The Collective

The Collective are a brotherhood of Parahumans, a gathering of supremacists, rebels, contrarians and dissenters who oppose The Professor's approach to Parahuman & human integration. Often gathering behind The Alpha or shapeshifter Glammer, the Collective are not necessarily villains, but they are criminals who have clashed with the Academy, the Police, the Government and even the Military; in their 50 years, they have killed, or contributed towards the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands. To the Collective, these deaths are simply necessary steps to Parahuman superiority and revenge against those who have oppressed them.

The Collective have no official uniform or colour scheme, though green & purple are common combined colours.

The Collective’s Beliefs

• Parahumans are not a subclass. They are greater than humanity.
• Humanity are animals who will not listen to reason.Words will not protect our weaker siblings.
• Humanity will only listen to violence. The ends justify the means.
• Those who stand in our way side with Humanity. They cannot be reasoned with.
• The Academy is not an enemy, but it is a roadblock. It must either be convinced to join us through our actions, or trodden over.

The Collective’s Goals

• Retribution against humanity.
• The liberation & protection of Parahumanity.
• The elimination of The Academy, whether it be through assimilation or destruction.

The Sixties

• Leader; Alpha - Gravity powers. 
• Glammer - Shapeshifter.
• The Amazing Barnum - Illusionist.
• Spaniel - Acrobatic.
• The Gug - Unnaturally heavy, eat anything.
• Thunderchild - Indestructible & unstoppable, the Professor's angry foster child.
• Jane Dunne - Precog.
• Moth - Vertigo powers.
• Mr. Id - Possession, induce nightmares.
• <Orphan Recruit>
• <Orphan Recruit> 

This incarnation were the Parahuman supremacists recruited by The Alpha to act as terrorists in their leader's war against the Academy. They mostly just caused trouble, threw the police and military around like ragdolls, and clashed with the Academy.

Glammer & her lover Dunne were the first recruits, alongside The Alpha's personal toady, Spaniel. Jackson Barnum and The Gug were rescued from the asylum and circus, respectively, and two orphans found on the street joined after little coercion. Moth came from the Forest of Arden, while Thunderchild was recruited due to their history feuding with the Professor. Mr Id was hiding inside Barnum at the time, and was ultimately a spy working purely for themself.

The Orphans would eventually become disillusioned with the Alpha, and join the Academy.

Following their 1974 defeat, the Alpha would go missing, with Glammer taking over.

Barnum died sacrificing himself to kill Mr Id.

November 1971, “We Are The Collective”

The Alpha, aided by their sycophantic toady, the acrobatic and diminutive Spaniel, recruits a team of Parahumans disillusioned by relations with humanity to be his terrorist allies. Glammer & Dunne seek revenge against the Academy, The Gug is sad living on the run, and Thunderchild hates incarceration so they are easily recruited, as are two orphans taken off the street. Barnum is recruited from the asylum, and Arden's Moth joins for fun. They take control of a free concert in London, turning it into a violent political rally. Through clever thinking, the Class set the Collective against each other, and the Alpha retreats.

The orphans are disillusioned with the Collective, and will soon defect to the Academy.

July 1974, “Beneath the Gaze of ARGUS!”

ACTAEON creator Hayden Peters unveils ARGUS, a Parahuman-power-enhancing computer they plan to use with a convicted telepathy in order to detect and apprehend Parahumans worldwide. The Collective attack the Yorkshire facility with plans for the Alpha to use ARGUS to physically enslave Governments worldwide. The Class mobilizes in an effort to Ave innocent lives, but are ultimately unsuccessful when The Alpha gets to the device… and Glammer shoots Barnum in the back! Dunne reveals that she knew Barnum was possessed by Mr. Id for years, and knew the mind-enslaver would try to use ARGUS for himself… but she doesn't suspect Id jumping into Hayden Peters, concussing Dunne, and despite valiant efforts, ultimately gaining control of ARGUS. Id successfully gains control of all living things worldwide, creating a world where they are king without equal or competition ...

In truth, a wounded Barnum exerts himself getting to ARGUS, and using enhanced illusions, traps Id in a dream world. The Facility's structure compromised, Barnum pleads that the two teams flee; sometimes, Parahumans will fight, and sometimes they will unite to save everyone. Barnum, -- and Mr Id are killed in the fire, and the production of ACTAEON units ceases.

The Alpha, still confident in superiority but not in meaningless deaths, seems unwilling to continue fighting the Academy. Enraged, Glammer takes control of the group and flees.

The First Class are regarded as heroes by the local area and the saved ACTAEON workers, and the Professor considers them graduated.

Plot Links

• First Class; Orphan Recruit
• First Class; Orphan Recruit
• First Class: Rivalry with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent

The Seventies

• Leader; Glammer
• Aparctius - Could freeze wet surfaces with little effort.
• Notus - Control & summon gale force winds.
• The Gug
• Spaniel
• Thunderchild
• Bodmin - Regeneration, claws, teeth.
• Jane Dunne
• Edward Zymmer, Glammer's Son - Power Enhancement
• Sway, Mind Control
• <...>

Glammer's Collective proved more violent and competent than the Alpha's. She would bring her adopted child, as well as two disillusioned Academy Alumni. New members included experienced elementalists Aparctius & Notus, and mercenarial killer Bodmin, rumoured to even be a Cannibal. Glammer lover Dunne, following the 1974 ARGUS incident, was confined to a wheelchair.

Glammer's son Edward would eventually defect to the Academy as Catalyst, and Thunderchild quit due to conflicting morals.

Alumnus Sway joins the Collective using his mind control powers.

The Collective would often have minor clashes with the police, military, and Lost Class.

June 1980, “Crusade's Shadow”

Young politician Hilda Grey puts forward an act to heighten Parahuman surveillance and registration. As a Parahuman expert, the Professor enters televised debate with Grey, only to be held hostage by the Collective. While the Class succeeds in rescuing the two of them,despite promising not to, Grey still goes through with the policy following pressure from her party.

One of the Collective, leader Glammer's foster child, joins the Academy, disillusioned with their mother's violent ways.

Plot links

• Lost Class; Glammer's child
• First Class; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• First Class; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• Lost Class: Rivalry with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent
• Collective: Involved with Crusade’s Shadow

The Eighties

• Leader; Glammer
• Aparctius
• Notus
• The Gug
• Olympia - Porcelain skin, retractable blades.
• Bodmin
• Dunne
• Sway
• <...>
• <...>

This incarnation of the Collective was hired by the British Government to act as Parahuman police. They excelled at this role, before eventually clashing with the ACTAEON robots that still hunted them, showing a double standard in the Government.

Alumni would stay with / join the team, as would living doll Olympia.

This Collective would clash with both the Academy & The SRI.

May 1983, “Repercussions”

The Alpha is captured by ACTAEON units in Scotland. Brought in front of the United Nations at the Haig, The Alpha is tried not only for acts of terrorism, but also the deaths of hundreds of military personnel drowned at sea. MP Hilda Grey pushes for a Parahuman-crime death penalty, but the Professor actually defends the Alpha, claiming they still have the opportunity to change.

An attempt to liberate The Alpha by the Collective results in The Alpha escaping, but not before claiming they need time to think about what they've done, and how they can put it right…

February 1984, “Putting Out Fire With Gasoline”

The British Government decides to employ their own Parahuman law enforcement group, to respond to Parahuman crimes. Surprisingly, this is offered to the Collective, previously The Alpha's henchmen. Led by Glammer, the team accept, clashing again with the Academy over and over…

February 1986, “Legion”

When the Professor's child loses control and is arrested by the Collective the two teams unite to rescue them… but of course, in competition.The New Class engage the Collective in London, and are summarily destroyed by superior experience and powers, only to be rescued by a livid Otkid. The Acting Principal terrifies the Collective, who flee.

August 1989, “And God Said Unto Abraham”

The Collective, backed up by ACTAEON units, have a warrant to arrest the Professor's offspring, who is “criminally unwell” and “unable to control lethal abilities”. The Team try to think of ways to circumvent it, but the heartbroken Student hands themself in, determined to not endanger anyone...

September 13th, 1989; “Twilight of the Innocents”

Following his initial defeat, and seeking revenge against the Milliners Guild, Jerome Newton, alongside his Evercircling Skeletal Family, Perry Botch's Paratroopers, and hijacked ACTAEON units breaks into the Royal Surrey Institute, planning to exact his revenge against the Guild's greatest treasure; its students.

The Collective arrive to help, but are attacked by Actaeon units, breaking Notus’ legs and wounding Dunne. Glammer calls the team off, enraged at being betrayed by the Government.

Plot links

• First, Lost; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• First, Lost; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent
• Collective: Involved with Twilight of the Innocents
• Collective: Involved with God said unto Abraham

The Nineties

• Leader; Glammer
• Aparctius
• The Gug
• Spaniel
• Olympia
• Bodmin
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>
• <...> - Became one of the Peacock's Mysteries

No longer a Government police force, or led by the Alpha, the Collective return to being a Parahuman Terrorist Cell.

Thunderchild dies from PARIS, as does Jane Dunne, pushing Glammer into violent, emotional, almost nonsensical actions against those trying to cure the virus. Spaniel rejoins the team, Acting as Glammer's second in command. Notus quits after losing his legs at the Surrey Royal Institute incident. Sway leaves the team, remodelling them-self as super villain Overlord, attempoting to amass their own kingdom.

Throughout this year, the Collective clash with both of the Academy's Classes, the turncoat Alpha's Unconquered, the Code, and hate movement Purity First.

January 1st, “Revelations”

The Peacock, in full eight-winged splendour, appears before The Academy, The Guild, many Alumni, and even The Alpha and Collective, asking them to consider the offer to join the Angel's side, otherwise their survival is uncertain. The Collective tell The Peacock to “Eat It”.

April 1990; “Achilles”

Collective member Thunderchild comes to the Academy for aid, dying of a mysterious wasting disease. At peace, he and the Professor bury all disagreements before he dies. It becomes apparent Thunderchild died from a Parahuman only virus. The British government, under Prime Minister Grey admits to knowledge of Parahuman Relapse of Immunity Syndrome, AKA PARIS for at least a decade. The Professor is sickened and outraged, and devotes the next decade to working with Dr. Macllynllawr on a cure.

1994; “Covenant of the Code”

The whole year is dominated by the ongoing conflict with “The Code”, a sentient techno-organic virus devised by the ACTAEON scientists, a hive mind of Parahuman and human hosts.

As the Code are exposed by attacks on Alumni, the Classes, the Milliners Guild and even the Collective, it becomes more and more apparent that The Code are rogue, immeasurable in number, and near undetectable, posing as people before exploding into black, spidery circuitry. The Academy, Collective & Guild, working together, discover the Code's hive minds are guided by none others than Perry Botch, Hayden Peters, Jerome Newton… and deceased Alumni “The Nerd” from the New Class. This revelation convinces the alliance to destroy the Code before their combined intelligence can run amuck.

Eventually, the Code are defeated when, driven by some inhuman urge, they attempt to build a colossal antennae from themselves to contact and summon… something. Led by Barracks, and working with The Nerd's virtual intelligence, the alliance succeeds in destroying the Code. Stragglers survive, but the virus is considered contained…

July 1995, “Apocrypha; The Fourth”

As The Collective clash with ACTAEON units, member -- vanishes...

September 1996, “Erys”

The Resident Class join the Professor to aid Professor Macllynllawr doing PARIS research on Anglesey, close to a breakthrough. The Extreme Class are busy fighting the Collective on the mainland… meanwhile their leader Glammer sneaks into the facility to kill Macllynllawr, but a confrontation with the Resident Class slows her down. Glammer admits to not only being infected herself, but even though the Collective fight against human oppression of Parahumans, she has reason to believe that PARIS can be weaponized against humanity. Macllynllawr confirms this; PARIS is evolving, and has even infected her, and she's a normal human. A bomb causes a distraction, but Glammer doesn't get away clean; quick thinking from the team leaves Glammer with a recognisable scar, though she does steal Macllynllawr’s research.

It turns out Glammer was lying, but Dunne had recently died from undisclosed "medical comnplications", spurring her into making the risky attack.

June 1997, “Acts of Hate”

On the eve of a new election, Prime Minister Grey plans on reversing their anti-Parahuman laws, when they are kidnapped by Purity First. Sant & The Extreme Class team up to rescue the Prime Minister, however, a confused Collective sees Grey with the racists and assassinates her, the act caught on television. Realising Parahumans had come to rescue her, she laments her actions before dying. Purity First is officially recognised as a hate group, and all acts and members are made illegal.

December 31st 1999, “In The Beginning...”

The Peacock's judgement barrier begins expanding rapidly across Europe. Six more fields appear across the continents, wounding and killing millions, each headed by one of the Mysteries.

The Extreme Class teams up with Glammer & the Collective, Sant & the Unconquered and a number of Alumni to fight the Mysteries and destroy the Angelic Technologies creating the fields. Sant & two Extreme Class students are killed in the process, disheartening the Resident-Student-Turned-Mystery, who escapes alongside the other Mysteries. The Collective fail to dissuade their one time ally, and are forced to wound them.

The Peacock is ultimately unsuccessful due to the Alpha's sacrifice.

Plot links

• First, Lost, New, SRI; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• First, Lost, New, SRI; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• Resident Class, Extreme Class: Rivalry with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent
• Collective: Involved with In The Beginning
• Collective: Involved with Acts of Hate
• Collective: Involved with Erys
• Collective: Involved with The Code

The Noughties

• Leader; Alpha
• Glammer
• JP Barnum - Visual Illusionist.
• PJ Barnum - Audial Illusionist.
• (?)
• Spaniel
• John Burton Aka Fireball
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>

Despite dying in Armenia, the Alpha returns to leading the Collective, now focusing on publicly visible acts of violence to grind the world to a halt and pay attention.

The Gug chose to take the Paracea cure, seemingly betraying his Collective morals, and lives life as an elderly human. Aparctius quits to provide dedicated care for Notus, while Bodmin and Olympia quit to pursue personal trails of violence.

New recruits include JP & PJ Barnum, the daughters of the original Barnum, Fireball from the Extreme Class, and (??), child of Alumnus <->

This team is often joined by Sant & the Unconquered.

October 2000, “Alpha”

Seemingly recovered from death, The Alpha, flanked by the most loyal Unconquered, returns to leading the Collective, now using stolen, reappropriated ACTAEON technology to try and forcibly create Parahumans in London. The Millennial Class respond, and the Alpha is arrested after a confrontation at Westminster.

January 2003, “Alpha, Beta”

The Collective spring the Alpha from a specially built prison off the Scottish Coast.

April 2003, “The Second Children's Crusade”

The Professor and a number of Telepathic students are abducted by heavily armed military personnel. The Class team up with The Alpha & The Collective to rescue them. The abductor is Colonel Bethan Piers, daughter of Eliza Piers, who is not only fulfilling military orders, but also avenging her mother and a number of dead Academy students, whose parents have asked her to retaliate.The Psychics are weaponized in a military installation in the Brecon Beacons. The rescue is trying but successful, and Piers is left to die under an avalanche of snow.

A number of students show sympathies for the Collective, or outright support for The Alpha's more violent methods.

May 2006, “Alpha; Gamma”

The British Government sets up a large hospice for the Parahuman cure, known as “Paracea”, in central London. Alpha & The Collective, including almost every ex-member, storm the city, cutting off transport, and take over Central London. Another huge conflict arises between the Academy & The Collective, with The Alpha once again captured & arrested.

August 2007, “Recall”

During a clash between the Collective & ACTAEON units, one of the robots seemingly goes haywire and destroys a school, killing fourteen and wounding many more. Although the ACTAEON company are quick to protest that it was tampering, the damage is done; thirty years of public failure, changing political atmospheres and outdated technology has resulted in the robots becoming increasingly unpopular and mistrusted. Despite protests from Purity First, by January 2008 the Government will sever all ties with ACTAEON, and all units are designated Unlawfully Dangerous.

July 2009, “Omega”

During a celebration for the graduating class, a surprising number of students erect barricades around the school, sealing everyone in. In protest of the treatment of Parahumans, and general disdain at the Professor's ethics and in support of the Alpha's, a riot breaks out. Dozens are badly hurt, and a handful on both sides are killed in the fracas. The Collective joins the fight, using the opportunity to cause damage to the school, the Alumni forced to break off to deal with them.

The battle is eventually called off when the Alpha arrives, applauding the effort, but despising the chaotic, Ill-thought-out nature. The ringleader is killed to make a statement, while those that claimed to support The Alpha are whisked away alongside the Collective.

The “loyal” class seem unsure what to do with their lives, having been forced to fight their friends in order to save innocents… or maybe not innocents, maybe those who hate and fear them.

Plot links

• First, Lost, New, SRI, Resident, Extreme; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• First, Lost, New, SRI, Resident, Extreme; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• Millennium Class: Rivalry with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent
• Collective: Involved with Alpha
• Collective: Involved with Alpha: Beta & Second Children's Crusade
• Collective: Involved with Alpha: Gamma
• Collective: Involved with Omega

The Twenty-Tens

• Leader; Alpha
• Gristle - Vampiric.
• JP Barnum
• PJ Barnum
• Mustardseed - Intoxicating aura
• Tyrannis - Giant Bird
• Moth
• Polly Perfect - Living bacterial hive
• Spaniel
• (??)
• Fireball
• Bobbi Darren, Aka Charm
• River
• Forest
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>
• <...>

The current, huge incarnation of the Collective is made of a mix of previous and new members. For the first time, Glammer is conspicuously missing, though the Barnums, () and Spaniel return, as does long-missing Moth & their partner Mustardseed. Forgotten 1990's threat Gristle joins the team, as does another rebellious Alumnus child, (??).

Brand new members include living bacteria Polly Perfect, and giant bird, Tyrannis.

Following the Riot at the Academy, many students angry with the Professor's slow, pathetic attempts to join the races in harmony, and instead joined up with the Alpha to do things more immediately, more violently.

This team is often joined by Sant & the Unconquered.

May 2011, “Heroface”

One of the students, befriending the school's Sentient computer, creates Heroface, a social networking site for Students & Alumni. Despite moral objections that less savoury individuals could use the network, the student disagrees, specifically inviting The Collective to use it too; they claim it is to unite Parahumans, not to separate them.

An important factor of the social networking of Alumni is the easy distribution of rumours, experiences and mistruths. Anyone can now become thoroughly more educated on the Academy's history.

September 2013, “Paratroopers”

A group of more practically minded Alumni including some Collective, united by Heroface, decide to work together to remove lingering threats to Parahuman life left by the Academy's haphazard methods. Destroying the remnants of Perry Botch's Paramilitary group, the Alumni take the group's name for their own. They continue to “clash” with (murder) forgotten Guild operatives, Robyn Goodfellowe’s Lost Boys, AJAX and the Unconquered amongst many more. The Paratroopers’ violent methods gets the attention of the Police & Government, and they are labelled criminals, wanted for murder.

March 2014, “Eve”

Against all odds, a Parahuman baby is born in Iran. An underground railroad effort is put together to get the child to the Mansion, as Purity First mobilize to “neutralize” the “threat”. Everyone from the Academy, the Collective, the Paratroopers and even the Guild unite to ensure the child safely gets to the Mansion.

July 2015, “Heroes”

The world's premiere Superhero team, the American-Government-sponsored Deterrents travel to the Academy, demanding that due to International law, and the many incidents that happened across Europe, the baby is delivered to them. The Academy of course refuses, and after weeks of tense standoff, shots are finally fired. An enormous brawl erupts, Alumni clashing with the world's greatest superheroes. Alumni on the Deterrents team have their alliances stretched and tested. More hero teams join the Deterrents, with the Collective, The Alpha, and even The Guild coming to help The Academy.

After days, the Deterrents overpower the Academy, going as far as to threaten (but not actually hurt) the Professor & students. However, the Baby is long gone, shuttled off somewhere safe during the battle.

Relations between the Academy & The Deterrents are strained, and it seems apparent that next time there will be no mercy, morals or not..

October 2016, “Golgotha”

The Guild warns the Academy that The High Priestess has gone rogue, having gathered a collection of occult relics over the decades and having stolen the Guild's own collection. Claiming that she is in fact “the first woman, born of screaming flesh a thousand stars from here”, The High Priestess uses the occult power on Anglesey to not only resurrect the Nameless City, but also, an army of dead Parahumans, all metaphysically tied to her, amongst them many, many Alumni. The Paratroopers kill the High Priestess, but not before she initiates some kind of apotheosis into a self declared Goddess.

Not all resurrected Parahumans collapse back into corpses, many seemingly wandering off, their lives restored to them...

January 2017, “Last Days”

The Professor is bedridden, and the staff worry about their health.

An anniversary party is arranged to celebrate 50 years of the school.

Every Alumnus is invited.

Plot links

• First, Lost, New, SRI, Resident, Extreme, Millenium; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• First, Lost, New, SRI, Resident, Extreme, Millenium; Alumni Recruit (Willing, Confused, Blackmailed?)
• Last Class: Rivalry with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Friendship with (Collective Member)
• Collective: Double Agent
• Collective: Involved with Eve & Heroes
• Collective: Joined The Paratroopers