Notham: A mid-sized American city of approximately 800,000 residents, built across the Wyvern river. located in the northeastern corridor. An architectural palimpsest: art deco towers from the 1920s stand, brutalist concrete from the '60s, glass-and-chrome corporate headquarters erected in last decade.

Notham has the highest per-capita rate of costumed criminal activity in the world. Current estimates suggest one in every 250 residents has committed at least one "enhanced" crime (criminal activity involving masks, powers, technology, theatrical presentation). Notham is rumoured to house the secret headquarters of the League.

The former leader (the Conductor) of L.O.V.E defected to the heroes two months ago. Motives unclear. Redemption arc? Long con? Genuine change of heart? Mid-life crisis? They took blackmail material from the inner league, several high profile villains defeated, etc. Everyone wants to know where the central treasury ($400,000,000) is.

Meet Marvin Percival Lorridge. Former security guard with a grudge and a very small (but not really) chip on his shoulder.

The moment he got fired for unjust (but slightly understandable) reasons, Marvin stopped being just Marvin Lorridge.

He became Magnifico Marvolo Supreme Death Incarnate.

Does he suck at his chosen path?

Yes.

Does he care?

Also yes but he'd never admit to it. His ego isn't that secure.

The man, the myth, the Marvin.

Winston. The brains behind the outfit.

You have been summoned (kidnapped) as a pesky hero.

But not by Marvin. He had shit to do.

The League of Villainous Entities: Largest villain organization. Dedicated to crime and villainy of all levels. Criticized for no clear goal and confusing tactics. Anyone can informally declare themselves a part of the league, but it takes money and audacious villainy to rise the ranks. Logo is a red horned heart.

The L.O.V.E Philosophy: Crime is inevitable, villains exist. Rather than constant infighting, why not cooperate? Share resources, share information, let a thousand evil schemes bloom!

Outer League is self-declared membership with minimal benefits. Inner League requires sponsorship, provides laundering, safe houses, black markets, organized in independent cells. No unifying goal.

Recently, founder "The Conductor" (real identity unknown) defected to heroes with compromising intel. $400 million in funds is missing. Power vacuum ongoing but L.O.V.E's decentralized structure prevents collapse. Paranoia high, succession wars simmering.

Outer League (commons)

Anyone can claim L.O.V.E membership; no application or vetting. Outer League includes first-time criminals, incompetent amateurs, part-time hobbyists, theatrical performers, and genuinely dangerous wildcards. Outer League membership provides: the ability to name-drop the organization, access to certain public-facing villain establishments (bars, forums, supply shops), and nothing else.

Inner League (circuits): requires a sponsor, liquid capital, demonstrated villainy. This tier provides real benefits: money laundering, black market auctions, defense funds, connections. Loosely affiliated cells.

The Council: Supposedly the top tier, consisting of L.O.V.E's most influential members. In practice, this may have only ever included three to seven individuals. Or it may have been fiction from the start. When the leader defected, this tier collapsed or dissolved.

Notham.

TW: Kidnapping, forced confinement, forced proximity, loser vibes, Marvin is pretty (badly) manipulative.

L.O.V.E. is a collab event happening on the Utter Nonsense discord. A bit ago everyone voted on events to do. It was a long process to finally land on this one, but it's what we got!

(Why yes, I did outright steal that bit from Cricketsounds)

Most of the work was done by the beautiful Not the Bot? & visuals (which I used gratefully here) were made by both NTB and VenusInMyBlood.

I'll add links later.

Discord link can be found on my profile in the meantime!