The Rogue Isles

The Early Years

The Colonial Period

The 20th Century

The Rogue Isles are a small chain of islands northwest of Bermuda that run in a band 50 to 20 miles off the US coast. Officially known as the Etoile Islands, there are dozens of islands in the chain.

Geographically, the Rogue Isles are a small chain of islands northwest of Bermuda that run in a band 50 to 20 miles off the US coast. Officially known as the Etoile Islands, there are dozens of islands in the chain. The main cluster of the group, home to Spider City, is at the 50 mile marker, outside US jurisdiction. From there the smaller islands string towards the US coast.

Centuries ago, the islands were discovered by a French secret sect, the Children of Enos, fleeing from France and blown off course sailing to the New World. There they found fragments of strange ruins that hinted at an older and darker history. The sect quickly enslaved the small native population (and supposedly overcame the spirit-guardians of the natives) and put them to work building a magnificent gothic temple/fortress over the mysterious ruins. The base thrived for many decades and became the sect’s main headquarters. From here they conducted their dark plots against their hated enemies in France and the Church.

During the golden age of Piracy, the isles became home to a number of settlers. Several small battles were fought to determine what nation would control the islands, but through the influence of the Children of Enos, no one government prevailed. The islands became truly lawless, and gained a reputation as a place where ill-gotten gains could be sold and dark deals struck. Cartographers of the day took to calling the islands the “Rogue Isles”.

The Rogue Isles became a haven for all manner of pirate, outlaw, renegade and heretic. English pirates used it as a port for their raids against the Spanish main. Many privateers and pirates paid the Gouverneur (as the islands’ heads of state chose to style themselves) for this privilege. Close to the Americas, pirate trade and smuggling became the principal industries of the islands. The Gouverneurs played a careful political game with one eye blind to the pirates while the other was perfectly willing to watch the hanging of an “example”—captains and crews whose deaths would satisfy an indignant England, France or Spain, and who had also forgotten to pay the Gouverneur. With no one great power willing to spend the effort to conquer the islands, and all the great maritime nations of the day using the Rogue Isles for shady business of their own, the island leaders were essentially neutral, making whatever deal or agreement best left them to their own devices.

When Statesman appeared in Paragon City, many of the villains there decided they needed a new home. The Rogue Isles was an obvious choice. Many already had connections there and the little nation’s “friendly” attitude made it a perfect choice. President Oakes was no fool. He knew that if he resisted these newcomers with their gangs and occasional super powers, things would not turn out well. But at the same time, he had bargaining chips—citizenship, diplomatic immunity and other protections from American justice. And he had friends in the high places of America who were happy with the Rogue Isles just as they were. Deals were struck—in exchange for “playing nice” and taxes, the government turned a blind eye—and the Rogue Isles became a haven for the super-powered and evil.

During this time the first of many Arachnos cells arrived in the Rogue Isles. Representing itself as just another villain organization needing protection, the team quickly set up a base for its operations in the US. Avoiding spectacular raids and sabotage, it devoted most of its effort to intelligence gathering and influencing American policy. Lord Recluse did not overlook the Arachnos cell when he assumed control of the organization itself. Recognizing the value of a base so close to the US, he placed trusted agents (as much as Recluse trusted anyone) in charge and violently purged those he perceived to be troublesome. Once this was done, he ordered the station to go underground for the coming storm. This caution paid off when World War II broke out. President Marchand (Oakes’ “elected” successor) officially declared the Rogue Isles neutral, albeit with Allied leanings. When the 5th Column menace alarmed the US, Marchand’s army waged a visible “war” on Column members on the islands, just to placate the Allies. It was Arachnos’ lower profile that allowed it to survive relatively unharmed.

And then Lord Recluse vanished—but even while the rest of Arachnos slid into turmoil, the hidden cell continued toward some unknown goal. Secret projects were started. Politicians were bought, rivals brought down. Men—and villains—were recruited. Someone was giving orders, but nobody knew who.

It wasn’t until the mid-1950’s that it became publicly known that Lord Recluse was calling the shots. At that point he was ready to make his move. He performed a military coup, declared the Rogue Isles under the dominion of Arachnos and began to shape his empire.

The Rogue Isles today are a land of opportunity for those with the ambition and villainy to seize the chances that come by. Lord Recluse tolerates the ambitions of others—to a point. Anyone willing to follow his laws, pay his “taxes” and accept his justice without question is welcome to Spider City. So long as you don’t threaten his plans, you can make schemes of your own. What does he care if a shipment of artifacts for the Circle of Thorns is stolen from the docks? Nothing—so long as the thieves are not so brash as to use them against Arachnos. If you can rob a bank and escape his security forces, then it is a good test of your skill—but rob too many banks, create too much havoc and the Wolf Spiders will hunt you down. He tolerates ambition, but not anarchy.

In this setting Arachnos trains and plots. Heroes make occasional forays to bring back their man and there are others who aren’t above hiring local talent for bounty hunter work. Freedom Corps members sometimes show up just to make trouble. And there are always plots and schemes between the various factions.