows for the cannons to fire from.
Gunners will fight to defend these areas with
laser pistols. Each Barracks room is filled with
1D4 Crewmen, 1D4 Gunners, 1D4 Navigators,
and/or 1D4 Comm Officers. The Pilots’
Quarters have 2 Pilots inside resting during their
off shift. The Executive Officer’s Quarters are
empty as the Commodore is on the Bridge.
Shockjaw’s Quarters are likewise empty as he is
stationed on the Forecastle. Inside Baron
Corsair’s Bodyguard Quarters are 1D8
Bodyguards cleaning their weapons at battle
station ready. Baron Corsair is in the Control
Room on his command chair monitoring the
entire situation on the countless monitors
around the room. He is accompanied by a large
cohort of his forces. If confronted here, the
Baron will fight alongside his minions until it
looks like he is losing, then he will barricade
himself in his Private Quarters with Dea ex
Machina and a few other elites of his guard who
survive.
! completely. Caution is urged.
1. Containment Area - 2 Bodyguards
2. Port Gun Battery - 9 Gunners
3. Starboard Gun Battery - 9 Gunners
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom
4A.-4D. Barracks - Each Barracks room is filled
with 1D4 Crewmen, 1D4 Gunners, 1D4
Navigators, and/or 1D4 Comm Officers
5. Pilots’ Quarters - 2 Pilots
6. Executive Officer’s Quarters - Empty
7. Shockjaw’s Quarters - Empty
8. Baron Corsair’s Bodyguard - 1D8
Bodyguards
Corsair, Dea ex Machina, 2 Comm Officers, 1
Navigator, 2 Interceptors, 6 Bodyguards
10. Baron Corsair’s Private Quarters - Baron
Corsair, Dea ex Machina, 2 Bodyguards
The Lower Deck
!
Forward Storage contains supplies for the ship
of all kinds: foodstuffs, uniforms, logistical
supplies, etc. This room is empty otherwise.
The Port and Starboard Gun Batteries are just
the same as on the above deck. The Main
Magazine stores all the energy warheads and
ion gun rounds and other ammunition for the
entire warship. Navigation and Communication
Controls contain the second nerve cluster of the
ship. Manned by several officers and Crewmen
this room is a critical part of keeping the
Vengeful Maiden in the air. Engineering is the
realm of the mechanics and mechanical
engineering crews on the Maiden. Expect the
crew here to fight to the last man. The
Weapons Systems room contains all the critical
weapons computers and systems hubs for all
weaponry on the Maiden. Shutting this place
down shuts down all the major cannons and
guns on the airship. The Engine Room is a
critical weak spot on the ship. Significant
damage done here will cripple or scuttle the ship
!
1. Storage - Empty
2. Port Gun Battery - 9 Gunners
3 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited
3. Starboard Gun Battery - 9 Gunners has. Even though the Maiden and her crew have
4. Main Magazine - 2 Bodyguards been neutralized, the terror they caused
5. Navigation and Communications Controls - throughout the greater Denver area and
3 Navigators, 4 Comm Officers, 2 Crewmen, 2 Colorado in general is still running rampant.
Interceptors Police and National Guard are working double
6. Engineering - 6 Crewmen overtime to keep the peace. However, things
7. Weapons Systems - 4 Crewmen, 1 are starting to look up from the Governor’s
Interceptor perspective, especially given the players’ recent
8. Engine Room - 5 Crewmen victory against Baron Corsair and his forces.
! The Governor thanks the heroes profusely on
behalf of all of Colorado and especially the people
Safe Landing or Abandon of Denver. She graciously offers them the key to
Ship? the city as well as the Civilian Hero Medal for
! their amazing efforts as well as $100K each in
thanks from the CO government. In the weeks
Once the Baron and his myriad forces are
defeated, the problem comes to piloting the that follow, a coalition of Denver area marijuana
Vengeful Maiden safely to the ground businesses donate large amounts of money to
somewhere or abandoning ship and letting the establish a thank you fund for the players. The
airship crash land someplace safe. Which will amount equates to $250K for each hero. The
the heroes choose? Game Master: feel free to players are also featured in a parade held in
play up this dilemma for the players. Denver is a their honor through downtown Denver. They are
pretty well-populated area. Ideas for either safe also honored at a special concert and ceremony
or crash landing targets could be Denver at Red Rocks Amphitheater. All in all, not a bad
International Airport, the nearby Rocky deal for kicking a little ass. Game Master: feel
Mountains, the plains to the east of Denver, etc. free to draw out all this celebration. This could
If the players decide to safely land the Maiden even be a great segue into another quick
(and are able to realistically do so with their skill adventure or side quest.

set or perhaps they spare a Pilot’s life), then they
find a place suitable and walk away unhurt from
the massive airship. If they decide to abandon
ship before it crashes, the heroes must decide
on a reasonable strategy to exit the aircraft (find
some parachutes on board, etc) and make it to
safety before the Maiden goes down.
Regardless of either tactic, once the Maiden is
on the ground and the heroes are clear, law
enforcement and National Guardsmen
immediately intercept them and take them to
the Governor’s office downtown, the place that
had been serving as “wartime” HQ during this
crisis.
!
The Appreciation of a
Grateful Governor
!
When the heroes arrive at the Governor’s office,
she is still very busy working to keep this threat
from spooling out of control more than it already

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 4 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

 The Corsair’s Forces of Corsair, aka James MacDougal, is an ex-military
pilot with equal amounts of fighter jet and
The Vengeful Maiden helicopter experience. At some point after his
contentious Dishonorable Discharge he became
radicalized and started forming his own
paramilitary force. He also began building his
masterpiece: “The Vengeful Maiden” a flying
fortress of terror. His goal? To extort enough
monies from various citywide ransom schemes to
finance his purchase of a small South American
nation to rule as he sees fit. Truly, he is a
calculated and cunning strategist and planner —
a foe worthy of respect.

Baron Corsair - James MacDougal

Psionic
AR - 16 / HP - 45 / Phys SDC - 50 / SDC - 50
IQ-21/MA-23/ME-25/PS-13/PP-14/PE-16/Spd-11/
I.S.P. - 120
Male, 5th level, 42 yo, unknown status with law
enforcement
.38 Cal Cane Gun - 3D6 dmg / Cane Sword - 2D8
dmg
!
• Ectoplasm (HU2-300)
• Levitation (HU2-302)
!
“Dea ex Machina” - Katerina Volsk
• Mentally Possess Others (HU2-312) Bionics
• Telepathy (HU2-308) AR - 16 / HP - 40 / Phsy SDC - 105 / SDC - 280
• Impervious to Cold (HU2-302) IQ-15/MA-16/ME-14/PS-29/PP-17/PE-18/Spd-25
• Detect Psionics (HU2-298) Female, 4th level, 32 yo, internationally wanted
• Mind Block (HU2-302) criminal
• Summon Inner Strength (HU2-303) Heavy Ion Blaster 4D6 dmg / Hidden Laser Rod
• Telekinetic Punch (HU2-304)
! 4D6 dmg +2 Strike / Retractable Large Blades
3D6 + 14 PS dmg / .38 Special 3D6 dmg
Hand-to-Hand Expert, Athletics, Gymnastics, Pilot:
Airplane, Pilot: Helicopter, Pilot: Jet, Pilot: Tank,
!
• Bionic Legs (HU2-104)
Fencing, Radio: Satellite, Navigation, Computer
• Bionic Right Arm (HU2-104)
Operation, Mechanical Engineer, Read Sensory
• Bionic Chest (HU2-104)
Equipment, Weapon Systems, Advanced Math,
• Independent Oxygen (HU2-106)
Laser Communications, WP Sword, WP Auto Pistol
! • Spine and Shoulders Exoskeleton (HU2-113)
• 1/2 Suit Bionic Armor (HU2-113)
Endowed with psionic abilities during an accident
• Infrared Vision (HU2-105)
while flying a new experimental aircraft, Baron
• Mini-Computer (HU2-106)

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 5 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

!
Hand-to-Hand Assassin, Intelligence, Forgery,
Weapon Systems, Basic Mechanics, Electrical
Engineer, Athletics, Gymnastics, Body-building,
Boxing, Wilderness Survival, Navigation, Pilot:
Helicopter, Pilot: Airplane, WP Energy Pistol, WP
Revolver, WP Paired
!
Katerina Volsk is a product of one of the Kremlin’s
more severe and sinister projects to date. A
decorated pilot, Volsk crash-landed her jet during
routine exercises one day due to a critical
malfunction. Her broken body was rushed to the
Kremlin’s experimental hospital facility where she
underwent days of cutting edge bionic surgery.
She emerged from the procedure a different
woman — stronger, faster, more deadly than
before. But, the entire affair was not without its
pain and agony and lasting effects. She still
suffers debilitating migraines until this day from
the experiment. Eventually, Katerina defected
from the Russians to the USA during an “Shockjaw" - Adam Davidson
undercover mission to New York. This is about Mutant
the time she vanished from intelligence agency AR - 15 / HP - 35 / Phys SDC - 55 / SDC - 90
view and met up with James MacDougal. Dea ex IQ-13/MA-16/ME-15/PS-18/PP-20/PE-26/Spd-16
Machina and Baron Corsair have been together Male, 4th level, 29 yo, unknown criminal
ever since…an inseparable and dangerous pair. Electrical Shock 5D6 dmg / Katana - 3D6 dmg /
! Wakizashi - 2D6 dmg
! !
! • Energy Expulsion: Electricity (HU2-230)
• Extraordinary Physical Endurance (HU2-232)
• Extraordinary Speed (HU2-232)
!
Hand-to-Hand Martial Arts, Athletics, Gymnastics,
Body-building, Climbing, Prowl, Navigation, Pilot:
Helicopter, Aircraft Mechanics, Paramedic,
Fencing, WP Paired, WP Sword
!
Adam Davidson manifested his powers at an early
age. His parents toiled tirelessly to give him a
“normal” life in spite of his abilities. They
succeeded to a great degree and Adam grew up
wanting for nothing at a middle class level. After
the car wreck that took everything from him (his
parents both tragically died on impact) he was
Some of Corsair’s Personnel Weaponry never the same. Always on the fringe of society,
! he finally found work with Baron Corsair’s
! organization as an aircraft mechanic. Adam
! quickly rose through the ranks becoming
!
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 6 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited
Corsair’s chief lieutenant after Dea ex Machina
and the Commodore. He is also a bit of a samurai
movie supernerd, hence his costume.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Piet
made sure his name was at the top of the
volunteers list. Sadly, things did not go well with
the program. Many candidates died from the
experiments and many more had to be euthanized
due to horrible and erroneous results. Wilhelm
was among the few who survived. Terrified of
what he’d become, he escaped the USA where he
met up with a disenfranchised Baron Corsair who
promised the Commodore a key place in his aerial
navy. Today, Wilhelm serves as Corsair’s XO and
top man for all things in his paramilitary
organization. Wilhelm and Volsk work well
together, but Davidson distrusts Wilhelm for some
reason creating some animosity between them.

“Gravestone” - Commodore Piet Wilhelm

Mutant
AR - 15/16 / HP - 40 / Phys SDC - 50/600 /
SDC - 100
IQ-15/MA-15/ME-13/PS-20/28/PP-16/PE-21/
Spd-14
Male, 3rd level, 45 yo, internationally wanted Vengeful Maiden Pilot
criminal AR - 10 / HP - 20 / Phys SDC - 15 / SDC - 25
Displacer Maul 3D6 + 5/13 PS dmg .45 cal Pistol 3D6 dmg
!
• Alter Physical Structure: Stone (HU2-251)
!
Hand-to-Hand Expert, Athletics, Gymnastics,
Boxing, Climbing, Swimming, Navigation, Pilot:
Airplane, Pilot: Jet Fighter, Pilot: Motor Boat,
Basic Electronics, Radio: Basic, Radio: Satellite
!
Executive Officer of The Vengeful Maiden, Wilhelm
has been with Corsair from the beginning. A
graduate of every prestigious military program
that Germany has to offer, the Commodore was
given his own ship as Captain at the young age of
30. He did exceedingly well at his post, earning
many medals in the process. He volunteered to Vengeful Maiden Navigator
be play a chief role in a new program the navy AR - 10 / HP - 15 / Phys SDC - 20 / SDC - 20
was trying, a super-soldier experimental regime. .45 cal Pistol 3D6 dmg

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 7 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

Vengeful Maiden Comm Officer
AR - 11 / HP - 25 / Phys SDC - 25 / SDC - 50
Heavy Ion Pistol 4D6 dmg
Vengeful Maiden Gunner
AR - 12 / HP - 20 / Phys SDC - 20 / SDC - 75
Laser Pistol 4D6 dmg
! Laser Rifle 5D6 dmg
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom
Vengeful Maiden Interceptor
AR - 15 / HP - 30 / Phys SDC - 35 / SDC - 100
Heavy Ion Pistol 4D6 dmg / Ion Rod (HU2-208)
3D6 dmg / Retractable Large Blades (HU2-207)
3D6 dmg
!
• Full Exoskeleton (HU2-196/200) - high mid-
range budget
• Laser targeting system (HU2-205)
• Maxi-Radar (HU2-206)
• Combat Computer (HU2-206)
Baron Corsair Personal Bodyguard
AR - 13 / HP - 25 / Phys SDC - 35 / SDC - 85
8 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited
 !
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Vengeful Maiden Crew
AR - 10 / HP - 10 / Phys SDC - 12 / SDC - 15 Vengeful Maiden Rocket Marauder
Submachine-gun 3D6 dmg AR - 13 / HP - 25 / Phys SDC - 25 / SDC - 65
! 5.56MM SAW Machine-gun 4D6 dmg / Auto Ion
! Rifle 4D6 dmg
!
! !
! !
! !
!
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!
! Baron Corsair’s Flying Fortress
! “The Vengeful Maiden”
!
Range - 1100 miles / Speed - 140mph / SDC - 3500
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 9 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited
 The Vengeful
Maiden
TOP DECK

- Ladder between
decks

- Stairs between
decks

- Hatchway

- Window/Porthole

1. Forecastle 6. Rear Turret

2. Main Forward Turret 7. Main Deck
3. Secondary Turret 8. VTOL Rotors
4. Bridge 9. Propulsion
5. Bridge Deck

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 10 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

 The Vengeful
Maiden
MAIN DECK

- Heavy Ion Cannon

1. Containment Area 6. Executive Officer’s Quarters

2. Port Gun Battery 7. Shockjaw’s Quarters
3. Starboard Gun Battery 8. Corsair’s Bodyguard
4A.-4D. Barracks 9. Corsair’s Control Room
5. Pilots’ Quarters 10. Corsair’s Private Quarters

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 11 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

 The Vengeful
Maiden
LOWER DECK

1. Storage 5. Navigation & Communication Control

2. Port Gun Battery 6. Engineering
3. Starboard Gun Battery 7. Weapons Systems
4. Main Magazine 8. Engine Room

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 12 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited

 Vengeful Maiden Weaponry
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! Small Turrets
!Main Turrets Dual Laser Battery - 6D6 dmg / Range - 3500ft
!
Three Pulse Cannons - 7D6 dmg / Range - 2300ft Manned by a single gunner, the smallest turrets on
! the Maiden still manage to be pretty deadly. Must
These guns are the main bite of the Vengeful be the twin lasers they are packing. Best to steer
Maiden. Destructive, deadly, and stocked with clear of them, I’d wager.
plenty of ammo, these babies don’t play around. !
Needless to say, Baron Corsair can cause a lot of !
trouble with toys like these. Clearly he wasn’t !
messing around when he built his warship. !
Manned by crews of 4. !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
Secondary Turret !
Three Heavy Ion Guns - 6D6 dmg / Range - Heavy Ion Cannon
2600ft 4D6 + 1D10 dmg / Range - 2000ft
! !
As if the main turrets weren’t bad enough, this With 36 total of these devastatingly powerful
secondary ion turret is quite a bastard as well. guns, the Vengeful Maiden makes for one beastly
With a little more reach than the larger guns, these adversary. Able to attack ground and air targets,
three cannons will deliver a punch a long ways each of these is operated by a lone gunner in a
away. Manned by a crew of 3. battery of 9 guns. No wonder Corsair can wreak
! so much damage so easily…I mean, with all this
! firepower, who couldn’t?
! !
! !
In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 13 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited
 The Greater Denver Area
!
Note: This present day quest was created for
Heroes Unlimited using the Heroes Unlimited
Revised Second Edition Gaming Universe. This
module could easily be modified to fit any other
superhero-based RPG.
!
HU2 - Heroes Unlimited Revised Second Edition
superhero-based RPG.

In the Clutches of Aerial Doom 14 of 14 Quest for Heroes Unlimited