Venom was the brainchild of Phillepe Aruston president of Rose. He created the group in 1961 as a retrieval team for Thorn, at the time comprising it of various meta human villains who all used snakes as their motif. On their third mission they were sent to obtain a powerful artifact which had surfaced in the Atlantic ocean. However they also ran afoul of a SHADOW squad, with the end result being three of the four Venom members being trapped in an underwater rockslide and drowning. Only Black Cobra managed to complete the assignment and collect the fee from Aruston. With that money in the bank gaining interest, Cobra began to formulate plans for the ultimate squad of serpents.
Aruston meanwhile decided to restart Venom from scratch. This time they would be a hi-tech terrorist group which would make very public attempts to conquer the world, and in so doing distract legal authorities from Thorn's own operations. Over the next 2 years Venom clashed frequently with various members of Justice Anonymous. 

In 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated and blame was shifted by the CIA onto Venom. This had the effect of making Venom an organisation to truly be feared. The ironic part was that Venom was totally innocent of this crime (probably the one and only time). However this suited Aruston very well as all SHADOW activity was now focused on Venom.

1975 saw the end of the Vietnam war and the return of many vets unable to readjust back to a normal life. Venom was able to recruit many of these soldiers to their cause, swelling their numbers considerably much to the alarm of legal authorities around the world. 

1980 saw the appearance of the Force of July who immediately set about smashing Venom cells around America. Within 2 years Venom was almost non existent within the United States. 

Venom continued on in Europe, Africa and the Middle East but with mixed results. Finally 1995 saw their worst defeat ever with the entire Venom council captured or killed and most of their agents scattered by a joint Justice and Excalibur mission.  

Black Cobra escaped. Determined that this humiliation would never again occur he broke all ties with Thorn and began rebuilding Venom himself using the enormous funds he had accumulated over the years.

First he renamed himself Lord Venom, next he started a mass recruitment drive for any disgruntled terrorists and supervillains. Finally taking a leaf from Thorn Cornelius decided to make others do the dirty work. To that end he reorganised Venom so that it now sells franchises in its organisation, giving exclusive rights to perform actions in certain zones. The cell receives technical support and intelligence and access for a price to a special services like the Venom metas. In return the cell must; purchase all equipment exclusively from Venom, share intelligence, not violate another cell's territory, obey direct commands from Venom central.

Hierarchy
All members of the new Venom must have some form of military training in order to be qualified to join. A a distinct police record is also a big help especially higher end crimes like assassination, computer hacking and financial fraud. Venom now only wants people with who have displayed some form of cunning and intelligence in their actions. They are given a trial mission by their cell. If they succeed they're in.
Venom Agent 1st-5th level; Includes only those recently introduced to Venom. These are the support troops. Although similarly equipped to a Death Adder, Agents have less training. 
Alliance of Serpents Super Agent 1st-10th level; Includes only those created by or recruited to the Venom Super Soldier program. They have the same training as Venom agents but controlled by one of their own. On a rare occasion a Death Adder may be assigned to them.
Death Adder  6th-12th level; Those who have proven their loyalty and worth. The higher their level the more duties they are allowed. Each is well trained in all forms of armed and unarmed combat. 
Supreme Venom 13th-16th level; In charge of all the branches within his designated area and has the same powers as the Council within his own jurisdiction. 
Venom Council 17th-19th level; There are currently 7 members.
Lord Venom 20th level; Cornelius Adolt is the head of Venom. He is kept constantly up to date by the Council on ongoing operations. All major decisions are made by him. He also arranges additional resources and assistance as required.

Operations
The early Venom was a joke. Agents couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, leaders were incompetent cowards who hid behind their agents only to run away when the cannon fodder started to dwindle.

Under Cornelius the current Venom is a major threat. Venom learns from its mistakes and is extremely dangerous. 

Venom advertises its services through underworld channels, claiming no job is too large. When a contract is accepted, the Supreme Venom in the area decides how many operatives the assignment requires, selects certain operatives and dispatches them. Part of the fees for each contract goes to the organization for operating costs, while the others part goes to the operatives involved. Society members are not prevented from seeking out their own outside assignments, but they must pay a percentage of their outside earnings to the group. In exchange for each member's services and financial support, the Society offers increased job opportunities, health insurance benefits, safe lodging, and comradeship. Moreover, no member now needs fear imprisonment by legal authorities, for Venom will soon break them out. However if any betray the organisation while incarcerated they wont live to see a trial. 
Lord Venom has developed an agenda for the next few years:
1) Consolidation and stability; Venom wishes to strengthen their branches and maintain its position as the worlds foremost criminal and terrorist organisation. 
2) Financial diversity; Venom wishes to expand into other criminal and legitimate enterprises as a way of increasing their profitability. This involves the creation of new forms of narcotics, computer crime and investment.
3) Improved agents; Dramatically increase the amount of meta humans and paranormals within the organisation.
4) Reduced competition; Venom wishes to present using the media, the idea that law enforcement authorities are stupid. Venom feels that if the public has no respect for the people who protect them then fewer people will join their ranks. This in turn will increase the public's acceptance of corruption.
5) Revenge against Thorn. Cornelius blames Aruston for Venom's earlier humiliation and will see him dead and Rose/Thorn exposed for what it really is (this could be a possible plotline involving the players if Venom decides to manipulate them by providing information on Thorn).

Venom has also since established its own super soldier program based on a snake motiff, it is known as the Alliance of Serpents.

 

Venom Agents

 
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 10 CON 20
WIS 8
CHA 10 MR 20
STR 18 HPs 25
DEX 18

Disposition
Age Varies Typically greedy
Weight Varies Height Varies
Category 3rd level Venom Agent
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Most of these agents are former war veterans. First from Vietnam and later the Gulf war.

 

Death Adders
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 12 CON 20
WIS 10    
CHA 12 MR 20
STR 18 HPs 25
DEX 18

Disposition

Age Varies Typically ambitious
Weight Varies Height Varies
Category 6th level Venom Agent
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Adders are also former war veterans but were always officers.

 

Supreme Venoms
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 15 CON 20
WIS 12    
CHA 15 MR 20
STR 18 HPs 72
DEX 18

Disposition

Age Varies Typically ruthless
Weight Varies Height Varies
Category 13th level Venom Agent
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
These agents are usually ex spies (from any country).

 

Lord Venom
Real Name Cornelius Adolt
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 20 CON 25
WIS 20    
CHA 20 MR 30
STR 25 HPs 100
DEX 25

Disposition

Age 41 Paranoid
Weight 180lbs Height 5'6
Category 15th level Mutant
Powers Divine Aura, Matter Manipulate
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Cornelius was among the first members of the original Venom council, at least until he killed all the rest off. Once he took control he turned the entire organisation around turning it into a formidable army.

 


Alliance of Serpents

Anaconda
Real Name Jerry Wayt
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 12 CON 20
WIS 12    
CHA 10 MR 13
STR 45 HPs 50
DEX 17

Disposition

Age 31 Asshole
Weight 280lbs Height 5'8
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Enhanced Strength, Stamina
Training Military
Biography
Jerry is the group's heavy hitter.


 

Asp
Real Name Jennifer Waters
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 13 CON 11
WIS 11    
CHA 11 MR 15
STR 9 HPs 41
DEX 12

Disposition

Age 25 Exhibitionist, psychotic
Weight 150lbs Height 5'4
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Emission Acid from one hand, Emission Acid Net from other hand
Training Military
Biography
A former exotic dancer, Asp specialises in acid blasts.

 

Black Mamba
Real Name Kara Sville
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 16 CON 13
WIS 15    
CHA 13 MR 14
STR 13 HPs 43
DEX 16

Disposition

Age 23 Sadistic
Weight 180lbs Height 5'6
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Manipulate Shadows, Shadow Field, Emission Shadow
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Kara can infiltrate areas via her darkness.

 

Boa
Real Name Dinah Larrence
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 14 CON 20
WIS 12    
CHA 9 MR 12
STR 35 HPs 50
DEX 15

Disposition

Age 27 Psychotic
Weight 180lbs Height 5'4
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Enhanced Strength, Elongation
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Dinah can wrap her body around opponents and crush them.

 

Cobra
Real Name Mary Mary
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 8 CON 20
WIS 12    
CHA 7 MR 15
STR 10 HPs 50
DEX 25

Disposition

Age 25 Sadistic
Weight 120lbs Height 5'6
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Energy Punch, Elongation
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Kara is the current leader of the Alliance of Serpents.

 

Eel
Real Name Jason Vehooves
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 9 CON 14
WIS 10    
CHA 8 MR 14
STR 13 HPs 44
DEX 15

Disposition

Age 35 Paranoid
Weight 160lbs Height 5'6
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Elongation, Friction Control
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Jason is able to slither his body through most cracks and serves as the group's infiltrator.

 

Python
Real Name Rose Connelly
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 12 CON 12
WIS 11    
CHA 13 MR Mach 2
STR 15 HPs 42
DEX 10

Disposition

Age 34 Masochistic
Weight 100lbs Height 5'6
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Enhanced Movement, Fangs
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Rose is the group's speedster.

 

Rattler
Real Name Sheree Williams
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 8 CON 25
WIS 10    
CHA 9 MR 15
STR 20 HPs 55
DEX 11

Disposition

Age 25 Paranoid
Weight 180lbs Height 5'8
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Prehensile Tail which can fire Emission Sonic bursts
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Sheree uses her sonic blasts as artillery for the group.

 

Sidewinder
Real Name Jackson Pilar
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 12 CON 14
WIS 9    
CHA 10 MR 14
STR 15 HPs 44
DEX 15

Disposition

Age 41 Psychotic
Weight 170lbs Height 5'9
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Prehensile Tail which can Energy Punch or create Gateways.
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Jackson is the group's teleporter, he gets the group in and out.

 

Tai Pan
Real Name Susan Says
Alignment Chaotic Evil
INT 9 CON 12
WIS 9    
CHA 10 MR 13
STR 13 HPs 52
DEX 11

Disposition

Age 27 Paranoid
Weight 120lbs Height 5'6
Category 3rd level Mutant
Powers Claws on each hand which also Emission Electricity upon touch
Training Espionage and Military
Biography
Susan is used in close hand to hand fighting.

 


 

 

Enemies