In Paragon City, and around the world, there are many superhero groups who’s names are spoken with reverence. One of those is the Midnight Squad.

The countless efforts made by the Midnight Squad over the years to help battle evil and understand magic are well known, as is their sacrifice and massacre at the hands of the Rikti during the invasion. And of course their never ending battle against the Circle of Thorns.

In recent years, largely due to their vulnerability during the Rikti invasion, they have left the spotlight, hidden from the public eye, and faded back into their secrecy and privacy. Their members are still a great source and wealth of knowledge for the heroes of today, but they do this from an arms length, avoiding the conflicts and dangers the world of superheroes is rife with.

Having come in contact with a few of their number during my research into the magic of the Circle of Thorns, I was surprised to hear of a resurgence of their forefront battalion against the dark. Ms. Abigail Chase put me in touch with one of the many new heroes in Paragon named The Lightningale.

I contacted The Lightningale who agreed to meet with me so that I could learn more about her new group, the Midnight Avengers.

Calvin Meeks: Hello, Lightningale.
Lightningale: Hi! I’m very pleased to finally meet you.
Calvin Meeks: Its always good to meet another hero of Paragon City.
Lightningale: How shall we begin?
Calvin Meeks: Well, how about we begin with you. What drew you into the hero game? Why fight the good fight?
Lightningale: Good question. I think it was during the Rikti Invasion that I knew for sure what I wanted to do. Like most everyone, I lost beloved friends and family. At the time, however, I was away in England studying at Oxford. I wanted desperately to come back, but my study of magic was still lacking and those who cared about me forbade it. I had aspirations to become a magician from much earlier however. Still, this interview is not primarily about me.
Calvin Meeks: Alright then, lets move on to this group you are forming. Tell me, what is the purpose of the Midnight Avengers?
Lightningale: My primary purpose in founding the Avengers is to get Magic users back into the forefront of the fight for Justice Specifically, as a unified force. In the past, the Midnight Squad always filled that gap for Paragon. But since most of their most courageous members were killed in the Invasion, they have gone into hiding again. My mentor in the Magic arts, St Ignus, was formerly a member of the Squad. He used what he knew to teach others- a most valuable thing. But like most of the other members, he almost never met normal everyday people. He got lost in academics and mysteries. But mages can’t just walk by when someone cries for help. I convinced Ignus to return to fighting crime. And it has done him and others a world of good. I hope to convince the wave of new mages entering paragon that unification is essential to our success. Which leads me to a secondary purpose… but why don’t I stop talking for moment… do you have any questions about what I’ve said?
Calvin Meeks: So, with the Midnight Avengers, you plan to take the fight up first hand, as opposed to the traditional role of advisors and research of the Midnight Squad?
Lightningale: It’s not a complete conversion. We still plan to carry on research and advise important supergroups like the League of Valor and First Strike Security, but like the heroes who died going through that portal, we also want to be on the front line. One of my biggest concerns with the Squad’s current lack of activity is the notable growth of their old enemy, the Circle of Thorns.
Calvin Meeks: In the past when the Squad reformed, the Thorns always came at them full force to protect their domain of the magical realm.
Lightningale: Exactly! The Circle was once counter-balanced by the Squad, but in their absence, the Thorns have multiplied prodigiously.
Calvin Meeks: Then that leads to the next question. What sort of recruitment efforts do you have planned for the Avengers?
Lightningale: I’m going to try to hit that target on multiple fronts… I’ll be posting a recruitment notice on the boards at the city website in the next few days. In addition, I’m hoping to secure endorsements from some of the city’s better known heroes. I’m also planning to make our presence known at Alliance meetings. And of course there will be cold recruitment of worthy looking heroes. We have a screening process and would prefer to spend some mission time with all new recruits before we invite them to our group.
Calvin Meeks: Sounds like a solid plan.
Lightningale: Thank you! And of course we are publishing with the local news media.
Lightningale laughs.
Lightningale: One other thing I’d like to mention. We’re not only looking to recruit into our own ranks, but to make key alliances with magic users all over the city.

The Lightningale also mentioned that those interested in joining their ranks or contacting their organization should do so through her or St Ignus.

With the resurgence of the Circle of Thorns en masse in recent months, the green fires of their rituals can be seen throughout King’s Row and Perez Park, its good to know that a team well versed in magic is ready to stand against them. And what a fight they have before them.

The Circle of Thorns have become more aggressive recently, stealing artifacts and other mystical objects, as well as a large number of kidnappings. From what heroes have gathered, the Thorns draw the life essence from their victims, the pulsing green light of their rituals, to fuel their dark magic. Citizens and heroes alike have been warned of the “thorns” these vile sorcerers use to drug those whose paths they cross. Heroes should be wary and prepared, and citizens should avoid them altogether.

Perhaps, if the Midnight Avengers, and groups like theirs, succeed, Perez Park might one day be a nice place to picnic.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2004 at 10:10 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.